Tag: news
‘s Ban to assess crisis
May 6, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president has invited UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit the island and assess first-hand the plight of civilians affected by fighting with Tamil rebels, his office said Wednesday.President Mahinda Rajapakse, under pressure over allegations that his troops have been shelling civilian areas, spoke to Ban on Tuesday […]
Derivative Probe
May 3, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s anti-bribery office is probing allegations that foreign trips were given to key officials to sweeten the sale of oil derivatives by international banks to a state-run oil firm which later went against it, a media report said. The exotic oil derivatives were sold to CPC by Standard Chartered, […]
Sri Lanka journalist detention highlighted by Obama
May 02, 2009 (LBO) – US President Barack Obama said he was concerned about threats against the media the world over, and mentioned the plight of Sri Lankan journalist J S Tissainayagam who has been detained for over a year.“In every corner of the globe, there are journalists in jail or being actively harassed: from […]
Volatile Prices
April 30, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s two liquid petroleum gas suppliers, a unit of multinational Shell Gas, and the locally owned Laugfs Gas, said they will raise prices from midnight Thursday.It said prices were cut in November 2008 and January 2009 because of lower import costs. “Import costs for February and March 2009 have […]
US airs concern on Sri Lanka, mum on Swedish row
WASHINGTON, April 28, 2009 (AFP) – The United States voiced concern Tuesday about reports of continued heavy shelling in Sri Lanka but stayed out of a row over the Swedish foreign minister’s failure to receive a visa for the island. “I’m not familiar with the circumstances surrounding this visa issue, and have to refer you […]
British, French FMs arrive in Sri Lanka
April 29, 2009 (AFP) – The foreign ministers of Britain and France, David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner, arrived Wednesday in Sri Lanka, officials said, looking to negotiate a humanitarian ceasefire in the island’s civil war. Amid mounting international concern about the plight of civilians caught up in the fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger […]
” by Sri Lanka to deny Swedish FM visa: EU
LUXEMBOURG, April 28, 2009 (AFP) – The European Union lashed out on Tuesday at Sri Lanka’s decision to deny a visa to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, describing the move as a “grave mistake” and warning Colombo of repercussions.“It is lamentable that the Sri Lankan government denied him a visa,” Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, […]
British, French, Swedish FMs to visit Sri Lanka
LONDON, April 26, 2009 (AFP) – The foreign ministers of Britain, France and Sweden will visit Sri Lanka on Wednesday, government officials in London said Sunday after Colombo rejected a ceasefire declared by Tamil Tiger rebels. “Foreign Secretary David Miliband, together with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner and Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt, will visit (Sri […]
Tamils protesters attack Sri Lankan, Indian missions in London
LONDON, April 27, 2009 (AFP) – Six people were arrested Monday after Tamil protesters smashed windows at India’s High Commission in London and caused damage outside Sri Lanka’s diplomatic mission, Scotland Yard said. Some 200 people gathered outside each of the two countries’ missions to demonstrate against the ongoing violence in Sri Lanka, where Tamil […]
Sri Lanka ruling coalition sweeps regional polls
April 26, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) of President Mahinda Rajapaksa swept regional polls with close to 70 percent of votes in two out of three districts in the Western province. In the capital Colombo, the UNP has held on to some of its strongholds […]
‘s Holmes in Sri Lanka for crisis talks
April 26, 2009 (AFP) – UN humanitarian chief John Holmes was to hold talks with the Sri Lankan government on Sunday over the thousands of civilians caught in fighting between troops and Tamil rebels, officials said. Holmes, who arrived here on Saturday for a three-day visit, was to meet with Human Rights and Disaster Management […]
US envoy to Sri Lanka named to top South Asian post
WASHINGTON, April 24, 2009 (AFP) – A veteran diplomat most recently tasked with the delicate job of Sri Lanka envoy was tapped Friday by President Barack Obama to serve as the assistant secretary of state for South Asian Affairs. If approved by the Senate, Robert Blake will replace Richard Boucher in a job that deals […]