President solicits Tamil MP's Support

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 October 1998, 19:45 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumarathunge will meet leaders of Tamil political parties on November 6 prior to debate on government's budget proposal for the next year, said political sources in Colombo.
Full story >>

Civilians caught in mine blast

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 October 1998, 19:26 GMT]
Two civilians, K.Sreetharan (22), and his brother K.Karunakaran (18), were killed yesterday in an explosion in Kanakapuram in Kilinochchi, the town which was recently captured by the Liberation Tigers. It is believed either a mine or a booby-trap, left behind by the army, might have caused the explosion.
Full story >>

Protest marches in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 October 1998, 04:47 GMT]
The Consortium of Non Governmental Organisation in Jaffna and Missing Persons Guardian Association (MPGA) organised a march in Jaffna yesterday. The procession started at the office of NGO consortium in Rasavinthoddam and ended in front of the office of National Human Rights Commission (HRC) at Somasundaram Avenue.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 October 1998, 04:42 GMT]
Four more civilians have been reported missing after they went to see their abandoned house in the Vanni, Vanni protest strike continues as the signature campaign comes to an end today and rainfall continues in the Vanni.
Full story >>

Lion Air wants flights resumed

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 October 1998, 22:15 GMT]
Lion Air, the private airline that operated between Colombo and Jaffna, wrote to the Director General of Sri Lanka's civil aviation department today that it is keen to resume flights to the north from November 9. The Lion Air was grounded after one of its flights fell into the sea off the north-western coast under mysterious circumstances on September 29.
Full story >>

Jaffna passengers' rough ride ends

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 October 1998, 18:07 GMT]
The Lanka Muditha, the merchant cargo ship that set sail this morning with 525 civilian passengers and a large number of soldiers, returned to the Kankesanthurai SL Navy base in Jaffna around 11 a.m. after a Naval convoy was attacked by the Sea Tigers this morning.
Full story >>

Captured Dvora sinks - radio

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 October 1998, 14:35 GMT]
The Sea Tigers captured a Dvora Fast Attack Craft (FAC) and removed all its heavy weapons in the sea battle off Mullaithivu coast said 'Tamil Eelam Vaanoli' (radio), the commercial broadcast of the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its news bulletin at 6.30 this evening.
Full story >>

Sporadic clashes in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 October 1998, 11:45 GMT]
Five Sri Lankan Army (SLA) Soldiers were wounded and one civilian was killed in two separate incidents in the eastern Batticaloa district today said sources there.
Full story >>

Tigers sink Sri Lankan gunboat

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 October 1998, 05:26 GMT]
The Sea Tigers, the naval unit of the Liberation Tigers, attacked a fleet of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) around 7.30 a.m. this morning in the sea off Mullaithivu, north-east of the island, said sources in the eastern port town of Trincomalee. One Israeli built Dvora Fast Attack Craft (FAC) was sunk and two other FACs were damaged in the sea battle they added.
Full story >>

Police post attacked

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 October 1998, 04:48 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked a Police post in Mangalagama, a Sinhala settlement on the edge of the Batticaloa - Ampara district border around 11.30 p.m last night killing a para-military Home Guard.
Full story >>

Amnesty seeks safety guarantees

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 October 1998, 00:08 GMT]
Amnesty International, the London based human rights organisation said today that the Sri Lankan government "must guarantee" the safety of forensic experts to enable international observers to participate in the exhumations of the alleged mass graves at Chemmani.
Full story >>

Government accused of prolonging war

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 20:41 GMT]
The PA government is using the shortfall of 16 MPs as a pretext to carry on with the war without settling the ethnic conflict said Mr.Ronnie de Mel MP. The powerful ex minister of finance during the previous UNP government, was speaking this morning at the press conference held in the Opposition Leader's official residence on the continuing protest fast of unemployed university graduates who are demanding that the government should provide them with jobs.
Full story >>

Post office to be privatised

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 20:38 GMT]
Sri Lankan government's Postal Department will be made a public corporation by early next year, Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Media announced today.
Full story >>

Jaffna priest detained

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 20:29 GMT]
Human Rights Commission (HRC) officials in Jaffna who went looking for the priest of the Selvachannithy temple, reported missing after he was arrested by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) on October 16, found him yesterday at the detention centre in the Kankesanthurai (KKS) SLA base complex.
Full story >>

Cholera quarantine lifted

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 20:27 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army check post at Uylankulam that has been closed to civilian traffic for nearly 3 weeks was opened again Saturday 24 October. The army road block at Uylankulam was closed as a result of the out break of Cholera in Vidaththalthivu, Pallamadu and in Skandapuram areas in the Vanni.
Full story >>

Flooding risk in Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 20:16 GMT]
The monsoon rains have started to pour down and the water level of the major reservoirs in the Vanni have started to rise. For a period of 24 hours ending Wednesday morning (October 28), a rainfall of 17.8 mm had been recorded in the Akkarayankulam area.
Full story >>

Two civilians reported missing

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 20:11 GMT]
Two displaced civilians who had sought refuge at Oddusuddan and Vasanthapuram in the Vanni have been reported missing after they went to inspect their houses at Nedunkerni on the 22nd October.
Full story >>

Detainees body requires post-mortem

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 19:27 GMT]
The body of Uthayakumar, which the Sri Lankan Army handed over to the Jaffna hospital yesterday, was flown to Colombo this evening for a post-mortem to determine the cause of his death.
Full story >>

Scandal surrounds Attorney General

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 17:21 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Attorney General (AG) Sarath N Silva had a tough time defending himself against charges of adultery and obstruction of justice at the weekly cabinet press briefing today. The embarrassed AG was helplessly cornered by the press with evidence of his alleged misconduct, despite interruptions by Media Minister Mr.Mangala Samaraweera in his support.
Full story >>

SLA spokesman briefs press

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 11:18 GMT]
Six army personnel were killed and 18 wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked Forward defense Lines (FDL) in the southern sector of Paranthan said the SLA spokesman Brigadier Sunil Tennekoon, presenting a review of the security situation in the north and east of the island at the weekly cabinet press briefing today at the People's Bank Training Centre at D.R Wijewardene Mawatha in downtown Colombo.
Full story >>

Search operation in Palai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 11:08 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) cordoned off and searched the Palai town, north of Elephant Pass this morning from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.
Full story >>

SLA advance in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 08:02 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army units which advanced from Vavunathivu, 3 kilometers southwest of the Batticaloa town on the western shore of the lagoon into the ditrict's hinterland which is under the control of the Liberation Tigers returned to base this afternoon.
Full story >>

Torture marks found on body

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 October 1998, 14:59 GMT]
Rasanayakam Uthayakumar, 44, who was arrested by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) on October 23 at Nayanmarkaddu was handed over to the Jaffna hospital dead this afternoon. Jaffna D.M.O. said that there were indications on Uthayakumar's body that his left foot and right hand had been tied in chains.
Full story >>

U.S Bishop's concern over atrocities

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 October 1998, 03:58 GMT]
Bishop Felton Edwin May of the United Methodist Church of the Washington Episcopal Area has expressed his concern to the U.S State Department over the alleged mass graves of up to 400 civilians in Chemmani, Jaffna, and other human rights violations by Sri Lankan forces, said sources close to the Church today.
Full story >>

Minister seeks LTTE's help to restore electricity

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 October 1998, 03:33 GMT]
Mr.M.L.M Hisbullah, Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Posts and Telecommunications and Media, appealed to the Liberation Tigers in Batticaloa to help solve the disruption of electricity supply to the district.
Full story >>

Civilians mark capture of Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 October 1998, 01:00 GMT]
Thousands of people gathered Tuesday afternoon at a special ceremony in Kilinochchi town, conducted to mark the Liberation Tigers' capture the Kilinochchi-Paranthan last month, said sources. The occasion was presided over by one of the LTTE's political section officials, Selvam Mama.
Full story >>

Four Batticaloa youths abducted

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 October 1998, 22:37 GMT]
Four Tamil youths were abducted by a group of unidentified armed men in Kalmunai, 37 km south of Batticaloa, yesterday around 4.00 a.m, said human rights sources there.
Full story >>

Case dismissed after long detention

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 October 1998, 22:32 GMT]
Rajenthiran Jeyenthiran, a school boy of St. Michals College in Batticaloa who was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was released on Friday after being held in detention for 30 months.
Full story >>

Posters warn army collaborators

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 October 1998, 18:24 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers put up posters this morning in many parts of the Valigamam sector of the Jaffna peninsula, warning people who have connections with the Sri Lankan army (SLA). The posters which were computer composed print-outs listed civilians by name said sources.
Full story >>

Continuing search for army deserters

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 October 1998, 15:10 GMT]
A spokesman for the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence (MoD) said today that the Police have arrested 818 army deserters since last Tuesday, October 20. He said they will be subject to a brief retraining program and be sent off to the front soon.
Full story >>

Tamil journalist released on bail

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 October 1998, 12:21 GMT]
S.Sree Gajan, the Tamil journalist who was arrested on July 6 by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID), a special unit established in May this year by the Sri Lankan government, was released on bail today by the Colombo magistrate. The journalist's lawyer Joseph Charles, instructed by Ms.Gowri Shankar, appeared for him.
Full story >>

Tigers shell Elephant Pass base

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 October 1998, 00:02 GMT]
Four Sri Lankan Army (SLA) personnel, including an officer, were killed when the Liberation Tigers fired artillery on the Elephant Pass base complex last night around 11.00. Army sources said that eight soldiers were wounded in the shelling. They said that the Tigers had used 122 mm howitzers to fire on the base.
Full story >>

Nine Tigers, supporter killed - VoT

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 October 1998, 00:01 GMT]
Eight Liberation Tigers died in a clash with the Sri Lankan Army in the eastern Batticaloa district on October 22 said the Voice of Tigers (VoT). The radio also said another LTTE member, Maj. Suresh (Kanapathipillai Manivannan from Batticaloa) and Sinnathamby Thiyagaraja from Batticaloa, a supporter, died in an accidental explosion in the Amparai district on October 21.
Full story >>

Business leaders court UNP

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 October 1998, 20:06 GMT]
The ICRC declined an informal request by the leaders of the Sri Lankan business community to take relief supplies donated by them to the people living in areas of the Vanni region which are under the control of the Liberation Tigers. Meanwhile a delegation of Sri Lanka's top businessmen met the UNP leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo this evening.
Full story >>

Jaffna fisherman shot dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 October 1998, 19:32 GMT]
The army opened fire on two fishermen in the Pannai lagoon by the Jaffna town this morning around 10 a.m. killing one. The other, according to a report, escaped with injuries but is yet to appear before the Jaffna coroner or the Sri Lankan Police to testify about the death of his colleague.
Full story >>

Widows driven into prostitution

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 October 1998, 14:36 GMT]
A guest house in Orr's Hill, a suburb of Trincomalee town, was surrounded last night by angry locals who called the Police to raid the premises, said sources. The residents alleged that the guest house was operating as a brothel at night, they said.
Full story >>

Violence on plantation

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 October 1998, 13:04 GMT]
A bungalow occupied by an official of the 'Pasare Group' estate in Badulla district and two vehicles belonging to the plantation company were set alight on Sunday night, said police sources in the hill town. Two persons who were wounded in the incident have been admitted to Badulla hospital, they added.
Full story >>

Police camp attack - Update

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 October 1998, 03:29 GMT]
Sri Lankan Police sources in Batticaloa said that one Policeman was killed and ten were wounded when the Liberation Tigers burnt down the Mamangam mini-camp around midnight.
Full story >>

Minister charges UNP-LTTE conspiracy

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 October 1998, 03:15 GMT]
Gen.Anuruddha Ratwatte, Sri Lanka's deputy minister for defence, charged that the opposition leader Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe was in cahoots with the Liberation Tigers.
Full story >>

Tigers overrun police camp

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 October 1998, 01:34 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers overran a Sri Lankan Police mini-camp in the Batticaloa suburb of Maamangam last night. The camp, located within a high security zone, was completely destroyed and set on fire said police sources in the eastern town.
Full story >>

Vanni hunger strike continues

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 October 1998, 20:32 GMT]
Displaced families in the Vanni are continuing their hungar strike for the 53rd day today to protest against the reduction in relief supplies of food by the Sri Lankan government. The hunger strikers have also launched a signature campaign on Friday, October 23, over the issue.
Full story >>

Two civilians killed in ambush

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 October 1998, 20:19 GMT]
Two civilians who went to inspect their houses at Paalaipaani in the Mankulam area, were shot dead by Sri Lanka Army ( SLA) troops said to be lying in ambush for Liberation Tigers moving through the area.
Full story >>

SLA to re-establish Pooneryn base?

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 October 1998, 17:35 GMT]
Sources close to the SLA in Jaffna speculated today that government troops might move into Pooneryn (Poonagary) soon to establish a base there, mainly to impede the Liberation Tigers from attacking the Elephant Pass base. The VoT said in its 9 p.m. news broadcast that the army launched a heavy and unprecedented artillery barrage on Pooneryn from 7.30 p.m. this evening.
Full story >>

Patients number restricted

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 October 1998, 17:32 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army has instructed the Manthikai hospital that it should send only a limited number of patients in its ambulance to Jaffna. The army at the Madaththadi camp has stipulated that only three patients can be taken at a time in the Manthikai hospital ambulance.
Full story >>

Tigers release soldiers, ferry crew

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 October 1998, 03:50 GMT]
Six Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and three Sinhalese crewmen from the ferries "Irish Mona" and "M.V. Misen" in the custody of the Liberation Tigers were released today by S.P.Thamilchelvan, the leader of the LTTE's political wing at Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaithivu district, the Voice Of Tigers (VoT) radio said yesterday evening.
Full story >>

SLA wary of Kurunakar residents

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 October 1998, 14:06 GMT]
Posters which said "Jaffna will be the Sri Lankan army's burial ground " appeared in several places in Kurunakar, a suburb of the Jaffna town, in the early hours of the morning today.
Full story >>

Three fishermen detained

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 October 1998, 13:39 GMT]
Three fishermen from the south-eastern coast of the Jaffna peninsula who set out to sea on Thursday (October 22) have been arrested and detained by the Sri Lankan Navy according to their relatives.
Full story >>

Jaffna ship sails early

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 October 1998, 06:27 GMT]
More than 750 Jaffna civilians were in for a great disappointment this morning when they discovered that the Lanka Muditha, the ship chartered by the Sri Lankan government to ferry thousands of civilians who have been stranded in the peninsula since the beginning of this month, had set sail to Trincomalee in the afternoon yesterday without them.
Full story >>

Jaffna fishermen demand action

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 October 1998, 19:32 GMT]
Representatives from fishermen's organisations in Jaffna unanimously resolved this afternoon to lobby all Tamil political parties, groups and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that the problems they may face if the army were to impose a ban on fishing in the eastern sector of the Pannai lagoon should be addressed.
Full story >>

Job losses in banking sector

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 October 1998, 19:28 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government will close down 31 branches of the state owned Bank of Ceylon by the end of this year said Jeyaraj Fernando Pillai, the Minister for Planning and Implementation responding to a adjournment question by Opposition MP Karunasena Kodithuwakku in Parliament today.
Full story >>

Muslim youths urged to join

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 October 1998, 17:33 GMT]
A letter from the Sri Lankan Police strongly urging Muslim youth to join the Home Guards was read out at Mosques in Valaichenai and Ottamaavadi after the Jummah prayers this afternoon. According to the letter, any Muslim youth who had attended school upto grade five is eligible to become a Home Guard.
Full story >>

UNP boycotts peace meet

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 October 1998, 22:20 GMT]
An ambitious all party, all NGO discussion forum called by the most powerful trade and industrial associations of Sri Lanka mainly with a view to iterate the need for peacefully resolving the war in the island's north-east drew mixed reactions despite general agreement among participants that seeking peace is of utmost importance today.
Full story >>

Civilians drafted in error

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 October 1998, 19:44 GMT]
Innocent Sinhala civilians may also be among the hundreds of deserters who are being picked up and sent off to the war front in the Sri Lankan government's current drive to replenish the ranks of the Sri Lankan army (SLA) , said human rights workers today.
Full story >>

Troops search Jaffna school

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 October 1998, 18:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) rounded up and searched a school in Jaffna today for the first time since it consolidated its hold on the peninsula in early 1996. Troops entered the premises of the Kokkuvil Hindu college this afternoon around 2 p.m. when the school was about to be closed.
Full story >>

JVP warns of anti-Tamil violence - paper

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 October 1998, 11:55 GMT]
Sinhala racist organisations are trying to use the deaths of large numbers of Sri Lankan soldiers recently to whip up anti-Tamil violence, said a JVP leader, Mr. Vimal Weerawamsa at a party meeting last week, according to the Sinhala language newspaper, the Lakbima.
Full story >>

Northern skirmishes continue -SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 October 1998, 08:48 GMT]
Twenty-one Sri Lankan Army (SLA) personnel were wounded during limited operations in Jaffna said the Sri Lankan military spokesman Brigadier Sunil Tennekoon, presenting a round up of the security situation for this week at the cabinet press briefing today.
Full story >>

New Zealand Tamils appeal

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 October 1998, 23:04 GMT]
New Zealand's Tamil community appealed Sunday to the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Conference over the alleged mass graves of civilians killed by Sri Lankan troops in Jaffna, said the organisers of the event in a press release issued yesterday.
Full story >>

Grenade attack in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 October 1998, 19:29 GMT]
Unidentified armed youths lobbed a grenade at an Sri Lankan army sentry at Muththiraichanthi, in Nallur, 3 km north-east of Jaffna centre, this evening around 8.00 p.m. said Police sources in the northern town.
Full story >>

Bomb explodes at Hindu festival

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 October 1998, 09:37 GMT]
A female singer, Kowsalya Thadchanamoorthy, 23, and another person were killed and at least 20 others wounded when a bomb exploded at a music concert at Karaithivu Vipulananthar Tamil School in Kalmunai, 38 km south of Batticaloa, last night around 11.00 p.m.
Full story >>

Navy sailors rape teenager

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 October 1998, 23:15 GMT]
Three Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) personnel abducted and raped 16 year old school girl from Arasady road in Vaddukoddai, 9 km. north.west of Jaffna centre, on Saturday October 17 around 9.30 p.m, said sources there.
Full story >>

News in Brief

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 October 1998, 07:19 GMT]
A young fisherman was arrested in Jaffna yesterday and two former United National Party (UNP) parliamentarians are to join the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) today.
Full story >>

Search operation in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 October 1998, 22:41 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and the Police have been conducting several search operations in the Trincomalee area since Thursday, October 15, following a tip-off that a group of Liberation Tigers has infiltrated the eastern port town.
Full story >>

Poster blitz in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 October 1998, 11:58 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers are reported to have distributed leaflets and put up wall posters in several parts of the Jaffna peninsula, asking civilians to not to stay in close proximity to Sri Lankan Army camps and sentry points.
Full story >>

LTTE releases footage of battle

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 October 1998, 22:41 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers released to international and Sri Lankan journlaists, video tapes and photos of their Operation "Unceasing Waves 2" against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base at Kilinochchi on September 27 to September 30.
Full story >>

Sinhala-Buddhist fundamentalism blamed for war

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 October 1998, 12:00 GMT]
(News Feature)Mr. Kumar Ponambalam, leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, while addressing the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London yesterday, said that the mindset of Sinhala-Buddhist fundamentalism was central to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. The audience, which included NGOs, academics and British government officials was also addressed by Mr. Visuvananthan Rudrakumaran, one of the Liberation Tigers' legal advisors, Mr. Barry Gardiner, a British MP and Dr. Nagalingam Ethirveerasingham, a Tamil academic.
Full story >>

News in Brief

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 October 1998, 10:43 GMT]
Mulankavil hospital releases figures, Tigers say they lost two of their members in a confrontation with the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in Mankulam, SLA introduces new regulations for transport of goods and a school boy is reported missing in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Retired police to war front

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 October 1998, 20:25 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government has decided to recruit retired Policemen on condition of compulsory service in the war zones of the island's northeast for at least years.
Full story >>

Tigers release Kilinochchi footage

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 October 1998, 20:15 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers sent video footage of their attack on Kilinochchi to selected foreign correspondents and leading Sri Lankan journalists, including the Colombo BBC correspondent and Sunday Times defence columnist Iqbal Athas today.
Full story >>

Warning leaflets prompt search operation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 October 1998, 20:12 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) cordoned off and searched Gurunagar, a large coastal suburb of Jaffna town this morning. The operation was carried out on the receipt of information that the Liberation Tigers had left a large number of leaflets at the local community centre last night urging the people of Gurunagar to move away from SLA camps located in the area.
Full story >>

Jeyasikurui continues, 93 killed -SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 October 1998, 20:07 GMT]
The army spokesman said at the cabinet press briefing today that: Operation Jayasikurui continues. The SLA lost 46 killed in Battle during the last two weeks. He said that 47 Tigers were also killed.
Full story >>

Strain shows at press conference

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 October 1998, 12:59 GMT]
The SLA spokesman Brigadier Sunil Tennekoon told journalists at today's cabinet press briefing that a joint "project" by the army and Police to arrest 15000 deserters which was launched on October 7, has so far netted 2889 soldiers who have been absconding. He said 25000 soldiers had deserted the Sri Lankan security forces. He said that 14 thousand of these were arrested or returned to their units voluntarily.
Full story >>

Cholera outbreak in Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 October 1998, 14:25 GMT]
All the tea shops in Vidaththalthivu and Pallamadu divisions in Mannar have been closed following detection of Cholera in the area. Local health officers say five people have died of Cholera since the first case was detected in Vidaththalthivu on September 29.
Full story >>

Courts closed by letters

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 October 1998, 17:38 GMT]
Courts in Jaffna closed today after receiving letters said to be from the "Tamil Eelam Administrative Service" signed by Thooyavan, the political wing leader of the Liberation Tigers in the peninsula, said legal sources.
Full story >>

President visits Anuradhapura

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 October 1998, 16:19 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President told Sri Lankan Army (SLA) officers yesterday that she was very desirous of going to the war front in person to inspect and encourage troops in their fight against the Liberation Tigers, when she paid a surprise visit to the SLA operations centre at the 21 brigade Head Quarters in Anuradhapura said sources.
Full story >>

Uninsured passengers worry carriers

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 October 1998, 16:12 GMT]
The Mercantile Shipping Private Ltd, the owning company of the cargo vessel Mercs Wadduwa declined to transport passengers to Colombo from Jaffna tomorrow because it has no insurance cover for them.
Full story >>

Doctors protest over kerosene

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 October 1998, 12:52 GMT]
Doctors at the Out Patient's Department at Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital in Mullaitivu have began a work to rule action, in protest at the Sri Lankan government's cut in the supply of kerosene, said sources there.
Full story >>

SLA operation in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 October 1998, 12:01 GMT]
The SLA rounded up the interior parts of Eluthumadduvaal and Kodikamam yesterday. A boy and a girl pointed out to the army by a hooded informant were arrested and taken away sources said.
Full story >>

Loose APC kills forty

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 October 1998, 19:42 GMT]
At least forty Sri Lankan soldiers and sailors were killed when a Saracen armoured vehicle broke off its moorings on the cargo vessel 'Lanka Muditha' on Saturday said sources in Jaffna today. The report could not be confirmed independently from SLA sources.
Full story >>

Eleven Tigers killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 October 1998, 15:18 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) said its troops had killed eleven Liberation Tigers, including three female fighters, in two incidents south of the Trincomalee district last evening and this morning.
Full story >>

New dispensary in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 October 1998, 07:12 GMT]
The residential representative of the United Nations High Commissions of Refugees (UNHCR) in Sri Lanka, Janet Lim, ceremonially opened the new medical dispensary at Cithamparapuram in Vavuniya Saturday.
Full story >>

India-bound refugees detained

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 October 1998, 07:10 GMT]
Forty-eight Tamil refugees, belonging to 15 families, were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) Thursday night when they attempted to cross over to India to seek refuge there said aid workers.
Full story >>

Total power cut in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 October 1998, 07:09 GMT]
The electricity supply to the Batticaloa district has been completely cut off since 7 p.m. last night. The main power pylons that supply electricity to the whole district located in Vellaveli, about 40 kilometres south west of Batticaloa, were blasted by the Liberation Tigers said Sri Lankan Police sources in Batticaloa.
Full story >>

TELO cadre attacked at SLA checkpoint

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 October 1998, 03:36 GMT]
A member of the TELO group was admitted to the Manthikai hospital with serious injuries after he was attacked by the SLA at a checkpoint near Manthikai, Jaffna yesterday.
Full story >>

News in Brief

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 October 1998, 03:13 GMT]
Two persons are shot dead in Uyilankulam, while a student who was knifed during a fight in a private school in Colombo succumbs to injuries.
Full story >>

Businessman shot dead

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 October 1998, 15:15 GMT]
The SLA shot dead a businessman, Anthonypillai Irasamaansingh Suresh ,23, and wounded his mother in Palai in Jaffna last night around 7 p.m. Shops in Palai town were closed in protest against the killing despite a severe warning from the army that they should be opened forthwith or remain shut for a week.
Full story >>

Four TELO members killed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 October 1998, 05:09 GMT]
Four armed cadres of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO)-a paramilitary group working with the SLA- were killed and two were wounded in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers early this morning around 5 a.m. in Aaraiampathy (Aaraipattai), 7 kilometers south of Batticaloa town.
Full story >>

Five fishermen reported missing

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 October 1998, 18:52 GMT]
Five fishermen from Karanavai in Karaveddi in Jaffna have been reported missing since Wednesday October 7. The five men, according to sources, had gone from Karanavai on Tuesday October 6 to a relative's house in Maaniavalai in the Sempianpattu area; and on Wednesday Oct. 7 they had set out around 4 a.m. in the early hours of the morning to fish in the lagoon nearby. They have been missing since then.
Full story >>

Worshipper shot dead

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 October 1998, 18:50 GMT]
A youth was shot dead in the early hours of the morning today while going home from the annual festival of the Thraupathai Amman temple at Paandirippu, about 40 kilometers south of Batticaloa. The youth was identified as Sithamparanathan Roopathaas, 17.
Full story >>

Poor aim foils suicide bid

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 October 1998, 18:48 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Policeman identified only as Shantha attempted to commit suicide by firing his rifle into his mouth today in Kallady, on the southern outskirts of Batticaloa town.
Full story >>

Ex-CVF shot dead

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 October 1998, 18:46 GMT]
An ex-militiaman of Civilian Volunteer Force (CVF) identified as Meerasahib was found shot dead this morning near the Paandirippu cemetery. The CVF was established by the Indian army in 1989 with Tamil and Muslim youth recruited and conscripted through the EPRLF.
Full story >>

A historic defeat?

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 October 1998, 12:14 GMT]
(News Feature) Sri Lanka's opposition MP Mr. Ronnie De Mel, speaking on the extension of the island wide emergency in the parliament yesterday, said that the debacle of the Sri Lankan army in Kilinochchi is the greatest defeat suffered by the Sinhalese in history after the conquest of Anuradhapura by the Cholas.
Full story >>

Four STF commandos killed in Omanthai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 October 1998, 06:00 GMT]
Four commandos of the elite Special Task Force (STF) were killed and six wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked the vehicle in which they were travelling last evening around 5.30 p.m. at Omanthai, north of Vavuniya said Police sources in the northern town.
Full story >>

UNP releases SLA casualty figures

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 October 1998, 00:15 GMT]
(News Feature) The leader of the main Sri Lankan opposition party, Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe said in parliament today that over 1900 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops had been killed and 2000 wounded when the Liberation Tigers overran the Kilinochchi SLA base complex last week. Mr. Wickremasinghe's sources were said to be from SLA HQ and Military Intelligence.
Full story >>

'Jayasikurui' affects 15000 school children - union

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 October 1998, 10:39 GMT]
At least 70 schools in the Vanni region have been either destroyed or closed down due to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA)'s ongoing 'Operation Jayasikurui', said the teachers union in Karathuraippattu, Kilinochchi district.
Full story >>

Birth certificates asked for

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 October 1998, 10:37 GMT]
Sri Lankan security forces personnel manning check posts in the Colombo have asked some Tamils to produce their birth certificates along with their National Identity (NI) cards during road checks, said human rights sources in Colombo.
Full story >>

New STF camps

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 October 1998, 10:35 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) has recently put up three new camps on the Maha Oya road in the Ampara district, according to residents. The new camps were put up at Pullukkunavi, Keliriyamaddu, 18th mile post at Aranthalavai.
Full story >>

Urgent appeal for more blood

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 23:11 GMT]
The blood bank in Colombo has appealed for more donors to come forward, following a severe reduction in its stockpiles following last week's heavy fighting in Kilinochchi and Mankulam. The appeal said 2000 pints of blood are urgently needed.
Full story >>

PLOTE member shot dead

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 22:29 GMT]
A member of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Deni Dannas, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Mannar this evening around 07.45 p.m. His body has been brought to the Mannar hospital.
Full story >>

Military activity intimidates farmers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 22:22 GMT]
Five employees working in a farm in Thandikkulam, 2 km north of Vavuniya were arrested by the Sri Lankan Police on Monday following a claymore mine explosion near the farm on Saturday.
Full story >>

Further fighting in the Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 22:12 GMT]
The Liberation Tiger said today that they had handed over the bodies of 5 Sri Lankan Army soldiers recovered by them during the fighting in Mankulam on Tuesday, to the International Red Cross Committee.
Full story >>

Kilinochchi landmines wound civilians

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 22:03 GMT]
A youth identified as T.Roopan lost one of his legs yesterday when a land mine exploded in Kilinochchi. Sources said the youth had gone to see the area that the Tigers had recently captured from the Sri Lankan Army.
Full story >>

Stolen shrine found

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 21:56 GMT]
A shrine ('Pillaiyar' statue) that was reported stolen from Munneswarar temple in Chilaw last year was recovered by the police yesterday. A budhist monk who is suspected to be involved in this has been arrested by the police.
Full story >>

Councillor submits resignation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 20:38 GMT]
The Vice Chairman of the Karaveddy Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) Vayithiyalingam Vinasithambi resigned from his post today. He is a member of the EPDP and was elected to the PS in January.
Full story >>

Youth arrested in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 20:36 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) rounded up the villages of Kudaththani, Manalkaadu and Vilankaadu in the south-eastern coast of Jaffna yesterday. The villagers were taken by the army to the Manalkaadu church and the Kudaththanai school where they were screened.
Full story >>

MoD issues casualty figures

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 13:20 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army said today that 975 officers and soldiers were killed or are missing in action when the Liberation Tigers overran the Kilinochchi base complex on September 28. The Operational Headquarters of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a communiqué this afternoon giving a break down of the casualties.
Full story >>

Defence allocation rises

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 11:17 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government's defence expenditure allocation has risen in the 1999 budget to 47 billion rupees (717 million USD), according to figures released in parliament yesterday. At the same time, the amount allocated for the implementation of official languages, 21.2 million rupees (321,000USD), is a significant reduction on the allocation under last year's budget.
Full story >>

Indian fisherman fast in protest

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 October 1998, 22:49 GMT]
Five Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the high seas off northern Sri Lanka early this year began a protest fast in prison today demanding their release and repatriation to Tamil Nadu. The fishermen are from Rameswaram on the south Indian coast.
Full story >>

Jaffna fire-fight kills one

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 October 1998, 22:46 GMT]
A person suspected to be a member of the Liberation Tigers was shot dead in Erlalai in Jaffna yesterday when SLA troops opened fire on a group of persons who had lobbed a grenade into an army sentry in the area.
Full story >>

Vanni protest fast continues

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 October 1998, 12:32 GMT]
A large number of people are continuing their protest fast in front of the Mullaitivu Government Agent's office and other government offices in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts said aid workers and officials today.
Full story >>

Massive protests in Tamil Nadu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 October 1998, 12:29 GMT]
Over 2000 demonstrators were arrested this morning by Police in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, during widespread demonstrations protesting against the killings by Sri Lankan troops of over 400 Tamils whose bodies are said to have been buried in mass graves in Chemmani on the Jaffna peninsula.
Full story >>

LTTE files challenge to designation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 October 1998, 10:50 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) filed its brief with the US court of Appeals in support of its legal challenge to its designation by the US state department as an organisation involved in terrorist activities, said legal sources.
Full story >>

Renewed fighting in Mankulam

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 October 1998, 08:09 GMT]
Fierce fighting erupted yesterday between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) when the troops of 'Operation Jeyasikurui' attempted to advance towards north of Mankulam, the Liberation Tigers said in Vanni.
Full story >>

Disappearances may be reprisals

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 21:05 GMT]
Twenty four Tamils are reported missing in the village of Koppaveli, 30 kilometers north west of Batticaloa from the early hours of the morning today said Divisional Secretary (DS) of Chenkalady.
Full story >>

Civilians to be shipped to Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 20:58 GMT]
Travellers who were stranded in Jaffna following the cancellation of all civilians flights to Jaffna will be sent to Colombo by ship on the basis of priority according to a decision taken today at a crucial meeting convened by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence (MoD) to discuss the transport crisis in the north.
Full story >>

Jaffna business man beaten by army

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 20:49 GMT]
The owner of a video rental store in Jaffna town was severely assaulted by SLA soldiers in front of crowds at the Sivan 'Kovil' (temple) junction army sentry today for declining to lend them a video player (VCR).
Full story >>

Calls to help refugees

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 20:43 GMT]
The People's Progressive Centre of Jaffna has asked more people in Jaffna to come forward and help more than 30,000 families who are facing starvation in Kilinochchi and Mullaitheevu districts. The families have been affected by the cut the Sri Lanka Government imposed on the dry rations to the refugees living in areas not controlled by it.
Full story >>

Censorship hides truth

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 20:32 GMT]
The Free Media Movement in Colombo has criticised the Sri Lankan Government for using press censorship to conceal the truth about the LTTE attack on the Kilinochchi army base on September 29.
Full story >>

EPDP council member shot dead

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 19:27 GMT]
Kanakasabhai Rajathurai, 46, an Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) member of the Karaveddy Pradheshiya Sabha (local government body) in the Jaffna peninsula was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his residence in Manthikai this evening around 7.45 p.m. said sources.
Full story >>

"People with us" - Jaffna LTTE commander

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 11:47 GMT]
The Jaffna district military commander of the Liberation Tigers, in a brief but exclusive interview with the TamilNet's Vadamaradchi correspondent said today that his units had hit an SLA supply convoy in the rear in Thenmaradchi while the Kilinochchi base was under attack last week. He requested that his name be withheld.
Full story >>

Twelve year old girl raped

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 11:19 GMT]
A twelve year old girl, returning from school, was sexually assaulted by a Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldier in Sangathaanai in Chavakachcheri, east of Jaffna, last Friday said sources there.
Full story >>

TULF meets over JMC

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 11:15 GMT]
The central committee of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) will meet on October 10 to discuss future plans and strategies of the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) said Mr. V. Anandasangari, the party's Vice President.
Full story >>

Skeletons found in toilet

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 11:13 GMT]
Three skeletal remains were found last week in a toilet pit, close to a former Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry post, at Uthayanakar in Kilinochchi said sources. The skeletons had their hands tied behind their backs, and the skull of one showed damage from a heavy blow, they said.
Full story >>

Posters fray Jaffna nerves

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 October 1998, 19:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army (SLA) vacated one of its camps in the Thenmaradchi sector in Jaffna on Saturday said sources in the north. Troops were pulled out from the Mirusuvil north SLA camp. The army unit stationed here was transferred to the Elephant Pass base complex further south said sources in the area.
Full story >>

'Compression problem' caused crash - paper

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 October 1998, 19:07 GMT]
A 'compression problem' caused the ill-fated Lion Air flight from Jaffna to crash off the Mannar coast said the Sunday Times weekly, quoting Sri Lankan Air Force sources.
Full story >>

PLOTE member shot dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 October 1998, 19:05 GMT]
A senior member of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) was shot dead by suspected members of the Liberation Tigers this afternoon around 01.30 p.m at Uppukkulam, in Mannar, said sources.
Full story >>

Vavuniya politicians lose access privileges

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 October 1998, 11:45 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police in Vavuniya have said that Tamil politicians who wish to leave the town will have to obtain prior permission from them, like any other civilian. The new practice came into effect from September 30, the Police said.
Full story >>

Three die in accidents

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 October 1998, 11:43 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers (SLA) died in Colombo when an SLA ambulance collided with a lorry at Dehiwale, a suburb of Colombo yesterday morning. The ambulance was on it's way to Ratmalana military airport to bring wounded soldiers who had been airlifted from the Vanni front to Colombo hospital.
Full story >>

Salvage efforts delayed

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 October 1998, 13:17 GMT]
Mannar Kachcheri officials said this afternoon that efforts to salvage the Lion air flight that fell into the sea are stymied because the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) is refusing permission to fisherman's societies and others who have volunteered to help pull the aircraft out of the sea.
Full story >>

Tigers raise flag over Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 October 1998, 10:40 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers marked the recapture of the key northern town of Kilinochchi from the Sri Lanka Army by hoisting the Tiger flag yesterday evening at 5.55 p.m. said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio. A large number of people attended the ceremony which was held where the SLA Brigade Head Quarters had been situated, the radio said.
Full story >>

Tigers hand over more SLA bodies

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 October 1998, 08:17 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) this morning around 9.30 a.m. seventy four bodies of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers killed when they overran the Kilinochchi base complex on September 28.
Full story >>

Foreign Minister's unsettling breakfast

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 October 1998, 04:34 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar had an acrimonious question and answer session at the Asia Society in New York last week, according to informed sources. The Foreign Minister was in the US for the opening of the UN General Assembly, and spoke at a breakfast meeting at the Asia Society in one of a regular series of talks by Asian foreign ministers.
Full story >>

Lion Air flight salvage efforts begin

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 October 1998, 03:49 GMT]
Mannar Kachcheri officials said this morning that efforts to salvage the Lion Air flight that fell into the sea off the Iranaithivu island, 25 kilometers south of Jaffna on Tuesday 29, have begun.
Full story >>

Vanni military activity continues

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 October 1998, 19:15 GMT]
Heavy fighting is reported in the Mankulam sector, the town which the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) said it captured from the Liberation Tigers yesterday morning. Reports from the northern Vavuniya said Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) bombers carried out sorties in the area around 7 a.m. today.
Full story >>

Lion air flight located- official

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 October 1998, 16:12 GMT]
A senior official at the Mannar district secretariat (Kachcheri) confirmed this evening that the Lion air flight that went missing since Tuesday has been found in the sea three kilometers west of the Iranaithivu island, off the northern coast of Mannar and 25 kilometers south of Jaffna.
Full story >>

Kilinochchi reversal, not setback - SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 October 1998, 11:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) spokesman Brigadier Sunil Tennakoon appeared flustered and discomfited by questions journalists fired today at the weekly cabinet press briefing, regarding the fall of the Kilinochchi base. He said that the army received 600 bodies yesterday through the ICRC and by this morning 400 had been identified.
Full story >>

SLA faces tough choices

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 October 1998, 09:36 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers' Operation Unceasing Waves II has completely destroyed the basic protective stratum of the gateway to Jaffna. The massive Elephant Pass base complex of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) is now the sole barrier between the Liberation Tigers and the Jaffna peninsula.
Full story >>