Tag: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka election violence escalates after killing
January 13, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police Wednesday broke up clashes between political activists as violence linked to looming presidential polls escalated after gunmen shot dead an opposition party worker. Tear-gas was fired to disperse thousands of party workers in the eastern town of Polonnaruwa, local officials said by telephone. About 3,000 opposition supporters […]
‘s war-torn areas to get more funds: World Bank
Jan 12, 2010, (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s war torn areas would get more World Bank funds this year as the region recovers from a 30-year war, with a little over 250 million US dollars already approved, country director Naoko Ishii said. “We have another four programs which will go for board approval when negotiations are […]
Sri Lanka opposition says politicians could be taxed
Jan 12, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s opposition says the issue of politicians being taxed could be looked at early in a future new administration if common candidate ex-general Sarath Fonseka becomes president. Fonseka who is backed by both the United National Party and Marxists Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna has promised the 10,000 rupee salary hike […]
‘s speech to the business community
Jan 12, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s common opposition candidate for upcoming presidential polls, retired general Sarath Fonseka met the business community Tuesday. The following is the prepared text of his speech. The nation’s wealth is being squandered on self- perpetuating projects that are both wasteful and meaningless. Billions have been lost due to corruption, […]
‘s miracle
Jan 12, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s president Mahinda Rajapaksa said he wanted to make Sri Lanka ‘Asia’s miracle’ if elected to a second term and also vowed to combat corruption, a key battle cry of the island’s opposition. “We want to change people leaving the country and make it an attraction for people,” Rajapaksa […]
Sri Lanka president offers pre-vote concessions to Tamils
January 12, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president on Tuesday offered concessions to ethnic Tamil demands for greater autonomy ahead of elections in which the minority community could play a decisive role. But as the architect of the military victory, Fonseka can also lay claim to credit for ending the conflict. Fonseka has offered to […]
Sri Lanka president promises state worker salary hike
Jan 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s president Mahinda Rajapaksa has promised a 2,500 rupee a month salary hike to state workers, from the next budget due in April, the government’s information office said. In Sri Lanka people outside the state have to bear most of the burden of handouts Sri Lanka’s people have to […]
Battle-scarred Tamils emerge as Sri Lankan kingmakers
January 11, 2010 (AFP) – For decades, Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels fought for an independent ethnic homeland. In May they were defeated, but observers say Tamil voters could now be key to who becomes the next president. The two main candidates — incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse and former army chief Sarath Fonseka — both claim […]
Sri Lanka water supply expansion contract to Chinese firm
Jan 10, 2010 (LBO) – A contract to upgrade the water supply in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo valued at 1,895 million rupees has been awarded to China Geo Engineering Corporation, the government’s information office said. China Geo will construct ground reservoirs at Maligakanda and Elie House, a water tower at Gothatuwa, a transmission lone from […]
Sri Lankan president woos Tamils on re-election trail
January 10, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president on Sunday took his re-election campaign to the Tamil heartland of Jaffna for his first visit to the peninsula since troops crushed separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in May. “There is no transparent basis for the release,” JVP spokesman Anura Kumara Dissanayake told reporters. “We want to know […]
Sri Lanka presidential hopeful plugs petroleum inflation theory: report
Jan 09, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s opposition presidential candidate had promised to cut diesel prices in the hope that it would bring consumer prices down, media reports said, echoing the failed 2004 petroleum pricing policy that sent inflation rocketing up. Opposition common candidate retired military general Sarath Fonseka has promised to cut diesel by […]
Sri Lankan execution video authentic says UN envoy
UNITED NATIONS, January 7, 2010 (AFP) – A UN envoy concluded Thursday that video footage allegedly showing Sri Lankan troops executing Tamil Tiger rebels last year was authentic and urged Colombo to accept an impartial probe. The video, aired on Britain’s Channel 4 in August, “is authentic,” Philip Alston, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, […]