Category: Politics

NEW DELHI, November 4, 2013 (AFP) – A senior Indian minister Monday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to boycott a Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka over human rights abuses, joining opposition in government ranks to the trip.Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said she wanted Singh to consider the “strong sentiments” of ethnic Tamils and stay away […]

October 25, 2013 (AFP) – Britain’s David Cameron is set to become the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka’s war-torn Tamil heartland during next month’s Commonwealth summit when he will press Colombo on human rights.British High Commissioner (ambassador) in Colombo, John Rankin, made it clear last week that London’s concern was not limited to […]

Oct 21, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Chamber of Commerce says recent elections in the former war-torn Northern Province, and subsequent events are give rise to optimism about the future. “These actions of the country’s political leadership, at both the national & provincial levels, provide grounds for optimism about the future prospects of all […]

ULAN BATOR, October 10, 2013 (AFP) – A silver swastika hanging around his neck, Boldbaatar Gombodorj points out his targets on a map of Mongolia like a World War II commander: little flags representing foreign mining firms that he and fellow “eco-Nazis” accuse of destroying their country.Mongolia’s mining boom has brought the vast, sparsely populated […]

NUSA DUA, October 8, 2013 (AFP) – Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper has threatened to withdraw funding for the Commonwealth in an escalating row over rights abuses by Sri Lanka ahead of a summit next month.Harper confirmed late Monday that he was boycotting the November 15-17 summit in Colombo, citing “the absence of accountability for […]

NUSA DUA, October 7, 2013 (AFP) – Australia’s new prime minister said Monday he would attend a Commonwealth summit next month despite calls for a boycott over the human rights record of host Sri Lanka.The Gambian government announced last week that the former British colony was pulling out of the Commonwealth with immediate effect, saying […]

Sept 27, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa had met representatives of the Business Council of International Understanding, a US-based organization that promotes links between political leaders and business. President Rajapaksa visited New York to attend the general assembly of the United Nations. At a breakfast meeting with BCIU, which was represented by […]

Sept 24, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa will answer questions posed on Twitter, a micro blogging site, after addressing a United Nations assembly in New York, his media office said. The half hour Q&A will take place on Sept 25, at 9.00 am New York time which is 6.30 pm Sri Lanka […]

JAFFNA, September 21, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party was Sunday headed for victory in the first regional elections to a semi-autonomous council in the island’s north after decades of ethnic war.The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) swept three of the five districts declared so far following Saturday’s Northern Provincial Council elections, official results […]

JAFFNA, September 22, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party won a landslide victory Sunday in landmark elections in the battle-scarred north, raising hopes of some degree of self-rule for the ethnic minority after decades of war. The election comes ahead of a Commonwealth heads of government summit due to take place in Colombo […]

JAFFNA, September 21, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils began voting Saturday to elect what they hope will give them a shot at self-rule after decades of ethnic bloodshed that claimed over 100,000 lives.Tamils in the country’s battle-scarred northern province are voting for the first time to elect a semi-autonomous council, in an election […]

UDAPPUWA, September 20, 2013 (AFP) – As Australia’s new government launches tough measures to halt asylum seekers arriving on boats, some dirt-poor fishermen and their families half a world away in Sri Lanka seem undeterred. Although Armugasamy did not fullfil his dream of resettling in Australia, he still hopes the journey was worth it. The […]