Author: lbostgadmin
Sri Lankan protoganists jockey for power
Aug 15 (AFP) – The fiercest fighting between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels for four years appears to be an attempt by both sides to gain the upper hand before eventual peace talks, analysts say.The Sri Lankan government ordered the closure of schools fearing rebel reprisals against school children elsewhere in a move […]
Arms deal made Pakistan envoy to Sri Lanka a target
Aug 15(AFP) – A bid to assassinate Pakistan’s envoy to Sri Lanka was triggered by plans for Islamabad to ship new arms to the island to battle Tamil rebels, a government spokesman said Tuesday. A similar push was launched by the Tigers Friday, according to the defence ministry, which said the military managed to resist […]
Poverty and conflict in South Asia breeding ground for AIDS: Experts
TORONTO, Canada, Aug 15, 2006 (AFP) – South Asia’s AIDS epidemic could smash through vulnerable populations unless India and its neighbours take the battle into high-risk areas, including the sex industry, the World Bank warned Monday.The report, issued at the world’s biggest-ever AIDS meeting, painted a picture of an HIV time bomb that ticked in […]
New Generation
Aug 15 (LBO) –Sri Lanka’s largest mobile operator, Dialog Telekom, said it has started South Asia’s first commercial third generation mobile service, after formally receiving the license on Tuesday. Telecommunications is one of the fastest growth sectors in this South Asian island of 19.5 million people and the mobile connections per 100 people had risen […]
Sri Lanka tourism loses some bookings for winter; counts on regional tourism traffic
August 15 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has seen some cancellations from Europe for this year’s peak winter season following an outbreak in local violence, top industry officials said. Some cancellation of bookings have been reported for this November-December season, though others are withholding reservations and adopting a wait-and-see, Prathap Ramanujam, Secretary to the […]
Hidden Costs
August15 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shippers are up in arms against new levies allegedly charged by shipping lines and other vessel operators, under the guise of documentation, security and other charges. Shippers claim that they are being charged higher terminal handling fees, with instances of rates being upped from 115 dollars for a 20 foot […]
’s US$ 5 bn investment pipeline held up due to red tape
August 14 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is sitting on a 5 billion dollar investment pipeline for development projects, held up due to red tape and other delays, the country’s Treasury Secretary said Monday. Sri Lanka is also in talks with lending agencies to promote investment guarantees to encourage companies to spend their dollars in local […]
Wounded Sri Lanka soldiers wow to fight on
ANURADHAPURA, Sri Lanka, Aug 14, 2006 (AFP) – Lying wounded at a Sri Lankan hospital near an airforce base, Sergeant W.D. Anand is upset the government may renew peace talks with Tamil rebels after fierce battles that cut down many of his men.“I don’t know what they are saying in Colombo. We just want to […]
‘s Jaffna peninsula
COLOMBO, Aug 14, 2006 (AFP) – Heavy close-range fighting erupted in Sri Lanka’s besieged northern Jaffna peninsula on Monday after two days of shelling, officials said, a day after fresh peace moves were shot down.The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were using human waves to pound army defence lines in the peninsula, an […]
Air strike death toll rise in Sri Lanka: Tigers
COLOMBO, Aug 14, 2006 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger guerrillas said Monday that 61 schoolgirls at an orphanage and 15 civilians huddled in a church have been killed in air and artillery attacks by Sri Lanka’s military.Air force jets hit a “Senchcholai”, an orphanage run by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in the northeastern […]
‘s capital Colombo
Aug 14 – (LBO) A powerful blast ripped through the Colombo suburb of Kollupitya Killing seven people including military officials, residents and police said.At least four of the dead appear to be military officials, hospital sources said. The Police Special Task spokesman told a local television station that a car bomb in a 3-wheeler had […]
” attack kills 61
COLOMBO, Aug 14, 2006 (AFP) – Pakistan’s top envoy escaped a mine blast which killed seven people here Monday as Tamil Tiger rebels accused Sri Lanka of bombing an orphanage and killing 61 amid ferocious battles elsewhere. The intense fighting cut off Jaffna, where residents were fleeing the violence and were displaced within the peninsula, […]