Author: lbostgadmin
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 […]
‘ 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Sri Lanka suicide blast toll hits 11
Apr. 29 (AFP) – A woman soldier has died of her injuries, bringing to 11 the number of people killed in a suicide bomb attack against Sri Lanka’s army chief, a hospital spokeswoman said Saturday. The soldier died at the national hospital in Colombo on Friday, spokeswoman Pushpa Soysa said. The dead include 10 victims […]
Sri Lanka facing dangerous propaganda war: president
Apr. 29 (AFP) – Sri Lanka is facing a propaganda war more dangerous than the recent violence in the country, the president said, as newspapers on Saturday accused foreign journalists of biased coverage. “Now we are confronted with a more dangerous war — that is the propaganda war,” President Mahinda Rajapakse told a meeting of […]
Sri Lankan air strikes violated truce: monitors
Apr. 29 (AFP) – Sri Lanka violated a ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels by launching air strikes this week, foreign truce monitors said Saturday, expressing fears government forces had also been involved in extrajudicial killings. The strikes conducted on Tiger targets in northeastern Trincomalee district on Tuesday and Wednesday “are a clear violation of the […]
Leaders try to defuse tension in northeastern Sri Lanka
TRINCOMALEE, Apr. 29 (AFP) – Community leaders met in this northeastern Sri Lankan port town Saturday in a bid to defuse tension and suspicion between Sinhalese and Tamils following the bombing of a busy market that killed 17 people. “Trincomalee has always been a power-game area,” he said. “Various groups play their power games here. […]