Politics

Sri Lanka calls for expulsion of Icelandic diplomat

Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka on Tuesday called for the expulsion of an Icelandic diplomat who made a clandestine visit to the Tamil Tiger-held north of the …

Sri Lanka bars UN officials from rebel territory

Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka said Thursday it would not allow the United Nation's human rights envoy to visit rebel-held areas in the island's north. online …

Sri Lanka says no quick-fix to Tamil conflict

WASHINGTON, Oct 3, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka cannot be pressured by the international community to bring about a political solution to its long-running separatist …

Sri Lanka Tamil Tigers deny taking bribe to rig elections

Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday rejected lingering allegations that they cut a lucrative deal with President Mahinda Rajapakse to …

Six rebels killed in Sri Lanka: army

Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's military has killed six suspected Tamil Tiger rebels along front lines in the northwest of the island, the defence ministry …

Sri Lankan media rights group slams action against state TV journalists

Sept 28, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan and international media rights watchdogs Friday strongly criticized action by a state television broadcaster to suspend …

Deadly Sri Lanka clashes spike ahead of rains

Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops claimed Thursday they have killed 45 Tamil rebels in the past week as they step up attacks ahead of monsoon rains that …

Sri Lanka tells UN military campaign is to get Tigers to resume talks

Sept 26, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has told the United Nations that his government's military campaign was aimed at convincing …

Sri Lanka says human rights criticism is neo colonialism

Sept 26, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has rejected criticism of its human rights record by Western countries saying it was being unfairly targeted in a …

Sri Lanka claims killing 13 Tamil Tigers

COLOMBO, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops shot dead 13 suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in clashes across northern defensive lines, the defence ministry …

Sri Lanka media watchdog sounds alarm over moves for new clampdown

Sept 25, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's Free Media Movement (FMM), a media rights watchdog, said Monday it was concerned over an alleged government move to ban …

Sri Lanka violence leaves 16 more dead

COLOMBO, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - Sixteen people were killed and 39 others injured as security forces clashed with Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka's embattled …

Heavy battles in Sri Lanka claim 27 lives: military

Sept 24, 2007 (AFP) - Heavy fighting between security forces and Tamil rebels in northern Sri Lanka has left at least 27 people dead, military officials said …

Sri Lanka offers olive branch to Tamil Tigers

Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka offered Sunday to halt major military operations against Tamil separatists in exchange for peace talks following intense …

Sri Lanka conflict end in sight but dangers ahead, says US

Sept 23, 2007 (LBO) – Recent military victories over Tamil Tigers, especially in Sri Lanka's east, offer a chance to end the conflict but only if …

Sri Lanka mine blast kills bus driver

Sept 22, 2007 (AFP) - A powerful mine hit a civilian bus near Sri Lanka's northeastern port of Trincomalee on Saturday, killing its driver and wounding two …

Sri Lanka rejects criticisms on human rights probe

Sept 22, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's attorney-general's department has rejected criticism of the island's human rights record made by an independent, …

Sri Lanka minister rejects charges of funds misuse

Sept 21, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's deputy finance minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya rejected charges that the government had misused funds in starting a …

Sri Lanka fighter jets bomb Tiger areas

Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lankan war planes bombed a Tamil Tigers' ammunitions store in the north of the island Friday, causing heavy damage, the defence …

Sri Lanka rights probe is flawed, top panel says

COLOMBO, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - A top international panel on Wednesday accused Sri Lanka of failing to honour promises to investigate grave human rights …