POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Cynicism, Violence Mark Poll Campaign

Uruwarige Wanniaththo, the chief of Sri Lanka's indigenous Veddah community, has a simple message for his country's politicians currently campaigning for votes ahead of the December general election: "Leave us alone."

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Cynicism, Violence Mark Poll Campaign

Uruwarige Wanniaththo, the chief of Sri Lanka's indigenous Veddah community, has a simple message for his country's politicians currently campaigning for votes ahead of the December general election: "Leave us alone."

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Cynicism, Violence Mark Poll Campaign

Uruwarige Wanniaththo, the chief of Sri Lanka's indigenous Veddah community, has a simple message for his country's politicians currently campaigning for votes ahead of the December general election: "Leave us alone."

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Cynicism, Violence Mark Poll Campaign

Uruwarige Wanniaththo, the chief of Sri Lanka's indigenous Veddah community, has a simple message for his country's politicians currently campaigning for votes ahead of the December general election: "Leave us alone."

SRI LANKA: Marxist Leader’s Return Complicates Peace Prospects

The return from exile of a former rebel and leader of Sri Lanka's biggest Marxist group is meant to boost his party ahead of next month's poll, but analysts say his entry into the political scene is bound to further strangle the country's peace effort, analysts say.

LABOUR-SRI LANKA: Slack in Garments Trade Hurts Workers, Economy

Nine months ago, garment factories like Serendib Garments Ltd in this southern Sri Lanka town were short of staff and advertised walk-in job vacancies on notice boards outside.

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Frustrated Youth Can Turn Violent, Warn Experts

The Sri Lankan government has to address the mounting frustrations among the country's youth if it wants to stave off another uprising against the state, warn researchers.

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Migrant Workers Due to Get Right to Vote

Close to a million Sri Lankan migrant workers may finally get the chance to vote at a domestic election, after a local non-governmental agency succeeded this month in convincing the state's Human Rights Commission (HRC) that voting is a right of every citizen -- wherever he or she is.

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Migrant Workers Due to Get Right to Vote

Close to a million Sri Lankan migrant workers may finally get the chance to vote at a domestic election, after a local non-governmental agency succeeded this month in convincing the state's Human Rights Commission (HRC) that voting is a right of every citizen -- wherever he or she is.

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Snap Poll Set as Parliament is Dissolved

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, worried about losing a crucial no-faith vote in parliament on Thursday, dissolved parliament and called for a snap poll in December.

POPULATION-SRI LANKA: Elderly Face a World of Less Support, Care

Sri Lanka's demographers are warning that the nation's ageing population faces difficult times ahead, given the cuts in state-run pension schemes and the lack of traditional care at home.

SRI LANKA: Public Piqued at Alleged U.S. Double-Standards

When the stunning attacks took place in the United States on September 11, the entire peace-loving world stood up and condemned the strikes. Sri Lanka did too, but with a rider"I told you so."

SRI LANKA: War Harms Children’s Mental, Emotional Health

This northern Sri Lankan city, the seat of a Tamil revolt for an independent state, once produced the best students seeking entry into universities. Now it produces probably the most aggressive students in this island nation.

SRI LANKA: Tired of War, Businessmen Take to the Streets

Thousands of young executives and office workers linked hands on Wednesday in various parts in and around the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, in a symbolic gesture for peace on the war-torn island. Staff from the U.S. embassy and the adjoining British embassy in Colombo also joined the campaign outside the embassy buildings, while dozens of riot police watched.

/UPDATE/SRI LANKA: Tired of War, Businessmen Take to the Streets

Thousands of young executives and office workers linked hands on Wednesday in various parts in and around the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, in a symbolic gesture for peace on the war-torn island. Staff from the U.S. embassy and the adjoining British embassy in Colombo also joined the campaign outside the embassy buildings, while dozens of riot police watched.

SRI LANKA: Tired of War, Businessmen Take to the Streets

Hundreds of young executives and office workers linked hands on Wednesday in various parts of the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, in a symbolic gesture for peace on the war-torn island.

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: No Respite Ahead in Power, Water Woes

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake brought glad tidings to his people when he promised that power and water shortages would be solved within the month.

ENVIRONMENT-SRI LANKA: Finger-Pointing as Power Crisis Worsens

In churches, temples and mosques, people are praying for rain as Sri Lanka is in the throes of a drought that has not only cut water supply for consumption and irrigation, but also resulted in power shortages.

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Deal With Marxists Raises Doubts

Sri Lanka's ruling People's Alliance (PA) cobbled together a working arrangement with the country's Marxists, which appears to salvage a tottering government but could create more woes to the war and drought-hit country.

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: Probe of Ethnic Violence Branded as ‘Witchhunt’

Sri Lanka, struggling through nearly two decades of ethnic strife, may be finally coming to grips with the devastating race riots in July 1983 through the formation of a Truth Commission along the lines of the South African model.

POLITICS-SRI LANKA: String of Woes Makes a Worried People

Sri Lankans are a worried people these days. They face a string of adversities, ranging from the stunning rebel attack by Tamil rebels on the country's only international airport in July to news of half-a-dozen nasty road and rail accidents amid continued political uncertainty..