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

UNP Deputy Leader urges to set aside political differences to fight corona pandemic

Deputy Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ruwan Wijewardene said that all parties should unite to put aside political differences to protect the country and the people from the Corona epidemic

Sri Lankan government tables 2021 budget ; eyes reduction of public debt

The Sri Lankan government has said it hopes to reduce public debt from 90 percent to 60 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product next year

Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan forced to apologise for 'visiting' Kolkata's Kali Puja

"Then again, maybe I shouldn't have visited the place at all. And if that is what you have against me, I am very sorry...I would try to make sure that this never happens again," says Shakib Al Hasan while apologising to the fundamentalist person and his associates, who threatened to kill the Bangladesh all-rounder

Rohingya repatriation talks after full formation of Myanmar govt: Bangladesh foreign minister

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said Bangladesh will approach for resuming the Rohingya repatriation talks after the full formation of a new government in Myanmar, saying Bangladesh stands ready to send back Rohingyas

Nepal’s COVID-19 toll reaches 1,221 with six more deaths; national tally reaches 209,776

Nepal on Sunday reported six more COVID-19-related fatalities, pushing the death toll to 1,221. The country also recorded 1,477 new cases

Massive response to Jammu & Kashmir local polls

Kashmir-based mainstream opposition parties' decision to form an anti-BJP conglomerate and to participate in the first District Development Council (DDC) elections in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir has put many speculations to an end

Recoveries up in India, active cases down since October: Health Ministry

India's cumulative COVID-19 positivity rate is currently 7.01 per cent and daily positivity 4.1 per cent, but in the last 45 days alone, the number of recovered cases has gone up while the number of active cases has gone down, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday

Indian experts hail 'promising' mRNA vax for Covid treatment

With the two mRNA vaccine candidates from pharma giants Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna showing effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 in an interim analysis, health experts in India said that mRNA vaccine that works on previously unproven technology can be very promising in the fight against the pandemic despite the challenges

Public transport for Nepal’s Province-2 to come up soon

The provincial government of Province-2 in Nepal is all set to start an affordable public transport system, reported The Himalayan Times on Tuesday

Twelve security force members killed in Taliban attack

At least twelve members of Afghan security forces were killed and another ten wounded in an attack by the Taliban in the northwestern province of Badakhshan on Tuesday, TOLOnews reported

Afghan forces conduct 96% operations independently

Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) conducts 96% of operations without any help from foreign militaries stationed in Afghanistan, said acting Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid

Quarantine free travel bubble between Qatar and Maldives

Qatar and the Maldives announced a travel bubble between the two nations in order to give a much-needed boost to the Indian Ocean archipelago

US-Taliban deal can’t be basis for everything in Doha talks: Afghan peace negotiator

The US-Taliban deal can’t be the basis for all topics that will be discussed in the intra-Afghan talks currently happening between the Afghan government team and the Taliban, said Afghan chief peace negotiator Dr Abdullah Abdullah

India's first vaccine candidate Covaxin's Phase-3 trials begin

Vaccine maker Bharat Biotech has announced that it has commenced Phase-3 trials of Covaxin, India's first indigenous vaccine for COVID-19

India will wait and watch on RCEP, US outlook towards China

Even as the 10-member ASEAN bloc has signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with five economies led by China, India is going to follow the policy of wait and watch till the new US presidency assumes office