April 20, 2024 9:52 am
Results: 406
SAITM CEO shooting was staged - Police
Sri Lanka Police today said that investigations into the recent shooting carried out targeting the CEO of SAITM, Dr Sameera Senaratne, have uncovered that the incident was staged in order to falsely portray a threat to his life. MORE..
Ukrainian arrested for violating visa rules
A Ukrainian national, believed to have been living in Sri Lanka illegally and violating visa laws, has been detained at the detention camp in Mirihana. MORE..
Sri Lanka makes 537 after centuries by Perera, Tharanga
Sri Lanka posted 537 all out in the opening innings of the test series against Zimbabwe, with centuries by Kusal Perera and Upul Tharanga putting the visitors in control of the first test. MORE...
Sri Lanka makes 537 after centuries by Perera, Tharanga
Sri Lanka posted 537 all out in the opening innings of the test series against Zimbabwe, with centuries by Kusal Perera and Upul Tharanga putting the visitors in control of the first test. MORE...
Siva Senai in Sri Lanka gets Shiva Sena Support, Colombo Worried
Shiv Sena in Mumbai has extended its support to a new Sri Lankan Tamil outfit called Siva Senai, triggering concerns among the mainstream politicians of the island nation that sectarian outfits will reopen wounds of a 20-year-old civil war that ended only in 2009. MORE...
Major disaster averted as two trains almost collide head-on
Two trains narrowly avoided a head-on collision in Ginthota on the Coastal Line as the drivers of the locomotives managed prevent a possible major train disaster this afternoon. MORE..
Graham Ford signs up for second spell as Sri Lanka Coach
Graham Ford has agreed to return to Sri Lanka for a second spell as national coach of the Sri Lanka cricket team. He has signed on from February 1 for a period of 45 months, President SLC told Ada Derana. MORE...
13th Amendment back in the limelight in Sri Lanka
Even as Sri Lanka is preparing to come up with a new Constitution with devolution as one of the key issues, the 13th Amendment, which created provincial councils in the country, is again in the limelight. MORE...
Twelve Tamil Nadu fishermen were today arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy when they were fishing near Katchatheevu. MORE...
India committed to build 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka
India is committed to build 50,000 houses for internally displaced people in Sri Lanka, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. MORE..
Special flight to bring back stranded Sri Lankan pilgrims
SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka have arranged a special flight to bring back a group of 120 pilgrims who were stranded in the Buddhist holy city of Bodh Gaya(Buddha Gaya) by the floods that have ravaged parts of India. MORE..
Jaya urges Modi to get TN fishermen released from Lanka
Hours after the Sri Lankan Navy arrested eight Tamil Nadu fishermen and seized their two boats, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure the release of a total of 37 fishermen and 55 boats, including those held today. MORE...
Eight more Indian fishermen arrested
Eight Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Navy in an early morning action today. MORE...
Four respondents named in Rakna Lanka case?
Two former Commanders of the Sri Lanka Navy, a former Defence Ministry Additional Secretary and the Chairman of Avant-Garde Security Services have been named as respondents in the case filed over alleged financial fraud at Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd, according to sources. MORE..
India wants to get back boats as well
The National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) in India has reiterated its demand to the Centre to prevail upon the Sri Lankan government to release 56 boats belonging to Indian fishermen. MORE...
Sri Lanka to release 126 Indian fishermen on Monday
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All the 126 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody will be released by courts in the island nation on Monday. The Sri Lankan government has already issued release orders to the fisheries department, according to the Times of India news agency. MORE...
Legal hurdles hold up release of fishermen
Legal hurdles both in Sri Lanka and India are apparently holding up the release of 120 Tamil Nadu fishermen and 34 Lankan fishermen currently in detention in Lanka and India respectively. MORE...
Navy arrests five more TN fishermen
Sri Lankan Navy arrested five Tamil Nadu fishermen today and seized their boat on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in their waters. MORE...
Public petition at Fort to urge porn ban in Sri Lanka
A public petition will be signed on November 04 at Colombo Fort in a bid to request the Government to urge the internet service providers to block access to websites hosting pornographic content. MORE...
Sri Lankan tourists hurt as tour bus plunges into ditch in Thailand
Twenty-two people, mainly Sri Lankan tourists, were hurt when their tour bus overturned into a ditch in Ratchaburi’s Photharam district on Thursday afternoon. MORE...
120 Indian fishermen to be released in “next few days”
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The Sri Lankan government has said that it will release “in the next few days” the 120 Tamil Nadu fishermen in its custody in return for the release of 36 Lankan fishermen held by India. MORE...
Falling space junk to create fireball in the sky: experts
A piece of space junk will fall back to Earth next month, giving researchers a chance to study how incoming objects behave when they hit the planet’s atmosphere. MORE...
Govt. mulls bail for Tamils held under terror act: Mano
The Ranil Wickremesinghe government is open to the idea of allowing Tamils held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to get bail, the New India Express quoted the Minister for National Dialogue on Ethnic Issues Mano Ganeshan as saying. MORE...
Actress and former MP Upeksha Swarnamali arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC), a short while ago on Thursday (29) morning. MORE...
Lionel Fernando resigns from HRCSL
Lionel Fernando has resigned from the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) due to personal reasons, a source said. MORE...
Indian Coast Guard arrests 29 Sri Lankans
Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Prahari apprehended two Sri Lankan trawlers namely Holy Cross III and VI along with 29 Sri Lankan nationals in Lakshadweep waters for poaching of endangered marine species, sea cucumber. MORE...
Sri Lanka mulls imposing heavy fines on Indian poachers
Sri Lanka is mulling imposing fines as high as 150 million rupees on Indian fishermen poaching in the country’s waters, officials said. MORE...
Sri Lanka to release 86 Tamil Nadu fishermen on October 28
Eighty-six Tamil Nadu fishermen, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the past two months, would be released on October 28, the Indian government has said today. MORE...
Mihin Lanka to commence services to Oman from tomorrow
Budget airline, Mihin Lanka is set to commence operations in Oman from 25 October allowing the passengers from the Sultanate to travel to the country at cheaper base rates. MORE...
Accountability process would be purely domestic: FM
The process to fix accountability as mandated by the latest UNHRC resolution for the alleged rights abuses during the conflict with the LTTE will be completely domestic, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has said rejecting claims that it was a hybrid mechanism. MORE...
Sri Lanka holds rates as Mahendran eyes next fiscal budget
Sri Lanka’s central bank kept interest rates unchanged for a sixth straight month and Governor Arjuna Mahendran said the government will focus on boosting revenue in its budget due November, the Bloomberg news agency reported today. MORE...
Five Lankans reach India using high-speed boat?
Five persons were suspected to have arrived onboard a high-speed fibre glass boat from Sri Lanka that was found abandoned at a coastal village in India, a topTamil Nadu police official has said. MORE...
India, Sri Lanka fisherfolk want to Meet Jaya
An Indo-Sri Lankan team of fishermen is all set to seek a meeting with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa, to resolve the long standing and irksome issue of fishing in the Palk Strait. MORE...
Jayalalithaa writes again to PM Modi, fishers arrest by Navy rises to 87
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up at the highest political level the arrest of fishermen from the state by Sri Lanka and said the number of those apprehended has now gone up to 87 besides their 39 boats. MORE...
Treasury allocates Rs.544 million for Golden Key depositors
The repayment schedule prepared by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) for resolving the difficulties confronted by the deposit holders of the Golden Key Credit Card Company Limited (GKCCCL) has already been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. MORE...
Navy arrests nine more Indian fishermen
The Sri Lankan navy on Wednesday apprehended nine Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boat on charges of trespassing into the territorial waters of the island nation, marine police sources at Mandapam in India has said. MORE...
Indian Coast Guard arrest 5 Sri Lankan fishermen and boat
A Sri Lankan fishing boat along with the 5 crew on board was apprehended by the Indian Coast Guard Ship Rajveer off Vakalapudi coast with 700 kg of fish on Tuesday. MORE..
India must act on arrests of fishermen, says Jayalalithaa
India cannot be a mute spectator when Sri Lanka continues to violate the rights of Indian fishermen, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has said in Chennai. MORE...
Billionaire’s exit prompts SL to seek new oil explorer?
Sri Lanka will issue a fresh international tender for offshore oil and gas blocks after billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Cairn India Ltd. relinquished its exploration rights in the South Asian island, the Bloomberg news agency reported today. MORE...
US trains Lanka Navy on underwater demining
The U.S. Navy has concluded a two-week training session in Trincomalee to equip and support Sri Lanka’s underwater demining efforts, the US embassy in Colombo announced today. MORE...
Navy arrests 24 Indian fishermen
The Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday arrested 24 Indian fishermen arrested and also seized four boats near Gulf of Mannar. MORE...
Third India-Sri Lanka joint training exercise culminates
The third Indo-Lanka Joint Training Exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’ focusing on counter- terrorism and insurgency operations culminated in India. MORE...
Fisherworkers forum urges Modi to find permanent solution to fishermen issue
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Indian National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has requested Prime Minster Narendra Modi to use diplomatic channels to hold dialogue with neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka, who arrest, attack and incarcerate Indian fishermen, the New Indian Express news agency reported. MORE...
SL deceiving nations, says Karunanidhi
India’s DMK leader M Karunanidhi has charged Sri Lanka with using its geographical location to deceive other nations and asked the Indian government to take steps to safeguard the livelihood of the fishermen of Tamil Nadu. MORE...
Navy officials meet Indian counterparts
Senior officials of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard met their counterparts from Sri Lanka on board a navy patrol vessel near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) recently and discussed operative effectiveness of the forces. MORE...
ICC Probes Sri Lanka Official Over Match Fixing
The International Cricket Council has launched a probe into a top Sri Lankan official suspected of involvement in match-fixing, the sport’s local governing body said today. MORE...
Indian fishermen protest against Lanka
The fishermen of Rameswaram island in India and the family members of a missing fisherman have observed fast here, urging the authorities to trace him who went missing after the boat he was in sank on the high seas, and protesting against Sri Lankan navy. MORE...
Indian traffickers attempt to take Lankans to Europe
Sanjay Kumar, key operative of the racket that attempted to traffic Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from Munambam, had earlier attempted to take people to Europe on board a fishing vessel from Thiruvananthapuram, The Hindu newspaper reported. MORE...
Indian govt. urged to move resolution against Lanka
India’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has urged the Union government to move a private member resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) seeking an international inquiry into the alleged war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Army in the last phase of the civil war. MORE...
Nauru allows Lankan asylum-seekers to roam freely
Nauru announced Monday (Oct 5) that asylum-seekers, including those from Sri Lanka, at an Australian immigration camp on the Pacific island will no longer be locked up, saying they will instead be free to roam around the tiny nation. MORE...
Gold smuggled on board Mihin Lanka flight seized
In a major crackdown on gold smuggling, 31.75kg of gold was seized from 10 passengers who arrived at the Madurai airport in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu by two international flights, including a Mihin Lanka flight, Indian Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said.MORE...
Jaya seeks Modi’s help to get TN fishermen freed
Accusing Sri Lanka of intimidating Indian fishermen through repeated arrests to prevent them from venturing into their traditional fishing waters in the Palk Bay, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa drew the attention of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to yet another incident of arrest of fishermen by the island navy on October 1. MORE...
Tamil Eelam is the solution: Ramadoss
India’s PMK leader S. Ramadoss has said that if Sri Lanka was ready for an international inquiry into the alleged “war crimes and human rights violations,” the United Nations should hold a referendum among the Sri Lankan Tamils across the world for the creation of a separate Tamil Eelam, The Hindu newspaper reported. MORE...
Jayalalithaa, Karunanidhi slam UN resolution on Sri Lanka
Coming out strongly against a UN resolution that endorsed a domestic probe in Sri Lanka over alleged war crimes, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa expressed deep disappointment and anguish while DMK chief Karunanidhi termed it shocking. MORE..
SL is pleased to join as co-sponsor of the resolution: Ambassador Ravinatha
We see the resolution on the island nation as a measure of encouraging and inspiring the government of Sri Lanka, delivering his remarks during the general debate on the report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha said. MORE...
Vaiko slams UN resolution on Sri Lanka
The United Nation’s resolution authorising Sri Lanka to hold a probe into war crimes is bound to turn detrimental to ethnic Tamils, India’s MDMK general secretary Vaiko has said. MORE...
AIDS on the rise among youths: Dr. Liyanage
The Health Ministry says that the authorities have identified some 160 persons diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) AIDS as of October this year alone. MORE...
Sri Lanka can finally break cycle of impunity: Zeid
Introducing the debate on the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) at the UNHRC’s 30th session on Wednesday, the High Commissioner, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, asserted that since January 2015 space has significantly opened up for freedom of expression, at least in Colombo. MORE...
Human Rights Council betrays Tamils: Vaiko
With the United Nations’ report on Sri Lankan war crimes likely to come up for discussion at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday, India’s MDMK general secretary Vaiko has said that it will be a black day for Tamils all over the world, The New Indian Express reports. MORE...
TNA hails U.S.-backed resolution on Sri Lanka
The draft resolution on Sri Lanka tabled at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by the U.S. and other countries has addressed the main issues of accountability and reconciliation, according to the Tamil National Alliance leader, R. Sampanthan. MORE...
UN resolution could advance justice in Sri Lanka - HRW
The United Nations Human Rights Council should adopt a resolution ensuring a robust international role in Sri Lanka’s justice mechanism for abuses during the country’s brutal civil war, Human Rights Watch said today. MORE..
India’s NFF seeks lasting solution to fishing row with Lanka
Thanking the India’s Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for helping arrive at a decision to not shoot fishermen at sea, during talks with Sri Lanka, the National Fishworkers’ Forum has requested him to consult Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and find a permanent solution to all the issues faced by the fisherfolk. MORE...
India, Sri Lanka to hold third joint army exercise
The Indian and Sri Lankan armies will be conducting their third joint military exercise Mitra Shakti-2015, starting September 29, said a statement issued in New Delhi today, according to the NDTV news agency. MORE...
Wigneswaran lashes out at concentration of power in his party
Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran publicly lashed out at “concentration of power” in the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the party to which he belongs. MORE...
Move resolution for probe into Sri Lanka war crimes: PUCL
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The India’s People Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has called upon the Centre, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, to move a resolution calling for a credible, independent, international investigation into the violations of humanitarian and human rights laws. MORE...
India has to maintain friendly relations with Sri Lanka: Venkaiah Naidu
Reiterating the Narendra Modi government’s stand on relationship with Sri Lanka, India’s Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday that India has to maintain friendly relations with its neighbour. MORE...
Sri Lanka trying to water down UNHRC resolution: HRW
Sri Lanka should not be allowed to water down a UNHRC resolution on its alleged rights violations during its civil war with the LTTE, according to a prominent rights group which said that the current draft was “counterproductive” to the reconciliation efforts of the government. MORE..
Human trafficking racket busted in Kerala; 9 Sri Lankans arrested
Kerala police on Thursday busted a racket of trafficking Sri Lankan refugees from Tamil Nadu to Australia. MORE..
TNA commends govt’s willingness to co-sponsor resolution
The Tamil National Alliances (TNA) today welcomed the draft text of a resolution on Sri Lanka tabled by the co-sponsors of the resolution at the UN Human Rights Council. MORE..
Resolution on Sri Lanka tabled at UN Human Rights Council
A resolution calling for a “credible justice process” with “Commonwealth and other foreign judges” in order to prosecute for mass atrocities committed during the final stages of the island’s armed conflict has been tabled at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. MORE...
Indian fishermen protest against Lankan navy
Fishermen of Nambiyar Nagar in Nagapattinam district in India has gone on an indefinite strike, seeking the intervention of State and Central governments to secure the release of 15 fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy, The Hindu Newspaper reported. MORE...
Lankan High Commissioner calls on Bangladesh Foreign Minister
Newly appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Bangladesh Yasoja Gunasekera has paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. They discussed issues of mutual interest, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry has said. MORE...
Death toll in final phase was not 40,000, says Justice Paranagama
Justice Maxwell Paranagama, Chairman of the Sri Lankan Commission on missing persons and war crimes, has said that the death toll in the final phase of Eelam War IV was not 40,000, as claimed in the 2011 report of the Panel of Experts appointed by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, but probably a little above 7,000. MORE...
Sri Lanka fishermen reject talk offer by Indian counterparts
Sri Lankan fishing community representatives in Colombo have rejected a request by their Indian counterparts to visit them to discuss their issues, including poaching.MORE...
Karunanidhi slammed over Lankan Tamil issue
Former Indian MP and MDMK general secretary Vaiko has slammed DMK president M. Karunanidhi on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, The Hindu newspaper reported. MORE...
$5.19 billion road project to begin by October
Keen on fostering ties with neighbours, India is set to engage in high-level talks with Sri Lanka by October for an ambitious $5.19 billion road project to connect both the nations through a sea-bridge and an underwater tunnel, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. MORE...
China seeks to rebuild Silk Road trade links
China is increasingly engaging other countries for its ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative to rebuild the historic Silk Road which begins in Fuzhou, China and goes via Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and East Africa to build trade links with Europe, Asia and Africa. MORE...
Democratic Party founder and former SLA Commander Sarath Fonseka, offered himself to face a domestic court of law on allegations against military operations during the Eelam War. MORE...
Indian Government urged to study Lanka resolution by TN Assembly
Indian Union Minister of State for Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan, has said the Centre would analyse the contents of the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly (TNA) on the Sri Lankan issue and will take an informed decision, The Hindu newspaper reported today. MORE...
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The Presidential Commission of Inquiry this morning yet again summoned former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for questioning regarding the alleged use of personnel attached to the Civil Security Department for campaigning activities during the Presidential Election. MORE...
Indian Court dismisses appeal filed by Sri Lankan fishermen
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An Indian High Court has dismissed a criminal appeal filed by 10 Sri Lankan fishermen, who were convicted of fishing in Indian waters without permission in 2006, after it was informed that they had gone back to their country after serving the entire sentence period in prison. MORE...
UN members should back hybrid court in Sri Lanka - HRW
The call by the United Nations’ top human rights officer for a domestic-international hybrid court to address allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka should receive strong endorsement by members of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Human Rights Watch said today. MORE..
Presidential Commission of Inquiry summons Gotabaya again
Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry this morning for questioning regarding the alleged use of personnel attached to the Civil Security Department for campaigning activities during the Presidential Election. MORE..
Govt assures due attention to UN report
The Sri Lankan Government today said it will ensure that the content and recommendations of the UNHRC report receive due attention of the relevant authorities including the new mechanisms that are envisaged to be set up. MORE..
Flight diverted to Mattala due to bad weather
A SriLankan Airlines flight arriving from London was diverted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) today due to inclement weather conditions prevalent in Colombo at the time. MORE..
Full Report of OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka
The long-anticipated report of the United Nations investigation into allegations of human rights violations during the war in Sri Lanka was released a short while ago. Click for Full Report..
TN assembly for international probe on Sri Lanka
A day after India and Sri Lanka decided to renew efforts to address the vexed ethnic issue in the island nation, Tamil Nadu today stepped up pressure on the Modi government for an international probe against alleged human rights violations and war crimes committed in 2009 in Northern Sri Lanka. MORE..
Zeid urges creation of hybrid special court in Sri Lanka
A UN report published today has identified patterns of grave violations in Sri Lanka between 2002 and 2011, strongly indicating that war crimes and crimes against humanity were most likely committed by both sides to the conflict. MORE..
Modi confident Sri Lanka will achieve genuine reconciliation
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed confidence that Sri Lanka will achieve genuine reconciliation and development with the wisdom and will of the leadership and the support of the people.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in Delhi a short while ago. MORE..
Boat Suspected to be from Lanka found abandoned in India
A fibre boat suspected to be that of Sri Lankan fishermen was found abandoned at Maniantheevu near Kodiakarai in Nagapattinam district in India, The Hindu newspaper reported today. MORE...
Swire extends UK support to Sri Lanka
The United Kingdom stands ready to help Sri Lanka in any way possible to deliver the credible processes and mechanisms it has promised, British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth office, Hugo Swire, said today (14). MORE...
No evidence of IS operations in Sri Lanka: defense secretary
The government says that there was no evidence to back claims that the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group was operating in the island nation. Defense Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said while there were reports of a Sri Lankan man joining the IS, there was no concrete evidence to suggest the group was operating in Sri Lanka. MORE...
UN should probe war crimes in Sri Lanka: Ramasamy
United Nations should probe the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, Indian Second Deputy Chief Minister, Penang, Malaysia, P. Ramasamy, has said in Coimbatore. MORE...
Sri Lanka to release 16 Indian fishermen ahead of PM’s visit
Sri Lanka today said it will release 16 Indian fishermen, arrested recently for allegedly poaching in its waters, in a “goodwill gesture” ahead of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India, his first foreign trip after winning last month’s polls. MORE...
Trade minister says no to CEPA
Sri Lanka will not be discussing a trade agreement with India entitled Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during a visit to India tomorrow, said the Minister for Development Strategies and International Trade, Malik Samarawickrama on Sunday. MORE...
What would happen to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India?
At a time when efforts are on to send Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to their country, opinion is divided on whether hill country Tamils of Indian origin (in plantations) should be persuaded to go back or conferred with Indian citizenship, the Hindu Newspaper reported. MORE...
Sri Lanka set to announce reconciliation plans
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera would make a statement in Geneva on Monday, the inaugural day of the the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s three-week-long session. MORE...
China like to assist and cooperate with Sri Lanka: Xianliang
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka Ambassador, Yi Xianliang, said that China would like to assist and cooperate with Sri Lanka in economic development including maritime economy of which there should be of great potentials. MORE...
UN probe report handed over to govt
The UN probe report on alleged war crimes committed during the final phase of Sri Lankan military’s battle against the LTTE has been handed over to the government. MORE..
Sri Lankan flight suffers hydraulic problem after landing in Chennai
116 passengers and crew members of a Sri Lankan Airlines flight had a narrow escape on Thursday when the plane suffered a hydraulic problem after landing and got stuck in the runway at the Chennai airport. MORE..
Tamil question is not just an economic issue: Mano Ganesan
The Tamil question cannot be settled by merely regarding it as an economic issue, Mano Ganesan, one of the three Tamil Ministers in the Sri Lankan government, has said. MORE...
Sri Lanka eyes more Chinese tourists for more forex
Sri Lanka is eyeing more Chinese tourists to the island nation as the new government is aiming to make tourism as the top foreign exchange earner, a cabinet minister said. MORE...
TNA leader lashes out at Wigneswaran
The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) president and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)’s deputy leader in Parliament, Mavai S. Senathirajah, has come out against Chief Minister of the Northern Province and his colleague C.V. Wigneswaran for the latter’s “conduct” during the recent Parliamentary election campaign. MORE...
HRC’s sitting on Sri Lanka fixed on Sept 30
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A report on alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka during the Eelam War is likely to be presented on September 30 during the 30th session of the United Human Rights Council. MORE...
Jerome Jayaratne named Sri Lanka interim coach
Jerome Jayaratne, the SLC head of coaching, has been appointed interim head coach of the Sri Lanka team for the upcoming home series against West Indies. Jayaratne’s appointment came four days after Marvan Atapattu resigned as the national team coach. MORE...
Sri Lankan migrants held captive in Mexico rescued
Some 19 migrants including Sri Lankans held captive by a criminal group were rescued in Tamaulipas state, Mexico, by Mexican police and immigration authorities, El Universal news portal reported. MORE...
Why Sri Lanka has done a China-style ‘managed float’
Sri Lanka’s central bank is allowing the local rupee to become more market-oriented but like Bejing, it has shied away from turning the currency into a true free float. MORE...
Iran to expand ties with Sri Lanka
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for enhanced relations between Iran and Sri Lanka following a final nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and six world powers and the ensuing lifting of anti-Iran sanctions. MORE...
Couldn’t win the war without China’s help: SF
Sri Lanka will maintain the close relationship with China that provided strong support to help Sri Lanka end its 30-year civil war with the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009, a leading military officer has said. MORE...
US decision on Sri Lanka sparks protests in Chennai
As a mark of protest against the U.S. supporting Sri Lanka in war crime probe, a group of members from Ilaiya Thalaimurai Koottamaippu in India, has attempted to stage a protest outside the U.S. Consulate in Chennai. MORE...
Pass resolution against Sri Lanka: Vaiko
India’s Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko has appealed to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to pass a resolution against Sri Lanka seeking international inquiry against alleged war crimes by Sri Lankan Army during war with LTTE. MORE...
India attaches highest importance to ties with Sri Lanka: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India attaches the highest importance to its relations with Sri Lanka and looks forward to taking the ties to new heights as he received former President Chandrika Kumaratunga in New Delhi. MORE..
EU ready to partner with Sri Lanka to face challenges
The European Union (EU) today stressed that it truly remains committed to supporting a healthy democracy and looks forward to partnering with the Sri Lankan government to address some of the “challenges” it faces. MORE..
Gotabaya to appear before CoI tomorrow again
Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been asked to appear before the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Large Scale Corruption and Fraud on Friday (03) as well. MORE...
Gotabaya arrives at CoI to give statement for the second time
Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa a short while ago arrived at the BMICH to give a statement before the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Large Scale Corruption and Fraud. MORE...
Sri Lankan fishermen want resumption of talks
Maintaining that Indian fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy only when they fished deep into the island territory, a Sri Lankan fishermen leader today urged both nations to hold talks to resolve the issue of fishing rights in the Palk Strait. MORE..
Chennai US Consulate refuses to meet Vaiko on Lanka
Former Indian MP and MDMK general secretary Vaiko charged that the US Consulate in Chennai had “disrespected” Tamils by not allowing him to meet the Consul General and present a memorandum on the stand the country had taken on international investigations into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. MORE...
Two arrested with 740 Tramadol capsules
Naval troops attached to SLNS Kelani of the Western Naval Command have arrested two persons who were transporting 740 Tramadol capsules in a three-wheeler. MORE..
Indian Goverment should act tough on Sri Lanka: Vasan
The Indian Government should act tough and put an end to the attacks and arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, Indian Tamil Manila Congress leader G. K. Vasan has said. MORE...
Push Sri Lanka not to arrest fishermen - Jayalalithaa
Bringing to the notice of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yet another incident of arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Lankan Navy, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday urged him to take immediate steps to release the 16 fishermen and their boats. MORE..
Navy rescues ten local fishermen off Hambantota
The Sri Lanka Navy has rescued ten local fishermen who were drifting 63 km off South East of Hambantota due to an engine failure. MORE...
Vaiko, Ramadoss oppose India gifting away ship to Sri Lanka
Opposing the gifting away of an Indian Coast Guard ship to Sri Lanka, Indian MDMK chief Vaiko today said it was a “betrayal” of Eelam Tamils and Tamil Nadu fishermen the Press Trust of India reported. MORE...
Lankan Tamil refugees urged to return home
Given the prevailing political situation in Sri Lanka, the time has come for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu to return home, said S. C. Chandrahasan, founder of the Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR) in India. MORE...
Indian forum seeks Centre’s intervention to prevent attack on fishermen
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Indian National Fish Workers Forum (NFF) has urged the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swraj to ensure that Tamil Nadu fishermen were not attacked while fishing by the Sri Lankan naval personnel. MORE...
Sri Lankan held for drug trafficking in India
The Indian police have detained a Sri Lankan Tamil over his alleged involvement with a fake currency circulation, drug and human trafficking gang, the Hindu newspaper reported. MORE...
UN chief urges Ranil to seize opportunity
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has congratulated Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on his election and commended his message of good governance and national unity. MORE..
Sri Lankan refugees guarded in reaction to Sri Lankan poll results
The Sri Lankan Tamils at the Mandapam camp reacted to the election of United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister with cautious optimism. MORE..
China stands ready to work with new Government
China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to consolidate the traditional friendship, strengthen mutually-beneficial cooperation, and elevate China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperation partnership to a new level, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying. MORE...
Arrested Sri Lankans have no links with LTTE: Indian Police
Dismissing suggestion that the five Sri Lankans arrested from a city hotel have connection to a “terror group”, the Indian Police have said it has started looking for those who brought them to the city promising fake passports and help getting jobs in France. MORE...
Preferential votes- General Election 2015
(UPDATE) Preferential votes- General Election 2015. View Preferential votes full list here. MORE...
Suspected former LTTE members arrested in India
The Special Task Force of the Indian Police have arrested five Sri Lankan nationals, allegedly former LTTE members, and two Indians from a hotel here in the city, the PTI reported today. MORE...
Police deploys thousands of officers on election eve
Sri Lanka deployed thousands of police Sunday (Aug 16) in stepped up security on the eve of a general election after the campaign was hit by sporadic violence that claimed four lives. MORE..
Nepal-bound Sri Lankans held by India’s SSB
Seema Surkashya Bal (SSB), the border security force of India, arrested five Nepal-bound Sri Lankans from Panitanki, India, along Nepal-India on Friday. MORE..
Sri Lanka stun India with remarkable comeback Test victory
Rangana Herath picked up seven wickets in a sublime display of left-arm spin bowling to power Sri Lanka to a spectacular comeback win by 63 runs against India on the fourth day of the opening Test at Galle on Saturday. MORE..
Sri Lankan tourist found dead in temple pond
A 78-year-old Sri Lankan tourist, who was missing two days ago from Bahraich, was found dead in a pond at Korean temple of neighbouring Sharavasti district in Uttar Pradesh, Indian police said today. MORE..
Indian-American Atul Keshap sworn in as US Envoy to Sri Lanka
Indian-American Atul Keshap has been sworn in as the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, becoming the second Indian-origin diplomat to be posted to the region after Richard Rahul Verma. MORE...
Lankans arrested with gold in India
The Customs sleuths at the Cochin International Airport in India on Tuesday arrested two Sri Lankan nationals for attempting to smuggle gold. MORE..
Government to make several SOEs self financed: Ravi
The new government’s plan to restructure the loss making State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to be self financed without depending on the General treasury will be a reality soon, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. MORE...
Courts release Tamil Nadu fishermen
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Two courts in the Northern province today (10) ordered the release of 40 fishermen arrested by the Navy for allegedly fishing in Sri Lankan territory in June. MORE...
Police to enforce speed limit on 72 roads
The Police Department today announced that cases will be filed against motorists violating the speed limits on 72 main roads in the country with speed limit signs, with effect from Tuesday (August 11). MORE..
Probe launched into explosion inside Chilaw train
Police today said that an investigation has been launched into the explosion which had occurred inside a train at the Chilaw railway station last night, injuring a railway employee. MORE..
Three PSD officers involved in Thajudeen’s murder, says Rajitha
Cabinet Spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne on Thursday (06) charged that three officials attached to the Presidential Security Division (PSD) have allegedly involved in the murder of former Sri Lankan Rugby player, Wasim Thajudeen, who had died under suspicious circumstances. MORE...
Vasan plans stir for release of fishermen from Sri Lankan jail
India’s Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) will stage State-wide agitation if the 14 Rameswaram fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan navy on a charge of poaching on June 2 were not released at the end of their judicial remand on August 13, party president G.K. Vasan has said. MORE..
Lankan Tamil, wife attempt suicide at Tiruchi prison
A Sri Lankan Tamil housed in the special camp in the Tiruchi prison campus here reportedly attempted to end his life by consuming sleeping tablets on Monday. His wife, who had come to meet him at the camp, also consumed sleeping pills, the Hindu reported. MORE...
A day after busting a fake currency circulation and drug trafficking gang by arresting four people, the Indian police have arrested five more, including two Sri Lankan Tamils, on Tuesday while launching a dragnet for five others to pin down the entire network, the Hindu newspaper reported. MORE...
Litro sends letter of demand to Bandula
The Litro Gas Lanka Ltd sent a letter of demand to former Minister Bandula Gunawardena demanding Rs. 1 billion in damage over several remarks made against it. MORE...
Iran to further boost ties with Sri Lanka
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at a meeting with Sri Lankan delegation to Iran, has voiced Tehran’s willingness to further boost ties with Sri Lanka, Iranian media reported. MORE...
Ravi Jayawardena to assume duties as SLRC chairman?
Ravi Jayawardena, who is a Director and Current Affairs head of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), will likely be appointed as the new Chairman of the Corporation, a source told Ada Derana. MORE...
Five Indians held for kidney change in Sri Lanka
The Special Task Force of the Crime Branch in India has arrested five persons of a family from Berhampur, including a woman, in connection with an illegal kidney transplantation carried out at a hospital in Colombo recently. MORE...
UN awaits report on Sri Lanka to decide on international probe
The United Nations says that it’s exploring provision of a broad package of technical and financial assistance to Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, at the request of Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran. MORE..
Another batch of Sri Lankan refugees return home
A fresh batch of 45 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees headed back to their homeland from the international airport in Tiruchi on Tuesday, The Hindu reported. MORE..
Litro Gas denies Bandula’s allegations
The Litro Gas Lanka Ltd on Wednesday (29) denied allegations that the government has signed a MoU with Shell Gas Ltd to purchase Gas at US D 105 per MT, contrary to international tender procedures. MORE...
UN document leaked to undermine September’s rights report: Channel 4
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Channel 4 News has reported that a leaked UN document raises concerns over the prospects for genuine justice for the Sri Lankan victims of alleged war crimes. MORE...
Minister prohibits use of SLTB buses for election campaigning
The Ministry of Internal Transport has issued a directive to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) not to grant permission for the political parties to use its properties for election campaign purposes. MORE...
Sri Lankan student reported missing in India
A Sri Lankan girl student doing hotel management course at a college in Moodbidri near Mangalore has been reported missing from her hostel since July 25, police said. MORE..
Sri Lankan refugee sentenced to 20 years’ jail for stabbing
A man found guilty of the stabbing murder of a fellow Sri Lankan refugee in Adelaide’s north has been jailed for at least 20 years by an Australian court. MORE..
Australia may return Sri Lankan asylum seekers
Sri Lankan asylum-seekers intercepted at sea could be handed back to their home countries if a Labor government assessed they were not owed refugee protection, Leader of the Australian Labor Party Bill Shorten has said. MORE...
Fishermen act as sea route smugglers?
The Indian Customs officials anticipate possibilities of gold sneaking into the State from neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka through fishing boats following the large-scale seizures of smuggled gold at the airports in the State, the Hindu newspaper reported today. MORE...
Sri Lanka end Pakistan ODI series with big win
Kusal Perera led Sri Lanka’s strong batting display to give the hosts a comprehensive, but academic, 165-run win over Pakistan in the fifth and final one-dayer here today. MORE...
Indian fishermen attacked by Sri Lankan navy yet again?
Indian fishermen were attacked off Katchatheevu islet on Saturday night allegedly by Sri Lankan naval personnel, who opened fire in the air, forcing them to return to shore, the PTI news agency reproted. MORE...
Lankan asylum seekers killed in Australian road crash
The two men who died in a crash in Darwin on Wednesday night were Tamil asylum seekers from Sri Lanka who came to Australia for a better life, their friends have said. MORE..
Navy denies attacking Indian fishermen
The Sri Lankan Navy on Wednesday denied reports that it had attacked a group of Indian fishermen who had strayed into Sri Lankan waters on Tuesday evening. MORE...
SL becoming a key transportation hub for South Asia: ex-US Director of National Intelligence
Election outcome in Sri Lanka is important for the region and the world, Dennis Cutler Blair, the former United States Director of National Intelligence and former US Navy admiral has said. MORE...
Over 200 election violations reported: PAFFREL
Over 200 cases of election violations have been reported from several parts of Sri Lanka and over 60 people have been arrested in such violations, local election observers said. MORE...
Four persons arrested in connection to rioting at Premadasa
Fighting broke out in the stands during the third one-day international between Pakistan and hosts Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium interrupting the game for about half an hour, following which four persons involved in the rioting were arrested, the police said today. MORE...
WFFP urges full implementation of UN Law of seas
The World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) has sought a permanent solution to tackle the issue of arrest and incarceration of fishermen crossing the national borders and entering the territory of neighbouring countries. MORE...
Desperate Brits buy organs through Sri Lankan ‘fixers’
Terminally ill British citizens are buying organs over Facebook from ‘fixers’ in Sri Lanka, who organize transplantations for as little as $75,000, a trade that has come to be known as ‘transplant tourism.’ MORE...
Three Indian fishermen injured in attack by naval personnel?
Three Indian fishermen were injured when they were allegedly attacked by Sri Lankan naval personnel off Katchatheevu, the Press Trust of India reported. MORE...
Sri Lanka’s greatest wealth is the ‘diversity seen in its people’ – Nonis
Sri Lanka is a ‘microcosm of the commonwealth, where there is enormous economic disparity.’ He stated that in order for Sri Lanka to flourish, ‘we must strive towards a knowledge driven economy and embrace the change of development,’ Former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK Dr Chris Nonis says. MORE...
SL and India fishermen call for resumption of dialogue
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Leaders of Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen have called for a resumption of the conciliatory dialogue which has been deadlocked since April last, the Hindu newspaper reported. MORE...
Four Sri Lankan refugees released from Indian camp
Four Sri Lankan refugees lodged in a special camp at the Tiruchi Central Prison in India were released on Saturday, the Hindu Newspaper reported. MORE...
Govt. plans to procure 120,000 tons of paddy from Yala harvest
The government of Sri Lanka is planning to procure about 120,000 tons of paddy from farmers during the upcoming secondary ‘yala’ (March - September) harvest. MORE...
India, Sri Lanka sign currency swap agreement
The Reserve Bank has signed a special currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka that will allow the latter to draw up to $1.1 billion. MORE...
Indian police to fight drug traffickers to Sri Lanka
As Indian authorities witnessed a spurt in smuggling of drugs to Sri Lanka via the sea route, the district police have constituted “D-Team”, an exclusive police team to mount surveillance on drug traffickers and contain the smuggling activities, the Hindu Newspaper reported today. MORE...
Customs seize 116,000 duty-unpaid cigarettes
Over 116,000 illegally imported cigarettes have been seized by the Revenue Task Force (RTF) of the Sri Lanka Customs, this morning (15). MORE...
Mihin Lanka to start operations between Kolkata-Colombo
Mihin Lanka, Sri Lanka’s national low cost carrier will soon start its operations from Kolkata. It will connect the city, thrice-a-week with the Lankan capital Colombo, from later this month. MORE...
Four Indian fishermen arrested with 165 kilograms of “Kerala Ganja”
The Sri Lanka Navy on Tuesday (14) arrested four Indian fishermen with 165 kilograms of cannabis (Kerala Ganja) in the seas north-west of the Thalai-mannar. MORE...
China and Sri Lanka conclude joint Army exercise
Sri Lanka and China on Monday (13) concluded a joint army exercise at the Special Forces (SF) Training School at Maduruoya. MORE...
Sri Lankan jailed for ‘molesting’ 3-year-old at beach
A United Arab Emirates court has sentenced a Sri Lankan to three months in jail for supposedly molesting a three-year-old Filipino boy last April 1. MORE..
RC Wijegunaratne appointed as new Navy Commander
Vice Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne has been appointed as the 20th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy with effect from tomorrow (July 11), the Ministry of Defence said. MORE..
Navy Chief Jayantha Perera promoted to the rank of Admiral
President Maithripala Sirisena has promoted the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera to the rank of Admiral with effect from Thursday (July 09). MORE..
Kerala eyes more tourists from Sri Lanka
A luxury liner from Sri Lanka and chartered flights from China are expected in Kerala as part of efforts to woo more tourists from the two countries, the IANS reported. MORE...
Bittersweet return for Sri Lanka’s displaced Tamils - report
When Balasundaram Rasamalar finally got back her home in Sri Lanka’s battle-scarred north after years of military occupation, there was an unexpected problem. The toilet was still in the militarised zone -- where civilians are not allowed. MORE..
Rs 220 billion plan to link Rameswaram to Sri Lanka, says Gadkari
The Indian government is working towards a Rs 220 billion (Indian rupees) project to provide connectivity between India and Sri Lanka for which the Asian Development Bank has expressed willingness to provide funding, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said. MORE...
Rights groups urge UNHRC to maintain fullest scrutiny of Sri Lanka
Several international human rights groups have urged the international community and the UN Human Rights Council to maintain the fullest scrutiny of Sri Lanka on questions of justice and accountability. MORE..
Runaway Sri Lankan maids worry Saudi Labor Ministry
Saudi Arabia’s Labor Minister Mufrej Al-Haqabani has asked the Sri Lankan government to stop maids running away from their Saudi sponsors soon after their arrival in the Kingdom. MORE..
Lankan refugee stages protest at camp
A Sri Lankan Tamil refugee housed in a camp at Thuraimangalam near Perambalur abstained from taking food for some time on Friday seeking action against one of the refugees. MORE..
Navy arrests 78 Australia-bound boatpeople
A group of 78 Sri Lankan nationals attempting to illegally sail to Australia by boat were intercepted by Navy personnel in the sea area around 65 nautical miles off Kirinda in the wee hours today, the navy spokesman said. MORE..
US report highlights Sri Lankan human rights problems in 2014
There were reports that the Sri Lankan government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings in 2014, the U.S. State Department said in an annual report on Thursday. MORE..
Lankan refugees allege illegal custody, torture by Police
Sri Lankan Tamil refugees of Aanaiyur camp in Madurai are living in morbid fear borne out of police torture. MORE..
Sri Lankan Navy asked not to open fire on fishermen: India
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday informed the Madras High Court Bench in Madurai that it has impressed upon the Sri Lankan Navy “to act with restraint, not to fire on [Indian] fishermen and to treat [Indian] fishermen in a humane manner.” MORE..
No decision to withdraw army camps from north, east, says PM
(VIDEO) The Sri Lankan Government has not made any decision to withdraw military camps from war-torn north and east provinces of the country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today. MORE...
Twelve Police OICs transferred
Twelve Police officers-in-charge (OICs) have been ordered transferred with immediate effect on exigencies of service by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), police spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said. MORE..
No discussion over road, rail link with India - Govt
The Sri Lankan government says that India had not held any discussions with Sri Lanka over establishing a road and rail link connecting the two countries across the Palk Strait. MORE..
Protest demands release of 14 Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka
Members of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) and the fishing community staged a demonstration in Rameswaram on Friday, demanding the release of 14 Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of poaching and protesting against the Centre’s directive to paint the trawlers in green colour. MORE..
Young refugees in TN keen on trying luck in Sri Lanka
As World Refugee Day falls tomorrow, several young Sri Lankan Tamils born and raised in camps in Tamil Nadu are eager to go back to the land of their ancestors to try and connect with their roots and get a sense of belonging. MORE..
India-Sri Lanka road link in the works: Nitin Gadkari
Following the inauguration of Agartala-Dhaka bus service and signing of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal motor vehicle agreement, the Centre is also looking at connecting India and Sri Lanka, Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday. MORE..
Sri Lankan assaulted in Tiruchi special camp
A Sri Lankan Tamil, Y. Srijeyan (39), housed in a special camp in Tiruchi, sustained a head injury after he was allegedly assaulted by two other inmates on Sunday night. MORE..
Two Sri Lankans recognized for 2015 Queen’s Young Leaders Awards
Queen Elizabeth is to present the inaugural Queen’s Young Leaders Awards to two young people from Sri Lanka at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace June 22, the Government Information Department announced today. MORE...
Migrants say Australia paid smugglers to turn back
Indonesia’s foreign minister on Saturday demanded answers from Canberra over claims that Australian officials paid thousands of dollars to turn a boat back to Indonesia after Prime Minister Tony Abbott refused to deny the allegations. MORE..
Lankan refugee flees from custody in Koyambedu
A Sri Lankan Tamil refugee fled from custody while being escorted to Puzhal prison at the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus in Koyambedu on Thursday. MORE..
Sri Lanka rupee falls to record low
The Sri Lankan rupee fell to a record low of 134 on Friday as a state-run bank, through which the central bank directs the markets, lowered the dollar selling rate by 20 cents, dealers said. MORE..
Lankan charged for kissing 3-year-old at UAE beach
A Sri Lankan man faced a court in the United Arab Emirates Thursday for allegedly inappropriately kissing a three-year-old boy at a beachside in Jumeirah last April. MORE..
Australia denies officials paid people smugglers
The Australian government has denied claims that customs officials paid thousands of dollars to people smugglers to take asylum seekers back to Indonesia. MORE..
Mubarak recalled for Tests against Pakistan
After being sidelined for close to eight years, Jehan Mubarak, the allrounder, was recalled to Sri Lanka’s Test team when the 16-man squad for the three-match series against Pakistan was announced on Wednesday (June 10). MORE..
Sri Lankan refugee seeks compensation for his daughter’s death
A Sri Lankan refugee at a Tamil Nadu refugee camp today moved the Madras High court seeking Rs 10 lakh in compensation from the state government for the death of his minor daughter who succumbed to injuries as the dilapidated house they were staying in collapsed in rains last year. MORE..
Police Headquarters has transferred 06 officers-in-charge (OICs) of police stations with effect from Friday (5) on exigencies of the service, police spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said. MORE..
Detained Lankan refugees plead for NZ help
Sixty-five refugees including Sri Lankan nationals detained in Indonesia are pleading for help from the New Zealand Government. MORE..
India unsafe if Sri Lanka is not kept secure – Seneviratne
Sri Lanka has recalled its envoy to India Sudharshan Seneviratne, within a year of his appointment and just when bilateral ties were looking up between the two neighbours. MORE..
Three-wheeler used in Raviraj assassination found – CID
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that the three-wheeler which is believed to have been used in the assassination of the former TNA Parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj, has been located. MORE..
Guinness Record initiative in tea plucking
Sri Lanka Tourism, Sri Lanka Tea Board and Sri Lankan Airlines initiated a Sri Lanka Guinness Record on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Onboard Travel (APOT) partners’ congress 2015. MORE..
Sri Lanka to talk to India on fishing
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Sri Lanka said on Monday that it will continue to engage with India on the fishermen issue to seek satisfactory short-term and long-term solutions. MORE...
Injustice against Tamils in Sri Lanka continues: DMK
Expressing concern over a report on the Sri Lankan army’s “continued occupation” of traditional Tamil homeland, DMK on Saturday said it showed that the scene has not changed despite a change of guard in the island republic. MORE..
Govt does not have will to help Tamils - Wigneswaran
Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran, has accused the country’s Central government of not “having the will” to help Tamils or minorities. MORE..
Sri Lankan refugee found guilty of stabbing neighbour
A man who fatally stabbed a fellow Sri Lankan refugee has been found guilty of murder by an Adelaide jury, which earlier heard the crime was committed after the victim called his killer a “lady boy”. MORE..
5 Sri Lankan fishermen detained near Nagapattinam
The Indian Coast Guard personnel on Thursday night detained as many as five Sri Lankan fishermen and have confiscated their fishing boat charged with the offence of poaching in Indian waters at about 36 nautical miles off Nagapattinam coast. MORE..
Johnston Fernando released on bail
Former Minister Johnston Fernando, who was arrested and remanded over charges of financial fraud, was released on bail by the Kurunegala High Court today. MORE..
Lankan kidnapped in Nigeria released
The Sri Lankan engineer, D A Karunadasa, who was abducted in Nigeria for ransom, has been released by his abductors, Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P Perera said. MORE...
South African delegation meets Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora in UK
A South African delegation has met with Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora organisations with a view to bringing a sense of normalcy to the North-East part of the island and exchange views on how they could contribute towards the peace and reconciliation process. MORE..
Modi paying special attention for Sri Lankan Tamils’ welfare - BJP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been paying special attention for the welfare of Tamils both in India and in Sri Lanka, says Muralidhar Rao, national general secretary of the BJP. MORE..
Vienna airport security staff smuggled Lankan migrants to US, UK
Austrian police have arrested several security employees at Vienna airport over their alleged role in smuggling illegal immigrants to Britain and the US, officials confirmed on Tuesday. MORE..
No room for separatism and violence, says Lankan Cannes star
Jesuthasan Anthonythasan, the Tamil Tiger child soldier who attained international stardom when his film Dheepan bagged the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year, has well and truly abjured violence and separatism, which had marked his life in Sri Lanka. MORE..
‘Dheepan’ wins Palme d’Or in upset Cannes finale
The 68th Cannes Film Festival was brought to a surprising close Sunday with Jacques Audiard’s Sri Lankan refugee drama taking the festival’s coveted top honor, the Palme d’Or. MORE..
Sri Lankan van driver jailed for killing jogger
An “extremely tired” Sri Lankan van driver who hit and killed a jogger near Epsom after working a 12-hour night shift has been jailed for four years by a UK court. MORE..
India hands over 16 Sri Lankan fishermen
India on Saturday handed over 16 Sri Lankan fishermen—arrested for allegedly poaching in the Indian waters—to Sri Lankan authorities, several days after they were ordered released by courts. MORE..
Govt’s immediate priority to reset investment climate - Mangala
Sri Lanka’s foreign minister says that with relatively well developed infrastructure and human capital, the government’s immediate priority is to reset the investment climate by making Sri Lanka a secure, efficient and competitive investment destination in South Asia. MORE..
Huge ransom demanded for kidnapped Sri Lankan
Kidnappers have demanding a huge ransom for the release of a Sri Lankan national who was abducted during a brazen kidnapping operation at the boundary of Ondo and Kogi States, Nigerian media reported today. MORE..
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector outperforms broader economy: report
A steep rise in visitor numbers to Sri Lanka is driving growth in the country’s tourism industry, though a slowdown in the Chinese economy and problems in Russia could take the edge off the surge of arrivals later in the year. MORE..
ITJP seeks info about 110 surrendered Tamil Tigers
The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) Sri Lanka, headed by South African rights activist Yasmin Sooka, has asked the Sri Lankan government to give information about the whereabouts of 110 LTTE leaders who had surrendered to the Lankan military in full public view on May 18, 2009. MORE..
Court bans LTTE remembrance events in Mullaitivu
The Mullaitivu Magistrate’s Court today issued a stay order banning the holding if any LTTE remembrance event up to 14 days from 18 May within the Mullaitivu police area, police spokes ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said. MORE..
Sri Lankan arrested after undercover sting in Florida
A 22-year-old Sri Lankan man is facing up to 15 years in prison if found guilty on charges of attempted lewd and lascivious battery and traveling to meet a minor for a sexual encounter in Florida, US. MORE..
Govt urges Saudi to raise minimum wage of housemaids
Sri Lanka has requested the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to increase the minimum wage of SR900 set for its domestic workers because of the rising cost of living in the island. MORE..
Majority of Sri Lankan refugees not willing to return - Swaminathan
Only 35 per cent of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in Tamil Nadu are willing to come back, D.M. Swaminathan, Minister for Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Religious Affairs, said on Friday. MORE..
Tamil Nadu fishermen freed under Indo-SL swap deal
The 37 Tamil Nadu fishermen detained in Sri Lanka were released by a court in Point Pedro in Jaffna district on Friday, following a swap agreement with India under which 16 Lankan fishermen jailed in India will also be released, Indian officials told Express. MORE..
Govt in special discussions with Emirates CEO
A group of top officials from Sri Lanka’s civil aviation sector met Emirates Airline’s incumbent President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Clark in Dubai recently for consultations to develop the island’s aviation services and its allied industries, said very reliable sources. MORE..
Sri Lankan-origin teen sues school over ‘racist bullies’
A boy, 17, is taking Australian education authorities to court, claiming he has been robbed of his future by his school’s failure to deal with the racist classroom bullies who tormented him. MORE..
Sri Lanka briefs diplomats on moves to restore democracy
Sri Lanka has briefed diplomats based in the country on moves to restore democracy, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. MORE..
Sri Lankan refugee accused of stabbing fellow refugee
A Sri Lankan refugee accused of murder allegedly stabbed another refugee through the stomach with such force the blade damaged the victim’s spine, an Adelaide court has heard. MORE..
65 Sri Lankan refugees return from India
A batch of 65 Sri Lankan refugees, from some 32 families, returned from India today, Minister of Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M. Swaminathan told Ada Derana. MORE..
SC judge steps down from bench hearing Gota’s FR
Supreme Court Judge Buwaneka Aluwihare says that he will withdraw from the bench considering the fundamental rights (FR) petition filed by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. MORE..
Indian man kills Sri Lankan nurse in Kuwait
An Indian man murdered a Sri Lankan nurse in Kuwait following a rift over a KD500 (Rs 220,860) debt, a newspaper in the oil-rich Gulf emirate reported. MORE..
No Sri Lankans injured; SL embassy in Nepal damaged
No Sri Lankans were injured in the latest earthquake to hit Nepal, Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry said a short while ago. The Ministry stated that all Sri Lankan citizens were evacuated to Sri Lanka after the last earthquake and the sole remaining Sri Lankans in Nepal were Sri Lankan embassy officials who were safe. MORE...
Man convicted of stabbing Lankan shop worker
A man has been convicted of wounding with intent after stabbing a Sri Lankan shop worker in the neck and causing him life-changing injuries in Buckinghamshire, England. MORE..
FCID postpones; Gotabaya at Bribery Commission
Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was initially informed to be present at the FCID today has been asked to appear on May 20, his attorney told Ada Derana. He is currently at the Bribery Commission to give a statement. MORE...
UPDATE: Over 250 Sri Lankans evacuated in Qatar fire
Over 250 Sri Lankans evacuated unharmed after a fire broke out today in a dormitory in Qatar, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. MORE..
Sri Lankan drug dealer arrested in Beijing with ‘ice’
A Sri Lankan national has been arrested by Chinese police officers for the possession of crystal methamphetamine, an illegal drug popularly known as “ice”, following a crackdown on drug dealers students of targeting international schools in Beijing. MORE..
BJP leaders discuss 13A with govt
A BJP team from Tamil Nadu on a Track II diplomatic mission has urged the Sri Lankan government to expedite democratic reforms under the 13th amendment to ensure devolution of powers to Tamil provinces and grant of equal rights to Tamils. MORE..
Sri Lankan-origin candidate elected to UK Parliament
Ranil Jayawardena, Conservative Party candidate of Sri Lankan origin who was running for election in North East Hampshire, has been elected to the UK Parliament.
Lankan accused in hit-and-run pleads guilty
A Sri Lankan man, who is in New Zealand on a work permit, has admitted he struck a woman while driving a rental car and talking on a mobile phone, then fled the scene. MORE..
Sri Lanka ranked 63rd in Tourism Index
According to the World Economic Forum’s index of most tourist-friendly countries Sri Lanka has been ranked 63rd out of 141 countries. Ahead of the Sri Lanka on the index were Malaysia(25)m Indonesia (50) and India (52). MORE...
Ada Derana reliably learns that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been summoned to appear at the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on May 1. MORE..
FCID arrests Johnston Fernando
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) has arrested former Minister Johnston Fernando, a short while ago, the police Spokesperson said. MORE...
Sri Lankan jailed for reckless driving in Qatar
A Criminal Court in Doha has awarded a six-month jail sentence to a Sri Lankan expatriate motorist for his reckless driving, which caused the death of a GCC citizen and injury to some others, local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday. MORE..
TNA shared its vision for a united Sri Lanka - Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry says that it was interesting to hear Sri Lanka’s Tamil leaders share their vision for a united and peaceful Sri Lanka, even though there are difficult issues still to “get over.” MORE..
Kerry holds talks TNA, backs justice for Tamils
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry ended a visit to Sri Lanka Sunday after pledging support for minority Tamils following decades of ethnic war, a local Tamil politician said. MORE..
To restore democracy, the US will always stand with SL- Kerry
In order to restore democracy, the American people will stand with Sri Lanka, thus, the US will establish an annual partnership dialogue with the island nation, US Secretary of State John Kerry said.
Kerry’s Sri Lanka visit to ‘show US support’
Top US diplomat John Kerry left early Friday on a landmark trip to Sri Lanka, the first such visit in a decade to the Indian Ocean island as it returns to the diplomatic fold. MORE..
Sri Lankan gets death sentence for killing mistress
A Sri Lankan national, who murdered his mistress while his wife was abroad on holiday, has been sentenced to death in Bahrain. MORE..
Navy denies allegations of shooting Indian fishermen
The Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday denied allegations that it had shot Indian fishermen who had illegally strayed into local waters and said such an action would be taken only as their “final resort”. MORE..
Myanmar releases 17 Sri Lankan fishermen on Presidential pardon
Seventeen Sri Lankan fishermen who were in custody in Myanmar on charges of breaching International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) have been released following a Presidential pardon. MORE..
Sri Lankan gang arrested over fake passport racket
The Q branch of the Tamil Nadu police busted on Wednesday, a fake passport racket run by a Sri Lankan gang which had been ‘issuing’ fake Indian passports and fake visas to Sri Lankan refugees after collecting huge amounts and helping them to go to Europe and Canada via Nepal. MORE..
India urges Sri Lanka Navy not to fire on stray Indian fishermen
The Indian Government today said it has requested Sri Lankan Navy to act with restraint and not to fire on Indian fishermen if they stray into the waters of the island nation. MORE..
Sri Lankan gets 7-year jail in robbery case
The Second Additional Assistant Sessions Court in Tiruchy on Monday convicted and sentenced a Sri Lankan Tamil to undergo seven-year imprisonment for robbing a woman of a gold chain after attacking her in April 2013. MORE..
Indian fishermen indulge in illegal acts in Sri Lankan waters, says ICG
In a stand that may not go down well in Tamil Nadu, Indian Coast Guard on Monday told the Madras High Court that Indian fishermen allegedly indulge in various illegal acts such as smuggling and trawling in Sri Lankan waters resulting in action by the island nation’s navy. MORE..
Sri Lankan woman arrested smuggling gold into India
Indian customs officials have arrested a Sri Lankan woman who smuggled gold weighing nearly one kilogram into the country by concealing it under her garments. MORE..
Amnesty for army absentees ends
The recently declared General Amnesty period of Sri Lanka Army has come to an end today (25th April 2015), said Military Spokesperson, Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera while speaking to the media. MORE..
Sri Lanka to partner with Kerala in tourism sector
Sri Lanka has expressed interest in joining hands with Kerala Tourism for developing tourism circuits and joint promotions. MORE..
Gammanpila regrets ‘distorted flags’ controversy
The General Secretary of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Udaya Gammanpila, today expressed regret over the presence of several distorted national flags during a protest staged yesterday opposite the Bribery Commission. MORE..
Sri Lanka ranks 132 on global happiness index
Sri Lanka has climbed 5 places in a global ranking of the happiest nations, coming in at the 132nd spot out of 158 countries on the index that took into account GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support and freedom to make life choices as indicators of happiness. MORE..
New govt’s policies have created positive environment: Ban Ki-moon
Welcoming the new Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stated that a positive environment has been created by the policies of the new government in Sri Lanka for a greater collaboration with the United Nations and the international community. MORE..
No complaint of Sri Lanka Navy hurling petrol bombs
The Indian government did not get any complaint against Sri Lankan navy allegedly hurling petrol bombs at Indian fishermen, the Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh informed the Rajya Sabha. MORE..
Arjuna Mahendran resumes duty at Central Bank - sources
Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran has resumed his duties after a more than five-week voluntary leave of absence after being cleared by a panel investigating a controversial government bond auction, according to a Reuters report. MORE..
Sri Lankan asylum seekers on Nauru set to go to Cambodia
Five asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Iran have agreed to be among the first to leave the Pacific island nation of Nauru for Cambodia under a deal that allows refugees rejected by Australia to be resettled in the Southeast Asian country, a refugee advocate said Monday. MORE...
Former President likely not moving to ‘Peacock’ bungalow
(UPDATE) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is likely not moving to a house which was offered to him by Sri Lanka Labour Party Leader A.S.P. Liyanage, Ada Derana learns. MORE...
Government donates USD 50,000 for Vanuatu cyclone victims
As a token of solidarity with the people of Vanuatu, the Government of Sri Lanka has sanctioned a cash contribution of USD 50,000 for the victims of Cyclone Pam that ravaged the Vanuatu last month, the Government Information Department said. MORE...
Indian police seize 142 kg cannabis bound for Sri Lanka
The Indian district police have detained under the National Security Act (NSA) two ganja smugglers who were arrested while attempting to smuggle 142 kg of ganja to Sri Lanka via sea route. MORE...
Sri Lankan couple, daughters land near Rameswaram
A Sri Lankan Tamil couple with their three teenage daughters landed clandestinely at Arichalmunai, off Dhanushkodi in the early hours of Friday, The Hindu reports. MORE..
Sri Lankan arrested in Pakistan
With the Zarb-i-Azb operation underway in North Waziristan Agency, the Peshawar Police launched a massive search operation on Sunday, arresting more than 118 illegal residents, including a Sri Lankan national, from the posh Hayatabad Township bordering Khyber Agency. MORE..
Arjuna Mahendran questioned at Bribery Commission
The Bribery Commission has recorded a statement from the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Arjuna Mahendran. MORE..
Sri Lankan maid arrested for beating infant
A Sri Lankan housemaid was arrested for beating her Kuwaiti sponsor’s infant due to which the child sustained bruises throughout his body, says Al-Seyassah. MORE..
Bishop meets Sri Lankan Tamils in Chennai
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who is on a visit to India, has held talks with Sri Lankan Tamils living there and termed the meeting as “constructive”. MORE..
Sri Lankan maid pleads not guilty to arson charge
A Sri Lankan housemaid accused of setting her Bahraini employer’s home on fire before fleeing has appeared in court for the first time to plead not guilty. MORE..
Chinese naval ships to use Gwadar port after Colombo snub
Pakistan’s Gwadar port which has been taken over by a Chinese firm could guarantee maintenance and supply for China’s naval ships in the Indian Ocean after the new Sri Lankan government declined permission for Chinese vessels to dock in the country. MORE..
Currency pact with India to boost Sri Lanka’s reserves
Sri Lanka’s official reserves are set to receive a boost by the currency swap arrangement with India, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, the country’s Central Bank said today. MORE..
Young girl sent back to Sri Lanka under Hague Convention
A 5-year-old girl was returned to live with her Japanese father in Sri Lanka in early April after being abducted by her mother and brought to Japan, a government official told The Japan Times on Wednesday. MORE..
Future of Asia Cup in doubt as ACC faces shutdown: report
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) could soon be dissolved or merged with the International Cricket Council (ICC), putting a question mark over the future of Asia Cup. MORE..
Rajapaksa gov’t was more diplomatic on fishermen issue: Leaders
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In contrast to Lanka’s present leaders, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was more diplomatic, fishermen’s leaders in Karainagar, Jaffna has told the New India Express. MORE...
Sri Lanka has potential to be a role model: UN
“If handled well, the case of Sri Lanka has the potential to constitute an example for the region and for the world of how a sustainable peace ought to be achieved,” says Pablo de Greiff, UN Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparations, and Guarantees of Non-recurrence. MORE...
HRC helps Lankan maid to return home after accident
A Sri Lankan maid who was in hospital for three years following an accident in Saudi Arabia has flown back home with a smile, thanks to the Human Rights Commission. MORE..
Govt to accept Interpol’s special travel permit
The Government of Sri Lanka has decided to accept the special travel permit introduced by the International Police (INTERPOL) within Sri Lanka to facilitate cross border investigations relating to the activities of the global agency. MORE..
China, Sri Lanka hold drill to enhance anti-terror skills
China and Sri Lanka have held a joint drill at a comprehensive military training base in southern China to enhance their capabilities, specially in combating terror. MORE..
Indian fishermen protest arrests by Sri Lankan navy
The fishermen of Rameswaram staged a demonstration, protesting against the arrest of fishermen and confiscation of their boats by Sri Lankan navy and urging the authorities to secure their traditional fishing rights in the Palk Bay. MORE..
Passenger held in Pakistan with heroin meant for Sri Lanka
Pakistan’s Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) has arrested a suspect for attempting to smuggle a large quantity of heroin into Sri Lanka. MORE..
Lankan refugees held over bid to escape
The Marine police of the Coastal Security Group (CSG) in India have apprehended two Sri Lankan Tamil refugees when one of them tried to clandestinely leave for Sri Lanka from Pamban near Ramanathapuram. MORE..
54 Sri Lankans evacuated from Yemen
The Government of Sri Lanka today said that at present 54 Sri Lankans have been evacuated from Yemen. MORE..
New gov’t satisfied with progress achieved
The new Sri Lankan government said on Tuesday that it is happy with the progress achieved so far since it came to power following the Jan. 8 presidential elections. MORE...
Sri Lankan drowns in Australia
A Sri Lankan man, holidaying in Coffs Harbour from Sydney, died at Sapphire Beach after he was pulled unconscious from the water. MORE..
Sri Lankan cricket team to tour Pakistan soon
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has assured that Sri Lankan cricket team will tour Pakistan soon, the Express Tribune reported. MORE...
Pakistan, Sri Lanka ink six agreements to boost ties
Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Monday inked six agreements including cooperation between their atomic energy authorities, shipping and disaster management and also vowed to enhance economic ties. MORE...
Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka grow by 84 percent
China remained the second largest source of tourists to Sri Lanka growing by 84.5 percent in March when compared with the previous year, latest data released here on Monday showed. MORE...
39 more Sri Lankans evacuated from Yemen
Thirty-nine Sri Lankans have been safely evacuated from Yemen with the help of the Chinese Embassy and will be transported to Bahrain, the Government Information Department said on Monday (6). MORE...
Fresh tenders for Kalpitiya Islands
The Sri Lankan Government is planning to call for fresh tenders for 11 islands under the Kalpitiya development project. The islands according to the project are to be given on 30-99 year leases to the private sector. However, three out of 14 islands in Kalpitiya had been earlier given on lease to investors. MORE...
BOI recommends criminal prosecution of ex-SriLankan Airlines Chairman & CEO
A Board of Inquiry has found shocking details of corruption running into billions of dollars, manipulations of service contracting, recruitment of unqualified staff and major security breaches at the SriLankan Airlines under the former government. MORE..
Man held with Wallapatta chips worth Rs 9.6 million
A Sri Lankan national has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake for attempting to leave the country with Wallpatta chips, worth around Rs 9.6 million in the market, concealed in his baggage. MORE..
37 Indian fishermen, 5 boats arrested
Sri Lanka Navy personnel have arrested 37 Indian fishermen along with their 5 boats for engaging in poaching activities in Sri Lankan waters. MORE..
26/11-like attack by ISI agents based in Sri Lanka thwarted - report
A 26/11-like attack was in the making, but this time, from the east coast. That is how National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director-General Sharad Kumar sums up the agency’s exhaustive nearly two-year investigation into what it says was a massive terror plot against India by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). MORE..
Sri Lankan boat with six fishermen on board arrested off Chennai
Indian Coast Guard on Friday seized a Sri Lankan fishing boat with six fishermen on board for allegedly fishing in Indian waters. MORE..
Eight Sri Lankan safely evacuated from Yemen
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today announced that three Sri Lankans have already Yemen and that another five are currently on their way to Djibouti via sea. MORE..
Lankan refugee murdered in India
A Sri Lankan refugee was hacked to death in his house at Puliampatti refugee camp near Palani on Wednesday night. The deceased was identified as G. Kamala Nathan (35), a daily wage worker engaged in painting work. MORE..
China to help evacuate Sri Lankans in Yemen
China has agreed to assist in evacuating Sri Lankan nationals stranded in Yemen following a request made by the Government of Sri Lanka, Acting Chinese Ambassador Ren Faqiang said. MORE..
Sri Lanka vows to remedy root causes of terrorism
The Sri Lankan Government today vowed to remedy the root causes of injustice, discrimination and prejudice that have spawned hate and violence for many decades in the country. MORE..
Govt to evacuate Sri Lankans in Yemen
The Government today said that it is making arrangements to evacuate all Sri Lankans in Yemen, considering the prevailing volatile situation in the Arab nation. MORE..
FCID grills ex-Air Force chief Donald Perera
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is currently questioning former Sri Lanka Air Force commander Air Chief Marshal G Donald Perera regarding the controversial MiG deal. MORE..
Sri Lankan fishermen welcome Ranil’s ‘shooting’ remarks
Fishermen of the Jaffna peninsula in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province say they welcome Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe’s remarks that Indian fishermen may be shot if they intruded into Sri Lankan waters. MORE..
Three navy personnel arrested over Nadarajah Raviraj killing
Three navy personnel have been detained and are being questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over the killing of TNA MP Nadarajah Raviraj in 2006, the police spokesman said. MORE..
Two Sri Lankans arrested at Cochin airport
Officials of the Indian Customs Air Intelligence Unit at the Cochin International airport on Sunday seized about 400 grams of gold, 11 cell phones and SD cards valued at Rs.3 million from two passengers who landed here from Colombo. The metal, in the form of eight gold bars, were concealed in their rectum. MORE...
Sri Lanka to resume road development projects with China
The Sri Lankan government has decided to recommence all the main and provincial road development projects in the island nation with China, a government official said on Sunday. MORE...
Lanka for India’s inclusion in regional cooperation with China
Sri Lanka has backed China’s surprise initiative to make India an important component of a regional cooperation to address New Delhi’s concerns over Chinese involvement in large-scale projects in the country, a senior Sri Lankan minister has said. MORE...
Mihin Lanka flight in emergency landing at BIA
A Mihin Lanka flight bound for Bangladesh has made an emergency landing at the Katunayake airport following a technical snag on Sunday (29) morning. MORE...
Pablo de Greiff to visit Sri Lanka today
UN Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparations, and Guarantees of Non-recurrence, Pablo de Greiff, will arrive in Sri Lanka for a six-day visit, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Sunday (29). MORE...
India and Sri Lanka to fight ISI influence
Top intelligence sources said that some Pakistani embassy staff were allegedly using their diplomatic cover in promoting ISI’s anti-India activities. MORE...
Four Indian ships arrive at the port of Trincomalee
Indian Naval Ships, “TIR”, “KESARI”, “SUDARSHANI” and Indian Coast Guard Ship “VARUNA” belonging to the first training squadron of the Indian Navy arrived at the port of Trincomalee. MORE...
Obama honours Sri Lankan science mentor
An Indian-American and a Sri Lankan-origin scientist and teacher are among fourteen individuals and one organization named winners of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). MORE...
China ready to sign friendship treaties with SL: Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China stands ready to sign treaties of friendship and cooperation with all its neighbours including Sri Lanka to provide strong support for the development of bilateral relations as well as prosperity and stability in the region. MORE...
Sri Lanka starts process to regain EU’s GSP Plus
Strengthened by previous positive vibes from the European Union, the Government of Sri Lanka has started the process to regain the generalised system of preferences plus (GSP Plus) status, according to an official statement. MORE...
Sri Lanka fires fresh salvo at Chinese firm
The Chinese company involved in the controversial US$1.4 billion Colombo Port City project has failed to furnish the necessary documents within the two-week deadline set by the new government, which is also reviewing other Chinese projects including a high-profile telecommunications tower, Sri Lanka’s finance minister said. MORE..
Obama taps Indian Americans to control Asian region
With the naming of Atul Keshap to be appointed as the new US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Indian Americans would be serving as US envoys in three of eight SAARC nations. MORE..
Indian Naval vessels to reach Sri Lanka’s east coast for drill today
Four Indian Navy vessels will arrive in Sri Lanka on Friday to hold a three-day training exercise for Sri Lankan Navy personnel in the country’s east coast. MORE..
TN fishermen may get 83-day access to SL waters - Indian media
The third round of talks between representatives of fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka ended in Chennai on Tuesday, a day ahead of schedule, with the two sides meeting each other half way. MORE...
Dalai Lama should be allowed to visit Lanka: former diplomat
Former Sri Lankan Consul General in Sydney, Bandula Jayasekara, has suggested that the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, be allowed to visit Sri Lanka purely as a Buddhist pilgrim and on the strict condition that he talks no politics while being here. MORE...
Lifting ban on national anthem in Tamil sparks row
A decision by President Maithripala Sirisena to allow the singing of the Sri Lankan national anthem in Tamil has sparked a row, with the move coming under attack from his own Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP). MORE...
India interfering in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs, says Chinese thinktank
A Chinese government backed thinktank has accused India of interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka when Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited the Tamil dominated Jafna area. It has also said India was trying to counter Beijing’s influence by encouraging Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh to avoid the China’s Silk Road program. MORE.
EU delegation to arrive in Sri Lanka to discuss GSP plus
A high-level delegation from the EU will arrive in Sri Lanka next week to hold discussions with the Sri Lankan government on the GSP plus trade concessions which has been withdrawn from Sri Lanka during the previous regime, the Sri Lankan government said on Wednesday. MORE...
Arjuna accepts SLFP membership
Democratic National Alliance MP Arjuna Ranatunga says that he has accepted the membership of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). MORE...
Sirisena allows singing of Lankan national anthem in Tamil
In a major reconciliatory move, Sri Lankan President Mathripala Sirisena will be sending a circular to all institutions saying that there is no bar on singing the Lankan national anthem in Tamil, the New Indian Express said on Wednesday (18). MORE...
CB Governor to take leave during probe: PM
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe on Tuesday (17) informed the Parliament that Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran will be on leave until investigation on the treasury bonds issue is concluded. MORE...
Weapons found in floating armoury are not state owned: Gotabaya
Ex-President’s brother and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday (16) asserted that weapons recovered from the floating armoury in the southern port of Galle are not owned by the state. MORE...
Interim report on missing persons this week
The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons is to hand in an interim report to the President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday, the President Media Unit said in a statement. MORE...
20,000-year-old fossilized human teeth discovered in Sri Lanka
People adapted to living in tropical rainforests thousands of years earlier than previously known, according to scientists who found crucial evidence in 20,000-year-old fossilized human teeth discovered in Sri Lanka. MORE...
Modi meets Rajapaksa, concludes Sri Lanka visit
In a personal gesture, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended his two-day visit to Sri Lanka on Saturday with a meeting with the former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was ousted from power in elections in January. MORE..
US welcomes release of Balendra Jeyakumari
The U.S. has welcomed the release by Sri Lanka’s new government of a rights activist arrested a year ago for demanding information about people who went missing during the country’s decades-long civil war. MORE..
Court issues notice on six including Finance Minister
The Appeal Court today (12 March) issued notices on six including Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Secretary to the Treasury, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury and Director General of Customs. MORE..
Time to replace 13th Amendment with a more dynamic system: Wigneswaran
It is time the 13th Amendment was replaced with a more dynamic system of devolution of powers, according to Sri Lanka’s Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran. MORE...
Sri Lanka beat Scotland by 148 runs
Kumar Sangakkara became the first batsman to hit four consecutive one-day centuries and set a new record for dismissals by a wicketkeeper as Sri Lanka defeated Scotland by 148 runs in the Cricket World Cup at Bellerive Oval on Wednesday. MORE..
Modi to discuss growing influence of China with Sri Lanka
Indian defence expert Qamar Agha on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take up the matter of growing Chinese influence in the region with the Sri Lankan government during his upcoming visit to the island nation. MORE..
US to help Sri Lanka heal ethnic tensions
The US will help Sri Lanka’s new government to restore democracy and heal “fragile ethnic tensions”, a senior American official said on Tuesday. MORE..
JVP wants Central Bank Governor to resign
The People’s Liberation Front, popularly known as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), today called for the resignation of Mr. Arjuna Mahendran as the Governor at Central Bank of Sri Lanka. MORE..
Karunanidhi condemns Ranil Wickramasinghe’s remarks
Slamming Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe for his remarks that Indian fishermen may be shot if they intruded into Lankan waters, DMK on Monday said it “amounted to a slap” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s face ahead of his tour to the island nation. MORE...
Sri Lanka qualify for World Cup quarter finals
Bangladesh will play its quarter-final at the MCG on 19 March while Sri Lanka will play its quarter-final at the SCG on 18 March, against opponents to be determined by the respective finishing positions in the pool stage. MORE...
Sri Lanka is not anti-China but mainland firms won’t get ‘carte blanche’: Ravi
Sri Lanka’s new leadership is not targeting China and only wants its help to fight corrupt deals orchestrated by the last government, the island nation’s finance minister said, even as he ratcheted up rhetoric against Chinese companies he said were once given “carte blanche” in his country. MORE...
29% of Sri Lanka female journos sexually harassed at work place: report
Almost 29 percent of Sri Lankan female journalists have experienced sexual harassment in the work place according to the latest survey conducted by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the New Indian Express reported. MORE...
PM Modi to push economic ties in Sri Lanka
India is expected to offer a credit line to Sri Lanka to ensure funds for infrastructure and development projects and expanded support for military training during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the island nation this week, as New Delhi aims to match growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean Region. MORE...
Australia beats Sri Lanka by 64 runs
Australia dismissed Sri Lanka for 312 to clinch a 64 run victory in a Pool A match in Sydney on Sunday. MORE...
Sri Lanka needs 377 to win against Australia
Electing to bat, Australia made 376 for 9 against Sri Lanka in a pool A ODI cricket match of the ICC World Cup here today. MORE...
India takes up fishermen issue after Lanka threat
A day after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Indian fishermen may be shot if they “intruded” into his country’s waters, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday raised the matter with the Sri Lankan government and emphasised that it was a humanitarian” and “livelihood” issue for the fishermen. MORE...
Six Sri Lankan fishermen detained off Nagapattinam
The Indian Coast Guard has detained six Sri Lankan fishermen on the charge of poaching in Indian waters, 128 nautical miles off Nagapattinam coast on Friday. MORE..
Yoshitha transferred to Navy HQ
Yoshitha Rajapaksa who was attached to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s security division has been transferred to Navy Headquarters with effect from March 9, Navy spokesman told Ada Derana. MORE...
Police slaps 90-day detention on France-bound woman
Sri Lankan authorities Thursday extended by 90 days the detention of a suspected former Tamil rebel fighter arrested as she was returning to her home in France, police said. MORE...
Sri Lanka needs fiscal consolidation to cut debt: IMF
The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) said on Wednesday that Sri Lanka’s economic prospects remain favorable under the new government but a mid-term fiscal consolidation is essential. MORE...
Spy cables reveal Sri Lanka hyped up Tamil Tiger postwar threat: Report
In the cable, dated June 9, 2010, South Africa’s State Security Agency (SSA) replied to a request for information about several cases of purported LTTE activity in South Africa, from a suspected military training camp held in May 2010 to suspicions that local Tamil organizations were raising money for the LTTE... MORE..
Final report on missing persons this month
The final report prepared by the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons is to be presented to President Maithripala Sirisena in mid March. MORE...
Pakistan naval ship in Trincomalee on a goodwill visit
Pakistan Navy Ship ‘Zulfiquar’ has arrived at the port of Trincomalee last evening on a four days goodwill visit. MORE...
India, Sri Lanka to revive fishermen talks
Sri Lanka today accepted India’s request to revive talks between the fishing communities of the two countries, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to the country. MORE...
Sanga rejects politics rumours
Former Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara today rejected rumours that he is planning on entering politics. Posting on his official Facebook page Sangakkara stated that the completely baseless and are just irresponsible rumours. MORE...
Mid-sea fight threatens to jeopardise talks between Indian, Sri Lanka fishermen
Fishermen in the region, who were looking forward to a new round of talks between their representatives with Sri Lanka, are in a state of suspended animation as a mid-sea fight seems to have turned the tides. They were hoping that bilateral talks would begin on March 5 once the state government received clearance from the Centre. MORE..
China says Sri Lanka loans made “based on consensus”
China’s loans to Sri Lanka were made based on consensus through talks between the two countries and at Sri Lanka’s request, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday, after Sri Lanka’s foreign minister expressed concern about the loans. MORE...
Bus strike on Kandy-Colombo route
Inter-provincial private buses operating on the Kandy-Colombo route have resorted to a strike action, since this morning, President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners Association Gemunu Wijerathne said. MORE...
Government cancels licences for foreign mining firms
The President has cancelled mining licences issued by the previous government to 16 foreign companies to search for blue sapphires and other gems, the President’s Media Unit said in statement. MORE...
Indian FM to visit Sri Lanka this week
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will arrive in Sri Lanka on a two-day official visit on March 6 to pave way for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the island nation in mid March, the foreign ministry officials said Sunday. MORE...
Missing persons hearing continues amid protests
The presidential commission investigating cases of missing persons has continued hearing on missing persons cases amid protests by Tamil groups who are demanding a credible investigation into such issues. MORE...
Bus strike on Tangalle-Colombo route
Private buses operating on the Tangalle-Colombo route have resorted to a strike action since this morning, President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners Association Gemunu Wijerathne said. MORE...
85 undocumented Sri Lankans detained in Medan
Immigration authorities in Medan, North Sumatra, have detained 85 Sri Lankan citizens for trespassing on Indonesian territory without documents. MORE...
Jaishankar to arrive in Sri Lanka
Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will today begin his South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ‘Yatra’ with Bhutan as the first stop. MORE...
Sri Lanka unhappy with ‘tiring’ World Cup travel
Sri Lanka flew back to New Zealand on Friday grumbling about their World Cup travel following a hectic dash across the Tasman sea for just one game even as some other teams enjoyed a relaxed schedule. MORE...
Lankan jailed for molesting a 10-year-old girl in wheelchair
A Sri Lankan worker has been jailed for three months for molesting a 10-year-old girl on a wheelchair in a Dubai store where he worked and performed a lewd act in front of her. MORE..
Sri Lanka thrash Bangladesh by 92 runs
Lasith Malinga picked up 3 wickets to regain lost form as Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by 92 runs in their World Cup Pool A clash following a commanding display in Melbourne. MORE..
Govt. expresses concern over situation in Maldives
The Sri Lankan government issuing a statement expressed its concern over the developing situation in the Maldives following the arrest of former President Mohamed Nasheed. MORE...
Another call to re-call Mahinda
A group of opposition members are expected to meet former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and urge him to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections in the island country, an opposition member has told the Xinhua news agency. MORE...
Yoshitha Rajapaksa assigned to Mahinda’s security detail
The son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa, has been assigned to the security detail of his father, sources within the Sri Lanka Navy said. MORE...
AI slams Sri Lanka on unlawful detentions, torture
Sri Lankan authorities continued to threaten, harass and arrest human rights defenders, including lawyers, family members of the disappeared and other activists last year, according to Amnesty International. MORE..
Jeffrey Feltman to visit Sri Lanka this week
One week after the UN Human Rights Council agreed to withhold the already delayed report on war crimes in Sri Lanka, the UN announced that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s highest political official Jeffrey Feltman will visit the country this week. MORE...
Daya Ratnayake promoted to rank of General
The outgoing Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake who formally retired from the Army on Saturday (21) has been promoted to the rank of four star General effective from today by the President Maithripala Sirisena. MORE..
Dutch tourist who fell off World’s End rescued
A Chinese tourist who fell off a platform at World’s End in Horton Plains National Park this morning has been rescued and airlifted to a hospital by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). MORE..
Special police unit to probe large-scale financial crime
The police department has decided to establish a special unit to investigate large-scale financial crimes, including money laundering. MORE..
Chrishantha De Silva appointed new Army Commander
Former Chief of Staff of the Army Major General Chrishantha de Silva has been appointed as the 21st Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) by President Maithripala Sirisena. MORE..
SLC to hold election on April 30
The election of new office bearers of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is to be held on April 30, SLC said. MORE..
Navy provides treatment to Indian fisherman
Sri Lankan Navy personnel today offered treatment to an Indian fisherman after he was stung by a poisonous fish while poaching in the Palk strait, PTI reported. MORE..
Sri Lanka, India relax visa regulations for diplomats
Sri Lanka and India have signed an agreement granting diplomats and government officials from both sides of visa-free access and stay for up to 30 days, the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said here on Monday. MORE...
India, Sri Lanka may sign nuclear agreement
India and Sri Lanka will seek to open a new chapter in ties on Monday with a meeting between PM Narendra Modi and President Maithripala Sirisena who has chosen India for his maiden visit abroad as president. MORE...
Goverment says foreign minister’s U.S. visit successful
The Sri Lankan government on Sunday said the just-concluded visit to the United States by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera was successful. MORE...
Muslims want panel to probe “hate campaign and violence”
Faiszer Musthapha, MP of the Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Azath Sally, Member of the Central Provincial Council, has asked President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint a commission to inquire into the “hate campaign and violence” against Muslims in the last four years and take appropriate measures to ensure that all Sri Lankans are protected. MORE..
SLFP appoints new National Organiser, Treasurer and VP
(UPDATE) The Executive Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has appointed MP Susil Premajantha as the party’s National Organiser and SB Nawinne as the Treasurer while Anura Priyadarshana Yapa is to remain as the General Secretary. MORE..
Bid to bring ex-LTTE cadre into Tamil political mainstream
N. Vithyatharan, former editor of popular pro-LTTE Tamil dailies Sudar Oli and Uthayan, has started a movement to bring into the Tamil political mainstream, former LTTE cadre and their supporters, who are either out rightly rejected or discriminated against by existing Tamil political organizations like ITAK and TNA. MORE..
Ten high-ranking army officers reinstated
Ten high-ranking army officers including a Major General, who were sent on compulsory leave following the 2010 Presidential Election, have been reinstated, a spokesman said. MORE..
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs in World Cup opener
Hosts New Zealand gave the cricket World Cup a cracking start with a scintillating batting show as they crushed last edition losing finalists Sri Lanka by 98 runs in the opening match of the showpiece event here today. MORE..
CID records statement from Gotabaya
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has recorded a statement from former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in connection with the investigations into the armories of the Avant Garde and Rakna Lanka companies. MORE..
I’ll miss playing for Sri Lanka – Mahela
As he gets ready to play the final phase of his 18-year long illustrious career, Mahela Jayawardene says he will miss the Sri Lankan dressing room after the conclusion of 2015 Cricket World Cup. MORE..
I want entire Parliament to be a Govt – Ranil
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe today said that he does not want to form a United National Party (UNP) government at the next General Election and that he desires for the entire Parliament to be a government. MORE..
Northern PC adopts another resolution: calls for international investigation
The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) today unanimously passed a resolution and called for an international investigation into alleged ‘genocide’ against the Tamils community. MORE...
Lankan accused of molesting girl in wheelchair
A Sri Lankan worker has been accused of molesting a wheelchair-bound 10-year-old girl in a Dubai grocery store where he worked and performed a lewd act in front of her. MORE..
Sri Lanka to strengthen ‘special friendship’ with China
Describing the bilateral relations between China and Sri Lanka as a ‘special friendship,’ Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his desire to closely engage with the Chinese Government. MORE..
EU ban on fish imports from Sri Lanka not revoked
The European Union (EU) Thursday said the ban on fish import from Sri Lanka has not been lifted. MORE...
New President has given hope to Tamils: Velayutham
The election of Maithripala Sirisena as the Sri Lankan President has offered a hope to the Tamils in Sri Lanka and they are able to move freely without the Army’s interruption, said K. Velayutham, Sri Lankan Minister of State for Plantation and Industry. MORE...
Asylum seeker returns not our job: Australian govt.
The Australian government insists it’s up to Papua New Guinea to return Indonesian and Sri Lankan asylum seekers to their home countries, but is happy to help in the process. MORE...
Former President denies military coup attempt allegations
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has denied allegations leveled at him that he had attempted to stage a military coup in the early hours of the 9 January to remain in power even after the Presidential elections. MORE...