Category: Politics
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
‘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 […]
UN chief alarmed by worsening strife in Sri Lanka
UNITED NATIONS, September 9, 2008 (AFP) – UN leader Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm Tuesday over escalating strife between government troops and rebels in northern Sri Lanka and reminded the parties of their obligations to ensure the safety of civilians. “The secretary general expresses his deep concern over the increased hostilities in northern Sri Lanka, and […]
Sri Lanka relief move endangers trapped civilians: Amnesty
September 10, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s move to evict relief workers from its embattled north worsens the humanitarian situation for tens of thousands of civilians who rely on aid, Amnesty International said Wednesday. The London-based rights group said the Colombo government lacked the capacity to provide basic essentials and safety for those who have […]
Small blast on railway track near Sri Lanka capital: police
September 10, 2008 (AFP) – A bomb exploded on a railway track just outside Sri Lanka’s capital on Wednesday, police said, adding that there were no casualties. The blast created a small crater, but there was little damage, a police official at the scene said. There were no trains in the area at the time […]
Sri Lanka bomb blast in Colombo wounds 10: police
September 8, 2008 (AFP) – At least 10 people were wounded in a minor bomb blast in Sri Lanka’s capital on Monday night, police said adding that it did not appear to be linked to the island’s drawn out ethnic conflict. The explosion inside a car at Colombo’s Gas Works’ Street was being treated as […]