Search: For - Asia

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South Asia South Asia Weekly 38
Sep 22, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 38

In a surprising statement, the military spokesman of Sri Lanka Keheliya Rambukwella claimed that Al Qaeda and those involved in the bombing of Marriot Hotel in Islamabad were trained by LTTE. The technique was similar to the one used by the Tamil group way back in 1996 when a truck loaded with a bomb exploded near Colombo's Central Bank killing 91 people.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 39
Sep 29, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 39

With Sri Lankan Army just two miles away from the de facto capital of the LTTE, Kilinochchi has turned into a ghost town. Most of the civilians have fled along with many humanitarian organisations leaving the LTTE cadres to carry out the counter-attacks.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 4
Feb 02, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 4

Darra Adam Khel a semi-tribal town located between Kohat and Peshawar in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) came under intense threat from militants when conflict broke out between militants and the Pakistan military in the last week of January.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 40
Oct 06, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 40

After lying low for decades, the Sri Lankan Tamil issue made an entry into the native Indian Tamil psyche in a big way. The twin reasons responsible for such awareness among the Tamil population are--- first, the escalation of fighting in Sri Lanka where government forces seem to be getting an upper hand and second,

South Asia South Asia Weekly 41
Oct 13, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 41

In response to India's (more particularly Tamil Nadu's) overtures to stop the Sri Lankan offensive against LTTE in their northern stronghold, President Mahinda Rajapaksa made it clear that his government was not going to stop its war against the Tamil Tigers midway, especially when its forces were just two kms short of Kilinochchi.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 42
Oct 20, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 42

In a bid to pacify internal as well as external concerns, India decided to send relief supplies to the trapped Tamil civilians in the Wanni war zone through international relief committees like the Red Cross. The intervention is different in two ways from the earlier Indian interventions in Sri Lanka.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 43
Nov 27, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 43

The historic second round of the presidential elections ended in the Maldives on October 8 with the victory of the Maldivian Democratic Party Alliance leader Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed. Known for his progressive views, Anni defeated his rival, the longest serving ruler in Asia,

South Asia South Asia Weekly 44
Nov 03, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 44

Sri Lankan President unveiled the biggest ever war budget in the history of the country in view of the ongoing war with the Tamil Tigers. The budget has seen the massive rise of 7% in the war expenditure to a record 1.6 billion dollars in the year 2009.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 45
Nov 10, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 45

In a major turnaround, the two former Prime Ministers and bitter rivals, Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda, have agreed to meet each other. This is a significant event as both of them have not been on talking terms for nearly two decades.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 46
Nov 16, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 46

The Taliban has renewed its activities in Peshawar. The Taliban militants and its allies have carried out a series of kidnappings and attacks on foreign nationals in the area recently to establish its presence, and taunt the Pakistan Army engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the nearby Bajaur and Mohmand.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 47
Nov 24, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 47

On his 54th birthday, LTTE supremo Prabhakaran made the Heroes Day speech even as the Kilinochhi, the de facto administrative capital of the Tigers is within an arms reach of the Sri Lankan Army. The speech lacked assertive tone

South Asia South Asia Weekly 48
Dec 01, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 48

Even as the war between LTTE and the Sri Lankan army is taking a heavy humanitarian toll, European Union decided to retain its GSP+ trade preferences for Sri Lanka till the time it completes its humanitarian probe in the troubled region.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 49
Dec 08, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 49

The week saw India, specifically Tamil Nadu, adopting a rigid stand against the remarks made by the Sri Lankan Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka during his interview with Sunday Leader. In his interview, Fonseka described Tamil Nadu politicians like Nedumaran and Vaiko as "jokers".

South Asia South Asia Weekly 5
Feb 10, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 5

The series of bomb blasts killed 48 people between February 2 and 4 marred the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Sri Lanka's Independence from the British rule... The celebrations, held at Galle Greens in full public view despite repeated threats, were also marred by party politics when opposition parties including UNP, JVP and TNA refused to be a part of the procession.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 50
Dec 15, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 50

This week the clash between Sri Lanka's executive and judiciary became public when the former refused to comply with the latter's direction to pass on the benefit of the internationally low oil prices to the customers by bringing down its cost to nearly Rs 100.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 51
Dec 22, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 51

The week saw the President of Sri Lanka taking decision to proscribe the LTTE if it fails to release the remaining Tamils of the North living in its captivity, before 2009. According to an estimate,

South Asia South Asia Weekly 52
Dec 29, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 52

The week saw the culmination of long-awaited and much anticipated victory of the armed forces over the separatist organization, the LTTE. The so-called capital and administrative hub of an elusive Tamil Eelam Kilinochchi was finally liberated after 11 years.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 53
Jan 05, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 53

Sri Lanka imposed a ban on LTTE following the organisation¿s failure to release 2,50,000 civilians from its hold. The civilians are often caught in the crossfire taking place between LTTE and the Sri Lankan armed forces. Besides, in the absence of basic necessities,

South Asia South Asia Weekly 54
Jan 12, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 54

It appears that the LTTE debacle and the protest voices emerging from Tamil Nadu as an aftermath has no effect on the bilateral relationship of India and Sri Lanka if a recent visit of the Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon to Sri Lanka is any indication.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 55
Jan 19, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 55

As the army advanced deeper into Mullaithivu to regain other territories under the LTTE control, rumours of Prabhakaran's escape to another country have strongly surfaced. Most believe that he could have either fled via sea to Eritrea, Australia and Myanmar or he may have not been able to flee at all.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 56
Jan 26, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 56

The week began with the worsening of humanitarian situation in the areas under LTTE control. Nearly 250,000 people were reportedly trapped in crossfire between the LTTE and the state armed forces in a cramped area of around 30 sq. km in thick jungles

South Asia South Asia Weekly 57
Feb 02, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 57

Last week, president's brother and defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa slammed Non-government organizations, domestic and foreign particularly United Nations and International Committee of Red Cross for being pro-LTTE and anti-government.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 58
Feb 09, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 58

Barely a year after eastern Sri Lanka witnessed a ray of hope under the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP)-Sri Lanka Freedom Party coalition led by former LTTE child soldier Pillayan, things have been going from bad to worse.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 59
Feb 16, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 59

With LTTE pushed to less than 100 sq km of area, there are strong rumours of Prabhakaran committing mass suicide with hundreds of his supporters. The incident is going to be video taped so that it can later be shown to incite sentiments of

South Asia South Asia Weekly 6
Feb 17, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 6

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Kayani has issued statement to pull armed forces out from the mire of politics in which they have become entrenched. The latest statement by the COAS came at a corps commander's conference held in Rawalpindi.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 60
Feb 23, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 60

Sri Lankan authorities considered 'hilarious' the ceasefire demand put forward by the LTTE, especially when it has only the few fighters left in an area which is less then 60 sq km. This week, LTTE requested the international community to bring

South Asia South Asia Weekly 61
Mar 02, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 61

Terai region continues to reel under strike and the security situation remains to be worrisome. For nearly a week, the Tharu community has been staging massive protests in several Terai districts following the government's decision to label them as Madhesis.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 62
Mar 09, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 62

A suicide bomber believed to be from the LTTE Black Tiger suicide squad blew himself up inside a mosque killing nearly 14 people and injuring 20 others including a Postal Services minister Mahinda Wijesekera and Culture minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena during a congregation held to

South Asia South Asia Weekly 63
Mar 16, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 63

Initially criticizing Sri Lanka for having to carry out military onslaughts on the LTTE, United Nations lately come face to face with the grim reality when one of its own aid worker died in a cross-firing and three others including a teen age girl was forcibly recruited by

South Asia South Asia Weekly 64
Mar 23, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 64

The week received mixed reactions from international community vis-à-vis Sri Lanka, some of which were in favour and some were against the military approach adopted by the Rajapaksa regime against the LTTE. Sri Lanka realized the importance of being friends with the permanent members

South Asia South Asia Weekly 65
Mar 30, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 65

Throughout the week, the LTTE suffered huge losses in men and material and was finally ousted by the state armed forces from Pudukudiyiruppu, the last of the towns it captured in Mullaitheevu.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 66
Apr 06, 2009

South Asia South Asia Weekly 66

Clock is ticking fast for the LTTE whose chief along with his son and some of his trusted colleagues has taken a refuge among the civilians in a No Fire Zone. Sri Lankan military intelligence has reported that LTTE's Intelligence Chief Pottu Amman has taken over the command of the dying

South Asia South Asia Weekly 7
Feb 24, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 7

The tiny nation's economy has become yet another victim of the protracted ethnic conflict between Tamils and Sinhalese. This week, Standard and Poor credit rating agency has downgraded the rating of Sri Lanka from 'stable' to 'negative' reflecting concerns about the weak fiscal consolidation efforts and the unfavourable trends evident in the country's debt profile.

South Asia South Asia Weekly 8
Mar 02, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 8

In Sri Lanka, everybody is uncertain about the future. Nobody knows what happens next. Take for instance, the victory march of Sri Lankan Army (SLA) which was once again bogged down by the LTTE's resurgence. Though the week started with the forward march of the Sri Lanka defence forces after the killing of the three senior female LTTE leaders at sea including Lt. Colonel Kalai Arasi,

South Asia South Asia Weekly 9
Mar 09, 2008

South Asia South Asia Weekly 9

LTTE's operational capabilities, in different dimensions, were hit hard at several places this week. While the Sri Lanka Air Force jets pounded the LTTE¿s communication base with transmitting tower in the north-east of Oddusudan junction, British parliamentarians came down heavily on the group's credit card frauds to fund its terrorist activities.

South Asia Weekly
May 23, 2010

South Asia Weekly

Former prime minister and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Begum Khaleda Zia has threatened to launch an agitation if any deal is signed between India and Bangladesh which will be "detrimental" to the country's national interest.

South Asia Weekly 100
Nov 30, 2009

South Asia Weekly 100

Former General Sarath Fonseka, who played a major role in decimating the LTTE, has formally announced his presidential candidature for the elections to be held in January 2010. He is all set to take on the current presidential incumbent and his former mentor Mahinda Rajapaksa as a common opposition candidate.

South Asia Weekly 101
Dec 07, 2009

South Asia Weekly 101

The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee report on Sri Lanka released this week recommends that the US needs to adopt a fresh approach to this South Asian nation owing to its strategic importance in the Indian Ocean region.

South Asia Weekly 102
Dec 12, 2009

South Asia Weekly 102

Twenty-three candidates, including current President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former army general Sanath Fonseka, filed their nomination papers for the presidential elections to be held on January 26, 2010.

South Asia Weekly 103
Dec 20, 2009

South Asia Weekly 103

Bangladesh is contemplating allowing the entry of Indian container trains up to Ghazipur, close to the capital Dhaka. This will benefit the traders of both the countries as there will be reduction in the transportation cost.

South Asia Weekly 90
Sep 20, 2009

South Asia Weekly 90

National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan is of the view that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's international financial network is intact. He said that the epicentre of the separatist Tamil movement can turn out to be Tamil Nadu.

South Asia Weekly 91
Sep 27, 2009

South Asia Weekly 91

In a move that took many by surprise, Sri Lanka's Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe accepted most of the criticism leveled against his government by the United Nations over the resettlement of 250,000 Tamil refugees.

South Asia Weekly 92
Oct 04, 2009

South Asia Weekly 92

Sri Lankan Navy and Indian Navy successfully conclude their joint naval exercises, which started on October 6 and continued till October 8, 2009. The naval training exercise, code-named CADEX 2009, took place on the western seas off Sri Lanka.

South Asia Weekly 93
Oct 11, 2009

South Asia Weekly 93

A ten-member parliamentary delegation from Tamil Nadu visited Sri Lanka and met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed the resettlement of the 250,000 war refugees.

South Asia Weekly 94
Oct 18, 2009

South Asia Weekly 94

President Mahinda Rajapaksa-led ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party-United People's Freedom Alliance coalition won the southern provincial council elections with a heavy margin.

South Asia Weekly 95
Oct 25, 2009

South Asia Weekly 95

Several thousand Tamil refugees have started seeking asylum in Australia and Canada. Both the countries, however, are wary of accepting the asylum seekers for security reasons.

South Asia Weekly 96
Nov 01, 2009

South Asia Weekly 96

Sri Lankan authorities criticised the latest move by the international community, particularly the US, to 'interview' war hero former army chief General Sarath Fonseka about events that led to the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the death of its leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran.

South Asia Weekly 97
Nov 08, 2009

South Asia Weekly 97

In a move that was not unexpected, Sri Lanka's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Sarath Fonseka resigned from his post, which was created exclusively for him by the Mahinda Rajapaksa government soon after the end of the ethnic war.

South Asia Weekly 98
Nov 15, 2009

South Asia Weekly 98

Sri Lankan Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samrasinghe claimed that 143,672 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have been resettled. There were 280,000 IDPs when the fighting ended in May 2009.

South Asia Weekly 99
Nov 22, 2009

South Asia Weekly 99

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for early Presidential elections, which would be held on January 23, 2010. Under the Sri Lankan Constitution, the President can call for an early election after the completion of four years out of his six-year term.