Category: Local News

Our new vision for the country involves achieving the twin objectives of sustainable development and reconciliation, President Maithripala Sirisena said addressing the 70th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York yesterday.

Sri Lanka must investigate reports of secret places of detention and set up a “credible and independent” body to clarify the fate of people missing since the long war that ended in 2009, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

US President Barak Obama commended the commitment and efforts taken by President Maithripala Sirisena to strengthen good governance and democracy in Sri Lanka.

A U.S.-backed resolution at the United Nations that seeks justice for victims of Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war has been softened to keep its government on board and allay the concerns of powerful neighbour India, sources say.

The Finance Ministry should increase the taxes on imported food containing excessive sugar, salt and oil to control rapid spread of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD’s) in Sri Lanka, Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.

NEW DELHI: India is likely to back Sri Lanka on the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution over alleged war crimes if it is put to vote in Geneva on Thursday, officials said, attributing the decision to measures taken by the new government in Colombo to empower Tamil minorities.

The United Nations Human Rights Council should adopt a resolution ensuring a robust international role in Sri Lanka’s justice mechanism for abuses during the country’s brutal civil war, Human Rights Watch said today.

PUNE: A 14-day joint training exercise ‘Mitra Shakti 2015’, involving military contingents from India and Sri Lanka, will begin at the Aundh military camp in the city on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said he will make a special statement about the financial situation of the country within the next two days. It will also reveal the manner in which world economic trends influenced Sri Lanka.

Thanking the India’s Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for helping arrive at a decision to not shoot fishermen at sea, during talks with Sri Lanka, the National Fish workers’ Forum has requested him to consult Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and find a permanent solution to all the issues faced by the fisher-folk.

Sri Lanka has the opportunity to investigate alleged instances of human rights violations during the war through a domestic mechanism with the new resolution placed at the UNHRC, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

President Maithripala Sirisena said Sri Lanka will act with determination as a pioneer of eco-sensitive civilization that is emerging in the 21st century to achieve the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and targets that have been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

DMK chief M Karunanidhi today cautioned India against supporting a “watered down” resolution by the US on Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council over alleged rights violations during the last phase of civil war against LTTE in 2009 in the island nation.

President Maithripala Sirisena today met with the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

President Maithripala Sirisena currently in New York to attend the 70th UN Summit met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday (25) on the sidelines of the Summit.

Six persons died and two were reported missing following a landslide at Lily Estate, Ramboda yesterday evening. Several houses of estate workers were covered with earth following the landslide.