News for '-mahinda-rajapaksa'

Sri Lankan navy arrests 32 Indian fishermen

Sri Lankan navy arrests 32 Indian fishermen

Rediff.com17 Oct 2013

The Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday arrested 32 Indian fishermen for alleged illegal fishing off the east coast, taking the total number of fishermen arrested during the last two days to nearly 70.

Set to be NSA, Ajit Doval has his work cut out

Set to be NSA, Ajit Doval has his work cut out

Rediff.com27 May 2014

Ajit Doval, former director of the Intelligence Bureau and the likely NSA, has an enviable record for courage under fire, reports Vicky Nanjappa/Rediff.com

President hosts dinner for SAARC leaders, PM Modi

President hosts dinner for SAARC leaders, PM Modi

Rediff.com27 May 2014

President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday night hosted a dinner for visiting South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi where the guests were treated to a variety of dishes drawn from various parts of the country.

US Sikh rights group asked to serve summons to PM by June 18

US Sikh rights group asked to serve summons to PM by June 18

Rediff.com25 Apr 2014

A United States court has asked a Sikh rights group to serve summons on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by June 18 or face dismissal of a case of alleged human rights violations against him.

Lanka govt invites TN fishermen for talks

Lanka govt invites TN fishermen for talks

Rediff.com5 Jul 2013

The Sri Lankan government on Friday reached out to fishermen community of Tamil Nadu as President Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother and economic development minister Basil met their delegation here with a promise of addressing their concerns.

World leaders mourn death of Pranab Mukherjee

World leaders mourn death of Pranab Mukherjee

Rediff.com1 Sep 2020

Many world leaders on Monday condoled the death of former president Pranab Mukherjee, saying they have lost a true friend who made immense contributions to the strengthening of India's relations with their countries.

President, PM condemn serial blasts in Mahabodhi temple

President, PM condemn serial blasts in Mahabodhi temple

Rediff.com7 Jul 2013

Expressing deep anguish over the blasts, President Mukherjee said it was a "senseless act of violence targeting innocent pilgrims and monks who had gathered to worship at this temple dedicated to the great apostle of peace -- Gautam Buddha", while Prime Minister Singh said such attacks on religious places will "never be tolerated".

Lanka presidential election set for January 8 next year

Lanka presidential election set for January 8 next year

Rediff.com22 Nov 2014

On a day of high political drama when the ruling coalition of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa suffered serious defections, the election commission on Friday set January 8, 2015 as the date for a snap presidential election.

Villagers celebrate homecoming of fishermen released from Sri Lanka

Villagers celebrate homecoming of fishermen released from Sri Lanka

Rediff.com21 Nov 2014

oyous and emotional scenes were witnessed at Thanachimadam village in Tamil Nadu where celebrations broke out on the arrival of 5 fishermen, who had escaped the gallows after spending 3 years in a Sri Lankan prison, with families and friends greeting them.

Ranil Wickremesinghe to return as Sri Lankan PM

Ranil Wickremesinghe to return as Sri Lankan PM

Rediff.com18 Aug 2015

Incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to take oath as Sri Lanka's new prime minister of a unity government on Tuesday after his United National Party appeared close to a simple majority, with rival Mahinda Rajapaksa admitting defeat in the closely contested parliamentary polls.

Modi invite to Rajapaksa unacceptable: DMK

Modi invite to Rajapaksa unacceptable: DMK

Rediff.com23 May 2014

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi on Friday said Narendra Modi's invitation to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his swearing-in was "not acceptable and unwelcome" by Tamils all over the world and urged the BJP leader to drop the initiative.

Jayalalithaa dubs invite to Lankan Prez as 'unfortunate'

Jayalalithaa dubs invite to Lankan Prez as 'unfortunate'

Rediff.com22 May 2014

Dubbing as "unfortunate" the Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's invite to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his May 26 swearing-in, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said the "ill-advised" move could have been avoided as it amounted to "rubbing salt into the wounds of the already deeply injured Tamil psyche."

'Relations with neighbour may be sour, but we would still invite them to a wedding at home'

'Relations with neighbour may be sour, but we would still invite them to a wedding at home'

Rediff.com22 May 2014

Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's invite to the heads of governments of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation-member countries has the stamp of approval of not only President Pranab Mukherjee but also the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

So you think politics in India is complicated? Go to Sri Lanka!

So you think politics in India is complicated? Go to Sri Lanka!

Rediff.com20 Jul 2015

The country has a fiendishly complicated electoral system that is a combination of population-based proportional representation and party-based national lists, says Aditi Phadnis

The war was against the LTTE, not the Tamils: Lanka Prez

The war was against the LTTE, not the Tamils: Lanka Prez

Rediff.com13 Mar 2014

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has debunked international criticism over the treatment of the island nation's Tamil minority population.

Rebalancing India-China, The Sri Lanka Way

Rebalancing India-China, The Sri Lanka Way

Rediff.com14 Feb 2022

Colombo seems to be veering to the middle path between China and the US on global matters, but in regional matters of strategic security, it is increasingly identifying with India, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

President to host lavish dinner for VVIPs

President to host lavish dinner for VVIPs

Rediff.com25 May 2014

Gujarati popular dish kela methi nu shaak, mouth-watering chicken chettinad from Tamil Nadu, Punjab's dal makhani and Bengali dish Potol Dorma will be served at a private dinner hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee for visiting foreign dignitaries on Monday.

BJP ally Vaiko to hold protest against Lanka president in Delhi

BJP ally Vaiko to hold protest against Lanka president in Delhi

Rediff.com24 May 2014

Opposing invitation to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for Narendra Modi's swearing-in as the prime minister, Bharatiya Janata Party ally Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Saturday announced a black flag demonstration against the head of the island republic in Delhi on May 26.

Tamil parties ask Modi to reconsider Rajapaksa invite

Tamil parties ask Modi to reconsider Rajapaksa invite

Rediff.com23 May 2014

Opposing the invitation extended to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Vaiko on Friday met Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh and demanded that the party should 'avoid' the presence of Mahinda Rajapaksa at Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony.

UN agrees to defer Sri Lanka's war crime report

UN agrees to defer Sri Lanka's war crime report

Rediff.com17 Feb 2015

The UNHRC agreed to defer the report on Sri Lanka's alleged human rights violations.

Now TN parties want India to stop training Lankan navy

Now TN parties want India to stop training Lankan navy

Rediff.com3 Dec 2013

After stepping up attacks on the Union government over India's participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka last month, chorus is mounting in Tamil Nadu among opposition parties over the country's offer to train Sri Lankan Naval personnel.

Sirisena unveils cabinet, announces Lankan parliamentary polls in 100 days

Sirisena unveils cabinet, announces Lankan parliamentary polls in 100 days

Rediff.com12 Jan 2015

Sri Lanka's new President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday unveiled his cabinet that included members from a cross-section of parties and announced fresh parliamentary polls in 100 days, two years ahead of schedule.

Sirisena to be sworn-in as Sri Lanka's new prez today

Sirisena to be sworn-in as Sri Lanka's new prez today

Rediff.com9 Jan 2015

Maithripala Sirisena, the Sri Lankan president-elect, will be sworn-in on Friday evening following his stunning victory in the tightest-ever presidential race that ended the 10-year-rule of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

CHOGM summit: PM writes to Rajapaksa, expresses regret

CHOGM summit: PM writes to Rajapaksa, expresses regret

Rediff.com10 Nov 2013

Dr Singh has written a short letter to Rajapaksa informing him of his decision not to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit (CHOGM), sources said.

Sri Lanka cricket hits new low as India series beckons

Sri Lanka cricket hits new low as India series beckons

Rediff.com11 Jul 2017

Taking the series 3-2 in Hambantota, 11th-ranked Zimbabwe registered its maiden series win in Sri Lanka, and first overseas triumph in eight years.

PM ignores Sharif, chooses to meet other SAARC leaders

PM ignores Sharif, chooses to meet other SAARC leaders

Rediff.com26 Nov 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held bilateral talks with all Heads of Government and State attending the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the only conspicuous exemption.

China gets tough with Bangladesh

China gets tough with Bangladesh

Rediff.com17 May 2021

We can expect to see more Chinese wolf warrior diplomats on the prowl, in India's neighbourhood, though its mailed fist is not so visible while dealing with India, observes Colonel R Hariharan (retd).

Modi to visit Jaffna, address Parliament during Lanka visit

Modi to visit Jaffna, address Parliament during Lanka visit

Rediff.com5 Mar 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit former LTTE-stronghold Jaffna in Sri Lanka's Tamil-dominated north and address the Parliament in Colombo during his 3-day visit to the country next week.

Lankan president in India to make a 'new beginning'

Lankan president in India to make a 'new beginning'

Rediff.com15 Feb 2015

Maithripala Sirisena is expected to meet his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee besides holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

India turns on the charm but will Rajapaksas reciprocate?

India turns on the charm but will Rajapaksas reciprocate?

Rediff.com29 Nov 2019

In the endlessly entertaining and absorbing soap opera that is India-Sri Lanka relations, wait for the next episode, Aditi Phadnis reports.

Vaiko-led MDMK quits NDA, claims Modi betrayed Tamils

Vaiko-led MDMK quits NDA, claims Modi betrayed Tamils

Rediff.com8 Dec 2014

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by Vaiko on Monday decided to quit the National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre was acting against Tamils and betrayed the people of the state.

Why did Sri Lanka snub US?

Why did Sri Lanka snub US?

Rediff.com1 Nov 2020

Any form of entanglement with India or the US on the strategic plane will be anathema to Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa rulers, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Sri Lanka landslide: Hopes fade of finding survivors

Sri Lanka landslide: Hopes fade of finding survivors

Rediff.com30 Oct 2014

Nearly 200 people were feared to have been buried alive in Sri Lanka after a devastating landslide triggered by rains destroyed the homes of mostly Indian-origin plantation workers, as heavy machinery was deployed on Thursday in rescue operations involving the army.

'Plans to dilute provisions of 13th Amendment unacceptable'

'Plans to dilute provisions of 13th Amendment unacceptable'

Rediff.com20 Jun 2013

The Centre on Thursday expressed its unhappiness over reported Sri Lankan plans to dilute key provisions of the 13th Amendment to its Constitution and termed the island nations's move as "unacceptable".

In Sri Lanka, Pope gives message of 'respect for all'

In Sri Lanka, Pope gives message of 'respect for all'

Rediff.com13 Jan 2015

Pope Francis on Tuesday called for respect of human rights and healing of racial and religious hatred as he arrived on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, days after a new government assumed power in the country.

The Office of Missing Persons

The Office of Missing Persons

Rediff.com23 Nov 2018

Few debut novels in recent times have been received with such critical applause as Akil Kumarasamy's Half Gods. 'The prose itself is a marvel,' declared The New York Times Book Review. A glimpse of Akil Kumaraswamy's ability to 'distill the mysteries of the human soul', revealed in this excerpt from her story The Office of Missing Persons.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins Lankan presidential poll

Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins Lankan presidential poll

Rediff.com17 Nov 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Rajapaksa and said he looks forward to further deepen relations between the two nations.

Gotabaya: Controversial 'war hero' who finished LTTE

Gotabaya: Controversial 'war hero' who finished LTTE

Rediff.com17 Nov 2019

Though dubbed as the 'war hero', the role of Rajapaksa in ending the conflict with the LTTE with the death of its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2009 is quite divisive as he stands accused of violating human rights, a charge he vehemently denies.

Sri Lanka SC overturns sacking of Parliament by Sirisena

Sri Lanka SC overturns sacking of Parliament by Sirisena

Rediff.com14 Nov 2018

The SC ordered a halt to preparations for snap elections on January 5.

Rajapaksa & Bros are back with a bang!

Rajapaksa & Bros are back with a bang!

Rediff.com7 Aug 2020

President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Rajapaksa will transform Sri Lanka's political landscape after Thursday's electoral triumph, predicts N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran Colombo watcher.