newslanka.org

Christian Aid - UK May 18 2010

A year since the Sri Lankan conflict ended there are still 76,000 people living in temporary camps. Christian Aid urges the new British government to make a renewed effort to work …

MAG (Mines Advisory Group) “Thanks to MAG clearing my house and my paddy land, I can move back to my ancestral lands and begin cultivating the land,” says 74-year-old Rasaiya Ragasingham from the conflict-hit village of …

Source: Reuters By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, May 17 (Reuters) - Rights groups on Monday urged the United Nations to investigate potential war crimes at the end of Sri Lanka’s 25-year war, repeating charges that tens …

Source: Human Rights Watch (New
York) - The absence of competitive slates in today’s elections for the United Nations Human Rights Council undermined membership standards and deprived the General Assembly of the opportunity to …

Source: IRIN What do you do when a 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes in rugged mountainous terrain killing more than 73,000 people? How do you respond to the needs of the 3.5 million
people made homeless? Who coordinates the emergency response, early recovery and reconstruction of an area the size of Belgium where some 600,000 homes [...]

Source: Reuters (Changes title in paragraph 5)

By Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO, May 12 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka’s committee probing war crimes said on Wednesday it does not have the legal power to investigate alleged …

Source: Reuters LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) - Somali pirates hijacked a Bulgarian-flagged ship MV Panega in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday as it headed to India, the European Union’s naval force said.

In a statement …

Source: Reuters * At least 19 vessels still held by pirates

* Pirate claims $2.5 mln ransom paid

(Adds pirate source, details, background)

MOGADISHU, May 11 (Reuters) - Somali pirates have released the …

Source: Reuters MOGADISHU, May 11 (Reuters) - Somali pirates have released the Bermudan-flagged MV Talca which was seized on March 23 on its way to Iran from Egypt, a maritime official said on Tuesday.

"We don …

International Save the Children Alliance Schoolchildren targeted in growing
number of conflicts around the world; Save the Children releases The Future is Now report.

Source: Human Rights Watch (New York) - Candidates for the United Nations Human Rights Council
should meet the standards for council membership even when running unopposed, a global coalition of human rights organizations said …

Source: Reuters SYDNEY, May 9 (Reuters) - Five people are feared dead and 59 people were rescued from a disabled boat carrying suspected asylum-seekers in the Indian Ocean, Australia’s government said on Sunday.

…

Source: Human Rights Watch (New York) - The Sri Lankan government’s
suggestion that a newly announced commission will provide accountability for laws-of-war violations during the armed conflict with the separatist Liberation …

Caritas Internationalis Caritas says Sri Lanka has yet to emerge from decades of conflict with a real peace.

Source: Human Rights Watch (New York) - The reforms undertaken by
Middle Eastern and Asian governments fall far short of the minimum protections needed to tackle abuses against migrant domestic workers, Human Rights Watch said …

AmeriCares AmeriCares
helps premature babies survive respiratory distress syndrome. Read more about how you can help preemies.

Source: Human Rights Watch (New York) - Iran’s withdrawal from the race for a seat on the
United Nations Human Rights Council is a victory for human rights and those who seek a stronger UN human rights body, Human Rights Watch …

Source: Reuters By Shihar Aneez

COLOMBO, April 23 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday appointed his brother to oversee the island nation’s post-war economic development in a slightly …

Source: Reuters NEW DELHI, April 23 (Reuters) - Trade and climate change are on the official agenda at a South Asian leaders’ summit in Bhutan’s capital on April 28-29, but it will be dominated by a possible meeting …

Source: Reuters (Factbox on SAARC, click on [nSGE63M0E8]

By Krittivas Mukherjee

NEW DELHI, April 23 (Reuters) - Leaders of India and Pakistan are likely to meet in Bhutan’s capital next week as their nuclear- …

Source: Reuters NEW DELHI, April 23 (Reuters) - Trade and climate change are on the official agenda at a South Asian leaders’ summit in Bhutan’s capital on April 28-29, but it will be dominated by a possible meeting …

Source: Reuters By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, April 22 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka’s new parliament at its first sitting on Thursday unanimously elected the president’s brother as speaker, while the jailed general who lost …

Source: Reuters * President’s brother Chamal elected speaker

* Fonseka blasts government in speech

* Peiris tipped as foreign minister - sources (Adds cabinet named Friday, details, paragraphs 3, 12-15)

By …

Source: Human Rights Watch (Brussels) — The
president of the European Union Council, Herman van Rompuy, and EU member states should express their concern over the prosecution and the potential suspension of Judge …

Source: Reuters (Repeating item first issued late on Wednesday)

By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, April 21 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa swore in one of his party’s longest-serving members as prime …

Source: Reuters (Repeating story first issued late on Wednesday)

* PM to play largely ceremonial role

* New cabinet later this week

* Commanding majority for ruling party

[...]

Source: Human Rights Watch (Jerusalem) - Israel’s investigations
into serious laws-of-war violations by its forces during last year’s Gaza war lack thoroughness and credibility, while Hamas has conducted no credible …

Source: Reuters * President vows reconciliation, development

* Re-polling for two electorates on April 20

* U.S. congratulates Rajapaksa, urges reconciliation

By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, April 10 (Reuters …

Source: Reuters By Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO, April 9 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday won his third battle in less than a year, securing the parliamentary majority he asked voters to give …

Source: Reuters * President’s party wins 117 seats of 180 so far decided

* Two areas ordered to vote again after violence

* Full results to be known after re-votes

* Markets expected to react positively ( …

Source: Reuters By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, April 9 (Reuters) - The strong victory of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition in parliamentary polls should bring much-needed clarity for investors …

Source: Reuters (For more stories click [ID:nSGE637H03])

COLOMBO, April 9 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka’s ruling alliance won a majority in parliament on Friday as votes were still being counted, in an election expected …

Source: Reuters COLOMBO, April 9 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda’s Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition has won a simple majority of seats in parliament, official results said on Friday as counting was still going …

Source: Reuters COLOMBO, April 9 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka’s ruling alliance said on Friday it was confident of winning parliamentary elections but may miss a target of a two-thirds majority in the legislature.

" …

Source: Reuters * Turnout estimated near post-independence low

* President’s alliance seen headed to easy win

* Voting mostly peaceful amid heavy security

By Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO, April 9 ( …

Source: Reuters * Low turnout for voting across island

* President’s alliance seen cruising to win

* Stock market climbs again to new record

* Voting largely peaceful amid heavy security (Updates with counting …

Source: Reuters By C. Bryson Hull and Shihar Aneez

COLOMBO, April 8 (Reuters) - Newly re-elected Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was expected to cement his dominance at parliamentary polls on Thursday, with …

Source: Reuters By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, April 8 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is aiming to get his ruling alliance a two-thirds majority in the 225-member parliament at polls on Thursday. [ …

Source: Reuters By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, April 8 (Reuters) - Sri Lankans vote for a new parliament on Thursday, with President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ruling alliance expected to win a poll that will …

Source: Reuters * Heavy security for voting across island

* President’s alliance seen cruising to win

* Opposition says on watch for voting fraud

By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, April 8 (Reuters) - Sri Lankans on …

Source: Reuters By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, April 7 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is aiming to get his ruling alliance a two-thirds majority in the 225-member parliament at polls on …

Source: Reuters * Almost 80,000 police and troops stand watch

* President’s alliance seen as near-certain winner

* Opposition says plan to change charter impossible

By Ranga Sirilal [...]

Source: Reuters JAKARTA, April 7 (Reuters) - A major earthquake of 7.8 magnitude struck off the coast of Aceh on the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday, but there were no immediate reports of a tsunami or …

Source: Reuters * Parliament poll seen as last big uncertainty

* Rajapaksa alliance seen as near-certain victor

* Opposition vows to block plan to change charter

By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, April 6 (Reuters …

Source: Reuters * Opposition says governement can’t win two-thirds

* President wants two-thirds so he can change charter

* One killed in campaign-related shooting

By Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO, April 5 (Reuters …

Source: Reuters By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, April 1 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa campaigned in the northern city of Jaffna on Thursday, hoping to win support for his party from Tamil voters at …

Source: Reuters By N.Parameswaran

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka, April 1 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday promised voters in the minority Tamil city of Jaffna a role in solving their own problems …

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International SILVER SPRING, Md.–In southern Sri Lanka, where many tsunami-affected communities have made significant strides toward finding long-term stability, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) …

Source: Reuters By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO, March 30 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan voters elect a parliament on April 8 for the first time since the government defeated Tamil Tiger separatists’ three-decade insurgency last …

Source: IRIN The latest UN figures show that 160,000 houses in northern Sri Lanka have to be repaired or rebuilt as the conflict-displaced return to
their home areas.

Source: Reuters (Refiling to correct typo in headline)

NEW YORK, March 29 (Reuters Life!) - American children aren’t the only couch potatoes with nearly one third of children globally spending three hours a day or …

Source: AlertNet LONDON (AlertNet) - Surviving the Tsunami: Stories of Hope, an AlertNet multimedia documentary created for the fifth anniversary of the Indian Ocean …

Source: Reuters By Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO, March 23 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka said on Tuesday it would deny a visa to the Senegalese-American R&B singer and rapper Akon, whose plan to hold a concert there in April …

Source: Reuters By Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO, March 19 (Reuters) - Hundreds of people stormed the head office of Sri Lanka’s largest private broadcaster on Monday and hurled stones at the building, smashing windows and …

Source: IRIN Resettlement efforts are under way for thousands of displaced Muslims from Sri Lanka’s north who have been
languishing in refugee camps for nearly two decades, officials say.

Source: Reuters SINGAPORE, March 19 (Reuters) - Some jewellery shops in Singapore are illegally selling tiger parts, helping fuel the disappearance of the big cat from Asia, a local animal protection group said on …

Source: UNHCR Staff from UNHCR and
its partners take part in a simulated humanitarian crisis as part of a Workshop for Emergency Management hosted in chilly Sweden.

Source: Reuters * Rights groups want accountability for alleged violations

* Sri Lanka calls the move "interference "

By Patrick Worsnip

UNITED NATIONS, March 16 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary General Ban …

Source: ECHO Sri Lankan refugees living in India after fleeing the 26-year-long civil war are afraid to go home. For those that have been the victims of war - civilians sandwiched between the government and the …

Source: Reuters (Adds market close, foreign outflow)

By Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO, March 16 (Reuters) - Former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka appeared before a military court on Tuesday on charges of engaging …