Category: Politics
Sri Lanka frees ex-army chief from prison
May 21, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka former army chief Sarath Fonseka walked out of prison on Monday to a hero’s welcome, after President Mahinda Rajapakse ordered his release. Fonseka unsuccessfully tried to unseat Rajapakse in the January 2010 presidential election. The two fell-out as to who should take credit to crush the Tigers in […]
’s jailed ex-army chief smells freedom
May 20, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse has signed papers to pardon jailed ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka, his aide said Sunday, a day after the island marked three-years since defeating the Tamil Tigers. Rajapakse inked the papers on Friday evening and passed them to his chief-of-staff, his spokesman Bandula Jayasekera said. The […]
’s president rejects demands to rollback military camps
May 19, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s president on Saturday, rejected demands to remove military camps in the island’s north and urged international co-operation to modernise the country. We must ask if we in a position to remove the armed forces camps in the north and reduce our attention national security. That is not possible, […]
’s cabinet clear release of ex-army chief
May 17, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers on Thursday agreed to free jailed former army chief Sarath Fonseka, President Mahinda Rajapakse’s aide said, paving the way for the retired four star general’s imminent release. Fonseka lead troops in a spectacular military campaign against the Tamil Tiger rebels that ended the island’s decades […]
US official visits Sri Lanka on de-mining
May 02, 2012 (LBO) – A senior United States official in charge of security assistance programs and policy had visited Sri Lanka and for talks with defence officials and to see the progress on de-mining, the US embassy in Colombo said. He had also visited Kilinochchi and Vavuniya, where a 30-year civil war ended in […]
Sri Lanka economic sanctions ruled out by US
Mar 21, 2012 (LBO) – The United States will not push for economic sanctions on Sri Lanka despite calls for a probe into alleged war crimes, Robert Blake, a top US State Department official said in an exclusive interview. But the government needs to move faster on reconciliation between the island’s main communities after the […]
Sri Lanka business groups oppose UN war crimes resolution
Mar 20, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s business chambers have opposed a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council against alleged war crimes in the campaign that crushed Tamil Tiger separatists. “The joint Chambers of Commerce of Sri Lanka express concern over the resolution to be tabled at the UNHRC against Sri Lanka,” they […]
Sri Lanka might lose Indian support on war crimes issue: reports
Mar 19, 2012 (LBO) – India might vote against Sri Lanka in the United Nations Human Rights Council which is debating alleged war crimes in the island, news reports quoted Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh as saying. Tamil Nadu political parties have been urging the Indian government to take a strong stand on the atrocities […]
UK restricts skilled workers; allows servants, scientists
Mar 01, 2012 (LBO) – The United Kingdom has tightened immigration rules, ending automatic settlement for skilled workers but allowing scientists and those in low-paid jobs where there are worker shortages and limited stay for servants. œOur reforms of the immigration system will ensure we are more selective, not only about those who are allowed […]
Sri Lankan should flag social issues creatively: Bangladesh photo activist
Feb 28, 2012 (LB) – Bangladesh photographer, activist and social entrepreneur Shahidul Alam, challenged Sri Lankans to think creatively to flag social issues that grips the developing world. Driven by largely autocratic governments, developing nations like Sri Lanka battle veiled censorship, subtle military rule and commercial pressure that often suppress unsavoury topics. “Don’t let those […]
Sri Lanka reconciliation, secular republics in focus
Jan 23, 2012 (LBO) – Building a secular state can prevent oppression of minorities and victims of an arbitrary state should learn to forgive but must also speak out for change, writers participating in a literary festival in Sri Lanka said. India, a land of Maharajahs, became a democracy with voting rights and parliamentary legislating […]
Sri Lanka govt probe seen failing to win confidence of Tamils
Jan 16, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main minority Tamil political party has rejected a government investigation into the ethnic war, saying it lacked credibility and even its interim recommendations a year ago were not implemented. The commission also recommended that people who are discharged be given a certificate to prevent being re-arrested but even […]