Tag: Sri Lanka
‘ deadly strategy in Sri Lanka
GENEVA, Oct 28, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tiger rebels, who are in Geneva for peace talks Saturday, have been outlawed by the European Union, the United States and several other countries, but the international community still wants them at the negotiating table.The United States describes Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers as “reprehensible terrorists,” and the […]
Sea battle, shelling reported ahead of Sri Lanka peace talks
COLOMBO, Oct 27, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy fought a five-hour battle with Tamil Tiger gunboats amid fears the rebels were launching a major attack against the northern Jaffna peninsula, a pro-Tiger website reported Friday. Navy patrols attacked rebel craft early Thursday morning, the Tamilnet.com website said, adding that heavy artillery and mortar fire […]
Attacks, disappearances continue ahead of Sri Lanka peace talks
Oct 26, 2006 (AFP) – At least 30 people were killed or disappeared last week in the embattled Sri Lankan flashpoint town of Jaffna, Tamil rebels said Thursday, despite pledges to hold peace talks to end a bitter ethnic conflict.“The rate of killing and disappearance in Jaffna showed no sign of letting up,” the Tamil […]
Death squads take bloody toll in Sri Lankan frontline town
VAVUNIYA, Sri Lanka, Oct 26, 2006 (AFP) – Vaithilingam Mahenthiran and two of his friends were gunned down on a Saturday afternoon earlier this month.The day before, two other young men were shot to death and dumped in a ditch on the roadside, their hands bound and heads hooded. Before the weekend was over, three […]
Sri Lanka warring parties in Geneva to cool down war
GENEVA, Oct 26, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s warring parties arrived in Geneva Thursday for their first face-to-face meeting in eight months amid international pressure to halt ethnic bloodshed and save a crumbling ceasefire.The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) returned to the Swiss city after suicide bombings, conventional war and tit-for-tat killings that […]
Sri Lankan government, rebels must stop “rampant” abuse
GENEVA, Oct 26, 2006 (AFP) – The advocacy group Human Rights Watch on Thursday urged the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels to use their talks in Geneva to end “escalating” and “rampant” abuse of civilians.Nearly 3,000 people have been killed and some 217,000 have fled their homes since bitter fighting escalated earlier this […]
Europe gives Sri Lanka additional aid for conflict displaced refugees
Oct 25 (LBO) – The European Commission will give Sri Lanka five million Euros or 667 million rupees in emergency aid to help over 200,000 internally displaced people in an increasingly violent local conflict. The additional funds will add to seven million euros approved for aid work in the country in July this year and […]
Belgium businessmen hunt in Sri Lanka for investment opportunities
Oct 25, 2006 (LBO) – A group of Belgian investors began a three-day visit in Colombo, scouting for potential investment opportunities to grow trade between both nations, officials said. Belgium’s ‘Duvel’ beer will also be launched in Sri Lanka to coincide with the visit. The trade balance is currently tipped in Sri Lanka’s favour, with […]
Sri Lanka airlifts food to stranded people of Jaffna
Oct 25, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has airlifted hundreds of tons of food and other essential items to Jaffna, which was cut off more than two months ago by fighting with Tamil rebels, the defense ministry said Wednesday. The military operated emergency flights Tuesday and Wednesday and was expected to ferry more goods to […]
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ABU DHABI, Oct 25, 2006 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels heading for peace talks in Geneva are banking on international pressure on the Sri Lankan government to stop the island returning to “real war”, a top guerrilla leader said Wednesday. “If the international community fails to put pressure on the government to implement the (February […]
Affordable Rides
October 25, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Wednesday cut retail fuel prices, to ease living costs and inflationary pressures, though the treasury still owes the state petroleum giant over 13 billion rupees. With effective midnight, petrol at the pump will be priced 5.00 rupees less at 92.00 rupees, and diesel goes down 2.00 rupees to […]
‘s frontline as talks near
TANDIKULAM CHECKPOINT, Sri Lanka, Oct 25, 2006 (AFP) – A long wooden pole laid across the road up ahead marks the start of Sri Lanka’s “Tigerland”.A colleague of his motioned to the field of vehicles and added: “After the peace talks, hopefully we won’t have to do this.” On this side of the pole lies […]