Category: Politics

March 28, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Thursday launched a probe into a mystery poster campaign that is asking would-be Tamil Tiger suicide bombers to turn themselves in to government hands in return for cash.The campaign, run by an unknown pro-peace organisation, was urging extremists to change their minds in exchange for a new life […]

March 25, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is maintaining a diplomatic silence on the recent Chinese crackdown on protests in Buddhist Tibet as China is one of its main arms suppliers in the war against Tamil Tiger separatists, analysts say. “¦when the Buddhists in Tibet cry for their freedom, shouldn’t Sri Lanka, being a Buddhist […]

March 25, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the minority Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have decided to contest the upcoming elections in the eastern province, party officials said. The UNP boycotted local government elections in the area earlier this month, in a move that proved controversial with some […]

March 24, 2008 (AFP) – Heavy fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and Sri Lankan troops in the north of the island over the weekend has resulted in heavy casualties, both sides said Monday.According to the defence ministry, clashes on Saturday and Sunday in the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli Oya left at least 100 […]

March 23, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan authorities said Sunday that the British-born sci-fi writer Arthur C.Clarke had been cleared of decade-old paedophile allegations before his death last week.Clarke was buried Saturday in Colombo, where he had lived since 1956.Obituary writers have resurrected the 1998 accusations that he had sex with young boys in his […]

March 23, 2008 (LBO) – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a media freedom watchdog, has written to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse urging him to probe a recent spate of attacks on journalists and ensure their protection. The New Yorkbased, independent, non-profit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide, said in a statement […]

March 22, 2008 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan navy craft was destroyed in a sea mine blast off the island’s north-eastern coast Saturday, leaving at least 10 sailors missing, a navy spokesman said. Six sailors from the fast attack craft (FAC) were rescued by another boat patrolling the waters off the Tamil Tiger stronghold of […]

March 22, 2008 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels struck back against a mounting Sri Lankan military offensive on Saturday by sinking a naval fast attack craft, leaving 10 sailors missing, officials said. A navy craft was destroyed in a “mystery blast” caused by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the defence ministry said, adding […]

Mar 21, 2008 (LBO) – International media rights bodies have deplored the appointment of a retired military general to a Sri Lankan state-run television station whose journalists have been attacked repeatedly without anyone being brought to justice. . The attacks, including knifings, assaults and slashing with razors cropped up after workers of the station held […]

March 20, 2008 (AFP) – Fighting between government troops and Tamil Tigers across Sri Lanka’s war-ravaged northern districts claimed at least 22 rebel lives, the defence ministry said Thursday. Security forces killed the rebels during artillery duels in Jaffna, Weli Oya, Mannar and Vavuniya on Wednesday, the ministry said, adding that two soldiers were wounded. […]

March 19, 2008 (AFP) – The International Red Cross on Wednesday angrily accused Sri Lanka’s government of releasing confidential communications and manipulating information from the organisation to defend its rights record. In rare public criticism of a government, the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Colombo has been “misrepresenting its findings” to […]

March 18, 2008 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan soldier was killed and two others wounded in a roadside bomb attack in the island’s north Tuesday, the defence ministry said.The victims were on a mine-sweeping operation in the district of Mannar when they were caught up in the blast, the ministry said in a statement. The […]