Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka needs well-designed political and economic policy changes for long-term recovery

The government has taken steps to address shortages of fuel and gas to some extent when compared to the earlier situation which had long queues that stretched for kilometres outside fuel and gas stations. But a well-planned recovery plan still cannot be seen that can address the long-term food security issues. 

More on REGION

Indians topped Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals in 2021

Tourists from India dominated Sri Lanka’s tourism market last year, contributing almost 23 percent of the total 194,000 tourists who visited the island country in 2021

Taliban clashes with Uzbekistan forces on the border

Taliban fighters have clashed with Uzbekistan border security forces after the latter reportedly shot and killed some Afghans fleeing the country, a provincial Taliban leader said

India's three big cities have bulk of Omicron cases; third wave on

A large chunk of Omicron cases in India have been reported from India's three biggest cities, the head of the country's vaccine task force said, adding the third wave of the pandemic is very much here

Pakistan foreign minister says ready to host SAARC summit, invites India to join virtually

Pakistan is ready to host the SAARC summit and India can join virtually if it is unwilling to come to Pakistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday, adding that the forum remains “dysfunctional” because of New Delhi’s “stubbornness.”

Iran says no recognition without inclusive government in Kabul

Iran will not recognize a government in Afghanistan that is made up of a single ethnic group, Iranian Ambassador to Kabul, Bahadur Aminian said, warning that the current economic condition will pave the way for more extremism

‘Funny’ that the US kills 1000 people every year, but sanctions us for 400 deaths in 10 years: Bangladesh Foreign Minister

Police kill 1000 people every year in your country (the United States), wrote a miffed Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momin in a letter to the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, calling the US move to sanction Dhaka’s top security officials “funny” for its 400 alleged killings in ten years

Cattle smuggling down sharply at India-Bangladesh border, claims Indian government

In 2015, addressing India's Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at a border outpost in West Bengal, then Home Minister Rajnath Singh (now Defence Minister) had reportedly said that he wanted the force to crack down on cattle smuggling so hard that Bangladeshis - a Muslim majority nation - would quit eating beef

Protests in Sindh province over controversial local government bill; more Pakistani women joining protests

Political parties and activists are protesting in Pakistan’s southeastern province of Sindh after the provincial government plans to pass a controversial local government bill that critics claim aims to curtail the powers of local bodies and municipalities

Hindu pilgrims throng 100-year-old renovated temple in Pakistan; country sends a message

Over 200 Hindu pilgrims from India, the US and the Gulf prayed at the 100-year-old renovated Hindu temple in northwest Pakistan as the country seeks to send out a message that the country is protective of its minorities

Inflation wrecks havoc in Pakistan; touches 12 percent in December

The inflation rate in Pakistan reached a new level last month, recording 12.3 percent in December— the highest in the last two years, as experts warn of more trouble in the weeks ahead of the government’s mini-budget

Amid mounting challenges in Pakistan, Imran Khan's government extends hand of friendship to opposition

In what comes as a rare acknowledgment of its mounting challenges on multiple fronts,  the Pakistani  government on Saturday said it needed to "reduce bitterness" with opposition parties and leaders— whom Khan and his ministers often call "corrupt" and "criminal" political elites—and said they should talk about issues facing the country

India sends 500,000 doses of Covid vaccines to Afghanistan, says more aid in pipeline

India has sent 500,000 doses of badly needed Covid vaccines to Afghanistan as part of the humanitarian assistance it had earlier promised after the Taliban’s takeover in August, which plunged into what many call the worst humanitarian crisis

India, Pakistan exchange top-secret lists of their nuclear installations and facilities

India and Pakistan on Saturday exchanged the list of their nuclear installations and facilities, an annual ritual of both countries that are agreement bound to share the relevant information by January 1 of every year

Pakistan fully vaccinates nearly half its eligible population

Pakistan has fully vaccinated 70 million people, roughly 46 percent of the country’s total eligible population, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, adding his government has spent over $1.4 billion in procuring and providing free vaccines to the public

India deploys first S-400 anti-missile system on Pakistan border

The first unit of S-400 Triumf, the state-of-the-art air defence missile system that India bought from Russia - and whose acquisition from Moscow been strongly opposed by the United States which even threatened sanctions on New Delhi - has been deployed near the country's western border with Pakistan, The Indian Express said quoting defence ministry sources