Sri Lanka

Reporter's diary: the charge of the saffron brigade in Sri Lanka

Bodu Bala Sena leader Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara is a man whose words lead to action. When he threatens Muslims in a speech, mobs ransack Muslim neighbourhoods. And people die. Off the podium, the Buddhist monk remains the ultimate showman.

Canadian man charged with eight counts of first-degree murder

Canadian alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur is now facing an eighth murder charge, the death of a Sri Lankan man who had not been reported missing.

Victims of violent attacks in Sri Lanka share their stories

Violent attacks against Muslims have been on the rise since 2012. Hardline Sinhalese Buddhist groups are widely believed to be responsible and social media has also played a role.

Sri Lanka's president suspends parliament until May 8

The decision comes days after a failed no-confidence motion attempt against the prime minister and the defection of several ministers forced a cabinet reshuffle.

Tracing the origins of Anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka

Muslims have been in Sri Lanka for centuries, and for centuries they lived alongside the Sinhalese people in peace and harmony. But an ultra-nationalist ideology led by hardline Buddhists is now putting this relationship in peril.

Sri Lankan PM survives no confidence vote

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who leads Sri Lanka's United National Party (UNP), won the support of 122 members of the 225-member parliament, with 76 voting against him.

Sri Lanka's parliament to vote on confidence in the government

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe faces a no-confidence motion that could go down to the wire and lead to political instability in the island nation, even if the government manages to scrape a win.

Police and politicians accused of joining Sri Lanka's anti-Muslim riots

The government declared a state of emergency for ten days and blocked access to social media as 11 mosques were torched and 200 Muslim-owned businesses destroyed in riots by Sinhalese mobs that left at least three people dead and around 20 wounded.

Afghanistan beat Ireland to qualify for Cricket World Cup

Afghanistan will join fellow qualifiers West Indies in the 10-team World Cup to be staged in England and Wales next year.

Sri Lanka ends emergency as ethnic tensions subside

Over 300 people have been arrested in connection with the riots in the central district of Kandy in the first state of emergency imposed in Sri Lanka since the end of a decades-long Tamil separatist war in 2009.

Sri Lanka's communal violence explained

A recent wave of violence has sent the tropical nation into a tailspin as Sri Lanka continues to struggle with post-war reconciliation.

Sri Lankan Muslims accuse police of watching a mob attack them

The riot victims say the Sri Lankan government is not doing enough to counter anti-Muslim groups that are acting with impunity across the country.