Sri Lanka terror attacks on civilians condemned

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 […]

Hi Tech

Jan 16, 2008 (LBO) — Sri Lanka’s downstream petroleum sector is moving to SAP enterprise resources planning software, which will be implemented by the Indian Oil Corporation, officials said.The 350 million Sri Lanka rupee project will see Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL), a common user facility, running the software, with Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) […]

Sri Lanka peace groups get World Bank grants

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) […]

Japan peace envoy in peace amidst intense fighting

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 […]

Sri Lanka says no immediate ban on Tamil Tigers

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 […]

Sri Lanka may lose vital aid because of war

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 […]

Delayed Reaction

Jan 13, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has raised fuel prices from midnight Sunday with petrol and furnace oil going up by 10 rupees, diesel 5 rupees and kerosene 2 rupees, the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said. The new price of 90-octane petrol is 127.00 rupees, 95-octane petrol 130.00, auto diesel 80.00, super diesel […]

Sri Lanka short of men to make capital safe: police chief

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 […]

‘s top donors concerned over latest fighting

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 […]

Sri Lanka fighting intensifies ahead of Japanese envoy visit

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 […]

Sri Lanka jets raid Tiger sea base

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. […]

Sri Lanka business chamber lauds media for exposing govt abuse of power

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 […]

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