Category: Politics
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Sri Lanka PM arrives in Japan
TOKYO, September 15, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake on Monday arrived in Japan, the South Asian country’s top donor, for talks with counterpart Yasuo Fukuda, officials said.Fukuda, who abruptly resigned two weeks ago, will formally stay in office as Japan’s prime minister until parliament appoints the next prime minister following the […]
Sri Lanka violence claims 21: govt
September 15, 2008 (AFP) – Fresh fighting broke out across Sri Lanka’s tense north, leaving 20 Tamil Tiger rebels and one soldier dead, the defence ministry said Monday. The ministry said 22 rebels and 14 troops were wounded in Sunday’s fighting in Weli Oya, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) did […]
‘s war-torn north
September 14, 2008 (AFP) – The United Nations said Sunday its aid staff were unable to comply with a Sri Lankan government order to quit the war-torn north of the island because of protests by local civilians. UN agencies say some 160,000 people have been displaced in the past few months in the districts of […]
Bomb explodes in Sri Lankan capital: police
COLOMBO, September 11, 2008 (AFP) – A bomb exploded on a railway track in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on Thursday, the second such blast in as many days, but there were no casualties, police said. The blast caused little damage to the railway line at Sedawatte, a slum area of the city, a police […]
Sri Lanka slams UN chief
September 11, 2008 (AFP) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon came in for tough criticism Thursday from Sri Lanka’s government, which accused him of unwittingly helping Tamil Tiger rebels. Responding to the UN chief’s concern over civilians displaced by heavy fighting in the north of the island, a Sri Lankan government rights official said a […]