Category: Politics

June 22, 2007 (AFP) – At least two Tamil Tiger rebels were killed when they detonated their explosives-laden boat off Sri Lanka’s northeastern coast Friday, naval sources said.More than 60,000 people are reported to have been killed in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s separatist campaign since 1972. A navy patrol was about to detain […]

June 22, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Friday delayed hearing a case challenging the eviction of minority ethnic Tamils from Colombo, which police said was undertaken to root out Tamil Tiger rebels.The legal challenge to the eviction was filed by local lobby group the Centre for Policy Alternatives. The court set the […]

COLOMBO, June 22, 2007 (AFP) – International media rights activists on Friday described Sri Lanka as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists due to a worsening climate of violence and censorship. Almost 5,000 people have been killed since December 2005, according to official figures, while over 1,000 people are reported […]

June 21, 2007 (AFP) – At least three soldiers were killed and another wounded in a roadside bomb attack Thursday in northern Sri Lanka, military officials said.More than 60,000 people are reported to have been killed in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s separatist campaign since 1972.A Claymore mine exploded as troops travelled in a […]

SINGAPORE, June 20, 2007 (AFP) – India’s improved bilateral relations with the United States are not intended to try and contain the growing might of China, the Indian foreign minister said Wednesday in Singapore. Mukherjee arrived in Singapore on Monday for a three-day visit.On Wednesday, he met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and delivered […]

June 21, 2007 (AFP) – Media rights groups attacked Sri Lanka’s government Thursday for blocking domestic access to a website favouring the Tamil Tiger rebels and for saying it would like hackers to disable the site.Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Colombo should immediately unblock the Tamilnet.com website. “Sri Lanka’s Internet service providers have been blocking […]

June 21, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s top media rights body has condemned a statement by a minister who made remarks about hacking a Tamil news website which was blocked by at least two of the country’s top telecom firms, reportedly on government orders. The full statement is reproduced below: The Free Media Movement (FMM) […]

June 21, 2007 (LBO) – Relations between Sri Lanka and Britain remained strong with a shared history, cricket and economic ties binding the two nations, the British High Commission said on the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. “The more we see others in this way, the more we can understand them and their points of […]

June 21, 2007 (LBO) – Rebel lawmakers of the ruling party are claiming wider support to become a moderate “third force” in Sri Lanka’s politics, and said they would initiate talks with other opposition parties soon. Samaraweera is closely associated with Kumaratunga. Mangala Samaraweera, who was sacked by President Mahinda Rajapakse earlier, said the rebels […]

June 19, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy attacked a flotilla of Tamil Tiger boats off the island’s northern coast Tuesday, sinking at least three craft, an official said.The latest naval battle came as troops in the east of the island stepped up pressure on the guerrillas who have been fighting for independence since 1972.More […]

June 20, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Telecom, the country’s largest Internet service provider, has blocked a pro-rebel website on government orders, a source at the company said Wednesday.A Sri Lanka Telecom executive, who declined to be named, said the website has been blocked for several days on the “advice” of the government. The London-based […]

June 20, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Free Media Movement (FMM) has slammed a move to block access to a Tamil news internet website , saying that the country was on a “slippery slope of web and internet censorship”. . The full statement from FMM is reproduced below: The Free Media Movement is deeply disturbed […]