Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Frees Detainees
Sri Lanka releases more than 4000 Tamil detainees from their camps.

50 Killed in Hospital Attack in Sri Lanka
Violence continues to escalate in Sri Lanka, where government soldiers have cornered a small band of rebels and have launched attacks on hospitals in the area.

Sri Lanka Wildlife Sanctuaries
Sri Lanka holiday offers jeep safari in Horton Plains National Park, Bundala National Park, Yala National Park, Udawalawe National Park, following birds and wild animals in the sanctuaries.

Stirring up Beauty – the Fascinating Story of Sri Lankan Gemstones - 2/2
Sri Lanka is the fastest growing gem-cutting and finishing center in the world. The gem industry produces stones that meet the highest international standards.

Sri Lankan Government Evicted Un Diplomat During Tamil Tiger Endgame
Field operative Peter Mackay forced out for briefings that challenged official death toll, Guardian hears

Sri Lanka's Top Envoy Hits Out at Eu As Cut in £1bn Trade Concession Looms
A damning European review accuses the country of failing to honor human rights pledges after the end of the war against Tamil rebels

Sri Lanka Expels Un Official Who Criticised Camps
Colombo angered by attack on refugee's conditions by humanitarean agency representative

Sri Lanka Orders Unicef Official to Leave
James Elder loses diplomatic status after speaking out on plight of Tamils in government-run camps

Sri Lankan Court Jails Tamil Journalist Who Criticised War
JS Tissanayagam sentenced to 20 years' hard labor under anti-terrorism laws

Sri Lanka Rejects Accuracy of Footage Showing 'execution' of Tamils By Troops
Video purporting to show soldier shooting two unarmed men in back of head shown on Indian and British TV

Britain Signals Unease With Sri Lanka By Abstaining on Imf Loan Vote
Britain abstains as IMF votes on loan to Sri Lanka

Tamil Tiger Leader Vows to Abandon Armed Struggle
Tigers will use non-violent means to win homeland for Sri Lanka Tamils, group says

Sri Lanka's Mystery Man Mendis Has Kiwis in a Spin
Sri Lanka have Ajantha Mendis to thank after the spinner condemned New Zealand to defeat

New Zealand v Sri Lanka - Live!
The winner reaches the semi-finals and the loser goes home. Find out who does what with Barney Ronay's over-by-over report

Sri Lanka Stutter But Prove Too Good for Pakistan
Sri Lanka confirmed their status as dark horses for the World Twenty20 by beating Pakistan by 19 runs

Female Suicide Bombers: Tamil Tiger Teenage Girl Led the Way
Iraq, Sri Lanka, Palestine and Russia have all been plagued by female suicide bombers

Surrendering Tamils Were Massacred By Sri Lankan Army, Says Rights Group
Report says government authorized political killings as war ended, while Tiger rebels responsible for most civilian casualties

Briton Accused of Collaborating With the Tigers
Sri Lankan officials claim Damilvany Gnanakumar may have been brainwashed by rebels

'I'm Only 16. They Gave Me a Rifle. It Was Heavy. They Said We Had to Go Forward. If We Came Back, They Would Shoot Us'
Tamil children forced at gunpoint to fight for the Tigers in Sri Lanka's civil war speak of their ordeal

UN Praise for Sri Lanka Criticised
UN accused by human rights groups of failing to hold government accountable for alleged abuses against civilians

UN Rejects Calls for Sri Lanka War Crimes Inquiry
Human rights council condemns Tamil Tigers for using civilians as human shields

Sri Lankans Divided By War: Tamils Trapped in Internment Camps Tell of Desperate Hunt for Loved Ones
Government claims it needs to screen civilians to make sure they're not Tamil Tigers

Sri Lanka: Child Victims of the Battle to End a Bloody Civil War
Gethin Chamberlain reports on the Sri Lankan government's attempt to cover up the number of civilian casualties

UN Chief Flies Into Sri Lanka As Tamils' Tales of Terror Emerge
Ban Ki-moon visits refugee camp, appealing to government to 'heal the wounds' after decades of civil war

Even in Victory, Secrecy and Evasion Prevail
Peter Preston: Sri Lankan government may have beaten the Tamil Tigers, but now faces defeat in crucial battle for public opinion

The Fight for Survival Goes on in Sri Lanka Amid Reports of 15,000 Killed
First accounts of the suffering begin to emerge from internment camps

Sri Lankans Celebrate End of Conflict
Victory over Tamil Tigers raises hopes for unity• Body of rebel leader paraded on state television

Velupillai Prabhakaran
Obituary: Founder and leader of the Tamil Tigers who fought the Sri Lankan government for more than 25 years

Prabhakaran's Death and Fall of Ltte Lead to Street Celebrations in Sri Lanka
Death of Tamil Tigers' leader Velupillai Prabhakaran sparks celebration in streets across Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Declares End to War With Tamil Tigers
Rebel leader shot dead while fleeing war zone• LTTE defeat prompts anti-British protest in Colombo

Tamil Tiger Leader 'killed' in Sri Lanka Conflict
Leader among five confirmed senior rebel deaths• LTTE defeat prompts anti-British protest in Colombo

Five Senior Tamil Tigers 'killed' in Sri Lanka Conflict
Rebel leader rumored to be among dead• LTTE defeat prompts anti-British protest in Colombo

Sri Lankan Troops Mop Up Tamil Tigers As Leader Said to Have Died in Bunker
Rebel fighters reported to be blowing themselves up

Fears Grow for Safety of Doctors Who Reported Civilian Slaughter
Medics understood to be detained by Sri Lankan forces after trying to escape

Tamil Tigers' Last Retreat Cut Off As Sri Lankan Army Takes Coastline
President declares war will end today as military squeezes rebels and world anger grows over civilian carnvage

Sri Lankan Forces Move to Encircle Rebels As International Anger Grows
Military releases pictures claiming to show that Tamil Tigers rigged phosphorus bombs around areas where civilians are trapped

Sri Lankan Army 'encircling' Last Refuge of Tamil Rebels
Red Cross warns of humanitarian catastrophe for civilians trapped inside war zone

Makeshift Sri Lanka Hospital is Shelled, Taking 47 Lives
Army denies using heavy weapons but United Nations describes incident as war crime

Dozens Dead As Sri Lankan Hospital Hit By Shelling
Medical staff claim attack came from government troops, while Colombo says reports are part of rebel propaganda

Hotel in Galle Sri Lanka Offers the Best Luxury
Galle is one of the southern islands of Sri Lanka where most of the beautiful hotels are located. Anyone who visits Sri Lanka should not miss the beauty of this gifted place. Its rich heritage, culture, and scenery, together with the beautiful beaches, exotic cuisines, and hospitable people are the most sought-after things that tourists look forward to.

Sri Lanka Beach Hotels - Perfect For Tourists
When I was given the chance to visit Sri Lanka with my family last year, I was utterly filled with joy. I’ve been reading a lot about this great country and the amazing beaches that it has, but I never had the chance to visit it personally.

Bentota Beach Resort in Sri Lanka: The Perfect Spots
Bentota Beach Hotel in Sri Lanka prides itself for being the oldest and grandest resorts in Sri Lanka. Geoffrey Bawa, its famous architect, is known for his unique architectural design that has captured the hearts of millions of people from across the globe.

Sri Lanka Travel - What to Bring and What to Wear
It is important to always take note that traveling can be very exhausting, which makes it necessary for you to only bring things that are needed to avoid extra baggage (and thus extra weight) and to make your Sri Lanka travel as comfortable as it can be.

Sri Lanka Admits Bombing Safe Haven
150,000 civilians caught between Tamil Tigers and army

Sri Lanka Imf Loan to Go Ahead Despite International Pressure
UN security council refuses to withhold $1.9bn funding as 'unnecessary punishment' for Colombo government

IMF Under Pressure to Delay Sri Lanka's $1.9bn Aid Loan
President Rajapaksa describes military offensive as 'humanitarian' and rejects calls for ceasefire

Fighting Rages in Sri Lanka Despite Pledge to Shelve Heavy Weapons
Five patients 'died in hospital air attack'• Colombo bans Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt

Sri Lanka to End Use of Heavy Weapons in War Against Tamil Tigers
Government claims fighting will stop and focus will change to helping people stuck in no-fire zone

Sri Lanka Army to End Air Strikes on Tamil Tigers
Troops will no longer use heavy weapons in war against rebels, Sri Lankan government says

Sri Lanka Rejects Tamil Tigers' Call for Ceasefire
Government dismisses move as 'gimmick' and vows to continue fighting until rebels surrender

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger Rebels Call Ceasefire
Government rejects unilateral ceasefire and demands full surrender after troops surround rebels in area with thousands of civilians

Sri Lanka Satellite Images Show Tamil Refugees Massing on Beach
Before and after pictures highlight precarious situation of displaced civilians

Sri Lanka War Toll Near 6,500, Un Report Says
At least 14,000 wounded over last three months, according to United Nations figures

UN Says 6,500 Civilians Have Been Killed in Sri Lankan Conflict
At least 14,000 wounded over last three months, according to United Nation figures

Making Your Trips to Sri Lanka Fun and Exciting
Trips to Sri Lanka can be a great experience to anyone who wants to explore the beauty of this country. Tourists who have been to this wonderful place have testified to the beauty that the country was gifted with. Although traveling to an unfamiliar place can be a bit daunting, you can always make it a little less boring by having fun and being creative.

Tamil Refugees Flee to India to Escape Fighting in Sri Lanka
Aid workers say boats have sunk and children have been washed overboard

UN Urges Tamil Tigers to End Fighting in Sri Lanka
Informal security council meeting calls for ceasefire, protection of civilians and access for humanitarian agencies to war zone

Hundreds of Sri Lankan Civilians Killed or Wounded in No-fire Zone, Says Red Cross
UN officials estimate up to 60,000 people could be trapped in strip of land controlled by Tamil Tigers

Sri Lanka: 'civilians Are Dying, and the Hospital is Paralysed'
Doctor in the no-fire zone in Sri Lanka describes how cluster bomb attacks on a hospital have killed and injured many civilians

'Hundreds of Civilians Killed' As Army Tries to Finish Off Tamil Tigers
Red Cross reports casualties in Sri Lanka as thousands remain trapped amid ongoing fighting

Thousands Continue to Flee Sri Lanka War Zone
Aid agencies warn of 'human avalanche' as Tamil civilians attempt to escape conflict

Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka - Reasons to Visit Sri Lanka
Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka are one very good reason that people visit this island. The country has had a tough time regaining tourists into the area since the 2004 tsunami, which laid waste to a great portion of the area. However, as you will soon see, Sri Lanka offers a wealth of things that should entice even the most wary of folks to visit.

Tamil Tigers Accuse Sri Lankan Forces of Killing 1,000 Civilians in Raid
• Military operation sparks exodus from rebel-held zone• Sri Lankan military says rebels tried to force civilians to stay

Exodus From Sri Lanka War Zone As Tamil Tigers Ignore Surrender Deadline
Sri Lankan military says rebels tried to force civilians to stay• Penned-in fighters claim army shelling has killed hundreds

Sri Lanka 5 Star Hotels - Great Places To Be At Affordable Prices
Sri Lanka five star hotels might not be the first thing that you think of when you think of the country. In fact, most folks really don't have much of an opinion as to what Sri Lanka is, unless they have been there.

Thousands Flee to Safety As Sri Lanka Breaks Through Tamil Tigers' Defence
President calls for Tigers' leader to surrender and 'face charges for his actions'

Civilians Held in Sri Lanka Camps Face Disease Threat
Sri Lankan authorities believe that Tamil Tiger fighters may have entered the camps alongside civilians

Hundreds of Sri Lankan Civilians Dead As Tamil Tigers Clash With Army
UN calls on Sri Lankan forces and Tamil rebels to let civilians escape

Sri Lanka Conflict: 'two of Us Fled. 75 Other Women Killed Themselves With Grenades,' Says Tamil Tiger
The harrowing stories of captured female fighters who chose to surrender rather than carry out suicide orders

At Least 128 Reported Dead in Sri Lanka's 'no-fire Zone'
Military announce that operations to free tens of thousands of trapped civilians have entered final stage

Fears Grow for Tamil Students on Hunger Strike in London
Thousands of marchers to demand government ceasefire in Sri Lanka• Pair say they are prepared to die for their cause

Sri Lankan Hopsital Shelled in Tamil No-fire Zone
Sri Lankan military denies civilian attacks that leave 20 dead and 300 injured in 'worst day of bloodshed'

Sri Lankans Face Humanitarian Crisis Trapped in 'no Fire Zone', Warns Un
More than 150,000 people being shelled and running short of water as army closes in on Tigers

Tamil Tigers 'finished', Says Former Leader
Rebels in Sri Lanka said to have lost 90 per cent of fighters as survivors pounded into north-east corner

Sri Lanka Rejects Eu Call for Immediate Ceasefire
Fears grow of catastrophe for thousands of trapped civilians but government claims halt in fighting would allow Tamil Tigers to rearm

Warning of Attacks on Sri Lanka Cricket Team Was Ignored
Pakistan's spiralling political crisis meant despite specific warnings deadly attack was not prevented, opposition MPs claim

Gunmen Remain at Large After Pakistan Attack on Sri Lankan Cricket Team
Five policemen killed and seven players and officials injured in attack on team bus heading to Gaddafi stadium in Lahore

Sri Lankan Cricket Team Attacked By Gunmen
Up to 12 gunmen sprayed team bus with bullets as it was driven to Gadaffi stadium in Lahore

Sri Lankan Cricket Team in Shooting
Members of the Sri Lankan national team were hurt near the stadium where they were due to arrive to play

Sri Lankan Newspaper Editor Arrested and Accused of Aiding Rebel Air Attack
Government facing growing criticism over attacks on journalists critical of offensive against Tamil Tiger separatists

Sri Lankan Soldiers Enter Last Town Controlled By Tamil Tiger Guerrillas
Troops clash with rebels in north-east of island but LTTE has just 500 fighters remaining, claims military

Sri Lankan Soldiers 'enter Last Stronghold of Tamil Tigers'
Officials claim rebels are fighting last stand, as north-east coast falls to army

Sri Lanka Rejects Tamil Tigers Truce Offer
No ceasefire unless rebels lay down arms, government warns as UN urges warring parties to end conflict

Tamil Killed Himself 'to Guide Others to Liberation'
Sri Lankan shattered by events in native land sets light to himself outside UN in Geneva

Trapped Sri Lankans 'dying in Makeshift Hospital'
Doctors treating refugees injured in intense fighting plead for evacuations and medical aid

Sri Lanka Accuses Britain of Meddling in Internal Affairs
Colombo warns of repercussions for diplomatic relations after Des Browne is appointed special envoy

Sri Lanka Casualty Toll Rises
Health officials say 40 civilians killed and 100 injured every day in gun battles and artillery exchanges

Des Browne Named As Sri Lanka Envoy
Former UK defence chief to head peace mission and coordinate humanitarian work in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Civil War Refugees to Be Housed in 'welfare Villages'
Aid agencies voice concern about 200,000 Tamils being trapped in camps for years

Rapper Who Wowed Grammys is Labelled Cheerleader for 'terrorists'
Musician provokes fierce criticism for describing the conflict in Sri Lanka as 'systematic genocide, ethnic cleansing'

Sri Lanka Risks Becoming Next Zimbabwe, Widow Warns
Murdered editor's wife says government at war against Tamil Tigers now sees dissent and minorities as enemies

Sri Lanka Rejects International Call for Ceasefire With Tamil Tigers
Colombo offers only a limited amnesty as it looks for total surrender of rebels

Patients Killed in Cluster Bomb Attack on Sri Lankan Hospital
At least 52 die as shelling between army and Tamil Tigers destroys last functioning hospital in conflict-hit north

Sri Lankan Sick and Wounded Flee Hospital Crossfire
Civilians caught amid intense fighting as government claims to be closing in on Tiger strong hold

Hospital Hit As Sri Lanka Conflict Nears Climax
Civil war victory claim hours after nine die and 20 are injured in hospital shelling in rebel-held territory

Sri Lanka President Claims Tamil Tigers on Brink of Military Defeat
Analysts say Mahinda Rajapaksa's remarks appear to be true as army makes gains in rebel-controlled territory

Sri Lanka to Host 2009 Champions Trophy
The ICC agree switch after Pakistan was deemed too unsafe to host one-day tournament

Shelling Kills Nine in Sri Lanka Children's Ward
Artillery hits main refuge for civilians trapped in war zone• Red Cross urges both sides to cease bombardment

Sri Lanka Threatens to Expel Media As Army Closes in on Rebels

defense secretary accuses BBC among others of being biased towards Tamil Tigers

50,000 Join Protest March Over Sri Lanka
Anti-insurgency army offensive has left civilians facing humanitarian disaster, says British Tamil Forum

Sri Lanka President Calls for Safety of Civilians in Tamil Tiger Conflict
About 250,000 people are believed to be caught in crossfire of major government offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels

Fears Grow for Trapped Civilians As Army Advances on Tamil Tigers
Sri Lankan government offensive has trapped 350,000 non-combatants in rapidly shrinking area of land

If You Write You'll Be Killed
Aftermath of assassination of Sri Lankan newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge

Sri Lankan Forces Pound Tigers in Battle for Control
Government says it will end island's 25-year war this year and hopes to take rebel leader alive

Sri Lankan President Hails Victory As Army Seizes Tamil Tiger Capital
Sri Lankan army gains control of Kilinochchi, in which separatist rebels had put together institutions of an independent state

Sri Lanka Claims Capture of Tamil Tiger Capital
President says government troops control Kilinochchi town and calls on rebels to lay down their arms

Divided Nation Faced With Fight to Death
History of the bitter civil war that has gripped Sri Lanka for 25 years

Tamil Tiger Capital About to Fall, Says Sri Lanka
National troops have surrounded Kilinochchi and are poised to take control from rebels, say military and government

Sri Lankan Troops 'to Capture' Tamil Tiger Headquarters
Sri Lanka's army forecast the fall of the Tamil Tigers' command center today ? a symbolic victory that will deal a psychological blow to the rebels who were expecting their chief to give his annual rallying speech tomorrow

Sri Lanka Rebels Use Aircraft to Bomb Colombo
Tamil Tigers use planes to attack military camp and power station while army continues jungle offensive in north

Sri Lankans Told to Skip England Tour in Favour of Ipl
The Sri Lanka sports minister claims the country's players should favor the IPL above the England tour

Sri Lanka hotels are abide to make your trip memorable
Sri Lanka is amongst few fortunate places in the world that has been whole heartedly bestowed by the god with the breathtaking beauty. The abundance of natural, cultural and scenic tourist attractions attract huge numbers of visitors from all around the world.

Sri Lanka Shoots Down Tamil Plane After Bloody Raid
The Sri Lankan air force shot down a Tamil Tiger aircraft during an attack by the rebels on a military base, said the government, in a bloody clash which left more than 20 people dead

Australia's Security Fears Nudging Champions Trophy to Sri Lanka
Australia's concerns over the safety of holding the Champions Trophy in Pakistan have increased the chances of it be switched to Sri Lanka

India Turn Screw on Sri Lanka
Gautam Gambhir made a splendid 74 to give India a commanding lead in the second Test at Galle.

Sri Lankan Military Clashes With Rebels Ahead of South Asia Summit
Fierce fighting kills at least 24 rebels and one soldier as south Asian leaders convene in Colombo

War Without End
Euan Ferguson returns to the island paradise of Sri Lanka to find it once again torn apart by conflict

Sri Lanka Tour to Be Cut or Axed
Sri Lanka's president, Mahinda Rajapakse, has blocked the national team's 2009 tour of England

Sri Lanka: Tamil Tigers Leader Quits Uk After War Crimes Inquiry is Dropped
Human rights groups condemn government for failing to bring charges as leader accused of numerous abuses leaves UK

Former Tamil Tigers Commander Leaves Uk After War Crimes Inquiry Dropped
Colonel Karuna Amman, who was jailed for entering Britain on a fraudulent passport and investigated for alleged war crimes, returns to Sri Lanka

War Without End
Euan Ferguson returns to the island paradise of Sri Lanka to find it once again torn apart by conflict

Captivating Sri Lanka
The innumerable interests offered by Sri Lanka to its tourists give it a somewhat of a paradise status! The scenic beauty of Sri Lanka is so pristine that it never fails to captivate, no matter how many times you may have visited the island nation before

Colombo - Mix of the Old and the New
Colombo is the largest city in the island nation. It is also the main port of Sri Lanka as well as its capital. This in turn has resulted in it becoming the commercial and financial center of Sri Lanka.

Supected Tamil Tiger Suicide Bomber Targets Police
A suspected Tamil Tiger rebel riding a motorbike blew himself up today outside a police station in northern Sri Lanka, killing 12 police officers and wounding 23 other people

Tamil Guerrilla Avoids War Crimes Charges
Sri Lankan warlord jailed for entering Britain on a falsified visa will not be prosecuted for war crimes

War-torn Sri Lanka is the Last Sick Man of the Region
Jonathan Steele: Last weekend's carnage underlines the idiocy of pledges to destroy the Tamil Tigers. Peace talks now seem a distant hope

Divided Nation Ready to Fight to the Death
The history of the bitter civil war that has gripped Sri Lanka for 25 years

Sri Lankan Minister Among Dozen Killed in Suicide Blast at Marathon
Victims of bombing at New Year race include former Olympic runner and coach

Jailed Tamil Warlord Has Deadly Influence on Election
Militias are waging a bloody struggle for control of Sri Lankan east coast and its nerve center, Batticaloa

Offensive in Northern Sri Lanka Results in at Least 52 Deaths
Offensive against rebels in northern Sri Lanka results in deaths on both sides

Dozens Die in Sri Lanka As Government Targets Rebels
Dozen soldiers and more than 40 Tamil Tiger rebels killed in series of battles in northern Sri Lanka

Dozen Killed As Sri Lanka Marks Independence
Roadside bombings in Sri Lanka killed more than a dozen people today as the country's president marked the island's 60th anniversary of its independence, claiming terrorism was "facing a defeat it has never faced before".

Tamil Tigers Kill 12 in Sri Lanka
Tamil Tigers launch a bomb attack on a civilian bus in north-east Sri Lanka, killing 12 people and wounding 17

Expat Tamil Community Calls for Airline Boycott
Tamils around the world call for boycott of Sri Lankan Airlines in protest at government's decision to end ceasefire with rebels

Guerrillas in Their Midst: a Perpetual Island War
Sri Lanka's bloody conflict is rooted in vitriolic racism cloaked in nationalism. And as long as both sides are willing to fight to the death, there will be no end, writes Randeep Ramesh

Tamil Tigers Kill 28 With Bus Bomb
Roadside blast and separate attack on army vehicle come as formal ceasefire with Sri Lankan government runs out

Tamil Tigers Warn of Return to Civil War in Sri Lanka
Fears of return to full-scale violence in Sri Lanka after government scraps ceasefire

Tamil Warlord Entered Uk on Forged Passport
Sri Lanka's high commissioner has been called to the Foreign Office to explain how a Tamil paramilitary leader - detained on suspicion of immigration offenses and being investigated for possible war crimes - entered Britain on a forged diplomatic passport

Sri Lanka v England - Live!
Over-by-over report: Can England level the series in Galle? Find out with Lawrence Booth NOW

Sri Lanka v England - Live!
Over-by-over report: Can England fight to save the second Test on the final day in Colombo? Join Andy Bull from 4.30am to find out

Sri Lanka v England - Live!
Over-by-over report: Can England's attack put Sri Lanka on the back foot? Join Andy Bull from 4.30am to find out

Sri Lanka v England - Live!
Over-by-over report: Can England fight back in the second Test at Colombo? Join Sam Collins to find out

Sri Lanka v England - Live!
Over-by-over: Can England's batsmen salvage a draw? Find out with Lawrence Booth from 4.15am

Dozens Dead As Sri Lankan Fighting Escalates
Bitter fighting between Sri Lankan government soldiers and Tamil Tiger rebels intensifies

Minister Targeted in Sri Lanka Suicide Attack
Handicapped female suicide bomber with explosives hidden in bra kills one person outside government ministry in Colombo

Sri Lanka Accused of Ethnic Cleansing of Tamils
Armed Sri Lankan police today packed hundreds of ethnic minority Tamils into buses and drove them from the country's capital to war-torn northern and eastern districts - an effort, say police, to clear the city of "terrorists".

Ethnic Cleansing Claim After Police Move Tamils at Gunpoint
Hundreds rounded up in night raids in Colombo - Action said to be aimed at clearing city of 'terrorists'

22 Dead in Tamil Tiger Assault on Naval Base
Tamil Tiger rebels launched a major raid on a Sri Lankan naval base on the Jaffna peninsula today, sparking a gun battle which left at least 22 dead.

Tamil Tiger Attacks End Sri Lanka Peace Deal, at Least 23 Killed
Tamil Tiger rebels launched a bloody raid on a Sri Lankan naval base on the Jaffna peninsula in the north of the country yesterday, sparking a gun battle which left at least 22 dead.

Sri Lankan Forces Claim Tiger Sea Base Destroyed
Sir Lanka's air force said today it had destroyed the main sea operations base of the Tamil Tigers separatist group.

Tamil Tigers Used Truce to Rearm, Says Former Commander
The Tamil Tiger guerrillas used peace talks as a cover to rearm and prepare for a return to war in Sri Lanka, according to the group's former military commander Colonel Karuna.

Between Troops and Tigers: Refugees Caught in Sri Lanka's Bloody Crossfire
As battle intensifies once more, 150,000 are forced to live in ramshackle camps.

Refugees Flee Sri Lanka Fighting
The number of refugees fleeing fighting between government forces and the Tamil Tigers in eastern Sri Lanka has dramatically risen this weekend, leaving aid workers unable to cope.

Ambassadors Hurt in Tamil Tiger Attack
The US, Italian and German ambassadors to Sri Lanka were injured when Tamil rebels fired mortars at their helicopters today, officials said.

Sri Lanka's President Seems As Mindless As Any Bomber
A four-year-old peace deal has been shattered by a government that has resorted to copying its opponents' brutal tactics. By Jonathan Steele

Army Accused of Collusion in Sri Lanka Child Abductions
The Sri Lankan army has been colluding in the abduction of hundreds of children to train and fight against Tamil Tiger guerrillas in the country's intensifying war, according to the independent monitoring group Human Rights Watch.

Green Power to the Sri Lankan People
Practical Action's truly sustainable development is transforming rural lives.

In the Rice Paddies of Sri Lanka, a New Enemy: Salt
Practical Action is backing seed trials to help farmers hit hard by climate change.

Sri Lankan President's Brother Escapes Suicide Attack
Sri Lanka's defence secretary, the brother of the country's president, narrowly escaped with his life today after a suicide bomber targeted a military convoy in which he was traveling through the heart of the island's capital.

Tamil Independence is Only Option, Says Rebel Leader
The Tamil Tigers' reclusive leader today effectively ended the rebel group's support for the 2002 ceasefire with Sri Lanka's government, saying that it was "defunct".

Tamil Leader's Killing May Spark Renewed Civil War
Fears of a full-scale civil war in Sri Lanka grew today after the assassination of a prominent Tamil politician in broad daylight in the capital Colombo.

Failure Can Aid the Science of Comparative Peace
Talks to end the war in Sri Lanka will not be held in vain if they eventually become a model for resolving other conflicts. by Jonathan Steele

Tamil Tigers Use Attacks As Show of Strength
Tamil Tiger guerrillas opened a new front against the Sri Lankan government today when rebels posing as fisherman blew up their boats in an ambush on a naval base on the island's southern tourist belt.

Tigers Raise Stakes in Tourist Belt Bombing
· Rebels attack naval base in southern Sri Lanka · Curfew imposed as mobs target Tamil-owned shops

Hopes for Peace Talks Between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan Government May Be Another Victim of Today's Bombing
The death of at least 92 people after suspected Tamil Tiger terrorists drove a truck packed with explosives into a naval convoy threatens to derail planned peace talks.

Sri Lanka Bomb Attack Kills 92
The Sri Lankan government today condemned a suicide bomb blast that they say killed at least 92 sailors as a "barbaric terrorist attack on unarmed soldiers".

Scores Dead in Sri Lankan Bomb Attack
At least 68 sailors and civilians have been killed today in a suicide bomb blast in central Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Navy Sinks 11 Tamil Tiger Ships
Sri Lanka's navy has claimed a major victory after sinking 11 Tamil Tiger rebel ships loaded with troops and weapons off the island's east coast in a five-hour battle.

Muslim Workers Hacked to Death in Coastal Town
The Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tigers traded verbal blows over the hacking to death of at least 10 Muslims in the eastern coastal town of Pottuvil, the latest in a string of bloody attacks on the island.

Sri Lankan Troops Accused of Aid Worker Executions
The UN is threatening to stop its relief work in Sri Lanka following the killing of 17 aid workers employed by a French charity, reports said today.

Twelve Charged With Trying to Buy Weapons for Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka After Fbi Sting
Twelve men arrested in the US as a result of an FBI sting operation have been charged with attempting to buy arms for the Tamil Tigers and trying to bribe American officials to have the group's name removed from a US government list of terrorist organisations.

Sri Lankan Government Clashes With Tamil Rebels
Schools across northern Sri Lanka closed down today and government forces clashed with Tamil Tiger rebels as disputes grew around an attack yesterday in which Tiger leaders claim 61 school children were killed.

Colombo Car Bomb Kills Boy, Three
A three-year-old boy was killed today in a car bomb attack in Sri Lanka's capital as aid agencies confirmed that two more tsunami aid workers had been murdered on the north-eastern coast.

Toddler and Bodyguard Killed in Car Bomb
A three-year-old boy and a bodyguard were killed in a car bomb attack in Colombo yesterday as agencies confirmed two more tsunami aid workers had been murdered on the north-eastern coast.

15 Tsunami Aid Staff Executed in Sri Lanka
Fifteen local aid staff working on tsunami reconstruction on Sri Lanka's north-eastern coast, have been found executed after six days of heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.

Sri Lanka 'could Agree Deal With Rebels'
The Sri Lankan government could strike a deal with Tamil Tiger rebels who have seized control of a key port in the east of the country, it emerged today.

Battle for Waterway Threatens to Reignite Sri Lankan Civil War
· Parties insist ceasefire is intact despite 800 deaths · Monitors pull out amid land, sea and air battles

Thousands of Overseas Maids Caught Up in Conflict Face Long Struggle to Get Home
With roughly 400 stranded Sri Lankan women sleeping in his offices as they try to escape Lebanon, Amanul Farouque, the country's ambassador was out yesterday morning, going from bakery to bakery to buy them bread. 'This is an unusual assignment, but we are in an unusual situation,' he said wryly.

Sri Lankan Violence Threatens Uneasy Peace
Today's explosion in Sri Lanka suggests the country is slipping towards a period of conflict, says Jonathan Steele.

Sri Lanka Bus Blast Kills 62
A land mine blast today killed 62 people on a bus packed with commuters and schoolchildren in northern Sri Lanka, in the worst single act of violence since the government and Tamil Tigers signed a ceasefire agreement in 2002.

Tamil Tigers Claim Sovereignty of Seas
Tamil Tiger rebels today warned ceasefire monitors not to travel on Sri Lankan navy ships and claimed 'sovereignty' of the seas near rebel strongholds.

Tamil Tigers Deliver Warning to Truce Monitors
Tamil Tiger rebels today warned ceasefire monitors that they travelled on Sri Lankan navy ships at their own risk.

Rebels Sink Sri Lankan Navy Boat
Violence in Sri Lanka today escalated sharply as a navy patrol boat was sunk by Tamil Tiger rebels and the military carried out retaliatory attacks on rebel ships and bases.

Tigers Tear Each Other Apart
The Tamil rebels' former military leader is driving the Sri Lankan minority into a civil war - with help from Colombo's army.

Toll Mounts As Sri Lanka's Peace Falters
Refugees tell of butchery and rape as separatist violence flares again in country's east

Sri Lanka Inches Back From Brink of Civil War
· Government and Tamil Tigers agree to peace talks · Retaliatory air strikes against rebels called off

Five Killed in Mine Blasts As Sri Lanka Edges Closer to War
· Diplomats warn country near point of no return · Attacks are 'attempted genocide,' say Tamils

Thousands in Sri Lanka Flee Bombing Raids
· Air force mounts reprisal strikes after suicide attack · Civil war fear as Tamil Tiger naval bases are hit

Sri Lanka Launches Airstrikes Against Tamil Rebels
Sri Lankan air force jets and artillery units have launched attacks on Tamil-held areas of the country, prompting fears of a return to full-scale war on the island.

Suicide Bomber Pushes Sri Lanka Close to All-out War
· Eight killed and military leader badly injured · Air strikes launched on Tamil Tiger strongholds

Suicide Bomber Targets Sri Lankan Military Chief
A suicide bomber has killed eight people and wounded 27 others in an attack on Sri Lanka's military chief in the capital, Colombo.

Britons Among Injured As Landmine Blast Kills 11
Ten Sri Lankan sailors and a bus driver were killed last night when their vehicle hit a landmine near Trincomalee, in the north-east of the island, causing fears that renewed peace talks would fail.

Government and Rebels in Sri Lanka Agree to New Peace Talks
Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels have agreed to resume peace talks in April, holding off a return to civil war.

Tigers Threaten to Pull Out of Peace Talks
Tamil Tiger rebels yesterday threatened to pull out of future peace talks in Switzerland after five aid workers were kidnapped at a Sri Lankan army checkpoint.

First the Tsunami, Now the Slide Into Civil War
A recent suicide bomb attack on a navy gunboat, officially blamed on Tamil Tiger insurgents, has dramatised fears that Sri Lanka is sliding back into civil war after an uneasy ...

A History of Violence
Jonathan Glancey finds Sri Lanka attempting to overcome the legacy its troubled past as it rebuilds in the wake of the 2004 tsunami.

The Struggle Between Tamils and Sinhalese
The struggle between Tamils and Sinhalese is straining the fragile peace that followed Sri Lanka's tsunami horror.

Pitiful Progress in Sri Lanka
Of the countries affected by the tsunami, none suffered proportionately more devastation than Sri Lanka, with almost 36,000 people reported killed or missing out of a population of 19.5 million.

India Emerged As Provider Despite Its Own Huge Losses
Within hours of the tsunami crashing on its shores, India launched naval ships to aid Sri Lanka. That one act asserted the country's capability in the face of adversity and emphasised that India was now a giver, not a taker, of aid.

Sri Lankan Children 'missing Out' on Education
Sri Lankan children affected by last year's tsunami still struggling to get a proper education because of a lack of teachers and inappropriate donations from aid agencies, finds study.

Tamil Tigers Issue 'homeland' Ultimatum
The newly elected Sri Lankan president faced his first challenge from the separatist Tamil Tigers yesterday when the rebels' leader issued an ultimatum demanding that the government come up with a political solution or risk the guerrillas installing their own government.

Sri Lanka's Hardline Presidential Poll Victor Appeals for Calm
Voters in the tsunami-battered island of Sri Lanka elevated their hardline prime minister to the role of president in an election yesterday, sparking fears of unrest after days of poll violence.

Hardliner Wins Sri Lankan Presidency
The Sri Lankan prime minister, Mahinda Rajapakse, today promised an "honourable peace" to end the country's 22-year civil war, after winning the country's knife-edge presidential elections. Mr Rajapakse won 50.3% support, amounting to 4,887,152 votes, against 48.4% who backed opposition...

Hardliner Takes Early Lead in Sri Lanka Election
A candidate taking a tough line towards Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels took an early lead in presidential elections last night after a vote marred by violence and a boycott by the minority Tamil population.

Sri Lankans Vote in Presidential Poll
Barricades of burning tyres kept thousands of Tamils from voting today in Sri Lanka's presidential election, which is widely seen as a referendum on the island's faltering peace process and its response to the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Sri Lanka Snipers Damage Peace Hopes
Gloom over Sri Lanka's stagnant peace process intensified yesterday as hundreds of troops and police manned hurriedly erected checkpoints throughout Colombo in the wake of the assassination of the foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Assassination Leads to State of Emergency in Sri Lanka
A state of emergency was declared yesterday in Sri Lanka following the assassination of the Foreign Minister by snipers at his home in the capital, Colombo. Though immediate tension had eased by last night, roads into areas held by the Tamil Tigers, the militant organisation fighting for...

Six Months On, Tsunami Victims Still Wait to Go Home
Relief effort fails to reach thousands of Sri Lankan villagers amid wrangling over aid deal.

Sri Lankan Deal With Tamil Tigers is Near
Under pressure from foreign donors, the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger guerrilla leaders are close to signing their first agreement since peace talks stalled 18 months ago.

Prince Charles Meets Victims
Prince Charles visits the Tamil-dominated district of Batticaloa, which along with neighbouring Ampara was home to some 15,000 of Sri Lanka's 31,000 tsunami dead.

Baby 81 Reunited With Parents After Court Rules on Dna Tests
The parents of Sri Lanka's Baby 81 returned home with their four-month-old son yesterday, two months after he had been swept out of his mother's arms during the tsunami.

Tsunami Baby to Be Reunited With Parents After Dna Test
A baby boy rescued from the debris left on the shores of Sri Lanka by the tsunami will be handed over tomorrow to the couple who had fought desperately to get him back.

Tsunami Victims Still Wait for Aid
Supplies to stricken Sri Lankans are blocked by bungling and corruption.

Sri Lanka Accuses Nhs of Luring Away Its Medical Staff
Sri Lanka has accused Britain of undermining its already embattled health service by failing to prevent hospitals luring away trained doctors and nurses to work in the UK.

Crowd Storms Baby 81's Hospital
Sri Lankan police arrested a couple who stormed a hospital with their supporters yesterday after a court ordered DNA tests to determine whether they are the mother and father of "Baby 81".

UN Alerts Staff of Aceh Terror Threat
·Sri Lanka death toll rises sharply
· Overall toll passes 175,000
· US marines to leave Sri Lanka soon

Sri Lanka Death Toll Rises Sharply
· Officials put final toll near 40,000
· US marines to leave Sri Lanka soon
· Denmark warns of terror threat in Indonesia

Tamil Tigers Are Accused of Recruiting Children From Camps
Tamil rebels have been recruiting children from tsunami relief camps, the head of Unicef in Sri Lanka said yesterday.

Barren Seas Threaten Sri Lankan Livelihoods
Balancing on the edge of the wooden catamaran, Anura Aparekkag stares long and hard at the blue waters lapping at the sides of his boat. "No fish today. No fish yesterday. They are too scared to come back here," he says.

Attack By Indonesia Rebels Puts Aid Workers on Alert
The global effort to bring relief to countries devastated by the tsunami is under threat from the re-emergence of insurgencies in both Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

US Gives Island £5m Extra for Housing
Aid row between the Sri Lankan government and rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam mars Powell visit.

Relief Effort is Propaganda Trick, Say Tamil Tigers
The Tamil Tiger leadership has accused the Sri Lankan government of trying to make political propaganda out of the tsunami relief effort by exaggerating the amount of aid it is sending to Tamil-controlled areas.

Relief Effort Gathers Pace
· Fears remain over distribution
· Flash floods hit Sri Lanka
· Rains increase disease risk

Tsunami Deaths Top 55,000
Mourners in Sri Lanka buried their dead with bare hands today while rescue services struggled to reach areas of Indonesia still cut off from the rest of the world, two days after a tsunami devastated Indian Ocean coastlines and killed more than 55,000 people.

Tsunami Toll Nears 30,000
Mourners in Sri Lanka buried their dead with bare hands today while rescue services struggled to reach areas of Indonesia still cut off from the rest of the world, two days after a tsunami devastated Indian Ocean coastlines and killed more than 29,000 people.

Thousands Killed in Asian Tsunami
The most powerful earthquake in 40 years triggered massive tidal waves that hit coastlines across Asia today, killing more than 11,000 people in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Thailand. More than 11,000 people in six countries were killed today when the most powerful earthquake in 40 years triggered huge tidal waves that hit coastlines across Asia. The death toll is almost certain to rise further as the full extent of the devastation emerges.

Talking With Tigers
Jonathan Steele: Negotiations with suicide bombers can end violence, as Sri Lanka demonstrates. Come to Elephant Pass to witness a rarity: a place where the contradictions of the "war on terror" have not produced the usual regression.

Tamil Tigers Still Enlisting Thousands of Child Soldiers
Thousands of child soldiers have been forcibly recruited by Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka despite a ceasefire called in 2002 between the government and the separatists, Human Rights Watch said yesterday. The New York-based organisation accused the Tigers of continuing to enlist boys and...

Diplomacy is Forgotten in the Mania for Intervention
In both Sudan and Sri Lanka, the route to peace is through negotiation. The cold war was a time of hot diplomacy. Because in Europe the great contest of the second half of the last century was deadlocked on the battlefield, it was fought largely at superpower summit meetings and lower-level arms control talks.

Rebels rise in Sri Lankan poll
President's party gains seats but needs partners to rule. The president of Sri Lanka tightened her grip on power yesterday in parliamentary elections which also saw a rebel-backed Tamil political party emerge as a third force.

Tamils Rush to Vote As Rebels Embrace Party Politics
Sri Lanka's war-torn north may hold key to power.

Commander Ousted on Eve of Sri Lanka Poll
The Tamil Tigers separatist movement yesterday said it would "get rid" of a commander who split from the group earlier this month.

Snap Sri Lankan Poll Called
Prospects for Sri Lanka's peace process dimmed yesterday after the president dissolved parliament and called a snap election, the third in four years. President Chandrika Kumaratunga called a ballot for the 225-seat legislature on April 2 - more than three years ahead of schedule - amid a...

Poll Setback for Sri Lanka Peace
Prospects for Sri Lanka's peace process dimmed yesterday after the president dissolved parliament and called a snap election, the third in four years. President Chandrika Kumaratunga called a ballot for the 225-seat legislature on April 2 - more than three years ahead of schedule - amid a...

Sri Lankan Crisis Deepens As President Extends Term
'It's up to me whether I stay in office,' Kumaratunga tells state television.

Patten to Meet Tigers Leader
The European commission last night defended talks with Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers as contributing to reviving the island's stalled peace process. Officials in Brussels said a meeting between Chris Patten, the external relations commissioner, and the separatists was designed to help end the...

Sri Lanka in Crisis As Ministers Sacked
Peace talks with Tamil Tigers jeopardised by president's suspension of parliament in security clampdown.

Peter Preston in Colombo: Peace Does Not Come Out of the Air
There are some good deeds in this bad old world. There are some bitter enmities and bloody wars that can end in peace. There is always hope, practical hope - if only you want it enough. Which is where Sri Lanka and Northern Ireland come in.

Peace talks shaken by Tamil Tiger suicide blast
Three Tamil Tiger rebels blew themselves up off Sri Lanka's northern coast yesterday when their boat carrying arms and ammunition was intercepted by the navy.

Reaping the Rewards of Peace
After decades of conflict, Sri Lanka is establishing itself as a tranquil tourist destination once more, says Luke Harding.

Divers Safe After 21 Hours Lost at Sea in Sri Lanka
A British instructor and four other divers survived a 21-hour ordeal in the sea after losing their boat as they surfaced from a Boxing Day dive off the western coast of Sri Lanka. Police and military personnel launched an air and sea search after the five, from Britain, Germany and the...

Sri Lanka Nears Power-sharing Deal With Tigers
The Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels agreed yesterday to discuss sharing power in the war-torn north and east of the island, in the most significant step yet towards ending the country's 19-year-old civil war. The agreement emerged during the second round of peace talks held...

Tamil Tigers Drop Independence Claim
The Tamil Tiger separatists have abandoned their quest for full independence from Sri Lanka, announcing at the end of three days of preliminary peace talks in Thailand yesterday that they are negotiating only for autonomy. But the significant concession was accompanied by a warning from...

Progress Made at Sri Lankan Peace Talks
A historic peace conference today ended with Tamil Tiger rebels demanding only self-determination, not full independence, from Sri Lanka - the clearest sign yet that they are determined to negotiate an end to 19 years of civil war. The rebels are refusing to lay down their arms...

Sri Lankan peace talks begin
Seven years after they last sat down together, the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels began the peace talks yesterday which could end the 19 years of civil war in which 64,000 have died.

Sri Lanka Peace Talks Open With Pledges to End Conflict
Negotiators from the Sri Lankan government and rebel Tamil Tigers today began peace talks in Thailand aimed at ending an almost 20-year separatist conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 64,000 people. The two delegations are meeting in a secluded Thai naval base over the next...

World in brief
Holiday chaos hits French roads | West Nile virus hits Louisiana | Maoists killed in gun battles | Sri Lankans aim to rebuild | Indian soldiers die in Kashmir | Berlusconi's Nobel failure | Net tightens | Actor dies

Changing Their Stripes
Sri Lanka's Tamil paramilitaries are 'seriously considering' laying down their bombs, but their demands are prodigious, writes Luke Harding.

Tamil Tigers Hide Their Claws
Sri Lanka is tired of war - but the peace on offer from its terrorist chief may be even more dangerous.

Tamil Leader Signals the End of Civil War
After 20 years of waging war against the Sri Lankan government and ruthlessly eliminating his enemies, the Tamil rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran emerged from the jungle yesterday in a clean grey shirt.

Reclusive Tamil Tiger Leader to Meet Press
Sri Lanka's secretive Tamil Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, will make his first public appearance in a decade next week to tell the rebels' version of the island nation's 18-year separatist war, rebel websites said today. Prabhakaran - convicted in neighbouring India over the...

Sri Lankans Ready for May Peace Talks
The end of the Sri Lankan civil war seemed close last night when the Norwegian deputy foreign minister announced that peace talks would open soon.

Tigers Prepare to Talk Peace
With a new government, and more cooperation from the Tamil rebels, Sri Lanka's civil war could finally be spluttering to an end, writes Luke Harding.

Sri Lanka Ceasefire Brings Hope of Final Settlement
The Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger guerrilla leaders formally agreed to an internationally-monitored ceasefire yesterday.

Ceasefire Raises Sri Lankan Peace Hopes
The government of Sri Lanka and Tamil rebels have signed a permanent ceasefire as a step towards ending their 18-year civil war, it was announced today. The ceasefire agreement, signed by the Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Vellupillai Prabhakaran, the elusive leader...

Ceasefire Moves Sri Lanka Towards Peace
The government of Sri Lanka and Tamil rebels have signed a permanent ceasefire as a step towards ending their 18-year civil war, it was announced today. The ceasefire agreement, signed by the Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and separatist rebels takes effect from tomorrow...

Sri Lankan peace hope rises as Tamil rebels free 10 prisoners
Hope of a lasting ceasefire and face-to-face talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil rebels rose sharply yesterday after the guerrillas freed 10 army and civilian prisoners and the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said he was thinking of lifting the ban on the movement...