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Space is ours (as is the sky)
Feb 09, 2009 (LBO) – It has been announced that the Telecom Regulatory Commission (TRC) is going in to the satellite business. First, they will launch one low earth orbital satellite (LEO) in 2009. Then they will launch a geostationary satellite. That will take two years. The LEO will be named in honor of the […]
Sri Lanka elect to bat in final India one-dayer
February 8, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat in the fifth and final one-day international against India here on Sunday.Umpires: Brian Jerling (RSA) and Tyron Wijewardene (SRI) TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG) India, leading 4-0, made two changes from the side […]
Sri Lanka navy sinks two Tiger boats: military
February 8, 2009 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan navy on Sunday sank two boats carrying Tamil Tiger rebels escaping the island’s north-eastern battle zone, killing at least six guerrillas, a spokesman said.Naval craft attacked two boats belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) off the coast of Mullaittivu where the rebels have been […]
Civilians pour out of Sri Lanka war zone: govt
February 8, 2009 (AFP) – At least 10,000 civilians have escaped Sri Lanka’s war zone in the last four days, the government said Sunday, as the president warned Tamil Tiger rebels to surrender unconditionally or be killed. The Tigers are fighting for survival after being driven back into a small patch of jungle by a […]
Sri Lanka hunts Tiger chief with victory in sight
February 8, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops have smashed the Tamil Tigers’ mini-state and cornered the remaining rebels, but officials say they must catch their elusive leader to declare final victory. The air force carried out a series of raids on locations where Velupillai Prabhakaran, 54, was suspected to have sheltered over the weekend, […]
‘s winning streak
February 8, 2009 (AFP) – Tillakaratne Dilshan top-scored with a solid 97 as Sri Lanka prevented an Indian clean sweep with an emphatic 68-run win in the fifth and final one-day international here on Sunday.The hosts posted 320-8 following impressive knocks from opener Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara (84) and then dismissed the tourists for 252 […]
‘s legendary cedars
BAROUK, February 7, 2009 (AFP) – Lebanon’s majestic cedar trees have withstood the test of time for centuries but climate change is threatening the country’s most treasured symbol. Used by various civilisations throughout history for their strong and durable wood, Lebanon’s cedars are now on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “Red List” as […]
Sri Lanka warns Tigers to surrender or risk rout
February 7, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse warned cornered Tamil Tiger rebels to surrender or face a complete rout as government forces claimed more successes in what is regarded as their fight to a finish.“I want to tell the Tigers ‘lay down arms and surrender to security forces’,” the president told a […]
Galle literary festival, Sri Lanka; seeking freedom in prose
Feb 07, 2009 (LBO) – “I happen to be in love with dictators,” says Moses Isegawa, a Ugandan author whose life had been shaped by the likes of former dictator Idi Amin, and who eventually left his home country to write from abroad.“Every word is a vote,” insists Anam. V V Ganeshanthan, whose debut novel […]
Britain deplores stoning of Sri Lanka aid offices
LONDON, February 6, 2009 (AFP) – The British government said it deplored Friday’s stoning of the Red Cross offices in Colombo, saying the ICRC was a neutral body carrying out vital work to protect Sri Lankan civilians. “The British government has recently allocated a further 2.5 million pounds (3.7 million dollars, 2.9 million euros) to […]