Category: Politics

Aug 13, 2013 (LBO) – The European Union Delegation in Sri Lanka has expressed concern over the killing of unarmed protestors by the military and series of attacks on mosques and churches by religious nationalists. “The right to freedom of peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of worship are fundamental to democratic societies and […]

COLOMBO, August 12, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Muslim leaders closed down a new mosque in Colombo on Monday after attacks by a Buddhist mob revived simmering religious tensions and sparked US concern.The Sri Lanka Muslim Council said it had agreed to shut its Grandpass mosque and move to an older place of worship which […]

COLOMBO, August 11, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police lifted a curfew on a Colombo neighbourhood Sunday after a Buddhist-led mob attack on a mosque raised religious tensions and left the Muslim minority fearing further violence.Hundreds of police, including anti-riot squads and elite Special Task Force commandos, remained on alert in the Grandpass district following […]

August 11, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police clamped a fresh curfew on a Colombo neighbourhood Sunday, a day after a Buddhist-led mob vandalised a mosque in an incident that raised religious tensions and sparked US concern.All four people injured in the attack, including two police constables guarding the mosque, remained in hospital Sunday. Residents […]

COLOMBO, August 10, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police deployed commandos and imposed a curfew on a Colombo neighbourhood Saturday after a Buddhist-led mob attacked a mosque, wounding four people and reviving simmering religious tensions, officials said. Police sources said elite Special Task Force commandos were deployed to help maintain law and order following mob […]

COLOMBO, August 8, 2013 (AFP) – A statue of Queen Victoria which was banished from Sri Lanka’s presidential palace amid fears it brought bad luck will now be spruced up for an upcoming Commonwealth summit.The 1897 statue of the former British monarch seated on a throne had been banished from the palace a few years […]

COLOMBO, August 7, 2013 (AFP) – The Roman Catholic church Wednesday slammed Sri Lanka’s army for storming a church and assaulting residents trying to escape soldiers firing on villagers protesting against contaminated water.The shootings came ahead of a visit to the island by United Nations rights chief Navi Pillay later this month. Pillay is due […]

August 5, 2013 (AFP) – Several hundred anti-government supporters staged a rare protest Monday in Sri Lanka’s capital to denounce a deadly army crackdown on villagers who were demonstrating against contaminated water supplies.Sri Lanka has denied that its troops were responsible for killing civilians or committing any war crimes. Around 300 followers of the left-wing […]

COLOMBO, August 4, 2013 (AFP) – Police poured into a village near Sri Lanka’s capital ahead of the funeral Sunday of a teenager shot dead by troops during a protest against contaminated water, residents said. Criticism by the opposition and rights groups of the army’s use of force has mounted since the shootings.Private television networks […]

COLOMBO, August 3, 2013 (AFP) – A second Sri Lankan protester died from wounds suffered when troops fired on villagers demonstrating against contaminated water supplies, police said Saturday, as tensions remained high in the area. Dipped Products Ltd, a publicly quoted company that maintains the manufacturing plant, said Friday it was confident the water issue […]

August 2, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lankan security forces shot dead one protestor and wounded dozens more when they fired on villagers at a demonstration over contaminated drinking water, police and residents said Friday.Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said the army had been called in on Thursday night to assist the police when a mob […]

Aug 02, 2013 (LBO) – President Mahinda Rajapaksa had invited Pope Francis I, the head of the Roman Catholic Church to visit Sri Lanka, his media office said. “On behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka, I consider it a great privilege and an honour to extend to Your Holiness an invitation […]