Category: Politics
Sri Lanka destroys food aid withheld from tsunami victims
October 17, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Friday it would destroy a consignment of more than five tonnes of rotting rice and lentils meant for victims of the December 2004 Asian tsunami. The state auditor general in September 2005 noted out of 1.16 billion dollars committed to assist Sri Lankan victims, only 13.5 percent […]
Sri Lanka steps up air strikes on rebels, food convoy blocked
October 16, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military on Thursday stepped up attacks against suspected Tamil Tiger positions in the island’s north and accused the rebels of blocking a UN-escorted food convoy.The UN’s World Food Programme was escorting a convoy of trucks taking essentials for hundreds of thousands of people in rebel-held areas on Thursday […]
Sri Lanka fighting kills 43
October 15, 2008 (AFP) – Heavy fighting broke out across Sri Lanka’s northern area of Kilinochchi, leaving 37 Tamil Tiger rebels and six soldiers dead, the defence ministry said Wednesday.It said 34 rebels and 25 soldiers were also wounded in the fierce fighting that took place on several fronts on Tuesday. The Liberation Tigers of […]
”
CHENNAI, October 15, 2008 (AFP) – A group of MPs from southern India have threatened to quit unless the government intervenes to halt “atrocities” against fellow Tamils in Sri Lanka. The 38 deputies from Tamil Nadu are allies of India’s ruling Congress party and their resignations could threaten the stability of the national government. “If […]
Dozens dead in latest Sri Lanka fighting
COLOMBO, October 14, 2008 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan army said Tuesday it has killed 38 Tamil Tiger rebels involved in a fierce counter-attack in the island’s war-torn north. The defence ministry said its troops fought pitched battles and beat back rebel assaults along several fronts in the north on Monday. It said three government […]
Sri Lanka World Bank office clarifies SEC job
Oct 13, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s World Bank office says the spouse of country director has been hired by the island’s securities watchdog by a competitive process and it has been cleared by the lender’s ethics committee. The full statement is reproduced below: With reference to the reports in news media about the employment […]
Sri Lanka Tamil Tigers may be formally outlawed, says Australia
SYDNEY, October 13, 2008 (AFP) – Australia is considering formally declaring Sri Lanka’s separatist Tamil Tigers a terrorist group, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Monday, calling for a political solution to the island’s civil war.Visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said he had asked Canberra to join countries such as Britain and the United […]
Sri Lankan troops kill 20 rebels
October 11, 2008 (AFP) – Heavy fighting continued between troops and Tamil Tiger rebels across Sri Lanka’s war-ravaged north, with the military killing 20 guerrillas, the defence ministry said Saturday. Friday’s fighting, which took place across several northern fronts, also killed five soldiers and wounded 18, the ministry said. The latest fighting raised the number […]
Sri Lanka fighting kills dozens: military
October 9, 2008 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan military advance on the stronghold of the rebel Tamil Tigers in the island’s northeast triggered heavy fighting that claimed casualties on both sides, the defence ministry said Thursday. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 Ground troops backed […]
Sri Lanka minister escapes suicide bomb attack
Oct 09, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s agriculture minister Maithripala Sirisena escaped an assassination attempt Thursday when a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew herself up near his vehicle, the defence ministry said. Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera said the minister was unharmed. The only fatality was the female suicide bomber. The defence ministry initially said […]
UN chief rails against suicide attacks in Sri Lanka
UNITED NATIONS, October 7, 2008 (AFP) – UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned the latest suicide attacks in Sri Lanka, including one which killed at least 27 people.The attack in the northern town of Anuradhapura came as the Sri Lankan military appeared on the verge of capturing the rebel Tigers’ key headquarters as part […]
‘s northern offensive
NEW DELHI, October 7, 2008 (AFP) – India criticised Sri Lanka in a rare intervention into the island’s internal affairs, saying civilian deaths during a military offensive against Tamil rebels were a cause of grave concern. The fall of Kilinochchi would be the biggest loss in 13 years for the Tigers. India’s National Security Advisor […]