Tag: lbo
Sri Lanka should reach out to Tamil: US envoy nominee
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka needs to reach out to its Tamil minority and improve conditions for hundreds of thousands of displaced after defeating Tiger rebels, the nominee to be the next US ambassador said Tuesday. Patricia Butenis, testifying in a Senate confirmation hearing, said she would also press Sri Lanka to […]
” struggle for separate state
June 16, 2009 (AFP) – The few surviving leaders of Sri Lanka’s defeated Tamil Tigers announced Tuesday they were reorganising the rebel movement and forming a “transnational government.” The rebel group’s international relations chief, Selvarasa Pathmanathan, said in a recorded message that the organisation would continue to pursue its aim of a separate Tamil state […]
Gas Diplomacy
June 16, 2009 (LBO) – The Netherland’s envoy to Sri Lanka has raised concerns about the government pricing of liquefied petroleum gas of top Dutch firm Shell Gas, consumer affairs minister Bandula Gunewardene said. Shell has previously attracted criticism for charging high fees for its terminal complex. The minister said he had promised a meeting […]
Fuel Reach
June 12, 2009 (LBO) – Lanka IOC, the Sri Lankan unit of Indian Oil Corp, wants to seek clarification on reports the island’s government is to amend its agreement with the fuel retailer, a senior official said. LIOC managing director Suresh Kumar said he was unaware of any plans to change the deal with the […]
Japan urges Sri Lanka to engage international community
June 11, 2009 (AFP) – Japan on Thursday urged Sri Lanka to develop closer ties with the international community as Colombo tries to rebuild the war-battered north of the island after decades of bloody ethnic conflict.Akashi said international opinion was divided on the way the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended, […]
Sri Lanka detains Canadian MP: officials
June 10, 2009 (AFP) – A Canadian MP was detained on arrival at Sri Lanka’s international airport on Wednesday and could be deported for allegedly having supported the Tamil Tiger rebels, officials said.Bob Rae, a Liberal member of parliament and outspoken critic of the Sri Lankan military’s offensive against the rebels, was stopped at Bandaranaike […]
Sri Lanka turns back Tamil aid ship
June 8, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan authorities Monday ordered a foreign-owned ship carrying aid for Tamil civilians to leave the island without unloading its cargo.The Syrian-registered ship, Captain Ali, was seized last week, and the Sri Lankan defence ministry said the cargo of food and other supplies had been destined for the now defeated […]
Sri Lankan FM denies 20,000 Tamils killed in final onslaught: report
LONDON, June 6, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has denied claims that more than 20,000 Tamil civilians were killed during the government’s final onslaught against rebels, a report said Saturday. Bogollagama told The Times that the newspaper was wrong to report last week that so many civilians had died in the […]
Sri Lanka gets Indian support in human rights battle
June 05, 2009 (LBO) – India has rapped UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillai saying she should not abuse her position to pursue hidden agendas against Sri Lanka.Ambassador Gopinath Achamkulangare of India said in a statement India believes that the commissioner will accept the outcome the special session on Sri Lanka without taking a position […]
Sri Lanka needs new phase in international diplomacy: President
June 3, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs a new diplomatic drive to win in the international arena, after defeating terrorism in the country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a nationally televised address. “Many countries have helped us,” President Rajapaksa said. “We appreciate it very much. “The hearts of our people will remember it.” Government […]
Sri Lankan media rights activist recovers after attack
June 2, 2009 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan journalist was recovering in hospital Tuesday after being beaten up near the capital Colombo as a rights group expressed renewed concern for the safety of the island’s media. Poddala Jayantha, secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association, was abducted near his home and severely attacked with […]
UN did not underestimate Sri Lanka death toll: Ban
UNITED NATIONS, June 1, 2009 (AFP) – UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday categorically rejected allegations the world body had deliberately underestimated the death toll in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.“I categorically reject — repeat categorically — any suggestion that the United Nations has deliberately underestimated any figures,” he told the UN General Assembly. […]