Latest Colombo News
Sri Lankan court summons ex-president over 2019 bombings
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A Sri Lankan court issued a summons on Friday ordering an ex-president to appear in a case alleging he failed to prevent suicide bomb attacks in 2019 that killed nearly 270 people. The court ordered ex-President Maithripala Sirisena to appear on Oct. 14 in...
USAID head urges crisis-hit Sri Lanka to tackle corruption
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A visiting U.S. diplomat on Sunday urged Sri Lankan authorities to tackle corruption and introduce governance reforms alongside efforts to uplift the country's economy as a way out of its worst crisis in recent memory. USAID Administrator Samantha Power...
US announces $40 million agricultural aid to Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The United States on Saturday announced $40 million in aid to buy fertilizer and other key agricultural inputs in time for the next cultivation season in crisis-hit Sri Lanka. USAID Administrator Samantha Power, who is visiting Sri Lanka, made the...
With no immunity, Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa faces legal troubles
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who returned home after seven weeks in exile following protests over economic hardships, could face legal action over forced disappearances of activists now that he has been stripped of constitutional immunity, a lawyer...
Sri Lanka's ousted president returns home after fleeing
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country in July after tens of thousands of protesters stormed his home and office in a display of anger over the country’s economic crisis, returned to the country early Saturday after seven weeks. ...
IMF set to provide $2.9 billion to help crisis-hit Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The International Monetary Fund announced Thursday it has reached a preliminary agreement to provide Sri Lanka with $2.9 billion over four years to help it recover from its worst economic crisis. The arrangement will help restore financial and...
Sri Lanka hopes to reach initial agreement with IMF for help
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's central bank chief said Thursday he hopes the government can reach a preliminary agreement that could lead to a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund when its officials visit the crisis-hit island nation later this month. The...
Sri Lanka introduces reform bill to clip presidential powers
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's justice minister submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to Parliament on Wednesday that would clip the powers of the president, a key demand of protesters calling for political reforms and solutions to the country’s worst economic crisis. ...
Sri Lankans rally against crackdown on protesters
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Hundreds of Sri Lankans on Tuesday rallied against a government crackdown and the use of emergency laws against peaceful protesters demanding answers to the country’s worst economic crisis. Protesters led by religious and trade union leaders marched to...
Sri Lanka asks China to postpone research ship's port call
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka has asked China to defer a port call of a scientific research ship after security concerns were reportedly raised by neighboring India. The Foreign Ministry ministry said in a statement Monday night that the Chinese vessel Yuan Wang 5 was...
