Sri Lanka

The verdict includes Islamist preacher Naufer Moulavi guilty, deemed the ideologue behind the group whose suicide attacks killed 279 people in three churches and three hotels. Nine other defendants were acquitted. A separate issue concerns officials who knew about the threat but failed to prevent the attacks.

Around 20.5 km² of land in the northern and eastern regions, ravaged by the conflict that ended in 2009, still needs to be cleared. To date, over 2.8 million explosive devices have been recovered. Two thousand people, including 500 former soldiers, have been involved in the operation.

In a statement released at the conclusion of its plenary session, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference called for genuine and impartial investigations into the remains found in the largest mass grave from the conflict with the Tamils. Concerns were also raised regarding environmental issues in Mannar.

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education began reorganising schools with a pilot project in two districts, aiming at 3,114 schools with fewer than 100 students. The initiative is meant to improve learning and the use of resources, officials told AsiaNews. Still, some scholars are critical of the lack of adequate public debate.

The leader of the Church in Sri Lanka has appealed to fishermen, asking them to stop bringing drugs onto the island. A significant proportion is smuggled by sea using boats. The ‘devastating’ effect of drugs on young people: ‘it destroys lives’.

The Transport Minister has dismissed a number of senior officials just two years after taking office, following renewed allegations of embezzlement at the national airline and two other key bodies. Above all, however, answers are needed regarding costs, management and policies.

The outreach to other religious communities in Periyamulla is meant "to build coexistence" in a context where prejudice and misunderstandings are widespread. For Buddhist participants, speaking to AsiaNews, it was “a good opportunity for everyone”.

The Galathea Bay International Container Transshipment Port is a strategic infrastructure project for Delhi, located on Great Nicobar Island in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka’s success is based on its strategic location, but plans for the future are needed. The aim: to modernise and expand services.

The Bishops’ Conference has taken a stand against the government’s decision to raise the retirement age by two years. Behind the official justification of clearing the backlog of cases lie fears regarding the independence of the judiciary. The Anglican Church had also previously called for the measure to be withdrawn.

Farmers have long been awaiting compensation linked to the Puhulpola reservoir, a project backed by Colombo and Tehran worth nearly 200 million euros. Agricultural income has plummeted and claims relating to the loss of land and property remain unresolved.

Nine female healthcare workers at the Kalmunai North Government Base Hospital have lodged a complaint against the hospital. Their superiors are alleged to have forced them to remove their Islamic headscarves. Their lawyer describes this as a violation of a “fundamental” right. Sister Deepa Fernando: enough of laws on dress codes that create conflict.

Milinda Edirisinghe, founder of the Gemological Report of Ceylon (GRC) in Colombo, is behind it. The instrument reduces the time it takes to study and evaluate a gemstone. The precious metals sector is among the most lucrative in the country. Complete digital documentation offers buyers greater guarantees.