Asian Tribune

GMOA Announces Series of Island-Wide Professional Actions

Asian TribuneFebruary 28, 2026

Colombo, Feb. 28 – The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced a series of island-wide professional actions, citing the government’s failure to honour written agreements aimed at addressing longstanding issues affecting doctors and the public health system. In an official statement, the GMOA emphasized that strengthening Sri Lanka’s free healthcare services and resolving systemic...

Nearly 4,700 People Remain in Safety Centres After Cyclone Ditwah

Asian TribuneFebruary 28, 2026

Colombo, Sri Lanka continues to deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, with nearly 4,700 people still residing in temporary safety centres following severe flooding and landslides, according to a recent assessment by the Shelter, Land and Site Coordination Sector. The assessment, co-led by the International Organization for Migration and the International Federation of Red...

WhatsApp Web Login Glitch Hits iPhone Users; Android Service Remains Stable

Asian TribuneFebruary 28, 2026

Many users reported difficulties accessing WhatsApp Web on Friday morning, with complaints mainly focused on login failures and chat synchronization problems. Data from outage-tracking platform Downdetector indicated 25 reports related to the disruption, suggesting the issue appears to be localized rather than a widespread global outage. Among the reported cases, 56% involved problems with the...

2025 A/L Practical Exam Schedule Announced

Asian TribuneFebruary 28, 2026

Colombo, Feb. 27 – The Department of Examinations Sri Lanka has officially released the timetable for the practical tests of the 2025 General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) Examination. According to the announcement, practical examinations for candidates who sat the written paper in Engineering Technology will be conducted islandwide from March 6 to March 15,...

World Economic Forum Boss Quits After Epstein Links

Asian TribuneFebruary 28, 2026

Geneva — The World Economic Forum president and chief executive Børge Brende has resigned following scrutiny over his connections with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister who had led the WEF since 2017, stepped down on Thursday after an independent review was launched into his past interactions with...

Ravi K. Urges Govt. to Resolve CEB Crisis Without Delay

Asian TribuneFebruary 28, 2026

Colombo – Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has called on the government to take immediate and decisive action to resolve the ongoing crisis at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), warning that continued instability could severely impact the country’s economy and public confidence. Addressing the media, Ravi Karunanayake stressed that prolonged financial and operational difficulties within...

Pakistan Launches Airstrikes in Afghanistan as Tensions Escalate Into ‘Open War’

Asian TribuneFebruary 28, 2026

Islamabad/Kabul – Pakistan and Afghanistan have entered their most intense military confrontation in years, with cross-border clashes escalating into what Pakistani officials described as “open war” against the Taliban-led government in Kabul. According to Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Islamabad launched airstrikes on more than 20 locations across Afghanistan. The strikes targeted...

Trump ‘Not Thrilled’ With Iran After Latest Nuclear Talks

Asian TribuneFebruary 28, 2026

Washington/Geneva – US President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction following the latest round of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme, stating he is “not happy” with Tehran’s position but has not yet decided on potential military action. Speaking shortly after talks in Geneva concluded without a breakthrough, Trump said Iran was “not willing to...

US–Iran Talks End With Claims of Progress, But Major Gaps Remain

Asian TribuneFebruary 28, 2026

Tehran/Geneva – A fresh round of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded in Geneva with both sides describing the discussions as “serious” and “constructive.” However, few concrete details were released, and significant differences remain unresolved, raising continued concerns over potential military escalation in the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that...

New Anti-Terrorism Bill (PSTA) Violates International Standards: Strong Warning to Government from UN Special Rapporteurs

Asian TribuneFebruary 26, 2026

A group of Special Rapporteurs from the United Nations has issued a strong warning to the Government of Sri Lanka regarding the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA). In a letter dated February 9, 2026, the experts acknowledged the government’s initiative to review the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). However, they...