Category: Politics

May 06, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s foreign minister has revamped the management of a key foreign affairs think tank meant to serve as a link between strategy and decision making, with a key focus on counter-terrorism. But both sides are under international pressure to resume peace talks and end human rights violations. The Lakshman […]

COLOMBO, May 5, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan naval craft sank two suspected Tamil Tiger boats off the island’s northeastern coast Saturday, inflicting heavy losses on the guerrillas, a navy official said. Patrol craft engaged a flotilla of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) off the coast of Pulmoddai and sank two out of […]

May 4, 2007 (AFP) – At least three people were killed in fresh clashes between troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Sri Lanka, the guerrillas said Friday.The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they beat back an attack by around 300 Sri Lankan army troops along their frontline in the Wanni late […]

May 4, 2007 (LBO) – Two Sri Lankan nationals founders of the have University Teachers for Human Rights (UTHR) have won a top award for their work together with an activist in Burundi, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Friday. The 2007 Martin Ennals Award went to Rajan Hoole and Kopalasingham Sritharan, co-founders of the […]

May 3, 2007 (AFP) – Britain has frozen aid to Sri Lanka in a bid to pressure the government to improve its human rights record, officials said Thursday. Prime Minister Tony Blair’s special peace envoy, Paul Murphy, is also planning a visit to Sri Lanka, a former British colony, in bid to help salvage the […]

COLOMBO, May 3, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court Thursday stripped former president Chandrika Kumaratunga of her official staff and 36 government cars, saying that she was not entitled to extravagant privileges.A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath Silva held that it was also illegal for her to occupy a state bungalow refurbished […]

COLOMBO, May 3, 2007 (AFP) – A worsening climate of violence against the press in Sri Lanka has resulted in de facto censorship, the island’s main media rights group said Thursday as it marked international press freedom day.With seven journalists murdered over the past year and two more still missing, the Free Media Movement (FMM) […]

SYDNEY, May 2, 2007 (AFP) – Australia Wednesday played down a suggestion that it was a major source of funds for Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers, after two local businessmen were charged with channelling money to the rebels.The two Melbourne men have been accused of sending cash raised under the guise of tsunami relief to the […]

NEW YORK, May 1, 2007 (AFP) – Press freedom around the world deteriorated last year due to coups, attempts to stifle political opposition and regulate use of the Internet, a leading watchdog said in a report Tuesday.The survey gave 74 countries out of the 195 included the “free” rating and 63 the “not free” label.The […]

NEW YORK, May 1, 2007 (AFP) – Press freedom around the world deteriorated last year due to coups, attempts to stifle political opposition and regulate use of the Internet, a leading watchdog said in a report Tuesday.The survey gave 74 countries out of the 195 included the “free” rating and 63 the “not free” label. […]

May 2, 2007 (AFP) – Two Tamil civilians and 13 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in northern Sri Lanka as the country marked the holiest Buddhist anniversary, military officials said on Wednesday. Unidentified gunmen short dead the two civilians on Tuesday night, the start of the Wesak festival marking the birth, enlightenment and death of […]

April 30, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels said Monday that they hit a military war plane on a bombing mission over their territory with anti-aircraft fire.The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they attacked the Israeli-built Kfir jet Monday as it flew over the rebel-held Kilinochchi district, but that the aircraft […]