Protest fast in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 April 1999, 21:40 GMT]
Hundreds of civilians took part in a fast at St.Sebastian Church in the eastern district of Batticaloa today, protesting at the presence of the Sri Lanka Army in the premises of Madhu church.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 April 1999, 20:47 GMT]
Two Jaffna University students arrested; The Sri Lanka Army Commander meets Madhu priest and Aid convoys for LTTE controlled area.
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Evidence shows detainee was tortured

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 April 1999, 16:53 GMT]
A surgeon attached to the Trincomalee base hospital told the Eastern High Court that scars found on the body of the accused Tamil youth were consistent with the history given by him that he had been tortured while in custody.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 April 1999, 16:51 GMT]
Lung cancer increasing in the Vanni; New houses constructed in the Vanni and one LTTE casualty in Oddusudan.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 April 1999, 06:55 GMT]
Civilians move into SLA controlled areas, Body found in Chilaw, Four arrested in Colombo, Sivanathan Kishore, an official of the Sri Lanka Red Cross in Vavuniya has been handed over to the Police.
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Southern province to go for polls on June 10

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 April 1999, 12:20 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Commissioner of Elections announced today that polls to the island's Southern Provincial Council will be on June 10. The southern province comprises the districts of Galle, Hambatota and Matara. The elections to this province are considered another acid test for the ruling PA.
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Pass system restricts freedom of movement

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 April 1999, 11:55 GMT]
The Forum for Human Dignity has brought to the attention of the Anti-Harassment Committee the problems faced by Tamils travelling between different areas of the country.
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Displaced refugees ask to go home

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 April 1999, 20:11 GMT]
(News Feature) Representatives of the Akkaraipattu south Citizen's Committee and several leaders of Tamil village committees from the hinterlands of Sri Lanka's south-eastern coast met Minister for Ports, Shipping, Rehabilitation, Mr. M.H.M Ashraff today in Kalmunai to urge him that more than 1200 Tamil families evacuated forcibly by the Special Task Force Commandos (STF) in 1990 be allowed to resettle in their traditional places of habitation.
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Urgent plea for fair development

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 April 1999, 18:48 GMT]
An urgent plea has been made to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge asking her to lift the suspension on the implementation of DERBA development projects funded by the Norwegian government, in the Batticaloa district.
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Hartal called in Kattankudy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 April 1999, 18:46 GMT]
A full day hartal was observed today in Kattankudy, a town in the Batticaloa district, to protest against the alleged assault on a Muslim boutique-keeper and his children by unknown persons last night, residents said.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 April 1999, 18:45 GMT]
Villagers allege assault during search operation and about two hundred civilians were allowed today to enter the SLA controlled area.
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Reports of explosions in Vanni

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 April 1999, 14:58 GMT]
Heavy shelling and bombing was heard from the direction of SLA positions in the Kanakarayankulam sector from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. today said sources in Vavuniya.
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SLRC official to be released through courts

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 April 1999, 13:29 GMT]
Sivanathan Kishore, the Vavuniya official for the Sri Lankan Red Cross will be handed over to the police for release through the courts, sources said today.
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Protest against 'politicisation' of University posts

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 April 1999, 22:09 GMT]
Senior executives in Sri Lanka's universities will file action in the Supreme court tomorrow against a law which they allege would politicise all appointments to their ranks.
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Tamil teachers meet World Bank delegation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 April 1999, 22:06 GMT]
A two member team from the World Bank visiting Sri Lanka met with a delegation from the Ceylon Tamil Teachers Unioun (CTTU) today. The team is in Sri Lanka to asses the implementation of World Bank funded educational reforms.
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EPDP accused of illegal cremation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 April 1999, 19:06 GMT]
Four EPDP members were arrested and produced in court yesterday accused of cremating the body of one of their members, Ramasamy Arumugam, before an inquest into his death could be conducted.
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Move to deprive ex-minister's civic rights quashed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 April 1999, 14:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme court today quashed the findings and recommendations of the Special Presidential Commission to inquire into the alleged abuse of power and malpractices by former UNP strongman Wijepala Mendis. The the three member bench of the Court, Justice Mark Fernando, Justice D.P.S Gunasekera and Justice D.S Gunawardena, ordered the state to pay 40000 rupees as legal cost to Mr.Mendis
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“War cannot be stopped”- President

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 April 1999, 12:12 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga Bamadaranaika, told an inter faith peace delegation yesterday evening that she could not stop the war against the Liberation Tigers.
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Security forces detain Red Cross official

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 April 1999, 12:09 GMT]
Sivanathan Kishore, an official of the Sri Lanka Red Cross in Vavuniya, is being detained at the security forces headquarters in Vavuniya, said security sources.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 April 1999, 12:08 GMT]
New SLA camp in Jaffna; Police shelling kills three; LTTE announces five casualties and eighteen detained following search operation.
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London conference 'backs Tamil independence'

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 April 1999, 21:53 GMT]
(News Feature) An estimated five thousand Tamil people living in Britain attended a rally and conference titled 'Tamil Eelam Towards Independence,' at Alexander Palace, London on April 25, 1999, said the organisers, the Federation of Tamil Associations (UK). However, widespread speculation about a 'unilateral declaration of independence' at the event proved unfounded.
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Madhu SLA seeks Tiger activists

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 April 1999, 18:17 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) searched the general area of Madhu today for ex-members of the Liberation Tigers who have not yet reported and registered themselves with the local military authorities.
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House to house searches in Vadamaradchi East

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 April 1999, 15:34 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) cordoned off the Manalkadhu and Kudaththanai areas in Vadarmaradchi East this morning and conducted a house to house search operation.
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SLA arrests Vavuniya Red Cross official

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 April 1999, 14:12 GMT]
Sivanathan Kishore, the secretary of the Vavuniya branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRC) was taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) this evening. He has been detained for interrogation at the SLA's JOSSOP camp near the Vavuniya town said sources.
Full story >>

Governor's mobile service a success

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 April 1999, 20:12 GMT]
Major General Asoka Jayawardena, the Governor of the Northeastern province said in a press conference at the end of a two day Governor's Mobile Service in Vavuniya today that action would be taken to send the stranded people of Vanni in Vavuniya, back to their homes.
Full story >>

Three youths wounded in explosion

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 April 1999, 20:10 GMT]
Three youths were wounded in Gurunagar, a suburb of Jaffna town, at around 8.00 p.m. last night, when a grenade lobbed by the SLA in the area exploded, said sources.
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Fresh SLA operation in Vanni

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 April 1999, 17:20 GMT]
Sources in the Vanni said that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had attempted to advance from its positions northwest of Madhu towards Periyamadhu yesterday and that the Liberation Tigers had thwarted the move.
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CTTU protests shortage of Tamil text books

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 April 1999, 13:33 GMT]
Although the second term of all government schools in the island begins on Monday, only about fifty percent of textbooks under the new education reforms have been supplied to Tamil medium schools in the country, claims twenty thousand member- strong Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union [CTTU].
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Tigers shell SLAF base

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 April 1999, 10:21 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers fired long range mortar shells into the Sri Lanka Air Force in Batticaloa this afternoon around 3.40 p.m. Three shells fired by the Tigers from positions beyond the Batticaloa lagoon fell inside the camp and exploded.
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Fourteen civilians wounded in shelling

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 April 1999, 02:13 GMT]
Three civilians were killed and fourteen wounded in Eravur, 16 kilometers north of Batticaloa, by shelling and gunfire following an attack by the Liberation Tigers on a Sri Lankan Police sentry in the early hours of the morning today around 12.40 a.m.
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SLA conducts search operation in Kopay

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 April 1999, 23:38 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) declared curfew in Kopai, Irupalai East, and Irupalai South from early hours of the morning today, and conducted a search operation there, said sources in Jaffna.
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CTTU to raise Tamil medium discrimination issues

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 April 1999, 23:25 GMT]
A delegation of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union [CTTU] is scheduled to meet the World Bank team, now in Colombo, on April 27 morning.
Full story >>

SLA accused of using forced labour

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 April 1999, 23:07 GMT]
Human rights activists in Jaffna expressed concern today that the SLA (Sri Lankan Army) has begun to engage civilians in forced labour for security related tasks and to use them as human shields on the southeastern coast of the peninsula.
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Ex-Tigers asked to register

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 April 1999, 18:29 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) announced over loud hailers in Thadchanamaruthamadu yesterday that all former members of the Liberation Tigers now resident in this area should report to its camp immediately.
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Uyilankulam checkpoint closure leaves civilians stranded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 April 1999, 18:28 GMT]
More than four thousand civilians from the Liberation Tigers controlled parts of the Vanni who had passed through the Uyilankulam SLA point before it was closed on April 18 are now stranded in Vavuniya and Mannar.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 April 1999, 20:58 GMT]
Batticaloa MP appeals to President; President asked to follow United Nations procedure in mass graves Investigation; Refugees stranded on Jaffna lagoon and two reported missing in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Vanni vaccination programme blocked

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 April 1999, 12:58 GMT]
The SLA's 21-4 brigade in Mannar today refused permission to Dr.Kadirkamanathan, the district's Medical officer of Health (MOH), to visit Adampan, Illuppaikadavai, Vellaangkulam and Vidaththaltheevu for the purpose of vaccinating about 3500 children in these areas which are not under the control of the army.
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News in Brief

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 April 1999, 11:22 GMT]
Three youths arrested in Jaffna and LTTE Attack in Vadamaradchi
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Concern for Welikade prison detainees

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 April 1999, 11:06 GMT]
The Human Rights Commission(HRC) has expressed concern for 25 women who have been detained at the Welikade prison in Colombo for a long period of time without a date having been fixed for a court hearing.
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Three 'missing' detainees released

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 April 1999, 19:28 GMT]
Three of the five youths arrested a few days ago by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Thatchanamaruthamdu were released last night, said Rev.Fr.A.Devasagayam the Administer of Madhu Church.
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Five LTTE casualties - VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 April 1999, 19:25 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its night transmission today that 5 members of the LTTE were killed in a confrontation with the SLA on April 17.
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Nominations called for Southern PC elections

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 April 1999, 12:57 GMT]
The Elections Commissioner's Department today called for nominations to the Southern Provincial Council to be submitted. The nominations will be accepted at Galle, Hambantota and Matara from today, April 22 till April 29, it said.
Full story >>

Floods submerge forward defence lines

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 April 1999, 12:11 GMT]
Hundreds of Sri Lankan Army forward defence lines in the Vanni have been flooded after heavy rain fell in the area over the past few days said sources.
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Ten LTTE casualties - SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 April 1999, 12:02 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army sources said ten Liberation Tigers were killed when the troops attacked a mobile LTTE camp at Anandankulam in the Vanni region yesterday.
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Jaffna local body opposes Sinhala on buses

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 April 1999, 07:58 GMT]
The Waligamam West Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) in Jaffna passed a resolution yesterday that passenger vans and buses in the peninsula should remove Sinhala from their destination boards. The local government body also passed a resolution that the SLA should immediately stop the census it is currently taking of the population in Jaffna.
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25 skeletons found in Kilinochchi - VoT

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 April 1999, 20:33 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers radio (VoT) said in its night news broadcast today that the skeletal parts of 25 persons have so far been recovered from the area in which the Kilinochchi Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base was located before it was overrun by the Tigers last year.
Full story >>

Robbers wore police uniforms

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 April 1999, 20:32 GMT]
Six persons in Sri Lankan Police uniforms robbed a passenger bus from Ampara town to Colombo in the early hours of the morning today around 3.30 a.m. said Police sources.
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Floods render thousands homeless

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 April 1999, 16:23 GMT]
17417 families were displaced due to floods from heavy rains which lashed many parts Sri Lanka since yesterday. Five people were killed in landslides and floods. One was struck dead by lightning.
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Detainees' parents appeal to Bishop

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 April 1999, 15:30 GMT]
The parents of five youths who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Army on 17, 18 and 19 April from Thadchanaamaruthamadu appealed to the Bishop of Mannar today to help them trace their sons.
Full story >>

Three LTTE casualties

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 April 1999, 15:26 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army sources said that three Liberation Tigers were killed in an ambush at Kadatkaraichchenai, two km south of Muttur town in the Trincomalee district, at around 11.00 a.m. this morning.
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Paramilitary leader shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 April 1999, 07:13 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Jalaldeen Anwer, 28, a senior cadre of the TELO paramilitary group in Kattaankudy, a large Muslim town 8 kilometers south of Batticaloa, around 11.25 a.m. this morning. TELO sources in Batticaloa said that Anwer was shot near a shop in the crowded centre of the town by three gunmen.
Full story >>

Investigate eastern graves - TULF MP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 April 1999, 18:21 GMT]
Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham, MP for Batticaloa, called on the government today to investigate and excavate mass grave sites in the east where the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has allgedly massacred and buried hundreds of civilians, including children.
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Court grants EPDP restraining order

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 April 1999, 18:06 GMT]
The EPDP obtained an order from Sri Lanka's Supreme Court preventing Sultan Rahim and Suppaiah Jeganathan from taking oaths as MPs for Jaffna in Parliament today until April 27.
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Red Cross security clearance reinstated

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 April 1999, 12:10 GMT]
Mr. Sivanathan Kishore, a Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC) official said today that the body of Thuraihayagam Piruthugaa, a 5 year old girl, has been lying in the Vavuniya hospital mortuary for the last 4 days waiting to be transported to Puthukudiyiruppu in the LTTE controlled terittory.
Full story >>

LTTE attack on Kilaly repulsed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 April 1999, 10:33 GMT]
Sri Lankan security sources said that government forces have repulsed an attack by the Liberation Tigers on the Kilaly base, about 35 km. south of Jaffna, in the early hours of the morning today.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 April 1999, 22:50 GMT]
Jaffna Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) gives evidence on stadium grave and Provincial Councils to begin functioning on Friday.
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Jaffna MP's assume office despite EPDP objections

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 April 1999, 16:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal today refused an application made by the EPDP on April 12 for a stay order restraining Mohammed Sultan Rahim and Suppaiah Jeganathan, who were appointed MPs for Jaffna by the Commissioner of Elections on April 9, from taking oaths in Parliament tomorrow.
Full story >>

CID interviews relatives of missing persons

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 April 1999, 15:42 GMT]
Fifteen Police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrived in Jaffna today to interview parents and relatives of missing persons suspected to be buried in the alleged mass graves in Chemmani.
Full story >>

Five LTTE casualties in STF ambush

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 April 1999, 10:05 GMT]
Sri Lankan security sources said that the Special Task Force (STF) Police Commandos killed four Liberation Tigers in an ambush in the general area of Murunkan, in the Mannar district last night.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 April 1999, 14:54 GMT]
Prayer protest at Madhu church and tension in eastern port town of Trincomalee as war anniversary approaches.
Full story >>

Batticaloa widows given empowerment training

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 April 1999, 10:53 GMT]
Kunapalan Amirtham, 40, a widow from Vammivedduwaan in Vaakarai, 64 kilometers north of Batticaloa, told TamilNet today that she and her five children live on the 1000 rupees (14.5 USD) she makes a month by working for a charcoal maker.
Full story >>

Red Cross concerned at children's plight

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 April 1999, 10:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka Red Cross officials in Vavuniya have appealed to Senior Police officials in the area to consider the plight of 4 children who have been left alone after their parents were arrested by the security forces on Friday.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 April 1999, 21:30 GMT]
Liberation Tigers and Sri Lankan Army clash in Jaffna; Four arrested in Batticaloa; PLOTE calls For census postponement and Tamil prisoners in Kalutara to be seperated.
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Vasudeva suspended from LSSP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 April 1999, 13:35 GMT]
The Secretary of Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), Batty Weerakoon, said that Mr.Vasudeva Nanayakkara has been suspended from the Party. The decision was taken at a party meeting yesterday following Mr. Nanayakkara's announcement that, as a protest against the Government's failure to fulfil its election promises, he would sit with the opposition parliamentarians when the parliament meets again on April 21.
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34 PLOTE cadres for Jaffna militia

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 April 1999, 12:07 GMT]
The PLOTE, a para military organisation working with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), submitted to Sri Lanka's ministry of Defence the names of 34 cadres today for appointment as security guards to local government members in Jaffna.
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Two more skeletons in stadium grave

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 April 1999, 14:43 GMT]
Two more skeletons were found at the Duraiappa stadium grave in Jaffna when investigators resumed digging after the Tamil and Sinhala New Year. They have earlier found the skeletal parts and skeletons of 23 bodies, including those of two children.
Full story >>

Clash in Mannar

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 April 1999, 14:31 GMT]
Three policemen including an inspector have been reported missing after a confrontation with the Liberation Tigers this afternoon in Uiylankulam in the north-western Mannar district.
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Villagers find body in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 April 1999, 14:29 GMT]
The body of a woman, believed to be about 30 years old, was found by local residents in the area between Manatkaadu and Valipuram Aalvar Kovil (temple) in the Vadamaradchi East in the Jaffna peninsula.
Full story >>

Bishop of Jaffna raises Madhu issue

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 April 1999, 09:35 GMT]
The Bishop of Jaffna, Rev. Thomas Soundranayagam, will arrive in Colombo today to discuss with government officials the problems faced by refugees in Madhu, due to the presence of Sri Lanka security forces there, said sources at Bishop House in the northern town.
Full story >>

Mother detained with young child

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 April 1999, 09:33 GMT]
Mrs. Kannathas Nakenthiraraani of Valvettithurai in Jaffna, who was arrested on April 4, is being detained with her 18-month-old child at the Kankesanthurai detention centre, said human rights sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Two LTTE casualties

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 April 1999, 09:31 GMT]
Two Liberation Tigers were killed in an ambush by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Paranthan, south of Elephant Pass on Wednesday. The SLA handed over their bodies to the Jaffna hospital.
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Amnesty protests Sri Lanka death penalty

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 April 1999, 09:08 GMT]
Amnesty International, the human rights organisation wrote to the Sri Lanka President, Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday, appealing against the government's "regrettable decision" to reintroduce the death penalty.
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Body parts collected for analyses

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 April 1999, 18:34 GMT]
The remains of burnt human body parts were collected by the Vavuniya Police and have been despatched to Colombo for the Judicial Medical Officer's report, Vavuniya court sources said today.
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Jaffna deaths denied

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 April 1999, 13:32 GMT]
Sri Lanka Security Forces Head Quarters in Palaly denied today that anyone was killed in the claymore mine attack near Naakar Kovil in Vadamaradchi East in the Jaffna peninsula yesterday.
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Body found in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 April 1999, 10:31 GMT]
Local residents found a decomposed body yesterday near the Earatpaeriaykulam reservoir, about 4 k.m. south of Vavuniya, said police sources. The police removed the body from the scene this morning and made arrangements for it be identified.
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Jaffna blast kills Lt. Colonel

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 April 1999, 07:36 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Army personnel, including a Lt. Colonel and a Major, were killed and four others were wounded in a claymore mine explosion near Naakar Kovil in the Vadamaradchi East Jaffna, around 2.30 p.m. yesterday.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 April 1999, 10:01 GMT]
ICRC to escort lorry convoys carrying essential commodities to the Vanni and Sri Lanka Army arrests two youths in Jaffna.
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Contest for 2 EPDP seats

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 April 1999, 09:45 GMT]
Mohammed Abdul Rahim who was appointed MP for Jaffna on April 9 by Sri Lanka's Commissioner of Elections said today that he will take oaths on April 20 when the Parliament resumes sittings. He said he will act as an independent Member of Parliament for Jaffna.
Full story >>

Relief convoy delayed, awaits ICRC escort

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 April 1999, 22:06 GMT]
There is uncertainty regarding a proposed relief convoy to the Vanni, as the lorries transporting the food and essentials are unable to secure the usual escort from the ICRC, sources said.
Full story >>

Census of population in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 April 1999, 21:05 GMT]
An official census of the population in the Jaffna district was begun this week said Jaffna Kachcheri officials today. Village officers (Gramaka Sevakas - GS) in the peninsula were briefed at the Kachcheri about procedures relating to this census they said.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 April 1999, 16:13 GMT]
Police post attacked in Eravur; 10 Tigers wounded in mortar attack near Mankulam; Red Cross driver arrested and Jaffna woman stabbed by robbers.
Full story >>

EPDP contests Commissionerís nominations

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 April 1999, 12:08 GMT]
EPDP sought a stay order from Sri Lanka's appeal court today against the appointment of Suppaiah Jeganathan and Sultan Rahim as Jaffna MPs on the group's list. The group has appealed that the appointment be declared null and void as both Jeganathan and Rahim have submitted their letters of resignation to the group.
Full story >>

Soldier found in possession of explosive

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 April 1999, 11:58 GMT]
A member of the Sri Lankan Armed forces was arrested in possession of a powerful bomb in Kurnegale, 60 km north west of Kandy, this morning during a joint operation by the Chilaw and Bingiriya Police.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 April 1999, 21:51 GMT]
SLA investigates Tiger members' families, a senior EPDP cadre is killed, food convoys fail to arrive and free telephone calls for two days.
Full story >>

Gunmen abduct Red Cross driver

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 April 1999, 11:38 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen abducted Naakamani Deivendranathan, 36, a driver with the Vavuniya branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRC), last night around 11 p.m. said Police sources in the northern border town.
Full story >>

Tigers fire on SLA camp

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 April 1999, 10:17 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers carried out a brief attack on the Sri Lanka Army detachment at Pillaiyaaradi, four kilometers north of the Batticaloa town, around 2 p.m. this afternoon, wounding a soldier. A woman in a nearby village was wounded by the army's heavy retaliatory fire following the attack.
Full story >>

Missing fisherman found in Mullaithivu

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 April 1999, 09:06 GMT]
Six Muslim fishermen of Valaichenai who were reported missing since March 23 have been located in Mullaithivu their relatives said today. The two boats in which they had set out had been pulled by powerful deep sea current towards the Mullaithivu coast.
Full story >>

Two killed in Kandy bomb

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 April 1999, 03:13 GMT]
Two civilians were killed and three were wounded when a bomb went off in a bus parked in Kandy town this morning around 7.40 a.m.
Full story >>

Vaakarai delegation meets army officer

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 April 1999, 23:51 GMT]
A two member delegation from Vaakarai North met the Commander Officer of the 23-2 Brigade, Col. A. Alwis, yesterday to discuss the effects of Sri Lankan Army restrictions on food and medicine on the civilians in the northern part of the Batticaloa district.
Full story >>

More bodies found in Jaffna and Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 April 1999, 23:47 GMT]
The skeletal parts and skeletons of twenty three bodies have so far been found in the stadium grave in Jaffna town said investigators. A metal bangle, two knives, one large and one small and three cartridges were recovered from the pit alongside the skeletons by the JMO Dr.Sri Rajeswaran today.
Full story >>

SLA search in Jaffna suburbs

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 April 1999, 16:00 GMT]
A large part of Jaffna town was cordorned off and checked by the SLA from the early hours of the morning today from 5.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The army searched most of the houses on Main street, Temple road, Milavu junction and Convent Road.
Full story >>

Tea estate workers strike

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 April 1999, 15:47 GMT]
More than five thousand Tamil tea estate workers in Deniyaaya, on the southern slopes of Sri Lanka's hill country, went on strike today to protest against their management for not paying their salaries since December 1998.
Full story >>

Four more skeletons found in stadium grave

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 April 1999, 12:57 GMT]
Investigators digging the stadium grave discovered four more human skeletons today. Two skeletons measuring 1.5 to 2 feet came into view as invetigators dug further at the Jaffna stadium grave site this morning. The skeletons are those of two children the Jaffna JMO said.
Full story >>

Kalmunai Police to expand security fence

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 April 1999, 12:48 GMT]
The Police commission has requested District Secretary M. Faleel to grant permission to expand the security fence around the Kalmunai Police Station into land belonging to Kalmunai District Council which lies adjacent to the Police station, sources said.
Full story >>

Bishops protest SLA's presence in Madhu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 April 1999, 12:47 GMT]
Deputy Minister of Defense Anuruddha Ratwatte speaking on the extension of emergency in Parliament yesterday said that the Army is in Madhu to clear the LTTE from the area and to make Madhu safe for civilians.
Full story >>

More skeletons found

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 April 1999, 12:02 GMT]
Investigators excavating the stadium mass grave site in Jaffna town today recovered the skeletal parts of six persons. These were found 3.5 feet below the surface close to the pit in which human were found by Jaffna Municipal Council diggers on March 26.
Full story >>

Bomb destroys EPDP MP's jeep

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 April 1999, 10:57 GMT]
A jeep used by the EPDP Batticaloa MP, Mr. Rasamanikam, was destroyed when a bomb believed to have been fixed to it, exploded around 3 p.m. today. The jeep was parked at a workshop at Thaandavanveli in the eastern district.
Full story >>

Stadium grave yields 6 more skeletons

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 April 1999, 18:39 GMT]
Investigators excavating the stadium grave in Jaffna found bones belonging to six persons today. Two skulls and many skeletal parts were removed from the soil in the pit during excavation this morning and later in the afternoon.
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PA stalwarts' seats fall to UNP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 April 1999, 18:17 GMT]
The PA lost the electorates of its key leaders to the UNP at Tuesday's provincial polls. The ruling party was defeated by the UNP in the electorate of Senkadagala in the Kandy District, the 'seat' of Deputy Defence Minister General Anuruddha Ratwatte.
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Nomination called for Southern PC

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 April 1999, 17:58 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Commissioner of elections called nomination for elections to the southern province today. The term of the Southern Provincial Council ended yesterday. The Commissioner said in a press note issued this afternoon that nominations have to be filed from April 22 to 29.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 April 1999, 16:46 GMT]
Van that had been carrying TELO members set alight by armed men and cordon and search operation conducted this morning in Vadamaradchi East.
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Tigers acquire SAMS - Jane's

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 April 1999, 09:07 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers have "substantially boosted" their anti aircraft capability by acquiring Russian-made portable missiles according to Jane's Defence Weekly, citing "Asian-based intelligence" sources.
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Penetration team attacked

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 April 1999, 08:06 GMT]
The Tigers announced in the Vanni today that two SLA soldiers were killed and more than five wounded when they attacked an SLA unit that had penetrated into the Muththaiyyan Kattu area in the Mullaithivu district on Tuesday April 6. The others in the SLA penetration team, according to the LTTE, had escaped from the scene of the attack.
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Two SLA killed near Mallaavi - VOT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 April 1999, 07:44 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said in its short wave broadcast this morning that two SLA soldiers from the Maruthamadukkulam camp near Mallaavi in the Vanni who were on a road patrol were killed in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers on Tuesday, April 6.
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SLA threatens Jaffna journalist

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 April 1999, 19:30 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) interrogated and threatened Veluppillai Thavachelvam, a regional correspondent living in the village of Maamunai on the south-eastern coast of Jaffna for more than five hours yesterday, accusing him of failing to provide information about the Liberation Tigers who had allegedly come to the area in recent days.
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Court impounds Buddhist temple's van

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 April 1999, 19:26 GMT]
The Batticaloa district additional judge, K.Thadchanamoorthy, yesterday impounded a van belonging to Mangalaramaya, the Buddhist temple in Batticaloa as it had no documents showing its ownership, license, insurance, etc.,
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More skeletons found in stadium grave

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 April 1999, 15:04 GMT]
Investigators digging the stadium grave discovered two more human skeletons this afternoon 2.5 feet from the grave site where the bones and skulls were found on March 26. The first skeleton that was found this morning with its hands and feet tied appears to be that of a female said the Jaffna Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), S.V.Sri Rajeswaran.
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Narrow victory for ruling coalition

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 April 1999, 14:55 GMT]
Sri Lankas ruling coalition, the People's Alliance (PA) narrowly won elections to the five Provincial Councils held yesterday. The PA took 130 seats in the five Councils while the main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP) took 112, of the total 273 seats.
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Intact skeleton recovered

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 April 1999, 10:13 GMT]
A human skeleton with its hands tied in front was found intact by the investigators who began excavating the gravesite near Duraiappa stadium in Jaffna town this morning.
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Complaints of electoral malpractice

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 1999, 23:28 GMT]
The General Secretary of the UNP, Gamini Athukorale, said in a statement that his party had been adversely affected by electoral malpractice in some districts.
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Four SLA casualties - VoT

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 1999, 23:27 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (V0T) said in their night broadcast today that the Liberation Tigers had recovered the following weapons from the SLA when they attacked the SLA position at Kaavaththamunai in Valaichenai this morning.
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Vanni Citizen's Committee requests help

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 1999, 23:13 GMT]
The Vanni Citizen's Committee has submitted a memorandum to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Bishop of Mannar asking them to find out the whereabouts of 14 civilians who went missing after they were arrested by the Ranagosha security forces on March 18.
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Mannar Bishop appeals to President

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 1999, 23:12 GMT]
The Bishop of Mannar, Rt.Rev.Dr.Rayappu Joseph, has said that the Sri Lankan Army is using refugees around the Madhu church area as a human shield. The Bishop has asked the President to remove the Army from the 400 square areas of church land surrounding Our Lady of Madhu.
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Low turnout said favouring ruling party

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 1999, 16:27 GMT]
A senior official at the Election Commissioner's department said this evening that 69 percent of the votes in the five provinces were cast by 3 p.m. this afternoon. He said overall turnout was excellent except in the district of Colombo.
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Curfew announced in election provinces

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 1999, 14:42 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government announced this evening that a curfew would be declared from 11 p.m. tonight to 5 a.m. tomorrow morning in the five provinces of the island.
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Stadium grave exhumation planned

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 1999, 13:56 GMT]
The excavation of graves near the Duraiappa stadium in Jaffna will commence at 7.30 a.m. tomorrow under the direction of the district's Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) S.V Sri Rajeswaran.
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Five killed in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 1999, 12:49 GMT]
Three SLA soldiers were killed and six were wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked a group of SLA soldiers returning to their position around 6.10 a.m. this morning at the Puthuvelippaalam in Kaavaththamunai, four km. west of Valaichenai in the Batticaloa district.
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New SLA promotions

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 April 1999, 17:01 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) promoted five of its senior officers this week. The Vanni Security Forces Commander Major General Lionel Balagalle will be appointed the chief of staff of the army this week said Sri Lankan government sources today.
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Foreign carriers blamed for Jaffna AIDS cases

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 April 1999, 18:49 GMT]
(NEWS FEATURE) Jaffna's fourth positively identified AIDS patient died yesterday at his residence in Neduntheevu. The person who had worked abroad was admitted to the Jaffna Teaching hospital in May last year. HIV tests in Colombo and Jaffna had revealed that he was suffering from advanced stages of disease. Doctors discovered that his wife, a teacher, was also infected. The patient and his family were given medical advise and sent home. He died early morning yesterday.
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Four arrested in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 April 1999, 18:34 GMT]
The SLA arrested Vincent Anthonythaas, 23, of 4th Cross Street in Pt.Pedro at around 4.00 p.m. yesterday while he was at his work in an ice cream parlour in the town. Seven of his co-workers were asked to report to the Pt.Pedro jetty army camp this afternoon.
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Good friday plea for Madhu church

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 April 1999, 12:46 GMT]
The Bishop of Mannar, Rt.Rev.Raayappu Joseph, told Mr.Jeyaraj Fernandopillai, Sri Lanka's Minister for Plan Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs, who was on a visit to Madhu today that the SLA should immediately stop moving about the holy precincts of the church.
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SLA requests student attendance reports

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 April 1999, 09:19 GMT]
The principals of six schools from Amban to Maamunai on Jaffna's south-eastern coast have been instructed by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Naagar Kovil to report on the attendance record of their pupils.
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Murunkan ambush toll rises

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 April 1999, 05:58 GMT]
Five Sri Lankan Policemen were killed and six reported missing after an LTTE attack near Murunkan in the Mannar district at around 12.30 a.m. this morning. The LTTE attacked a bunker on the Mannar-Vavuniya road at Kattaiadampan, manned by military trained Police constables.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 April 1999, 19:36 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army grants permission for refugees wanting to return home; Fisherman's boat strays into Sri Lankan Navy no go zone; Bomb alert in Batticaloa court.
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Three policemen killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 April 1999, 15:24 GMT]
Three Sri Lankan Policemen were killed in an attack by the Liberation Tigers tonight around 8.10 p.m. in Mutur, south of Trincomalee. Police sources in Trincomalee town said that the Tigers had ambushed a military trained Police patrol in Akkaraichenai, a suburb of the town.
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Magistrate orders Chemmani exhumation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 April 1999, 10:01 GMT]
The Jaffna additional magistrate N.Arulsaagaran ordered in court today that ex-Lance Corporal Somaratna Rajapaksha, the first accused in the Krishanthi Kumarasamy rape and murder case, to be produced in Jaffna on June 15 to identify the alleged grave site in Chemmani.
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