Category: Politics

Sept 14 (LBO) – Donor countries have withdrawn funding for de-mining in Sri Lanka until the government shows more commitment to signing a treaty banning landmines. A Landmine Monitor Report for 2006 launched earlier this week, says funding for de-mining has been steadily falling over the past few years as Sri Lanka is not signatory […]

Sept 13, 2006 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan official denied on Wednesday the government had agreed to unconditional talks with Tamil Tiger rebels, and accused peace broker Norway of failing to consult with Colombo before making any announcement.Earlier peace talks aimed at ending three decades of ethnic bloodshed came to a halt in April 2003 […]

VAVUNIYA, Sept 13 (AFP) – A powerful explosion ripped through a chicken market in Sri Lanka’s northern town of Vavuniya on Wednesday, wounding 16 civilians, police and witnesses said. Police said they believed the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) exploded a grenade inside the market. “We suspect the Tigers were behind the attack,” […]

COLOMBO, Sept 13, 2006 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan government said Wednesday it was committed to proposed peace talks with Tamil rebels aimed at ending an upsurge in bloodshed since December that has left more than 1,500 people dead. The nation’s top peace official, Palitha Kohona, said the government was now working on possible dates […]

TRINCOMALEE, Sept 12(AFP) – A policeman was shot dead and six people were hurt in a bomb attack in Sri Lanka on Tuesday after weekend fighting between government and rebel forces left 185 combatants dead, officials said.The injuries occurred when a parcel bomb exploded as a police vehicle drove by in Trincomalee town, police said, […]

Sept 12, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has agreed to expand the peace monitoring mission in the war-torn country to include observers from other countries after Tamil Tiger rebels expelled European Union member states, an official said Tuesday. Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the island’s main financial backers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday were expected […]

Sept 12, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Tuesday agreed to a key concession to try to save the collapsing ceasefire as foreign aid donors were set to rap the island’s warring parties over escalating bloodshed.Diplomats said the SLMM would possibly include nationals from Switzerland and New Zealand.Sri Lanka defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the […]

BRUSSELS, Sept 12, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s warring parties have agreed to unconditional peace talks next month, the battle-scarred country’s international dialogue partners announced in Brussels on Tuesday.The decision by the government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was discussed at a meeting of the island’s main foreign aid donors here, […]

Sri Lanka peace talks set for October: Norway Sept 12, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government and the Tamil Tiger rebels have agreed to “unconditional peace talks” in the first week of October, top Norwegian peace broker Erik Solheim told AFP Tuesday. The decision by the government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam […]

Sept 12, (LBO) – Three of the co-chairs which underwrote Sri Lanka’s peace process, has welcomed the decision of the government and Tamil Tigers to unconditional talks, and called for maximum flexibility and and end to violence by both parties. They also welcome the President’s recent moves to work with other political parties to develop […]

Sept 11, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tigers traded artillery fire across the island’s northeast Monday, a day after the guerrillas accused the government of sabotaging a new peace effort.The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) hit an army camp in the east of the island using long-range mortar fire, and […]

Sept 10, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Sunday that its troops had killed scores of Tamil Tiger rebels in fierce weekend fighting in the northern Jaffna peninsula that also left 28 soldiers dead. Mortar and artillery duels along a de facto frontline on the contested peninsula killed the 28 and left 125 wounded, a […]