Colombo, May 15 (IANS) Over 1,000 land owners in Sri Lanka' s northern Jaffna town Wednesday filed cases against the government taking over their land to build military offices, a Tamil political party said. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said 1,474 people owning land in Jaffna filed the cases challenging the attempts to illegally and unlawfully acquire their private land. "The petition challenges the notices issued under the Land Acquisition Act which specifies that 6,381 acres and 38.97 perches are to be acquired.
Colombo, May 15 (IANS) At least seven people have been killed by stormy weather that has affected over 7,000 people in Sri Lanka, authorities said Wednesday. At least 10 people have also been injured and three were missing after storm "Mahasen", named after an ancient Sri Lankan king, lashed the eastern and southern coasts of the island, reports Xinhua
Colombo, May 15 (IANS) Sri Lanka will probe a controversial video on the final stages of the war between the Tamil rebels and the military, an official said Wednesday. The video, titled "Killing Fields" and released by a British TV station, showed soldiers allegedly killing unarmed rebels, according to Xinhua news agency.
Colombo, May 10 (IANS) A Sri Lankan court Friday ordered a full investigation into a mass grave found last year in the island nation's Central Province, a lawyer said. The magistrate in Matale instructed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to submit a comprehensive report to the court by the end of this month, Xinhua reported
Colombo, May 9 (IANS) Former Tamil Tigers who have completed rehabilitation programmes have expressed interest in entering politics, the Sri Lankan media reported Thursday. Rehabilitation and Prisons Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera said that several rehabilitated former cadres of the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) had expressed their desire to join politics
Colombo, May 8 (IANS) The first quarter results of tourism for the year show the lowest quarterly growth since 2011, bringing in a total of 288,798 tourists to Sri Lanka, latest data showed here Wednesday.
Colombo, May 5 (IANS) British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka in November, the government said here Sunday. Sri Lankan external affairs ministry's announcement came even as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he may boycott the event over human rights concerns in the island nation. Sri Lanka has been accused of committing human rights abuses during the final stages of the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels before the rebels were defeated in May
Colombo, May 3 (IANS) Sri Lanka Friday said that Canada's "hostile criticism" of Colombo strengthened "evil forces" and did not contribute to the reconciliation process in the island nation. Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Canada Chitranganee Wagiswara said her country looked to all states in the Commonwealth to uphold the principles of objectivity, understanding and mutual respect, reports Xinhua.
Colombo, May 2 (IANS) Angelo Mathews will lead the Sri Lankan cricket team in the ICC Champions Trophy to be held next month in England, and spinner Ajantha Mendis has once been again overlooked for the 15-member squad announced Thursday. Mendis, who plays for Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was also dropped from the Sri Lankan squad for the home ODI series in March against Bangladesh. Delhi Daredevils captain Mahela Jayawardene makes a return to the side after missing the ODI series against Bangladesh due to a finger injury
Colombo, May 2 (IANS) Pakistan has now eased tariffs on three commodities it directly imports from Sri Lanka, the industry and commerce ministry said Thursday. Tariffs have been increased on three items with the most tax exemptions provided to coconut oil exports from Sri Lanka, Xinhua quoted a ministry statement as saying
