Category: Politics
Sri Lanka says 26 rebels killed
April 11, 2008 (AFP) – At least 26 Tamil Tiger rebels, two soldiers and a civilian have been killed in fighting across Sri Lanka’s northern districts, the defence ministry said Friday.Security forces smashed rebel bunkers and exchanged artillery with Tamil Tiger guerrillas in two days of fighting, while air force jets bombed a suspected Tiger […]
”
April 10, 2008 (LBO) – A host of media rights groups from around the world have written to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse urging him to ‘stop the war on journalists’ and probe a spate of recent attacks on the island’s media. “The international press freedom and human rights community is extremely concerned that journalists […]
Sri Lanka says 93 troops killed in March
April 9, 2008 (AFP) – At least 93 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed and another 686 injured during clashes with Tamil Tiger rebels last month, the prime minister told parliament Wednesday. Premier Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, in a statement to the 225-member national legislature, said 38 civilians were killed and another 21 wounded in March. “The number […]
Elite Sri Lankan commandos kill three troops in mishap: police
April 8, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s elite police commandos shot dead at least two soldiers and a civilian in a case of mistaken identity during a search in the restive east of the island, police said.The Special Task Force commandos opened fire at a group of men they believed were members of the Tamil […]
Sri Lanka police arrest four suspects with explosives
April 9, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s police arrested four people and seized a large quantity of explosives that could have been used in a suicide bombing, officials said Wednesday.Investigators found about 50 kilogrammes (110 pounds) of plastic explosives and grenades in a location in central Kandy district on Tuesday, a police official said. “There […]
Sri Lanka leftwing politician confirms move to oust him
April 08, 2008 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan Marxist-nationalist politician Tuesday said his party had decided to expel him, confirming reports of a split in the party. Wimal Weerawansa, firebrand spokesman of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) told parliament that he had not been officially informed of the move to cancel his party membership. He […]
Sri Lanka Tamil Tigers ask Norway help to stop Mannar offensive
COLOMBO, April 8, 2008 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels asked peace-broker Norway on Tuesday to pressure Sri Lanka’s government to stop a military offensive in the island’s north, saying a venerated Catholic church was at risk.Tens of thousands of people have been killed in Sri Lanka’s separatist conflict. The Tigers have been fighting for an […]
Sri Lanka JVP split widens with more support for Weerawansa
April 08, 2008 (LBO) – Differences within Sri Lanka’s Marxist-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) exploded dramatically Tuesday with controversial lawmaker Wimal Weerawansa speaking out publicly and gaining the support of nine others. Charismatic speaker and propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa fell out with the party hierarchy ostensibly over his public support for saying that a breakaway […]
Sri Lanka suicide bombing prompts calls for political solution
April 07, 2008 (LBO) – The United States, European Union and Canada have condemned Sunday’s Tamil Tiger suicide bombing which killed a Sri Lankan minister, saying only a political solution, not violence, would ensure peace. “The United States denounces this vicious and reprehensible terrorist attack on civilians in the strongest possible terms,” a US embassy […]
Tamil Tigers set up presence in US: report
WASHINGTON, April 7, 2008 (AFP) – The Tamil Tigers, a Sri Lankan rebel group responsible of killing about 4,000 people in the past two years, have quietly established a US presence to help finance their separatist campaigns, The Washington Times reported Monday. Citing various US government sources, the newspaper said the organization was trying to […]
Sri Lanka minister killed in bomb attack
April 6, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s highways minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was killed in a bomb attack outside Colombo on Sunday, a government official here said.The minister was presiding over traditional New Year celebrations in the town of Weliveriya, north of Colombo, when the blast occurred.At least 10 others were killed by the powerful bomb.
Sri Lanka senior minister targeted in suicide blast
April 06, 2008 (LBO) – A senior Sri Lanka minister has been killed in a Tamil Tiger suicide blast Sunday morning, north of Colombo, that has left at least 10 people dead, police and officials said. Highways minister Jeyeraj Fernandopulle was caught in the blast in the town of Weliveriya north of Colombo in a […]