Category: Politics

COLOMBO, Feb 20, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Tuesday condemned as an “abominable act of terrorism” the firebombing of a train from India to Pakistan that killed 68 people. Sri Lanka, which is battling a separatist campaign by Tamil rebels, said terrorism was a scourge that affected many nations and that the international community “must […]

COLOMBO, Feb 20, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan military aircraft bombed rebel-held territory on Tuesday, killing at least two villagers, the Tamil Tiger guerrillas said, as the military reported four more deaths. Sri Lanka’s separatist conflict, led by the Tamil Tigers, has claimed over 60,000 lives. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said Israeli-built […]

COLOMBO, Feb 17, 2007 (AFP) – One civilian was killed and six other people were wounded when suspected Tamil Tiger rebels set off a fragmentation mine in northern Sri Lanka on Saturday, the defence ministry said.The blast blamed on the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was aimed at an army bus carrying troops […]

February 17 (LBO) – An international journalist rights body has voiced concern as yet another Sri Lankan journalist went missing this week. Media organisations have described Sri Lanka as one of the most dangerous places for journalists in South Asia. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has voiced deep concern about the disappearance of Subramaniam Ramachandran, the […]

COLOMBO, Feb 16, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s air force bombed suspected Tamil Tiger rebel targets in the northern Jaffna peninsula on Friday, the defence ministry said.War planes pounded the towns of Sorampattu and Palai, destroying mortar positions, the statement said. But the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com said the military targeted civilian settlements in the north in […]

CHENNAI, India, Feb 15, 2007 (AFP) – India’s coast guard said it had foiled a major attack when it seized a boat belonging to Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels packed with weapons, bomb-making chemicals and a “suicide belt.” Officials said five men including a top Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) rebel were on the […]

COLOMBO, Feb 15, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka faces international isolation for failing to pay close heed to human rights issues, former foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera warned Thursday.He said he was troubled by the renewed violence and a rising number of deaths, as well as a big increase in unsolved kidnappings across the island. “There […]

COLOMBO, Feb 15, 2007 (AFP) – Britain’s junior foreign minister said here Thursday his country was willing to play a bigger role in bringing peace to Sri Lanka’s long-running ethnic conflict.Kim Howells made the comments at the end of a three-day visit to the former British colony to try to salvage the peace process and […]

Feb 14, 2007 (AFP) – A blast in Sri Lanka’s east hurt 12 people ahead of a visit to the region by Britain’s junior foreign minister Kim Howells on Wednesday to assess projects funded by the former colonial power.More than 60,000 people have been killed in the conflict. A van carrying 15 civilians hit a […]

Feb 14, 2007 (AFP) – Three rebels, a policeman and a security guard were killed in Sri Lanka’s restive eastern province Wednesday as Britain’s junior foreign minister Kim Howells toured projects in the area funded by the former colonial power.Security forces killed three Tiger rebels during clashes across eastern Amapara district which also claimed the […]

Feb 13, 2007 (LBO) – A member of the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia municipal council was shot dead by unidentified gunmen Tuesday, police said. United National Party member Ariyaratne Silva had been killed at his office in Attidiya Road. Mt. Lavinia police say a T-56 automatic rifle had been used in the killing. (www.vimasuma.com Newsdesk) .

One killed, five injured in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Feb 13, 2007 (AFP) – A civilian was gunned down in Sri Lanka’s restive north on Monday, while security forces traded fire with Tamil Tiger rebels elsewhere, the defence ministry said. More than 60,000 people have died in the 35-year-old ethnic conflict.Unidentified gunmen shot dead a Tamil […]