Sri Lanka destroys food aid withheld from tsunami victims

October 17, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Friday it would destroy a consignment of more than five tonnes of rotting rice and lentils meant for victims of the December 2004 Asian tsunami. The state auditor general in September 2005 noted out of 1.16 billion dollars committed to assist Sri Lankan victims, only 13.5 percent […]

Burst Bubble

LONDON, October 16, 2008 (AFP) – Oil prices slumped further on Thursday, with Brent crude sliding below 68 dollars a barrel to the lowest level for more than 15 months, as slowing energy demand took its toll, traders said.Crude oil futures were down more than 50 percent from record highs of above 147 dollars reached […]

Hissing Noise

LONDON, October 15, 2008 (AFP) – The price of oil slumped below 72 dollars on Wednesday, its lowest level for more than 13 months, as recession fears raised concerns about a prolonged drop in energy demand, analysts said. The global financial crisis will give a vicious twist to an economic slowdown and is hitting world […]

CHENNAI, October 15, 2008 (AFP) – A group of MPs from southern India have threatened to quit unless the government intervenes to halt “atrocities” against fellow Tamils in Sri Lanka. The 38 deputies from Tamil Nadu are allies of India’s ruling Congress party and their resignations could threaten the stability of the national government. “If […]

Sri Lanka World Bank office clarifies SEC job

Oct 13, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s World Bank office says the spouse of country director has been hired by the island’s securities watchdog by a competitive process and it has been cleared by the lender’s ethics committee. The full statement is reproduced below: With reference to the reports in news media about the employment […]

Sri Lanka Tamil Tigers may be formally outlawed, says Australia

SYDNEY, October 13, 2008 (AFP) – Australia is considering formally declaring Sri Lanka’s separatist Tamil Tigers a terrorist group, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Monday, calling for a political solution to the island’s civil war.Visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said he had asked Canberra to join countries such as Britain and the United […]

UN chief rails against suicide attacks in Sri Lanka

UNITED NATIONS, October 7, 2008 (AFP) – UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned the latest suicide attacks in Sri Lanka, including one which killed at least 27 people.The attack in the northern town of Anuradhapura came as the Sri Lankan military appeared on the verge of capturing the rebel Tigers’ key headquarters as part […]

‘s northern offensive

NEW DELHI, October 7, 2008 (AFP) – India criticised Sri Lanka in a rare intervention into the island’s internal affairs, saying civilian deaths during a military offensive against Tamil rebels were a cause of grave concern. The fall of Kilinochchi would be the biggest loss in 13 years for the Tigers. India’s National Security Advisor […]

Sri Lanka journalists mourn colleague; condemn killing

Oct 06, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s media organizations condemned a blast by a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber, which killed a TV journalist and more than 20 others including a former army general-turned politician.Rashmi Mohamed, a provincial correspondent with Sri Lanka’s Sirasa TV, died Monday while covering the opening of an opposition United National […]

‘s residence

Sept 29, 2008 (LBO) – The United States has condemned an attack on the residence of anti-corruption activist and human rights lawyer J C Weliamuna, calling on authorities to launch an immediate investigation.Weliamuna is also the executive director of the Sri Lanka branch of Transparency International, an anti-corruption watchdog body. A grenade was thrown into […]

‘s residence draws EU condemnation

Sept 29, 2008 (LBO) – The European Union has condemned a grenade attack on the home of a Sri Lankan lawyer and human rights and anti-corruption activist and urged the government to bring the perpetrators to justice. The attack was the latest in a series of attacks and threats against civil society groups, human rights […]

‘ residence draws EU condemnation

Sept 29, 2008 (LBO) – The European Union has condemned a grenade attack on the home of a Sri Lankan lawyer and human rights and anti-corruption activist and urged the government to bring the perpetrators to justice. “The EU notes with concern the trend in attacks and threats on journalists, civil society organizations and now […]

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