Category: Politics
Sri Lanka media suppression, new attacks condemned by US
July 1, 2008 (LBO) – The United States has condemned the attack on a UK embassy staffer and journalist, calling it a “brutal and unprovoked” attack and said it was concerned at the suppression of media which was essential for democracy.The US said it hoped that a high powered ministerial committee appointed to look into […]
Sri Lanka army chief says needs a year to beat Tigers
June 30, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s army chief said Monday his forces have wiped out the conventional military capability of the Tamil Tigers, but that they needed another year to totally defeat the rebels. Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) guerrillas were no longer able to resist security […]
” scare
June 30, 2008 (LBO) – The United States embassy in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo has re-opened after a suspicious powder was found to be harmless, the embassy said Monday. It said visa and other appointments postponed during the closure are being re-scheduled. The embassy was closed to the public on June 25. An embassy […]
Sri Lanka mediaman, UK High Commission staffer attacked
June 30, 2008 (LBO) – Unidentified men armed with clubs have attacked freelance journalist Namal Perera and a UK High Commission (embassy) staffer Monday evening in Colombo, colleagues said. Perera and UK High Commission political officer Mahendra Ratnaweera was assaulted in Colombo’s Narahenpita area Monday. They are being treated at a nearby private hospital. Monday’s […]
British High Commission staffer, journalist attacked in Colombo
June 30, 2008 (AFP) – A senior British High Commission officer was beaten and his car smashed by unidentified attackers who tried to grab a reporter travelling as a passenger in the vehicle here Monday, police said. Political officer Mahendra Ratnaweera was severely injured in the attack while his passenger, freelance journalist Namal Perera, also […]
Sri Lanka fighting kills another 43: ministry
June 29, 2008 (AFP) – At least 41 more Tamil Tiger rebels and two government soldiers have been killed in the latest fighting in Sri Lanka’s north, the defence ministry said Sunday.Troops shot dead 20 guerrillas in the district of Vavuniya on Saturday while 14 were killed in the neighbouring Weli Oya region, the ministry […]
Sri Lanka South Asian summit to get Indian security
June 29, 2008 (AFP) – India is to send thousands of troops, war ships and helicopters to Sri Lanka as part of security for next month’s South Asian summit in Colombo, diplomatic sources said Sunday.New Delhi is planning to send three war ships with a combined force of up to 3,000 security personnel because of […]
Sri Lanka says another 46 killed in fresh fighting
June 28, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan security forces killed at least 44 Tamil Tiger rebels for the loss of two of their own soldiers in fresh ground battles in the island’s embattled north, the defence ministry said Saturday. The rebels from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were killed in separate clashes on […]
Sri Lanka says 59 Tigers killed in two days of fighting
June 26, 2008 (AFP) – At least 59 Tamil Tiger rebels and government soldiers have been killed in the latest fighting in Sri Lanka’s north, the defence ministry said Thursday. Heavy fighting since Tuesday left 57 Tiger guerrillas and two soldiers killed in separate clashes across the districts of Vavuniya, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Jaffna, the […]
Sri Lanka says land captured from Tamil Tigers
June 25, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s defence ministry said Wednesday that its forces have made some territorial progress in fighting with the Tamil Tigers that it said killed at least 10 guerrillas.Security forces took a three square kilometre (1.15 square miles) area in the district of Mannar on Tuesday, the ministry said, adding that […]
Sri Lanka US embassy closed after “suspicious powder” found
June 25, 2008 (LBO) – The United States embassy in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo was closed Wednesday after a “suspicious powder” was found, the embassy said in a statement. All visa appointments and routine American citizen services will be postponed until the incident is resolved, it said. It said the suspicious substance will be […]
Sri Lanka govt promises action over media death threats
June 24, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government moved Tuesday to deflect a barrage of criticism over its press rights record by promising to help journalists receiving death threats. “There is no censorship and you don’t have to go by what is said in the (defence ministry) website,” said another minister and panel member, Rajitha […]