Category: Politics

April 9, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s ruling party is running well ahead of the fractured opposition, early results showed Friday, in a vote marked by record low turnout and reports of violence and voter intimidation. President Mahinda Rajapakse’s United People’s Freedom Alliance was leading in 21 out of 28 polling divisions declared so far […]

April 9, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s ruling party claimed victory Friday in parliamentary polls, as counting showed them well ahead after a ballot marked by record low turnout and reports of voter intimidation. With more than a fifth of ballots counted, President Mahinda Rajapakse’s United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had secured 62. 1 percent […]

April 09, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ruling party claimed victory Friday as results showed a sweeping victory though re-polling in two districts over poll violence and voter intimidation will delay the official result. The ruling party is tipped to get more than 125 seats in the 225 seat legislature though it may be short […]

GENEVA, April 9, 2010 (AFP) – The UN refugee agency revealed on Friday that it is reviewing the handling of Afghan and Sri Lankan refugees after Australia suspended asylum applications from those states. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) declined however to make a “judgment” on Australia’s move to stop accepting new asylum seekers […]

April 8, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankans were voting Thursday in a parliamentary poll that is widely expected to see President Mahinda Rajapakse’s ruling party march to a comfortable win over the fractured opposition. For many Sri Lankans, it is the first parliamentary election in which they can vote without fear of Tamil Tiger violence […]

April 8, 2010 (AFP) – A shooting incident and reports of intimidation — mostly by ruling party supporters — marred Thursday’s parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka, independent election monitors said. The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) reported 160 incidents of poll-related violence during the first four hours of balloting across the country. A shoot-out […]

MERAK, April 7, 2010 (AFP) – Indonesia moved Wednesday to end a six-month stand-off with scores of Sri Lankan migrants who have refused to leave a rickety boat after they were intercepted trying to reach Australia. Foreign ministry official Sujatmiko said the 205 migrants camped at the port of Merak, Java island, since October were […]

April 7, 2010 (AFP) – South Asia is no stranger to political dynasties, and Thursday’s parliamentary polls in Sri Lanka could mark President Mahinda Rajapakse’s first step in securing a legacy for his own “first family”. Rajapakse, 64, has campaigned for his eldest son, Namal, who is contesting the election in the family’s home constituency […]

April 7, 2010 (AFP) – On the eve of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections, the main opposition accused the ruling party Wednesday of campaign abuses and said it did not expect polling to be free and fair. The opposition United National Party (UNP) said President Mahinda Rajapakse’s administration had used state-owned vehicles and buildings for campaigning […]

April 6, 2010 (AFP) – A doctor who drew world attention to civilian deaths during the Sri Lankan army’s defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels last year is to contest polls this week for a party that backs the man behind the offensive. Veerakathipillai Shanmugarajah, 40, was detained following the army’s final victory over the Tigers […]

April 5, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, accused by critics of stifling dissent and persecuting the opposition, looks set to consolidate his hold on power in parliamentary elections this week. Rajapakse called Thursday’s vote two months ahead of schedule after his thumping re-election in January and his Freedom Alliance party is in […]