Indictment served on SLRC co-ordinator

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 January 2000, 19:57 GMT]
Colombo High Court Judge Chandradasa Nanayakara served an indictment on Sivanathan Kishore, North-East Co-ordinator of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 January 2000, 16:48 GMT]
Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) officer wounded in Batticaloa, Youth commits suicide in Jaffna town.
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Arrest of two carrying banned goods

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 January 2000, 14:42 GMT]
Two persons who were transporting banned goods to the Vanni were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in the seas off Pallimunai in the Mannar district last night.
Full story >>

Transformers blasted

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 January 2000, 14:40 GMT]
Two transformers were blasted last night by unidentified persons at Veppankulam 4 km. from Vavuniya town along the Mannar road, said sources.
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Parcel bomb at Gal Oya

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 January 2000, 14:37 GMT]
A passenger was killed when a parcel bomb exploded at Gal Oya railway station, 65 km. south-east of Anuradhapura, around 8 p.m. last night security sources said.
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Ban on air travel to Jaffna lifted: VoT

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 January 2000, 14:36 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said today that the Liberation Tigers have relaxed the restriction on air travel to Jaffna peninsula for the Tamil public.
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Stop transfer of detainees to Anuradhapura - MP

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 January 2000, 17:32 GMT]
Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham, MP for the Batticaloa district has made an urgent appeal to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge to direct the Defense Secretary and the Commissioner of Prisons to stop the transfer of 46 Tamil political prisoners to Anuradhapura from Batticaloa.
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Resettlement, a distant dream to refugees

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 January 2000, 16:45 GMT]
1007 refugee families are still staying in 13 welfare centers in Trincomalee district without any prospect of being resettled in their own villages, authoritative sources said.
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Welikade Tamil detainees assaulted

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 January 2000, 16:44 GMT]
Three Tamil political detainees at the Welikade prison were beaten up by the Sinhala prisoners and prison guards on Friday evening. They have been warded at the prison hospital, sources said.
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Security for EPDP MP withdrawn

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 January 2000, 16:38 GMT]
The Police in Batticaloa have withdrawn the security provided to Mr. A.Rasamanikkam, Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) Member of Parliament from noon today, said the District Organizer of the EPDP, Viji Thangarajah.
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Bomb explodes in bus

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 January 2000, 13:08 GMT]
Twenty persons were wounded, 10 of them seriously, when a bomb exploded in a bus near Polgahawela, in the Kurunegale District, about 70 km. north-east of Colombo, around 2 p.m. this afternoon police sources said.
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Claymore blast kills two

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 January 2000, 08:34 GMT]
A Sub Inspector and a policeman were killed in claymore blast at Kappachchi in the Cheddikulam area about 27 km. northwest of Vavuniya around 8.10 a.m this morning security sources said. Three policemen were also wounded in the blast.
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Vasavillan school boycott to continue

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 January 2000, 22:17 GMT]
Student representatives of the Vasavillan Madhya Maha Vidyalayam in Jaffna have notified that the boycott protesting the arrest of one of their fellow student, Priya Sriskandarajah, by the Criminal Investigating Division (CID) will continue from Monday.
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Jaffna Telecom Tower construction delayed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 January 2000, 20:23 GMT]
Telecommunication engineers and construction engineers from the French Company Alcatel have expressed their reluctance to visit Jaffna to attend to the engineering functions at Telecom tower in Jaffna which is being newly constructed near the Pannai Bridge. This has delayed execution of some emergency functions, said the Jaffna district superintendent of Telecom, S. Kanagsooriar.
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Scrap pass plan, says Pararajasingham

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 January 2000, 19:38 GMT]
Joseph Pararajasingham, Batticaloa district Member of Parliament, has appealed to President Chandrika Kumaratunge to withdraw a proposed pass system for travelers from the Batticaloa district.
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Three navy personnel killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 January 2000, 12:57 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel were killed and 2 others wounded in an attack by the Liberation Tigers at Periyakarachchi, close to Kumburupiddy, in Trincomalee around 9.30 a.m. this morning, security sources said.
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Students protest arrest

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 January 2000, 12:55 GMT]
Students of Vasavilan Central School and Urumpirai Chandrothaya School today boycotted classes protesting against the arrest two students and their mother by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), parents said.
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Reconstruction aid should not be used for war

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 January 2000, 12:53 GMT]
An appeal has been made to the visiting World Bank representatives to Trincomalee that the foreign donor agencies should ensure that the money given by them for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of affected villages in the Tamil areas be utilised for that specific purpose and not for purchasing weapons to continue the war.
Full story >>

Rebel UNPers violated party rules - lawyer

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 January 2000, 11:52 GMT]
Petitioners including Dr Sarath Amunugama violated Party discipline when they met President Chandrika, who was a rival Presidential Candidate, at temple trees without the authority of the party and pledged her their support during the election campaign.
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Bomb explodes in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 January 2000, 07:27 GMT]
Twelve persons were killed and 73 others were wounded when a powerful bomb exploded at the Vavuniya post office around 11.10 a.m. today. Five Sri Lanka Army soldiers were amongst the dead, police source said.
Full story >>

Massacre accused shot dead

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 January 2000, 02:16 GMT]
One of the accused in the Tampalakamam-Barathipuram massacre was shot dead by unidentified gunmen last Monday night, Kantalai Police said. In the Tampalakamam massacre, eight Tamil civilians, including students, were killed by police personnel and home guards attached to a checkpoint close to the village.
Full story >>

TULF meets Canada foreign ministry officials

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 January 2000, 20:33 GMT]
Joseph Pararajasingham, Parliamentary Group Leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front, told the visiting Canadian official from the South East Asia Department of the Canadian Foreign Ministry, Robert Burley, that any resolution to the Tamil problem should fulfil the fundamental demand of the permanent merger of the northern and eastern provinces.
Full story >>

UNP expulsions 'invalid in law' - lawyer

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 January 2000, 20:30 GMT]
The expulsion of Dr Sarath Amunugama and other members from the opposition United National Party has been deemed invalid by Senior Counsel E. D. Wickremanayake at a hearing before the Supreme Court.
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SLN craft collides with fishing boat

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 January 2000, 15:47 GMT]
A fisherman has been reported missing since 24 January after a Sri Lankan Navy patrol vessel collided with a fishing boat in the seas off Puttalam about 120 km north of Colombo.
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CID arrests Ponnambalam suspect

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 January 2000, 15:46 GMT]
Criminal Investigation Department officials have arrested a youth in connection with the assassination of Kumar Ponnambalam, police sources said.
Full story >>

Transformer blasted

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 January 2000, 12:11 GMT]
A transformer was blasted in the Badulla District about 130 km. east of Colombo, in the early hours of the morning today, Police sources said.
Full story >>

Norwegian official meets TULF

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 January 2000, 14:16 GMT]
Norway's secretary of state for foreign affairs, Leiv Lunde, held talks with the Secretary General of the Tamil United Liberation Front, Mr R. Sampanthan, at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo on Monday and Tuesday, political sources in the capital said.
Full story >>

Magistrate demands swift end to Chemmani probe

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 January 2000, 19:20 GMT]
The Jaffna Additional Magistrate has instructed the government to complete the investigations and the identification of human skeletons recovered from Chemmani grave as early as possible.
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MP urges inquiry into shootings

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 January 2000, 19:17 GMT]
The Leader of the Parliamentary Group of the Tamil United Liberation Front, Mr.Joseph Pararajasinghan has appealed to the President to order an impartial inquiry into the killing of a 10-year-old girl, Sellathamby Pushpalatha, and a 14-year-old boy, Vijeyan, by the SLA at Morakoddanchenai, a village 20 km north of Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Senior Norwegian official arrives in Colombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 January 2000, 19:11 GMT]
(Correction) Norway's state secretary for foreign affairs, Leiv Lunde arrived in Colombo on Sunday evening on a three-day visit, political sources said.
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LTTE urges Vehicle Association against SLA transit

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 January 2000, 19:06 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers have asked the Vehicle Owners Association in the Vadamaradchi East region of the Jaffna peninsula not to allow Sri Lanka Army soldiers to travel in public transport busses. The Tigers say the SLA use "human shields" for troops relocation and reinforcing their positions in the region.
Full story >>

Mannar rice farmers shot

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 January 2000, 16:45 GMT]
Five farmers guarding their rice paddy fields in Kunjukulam Vayal in the Mannar District were shot dead last night. Their bodies were brought to the Mannar hospital this evening.
Full story >>

Search operation in Mutur

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 January 2000, 11:42 GMT]
Thousand of villagers were interrogated during a combined search operation by the Sri Lanka Army and Police in several villages in the Mutur area, north of Trincomalee, today said sources.
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School girl succumbs to injuries

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 January 2000, 03:14 GMT]
One of the three civilians who were injured in the retaliatory fire by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers at Morakkoddanchenai in Batticaloa succumbed to her injuries Sunday night, hospital sources said.
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Discrimination against northeast doctors: Pararajasingham

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 January 2000, 13:30 GMT]
The Parliamentary Group Leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham has brought to the notice of the Minister of Health the discrimination in paying special incentive allowance to medical officials and specialists working in the war torn northeast province.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 January 2000, 13:25 GMT]
Special census in Vavuniya, Villagers protest against guns, Coconut plantations being cut down.
Full story >>

"Can't open govt. hospital in Mutur"

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 January 2000, 13:21 GMT]
The Northeast Health Ministry said that it is not in a position to reopen the renovated government hospital at Eechchilampattu division in Mutur as it is in Tiger controlled area.
Full story >>

Two casualties in Morakkoddanchenai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 January 2000, 11:53 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army soldier was killed and another wounded when the Liberation Tigers fired at a sentry post in front of Morakkoddanchenai SLA camp, 25 km. north of Batticaloa, around 3 p.m. today. A 14 year old boy, Sinnathamby Vijeyan, was killed and three others were wounded when the troops retaliated sources said.
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Security forces swoop on Wellawatte

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 January 2000, 18:07 GMT]
Thirty young men and women were arrested in Wellawatte, a large Tamil suburb of Colombo during a combined search operation by Special Task Force and CID personnel this morning, sources said.
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Navaly St. Peters Church consecrated

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 January 2000, 18:05 GMT]
The consecration ceremony of the Navaly St. Peters Church in Jaffna district was held this afternoon after the shrine was heavily damaged five years ago by a Sri Lankan Air Force strike during the SLA's Operation "Leap Forward".
Full story >>

CTTU protests poor standard Tamil Texts

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 January 2000, 16:49 GMT]
The All Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU) has demanded the resignations of the Chairman of the National Institute of Education and the Director General of the Department of Educational Publications for having failed to prepare and print high standard Tamil medium school textbooks without grammatical, spelling and factual errors.
Full story >>

Communist Party Politician dies

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 January 2000, 16:37 GMT]
Veteran Ceylon Communist Party politician Mr. P.Y.Tudawe died at the age of 84 this evening at a hospital in southern Matara District.
Full story >>

2000 arrested in Colombo search

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 January 2000, 11:39 GMT]
More than 2000 Tamils were arrested in a massive cordon and search operation in Kolonnawa, a suburb of Colombo, and in Gampaha district, today. The combined operation by the Sri Lanka Army and Police began in the early hours of the morning after enforcing a ten-hour curfew.
Full story >>

Search operation under curfew

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 January 2000, 07:19 GMT]
The Defence Ministry has imposed a ten-hour curfew in Kolonnawa, a suburb of Colombo, and Gampaha district from 4 a.m. till 2 p.m. today.
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Peace package by April - radio

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 January 2000, 13:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka's state radio said Thursday that the government has announced a program to find a political solution to the island's ethnic problem. According to the radio the government is planning to table a new draft constitution in the parliament before April this year.
Full story >>

Search operation in Ampara

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 January 2000, 12:39 GMT]
Ten youths were arrested during a combined search operation by Special Task Force (STF) elite troops and police at Natpittymunai near Kalmunai, north of Ampara this morning.
Full story >>

Three Home-Guards arrested

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 January 2000, 12:35 GMT]
Three members of the home-guards, attached to the Akkaraipattu police force, have been arrested for attempting to molest a young woman in the nearby village of Oluvil in the Ampara District, police sources said.
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Maj. Gen. Seniveratne appointed Jaffna Commander

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 January 2000, 12:30 GMT]
Major General .S.Seniveratne has been appointed Commander of the Sri Lanka Security Forces in Jaffna following the death of Major General Nihal Jayakody.
Full story >>

Norwegian Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 January 2000, 20:55 GMT]
The delayed visit of the Norwegian Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka is expected to take place during the weekend political sources said.
Full story >>

CWC to protest UNP appointment

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 January 2000, 20:22 GMT]
Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) is expected to protest to the United National Party over the appointment of a UNP member to the Parliamentary seat that has become vacant following the death of CWC leader and minister Saumyamoorthy Thondaman.
Full story >>

Sunday Leader Editor defends article

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 January 2000, 20:18 GMT]
Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge has told the High court that an alleged defamatory article published in his English weekly journal didn't convey the impression that the president was a corrupt person.
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UNP extends support despite "reservations"

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 January 2000, 12:24 GMT]
The United National Party Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe has informed the President Chandrika Kumaratunga that his party would support the government's constitutional proposals despite its reservations.
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Mortar hits police passing out parade

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 January 2000, 11:53 GMT]
Four civilians and a policeman were killed and 29 others wounded when a mortar shell exploded soon after the conclusion of a passing out parade, around 10 a.m. at Morawewa Police Training School, 30 km. north of Trincomalee, security sources said.
Full story >>

Petrol tankers attacked

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 January 2000, 09:25 GMT]
A petroleum tanker driver was killed and two others wounded when unidentified gunmen fired on two tankers owned by the Petroleum Co-Operation around 8 a.m. this morning, police said. The incident took place near a Sri Lanka Army camp at Punanai, 50 km. north of Batticaloa on the Colombo road.
Full story >>

Jaffna SLA commander suffers heart attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 January 2000, 13:05 GMT]
Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Nihal Jayakody died this afternoon at Palaly Military Hospital after a brief illness, said a press release issued today by the Operational Headquarters Of the Ministry o f Defence.
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Teachers urge action on Tamil text books

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 January 2000, 13:00 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU) has requested the Minister of Education and Higher Education to take stern disciplinary action against the Department of Educational Publications for failing to print and distribute text books to Tamil medium schools in the northern province in time.
Full story >>

Kalutara detainees refused transfer

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 January 2000, 11:58 GMT]
Tamil prisoners detained in Kalutara prison won't be transferred to jails in the Northeast Province despite the reported killing of three Tamils inmates by prison wardens, sources said.
Full story >>

SLA deserters escape from Panagoda camp

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 January 2000, 08:59 GMT]
Operational Headquarters of the Ministry of Defense reported today that 17 army deserters escaped from Panagoda SLA cantonment around 7 p.m. on January 18, overpowering the staff who opened their cells for the purpose of distribution of dinner.
Full story >>

Casualties in bus shooting

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2000, 17:20 GMT]
A woman was killed and three others wounded when a privately owned passenger bus was fired on at Miyankalkulam near Valaichenai on the Batticaloa-Colombo road around 11 a.m. Tuesday. The bus was on its way to Trincomalee from Kalmunai.
Full story >>

Cabinet minister leads protest against Jaffna officials

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2000, 17:18 GMT]
An estimated 1500 activists participated in a protest at Lipton Circus in Colombo Tuesday, organised by pro Government trade unions. The picketing was led by cabinet minister Alavi Moulana.
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Kalutara death certificate sought

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2000, 17:10 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Supreme Court has directed the lawyers to forward the death certificate of fundamental rights applicant Antonypillai Jesudasan, a detainee at the Kalutara Prison who succumbed to injuries he suffered during the Kalutara prison violence.
Full story >>

British High Commissioner in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2000, 17:05 GMT]
The High Commissioner for Britain in Sri Lanka, Linda Duffield, visited Vavuniya Tuesday to assess the conditions of the families displaced by the war and presently living in welfare centres, said sources.
Full story >>

EPDP replaces MPs

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2000, 17:00 GMT]
The Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) has appointed Mr. Sinnathurai Thavarajah and Mr. Velummylum Kuhendran as Members of Parliament, to fill the vacancies created by the resignations of Ms S. Thangavel and M.Chandrakumar.
Full story >>

Kaluwanchikudy civilians injured

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2000, 10:46 GMT]
Five civilians were injured, one of them seriously, when police opened fire at the Kaluwanchikudy market around 11 a.m today. Shops were closed and the situation remained tense in the town following the incident, sources said.
Full story >>

Ponnambalam aide identifies 'Shantha'

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2000, 10:45 GMT]
All Ceylon Tamil Congress leader Kumar Ponnambalam's aide, G.Thomas has identified the person who met the late M.Ponnambalam. at his home on the day of his assassination as Shantha.
Full story >>

De-Mining project to resume

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2000, 10:39 GMT]
The second stage of Jaffna's de-mining project, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is expected to resume soon when Zimbabwean officials return from their vacations, said sources.
Full story >>

Bomb found in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2000, 06:38 GMT]
A parcel containing 250 gram bomb was found near a police officers' quarters at Jempettah Lane in Colombo around 10.30 a.m. police said.
Full story >>

Election Commissioner 'Valid In Law'

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 January 2000, 16:42 GMT]
Court of Appeal has declared that the appointment of an Acting Commissioner of Election by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge during the recent Presidential Election was valid in law. The Court held that it was the President's prerogative.
Full story >>

HRC asked to initiate legal action

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 January 2000, 14:31 GMT]
Ten political detainees held at the Kalutara prison have said in a letter to Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna that they're living in fear in the prison.
Full story >>

Shell wounds three

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 January 2000, 11:57 GMT]
A mother and two of her children were injured when their house close to the Sri Lanka Army camp at Murakkoddanchenai, about 25 km. north of Batticaloa town, was hit by shell Sunday evening. Sri Lanka Army sources said the shell was fired by the Liberation Tigers.
Full story >>

President security stops letter bomb

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 January 2000, 11:55 GMT]
A letter bomb addressed to the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge was detected at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today, said sources. It was later defused by the bomb disposal unit of the Sri Lanka Army, the sources said.
Full story >>

Three detained in Vaakarai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 January 2000, 11:12 GMT]
Three youths were arrested by the Sri Lanka Army during a search operation at Kandhalady, about 5 km. from Vaakarai this morning. Vaakarai is 64 km. north of Batticaloa.
Full story >>

More UNP MPs to support PA

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 January 2000, 19:18 GMT]
Six more parliamentarians from the United National Party (UNP) are expected to support the ruling People's Alliance (PA), political sources in Colombo said. Yesterday, the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), decided to present a bill that allows an MP to cross over to another party.
Full story >>

Ex-Finance Minister supports 'Conscience Bill'

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 January 2000, 19:17 GMT]
Senior Parliamentarian of the UNP and a former Finance Minister of the UNP government Ronnie de Mel has welcomed the "MP's Conscience Bill" to be moved by the government shortly.
Full story >>

Trial-at-bar urged for Sarathambal rape case

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 January 2000, 18:59 GMT]
Sarathambal rape and murder case should be tried before a trial-at-bar court, Leader of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization, Attorney-at-Law N. Srikantha said.
Full story >>

Kalutara chief jailer's evidence

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 January 2000, 16:59 GMT]
Chief Jailer S. K Udaya Shanth Fenando referring to the clashes at the Kalutara Prison said that the situation was so precarious that it became necessary to use arms.
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House boat washes ashore

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 January 2000, 16:58 GMT]
A houseboat built of bamboo, washed ashore at Maamunai in Vadamaradchi East of the Jaffna Peninsula around 4 p.m. yesterday residents said. The house was damaged by gun fire, and there were blood stains on it they said.
Full story >>

Permission sought to sue Ashraff

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 January 2000, 16:56 GMT]
The Attorney General's permission has been sought to commence prosecution against Minister cum poet M. H. M. Ashraff allegedly for his comments on Lord Buddha and Buddhism in his Book of Poems.
Full story >>

Claymore blast kills 6 soldiers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 January 2000, 13:33 GMT]
Six soldiers were killed and 9 wounded when a Sri Lanka Army truck was hit by a claymore blast at Vaarikuttiyoor in the Poovarasankulam region around 5 p.m. today security sources said.
Full story >>

Presidential condolence note 'predates assassination'

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 January 2000, 22:22 GMT]
The assassination January 5 of Kumar Ponnambalam, President of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, might have been planned by the Sri Lankan government eight months ago, a Paris based Tamil publication alleged this week. The Eelamurasu cited a condolence letter by President Chandrika Kumaratunge to Ponnambalam's widow which bore the date 6 May 1999.
Full story >>

SLFP to allow MP crossovers

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 January 2000, 21:14 GMT]
Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent of the ruling People's Alliance, decided to day to present immediately a bill that allows a Member of Parliament to cross over to another party.
Full story >>

Six SLA soldiers killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 January 2000, 17:53 GMT]
Six Sri Lanka Army soldiers (SLA) were killed in Thanankilappu in the Thenmaradchi Division of the Jaffna peninsula in the early hours of the morning today said sources.
Full story >>

Pt.Pedro UC chairman killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 January 2000, 15:38 GMT]
Mr.Vadivelu Vijeyaratnam, Chairman of the Point Pedro Urban Council in the Jaffna District was shot dead by unidentified gunmen around 7.30 p.m. this evening.
Full story >>

Claymore blast kills policeman

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 January 2000, 15:29 GMT]
A military trained policeman was killed in a claymore blast at Bharathipuram junction about 6 km. west of Vavuniya town along the Mannar trunk road around 8 a.m. today, said police sources.
Full story >>

Youth commits suicide

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 January 2000, 15:28 GMT]
A youth committed suicide by swallowing cyanide capsule at a police check post at the clock tower junction in the heart of Vavuniya town around 6 p.m. this evening police sources said.
Full story >>

Gajendra Kumar Gives evidence at inquest

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 January 2000, 12:09 GMT]
"My father Kumar Ponnambalam, wearing black trousers and a white T-shirt with black stripes, left the house on that fateful morning with one 'Shantha' saying that he would proceed to Wellawatte and return within half an hour. "But that was not to be. He thereafter never came back home alive. We only saw him lying dead at the wheel of his blue Mercedes Benz." Thus stated Barrister Gajendra Kumar the only son of All Ceylon Tamil Congress leader Kumar Ponnambalam at the Magisterial inquiry into the death of Kumar Ponnambalam before Mount Lavinia Magistrate K.H.Sumathipala.
Full story >>

Two SLA soldiers killed in ambush

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 January 2000, 08:19 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and another wounded in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers at Gonawela in Uhane police Division, in the south-eastern Ampara District, around 8.15 a.m. this morning, security sources said.
Full story >>

Trooper suicide over boy's rape

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 18:24 GMT]
Corporal Thilakaretna of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) attached to the Brigade in Manipay in Jaffna district shot himself fatally on Wednesday as he was being interrogated during investigations into a complaint against him for sexually assaulting a 15 year-old boy, police sources said.
Full story >>

Jaffna women condemn Sarathambal rape, murder

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 18:11 GMT]
A large number of women took part in a public protest Thursday evening, condemning the gang-rape and murder of a young mother, Sarathambal. The meeting, organised by the Women Development Center, was held at Navalar Cultural Hall in Nallur, near Jaffna town.
Full story >>

Grave site inspected

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 18:06 GMT]
The acting Magistrate, Mallakam Thursday morning inspected the site at Kuppilan Vigneswara Vidyalayam land where two human skeletons were recovered on Tuesday and Wednesday, court sources said.
Full story >>

Jaffna youth held

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 18:03 GMT]
Nineteen-year old Balasuntharam Balashankar was arrested in Jaffna on Wednesday evening by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army, human rights sources said.
Full story >>

Sarathambal's funeral held

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 12:12 GMT]
The burial of a young Brahmin woman, Sarathambal took place at the Khanate cemetery, Borella in Colombo today. Sarathamabal,29, was gang-raped and murdered in Punguduthivu in Jaffna, allegedly by Sri Lanka Navy personnel on 28 December 1999.
Full story >>

AG's opinion sought in defamation case

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 11:53 GMT]
Criminal Investigation Departmental Officers have sought the opinion of the Attorney General (AG) in respect of the Report of the investigations into the complaint made by President Chandrika against Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.
Full story >>

Protect free media, urges Ranil

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 11:51 GMT]
The Leader of the United National Party, Ranil Wickremasinghe has made an appeal to all to rally round to safeguard the media freedom in Sri Lanka. He made this appeal when addressing a press conference on Wednesday.
Full story >>

Jaffna population shrinking

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 11:49 GMT]
Jaffna's Government Agent K.Shanmuganathan said that compared to other districts in the island, the population of the peninsula should be in the region of one million at present. But now only about 498,000 people are living in the Jaffna district, he said.
Full story >>

Claymore blast wounds 8, one killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 07:32 GMT]
Five policewomen and three civilians were wounded in a claymore blast near Shanthi theatre in Batticaloa on the Kallady main road around 8.15 a.m. this morning. A 13 year old boy was killed in retaliatory fire by the police, sources said.
Full story >>

UNP Challenges Election Result

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 January 2000, 16:04 GMT]
The legality and the propriety of the recent Sri Lankan Presidential election has been challenged in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka by the opposition United National Party.
Full story >>

Two Human skeletons found

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 January 2000, 15:54 GMT]
Two human skeletons have been recovered from the compound of Vigneswara Vidyalayam (school) in Kuppilan in the Jaffna District said sources. A skeleton was found today by students who were clearing the school compound.
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Sri Lanka signs UN terrorism funding convention

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 January 2000, 19:55 GMT]
Sri Lanka was the second country to sign the United Nation's Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, which was opened for signature on January 10 at the United Nations in New York, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in Colombo.
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Investigate youth's death, urge Periyakulam residents

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 January 2000, 15:30 GMT]
Residents of Periyakulam in Trincomalee called for a judicial inquiry into the death of a 17-year-old Tamil youth on January 6. The victim, Alagurajah, was shot dead by Sri Lankan Navy personnel on Friday night, villagers said.
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More arrests in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 January 2000, 07:54 GMT]
Eighteen youths, including four Sinhalese, were arrested during a joint search operation by the Sri Lanka Army and Police in Welikade in Colombo last night police sources said.
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FMM protests conspiracy claim

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 January 2000, 13:50 GMT]
The Free Media Movement has deplored the statements in the state owned print and electronic media linking a group of journalists in a conspiracy to assassinate President Chandrika Kumaratunge and establish a military government, as ludicrous.
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Air-raid in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 January 2000, 13:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir jets conducted air-raid in Pooneryn-Kerathivu area in the north of the island from 9 a.m. this morning. The air-raid continued for about 30 minutes sources in Jaffna said.
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Ambush kills four

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 January 2000, 07:19 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army soldier and three military trained policeman were killed in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers at Maththayathoddam, about 4 km. south of Muttur town, around 8.30 a.m. this morning, security sources said.
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Ponnambalam's funeral held

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 January 2000, 06:25 GMT]
The funeral of Mr.Kumar Ponnambalam took place in Colombo today. His body was cremated at Khanate Hindu cemetery around 1 p.m. this afternoon. His son Gajenthirakumar set fire to the pyre.
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Medical report confirms rape, suffocation

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 January 2000, 22:10 GMT]
Jaffna's acting Magistrate Mrs S.Ilankovan Saturday stated that a 29 year-old woman Sarathambal of Pungudutivu was raped and murdered, according to the medical report furnished by the Colombo's Judicial Medical Officer.
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Kalutara wounded "being neglected" - MP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 January 2000, 12:34 GMT]
A Tamil parliamentarian who visited the detainees wounded in the violence at Kalutara prison and admitted to Nagoda hospital told TamilNet that they had not received medical care in the hospital and are being kept chained to their beds. Meanwhile reports say one more detainee has succumbed to his injuries, bringing the death toll to 3.
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'Mamanithan' award for Ponnambalam

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 January 2000, 12:27 GMT]
Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam, the assassinated Tamil political leader, has been bestowed with the Most Eminent Person (Mamanithan) award by the Liberation Tigers' leadership, the organisation said in a statement from its London offices Saturday.
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Pararajasingham urges end to prison attacks

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 January 2000, 19:09 GMT]
Tamil United Liberation Front, Paliamentary leader, Joseph Pararajasingham, has called on the President to halt recent attacks on Tamil inmates detained at Kalutara prison.
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Daily News article deemed defamatory

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 January 2000, 18:55 GMT]
An article published by Daily News Under the heading "Renegade Politico alleged to be involved with LTTE" was defamatory said Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayaka in a 500 Million Rupee lawsuit filed in Colombo District Court.
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Second Kalutara prisoner dies

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 January 2000, 13:36 GMT]
Another Tamil political detainee, Srikumar of Jaffna, who was injured in violence at Kalutara Prison today succumbed to his injuries later sources said. Several others, including Vavuniya Red Cross Co-ordinator, Mr.Kishore and a fisherman from India, are among the injured
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TULF calls for Kalutara inquiry

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 January 2000, 11:21 GMT]
The Secretary General of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Mr.R.Sampanthan, has requested the President Chandrika Kumaratunga to order an impartial inquiry into the incident resulting in the death of one Tamil prisoner and injuries to several other Tamil prisoners at Kalutara prison on Thursday.
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Further violence at Kalutara prison

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 January 2000, 09:54 GMT]
Fifteen Tamil political prisoners were wounded today in further violence at the Kalutara Prison, 40 km south of Colombo. Three of them have been admitted to the Nagoda hospital, where 33 others were warded Thursday.
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1000 arrests in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 January 2000, 00:23 GMT]
Over one thousand Tamils were arrested during a massive search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Airforce and Police in Colombo and its suburbs after the enforcing of a curfew from midnight. The curfew was relaxed at 12.30 p.m., one-and-a-half hours earlier than announced.
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Curfew imposed in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 17:55 GMT]
Sri Lankan State Television 'Rupavahini' announced tonight that a curfew has been imposed in Colombo and Mt.Lavinia Municipal Councils area from midnight till 2 p.m. tomorrow. The announcement was made about 30 minutes before midnight.
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Detainee dies in prison violence

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 17:29 GMT]
One of the 34 wounded Tamil detainees admitted to hospital following violence which erupted at 2 p.m. today at Kalutara Prison, about 40 km. south of Colombo has died, hospital sources said today.
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Expulsion of rebels valid - UNP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 17:25 GMT]
The expulsion of Parliamentarians Sarath Amumgama Wijepala Mendis and Nanda Mathew from Sri Lanka'a main opposition United National Party (UNP) was legally valid stated UNP Chairman Karu Jayasuriya and General Secretary Gamini Athukorale in the objections filed by the party in the suit filed by the dissidents challenging their expulsion.
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Tigers salute Ponnambalam, accuse government

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 12:53 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers Thursday paid tribute to Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam, leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress who was shot dead Wednesday in a Colombo suburb. The LTTE in a statement sent to international media, accused the Sri Lankan government and Tamil groups operating with the Sri Lanka armed forces of carrying out the killing.
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32 Tamil detainees injured

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 12:49 GMT]
Thirty-two Tamil detainees who were staging a hunger strike were injured in clashes that erupted around 2 p.m. in the Kalutara prison, south of Colombo, sources said. The wounded have been taken to Nagoda hospital.
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Arrests follow Colombo blast

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 12:43 GMT]
Officials from the Criminal Investigation Department Thursday arrested the parents of Thilakaratne Yasotha,22, who is believed to have triggered the blast at Flower Road in Colombo Wednesday, the police said. The arrests took place at Akkaraipattu in the Ampara District, the police said.
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Opposition slams President's "racist" speech

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 12:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunge's marathon television speech on January 3 was an attempt to kindle racist feelings in the country, said the leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe when briefing the press Thursday morning.
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SLA tractor smashes shop

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 11:33 GMT]
Four women selling vegetables were injured when a Sri Lanka Army tractor speeding through the market area in Valaichenai went off the road around 12.15 p.m. Thursday, said eyewitnesses. The SLA soldiers who were riding on the tractor fired into the air to disperse crowd that had surrounded the vehcicle, they said.
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Ponnambalam killing claimed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 08:54 GMT]
An organisation calling itself 'National Front Against Tigers' Thursday claimed responsibility for the killing Wednesday of Kumar Ponnambalam, the president of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress.
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Youth missing after arrest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 08:40 GMT]
A 22 year old youth arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers from the Valaichenai Harbour View camp has been reported 'missing' according to his parents. SLA officials, when contacted by Batticaloa parliamentarian Mr.Pararajasingham, has denied the arrest of the youth.
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LTTE ambush kills 5 naval personnel

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 January 2000, 16:13 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked a group of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel who were on foot patrol at Salapai Aaru in Kuchchaveli division, about 35 km. north of Trincomalee town on th Nilaveli-Pulmoddai main road, killing five of them and injuring four others, security sources said.
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TULF condemns Ponnambalam slaying

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 January 2000, 10:30 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has strongly condemned in a statement today, the killing of All Ceylon Tamil Congress president, Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam this morning.
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Thirteen killed in Colombo blast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 January 2000, 07:18 GMT]
Thirteen people including, five members of the Prime Minister's Security Division (PMSD) were killed and about 25 others wounded in an explosion at the Flower Road police post in Colombo around 9 a.m. this morning, the police said.
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Kumar Ponnambalam shot dead

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 January 2000, 06:48 GMT]
Mr.Kumar Ponnambalam, president of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Wellawatte, a Tamil suburb of the capital Colombo around 11.15 a.m. police sources said.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 January 2000, 16:01 GMT]
Sri Lanka Red Cross officials are charged under Prevention of Terrorism Act, the leader of the Sinhala Veera Vithana sues Associated Newspapers and the Lanka Muditha docks in Trincomalee.
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Kumaratunga critisises media, opposition

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 January 2000, 22:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranaike said that she will bring the war to an end this year in her first interview cum speech for 2000 in the state run TV tonight. She spoke for more than three hours, from 8.30 p.m to 11.45 p.m. The President harshly criticized sections of the independent media in Sri Lanka for working against her.
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Search operation in Karaithivu

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 January 2000, 22:41 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) elite troops cordoned off the coastal village of Karaithivu near Kalmunai in the Ampara District and conducted a house-to-house search operation from 3 p.m. today said sources.
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Six casualties in Muttur clash

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 January 2000, 12:48 GMT]
Four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and two members of the Liberation Tigers were killed in a confrontation at Uppooral area, between Muttur and Eechilampthu, in the Trincomalee District on Saturday morning the Tigers said.
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Bomb Blast Magisterial Inquiry

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 January 2000, 19:10 GMT]
Colombo Chief Magistrate, G. D. Kulatileke, conducting the Magisterial inquiry into the deaths at the bomb blast at the final People's Alliance rally at the Town Hall directed the CID to summon a senior officer of the Presidential Security Division to depose on the next date of hearing.
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Tigers hand over two bodies

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 January 2000, 19:04 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers handed over bodies of two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers to the Red Cross official at Karadiyanaaru in the Batticaloa District, yesterday sources said.
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Arrests in connection with killing of home-guard

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 January 2000, 19:03 GMT]
Four Sinhala youths were arrested in connection with the killing of a Muslim Home Guard in the southeastern district of Ampara the police said.
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Bomb explodes at Kaluwanchchikudy

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 January 2000, 10:46 GMT]
Two policemen were killed when a bomb exploded near Kaluwanchchikudy bus depot, in the high security zone, 30 km. south of Batticlaoa town, around10.15 a.m. this morning, security sources said.
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Youth killed by New year gunfire

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 January 2000, 10:41 GMT]
A 18 year-old Tamil youth, Rasalingam Sooriyaprabakaran, who sustained injuries in Batticaloa, when the Police and the Army opened fire to celebrate the dawn of the new Millenium, died at Colombo National Hospital on Sunday morning, medical sources said.
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Naval detachment attacked

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 January 2000, 10:38 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Navy personnel was killed and another wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked the Naval detachment at Gopalapuram in Nilaveli, about 12 km. north of Trincomalee town, around 10 p.m. yesterday.
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Millennium Triplets

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 January 2000, 10:37 GMT]
A teenage-mother in Sri Lanka gave birth to triplets, all three girls, minutes after the dawn of the Millennium, medical sources.
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Jaffna clash kills 46

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 January 2000, 19:20 GMT]
Forty Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and over 100 wounded today in fierce confrontations at Iyakachchi in the Jaffna peninsula around 7 a.m. today, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its night news broadcast.
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Bishop Swampillai's Millennium Message

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 January 2000, 01:24 GMT]
The Bishop of the Batticaloa-Trincomalee diocese Rt.Rev Dr. Joseph Kingsley Swampillai said in his millennium message today, " The fundamental rights of people should be respected in this country and in the world. The people and the government should together endeavour to safeguard human rights. Everyone in the country should work towards peace in the new millennium. That the basis for a solution to the ethnic problem should be found by respecting human rights is my new year wish."
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