News
Extreme tension in Sri Lanka
While the outgoing president Mahinda Rajapakse is given as reelected by the electoral commission the hotel of his adversary the ex-chief of the armies is surrounded by the soldiers. The latter rejects the result of the ballot. Sarath Fonseka has requested the protection of a foreign country to ensure its safety in the face of…
Sri Lanka: 300 missing in mudslides
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, still torn, celebrates its independence
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.
Retromachine: The world’s first elected state woman
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…
European Tamils believe their Sri Lankan brothers were victims of genocide
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…
Anti-Muslim attacks in Sri Lanka
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…
Sri Lanka: landfill collapse kills 15
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…
Sri Lanka: unanimous condemnation abroad after the attacks
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…
Bloody Easter in Sri Lanka: more than 200 dead
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…
The debacle of the Tamil Tigers
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….
Sri Lanka: Tigers, the world’s most formidable insurgency movement, beheaded
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…
Bloody ending of 37 years of armed conflict in Sri Lanka
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…
Sri Lankan-Owned Groovy Graphics Finalist in Australia
In an impressive feat demonstrating the vitality of Sri Lankan entrepreneurial talent abroad, the Melbourne-based Groovy Graphics and Signs, a vibrant Sri Lankan-owned business, has carved its name as a finalist in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards 2024. The brainchild of Sri Lankan entrepreneur in Australia, Lalantha De Silva, this renowned enterprise has consistently…
Humanitarian disaster looms in Sri Lanka
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…
Sri Lanka hosts Raid Amazones 2019, a 100% female race
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.
Impressive procession in Sri Lanka
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…
Sri Lanka: Masses celebrated again
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…
JAT Holdings’ Q3 Soars with 96% Bangladesh Growth
Amidst a landscape of economic adversity, JAT Holdings has emerged with an impressive Q3 performance. Showcasing a resilient approach to fiscal challenges, the company has reported a remarkable 96% growth in revenue from its Bangladesh operations. This surge underscores an era of expansion and operational excellence as JAT Holdings fortifies its presence as a regional…
Chili throws and office supplies at the Sri Lankan parliament
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…
Sri Lanka: investigation continues
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…