Tag: Sri Lanka
Concern over death threats to Sri Lanka TV host
COLOMBO, Nov 19, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main media rights group Sunday expressed concern over a death threat against a Tamil television host after a show in which he discussed the assassination of a Tamil legislator.The Free Media Movement said television talk show host J.Sri Ranga was told of the death threat after he […]
Central Bank of Sri Lanka growth numbers get thumbs-up in online poll
November 18 (LBO) – An online poll shows that more LBO readers believe the economic growth numbers generated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka than the Department of Census and Statistics, but a vast majority disbelieved both. The Central Bank data set has a slightly higher weight for agriculture, as a result the two […]
Sea battle in Sri Lanka; seven killed in mine blast
Nov 18, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy and Tamil Tiger rebels Saturday claimed they had sunk each others’ craft in a sea battle off the northwestern coast as seven people were killed following a mine blast elsewhere. The island’s northeastern seaboard is a vital supply route for security forces and civilians in Jaffna. The […]
’s customs coffers to fill, despite tax breaks in budget
Nov 17 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Customs says it will shore up revenues to 240 billion rupees next year, despite a host of import duty waivers in the country’s latest budget. Full Coffers Meanwhile, the Inland Revenue Department’s tax revenue’s have also grown on improved collections and is expected to reach 260 billion rupees this […]
Sri Lanka says 18 Tigers killed in fresh skirmishes
Nov 17, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops killed at least 18 Tamil Tiger guerrillas in three separate confrontations in a restive eastern province, the defence ministry said Friday. An upsurge in fighting in the past year in the island’s separatist conflict has claimed more than 3,300 lives. The clashes were in the district of […]
‘s Tiger rebels
Nov 16, 2006 (AFP) – A British envoy was holding talks with Sri Lanka’s Tiger rebels Thursday to help salvage a faltering peace initiative, while in the capital the president wooed moderate Tamils, officials said.British MP Paul Murphy toured the violence-hit port city of Trincomalee Wednesday and began talks with Tamil Tiger guerrillas at the […]
Rights panel backs UN child soldiers charge against Sri Lanka
Nov 16, 2006 (AFP) – A New York-based rights group asked Sri Lanka’s government Thursday to arrest security force members allegedly involved in forcibly recruiting child soldiers on behalf of a Tamil rebel faction. Human Rights Watch said its investigations supported the findings of a top UN official who charged Monday that Sri Lankan security […]
Sri Lanka lowers economic forecasts for 2006
November 16, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Thursday cut the island’s next year economic growth to 7.5 percent from 8.0 percent announced earlier. In its half yearly review of this year’s economy, the bank expects year-end gross domestic product to touch 7.4 percent, led by growth in telecom, ports, industrial and agricultural services. […]
Sri Lanka asks Tigers to resume talks as war budget bites
Nov 16, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president appealed to Tiger rebels Thursday to enter talks and end spiralling violence on the island as a British envoy moved to jumpstart stalled peace efforts. The deficit of 235 billion rupees (2.18 billion dollars) is to be financed mainly through domestic and foreign borrowings. Please click to […]
India expresses deep concern over civilian killings in Sri Lanka
NEW DELHI, Nov 16, 2006 (AFP) – India’s prime minister has expressed deep concern over rising civilian deaths in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict, saying there was no justification for the violence, the Press Trust of India reported.Manmohan Singh, in a letter to the chief minister of southern Tamil Nadu state M. Karunanidhi, said he planned […]
Slain Sri Lankan Tamil legislator cremated amid protests
JAFFNA, Sri Lanka, Nov 15, 2006 (AFP) – Slain Tamil legislator Nadarajah Raviraj was cremated at his home district of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka Wednesday as supporters shut businesses to protest his assassination.Raviraj, 44, was cremated at the Chavakachcheri cemetery while heavily armed security forces kept a low profile along the funeral procession from […]
Four children abducted as Sri Lankan military faces probe
Nov 15, 2006 (AFP) – Unidentified gunmen abducted four students in eastern Sri Lanka, a Tamil pro-rebel website said Wednesday as the president promised to probe allegations security forces recruited child soldiers.The Tamilnet.com website said the four youths were abducted Tuesday while working on a road construction project to supplement family income. The incident came […]