Tag Archives: sri

As an army of labourers churns out limestone bricks, archaeologist Prashantha Mandawala reflects on the ambitious task of restoring Sri Lanka’s centuries-old Jaffna fort, destroyed by the country’s ethnic war. The project has so far included the dangerous task of clearing unexploded mines and shells from the seafront site and …

As an army of labourers churns out limestone bricks, archaeologist Prashantha Mandawala reflects on the ambitious task of restoring Sri Lanka’s centuries-old Jaffna fort, destroyed by the country’s ethnic war. The project has so far included the dangerous task of clearing unexploded mines and shells from the seafront site and …

The UN’s top human rights official has called for the creation of a special court, including foreign magistrates and investigators, to look into atrocities committed during Sri Lanka’s civil war. Announcing a long-awaited report aimed at helping Sri Lanka reconcile, Zeid Raad al-Hussein pointed to “horrific” abuses including torture, executions, …

Sri Lanka’s new government said on Monday it was setting up a South Africa-style truth and reconciliation commission to look into atrocities during the Island’s civil war, as it came under renewed pressure to prosecute perpetrators. South Africa, which confronted its own apartheid-era crimes through such a body, would advise …

The Sri Lankan government is “unlikely” to allow a visit by the Dalai Lama, despite the Island nation’s strongly pro-China government being voted out in January. The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has been invited by a Sri Lankan Buddhist group but a senior Lankan official told Reuters that a visa …

The Sri Lankan government has passed a new witness protection law in a further sign that the country’s new administration is prepared to conduct a credible investigation into alleged human rights abuses during the final days of the Island’s three decade-long Civil War. Under the new law, passed by parliament …

Sri Lanka’s new government is to launch a fresh investigation into charges of human rights abuses in the final bloody days of the country’s civil war in 2009 when scores of civilians were killed. Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was ousted in a surprise election defeat last month, had refused …

Sri Lanka’s new government has announced an end to a ban on foreign nationals visiting the country’s former war zones. The Defence Ministry announced that newly-elected president Maithripala Sirisena will scrap the ban with immediate effect. “Since there is no war situation in the country and the life of the …

Pope Francis gave Sri Lanka its first saint at a Mass in Colombo for more half a million people on Wednesday, calling 17th century missionary Joseph Vaz a model of reconciliation after the country’s recent civil war. The pope, who on Tuesday was tired after starting his trip under a …

Pope Francis arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday calling on the country’s people to uncover the truth of what happened during its bloody civil war as part of a healing process between religious communities. The pontiff arrived just days after Sri Lankans voted out the country’s authoritarian leader Mahinda Rajapakse …