Associated Press, Mon
Military Gains In
PR-Inside.com, 12 Feb 2007 10:05 EDT. 2007-02-12 13:45:57 - Donor countries have pledged another $4.5 billion by way of aid to Sri Lanka, but have frowned upon the Mahindra Rajapaksa Government's pursuit of only military strategy against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and inadequate focus on a negotiated political settlement Donor countries have pledged another $4.5 billion by way of aid to Sri Lanka, but have frowned upon the Mahindra Rajapaksa Government's pursuit of only military strategy against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and inadequate focus on a negotiated political settlement. The Norwegian-brokered cease-fire is as good as dead, though neither side has formally abrogated it. The international community has made it clear that conversion of $ 9 billion worth of aid pledges into hard cash will be dependent on the progress of the peace process. Power sharing and devolution would expand the development horizons for the country, with higher aid and private capital inflows, and accelerate development of conflict affected and other lagging regions.
Sri Lankan navy destroys a Tamil rebel boat, at least 8 rebels killed
Associated Press, Sun
He said the sea clash broke out after the navy spotted two suspicious boats in a restricted area off the coast of the eastern town of Pulmoddai, about 225 kilometers (140 miles) from the capital Colombo, at dawn Monday. No insurgent Tamil Tiger rebels survived the battle, said Dassanayake, adding that the navy suffered no damage. There was no immediate comment from the rebels, who have fought government troops since 1983 in an attempt to create an independent homeland for minority ethnic Tamils after decades of discrimination by the majority Sinhalese. The fighting has killed more than 68,000 people, including about 3,600 fighters and civilians who died after violence began escalating in late 2005 despite a cease-fire brokered by
