Category: Politics
Sri Lanka got N Korea arms despite US protests: leaked cables
WASHINGTON, December 6, 2010 (AFP) – US diplomats play a major role in trying to prevent arms from reaching world hotspots, but cables released to The New York Times show an uphill battle against the likes of Iran, Syria and North Korea. In one cable given to the paper by WikiLeaks, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad […]
Spanish judge jails three Pakistanis in forgery probe
MADRID, December 3, 2010 (AFP) – A judge in Spain Friday remanded in custody three of seven people arrested in an operation against a gang suspected of forging passports for Al-Qaeda-linked groups, court sources said. These included the 2004 Madrid bombings, when blasts on packed commuter trains in a city suburb killed 191 people and […]
Sri Lanka Tamil Tiger links revealed in Spanish-Thai forgery probe
MADRID, December 3, 2010 (AFP) – Spanish and Thai police investigating a gang that supplied forged passports to Al-Qaeda linked groups have found new evidence of links to Sri Lanka’s defeated Tamil Tiger rebels, Spanish authorities said Friday. Spanish and Thai police are analysing material seized late on Tuesday in a joint operation in which […]
‘s talk
December 2, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government lambasted the prestigious Oxford Union Thursday for cancelling a talk by President Mahinda Rajapakse following protests from ethnic Tamil groups. Rajapakse was scheduled to make a speech to the union, Oxford University’s debating society, which has hosted speakers ranging from Michael Jackson to the Dalai Lama, but […]
Sri Lanka sees anti-British protests over Oxford snub
December 3, 2010 (AFP) – Hundreds of ruling party activists demonstrated at the British embassy in Colombo Friday to denounce Oxford University’s debating society for cancelling a talk by President Mahinda Rajapakse. “Down with anti-Sri Lanka policy! ” shouted activists led by Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa, who spearheaded protests against the United Nations in July […]
Sri Lanka war crime probe position unchanged: US
Dec 03, 2010 (LBO) – The United States has consistently called on Sri Lanka to have a credible probe into alleged war crimes during its war against Tamil Tiger separatists, a statement from the US embassy said. The statement was issued after news reports that US Ambassador Patricia Butenis reportedly cast doubt whether Sri Lanka […]
Sri Lankan president regrets Oxford Union cancelling talk
December 1, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s President expressed regret after the Oxford Union cancelled a scheduled speech by him amid security concerns, his office said in a statement Wednesday. Rajapakse had travelled to London on Tuesday ahead of an address to the prestigious Oxford Union on Thursday, but the organisers said security considerations forced […]
US worried on Sri Lanka rights probe: WikiLeaks
WASHINGTON, December 1, 2010 (AFP) – The United States questioned if Sri Lanka would thoroughly probe war crimes allegations as the accusations involve President Mahinda Rajapakse and other top leaders, WikiLeaks said Wednesday. The controversial website, citing one of thousands of diplomatic cables it obtained, said US Ambassador Patricia Butenis saw some progress in Sri […]
Sri Lanka approves budget with huge majority
November 29, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s parliament approved the country’s first fully-fledged post-war budget on Monday with a two-thirds majority, officials said. Rajapakse, who has a strong grip on power in Sri Lanka after overseeing the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels in May last year, raised taxes on casinos, alcohol and international phone calls. […]
India shrugs off Chinese influence in Sri Lanka
November 26, 2010 (AFP) – India has no worries about rival China’s expanding ties with Sri Lanka, India’s foreign minister said on Friday, a week after Colombo unveiled a 1. 5-billion-dollar Chinese-funded port. S.M. Krishna, who met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse earlier in the day, said Colombo’s ties with Beijing and other capitals would […]
‘s former war zone
November 27, 2010 (AFP) – India’s foreign minister visited Sri Lanka’s former war zone on Saturday after urging Colombo to share political power with minority Tamils following last year’s end to the ethnic conflict. Analysts have said New Delhi is concerned that a new port funded by Beijing is part of a Chinese policy to […]
Indian FM in Sri Lanka amid growing Chinese influence
November 25, 2010 (AFP) – Indian Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna was due in Sri Lanka Thursday to shore up bilateral relations amid growing Chinese influence on the island. Krishna is due to call on President Mahinda Rajapakse and also open two Indian consulates in the southern and northernmost parts of the island before leaving […]