Category: Politics

June 20, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to a truce despite surging violence, but said the future of ceasefire monitors from Denmark, Finland and Sweden is still in the balance.The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they would discuss the issue of ceasefire observers from European […]

June 20, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Tuesday accused Tamil Tiger rebels of attacking a historic Buddhist temple in the island’s east amid fresh moves by peace broker Norway to save their collapsing ceasefire.The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fired small arms towards the Somawathi Buddhist shrine in the district of Polononaruwa on […]

June 19, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Monday invited Tamil Tiger rebels to negotiate peace and save their collapsing ceasefire as two more soldiers were killed in a weekend of violence that left over 50 people dead. Defence officials said security forces Monday found the bodies of two soldiers shot dead by Tamil Tiger guerrillas […]

June 18, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police Sunday were investigating a new type of improvised sea mine developed by Tamil Tiger rebels to target naval craft, police chief Chandra Fernando said Sunday. Police have questioned four of five men arrested Saturday while laying the mines, which are similar to limpet mines. They stick magnetically […]

June 18, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s army chief Sarath Fonseka who survived a suicide bomb assassination attempt two months ago has been flown to Singapore for medical treatment, military officials said Sunday. Lieutenant General Fonseka, who was critically wounded in the bomb attack carried out inside the tightly-guarded army headquarters here on April 25, […]

June 18, 2006 (AFP) – A mine attack blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels killed three Sri Lankan police Sunday following a day of fierce land and sea battles that left more than 50 people dead.Peace broker Norway last week failed to arrange face-to-face talks between the Colombo government and the LTTE in Oslo. The constables […]

June 17, 2006 (AFP) – At least 15 Sri Lankan naval troops, 30 Tamil Tiger rebels and six civilians were killed in major sea and land battles along the island’s northwestern coast Saturday, officials said.Helicopter gunships were pressed in to defend naval patrol craft which came under attack off the northwestern coast, the defence ministry […]

17, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels Saturday warned the government that they will retaliate against air strikes and artillery attacks carried out by security forces amid escalating violence. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they asked peace broker Norway to convey a “strong warning to Colombo of possible retaliation […]

June 17, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police Saturday arrested five suspected Tamil Tiger frogmen who were laying mines along a strategic sea lane used by naval craft, police chief Chandra Fernando said.The inspector general of police said information from local residents helped them to make the arrest of the frogmen laying a locally produced […]

June 16, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president vowed not to allow the killing of 64 bus passengers derail the island’s peace process as the air force bombarded Tamil Tiger positions Friday for a second straight day. Security was stepped up in the main city of Colombo as the authorities prepared to hold a mass […]

June 16, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan air force jets bombarded suspected Tamil Tiger positions Friday for a second straight day after the rebels were blamed for a landmine blast that killed 64 people, a military official said.Warplanes bombed Tiger positions in the island’s northern and eastern regions at first light and again at last […]