The inexplicable rise of kidney disease in Sri Lanka’s farming communities | Health

The inexplicable rise of kidney disease in Sri Lanka’s farming communities | Health

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka – In the sleepy, verdant village of Ambagaswewa, in the Polonnaruwa district of Sri Lanka’s North Central province, 63-year-old TMH Gamini Sunil Thennakoon’s life is peaceful for the most part. On the brink of retirement, he still spends most days out working his rice paddies but is…

Why a Sri Lankan island is sparking an Indian election controversy | India Election 2024

Why a Sri Lankan island is sparking an Indian election controversy | India Election 2024

New Delhi, India – Fifty years after India and Sri Lanka settled a long-simmering dispute over a tiny island, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused a former government of the now-in-opposition Congress Party of gifting Indian territory to its southern neighbour. The allegation by Modi and his ruling Bharatiya…

Economic conditions in debt-stricken Sri Lanka improving, IMF says | Debt

Economic conditions in debt-stricken Sri Lanka improving, IMF says | Debt

IMF says inflation has dropped from 70 percent, economy expanded in the second half of 2023. The economic situation in debt-stricken Sri Lanka has started to gradually improve following its worst economic crisis two years ago, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said. Inflation has come down from a peak…

Are snakebites rising in South Asia — and what’s responsible? | Health News

Are snakebites rising in South Asia — and what’s responsible? | Health News

In 1950, Roald Dahl wrote a short story titled Poison. The tale, set in colonial India and often found in deckle-edged children’s anthologies, tells a riveting story about racism. In the story, a striped snake called a common krait slithers on the stomach of one of the main characters. The…

Sri Lanka signs free trade deal with Thailand to revive economy | International Trade News

Sri Lanka signs free trade deal with Thailand to revive economy | International Trade News

Sri Lanka seeks to foster growth after its economy contracted 3.8 percent last year, according to World Bank estimates. Thailand and Sri Lanka have signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a move Sri Lanka hopes will help it emerge from its worst financial crisis in decades. “This move aims to…

Fear grips refugees after UNHCR says it will close Sri Lanka operations | Refugees News

Fear grips refugees after UNHCR says it will close Sri Lanka operations | Refugees News

Colombo, Sri Lanka – Sixteen-year-old Ohnmar* has never experienced the joys of attending school, the excitement of playing with friends during recess or simple pleasures of life like savouring a satisfying meal. Ohnmar, a Rohingya, was born “stateless” because Myanmar has not granted citizenship to members of his community since…

‘India out’: Maldives president eyes Middle East partners with early trips | Politics

‘India out’: Maldives president eyes Middle East partners with early trips | Politics

When the new Maldives president, Mohamed Muizzu, stepped on a plane in late November for his first overseas visit since being sworn in barely a week earlier, he was breaking with a longstanding tradition in his country’s diplomatic practices. Across party lines, Maldivian presidents have long made India their first…

Bombs to buzzing beaches: Sri Lanka sees tourism surge after long crisis | Tourism

Bombs to buzzing beaches: Sri Lanka sees tourism surge after long crisis | Tourism

Colombo, Sri Lanka – Devmith Kaggodarachchi’s beachfront hotel in the southwestern coastal town of Hikkaduwa, a tourist hotspot 136km (85 miles) from the capital Colombo, is nearing full capacity. The three-star hotel, with air-conditioned rooms and private balconies looking into the Indian Ocean, is busy serving tourists visiting for the Christmas…

‘Palestine will win’: Sri Lanka businesses raise funds for war-ravaged Gaza | Israel-Palestine conflict News

‘Palestine will win’: Sri Lanka businesses raise funds for war-ravaged Gaza | Israel-Palestine conflict News

Colombo, Sri Lanka – On most days, the Dolci Falasteen restaurant in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo is quiet. Located on a main road in a busy neighbourhood, the eatery is an escape from the busy mood of the city. Traditional Arabic lanterns cast a warm glow over its cosy dining…