Sri Lanka

A porter carries sacks of imported food items at a market place in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s financial crisis is impacting families across the economic spectrum

Economics

Sri Lankan families who have never had to worry about putting food on the table are now struggling. Even those with a financial cushion are seeing their lives being upended.

People wait in a queue expecting to buy cooking gas near a distribution center in Colombo, Sri Lanka

A community kitchen in Colombo feeds Sri Lankans in need

Food
An auto rickshaw driver pushes his vehicle next to a banner that says only those vehicles with QR codes will be given fuel at a fuel station in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Amid fuel crisis in Sri Lanka, bicycling is no longer a ‘poor person’s mode of transport’

Energy
Double the usual number of fishing boats are seen at the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbor, a main harbor in the Colombo area of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s fuel shortage is hurting the country’s fishing industry

Economics
cars in line

Sri Lankans wait in line for days to refuel their vehicles amid shortages, economic crisis

Energy
woman in blue dress

‘We are ready to face any violence’: Protesters in Sri Lanka brace for a crackdown

Sri Lankan protesters ousted the previous president last week, and now, they’re taking aim at the new president, calling for him to resign, too.

Sri Lankan fans take a selfie during a cricket match with Australia in Colombo.

‘An air of hope’: Sri Lankans see cricket as a welcome distraction from the country’s economic, political woes

Sports

Australia and Sri Lanka are usually bitter rivals on the pitch during cricket matches. But Sri Lankans are welcoming the Australian team and its fans as a much-needed distraction from their country’s recent political and economic turmoil.

A large cargo ship is shown smoking and sinking into the ocean.

Sri Lanka faces an environmental disaster

Top of The World

Sri Lanka faces an environmental disaster as it scrambles to contain a sinking ship carrying chemicals north of Colombo. And, the WHO approves the Chinese-made Sinovac Biotech vaccine. Also, the Biden administration suspends Trump-era oil and gas leases in the Arctic.

Violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump storm the US Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.

‘Even if a coup fails, it still damages your government’: What the US can learn from Sri Lanka’s coup attempt

Global Politics

Back in November, Sri Lankan writer Indi Samarajiva wrote a prescient essay titled, “I lived through a stupid coup. America is having one now.” After a violent Trump-backed mob attacked the US Capitol on Wednesday, Samarajiva shares what the US might learn from Sri Lanka.

Crowds holding candles and rosaries pray in the week following the Easter Sunday suicide bombings in Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lanka remains wary of more attacks, but churches begin to rebuild

Conflict & Justice

One week after the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, authorities warn that extremists may be planning more attacks, while religious sites are starting to rebuild from the destruction.