Lankan troops capture LTTE’s political hub Kilinochchi

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops have ‘completely’ captured the Tamil Tiger rebels’ de facto political capital of Kilinochchi, dealing a major blow to the rebels after over a decade, President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced Friday as celebrations broke out across the country at the news of the victory.

Two killed, 31 wounded in Colombo bomb blast

COLOMBO - At least two people were killed and 31 wounded in a suicide bomb blast in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital Friday evening, military officials said.

Kilinochchi’s fall a major setback to LTTE (News Analysis)

Ten years after they captured the northern Sri Lankan town of Kilinochchi in a blitzkrieg that stunned the world, the Tamil Tigers have finally lost it to a military determined to crush the rebels. The fall of Kilinochchi after months of fighting is a huge blow to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Strategic town ahead of LTTE hub captured: Sri Lanka

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops advancing from various directions towards the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) political hub of Kilinochchi early Thursday captured the strategically important town of Paranthan after weeks of fierce fighting with the rebels, the defence ministry said in a statement issued here.

LTTE garrison town captured by army: Sri Lanka

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops early Thursday captured the strategically important Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) garrison town of Paranthan, which is close to the rebel group’s political hub of Kilinochchi, the defence ministry said in a statement issued here.

Fall of LTTE’s political hub of Kilinochchi inevitable: Sri Lanka

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka said Thursday that the fall of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) political hub Kilinochchi ‘is inevitable’ with its ground troops making New Year breakthroughs by capturing a couple of strategic junction towns, lying on the outskirts of the well-fortified rebel stronghold.

President Rajapaksa takes over media ministry

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa Thursday took over the media ministry and appointed the former media minister to handle the investment promotion portfolio, a top government official said.

President Rajapaksa takes over media ministry

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa Thursday took over the media ministry and appointed the former media minister to handle the investment promotion portfolio, a top government official said.

Sri Lankan government troops take control of strategic rebel town

COLOMBO - Government troops have taken control a strategic town in northern Sri Lanka after weeks of heavy fighting around the area as the army continues its advance into rebel-held areas, military officials said Wednesday.

Forget the ‘unfortunate’ past: Rajapaksa tells people of Jaffna

COLOMBO - Vowing that his government would restore ‘all that was lost due to terrorism’, Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the people of the northern Jaffna peninsula that it was time to forget ‘the unfortunate developments of the past’.

Rebels abduct 16 children from orphanage in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO - Tamil rebels abducted 16 children from a Catholic orphanage in northern Sri Lanka to be enlisted in their movement as fighters, the defence ministry said Monday, citing witnesses.

Suicide blast outside Colombo leaves eight killed

COLOMBO - Seven security force personnel and a civilian were killed, while 17 others were injured in a suicide bomb explosion by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels on the outskirts of Colombo Sunday morning, defence sources here said.

India unhappy with Sri Lanka’s cricket tour to Pakistan: Reports

COLOMBO - India is not happy with Sri Lanka’s cricket tour to Pakistan, media reports said here Sunday.

Locations frequented by Prabhakaran bombed: Sri Lanka

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan jets Saturday carried bombed two locations suspected to be frequented by Tamil Tigers leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, the defence ministry said.

Pakistan-Sri Lanka series will produce quality cricket, says Yousuf

KARACHI - Mohammad Yousuf said Saturday that Pakistan’s home series against Sri Lanka will produce high quality cricket.

Sri Lanka seek ICC security clearance for Pakistan tour

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka Friday said the proposed tour of Pakistan, as a replacement for India, will be on schedule from Jan 20 but only after security clearance by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Sri Lanka bleeds - with no peace in sight (Yearender - 4)

Sri Lanka’s dragging ethnic conflict is at a decisive phase, with the military determined to crush the Tamil Tigers and the guerrillas adamantly refusing to give up.

Sri Lankan troops capture rebel airstrip

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops have captured an airstrip of the Tamil Tiger rebels in the country’s north, defence officials said Wednesday.

Sri Lanka sports minister says Pakistan tour is on

COLOMBO - Clearing all doubts, Sri Lanka sports minister Gamini Lokuge said Wednesday that the tour of Pakistan by the country’s cricket team ‘is almost on as scheduled’.

Sri Lanka Cricket led by Ranatunga dissolved

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge Tuesday dissolved the interim committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) headed by former world-cup winning cricket team captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee dissolved

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge Tuesday dissolved the interim committee of Sri Lanka Cricket headed by former captain Arjuna Ranatunga.