Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka bans 11 Muslim groups as Easter attack anniversary nears

Sri Lankan government says decision made under Prevention of Terrorism Act and anyone linked to outlawed groups faces up to 20 years in jail. Seven attackers pledging allegiance to Daesh hit churches on Easter Sunday in 2019, killing 279 people.

Sri Lankan police arrest 'Mrs World' after stage debacle

Last year's "Mrs World", Caroline Jurie, yanked the crown off Pushpika de Silva minutes after she was declared the "Mrs Sri Lanka" at a Sunday gala.

'Mrs Sri Lanka' beauty contest ends with onstage drama

The winner of the "Mrs. Sri Lanka" beauty contest reportedly suffered head injuries after a previous winner snatched away her crown. Organisers said the crown and title will be returned to winner Pushpika De Silva after her eligibility was confirmed.

Sri Lanka rejects UN scrutiny over crimes against Tamils during civil war

A resolution empowers the UN rights council to collect evidence of war crimes during Sri Lanka’s 26-year-long conflict. Colombo has historically resisted calls for a probe into allegations that troops killed 40,000 Tamil civilians.

Critical services cuts amid Covid add to South Asia women, child deaths

UN raises alarm over increase in child and maternal mortality in South Asia after a study commissioned by UNICEF suggests “decades of progress on children’s health in South Asia are now being reversed due to Covid-19”.

After outcry from allies, Sri Lanka says burqa ban only a 'proposal'

Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said a decision had not yet been made on banning the burqa in the country adding that "sufficient time will be taken for necessary consultations to be held and for consensus to be reached."

Sri Lanka set to ban burqas and close over 1,000 madrassas

The decision is the latest move affecting the Indian Ocean island nation's minority Muslims that make up about 9 per cent of the country's 22 million population.

Outrage as Sri Lanka plans to bury Muslim Covid-19 victims on remote islet

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress says families "want to bury our people in our own burial grounds" after government announced plan to bury Muslim coronavirus victims on a remote islet.

Sri Lanka brings back offer of developing deep-sea port to India and Japan

Colombo abruptly pulled out of an agreement last month with Delhi and Tokyo to jointly develop the partially built East Container Terminal located next to a $500-million Chinese-run container jetty within the capital’s sprawling port.

Sri Lanka ends forced cremations, allows burials of Muslims

The government first banned burials of those who died from Covid-19 in April over concerns — which experts said were baseless — by influential Buddhist monks that the practice could contaminate groundwater and spread the virus.

Sri Lanka Muslims stage protest denouncing Covid cremations

The protest came after the Sri Lankan government banned burials of virus victims rejecting international pleas to reverse the decision.

South Africa match marks 'monumental moment' for Pakistan cricket

Experienced batsman Faf du Plessis says South Africa must master the unfamiliar conditions and home captain Babar Azam when they play their first test in Pakistan since 2007 in the opening match of a two-game series that starts in Karachi on Tuesday.