| Tuesday 31 March 2009 |
Govt. aims at full participation of youth in
development
- President |
| The government expected to obtain the
full participation of Sri Lanka’s youth in
the tasks of National Development, and the
new University of Vocational Technology is
an important move for this purpose, said
President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the
inauguration of Sri Lanka’s first university
of Vocational Technology at Rathmalana today
(31).
[Full Story] |
|
|
UNHRC hops onboard Tamil Tigers’ bandwagon -
Manila Times |
| Much of the fodder that the UN rights body
offered as its own diligently cross-checked
facts was the same self-serving pap the
Tamil Tiger propaganda machine is spewing
out on the Internet.
[Full Story] |
|
|
India offers help for IDPs |
| India has already increased the size of
the Indian funded hospital in Pulmudai and
sent an additional batch of doctors last
week, Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar
Menon told the journalists in Delhi
yesterday (30).
[Full Story] |
|
|
Thousands of civilians flee LTTE hold |
Since January more than 61,421 civilians
including women, children and the elderly
have fled from the LTTE's grip and sought
protection with security forces, military
sources said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Kerala police on alert for LTTE |
| Kerala is on alert for LTTE cadres,
following the reports of a group of
suspected LTTE militants fleeing into the
Southern state.
[Full Story] |
|
|
U.S. donates medical supplies for hospitals
in North |
| The U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) yesterday (30)donated
equipment and basic medical supplies to the
Ministry of Health to treat 50,000 civilians
at hospitals in the North.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 30 March 2009 |
|
Sri Lanka
- Indonesia sign bilateral agreement on visa
exemption |
|
Sri Lanka
and Indonesia signed a bilateral agreement
on visa exemptions for the diplomatic and
officials travel between the two countries.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sea
battle in off Chalai; a senior sea tiger
leader killed |
|
Al least
26 LTTE Sea Tigers killed and four LTTE
boats were destroyed by the Navy during
confrontation in Chalai, Mullativu this
morning.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Over 60,000 civilians flee LTTE hold |
| Since January more than 59,773 civilians
including women, children and the elderly
have fled from the LTTE grip and reported to
the safety of government held areas,
military sources said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
LTTE help for Indian Maoists? |
| The Maoists’ plan to challenge the Indian
security forces during the forthcoming
general election may turn ominous as the
former are likely to get support from
various anti-national groups including a
battered LTTE looking to create diversions.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Govt. breakthrough in dialogue with Sri
Lankan Tamils abroad |
| The Government made a significant move in
establishing a dialogue with the Sri Lankan
Tamil community abroad that is committed to
the restoration of peace and democracy in
the country, when it had discussions with
members of the expatriate Sri Lankan Tamil
community on Saturday (28).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Saturday 28 March 2009 |
|
TNA silent on LTTE responsibility for
deaths, injuries and entrapment of Tamil
civilians |
| “We note that no allocation of
responsibility upon the LTTE, for the
entrapment and confinement of these innocent
civilians, is made by the TNA. This appears
to the Government to be a startling
omission.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 27 March 2009 |
|
Better facilities for increased IDPs in
govt. areas |
| Consequent on the improvement of the
security situation with regarding the
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the
Vanni, and the willingness of the Government
to work together with the United Nations in
all practical approaches to the best
treatment of IDPs, the Government has taken
several measures to enhance facilities for
IDPs coming in large numbers to Government
held areas.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Over 57,000 civilians seek protection with
security forces |
| Since January more than 57,394 civilians
including women, children and the elderly
have fled the LTTE area to the safety of
government held areas, military sources
said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka's U.S Envoy meets Senate Leader |
| Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United
States, Jaliya Wickramasuriya, met U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar,
earlier this week to discuss the
present situation in Northern Sri Lanka and
post-conflict development.
[Full Story] |
|
|
UN relief chief says LTTE holds civilians as
human shields |
Forced recruitment continues within the
combat zone, and the LTTE is not allowing
civilians out of the area, so said U.N. Humanitarian
Affairs Chief John Holmes
addressing reporters after an interactive
Security Council discussion with regard to
the
humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka
yesterday (26).
[Full Story] |
|
|
Thailand to help combat terrorism |
| Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit
Vejjajiva appreciated Sri Lanka's measures
to counter terrorism and the concerns about
attempts by terrorists to operate in the
region.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 26 March 2009 |
|
Over 55,000 civilians flee LTTE hold |
| Since January more than 55,286 civilians
including women, children and the elderly
have fled the LTTE area to the safety of
government held areas, military sources
said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
SL President committed to devolution -
Indian PM writes to TN Chief Minister |
| Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa
“very recently affirmed his commitment to a
devolution package, which he said would
fully satisfy the Tamils,” Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh has said in a letter
to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
[Full Story] |
|
|
I am not fond of LTTE : Rahul |
| The LTTE is a terrorist group. I am not
particularly fond of LTTE myself. It killed
my father, Congress general secretary Rahul
Gandhi said at a press conference in
Puducherry.
[Full Story] |
|
|
UN gives unverified IDP casualty figures to
media and donors |
The UN system has been exposed for using
figures that it cannot verified as accurate
about the recent civilian casualties in Sri
Lanka, in official statements to the media
and communications to donor countries in
relation to Sri Lanka.
[Full Story] |
|
|
LTTE kills another group of innocent
civilians |
| A group of LTTE cadres shot dead at least
four farmers and injured another four in
Manikdeniya, Welikanda last night, defence
sources said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
'LTTE do not represent anyone - certainly
not the Tamil people' says Lord Naseby |
| The Tigers do not represent anyone -
certainly not the Tamil people Chair of All
Party Parliamentarian Group Lord Naseby.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 25 March 2009 |
|
LTTE fires at evacuation flights |
| LTTE terrorists have fired
surface-to-air-missiles (SAM) at two Sri
Lankan Air Force Bell- 212 helicopters,
engaged in casualty evacuation operations in
Puthukudiyirippu today (March 25) at around
11a.m.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Over 1000 civilians seek protection with
security forces |
| A total of 1,386 civilians have sought
protection with troops of the 58 Division
now operating North of Iranapalai and
Andampuram in Mullaittivu by yesterday, the
Ministry of Defence said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
LTTE shot dead five farmers killed in
Serunuwara |
| Five paddy farmers were killed and 2
wounded when a group of LTTE terrorists
stormed into Dehiwatte village at Serunuwara
yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
SL Community leaders selected for innovative
U.S. Exchange Program |
| Seventeen Sri Lankan community leaders
from fields including community development,
education, journalism, and business, will
travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in
a three-week program sponsored by the U.S.
Department of State that will focus on
reducing marginalization, resolving
conflict, and promoting democratic
engagement in Sri Lankan civil society, a US
Embassy press release said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
BJP rules out support to LTTE |
| The BJP on Tuesday said any support to
the LTTE in Tamil Nadu would hurt the cause
of Sri Lanka Tamils, as the image of the
banned outfit has suffered a "setback" in
the state following its involvement in the
assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi, the PTI said.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 24 March 2009 |
|
Sri Lanka engaged in a legitimate military
and humanitarian operation: DSG at the UN |
| There is no genocidal situation in Sri
Lanka. The Government of Sri Lanka is
engaged in a legitimate military and
humanitarian operation, aimed at liberating
its own people from LTTE terrorists said
Deputy Solicitor-General Yasantha Kodagoda
at the council session during its ongoing
session yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
India – Sri Lanka: Top Secretaries to meet |
| Mr. T. K. A. Nair, the Principal
Secretary to the Prime Minister of India Dr.
Manmohan Singh is due to arrive in Sri Lanka
tomorrow (25) at the invitation of the
Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith
Weeratunga.
[Full Story] |
|
|
President to meet Tamil and Muslim political
parties |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa has summoned
a meeting of all Tamil and Muslim political
parties, including the Tamil National
Alliance (TNA), on March 26 for an
interaction on the prevailing political
situation.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 23 March 2009 |
Yal Devi will show our resolve for unity and
coexistence
- President |
|
I have asked the Minister of Transport to
run the Yal Devi train at least five more
kilometers beyond Vavuniya by the coming
April 23, and consolidate the nation’s
resolve that our war heroes have shown. It
would show our resolve for co-existence.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Exodus of civilians reaches 50,000 |
| The total number of civilians fleeing
from uncleared areas to government
controlled areas since January has risen to
50,000.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Dayan chosen as Coordinator of the UNCTAD
Asian Group |
| Permanent Representative to the United
Nations in Geneva Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka was
unanimously chosen as the Coordinator of the
Asian Group of the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on March
19, taking over from Indonesia.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 20 March 2009 |
|
President orders to suspend Rubella
immunization programme |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered to
suspend the Rubella immunization programme
immediately following the death of one
school girl in Matara today.
[Full Story] |
|
|
China opposes move to bring SL issue before
UN Security Council |
| China opposed a second move to bring the
Sri Lankan issue before the United Nation
Security Council agenda.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Civilian influx exceeds 47,000 |
| More than 47,000 civilians have crossed
over to the government controlled areas so
far amidst various threats from LTTE and
more than 5000 have arrived during last six
days said Disaster Management and Human
Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe
addressing media at the Presidential
Secretariat yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Canadian double standard on terrorism
exposed |
| The National Post newspaper in Canada
exposed the double standard by the Canadian
authorities in ethno-politics on terrorism
as Canadian Tamil demonstrators in Toronto
on Monday carried LTTE flags and pictures of
the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in a
protest against Sri Lanka.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 19 March 2009 |
|
Over 2,000 civilians cross over to
government controlled areas |
| Over 2,000 civilians had cross over to
the government controlled areas by Tuesday
and the majority of them had reached the 58
Division troops deployed in the
Puthukudirippu area.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Navy rescues 643 fleeing civilians |
| Sri Lanka Navy yesterday rescued 643
civilians fleeing uncleared areas by boats
amidst the LTTE’s firing in northern seas.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 18 March 2009 |
|
Thousands of civilians flee LTTE hold |
| Since January more than 45,519 civilians
including women, children and the elderly
have fled the LTTE area to the safety of
government held areas, military sources
said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
IMF loan will not place any burdens on Sri
Lanka - Minister |
| The interest rate for the IMF loan will be on
concessionary rates and it is advantageous
to obtain this facility on these terms in the prevailing economic environment,
said the Finance and
State Revenue Minister Ranjith
Siyambalapitiya.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 17 March 2009 |
|
SL, a pointer to others in healthcare
development – Asst. Sec of ECOSOC |
| The success of Sri Lanka in achieving most
Millennium Development Goals with regard to
health was to be commended and should be a
pointer to other countries as to how these
important issues should be handled said Mr.
Thomas Stelzer,
[Full Story] |
|
|
World Bank assistance to develop road
network and education |
| The World Bank has extended support for the
development of road network and the
education system by allocating US$100
million credit to develop the national road
network, and a US$60 million grant to
support the education system, a World Bank
press release issued yesterday said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Positive sign in UN – Sri Lanka relations:
UN Secretary General |
| The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a
telephone conference with President Mahinda
Rajapaksa this evening (17) said there is
increasing cooperation evident between the
UN and the Government of Sri Lanka, and this
is a positive sign in the continuing
relationship.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Pro-LTTE Vaz exposed on sleaze |
| Damning evidence of how senior Labour MP
Keith Vaz intervened in a court case on
behalf of a crooked friend was revealed in
Daily Mail newspaper.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Minister seeks protection for Ranil |
| Jagath Pushpakumara Minister of Nation
Building requested the Speaker this morning
to provide protection to Opposition Leader
Ranil Wickremasinghe as there were serious
threats of assault within the premises of
Parliament.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Eradication of terrorism creates broader
space to achieve MDGs in the health sector -
FM |
| Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has
underscored the importance of the
Government’s ongoing drive to eradicate
terrorism from Sri Lanka, as a means to
creating broader space and a more positive
environment to the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the
2015 target date set by the UN.
[Full Story] |
|
|
SL Ambassador calls on LTTE to release the
UN staff member |
| The Ambassador for Sri Lanka to the United
States, Jaliya Wickramasuriya yesterday
called on the LTTE to immediately release
the United Nations staff member and three
dependent children who were forcibly
detained over the weekend in the conflict
zone in Sri Lanka.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 16 March 2009 |
|
1,500 more civilians flee LTTE hold |
| More than 1,500 civilians including
women, children and the elderly have fled
from the LTTE and sought protection with the
troops of 58 Division operating in
Ampalavanpokkanai South as at 3.30 p.m
today, military sources said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
LTTE forcibly recruits UN staff member |
| One UN national staff member and three
dependent family members were forcibly
recruited over the weekend by the LTTE,
inside the government-declared No Fire Zone,
a UN statement said today.
[Full Story] |
|
|
MDMK propaganda secretary detained under NSA |
| The propaganda secretary of MDMK, Nanchil
Sampath, was on Sunday detained under the
National Security Act (NSA) on charges of
making 'provocative speech' on the Sri
Lankan Tamils issue, during a public meeting
at Tirupur in Coimbatore.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Sunday 15 March 2009 |
|
Government rejects OHCHR statement that
supports LTTE propaganda |
| The Government of Sri Lanka categorically
rejects the allegations by the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem
Pillay, as they are unsubstantiated,
unverified and vague; only reflects the
propaganda of the LTTE and its agents, and
have been made without any consultation with
the Government.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Saturday 14 March 2009 |
Sri Lanka on verge of defeating terrorism
–
Hillary Clinton tells President Rajapaksa |
| The US Secretary of State Mrs. Hillary
Clinton acknowledged that Sri Lanka is now
on the verge of defeating terrorism, and
that this presented a great opportunity to
restore peace, leading to reconstruction and
rehabilitation in the country.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 13 March 2009 |
|
LTTE's Last Battle |
| The Sri Lanka Army's 53, 55 and 58
Divisions, have now engaged in their last
battle against the LTTE terrorists.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Prabhakaran always for personal fiefdom -
Liam Fox |
| It was evident all along that the LTTE
leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was not
interested in a political solution to the
issues in Sri Lanka and the Tamil people,
but in establishing a personal fiefdom for
himself,
[Full Story] |
|
|
Japan Funds Humanitarian De-mining
Activities in Sri Lanka |
| The Government of Japan has extended further
support for the humanitarian de-mining
activities in Sri Lanka and allocated Rs. 80
million to the Swiss Foundation for
accelerated de-mining activities in the
conflict affected areas of Mannar and
Vavuniya.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Northern harvest reaches Colombo |
| The first harvest stock from the North
reached Colombo last evening by road in
nearly 22 years.
[Full Story] |
|
|
EU condemns LTTE |
| Members of the European Parliament yesterday
adopted a resolution “condemning the LTTE’s
violence and intimidation which are
preventing civilians from leaving the
conflict area”,
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 12 March 2009 |
|
Dalada exposition extended |
| The special public exposition of the
Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada
Maligawa has been extended by another day
till March 17 to cater to the large crowds
visiting Kandy to pay homage.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Troops capture Puthukkudiyiruppu Hospital |
| Security forces captured the
Puthukkudiyiruppu Hospital this morning.
[Full Story] |
|
|
UK, Russia condemn Akuressa attack |
| The United Kingdom and Russia condemned
the suicide attack by the LTTE at on a
religious festival at Akuressa.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Akurassa attack yet another act of
desperation by LTTE – Hindu editorial |
| The suicide bombing — which killed 15
civilians and injured 45 others, including a
Minister of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government
— outside a mosque at Akurassa in the Matara
district of Sri Lanka’s Southern Province is
yet another act of desperation by a
terrorist outfit fighting for its life said
The Hindu editorial today.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Muslim countries condemn LTTE terror attack
in Akuressa |
| The High Commissioners for Bangladesh,
Malaysia and the Indonesian Ambassador on
behalf of their respective Governments have
strongly denounced the suicide bomb attack
carried out by the LTTE on Tuesday (March
10) at the Godapitiya Jumma Mosque at
Akuressa, targeting a peaceful procession to
celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Minister Wijesekera's condition improving
|
| Minister of Posts and Telecommunications
Mahinda Wijesekera who was injured during
Tuesday's LTTE suicide attack at Akuressa,
was in an improved condition yesterday and
was recovering, Colombo National Hospital
Director, Dr. Hector Weerasinghe said.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 11 March 2009 |
|
European countries condemn Akuressa terror
attack |
| Switzerland and France have condemned
yesterday’s terrorist attack at Akuressa,
which killed 15 civilians and injured 40,
including Minister Mahinda Wijesekara.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Cambodian police probe foundation allegedly
with ties to LTTE |
| National police of Cambodia have opened
an investigation into whether a U.S.-based
charity allegedly with ties to LTTE, Phnom
Penh Post said on Tuesday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
15 dead and
60 injured in Akuressa suicide bomb |
| The suicide bomb attack cared out by the
LTTE at the National Meelad-un-Nabi
festival, celebrating the birthday of the
Holy Prophet Mohammed, at Godapitiya,
Akuressa had killed 15 persons and injured
61.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Karuna joins Govt; leads over 2000 Tamils
from East to SLFP
|
| Mr. Vinayagamoorthy Muralidharan MP, the
former Deputy Leader of the LTTE whose
nom-de-guerre was Karuna Amman, joined the
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Monday (9),
with a large following of Tamils from the
East, and was later to be sworn in as the
Minister of National Integration and
Reconciliation.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 09 March 2009 |
|
Greater joy in Meelad-un Nabi celebrations
this year-President |
| The Muslims of Sri
Lanka will have greater joy in these
celebrations this year as they come after
the establishment of democracy in the
Eastern Province, and the fast approaching
liberation of the North too,
[Full Story] |
|
|
Over 300,000 devotees pay homage to Sacred
Tooth Relic |
| Over 300,000 devotees paid homage to the
Sacred Tooth Relic during the exposition of
past three days, said Diyawadana Nilame of
the Sri Dalada Maligawa. This amount
comprised with a number of foreigners and
diplomats.
[Full Story] |
|
|
IDP Food Ship attacked by LTTE |
| The ship ‘Bin Tan’ which carrying food,
medicines and other essential cargo to the
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in
Mullaitivu.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka attracts ME tourists
|
| Middle East travellers visiting Sri Lanka
as a Tourist Destination, increased by 24
per cent in 2008, according to the Sri Lanka
Tourism Promotion Bureau's (SLTPB) Middle
East Office.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Vietnam - Sri Lanka cooperation strengthens |
| The Prime Minister of
Vietnam, Nguyen Tan Dung, pledged that
Vietnam was always ready to support Sri
Lanka's development agenda and assist its
people in their effort to maintain peace and
stability in the country and in the
international campaign against terrorism,
[Full Story] |
|
|
TMVP hands over arms |
| The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP)
handed over the arms that had been provided
to its members for self defence and
security, on Saturday (7) afternoon during a
brief ceremony at the Weber stadium in
Batticaloa.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Our Forces lead global war on terror |
| Sri Lankan Armed Forces
have brought unprecedented fame to the
country.
[Full Story] |
|
|
UN urges LTTE to remove weapons and fighters
from civilians areas |
| UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged
the LTTE to remove its weapons and fighters
from areas of civilian concentration, to
cooperate in all humanitarian efforts
calculated to relieve the suffering of
civilians, and to immediately cease
recruitment of children.
[Full Story] |
|
|
SLAF: Distinction in air power and defence |
| Through its 58 years
the Sri Lanka Air Force has shown
distinction in air power, defense
capabilities, and humanitarian assistance,
[Full Story] |
|
Special honour for Navy in changing tide of
terror
- President |
| The Sri Lanka Navy holds a special place
of honour for the decisive role it played in
changing the tide of against the forces of
terror in our country, said President
Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a message to make the
Commissioning Parade of Officers of the Sri
Lanka Navy at Trincomalee, last Saturday
(March 7).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Sunday 08 March 2009 |
|
No deaths from
starvation in North |
| There has been no case
of any citizen in the north of Sri Lanka
dying from starvation, and the government
will take all measures to prevent such a
tragic occurrence…
[Full Story] |
| |
| Saturday 07 March 2009 |
|
LTTE responsible for sufferings of Tamil
civilians: US |
| Washington, March 06: Holding the Tamil
Tigers responsible for the "increasing
sufferings" of civilians in Sri Lanka's
embattled north, the United States on Friday
asked the outlawed LTTE to stop lobbying
shells and shooting guns out of the safe
zone declared by the government.
[Full Story] |
|
|
US solidarity with Sri Lanka on Lahore
terror attack |
| The United States is concerned over wider
implications for Sri Lanka’s security,
especially in the light of the terrorist
attack on the Sri Lankan national cricket
team in Lahore last Tuesday (3rd March 2009).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 06 March 2009 |
|
Commonwealth Sec.Gen. condemns attack on SL
cricket team |
| Commonwealth Secretary General in a
letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa has
expressed his deep sense of shock about the
attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in
Pakistan, by saying Sri Lanka team that had
gone to Pakistan as ambassadors of goodwill.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Minister tells 'BBC Hardtalk': |
| If the LTTE lays down their weapons
tomorrow, there will not be any reason for
us to fight. There will be an automatic
ceasefire.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Inflation drops to 7.6% |
| The rate of inflation dropped to 7.6 per
cent last month due to the financial
policies implemented by the Central
Bank,said State Revenue and Finance Minister
Ranjith Siyambalapitiya in Parliament
yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Exposition of Sacred Tooth Relic |
| A special public exposition of the Sacred
Tooth Relic will begin at the Sri Dalada
Maligawa in Kandy today (March 6). It will
continue from 1 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. daily till
March 16, said Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri
Dalada Maligawa Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Ambassadors condemn attack on Sri Lankan
cricket team |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. (March
5, 2009) - In response to Tuesday’s attack
in Pakistan of the Sri Lankan cricket team
that resulted in the death of up to six
policemen and a driver along with several
injuries to team members,
[Full Story] |
|
|
Cricket hostages, goal of terrorist
coordination in Lahore? |
| There is a flurry of activity among
intelligence organizations and defence
think-tanks in key South Asian capitals to
uncover those behind the attack on the Sri
Lanka cricketers in Lahore, Pakistan, two
days ago, with increasing indicators that
that the plot may have been to create a
major diplomatic crisis involving Sri Lanka,
India and Pakistan.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 05 March 2009 |
|
Sri Lanka calls for international treaty to
protect sportsmen |
| Sri Lanka yesterday urged the international
community to sign a treaty on the prevention
of terrorism with special emphasis on the
safety of sportsmen and sportswomen.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Diplomats visited IDP camps in Vavuniya |
| Foreign diplomats in Sri Lanka visited
welfare centers housing internally displaced
people in Vavuniya, yesterday to ascertain
the conditions at these camps and the
measures taken by the government to assist
the displaced people.
[Full Story] |
|
|
UN deplores attack on SL Cricket team |
| The UN condemning the attack on the Sri
Lankan cricket team in Lahore said any
attack targeting civilians-in this case,
athletes- is inhumane and unjustifiable.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Pakistan President assures investigation
into the terrorist attack |
| Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari while
assuring that all relevant information
regarding the investigation process will be
shared with the Government of Sri Lanka said
that they were looking at a positive outcome
that will lead to the identification of the
perpetrators of the attack on Sri Lankan
cricketers in Lahore which will serve the
concerns of both Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 04 March 2009 |
|
U.S. condemns attack on SL cricket team |
| U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday
expressed deep concern about the attack on
the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan,
saying the country's frontier regions still
is the safe heave for terrorists.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Pakistan leaders express their regrets to
the people of Sri Lanka |
| Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and
Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani
strongly condemned the terrorist attack on
the visiting Sri Lanka Cricket team in
Lahore yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lankan cricketers return home |
| Sri Lankan cricket team returned to the
country early today aborting the tour of
Pakistan after the team came under terrorist
attack in Lahore yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
President returns |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was on a
three-day official visit to Nepal returned
home early this morning a day ahead
following the terrorists attack on the Sri
Lankan cricket team in Lahore.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 03 March 2009 |
|
Nepal, Sri Lanka sign two agreements |
| Sri Lanka and Nepal today signed two
agreements on air service from Kathmandu to
Colombo and on forming a ministerial level
joint mechanism.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Security Forces bag Puthukkudiyirippu town |
| Security forces today captured the
Puthukkudiyirippu town, the last garrison of
the LTTE.
[Full Story] |
|
|
President condemns cowardly terrorist attack
of cricketers |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa unequivocally
condemned the cowardly terrorist attack
targeting the Sri Lankan Cricket Team in
Lahore, Pakistan, today emphasizing that the
Sri Lankan team had gone to Pakistan as
ambassadors of goodwill.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Nepal - Sri Lanka Presidents begin political
consultations |
| President
Rajapaksa and his Nepalese counterpart Dr.
Ram Baran Yadav met at Sital Niwas in
Kathmandu yesterday talked on the
possibility of linking Kathmandu and the
Lanka capital Colombo,
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lankan cricketers injured in Lahore |
| Several Sri Lankan cricketers including
Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan
Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavithana were
injured in a shooting incident in Lahore a
short while ago.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Hardtalk on Sri Lanka |
| The BBC’s “Hardtalk” programme today –
March 03 - will feature the Minister of
Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda
Samarasinghe, discussing Conflict and the
Humanitarian Situation in Sri Lanka, with
the BBC presenter Stephen Sackur.
[Full Story] |
|
|
LTTE’s trapping of civilians, most shocking
violation of international law – Sri Lankan
Minister to UN Human Rights Council |
| Hostage taking in a conflict situation is
a clear violation of international
humanitarian law. How much more egregious,
is it when an unlawful belligerent group
traps thousands of people in a small tract
of land and actively prevents their flight
to safety by the use of arms and
cold-blooded murder?
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 02 March 2009 |
|
President arrives in Kathmandu |
| President
Mahinda Rajapaksa and Madam Shiranthi
Rajapaksa arrived in Kathmandu a short while
ago for a three-day state visit.
[Full Story] |
|
|
A-9 reopens |
| The Jaffna-Kandy A9 road will be opened for
the logistic supplies for military
transportation and their movement after 27
years.
[Full Story] |
|
|
SAARC FMs pledge cooperation to combat
terrorism |
The SAARC Council of Ministers met in
Colombo on February 27-28 renewed their
commitment to strengthen comprehensive
cooperation among SAARC region to combat and
eliminate all forms and manifestations of
terrorism.
[Full Story] |
|
|
President left for Nepal |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa left for Nepal
early this morning at the invitation Nepal
President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav.
[Full Story] |
|
Consensus at UNSC
LTTE must lay down arms: No ceasefire call
to Sri Lanka |
| New York – Reports from the United
Nations state efforts by some humanitarian
activist groups, largely influenced by LTTE
propaganda, and pro-LTTE organisations and
pressure groups, had failed in efforts to
get the Sri Lankan situation, especially
regarding the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
in the north to be taken up by the UN
Security Council, have failed.
[Full Story] |
| |
