Category: Politics
Sri Lanka steps up air strikes after sea battle
November 2, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military stepped up air attacks against Tamil Tiger rebels in the island’s north after a sea battle left heavy casualties on both sides, officials said Sunday.War planes hit a suspected training base for Tamil Tiger guerrillas at Iranamadu, just south of the guerrillas’ political capital of Kilinochchi, on […]
Sri Lanka sea battle claims heavy casualties
November 1, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy and Tamil Tiger rebels fought a fierce sea battle off the island’s northern coast Saturday, and heavy casualties were expected on both sides, the two said.The latest sea battle came as Tigers were defending their main northern political capital of Kilinochchi against a ground offensive by security […]
Rights groups slam media controls in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, October 31, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has the lowest press freedom rating of any democracy and has been the first to use anti-terror laws to prosecute journalists, international rights groups said Friday. Five organisations, including the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said journalists and media institutions seeking to report independently on the island’s […]
Sri Lanka troops capture key Tamil Tiger coastal base
October 30, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops on Thursday took control of a key rebel-held town on the island’s northwest coast through which the Tamil Tigers have smuggled weapons, the defence ministry said. The pro-rebel Tamilnet website said one boy was killed on Thursday by government shelling in Mullaittivu. It also said the military […]
Sri Lanka business chambers urge unity among politicians
Oct 29, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s top business chambers have called for political unity to back government efforts to devolve power to minority Tamils and defeat Tiger rebels. The call came in a statement which also urged the government to do more to help civilians displaced by fighting between government forces and Tamil Tigers. […]
Sri Lanka Tamil Tiger aircraft in night raid
Oct 28, 2008 (LBO) – Power to Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo was cut Tuesday night after Tamil Tiger guerilla aircraft dropped bombs in the north eastern Mannar area of the island, the military said. Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said Tamil Tiger aircraft had dropped two bombs near the Mannar area police headquarters around 10.30 p.m. […]
Sri Lanka reassures India over Tamils
NEW DELHI, October 26, 2008 (AFP) – A senior Sri Lankan minister on Sunday held talks with the Indian foreign minister over the safety of the island nation’s minority Tamils as its conflict with Tamil Tiger rebels escalates. Sri Lanka’s Tamils share close cultural and religious links with the 55 million Tamils in the southern […]
Sri Lanka troops advance into Tiger territory: military
October 25, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka troops were locked in heavy combat with Tamil Tiger guerrillas in the island’s north where soldiers made several advances into rebel-held territory, the defence ministry said Saturday.Two separate confrontations were reported southwest of the Tamil Tiger political capital of Kilinochchi on Friday and sporadic fighting continued afterward, the […]
Sri Lanka says troops push into Tiger territory
October 24, 2008 (AFP) – Security forces pushed deeper into territory held by Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Sri Lanka and captured several strongholds of the guerrillas, the defence ministry said Friday. Government forces are engaged in a major offensive to capture the town of Kilinochchi which has served as the political headquarters of the […]
Sri Lanka media group condemns threats against human rights defenders
Oct 23, 2008 (LBO) – A Sri Lanka media rights group has condemned more deaths threats against human rights activists and lawyers and demanded a police investigation. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The Free Media Movement (FMM) said in a statement the government should […]
Sri Lanka battle rages despite heavy rains: military
October 23, 2008 (AFP) – Government forces captured several bunkers from Tamil Tiger rebels as heavy fighting raged despite torrential monsoon rains in northern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said Thursday. Security forces battling to capture the rebels’ political capital of Kilinochchi overcame resistance from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) near the village […]
” over Sri Lanka conflict: minister
NEW DELHI, October 22, 2008 (AFP) – India voiced concern Wednesday over the conflict in Sri Lanka as Tamil MPs in parliament clashed over charges of “genocidal attacks” on the Tamil minority in the troubled island nation. Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament that New Delhi had conveyed its worries to Colombo over the safety […]