Sri Lanka: Ranil Wickremesinghe takes office as new Prime Minister
Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister on Friday as the island nation’s two major political parties signed an agreement to work together in the new parliament. His victory in Monday’s election thwarted a political comeback bid by the country’s former strongman... read more »
India ‘advises’ Pakistani NSA Aziz not to meet Hurriyat leaders
India has advised Pakistani NSA Sartaj Aziz not to meet separatist Hurriyat leaders before talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, raising a question mark about the meeting of the NSAs scheduled for Monday. External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a series of tweets that... read more »
Hurriyat leaders released hours after house arrest
Just hours after they were placed under house arrest, Kashmiri separatist leaders were on Thursday released by authorities in Srinagar indicating a confused response to their proposed meeting with Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz. Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah... read more »
Sri Lanka votes as Rajapaksa eyes comeback
Sri Lankans began voting on Monday in parliamentary polls with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa eyeing a political comeback as prime minister months after being toppled as president by Maithripala Sirisena. Mr. Sirisena has vowed not to make Mr. Rajapaksa premier even if his United People’s... read more »