Category: Politics

LONDON, November 11, 2013 (AFP) – Britain’s heir to the throne Prince Charles can draw his state pension from Thursday when he turns 65 — despite having yet to start the job he has eyed for a lifetime.But when most Britons his age will be settling into their retirement, Charles can be expected to take […]

COLOMBO, November 11, 2013 (AFP) – Pro-government activists demonstrated outside Sri Lanka’s main international airport Monday denouncing a visit by Britain’s Channel 4 which produced an award-winning documentary on alleged war crimes during the island’s ethnic war.Activists shouted slogans against a crew from the network as they arrived to cover a meeting of Commonwealth countries […]

NEW DELHI, November 10, 2013 (AFP) – Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will skip this week’s Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka, the foreign ministry said Sunday, as pressure grows for a boycott of the event over alleged war crimes by Colombo.Singh sent a letter to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Sunday telling him of […]

WELLINGTON, November 11, 2013 (AFP) – New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said Monday he will attend a Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka despite his Indian counterpart pulling out amid pressure for a boycott over alleged war crimes by Colombo.Key said his presence at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this week did not […]

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 […]