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Foreign Secretary David Miliband and his French counterpart Wednesday met some of the thousands of Tamil civilians who have been detained in Sri Lanka after escaping from the country’s ethnic conflict.

Kings XI Punjab have called up Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara as an emergency replacement for the injured Australian batsman Shaun Marsh.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intelligence unit officers arrested and took away Tuesday 98 youths among the civilians from Vanni held in SLA Ne’lukku’lam detention centre in Vavuniyaa despite the strong protest of the detainees numbering more than 3,000, sources in Vavuniyaa said. The enraged detainees attacked the government and other offices and employees in the [...]

British and French foreign ministers in Sri Lanka have urged the government to halt its military offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels in the north

(Lanka-e-News, April 29, 2009, 9.30 am) Associated Press reported that Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt had told over the telephone from Luxemburg that he was denied visa to enter Sri Lanka…

(Lanka-e-News, April 29, 2009, 1.25 pm) Sri Lanka Navy’s elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) and Fast Attack Craft (FAC) destroyed six (06) LTTE sea tiger boats killing twenty-five (25) sea tigers…

(Lanka-e-News, 29.April.2009, 2.15 pm) Army media spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that security forces recovered six modified, gun-fixed fast crafts and five more boats…

The foreign ministers of Britain and France urged Sri Lanka on Wednesday to implement a humanitarian ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels in order to allow tens of thousands of trapped civilians to escape the battle zone.

April 29 (Bloomberg) — Sri Lanka’s government rejected calls for a cease-fire with the Tamil Tiger rebels saying the conflict is an “internal affair” and a truce would be “illogical.”

The foreign ministers of Britain and France said on Wednesday they had failed to persuade Sri Lanka to end its offensive against Tamil rebels and allow aid in for civilians trapped by the fighting.

Source: Reuters COLOMBO, April 29 (Reuters) - The foreign ministers of Britain and France urged Sri Lanka on Wednesday to implement a humanitarian ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels in order to allow tens of thousands …

The foreign ministers of Britain and France said they had failed to secure an agreement from Sri Lanka to end an offensive against Tamil rebels and allow humanitarian access to civilians trapped by the fighting.

Source: IRIN As government forces tighten their grip on a narrow spit of
land in northeastern Sri Lanka and the last remants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1983, international concern over the
safety of thousands of civilians trapped alongside them intensifies.

Due to Swine Flu in few countries, Health Ministry urges public to make only essential foreign travel; will educate public, screen at airport-JNW

Foreign Secretary David Miliband and his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner said Wednesday they had failed to secure an agreement from Sri Lanka to end an offensive against Tamil rebels and allow humanitarian access to civilians trapped by the fighting.

Six LTTE boats destroyed by Navy off Mullaithivu sea-Navy LTTE carries out 7 suicide attacks in last 24 hours near Rettavaikal-Mil spokesman-JNW

Sri Lankan Government on Tuesday said though the combat operations in the northern war zone have end..

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he wants to catch LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran ali..

Apr 29, Colombo: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner arrived in Sri Lanka today to address the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka and push for a ceasefire.

Britain and France’s foreign ministers arrived in Sri Lanka Wednesday to try and halt a blistering government offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels that has killed thousands of civilians.

The British and French foreign ministers were holding talks in Sri Lanka on Wednesday aimed at persuading the government to accept a temporary cease-fire in its civil war to allow tens of thousands of civilians to escape the conflict zone.

(Lanka-e-News, April 29, 2009, 9.30 am) Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abewardhana challenged United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Thissa Aththanayaka to win the Presidential that is ready to be held after November 19…

(Lanka-e-News, April 28, 2009, 7.30 pm) Associated Press reported that Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt had told over the telephone from Luxemburg that he was denied visa to enter Sri Lanka…

April 29 (Bloomberg) — Sri Lanka said it will prevent Tamil Tiger rebels rebuilding during the army’s halt to combat operations, as U.K. and French envoys visit the island nation to discuss the plight of civilians caught in the conflict.

Even when Mahatma Gandhi was felled by a depraved character, the West was not as disturbed..

Britain and France’s foreign ministers arrived in Sri Lanka to try and halt a blistering government offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels that has killed thousands of civilians.

COLOMBO (AFP)–U.K. foreign minister David Miliband and his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner arrived in Sri Lanka Wednesday, officials said, seeking to negotiate a humanitarian ceasefire in the island’s civil war.

April 29 (Bloomberg) — Sri Lanka said it will prevent Tamil Tiger rebels rebuilding during the army’s halt to combat operations, as U.K. and French envoys visit the island nation to discuss the plight of civilians caught in the conflict.

The British and French foreign ministers are to travel to Sri Lanka amid efforts to secure a truce between army and rebels.

The abductors of a technical officer of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) Jaffna office released him Monday night at his house in Moo’laay road in Vaddukkoaddai, according to information given by his family members to the head of the SLIC office. The officer, who had been abducted 22 April, had been held and interrogated in [...]

SRI Lanka have withdrawn from the Asia Cup in Kuantan on May 9-16.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police jointly conducted several cordon and search operations in the Tamil villages of Chaampalththeevu, Nilaave’li, Chelvanaayakapuram, and Kanniyaa in Trincomalee district Tuesday. Police said the operations were conducted to check infiltrators entering Trincomalee town and its suburbs.

Australia is to provide a further $4.5 million in humanitarian aid for Sri Lanka, now in the final throes of a brutal civil war.

Mercy Corps FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2009

Contact: Joy Portella, 206.437.7885, jportella@sea.mercycorps.org

- 190,000 civilians trapped in overcrowded camps without water, sanitation, medical …

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) - USA

In Today’s Hotline: Read how UMCOR is responding to needs around the world:

SRI LANKA: EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR THE DISPLACED

US: SIX GRADERS RAISE FUNDS …

The United Nations on Tuesday expressed concern to Sri Lanka over casualties among civilians trapped with rebels, and the European Union criticized Colombo for excluding a Swedish minister from an EU mission.

The students of the schools in Jaffna district, converted into Sri Lanka Army (SLA) detention centres, are forced to continue their studies in private education centres, private buildings and schools located near the SLA detention centres, sources in Jaffna said. The reopening of all schools in Jaffna district had been postponed for a week they [...]

Despite the shelling, an ICRC ship which arrived to transport the wounded civilians brought 30 MT foods with rice, oil, and sugar to Mu’l'li-vaaykkaal Tuesday morning around 7:00 a.m., according to medical officials at the makeshift hospital in Mu’l'li-vaaykkaal. Another 30 MT is promised to be brought in Wednesday and Thursday. If the 60 MT [...]

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired at least 2,600 Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) rockets, more than 1,000 artillery shells and at least 2,000 heavy mortar shells from 6:00 p.m. Monday till 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, LTTE officials in Vanni told TamilNet. Most of the shells fired by the SLA hit civilian shelters in Mu’l'li-vaaykkaal, Thaazhampan, Ottaip-panaiyadi and [...]

Sri Lanka has barred Sweden’s foreign minister from entering the island on a humanitarian mission.

Britain and France’s foreign ministers fly into Sri Lanka Wednesday to try and halt a blistering government offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels that has killed thousands of civilians.

In a “letter before action” sent to high level British Government officials, Public Interest Lawyers, a group of attorneys representing a Tamil activist group in UK, charges that while “in light of this horrifying situation the UK under international law has various obligations, namely, to denounce and not recognise the situation in Sri Lanka as [...]

Sri Lanka has barred Sweden’s foreign minister from entering the island on a humanitarian mission.

A 91-run partnership between Taibur Rahman and Noor Hossain kept Bangladesh Under-19s hopes alive on the second day at the Khulna Divisional Stadium. The unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership buoyed the side after the Sri Lanka U-19 bolwers looked to have given the visitors firm control of the match.

SRI Lanka barred Sweden’s foreign minister today from entering the island on a humanitarian mission, as diplomatic tensions mounted over the conduct of the war on the Tamil Tigers.

Apr 28, Colombo: The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Sir John Holmes said Sri Lanka faces two distinct crises…

The international community accusing the LTTE all this time for ‘inventing’ human bomb is testing a premeditated ‘genocide bomb’ on Tamils and sets new ‘guidelines’ for global order, says a political commentator, who contributes regularly to TamilNet. “Even though there are many actors, the final responsibility for the experiment and deployment of this worst possible [...]

The United Nations on Tuesday expressed concern to Sri Lanka over casualties among civilians trapped with rebels, and the European Union criticized Colombo for excluding a Swedish minister from an EU mission.

Source: Reuters * Sri Lanka block on Swedish minister visit criticised

* U.N. says government weapons pledge must be respected

* Military says 28 rebels die in civilian rescue operation

By Ranga Sirilal

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Apr 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education is to launch an island wide program to collect relief items needed for the thousands of Internally Displaced Persons…

Apr 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka today rejected the accusation by the Swedish Foreign Minister that he was denied entry to the country to participate in a joint mission with his British and French counterparts.

UN urge the government to abide by the pledge not to use heavy arms, while the HRW call for UN action.

Medical sources in Vanni reported Tuesday morning “mad shelling” by the Sri Lanka Army into civilian areas in Mu’l'li-vaaykkaal north, forcing everyone under the bunkers. Several civilians have been killed. The wounded are let to die as people are not able to move out of the bunkers due to the unprecedented barrage by the SLA [...]

Medical sources in Vanni reported Tuesday morning “mad shelling” by the Sri Lanka Army into civilian areas in Mu’l'li-vaaykkaal north, forcing everyone under the bunkers. Several civilians have been killed. The wounded are let to die as people are not able to move out of the bunkers due to the unprecedented barrage by the SLA [...]

The European Union on Tuesday lashed out at Sri Lanka’s decision to deny a visa to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, describing the move as a “grave mistake” and warning Colombo of repercussions.

Apr 28, Colombo: Sweden has recalled its ambassador to Sri Lanka for consultations…

Apr 28, Colombo: Foreign Minister of France Dr. Bernard Kouchner and the UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband will continue their visit to Sri Lanka tomorrow without their Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt.

Malteser International - Germany Cologne. “The situation in the war zone has worsened in the past few days. Tens of thousands of civilians have been transferred to camps that were erected by the military and the government. The camps …

(Lanka-e-News, April 28, 2009, 6.50 pm) The peaceful Sri Lankans in UK ask if the British government is asleep whilst the LTTE extremists go berserk in London…

Source: UNHCR UNHCR continues robust response to the emergency in Sri Lanka with a second airlift as tens of thousands
of civilians flee the conflict zone in the north-east.