Seven, including minor, die during car racing accident in Sri Lanka
An eight-year-old child was among the seven people who died in a mishap during a motor race in Sri Lanka on Sunday (April 21, 2024).
Sri Lanka President dissolves Parliament from midnight amid political crisis
Colombo: Amid a political crisis, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is dissolving the Parliament with effect from midnight tonight, said media reports on Friday. Newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, considered a powerful politician in the island nation, failed to garner the 'magic number' of 113 to prove his majority in Parliament, necessisating the move by the President.
Sri Lanka restricts Facebook, Viber, Whatsapp to avoid spreading hate and violence
Colombo, Mar 7 (IBNS) Sri Lanka’s telecom authority has taken immediate steps to lower the internet speed to interrupt social media to prevent transmitting fake news or rumors that arouse hate and violence in the country in the aftermath of the communal tension erupted in the Central parts of the country.
Sri Lanka: UN assists storm victims, seeks to contain diseases 'spiralling out of control'
New York, June 6(Just Earth News): In the aftermath of a devastating tropical storm in Sri Lanka, United Nations agencies are working to provide shelters and other emergency kits while seeking to contain a mosquito-borne disease that is starting to “spiral out of control.â€
New York, Mar 23 (Just Earth News): Presenting an oral update on the rights situation in Sri Lanka, the top United Nations human rights official said that a general lack of trust in the impartiality of the justice system in the country regarding past violations and continuing “unwillingness or inability†to address impunity reinforces the need for international participation in a judicial mechanism.cNew York, Mar 23 (Just Earth News): Presenting an oral update on the rights situation in Sri Lanka, the top United Nations human rights official said that a general lack of trust in the impartiality of the justice system in the country regarding past violations and continuing “unwillingness or inability†to address impunity reinforces the need for international participation in a judicial mechanism.
Sri Lanka: UN rights expert urges Government to take concrete steps to protect minorities
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News): In her first information-gathering visit to Sri Lanka, Rita Izsák-Ndiaye, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on minority issues, stressed the importance of renewed support for minority rights by the Government, including a plan for specific and urgent measures.
Sri Lanka: Deadly tropical storm displaces more than 230,000, UN relief wing reports
New York, May 25 (Just Earth News): The United Nations humanitarian wing has reported that at least 84 people have died, another 116 are missing, and more than 230,000 are displaced following a severe tropical storm this past week that caused widespread flooding and landslides in 22 districts of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka must fulfil the rights of families of the disappeared: UN rights experts
New York, Nov 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Sri Lanka has the opportunity to once and for all meet the rights and legitimate expectations of thousands of families of disappeared, the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances said on Wednesday, declaring "families have waited too long – the time for action has come."
President of Sri Lanka details country's vision built on sustainability and reconciliation
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): After years of conflict, "a new era of democracy" dawned in Sri Lanka this year, ushering in justice, freedom and equality, the country's President told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, reporting that his Government supports a "fresh universal approach" that deals honestly with the past while pursuing sustainable development.
UN officials outraged at accounts of Sri Lanka war crimes
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): Senior United Nations officials on Thursday expressed outrage at the very serious accounts of war crimes and crimes against humanity that were allegedly committed between 2002 and 2011 by all parties to the conflict in Sri Lanka, including Government security forces, affiliated paramilitary groups and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Sri Lanka: Ranil Wickremesinghe takes oath as PM
Colombo, Aug 21 (IBNS): UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday took oath as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka: UN alarmed at inter-communal violence
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights voiced her deep alarm on Monday at inter-communal violence taking place in south-western Sri Lanka in which several people have reportedly been killed and scores injured.