About fifteen dead and up to 300 missing in Sri Lanka. These are the consequences of mudslides in Haldummulla, a village in the center of the island. These landslides were caused by several days of heavy rains.More than 150 homes were buried. According to the minister responsible for natural disaster management, 75 children escaped the…
Sri Lanka celebrated its independence on Wednesday with a speech by the president which contrasted with that of its predecessors. For the first time, Maithripala Sirisena, acknowledged that the country remained torn, after years of civil war, between the Sinhala and the Tamils. We must reunite our hearts, launched the Sri Lankan president.
On July 21, 1960 , Sirimavo Bandaranaike was appointed Prime Minister of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), after winning the legislative elections. She thus becomes the first woman elected to become the head of a government. The post was previously held by her husband, Solomon Bandaranaike, before he was assassinated in 1959. Sirimavo Bandaranaike promises to…
The Tamil diaspora wants to shed light on the circumstances under which the rebellion was crushed in Sri Lanka. Demonstrations took place on Monday in Geneva in front of the United Nations, and in Brussels in front of the European Council. Some Tamils do not hesitate to speak of genocide. “We are just asking the…
In a noteworthy development that signifies the deepening educational ties between India and Sri Lanka, Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, the Deputy High Commissioner of India, paid an official visit to the DP Education IT campus in Nelliyadi, Jaffna. This visit highlights the dedication towards South Asia education collaboration, where DP Education plays a pivotal role in…
Riots have broken out in Sri Lanka in several parts of the country, under tension since the carnage of the Easter attacks. In Kurunegala, about 90 km northeast of the capital Colombo, police arrested a group of men who attacked businesses run by Muslims. It was Monday morning, testimony of a trader: “They came with…
As the country celebrated the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year, a 91-meter-high pile of garbage, destabilized overnight by torrential rains and a fire, collapsed, burying huts in a slum. Police said a total of 145 homes were demolished. “There was a great noise,” said a man. We heard people screaming. The houses behind us…
In the aftermath of the bloody attacks in Sri Lanka, condemnations are unanimous across the world. Scott Morrisson, the Australian Prime Minister speaks of an atrocious attack on Christians and the innocent. “ The terrible events that have taken place in your homeland, Sri Lanka, have damaged this beauty, the innocence of human life, and…
Sri Lanka was hit on Sunday by a series of attacks on luxury hotels and churches celebrating Easter Mass, killing more than 200. What happened ? Powerful explosions occurred in the early morning, around 8:30 am to 9:00 am local time, at three luxury beachfront hotels in the capital Colombo. The affected establishments, Shangri-La, Kingsbury…
In Sri Lanka, the Tamils, mostly located in the north of the country, represent 30% of the population compared to 75% Sinhalese. They are Hindus. And it is to defend the rights of this minority that in 1972, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam took up arms. Their conflict has since left nearly 70,000 dead….
In this small country of 20 million inhabitants, the defense budget reaches 4% of the GDP . This is to say the weight of the civil war on the economy of Sri Lanka. A war officially started in 1983 even if the first violence dates back to 1972. It left 70,000 dead, weighed heavily on…
This day will be remembered by Sri Lankans as the very last battle against the Tamil rebellion. Unspeakable outburst of violence which can still be read on the faces of the soldiers. The most die-hard Tamil Tigers fiercely defended their last square of territory on the island’s northeast coast, sometimes blowing themselves up like suicide…
In Sri Lanka, 100,000 people are displaced by the raging fighting between the army and Tamil rebels. Since Monday, refugees have been flocking, and the United Nations fear that there is a lack of space in the camps. As soon as the government’s ultimatum ended, the army launched the final assault in the north on…
The 113 competitors of the Raid Amazones set out on the tracks of Sri Lanka to test their limits. For six days, teams of three, 100% female, compete in running, orienteering and canoeing events in breathtaking landscapes. Each team has the opportunity to sponsor a charity during their race.
Thousands of people take to the streets of Kandy, Sri Lanka on Saturday evening (August 25) to witness an annual procession during the Esala Perahera festival. The ritual includes performances by colorfully decorated dancers, drummers, acrobats, musicians and elephants, and is celebrated annually by the Buddha. The century-old, 3.5 kilometer parade begins at the Temple…
Life is gradually resuming its rights in places of worship in Sri Lanka. The services are celebrated again, for the first time since the attacks of Easter Sunday which mourned Sri Lanka. Around churches, security measures have been tightened. “As Christians, we do not respond to terrorism with terrorism”, explains a faithful. “We must forgive…
Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya was prevented from reaching the perch for nearly an hour by a group of MPs and was only able to access it under the protection of unarmed police and parliamentary assistants. They then had to protect him from throwing books and office supplies thrown by supporters of Mahinda Rajapakse, a…
The jihadist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for suicide attacks on churches and luxury hotels on Tuesday that left more than 320 dead and 500 injured on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka, some of the deadliest attacks since September 11, 2001. On CCTV footage, we can see the path of one of the suspected…
The landscape of financial services in Sri Lanka receives another significant enhancement, as ComBank proudly announces the grand opening of its newly constructed branch in Kegalle. This latest expansion by ComBank is more than a mere addition of a new location; it’s a testament to the bank’s unwavering commitment to bring advanced banking services and…
After more than 35 years of civil war, the Sri Lankans elect their president in peace. Nearly 15 million voters are called to the polls. Two candidates present themselves to them. Former allies in the battle against the Tamil Tigers, President Mahinda Rajapakse and his former head of the Armies, ex General Sarath Fonseka. Mahinda…