Politics

British defence chief fights for job amid friend row

LONDON, October 10, 2011 (AFP) – British Defence Secretary Liam Fox’s political career hung in the balance on Monday as he prepared to face a …

Sri Lankan police probe deadly shootings at polls

October 9, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police launched an investigation on Sunday into an election-day gunfight between political rivals in which three …

British PM demands answers in defence minister row

LONDON, October 8, 2011 (AFP) – British Prime Minister David Cameron on Saturday demanded an urgent report into claims his defence minister allowed a …

Sri Lanka ruling coalition sweeps mini-polls

Oct 09, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition of President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a a series of local councils except the capital Colombo and an …

Sri Lanka ruling party wins polls marred by violence

October 9, 2011 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan president’s party won 22 out of 23 local councils in elections, results showed Sunday, as police …

Voting underway in Sri Lanka’s mid-term test

October 8, 2011 (AFP) – Voters in Sri Lanka’s capital went to the polls Saturday to elect a local municipal council, in a contest widely seen as a …

Presidential aide, bodyguard killed during Sri Lanka vote

October 8, 2011 (AFP) – A presidential aide and his bodyguard were shot dead in a gunbattle involving opposing factions of the Sri Lankan ruling party …

Sri Lanka unveils ‘action plan’ to improve rights

October 6, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Thursday announced a new move to address human rights issues in the face of international pressure over war crimes …

Sri Lanka frees 1,800 ex-Tamil Tigers

September 30, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka wrapped up its two-year rehabilitation of surrendered Tamil Tiger rebels with the re-uniting Friday of 1,800 men and …

Sri Lanka detains asylum seekers expelled by Britain

September 29, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s police detained 50 failed asylum seekers flown back to the country Thursday after being expelled from …

Pressure needed to end child soldier use: France

UNITED NATIONS, September 26, 2011 (AFP) – States and armed groups that refuse to stop recruiting child soldiers must be subject to tougher pressure in …

Sri Lanka war general ready to fight US court summons

September 26, 2011 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan general serving as a UN diplomat in New York is prepared to face a US court to deny charges his men committed war …

Sri Lanka leader says international criticism ‘tainted’

UNITED NATIONS, September 24, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president on Friday condemned “tainted” international allegations of a military …

Sri Lanka, India navies in anti-piracy drill

Sept 23, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan and Indian navies ended a joint exercise off the island’s east coast Friday that included anti-piracy and …

Sri Lanka Tamil protesters ask for probe into war crimes allegations

GENEVA, September 19, 2011 (AFP) – Tamils from across Europe demonstrated at the UN’s European headquarters on Monday, calling for a probe into …

US urges Sri Lanka to boost Tamil police

September 14, 2011 (AFP) – The United States on Wednesday urged Sri Lanka to deploy more minority Tamils to police the island’s former northern …

OECD points to general slowing of main economies

PARIS, September 12, 2011 (AFP) – The main economies in the world are set for a general slowdown, the OECD said on Monday on the basis of its leading …

US envoy visits Sri Lanka’s former war zone

September 13, 2011 (AFP) – US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake toured Sri Lanka’s former war zone on Tuesday to meet students, community …

US envoy in Sri Lanka as UN rights meet starts

September 12, 2011 (AFP) – US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake arrived in Colombo Monday for talks that coincide with a UN meeting in Geneva …

Sri Lanka against UN sending probe report to rights body

GENEVA, September 12, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Monday took issue with a planned UN move to forward a damning report on the country to the Human Rights …