Tamil News Network (TNN) » BBC

Maldives court ‘arrest warrant’ for Mohamed Nasheed

BBC — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:57:46 +0000

A criminal court in the Maldives has issued an arrest warrant for former President Mohamed Nasheed, officials from his party say.

The report comes a day after Mr Nasheed was among dozens injured in Male when riot police used tear gas against protesters as unrest intensified.

Mr Nasheed resigned on Tuesday amid protests over his rule. He says he was forced to resign by security forces.

It is unclear what the charges against the former president might be.

Senior [...]

Maldives ex-president Mohamed Nasheed was ‘forced out’

BBC — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:25:21 +0000

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has said that he was forced to resign "at gunpoint" by police and army officers in a coup.

He said the move was planned with the knowledge of vice president Mohammed Waheed Hassan who has replaced him.

Mr Nasheed resigned after some security officials joined opposition protests over the removal of a top judge.

Mr Hassan denies a coup took place or that there was a pre-arranged plan for him to stage a takeover.

Hundreds of [...]

M.I.A. to sing with Madonna at Super Bowl half-time show

BBC — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:09:02 +0000

M.I.A. has revealed that she will be performing with Madonna at the Super Bowl’s half-time show this Sunday.

The 36-year-old Londoner told Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe the news while speaking about her new single, Bad Girls.

"I’m at the Super Bowl rehearsals [in Indianapolis]," she said.

"I’m going to be performing with Madonna and Nicki Minaj. If you’re going to go to the Super Bowl you might as well go there with America’s biggest female icon."

M.I.A., whose real name is Mathangi [...]

HRC ‘to probe’ Prageeth disappearance

BBC — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:08:31 +0000

The wife of a missing cartoonist and political analyst in Sri Lanka has expressed hope that an investigation launched by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) would help find him.

The HRC has informed Sandya Ekneligoda, the wife of Prageeth who is missing since 24 January 2009, that an investigation has been launched into her petition made in January and December, last year.

The HRC was told by Mrs Ekneligoda that the former Attorney General (AG) Mohan Peiris has told the [...]

LLRC recommendations not implemented – TNA

BBC — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:53:39 +0000

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says that the government has not initiated any of the recommendations by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

Responding to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s remarks on LLRC, at the independent day celebration, TNA parliamentarian, M.A.Sumanthiran said that they are yet to see implementation of these recommendations.

President Mahinda Rajapkasa in his independent day address said that the government has already started implementing what was in the Commission.

“The report was tabled in Parliament on December 17. [...]

Ethnic communities have no separate regions – President

BBC — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:42:04 +0000

President Mahinda Rajapaksa states that ethnic communities have no separate regions and the entire country belongs to all ethnic communities.

Addressing the 64th National Independence Day celebrations in Anuradhapura, President Rajapaksa said that the government is engaged in the task of creating a stable peace and national unity after liberating the country from terrorism.

President Rajapaksa referring to the problem confronting the world economy called upon the nation to face the reality.

“We have to get together and work just as [...]

IMF concerned over Lanka trade deficit

BBC — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:49:39 +0000

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concern over the increasing trade deficit in Sri Lanka though the growth of the economy has been “very strong.”

Speaking to journalists in Colombo, the head of IMF delegation Brain Aitken said when the team last visited Sri Lanka in September, last year, the inflation was also under control.

“The one thing seen in the last three months is that the trade deficit has widened and the credit growth has stimulated,” he added. [...]

Minister, IGP summoned to court

BBC — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:51:46 +0000

The Appeal Court in Sri Lanka has issued notice to media minister, police chief and Jaffna military commander to appear before the court in connection with the disappearance of two human rights activists.

The court issued the order after granting leave to proceed to a petition seeking an order to present Lalith Kumara Weeraraju and Kugan Murugananthan who disappeared in Jaffna on 09 December.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, IGP NK Ilangakoon and Security Force Commander in north Maj Gen Mahinda Hathurusinghe [...]

Sri Lanka Togo refugees condemn ‘miserable conditions’

BBC — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:04:25 +0000

About 200 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees have told the BBC that they are enduring miserable conditions in the West African state of Togo.

They say they are living on meagre rations and face the prospect of imminent deportation home, where their lives are in danger.

The refugees say they are being detained by the army in an open sports stadium in the capital Lome.

The Togo authorities have declined to comment on their claims.

The refugees say they fled Sri Lanka to [...]

US sanctions against Iran will hurt -President Rajapaksa

BBC — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:48:37 +0000

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that United States’ sanctions against Iran will hurt small countries like his own more than they hurt Iran. No country is more dependent than Sri Lanka on crude oil imports from Iran, and Mr Rajapaksa said his government is considering how it will cope.

President Rajapaksa told journalists 93 percent of Sri Lanka’s crude oil supplies come from Iran. That’s a much higher proportion than any other country. The island nation fears it will suffer [...]