Category: Politics
Australian police use tear gas on asylum seekers
SYDNEY, March 14, 2011 (AFP) – Australian police used tear gas to quell a protest of 300 asylum seekers on remote Christmas Island on Monday, as the government warned of a tense mood within the under-pressure detention centre. More than 6,500 refugees — mostly from Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka — arrived in Australia last […]
Sri Lanka information desk for Japan tsunami
Mar 11, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Ministry of External Affairs said it has set up an information desk to help nationals seek news of relations in Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami there. It said in a statement those who cannot get information about their next of kin in Japan following […]
”: Sri Lanka
March 4, 2011 (AFP) – A call by the US Senate for an international probe into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka was “unfortunate”, the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse said Friday. The Sri Lankan government said “well motivated groups” had pressured the Senate to adopt a resolution earlier this week calling for an international […]
Sri Lanka coast guard to deploy craft against Indian poachers
Mar 04, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s coast guard is to deploy it’s growing fleet of craft against Indian fishermen poaching in the island’s northern waters, an official said. The coast guard this week took delivery of a patrol boat built by the navy and is to get more craft, including four fast patrol boats […]
Pilot killed as Sri Lankan fighter jets collide
March 1, 2011 (AFP) – Two Sri Lankan fighter jets collided in mid-air during an aerobatics training exercise on Tuesday, killing one of the pilots. The pilots from both of the Israeli-built Kfir aircraft ejected, but one of them died while being taken to hospital, a government official said. The crash occurred as the aircraft […]
Sri Lanka risks forced war crimes probe: US
March 1, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka could be hauled before a war crimes tribunal over the killing of “many thousands of civilians” in the final months of its separatist war with Tamil rebels, a top US official said. In the toughest warning since the end of fighting in May 2009, US Assistant Secretary of […]
Thousands of migrants flee Libya into Tunisia: agency
GENEVA, February 23, 2011 (AFP) – Several thousand foreign migrants from Libya have crossed the Tunisian border in the first major exodus to Tunisia since the Libyan turmoil began, the International Organisation for Migration said on Wednesday. The UNHCR was locating possible sites for camps in case larger numbers arrive. Fleeing migrants said they had […]
Sri Lanka seeks to rescue stranded nationals in Libya
Feb 24, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is seeking rescue by ship nationals stranded in Libya from where foreigners and migrant workers are fleeing the violence triggered by a public uprising against the government, a spokesman said. “We have despatched a ship,” media minister Keheliya Rambukwella told a news conference. AFP news agency reported that […]
Sri Lanka navy foils smuggling mission to Australia
February 21, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka arrested 17 would-be illegal immigrants aboard a trawler allegedly heading to Australia, the navy said Monday. The boat was detected off the southern coast of Hambantota on Thursday and brought ashore for investigations, the navy said in a statement. Boats from Sri Lanka take up to three weeks […]
Sri Lankan floods return, death toll rises to 17
February 7, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s latest monsoon rains have claimed at least 17 lives and left around 1.2 million people flooded out of their homes, officials said Monday. The Disaster Management Centre in Colombo said 311,000 people had sought refuge in state-run relief shelters by Monday morning, while approximately 900,000 were living with […]
Sri Lanka opposition warns of Arab-style uprising
February 5, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition on Saturday warned of an uprising, a day after ruling party activists unleashed violent attacks against demonstrators seeking the release of a jailed opposition leader. The United National Party (UNP) said repeated violence against the opposition, arson attacks on anti-government news organisations and arrests of student […]
Sri Lanka floods kill 13
February 5, 2011 (AFP) – Renewed rains in Sri Lanka have flooded a large number of towns and villages and killed at least 13 people, officials said Saturday. The new flooding came after the United Nations issued an appeal for 51 million dollars in emergency aid to help up to a million people affected by […]