Indian and Sri Lanka Navy bands present joint ensemble at Galle Face Green

Iranian ship flees detention in Sri Lanka

An Iranian-flagged cargo ship has fled Sri Lanka’s waters after weeks of detention by its navy, acting on a court order obtained by Germany’s DVB Bank, officials and a lawyer acting for the bank said on Thursday. The Sri Lankan navy last week fired warning shots to prevent the MV Amina from leaving but said that late on Wednesday the vessel made its departure in rough seas. “If the ship is beyond 12 nautical miles from our shores, then we can’t do anything according to U.N. laws, unless the ship

17 Jan, 2013

Most Boeing Dreamliners grounded for battery checks

Airlines scrambled on Thursday to rearrange flights as Europe, Japan and India joined the United States in grounding Boeing Co’s 787 Dreamliner passenger jets while battery-related problems are investigated. The lightweight, mainly carbon-composite plane has been plagued by recent mishaps – including an emergency landing of an All Nippon Airways domestic flight on Wednesday after warning lights indicated a battery problem – raising concerns over its use of lithium-ion batteries. The U.S. Federal

17 Jan, 2013

US unhappy with government response

The United States (US) says it is not satisfied with the response given by the Sri Lankan government in terms of protecting democracy following the impeachment of the former Chief Justice and appointment of a new Chief Justice. US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters at the daily press briefing yesterday (Wednesday) that it was too early to comment on the impact the actions of the government will have on US foreign assistance for Sri Lanka going forward. She said that US G

17 Jan, 2013