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Sri Lanka stops arms deal with China: official
(AFP) – Jul 15, 2009
General Sarath Fonseka said the order
was cancelled because there was no need
to stock ammunition for heavy guns
COLOMBO (AFP) — Sri Lanka scrapped a 200 million dollar ammunition order from China following the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels two months ago, a senior military official said Wednesday.
General Sarath Fonseka said the order was cancelled because there was no need to stock ammunition for heavy guns after routing the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May.
"We had ordered about 200 million dollars of heavy ammunition from China," Fonseka told local reporters after taking office as the new chief of defence staff. "There is no need for such ammunition any more."
He said the order would have been enough for three to four months of use -- based on the intensity of the final stages of the conflict.
Sri Lanka relied heavily on China and Pakistan for mortar bombs and ammunition for multi-barrel rocket launchers in the battle against the Tigers.
The general did not say if any deals with Pakistan had been cancelled.
Fonseka, who is credited with crushing the LTTE, is now heading a new post formulating strategy and advising the government on weapons procurement.
But, despite the end of nearly four decades of fighting with the Tamil Tigers, the military has announced plans to recruit another 40,000 to 50,000 troops within a year.
The military had already enlisted 80,000 troops in the past two years, boosting army numbers to 200,000.
In the past three years, the army placed its losses at about 6,200 killed and nearly 30,000 wounded. The military said it killed 22,000 Tiger rebels during the same period.
Fonseka said India was sending around 500 de-miners to clear the former rebel-held areas while 800 former Tamil Tiger rebels who defected to the government side five years ago had formally been absorbed into the army.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5isAqNxdP8sRJ_SnnxtTBrT7XR0wQ
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Sri Lanka cancels defence purchases from China, Pak
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 : 2100 Hrs
Colombo (PTI): Sri Lanka has cancelled purchase of weapons and ammunition worth $ 200 million from China and Pakistan as its war against the LTTE has ended, the country's top defence official said on Wednesday.
The government cancelled orders for weapons valued at $ 200 million from China and Pakistan as the war against the LTTE was now complete and Tiger supremo Vellupillai Prabahakaran was dead, the new Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka told reporters after assuming office.
"We stopped the orders of 200 million dollar worth of ammunition from China and Pakistan as the war ended (in May) " Mr. Fonseka, the former Army chief who led the military in the war, said.
Mr. Fonseka also said that 800 former fighters of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) would join the Sri Lankan armed forces.
Currently the Island Nation is seeking $ 1.9 billion IMF loan to shore up its foreign exchange reserves which have come under strain due to the global economic slowdown.
He also said that an Indian contingent of deminers will arrive in the country to clear mines laid down in northern Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan budget for 2009 provides for a record 1.6 billion defence spending, a seven per cent hike as compared to the previous year.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907152141.htm
(AFP) – Jul 15, 2009
General Sarath Fonseka said the order
was cancelled because there was no need
to stock ammunition for heavy guns
COLOMBO (AFP) — Sri Lanka scrapped a 200 million dollar ammunition order from China following the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels two months ago, a senior military official said Wednesday.
General Sarath Fonseka said the order was cancelled because there was no need to stock ammunition for heavy guns after routing the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May.
"We had ordered about 200 million dollars of heavy ammunition from China," Fonseka told local reporters after taking office as the new chief of defence staff. "There is no need for such ammunition any more."
He said the order would have been enough for three to four months of use -- based on the intensity of the final stages of the conflict.
Sri Lanka relied heavily on China and Pakistan for mortar bombs and ammunition for multi-barrel rocket launchers in the battle against the Tigers.
The general did not say if any deals with Pakistan had been cancelled.
Fonseka, who is credited with crushing the LTTE, is now heading a new post formulating strategy and advising the government on weapons procurement.
But, despite the end of nearly four decades of fighting with the Tamil Tigers, the military has announced plans to recruit another 40,000 to 50,000 troops within a year.
The military had already enlisted 80,000 troops in the past two years, boosting army numbers to 200,000.
In the past three years, the army placed its losses at about 6,200 killed and nearly 30,000 wounded. The military said it killed 22,000 Tiger rebels during the same period.
Fonseka said India was sending around 500 de-miners to clear the former rebel-held areas while 800 former Tamil Tiger rebels who defected to the government side five years ago had formally been absorbed into the army.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5isAqNxdP8sRJ_SnnxtTBrT7XR0wQ
x=x=x=x=x=x=x=x=x=x=x=x=x=x=x
Sri Lanka cancels defence purchases from China, Pak
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 : 2100 Hrs
Colombo (PTI): Sri Lanka has cancelled purchase of weapons and ammunition worth $ 200 million from China and Pakistan as its war against the LTTE has ended, the country's top defence official said on Wednesday.
The government cancelled orders for weapons valued at $ 200 million from China and Pakistan as the war against the LTTE was now complete and Tiger supremo Vellupillai Prabahakaran was dead, the new Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka told reporters after assuming office.
"We stopped the orders of 200 million dollar worth of ammunition from China and Pakistan as the war ended (in May) " Mr. Fonseka, the former Army chief who led the military in the war, said.
Mr. Fonseka also said that 800 former fighters of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) would join the Sri Lankan armed forces.
Currently the Island Nation is seeking $ 1.9 billion IMF loan to shore up its foreign exchange reserves which have come under strain due to the global economic slowdown.
He also said that an Indian contingent of deminers will arrive in the country to clear mines laid down in northern Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan budget for 2009 provides for a record 1.6 billion defence spending, a seven per cent hike as compared to the previous year.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907152141.htm
