Politics

President capture of key Tiger controlled town will not lead to all out war

Sept 4 (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops Monday captured a town used by Tiger rebels to launch artillery against the key naval port of Trincomalee, but President …

Sri Lanka troops capture Tiger town: minister

Sept 4 (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops Monday captured an eastern coastal town used by Tiger rebels to launch artillery attacks against the strategic naval port of …

Sri Lanka fighting hits lull

Sept 3, 2006 (AFP) - Fighting between troops and Tamil Tigers near a key northeast port hit a lull Sunday, residents said, a day after 80 rebels were …

Sri Lanka refutes Nordic monitors over massacre charge

Sept 3, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lanka on Sunday stepped up its campaign against Nordic truce monitors who accused government forces of involvement in the killing of …

Sri Lanka navy says killed 80 rebels in sea battle

Sept 2, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's navy killed at least 80 Tamil Tiger guerrillas after a six-hour battle with a flotilla of rebel boats off the island's …

Sri Lanka sends more supplies to Jaffna

Sept 2, 2006 (AFP) - A second cargo ship was loaded here Saturday with supplies for desperate residents of Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna peninsula, where the …

New controls on foreign aid workers in Sri Lanka after killings

COLOMBO, Sept 1, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lanka has enforced new controls on foreign aid workers after 17 local employees of a French charity were murdered, allegedly …

Red Cross presses for supply line in war-torn Sri Lanka

GENEVA, Sept 1, 2006 (AFP) - The International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday pressed Sri Lanka's warring parties to allow supplies to reach tens of …

Sri Lanka blast kills soldier, wounds four

Sept 1, 2006 (AFP) - A powerful Claymore mine exploded Friday in Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna peninsula, killing one soldier and wounding four more, the defence …

11,000 Tamils flee to India to escape Sri Lanka fighting

CHENNAI, India, Aug 31, 2006 (AFP) - More than 11,000 Tamil refugees have fled to India since January to escape renewed fighting between the Sri Lankan army …

Sri Lanka demands proof of massacre charges

COLOMBO, Aug 31, 2006 (AFP) - The Sri Lankan government demanded proof Thursday of allegations by Nordic truce monitors that security forces were responsible …

Blair meets Sri Lanka leader amid Tamil turmoil

LONDON, Aug 31, 2006 (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Thursday for private talks on the political …

Finland, Denmark, Sweden to complete pull out of Sri Lanka observers on time

HELSINKI, Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) - Finland, Denmark and Sweden will pull out all their ceasefire monitors from Sri Lanka by the end of the month in response to a …

Rights body raises cry over deteriorating media freedom in Sri Lanka

Aug 30 (LBO) - The media rights organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has voiced deep concern about the rapidly deteriorating media freedom in Sri …

Journalist abducted in Sri Lanka freed after appeals

Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) - An abducted Sri Lankan radio journalist held overnight was freed Wednesday by unidentified men after appeals for his safe return. Nadaraja …

Sporadic shelling in Sri Lanka’s east as death toll mounts

30, 2006 (AFP) - A battle between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels over a key eastern naval port continued Wednesday with sporadic artillery duels as …

Sri Lanka troops killed 17 French aid workers: monitors

Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops killed 17 French charity workers and waged a bombing campaign against Tamil rebels, truce monitors said Wednesday, amid …

Sri Lanka rejects charity worker massacre charge as “outrageous”

LONDON, Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lanka rejected as "outrageous" Wednesday a ruling by independent ceasefire monitors that government forces were responsible …

Sri Lanka death toll hits 119 as troops halt offensive

Aug 29, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops facing heavy resistance halted an advance Tuesday into territory held by the rebel Tamil Tigers, as the death toll from …

Sri Lankan journalist kidnapped

Aug 29, 2006 (AFP) - A Sri Lankan radio journalist was kidnapped near the capital Colombo on Tuesday, police said, prompting appeals by colleagues for his safe …