Category: Politics

Jan 20, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka will hold large-scale civilian and military independence day celebrations in the capital next month despite fears of Tamil rebel attacks, officials said Sunday. Security will be increased further ahead of the 60th Freedom Day on February 4, with 4,100 extra security personnel bolstering thousands of police and soldiers […]

Jan 19, 2008 (AFP) – At least 31 Sri Lankan guerrillas and one soldier were killed in heavy fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels across the embattled north, the defence ministry said on Saturday. The rebels died in clashes Friday and early Saturday in the Vavuniya, Mannar and Jaffna districts bordering the de […]

Jan 18, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military on Friday accused Tamil Tiger rebels of murdering nine civilians in the island’s south as violence between the two sides escalated after the formal end of a ceasefire. The army said nine villagers died in separate attacks in the south, suggesting the rebels were again extending their […]

Jan 16, 2008 (AFP) – Nordic peace monitors pulled out of Sri Lanka on Wednesday following the collapse of a ceasefire, and warned that the war between the island’s government and Tamil rebels cannot be won by either side.The Norwegian-led Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) was to shut down its operations late Wednesday, after Colombo […]

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 16, 2008 (AFP) – UN chief Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the “indiscriminate attacks” which left dozens of people dead or injured in southern Sri Lanka and urged the rival sides to strive for a peaceful negotiated settlement. “The Secretary General strongly condemns the indiscriminate attacks in the southeast of Sri Lanka today […]

Jan 17, 2007 (LBO) — Sri Lanka Air Force jets have bombed a meeting place of Tiger leaders in the northern guerilla stronghold of Kilinochchi Thursday, the military said. The defence ministry said the target was a gathering of “senior leaders’ at Jayapoor near Kilinochchi at 09.30 am. Yesterday the guerillas blasted a bus and […]

Jan 16, 2007 (LBO) — A public passenger bus has been caught in a blast Wednesday morning in Sri Lanka’s Moneragala district, the defence ministry said as a ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers officially drew to a close.A ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers struck in 2002 officially ends today after the Sri Lanka gave notice […]

Jan 16, 2008 (AFP) – Twenty people were killed and many others injured Wednesday in a suspected Tamil Tiger bomb attack on a crowded bus in southwest Sri Lanka, as a ceasefire with the Tigers officially drew to a close, officials said.“At least 20 people have been killed and several are injured.It was a state-run […]

Jan 16, 2007 (LBO) – A roadside bomb killed 26 people traveling in a bus in southeastern Sri Lanka while three soldiers were injured from a second bomb targeting a military vehicle Wednesday as a truce with Tamil Tigers officially ended, police said Civilians wounded in the attack on the bus which was packed with […]

Jan 16, 2008 (LBO) – Tamil Tiger attacks which killed at least 28 civilians in south-eastern Sri Lanka Wednesday were condemned by the government as well as the United States. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a statement, condemned the attacks and called on the people to be vigilant “in the face of provocation by […]

Jan 15, 2008 (LBO) – The World Bank is giving funds to Sri Lankan civil society organizations for projects that will focus on bringing about a sustainable peace. The bank said in a statement its Civil Society Fund, formerly the Small Grants Program, plans to award seven grants of up to $5,000 (about Rs. 500,000) […]

COLOMBO, Jan 14, 2008 (AFP) – A Japanese peace envoy began a second day of talks with Sri Lankan leaders Monday as the world community stepped up pressure over Colombo’s decision to abandon a truce with the Tamil Tiger rebels. The talks began as government warplanes bombed suspected rebel intelligence hideouts and fighting raged in […]