Category: Politics

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 […]

Jan 14, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government Monday told a visiting Japanese peace envoy that there was no immediate need to proscribe the Tamil Tigers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement the government was going ahead with its plans to present peace proposals despite its withdrawal from a ceasefire with […]

Jan 13, 2008 (AFP) – Japan’s peace envoy opened talks in Sri Lanka on Sunday, hinting international donors may hold back much-needed foreign aid if the island’s decades-long ethnic conflict escalates, officials said. Yasushi Akashi, who arrived in Sri Lanka for three days of crucial talks on Sunday, met the Marxist JVP, the main left […]

Jan 12, 2008 (LBO) — Sri Lanka does not have enough policemen to fully secure Colombo and public help is needed to fill the manpower gap in the capital, the island’s police chief said.“At moment Colombo has been given more policemen than other areas.But that is not enough, Inspector General Victor Perera told journalists. “They […]

Jan 12, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main financial backers Saturday voiced concern over the mounting bloodshed and called for a United Nations presence in the island. Japan, the United States, the European Union and Norway — the quartet known as the co-chairs — also expressed “deep concern” about rights abuses and called on Sri […]

Jan 12, 2008 (AFP) – Intense fighting across Sri Lanka’s embattled northern district have left at least 39 rebels and soldiers dead, the military said Saturday, ahead of a planned visit by a Japanese peace envoy.Japan, the island’s biggest aid donor, has voiced deep concern about the Colombo government’s decision last week to end its […]

Jan 11, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan war planes carried out fresh raids Friday on rebel-held territory in the north, the defence ministry said, reporting 30 more guerrillas killed in ground fighting.Jets hit a naval base of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Alampil, the ministry said, adding that the facility was destroyed. […]

Jan 11, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s top business chamber came out in support for state television workers who broadcast live a government minister’s attempt to intimidate its news chief and called for better governance from law makers. It also called on government law enforcement agencies to act speedily on complaints of threats to the […]

Jan 11, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government said Friday it was pressing ahead with efforts to defeat the Tamil Tigers and dismissed rebel talk of restoring a ceasefire.Presidential spokesman Chandrapala Liyanage said the rebels had made no formal offer to revive a truce, playing down a statement from the Tigers the previous day that […]