Tag: Sri Lanka
”’ holding 194 child soldiers: UNICEF
April 28, 2007 (AFP) – A pro-government Tamil militant group is holding at least 194 child soldiers despite promises it would free underage combatants, UNICEF said Saturday. The UN agency for children said the Tamil Tiger faction known as the “Karuna group” was failing to honour its public promises not to recruit child soldiers. Out […]
Sri Lankans splurge on snacks and drinks for all night match viewing
April 28, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankans were stocking up on snacks, soft drinks, ice cream and liquor on Saturday to watch their home team battle Australia at the cricket World Cup finals in the Caribbean. Supermarkets, grocery and wine stores were reporting brisk sales as customers stood in lengthy queues. “It took us nearly […]
Sri Lanka shuts airport fearing Tiger attack
April 27, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops fearing a rebel attack fired anti-aircraft weapons and evacuated passengers from the international airport here late Thursday, an official said. Go to our front page www.lbo.lk for updates on this event. Latest – Katunayake civillian airport re-opens Sri Lankan troops fired anti-aircraft weapons, evacuated passengers and briefly […]
Sri Lanka on alert after new flying Tiger threat
COLOMBO, April 27, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka was on high alert Friday over the threat of another Tamil Tiger air attack, the morning after a suspicious aircraft forced the closure of the island’s only international airport. “We are on alert. In fact, every day we are on alert now and we have beefed up […]
Take Off
April 26, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s international airport has re-opened after several flights were diverted as a precautionary measure following reports of a possible Tamil Tiger air raid, officials said. . Updated Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said there was no attack but there were reports of two unidentified light aircraft being detected in […]
Sri Lanka counts on World Cup to boost image
COLOMBO, April 27, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka is banking on the publicity from the cricket World Cup to attract foreign investment and tourism to the South Asian island nation better known for its separatist conflict.As the home team prepares for the final clash with Australia on Saturday, the Caribbean event has offered an unexpected […]
” charged for supporting terrorism in Sri Lanka
April 26, 2007 (LBO) – The United States has charged a senior representative of the Tamil Tigers for supporting a foreign terrorist organization, the US embassy in Colombo said in a statement Thursday. If the charges are proved, the defendant Karunakara Kandasamy also known as ‘Karuna’ faces a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment. œAs […]
Sport brings hope of respite in Sri Lanka
April 26, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s surge into cricket’s World Cup final this weekend has raised hopes of a peace dividend on an island united by sport but divided by conflict, even if no one is showing long-term optimism.Cricket is hugely popular in Sri Lanka and is seen as one of the few things […]
Oil Chase
April 26, 2007 (LBO) – India is eyeing two oil exploration blocks in Sri Lanka with two state oil firms engaging in open bidding as well as taking a block that is being given as a special favour by their southern neighbor, reports said. The United States is also hosting Sri Lanka’s petroleum officials at […]
French businesses eye Sri Lankan investment opportunities
April 26, 2007 (LBO) – A team of French businessmen representing sectors such as textiles, shipping, energy, railways and environment is visiting the island, the French Embassy announced Thursday. The businessmen will be accompanied by French government officials from the Treasury, Finance Ministry and development agencies as well as trade advisors. The delegation will take […]
Sri Lanka president to attend World Cup
April 25, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse will fly to Barbados to cheer the national team in the cricket World Cup final later this week, a senior aide said on Wednesday. “It is almost certain that the president will leave on Thursday at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Barbados,” said […]
Sri Lanka vows to destroy Tiger planes
COLOMBO, April 25, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Wednesday vowed to destroy the Tamil Tigers’ air capability, a day after the guerrillas killed six soldiers and wounded 13 in a bombing of a key military base.The Sri Lankan air force said that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had used a single aircraft to […]