Gas Formula

August 31, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s liquid petroleum gas (LPG) prices are to be adjusted every two months on a price formula agreed with the island’s consumer authority, Shell Gas Lanka said. Economic analysts say frequent changes in LP gas prices, which are only used in a third of the households in the country, […]

‘s mistakes taught Singapore to do different: Lee Kwan Yew

August 31, 2007 (LBO) – The mistakes of Sri Lanka and other newly independent ‘failed states’ made Singapore go in a different direction, its founding prime minister told the International Herald Tribune (IHT) in an interview. Lee Kwan Yew, now minister mentor, said when Singapore broke off from the Malayan Federation it had a hostile […]

Sri Lanka journalists march against intimidation

Aug 30, 2007 (AFP) – Dozens of Sri Lankan journalists took to the streets Thursday to condemn censorship and support a columnist who exposed alleged corruption in the purchase of second-hand supersonic jets.Reporters, cameramen and editors carried placards and chanted slogans outside the main railway station in Colombo, expressing solidarity with Iqbal Athas of the […]

No Rules

August 30, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka power engineers have called off all industrial action including a non co-operation campaign following a second meeting with senior government officials. The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU) met senior government officials at Temple Trees on Tuesday following an initial meeting on Sunday. Union officials said most of […]

Sri Lanka appoints committee to probe child recruitment charges

Aug 29, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Wednesday appointed a committee to probe allegations of child recruitment by a Tamil group allegedly linked to the government. The move came ahead of a crucial United Nations meeting next month on the human rights situation on the island. The committee will “inquire into allegations of abduction and […]

Refining Plan

August 29, 2007 (LBO) – The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Sri Lanka’s state-owned oil refiner and distributor, is evaluating bids from two parties to conduct a feasibility study for its refinery expansion, a top official said. De Mel wants to acquire a hydro-cracker that can increase the yield of diesel in particular. Updated “We have […]

Not too late for Sri Lanka peace talks: Egeland

SINGAPORE, Aug 28, 2007 (AFP) – There is still time for peace talks between Sri Lanka’s government and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels despite the virtual collapse of a truce, a former Norwegian peace broker said Tuesday.“It’s not too late. They can and should and must reopen real peace negotiations,” Jan Egeland told AFP. But he […]

Normal Light

August 27, 2007 (LBO) – The powerful engineers union of Sri Lanka’s state-owned electricity utility has temporarily suspended industrial action started last week, following talks with senior government officials. Secretaries to the President, the treasury and energy and the CEB chairman met the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU) Sunday after a work-to-rule campaign began […]

Nine rebels killed in Sri Lanka clashes: military

Aug 27, 2007 (AFP) – At least nine Tamil Tiger rebels were killed and five government soldiers wounded in weekend battles in northern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said Monday.The nine members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were killed in northwestern Mannar district, the ministry said in a statement. Army troops also […]

‘s biggest Buddhist pageant goes ahead despite bomb scare

Aug 26, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka police Sunday defused a powerful bomb near the route of a major Buddhist festival in the sacred city of Kandy, officials said.Police removed the three-kilogramme (6.6 pound) bomb from an abandoned building near a path taken by the Kandy Perahera, or pageant which moves through the city’s streets, […]

Sri Lanka defence analyst silenced amid fears for life

Aug 26, 2007 (AFP) – A top Sri Lankan defence columnist stopped writing fearing for his life after he exposed alleged corruption in the purchase of second-hand supersonic jets, the Sunday Times weekly said.The “Situation Report” by Iqbal Athas was not being published Sunday after the government withdrew police body guards who had been assigned […]

Ease emergency laws, media rights group tells Sri Lanka

Aug 24, 2007 (AFP) – A media rights group Friday urged Sri Lanka to ease emergency laws that curtail freedom of expression and warned of worsening conditions in one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists.Working conditions have deteriorated in the Tamil-populated northern district of Jaffna since fighting erupted there between government troops and […]

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