COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's military on Thursday said it has one kilometre left to go before trapping the Tamil Tigers separatists in a no-fire zone, along with thousands of civilians at grave risk in the 25-year war's final act.

By Ravi Ladduwahetty  

Colombo (Asiantribune.com): Sri Lanka is no threat to international security and there should not be any nagging concerns to the United Nations Security Council on the Sri Lankan affairs which are largely internal, Ambassador of the Russia Federation to Sri Lanka Vladimir Mikhaylov told Asian Tribune.

Sri Lanka's call for measures to counter terrorism that might spill over to the region and beyond following the military defeat of the LTTE in Sri Lanka received strong support from Thailand on 26.03.2009.

Statement made by Ambassador Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Chairperson/Rapporteur and the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, at the 10th Session of the Human Rights Council on 24th March 2009, during the submission of the Report on the 6th Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration & Programme of Action:

The statement in full:

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has categorically stated that the Sri Lankan security forces do not direct any attacks on the Government declared no-fire zone along the Mullaitivu coast, notwithstanding the constant artillery barrage launched at the military by the LTTE.  He said that the security forces themselves suffered casualties by not returning fire, precisely in order to avoid causing casualties among civilians who are being held hostage by the LTTE in this area. The Minister explained this position to his Danish counterpart Per Stig Moller, who telephoned him yesterday (25 March 2009) and discussed current developments in Sri Lanka, with particular reference to the humanitarian situation in the North.

COLOMBO (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels have lost more of their territory in northern Sri Lanka and their total defeat is now "imminent," a government minister said Thursday.

Government troops have confined Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters to an area of 21 square kilometres (eight square miles), most of which is a government-declared safe zone, the minister said.

Puducherry, March 25 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said he was not 'particularly fond' of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers because they killed his father Rajiv Gandhi.

By Kelum Bandara  

President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the Cabinet yesterday that there was an attempt by the LTTE to avoid its imminent defeat, at least with the help of international elements. He said Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad should act promptly to counter its propaganda.

Heroic soldiers have been unmoved in the face of death to protect our motherland and there are many of them who are still waiting to purchase a stretch of land to build their own houses. And, it’s our social responsibility to lend a hand to such souls who forget their own wellbeing and travel to battle fields to protect our own land. I expect all concerned citizens to participate in this event to help them build their own houses, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 24^th April.

(LBO) - An energy efficient and low emission factory run by Sri Lanka's Brandix apparel group had won an Austrian-based green award for the best such factory in the island, the company said. 

The Brandix Green Factory at Seeduwa had won the national prize in the 'air; category of the 'World Energy Globe Awards for Sustainability' started by Austrian energy pioneer and Energy Globe Foundation president Wolfgang Neumann in 1999.

In a right of Reply exercised by Sri Lanka during the afternoon session on 25 March 2009 at the 10th Session of the Human Rights Council, Mr. Yasantha Kodagoda, Deputy Solicitor-General, Attorney-General’s Department made the following statement:

Colombo (IANS): A Sri Lankan Tamil magistrate has won "Women of Courage" award from the US State Department for demonstrating "exceptional courage and leadership" in the region, the US embassy said on Thursday

LTTE terrorists continuing with its spree of genocidal attacks and village massacres have killed 4 more farmers at Menikdeniya in the Kadawathmadu area, East of Welikanda yesterday (March 25) at around 10 p.m.

The UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Neil Buhne, has stated that he is unable to confirm the veracity of the figures of civilian casualties since 20th January 2009 in the conflict area of Mullaitivu District, contained in an official report issued by his Office recently. He made this disclosure at a meeting yesterday (24th March 2009) with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama held at the Foreign Ministry, in response to a query from the Minister.

The eyes of the world are upon us. This means two things: Sri Lanka must not blink on the fundamentals, whatever the pressures brought to bear, while at one and the same time Sri Lanka must be open and flexible on that which is non-fundamental, tactical and secondary. We must be resolute and tough, steel-like on the issue of the Tigers and pluralist, liberal and moderate on the politics that comes after. The closure of the conflict, the construction of the new Sri Lanka and the transition from one to the other requires that rare combination of characteristics: steel and water; yin and yang.

Colombo (IANS) The Tamil Tigers Wednesday fired surface-to-air-missiles (SAM) at two Sri Lankan Air Force helicopters over the northern battle zone but the choppers narrowly escaped the attack, military authorities here said.

The EU, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and six US Senators have called for a cease-fire to the conflict in Sri Lanka. A cease-fire is expected to provide an opportunity to evacuate the civilians held hostage as a human shield by the LTTE. Since this suggestion has originated from responsible sources with authority, it is necessary to explore whether a cease-fire would in fact save the civilians given the particularities of the context, namely, that they are being held hostage for the specific purpose of providing protection as a "human shield" for the LTTE.

By Scott McDonald

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – An exodus of civilians fleeing the fighting in northern Sri Lanka has picked up, with more than 1,500 escaping in the last day, the government said Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of terrified civilians are trapped in a sliver of jungle and beach along the island's northeast coast where government troops are battling to dislodge remnants of the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels.

By Sandun A Jaysekera 

The government yesterday challenged the International Community which is calling for a  ceasefire and talks with the LTTE to disclose its strategy if its armed forces cornered terrorists like Bin Laden, Mullah Mohamed or the Taliban.