Category: Politics

Sept 12, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition has slammed HSBC Bank over its involvement in a controversial sovereign bond issue and accused two trade chambers that came to its aid of creating a “new class of exploiters”. Last week HSBC defended itself saying it was following local rules after the opposition United National […]

Sept 11, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s defence ministry Tuesday claimed that one of the most wanted Tamil Tigers had been arrested by Interpol in Bangkok, Thailand. He and his group are suspected of running weapons purchased Thailand and neighbouring countries to the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. Quoting ‘reliable sources from Thailand’ the ministry […]

Sept 11, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy sank at least three suspected Tamil Tiger gun-running vessels off the island’s southeastern sea board, navy officials said Tuesday.Clashes between suspected Tamil Tiger ships and the Sri Lankan navy have escalated in recent months amid heavy fighting in the island’s northern and eastern regions.Naval craft intercepted the […]

COLOMBO, Sept 11, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy on Tuesday claimed its biggest success against the Tamil Tiger rebels, saying it had virtually wiped out the separatist group’s ability to smuggle arms into the country. More than 5,400 people have been killed in a new wave of fighting since December 2005 when a Norwegian-brokered […]

Sept 8, 2007 (AFP) – At least 15 people were killed in fresh violence in Sri Lanka’s embattled northern and eastern regions, military officials said Saturday.Three soldiers and five Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in a gun battle in the northern Vavuniya region late Friday, the officials said. They said two more rebels were killed […]

PARIS, Sept 6, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s foreign minister said Thursday he had won assurances from French authorities that they will take action to curb the activities of Tamil rebel supporters in France.Sri Lankan government troops have been fighting Tamil separatist rebels since 1972 and the conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives. Foreign […]

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) – Top military intelligence chiefs from 19 nations gathered here Wednesday for the first time to discuss terrorism, maritime security and disaster relief. “This is an opportunity for the intelligence chiefs from all these countries to get together to talk about areas of mutual cooperation and how we can […]

Sept 6, 2007 (AFP) – At least 43 aid workers have been killed in Sri Lanka since early last year amid an escalation of fighting between troops and Tamil separatists, the Asian Human Rights Commission said on Thursday. The AHRC said that another 14 people had gone missing since January 2006 as the government and […]

PORT BLAIR, India, Sept 4, 2007 (AFP) – A massive naval drill opens in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday with warships from the United States and four other nations flexing their muscle in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Twenty-seven ships and submarines from the United States, Australia, Japan and Singapore will join seven […]

Sept 04, 2007 (LBO) – The European Union has told Sri Lanka to ensure there are no more human rights abuses while the government has said its recent military actions were only to defend against Tamil Tiger terrorism. EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner has told Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama […]

Sept 3, 2007 (AFP) – Troops in Sri Lanka have blocked a key supply route used by the Tamil Tigers in possible preparation for a delayed major assault on the rebels’ northern heartland, military experts said Monday. The military has been trying to break into the stronghold, the Wanni, for weeks but took some nearby […]

Sept 3, 2007 (AFP) – At least 34 people have “disappeared” in Sri Lanka over the past three weeks, the Red Cross said Monday ahead of a United Nations meeting to discuss the island’s human rights record.More than 5,400 people have been killed in clashes since December 2005 in an ethnic conflict that has claimed […]