Breakthrough in asylum seekers issue, some of the 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers on the Oceanic Viking are prepared to disembark on to Indonesian soil - possibly as early as today - according to negotiators, 'The Age' said.

After living through years of war, and months in a refugee camp, many Tamil families will be tempted to leave the country rather than rebuild their lives in a war-ravaged village, says 'The Age'.

Seventy-eight Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers onboard an Australian Customs ship are still refusing to disembark in Indonesia, despite a Federal Government settlement deal announced today.

Sri Lanka's Chief of defence Staff, Sarath Fonseka submitted his resignation on Thursday amid speculation he will run for president. He is expected to challenge his commander in chief, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in an election which may be held by April.

KANDY (AFP) – Myanmar's junta leader General Than Shwe said he was "thrilled" to be in Sri Lanka, where he was given a 21-gun salute and an elaborate red-carpet welcome at the start of his four-day state visit Thursday.

The man spearheading the Australian government's response to people smuggling says the issue requires a joint law enforcement and humanitarian-based solution.

Trincomalee: Six months after Sri Lanka's decades-old civil war ended with a final assault, about 200,000 people remain trapped in overcrowded government-run camps that were once safe havens for those fleeing the conflict.