Category: Politics

July 11, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops captured on Wednesday the jungle “nerve centre” of Tamil Tiger guerrillas in the east of the island after months of fighting, the defence ministry said.He said the objective of the security forces was not limited to capturing Thoppigala, but was to take full control over the multi-ethnic […]

July 10, 2007 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels in the east of Sri Lanka are showing stiff resistance and have slowed a military advance on a strategic jungle base, defence authorities here said Tuesday.The government denies carrying out attacks inside rebel-held territory. Government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters the Tiger rebels were still holed up […]

July 9, 2007 (AFP) – International peace monitors in Sri Lanka want to double their numbers as fighting between security forces and Tamil Tiger rebels intensifies, the chief monitor said Monday.The Tiger rebels are fighting for an independent homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority on the Sinhalese majority island.The Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), […]

July 8, 2007 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels said Sunday they lost two fighters during a three-hour sea battle with the Sri Lankan Navy off the island’s eastern coast.The statement came after the defence ministry said three rebels were shot dead by naval troops in the nearby eastern coastal town of Trincomalee on Saturday. “Three […]

COLOMBO, July 8, 2007 (AFP) – A blast was heard near Sri Lanka’s only international airport Sunday, residents said.Police said they were investigating an “incident” inside the military air base, which shares a runway with the Bandaranaike international airport. No further details were immediately available. Tamil Tiger rebels have carried out attacks against the military […]

July 8, 2007 (AFP) – Four airmen were seriously injured Sunday after a canon was activated on a jet fighter near the island’s only international airport, officials said.Tiger rebels have carried out attacks against the military base as well as the civilian airport, located just north of the capital Colombo. The war plane was being […]

July 7, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops have killed three suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in the island’s embattled north and east, the defence ministry said on Saturday.More than 60,000 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in 1972.Two Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in northern Vavuniya district on Friday during clashes with government […]

July 7, 2007 (AFP) – Fifteen Tamil Tiger rebels were shot dead as they fled from troops on tractors, the Sri Lankan government said on Saturday, while four people were killed elsewhere in the embattled island.More than 60,000 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in 1972.The number of dead in violence on Friday […]

July 5, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka was on high alert Thursday as Tamil Tiger rebels commemorated the 322 male and female suicide bombers who have blown themselves up for the guerrilla cause over the last two decades. The Tamil Tigers are fighting for an independent homeland for the minority ethnic Tamils on the majority […]

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2007 (AFP) – About 50 US lawmakers have written to President George W.Bush asking him to step up American efforts to help resolve the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.“The United States has the opportunity to serve as a leader” in renewed international efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict, […]

July 4, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan air force jets on Wednesday carried out a second straight day of bombing raids against Tamil Tiger rebels positioned in jungles in the east of the island, the military said. The raids were part of a months-old effort aimed at dislodging the ethnic rebels from their hideouts in […]

July 3, 2007 (AFP) – Four suspected Tamil Tiger rebels and three soldiers were killed in fresh violence in Sri Lanka’s embattled north, military officials said Tuesday. There was no immediate comment from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who have been locked in combat with the government since 1972 in a conflict that has […]