Tag: news
Sri Lanka hosts international AIDS conference, chance to share techniques
Aug 14, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s health sector will have the opportunity to study and adopt new techniques in the long term battle against HIV/AIDS during an international conference to be held in August 19-23. Organisers of the conference, to be attended by over 2,000 delegates from 40 countries, also said it would help […]
Swapping Risk
August 14, 2007 (LBO) – The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Sri Lanka’s state-owned petroleum firm has used a leveraged swap to hedge a small part of its oil imports during the past month with good results so far, officials said. Diesel spot prices had moved to around 84 dollars a barrel. CPC is held back […]
Rains, troop shortages prevent Sri Lanka push against rebels
Aug 12, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military has been unable to push into Tamil Tiger strongholds in the north due to the threat of monsoon rains and a lack of manpower, defence officials and analysts say.The rebels are fighting for an independent homeland for the island’s minority Tamils.More than 60,000 people have been killed […]
Fresh Sri Lanka violence kills 12
Aug 12, 2007 (AFP) – At 12 people have been killed in fresh violence across Sri Lanka’s northern and eastern regions where a bitter ethnic war has raged for decades, military and Tamil rebel sources said Sunday.The ethnic conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972.Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels set off a powerful land […]
Sri Lankan and other scouts missing in Britain: police
LONDON, Aug 9, 2007 (AFP) – Thirteen scouts who came to Britain for the 100th annivesary of the international youth movement have disappeared, police said Thursday.“Since the start of the Jamboree, we’ve had 13 people reported missing,” an Essex Police spokesman said, referring to the centenary celebrations of scouting that took place in Chelmsford, east […]
UN urges Sri Lanka to disarm paramilitary group
Aug 9, 2007 (AFP) – The United Nations on Thursday urged Sri Lanka to disarm a pro-government paramilitary group operating in the east of the island to ensure safety and security for aid workers and residents.John Holmes, the UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, ended a four-day tour of the country […]
‘s Saudi envoy denies recall move
RIYADH, Aug 8, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia said Wednesday his imminent reposting was not related to a report criticising his handling of a mission seeking clemency for a teenager condemned to death.A.M.J Sadiq told AFP he was scheduled to return to Columbo on Friday after having a transfer request accepted, […]
UN envoy tours Sri Lanka amidst clashes
COLOMBO, Aug 8, 2007 (AFP) – Six people have been killed in clashes across Sri Lanka’s embattled regions as a top UN relief envoy visited, officials and rebels said Wednesday.Tamil rebels are seeking an independent homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority in the Sinhalese-majority nation.Warplanes also bombed rebel targets in northern Manner district, the defence […]
Once Bitten¦
August 07, 2007 (LBO) – Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) may put off overseas expansion following its experience in Sri Lanka where it lost money after being forced to under-price fuel and government subsidies got delayed, Indian media reported. State-owned IOC is delaying an entry to Malaysia and Indonesia where oil subsidies are also in place, […]
Six killed as UN envoy visits Sri Lanka
Aug 7, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops killed six suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in overnight clashes in the north of the country ahead of a visit by a top UN rights envoy to the embattled region on Tuesday, officials said. Sri Lankan troops on foot patrol opened fire at the suspected rebels, killing six […]
Sri Lankan under fire over rights abuses
NEW YORK, Aug 6, 2007 (AFP) – Unlawful killings, abductions and other violations by government forces in Sri Lanka have increased dramatically amid escalating conflict on the island, a human rights group said Monday.Victim and eyewitness accounts indicate a “shocking” rise in such abuses since 18 months ago, when major fighting between the military and […]
Sri Lanka says no credible evidence for abuse charges
Aug 6, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Monday there was no credible evidence for a rights group’s claim that government forces were responsible for intensifying abuses on the island, such as unlawful killings and abductions.“These allegations are not based on credible evidence,” Sri Lanka’s defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said after the New York-based body […]