Author: lbostgadmin
Trade Glitch
May 02 (LBO) – A tariff cut of up to 70 percent on imports from India under the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement has been pushed back due to legislative delays. The tariff changes are currently in Parliament and there has been a delay in getting it approved but it is purely a procedural delay, Lal […]
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 […]
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 […]
Five killed in Sri Lanka May Day mine attack
May 1 (AFP) – A Claymore mine exploded in Sri Lanka’s port town of Trincomalee on Monday, killing five people after political parties called off May Day rallies in fear of an attack, officials said.The dead included four civilians, local military officials in Trincomalee, 260 kilometres (160 miles) northeast of Colombo, said by telephone. The […]
” despite violence
May 1 (AFP) – At least 200 people have been killed in the bloodiest month in Sri Lanka since peacebroker Norway arranged a truce four years ago, but the warring parties say their ceasefire is still holding.Sri Lanka’s government said it was committed to upholding the hugely strained ceasefire even as seven more people were […]
Asia promises cricket World Cup as “big as football”
NEW DELHI, May 1 (AFP) – Asia’s cricket chiefs celebrated the award of the 2011 World Cup by vowing Monday a spectacular event that will be “as big as the one for football”. A joint bid by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh defeated the rival bid by Australia and New Zealand 10-3 at the […]
Bhutan gets first private newspaper
GUWAHATI, India, May 1 (AFP) – The first edition of Bhutan’s only privately-owned newspaper sold out within hours of hitting the stands amid ongoing constitutional moves towards democracy in the Himalayan kingdom. The weekly Bhutan Times went on sale Sunday and was snapped up rapidly, according to the website of the Kuensel newspaper, the official […]
India retires its ageing spy planes
NEW DELHI, May 1 (AFP) – The Indian Air Force Monday retired its four ageing spy planes and said military satellites will take over the role of the Soviet-era aircraft, local media reported.“The nature of warfare is changing with satellites taking over the act of spying,” Air Chief Marshall S.P. Tyagi said at a ceremony […]
Sri Lanka calls off May Day rallies amid suicide bomb fears
Apr. 30 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main political parties have agreed to call off May Day rallies scheduled for Monday because of fears that large gatherings could attract suicide bombers, a government minister said.Plan Implementation Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said there was a consensus among political parties to avoid large meetings after a female suicide bomber […]
Civilian casualties in Sri Lanka strike “minimal” — governor
TRINCOMALEE, Apr. 30 (AFP) – The governor of Sri Lanka’s Northeast Province has played down civilian casualties inflicted during military strikes on Tamil Tiger areas, saying they were lower even than those caused by one recent Tiger bombing. “Considering the amount of firepower, the collateral damage is minimal,” Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama said in an […]
Sri Lanka refugees rise to 21,000: UN
Apr.30 (AFP) – Up to 21,000 people have fled their homes following the latest spike in violence in Sri Lanka’s northeastern district of Trincomalee, the United Nations said Sunday.A bomb attack on the main market in the town of Trincomalee, 260 kilometres (160 miles) northeast of Colombo, on April 12 killed at least 17 people, […]
Eighteen dead in Tiger infighting, says Sri Lankan military
Apr. 30 (AFP) – At least 18 rebels were killed and many more wounded when Tamil Tiger guerrillas on Sunday launched a major attack against a breakaway faction in eastern Sri Lanka, military and rebel sources said.The battle was one of the bloodiest incidents in an escalation of violence in recent weeks that has severely […]