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Sri Lanka

Penny Wong delivers Indian Ocean strategy speech, urges China to be more transparent amid military build-up

In a high-profile speech laying out Australia's Indian Ocean strategy, the foreign minister warned against political interference and economic coercion, urging China to be more transparent about its military build-up.
A Chinese research vessel.

Sri Lankan law regulating online content concerns rights groups

The Online Safety Act allows authorities to remove prohibited content and to punish those that posted it.
ABC News Current

The teenage Sri Lankan wrestling sensation who's given up everything to chase her dreams

Nethmi Poruthotage's coach had to pawn his gold necklace to help her compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Now she's hoping to pay him back in Paris. 
A young female wrestler wearing a red and black bodysuit had another female wrestler in a headlock.

'My dreams came true': Remote artist Kieren Karritpul to exhibit at international art festival

Based in the tiny Indigenous community of Nauiyu, in one of the most remote corners of Australia, Kieren Karritpul is one of a select few artists from Australia who have been invited to exhibit their work at Colomboscope.
A young man stands in front of a print.

analysis:Will the world see more wars or unrest in 2024?

With the focus on the conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, other countries have dropped off the radar for many people. Some of these nations have been dealing with simmering unrest, however, which could erupt in 2024 and seize the global spotlight, writes Jessica Genauer.
Updated
A soldier holding a run looks over a mother and children sitting in the back of a truck

Retired police commander claims former Sri Lankan government sabotaged probe into deadly Easter Sunday bombings

Sri Lankans have been shocked to hear allegations that government officials may have been complicit in Easter 2019 bombings that killed 270 people including Australians.
Updated
ABC News Current
Duration: 8 minutes 44 seconds

Police hit 'obstacles' probing claimed links between Sri Lankan intelligence and Easter Sunday terrorists, retired commander says

A retired police commander sheds new light on claims that the former Sri Lankan government may have colluded with a terrorist group for political gain, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people, including Australians, in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.
Updated
Three men inspect the inside of a church that was torn apart in a bombing, scattering debris across the floor and walls

Tropical storm brews in the southeast Bay of Bengal

A low is currently forecast to enter the southeast Bay of Bengal and merge with an additional low near Sri Lanka resulting in a broad rain field.
ABC News Current
Duration: 10 seconds

Romantic and raucous: Seven stunning South Asian musicians for your Diwali playlist

It's Diwali (Deepavali) season — here are some talented South Asian artists to put on your speaker. From Swiss hip hop artist Priya Ragu to carnatic sensation Sid Sriram, we look at contemporary young artists shaking up the scene. Author: Dilpreet Taggar.
Supplied/ABC Everyday: Luke Tribe

ICC suspends Sri Lanka's membership over government interference

The International Cricket Council determines that Sri Lanka Cricket is in serious breach of its obligations as a member, issuing a suspension with immediate effect.
Generic image of a Sri Lanka cricketer at the men's World Cup

'Never seen a team or a player stoop so low': Sri Lankan star fumes after historic 'timed out' dismissal at World Cup

Sri Lankan batter Angelo Mathews hits out at Bangladesh after he was "timed out" in controversial scenes at the World Cup.
Updated
A man looks forlorn as he speaks to his coach.

Former champions Sri Lanka skittled for its lowest-ever World Cup score as India remains unbeaten

After sending India in to bat and watching the hosts amass 357 runs in Mumbai, Sri Lanka is rolled for a humiliating 55 runs to effectively end its hopes of progressing at the World Cup.
Updated
Mohammed Siraj runs away with arms outstretched after a Sri Lankan wicket at the Cricket World Cup.

How a shocking dawn raid in a sleepy Queensland town ignited a political 'bin fire'

A new book recounts how an unprecedented grassroots campaign in the town of Biloela saved a refugee family from deportation.
Updated
A mum and dad with two young daughters in front of a playground.

Thousands of international graduates are being left in visa limbo. Should they be encouraged to 'go home earlier'?

A new report says international graduates are being given false hope for permanent residency pathways, and calls for an overhaul of post-work rights, saying visas have become "too generous".
A young man in a suit leans against a bridge over a body of water.

Virat Kohli notches 47th ODI century as India thrash Pakistan

India cruise to a record 228-run win over arch rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup, with both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul starring with unbeaten centuries.
Virat Kohli leaps in the air

Is there such thing as 'looking like' your ethnicity? These viral AI images think so

AI-generated images of "beautiful" women from around the world have been going viral on TikTok. But some say they're based off stereotypes and can perpetuate colourist ideals.
Updated
AI generated images of women from South Asia and East Asia

Shankari Chandran wins 2023 Miles Franklin award for Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens

Set around a culture war in a nursing home, Shankari Chandran’s third novel has won Australia’s biggest literary prize. The author shares her journey of writing the book and what's next on the horizon after winning the Miles Franklin award.
ABC News Current
Duration: 4 minutes 47 seconds

Author of $60,000 Miles Franklin prize had given up on being published when she wrote winning book

Shankari Chandran was told her debut novel was not "Australian" enough to find an audience; her latest novel, exploring what it means to be Australian, has just won the country's highest literary accolade.
A smiling woman with dark skin, black hair and black-framed glasses, wearing a blue patterned top

Netherlands to return looted Asian artefacts, more than two centuries later

A richly decorated cannon, stolen in 1765, is just one of 478 cultural objects the Dutch government will hand back to Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Updated
A gold decorated historical cannon, with a blue inlay

Sri Lankans to get five-day public holiday as authorities seek to prevent a bank run during debt restructuring

Sri Lanka's cabinet a day earlier approved a plan to restructure nearly half of its $63.7 billion domestic debt, a requirement of an IMF bailout package.
A man wearing a short sleeve shirt sitting on a wheel cart in the middle of a road

One Australian killed and another injured in Sri Lanka car accident

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says consular assistance is being provided to the family of an Australian woman killed in a car accident in Sri Lanka. 
Updated
An image of Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka receives first tranche of International Monetary Fund bailout

Sri Lanka has secured a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund, as the country grapples with its worst economic crisis since independence.
ABC News Current
Duration: 7 minutes 26 seconds

IMF approves nearly $3B bailout for Sri Lanka

The International Monetary Fund has approved Sri Lanka’s request for a $2.9bn bailout, raising hopes for an easing of its economic crisis.
Updated
ABC News Current
Duration: 4 minutes 46 seconds

Sri Lanka using torture on anti-govt prisoners

A Sri Lankan protester jailed after storming the presidential palace says he was harassed and threatened with death, as report finds torture widespread.
ABC News Current
Duration: 1 minute 38 seconds

'He takes his pistol out and changes the bullets': Inside one of Sri Lanka's feared prisons

This 29-year-old spearheaded a protest movement that toppled Sri Lanka's government. But after his triumphant moment, Wasantha was taken into a feared detention system where prisoners have been tortured and killed.
A close up of a man wearing a checkered shirt with no emotion.