Colombo | 1 hour ago
Sri Lanka probes funds of president's chief rival
Colombo, Feb 21 - Sri Lanka is investigating whether foreign sources funded the campaign of defeated opposition presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka, a newspaper reported Sunday.The former Army commander is already in military custody facing charges of conspiracy against the government. The Criminal Investigations Department - began investigating after $527,000 in cash were found in the b ... read more

Colombo | 19 hours ago
Sri Lanka to set up community villages for ex-rebels
Colombo, Feb 20 - The Sri Lankan government said Saturday it will set up community villages to rehabilitate former Tamil Tiger rebels.Over 11,000 former cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - are now sheltered in 18 state-run rehabilitation centers. The majority of them surrendered to the military during the last stages of the battle in May last year and the rest were arrested. The newl ... read more

Colombo | 4 days ago
Sri Lanka worries for withdrawal of trade benefits by EU
Colombo, Feb 16 - A decision by the European Union to withdraw preferential trade agreements from Sri Lanka has caused concern among the country's export-oriented garment sector.The EU mission in Colombo said the Union decided Monday to temporarily withdraw the preferential tariff treatment, known as its Generalised System of Preferences, which grants preferential access to its markets to countrie ... read more

Mumbai | 4 days ago
Africa next target for Jet Airways with service to Johannesburg
Mumbai, Feb 16 - India's largest private carrier Jet Airways is targeting the African market with the launch of a non-stop service between the commercial hubs of Mumbai and Johannesburg daily from April 14.'The airline will introduce services to the Rainbow Nation using a new state-of-the-art A 330-200 aircraft. The launch of this new route marks the first time Jet Airways is adding destinations t ... read more

Colombo | 5 days ago
Sri Lankan ex-army chief's son-in-law to be arrested
Colombo, Feb 15 - A Sri Lankan court Monday issued a warrant for the arrest of the son-in-law of Sri Lanka's former army commander General Sarath Fonseka, who is already in detention on charges of conspiring against the government.The order was issued by magistrate Lanka Jayaratna after the Criminal Investigations Department - informed the courts that there were attempts by Fonseka's son-in-law, D ... read more

New Delhi | 8 days ago
India names 22-member squad for AFC Challenge Cup
New Delhi, Feb 12 - Defending champions India will field the under-23 squad that won the SAFF Cup for the AFC Challenge Cup starting Feb 17 in Colombo.Barring goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya and defender Mohanraj, as the duo is with the senior team in Dubai, coach Sukhwinder Singh hasn't made any changes to the winning combination. The squad was named after conclusion of the preparatory camp in Pu ... read more

New Delhi | 8 days ago
AFC Challenge Cup squad announced
New Delhi, Feb 12 - A 22-member squad for the AFC Challenge Cup football was announced Friday after the completion of the preparatory camp in Pune.Defending champions India are clubbed with North Korea, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan in Group B. India will leave for Colombo Feb 14 and will take on Kyrgyzstan in their opener on Feb 17. India will take on Turkmenistan Feb 19 in their second league ma ... read more

Colombo | 9 days ago
Court allows hearing of petition seeking Fonseka's release
Colombo, Feb 12 - Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Friday allowed the hearing of a petition seeking the release of General Sarath Fonseka, the former army chief, who is being held on allegations of conspiracy against the government.The petition was filed by Anoma Fonseka, his wife, on behalf of her husband, who is being held at navy headquarters. 'The preliminary step of the hearing of the petition known ... read more

New Delhi | 9 days ago
Sri Lanka says US and Norway helped Fonseka, they deny
New Delhi, Feb 11 - Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka is to face early court martial for treason, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in remarks published Thursday, while accusing the US and Norway of aiding the defeated presidential candidate during the election.The accusation triggered quick denials from both countries, which were closely involved in overseeing the peace process ... read more

New Delhi | 9 days ago
US, Norway deny helping Fonseka
New Delhi, Feb 11 - The US and Norway Thursday denied Sri Lankan Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa's allegation that they helped former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka during the polls.'There is no truth to the defense secretary's claims that the US provided financial support to the opposition candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential election,' the US embassy in Colombo said in ... read more