Tigers, SLA exchange artillery fire - VoT

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said this evening that from early morning yesterday till evening, the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan Army had exchanged artillery and mortar fire in the Mankulam area. Kfir aircraft of the SLAF also bombed civilian areas in the Mankulam area, the radio said.
Full story >>

Time bomb injures PLOTE cadre

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A timed explosive devise went off around 12 this noon in a tree under which the PLOTE has a forward sentry point at Vavunathivu, five kilometers north west of Batticaloa town, injuring a PLOTE cadre identified as Tharmalingam Asokan, 21 of Vavuniya. The PLOTE maintains a sentry point ahead of the army's last checkpoint near the Vavunathivu main camp.
Full story >>

Arrests over Dalada Maligava bombing

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A special team to investigate the Dalada Maligava bomb blast is currently in Batticaloa. The team has conducted inquires with the assistance of the Sri Lankan Army and is said to have arrested several civilians in Batticaloa.
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EPRLF calls for united front over PA package

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) sent out an invitation today to all Tamil groups for a discussion towards establishing a 'Tamil National Council' representing all of them. The letter of invitation was signed by the EPRLF leader, Mr. Suresh Premachandran.
Full story >>

Time bomb defused in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) defused a time bomb placed on the road about 25 feet from the police station at Kalladi, near Batticaloa town around 3.15 p.m. today, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Milkwhite reflects ailing industry in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
There is a tragic similarity between the production of Milk white soap and its manufacturer K. Kanagarajah. They are both no longer in active service. Their predicament is however representative of the malaise that ails the once thriving local industry of Jaffna.
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Sick detainee released on bail

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Additional Magistrate Mallakam, T. Ariyanayagam, released Selliah Navamany, 60, on a 5000Rs (USD 80) bail yesterday. Navamany who is ill and had been receiving treatment at the Jaffna hospital, had been arrested by the SLA for allegedly being in possession of a 'suspicious looking' diagram and had been scheduled to be transferred from the Jaffna prison to the Anuradhapura prison said legal sources in Jaffna.
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Bomb hoax at Jaffna library

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan security forces in Jaffna went on full alert this morning around 10 a.m. after receiving information that a powerful bomb had been planted in the premises of the newly opened Jaffna library.
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Twenty-eight released on bail

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Twenty eight persons detained at the Kalutara prison were released by the Anuradhapura Magistrate T. Costa, said sources in Anuradhapura. Of these, 16 were released on cash bail and 12 on surety bail. Those who could not raise the money to secure bail, were helped by a charity organisation.
Full story >>

For want of a leave form

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A shortage of goods, except perhaps military hardware, is not unnatural at times of war. However, one item which is much sought after in Jaffna today, is not usually among items which are scarce at times of strife. A simple piece of paper, the leave form, has a become a rare commodity in Sri Lankan government offices, eagerly sought after by aspiring leave-takers.
Full story >>

Soldier injured by friendly fire

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A SLA soldier was injured by friendly fire, in the Vavunatheevu main camp, 5 km northwest of Batticaloa by the western shore of the Batticaloa lagoon, when it was hit by mortar shells fired from one of its satellite camps 1 km to the east at about 11.30 a.m. this morning, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Sri Lankan police get deadline

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan policemen, already stretched in their combat support role with the Sri Lankan armed forces, were handed another curious burden yesterday by Colombo High Court Judge K. N. Ramachandran, when he asked them, with due judicial gravity, to produce in Court by May 18, eight persons, including LTTE leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran, Pottu Amman and Charles Master and five others said legal sources.
Full story >>

Indian Navy to salvage sunk ship

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Indian Navy will assist the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) to salvage 'Pabbatha', one of the two SLN ships sunk by the Liberation Tigers on Sunday, said SLN sources in Colombo today. They said that the landing craft might be salvaged either today or tomorrow.
Full story >>

Refugees tricked, then shot at

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A youth was killed and another injured Thursday night, when the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) opened fire at a group of 56 refugees from the Vanni who had been promised a passage to India by unscrupulous refugee runners but were put ashore in Thalaimannar where the Navy has patrol unit said sources in Mannar.
Full story >>

Fresh SLA thrust towards Mankulam

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA said that the troops of Operation Jayasikurui have begun a fresh thrust towards Mankulam from their current positions east, west and south of the strategic junction on the highway to Jaffna from Vavuniya.
Full story >>

Arrests over batteries

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A lorry driver and cleaner from Arasaditheevu 20 km southwest of Batticaloa were arrested by the Kalawanchikudy police on Saturday February 21, for transporting goods unofficially banned by the security forces from Kalmunai for an unidentified person, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Jaffna council to convene in March

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Ms. Sarojini Yogeswaran, the TULF's mayor designate of the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) told the Jaffna TamilNet correspondent today that she plans to convene the council in the first week of March.
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Hunger strike mother dies

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Ms. Aarumugam Thavamany (50) from Columbuthurai, near Jaffna town, who was grieving over the disappearance of her daughter for one and a half years, died from sickness induced by a long period of self-inflicted starvation, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Tamil groups restricted to one office each

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Top brass of the Sri Lankan army (SLA) have warned Tamil groups which hold power in the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) that only one branch office will be allowed to function in the JMC area and anything in excess of one will forced to close, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Navy positions attacked at Kilaly

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil Eelam Vaanoli, the commercial broadcast of the Voice of Tigers said this evening that the Sea Tigers of the Liberation Tigers had attacked the Sri Lankan Navy's (SLN) positions in Kilaly in Jaffna in the early hours of the morning today.
Full story >>

Senior TELO member killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Suspected members of the Liberation Tigers shot dead a senior operative of a paramilitary group working with the Special Task Force in Batticaloa last night around 10.30 p.m.
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Half a million malnourished - aid workers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Around 500,000 persons suffer from malnutrition in the Vanni, accrding to NGO health workers region. Though not harsh as in Ethiopia, malnutrition has reached grave levels, they said. There have been a series of deaths due to this condition.
Full story >>

SLN boat destroyed in commando raid - Radio

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said this evening that the Sea wing of the Leopards special unit of the Liberation Tigers had destroyed a Water Jet and killed five soldiers in a commando raid on the SLN's jetty at Kilaly, in Jaffna late last night around 11.50 p.m.
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Home guard killed at Welikanda

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked a group of Sri Lankan Army and home guards this morning around 6.30 a.m. in Manikkampitti near Welikanda, 70 kilometers northwest of Batticaloa near the Polannaruwa Batticaloa district border killing one homeguard and wounding three soldiers and two homeguards.
Full story >>

Civilian airport for Jaffna?

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Feasibility studies for building an airport for civilian flights in the North are to be undertaken soon, said Security Forces Commander (North), Major General Lional Balagalle, at a meeting with Mr. S. Sri Baskaran, Chairman designate of the North Waligamam Pradeshiya Sabah. A proposal for an airport had been put forward by Mr. Sri Baskakaran.
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Government woos deserters again

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A meeting was held at the Galewella Madhya Maha Vidyalaya recently to discuss plans to persuade Sri Lankan Army (SLA) deserters from the Galewella Divisional Secretary's area to rejoin the security forces. Galewela town is on the high way from Colombo to Polannaruwa through Dambulla.
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Fishing ban affects more families

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Over 200 families from Killali and Pulopalai, two Grama Seveka areas coming under the Palai Divisional Secretariat, which have traditionally relied on lagoon fishing to make a living, are severely affected by the Sri Lankan Army ban on fishing in the lagoon, said sources in Palai.
Full story >>

US official in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Andrew Mann, of a visiting United States Government fact finding mission told the members of the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) at the Sri Lanka Army's 51-2 brigade headquarters today, that the US Government had designated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) a terrorist organisation and criticising the action would be of no avail.
Full story >>

Shell kills SLA officer

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One Sri Lankan officer was killed and four other soldiers were wounded when the Liberation Tigers directed mortar fire on the SLA positions near Olumadu, 3 km east of Mankulam, today.
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Tigers hand over 16 SLA bodies

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in the Vanni today, 16 bodies of Sri Lankan Army (SLA) personnel killed at Olumadu yesterday, said ICRC sources in Colombo.
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SLA advance repulsed - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers announced today in the Vanni that they stopped the advance of the SLA this morning from its positions in Karuppattamurippu four kilometers east of Mankulam towards the strategic junction of Mankulam, capturing arms and ammunition and twenty bodies of SLA soldiers who were killed in this fighting today.
Full story >>

6 Sri Lankan policemen killed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked a Police post this morning in Kattuwanwila in the Welikanda area on the Batticaloa-Polannaruwa border, killing six Policemen and wounding six.
Full story >>

Heavy SLA casualties near Mankulam - Radio

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than fifty SLA troops were killed and a large quantity of weapons and several bodies of soldiers were captured this morning when the Liberation Tigers stalled the attempt by the forces of Operation Jayasikurui to advance from their positions east of Mankulam in the Karuppattamurippu-Olumadu area, according to a news flash in the Thamil Eelam Vaanoli, the commercial service of the Voice of Tigers.
Full story >>

Heavy resistance from Tigers - SLA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan security forces sources in Vavuniya said this evening that eight SLA soldiers were killed and sixty were wounded in heavy artillery counter fire from the positions of the Liberation Tigers in Mankulam this afternoon.
Full story >>

Indictment against Jaffna GA dropped

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An indictment against the former Government Agent of Jaffna, Mr. C. Pathmanthan, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act was withdrawn by Sri Lanka's Attorney General's Department (AGD)today, said legal sources . The case came up before Colombo High Court Judge Shirani Thillekewardene.
Full story >>

Four sailors rescued

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four sailors who were in the Sri Lankan Navy vessel 'Valampuri' which was sunk by the Sea Tigers on Sunday night were picked up in the high seas off Nagapattanam on the south eastern coast of Tamil Nadu said reports from Chennai today.
Full story >>

Jaffna MOH unable to control malaria

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Dr. Deivendram, Medical Officer of Health, Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC), told ex-Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP) Member of Parliament R.Ramamoorthy on Monday, that of the 24 malathion anti-Malaria spray-guns needed for JMC, only four were available, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

SLA artillery in sea battle - residents

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A clearer picture of the sinking of the two Sri Lankan navy vessels emerged this afternoon with first hand reports of eye witnesses on the Pt. Pedro coast seeping through to Jaffna town.
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Hartal over civilian's death

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A hartal was observed in Trincomalee today in protest over the death of a student in a grenade attack on the local EPDP office on Saturday
Full story >>

SLA fails to capture Mankulam town

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA lost the final phase of the assault to capture the strategic Mankulam town early this morning said army sources in Vavuniya.
Full story >>

Eleven Tigers killed in naval battle

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers gave a detailed account in the Vanni this evening about the sea battle between the Sea Tigers and a large Sri Lankan navy (SLN) convoy, which began last evening and lasted until the early hours of the morning today.
Full story >>

Two tanks on sunk ships

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan navy claimed that they have rescued about 62 security forces personnel until this afternoon. Some of them have been brought to Colombo. Two Main Battle Tanks (MBT) also went down with the ships.
Full story >>

Sea tigers sink ship carrying troops - radio

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said this morning that sea tigers attacked two ships of the SriLankan navy carrying a large number of troops off the coast of Point Pedro in Jaffna.
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Lukewarm response to amnesty offer

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Despite the fresh amnesty offered by the Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunge to the SLA deserters, few are returning to their units, forcing the government further to extend the amnesty to February 25.
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Prisoners with chickenpox 'treated' with petrol

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
(Replacing smallpox with chickenpox) 19 prisoners who are being held in the Batticaloa prison camp and affected by chickenpox are being regularly sprayed with petrol said relatives and others who have visited them.
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Soldiers escape grenade explosion in Kodikamam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A grenade was lobbed by unidentified persons at 2 SLA soldiers at Kodikamam in Jaffna this morning at 11am. However, the SLA soldiers escaped unhurt as the grenades exploded about 3 meters from them.
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Civilians languish in Mannar

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 2000 civilians are languishing in the open exposed elements in the village of Pallamadu in Mannar, as the Sri Lankan Army is refusing them permission to travel through the entry point to the areas controlled by it, at Uyilankulam junction, which lies 9 km west of Mannar, on the Vavuniya - Mannar road.
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Education official arrested in the North

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Department of Education Co-ordinator between the SLA controlled areas and the LTTE controlled areas of the Vanni, Mr. Mylvaganam Sivagurunathan, 53, was arrested on Friday by the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) of the Sri Lankan Police.
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Gurunagar civilians apprehensive

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Civilians who live by the shore, on Beach road in Gurunagar in Jaffna town, said that they do not sleep in their houses at night now as they fear clashes between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan army might erupt any day in the area.
Full story >>

2 arrested in Velanai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A priest and a bus driver from the island of Punguduthivu off the Jaffna peninsula were detained by the SLA on Thursday said sources in Jaffna. The army in Velanai had asked both of them to report to its camp.
Full story >>

MPGA elects representative committee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Members of the Missing Persons' Guardian Association (MPGA) of Jaffna gathered at the St. Bosco primary school in Jaffna town today, to elect an independent committee to represent their interests officially.
Full story >>

Promised allowances stopped

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Jaffna Kachcheri has told officials that it has no money to fund the resettlement allowance that is due to 2000 families in the Tellipalai administrative division (formerly Assistant Government Agent's division).
Full story >>

Tigers attack police patrol

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio service said in its night news bulletin today that the Liberation Tigers had successfully carried out an attack on a combined police and homeguard patrol yesterday in the Batticaloa district at Poochchikkoodu (near the 11th colony) without any losses on their side.
Full story >>

Elderly home short of funds

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The head of the Kaithady government Home for the Aged in Jaffna told a government bureaucrat who visited the institution today that she cannot maintain the inmates with the forty rupees (70 US cents) daily allowance per person which the home now gets from the state.
Full story >>

7 Ampara homeguards killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Seven homeguards were killed in an attack by the Liberation Tigers this morning around 10.30 a.m. in the Central camp area about thirty kilometers south west of Batticaloa near the district's border with Ampara.
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State Department requests time extension

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
In a Consent Motion filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the US State Department requested for an extension of time to respond to the LTTE's Procedural Motion claiming the rights to full access of the State Departments administrative record.
Full story >>

Hindu ceremonies being organised

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The authorities in Jaffna are making arrangements to transport devotees to Keerimalai Naguleswaram temple for Mahasivaraththiri poojas on February 25, said temple sources in Keerimalai. Six buses will be used to transport devotees from Tellippalai on that day for poojas from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.
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Jaffna bodies ask for 3m rupees

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The members of the seventeen local bodies in Jaffna who were elected to office last month are requesting three million rupees (USD 50,000) from the Sri Lankan Government as funds for their day to day functioning.
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School heads punished for ignoring memo

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The heads of 23 Tamil schools, in the predominantly Tamil area of Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya District were denied their monthly salaries today for not answering a circular in Sinhala sent by the Education Department of the Central Provincial Council last year, said sources in Nuwara Eliya.
Full story >>

STF operation in Palugamam

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A large contingent of the Special Task Force (STF) and the Police moved into the Tiger held village of Palugamam around 7 a.m. this morning. Palugamam is a large village about 24 kilometers south west of Batticaloa across the lagoon where the Liberation Tigers had many of their military, financial and other administrative centres.
Full story >>

Anti US protest in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Muslims of Vavuniya staged a vociferous protest denouncing American action in the Gulf, by burning the United States' flag in the streets and chanting slogans belittling President Bill Clinton, accusing him of making Iraq a scapegoat for his overactive libido, said sources in Vavuniya.
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Jaffna conditions seen affecting infants

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Almost one child in ten, born last year in the Jaffna District, was underweight, the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for the Jaffna District, told the TamilNet correspondent today.
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Navy apprehends refugees

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A boatload of 52 Tamil refugees, putting out from Illupakkadavai on the Mannar coast, was apprehended by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) off Naachchikudah, further north-west of Mannar on Monday, and was handed over to the Karainagar SLN camp, said sources in Mannar.
Full story >>

Sri Lanka's propaganda conceals truth - Pirabakaran

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"We should not be reluctant to state courageously and honestly the true situation and the reality in our land" said the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Veluppillai Pirabakaran, addressing members of the Voice of Tigers last evening at a special function to honour writers and artistes.
Full story >>

Sinhalese couple accused of LTTE links

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Sinhalese Police constable and his wife accused of working for the Liberation Tigers were produced in the Batticaloa district court today.
Full story >>

Two detainees freed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Supreme Court (SC) ordered the Police today to immediately release K. Kamaladas, a Tamil who was arrested in Vavuniya by a posse from the Mt. Lavina Police station in Colombo in late December and was remanded without being produced before a magistrate, said legal sources.
Full story >>

Civilians assaulted in retaliation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Tamil ex-militants working with the Sri Lankan military intelligence and the Special Task Force in Batticaloa beat up several civilians who were passing through the Manmunai ferry this morning.
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Military build up unsettles Pulmoddai residents

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A large number of Muslims from Pulmoddai town and its surroundings sought refuge in the local Mosque today, fearing a major assault by the Liberation Tigers on the Sri Lankan Army positions here, according to initial reports from the eastern port town of Trincomalee.
Full story >>

SLA trooper commits suicide

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
D. M Dassanayake (20), a soldier from the Sri Lanka Army's (SLA) 126 camp at Valaichenai, committed suicide last evening around 5.30 p.m., said sources.
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Bomb blasts in Talawakelle

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two bombs went off in the hill country town of Talawakelle in the early hours of the morning today, destroying a transformer near the local school and an oil storage tank in the Barewell tea estate, two kilometers from the town.
Full story >>

SLA, LTTE exchange bodies in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the SLA exchanged their dead through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at Mirusuvil in Jaffna yesterday for the first time since the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) took control of Jaffna in early 1996.
Full story >>

Sri Lanka to censor victims' photos

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President promulgated an emergency regulation under the Public Security Ordinance today according to which all photographs of victims of bomb blasts and other offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act would be subject to censorship.
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Ex-EPDP MP protests over attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
K. Ramamoorthy MP, formerly of the EPDP, complained to the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna today that an unidentified group has tried to lob a grenade at him by gaining access into the house of his neighbour in Jaffna town, said sources in the Police.
Full story >>

Jaffna university increases admission

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Twenty five students will enter the Medical Faculty of the University of Jaffna shortly, said Professor P. Balasundrampillai, Vice Chancellor of the University.
Full story >>

Batticaloa faces power shortage

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Ceylon Electricity board (CEB) sources in Batticaloa said that between January 1997 and January 1998, 65 transformers worth about 13.5 million rupees have been blasted in the district. Of these 37 were 32 KW transformers and 28 were 11 KW transformers.
Full story >>

Journalists taken to Jayasikurui FDLs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 40 foreign and local journalists were taken by the Sri Lankan Army to areas captured in Operation Jayasikurui, since it was launched in May last year. Journalists who went on the guided tour said this evening that the press team was taken from Vavuniya on the A9 highway to Jaffna, through Puliyankulam and Kanakarayankulam to a point 1.5 km from the latter
Full story >>

Jaffna curfew may be lifted temporarily

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Security Forces Commander (North), Major General Lional Balagalle said this week that if the people of the Jaffna wanted the curfew in the peninsula lifted for the midnight vigil during Mahasivaraththri which is observed by Tamil Saivites annually, he was prepared to consider the request with favour, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Minister threatens to burn newspaper's offices

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
M.H.M Ashraff, Sri Lanka's powerful Minister of Ports, Shipping and Rehabilitation, threatened to burn the state run Tamil daily newspaper Thinakaran and demanded that the Parliamentary passes issued to its lobby correspondents be withdrawn forthwith in an outburst in the Sri Lankan Parliament today.
Full story >>

Jaffna - Trinco ferry to resume

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two shipping lines have been given permission by Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence to begin a passenger service between Trincomalee and Kankesanthurai (KKS) shortly. The service cannot begin at once, according to local shipping sources, because the ships from the companies are not registered under the Sri Lankan flag.
Full story >>

Press protests over intimidation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 200 journalists and human rights activists demonstrated in Colombo this noon against threats to the press and protested over last week's assault on Sunday Times defence writer Iqbal Athas by unidentified gunmen.
Full story >>

Bureaucracy hampers rehabilitation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
People of Waligamam North are facing difficulties in receiving rehabilitation funds in the areas where they are resettled, said sources in Jaffna. Each family is entitled to 5000 rupees (US$ 80.65) as rehabilitation funds. Refugees are told by grama sevekas (GS) in the areas where they are resettled to obtain a letter from the GS of the village from where they came, endorsing the fact they were displaced from that village.
Full story >>

Feared militia commander shot dead

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Rasasingham Seevaraththinam, 27, alias Sinnavan, one of the most feared Tamil ex-militants working for the Sri Lankan security forces in the Batticaloa district, was shot dead this morning around 8.30 a.m. near the Manmunai Special Task Force (STF) camp. The STF blamed the Liberation Tigers for the killing.
Full story >>

Camp residents disappear

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two young men from the College of Education Transit Camp, Vavuniya are missing from January 23, say their relatives who have been looking for them in Vavuniya. Subramaniam Tharmapalasingham and Kathirkamaththamby Senthilnathan, both inmates of the camp, were picked up by unidentified persons suspected to be of the Sri Lanka Security Forces.
Full story >>

Tiger ambush kills 7

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said this morning that the Liberation Tigers had ambushed an SLA route clearing patrol in Mirusuvil in Thenmaradchi, south east of Jaffna killing seven soldiers and wounding several. One member of the LTTE's ambush team was killed in the fighting said the radio.
Full story >>

Tigers describe Jaffna attacks

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers gave further details of the attack by the Liberation Tigers on the SLA patrol in Mirusuvil in Jaffna in its night news bulletin today. It said that more than ten soldiers in the SLA group were killed in the ambush around 12 noon yesterday. There were 30 soldiers in the patrol, according to the radio.
Full story >>

UNP unveils constitutional reform proposals

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The opposition United National Party (UNP), will kick off its campaign to muster support its package for constitutional reform with a public meeting in Galle on February 20, said UNP sources today. Journalists have been invited to cover this event.
Full story >>

8 soldiers killed in Chettikulam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Eight SLA soldiers were killed and four including an officer were wounded this afternoon on the Madawachchiya - Mannar road near Chettikulam when the Liberation Tigers fired Rocket Propelled Grenades on the Jeep in which army personnel were travelling.
Full story >>

Protests planned over attack on journalist

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Free Media Movement (FMM) and other human rights and media organisations are to hold a demonstration tomorrow at 12.00 noon at Lipton Circus, Colombo, protesting against the harrowing ordeal of senior Sri Lankan journalist Iqbal Athas in the hands of unidentified armed men, said media sources.
Full story >>

Journalists to visit forward areas

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government will fly in a group of journalists from newspapers and news agencies in Colombo to Vavuniya and the forward areas of operation Jayasikurui tomorrow morning. The government's information department informed journalists today about the tour this afternoon.
Full story >>

Tigers shell Mandoor STF

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked the Special Task Force camp in Mandoor, about 26 kilometers south west of Batticaloa early this morning wounding two STF commandos. The shelling began from 5.15 a.m. in the morning and went on until 6 a.m. said sources in Batticaloa.
Full story >>

MoD blocks insecticide supplies

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is restricting the supply of sulphur to the Jaffna District, said sources in Jaffna. No reason has been given by the MoD for this restriction.
Full story >>

Shoot-out at Maruthamunai market

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One Sri Lankan Policeman was wounded and a suspected member of the Liberation Tigers killed, when a group of policemen from Neelavanai had gone to the Maruthamunai market and opened fire at 2 Tamil youths around 9.45 a.m. today, said sources. The Police, according to sources, were acting on a tip-off that some Tigers were among the shoppers.
Full story >>

Shelling causes panic

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelled Gurunagar in Jaffna town from the Palaly SLA camp around 8.45 p.m. last night said sources in Jaffna. Though no one was injured, there was panic among the residents of the area.
Full story >>

LTTE resistance heavy - SLA

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA sources in Vavuniya said that casualties in the fighting for Mankulam had risen to 27 soldiers killed and 124 wounded following clashes with the Liberation Tigers yesterday as well.
Full story >>

SLA says close to Mankulam

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA sources claimed today that they are just 1 km away from Mankulam town on the highway to Jaffna (the A9). They said that the troops of Operation Jayasikurui have advanced north by the side of the highway from Kanakarayan Kulam despite heavy resistance by the Liberation Tigers.
Full story >>

Mass arrest in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA cordoned off and searched the several villages in Valaichenai this morning. More than five hundred males from the villages of Peythalai, Kannakipuram, Puthukkudiyiruppu, Kannankikiramam etc., were taken to an empty ground near the Peythalai army camp.
Full story >>

LTTE holding Kilinochchi FDLs

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Brigadier Lohan Gunawardana, the General Officer Commanding of the 54 division told the team of journalists which was taken by the SLA to Kilinochchi yesterday that the LTTE is still in control of the four kilometer long Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) in the southern part of the town. The 54 division is stationed in the Elephant Pass- Paranthan- Kilinochchi complex.
Full story >>

Heavy fighting near Mankulam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
14 SLA soldiers were killed and 113 were wounded in a heavy fighting with the Liberation Tigers west of Mankulam yesterday, said army sources in Vavuniya.
Full story >>

SLA thrust repulsed near Mankulam - VoT

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said in its night broadcast today that the Liberation Tigers had attacked and repulsed SLA troops who had attempted to advance towards Moondu Murippu, west of Mankulam. The radio said that fighting had erupted around 11.30 a.m. yesterday.
Full story >>

Eastern SLA position attacked

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers in Batticaloa said today that they had successfully attacked an SLA position on the Polanaruwa -Batticaloa district at Aralaganwila, around 8.30 a.m., yesterday.
Full story >>

Journalists visit Kilinochchi area

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A team of journalists who were taken today to see Kilinochchi by the SLA were able to go only up to Paranthan junction. The group of photographers in the team were however taken by foot up to the Karadippokku junction and near Kandaswamy Kovil (temple) North of Kilinochchi town.
Full story >>

NGO Consortium to inspect Valikamam

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The NGO Consortium of Jaffna will undertake an inspection of the northern Valikamam area on February 15, to study the progress made on the resettlement of refugees, the functioning of schools of the area and the availability of basic commodities, said NGO sources in Jaffna on Friday.
Full story >>

Sporadic clashes in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One Sri Lankan Policeman was killed south of Batticaloa town in the early hours of the morning today around 1.30 a.m. when the Liberation Tigers who came by boat fired on a sentry point by the Batticaloa lagoon.
Full story >>

Gurunagar fishermen banned

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA has stopped fishermen in Gurunagar in Jaffna town from putting out to sea following the Thursday night attack by the Liberation Tigers on military positions in the area said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Journalists to see Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government announced today that it will take the press to Kilinochchi by air tomorrow. The government information department has informed newspapers and news agencies in Colombo that journalists would be flown to Kilinochchi tomorrow morning.
Full story >>

LTTE ambush in Polanaruwa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five SLA soldiers were killed and an unknown number were wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked an SLA detachment at Aralaganwila in the Polanaruwa district this morning around 8.45 a.m.
Full story >>

Station restrictions fuel black market

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three fuel stations in the Chavakachcheri area, south of Jaffna, require a special military permit before they can issue petrol to consumers, while petrol is sold at exorbitant rates in the black-market nearby, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

SLA patrol attacked in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One soldier was killed and two were wounded when the Liberation Tigers ambushed a Sri Lankan army foot patrol last evening in Jaffna. The ambush was in Soorawaththai in Chunnakam, north of Jaffna town said army sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Malnutrition, war said severely affecting children

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"The conflict situation in Jaffna, today has severely affected children of all ages by retarding their mental development. It also affects schooling and breaks up homes," said Dr. Sabah Jeyarajah, of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, at a meeting in Jaffna on Thursday.
Full story >>

Most plantation workers on strike today

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan plantation workers burnt an effigy of S. Thondaman, leader of the main trade union in the Sri Lanka's hill country, for reaching a compromise on the strike, and demanding 105 rupees as minimum daily wage.
Full story >>

Jaffna commander briefs diplomats

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The commander of the Sri Lankan security forces in Jaffna, Major General Lionel Balagalle, met members of the diplomatic community at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo to explain the situation in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Soldier killed in mine blast

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A soldier of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) was killed in a mine explosion at Korakallimadu, 20 km north of Batticaloa, on the Batticaloa Valaichenai Road around 10.30 a.m. this morning, said sources in Valaichenai. There were no other casualties.
Full story >>

Youths arrested near Buddhist temple

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two Tamil youths were taken into custody by the Kandy police for attempting to enter the Dalada Maligawa after forcing their way past a checkpoint near the Temple around 9:00 p.m. last night, said Police sources in Colombo today.
Full story >>

SLA extends railway supply line

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army has commissioned the railway department to lay tracks from Vavuniya to Omanthai. The army has also asked the department to build a railway station in Omanthai. The work has already begun said sources in Vavuniya.
Full story >>

Bomb hoax causes panic

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A hoax that explosives had been planted in Hatton, a town in central Sri Lanka, last morning, created chaos among the police and the public in the area. As panic spread through the town, there were different accounts about where the bomb had been placed.
Full story >>

EPDP releases PLOTE cadres

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP) released this morning the three cadres of the Peoples' Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) whom they had abducted on Wednesday night from Velanai, an island off the Jaffna Peninsula, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Plantation workers call off strike

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The strike in Sri Lanka's plantation sector was called off today following talks between the trade unions, representatives of the plantation companies and President Chandrika Kumaratunge.
Full story >>

Woman marked by informant

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Vethanayagam Geetha (29), a woman from Muthalaikudah west of Batticaloa across the lagoon was apprehended by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) at the Aaraiampathy checkpoint, 3 km from Batticaloa town yesterday, said sources in Valaichenai.
Full story >>

SLA poster campaign in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A poster, showing a man in long trousers, shirt and hat and holding a Tiger by the neck, has appeared on the streets in the Jaffna District, pasted allegedly by the Sri Lankan Army.
Full story >>

Jaffna soldiers go missing

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers, who arrived in 2 speed boats last night, attacked and completely destroyed one Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry point at 'Savakalai' junction in Gurunagar in Jaffna. Other sentry points were also damaged near the Gurunagar housing scheme.
Full story >>

TULF waives rates

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), which controls the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC), has pledged to the residents living within the municipal borders, that rates will not be levied for the next four years, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

SLA claims Vanni advance

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
17 soldiers were wounded and one killed when the SLA attempted to advance towards Mankulam on the A-9 highway (Vavuniya-Jaffna) yesterday, said SLA sources in Vavuniya. They said that the army has advanced about 3 kilometers towards Mankulam from Kanakarayan Kulam until last evening.
Full story >>

LTTE seeks access to "secret" records

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Lawyers representing the Liberation Tigers have filed a motion with the US Court of Appeals, claiming the right to full access to "secretly compiled" US State department records, with a view to correcting "inaccuracies and distortions", according a news release released by Ramsey Clark Lawrence W. Schilling today.
Full story >>

Five killed in Vanni clashes - VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers radio said in its night broadcast today that two Tigers were killed in the fighting which broke out between the LTTE and the SLA yesterday in the Mankulam area.
Full story >>

Pro-government militia seen bracing themselves

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Paramilitary organisations in Batticaloa such as the Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and the Razeek Group which is affiliated to the Eelam Peoples' Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), are strengthening the fortifications around their camps and exercising greater vigilance through more rigorous checking of civilians, in fear of an attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said sources in Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Protest planned over massacre

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A public rally is to be held on Saturday in Thambalakamam, demanding the removal of three police posts in the area where the policemen and home-guards who were involved in the massacre of eight youngsters on January 31st had been stationed, sources in Thambalakamam told the Trincomalee TamilNet correspondent today.
Full story >>

Brazen robberies in Suthumalai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Suthumalai in Jaffna has become a thief's paradise with a spate of burglaries occurring recently in the area which is under Sri Lanka Army (SLA) jurisdiction.
Full story >>

More internecine clashes in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three cadres People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) were abducted from their office in Velanai and a member of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), A . G Fernando, had a knife stuck in his throat last night are the latest in the bizarre series of clashes between the Tamil parties in the Jaffna peninsula.
Full story >>

Batticaloa farmers face bleak prospects

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Farmers in the Batticaloa District - especially those from areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) - are facing financial ruin with middlemen purchasing their harvest at very low prices, reports the TamilNet correspondent in Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Mine hits SLA bus

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
3 SLA soldiers were killed and 21 wounded and when a bus carrying more than forty SLA troops in a convoy was hit by a claymore mine today, around 11.45 a.m. in Vanthaarumoolai, 18 kilometers north of Batticaloa on the main trunk road.
Full story >>

EPDP-PLOTE clash in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five persons from Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP) were injured in a clash with the Democratic Peoples' Liberation Front (DPLF), the political front of the PLOTE, near Vembadi junction in Jaffna town this evening around 5.30 p.m., said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Fishing ban said hampering resettlement

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority of the North (RRAN) has requested Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga, to issue an order so that displaced persons in the area between Tellipalai and Kankesanthurai north of Jaffna town, which includes the army's vast High Security Zone, are allowed to resettle in their original homes, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Jaffna SLA comment on Kilinochchi battle

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan security forces headquarters in Jaffna has released a statement about the situation in Kilinochchi-Paranthan-Elephant Pass following the attack on army positions here on February 1. The statement is addressed to the people of Jaffna in Tamil and was issued by Major C.P.J. Fernando on behalf of the Jaffna security forces commander.
Full story >>

Drug shortage spurs Jaffna black market

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Delays in supply from Colombo have caused an acute shortage of vitally needed drugs in hospitals in the Jaffna Peninsula, said sources in Jaffna. This has led to these drugs to be sold at exorbitant prices in the black-market.
Full story >>

Disease takes Jaffna toll

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sixteen persons died this year in the Jaffna District from Malaria, Dr. E. Deivendram, of the Jaffna Municipal Council told the TamilNet correspondent today. Death from Malaria for 1997 stood at 41. There were also 104 deaths from dengue last year.
Full story >>

Jaffna SLA digs in

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army instructed the farmers in the Thenmaradchi area in the Jaffna peninsula not to stack paddy or hay from their farms by sides of the road. This warning was meant especially for the farms adjacent to the roads.
Full story >>

Pararajasingham protests over new abductions

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham TULF MP for Batticaloa district protested against the abduction of Tamil youth in Batticaloa by unidentified members of the Sri Lankan security forces and Tamil paramilitary groups in a fax to the Deputy Minister for Defence Mr. Anuruddha Ratwatte.
Full story >>

Tea crisis seen cooling

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The meeting between representatives of the plantation companies and the Sri Lankan President today to resolve the crisis over the massive strike in the tea and rubber plantations which is into its fifth day ended inconclusively this morning. The strike has brought the vital tea and rubber industry to a virtual standstill.
Full story >>

SLA push in southern Vanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Heavy fighting broke out in Kanakarayankulam this morning as SLA troops advanced towards Mankulam on the A-9, the highway to Jaffna, said SLA sources in Colombo.
Full story >>

SLFP Jaffna treasurer fired

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three ex-militant Tamil groups, the EPDP, DPLF and EPRLF, are opening branch offices in all the electorates in the Jaffna peninsula, in anticipation of Provincial Council elections in June this year, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Sri Lanka concealing losses - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The VOT said this morning that the SLA had tried to advance from its positions north of Kilinochchi on Saturday night towards the town.
Full story >>

Youth 'disappears' in SLA custody

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A youth from the refugee camp in nearby Vinayakapuram who was arrested by the Sri Lankan army from the Kiran bridge camp on Jan.31,while on his way to collect firewood has gone missing say his parents.
Full story >>

SLA patrol fires on civilians

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A woman and her one year old child were wounded today when an army route patrol from the Peythalai SLA camp fired indiscriminately along the road in the village of Peythalai near Valaichenai, 30 kilometers north of Batticaloa.
Full story >>

New temples to be built

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The government laid the foundation for a twin Hindu and Buddhist temple complex in the Muthurajawela marshlands about 15 kilkometers northwest of Colombo this morning to seek divine support to bring peace in Sri Lanka.
Full story >>

Police fire tear gas on procession

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police fired in the air and threw tear gas bombs to disperse a large procession of striking estate workers in the hill country town of Hatton this morning around 11 a.m.
Full story >>

President meets CWC over strike

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunge met the leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) Mr. C Thondaman, the powerful plantation trade union this morning, in a fresh bid to resolve the massive strike that has brought the country's large plantation sector to a stand still.
Full story >>

Blast near Batticaloa checkpoint

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A bomb concealed in the cross-bar of a bicycle exploded today near a Sri Lankan police check point in Kaluwanchikkudy, about thirty kilometres south of Batticaloa town.
Full story >>

Sporadic clashes kill 12

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its night news bulletin that the Liberation Tigers had attacked an SLA petrol last morning around 08.45 a.m., in Saambaal Kulam, in the Manal Aaru area, south of Mullaithivu.
Full story >>

Identity cards confiscated

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
150 civilians were arrested last evening around 4 p.m. in Thuraineelavanai, 30 kilometers south of Batticaloa, by the Special Task Force (STF). All were taken to the STF camp in Karaitheevu in the Amparai district, about 14 kilometers further south of Thuraineelavanai.
Full story >>

650 Tamils expelled from Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police closed down three lodging houses in downtown Colombo this morning leaving about 650 Tamils from the north-east stranded on the roads. The Police told them to leave immediately to the north or east.
Full story >>

Heavy fighting at Karadippokku

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said this morning that heavy fighting had erupted north of Kilinochchi yesterday. The radio said that Tigers fought the army as it tried to advance again from Karadippokku junction from 7 a.m. (01.00 GMT) last morning to 3 p.m. in the after noon.
Full story >>

President appeals for deserters to return

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President issued an official communiqué this evening for the first time since she assumed office calling on those who had deserted the Sri Lankan security forces including the Police to return to their respective units immediately.
Full story >>

Valaichenai shelling kills one

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A man was killed on the spot and his four year old daughter was seriously wounded last night around 7.30 p.m. when the Valaichenai Police fired shells into the Puthukkudiyiruppu village.
Full story >>

Kilinochchi battle continues

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers radio said in its night broadcast 9 p.m. (15.00 GMT) that there was fighting with the SLA today when Sri Lankan army troops tried to advance into areas recently captured by the LTTE.
Full story >>

Suicide bomber caused blast - police

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Contrary to initial reports, the explosion in Slave Island in downtown Colombo this afternoon was caused by a woman suicide bomber said Sri Lankan police.
Full story >>

SLA thrust repulsed - Radio

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said this morning that fierce fighting broke out north of Kilinochchi town when the Sri Lankan army tried to advance from the Karadippokku junction yesterday.
Full story >>

TELO delays assuming office

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) is to postpone assuming office in the newly set up local government bodies in the Jaffna Peninsula for 100 days. Instead, the ex-militant group is to mobilise opinion for an immediate end to the military conflict and the beginning of talks without conditions, said K Sivajilingam, leader of the organisation.
Full story >>

Colombo explosion kills eight

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A bomb exploded in down town Colombo late this afternoon. According to initial reports, it had gone off at the SLAF check point on Malay street, killing eight persons, including three security forces personnel.
Full story >>

Heavy fighting near Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers launched a fierce attack on the Sri Lankan Army which was trying to advance towards Kilinochchi, around 4.30 p.m. (12.30 GMT), today. SLA sources in the north acknowledged that the LTTE's counter attack was a major one.
Full story >>

EPDP, PLOTE to attend state banquet

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The leaders of the EPDP and the PLOTE will attend a state banquet to Prince Charles this evening said party sources.
Full story >>

Tigers shell SLA positions

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two SLA soldiers were killed and ten injured when the Liberation Tigers attacked army positions with artillery fire last night east of Mankulam.
Full story >>

Tigers damage main battle tank - Radio

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said this morning that fierce fighting broke out between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan army north of Kilinochchi from morning yesterday. The radio said that many SLA troops were killed and wounded in this fighting and that one SLA main battle tank was damaged.
Full story >>

Schools said neglected on islands

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Only 33 of the total 66 schools in the islands off the Jaffna peninsula are functioning at present, said S. Ratnarajah, Director of Education (zone-1), Jaffna District, at a discussion at Sir Vaithilingam Duraiswamy Maha Viththiyalayam, at Velanai island this week.
Full story >>

Plantation workers strike over wages

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three plantation based trade unions, whose 600,000 strong members downed tools today, rejected the Employer's Federation of Ceylon (EFC) offer to increase the wage from 83 rupees (USD 1.34) per day to 100 rupees (USD 1.61), said trade union sources in Colombo.
Full story >>

Civilians assaulted in retaliation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A member of the PLOTE working with the army at Chenkalady, 16 kilometers north of Batticaloa, was killed when a suspected member of the Liberation Tigers lobbed a grenade into a sentry point this afternoon around 3.45 p.m. said sources in Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Six hurt in shelling exchange

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three civilians and three security personnel were injured in shelling and counter shelling which rocked Valaichenai this morning around 6.00 a.m.
Full story >>

SLA burns KIA bodies

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA, according to sources in Vavuniya, burnt all 41 of the bodies of SLA soldiers which they received from the ICRC today at Madukanda, an area near Vavuniya.
Full story >>

Prof. Mageswaran succumbs to heart illness

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Professor S. Mageswaran, the founding Head of the Chemistry Department and former Dean of the Science Faculty of University of Jaffna died on 2 February said sources close to him. He had been suffering from heart illness.
Full story >>

Shelling wounds more civilians

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Nine more civilians were injured by Sri Lankan security forces counter fire in the Batticaloa district today. Four people were injured when Sri Lankan Police fired shells indiscriminately into civilian areas around 12.30 in the afternoon, after a police constable was injured when the Liberation Tigers attacked the Valaichenai Police camp a short while earlier.
Full story >>

Tigers consolidate captured areas - radio

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its morning news bulletin that the Liberation Tigers are consolidating the areas captured by them in Kilnochchi and its surroundings.
Full story >>

Ampara lorries taken

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Last night five lorries, two bowzers and a van were taken away by unidentified armed men on the Igniyagala - Ampara road, in the Ampara district, around midnight.
Full story >>

City deserted as celebrations begin

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Colombo remains largely deserted today when Sri Lanka celebrates its golden jubilee of independence from British as most key roads in the city have been sealed off. There was very little traffic on the roads in the morning.
Full story >>

Shelling cancels Batticaloa ceremony

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The hosting of the Sri Lankan national flag and independence day ceremonies which were about to take place this morning at 8.30 a.m. (02.30 GMT) in Batticoloa Kachcheri were cancelled as Liberation Tigers fired shells which fell at the venue.
Full story >>

450 troops wounded - Radio

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in their night newscast today that more than four hundred and fifty SLA soldiers have been wounded in the fighting in Kilinochchi and Paranthan.
Full story >>

Massive Canadian rally said 'significant'

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A large number of Tamil people participated in a march and rally Toronto Sunday, to condemn the Sri Lankan government. According to the organizers, the Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils, this was one of the largest attendance of their rallies, with about 25,000 people taking part.
Full story >>

Civilians visit captured town

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRC) sources said this evening that the Liberation Tigers had allowed civilians to visit some parts of the Kilinochchi town which had come under their control. Some of them (the civilians) had gone there to assist the LTTE remove some military hardware they said.
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Skirmish in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A confrontation took place this morning between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), which was on a patrol at Navatkadu, 3 km west of Batticaloa, said sources in Batticaloa. The SLA was accompanied by the ex-Tamil militant paramilitary unit, known as the Mohan Group.
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Independence celebrations overshadowed by conflict

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Events in other parts of Sri Lanka have rendered the golden jubilee of national independence, and its celebration tomorrow in Kotte, the country's administrative capital, almost a non-event.
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Tigers capture Kilinochchi town

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers announced in the Vanni this morning that more than three hundred soldiers have been killed in the ongoing attack on the Kilinochchi SLA base. The Tigers had advanced towards the centre of Kilinochchi and had brought the town and it surrounding areas under their control.
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Tigers hand over SLA bodies

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The LTTE handed over forty one bodies of SLA soldiers who were killed in the Kilinochchi fighting to the ICRC at Mallavi today. Yesterday, the VoT radio said that they had recovered the bodies of more than 50 SLA troops and that they were recovering more.
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Assaults over Lion flags

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two auto-rickshaw (three wheel taxi) drivers were assaulted by the police this morning in Batticaloa town, for not flying the Sri Lankan national flag on their vehicle. The Sri Lanka Government has ordered all Government buildings and private citizens in the country to display the national flag tomorrow as a mark of patriotism. Tomorrow is Sri Lanka's fiftieth independence anniversary.
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Classes being held in the open

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The police has stripped bare of furniture Saraswathi Viththiyalayam, a school located close to Oorani police station, 3 km north of Batticaloa, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Children injured in grenade blast

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two children in Kalkudah, 32 km north of Batticaloa were injured when a grenade they were playing with exploded. David Jayaseelan (12) and his brother David Varatharajan (11) had discovered the grenade in their garden. Jayaseelan is warded at Batticaloa hospital, while Varathrajan has been admitted to Valaichenai hospital.
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SLA sources differ on Kilinochchi situation

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA sources at the Palaly base in Jaffna said that fighting in the Kilinochchi area was continuing till this afternoon. They said that thus far fifty soldiers have been confirmed killed in the fighting. The SLA sources were unable to confirm whether army casualties will mount further.
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Kilinochchi base said badly hit

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Latest reports from army sources in the north indicate that the large Kilinochchi base of the Sri Lankan army has been very badly hit by the ongoing LTTE attack.
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Tigers say fighting continues

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) broad cast this morning gave the names of six more Tigers who were killed in the fighting in Kilinochchi. The Radio quoted the Eelanatham daily which is published in the Vanni saying that the fighting has been going on for more than 24 hours.
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Doubts over SLA claims

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil Eelam Radio, the commercial broadcast of the Voice of Tigers, said in its evening broadcast today that the fighting in the Paranthan Kilinochchi area continues to rage for the second day. Hence, no clear details of the battle are available as yet it said. The Radio said that the SLAF is continuing with retaliatory strikes against civilian targets in the Vanni today.
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Kilinochchi military complex overrun - Radio

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The LTTE has overrun the defences and destroyed the camps and minicamps of the Kilinochchi military base complex, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its night broadcast today.
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Protests over police massacre

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 3500 people demonstrated this morning in the premises of the Puthukkudiyiruppu church against the massacre of fifteen youth yesterday in the village of Pokkuruni near Thambalagamam in the Trincomalee district. The death toll of the massacre was seven according to reports reaching Trincomalee town last morning.
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LTTE says Kilinochchi assault continues

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VOT) said in their night broadcast today that the attack on Kilinochchi continues. The Tigers, according to the VOT, had launched a heavy artillery barrage on the Kilinochchi-Paranthan base.
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MoD blocks UNHCR office

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Moves by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to build a new office, 4 km east of Mallavi, are being stalled by officials in the Ministry of Defence (MoD), said UNHCR sources in Vavuniya. The MoD is delaying approval for building materials to be transported to Mallavi for construction work to begin.
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Large Tamil rally in London

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Thousands of Tamil people staged a march and rally in London today, condemning the Sri Lankan government and expressing support for the LTTE. The event was organised by the United Tamils Organisation to "mark fifty years of oppression by Sinhala Sri Lankan governments" according to a press release issued by it earlier today.
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7 civilians shot dead by police

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Seven civilians were shot dead by the Sri Lankan Police in Thampalakamam, in Trincomalee this morning around 6.00 a.m. in retaliation to an attack by the Liberation Tigers on some police force in the area last night.
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Heavy casualties at Paranthan - SLA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army claimed today that they had recaptured the Paranthan Base which came under three pronged assault by the Liberation Tigers, from 1.30 a.m. in the early hours of the morning today.
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Parents of Tigers assaulted

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The STF cordoned off Thalankudah, about 9 kilometers south of Batticaloa, yesterday and herded the villagers to the local catholic church. Here, about ten families were singled out with the assistance of Sinnavan, a TELO cadre working in the STF camp at the Manmunai ferry 3 kilometers to west of Thalankudah.
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Amnesty concerned over Indian convictions

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Amnesty International said that it "is concerned that 26 people sentenced to death by a special court in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on 28 January 1998 may not have received a fair trial according to international standards for fair trial", in a statement released by the London based human rights organisation last thursday.
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Woman attempts suicide over family deaths

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A woman whose son was shot dead by the army last month was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Batticaloa after attempting to commit suicide. The woman, identified as T. Puvaneswarie, 48, is a widow.
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Heavy fighting continues at Paranthan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Latest reports from Sri Lankan Army sources said that heavy fighting continues in the Pranthan sector. Contrary to earlier reports, government troops have not regained control of the southern sector of the Paranthan base.
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