Sri Lanka cabinet backs change for president

COLOMBO — Sri Lanka's cabinet on Monday backed changing the constitution to allow President Mahinda Rajapakse to run for office for a third term, opening the way for a vote in parliament.

Rajapakse, who oversaw the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels last year after decades of civil war, has a firm grip on power and has been criticised for crushing dissent and opposition media.

The cabinet approved a proposal to remove the two-term limit for presidents, which would mean Rajapakse could stand again when elections are scheduled in November 2016.

"The cabinet backed a move to amend the constitution," an official at the president's office said, declining to be named.

Rajapakse came to power in 2005 and won a second presidential term in January. Read more... ['Chinese presence in Lanka not a concern']

Sri Lanka court martial convicts ex-army chief

A Sri Lankan court martial on Friday stripped the general who spearheaded the army's victory over Tamil separatists of his military ranks after finding him guilty of involvement in politics while in uniform.

General Sarath Fonseka's conviction, which had been widely expected, and sentence still have to be approved and signed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"He was found guilty of charges and sentenced to dishonorable discharge from rank and service, pending the president's approval," a military source said on condition of anonymity. Another military source confirmed the sentence. Read more...

Mahindra to expand business in Sri Lanka

The Mahindra group is all set to expand its business in Sri Lanka by venturing into hospitality and finance.

Group Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Anand Mahindra, who met President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other officials in the island nation, said Sri Lanka was poised to register a double digit growth in the post-conflict era.

“The Mahindra group has a long and enduring association with Sri Lanka which is a strategic market for us. As a diversified federation of companies with a presence in several industries, we see immense Read more...

World Bank to lend $900m for recovery

The World Bank is to loan $900m (£574m) to Pakistan to help it recover from its worst ever flooding.

The devastating floods have affected up to 20 million people and left some 2,000 dead, say officials.

But the UN says international aid has been slow and that it has raised only a third of the $460m (£294m) needed for emergency relief.

Facebook 'dislike' scam warning

Facebook users are being targeted in a scam that offers them a chance to install a "dislike" button.

The scam tricks users into allowing a rogue application to access their profile page, which then posts spam messages.

Sri Lanka's ex-Army Commander indicted on 41 more counts

Recently convicted ex-Army Commander of Sri Lanka General (Retired) Sarath Fonseka has been indicted on 41 counts, informed the Attorney General's Department to the Colombo Chief Magistrate Rashmi Singappuli as the case against Fonseka was summoned.

Sri Lanka vets go on strike over elephants

Sri Lankan wildlife veterinarians have gone on strike to protest at the alleged mishandling of elephant conservation which has resulted in an increase in deadly attacks, a union leader said Tuesday.

"There is no proper management of wild elephants who are being pushed into narrow habitats as the government allows people to encroach into traditional elephant homelands," Vijitha Perera, the secretary of the vets' union, told AFP.

Cricket-Sri Lanka apologise to India for Randiv's no-ball

Sri Lanka Cricket has apologised to India opener Virender Sehwag after he was denied a century by Suraj Randiv's no-ball in their tri-nations one-dayer at Dambulla on Monday.

Ashok Leyland bags Rs 120cr order from Sri Lanka

Hinduja group flagship firm Ashok Leyland today said it has bagged an order for 1,000 buses, worth around USD 26 million (about Rs 120 crore), from the People's Leasing Company in Sri Lanka. The order is the company's largest single order for buses from that country, Ashok Leyland said in a
statement.

Sri Lanka war probe credibility questioned

A government-appointed panel probing the final stages of Sri Lanka's civil war began work in Colombo on Wednesday, but rights bodies and lawmakers in the United States accused it of lacking credibility.

The eight-member panel will hear testimony from witnesses on five separate days in the capital and for two days in Vavuniya, near the former war zone.