Palai hospital short of equipment

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An average of 90-95 patients suffering from Malaria come daily for treatment to the hospital in Palai, south east of Jaffna town, says the TamilNet's Jaffna correspondent who visited the area today.
Full story >>

Grenade attack at Kandy UNP office

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two grenades were flung at the UNP's Kandy office in the early hours of the morning today around 2.40 a.m. The explosions shattered the glass of the building and destroyed a phone booth nearby. No one was injured.
Full story >>

Day of mourning in Kandy

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Shops were closed this morning in the hill city of Kandy to mark a day of mourning for the destruction caused to the Dalada Maligawa - the Temple of the Tooth by a powerful lorry bomb.
Full story >>

Body of missing policeman found

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of a Policeman who went missing after the attack on the Sri Lankan army-Police point at the Gurunagar jetty on Wednesday night was found washed ashore this morning on a small sand bar near Sirutheevu by the Mandatheevu island south of Jaffna town.
Full story >>

Demonstration in the Dalada Maligawa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 3500 people, including 1500 Buddhist monks demonstrated and engaged in a satyagraha in the Dalada Maligawa - the temple of the tooth- today in Kandy to protest against the bomb blast in the temple last Sunday.
Full story >>

Tigers attack SLA truck

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four SLA soldiers were killed and four were wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked a military truck near the 18th mile post on the Vavuniya - Mannar road last night around 9.00 p.m.
Full story >>

New publications in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two Tamil weeklies will begin publishing from Jaffna from next month said sources in Jaffna today. One is expected to be named 'Sooriyakanthi' and the other 'Kaalaikathir'.
Full story >>

Election commissioner releases results

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
These are results of the Jaffna local government polls released by the Commissioner of Elections in Colombo today.
Full story >>

PLOTE driven out of Kayts office

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Cadres of the Democratic Peoples Liberation Front (DPLF), political wing of the PLOTE, were chased away from their office at Kayts, an island off the Jaffna peninsula, when a heavily armed gang, numbering 35 surrounded the building and fired into the air around 11.00 a.m. today, said sources in Kayts.
Full story >>

Malaria compounded by drug shortage

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A three year old girl, Saranya Ravi, died today at Jaffna hospital of malaria, due to the lack of drugs. She was first admitted to Chavakachcheri hospital three days ago with a high fever, and then she was from there to Jaffna.
Full story >>

Kattankudy youth shot by police

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A civilian was injured when a bomb exploded at Katankudy around 10.00 p.m. last night, said sources in Batticaloa. No details are yet available. Kattankudy is a booming Muslim town six kilometers south of Batticaloa town.
Full story >>

Grenade thrown at SLA patrol

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers threw grenade at a Sri Lankan Army petrol today 11.30 a.m. in Lotus road, in Aarukal Madathadi in Anaikoddai. Reports from Jaffna said that some SLA soldiers were injured in the grenade attack. Later, the army demolished a house from which the attackers had thrown grenade.
Full story >>

Four Tigers killed in Jaffna - SLA

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four persons were killed when the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) threw a grenade into an underground bunker in an abandoned house near the Nandavil Amman Kovil in Kokkuvil in Jaffna, around 8.35 a.m. this morning.
Full story >>

TULF to run council alone

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The TULF will run the Jaffna Municipal Council without the support of any other groups, contrary to earlier reports. According to a party spokesman, local government laws permit the party with the simple majority to control the local government body.
Full story >>

TULF leads council by narrow margin

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The TULF won the Jaffna municipal council by a thin majority of 358 votes more than PLOTE and, under the proportional representation system of election, secured the three bonus seats which are due to the party with the largest number of votes. However, the TULF is not in a position to form the municipal council with its nine seats.
Full story >>

SLA denies arresting youths

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has denied arresting two youths, taken into custody by soldiers from Valaichenai paper mills camp on Wednesday at Peythalai, near Valaichenai 30 km north of Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Low turn out at clustered booths

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Reports from Jaffna said that polling was very low in Kokkuvil,Maruthanaamadam, Inuvil, Sankaanai, Sandilippai, Uduvil, Vaddukkoddai and generally in Waligamam west.
Full story >>

Voters said trickling in

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Reports from Jaffna town said that people have begun venturing out to vote at the polling booths in Jaffna town in very small numbers by noon. There is an average of 25-30 people at some polling centres in the town which the TamilNet correspondents visited around 11.30 a.m.(05.30 GMT).
Full story >>

Varied results seen in Jaffna polls

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Elections Commissioner's office in Jaffna Kachcheri claimed this evening that about 110,000 people had cast their votes in the local government elections in the Jaffna peninsula today. However, the state owned TV station announced that 106,000 people had voted.
Full story >>

Low turnout in quiet polls

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An official at the independent election monitoring group's office in Jaffna town said this evening that today's polls were generally free of any incidents of violence. Voter turn out was generally very low said TamilNet reporters in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Election rules breached in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Election monitors covering the Jaffna local polls recorded a number of violations of election laws in the islands off the Jaffna peninsula, said sources close to the independent monitoring committee.
Full story >>

Poll day begins with deserted streets

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Jaffna town was mostly deserted and all the shops there were closed this morning as election officials awaited voters to turn up at their respective polling booths.
Full story >>

Voter numbers come in

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Low polling was recorded at the local government elections held in the Jaffna peninsula with voting in the Jaffna Municipal Council dipping to 25%, said the TamilNet correspondent. Voting in the islands off the Jaffna peninsula has also been very low.
Full story >>

Demonstrations in support of Gen. Ratwatte

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Demonstrations were held in Kandy and Colombo demanding that the Deputy Minister for Defence Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte should not resign.
Full story >>

Sporadic violence in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A mentally unbalanced person was shot and wounded by the SLA around midnight on Kasturiyar Road in Jaffna town. He was admitted to the Jaffna hospital and has been identified as Arunaslam Nagaratnam,47.
Full story >>

Police rampage in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Anarchy reigned at Akkaraipattu town last evening around 6.30 p.m., as policemen, incensed at the killing of two of their number, fired indiscriminately in the market place killing two people, burning Tamil shops and causing mayhem in the town, said sources in Akkaraipattu.
Full story >>

Civilians injured in pre-poll shelling

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five civilians, including a 12 year old child, were injured when the Sri Lankan Army shelled Gurnagar, an area by the lagoon in Jaffna town yesterday around 10:45 p.m., said the Jaffna TN correspondent.
Full story >>

Rigging said underway in deserted Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The streets of Jaffna remained largely deserted except for the vehicles of the Tamil groups contesting today's polls which were seen running about transporting supporters to the polling booths.
Full story >>

Tigers hit Valaichenai SLA camps

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA troops are still clearing the area where the Liberation Tigers overran and burnt the Vaakaneri army camp, eight kilometers west of Valaichenai. Army sources in Batticaloa said that more than forty soldiers were wounded in the attack and eight bodies of those killed in the attack have been recovered until this afternoon.
Full story >>

Army bans civilians from leaving Vanni

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The government decided to completely ban civilians from the LTTE controlled parts of the Vanni unless for very special reasons according to new strict regulations which came into affect from today. No civilians from the LTTE controlled parts of the Vanni will henceforth be permitted to enter Vavuniya.
Full story >>

UNP opposes devolution package

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The UNP working committee decided today against supporting the government's devolution package. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe said "the package has gone to where Princes Diana is."
Full story >>

Gen. Ratwatte submits resignation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's deputy minister for defence Gen. Anurudha Ratwatte resigned his portfolio this afternoon. He submitted his resignation to President Chandrika Kumaratunge. His resignation is yet to be accepted by the Sri Lankan President said sources in the Presidential secretariat this afternoon.
Full story >>

Tigers list captured weapons

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The VOT radio gave the list of weapons the Liberation Tigers captured from the SLA when they overran the army camp on the Polannaruwa - Valaichenai road last night.
Full story >>

Polls overshadowed by developments elsewhere

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Civilian activity on the roads of Jaffna came to a virtual standstill today, the eve of local government elections, as residents stayed at home through fear, said sources in the peninsula. What was seen on the roads were buses, specially brought from Colombo for the polls, transporting officers on election duty, ballot boxes and ballot papers, under heavy armed guard by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).
Full story >>

Suresh granted deportation stay order

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Canadian Provincial court issued a stay order on the deportation of Tamil activist, Mr.Manickavasagam Suresh today. The stay order is effective until Mr. Suresh's constitutional claims are resolved.
Full story >>

Confusion over LTTE ban mechanism

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Confusion continues as to the exact legal means by which the government proscribed the Liberation Tigers. The Attorney General's Department, the secretary of defence and the ministry of justice denied any knowledge of the procedure adopted in banning the LTTE.
Full story >>

Unemployed graduates to protest

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Members of the Unemployed Graduates Union of Batticaloa (UGUB), will do a 'sit-in' demonstration before the Gandhi statue in Batticaloa town tomorrow morning because the police has refused to grant them permission to hold a mass rally, said K Udayakumar, the deputy leader of the organisation.
Full story >>

Amnesty, ICRC condemn Kandy bomb

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have condemned Sunday's bomb explosion at the Dalada Maligawa.
Full story >>

SLA steps up Jaffna security

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A car with election monitors from the NGO backed PAFFREL was checked by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for bombs at Bangalavedi Junction in Velanai while more rigorous security measures came into force at checkpoints in other parts of Jaffna town, said sources in the peninsula.
Full story >>

Most voting cards not claimed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Of the approximately 12,000 poll cards sent to the postmaster of Kayts, an island northwest of the Jaffna peninsula, only 3000 have been issued up to 2.00 p.m. today, postal department sources told the TamilNet correspondent.
Full story >>

Civilians killed by SLA fire

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two civilians were killed by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) last night around 8:30 p.m., when soldiers mistook them for members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at Kiran near Valaichenai, 30 km north of Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Police given deadline

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Colombo high court judge N.Ramachandran directed the Sri Lankan Police yesterday to produce LTTE leader Velupillai Pirabakaran, his intelligence chief Pottu Amman and eight others in courts on February 27, 1998 in connection with the Central Bank bomb blast on January 31, 1996.
Full story >>

ACHC condemns attack on temples

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The All Ceylon Hindu Congress (ACHC) issued a statement today condemning the incidents in Kandy last Sunday in which Hindu temples had been damaged.
Full story >>

Calls for Gen. Ratwatte's resignation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An effigy of Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte was burnt in Colombo this afternoon by demonstrators who were demanding his resignation over the bomb blast in Kandy.
Full story >>

President appeals for 'valuable' vote

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Leaflets from Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga exhorting the people of Jaffna to cast their vote at the forthcoming local elections are being distributed from today by the Sri Lanka Army, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Tigers attack STF patrol

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked a Special Task Force (STF) patrol in the Ampara district last evening killing four STF commandos including an officer and a reserve Police constable.
Full story >>

Sri Lanka govt. bans the LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government has banned the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The ban was announced over the state media tonight.
Full story >>

MIA demonstration turns unruly

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A demonstration this morning in front of the ICRC head office in Colombo by a crowd said to be the kith and kin of Sri Lankan army soldiers who have gone missing in action in Mullaithivu and other battles with the Liberation Tigers turned unruly as some demonstrators began pelting stones at the delegation buildings.
Full story >>

Ten Batticaloa traders missing

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Ten milk traders from the western hinterland of Batticaloa who went to collect milk near the Sinhala border yesterday have gone missing said sources in the eastern town.
Full story >>

Police attack civilians in retaliation

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A shop was destroyed and several others nearby damaged by the Sri Lankan Police in Kaluwanchikudy, 20 kilometers south of Batticaloa, after two of their colleagues were shot dead by the Liberation Tigers this morning around 8.30 a.m.
Full story >>

SLA claims 4 Tigers killed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA claimed today that it killed 4 Liberation Tigers, including two women members, who had infiltrated its defence at Nedunkerni around 2.30 p.m.
Full story >>

Truck bomb at planned celebration venue

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan Police say that a truck with bomb was rammed into Daladamaligava, planned location of Sri Lankas independence day celebrations in Kandy, this morning at 6 am. The Police say 8 people including the two bombers were killed.
Full story >>

Senior election official and team in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
17 election officers including Mr. Mahinda Desapiriya, a very senior official from the Commissioner of Elections, arrived in Jaffna today.
Full story >>

20 detainees injured in road accident

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
20 civilians arrested in a cordoned and search operation in the villages in the Valaichenai area, north of Batticaloa, were wounded when the tractor they were being transported to Peythalai SLA camp rolled over with its trailer, this morning at 10.30 a.m.
Full story >>

EPDP cadres blamed for firing

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The ex-EPDP member of the parliament Mr. R. Ramamurthy lodged a complaint with the Sri Lankan Police at Kaytes today that he was shot at by a group of heavily armed EPDP cadres at his mother's residence on Suruvuil road, Karampan, at around 12.45 p.m. this afternoon.
Full story >>

Tigers confirm attack on EPDP camp

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers claimed today that they had overrun and burnt down the EPDP's camp in Punguduthivu on Friday. The Voice of Tigers radio said in its morning news bulletin today that 9 EPDP cadres were also killed in the attack which lasted only 5 minutes.
Full story >>

SLA imposes travel restrictions on teenagers

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA has placed further restrictions on Tamil boys and girls from travelling to Colombo. Earlier, boys and girls between the age of 14 and 21 could travel to Colombo on the basis of priority letters recommended by the Grama Sevakas (village officers) in their respective areas of residence.
Full story >>

Communal violence in Kandy

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Communal violence broke out in Kandy, about 110 km from Colombo, this after noon when Sinhalese mobs went on rampage damaging several Tamil shops and burning one completely. Kattukalai Hindu temple was also attacked by the mob. The large Hindu cultural hall in Kandy was also attacked by the mobs which beat up Tamils gathered there for weddings.
Full story >>

Suresh case adjourned

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A hearing on the merits of stay order on the deportation of Tamil activist, Mr. Manickavasagam Suresh, which took place yesterday was adjourned till Monday. Mr. Suresh's lawyer Ms. Barbara Jackman presented his case.
Full story >>

EPDP preparing for massive rigging

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The EPRLF accused the EPDP today of setting the stage for a major rigging operation in the Jaffna local polls by collecting the polling cards of persons in the Gurunagar area who are either dead or are resident abroad.
Full story >>

Batticaloa prisoners transfered to Kalutara

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan prison authorities removed 60 Tamil political prisoners from the Batticaloa jail to the Kalutara prison at noon yesterday. The prisoners were taken in a covered bus to Colombo.
Full story >>

Mud flies in Jaffna campaigns

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The propaganda for the Jaffna local polls took an acrimonious turn with the main contenders attacking each other of human rights abuses and corruption. The PLOTE put out a pamphlet today accusing the EPDP of massacring 72 Tamil youths who were taken away by the group when it moved into Allaipiddy, in the island of Kayts with the Sri Lankan army in late 1990.
Full story >>

Search operation in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army launched a cordon and search operation in Thavady, Kokkuvil and Pirambady in Jaffna from the early hours of the morning today. The operation went on till noon said sources in Jaffna. No details of those arrested and detained were known.
Full story >>

SLA operation in Jaffna blocked: LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army launched a large clearing operation from Eluthumadduvaal in the Thenmaradchi division of Jaffna to Nagar Kovil in Jaffna's south eastern coast yesterday.
Full story >>

Judge demands to see detainees

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The young district judge in Mannar took on the police and military authorities of the area today by insisting that they inform him of all arrests made by them once a fortnight and enable him to visit the detainees once a month, said legal sources in Mannar.
Full story >>

EPDP wounded brought to Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The EPDP admitted to the Jaffna general hospital this morning, six of its cadres who were wounded in the predawn attack by the Liberation Tigers on it positions in the island of Punguduthivu.
Full story >>

Three lorries taken from Yala

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A group of heavily armed persons took away three lorries around midnight yesterday on the Kadirgamam (Kattaragama in Sinhalese) - Buttala road at a place called Galgeywanguwa near the Yala national wildlife park about 260 kilometers south of Colombo.
Full story >>

SLA defacing election posters - Tamil groups

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Representatives of the Tamil groups fighting local government elections in Jaffna met officers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna, to lodge complaints about the military defacing election posters and other problems, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

TULF's first campaign meeting today

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The TULF will hold its first campaign meeting for the Jaffna municipal council elections this evening around 4 p.m. at the Gandhi community centre in Ariyalai, a large suburb of the Jaffna town. The party spokeman Mr. Anandasangari will address the meeting said TULF sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Returned cards reflect missing residents

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Of the 92,858 polling cards supplied by the Commissioner of Elections to the post offices in the Jaffna Municipal Council (MC) and the Nallur Pradheshiya Sabha (PS) for distribution among the voters of the two local council areas, only 23,399 cards have been distributed, the chief post-master of the Jaffna District Mr. Abraham Kodeeswaran told the TamilNet correspondent. The balance has been returned.
Full story >>

Kachcheri to be counting centre

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
All senior officers of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) in the peninsula were told by the Commissioner of Elections today to report at the Jaffna Kachcheri on January 27th, two days before the local government elections in the Peninsula, said Kachcheri sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Mine hits police jeep in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Police patrol jeep was hit by a claymore mine this morning around 11.30 a.m. at Siruppiddy junction on the Jaffna - Pt. Pedro road between Atchuvely and Neervely said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

EPDP seeking new office

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The EPDP on the Delft (Nedunthivu), island off Jaffna, is looking for a new office cum camp, after the Sri Lankan Police moved in to the building occupied by them thus far.
Full story >>

SLAF says LTTE boats destroyed

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan airforce claimed today that its Kfir bombers had blown up five water jets belonging to the Liberation Tigers in the Mullaithivu lagoon around noon yesterday.
Full story >>

EPRLF cadres face Tiger music

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A group of Eelam Peoples' Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) members, hard on the campaign trail for the forthcoming local government elections in Jaffna, were stopped by LTTE members on the Kopai- Urumpirai road yesterday, said residents.
Full story >>

TULF's first campaign meeting tomorrow

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The TULF will hold its first campaign meeting for the Jaffna municipal council elections tomorrow evening around 4 p.m. at the Gandhi community centre in Ariyalai, a large suburb of the Jaffna town. The party spokeman Mr. Anandasangari will address the meeting said TULF sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Gala independence celebration planned in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army is making preparations to celebrate the golden jubilee of Sri Lanka's independence from British rule in Jaffna town on February 4.
Full story >>

LTTE to help AWOL soldier get home - paper

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers are expected to help a soldier of the Sri Lankan Army return home soon, said the 'Thinamurasu' the largest selling Tamil weekly in Sri Lanka which hit the streets today.
Full story >>

Man commits suicide after assault

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A young man, Sivakumaran (30), committed suicide in distress after being assaulted by members of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) who had beaten him up for condemning TELO activists for killing a youth in cold blood in Aaraipattai seven kilometers south of Batticaloa, said sources in that village.
Full story >>

Ratwatte visits Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's deputy minister for defence, Gen. Anurudha Ratwatte flew to Jaffna this morning to inspect security arrangements for the forthcoming local government polls.
Full story >>

Several arrests in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
21 people were arrested in 3 separate incidents in Vavuniya on Monday and Tuesday said sources in Vavuniya.
Full story >>

LTTE condemns use of its name

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"Some Tamil parties contesting the local government polls in Jaffna are using our name to their advantage to woo the people. We strongly condemn this. We have nothing to do with anyone contesting this election" said Veeman, the deputy leader of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers for the Jaffna district during an interview with the TamilNet correspondent.
Full story >>

Massive search operation in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 1500 soldiers from the SLA camps which dot the strategic Valaichenai junction, 30 k.m north of Batticaloa, launched a massive search operation in five Tamil villages in the area.
Full story >>

Civilians assaulted by police, soldiers

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A tractor driver at Kalwanchikudi town, about 20 km south of Batticaloa was severely assaulted by the Sri Lankan Police this morning for leaving his tractor unattended, scaring them that a bomb was concealed in it, said sources in Kalawanchikudi.
Full story >>

SLA says shot men were robbers

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army in Jaffna claimed today that they shot dead two persons suspected to be robbers last night in Aanaikoddai, behind Thaavady and near the Perumal Kovil in Jaffna town. The identity of the two persons has not been established said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

EPDP camp stormed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers stormed an EPDP camp on the island of Punkuduthivu off Jaffna in the early hours today killing 7 EPDP cadres. The attack which started at 1 a.m in the morning went on until 5 a.m, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Civilian areas being shelled at night

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) keeps on firing mortars into the densely populated areas of Valaichenai 30 km north of Batticaloa almost every night despite the mounting civilian toll, said sources in Valaichenai.
Full story >>

Refugees without food for weeks

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Refugees from Karadiyanaaru on the Chenkaladi - Badulla Road, 30 km northwest of Batticaloa, settled in Aiyankerni and the 4th ward of Eravur about 14 km north Batticaloa have not been supplied with dry rations since last month, said sources from Eravur.
Full story >>

Wage crisis brewing in tea industry

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's vital plantation industry will be paralysed the day after the country celebrates the golden jubilee of it independence from British rule on February 4, if a crisis brewing over a wage hike demanded by workers in the sector is not resolved by the end of this month, said trade union sources today.
Full story >>

War zone school remains closed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Karuvarkerni Vikneswara Viththiyalayam at Valaichenai, 30 km north of Batticaloa, has remained closed for the past two weeks because of the danger posed to school children by the intense military activity in the area.
Full story >>

Civilians wounded by SLA shelling

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three civilians were wounded in Valaichenai 30 km north of Batticaloa when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelled the densely populated Tamil areas of the town from the Fisheries Harbour Camp around 10 p.m. last night.
Full story >>

Teenage refugee assaulted in SLA camp

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A girl arrested by the SLA from the refugee camp at Poonthottam in Vavuniya on Sunday January 18 and released last morning was admitted to the Vavuniya hospital with complaints of internal pains later.
Full story >>

Government restricting medical supplies - Jaffna hospital

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The callousness of both the Sri Lankan Government and the army, has contributed to the rise in the incidence of Malaria in the Jaffna Peninsula, said hospital sources in Jaffna.
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Government cuts off Valaichenai refugee aid

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Government has stopped supplying emergency relief and food stamps to Tamil refugee families settled at Vinayagapuram in Valaichenai 30 km north of Batticaloa, said Kachcheri sources in Batticaloa.
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Shot man was cattle trader

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The person who was shot dead by the SLA yesterday behind the Sittandy Murugan temple as a member of the Liberation Tigers was identified this morning as a 30 year cattle trader.
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Senior doctor says government ignoring health crisis

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Director of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Dr. Sivasubramaniam has accused the Sri Lankan Government of turning a blind eye to the alarming deterioration in the health conditions in Jaffna District, said sources in Jaffna.
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Civilian movement into Vavuniya discouraged

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Civilians of Mannar visiting Vavuniya town were refused the normal one week pass today by the Sri Lankan Police. Instead the Police said that only one day passes to stay in Vavuniya could be granted to them from today.
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Jaffna polls to influence asylum applications - paper

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Uthayan, the only daily news paper published in Jaffna, citing embassy sources in Colombo, said that western countries are likely to expedite the processes relating to the repatriation of Tamil asylums seekers there.
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PLOTE condemns planned deportation

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The PLOTE issued a statement this weekend in Jaffna strongly opposing the deportation of Suresh manickavasagam to Sri Lanka from Canada.
Full story >>

Batticaloa youth shot dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army at Morakottanchenai, about 22 kilometers north of Batticaloa, shot dead a youth this morning around 10 a.m. whom it claimed was a member of the Liberation Tigers.
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Suresh's deportation postponed

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The planned deportation of the Tamil activist, Mr. Suresh Manickavasagam was postponed today following a stay order issued by the Ontario Provincial Court. The stay order was issued following last minute hearing. Mr. Suresh's deportation was scheduled for this evening.
Full story >>

EPRLF procession draws interest

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The EPRLF went on a propaganda procession this morning around 9 a.m. with about three hundred people on bicycles in the Jaffna municipality limits. The procession was led by the EPRLF's mayoral candidate Robert who was accompanied by the group's leader Suresh Premachandran.
Full story >>

SLA strips election posters

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army cordoned and searched the Kovilkandy and Navatkuli area in Jaffna early this morning. All males between the age of 12 and 40 were taken to Navakuli church where they were screened.
Full story >>

Tamil groups step up campaigning

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A handbill asking the people to reject the Local government elections in Jaffna was widely distributed there. The handbill was issued in the name of patriots (Thesapakthar).
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New restrictions on Batticaloa traffic

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
All lorries from Batticaloa to Colombo will be detained for 24 hours at Manampittiya and will be released to proceed to Colombo only after vehicles are searched by the Sri Lankan Army and the Police. This new rule came to effect last Friday.
Full story >>

SLA operation in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army from the Valaichenai paper mill camp and the near by Naavaladi SLA camp went on a special operation Saturday morning around 6 a.m. in to the island of Naasivanthivu, Raalodai and Vettuvan, about 30 km north of Batticaloa.
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SLA says Tiger member shot

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA in Jaffna claimed today that they shot dead a LTTE member at Atchelu, in Valigamam division in Jaffna Friday night, at 10.15 p.m.
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Vanni returnee shot dead

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA claimed today that they shot dead a LTTE suspect and arrested another near Perumal Kovil (temple), in Jaffna, last night between 10.30 and 11.00 p.m. But sources in Jaffna said that the dead person has been identified as Velupillai Pavananthan, 27, father of 3 children.
Full story >>

Polling cards distributed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Polling cards for the Local Government elections in the Jaffna peninsula were distributed today, except for the Jaffna Municipal council and Waligamam north Pradeshiya Sabha.
Full story >>

SLA patrol ambushed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers ambushed a Sri Lankan army patrol in the Yala wild life sanctuary in the south-eastern corner of the island yesterday. Sources said that there was a firefight between both sides.
Full story >>

Canadian court rejects stay order request

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Canadian Federal Court rejected today the appeal filed by the Lawyers acting for Suresh Manickavasagam, a tamil activist, against his planned deportation to Sri Lanka from Canada on January 19.
Full story >>

Planned deportation takes toll on family, friends

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The planned deportation of Mr. Manickavasagam Suresh, a Tamil activist from Canada, is taking its toll on his friends and a family. A Catholic priest who visited Mr. Suresh suffered a heart attack whilst talking to him Thursday evening. In Britain, Suresh's family are becoming increasingly concerned as the planned date, January 19, nears.
Full story >>

Poster pasters panic

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An unidentified Tamil group attempting to paste election posters at Kalvayal on the Perunkulam Road in the Chavakachcheri area in Jaffna, was chased away by armed persons suspected to be members of the Liberation Tigers this afternoon around 4.00 p.m.
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Navy collecting EPDP signs, banners?

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The campaign for the local polls in Jaffna is not without its lighter moments, though the EPDP might not agree. The sign board announcing the Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party office at Sithankerny junction was dismantled and carried away by unkown persons last night.
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TELO courts LTTE supporters in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) held its first election meeting at Kailaasapillaiyar Kovil near the Jaffna town today. TELO leader and Mayoral candidate for the Jaffna municipal council M. K Sivajilingam addressed the meeting.
Full story >>

Government indifferent to war zone students' hardship

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The cut off marks for admission to Sri Lankan universities, released to the press last evening by the Ministry of Education, shows the indifference of the authorities for the trials and hardship of the people living in the northeast, said Ministry of Education sources today.
Full story >>

Candidates can't carry weapons - SLA commander

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Security Forces Commander for Jaffna, Major General Lionel Balagalle informed representatives of political parties fighting the forthcoming local government elections in the Jaffna Peninsula today, that no one would be allowed to carry weapons in the Peninsula till the elections are concluded, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

LTTE marks Kittu's anniversary

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers are commemorating the fifth death anniversary of Sathasivam Krishnakumar (Kittu) who was their Jaffna commander in 1985-87 in the Paduvankarai region in Batticaloa today.
Full story >>

TULF to join election race

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The court of appeal rejected today, the counter-plaint filed by the PLOTE against the TULF's plaint, challenging the rejection of its nomination list to the Jaffna local government polls.
Full story >>

STF warns village residents

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil village of Puthukkudiyiruppu, about 10 kilometers south of Batticaloa was rounded up this morning by the Special Task Force.
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PLOTE being lobbied over writ

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The counter-plaint filed by the DPLF against the TULF's plaint, challenging the rejection of TULF's nomination lists to the local government polls, which was taken up for hearing today in the Sri Lanka's court of appeal has been postponed to tomorrow, said legal sources in Colombo.
Full story >>

Detainees face more severe conditions

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Conditions for detainees arrested under the Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) have been made more severe by stringent new restrictions on prison visits introduced by the Sri Lanka Government, said Tamil legal sources today.
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Thousand detained in Vavuniya round up

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than one thousand Tamil civilians were detained in a massive search operation by the Sri Lankan Army and the Police in Vavuniya and its suburbs today.
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Suresh removed to undisclosed location

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Manickavasagam Suresh, a Tamil activist facing deportation from Canada, has been removed from the Don Jail in Toronto where he has been held for over two years, to an undisclosed location, said sources close to his lawyers.
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Crooked cops arrested - with stolen goods

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Police officer and three Police constables were arrested near Anuradhapura on Tuesday January 13 while transporting furniture and electrical goods removed from the homes of Tamil civilians who fled Omanthai, six kilometers north of Vavuniya, in May last year when the SLA launched Operation Jayasikurui to take control of the Vavuniya - Jaffna highway.
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LTTE can't be ignored - Jaffna GA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Government Agent of Jaffna told the Deputy High Commissioner for Australia in Sri Lanka Lorraine Barker, who met him at the Jaffna Kachcheri today that he has to take into consideration the interests of Liberation Tigers as well as those of the Sri Lankan army while carrying out his official duties.
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Fisherman badly wounded

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Muslim fisherman was severely wounded by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) firing early this morning at Miravodai, near Ottamavadi, 25 km north of Batticaloa, said sources in Valaichenai. The youth, identified as M. Mustapha, was out fishing in the Valaichenai lagoon when he was shot through his testicles by the army.
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Tigers still said holding Kanakarayan Kulam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Troops of Operation Jayasikurui ('Victory Assured' in Sinhalese) contrary to Sri Lanka Government (SLG) claim last week that Kanakarayan Kulam had come under the military's control, are still two kilometers from the strategic town on the A-9 and have to cross Kanakarayan Aaru (river), to reach their goal, said sources in Vavuniya today.
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Concern over polling cards' storage

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Members of political parties contesting the local government in Jaffna protested against the decision of the postal department to keep polling cards at post offices for collection by voters.
Full story >>

Search operation in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A large area in the Waligamam division of Jaffna including Paashaiyoor, Koyyathottam, Aanaikotai, Thattartheru, Kokkuvil and Kalatti were cordoned and searched by the army form early morning until this afternoon, said sources in Jaffna.
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Hindu priest denied access to new library

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Soldiers guarding a checkpoint near the venue of the opening ceremony of the temporary Jaffna Library this morning harassed a Hindu priest and political activists, said Jaffna sources.
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Temporary Jaffna library opened

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The temporary Jaffna Public Library was opened this noon by Sri Lanka's media minister Mr.Mangala Samaraweera under very heavy multi-layered security.
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SLFP disowns keen candidate

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Minister for Media Mangala Samaraweera, dissociated the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Sudu Nelum Movementor (SNM) White Lotus Movement, from the actions of Mr. Mangala Nesan a candidate for the forthcoming local government elections in the north, said press sources in Jaffna.
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Youth shot at while fishing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Tamil youth, S. Sivakumar (17), was severely wounded when he was shot by soldiers while he was fishing at the Valaichenai lagoon, at 6.00 p.m. today, said sources in Valachenai.
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STF patrol ambushed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers ambushed a Special Task Force patrol last evening near the Thuraineelavanai junction, about 26 kilometers south of Batticaloa, killing a military informant identified only as Kannan. None of the STF personnel in the patrol were injured, said sources today.
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Elderly woman killed by SLA fire

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Palippodi Ponnammma, a seventy year old woman was fatally injured last evening in indiscriminate SLA firing from the Kommaithurai camp which is about thirteen miles north of Batticaloa.
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Women arrested over leaflets

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The police took into custody Jayanthi Ranjani (32) and her sister R. Selvi, (22) at a checkpoint near St. John's College Jaffna last evening said Catholic church sources in Jaffna.
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'Motorbike' and Razeek groups search Kallady

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Dutch Bar in Kallady village on the outskirts of the Batticaloa town, was cordoned off and searched by the 'motorbike group' of the Sri Lankan army, with the assistance of the Razeek group today.
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Parents protest to Human Rights Commision

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Parents of 23 persons who disappeared after they were arrested by the army in villages in the Thenmaradchi Division of the Jaffna Peninsula in July last year, lodged their complaints with the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna town yesterday.
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LTTE to release 2 SLA captives

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Keethan, the political wing leader of the Liberation Tigers in the Batticaloa district told a visiting peace delegation led by Mr. Wasala Bandara, the head of Organisation for the Protection of Democratic Rights,a peace NGO based in Colombo that two SLA soldiers in the LTTE's custody will be released on Jan 15. The peace delegation visited Batticaloa on Saturday, January 10.
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Reluctant official threatened by SLA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A top local government administrator of the Jaffna Municipal Council was threatened with arrest yesterday for refusing to cooperate with the Sri Lankan Army in connection with a major state function to be held tomorrow in the Jaffna town, said sources in the peninsula.
Full story >>

EPRLF election hopes restored?

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Elections Commissioner told the court of appeal this afternoon that he will take the necessary administrative measures to allow the EPRLF to contest the five local government bodies in Jaffna, the group's nominations papers to which he had rejected last month on technical grounds.
Full story >>

SLA fire wounds student - again

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A school student, K. Prabhaharan, was wounded for the second time in the course of a month in the SLA's indiscriminate fire in the Valaichenai area last evening.
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New Police Station on Delft

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police (IGP) W.B Rajaguru said today that he is taking steps to establish a Police station in the Delft island (Nedunthivu) with the assistance of the Navy. The IGP visited Jaffna this week to assess the situation and consult with his officers there about security arrangements for the polls during the campaign and on the day of the polls.
Full story >>

Canadian Tamils mount vigil in arctic conditions

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A vigil against the planned deportation of Mr. Suresh Manickavasagam to Sri Lanka continued today. A large number of Tamils, including some on hunger strike, protested for the third consecutive day in front of the Don jail where Mr. Suresh is being held, despite the freezing conditions that Canada is experiencing now.
Full story >>

Two navy personnel killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked a Listening Post ahead of Operation Jayasikurui defences at Periyamadu last night killing two Navy personnel deployed there.
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MoD reiterates claim

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan army sources in Vavuniya reiterated today that a group of special commandos had broken through the defences of the Liberation Tigers at Kanakarayan Kulam yesterday.
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Voting cards to be distributed

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Elections Commission's branch in Jaffna will begin distributing poll cards to voters in the peninsula from January 18. Commission officials at the Jaffna Kachcheri say that people can obtain the cards by presenting their national identity cards at the government post offices in their areas.
Full story >>

SLA claims strategic junction is captured

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army said that troops of Operation Jayasikurui captured the strategic Kanakarayan Kulam junction this afternoon.
Full story >>

Campaigning to stop on January 26

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police in Jaffna called yet another meeting with the Tamil parties this morning to discuss arrangements for the forthcoming local polls.
Full story >>

Villagers harassed by Razeek group and SLA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three civilians were arrested and detained this morning in Batticaloa during a cordon and search operation by the army in Punnaichcholai, a village on the outskirts of the town.
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Breakaway EPDP faction said threatened

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The two breakaway MPs of the EPDP, K.Rameswaram and K. Ramamoorthy, lodged a complaint with the Jaffna police this afternoon that they had been surrounded and threatened by fully armed cadres of the EPDP.
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LTTE-SLA clash at Puththur

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked the SLA at Puththur junction in the Thenmaratchi division of the Jaffna peninsula this evening at 6.00pm said sources in Jaffna.
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Election monitoring NGOs meet public

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The seven member team of the two election monitoring NGOs which is currently in Jaffna to study the situation there before gearing up for the monitoring work on January 29, met with a cross section of civilians today to ascertain their views on the Jaffna local polls.
Full story >>

Con-man shot dead

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Tamil youth who had been masquerading as a member of the Liberation Tigers in the south-eastern town of Akkaraippattu was shot and seriously wounded by the Sri Lankan Police on Friday.
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SLA not disarming Tamil groups

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Tamil party sources in Jaffna said today that they see no indication of the SLA taking heed of the Sri Lankan elections Commissioner's announcement on Friday that all those contesting the local polls in the peninsula would be disarmed.
Full story >>

Jaffna Bishop rejects polls

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Catholic Bishop of Jaffna along with a group of senior clergymen declined to help the group monitoring local government elections in the peninsula today.
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Travel restrictions in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Measures adopted by the Sri Lankan army in the Vadamaradchi division of Jaffna to monitor and limit the people from the other parts of the peninsula into the region have made life difficult for many, including businessmen who are keen to expand their trade.
Full story >>

PLOTE cadre dies in hospital

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A member of an ex-militant group who escaped from the detention of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) died at the Batticaloa hospital yesterday, said sources in the East.
Full story >>

ICRC office robbed, guard killed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Unidentified persons broke into the Vavuniya branch office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the early hours of the morning today after tying up and knifing to death the security who was on duty there.
Full story >>

Lawyers file stay order request

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Lawyers acting for Suresh Manickavasagam have filed an appeal today, against his planned deportation to Sri Lanka from Canada on January 19, according to sources in Canada.
Full story >>

SLA 'motorcycle group' arrest Palameenmadu youth

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan soldiers and two hooded informants arrived on motorcycles and took away a youth at Palameenmadu, two km east of Batticaloa town around 6:00 p.m. this evening, said sources in Batticaloa.
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No foreign observers for Jaffna polls

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Election monitors from two Sri Lankan NGO networks, Peoples Action for a Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) and Movement for Free and Fair Election (MFFE) arrived in Jaffna today. The seven member team, which flew into Jaffna, is expected to meet the Jaffna Journalist Association on Sunday and the Tamil groups contesting the local government elections.
Full story >>

Jaffna Lawyers demand High Court

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A group of Lawyers in Jaffna demanded that a High Court be established in the peninsula forthwith, said legal sources in Jaffna.
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Opposition rejects government's ultimatum

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The UNP leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesignhe called a press conference this morning at his official residence to explain his party's position on the devolution process.
Full story >>

Shopkeeper beaten by STF troops

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) troops from the Puthukudiyiruppu camp assaulted a shopkeeper in Batticaloa town for refusing to accede to their unlawful demands.
Full story >>

Polling booths to be clustered at Tellipalai

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Polling booths from the high security zone, encompassing Palaly, Tellipalai, Kankesanthurai, Keerimalai, Maaviddapuram and Mayiliddy are to be clustered in Tellipalai, said sources in Jaffna. The booth cluster is to be at the Prisoners Rehabilitation Centre in the area.
Full story >>

NGO Consortium urges road opening

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The NGO Consortium of Jaffna has released a statement urging the Sri Lanka Government to reopen Brown Road, where the Open University and the Technical College of Jaffna are situated, said Consortium sources.
Full story >>

Suresh 'in danger' - Amnesty International

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Amnesty International said today that Mr. Suresh Manickavasagam "would be in danger of serious human rights violations, particularly torture", were he to be forcibly deported to Sri Lanka. The London-based human rights organization called for public appeals against Mr. Suresh's planned deportation from Canada.
Full story >>

Jaffna shops searched

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA cordoned off and searched the heart of Jaffna town yesterday from 8.45 a.m. The military cordoned off the area between Hospital street near Vembadi junction and Stanley Road said sources in Jaffna. The search was carried out in the shops of the area. No one was detained.
Full story >>

Navy to retain residents' cameras

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
New regulations have been introduced recently by the Sri Lankan Navy at Karainagar that all privately owned cameras have to be handed over to the nearest security point or camp, in the island said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Grenade thrown at DPLF members

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A grenade was thrown at four persons from the Democratic Peoples Liberation Front (DPLF) traveling in a trishaw between Siththankerni and Valakumbarai on the Chulipuram Road, 18 km north of Jaffna town yesterday, said sources in Jaffna. There were no casualties.
Full story >>

Canada to deport Suresh

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Canadian government intends to deport a Tamil activist, Mr. Suresh Manickavasagam, to Sri Lanka, despite fears that his life would be at risk there, said a Tamil expatriate organization today, which called for public appeals against the move.
Full story >>

TULF,PLOTE plaints could delay elections

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A counter - plaint filed yesterday in Sri Lanka's court of appeal by the DPLF (political front of the PLOTE) against the TULF's plaint challenging the rejection of its nomination lists to the local government polls in Jaffna might develop a technical snag in holding the elections as scheduled said legal sources today.
Full story >>

SLA fire hits Karuvakerni school

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A child playing in the premises of the Karuvakerni school was injured by heavy mortar fire from SLA camp in Valaichenai, Tuesday evening. Karuvakerni is a Tamil village on the outskirts of the strategic Valaichenai town which straddles the vital Main Supply Route to Batticaloa at the junction where it turns south.
Full story >>

Three Tigers killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said last night that three Liberation Tigers were killed in a sudden confrontation with the SLA early morning on Jan. 3 at Maravanpulavu in the Thenmaradchi division of Jaffna.
Full story >>

SLA patrol ambushed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four SLA soldiers were killed and three wounded when the Liberation Tigers ambushed a routine army patrol from the Valaichenai fisheries harbour camp early this morning around 6.15 a.m.
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Government gives opposition ultimatum over package

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The PA government will implement its devolution package before June when the provincial council elections are due said Prof. G.L Pieris, deputy minister for finance and minister for constitutional affairs at the weekly cabinet press briefing this morning.
Full story >>

Poor medical facilities in southern Mullaitivu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
For people living in and around Kumulamunai in the remote jungles of southern Mullaithivu falling ill is a nightmare when it comes to finding someone who can treat them.
Full story >>

EPDP undemocratic - EPRLF, DPLF

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A war of statements and counter-statements erupted in the Uthayan, the only newspaper published in Jaffna, when the Democratic Peoples Liberation Front (DPLF) and the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) came out strongly against the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) for blocking other Tamil groups from campaigning for the forthcoming local government elections in the islands off the Jaffna peninsula.
Full story >>

SLA positions prevent return of Kayts displaced

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Government officials in Velanai, in Kayts said today that resttlement of civilians in the area is still not possible due the army's positions in the area. The Sri Lankan army is currently occupying the Velanai central college. The army has closed the road between Bangalawady and Puliyankoodal.
Full story >>

Search operation after Eravur bomb

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army and the Police cordoned off and searched division 5 of Eravur, about fifteen kilometers from Batticaloa this morning, after a powerful time bomb went off in the area.
Full story >>

Sinhala doctors complete northern tour

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sinhala doctors from southern Sri Lanka who have completed their six month stint at the hospitals in the peninsula are to be transferred to the south, said sources in Jaffna, yesterday. Letters notifying the transfers have already been sent from the Health Department.
Full story >>

Vavuniya military policeman shot dead

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Military Policeman (MP) of the Sri Lankan army was shot dead this morning in Vavuniya around 8.30 a.m. by a lone attacker.
Full story >>

Transit clearance arrangements changed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Any civilians coming from the LTTE controlled Vanni into areas held by the Sri Lankan Army via Uyilankulam will be sent directly to Vavuniya from today rather than having to wait in Mannar for clearance, said Kachcheri sources in Vavuniya.
Full story >>

Soldiers' dispute ends in deaths

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A corporal and a soldier were killed at the SLA's Thallady base in the Mannar district over a dispute on Sunday night said army sources today.
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Unprecedented rain in the north

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Floods in the Vanni have brought water levels in the reservoirs to spill level and disrupted transport in the area, said officials of the Department of Irrigation in Vavuniya.
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Tamil groups squabble at military meeting

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Brig. C.M Thilakaratna who is in charge of the SLA's civil administration division in Jaffna called separate meetings with the Tamil parties contesting the local polls today to discuss propaganda facilities.
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STF operation in Mandur

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Special Task Force (STF) in Mandur, about thirty kilometers southeast of Batticaloa, launched an operation this morning around 11 a.m. in the direction of Vellaveli which is four kilometers north of their base.
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Dozens die of malaria in Mullaitivu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four persons at the Mulangavil Ilaiyaval settlement were among the 42 persons who died from Malaria in the Mullaitivu District last month, said sources in Vavuniya. Among the 42, nine were infants under one year.
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Tamil groups promise to behave

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil parties contesting the Jaffna local government polls signed an agreement in Colombo today with the People's Alliance for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), an election monitoring NGO, amidst strong doubts in many quarters whether any of the document's clauses would be honoured in practice.
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SLA says it killed Tiger activist

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army claimed that it had killed an activist of the Liberation Tigers last evening in Palai, in Jaffna during a shootout.
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Residents fearful of further reprisals

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The situation in Veeramunai continues to be tense as friends and colleagues ofthe Muslim Homeguard shot dead by the Liberation Tigers have threatened the people here with severe retaliation.
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Mullaitivu residents to fund local schools

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Parents and well wishers have collected 191,000 rupees through the Peoples' Welfare Society of Mullaitivu to repair the Kallappaadu and Vattuvakal schools, which were damaged by shelling and bombing between 1990 and 1996, said sources in Vavuniya.
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Kilinochchi GA replaced

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A new Government Agent (GA) to the Kilinochchi district was appointed with effect from December 27 last year, said sources in Vavuniya. Government agent Mr. Thillainadaraja was transferred as Director, Ministry of Hindu Culture.
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Two Tigers killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VOT) radio said today that two of the LTTE operatives in Jaffna were killed in a confrontation with the Sri Lankan Army at Sarasalai, on Saturday, January 3.
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Breakaway EPDP faction avoids joint meeting

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Jaffna town commander Brigadier Susantha Mendis called all the Tamil groups for a discussion on security and related matters for the forthcoming local polls in the peninsula at his office this morning around 10 a.m.
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EPRLF put to flight

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
EPRLF cadres who were putting up the group's posters in Pidariyar Kovil at Thavady yesterday, for the forthcoming local government elections in Jaffna, were asked by the Liberation Tigers to leave the area.
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US delegation to visit Colombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A top level US government team will arrive in Colombo tomorrow to explore the possibility of evolving a peaceful solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka said foreign ministry sources today.
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AMPs go on token strike

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sick persons and patients in the LTTE controlled western hinterland of Batticaloa will be hard hit tomorrow as the only rural hospital serving the region will be closed down tomorrow as Assistant Medical Practitioners (AMPs) go on an island wide token strike tomorrow.
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Veeramunai tense after killings

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Veeramunai, a Tamil village about 35 kilometers south of Batticaloa, in the Ampara district, is reported to be tense today following the retaliatory killing of two youths last night by armed persons alleged to be Muslim home guards.
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Three youths shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A clash between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan Army was reported in the early hours of the morning at Thanankillapu, in Jaffna.
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Commandos destroyed SLAF chopper - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan air force Mi-17 irreparably damaged on Friday had been attacked by a Black Tiger unit which had penetrated SLA defences near Karipattamurippu, said the Liberation Tigers in a statement issued today.
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Decomposed body recovered

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of a fishmonger who was killed on December 26 by the Razeek group in retaliation to the killing of seven of its cadres by the Liberation Tigers was recovered today in a highly decomposed state.
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Civilians beaten up at STF camp

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 471 young boys and men who went to sign the weekly register for civilians arrested and released by the STF during cordon and search operations at the Kaluwanchikudy STF camp this morning were beaten up and made to stand in the rain in a mud pool for four hours.
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Tiger activity seen rising in SE Ampara

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers blasted protective structures built around transformers by the Special Task Force (an elite commando unit of the Sri Lankan security forces) in the early hours of the morning today in the villages of Kolavil, Aalaiyadivembu and division - 7 of Akkraippattu in the south eastern part of the Ampara district.
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Tamil groups must make people vote - police

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan police convened a meeting today at 10. a.m, with all the groups contesting the Jaffna local government elections, due on January 29. The specially appointed Assistant Elections Commissioner for Jaffna, who is yet to report to the Kachcheri, took part in the meeting. Senior Police officials in Jaffna Town were also present.
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New SLA Psy Ops in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Psy Ops (Psychological Operations) unit of the Sri Lankan army put up colour posters for the first time in Batticaloa today. The numerous psyops posters by the army in the past have been in black and white.
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Election booths to be clustered

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The elections commissioner's office in Jaffna said that there will be 404 polling booths in the Jaffna peninsula for the local government polls. The largest number of polling booths will be in the Waligamam east Pradeshiya Sabha (41) and the Waligamam north Pradeshiya Sabha (40).
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Tamils group seen exploiting cast in Jaffna election

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Community leaders in Jaffna and sections of the Tamil press deplored the spectre of casteism and a host of other social evils which they say are reappearing within Jaffna community, as the campaign for the local government elections gathers momentum in the peninsula. The Tamil groups are said to have selected candidates from castes which dominate constituencies in Jaffna.
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News in Brief

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The PLOTE opened an election campaign office in Delft today, Police in Jaffna has called all the parties contesting the local polls in Jaffna for a meeting tomorrow and 16 persons arrived at Kurunagar in Jaffna.
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Monsoon floods disrupts Jayasikurui again

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army made a fresh attempt to resume the final phase of the 'Operation Jayasikurui' this weak said sources in Vavuniya. However, the columns of the Sri Lankan Army could not advance as the heavy monsoon rains which resumed in the Vanni this weak impeded the movements of the military vehicles.
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127 Jaffna civilians hurt last year

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Medical authorities in the peninsula revealed today that 127 persons injured or dead in mines blasts and shooting incidents were brought to the Jaffna general hospital during 1997.
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SLA bans transport across Kinniyadi lagoon

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA banned transport across the Kinniyadi lagoon from January 1, after the Liberation Tigers took away some supplies which were sent from the Meeraodai SLA to the Kinniyadi SLA camp, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Fever spreads in Jaffna - typhoid feared

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An unidentified fever is spreading fast in the Jaffna district. Patients who are afflicted complain of fever which shoots up at night and lasts up to four days. This has brought about a two fold increase in the patients being treated at the OPD in the Jaffna hospital, said sources in Jaffna.
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Two Tigers killed - SLA

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army claimed that they had surprised and killed two armed operatives of the Liberation Tigers this morning around 10 a.m. while they were sleeping in a safe house in Madduvil, about eleven kilometers northeast of Jaffna town.
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Interns to take up Jaffna duty

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Twenty one interns who have been appointed to the Jaffna hospital will assume duties by the middle of this month said sources in Jaffna today. Of the 34 interns, 13 assumed duties last week.
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Sri Lankan intelligence officer commits suicide

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mudiyansalage Ananda Bandara Ratnayake (52), from the Military Intelligence camp in Batticaloa, committed suicide by shooting himself at around 12.00 noon yesterday.
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Kayts elections to be sober - army

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The sale of liquor has been banned in Kayts from today in order to maintain law and order during the forthcoming local government polls, the Sri Lankan army told the Tamil groups this morning.
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SLAF Helicopter damaged

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An airforce Mi-17 helicopter was heavily damaged by LTTE fire while it was attempting to land at the Olumadu SLA camp around 2.30 this afternoon. Seven soldiers in the helicopter were wounded, according to intial unconfirmed reports from Vavuniya.
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Over quarter of a million treated at Mullaitivu

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Mullaithivu hospital treated 262263 people in 1997 said sources in the Vanni. Of these 336 died. The largest number of cases was admitted during the months of November and December they said.
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SLA deserters provoke alert

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police in the island's southern district went on alert from the early hours of the morning yesterday for three SLA deserters and their thirty member gang which shot dead a Police constable and wounded three Policemen and an armed auxiliary force guard on new year's eve. The gang got away with two assault rifles and ammunition.
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Batticaloa police post attacked

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One policeman was wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked a police post at Kaluwanchikudi, 25 km. south of Batticaloa town on the Batticaloa - Kalmunai road around 12.45 p.m. today.
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Hepatitis among Jaya Sikirui troops

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army commander initiated a program last week to control the spread of hepatitis - B among his soldiers deployed in the Jayasikurui Operation in the Vanni. More than thousand soldiers have been admitted to the Anuradhapura hospital in the first phase of this program. 5620 soldiers at the front were injected with the vaccine for Hepatitis -B.
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Outlook for Jaffna fishermen remains bleak

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Jaffna fisheries department sources said today that proposals announced by the Sri Lankan government on December 28, 1997 to develop the Jaffna fishing industry would founder due to the current restrictions placed by the Sri Lankan army and navy on lagoon and deep sea fishing in and around the peninsula.
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Fishmongers apprehensive over SLA order

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan military has ordered fishmongers at the Sithandy market to move their stalls opposite the Morakkottanchenai SLA camp. The order was issued by a Tamil informant for the SLA who wields some influence in the area.
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Seven SLA soldiers killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Seven Sri Lankan soldiers were killed and twenty were wounded when the Liberation Tigers fired heavy artillery on Operation Jayasikurui's forward defences at Olumadu last night said army sources in Vavuniya today.
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Government delays Monthly allowances for medical staffs

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Monthly allowances to hospital registrars, doctors working in the OPD and nurses in the central hospital at Puthukudiyiruppa, in the Mullaitivu District have been delayed by the Government in recent months.
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Chinese Arms to bolster Jayasikurui - Radio

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A weapon ship from China is proceeding towards Sri Lanka to beef up the local military before Operation Jayasikurui's final push towards Kilinochchi, according to Voice of Tigers broadcast (VOT) last night.
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Vanni officials seen discriminated against

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Government officers are compelled to work under severe constrains in the North, especially in the Vanni area, said sources in the Vanni. They charged that that senior government administrators such as government agents (GA), additional government agents (AGA) and grama sevakas (village level government employees) were subjected to pressures which government employees in other areas did not have to face.
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Peaceful start to New Year - almost

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A powerful bomb went off near the Kattankudy - Araipattai (Ariyampathi) border this morning around 11.30 a.m. The area is about six kilometers south of Batticaloa town. No one was injured.
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