Fighting in Ampakamam continues

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 October 1999, 11:26 GMT]
Eleven Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers including an office officer have been killed and 187 wounded in the renewed fighting which broke out last evening said security sources.
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SLA camps shelled

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 October 1999, 11:21 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers ambushed a SLA unit at Vammivedduvaan and shelled Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps in Vaakarai and Kathiraveli in the eastern Batticaloa District last night said sources.
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Elections forced by IMF: Pararajasingham

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 October 1999, 11:18 GMT]
The government has been forced to conduct the Presidential election due to the refusal by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to provide any financial assistance to the country until the war is brought to an end, said Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham, M.P for the Batticaloa district.
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Schools should be peace zones

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 October 1999, 06:47 GMT]
The Resident Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund in Sri Lanka and Maldives, Mr. Colin Glennie said yesterday morning that schools, playgrounds and hospitals should be declared as peace zones during military operations.
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S.Thondaman dies

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 October 1999, 16:14 GMT]
Mr.Soumiyamoorthy Thondaman,86, the Minister for Rural and Industrial Development, and leader of the Ceylon Workers' Congress died at the Jeyawardenepura National Hospital around 8.10 p.m. this evening.
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Fighting erupts in Ampakamam

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 October 1999, 14:30 GMT]
Fierce fighting broke out again this evening in the Ampakamam-Olumadu area, east of Mankulam security sources said. Initial reports said at least 60 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers have been wounded.
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SLA hands over 27 bodies

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 October 1999, 11:15 GMT]
Security sources in the Vanni said that the bodies of 27 Liberation Tigers, recovered by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Ampakamam area, were handed to the ICRC this morning at Mankulam.
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Thondaman ill

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 October 1999, 11:12 GMT]
Sri Lankan cabinet Minister and veteran trade union leader Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman is reported to be seriously ill. He has been flown to Jeyawardenepura National Hospital in Colombo this morning according to sources.
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Conflicting reports on Ampakamam fighting

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 October 1999, 21:26 GMT]
An attempt by the Sri Lanka Army to advance in the Ampakamam area yesterday has been beaten back, said sources close to the LTTE in London this evening.
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University student remanded under ER

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 October 1999, 20:52 GMT]
The Kankesanthurai Police produced today the detained university student Selvanayagam Suganthan before the Magistrate Mr.S.A.E.Ekanathan. Officer-in-charge of the KKS Police, K.T.Jayatilake, told the court that he was producing the suspect under the Emergency Regulations (ER), on the orders of his superior.
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Amnesty concern over disappearances

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 October 1999, 19:38 GMT]
Amnesty International said today it is concerned for the safety of three Tamil men reportedly arrested by Sinhalese home guards on October 8 this year, who have since "disappeared".
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Doctor detained over attack on Police

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 October 1999, 14:36 GMT]
A doctor was detained by the Police today in connection with the attack on the police post at Sakamam road, in Akkaraipattu, on Wednesday, 27 October said sources.
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Jaffna University students boycott

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 October 1999, 11:46 GMT]
Students at Jaffna University boycotted their lectures today to protest against the detention of a fellow student by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), said sources.
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Fighting said continuing

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 October 1999, 22:07 GMT]
Heavy fighting erupted when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched an operation at about around 9 a.m. today to advance on three fronts in the Ampakamam area, about 12 km. north-east of Mankulam, sources close to the LTTE in London said this evening.
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Police interview UNP MPs

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 October 1999, 22:04 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police at the Colombo Magistrate's Court today recorded statements of opposition Parliamentarians Pramaratne Gunasekera, Gamini Lokuge, Mervyn Silva and Western provincial Councillor Almon Pieris pertaining to the July 15 demonstration organised by the United National Party (UNP) at Havelock Road.
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Educators not to comment to media: Ministry

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 October 1999, 14:52 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government has prohibited teachers, principals and education officials from expressing opinions, writing articles or issuing statements on the educational activities of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, to the mass media.
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New ID cards in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 October 1999, 14:51 GMT]
The Sri Lankan military authorities (SLA) have decided to issue a new identity card to all persons above the age of 12 years, residing in the Trincomalee district, sources said.
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Indian official visits Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 October 1999, 14:50 GMT]
The Deputy High Commissioner for India in Colombo, Mr.S.Thripathi, was in Trincomalee since Tuesday, meeting several leading citizens and delegations of Tamil political parties, sources said.
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SLA launches fresh offensive

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 October 1999, 10:38 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army has launched a fresh operation, code named "Operation Water Shed-2", in the Oddusuddan-Olumadu area, east of Mankulam since this morning said defence sources.
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Presidential election date set

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 October 1999, 10:36 GMT]
The Additional Elections Commissioner, Mr.M.C.Arunthavachelvam announced today that the Presidential elections will be held on December 21.
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Detainees transferred to Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 October 1999, 10:32 GMT]
Eight detainees, including a husband and his wife, held at the Kankesanthurai special detention centre in Jaffna have been transferred to Kalutara Prison, south of Colombo, for further investigations, said sources.
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Police post attacked

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 October 1999, 07:26 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked a Sri Lankan Police post at Sakamam road in Akkaraipattu in the south-eastern coast of the Ampara District, around 9.45 p.m. yesterday, killing a policeman said sources.
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Four SLA soldiers, 2 Policemen wounded

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 October 1999, 21:57 GMT]
Two Policemen were wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked a bunker at Sector 15, along Vavuniya-Mannar trunk road around 6.50 p.m. this evening said sources.
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Imminent offensive "will trigger catastrophe"

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 October 1999, 15:56 GMT]
An imminent offensive by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Vanni will cause a "a massive displacement of tens of thousands of people with no shelter provisions whatever in the adjoining areas, triggering a major catastrophe," said the London based Tamil Information Centre in a press release today.
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Woman arrested over EPRLF killing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 October 1999, 11:40 GMT]
Earlier today, Special Task Force (STF) troopers arrested Thevarasu Sinnathamby, 40, a mother of two, in connection with the killing of a former member of a paramilitary group, EPRLF, at Mandoor last Sunday said sources.
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Bomb at police residence

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 October 1999, 10:27 GMT]
A bomb exploded in front the residence of a police officer near the Thimilaithivu police post, in the Batticaloa Municipal area last night. However no damages were reported, sources said.
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Appeal to Indian President

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 October 1999, 10:07 GMT]
An appeal to the President of India, asking for clemency to save the lives of four who have been sentenced to death in connection with the assassination of former Indian Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was handed over to the Permanent Representative for India at the UN in Geneva yesterday.
Full story >>

Civilian wounded at Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 October 1999, 10:00 GMT]
Sri Lankan Police shot and wounded a civilian in the Pesalai area in the Mannar district last night said sources. The Police said the man was trying to smuggle banned items into the areas held by the Liberation Tigers.
Full story >>

Police raid LTTE camp

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 October 1999, 09:37 GMT]
Sri Lankan Police said that they have recovered arms, ammunition, medicine and cash when they raided a LTTE camp at Avaranthulawa about 21 km. north-west of Vavuniya town yesterday. However no arrests were made the police added.
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Jaffna University student arrested

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 October 1999, 09:19 GMT]
Selavanayagam Seventhiran, a student at the Arts Faculty of Jaffna University was arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) yesterday said army sources. He was arrested on information given by another detainee, the sources added.
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EPDP denies intimidation allegations

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 October 1999, 09:16 GMT]
The organiser of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) for the Ampara District, M.Kunasegaram, has denied the allegations that the group's members are intimidating civilians in Karaithivu.
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7 SLA soldiers killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 October 1999, 18:00 GMT]
Seven Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and one wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked an army unit at Meeravodai about 30 km. north-east of Batticaloa, around 5.45 p.m. this evening security sources said.
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Claymore blast near Mannar

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 October 1999, 09:15 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed and 11 wounded when a bus in which they were travelling in was hit by a claymore blast near Uylankulam, about 15 km. south of Mannar town, on the Vavuniya-Mannar road this morning around 10 a.m. said sources.
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Displaced warned about landmines

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 October 1999, 09:13 GMT]
Ms. Penny Brune, the Programme Officer of the UNICEF, visited Vavuniya and Mannar on a three days fact finding mission to remove the land mines in areas where displaced people are resettled in Vavuniya district, government officials said.
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MPGA warns of hunger strike

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 October 1999, 09:11 GMT]
The Missing Persons Guardian Association (MPGA) in Jaffna has warned that it will launch a hunger strike if Government authorities do not reveal, before the 30 October, the details of those who have been arrested by the security forces in the northern peninsula and reported missing.
Full story >>

EPDP intimidates Ampara civilians

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 October 1999, 14:48 GMT]
Armed members of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) in Karaithivu in the Ampara district have ordered the civilians that they should stay in their houses after 6 p.m. and threatened to shoot those who violated their orders, local residents said.
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Bombs explode in Police checkpoints

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 October 1999, 14:45 GMT]
Two police personnel were wounded when two time bombs exploded at 3rd mile post on the Uppuveli-Nilaveli road, north of Trincomalee town between 8 and 8.15 a.m. this morning sources said.
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Solution for conflict in two years - President

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 October 1999, 14:42 GMT]
Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, speaking at the first election campaign meeting held at Anuradhapura promised that her government would solve all problems in the country, including the ethnic conflict, within two years if she is elected as the next president.
Full story >>

Four commandos wounded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 October 1999, 15:15 GMT]
Four commandos were wounded when the Liberation Tigers ambushed a Special Task Force (STF) patrol on the Vavuniya-Mannar road around 12.45 p.m. today said police sources.
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SLA kills seven civilians

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 October 1999, 14:30 GMT]
Seven persons, including a woman, who were on their way to cross over the Jaffna Lagoon, from the Thenmaradchi to the Pooneryn area, on the night of 15 October were killed when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) opened fire said sources in Jaffna.
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Heavy fighting in Mannar seas

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 October 1999, 07:24 GMT]
Fighting continued between the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sea Tigers in the Pesalai seas near Mannar between 5.30 amand 11.00 am this morning, said sources.
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Youth tortured, shot by Police - Judge

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 October 1999, 11:08 GMT]
The Kalmunai Magistrate retuned today a verdict of homicide in the death of Sathasivam Sanjeevan, 19, a student of WesleyCollege in the eastern town. Sanjeevan was shot dead on 15 October 1998, while being held under the detention of Kalmunai police.
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Independent in presidential elections: TULF M.P.

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 October 1999, 09:50 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) will not support any political parties in the forthcoming presidential election, said Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, M.P for the Batticaloa District. The party will play an independent role, he said, while commenting on President Kumaratunga's announcement yesterday to hold early elections.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 October 1999, 04:05 GMT]
Para militaries advised against fighting each other, Food convoys to Vanni resume, Minister visits Vanni war fronts.
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President: Mandate for another term

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 October 1999, 11:03 GMT]
The President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge today declared her intention of appealing to the people for a mandate to hold office for a further term, states a press release issued by the Information Department.
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Arrests in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 October 1999, 11:00 GMT]
Three young men were arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at Kudaththanai in the Vadamaradchi East region in the Jaffna Peninsula this morning sources said.
Full story >>

Police patrol ambushed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 October 1999, 10:57 GMT]
A Home guard was killed when the Liberation Tigers ambushed a police patrol at Kudapokkanai in the Polannaruwa district this morning, said sources.
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UNP: Ready to talk, but no guarantees

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 October 1999, 04:08 GMT]
The Leader of the Opposition and the President of the United National Party, Ranil Wickremasinghe, in his reply to the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge avoided stating his position in regard to the guarantees she felt were necessary to find a bipartisan solution to the ethnic problem.
Full story >>

Priest threatened

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 October 1999, 01:10 GMT]
The Parish Priest of the Vankalai St. Ann's Church, Rev. Thevasagayampillai who had complained to authorities about the army rampage in the village last night has been intimidated by the Sri Lankan Police yesterday said sources.
Full story >>

Bomb explodes in Pettah

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 October 1999, 20:06 GMT]
Three buses were damaged when a bomb placed inside an old bus parked at the Pettah bus terminal in Colombo went off around 10 p.m. this evening Police sources said.
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Soldiers on rampage

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 October 1999, 09:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army soldiers went on rampage in Vankalai in the Mannar district, burning five houses, two boathouses and five boat engines last night said sources there. Several civilians were also assaulted by the troops the sources added.
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Arrests in Colombo continue

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 October 1999, 09:14 GMT]
About sixty Tamils, including 5 women were arrested when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and Police conducted a cordon and search operation in the suburbs of Kotahena and Maradana in Colombo yesterday evening.
Full story >>

Young man shot

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 October 1999, 09:01 GMT]
A young man arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at Kannakipuram in Valaichenai, 32 km. north of Batticaloa, was shot dead last night, said sources. His body was handed over by the Police to the Kalkudah hospital this morning.
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Date set for Thangathurai trial

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 October 1999, 00:38 GMT]
The trial of those accused of involvement in the murder of former Trincomalee MP, Arunasalam Thangathurai, will commence on February 21, 2000, announced the East High Court Judge A.N.Ramachandran yesterday after serving the indictments on six of the seven accused. Lawyers appearing for the accused said some had been tortured by the police.
Full story >>

Equal Opportunity Bill not to be presented: AG

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 October 1999, 12:23 GMT]
The Attorney General, K.C.Kamalasabesan, told the Supreme Court today that the proposed "Equal Opportunity Bill" would not be presented in the parliament.
Full story >>

SLA summons MP

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 October 1999, 10:53 GMT]
Mr.R. Yogarajan, MP for the Colombo District, was summoned by the Police to record a statement from him yesterday following a complaint made against him by a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officer said sources.
Full story >>

Nine Policemen killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 October 1999, 06:58 GMT]
Nine military trained policemen were killed and 17 wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked a police camp at Thomaspuri in Vankalai, 5 km. north of Mannar around 2 a.m. this morning said sources.
Full story >>

Six civilians wounded

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 October 1999, 16:46 GMT]
Six Tamil civilians were wounded when the Sri Lanka Army fired shells from their positions in Mankulam, Karippattamurippu and Ampkamam in the Vanni region towards Uddayarkaddu and Visuvamadu today at about 12.45 p.m. sources said.
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Complaints of intimidation

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 October 1999, 16:44 GMT]
A request made by Mr.P.Selvarajah, Member of Parliament for the Batticaloa district that security personnel should not travel in vehicles used by civilians, is to be taken up for discussion in the Anti Harassment Committee meeting on Monday, sources said.
Full story >>

SLA cordon and search

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 October 1999, 13:08 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) conducted a cordon and search operation in the hamlets of Puthukkudiyiruppu, Kannankiramam and Kannakipuram in Valaichenai, 32 km. north of Batticaloa, from the early hours of this morning, said sources.
Full story >>

Body in well

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 October 1999, 13:07 GMT]
The body of a young man, with hands and legs tied, was found in a well belonging to Puttralai Sithivinayagar Temple, in Pt.Pedro on the Jaffna peninsula, yesterday, said police sources.
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SLA offensive continues - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 October 1999, 21:27 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers said today they had inflicted heavy casualties on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) units which had advanced into LTTE territory on October 14 on twin fronts to the east and west of Mankulam. Scores of SLA troops and 48 Tigers were killed in the heavy fighting which is continuing, a press release issued by the LTTE's International Secretariat in London today.
Full story >>

SLA hands over 32 bodies

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 October 1999, 20:32 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army handed over the bodies of 32 Liberation Tigers who were killed in the clashes at Ampakamam-Olumadu area, to the ICRC delegates, said sources.
Full story >>

75 Tamils detained in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 October 1999, 15:20 GMT]
Several hundred people were arrested and interrogated during a combined cordon and search operation by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police in the Pettah area, a suburb of capital Colombo, last night said sources.
Full story >>

Fighting eases in Olumadu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 October 1999, 15:15 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army sources said that soldiers who were preparing to launch 'Operation Water Shed" were attacked by the Liberation Tigers with machine gun and mortars on Thursday around 11 a.m.
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Seven LTTE casualties in sea battle -Radio

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 October 1999, 13:35 GMT]
One Sea Tiger was killed in the clash with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on Thursday night and six Sea Black Tigers were killed when two boats collided with each other, the VoT said in its morning news bulletin today.
Full story >>

Fighting continues in Ampakamam-Olumadu

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 October 1999, 12:02 GMT]
Nine Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, including an officer were killed and over 60 wounded today in the heavy fighting that is raging for the second day in the Ampakamam-Olumadu area said SLA sources.
Full story >>

75 combatants killed - military

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 October 1999, 10:18 GMT]
Sri Lankan military officials said this afternoon 75 combatants have been killed during fighting in the Vanni region and off the Mullaitivu coast in the 24 hours up to midday today.
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Twenty Tigers killed in sea battle -SLN

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 October 1999, 07:27 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) said at least 20 Liberation Tigers are believed to have been killed when it's patrol crafts engaged a LTTE flotilla and destroyed four boats in the seas off Kokkilai in the north-east of the island this morning.
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Casualties mount in Vanni fighting

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 October 1999, 03:44 GMT]
Twenty-seven Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and over 75 wounded in yesterday's fighting with the Liberation Tigers in Olumadu-Ampakamam region , said security sources.
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Trincomalee intelligence chief quits

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 October 1999, 03:39 GMT]
Inspector M.L.Ubaithullah who served as the officer-in charge of the Trincomalee Police Security Coordinating Unit for ten years continuously, has resigned from the force, security forces sources said yesterday.
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Government seeks opposition "guarantees" for peace

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 October 1999, 13:30 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge, in a letter to the leader of the main opposition United National Party, has sought "guarantees" which the President believes are prerequisites for a peace process to settle the island's conflict.
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Fighting said ongoing in Olumadu area

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 October 1999, 10:44 GMT]
Fighting between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was going on tonight in the Olumadu-Ampakamam region, where seven SLA soldiers were killed and over 70 wounded this afternoon, said security sources.
Full story >>

Three busses blasted

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 October 1999, 03:51 GMT]
A group of unidentified armed men blew up three new Izuzu luxury buses parked in the Kalmunai depot of the New Eastern Transport Company, around 12.30 a.m. this morning, residents said.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 23:02 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army personnel arrested over assault on Sinhala villagers, Valikamam South Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman complains hand-gun stolen, a young man reported missing in Ampara.
Full story >>

Legal challenge to Equal Opportunities bill

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 20:23 GMT]
About twenty Buddhist organizations have jointly challenged the constitutional validity of the Equal Opportunity Bill in the Supreme Court, said legal sources.
Full story >>

Assaults by security forces

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 20:21 GMT]
Several civilians were assaulted by elite commandos of the Special Task Force (STF) in Pesaalai town in the north-western district of Mannar, yesterday evening around 7.30 p.m. said sources. The STF has a base in Pesaalai.
Full story >>

Journalists file fundamental rights cases

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 20:16 GMT]
The Fundamental Rights applications of five media photographers complaining against the assault on them by the Presidential Security Division whilst they were covering the UNP protest rally on July 15, this year were granted leave to proceed by the Supreme Court today.
Full story >>

Embargo violators fired at

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 20:10 GMT]
A young man was killed and another wounded off the coast of Pallivaasalpiddy in the Mannar island around midnight yesterday, when unidentified gun men fired at group of illegal traders attempting to smuggle banned goods to LTTE held areas of Vanni, sources said.
Full story >>

Fundamental Rights case cleared

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 20:04 GMT]
The Supreme Court which heard the Fundamental Rights Application filed by a Vavuniya trader Nagesu Ratnaraja challenging his detention , had granted leave to proceed.
Full story >>

Civilians fearful of SLA, paramilitaries

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 14:17 GMT]
Residents of Kaluvankerni village in the Batticaloa district marched to the Divisional Secretary's office in Eravur and submitted a memorandum this morning, appealing to 'safeguard them from the atrocities committed by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and its auxiliary force called Razeek group'.
Full story >>

SLA ordered to de-mine Mahajana College

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 14:03 GMT]
The Magistrate of Mallakam, P. Vignarajah, yesterday ordered the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to de-mine the premises of Mahajana College in Thellipalai in Jaffna within two weeks. The court ruling comes after a schoolboy was injured in a mine blast recently. The boy's foot was amputated.
Full story >>

Polio vaccination truce

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 13:57 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army and the Liberation Tigers will observe a tranquillity on Friday and Saturday to facilitate UNICEF sponsored Polio immunisation program.
Full story >>

Judges explore ways to expedite PTA cases

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 06:42 GMT]
Colombo High Court Judges who met yesterday with Judge Nimal Dissanayaka in the chair formulated certain procedures that will help to expedite cases filed under Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Full story >>

French Ambassador asked to continue international pressure on government

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 October 1999, 14:19 GMT]
Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, Member of Parliament of the Batticaloa district, has told the visiting French Ambassador for Sri Lanka and Maldives, that the international community should exert pressure on the government to withdraw the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Emergency Regulations, which contribute largely to the violation of the human rights in the country.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 October 1999, 14:17 GMT]
Sinhalese encroaching on Tamil paddy fields, Flight to Colombo may cost rations, Regular trips from Vavuniya to Vanni.
Full story >>

Government Minister urges third party mediation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 October 1999, 14:12 GMT]
The Deputy Minister for Posts, Telecommunication and Media Mr. M. S. M. Hisbullah said that a powerful third party is urgently needed to settle the ethnic problem in the country.
Full story >>

Women's Awakening Day celebrated

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 October 1999, 14:11 GMT]
A portrait of 2nd Lt. Malathy, the first woman fighter of the Liberation Tigers who died on October 10, in 1987 in a fight against the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) was carried in a colourful procession from the 18th Mile Post of Mulankaavil to the Mulankaavil 'Maveerar' Auditorium on October 8, to mark the Women's Awakening Day, said Thamileela Vaanoli, the Commercial Service of the Voice of Tigers Radio this evening.
Full story >>

Mass arrests of Tamils in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 October 1999, 13:01 GMT]
Over one hundred Tamils were arrested by the Sri Lanka Police during a cordon and search operation in Wellawatta, Bambalapitiya and Dematagoda, suburbs of Colombo last night said sources.
Full story >>

New Jaffna Commander appointed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 October 1999, 12:57 GMT]
Maj. Gen. Sarath Munasinghe will take up duties as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Security Forces, Jaffna, army sources in the northern town said.
Full story >>

EPDP member killed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 October 1999, 11:05 GMT]
A member of the EPDP, Thambirajah Vinayakamoorthy, alias Vasikan, 38, was shot dead by unidentified armed youth in Akkaraippattu in the Ampara district, around 3.30 p.m. today said police sources.
Full story >>

Grenade thrown at sentry point

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 October 1999, 01:17 GMT]
Suspected members of the Liberation Tigers threw a grenade at a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry point at Aariya Kulam junction in the high security zone of the Jaffna town around 6.30 p.m. yesterday evening, sources said.
Full story >>

UNP "concern" over Judge's interdiction

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 October 1999, 20:06 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP), has requested the Judicial Service Commission to issue a statement regarding the interdiction of the Colombo Fort Magistrate.
Full story >>

Thangathurai accused charged

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 October 1999, 19:57 GMT]
The Kalutara prison authorities have been informed by the Eastern High Court to produce the accused in the Thangathurai Murder Case, on October 18, at its Trincomalee sessions which commenced today.
Full story >>

SLBC frequency retrained

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 October 1999, 19:36 GMT]
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) is restrained from transmitting on 98.8 and 102 MHz as it interferes with the transmission of Tamil programme 'Kalai Oli' by the Colombo Communications Ltd according to an order was issued by Colombo District Judge Kumar Ekaratne, today.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 October 1999, 13:54 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers mark the death of their first woman fighter; abducted schoolboy found killed; unidentified parcel explodes.
Full story >>

Former Jaffna MP arrested

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 October 1999, 11:23 GMT]
S. Ramamoorthy, former Member of Parliament for the Jaffna District, was arrested by the police this morning from his house at Negombo, along with another person, sources said. Police sources said they were arrested for illegal possession of firearms.
Full story >>

Opposition MP denied access to Vanni

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 October 1999, 11:20 GMT]
The Ministry of Defence has turned down an application from the opposition parliamentarian Dr.Jayalath Jayawardana, to visit the LTTE controlled parts of the Vanni region, said sources.
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MP probes villagers’ ‘disappearances’

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 October 1999, 10:13 GMT]
(Correction) Three Tamil villagers, who were arrested by Sinhala homeguards, were reported to have been murdered, said sources in the Eastern province. However, earlier reports that their mutilated bodies had been recovered were false.
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Tamil workers arrested

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 October 1999, 10:03 GMT]
About 50 Tamils working at a rice-mill in Akkaraipattu in the Ampara district were arrested during a search operation by the Sri Lankan Police yesterday evening, sources said.
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Compensation ordered in fundamental rights case

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 October 1999, 09:50 GMT]
The Supreme Court ordered the state to pay a compensation of Rs. 10,000 to Ponniah Ravichcandran (34) of Pandiruppu, Batticaloa, in a fundamental rights' violation case.
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Woman wounded, mother, sister missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 October 1999, 18:45 GMT]
A 21 year old woman, Jacintha Vellayutham, was wounded on her head, and her mother and sister have been reported missing after a shoot out at Thellippalai in Jaffna this morning, sources said.
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Temple priest, wife released on bail

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 October 1999, 18:38 GMT]
Munneswaram Temple Chief Priest Balasubramaniam Iyer and his wife Annapoorany Sarma were released on Rs 20,000/= surety each by the Chilaw Magistrate S.Koballawa yesterday. They were ordered to report to the Chilaw Police every Sunday.
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Two indicted under PTA

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 October 1999, 18:32 GMT]
Shanmuganathan Sasikaran and Shanmuganathan Ravi Chandren of Velanai East, Jaffna, who have been on remand since October 1998 are indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) by the Attorney General in the Vavuniya High Court.
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Eleven wounded in Vavuniya blast

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 October 1999, 16:56 GMT]
Eleven persons, including a woman, were wounded when a grenade exploded in front of a book shop at the Vavuniya bus terminal around 7 p.m. this evening police sources said.
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Three Tamils from border village missing

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 October 1999, 12:07 GMT]
Three Tamil villagers were reported missing in the south-eastern Ampara districts after being arrested by Sinhala homeguards yesterday, human rights sources said.
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Woman injured in SLA shelling

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 October 1999, 10:34 GMT]
A 47 year old woman who was seriously wounded on Thursday night in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling of Thadumunai in Vaakarai was brought to Valaichenai hospital yesterday evening around 4 p.m. said sources. Vaakarai is about 35 km. north of Valaichenai.
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Drug shortage at Pulmoddai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 October 1999, 10:31 GMT]
There is a severe drug shortage at the government hospital in Pulmoddai, 45 km. north of Trincomalee, as the security forces have ordered the health authorities not to stock drugs in the hospital said sources.
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Estate workers released on bail

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 October 1999, 10:27 GMT]
Fourteen members of the Galaboda Estate workforce who had been remanded over an incident that occurred during the October 25,1998 strike were ordered to be released on bail by the Court of Appeal yesterday.
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Grenade explosion at EPDP office kills one

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 October 1999, 11:33 GMT]
A member of the EPDP, identified as Kennedy, was killed in a grenade explosion at the group's office at Thirunelvely in Jaffna around 6.00 a.m. this morning, said sources.
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Couple indicted for withholding information

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 October 1999, 09:14 GMT]
Sinnaththamby Vickneswaran and his wife Gnanasakthy Vickneswaran of Veemankamam North, Thellippalai were indicted before Colombo High Court Judge Nimal Dissanayake for failure to give information about a member of LTTE and for possession of pistol and bullets at their Colombo south house.
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Medical officer files Rights application

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 October 1999, 04:50 GMT]
Dr.Franklin Alex Wincent, a medical officer attached to the accident service unit of the Colombo National Hospital has filed a fundamental Rights Application in the supreme Court challenging his detention by the Terrorist Investigation Unit of the Police.
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Fifteen Tigers killed - VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 October 1999, 18:24 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers Radio (VoT) said in its night news bulletin today that 15 Liberation Tigers, including a Lieutenant Colonel, died in an unexpected confrontation with the Sri Lanka Navy in the seas off Mannar around 1.30 a.m. this morning.
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LTTE boat sunk, four killed - SLN

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 October 1999, 14:32 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy said four Liberation Tigers were killed when they attacked a flotilla of LTTE boats in the seas off Kachchathivu, north-west of Jaffna around 5.30 p.m. yesterday.
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Buddhist students oppose Muslim admissions

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 October 1999, 12:50 GMT]
More than 3000 students of Ananda and Nalanda Colleges and Buddhist monks demonstrated this morning in Colombo protesting against a demand by the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Mohammed Ashraff, stating that 20 percent of the seats at Ananda College be allocated to Muslim students.
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Shooting leads to search operation in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 October 1999, 12:37 GMT]
Police said a LTTE member fired at one of its post at Loyds Avenue in the Batticaloa town this morning around 10.15 a.m. However there were no casualties the Police added.
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Food route to Vanni affected by rains

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 October 1999, 12:33 GMT]
Food supply to the northern Vanni the region has been affected, as three by-roads between Omanthai and Mankulam have been washed off by heavy rains yesterday, said government officials in Vavuniya.
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SLA soldier killed in ambush

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 October 1999, 07:10 GMT]
A soldier was killed when the Liberation Tigers ambushed a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) patrol in the Pulmoddai area, about 45 km. north of Trincomalee town around 7.15 p.m. yesterday, sources said.
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Skeleton found in well

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 October 1999, 22:43 GMT]
A skeleton was found in a well in Suruvil in Jaffna when a family who had recently returned to their home were cleaning out a well today.
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Detained GA's rights plea heard

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 October 1999, 18:59 GMT]
The Fundamental Rights plea by the Mannar Government Agent (GA) Saveriyar Mariathasan Cruz challenging his detention was accepted for hearing by the Supreme Court today.
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Employees seek risk allowance arrears

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 October 1999, 18:52 GMT]
Employees of the Valaichenai Paper Factory in Batticaloa staged a protest this afternoon demanding the company pays the risk allowance it owes for 1996 and 1997.
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2 year sentence over withheld information

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 October 1999, 18:50 GMT]
Lorry driver Kanthan Thangavel of Thonikal Village in Vavuniya who pleaded guilty to the charge of failure to give information about an LTTE supporter was sentenced to 2 years rigorous imprisonment, effective from the date on which he was remanded, by Colombo High Court Judge Raja Fernando.
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Teachers protest "systematic racism"

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 October 1999, 18:49 GMT]
The 20,000 member-strong Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union has announced today that a nation-wide trade union action would be launched in November this year, against the actions of "Sinhala chauvinist elements" in the National Institute of Education and the Educational Publication Department.
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Cordon and search in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 October 1999, 13:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers conducted a cordon and search operation in the hamlets of Puthukkudiyiruppu, Paythaalai, Kannankiramam, and Union Colony in Valaichenai, 32 km. north of Batticaloa from the early hours of the morning today.
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Defamation action against Lake House: date set

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 October 1999, 13:11 GMT]
The fifty million rupee civil defamation suit filed by the Opposition Leader of the Western Provincial Council Karu Jayasuriya against the Lake House Press comes up for trial on January 24 next year.
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Year 2000 Appropriations Bill in parliament

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 October 1999, 11:47 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government's defence expenditure allocation for the year 2000 has risen to 52.43 billion rupees (728 million USD), according to the Appropriations Bill presented in parliament yesterday. This is an increase of 5.43 billion rupees (11.5 percent) compared to last year's defence allocation.
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SLA vehicle attacked

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 October 1999, 12:25 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed when the Liberation Tigers attacked an army lorry with rocket propelled grenade (RPG) in the eastern district of Trincomalee around 3.30 p.m. this afternoon security sources said.
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PTA detainee tortured - JMO

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 October 1999, 12:08 GMT]
Kalithas Selvam, 49, who was detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) had been tortured in the police custody said the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) while testifying at the Batticaloa High Courts yesterday.
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Three arrests in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 October 1999, 11:58 GMT]
Savarimuththu Innasimuththu, father of five was arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at his house in Naavalady in Batticaloa on Sunday, October 3, said sources.
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Transformer blasted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 October 1999, 07:37 GMT]
A transformer at Chetti Street in Colombo was destroyed in a blast around 8.30 a.m. this morning Police sources said.
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Rights violated, court rules

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 October 1999, 16:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court declared today that the fundamental rights of Varithamby Tharmakulaseelan Raja had been violated by the Police when they conducted a search at his house at Wellawatte in Colombo on November 21, 1997 in which no explosives were subsequently found.
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Escapee re-arrested

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 October 1999, 16:49 GMT]
A woman who escaped from Police custody in Colombo two months ago was arrested today by the Police at 'Koddaimunai Paalam' (Bridge) road check in Batticaloa police sources said.
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Held GA files rights case

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 October 1999, 12:47 GMT]
The Mannar Government Agent, Saveriyan Mariathasan Cruz Monday filed a Fundamental Rights application in the Supreme Court, challenging his detention. The case was filed through his Counsel, Gowry Shankary Thavarasa.
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Priest wins rights case

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 October 1999, 12:42 GMT]
The Attorney General (AG) has given approval for the release of the Hindu Priest of the Muneeswaram Temple Balasubramaniam Iyer Srinivasa Sarma and his wife Annapoorani who were taken into custody by the police on June 11,1999.
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Catholic Bishops to meet LTTE leaders

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 October 1999, 11:47 GMT]
The Catholic Bishops of Jaffna, Mannar and Batticaloa are expected to visit the Vanni region shortly to meet the senior members of the Liberation Tigers church sources said.
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Chemmani investigations: Statements to be taken from SLA officers

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 October 1999, 11:39 GMT]
State Counsel, Yasantha Kothagoda, said earlier today that Police will begin recording statements today from the 20 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officers who have been named by the key witnesses during the investigations into the Chemmani mass graves.
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Police posts attacked

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 October 1999, 08:17 GMT]
Two policemen were wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked a police post at Pesaalai in Mannar yesterday evening around 8.30 p.m. said sources.
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Search operation in Nuwara Eliya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 October 1999, 23:01 GMT]
At least 50 Tamil youths have been arrested during a cordon and search operation by the Sri Lankan Police in the hill town of Nuwara Eliya, about 90 km. east of Colombo, this morning.
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Widowed mother gang raped in Varani

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 October 1999, 18:59 GMT]
Rajeswary Krishnarajah, 35, mother of three was gang raped by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at Vaalaithottam, a farming hamlet in Varani in the Thenmaradchi Division of the Jaffna Peninsula on Wednesday, September 29, according to a complaint made by Rajeswary with the Police.
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Batticaloa MP raises Rights question

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 October 1999, 15:13 GMT]
Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, Member of Parliament for the Batticaloa district has complained to the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission that the detention of a person at a police station for more than two months is a violation of human rights.
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PLOTE leader admits to past mistakes

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 October 1999, 15:11 GMT]
Mr.Dharmalingam Siddharthan, the leader of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and a Member of Parliament for Vanni district yesterday admitted the moral responsibility for the mistakes made by his group, in the past.
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Transport restriction hits villagers

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 October 1999, 11:15 GMT]
(News Feature) More than twenty thousand people in the coastal areas north of Mannar are facing starvation due to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) restrictions on food and medicine and transport to this area according to refugees from Vidaththalthivu who arrived on Thursday (September 30) in Pallimunai near Mannar town.
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Police, SLA blamed for rising crime

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 October 1999, 09:50 GMT]
Police sources said that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police personnel were involved in 75 percent of the crimes committed by underworld gangs in Sri Lanka.
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Transformer blasted in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 October 1999, 08:38 GMT]
A transformer was blasted last night at Pavatkulam area about 18 km. north west of Vavuniya town, Police sources said.
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Police blocks prayer meeting

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 October 1999, 19:49 GMT]
Mannar Police has refused permission to hold a silent procession and a prayer at the St.Sebastian's Church tomorrow morning, condemning the detention of district's Government Agent (GA) Mr.S.M.Cruz, church sources said.
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ICRC hands over youth's body

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 October 1999, 14:47 GMT]
The body of the youth who was killed when the Batticaloa SLFP organiser's house was attacked last night was taken to Karadiyan Aaru by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) around 3 p.m. to hand over to the Liberation Tigers, said sources.
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Missing hunters' skeletons found

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 October 1999, 14:45 GMT]
Villagers of Katkadanthakulam in the Cheddikulam about 25 km. north west of Vavuniya found two human skeletons in the jungle yesterday, said sources.
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Batticaloa SLFP organiser escapes grenade attack

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 October 1999, 08:58 GMT]
A youth was killed when the Sri Lankan Police opened fire following a grenade attack on the residence of the Batticaloa Organiser of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Rajan Mylvaganam, at Nochchimunai 4 km. south of Batticaloa town around 10.30 p.m. last night said sources.
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Tigers attack Police Post

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 October 1999, 23:12 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Police post at Anpuvalipuram junction about 2 km. west of Trincomalee town along the A-6 trunk road to Kurunegala was attacked by the Liberation Tigers around 8.30 p.m. this evening said local residents.
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One killed, five wounded in clashes

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 October 1999, 23:01 GMT]
A Security Assistant (Homeguard) was wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked a police post at Thoppur, four km. south of Muttur in the Trincomalee district this morning around 8.20 a.m. said police sources.
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US-Lanka extradition treaty is

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 October 1999, 13:27 GMT]
The Acting Secretary of State of the United States, Mr.Strobe Talbott, and the Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar, signed Friday morning a new extradition treaty between the two countries, said the Sri Lankan government's Information Department.
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Soldiers harass widow, daughter - MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 October 1999, 13:25 GMT]
Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham, MP for the Batticaloa District appealed to the Sri Lankan government authorities yesterday, to safeguard a Tamil widow and her teenage daughter of Peythaalai in the Valachchenai area from being sexually harassed by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers.
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