by Amal JAYASINGHE (AFP) When Sri Lanka’s economy crashed in 2022, people sought work abroad wherever they could find it — including ex-soldiers who joined forces fighting in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion. Now the veterans — some of whom swapped their life savings for what they thought would be lucrative, non-combat jobs — are desperate […]

Convicted felon Trump says he prefers to be electrocuted rather than eaten by sharks by Vijaya Chandrasoma The news about the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of the Normandy beaches by allied forces on June 6, 2044 was breaking as I was finishing my column last week. I was not able […]

The leaders of Italy and Germany have strongly rejected ceasefire terms laid out by Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine, as dozens of countries gathered at a summit in Switzerland to discuss ending the conflict. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the Russian president’s plan “propaganda” which effectively suggested that Ukraine “must withdraw […]

World leaders are gathering in Switzerland for a summit aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine,  but the absence of powerful allies of Moscow such as China is expected to blunt its potential impact. United States Vice President Kamala Harris and the leaders of Britain, Canada, France

Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies have agreed to engineer a $50 billion loan to help Ukraine in its fight for survival that would use interest earned on profits from Russia s frozen central bank assets as collateral.

the continuity in friendly relations with Russia. Declaring that Russia […]

India says two of its nationals who had been recruited by the Russian army have been killed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Issue of Lankan mercenaries fighting for Kyiv ignored – Russian envoy in Colombo War in Ukraine: By Norman Palihawadane The Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow said yesterday that Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, who is currently in Russia to participate in the BRICS 2024 Foreign Ministerial Session

The National Freedom Front (NFF) has issued the following statement to coincide with the 34th Russian National Day: ” On 12th June 1990, the First Congress of the People’s Deputies of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR, part of the Soviet Union) which was established after the dissolution of the United Soviet Socialist Republic, […]

The world faces threats of huge economic losses in case China attacks Taiwan. There is a high possibility of major powers drawing into the conflict, which would disrupt global trade and cost the world its 10 percent of GDP. The Taiwan Strait is crucial for global cargo transport as over 50 percent of cargo ships […]

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya states that Sri Lanka is working closely with the Government of Russia to repatriate Sri Lankans who are working with the Russian forces.

Poland is allegedly working through intermediaries to acquire surplus munitions from Sri Lanka for shipment to Ukraine, according to a recent report by Russia Today (RT) on its Telegram channel. The RT report said that the munitions in question are reportedly past shelf life

Russia will now require Sri Lanka s Defence Ministry clearance for visit visas of ex-servicemen, says Foreign Minister Ali Sabry.

Lankan soldiers of fortune ‘trapped’ on Russia-Ukrainian front: By Shamindra Ferdinando A high level delegation that included Secretary Defence Gen. (retd.) Kamal Gunaratne is yet to leave for Moscow two weeks after the government announced the move in response to growing reports of ex

North Korea has said its attempt to put a second spy satellite into orbit failed when the rocket it was on exploded. The admission came late on Monday after South Korea’s military reported the launch of an “unidentified projectile”. “The launch of the new satellite carrier rocket failed when it exploded in mid-air during the […]

The world economy had not recovered from the daunting impact of coronavirus, the geo-political headwinds such as Russia-Ukraine war impacted the recovery process in 2022 and before this war settled, Israel-Gaza conflict deepened the geo-politics and geo-political fragmentation. The geo-political

By Norman Palihawadane The number of persons arrested and detained for involvement in human smuggling facilitating recruitment of former military personnel to serve on the Russia-Ukraine front increased to nine with the police taking into custody a retired Army Major General and his wife, police

Just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s tour of Europe, India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar issued a cautionary message to Indian businesses. Speaking at an event in Kolkata, he highlighted the abnormal situation in Ladakh. He emphasized that the situation at the disputed border cannot be disregarded by any Indian citizen. In 2020, China’s breach […]

Special delegation to Russia to probe SL mercenaries President Ranil Wickremesinghe Thursday said that a special delegation would be sent to Russia to ascertain the number of Lankan mercenaries serving in the armies of those two nations. “We are yet to find the exact number of Lankans serving

Sujeeva Nivunhella reporting from London Gayathri Khemadasa, daughter of Premasiri Khemadasa, last week expressed regret that Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner, Rohitha Bogollagama, despite an earlier acceptance, did not attend a church choral event at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Portsmouth where she played a role in the musical arrangements. The Havant Symphony Orchestra, under the direction […]