Sri Lanka

Anand Sharma reiterates need for equal rights for Lankan Tamils

Anand Sharma reiterates need for equal rights for Lankan TamilsRajkot, Apr 27: Congress spokesman and Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma on Monday reiterated the need for equal rights for Sri Lankan Tamils, saying that they should be helped with a healing touch from a humanitarian angle.

“There is humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. It is a worrisome issue about Sri Lankan Tamil citizens. India has clearly said one thing that Tamilians living there ought to get full and equal rights,” Anand Sharma said.

India welcomes Sri Lanka's decision to stop using heavy guns

India welcomes Sri Lanka's decision to stop using heavy guns New Delhi - India on Monday welcomed Sri Lankan government's announcement that it would stop using heavy weapons because combat operations in northern parts of the island nation had reached a conclusion, news reports said. "It means cessation of hostilities. It means to the government of India that the Sri Lankan government has put an end to the ongoing offensive," India's Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram was quoted as saying by the PTI news agency as saying.

Troops ordered to halt use of heavy weapons in Sri Lanka

Troops ordered to halt use of heavy weapons in Sri Lanka - 2nd Update Colombo – Amid growing international pressure for a ceasefire against Tamil rebels in north-eastern Sri Lanka, the government Monday ordered the army to stop using heavy weapons to avoid civilian casualties. "Our security forces have been instructed to end the use of heavy caliber guns, combat aircraft and aerial weapons which could cause civilian causalities," a statement from the president's office said.

It said the decision was made as the "combat operations have reached their conclusion."

Troops ordered to halt use of heavy weapons in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan troops claim capture of Prabhakaran''s bunkerColombo– Amid growing international pressure for a ceasefire against Tamil rebels in north-eastern Sri Lanka, the government Monday ordered the army to stop using heavy weapons to avoid civilian casualties. "Our security forces have been instructed to end the use of heavy caliber guns, combat aircraft and aerial weapons which could cause civilian causalities," a statement from the president's office said.

It said the decision was made as the "combat operations have reached their conclusion."

Lanka Government announces temporary cease-fire

Lanka Government announces temporary cease-fireColombo/Chennai, Apr. 27 : The Sri Lanka Government has announced a temporary cease-fire to allow for the evacuation of nearly 20,000 Lankan Tamil civilians from a no-fire zone deep in rebel LTTE territory.

Sources in Colombo said that there would be no use of aerial weaponry or artillery while the temporary cease-fire is on, and added that this was being done to enable humanitarian organizations to pursue their rescue efforts and evacuate refugees.

Lanka Army launches fresh assault on Tamil Tigers as international protests mount

Lanka Army launches fresh assault on Tamil Tigers as international protests mountColombo, Apr. 27 : Sri Lankan armed forces have launched a new assault in the northern war zone despite the Tamil Tigers'' call for a cease-fire.

The rebel TamilNet web site said the military attacked an area in the northeast with heavy gunfire early on Monday even as international protests against the offensive mount, notably in in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where the chief minister has gone on an indefinite fast to save what he calls the lives of innocent Lankan Tamil civilians.

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