Latest news with #SouthernProvince
South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Insiders' guide to Sri Lanka's Southern Province
Sri Lanka's south coast, stretching from design-led Bentota to Yala National Park , home to the elusive leopard, has long been a visitor favourite for its powder-soft beaches. But beyond being a surf and party destination, Southern Province is a diverse blend of rainforests, tea gardens, villages with their traditional crafts and a centuries-old fort. It has also evolved into the island nation's gastronomy hub, with contemporary bars and chic cafes spotlighting native ingredients. Advertisement To help discover the region, we spoke to three insiders: Don Ranasinghe, co-owner of Smoke & Bitters, a bar and smokehouse in Hiriketiya ranked No 14 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list; Naveen Devinda, who runs Donga, a travel company focusing on sustainable tours; and Edwina Viel, who visits Sri Lanka almost every month to manage her beachfront accommodation, Villa Weli Kasba. Locals in southern Sri Lanka recommend hailing a tuk-tuk and heading inland. Photo: Shutterstock Rainforests, tea gardens and a rock temple 'I always tell people to grab a scooter,' says Ranasinghe. 'Go inland and you're going to come across the most beautiful village scenery with paddy fields and natural water springs.' Devinda recommends Lankagama, a village that lies on the fringes of Sri Lanka's last primary rainforest, Sinharaja. While there are several entrances to Sinharaja, he explains, the trails in Lankagama meander through seven waterfalls that most travellers haven't heard of. 'It is probably the only place in the south where you can see many waterfalls within such a small area. 'There's plenty of opportunity to interact with locals in Lankagama, talk to the farmers and see their daily life. It goes beyond a typical rainforest trail,' says Devinda, who also recommends taking a tour to watch tappers climb tall fishtail palm trees to collect the sap. Viel says her guests enjoy visits to the Handunugoda Tea Estate, known for its virgin white tea: 'They are passionate about their tea, and people don't expect to see tea plantations when they are in the south.' Advertisement Both Viel and Devinda recommend hailing a tuk-tuk and heading inland from Tangalle to caves such as those at the Mulkirigala temple complex, built in the third century over a 205-metre high natural rock formation, with its reclining Buddhas and ceiling paintings that depict Buddha's life. The views aren't bad, either.
CNA
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
New clashes erupt in Syria's Druze stronghold as Bedouin reinforcements arrive
WALGHA, SYRIA: Armed tribal fighters backed by Syria's Islamist-led interim government clashed with Druze forces on Friday (Jul 18) in the southern province of Sweida, a day after the army withdrew under Israeli bombardment and US-led diplomatic pressure. The renewed violence raised fresh doubts over interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa's control, as he struggles to manage rising unrest among Syria's religious and ethnic minorities, including Kurds in the northeast and Alawites along the Mediterranean coast. The United Nations condemned the bloodshed, urging an 'independent' investigation into the unrest, which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said has killed nearly 600 people since fighting erupted on Sunday. HOSPITALS OVERWHELMED In Sweida National Hospital, bodies were stacked in refrigerated storage units as the morgue reached capacity. A small team of exhausted doctors and nurses treated the wounded in crowded hallways, AFP reported. 'We have received more than 400 bodies since Monday morning,' said Dr Omar Obeid, president of the Sweida branch of the Order of Physicians. 'There is no more room in the morgue, the bodies are in the street.' TRIBAL FIGHTERS DEPLOY Tribal fighters from across Syria were seen arriving in villages around Sweida on Friday, responding to calls for help from local Bedouin amid a deepening feud with the Druze community. Anas al-Enad, a tribal chief from Hama, said he travelled to the village of Walgha to support the Bedouin. An AFP correspondent saw burning shops and homes in the village, now under tribal control. The UK-based Observatory said the government had facilitated the movement of tribal reinforcements, as Syrian troops are barred from entering Sweida under a security arrangement brokered with Israel. ISRAEL SENDS HUMANITARIAN AID Israel, which bombed military sites in Sweida and Damascus earlier this week, said on Friday it was delivering emergency aid to the Druze population in Sweida. 'In light of the recent attacks targeting the Druze community and the severe humanitarian situation, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has ordered the urgent transfer of aid,' Israel's foreign ministry said. The aid package, worth two million shekels (nearly US$600,000), includes food parcels and medical supplies. A ceasefire was meant to take effect on Thursday, but Sharaa's office accused Druze fighters of violating the truce. The fighting has heavily damaged infrastructure, leaving Sweida's residents without water, electricity, or communication. UN DEMANDS INQUIRY The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said nearly 2,000 families have been displaced by the violence. 'The humanitarian situation is catastrophic. We cannot find milk for children,' said Rayan Maarouf, editor-in-chief of local news outlet Suwayda 24. UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk demanded a halt to the violence and called for 'independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations.' 'Those responsible must be held to account,' Turk said. TRIGGERED BY KIDNAPPING The latest unrest began on Sunday after a Druze vegetable merchant was kidnapped by local Bedouin, triggering retaliatory abductions and escalating into armed conflict, according to the Observatory. While the army was deployed to restore order, witnesses and monitors said the troops sided with the Bedouin and committed abuses against Druze civilians. The interim government, which ousted Bashar al-Assad in December, has faced criticism for failing to build inclusive ties with Syria's minority communities.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Syrian government forces pull out of Sweida after days of violence
In this episode of W News, presented by Jono Hayes, we report on Syrian government forces withdrawing from the Druze heartland of Sweida. The southern province has seen deadly clashes since Sunday between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes, and pro-government forces. In a televised address, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced that community leaders would now take over responsibility for security in the region. Guests: Hamdi Rifai – Political analyst Dasha Chernyshova – Correspondent
Zawya
04-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Rwanda to Restore Ecosystems and Boost Climate Resilience in the Nyungwe–Ruhango Corridor
Communities in Rwanda's Southern Province are set to benefit from restored ecosystems, improved agricultural productivity, and expanded sustainable livelihood opportunities in areas vulnerable to climate-related shocks. Thanks to a newly approved $9 million grant from the Global Environment Facility, Rwanda will receive support for integrated landscape restoration and climate-smart land management across the Nyungwe–Ruhango Corridor. The Ecosystem-Based Restoration Approach for Nyungwe-Ruhango Corridor Project is one of 20 projects of the GEF-8 Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program (ERIP) across the globe. ERIP scales up ecosystem restoration efforts by transforming degraded lands into thriving ecosystems and promotes private sector engagement and South-South exchange across the beneficiary countries. Conservation International is the ERIP lead agency. ' This project reflects the strong partnership between the World Bank and the Government of Rwanda in building climate resilience and driving inclusive green growth,' said Sahr Kpundeh, World Bank Country Manager for Rwanda. ' It aligns with our Country Partnership Framework and global priorities on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and empowering local communities to lead sustainable change.' The Rwanda GEF-8 will support the rehabilitation of 2,162 hectares of forests and wetlands, promote sustainable land management practices across 8,931 hectares of farmland, and help develop income-generating activities that reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems, directly benefiting more than 289,000 people in Ruhango, Nyanza, and Nyamagabe Districts. The project will contribute to the World Bank Group's core objective of creating more and better jobs to reduce poverty and unlock economic opportunities, especially for the youth. Early estimates suggests that the project could generate over 2,200 jobs through sustainable livelihoods interventions. These include the development of non-timber forest product value chains, fruit tree planting, and support for small businesses in the green economy. The project will also engage the private sector to explore investment opportunities that promote climate-smart land use and sustainable forest management. ' This is a timely intervention that combines ecological restoration with community resilienc e,' said Tuuli Bernardini, Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank. ' By centering the role of women, youth, and local enterprises in landscape management, the project supports inclusive development and paves the way for scalable nature-based solutions.' Implemented by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), the project adopts a landscape-based approach to address environmental degradation, food insecurity, climate risks, such as floods and landslides; threats that disrupt infrastructure, destroy crops, and deepen poverty in the Southern province. At its core, the Rwanda GEF-8 aims to restore ecosystems that provide critical services such as erosion control, flood regulation and habitats for biodiversity. Key interventions will include afforestation, reforestation, riverbank and wetland rehabilitation and the promotion of agroforestry and other climate-smart agricultural practices. The Rwanda GEF-8 forms part of a broader suite of World Bank-supported investments in conservation and sustainable land management along the Congo-Nile divide covering parts of the Northern, Western, and Southern Province. These include the Volcanoes Community Resilience Project and Commercialization and De-Risking for Agricultural Transformation Project. Building on lessons from Rwanda's earlier efforts such as the Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation (LAFREC), these initiatives align with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), and are expected to deliver significant outcomes in biodiversity conservation, resilience building and improved community livelihoods. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Pairc Ui Chaoimh to host Munster Champions Cup game
Munster have confirmed they will play one of next season's Investec Champions Cup pool fixtures at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Thomond Park in Limerick usually stages Munster's home European games, with Cork last hosting one at Virgin Media Park in December 2002. Munster have held friendly games against South Africa XV and New Zealand side Crusaders at the 45,000-capacity Pairc Ui Chaoimh in recent years. The match against Crusaders at the home of Cork GAA attracted a crowd of 40,885 and Munster say they hope for a "significant financial uplift" from hosting a Champions Cup game there compared to the 25,6000-capacity Thomond Park. "In addition to this, the larger capacity of Pairc Ui Chaoimh will allow even more people to experience a competitive Munster Rugby European matchday which provides a fantastic opportunity to grow our support base, not just in Cork but right across the southern part of the province," said Munster chief operating officer Philip Quinn. Munster chief executive Ian Costello, who has also served as interim head coach in recent months, said "showcasing a high-profile competitive fixture to a wider audience is a strategic goal of ours and this aligns with the feedback we have received from many of our supporters".He added: "Unfortunately, the December Champions Cup pool fixtures in Thomond Park have experienced falling attendances over the last two seasons and the staging of this game in Pairc Ui Chaoimh offers us the opportunity to accommodate more supporters at that match and improve our financial stability which in the current climate is imperative."Munster secured 2025-26 Champions Cup qualification with a United Rugby Championship win over Benetton last week. They face Sharks in Durban in the URC quarter-finals on 31 May (17:30 BST).
