Rights body raises cry over deteriorating media freedom in Sri Lanka

Aug 30 (LBO) – The media rights organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has voiced deep concern about the rapidly deteriorating media freedom in Sri Lanka.The statement came after the abduction of the news director of a Tamil language radio station in Colombo. Nadarajah Guruparan, the news director Sooriyan FM, a part of the ABC radio […]

Journalist abducted in Sri Lanka freed after appeals

Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) – An abducted Sri Lankan radio journalist held overnight was freed Wednesday by unidentified men after appeals for his safe return. Nadaraja Guruparan, a member of the minority Tamil community, said he was forced out of his car Tuesday as he drove to his radio station, Surayan FM, but treated well […]

‘s east as death toll mounts

30, 2006 (AFP) – A battle between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels over a key eastern naval port continued Wednesday with sporadic artillery duels as both sides claimed to have inflicted heavy losses. Sri Lankan defence officials and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said shelling continued in a government offensive […]

Sri Lanka troops killed 17 French aid workers: monitors

Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops killed 17 French charity workers and waged a bombing campaign against Tamil rebels, truce monitors said Wednesday, amid fears the nation was headed for full-scale war.As of Thursday, the SLMM will have to carry out its duties with just 30 members instead of 57.The Swedish-led Sri Lanka […]

Sri Lanka rejects charity worker massacre charge as “outrageous”

LONDON, Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka rejected as “outrageous” Wednesday a ruling by independent ceasefire monitors that government forces were responsible for the massacre of 17 employees of a French charity. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who was visiting London, told the BBC that the Swedish-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) had […]

Cable Cut

August 30, 2006 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank has dropped the second loan installment due to Sri Lanka, as the government is reluctant to push ahead with Ceylon Electricity Board’s reforms. The Manila based bank had earlier pledged 30 million dollars under a power sector project, with loan installments linked CEB reforms. Loan conditions […]

Minor Slip

August 30, 2006 (LBO) – Dominant lubricant supplier Caltex Lanka Ltd is expecting a marginal drop in volumes this year as intensified fighting in the northeast dries up sales. Caltex says sales to the conflict zones accounts for around 10-12 percent of total volumes, and was growing steadily until hostilities erupted in July. Prior to […]

Finland, Denmark, Sweden to complete pull out of Sri Lanka observers on time

HELSINKI, Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) – Finland, Denmark and Sweden will pull out all their ceasefire monitors from Sri Lanka by the end of the month in response to a deadline set by rebels, officials said on Tuesday.In Helsinki the government said that the 10 monitors return home by Wednesday. Most of the Swedish observers […]

Red Ink

August 29, 2006 (LBO) – Indian fuel retailer Lanka IOC Ltd reported a net loss of 584.0 million rupees for the three months to June on Tuesday, citing unpaid subsidy payments of 116.0 million rupees due from the Sri Lankan government. A unit of the Fortune 500 Indian Oil Corp. the Sri Lankan unit ran […]

Sri Lanka death toll hits 119 as troops halt offensive

Aug 29, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops facing heavy resistance halted an advance Tuesday into territory held by the rebel Tamil Tigers, as the death toll from recent fighting hit 119, officials and guerrillas said.More than 60,000 people have been killed in the Sri Lankan conflict.Political talks on ending the violence stalled in April […]

Sri Lankan journalist kidnapped

Aug 29, 2006 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan radio journalist was kidnapped near the capital Colombo on Tuesday, police said, prompting appeals by colleagues for his safe return.Nadaraja Guruparan, a member of the minority Tamil community, was forced out of his car by at least two people and taken away as he drove to his […]

Sri Lanka president leaves on sudden trip to Britain

Aug 29, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse left here Tuesday on a sudden visit to London for talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair, official sources said.Rajapakse and Blair were expected to discuss Sri Lanka’s collapsing ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels, officials here said. The trip comes amid international efforts to salvage the […]

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