Latest update: 26/01/2010 

- presidential elections - Sri Lanka - Tamil Tigers - vote


Tamils could decide the outcome of Sri Lanka's presidential vote

No Flash warning
To take advantage of all the features on FRANCE24.COM, please click here to download the latest version of Flash Player.

Sri Lanka is holding its first presidential election since the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May 2009. The battle brought to an end the rebels' 37 year fight for a separate Tamil homeland. But ironically, it's the Tamil community who could now decide who becomes the country's next president.

FOCUS
Building collapse casts glare on working conditions
17/05/2013 - BANGLADESH

Building collapse casts glare on working conditions

More than 1100 people were killed when the Rana Plaza collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. The accident has raised questions over the future of the country's garment industry, a vital sector for Bangladesh's economy. Many in the country are calling on stakeholders like factory owners and western retailers to do more to avert similar catastophes in the future.
Libyans fight for property rights
17/05/2013 - LIBYA

Libyans fight for property rights

Property rights in post-Gaddafi Libya are among the many causes of friction following the end of the former dictator’s 42-year rule. A law in 1978 prevented Libyans from owning more than one house, meaning those without a home could take from Libyans who had several properties. Now, former owners are coming back to claim the properties from their occupants, and some are using force to do so. Our team in Tripoli, Marine Casalis and Huda Abuzeid, report.
France probes Swiss bank over tax cheats
16/05/2013 - FRANCE

France probes Swiss bank over tax cheats

In another instance of governments cracking down on tax evaders in hard economic times, France has asked Swiss authorities for help determining whether 353 French clients of the Swiss bank, UBS, were trying to cheat the taxman by having undeclared assets in Switzerland. On Wednesday May 15, official figures from the EU's statistics office showed the French economy had contracted by 0.2% in the first quarter of this year, officially entering a recession.
Investigating paedophilia scandals in Poland's Catholic Church
16/05/2013 - POLAND

Investigating paedophilia scandals in Poland's Catholic Church

Paedophilia scandals have rocked the Catholic Church across the world in recent years. Yet Poland, the most Catholic country in Europe, appeared to have been largely spared. But as increasing numbers of alleged victims of sexual abuse begin to speak out, it looks as if the problem may have simply been better covered up in Poland. France 24's Gulliver Cragg and Tomasz Lubik went to investigate the allegations and got a dramatically hostile reception.
Finishing Rio's Maracana Stadium: a race against time
15/05/2013 - BRAZIL

Finishing Rio's Maracana Stadium: a race against time

With only one month to go before the Confederations Cup, Rio’s Maracana stadium is still not finished. Originally supposed to be up and running in December, then February, the Maracana had a gentle test in April when a game was played in front of an invited crowd of some 27,000 stadium workers and their families. A more rigorous test set for May 15 was cancelled, giving more time to get everything right for the friendly between Brazil and England on June 2nd.

React to the article
Comment this article typing your message in the above text zone. Please note that this is limited to 1500 characters or less.
(1) Reaction

Elections in srilanka

by Anonyme - 02/02/2010 - 11:33

Dr. Venugopal has been a little off the mark. Rajapksha is a seasoned politician and had called in for elections even when he had two further years to go. This way he has been able to get all his acts ratified by by the electorate of Srilanka. well done!
E.Raghavan

Read more
Close