Category: Politics
Sri Lanka anti-media violence undermining democracy: United States
Jan 09, 2009 (LBO) – The United States has strongly condemned the murder of a prominent newspaper editor in Sri Lanka and an attack on a broadcaster saying the violence was undermining democracy and silencing independent voices.Lasantha Wickematunge, editor of The Sunday Leader, a newspaper strongly critical of the government was shot on a main […]
Sri Lanka anti-media violence a conspiracy: President
Jan 09, 2008 (LBO) – Violence against media is a conspiracy to pave the way for international involvement in the island’s internal affairs, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. The most recent violence drew widespread condemnation from the United States, the European Union and rights bodies, who called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, and […]
‘s murder
January 9, 2009 (AFP) – Hundreds of Sri Lankan journalists took to the streets Friday to protest against the killing of a newspaper editor, as the government came under local and foreign pressure to protect freedom of expression.The demonstration in Colombo demanded a halt to violence, threats and intimidation after Thursday’s shooting of Lasantha Wickrematunga, […]
Sri Lankan journalist wounded in shooting
January 8, 2009 (AFP) – The editor of an anti-government Sri Lankan newspaper was shot and badly wounded on Thursday as he drove to work near the capital Colombo, a colleague and a doctor said. Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse has said government troops are close to eliminating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) […]
Sri Lanka troops take more territory from Tigers in Jaffna: military
January 8, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops captured more territory from Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern Jaffna peninsula Thursday, a day after the government reimposed a formal ban on the guerrillas, officials said.Troops moved their front lines further south to Pallai, a key Tiger position on the peninsula after heavy fighting, military officials […]
Sri Lankan newspaper editor shot dead
January 8, 2009 (AFP) – The editor of a Sri Lankan anti-government newspaper was shot dead on Thursday as he drove to work near the capital Colombo, police said, in the second attack on journalists this week. Gunmen on two motorcycles escaped after opening fire on Lasantha Wickrematunga, the editor of the Sunday Leader, police […]
Sri Lanka editor killing: Opposition calls for international probe, rights bodies say terrifying blow
Jan 08, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition called for an international probe into the killing of a newspaper editor, which rights bodies called a terrifying blow against the freedom of expression and an absolute scandal that should not go unpunished. Lasantha Wickrematunga, editor of the The Sunday Leader, a newspaper which is strongly […]
”: govt
January 7, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger guerrillas are “near extinction” as troops press home their initiative after capturing the rebels’ political capital, the defence ministry said Wednesday. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 Government forces have advanced towards the final remaining strongholds […]
Sri Lanka bans Tamil Tigers
Jan 07, 2009 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government said it had decided to re-impose a ban on Tamil Tigers after a lengthy military campaign that has seriously weakened the rebels and cornered them in the island’s north-east. Maithripala Sirisena, spokesman for the cabinet of ministers, said the cabinet took the decision at Wednesday’s meeting […]
Sri Lanka re-imposes formal ban on Tamil Tigers
COLOMBO, January 7, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Wednesday decided to ban formally the Tamil Tigers in a symbolic move that signals closing the prospect of early peace talks with the rebels, a senior minister said.The Tigers, who are already outlawed by the United States and the European Union, have been waging a drawn-out campaign […]
Blast on Sri Lanka railway track halts train services
COLOMBO, January 7, 2009 (AFP) – A powerful explosion ripped through a railway track just outside the Sri Lankan capital on Wednesday causing disruption to commuter services, police said. Police said there were no casualties following the blast at Mount Lavinia, but the Colombo-bound track was damaged and train services were suspended pending investigation. “Fortunately […]
Sri Lanka urged by media rights groups to punish TV station attackers
January 7, 2009 (AFP) – Media rights groups Wednesday urged Sri Lanka to punish those behind a recent attack on a privately-run television station that was torched by an armed gang. Gunmen stormed the studios and control rooms of the Maharaja TV network outside Colombo, held staff at gunpoint, and smashed and set alight equipment, […]