Sri Lanka National New Year
Sri Lankans celebrated the Sri Lanka National New Year in Homagama near Colombo on April 23, 2017. The new year, marked by both the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamil population, fell on April 14.
Sri Lanka
Baltimore neighborhoods
Baltimore street photographers
Year in review
Freddie Gray: protests, aftermath
24 hours with...
A. Aubrey Bodine
Viewing Baltimore from above
Sri Lankan garbage collapse kills at least 30
MEETOTAMULLA, Sri Lanka (AP) — Rescuers on Monday were digging through heaps of mud and trash that collapsed onto a clutch of homes near a garbage dump outside Sri Lanka’s capital, killing at least 30 people and possibly burying dozens more.
Sri Lanka cracks down on illegal elephant ownership
For centuries, owning an elephant was seen by Sri Lanka’s Buddhist elite as a sign of prestige and authority. Many among the wealthy, who consider the animals to be divine, have long flouted laws against elephant ownership to keep a jumbo chained up in their back yard. But with illegal capture helping to drive wild populations into steep decline, the government is now cracking down, seizing the animals and launching criminal investigations against elite members of society, including a monk and a judge. Even as the country cracks down on illegal ownership, the enduring demand for elephants has the government planning to set up its own pool of captive animals to be hired out to temples for ceremonies and maintained with budget funds.
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Protecting the mangrove forests of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s government and environmentalists are working to protect tens of thousands of acres of mangrove forests — the seawater-tolerant trees that help protect and build landmasses, better absorb carbon from the environment mitigating effects of global warming and reducing impact of natural disasters like tsunamis. Authorities have identified about 37,000 acres of mangrove forests in Sri Lanka that are earmarked for preservation.
Human Rights Day around the world
Protests and celebrations marked Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.
A hostage situation in Paris, a candidate swap in Poland, election in Greece | Jan. 9
The day in photos around the world.
Deer in London, planning a vote in Catalonia, buying goats in Bishkek | October 3
The day in pictures around the world.
Casting votes in Syria, attending summer camp in Palestine, remembering in China | June 3
The day in photos around the world.
Feb. 4 Daily Brief: New Microsoft CEO, Scotland legalizes same-sex marriage, festivals all over the world
Microsoft names Satya Nadella as its new CEO, Scotland legalizes same-sex marriage, Sri Lanka celebrates its independence and more in today’s daily brief.
The week ahead for February 3-9: film in Berlin, a genocide trial and the Sochi opening ceremony
A look at what’s coming up around the world this week.