Category: Politics
Sri Lanka rejects satellite evidence of civilian bombings
May 2, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s defence ministry on Saturday rejected satellite imagery issued by the United Nations in support of allegations that security forces shelled a civilian area. The defence ministry said the allegations based on UN aerial images posted on the UNOSAT website and used on several foreign television channels had “no […]
Sri Lanka dismisses critics, vows to crush Tigers
April 30, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president on Thursday ruled out halting the military’s offensive against the Tamil Tigers, and warned the rebels that they must give up or be killed.“We have no plans to go for a ceasefire with the Tigers, but they have a little time left to drop their weapons and […]
Sri Lanka navy says 25 Tamil Tigers killed in sea battle
April 29, 2009 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan navy attacked and sank six Tamil Tiger rebel boats and killed at least 25 guerrillas during a pre-dawn sea battle on Wednesday, a navy spokesman said.Naval craft detected the boats off the coast of the last remaining patch of territory still with the guerrillas, spokesman Captain D. […]
Surrendered officials denounce Tigers
April 29, 2009 (AFP) – Two prominent members of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers who surrendered to government troops have made a televised denunciation of the rebels in a major propaganda coup for the island’s authorities.In a video posted late Tuesday on the Sri Lankan defence ministry’s website, the rebels’ one-time spokesman and another official accuse […]
US airs concern on Sri Lanka, mum on Swedish row
WASHINGTON, April 28, 2009 (AFP) – The United States voiced concern Tuesday about reports of continued heavy shelling in Sri Lanka but stayed out of a row over the Swedish foreign minister’s failure to receive a visa for the island. “I’m not familiar with the circumstances surrounding this visa issue, and have to refer you […]
British, French FMs arrive in Sri Lanka
April 29, 2009 (AFP) – The foreign ministers of Britain and France, David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner, arrived Wednesday in Sri Lanka, officials said, looking to negotiate a humanitarian ceasefire in the island’s civil war. Amid mounting international concern about the plight of civilians caught up in the fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger […]
” by Sri Lanka to deny Swedish FM visa: EU
LUXEMBOURG, April 28, 2009 (AFP) – The European Union lashed out on Tuesday at Sri Lanka’s decision to deny a visa to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, describing the move as a “grave mistake” and warning Colombo of repercussions.“It is lamentable that the Sri Lankan government denied him a visa,” Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, […]
British, French, Swedish FMs to visit Sri Lanka
LONDON, April 26, 2009 (AFP) – The foreign ministers of Britain, France and Sweden will visit Sri Lanka on Wednesday, government officials in London said Sunday after Colombo rejected a ceasefire declared by Tamil Tiger rebels. “Foreign Secretary David Miliband, together with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner and Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt, will visit (Sri […]
Tamils protesters attack Sri Lankan, Indian missions in London
LONDON, April 27, 2009 (AFP) – Six people were arrested Monday after Tamil protesters smashed windows at India’s High Commission in London and caused damage outside Sri Lanka’s diplomatic mission, Scotland Yard said. Some 200 people gathered outside each of the two countries’ missions to demonstrate against the ongoing violence in Sri Lanka, where Tamil […]
Sri Lanka army to stop using heavy weapons: govt
April 27, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military has been ordered to stop using heavy guns and combat aircraft that could cause civilian casualties in the battle against Tamil Tiger rebels, the government said Monday. The Sri Lankan government says its forces have cornered the Tamil Tigers in a small strip of coastal territory in […]
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April 27, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers will never surrender and will fight on until their demands are met, rebel spokesman S. Puleethevan told AFP by telephone on Monday. He said fighting was continuing to rage between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and security forces on Monday, a day after the […]
Sri Lanka ruling coalition sweeps regional polls
April 26, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) of President Mahinda Rajapaksa swept regional polls with close to 70 percent of votes in two out of three districts in the Western province. In the capital Colombo, the UNP has held on to some of its strongholds […]