Foreign officials meet ahead of South Asian summit

NEW DELHI, March 31, 2007 (AFP) – South Asian foreign ministry officials began laying the groundwork on Saturday for a regional summit to be dominated by trade talk amid warming ties between rivals India and Pakistan. The meeting of foreign secretaries will review the progress of panels formed under the South Asian Association for Regional […]

Hemas Hydro

March 30, 2007 (LBO) – A 2.2 MegaWatt mini-hydro plant built by the power division of Hemas Holding would be connected to the national grid in June, an official said. Hemas Power, a fully subsidiary of Hemas Holdings, signed an agreement on Friday with the BOI to invest 223 million rupees in the Giddawa mini […]

Shelling kills eight civilians in Sri Lanka

March 30, 2007 (AFP) – At least eight civilians were killed and several others wounded in eastern Sri Lanka Friday as government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels exchanged artillery and mortar fire, officials said. Four men and four women were killed when they were hit by shells, a military official in Batticaloa, 303 kilometres (189 […]

Fresh violence in Sri Lanka kills 13, air attacks

March 30, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan war planes bombed suspected Tamil Tiger positions Friday after the rebels blew up five soldiers and allegedly killed eight civilians in shelling, officials said. Supersonic jets bombed rebel-held territory after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) set off a road side bomb and ambushed a military vehicle, […]

India steps up security along southern coast after Tiger air raid

CHENNAI, India, March 29, 2007 (AFP) – India has boosted military security along its southern coast after Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels staged their first air attack on a Colombo military base, officials said.The measures include increased navy patrols in the narrow strip of sea dividing India and Sri Lanka and the installation of radar […]

Development Equity

March 27, 2007 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is funding the breakwater and dredging of Colombo port’s expansion project, may take an equity stake in one of its container terminals, an official said. The South Port project will see three terminals being built in the first phase. Updated ADB Country Director Richard […]

” by escalating violence in Sri Lanka

UNITED NATIONS, March 27, 2007 (AFP) – UN chief Ban Ki-moon is “disturbed” by the extensive violations of the ceasefire in Sri Lanka and urges the rival sides to resume negotiations without preconditions, his press office said Tuesday. “The secretary general is disturbed by the extensive and escalating violations of the ceasefire,” his office said […]

Sri Lanka sets up hot line to track flying Tigers

March 28, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Wednesday set up a telephone hot line to receive information about aircraft operated by Tamil Tiger rebels after they staged their first aerial strike against the military. President Mahinda Rajapakse initiated the dedicated telephone number manned by the military as an early warning system about intruding rebel aircraft, […]

Sri Lanka troops capture key Tiger base: military

March 28, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops Wednesday captured a key Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold in the island’s embattled eastern region, the military said.Troops took control of Kokkadichcholai in the district of Batticaloa and seized a large haul of arms, ammunition and land mines from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) base, the […]

‘s commitment: envoy

March 28, 2007 (LBO) – The construction of a new building for the British High Commission (embassy) is a symbol of Britain’s commitment to Sri Lanka, its envoy said in Colombo. The High Commision says the building which is scheduled to open in early 2008, was designed by British architect Richard Murphy, with Sri Lankan […]

South Asia summit to focus on Sri Lanka, regional unrest

NEW DELHI, March 28, 2007 (AFP) – India voiced concern on Wednesday over the first-ever air raid staged by Tamil Tiger rebels and said that next week’s regional summit would focus on escalating violence in Sri Lanka. “We have made it clear to everyone that we are very concerned at the escalated violence in Sri […]

Suicide bombing attack toll climbs to eight

March 27, 2007 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday drove a tractor and trailer loaded with explosives on a suicide mission into an army camp in eastern Sri Lanka, killing at least eight people, a day after their spectacular first ever air raid. Ten people were also wounded in the attack on the Chenkaladi army […]

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