Russian oil giant Gazprom to explore offshore oil fields in Sri Lanka

Tuesday, February 9th 2010, 1:33 am GMT

Feb 08, Moscow: Russia's largest oil company, Gazprom plans to take part in the exploration of offshore oil in the Mannar basin of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is on a state visit to Moscow, had discussions on Monday with the CEO of the oil giant, Alexei Miller on the possibility of ...

UNP and JVP lacks vision – Minister Senarathne

Tuesday, February 9th 2010, 1:30 am GMT
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Minister of Engineering Services Rajitha Senarathne said opportunistic politics have been completely eliminated with the results of the presidential election. The UNP and JVP are without any forward vision regarding their political strategies. The Minister pointed out that Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe has granted the opportunity to Mr. Sarath Fonseka to contest the presidential election, knowing fully ...

Fonseka arrest could be poll issue

Tuesday, February 9th 2010, 1:24 am GMT

COLOMBO: With the dissolution of the Sri Lankan Parliament expected on Tuesday and the general election scheduled for the first half of April, the arrest of the former Army Chief and consensus Opposition presidential candidate, General Sarath Fonseka, could be one of the main poll issues. Though nearly two weeks have passed since the January 26 ...

US concerned on Sri Lanka arrest

Tuesday, February 9th 2010, 1:21 am GMT
US concerned on Sri Lanka arrest

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States on Monday voiced concern about Sri Lanka's arrest of the defeated opposition presidential candidate, fearing it would worsen divisions as the island recovers from war. "We are following the situation closely and we have concerns that any action be in accord with Sri Lankan law," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley ...

SLA tightens fishing restrictions in Jaffna peninsula

Tuesday, February 9th 2010, 1:32 am GMT

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) which had imposed restrictions on fishing in Jaffna peninsula since its occupation for the last fourteen years is now tightening the restrictions, subjecting the peninsula fishermen to additional harassment, fisheries societies sources in Jaffna said. SLA compels the fishermen to renew their ‘fishing pass’ often while keeping many fishing jetties in ...

Amnesty blasts Sri Lanka for opposition leader arrest

Tuesday, February 9th 2010, 1:28 am GMT

LONDON - Amnesty International accused Sri Lanka's government Monday of stepping up a "crackdown on political opposition" after the arrest of the defeated candidate in last month's presidential vote.  Former army chief Sarath Fonseka, who lost to President Mahinda Rajapakse in the January 26 election, was taken into custody by the military police Monday to be ...

Fonseka to be court marshalled

Tuesday, February 9th 2010, 1:23 am GMT

General Sarath Fonseka who was arrested late this evening will be Court Marshalled for the military crimes he has committed, Director General of the Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hullugala told state television a short while ago. Fonseka has been accused of revealing military secrets and also plotting the assassination of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Arms dealer jailed for illegally supplying weapons to Israel and Sri Lanka

Tuesday, February 9th 2010, 1:20 am GMT
Gideon Sarig: Arms dealer jailed for illegally supplying weapons to Israel and Sri Lanka

 Gideon Sarig refused to apply for the licence as he arranged for Uzis, pump-action shotguns, bombs and other weapons to be sent to countries including Sri Lanka and Israel. Sarig used contacts arranged by his co-defendant Howard Freckleton to sell the military and paramilitary kit to Sri Lanka's military during its ''long, protracted and bloody civil ...