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(Eagle News) — The Palace on Thursday, July 12, welcomed Sri Lanka’s plan to replicate the Philippines’ war on drugs. “We are happy that other countries have taken note of our war on drugs, and that they look upon us as best practice on dealing with illegal drugs. So we appreciate that,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said. On Wednesday, July 11, the Sri Lankan government said President Maithripala Sirisena told the cabinet he “was ready […]
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — Sri Lanka announced Wednesday it would start hanging drug dealers, ending a near-half century moratorium on capital punishment as officials promised to “replicate the success” of the Philippines drug war. President Maithripala Sirisena had told the cabinet he “was ready to sign the death warrants” of repeat drug offenders, government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said Wednesday. “From now on, we will hang drug offenders without commuting their death sentences,” he said. […]
by Amal Jayasinghe © Agence France-Presse COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — Three months after Sri Lanka was rocked by deadly anti-Muslim riots fuelled by online vitriol, Facebook is training its staff to identify inflammatory content in the country’s local languages. The social network has been seeking penance in Sri Lanka after authorities blocked Facebook in March as incendiary posts by Buddhist hardliners fanned religious violence that left three people dead and reduced hundreds of mosques, homes […]
MALÉ, Maldives (AFP) – Opposition leaders in the Maldives urged the international community Monday to pressure President Abdulla Yameen into obeying a court order to free political prisoners and “restore democracy” to the troubled honeymoon islands. Yameen’s regime has so far refused to release nine jailed dissidents and reinstate opposition lawmakers as ordered by the Maldives’ top court in a shock ruling last week that has deepened turmoil in the atoll nation. The Supreme Court on Sunday […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The International Monetary Fund on Thursday approved the release of $251 million to Sri Lanka, the latest payment of a three-year loan that had been delayed amid differences over the scope and pace of reforms. The IMF approved the $1.5 billion loan in June 2016 following a balance of payments crisis in Sri Lanka. With this latest tranche it has released a total of $760 million. While noting the progress […]
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — Thousands took to relief camps in Sri Lanka and southern India on Saturday to escape rising floodwaters after a cyclone killed at least 26 people. Cyclone Ockhi has left 13 people dead in Sri Lanka and killed an equal number in India’s Kerala and Tamil Nadu states since Friday as it churns in the Arabian Sea. Eleven people, mostly fishermen, remained missing in the two countries as nearly 9,000 people […]
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — Sri Lanka’s government on Thursday deployed troops to help regions stricken by a major storm which killed seven people with five others missing, authorities said. Powerful winds and torrential rain battered much of the island late Wednesday, toppling trees and damaging buildings. More than 20,000 people have been affected by the storm, according to disaster management center spokesman Pradeep Kodippily, who gave the death toll. Two of the missing were […]
by Amal Jayasinghe Agence France-Presse COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy has rescued an elephant that got into difficulties after being washed out to sea, a spokesman said Wednesday, calling it a “miraculous escape.” Chaminda Walakuluge said the Navy mounted the 12-hour rescue after spotting the elephant struggling to stay afloat around eight kilometers (five miles) off the island’s northeast coast. Divers aided by wildlife officials approached the distressed animal and tied […]
TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka (Reuters) — Sri Lanka Navy personnel and local residents helped around 20 beached whales back out to sea on Wednesday (May 31), a day after Cyclone Mora passed over the Indian Ocean island nation. The whales, which beached themselves repeatedly near the village of Sampur in the district of Trincomalee on the country’s northeastern coast, were pushed back into deeper waters by sailors from the nearby naval base and villagers. Large pods […]
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The death toll from the devastating floods and landslides which have hit Sri Lanka since last Friday rose to 177 with 109 people still missing, according to data from the Disaster Management Center (DMC) on Monday. Rescue operations are ongoing, and bodies are still being pulled out of the debris as many continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones. Sri Lanka’s meteorological department continues to warn residents of adverse weather conditions. […]
by Amal Jayasinghe Agence France Presse COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — India joined Sri Lanka’s relief operation Saturday as 230,000 people were driven from their homes after an intense monsoon deluge killed at least 103 people. Rainfall on Friday triggered the worst flooding and landslides in 14 years in the southern and western parts of the island, authorities said. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said 103 people were confirmed killed while another 113 were […]
