Category: Politics
Sri Lanka Tamils resent surveillance in capital
September 24, 2008 (AFP) – Luxmi Wellamma fled her home in Sri Lanka’s war-torn north for what she hoped would be a safer life in Colombo. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to 678 But the relative calm of the capital comes at a cost: […]
Sri Lanka president in talks with Norway peace brokers
September 23, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse held talks with Norwegian peace facilitators, the first since Colombo pulled out of a tattered truce in January, his office said Tuesday. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 Rajapakse and Norway’s senior peace envoy Erik […]
Sri Lanka offices looted, UN says
September 21, 2008 (AFP) – The United Nations said Sunday its offices in the rebel-controlled north of Sri Lanka had been looted after aid workers were evacuated last week. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to 678 A statement from the UN said that it […]
Former Sri Lankan President dies
September 21, 2008 (AFP) – Former Sri Lankan President Dingiri Banda Wijetunga, died on Sunday after a prolonged illness, his aide said.He was 86. Wijetunga, who was Sri Lanka’s third executive president, died of a chest ailment at a hospital in the central hillside town of Kandy, his aide Sarath Muniratne told reporters. A member […]
Sri Lanka takes census to halt attacks
September 21, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police tackling a series of blasts in Colombo began on Sunday taking a census of ethnic minority Tamils who have fled the war-ravaged north and are now living in the city. The defence ministry ordered the census to prevent separatist Tamil Tiger rebels from infiltrating the capital. “Each […]
Tigers on defensive as Sri Lanka military closes in
September 19, 2008 (AFP) – Tamil Tigers were once regarded one of the world’s most ruthlessly efficient rebels, but they risk losing their mini-state as Sri Lankan forces make a determined push after decades of bloodshed. After months of bitter fighting, security forces have reached the outskirts of the Tiger political capital — Kilinochchi — […]
Sri Lanka military advance on Tiger capital, 50 dead
September 18, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military said Thursday it was moving closer to the northern headquarters of the Tamil Tigers, with fierce clashes leaving at least 50 dead.The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the island’s north and east since 1972. To receive instant alerts from LBO […]
Sri Lanka aid groups quit north
September 17, 2008 (AFP) – International aid workers were Wednesday close to completing an evacuation from Sri Lanka’s north, where government forces are on a major offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels, officials said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The mass pull-out, demanded by the […]
‘s tense north
September 16, 2008 (AFP) – The United Nations pulled its staff out of rebel-held areas in Sri Lanka’s north on Tuesday after the government refused to guarantee the safety of aid workers.Some 70,000 people have fled due to fighting in the past two months alone. The withdrawal came as the island’s government said it was […]
EU voices concerned over Sri Lanka violence
BRUSSELS, September 15, 2008 (AFP) – EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel on Monday expressed “grave concern” at the escalation of violence in Sri Lanka and called for human rights laws to be respected. Civilians should also be guaranteed safe passage to leave the conflict area “and relocate in safer areas,” he added. “I’m deeply […]
Sri Lanka to debate troubled state airline, public officer: lawmaker
Sept 16, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s parliament will debate the issues of a state-run budget airline that has been eating up peoples’ money and a senior public official who was faulted by courts, an opposition lawmaker said. Jayasundera immediately offered to resign but the government has not accepted his resignation. Sri Lanka’s controversial Mihin […]
Bus bomb explodes in Sri Lanka capital
Sept 16, 2008 (LBO) – A bomb placed in a commuter bus in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo exploded after vigilant passengers discovered a suspicious parcel and got off the bus, police said.The bus was passing through the capital’s plush Colombo 7 district, when the bomb was discovered. Passengers had dis-embarked when the bomb went off, […]