Page 3 - Srilanka Emergency

India slams China, says Sri Lanka needs support, not 'unwanted pressure'

India on Saturday hit back at China for alleging that it was "interfering" in Sri Lanka's internal affairs, firmly telling Beijing that what Colombo needs now was "support, not unwanted pressure or unnecessary controversies" to serve another country's agenda. Hinting at India's objection to the docking of Chinese ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship 'Yuan Wang 5' at the Hambantota port, Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhongon in a statement on Friday said that "external obstruction" based on so-called security concerns without any evidence is a "thorough interference" into the island nation's sovereignty and independence. "We have noted the remarks of the Chinese Ambassador. His violation of basic diplomatic etiquette may be a personal trait or reflecting a larger national attitude," the High Commission of India in Sri Lankan tweeted. It said Qi's view of India may be coloured by how his own country behaves. "India, we assure him, is very different," the Indian miss

US, EU concerned over SL protesters' detention under counter-terrorism law

US and Canada along with the EU have expressed concern over Sri Lanka's use of Prevention of Terrorism Act on protestors who participated in the agitation that led to Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepping down

Sri Lanka's Oppn party demands Rajapaksa must be tried for misusing funds

Sri Lanka's former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has the right to return to the country, but he must be tried for allegations of misuse of funds since he does not enjoy legal immunity, main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya has said. Rajapaksa, 73, fled the country and resigned last month in the face of a popular uprising against his government for mismanaging the island nation's economy. Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a citizen of this country and he has the right to return to his motherland. No one can deny this right. However, he should be tried for the allegations of misuse of funds, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) CEO Ajith P Perera was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror newspaper. The Sri Lanka's Constitution allows privileges to former presidents, including personal security and an office with staff. There was a case against him for allegedly spending state funds for his parent's monument. It is possible to make him face the trials and penalise him if is found guilty, as he does

Rajapaksa not using state funds for expenses abroad: Sri Lankan govt

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is not using state funds for any expenses he makes abroad: Sri Lanka

India to hand over Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka Navy

India will hand over a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka Navy at a ceremony here which will be attended by President Ranil Wickremesinghe

Four months on, anti-govt protests over crisis in Sri Lanka fizzle out

Demonstrations planned by Sri Lankan opposition parties and trade unions have fizzled out, with smaller crowds turning up to mark the fourth month of an anti-government protest campaign

Over 5.5 mn vehicles registered with Sri Lanka's fuel quota system

Over 5.5 million vehicles have been registered with Sri Lanka's national fuel pass or QR code system, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said

Lankans bide time as new govt scrambles to find solutions for economic woes

Sri Lankans who have endured months of fuel and food shortages are bracing for more pain as a newly installed government scrambles to find solutions to the Indian Ocean nation's economic emergency

'No home to go': Sri Lanka's Prez Wickremesinghe on protestors threat

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday said that there is no point in demanding that he "goes home" as he has no home to go to while referring to the threats received from the protestors

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka looks forward to enhancing ties with Russia: Report

In order to enhance ties with Russia, the newly appointed Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry met with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka Yury Materiy on Sunday

Sri Lanka to implement QR code system-based fuel distribution from today

Sri Lankans have been urged not to overcrowd fuel stations in the country as the fuel distribution process for vehicles as per QR code system which was delayed earlier, will be implemented from Monday

Petrol reserves in Sri Lanka insufficient to meet needs of people

The World Food Programme said that the remaining petrol reserves in Sri Lanka are likely to be insufficient to meet the needs of people

Lanka Prez urges parties to find ways to repay loan as IMF deal delayed

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the unrest had delayed a possible deal with the International Monetary Fund to help pull the bankrupt nation out of its economic crisis

Prez Wickremesinghe invites Sri Lankan parties to form national government

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has written to MPs, inviting them to form an all-party national government to help the bankrupt country to recover from the worst economic crisis

Here's what to expect in crisis hit-Sri Lanka with a new president in power

Ranil Wickremesinghe told reporters last week that he was no ally of Rajapaksa and his family, who led the nation for most of this decade

Sri Lanka's Presidential Secretariat resumes operations after 100 days

Sri Lanka's Presidential Secretariat, which was stormed by a sea of anti-government protesters in early July, resumed operation from Monday, 100 days after the building's entry gate was blocked

Sri Lanka says rollout of national fuel pass QR code system delayed

Sri Lanka's Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) announced that the rollout of the national fuel pass QR code system will be delayed

Criminal complaint filed against Rajapaksa in Singapore for 'war crimes'

South Africa-based rights group has submitted a criminal complaint to the Attorney General of Singapore requesting the arrest of former Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, for alleged war crimes

India extended Line of Credit worth $1.85 bn to Sri Lanka in 10 years: EAM

India has extended 8 Lines of Credit (LOCs) to Sri Lanka amounting to USD 1850.64 million in the past 10 years, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said on Friday

Anti-government protesters vacate President's Secretariat in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan security forces removed a group of anti-government protesters after veteran politician Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the country's new head of state