Sri Lanka detains war zone doctors

May 18, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has detained four doctors who worked inside Tamil Tiger territory, treating wounded civilians and providing reports on heavy civilian casualties that contradicted government accounts, an official said Monday.Doctors Thurairaja Varatharajah, Thangamuttu Sathyamurthi and V.Shanmugarajah were arrested when they crossed over to government territory on Sunday. Another doctor and […]

UN chief announces Sri Lanka trip

GENEVA, May 19, 2009 (AFP) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he will visit Sri Lanka on Friday and called for immediate progress on reconciliation following the government’s declaration of victory over Tamil Tiger rebels.“We urgently need to treat the wounds of a war that has alienated the communities in the island for almost […]

‘s independents take stock after election drubbing

MUMBAI, May 19, 2009 (AFP) – A new wave of reform-minded candidates are taking stock after the Indian general election, following high-profile campaigns that failed to translate into votes at the ballot box. “This is going to take some time to change,” he told AFP.“People are definitely talking about better people in parliament, not only […]

Second Chance

May 19, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said it was giving a second chance for five qualified investors to buy a 33 percent stake in Seylan Bank because bids it received were not fully compliant with the conditions set by the regulator. The central bank’s governing body, the monetary board, said it would […]

Sri Lankan stocks marginally up, rupee stable

May 19, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended marginally up Tuesday, recovering from early losses on confirmation that Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was dead, while the rupee remained stable against the greenback, brokers and dealers said. The government later announced that a DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) test had confirmed the slain Tiger leader’s identity […]

Sri Lanka to review overnight forex trading limits: CB governor

May 19, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will “review” overnight forex trading positions of commercial banks which were slashed during the height of a balance of payments crisis last year, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. The central bank stopped counting dollars advanced to state banks under a tighter reserve classification process ahead of an […]

‘s end

May 19, 2009 (LBO) – The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said the Sri Lankan government’s victory over Tamil Tiger rebels enables it to turn its efforts towards reviving the economy.“This victory demonstrates the true capabilities of the people of the country when provided with proper leadership and direction,” the chamber said in a statement a […]

Sri Lankan student in coma after Australia acid attack

SYDNEY, May 18, 2009 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan student in Sydney had acid thrown in his face and was in an induced coma after a home invasion early Monday sparked by the conflict in his troubled homeland, police said.Police appealed for calm among the Sinhalese and Tamil communities in Australia’s largest city following the […]

NEW DELHI, May 18, 2009 (AFP) – India asked Sri Lanka on Monday to “address the root causes of the conflict” with ethnic Tamils and to provide aid to tens of thousands of civilians displaced in the last months of the war. India is home to millions of Tamils in the southern state of Tamil […]

‘s death

NEW DELHI, May 18, 2009 (AFP) – India is to ask Sri Lanka for scientific confirmation of the death of the Tamil Tigers leader so it can close a case connected to the murder of former premier Rajiv Gandhi, police said Monday. Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, his intelligence chief Pottu Amman and rebel women’s […]

Sri Lanka exports fall in March, but tea, garments up

May 18, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s export earnings in March 2009 fell 7.8 percent to 627 million US dollars from a year-ago although the main exports of garments and tea went up, the central bank said. Exports of textiles and garment rose six percent to 310 million dollars despite recession in key Western markets […]

”: former mediator

OSLO, May 17, 2009 (AFP) – Peace is far from being won in Sri Lanka, despite the government’s claims to have scored a crushing military victory against Tamil Tiger rebels, the former negotiator in the conflict said Sunday. “Peace is long from being won,” said Minister of Environment and International Development Erik Solheim. “The Sri […]

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