UPFA Wins Sri Lanka’s First Eastern Provincial Council Election

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) obtained a majority of seats in Sri Lanka’s first ever Eastern Provincial Council in elections held yesterday (May 10). The UPFA led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a majority of electorates in the Batticaloa and Digamadulla Districts, while the Opposition United National Party won a majority in the Trincomalee District, giving overall control of the Provincial Council to the UPFA. Read more

Thousands of Burmese Cyclone Refugees Leave Disaster Area

At least 10,000 survivors of the May 3 cyclone in Burma have left hard-hit Irawaddy Delta areas, searching for food, clean water, and medicine. The government confirms more than 23,000 dead and at least 37,000 missing. International aid agencies are warning of a health catastrophe if more help does not reach the victims soon. VOA’s Luis Ramirez reports from our Southeast Asia Bureau in Bangkok. Read more

Police in Nepal Detain Hundreds of Tibetan Protesters

Police in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu say they have detained more than 560 Tibetan protesters Sunday, all of them women. It was the all female demonstration against China’s crackdown in Tibet since violence erupted in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa in March. Read more

President of Sri Lanka Condemns Ampara Blast Targeting Civilians

President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka yesterday (May 9) vehemently condemned the barbaric act of the LTTE of exploding a bomb targeting innocent civilians at a Cafe in the Ampara Town. He said he was confident that the people of the East would not be intimidated by this low degrading act of the Tigers and the political parties supporting the outfit, at a time the people were about to enjoy the fruits of democracy by electing a true leader to guide their destinies. Read more

LTTE Artillery Launching Pad And Ammunition Storage Destroyed in Sri Lankan Air Force Raid

An LTTE artillery launching pad and an ammunition storage located North of Nedunkerni in Mullaithivu was destroyed in an Air Force fighter jet attack today (10) at 12.15 p.m., defense sources said. Read more

China Dismisses Euphoria Over Zimbabwe Arms Ship

China has dismissed as unwarranted the international euphoria caused by a Chinese-registered ship carrying weapons for Zimbabwe and said it was not in Beijing’s interest to worsen Harare’s political crisis. Read more

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