Three SC judges and an Appeal Court judge take oaths

Japan, Sri Lanka to beef up maritime security alliance

Japan plans to strengthen its maritime security alliance with Sri Lanka to curb China’s growing influence on countries with Indian Ocean coastlines,?The Asahi Shimbun reported today. A joint statement on maritime security cooperation will be issued after a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 14, sources said. The Japanese newspaper report said that China, which replaced Japan as the largest aid provider to Sri Lanka in 2009, has been help

13 Mar, 2013

Marawila police arrest 45 asylum seekers

The police in Marawila arrested 45 asylum seekers preparing to leave for Australia by boat illegally today. Of those arrested are 42 Tamils and 3 Singhalese nationals, the Marawila police said. The police said that the Tamils are all residents of Jaffna while the three Singhalese are from Negombo. The police found food, mobile telephones and clothes in the possession of the asylum seekers who were preparing for the journey to Australia. The police had also?seized a van used to transport the peop

13 Mar, 2013

Canada returned over 500 Sri Lankans

Canada has returned over 500 Sri Lankans under a ‘Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration’ program, the Canadian media reported today. The Montreal Gazette reported that Canada was the only funding source for this particular project which runs from Jan. 2012 to the end of this month. It assists asylum seekers, who are unlikely to meet the refugee test, obtain travel documents and arrange flights home. The IOM covers all travel costs and provides about US$3,300 in reintegration assistance tha

13 Mar, 2013