Sri Lanka

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In this Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, photo, Yatawatte Dhammananda, a monk and Bodu Bala Sena organizer, stands for a photograph outside a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka. In Myanmar, like Sri Lanka, there is a view among nationalists that Muslims are an existential threat to their faith and way of life, despite Buddhists being the overwhelming majority. “They have the intention of making this a Muslim country. They are working toward that, but we can’t let that happen,” said Yatawatte. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Buddhist nationalists claim victory in Sri Lankan election

By EMILY SCHMALL - Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2019, file photo, former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, left, and former Defense Secretary and his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa wave to supporters during a party convention held to announce the presidential candidacy in Colombo, Sri Lanka. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has sworn in his brother and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister on Thursday, Nov. 21, in his first step in forming a government since being elected president. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in Sri Lanka’s new PM

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Sri Lanka's President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa waves to supporters as he leaves the election commission after the announcement of his victory in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Nov.17, 2019. Rajapaksa, revered by Sri Lanka's ethnic majority for his role in ending a bloody civil war but feared by minorities for his brutal approach, declared victory Sunday in the nation's presidential election. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Gotabaya Rajapaksa sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president

By Krishan Francis - Associated Press

Sri Lanka's former Defense Secretary and presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, center, leaves a polling station after casting his vote in Embuldeniya, on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Polls opened in Sri Lanka’s presidential election Saturday after weeks of campaigning that largely focused on national security and religious extremism in the backdrop of the deadly Islamic State-inspired suicide bomb attacks on Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Former Sri Lankan defense chief wins presidential vote

By EMILY SCHMALL and KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Sri Lankan police officers and polling workers prepare to leave for their respective polling stations with materials outside a material distribution center in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Worries about Islamic extremism will be paramount for many Sri Lankan voters while others hope to block former leaders accused of human rights violations from returning to power in Saturday’s presidential election, the country’s first national polls since last Easter’s deadly suicide attacks. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Muslim voters attacked in Sri Lanka presidential election

By EMILY SCHMALL and KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, file photo, Sri Lanka's former defense secretary and presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa attends a rally in Homagama, on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka. With a record 35 candidates vying for the presidency, Rajapaksa, a former defense official under his brother, ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was widely expected to triumph over ruling party Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa. But as the election approaches, the race has become very close. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lankans seek security in post-Easter attack election

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

FILE - In this March 4, 2014, file photo, Sri Lankan Buddhist monks walk towards the U.N. office in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Indian Ocean island nation of Sri Lanka, which will elect a new president on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 has had a tumultuous history. Since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1948, the country has seen three major armed conflicts in which hundreds of thousands have died. It also has had its share of natural disasters. As it prepares to elect its seventh president, Sri Lanka remains a divided nation, with ethnic, political and economic issues unresolved. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Key facts on Sri Lanka as it prepares to elect new president

Associated Press

FILE- In this May 23, 2008 file photo, Sri Lankan journalists shout slogans during a protest demanding the government investigate into abduction and assault of fellow journalist Keith Noyahr in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Forced to flee their country a decade ago to escape allegedly state-sponsored killer squads, Sri Lankan journalists living in exile doubt they’ll be able to return home soon or see justice served to their tormentors _ whose alleged ringleader could come to power in this weekend’s presidential election. Exiled journalists and media rights groups are expressing disappointment over the current government’s failure in punishing the culprits responsible for crimes committed against media members. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lankan journalists fear situation may worsen after vote

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lanka's elections chief Mahinda Deshapriya gestures during a press conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019. Deshapriya says he has asked for an explanation from the defense ministry on why the army commander features in an advertisement promoting a candidate for next month's presidential election. The advertisement, which appeared in a newspaper last weekend, had comments made by Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, the current army chief, in 2009 praising presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his role in ending the country's long civil war. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka’s army chief in controversy over election ad

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lankan presidential candidate and former defense chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaks during a news conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. Rajapaksa, who's a front-runner in next month's presidential election says if he wins he won't recognize an agreement the government made with the U.N. human rights council to investigate alleged war crimes during the nation's civil war. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka presidential hopeful says won’t honor deal with UN

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Sri Lanka presidential hopeful vows to bolster intelligence

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

FILE - In this May 7, 2019, file photo, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena smiles during an interview with the Associated Press at his residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sirisena has opted not to seek a second term, as officials began accepting nominations Monday for next month’s election. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lanka’s Sirisena exits, with reform promises unfulfilled

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

A Sri Lankan man stands near billboards displaying President Maithripala Sirisena, right, and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, left, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. Sri Lanka will hold a presidential election on Nov. 16, the elections office said Wednesday, amid calls for a strong leader to boost national security as the country recovers from deadly Easter Sunday bomb attacks. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka to hold presidential election on Nov. 16

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, center, pays homage to victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, kneeling at the spot where the suicide bomber detonated explosives at St. Sebastian's church in Katuwapitiya village, Negombo , Sri Lanka, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. More than 250 people were killed in coordinated suicide bomb attacks at three churches and three tourist hotels on Easter Sunday that were claimed by the Islamic State group and carried out by a local radicalized Muslim group. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Archbishop of Canterbury mourns victims of Sri Lanka attacks

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

New Sri Lankan army chief denies accusations of war abuses

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

In this Aug 16, 2019, photo, supporters of former Sri Lankan Defense Secretary and opposition’s presidential candidate Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, carry his portrait, and await his arrival in Ambalanthota, Sri Lanka. Gotabaya is a feared former defense official accused of human rights abuses and crushing critics, but to many Sri Lankans, he is the leader most needed after last April’s Easter bomb attacks that killed more than 250 people. (AP Photo/Sajeewa Chinthaka)

Sri Lanka attacks boost feared ex-official’s bid for power

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lanka ends emergency rule imposed after Easter bombings

Associated Press

This April 24, 2009 photograph shows Sri Lanka's newly appointed army commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva at a military facility in Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's government has hit out at foreign criticism of its appointment of a general accused of war abuses as the new army commander. (AP Photo/Chamila Karunarathne)

Sri Lanka rejects criticism of army chief’s appointment

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

General accused of war abuses named Sri Lanka’s army chief

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Daughter says Sri Lankan PM failed slain journalist father

Associated Press