Category: Politics
Sri Lanka gains ground from Tamil Tigers: military
January 13, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops have captured more territory from Tamil Tigers in fierce battles around the rebels’ last stronghold in the northeast of the island, the defence ministry said Tuesday.The Tigers said a shell had also hit a hospital building and two people there sustained minor injuries. Claims by both sides […]
Sri Lanka troops flush Tigers from Jaffna
January 14, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops have established total control over the northern peninsula of Jaffna Wednesday after flushing out the last remaining pockets of rebel resistance, defence officials said. “The Tigers have not specified a place where the Red Cross can hand over the bodies to them,” a hospital official said. “Because […]
‘s murder row grows as diplomat censured
January 14, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government censured a senior international diplomat after he spoke at the funeral of a newspaper editor whose murder has been blamed on the island’s rulers, officials said Wednesday.Sri Lanka’s opposition has demanded an international probe into the killing, which drew condemnation from the US, the European Union and […]
Sri Lanka gains ground from rebels: military
January 13, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops have captured more territory from Tamil Tigers in fierce fighting around the rebels’ last stronghold in the northeast of the island, the defence ministry said Tuesday. Heavy fighting was reported around guerrilla-controlled Mullaittivu district on Monday, with troops seizing a rebel administration base, a training camp and […]
Sri Lanka keeps up air attacks on retreating Tigers: military
January 12, 2009 (AFP) – Helicopter gunships and war planes attacked suspected Tamil Tiger strong points in northern Sri Lanka on Monday while at least 19 rebels were killed in ground battles, the defence ministry said.Aircraft hit two positions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Iranamadu, just south of their political capital […]
Sri Lankan govt under fire as murdered editor buried
January 12, 2009 (AFP) – The funeral of a Sri Lankan newspaper editor and staunch critic of the war on Tamil rebels was held Monday with the island’s government facing allegations of being behind his execution-style murder.Security was tight as thousands of mourners attended a Christian service for Lasantha Wickrematunga at the Assembly of God […]
Sri Lanka military launches air strikes against retreating Tamil Tigers
January 11, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military launched air attacks against the last remaining jungle hideouts of Tamil Tiger rebels after driving them out of their main strongholds, officials said on Sunday.“The Sri Lankan army has so far captured four airstrips of the LTTE terrorists during the ongoing counter terrorist operations,” the ministry said. […]
” on Tigers
January 10, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan security forces were ready to deal a “decisive blow” to the remaining Tamil Tiger positions following the capture of the highly strategic Elephant Pass, the defence ministry said on Saturday. After four days of fierce fighting, government forces on Friday established full control over Elephant Pass, also known […]
Sri Lanka troops seize strategic pass from Tigers: official
January 9, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops fighting Tamil rebels on Friday took full control of the highly strategic Elephant Pass, a causeway linking the Jaffna peninsula with the northern mainland, an official said. The causeway fell to government troops advancing northwards from Kilinochchi, the political headquarters of the Tamil Tigers captured by the […]
Sri Lanka military gains full control of highway to Jaffna: President
Jan 09, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s military has gained full control of a strategic highway linking the northern Jaffna peninsular with the south of the country after 23 years, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a nation-wide television address. Point Pedro is the northernmost point of the island, and Dondra Head the southernmost point. Education […]
EU condemns shooting of Sri Lankan editor
BRUSSELS, January 8, 2009 (AFP) – The European Union condemned Thursday the shooting death of a respected Sri Lankan newspaper editor and expressed concern about media freedoms in the South Asian nation.Wickrematunga, 52, was shot by gunmen on two motorcycles as he drove to work near Colombo. He was rushed to hospital but died after […]
Sri Lanka needs freedom of information for development: World Bank
Jan 09, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs freedom of information to develop, and Sri Lanka’s government should hold full and transparent investigations on violence against the media, the World Bank said. “The World Bank urges the Government of Sri Lanka to hold full and transparent investigations of incidents of violence against media,” the World […]