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Bombs, curfew spell kiss of death for normal life in Sri Lankan town
TRINCOMALEE, May 1 (AFP) – There’s nothing quite like a bloody bombing followed by a strict night curfew to deliver the kiss of death to normal day-to-day life in a town, as residents of Trincomalee will testify.Although the curfew in the strategic northeastern Sri Lankan port town only begins at 10:00 pm, the streets empty […]
Tamil Tigers say their boats defied sea transport ban
May 1 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels have moved an unspecified number of fighters along the island’s northeastern coast in defiance of a ban on sea transport, a pro-rebel website reported Monday.The boats of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were closely followed by naval craft and came under attack late Sunday from […]
Government agencies claim two rates of growth for Sri Lanka
May 01 (LBO) – The claims of two different growth rates for Sri Lanka by two agencies have highlighted inherent shortcomings in the preparation of national income accounting and also added fuel to sceptics who do not believe economic growth numbers. A tale of two economies
Sri Lanka protests monitors’ statement on extrajudicial killings
Apr. 30 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Sunday protested an allegation by Scandinavian truce monitors that government forces may have been responsible for extrajudicial killings. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse met Ulf Henricsson, the head of the truce monitoring mission, to demand an explanation for Saturday’s statement, a top government official said. The Sri Lanka Monitoring […]
London police hunt firebomber targeting SAsian businesses
LONDON, April 30 (AFP) – Police in London said Sunday they were hunting a racist serial firebomber after three apparently motiveless petrol bomb attacks on south Asian business premises in which one man died.“In the absence of any other possible motive, I’m working on the basis that these are racially-motivated attacks,” said Detective Superintendent Dick […]
India “at peak of global attractiveness” for global retailers: study
NEW DELHI, Apr. 30 (AFP) – India has emerged as the most attractive global retail destination for a second straight year, ahead of rival China which trails in fifth place, says a new study by global consultancy AT Kearney.“India is at the peak of attractiveness for retailers right now with a 350-billion-dollar retail market expected […]
Asia to host 2011 cricket World Cup
DUBAI, Apr. 30 (AFP) – Asia have beaten a joint bid from Australia and New Zealand for the right to host the 2011 cricket World Cup.The decision to award the event to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was made by the International Cricket Council’s executive committee meeting here on Sunday. The Asian bid won […]
Two civilians hurt as Sri Lanka troops battle Tamil Tigers
April 30 (AFP) – Sri Lankan security forces fired artillery guns at suspected Tamil Tiger positions after the rebels carried out an abortive attack on a fishing community and wounded at least two civilians, police said.Troops kept up the barrage against the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after the guerrillas stormed into a […]
Four children killed in Sri Lanka air strikes: UNICEF
Apr. 30 (AFP) – Four children were killed in government air strikes in northeastern Sri Lanka last week, the United Nations children’s agency said Sunday, urging the reopening of schools in the affected area.UNICEF, which sent a mission to the rebel-held areas of Trincomalee district, said two schools were damaged in the bombardment. “Four children […]
‘ statement on extrajudicial killings
Apr. 30 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Sunday protested an allegation by Scandinavian truce monitors that government forces may have been responsible for extrajudicial killings. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse met Ulf Henricsson, the head of the truce monitoring mission, to demand an explanation for Saturday’s statement, a top government official said. The Sri Lanka Monitoring […]