Five killed in clashes

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three soldiers were killed, while no casualties were reported among the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) detachment at Nigasgoda came under attack by the LTTE around 9.00 p.m. on April 28, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) announced in its morning broadcast today.
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Two SLA troops killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed at Maavadivembu, 17 km. north of Batticaloa, on the Batticaloa-Valaichenai road around 11.45 a.m. today, when the Liberation Tigers fired at soldiers on sentry duty, guarding a SLA convoy route.
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JSDO condemns fraternisation with SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Jaffna District Students Organisation (JDSO) in a statement dated May 1, 1998 has exhorted the students of Jaffna, especially the girls, to preserve their dignity and not co- operate with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), said sources in Jaffna.
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Moonshine brewers warned

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A group of six people men and women were given a strong caution by Mr. M Thirunavukarasu, Magistrate of Mallakam in Jaffna, for brewing kassippu (moonshine), said sources in Jaffna.
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No detainees held in Mannar - SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan Military and Police officers informed Mannar magistrate today that no detainees are being held in the four detention camps in Mannar, in the north-western part of the island, said a court official today.
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Trinco Urban Council exasperated

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Urban Council (UC) of Trincomalee unanimously resolved today, that unless the controversial United General Market which was constructed on Thirgnanasambandamoorthy Road in Trincomalee recently is not opened by May 10, the members of the UC would mount a token fast and carry out other acts of peaceful civil disobedience.
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May day rallies in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Numerous rallies, public meetings and processions will be held in the Jaffna peninsula to mark international workers' day on May 1, said sources in Jaffna. Trade unions active in Jaffna will hold a joint rally at the Kailasapathy Hall at the University of Jaffna in Thirunelvely. The meeting will be chaired by S.Sivapalan.
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May Day procession in Mullaitivu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
May Day celebrations in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held area of Mullaitivu will begin 3:30 p.m. on May 1 with a procession which will commence at the Amban Kovil and proceed to Mullivalai Viththiyananda school in Mullaitivu, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) broadcast in its night transmission.
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May day events planned in Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Arrangements to celebrate international workers day are already underway in Akkarayan Kulam, 15 km from Kilinochchi, in the areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) today.
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Tiger frogmen stole SLA boats

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A motorboat used by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Sathurukkondan camp, 4 km north of Batticaloa, was removed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at around 11:00 p.m. Wednesday night, as it lay moored behind the SLA camp, said sources in Valaichenai.
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Fire Finder radars deployed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The recently acquired Fire Finder Radars have been deployed by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Operation Jayasikurui area to identify the LTTE mortar positions, said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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SLA foray into Vadamaradchi East

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army launched a limited operation yesterday in the Vadamaradchi East region in the Jaffna peninsula. The operation was continuing this morning said sources in Jaffna. The SLA cordoned off and searched the villages of Chempiyanpattu and Thanipanaioor yesterday.
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Valaichenai food restriction eased

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The supply of dry rations to Vakarai, in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled area, 60 km north of Batticaloa, which was suspended on an order made by Brigadier R. H. Silva, Brigade Commander of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Valaichenai, was restored today, said sources in Valaichenai.
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SLA operation in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operation codenamed "Tiger Hunt" which was launched yesterday in the eastern Trincomalee resumed today around 10 a.m. said SLA sources in Trincomalee.
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Intelligence officer shot dead

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Suspected members of the Liberation Tigers shot dead a soldier attached to the SLA's military intelligence unit in Batticaloa this morning around 8.30 a.m. in the village of Kommathurai, about 19 kilometers north of the eastern town. The dead soldier is a Tamil youth identified as S. Ravichandran.
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Gen. Ratwatte visits Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Defence Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte and Commanders of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces visited Vavuniya and areas of Operation Jayasikurui today, said SLA sources in Vavuniya. Gen. Ratwatte is said to have discussed the military situation with the field commanders.
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Official's overnight stay ends with arrest

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Vadivel Saravanamuttu (58), an official working in Trincomalee Customs Department told the Colombo High Court yesterday that he had been arrested on fictitious and unjustifiable grounds when he had stayed overnight in the customs area at the Colombo Harbour.
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Search operation, 1 killed in East

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Fifty five civilians were arrested in a cordon and search operation in Akkaraipattu market in the Amparai district today. All were taken to the Amparai police station for further interrogation, said sources in Amparai.
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Chivalry goes astray?

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
For a family at Milavuchchandi near Rasavinthotam in Jaffna town, insult turned to injury on April 19, when members of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), to whom the houshold turned for protection, abducted a youg girl and removed her to Manipay, said sources in Jaffna.
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More beauty contests in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Forty three school girls have applied to participate at beauty contests to be held in three areas in the Jaffna peninsula, said sources. This has prompted the Vadamaradchi East Arts and Cultural Forum to issue a statement condemning what it called the deterioration of morals in Jaffna society.
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Public complaints against SLA harassment

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A complaint has been lodged by members of the public at the office of the Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP) against constant harassment from the Sri Lanka Army's Special Forces (SF) commando unit operating in Waligamam (West) division of the Jaffna peninsula, said sources in Jaffna.
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SLA post attacked

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three SLA soldiers were killed and nine wounded when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attacked a Sri Lanka Army detachment at Pansalgodella 40 km south of Trincomalee on the Kanthalai-Seruvila road last night around 11.00 p.m., said SLA sources in Trincomalee.
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Bomb explosion - Union sabotage ?

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police is yet to arrest any one in connection with the bomb which knocked out the telecommunication exchange in Kalutara, 43 kilometers south of Colombo, last night.
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SLA commander speaks at music function

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA's Jaffna Town Commander Brig. Susantha Mendis called on the Tigers to join the path to peace last night at a music show at the Duraiappa stadium in the northern town. The musical show where 'Sithara', a band flown in from Colombo played to a crowd of 25000 until 1 a.m. in the small hours of the morning today was organised by the Jaffna SLA.
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Dissent emerges over strike handling

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The month long strike of the Union of Postal and Telecommunication Officers (UPTO) has led to the fissures between the coalition partners of the Peoples' Alliance Government (PA), which were already running deep over issues such as the privatisation of government assets, to widen further.
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Arms cache found

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Weapons and ammunition were discovered buried behind the Mandresa Roman Catholic Church retreat in the outskirts of Batticaloa town by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Batticaloa police on Friday evening, said police sources in Batticaloa.
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Policeman believed murdered

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Murder has not been ruled out by Dr. S. Vasikaran of the Kalawanchikudy Hospital who conducted the autopsy on the body of Vallipuram Jeevakumar (28), a reserve police constable serving in Vavuniya, whose body was discovered on Saturday floating in the Kaluthavalai lagoon, 25 km south of Batticaloa, said sources.
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Torture victim attempts suicide

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Maayur Nagarajah (17) who was beaten and severely tortured at the Chullipuram Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, 12 km West from Jaffna, attempted to commit suicide last evening at his parents home fearing that the SLA was going to detain and torture him again, said sources in Jaffna.
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Closed hospital awaits opening

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Siththa-Ayurveda Hospital (Siththa-Ayurvda is a system of indigenous medicine popular among the Tamils) at Mamunai 36 km north-east of Jaffna in an LTTE controlled area, has not been reopened after it was closed when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupied the Jaffna peninsula, said sources in Jaffna.
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Policemen extort money from lodging residents

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two inebriated policemen who extorted money at knife-point at two lodging houses in Mannar on Friday evening, were arrested on the orders of the Magistrate of Mannar, said sources in Mannar.
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Doyen of Sinhala nationalism passes away

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Gamani Jayasuriya, an ardent Sinhala nationalist and controversial politician died today. He was 74. He was Minister of Agriculture in J R Jayewardena's 1977 Cabinet from which he resigned in 1987, protesting against the Indo-Lanka Accord. Gamani Jayasuriya was also a stout champion of Buddhism and associated with many organisations such as the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress.
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British High Commissioner in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The British High Commissioner for Sri Lanka Mr. David Tahtham is currently on a visit to Trincomalee said sources in the eastern port town. The British envoy arrived in Trincomalee on Friday April 24 and is staying at the Nilaveli beach hotel.
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Parents' fury at BoI's report

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Parents of those who 'disappeared' in the Jaffna whilst in Sri Lankan army custody, accused A.T. Ariyaratne, a member of the Human Rights Commission, and founder of the NGO Sarvodaya, of also violating human rights, when he met them in Jaffna to convey that the Board of Investigation (BoI) appointed by Sri Lanka President to look into the disappearances had only listed 16 persons as having 'disappeared' during that time, said sources in Jaffna. The MPGA and international human rights organisations put the disappearances in Jaffna at around 600.
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Doctor harrased mother - Red Cross official

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sivanthan Kishore, Secretary of the Vavuniya branch of the Red Cross Society, has informed the Sri Lankan medical authorities of an incident where a Sinhalese doctor at Anuradhapura hospital had accused a Tamil woman named Arulrani (31) of working for the Liberation Tigers. Arulrani had brought her year old child for treatment at the hospital.
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UN official plans visit

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. K. Otunnu, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations will be in Sri Lanka next month to study the condition of children affected by the war in the North- East, said UN sources in Colombo.
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Special leave for public servants

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka's Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Plantation Industries has issued a circular which states that any public service official working in the island's north and east who is unable to report to work due to military activity would be granted special leave, said sources in Jaffna.
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Civilian seriously injured

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Adakkan Velayutham (57), a resident of Kalkudah, 32 km north of Batticaloa, lost his right eye and ear from Sri Lanka Army gunfire, while he was sleeping at home last night, said sources in Valaichenai. Hearing the firing he had awoken and found that he was bleeding.
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Arrests follow postal strike

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three of the ten Sri Lankan postal trade union leaders arrested by the Police last night as the Sri Lankan government declared the postal service an essential service were interrogated today by the Criminal Investigation Department. The other leaders are being held at different Police stations for security reasons said Police sources.
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SLA deserters abscond again

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two soldiers from a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp in Vavuniya who hijacked a three wheeler taxi on April 22 at Pattaanichoodu, 10 km west of Vavuniya, were arrested by the Neeriyakulam police at Neeriyakulam on the Chettikulam- Madwachchi road, while trying to escape, said sources in Vavuniya.
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SLA soldiers clash

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One SLA soldier, Madduma Bandara, was killed and another, W. J Niroshan, was injured when two groups of military personnel from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) clashed at Pallappai 18 km north of Jaffna at 2:45 a.m. today, said sources in Jaffna. The injured was removed to Mandikai Base Hospital, said sources.
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Eastern colonisation ongoing- UNP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A massive illegal colonisation of Sinhalese sponsored by the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party is taking place in the Trincomalee district said UNP sources in the eastern port town today.
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Jaffna water supplies at risk - GTZ

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Experts from the German Technical Institute (GTZ) warned today that continuous seepage of polluted water into the ground could result in the area coming under Jaffna Municipal Council not having potable water, said sources in Jaffna.
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Inaugural JMC meeting planned

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The inaugural meeting of the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) will be held today at the Nallur Hindu Hostel premises in the Jaffna town, presided over by Jaffna Mayor Sarojini Yogeswaran. The Democratic Peoples' Liberation Front (DPLF), the principal party in opposition in the JMC, is expected to put up 10 proposals for consideration by the Council today.
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Ten youths arrested

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) forcibly took away the national identity cards of 10 youths near the Neerveli Kandasamy Kovil 8 km north of Jaffna today and then detained the young men when they went to recover the ID cards at the Neerveli SLA camp, said sources in Jaffna.
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Investigations should be made public: Amnesty

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Amnesty International, the human rights organisation said on April 23, that the Government of Sri Lanka should promptly make public and disseminate widely, the findings of an investigation into more than 700 "disappearances" reported in 1996 in Jaffna.
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MP laments trade of Hindu statues

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"There has been a trend in recent years to rob metal statues and religious icons from Hindu temples to be sold and smuggled overseas. There has to be vigilance to prevent this," said P.P.Devaraj, MP (United National Party - Colombo District) in Parliament yesterday.
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Acrimony at inaugural JMC meeting

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Today's inaugural meeting of the newly elected Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC), which began with solemn requests for a non-partisan approach to resolve the problems of the people and for Jaffna's long term economic development, soon slipped into an acrimonious trading of words between the party holding office, and the principal party in opposition, said sources in Jaffna.
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Kalutara prison inquiry concludes

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The inquiry into the death of two Tamil and one Muslim detainees - Shanmugarajah Sivanesan, Mutthulingam Dharamalingam and Mohammed Jehan - at the Kalutara prison on December 12, 1997 was concluded yesterday. The Commission of Inquiry appointed by Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga, was headed by High Court judge Raja Fernando and comprised two others.
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Vakarai denied dry rations

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Almost 7000 families in Vakarai, 60 km north of Batticaloa, which is under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), have not received their quota of dry rations issued by the Sri Lanka Government from December last year, due to an order issued by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) that rations should not be transported to Vakarai, said sources in Valaichenai.
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Villagers protest over forcible eviction

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Between 500 and 1000 persons, forcibly evicted by the Sri Lankan army from Upparu, 15 km south of Trincomalee, staged a token fast at the nearby village of Aalenkerni today, between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. with the support of the Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP), according to sources.
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UNP meets South African peace group

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A South African human rights organization, Dravidians for Peace and Justice (South African Chapter), say they have held a meeting with a representative of the UNP, the main Sri Lankan opposition party, in Johannesburg to discuss the current conflict and human rights in Sri Lanka.
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Decomposed body found

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A completely decomposed corpse of a youth was found today in the shrub jungles of Thandiyadi in the south eastern sector of the Ampara district this morning around 9.30 a.m. by a young boy who had gone to herd cattle in the area.
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NGO calls for Peace Task Force

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Movement for Justice, Peace and National Reconciliation, an NGO of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, called on the Sri Lankan government today to establish a bipartisan peace task force to negotiate with the Liberation Tigers.
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Tripartite negotiation needed - TULF

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The general secretary of the TULF and MP for Trincomalee Mr. R. Sambandan and Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam MP who met Mr.Nagendranath Jha, senior advisor to the BJP government in India and formerly India's high commissioner in Sri Lanka for discussions today told him that it is necessary to bring the SL government, the Liberation Tigers and the United National Party into a tripartite negotiation process to settle the conflict in Sri Lanka.
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Daughter witnesses mother's murder

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Theiventhiram Sakunthala (44), recently widowed and mother of five children, was shot dead in the presence of her second daughter Wajanthi, by an officer of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) last night 7.45 p.m., said sources in Jaffna.
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Tamper proof cards for Tamils

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Reading out the PA government's position at today's adjournment debate in the Sri Lankan Parliament moved by the TULF on the indiscriminate mass arrests of Tamils in Colombo and other parts of the island, Deputy Minister for Finance Prof. G.L Pieris said that Tamils who are not permanent residents of Colombo will be issued with special tamper proof identity cards to prevent problems.
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Security pretext for extortion - MP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"The the arrests and detention of Tamils has become big business" said Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham TULF MP for Batticaloa speaking on the adjournment motion on mass arrets and detention of Tamils in the Sri Lankan Parliament today.
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India expresses interest and concern

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Nagendranath Jha, formerly India's High Commissioner in Sri Lanka and currently a senior advisor to the BJP government, who is currently on a visit to Colombo to speak on the future of Indo Lanka relations, told sections of the local press today that the Vajpayee government is interested and concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka.
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SLA destroys own tanks

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA in Vavuniya said today that troops of Operation Jayasikurui destroyed two of their own Main Battle Tanks (MBT) which the Liberation Tigers had attacked and immobilised on Monday when they (SLA troops) were retreating from LTTE held areas into which they had attempted to advance from the early morning that day.
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Father spots missing son

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Jacob Devadas, a fisherman of Kurunagar in Jaffna, lodged a complaint today at the Jaffna National Human Rights Commission office, stating that on Aril 8, he had seen his missing son in a Sri Lankan Army truck near the Muniappar temple. Suresh Devedas had been arrested by the SLA on July 20, 1996 and has been missing since.
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Jaffna disappearances remain unsolved

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Board of Investigation of the Ministry of Defence which was appointed by the SL government to inquire about the people in Jaffna who were reported missing after being arrested by the army submitted its findings and recommendations to the Sri Lankan President yesterday.
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Tigers attack police patrol

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Seven Sri Lankan Policemen were killed last night around 10.30 p.m. in Kalmunai in the Ampara district when suspected members of the Liberation Tigers lobbed two grenades into their jeep. Two policemen were wounded in the explosion.
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Watchman shot dead in retaliation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Thambipillai Thambiraja, a watcher employed at a mill in Kalmunai near the spot where the seven Sri Lankan Policemen were killed last night, was beaten and shot dead by a group of Policeman who went to the area after the incident said residents.
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New commander talks tough

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"The Liberation Tigers will not stop with Muthur but they will try to bring Trincomalee also under their control. The army can repulse any attempt by them to do so and we will defeat the LTTE" said Trincomalee south 22-1 Brigade commander Col. Sanath Karunaratne yesterday while addressing the District Co-ordinating Committee meeting at the Trincomalee district secretariat.
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Rape witness said burned alive

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers in Vadamaradchi East issued the following information to TamilNet's Vadamaratchi correspondent, which contradicted that which had earlier been given to TamilNet's hospital sources by the Sri Lankan authorities.(TamilNet's correspondent says that the version which was originally given out by official sources was apparently aimed at creating confusion to cover up the truth.)
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SLA troops fall back

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA sources in Vavuniya said this morning that the troops of Operation Jayasikurui had attempted to advance in the direction of Mankulam from their positions at Olumadu yesterday have had to make a tactical withdrawal of their forward positions for about a kilometer to the east due to heavy artillery and mortar counter attacks by the Liberation Tigers.
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Nine bodies recovered - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers confirmed in a press release issued from its International Secretariat that they had beaten back the SLA's three pronged assault on Mankulam. The LTTE said that SLA troops had withdrawn on all three fronts, having suffered heavy casualties.
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Two tigers killed - STF

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Special Task Force (STF) at Akkaraipattu camp in south eastern Amparai District claimed that its commandos had shot dead two Liberation Tigers who had attempted to escape during a cordon and search operation today in Thamarai Kulam 20 km south of Akkaraipattu on the trunk road to Pottuvil.
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Operation Jayasikurui resumes

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Operation Jayasikurui resumed again last night in a fresh attempt to push ahead from its current positions near Mankulam said SLA sources in Vavuniya this morning. They declined to give details of the operation but confirmed heavy fighting in some forward areas.
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Two fishermen killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two fishermen were killed and two were wounded in the early hours this morning around 4 a.m. when the Sri Lankan Army at the Valaichenai Fisheries harbor camp fired on them. The four fishermen had set out fishing in their boats in the Valaichenai Lagoon.
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Youths beaten up at STF camp

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than a dozen youths, mostly from the village of Eruvil, 38 km south of Batticaloa, were severly beaten up by the Special Task Froce (STF) with clubs and steel wires yesterday when they reported to the Kaluwanchikudy STF camp to notify their presence by signing a speccial register, said sources in the area.
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Heavy fighting near Mankulam

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 200 soldiers were wounded and 20 killed in fierce fighting as troops of Operation Jayasikurui captured Olumadu junction this afternoon said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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SLA loses tanks, withdraws - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers announced in the Wanni this evening that the Sri Lankan Army launched a three pronged offensive from it's positions in Olumadu and Moondumuripu in the early hours of the morning today. They said that they counter attacked the SLA's advance and that there was fierce fighting from morning 5 a.m. to 12 noon.
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US designation "not welcome" - Tamil parties

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Tamil party leaders who met US President's special envoy Bill Richardson during a brief meeting yesterday in Colombo told him that it is essential that the Liberation Tigers should take part in the talks to bring about peace in Sri Lanka.
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5 Sea Tiger boats destroyed - SLN

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) in Trincomalee claimed this morning that it's Fast Attack Craft (FAC) had engaged and destroyed 5 sea Tiger boats in the seas off the north-eastern coast of the island between Thiriyai and Pulmoddai last night.
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Mortar attack wounds five

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five Sri Lankan Policemen were wounded in a mortar attack by the Liberation Tigers on a sentry point on the coast of the Batticaloa lagoon last night around 10.30 p.m.
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Tigers loose five in sea battle

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers announced this evening in the Vanni that five Sea Tigers including two Black Sea Tigers were killed in a seven hour long sea battle with the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) last night. They said that the fighting had taken place in the seas between the Trincomalee harbour and Kokkilai and that ten Israeli built Dvora Fast Attack Craft (FAC) of the SLN had taken part in the battle.
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Gen. Ratwatte visits Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte, Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Defence, visited Trincomalee this morning for a high level security conference at the Plantain Point 22-1 Brigade camp. Security was tightened in Trincomalee town today.
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Open verdict on mysterious death

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Batticaloa courts Acting Judge K. Thangavadivel issued an open verdict on the death of the Raazeek group soldier Nadarajah Thevathaas today. He ordered the Police to arrest suspects involved in the death of Thevathaas and produce them in courts along with witnesses.
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Ex-EPDP cadre disappears

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A former EPDP cadre, Kandasamy Jeyakanthan of Saavakkaadu in Suthumalai was abducted this morning around 11 a.m. by armed men who came in a blue vehicle in the SLA high security zone of Jaffna town. The incident, according to eye witnesses, took place in front of the Commercial Bank.
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Tiger impostors caught

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two young men, Navarathinam Jeevarathinam and Thangarasa Ravichandran, who had attempted to rob households in the village of Punnaichcholai on the outskirts of the Batticaloa town last night masquerading as Liberation Tigers were caught by some vigilant youths of the area and were handed over to the Sri Lankan Police.
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Search Operation in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA cordoned off and launched a house to house search in Moolai, Chulipuram, Vaddukkottai and Siththankerni in the western parts of the Jaffna peninsula from 6 a.m. in the morning today. The operation was on until this afternoon.
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Jaffna attack kills three

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three SLA soldiers were killed and three were wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked the Forward Defense Lines at Mirisuvil in Kodikamam in the Thenmaradchi sector of the Jaffana peninsula.
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Goldsmiths beaten, then worked

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Thirty eight youth who were rounded up yesterday in the village of Annamalai, about 36 kilometers south west of Batticaloa, were severely beaten up by the Special Task Force for not reporting to its camp in the area on their arrival from Colombo where they are employed as goldsmiths. The boys had come home to Annamalai on leave for the Tamil New year.
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SLA officer killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One SLA officer was killed and five soldiers were wounded last night around 9.30 p.m. in Santhiveli, 28 miles north of Batticaloa in a fire fight with the Liberation Tigers.
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Mystery shrouds Razeek cadre's death

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Another soldier of the Razeek group which operates in Batticaloa as an extension of the Sri Lankan army died today under mysterious circumstances. A spokesman of the Razeek group said this afternoon that the soldier, Nadarajah Thevathaas, had been drinking too much arrack in his village of Koolavady on the outskirts of the Batticaloa town this week during the Tamil new year leave.
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Adulterous liaison ends in suicide

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A girl in Pt.Pedro, allegedly three months pregnant from a relationship with a married SLA soldier, committed suicide yesterday, when she was summoned for an inquiry, by setting herself on fire after dousing her body with kerosene, said medical sources in Vadamaradchi in Jaffna this morning.
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Tigers confirm twin attacks

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers told the TamilNet's Vadamaradchi correspondent who met them this morning at Naagarkovil that one of their attack groups had fired mortar shells last night around 7.30 p.m. on the SLA camp at Vaalaithottam in Varani in the Vadamaradchi sector of the Jaffna peninsula killing more than three soldiers and wounding several others.
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Renewed operation in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army began another operation into the Vadamaradchi east region on the southeastern coast of Jaffna this morning around 6 a.m. This region and parts of the Thenmaradchi division such as Eluthumattuvaal north and Meesalai north which are contiguous with it are not under the SLA control.
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Fire fight in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One SLA soldier was seriously wounded in a clash between the Liberation Tigers and an Army ambush group last night around 9.30 p.m near the Muthur-Mallikaitheevu junction south of Trincomalee.
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One killed in Police Navy brawl

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan police in the island of Kyts handed over today to the Government Hospital there the body of a Policeman who was killed in a clash between the Sri Lankan Navy and the Sri Lankan police in the island of Neduntheevu (Delft) last night.
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5 Naval personnel injured

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five Special Boat Squadron (SBS) commandos in the Kilaly Navy camp were wounded in a mortar attack by the Liberation Tigers last night around 9.15 p.m. said SLA sources in Chavakachcheri. They said that the Tigers came in water jet craft (captured from the SLN in 1993) across the Kilaly lagoon.
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Sea-going Home Guards?

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government announced today that it will establish an 'Ocean Security Brigade' formed with ten thousand combat trained personnel drawn mainly from the fishing community in the Sinhala coastal provinces.
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Bread banned from Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army at the Vallipuram sentry point has banned civilians from taking bread into Vadamaradchi East region in the Jaffna Peninsula, said local residents. The ban was introduced on Saturday, April 11, they said.
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Girl claims police rape

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A girl who was allegedly raped by a Police constable was admitted to the Jaffna hospital by Sri Lankan Police at Kopay this afternoon around 3.40 p.m. The girl, Sri Balakumar Ajanthana, 17, of No.386, Kandy Road Ariyalai in Jaffna town, alleged that a Police constable had forcibly raped her which had caused heavy bleeding from the vagina.
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Child killed in deadly game

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Weerasingham Selvarajah, 28, a leader in the main para-military group operating with the Sri Lankan army in Batticaloa was killed in his house in Thimilatheevu a suburb of this eastern town this afternoon when a grenade, the clip of which he had playfully removed to amuse his 3 year old daughter, went off. The little girl was also killed on the spot. Weerasingham's wife was seriously wounded in the explosion.
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Travel permit delays to be eased in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Travellers from Jaffna may have their applications to leave the peninsula processed faster under a new system to be introduced from tomorrow in the peninsula. Jaffna travellers have had to face inordinate delays, some running into more than six months, due to the massive backlog at the SLA Civil Affairs Office on 3rd Cross street in Jaffna town.
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Senior US official to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Ambassador Bill Richardson, the most senior US official to visit Sri Lanka since 1972, will arrive in Colombo on Saturday April 18 with a special letter from President Bill Clinton to Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge Bandranaike.
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Fr. Weber passes away

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Rev.Fr. Harold John Weber, the American born Jesuit priest who worked for more than five decades for the development of sports in the Batticaloa died last night around 8.30 p.m. in a private nursing home in the eastern town. He was 84 years old at the time of his death.
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Police post attacked

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three Sri Lankan Police personal, one sub inspector and two Police Constables, were killed when the Liberation Tigers attacked the 64th Police post near Pachchanur in Muthur, south of Trincomalee this afternoon around 1.30 p.m.
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Police fire injures civilian

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A leading businessman of Batticaloa, K. Jegathees, was seriously injured in the early hours of the morning today around 5.30 a.m. by Sri Lankan Police fire while on his way back with his family from the Maamaangam Temple where he had attended the Tamil New Year Pooja. His wife and two children who were with him escaped unhurt.
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SLA camps hit

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked the Kuchchaveli SLA camp on Saturday night, killing one soldier, identified as Corporal K.H Senivaratna, and wounding another, identified as Private S.V Priyantha. The camp, north of Trincomalee, was under the command of an SLA officer holding the rank of a Lieutenant at the time of the attack.
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Youths' bodies wash ashore

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Several decomposed and unidentified bodies washed ashore on the islands off Jaffna last week. Sources said that all of them were those of youth. One was washed ashore last Monday, April 6, at Nainathivu, and another the following day at Analaithivu and a third one was washed ashore at Nedunthivu (Delft) on April 8 Wednesday. The cause of death is not known as the bodies were highly decomposed.
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Explosion in Jaffna town

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One woman was killed and sixteen civilians were wounded in a grenade blast this evening around 5.20 p.m. (11.20 GMT) in the heart of Jaffna town. The explosion, suspected to be a powerful grenade, went off in front of Sivaganeshan Stores (formerly Malayan Cafe building) on the Power House Road in Jaffna town.
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LTTE warns collaboration

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers put up printed posters in the Vadamaradchi and Thenmaradchi divisions of the Jaffna peninsula this weekend warning people who give information to the Sri Lankan army about their activities. The posters appeared in areas which are under the control of the Sri Lankan army overnight.
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Police patrol ambushed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two Sri Lankan Policemen and a home guard were killed when the Liberation Tigers ambushed a Police road clearing patrol this morning, around 7.45 a.m., in Avaravanthalawa, 30 km. south of Vavuniya, said police sources in Vavuniya.
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Akkarayan Hospital statistics

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
23 people died in the Akkarayan Hospital in the Vanni last month, according to a report released recently by the Hospital authorities. 24,800 patients were treated in the OPD and 1033 were admitted to the wards in March, the report said.
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Porn theatre manager re offended

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A porn movie theatre operator in Kalviankaadu near Jaffna town who was arrested, interrogated, warned and released on April 9 by the PLOTE has run into trouble again with the ex-Tamil militants. The person was released after the principal of a leading school in Kalviankaadu, allegedly a patron of the theatre, intervened on his behalf.
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Six killed in clashes - VoT

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said in its broadcast this morning that 5 Liberation Tigers and one supporter died in four separate confrontations with the Sri Lankan Army on Thursday and Friday.
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Puttalam Sinhalese fear Muslim settlers - ULF

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Resettling refugees from the Muslim community in the Puttalam area and allowing them to register as voters there is perceived as a threat by members of the majority Sinhalese community who are native to those areas, said United Lalith Front's (ULF) Ms. Srimani Athulathmudali, MP, recently in Parliament.
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Stern warnings over LTTE contact

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Government Agent (GA) Jaffna, Mr.S.Shanmuganathan convened a meeting at the Jaffna Kachcheri for all the heads of government departments in the peninsula where he told them that public officials having contacts with the Liberation Tigers would do so at their own peril said Kachcheri sources in Jaffna.
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Skirmish at Olumadu

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One soldier was killed and four wounded when SLA troops constructing bunkers at Olumadu, 4 km east of Mankulam on the Mankulam-Mullaitheevu Road were attacked by the Liberation Tigers around 10.00 a.m. yesterday, said sources in Vavuniya.
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Conflicting claims over man's death

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Somasundaram Suthakaran (28), from Palukamam, in the Paduvankarai region which is under the control of the Liberation Tigers was allegedly shot dead at Periyneelavanai, 23 km south-west of Batticaloa around 8:00 a.m. on Sunday April 5, by the Special Task Force (STF) from the Karaitheevu camp, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Tamil gunmen operating with Colombo troops

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Armed men in civilian clothing who accompany uniformed Sri Lankan security forces personnel, including police, during cordon and search operations in Colombo are strongly suspected to be members of certain ex-Tamil militant groups now working with the SLA as para-military units, a human rights lawyer, who was not willing to be identified, told TamilNet.
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Accident victim bleeds to death

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One civilian was killed and another critically injured when the motorbike in which they were travelling crashed into another belonging to the SLA near Aavarangal on the Jaffna-Pt. Pedro Road around 6.30 p.m. yesterday said sources in Jaffna. The injured were rushed to the Atchuvely hospital and from there to the Jaffna hospital around 11 p.m. last night.
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Cash liquidity problem

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Jaffna was hit by an unprecedented cash shortage Thursday. Business and advance payments to government servants for the Tamil New year were affected by this cash liquidity crisis. The SLA is said to be flying in further supplies of paper money, said sources.
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Jaffna schools cannot re-locate: Ratwatte

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tellipalai Mahajana College, the Tellipalai Union College and the Vasaavilaan Maththiya Mahaviththiyalayam will not be permitted to move into their former premises as these are located in a very high security zone stated Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Defence, Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte categorically on Wednesday.
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Identity cards to Hindu priests

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
In view of Hindu priests being arrested or subjected to harassment by the Sri Lankan Security Forces, the All Ceylon Hindu Congress (ACHC) has requested trustees of the temples at which the priests serve, to issue a certificate which establishes the priests' identities, said the ACHC in a statement.
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SLA appoints new Vadamaradchi chief

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA commander of Jaffna's Vadamaradchi division, Col.Larry Wijeratne is to be transferred out of the area with effect from April 20. Col. Wijeratne has been considered by the SLA as one of its best officers in the Jaffna peninsula. He was praised for keeping the activity of the Liberation Tigers under complete check in Vadamaradchi since 1996.
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In the eye of the beholder?

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sinhala and Tamil new year is a time of good will between people. But the beauty contest held at the Maruthanaarmadam Ramanathan College as part of new year festivities yesterday where both SLA women soldiers stationed in the area and Tamil girls took part did not quite strike the note of cordiality that might have been expected on such occasions.
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Jaffna SLA calls meeting

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA's Jaffna Town commander Brig. Susantha Mendis, summoned yesterday all department heads, (of semi government concerns) bank officials and others in Jaffna town and its suburbs to a meeting at Jaffna Kachcheri on Friday at 9 a.m.. The meeting is believed to have been called to discuss growing LTTE influence into all levels of public life in Jaffna, said sources.
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Mass arrests to be restricted: AG

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Attorney General (AG), Sarath N Silva has pledged to representatives of the Tamil community that steps will be taken to restrict mass arrests during cordon and search operations in Colombo, said sources in Colombo.
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Ratwatte visits Palaly base

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Defence Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte visited the Palaly SLA base complex yesterday to attend an army sports festival in connection with the Sinhala new year. The sports function was held on the grounds of the Palaly Teachers' Training College which is now part of the SLA base.
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Civilian hit by shelling

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A civilian was injured at Naasivanthivu, a village near Valaichenai on the shore of the Valaichenai lagoon 30 km north of Batticaloa around 2:00 a.m. today, when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelled the village, said sources in Valaichenai.
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TULF to unveil Chelvanayagam statue

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The TULF will unveil a statue of S.J.V Chelvanayagam on April 26 at a function in Jaffna town to mark his memory said Jaffna Mayor Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran. There will be a public meeting the same day she said. The party has begun organising branches in some parts of the peninsula.
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Youths missing after arrest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five youths were taken into custody by home guards at Koyilporatheevu, 25 km north-west Batticaloa on March 31, while they were catching hares in the paddy fields and shrubs in the area, said sources in Batticaloa. The five youths, who are from Aliyarvattai in the 35th Colony of the Gal Oya scheme, were arrested when they crossed into the village of 36th Colony.
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Home guards bound for warfront

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Seven thousand home-guards have been issued automatic assault rifles and are now being trained by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to man the forward defence lines (FDLs) on the Anuradhapura - Vavuniya border that divides the war torn north-east Sri Lanka from the rest of the country, said military sources.
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Jaffna mail slowed by strike

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The strike by the Sri Lanka Postal Department has affected the delivery of mail in the Jaffna peninsula, said sources in the Postal Department in Jaffna town. The usual quota of mail sent via the domestic airline to Jaffna is six bags per day. But following the strike it has been reduced to a daily average of only two bags.
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PLOTE raids porn theatre

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A video parlour showing pornographic films near Kalliyankadu bus halt on the Jaffna - Pt. Pedro road in the Jaffna peninsula was raided yesterday morning by the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) while a show was in progress said a spokesman of the group. The PLOTE had taken in three persons who were running the 'mini theatre'.
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Second ship fails to show

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Government reneged on its commitment to dispatch two vessels to carry refugees and other passengers from Trincomalee back to the Jaffna peninsula, said sources in Vavuniya today. Despite assurances, only one vessel, 'Sajitha' was expected to put into Trincomalee harbour before carrying 500 passengers from the Trincomalee District back to Jaffna.
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SLA's offer to Jaffna fishermen

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is bargaining with the fishermen of Kaakaitheevu near Jaffna town that longer hours of fishing off coast in that area will be permitted if they are willing to go on a procession denouncing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said sources in Jaffna.
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Local NGOs to cold shoulder Sarvodaya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Jaffna NGO Consortium reacted with scorn at the proposed visit to Jaffna by the leader of Sarvodaya , the largest NGO in Sri Lanka, A.T. Ariyaratne, who pledged that he would acquaint himself with the problems of the people of Jaffna by visiting the peninsula on April 17 before reporting on the matter to Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga, said sources inJaffna.
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Young Valaichenai woman shot dead

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
M Maheswari (20), a young woman from Kinniyadi, 33 km north of Batticaloa, was killed by small arms fire which is believed to have originated from a nearby Sri Lankan Army (SLA) camp at around 9:00 a.m. this morning, said sources in Valaichenai.
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Curfew put back for variety show

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is to extend its usual deadline for the nightcurfew in Jaffna town by two hours from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. tonight, in view of a variety show to be staged by the SLA band and other artists to celebrate the Tamil and Sinhala new year, said sources in Jaffna.
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Corruption in eastern councils

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The administrations of several local government bodies in the eastern province which were elected in early 1994 have been hit by allegations of corruption. In the latest development, the Governor of the Northeastern province has ordered a commission of inquiry into charges of embezzlement amounting to several hundred thousand rupees by the members of the Porathivupattu Pradeshiya Sabha in the Batticaloa district.
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Kokkaddichcholai promised electricity

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The village of Kokkaddichcholai and its Chola period (900-1200 A.D) Thaanthonreeswarar temple in the western hinterland of the Batticaloa district will have electricity for the first time ever, to mark the Tamil new year this week said sources in Batticaloa. The electrification program of the area which began last year has been completed they said.
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Jaffna LTTE commander says attacks will intensify

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Jaffna military commander of the Liberation Tigers (who replaced the former commander Veeman recently) and his deputy gave an exclusive interview to TamilNet's Vadamaradchi correspondent who met them in Naagarkovil yesterday. (They asked the TamilNet correspondent to refrain from publishing their noms de guerre at this juncture for security reasons.) The following are excerpts from the interview.
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Body of fisherman washed ashore

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of one of the four fishermen who were reported missing yesterday following an attack by the Sri Lankan Navy in the seas off the Mullaithivu coast was washed ashore today. He was identified as Muththu Ranganathan,32, displaced from Aliyawalai on Jaffna's south eastern coast and the father of five children. His body was washed ashore around 9 a.m. this morning according to reports from Mullaithivu.
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3 Tigers killed in Vanni - Radio

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Tiger, 2nd Lt.Senthamilan (Thiruchelvarasa Prabhaharan of Puthtukudyiruppu in Mullaithivu) was killed in a counter ambush by the Liberation Tigers yesterday on a group of elite commandos of the Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) in the Moondumurippu area said the Voice of Tigers in its night broadcast today.
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Transit camp inmates stage protest fast

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than two thousand people went on a token protest fast in front of the Trincomalee town and gravets divisional secretary's office today demanding that they should be sent to Jaffna as soon as possible. Many of these have been languishing in transit camps in Trincomalee town and its suburbs for more than six months for a passage to Jaffna by ship.
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Tigers overrun SLA posts in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers overran the main SLA checkpoint along with its six defense bunkers at Aanaivilunthaan in Pachchilaippalli and the SLA's mini camp at Katchaarveli killing six soldiers in simultaneous attacks launched in the early hours of the morning today around 3.15 a.m. said the LTTE commander who was in charge of the attack this morning.
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Para-military soldier killed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One Sri Lankan para-military soldier was killed and a Sri Lankan Policeman was slightly wounded in a fracas in Batticaloa this afternoon around 1.45 p.m. said Sri Lankan Army sources in the area. The fracas began when two soldiers of the Razeek group, the much dreaded para-military outfit operating with the SLA in Batticaloa, were stopped by the Sri Lankan Police near Shivananda Maha Viththiyaalayam in Kallady for an identity check.
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Fishermen reported missing

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Reports from the Vanni said that four fishermen have gone missing in an attack by the Sri Lankan Navy early this morning around 5.45 a.m. on fishing boats in the seas off the Mullaithivu coast. Others who went in search of them later in the morning found only some nets and buoys where the Navy had attacked the fishing boats.
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Mine hits SLA tractor

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than two SLA soldiers were killed and several wounded when the tractor in which they were traveling from Maruthankerni to Vettilaikkerni in Vadamaradchi east was hit by a land mine attack carried out by the the Liberation Tigers yesterday around 11.30 a.m. in the morning said LTTE sources in Naagarkovil. They said that the tractor was completely destroyed in the attack.
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No confidence motion against Gen. Ratwatte?

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) will seek an adjournment debate on the indiscriminate arrests and harassment of Tamils in Colombo and other parts of the country when the Sri Lankan Parliament resumes sittings tomorrow.
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Jaffna MPs campaign for cease-fire

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A signature collection campaign began in Jaffna today demanding an immediate cease-fire. The campaign, however, is low key and is backed by the EPDP break away MPs Rameswaran and Ramamoorthy. The memorandum states that the Liberation Tigers and the government should come forward to stop the war and create conditions for peace.
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Jaffna bishop meets LTTE leaders in Vanni

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The bishop of Jaffna Thomas Saundranayagam held discussions with the political wing of the Liberation Tigers last week in the Vanni. The meeting took place during a visit by the bishop to the Vanni to attend to church affairs and to see the condition of the people living in the region.
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Mallavi residents stage protest rally

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A large number of students, teachers and parents stages a rally in Mallavi today, according to the night news broadcast of the Voice of Tigers (VoT), to protest against the indiscriminate attacks by the SLAF on schools students and teachers.
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Fishing ban reimposed

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The ban on fishing which was lifted on the Maathagal coast in late January has been imposed again residents in the area said. They said that the lifting of the ban now appeared to be an election gimmick.
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Jaffna Officials warned against LTTE contact

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Jaffna Government Agent (GA) Mr. S. Shanmuganathan, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Planning Secretariat in the Jaffna Kachcheri this morning around 10 a.m., said that the Jaffna Town SLA Commander has admonished him about government officials in Jaffna who meet the Liberation Tigers and take instructions from them.
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Request for boat service turned down

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The secretary to the Sri Lankan President Mr. K. Balapatabendi turned down a suggestion by the PLOTE deputy leader to begin a passenger boat service to Jaffna from Mannar on the grounds that the A9 highway from Vavuniya to the peninsula would be opened soon at a conference this afternoon to discuss the security related problems of fisheries in Jaffna.
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Refugees denied dry rations

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 1000 civilians who were forcibly evicted by the Sri Lankan Army from the villages of Iththikkulam, Sinnakkulam and Maravattaikkulam south of Trincomalee last month are yet to be issued dry rations by the government authorities, said sources in Muthur.
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Tigers list captured weapons

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in their night news broadcast today that the Liberation Tigers had launched a lightening attack on the Sri Lankan Police camp at Thoppur in Muthur in Trincomalee around 12.30 a.m. and had completely destroyed it.
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Police post attacked

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked a Sri Lankan Police post in Thoppur 25 km south of Trincomalee on Muthur - Seruvila road, this morning around 12.30 a.m., wounding four policemen. The Tigers took away a bus that was parked at the post, said Police sources in Trincomalee.
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Search operation in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army cordoned off and searched a large area in Jaffna comprising Manippai, Aanaikkoddai, Koolavady and Navaaly from the early hours of the morning today. The operation was on until 2 p.m. this afternoon.
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Repair vehicles destroyed on A-9

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A group of armed persons, suspected to be members of the Liberation Tigers, blasted three heavy vehicles of the Sri Lankan government's Road Development Authority (RDA) which were engaged in rebuilding the A-9 highway to Jaffna between Vavuniya and Kanakarayan Kulam this afternoon around 2 p.m. at Vaarikkuttiyoor on the Vavuniya Mannar road.
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SLA warns against LTTE contact

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan security forces headquarters at Palaly in Jaffna issued a press note last night warning government officials and businessmen in the peninsula who provide assistance to the Liberation Tigers and take instructions from them.
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6 SLA Soldiers killed - Radio

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said in their morning news broadcast today that six SLA soldiers were killed in two attacks by Liberation Tigers in Jaffna on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Massive search operation in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 1500 Tamils were arrested in a massive cordon and search operation by the Sri Lankan army and Police. The operation began around 10.30 p.m. last night in Kochchikkadai, Kotahena, Chekku street, Sea street and nearby areas. It was on until 3.30 a.m. in the early hours of the morning today.
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13,000 disappearances in 7 years: MP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"Thirteen thousand people have disappeared in the Eastern Province since 1990. There are 8,500 widows in the East of whom 70% are between 18 and 21 years [old]. There are 6000 orphans," said Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) MP Joseph Pararajasingham at a meeting held this week at the Ramakrishna Mission in Colombo organised by the Past Pupils of Northeast District Schools Organisation.
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Fire fight in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four SLA soldiers were wounded in a fire fight with the Liberation Tigers last night in Valaichenai,32 kilometers north of Batticaloa. One soldier's condition is serious said the Sri Lankan Police in Valaichenai this morning.
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Giant refugee camp planned

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The PLOTE's deputy leader, Manikkam Daasan, objected strongly today to the Sri Lankan government's proposal to establish a giant refugee camp in Vavuniya to house refugees from the areas of the Vanni which do not come under the control of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and who are awaiting transport to the Jaffna peninsula, said sources in Vavuniya.
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LTTE-SLA clash in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One soldier was killed and three seriously wounded when the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) engaged the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Pethalai, 30 km north of Batticaloa, as the Tigers were preparing to cross the Valaichenai lagoon to Naasiyantheevu around 8:30 p.m. last night, said sources in Valaichenai.
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Search operation in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The male residents of six villages near Valaichenai town, 30 km north of Batticaloa, were severely assaulted by Sri Lankan Army (SLA) troops during a cordon and search operation between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. today, said sources in Valaichenai.
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Six soldiers wounded in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two SLA soldiers were wounded in a claymore mine attack by the Liberation Tigers on the Periyavilaan-Pandaththarippu road in Jaffna this morning around 7.30 a.m. However, according to unconfirmed reports from residents in the area, two soldiers were killed in the attack.
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Sentry posts attacked

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers launched a surprise raid on the sentries ahead of the Razeek group's camp in the heart of Batticaloa town in the early hours of the morning today around 1.30 a.m. The Razeek group is a much dreaded paramilitary outfit operating under the Sri Lankan army.
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Mother's grief compounded by red tape

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Kamaldevi (28), from Parappankandal, a village in Wanni which is under Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) control, was denied even the sombre consoloation of seeing to her infant daughter's funeral rites, because she did not possess a valid travel pass entitling her to stay overnight in Anurdhapura Hospital, said sources in Vavuniya.
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12 killed in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Twelve bodies, suspected to be those of civilians killed in fighting in the Vadamaradchi East area in the Jaffna peninsula, were lying on the Vallipuram - Manalkaadu Road this morning, said sources in Jaffna. The bodies were decomposing and there was a strong stench said sources who visited the are.
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