News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 January 1999, 14:35 GMT]
Rain spoils Vanni relief supply; two fishermen feared killed in Mannar and the death

Rain destroys relief Wheat

Wheat flour that was dispatched on January 6 to the Kilinochchi district from Vavuniya has been spoiled due to exposure of rain said sources there.

The flour was exposed to recent heavy rain at the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) check post at Paraynalan Kulam they said.

Goods that are allowed to be transported to the Vanni with the permission from the Ministry of Defence are unloaded at the SLA check post and checked before they are allowed.

Meanwhile the Government Agent (GA) in Vavuniya Mr. K.Ganesh has temporarily stopped the relief goods convoy to the Vanni as roads have been damaged by the recent flooding there.

Sources said 15 lorries were to transport goods to the Vanni.

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Missing Mannar fishermen feared killed

Two fishermen who had gone for fishing in the seas of Ampalappokkanai in the eastern coast on January 6 has been reported missing said sources.

The fishermen have been identified as Sellar Kanthasamy and Appuththurai Seeventhiran from Kallappadu in Mullaithivu district.

Sources said the boat in which they had gone was washed ashore completely burnt and feared that both of them might have been killed.

On Thursday night there was a sea battle between the Tigers and the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) in the area. The SLN said 6 Tiger boats were destroyed.

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Civilians killed in Jaffna Conference remembered

The death of 9 civilians 25 years ago when the Sri Lankan Police disrupted the final day arrangement of the International Tamil Research Conference in Jaffna will be marked in the northern town tomorrow said sources.

Delegates and researchers had gathered at the public rally attended by several thousand people when the Police fired tear-gas and baton-charged to disrupt the meeting.

Sources said Tamil political parties have also organised special religious worships (Poojas).