Latest Sri Lanka News and Top Stories

Sri Lanka’s new government said on Monday it was setting up a South Africa-style truth and reconciliation commission to look into atrocities during its civil war, as it came under renewed pressure to prosecute perpetrators.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein today said that he will release his report and recommendations on Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Making his opening address at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today

Even as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe begins his three-day visit to India on Monday, the Sri Lankan government on Sunday made it clear that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) would not be signed during the visit.

The biggest international challenge for Sri Lanka will unfold in the coming week as the UN Human Rights Council receives the findings of the probe into alleged war crimes by troops and Tiger guerrillas.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has uncovered information regarding a large number of T56 rifles and pistols given to a paramilitary group by the previous government.

Sri Lanka’s Tamil leadership has asked India to support an international probe into alleged war crimes on the island at a key UN meet this month, forcing the Narendra Modi government into an uncomfortable choice between a traditional ally and a new friend.

Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga yesterday claimed that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was destroyed by the United People’s Freedom Alliance’s (UPFA) behaviour.

A Sri Lankan man who said he was arrested without explanation and held at a controversial centre in UK has told Sky News he was “treated like an animal”.

President Maithripala Sirisena says he would not allow anybody to divide the country which was united by the valiant war heroes shedding their blood.

Four presidential Security Division (PSD) officers were killed and several others injured when a defender vehicle and two private buses crashed into each other at Miriswatte on the Minuwangoda-Colombo Road this morning.

Former Uva Province Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources, and Privileges (PRECIFAC), a short while ago.

Sri Lanka’s rupee, which is hovering near a record low after being floated by the central bank last week, will be brought to an acceptable level before too long, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said on Wednesday.

The import tax on a kilo of potatoes has been increased by Rs.10 with effect from last night, while the tax on a kilo of sugar has been increased by Rs. 12, the Finance Ministry said today.

Three cabinet ministers were sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena a short while ago.

DMK today opposed any move by the US to bring in a revised resolution in a UN rights body on a probe into alleged rights violations in Sri Lanka, as reported in the media, and said India should not support it.

In view of the recent media reports on the steps taken by Attorney General Y.J.W. Wijayatilake, P.C. with regard to the Avant Garde case, as well as the investigation and prosecution of Shanmugam Kumaran Tharmalingam alias Kumaran Padmanathan (KP)…