Category: Politics
” 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 […]
”
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 […]
‘s Holmes in Sri Lanka for crisis talks
April 26, 2009 (AFP) – UN humanitarian chief John Holmes was to hold talks with the Sri Lankan government on Sunday over the thousands of civilians caught in fighting between troops and Tamil rebels, officials said. Holmes, who arrived here on Saturday for a three-day visit, was to meet with Human Rights and Disaster Management […]
‘ ceasefire
April 26, 2009 (AFP) – The Sri Lanka government rejected a ceasefire declared by Tamil Tiger rebels on Sunday, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said, instead demanding that the cornered guerrillas surrender. Rajapakse, who leads the government’s military campaign against the Tigers, said there was no need for a ceasefire as the military was about to […]
Sri Lanka rejects Tamil Tiger unilateral ceasefire
April 26, 2009 (AFP) – The Sri Lanka government rejected a ceasefire declared by Tamil Tiger rebels on Sunday, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said, instead demanding that the cornered guerrillas surrender. “The ceasefire is purely for humanitarian purposes and the duration will depend on the response of the Sri Lankan government,” Puleethevan told AFP by […]
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 […]
Sri Lankan envoy rejects calls for humanitarian pause
GENEVA, April 24, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on Friday rejected calls for a humanitarian pause in the Tamil conflict, saying temporary ceasefires did not work. “The largest number of civilians who have come out (of the conflict zone) came out not during the humanitarian pause, not as […]
UN humanitarian chief to press Sri Lanka on civilians
April 25, 2009 (AFP) – The UN’s humanitarian chief was due in Sri Lanka Saturday as international concern over civilians trapped in the island’s war zone fuelled a White House call for an immediate ceasefire.John Holmes’ three-day mission will focus on pushing the government to facilitate humanitarian missions in and around the conflict zone and […]
Sri Lanka hospitals overwhelmed by wounded civilians: MSF
April 25, 2009 (AFP) – The flood of wounded civilians from the conflict in Sri Lanka is overwhelming doctors and nurses in hospitals near the war zone who said Saturday people risk dying from lack of proper attention. A British surgeon working for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Paul McMasters, said his team in the state-run […]