Category: Politics
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 […]
Sri Lanka says at least 29 killed in fresh fighting
June 23, 2008 (AFP) – Heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels across Sri Lanka’s northern regions left at least 29 combatants dead, the defence ministry said on Monday.At least 23 rebels and six government soldiers were killed as troops exchanged artillery fire and smashed through guerrilla bunkers in the district of Mannar […]
Malaysia releases Sri Lankan accused of nuclear links
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23, 2008 (AFP) – Malaysia said Monday it had released a Sri Lankan man held for four years over alleged links with a nuclear black market run by Pakistan’s Abdul Qadeer Khan, saying he did not pose any threat. Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Buhary Syed Abu Tahir remained in the […]
Sri Lanka government urged to respect media rights
June 22, 2008 (LBO) – Twenty nine media organisations around the world have urged the United Nations to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to protect journalists in the island. The organisations affiliated to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that journalists in Sri Lanka […]
India says no military solution to Sri Lanka conflict
June 22, 2008 (AFP) – India has signalled to Sri Lanka that it wants to see an end to the island’s military campaign to help solve the decades-old Tamil separatist conflict, diplomats and officials said Sunday.In closed-door talks over the weekend with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and top officials, India’s National Security Advisor M.K. […]
Sri Lanka in drive to arrest thousands of army deserters
June 22, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military has launched a campaign to track down and arrest up to 12,000 army deserters who failed to take advantage of a government amnesty, a spokesman said Sunday. “About 5,000 responded to the general amnesty we had from May 2 to the 30th,” Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. “We […]
Roadside blast kills two police commandos in Sri Lanka: military
June 22, 2008 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels on Sunday set off a roadside mine killing two police commandos in eastern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said. The fragmentation mine was placed on a parked bicycle in the district of Batticaloa and targeted the Special Task Force police commandos, the ministry said. Fighting meanwhile continued […]
Sri Lanka gunships strike Tamil Tiger targets: military
June 21, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka launched air attacks in rebel-held territory in the island’s north on Saturday as ground troops killed at least four guerrillas, the defence ministry said. The air force deployed helicopter gunships to bomb suspected positions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Mannar district, the ministry said. […]
Sri Lanka clashes kill 29: military
June 20, 2008 (AFP) – At least 26 Tamil Tiger guerrillas and three government soldiers have been killed in clashes across Sri Lanka’s northern regions, the defence ministry said Friday.Confrontations in the districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu since Thursday killed 26 rebels, the ministry said, adding that 47 guerrillas were also believed to […]
Malaysia to probe link to Sri Lanka bomb plot: report
KUALA LUMPUR, June 18, 2008 (AFP) – Malaysia will help Sri Lanka track down a suspect believed to be involved in a Tamil Tiger bomb plot in Colombo, a report said Wednesday. Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who oversees internal security, said authorities would investigate a report about the arrest of six members of the […]