Category: Politics
Sri Lanka truce hangs by thread
July 28, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s ceasefire hung by a thread Friday as Tamil Tiger rebels and government forces traded artillery fire and Finland announced its truce observers would leave the country.More than 60,000 people have been killed in the three-decade-old Tamil separatist conflict. Sri Lankan war planes struck a Tamil Tiger base Friday, […]
Sri Lanka warplanes bomb Tiger rebels for second day
July 27, 2006 (AFP) – Warplanes bombed suspected Tamil Tiger positions in northeast Sri Lanka on Thursday for a second day after the rebels allegedly blocked an irrigation canal, a military official said.“The bombing raids were over the northeastern region,” the military official said, adding that three Israeli-built Kfir jets were used in the offensive […]
Sri Lanka warplanes bomb Tiger airfield
COLOMBO, July 27, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan warplanes bombed a clandestine airfield being built by Tamil Tiger rebels Thursday, the second day of bombardment against the guerrillas, the defence ministry said. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had cleared a jungle patch just north of the district of Trincomalee and were building […]
Norway launches fresh bid to save Sri Lanka truce
July 26, 2006 (AFP) – Peace broker Norway will launch a fresh bid to save Sri Lanka’s troubled peace process ahead of a September 1 deadline set by Tiger rebels for European truce monitors to quit, officials said Wednesday. Special envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer will arrive on the island in the “early part of August” to […]
Sri Lanka launches air attacks on Tiger rebels
July 26, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan war planes bombed suspected Tamil Tiger positions in northeast Sri Lanka Wednesday after the rebels allegedly blocked an irrigation canal, a government minister said.Israeli-built Kfir jets pounded bases of the rebels at Maavilaru and Hirugalaru in the northeast district of Trincomalee where the Tigers had blocked the waterway, […]
Sri Lanka’s army chief back at work after bombing
July 26, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s army chief Sarath Fonseka has resumed work after surviving a suicide bomb attack three months ago, military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said Wednesday. More than 60,000 people have been killed in the conflict.Lieutenant General Fonseka returned to the capital Colombo Tuesday after undergoing specialised treatment in Singapore for more […]
‘s army chief back at work after bombing
July 26, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s army chief Sarath Fonseka has resumed work after surviving a suicide bomb attack three months ago, military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said Wednesday. More than 60,000 people have been killed in the conflict.Lieutenant General Fonseka returned to the capital Colombo Tuesday after undergoing specialised treatment in Singapore for more […]
Sri Lanka seeks help for tens of thousands in Lebanon
Commercial Bank Chairman Mr Sharhan Muhseen, Deputy Chairman Mr Raja Senanayake, Managing Director/CEO Mr Sanath Manatunge, and Chief Operating Officer Mr S. Prabagar with CSE Chairman Mr Dimuthu Abeyesekera and representatives of the CSE at the ringing of the opening bell July 24, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka is seeking urgent help to evacuate workers trapped […]
Sri Lanka seeks help for tens of thousands in Lebanon
July 24, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka is seeking urgent help to evacuate workers trapped in Lebanon, despite the vast majority of its estimated 80,000 nationals there apparently not wanting to leave, officials said Monday.Sri Lanka has by far the largest number of foreign workers in Lebanon working mostly as housemaids, truck drivers and child-minders, […]
Tamil politician shot dead in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, July 24, 2006 (AFP) – Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels shot dead a pro-government Tamil politician in Sri Lanka’s main city of Colombo Monday, police said. A lone gunman killed Mark Kanapathipillai of the Eelam Democratic People’s Party (EPDP), police said adding that the victim was a close associate of party leader Douglas Devananda. The […]
Sri Lanka security alert as Tigers mark Black July
July 23, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Sunday stepped up its already tight security arrangements in the capital as Tamil Tiger rebels marked “Black July,” or the 23rd anniversary of anti-Tamil riots here, police said.Police and troops set up more road blocks and tightened security at key installations amid fears that the Liberation Tigers of […]
Tigers reject Swedish call to reconsider kicking out EU monitors
COLOMBO, July 21, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels Friday rejected a call from Sweden to reconsider a September 1 deadline for truce monitors from European Union member states to quit, a pro-rebel website said. The Tamilnet.com website said Tigers told a visiting Swedish envoy that ceasefire monitors from EU member states Denmark, […]