Tag: lbo

March 22, 2008 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan navy craft was destroyed in a sea mine blast off the island’s north-eastern coast Saturday, leaving at least 10 sailors missing, a navy spokesman said. Six sailors from the fast attack craft (FAC) were rescued by another boat patrolling the waters off the Tamil Tiger stronghold of […]

March 22, 2008 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels struck back against a mounting Sri Lankan military offensive on Saturday by sinking a naval fast attack craft, leaving 10 sailors missing, officials said. A navy craft was destroyed in a “mystery blast” caused by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the defence ministry said, adding […]

Mar 21, 2008 (LBO) – International media rights bodies have deplored the appointment of a retired military general to a Sri Lankan state-run television station whose journalists have been attacked repeatedly without anyone being brought to justice. . The attacks, including knifings, assaults and slashing with razors cropped up after workers of the station held […]

March 20, 2008 (AFP) – Fighting between government troops and Tamil Tigers across Sri Lanka’s war-ravaged northern districts claimed at least 22 rebel lives, the defence ministry said Thursday. Security forces killed the rebels during artillery duels in Jaffna, Weli Oya, Mannar and Vavuniya on Wednesday, the ministry said, adding that two soldiers were wounded. […]

March 19, 2008 (AFP) – The International Red Cross on Wednesday angrily accused Sri Lanka’s government of releasing confidential communications and manipulating information from the organisation to defend its rights record. In rare public criticism of a government, the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Colombo has been “misrepresenting its findings” to […]

March 18, 2008 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan soldier was killed and two others wounded in a roadside bomb attack in the island’s north Tuesday, the defence ministry said.The victims were on a mine-sweeping operation in the district of Mannar when they were caught up in the blast, the ministry said in a statement. The […]

Mar 18, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s capacity to counter and investigate bomb blasts has been boosted with new equipment from the United States, the island’s police chief said Tuesday. “We were waiting for this type of post blast investigation equipment,” Inspector General of Police Victor Perera said after receiving a stock of hi-tech equipment […]

Mar 17, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Rupavahini television station was running with a skeleton staff Monday after the management declared a ‘holiday’ overnight to avert a strike, union workers said. Sri Lanka Rupavahini Workers Union, whose president Anurasiri Hettige was attacked by club-wielding thugs last week, said only a few selected workers were […]

COLOMBO, March 17, 2008 (AFP) – At least 31 Tamil Tiger rebels and two security personnel were killed in weekend clashes in Sri Lanka’s north, the defence ministry said Monday. Sri Lanka pulled out of a six-year truce with the LTTE in January, saying it had gained the upper hand militarily in the decades-long conflict. […]

Mar 17, 2008 (LBO) – The United States Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security will donate 220,000 dollars worth of antiterrorism equipment to Sri Lanka’s national police, a U.S. embassy statement said Monday. . “The purpose of the equipment is to sustain and enhance the critical capabilities of the security forces of Sri Lanka […]

March 16, 2008 (AFP) – At least one soldier was killed and four others wounded in a road side bomb attack in northern Sri Lanka Sunday, defence officials said. Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels set off the blast as troops drove in an autorickshaw in Vavuniya district, an area of ongoing heavy fighting between the government […]