Tag: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka opposition parties to contest Eastern provincial polls
March 25, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the minority Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have decided to contest the upcoming elections in the eastern province, party officials said. The UNP boycotted local government elections in the area earlier this month, in a move that proved controversial with some […]
Petro Move
Mar 25, 2008, (LBO) – India’s Bharat Petroleum says it is looking for opportunities in Sri Lanka’s aviation and retail fuel sectors after launching its ‘MAK’ brand lubricants partnering with a top auto dealer in the island. “We hope that we will also be given an opportunity to enter the main product market which is […]
Heavy casualties in Sri Lanka fighting
March 24, 2008 (AFP) – Heavy fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and Sri Lankan troops in the north of the island over the weekend has resulted in heavy casualties, both sides said Monday.According to the defence ministry, clashes on Saturday and Sunday in the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli Oya left at least 100 […]
No evidence for Arthur C Clarke child sex allegations: Sri Lanka
March 23, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan authorities said Sunday that the British-born sci-fi writer Arthur C.Clarke had been cleared of decade-old paedophile allegations before his death last week.Clarke was buried Saturday in Colombo, where he had lived since 1956.Obituary writers have resurrected the 1998 accusations that he had sex with young boys in his […]
Sri Lankan media faces increasing harassment
March 23, 2008 (LBO) – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a media freedom watchdog, has written to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse urging him to probe a recent spate of attacks on journalists and ensure their protection. The New Yorkbased, independent, non-profit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide, said in a statement […]
‘s Daim Zainuddin
Mar 22, 2008 (LBO) – Many East Asian Tiger economies like Malaysia are now famed for fiscal prudence, running surpluses on their current and overall budgets, and low inflation. But they were not always so disciplined. Countries like Sri Lanka are still not able to balance current spending with government revenues and the public sector […]
Ten sailors missing after Sri Lanka blast: navy
March 22, 2008 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan navy craft was destroyed in a sea mine blast off the island’s north-eastern coast Saturday, leaving at least 10 sailors missing, a navy spokesman said. Six sailors from the fast attack craft (FAC) were rescued by another boat patrolling the waters off the Tamil Tiger stronghold of […]
Sri Lanka Tigers sink navy craft, heavy land battles erupt
March 22, 2008 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels struck back against a mounting Sri Lankan military offensive on Saturday by sinking a naval fast attack craft, leaving 10 sailors missing, officials said. A navy craft was destroyed in a “mystery blast” caused by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the defence ministry said, adding […]
Sri Lanka state TV militarization, official inaction on assaults deplored by rights bodies
Mar 21, 2008 (LBO) – International media rights bodies have deplored the appointment of a retired military general to a Sri Lankan state-run television station whose journalists have been attacked repeatedly without anyone being brought to justice. . The attacks, including knifings, assaults and slashing with razors cropped up after workers of the station held […]
Sri Lanka says 22 rebels killed in fresh fighting
March 20, 2008 (AFP) – Fighting between government troops and Tamil Tigers across Sri Lanka’s war-ravaged northern districts claimed at least 22 rebel lives, the defence ministry said Thursday. Security forces killed the rebels during artillery duels in Jaffna, Weli Oya, Mannar and Vavuniya on Wednesday, the ministry said, adding that two soldiers were wounded. […]
Sri Lanka government credit down; concern over petro borrowing: central bank
Mar 19, 2008 (LBO) – Central Bank credit to Sri Lanka’s government was down, money supply growth was falling but state enterprise borrowings was a concern, the island’s monetary authority said in its March policy statement. Growth in private sector credit had fallen to 18.3 percent while credit to the government from the banking sector […]
Fuel Lines
March 19, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is converting a part of a tank farm to store bunkers or ship fuel and build new pipelines to reduce supply disruptions in a plan that will also see new fuel supply lines being built for power stations, an official said. State-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is planning […]