COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Government troops gained control of the strategic Elephant Pass in Sri Lanka from rebel forces on Friday, President Mahinda Rajapakse said.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, June 28 (UPI) -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse expressed no interest Saturday in easing off his military's offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels.

BEIJING, April 11 (UPI) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has expressed confidence about his nation's ability to hold a successful Summer Olympics Games in Beijing this summer.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Britain has exhorted the Sri Lankan government to push for peace, as violence threatened to worsen in the government's campaign against terror.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A report from the International Crisis Group says that lasting peace in Sri Lanka will require understanding of Sinhala nationalism and its grievances.

VATICAN CITY, April 20 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI in his meeting Friday with Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse urged the resumption of talks with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A U.N. official said Sri Lanka government forces are recruiting children to fight against rebels.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, May 9 (UPI) -- Eleven people died in fighting between guerilla factions in Sri Lanka Monday, while a Japanese peace mediator met President Mahinda Rajapakse in Colombo.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, April 25 (UPI) -- A suicide bomber set off an explosion at Sri Lankan army headquarters in Colombo, killing five and seriously injuring the forces' commander. The BBC said Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka was seriously hurt Tuesday but a report on his condition was not immediately