Category: Politics
‘s powerful president settles in for the long-haul
November 18, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse kicks off a second term Friday, promising economic rebirth for the war-ravaged island with the help of nations who have snubbed Western calls for a war crimes probe. Rajapakse, who turned 65 Thursday, begins his fresh, six-year mandate from an unprecedented position of strength following […]
” as lies
November 12, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Friday rejected as “lies” new photographs broadcast by Al-Jazeera of piles of dead bodies and execution-style killings allegedly taken during the final stages of the island’s ethnic war. Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Qatar-based television network had mixed images previously shown on a British television channel […]
US money printing lifts oil prices, for now: IEA
PARIS, November 12, 2010 (AFP) – Easy-money policy by the United States is pumping up the oil price to about 90 dollars, but medium-term growth of oil demand should slow and contain the price, the IEA said on Friday. “Physical market developments through October have stoked expectations of inexorably higher prices even though the framework […]
Sri Lanka tightens grip on foreign aid workers: officials
November 10, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government said Wednesday it had ordered foreign and local aid workers to register with the defence ministry in a move to put them under greater state control. The government information department said there were 250 international and some 1,000 domestic aid agencies working in Sri Lanka, which would […]
Sri Lankan president postpones British visit: official
November 5, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has postponed a planned visit to Britain, due to a busy schedule rather than fears of a arrest over alleged war crimes, a foreign ministry official said Friday. Rajapakse had planned to address the Oxford Union during his tour later this month. But the Times […]
Australian rights agency says asylum centre must close
SYDNEY, October 29, 2010 (AFP) – Australia’s human rights agency Friday urged the government to stop locking up asylum seekers on remote Christmas Island, its main detention centre, saying it was overcrowded and inadequate. Thousands of boatpeople have been brought to the small Indian Ocean island this year, forcing some to sleep in tents and […]
‘s re-election
October 29, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court rejected Friday a challenge to the re-election of President Mahinda Rajapakse filed by his defeated — now jailed — opponent, former army chief Sarath Fonseka. The five-judge bench dismissed the petition after accepting a defence argument that there was insufficient grounds to proceed with the case, […]
Sri Lanka eases check points in capital
October 27, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Wednesday it would begin dismantling a dozen permanent military check points in the capital which are a legacy of decades of ethnic conflict on the island nation. Two permanent road blocks on the southwestern edge of Colombo will be removed Wednesday and 10 other similar points will […]
Canada unveils law to curb illegal immigration
OTTAWA, October 21, 2010 (AFP) – The Canadian government on Thursday unveiled legislation aimed at curbing illegal immigration and human smuggling by imposing stiff penalties and even detaining asylum seekers. The arrival of two ships carrying illegal migrants over the past year “clearly demonstrates that human smuggling networks are targeting Canada as a destination and […]
Canada welcomes Thai move on Tamil migrants
OTTAWA, October 19, 2010 (AFP) – Ottawa on Monday welcomed Thailand’s arrest for possible deportation more than 150 Tamil migrants who some reports said wanted to seek asylum in Canada. “These people are minority Tamils fleeing war in their country and seeking asylum through the UN. But they came to Thailand with tourist visas, allowing […]
Sri Lanka raises defence spending by six percent
October 19, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka announced Tuesday it would raise defence spending by six percent in 2011 — broadly in line with annual hikes announced during the government’s war with Tamil rebels. Sri Lanka’s fiscal deficit shot up to 9.7 percent of gross domestic product in 2009, exceeding the seven percent target set […]
” rights groups
LONDON, October 19, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris rejected “colonial” criticism Tuesday of a government-appointed civil war probe, after foreign rights groups snubbed an invitation to attend. New York-based Human Rights Watch, London-based Amnesty International and Brussels-based International Crisis Group last week accused the panel of a cover-up and refused […]