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Rajapaksa assumed the duties in the prime minister's secretariat which was not used by the ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe, officials from his Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) said. (Photo: PTI)

Mahinda Rajapaksa assumes charge as new Sri Lankan Prime Minister

Sirisena on Friday sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa as new PM in surprise move that is being debated as constitutional coup.

29 Oct 2018 2:26 PM

Supporters of sacked Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe gather outside his official residence on Sunday. (Photo: AP)

Sri Lanka crisis: 3 injured as minister Ranatunga's guard fires at mob

Parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga's guard shot and injured three people at the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.

28 Oct 2018 6:33 PM

The speaker also questioned Sirisena's decision to withdraw the security of Wickremesinghe. (Photo: AP)

Sri Lanka Parliament speaker recognises Ranil Wickremesinghe as PM

It came as a major relief to the embattled UNP leader, who was sacked last week by President Maithripala Sirisena.

28 Oct 2018 3:56 PM

Sirisena informed Wickremesinghe that he was being replaced by his former nemesis, Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Photo: File)

Sirisena suspends parliament as political crisis deepens in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s President has suspended parliament until November 16, even as the Prime Minister he fired claims he has majority support.

27 Oct 2018 2:18 PM

Sri Lanka's former president and new prime minister Mahinda Rajapakse arrives at a temple after having been sworn in as prime minister in Colombo on October 26, 2018. (Photo: AFP)

Sri Lanka crisis deepens as PM Wickremesinghe resists sacking

Parliamentary Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has said he will decide Saturday whether to recognise Rajapakse or not, after seeking legal advice.

27 Oct 2018 12:45 PM

Mahinda Rajapaksa was on Friday sworn in as the new Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena. (Photo: Twitter | @PresRajapaksa)

Ex-Lankan prez Rajapaksa becomes new PM amid political drama

The development came after Sirisena's UPFA announced quitting current unity govt with PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's UNP.

26 Oct 2018 9:14 PM

The alleged plot briefly threatened to cause tension between Sri Lanka and India, after a report that Sirisena had accused India's intelligence services of involvement - a claim New Delhi and Colombo have both denied. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka wants Chinese help to recover evidence of 'assassination plot'

A man named as M. Thomas from Kerala was arrested in Sri Lanka on September 22 on suspicion of involvement in the plot.

24 Oct 2018 11:11 AM

In a surprise turn of events, a little-known united opposition candidate, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, was declared the winner, sparking celebrations across the country. (Photo: File | PTI)

Defeated Maldives President blames 'disappearing ink' for poll results

A lawyer for the EC, which Yameen accused of colluding with printer to ensure his defeat denied any wrongdoing, including using special ink.

15 Oct 2018 6:29 PM

Celebrations broke out across the tropical archipelago with opposition supporters carrying yellow flags of Solih's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and dancing on the streets. There was no response from Yameen after results were announced. (Photo: AFP)

Maldives: Opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wins presidential polls

Results released by the Elections Commission early Monday morning showed Solih had secured 58.3 per cent of the popular vote.

24 Sep 2018 1:05 PM

Addressing the media persons here Friday, Sirisena said he would use his address at the UN general assembly later this month to make a case for removal of war crimes charges. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka to urge UN to remove war crime charges against its troops

Sirisena, who will lead a delegation to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, will address general debate on September 25.

15 Sep 2018 1:26 PM

'Returning from Kathmandu, I was served some cashews on board a Sri Lankan flight, but it was so bad even a dog wouldn’t eat it,' Sirisena said. (Photo: File)

‘Even dog wouldn’t eat’, airline removes nuts after Sri Lanka Prez’s rage

'I want to know who authorised the purchase of these nuts,' the President told a meeting of farmers.

12 Sep 2018 3:53 PM

Guo Yehou, a Chinese Vice Minister, met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as part of the ongoing close relationship between the ruling Communist Party of China and Wickremesinghe's United National Party. (Photo : AFP | Representational)

Sri Lanka part of China's One Belt One Road initiative: Communist Party

Xi Jinping's multi-billion initiative focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe.

03 Aug 2018 4:31 PM

'He has gifted 2 billion yuan to be utilized for any project of my wish,' says Sri Lankan President after receiving the grant from Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Photo: File)

China offers USD 295 mn grant to Sri Lanka in a bid for increased influence

Grant offer comes when Chinese firm faces criticism for allegedly financing last election campaign of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

22 Jul 2018 5:05 PM

'We have defeated terrorism of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), but we have not been able to defeat their ideology,' Sirisena said. (Photo: AP | File)

Tamil separatist-extremists regrouping abroad, warns Sri Lanka President

Maithripala Sirisena said govt forces had failed to quash the Tamil rebels’ separatist ideologies despite military conquer.

21 May 2018 11:31 AM

The project was formally launched after a visit to Colombo by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014 but work was suspended by the new administration. (Photo: File)

China clears USD 1 billion road in Sri Lanka, countering India influence

Construction of the road linking the capital Colombo with the hill resort of Kandy had been delayed due to a lack of foreign funding.

15 May 2018 11:50 AM

Sri Lanka's new Law and Order Minister Ranjith Maddumabandara said no fresh incidents of violence has been reported from anywhere in the country. (Photo: AP)

No need to extend 'state of emergency' in Sri Lanka: Law and Order Minister

The 10-day 'state of emergency' in Sri Lanka will expire on Thursday, March 15.

13 Mar 2018 3:59 PM

Tensions between Muslim groups and the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community in the country have escalated since the end of the civil war in May 2009. (Photo: File)

Sri Lankan Prez Sirisena to appoint committee to probe anti-Muslim riots

Anti-Muslim riots, since Monday, have left two persons dead and damaged several homes, businesses and mosques in the Kandy district.

10 Mar 2018 5:26 PM

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena Saturday left on a foreign tour even as his country has been hit by communal violence that has killed at least two people. (Photo: File)

Prez Sirisena India bound amid Sri Lanka state emergency, violence

Mr Sirisena will be in India to attend the first conference of the founding members of the International Solar Alliance in New Delhi.

10 Mar 2018 4:25 PM

Muslim-owned businesses and religious sites came under attack from majority Sinhala mobs, forcing the government to enforce curfew. (Photo: AP/ Representational)

Sri Lanka president removes Prime Minister after communal riots

Mr Wickremesinghe's 11-day tenure as the law and order minister was marred by racial tension in the central district of Kandy since Monday.

08 Mar 2018 6:23 PM

The government order came as anti-Muslim rioting flared anew, with Buddhist mobs attacking mosques and Muslim-owned shops in at least two towns. (Representational Image/ AP)

Amid riots, Facebook, Whatsapp, others blocked across central Sri Lanka

Anti-Muslim riots began Monday after a Buddhist Sinhalese man died after reportedly being attacked by a group of Muslim youths.

07 Mar 2018 4:46 PM

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Dilip Cherian