ICRC to take bodies from Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 February 2000, 20:42 GMT]
The International Committee of the Red Cross will take the bodies of two Liberation Tigers killed this morning in a confrontation with the Sri Lanka army at Iyakkachchi, across the Jaffna lagoon to the Vanni mainland early morning tomorrow.
Full story >>

Released POWs in hospital

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 February 2000, 16:05 GMT]
The four Prisoners of War who were released by the Liberation Tigers yesterday have been admitted to the army hospital in the Vanni Security Forces Head Quarters in Vavuniya, said sources.
Full story >>

Two SLA troopers killed in east

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 February 2000, 07:59 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed this morning around 9 a.m. when the tractor in which they were traveling at Kayankerni, 37 kilometers north of Batticaloa, was hit by mortar shells fired by the Liberation Tigers.
Full story >>

POWs released on humanitarian grounds

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 February 2000, 18:21 GMT]
The four POWs were released today on instructions by the leader of the Liberation Tigers Mr.V.Pirapaharan, on humanitarian grounds, responding to requests made by their parents, wives and children, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said today in its night broadcast.
Full story >>

38 detainees held in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 February 2000, 18:07 GMT]
Thirty eight persons including, 4 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers are held in the custody of the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) and Military Intelligence, in Vavuniya, said Human Rights Commission sources.
Full story >>

Peace march in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 February 2000, 11:21 GMT]
A peace march and rally was held today in Batticaloa town, urging the Government to ban all Sinhala chauvinist organizations opposing talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, initiated by Norway.
Full story >>

Tigers release 4 POWs

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 February 2000, 09:00 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers have released 4 of the 15 POWs who were on a hunger strike since 10 February in Mullaitivu. The POWs were handed over to the ICRC in Mallavi around 2 p.m. said sources.
Full story >>

Clay more blast injures 2 naval personnel

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 February 2000, 07:41 GMT]
(CORRECTION) Two Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel were wounded in a claymore mine attack by the Liberation Tigers in the Trincomalee District, around 11 a.m.today, naval sources said.
Full story >>

Call to remove rigid limits on Travel Permits

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 February 2000, 07:24 GMT]
Peoples Committee for Peace and Reconciliation, a grass root organization in Jaffna, has requested the Brigadier in-charge of civil administration of Jaffna district, T.E. Tillekeratna, to extend the validity of travel permits issued to Tamils travelling to other districts, to one year, said sources.
Full story >>

LTTE calls for De-escalation of conflict as necessary condition for peace talks

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 February 2000, 09:13 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has urged the Government of Sri Lanka to take constructive measures to remove the conditions of oppression of the Tamil people to create conducive atmosphere for peace talks.
Full story >>

Attacks prompt Pettah traders to close shop

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 February 2000, 07:41 GMT]
Pettah business establishments owned by importers of perishable goods were closed on Friday to protest against the 'quota' system on import of onions and potatoes, imposed by some businessmen with connections to underworld criminal gangs, sources in Colombo said.
Full story >>

SLN promises to investigate Salli rampage

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 February 2000, 16:39 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has announced that an investigation would be conducted into the Thursday incidents at Salli village in the Trincomalee District and those naval personnel found guilty would be punished.
Full story >>

18 Mannar fishermen missing

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 February 2000, 16:35 GMT]
Pallimunai Fishermen Association has made a complaint to the Mannar Citizen Committee that 18 fishermen have gone missing since yesterday and has requested to take action with the relevant authorities to locate them.
Full story >>

Villagers protest over SLN retaliation

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 February 2000, 08:18 GMT]
More than one thousand Tamil people, men, women and children, of Salli in the Trincomalee District are picketing from 7.30 a.m. today, demanding that they should be provided security for their lives and properties from armed forces. The protestors have blocked the Uppuveli-Kuchcheveli road at Pillaikulam bridge.
Full story >>

Artillery induced vibrations damage Kalkuda houses

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 February 2000, 07:17 GMT]
Shocks due to artillery fire from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp in Kalkuda, Batticaloa, are causing dangerous cracks to develop in houses around the area extending to Vaalaichenai, residents said.
Full story >>

POWs give government two weeks

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 February 2000, 19:53 GMT]
The POWs have said that they have called off their 15 day old hunger strike today, giving another two weeks time for the government to secure their release, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its night news broadcast this evening.
Full story >>

Numerous arrests

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 February 2000, 19:51 GMT]
At least 30 fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy while they were fishing in the seas of Mannar around 5 p.m. this evening. They were handed over to the Pesaalai police, said sources.
Full story >>

Retaliation for SLN death

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 February 2000, 14:23 GMT]
Sri Lankan security forces burnt down 8 houses belonging to Tamil civilians in Salli, in the Trincomalee District, in retaliation for an attack on the Sri Lanka Navy personnel last night, villagers said.
Full story >>

POWs call off hunger strike

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 February 2000, 14:21 GMT]
Fifteen POWs in the custody of the Liberation Tigers have called off their hunger strike said Harsha Gunawardene, the Spokesman for the ICRC in Colombo, today. However, he declined to reveal further information about why they have called off their strike.
Full story >>

Eastern University students protest pass

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 February 2000, 14:18 GMT]
Hundreds of students from the Eastern University picketed in Vantharumoolai for nearly an hour from 10.30 a.m. today, condemning the Government's proposed travel pass system for the Batticaloa District.
Full story >>

Tigers shell Punaanai SLA camp

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 February 2000, 12:05 GMT]
Five soldiers were wounded when the Liberation Tigers shelled the Punaanai Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, 47 km. north of Batticaloa, around 7.45 a.m. this morning said sources.
Full story >>

SLN officer killed in ambush

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 February 2000, 10:30 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) officer was killed and two others were seriously wounded in a counter ambush by the Liberation Tigers at Salli, north of Trincomalee, around 10.45 p.m. Thursday night, naval sources said.
Full story >>

NorthEast teachers to ease Uva shortage

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 February 2000, 06:12 GMT]
Uva Provincial Minister of Tamil Education, Hindu Culture, Estate Infrastructure and Tourism, Mr.M.Sachchithanandam, made an urgent appeal to the North Eastern Provincial Council for help to overcome the acute shortage of Tamil medium graduate school teachers in the Uva province.
Full story >>

ICRC to transport bodies from Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 February 2000, 14:59 GMT]
The ICRC is involved in working out modalities to transport bodies of the Liberation Tigers who are killed on the Jaffna Peninsula and hand them over to the Tigers in the Vanni said sources in the northern town.
Full story >>

SLA strengthens Thenmaradchy camps

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 February 2000, 08:01 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has been strengthening the defences around the camps in Thenmaradchy sector following the downing of a helicopter last week in Eluthumattuval, an area under the control of the SLA, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Hunger striker admitted to hospital

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 February 2000, 18:11 GMT]
Upali Somapala (30), one of the 15 POWs who are on a hunger strike since 10 February, was admitted to Puthukudiyiruppu hospital today, said the Voice of Tigers VoT) radio in its night news broadcast.
Full story >>

CTTU to strike

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 February 2000, 15:56 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU) has decided to stage a one day token strike in support of its several demands. These demands include the withdrawal of the proposed travel pass system in Batticaloa and Ampara districts and the existing pass system for Vanni region and the withdrawal of Tamil medium text books which contain distortion of facts, grammatical and spelling mistakes.
Full story >>

Volunteer teachers protest

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 February 2000, 15:53 GMT]
Over one thousand volunteer teachers protested this morning outside the Educational Department office in Batticaloa, demanding their employment be made permanent.
Full story >>

Search operation in Paandiruppu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 February 2000, 11:19 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) elite troops conducted a cordon and search operation in Paandiruppu, a village, 40 km. south of Batticaloa from the early hours of the morning today.
Full story >>

Relatives meet fasting POWs

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 February 2000, 19:00 GMT]
The relatives of the POWs on a hunger strike reached Puthukudiyiruppu around 7.45 pm this evening, said sources.
Full story >>

Court orders police to arrest Chemmani accused

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 February 2000, 14:37 GMT]
The Jaffna Magistrate Mr. M. Ilancheliyan today ordered the Police to arrest and produce on March 14 police and army personnel wanted in connection with the alleged disappearance of persons.
Full story >>

Attack near Mutur Central College

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 February 2000, 13:36 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers announced today that 3 military trained policemen were killed when they attacked a sentry post near the Central college in Mutur, south of Trincomalee, around 8.00 a.m. this morning.
Full story >>

Interim injunction against Suresh Premachandran

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 February 2000, 13:34 GMT]
Colombo District Court today handed down an interim injunction preventing Suresh Premachandran from functioning as Secretary General of the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) until a verdict is issued.
Full story >>

Twenty arrests following grenade attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 February 2000, 11:30 GMT]
Twenty young men and women were arrested in Mannar following an attack on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at Railway Station road around 8.45 a.m. this morning said sources.
Full story >>

Relatives of POWs on their way

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 February 2000, 11:28 GMT]
Twenty-eight relatives of the POWs left for Puthukudiyiruppu in the Mullaithivu district, from Anuradhapura this morning around 8.30 a.m. The visit was arranged on the invitation of the Liberation Tigers and with the permission of the Ministry of Defence.
Full story >>

SLA amnesty yields 164 deserters for duty

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 February 2000, 21:31 GMT]
One-hundred sixty-four deserters reported back for duty today, accepting an amnesty offered by the Sri Lanka Army, the Operational Head Quarters of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement.
Full story >>

Missing fishermen remain unaccounted

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 February 2000, 21:30 GMT]
The fate of five fishermen reported 'missing' after their boats were attacked by the Sri Lanka Navy, off the coast of Silavathurai, remains unknown, their relatives said.
Full story >>

Youth shot dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 February 2000, 21:26 GMT]
A youth was shot dead and another arrested during a search operation by the Sri Lanka Army in Puliyankandalady in Vaakarai, about 64 km. north of Batticaloa, around 7.30 a.m. today, said sources.
Full story >>

Public seek answers from Chemmani evidence

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 February 2000, 21:22 GMT]
Evidence in the Chemmani mass graves case were displayed at the Jaffna Central College today for identification. The evidence was desplayed from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Nearly 200 people came to find if any of unearthed objects belonged to relatives who have been reported 'missing'.
Full story >>

Thangathurai murder accused transferred

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 February 2000, 21:20 GMT]
The Eastern High Court at its Trincomalee session today ruled that four of the seven accused in the murder of former TULF MP Thangathurai be transferred to Trincomalee prison from custody at Kalutara for their personal safety.
Full story >>

Opposition leader declines President's invitation

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 February 2000, 14:56 GMT]
Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe, Leader of the United National Party has declined to participate at tomorrow's discussions with President Chandrika Kumaratunge, on the proposed constitutional reforms. He has informed President Chandrika today by a letter that the best possible course of action open to her is to immediately present in Parliament the proposals tabled in October 1997.
Full story >>

Relatives to visit Vanni POWs

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 February 2000, 09:57 GMT]
Twenty five relatives of the Sri Lankan servicemen held prisoner by the LTTE in Puthukudiyiruppu, Mullaithivu district, are to be escorted this afternoon to the Vanni, Harsha Gunawardene, the Information Officer for the ICRC in Colombo said today.
Full story >>

Trinco-KKS passenger service to begin

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 February 2000, 19:55 GMT]
A conference to finalize the inauguration of a passenger ship service between Trincomalee and Kankesanthurai (KKS) is to be held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on February 23rd, Wednesday, sources said.
Full story >>

4 Muslim fishermen missing

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 February 2000, 19:24 GMT]
Four Muslim fishermen, a father and three sons, who went fishing on February 17 evening in two boats from Kuchchaveli, about 35 km. north of Trincomalee, are reported to be missing.
Full story >>

Relatives to identify Chemmani skeletons

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 February 2000, 17:08 GMT]
Fifteen of the 17 human skeletons exhumed from Chemmani graves in Jaffna will be kept for identification by the relatives of the missing. More than 600 persons were reported missing during 1996 and 1997 after the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) troops took control of Jaffna.
Full story >>

President, Opposition meet next week

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 February 2000, 16:47 GMT]
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge has invited the leader of the Opposition, Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe for discussions on constitutional reforms scheduled to be presented to the Parliament by her government.
Full story >>

Sea-Tigers shell Thaalaiyadi camp

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 February 2000, 16:03 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers fired mortar shells on Thaalaiyadi Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, in Vadamaradchi East, Jaffna peninsula around 5.30 a.m today. Tigers are reported to have shelled the camp from one their boats, sources said.
Full story >>

SLA retaliatory fire injures three

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 February 2000, 23:50 GMT]
Three civilians were injured in retaliatory fire by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers after unidentified men had opened fire at an army patrol in Siththandy, about 25 km. north of Batticaloa, around 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, sources said.
Full story >>

Grenade attacks in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 February 2000, 15:51 GMT]
A grenade was thrown at the Irupalai police station, about 5 km. north-east of Jaffna town around 4.30 p.m. this evening. A youth was injured when the police opened fire, sources said.
Full story >>

Parents, relatives to visit POWs

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 February 2000, 15:33 GMT]
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is making arrangements for the parents and relatives to visit the 15 POWs, held by the Liberation Tigers, Harsha Gunawardene, the spokesman for the organisation in Colombo said.
Full story >>

Cordon and search operation in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 February 2000, 15:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police rounded up residents of Vairavapuliyankulam area in Vavuniya from early morning till noon today, and conducted a search operation, sources said.
Full story >>

Navy shells village, 5 missing

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 February 2000, 18:46 GMT]
Several boats, fishing gear, and huts were damaged when Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) boats shelled the coastal village of Silavathurai, south of Mannar yesterday morning said sources. Five fishermen have been reported missing following the naval attack.
Full story >>

Families of POWs allowed to visit

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 February 2000, 18:38 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Defence Secretary has informed the International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC) that parents and relatives will be allowed to visit the 15 POWs held by the Liberation Tigers.
Full story >>

"Missing" youth held by army

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 February 2000, 18:28 GMT]
A youth who was abducted from his house by unidentified gunmen on January 29 is reported as being held at the Kankesanthurai detention centre in Jaffna said human rights sources there.
Full story >>

Sinhala extremists condemn Norwegian involvement

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 February 2000, 12:52 GMT]
Sinhala extremists issued a statement today condemning the Norwegian government for attempting to interfere in an internal matter. The fifteen movements, including five Bikku associations, which signed the statement, also protested the 'aspersions' cast upon the Sinhala organisations by Norwegian officials in Colombo.
Full story >>

SLAF Helicopter shot down in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 February 2000, 07:36 GMT]
Liberation Tigers shot down a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Helicopter gunship in Usan in the Thenmaradchi Division on the Jaffna the peninsula around 8.25 p.m. yesterday.
Full story >>

Press release on Norwegian visit

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 February 2000, 23:54 GMT]
The foreign ministries of both Sri Lanka and Norway released statements about Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek's visit to Sri Lanka yesterday. Mr Vollebaek met Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lankan opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinge and President Chandrika Kumaratunga during his one day visit.
Full story >>

SLA soldier killed in grenade attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 February 2000, 18:31 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed and another wounded in a grenade attack at Maylankadhu in Erlalai in the Jaffna peninsula, around 6.30 p.m. this evening sources said.
Full story >>

Condition of 7 hunger strikers bad -VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 February 2000, 17:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said in its night news broadcast that the health condition of 3 more hunger strikers have deteriorated. Seven out of the 15 hunger strikers health condition is bad according to the radio.
Full story >>

FDLs breached at Elephant pass

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 February 2000, 17:55 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said today that a 700 meter length of the forward defence lines (FDLs)of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was destroyed in an attack launched yesterday at 4 a.m. at Umayalpuram area south of Elephant pass.
Full story >>

Two Razeek Group cadres killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 February 2000, 11:06 GMT]
A Razeek Group cadre (an auxiliary force of the Sri Lanka Army) was killed in a grenade attack at Sunkaankerny, about 30 km. north of Batticaloa, around 5.15 p.m. yesterday evening.
Full story >>

Prisoner transfer to Kalutura

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 February 2000, 11:04 GMT]
Twenty Tamil political prisoners held at the Batticaloa prison were transferred to the Kalutura Prison, south of Colombo, today, on orders by the Ministry of Defence.
Full story >>

Soldiers on public transport pose danger

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 February 2000, 11:02 GMT]
The Citizen's Committee in Mannar has brought to the attention of the representatives of the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) the problems faced by civilians when the government troops travel in public transport services. The Citizen's Committee blames the troops for using the civilians as shields and told the ICRC that civilians will get affected when the troops came under attack.
Full story >>

Vollebaek meets Wickremasinghe

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 February 2000, 16:11 GMT]
The Sri Lankan opposition leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe told the visiting Norwegian Foreign Minster Mr. Knut Vollebaek that a solution to the ethnic conflict in the island has to be found through a reasonable political system, UNP sources said.
Full story >>

Community centre destroyed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 February 2000, 11:20 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army soldiers demolished a community centre in Kachchai, Chavakachcheri in the Thenmaradchi Division on the Jaffna peninsula last week, said sources.
Full story >>

Family of hunger strikers allowed to visit

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 February 2000, 09:37 GMT]
Parents and relatives of the 15 POWs who are on a hunger strike will be allowed to visit them. The Tigers have also granted permission for journalists and politicians, who are interested in securing the release of the POWs to visit and to hold discussions, according to the Voice of Tigers radio.
Full story >>

Norwegian Foreign Minister arrives in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 February 2000, 07:28 GMT]
The Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek who arrived in Colombo today had a two-hour long discussion with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Lakshman Kadirgamar this morning.
Full story >>

Heavy fighting erupts in Elephant Pass

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 February 2000, 06:46 GMT]
Fighting has erupted between the Liberation Tigers and Sri Lanka Army soldiers in the Elephant Pass region, in the north of the island, from the early hours of the morning today, army sources said.
Full story >>

Youth shot dead

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 February 2000, 21:36 GMT]
A Muslim youth was shot dead by the Police at Kokutheivu in Kinniya division, 12 km. northwest of Trincomalee around 8.30 a.m.yesterday morning.
Full story >>

Five arrested in Vadamaradchi East

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 February 2000, 21:33 GMT]
Five young men were arrested during a search operation by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers in the villages of Manal Kadhu and Kudathanai in Vadamaradchi East on the Jaffna peninsula today.
Full story >>

ICRC monitoring hunger strike POWs

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 February 2000, 15:43 GMT]
Delegates from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are monitoring the health situation of the 15 POWs in the custody of the Liberation Tigers who have begun a hunger strike, Harsha Gunawardene, the spokesman for the organisation in Colombo, said today.
Full story >>

Tigers attack convoy, 13 killed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 February 2000, 13:24 GMT]
Thirteen policemen were killed and 15 others wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked a military convoy at Miyaan Kulam, 15 km. north-east of Valaichenai on the Batticaloa-Colombo road around 4.45 p.m. this evening.
Full story >>

TULF will oppose budget -Pararajasingham

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 February 2000, 12:46 GMT]
"The millennium budget of the PA government is a war budget. The TULF will therefore oppose it when it comes up for vote in Parliament," said TULF MP for Batticaloa Joseph Pararajasingham.
Full story >>

SLMC favours north-east merger

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 February 2000, 11:54 GMT]
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) will favour a merger of the north-east provinces if the Liberation Tigers put this as a condition during a negotiation with the Government, a senior member of the party said.
Full story >>

MoD announces amnesty for deserters

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 February 2000, 11:33 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced today that a general amnesty has been granted to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) deserters following pleas by the parents of the absconding soldiers to the SLA commander.
Full story >>

Sri Lanka's 2000 budget details

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 February 2000, 18:51 GMT]
Sri Lankan Government has increased its defence expenditure in this year's budget by 11.5 percent, to 52.43 billion Rupees, while about 10 billion rupees have been cut from total expenditure.
Full story >>

ICRC visits POWs on hunger strike

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 February 2000, 18:48 GMT]
Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Mallavi in the Vanni, visited the 15 government troops in the custody of the Liberation Tigers who have begun a hunger strike, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said today.
Full story >>

UNP General Secretary questioned

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 February 2000, 11:32 GMT]
The General Secretary of the United National Party, Mr.Gamini Atukorale was questioned at the Head Quarters of the Criminal Investigation Department for five hours today.
Full story >>

President presents budget

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 February 2000, 11:30 GMT]
Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga began presenting budget for the current year around 3 p.m. today. This is the first time a President has presented the budget in the house, observers said.
Full story >>

Intelligence officer killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 February 2000, 11:28 GMT]
Suspected members of the Liberation Tigers shot and killed an officer of the Sri Lanka Army's Intelligent Unit in Mutur town, in the Trincomalee District, late last night said sources. The dead officer was identified as Saleem.
Full story >>

Firing at random injures civilians

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 February 2000, 09:18 GMT]
Three civilians were injured when the police fired at random at Saagamam road, Akkaraipattu in the Ampara District, around 7 p.m. last evening. The policemen were retaliating to a grenade attack on them by unidentified youth said sources.
Full story >>

15 LTTE held POWs on hunger strike

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 February 2000, 17:43 GMT]
Fifteen government troops in the custody of the Liberation Tigers have begun a hunger strike urging the Sri Lankan Government to secure their release, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said this evening.
Full story >>

Norwegian Foreign Minister meets Anton Balasingham in London

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 February 2000, 10:44 GMT]
Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Knut Vollebaek met Mr. Anton Balasingham, the political advisor and theoretician of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in London yesterday and held talks on the possibility of Norway assisting peace talks between Sri Lanka government and the Tamil Tigers. The talks lasted for nearly two hours, the LTTE sources in London revealed.
Full story >>

STF member killed in claymore blast

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 February 2000, 21:16 GMT]
A member of the Special Task Force(STF) was killed in a claymore mine blast in Periya Kallar 35 km south of Batticaloa town at noon today. Another STF member was seriously injured and was admitted to Amparai hospital, police sources said.
Full story >>

Ministerial posts for rebel MPs?

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 February 2000, 15:42 GMT]
Peoples Alliance (PA) government is considering expanding the existing 30-member cabinet by creating two additional ministerial posts, political sources in Colombo said.
Full story >>

New political party formed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 February 2000, 14:49 GMT]
The former General Secretary of United Natinal Party(UNP), Mr.Sirisena Cooray, has formed a new political party 'The Citizens Front.' The new party will be registered at the Election Comissioner's office next week, Mr.Cooray said.
Full story >>

Norwegian Foreign Minister to visit Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 February 2000, 16:17 GMT]
Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek is set to visit Sri Lanka on February 16. He will arrive in the capital Colombo early on the 16th morning and leave late the same night, Ingvard Havnen, spokesman for the Norwegian Foreign Ministry told TamilNet.
Full story >>

NGOs to ADB: Don't invest until war is resolved

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 February 2000, 14:47 GMT]
Representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Trincomalee district today brought to the notice of the visiting team of experts of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that unless the devastating war is brought to an end, all development projects initiated with foreign funding agencies would go waste.
Full story >>

CTTU urges withdrawal of Tamil text book

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 February 2000, 04:55 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union(CTTU) Thursday requested the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to withdraw immediately a Grade-7 Tamil medium textbook -Social Studies and History- that was replete with language errors and distorted facts.
Full story >>

Details of talk between PA and Tamil parties

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 February 2000, 16:26 GMT]
The Government has agreed to vest all state lands to regional councils in the respective regions including forest reserves and excluding tea, rubber, coconut and teak plantations, research farms and national parks, according to Tamil party sources.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 February 2000, 16:25 GMT]
Arrested students released, Sailor dies in accident, Two missing; two arrested, Cargo ship to ferry until further notice.
Full story >>

Opposition demands devolution draft

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 February 2000, 10:40 GMT]
The Leader of the Opposition and United National Party Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe has asked the President to table the draft constitutional reforms already made public three years ago, in Parliament immediately. "We are amazed that instead of finalizing and tabling the draft constitutional reforms made public in October 1997 in Parliament, your government is now engaged in an exercise preparing new draft" said Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe in a letter sent to the President today.
Full story >>

Fifteen arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 February 2000, 08:22 GMT]
More than fifteen Tamils were arrested by the Sri Lankan police during a search operation in Pettah and Armour Street areas in Colombo yesterday night. They are being questioned at the Pettah police station.
Full story >>

Search operation in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 February 2000, 08:13 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) elite troops and police conducted a combined cordon and search operation in Manlasenai near Kalmunai town, about 25 km. north-east of Ampara from 4 a.m. this morning.
Full story >>

Emergency Regulations extended

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 February 2000, 17:28 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Parliament extended today the Emergency Regulations for one further month. One hundred and nine parliamentarians voted for the motion on extension of the emergency regulations while 84 voted against it.
Full story >>

Issadeen new UNP MP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 February 2000, 14:12 GMT]
The former Opposition Leader of the dissolved North East Provincial Council Mr.M.H.Segu Issadeen was sworn in as a new Member of Parliament in the National List of the United National Party today.
Full story >>

Youth arrested

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 February 2000, 14:09 GMT]
A youth was arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers during a search operation in the villages of Kudarappu and Maamunai in Vadamaradchi East on the Jaffna peninsula today.
Full story >>

Claymore blast kills 3 in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 February 2000, 07:10 GMT]
Three Police personnel were killed and 7 others were injured in a claymore mine attack at Nallur, about 4 km. northeast of Jaffna town, around 9 a.m. this morning sources said.
Full story >>

President, opposition to meet later this month

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 February 2000, 22:00 GMT]
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge is likely to meet Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the United National Party, during the third week of February, political sources said today.
Full story >>

PA and Tamil parties meet on new constitution

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 February 2000, 21:57 GMT]
Representatives of Tamil political parties represented in the Parliament would meet the government leaders on February 10 and 15 to sort out the question of merging northern and eastern provinces without a referendum being held, sources said.
Full story >>

North east doctors strike postponed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 February 2000, 18:26 GMT]
The one day token strike by the members of the combined north east branch of the Government Medical Officers Association scheduled for tomorrow has been put off to February 23.The combined north east branch of the GMOA decided to stage a one day token strike on Wednesday demanding that the medical officers who are permanent residents of the province also should be paid the risk incentive allowance.
Full story >>

Three killed, 43 wounded in bomb blasts

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 February 2000, 17:59 GMT]
Three people were killed and 43 others wounded when 2 bombs exploded in busses in Colombo this evening, police sources said.
Full story >>

PTA suspect claims torture

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 February 2000, 16:37 GMT]
Ratnam Sivakumar of Neerveli south in Jaffna district was severely tortured when he was detained at Urelu Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, disclosed Attorney-at-Law K. Kesavan before the Jaffna District Judge.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 February 2000, 16:36 GMT]
SLA sergeant killed in Trincomalee, Search in Vadamarachi east, Youths escape from EPDP office.
Full story >>

Talks about passenger service between Trincomalee and Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 February 2000, 12:32 GMT]
The International Committee of Red Cross is having talks with the Defense Ministry, Sri Lanka Navy, the Liberation Tigers and the shipping firm concerned in connection with providing escort to the proposed passenger line service between Trincomalee and Jaffna, the spokesman for the organisation, Harsha Gunawardene said at a press conference held on Monday evening at the Batticaloa ICRC office.
Full story >>

Claymore blast kills 3

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 February 2000, 08:23 GMT]
Three soldiers were killed and 11 wounded when a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) truck from Mannar to Medawachchiya was hit by a claymore mine blast this morning around 11.30 a.m.
Full story >>

Sarath case Hearing continues

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 February 2000, 04:55 GMT]
President's Counsel Ranjith Abeysuriya told the Supreme Court yesterday that the exercise of power by the Chief Justice to constitute a Court to hear the case against him was unreasonable. Mr. Abeysuriya was supporting the application that challenges the appointment of Mr. Sarath Silva as Chief Justice.
Full story >>

North-east medical officers to strike

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 February 2000, 13:03 GMT]
The North-east branch of the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) announced today that its members would stage a one day token strike on Wednesday, 9 February, condemning the discrimination in the payment of incentive allowance.
Full story >>

Four soldiers wounded in Mannar clashes

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 February 2000, 12:22 GMT]
Four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were wounded in yesterday's confrontations with the Liberation Tigers in the Mannar District, army sources said.
Full story >>

Thirty-five wounded in bus bomb

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 February 2000, 07:05 GMT]
Thirty-five people were injured, many of them seriously, when a bomb exploded in a bus bound for Monaragala from Bible, close to Pinnapura junction around 8.10 a.m., police and hospital sources said.
Full story >>

Jaffna fishermen protest

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 February 2000, 07:03 GMT]
More than 7000 fishermen today staged a protest march demanding that the ban on fishing in the Jaffna lagoon be lifted. The fishermen began their march from Jaffna St James Church towards the District Secretariat to hand over a memorandum to be sent to the President of the country.
Full story >>

Court action awaits Pass system

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 February 2000, 17:41 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front's (TULF) central committee decided today to file fundamental rights case if the Government enforces the controversial pass system for the Batticaloa District, sources said. The meeting was presided by TULF's Vice President Mr.V.Anandasangari.
Full story >>

Three UNP members arrested under PTA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 February 2000, 17:02 GMT]
Three prominent members of the main United National Party (UNP) in the Batticaloa District were arrested by officials from the Criminal Investigation Department(CID) yesterday, sources in Batticaloa said.
Full story >>

Dissident UNP MPs appeal to party

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 February 2000, 12:00 GMT]
The dissident UNP Members of Parliament have requested UNP that henceforth no member of the Party be the subject of any disciplinary action, whether by way of suspension, expulsion or otherwise except after compliance with the principles of natural justice including the holding of a fair inquiry.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 February 2000, 11:56 GMT]
Fishermen in Nallur scared to go to market, No electricity in Muttur, Two youths arrested in Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Clashes in Mannar

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 February 2000, 06:46 GMT]
Fighting was reported between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the north-western Mannar District this morning. The Tigers and the SLA exchanged mortars fire, sources said.
Full story >>

Missing youth not arrested: SLA

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 February 2000, 19:49 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has informed the Government's Anti Harassment Committee that they had not arrested Vinasithamby (Vinayakamoorthy) Vijeyarajah, 22,who has been reported 'missing' since January 3. Relatives say the youth was arrested by the SLA soldiers from the Harbour View camp.
Full story >>

No Tamil selected for Administrative Services: Pararajasingham

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 February 2000, 19:46 GMT]
None of the Tamil Language candidates who sat for the Limited Competitive Examination for the Sri Lanka Administrative Service held in July, 1999 were successful, according to a letter sent to the Sri Lankan President by the TULF Parliamentary Group Leader Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham.
Full story >>

EPDP arrested for selling grenades

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 February 2000, 13:01 GMT]
A member of Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), and a home guard who were trying to sell 3 hand grenades to two displaced youths in Poonthoddam welfare centre were arrested by the Sri Lanka Army on Thursday. Poonthoddam welfare centre is about 3 km. east of Vavuniya town.
Full story >>

Decomposed body found in Trincomalee harbour

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 February 2000, 12:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) today claimed that the decomposed body of a person found floating in the Trincomalee harbor, close to the jetty of Chinabay Prima Milling Complex, was of a member of the Liberation Tigers, sources said.
Full story >>

Clashes at Iyakkachchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 February 2000, 12:57 GMT]
Fighting was reported between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lanka Army at Kurinjathivu near Iyakkachchi, north of Elephant Pass said sources.
Full story >>

Bomb hoax delays international flights

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 February 2000, 17:29 GMT]
Several flights from the Colombo's International Air Port were delayed today after authorities received an anonymous call warning of a bomb planted on a London bound Air Lanka flight, UL 503.
Full story >>

Eastern paddy fields flooded

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 February 2000, 17:29 GMT]
Heavy rains lashing the eastern Batticaloa District for the past few days have affected 16,214 families, according to the Government Agent in Batticaloa, S.Pathmanathan.
Full story >>

Poor turnout at Batticaloa independence day celebrations

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 February 2000, 12:22 GMT]
Twenty-two people including a Government Agent, eight officials, seven employees, religious dignitaries representing all faiths and two journalists attended the 52nd Independence Day celebrations held at the Dutch Fort at Batticaloa this morning.
Full story >>

President urges 'political solution'

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 February 2000, 12:17 GMT]
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge today appealed to the leaders of all political parties and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to join the government in its efforts to stop the war and find a political solution to the ethnic problem.
Full story >>

Controversial pass system suspended

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 February 2000, 11:33 GMT]
A proposed travel pass system will not come into effect as scheduled from February 15 in the Batticaloa district, according to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eastern Range.
Full story >>

UNP, Police implicated in election offences

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 February 2000, 11:13 GMT]
The Batticaloa Additional District Judge issued on Thursday notices on 17 people, including high ranking police officials and UNP politicians, charged by the State for electoral offences committed during the local government elections held in 1994 at Eravur and Kattankudy Pradeshiya Sabha polls.
Full story >>

Third bus bomb explodes in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 February 2000, 18:36 GMT]
Ten more people were injured when a bomb exploded in a bus at Kadawatte 15 km. away from Colombo at around 8.30 p.m. this evening, the police said. This is the third bus bomb to explode today.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 February 2000, 18:33 GMT]
Search operation in Mannar, SLFP's independence day 'Pooja' in Jaffna, Claymore recovered in Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Bus bomb wounds 20

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 February 2000, 15:05 GMT]
At least 20 people were wounded when a bomb exploded in a bus in the Kurunegale District, about 70 km. north-east of Colombo, around 5.45 p.m. this evening police said.
Full story >>

Expulsion of dissident MPs "not valid in law" -supreme court

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 February 2000, 11:22 GMT]
Supreme Court today held that the expulsion of five Parliamentarians from the United National Party (UNP) was not valid in law as the rules of natural justice of affording them a fair hearing was not made available to them.
Full story >>

Two arrested, three 'missing' in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 February 2000, 09:52 GMT]
Two young men have been arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna, while three others have been reported missing, according to complaints made by their relatives at the Human Rights Commission in the northern town.
Full story >>

Three wounded in bomb blast

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 February 2000, 06:50 GMT]
Three persons were wounded when a bomb exploded in a Batticaloa bound bus at Urugodawatte depot at Baseline Road in Colombo city around 8.30 a.m. this morning, Police said.
Full story >>

Damages for tortured youth

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 February 2000, 21:27 GMT]
The High Court in Colombo ordered today the state to pay fifty thousand rupees in compensation to a youth who has been tortured in police custody. The youth, Thambirasa Arudchelvam, 22, who was arrested on May 19, 1999 is currently held as a detainee at the Kalutara Prison.
Full story >>

150 Tamils arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 February 2000, 15:31 GMT]
At least 150 Tamils were arrested during a search operation in the Welikade and Nawale areas of Colombo today, police sources said.
Full story >>

Clashes in Vadamardchi seas

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 February 2000, 15:30 GMT]
Fighting was reported between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) off the coast of Vadamaradchi East, in the north of the island last night, residents said.
Full story >>

Detained students released

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 February 2000, 12:42 GMT]
Two students, Priya and Vinoth, and their mother Sriskandarajah Valarmathi were released by the Jaffna Police around 2.30 p.m. this afternoon, security sources said.
Full story >>

Fighting on Jaffna lagoon coast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 February 2000, 11:37 GMT]
Fighting erupted between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lanka army (SLA) in several parts of the Jaffna lagoon’s coast in the early hours of the morning around three a.m. today. Confrontations between the Tigers and the SLA were reported in Thanagkilappu, Arukuveli and Kerathivu, south east of Jaffna town on the lagoon coast.
Full story >>

Report implicates SLA soldiers further

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 February 2000, 20:23 GMT]
The bullet found in the body of Ida Carmalita, the young girl who was raped and killed last year in Pallimunai, was from a weapon in the possession of soldiers on duty from the Sri Lanka army camp in the village according to the government analystÌs report submitted to the Mannar district court today.
Full story >>

University students to join student boycott

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 February 2000, 17:18 GMT]
Jaffna University Students' Union has announced that its members would boycott classes from Thursday if the authorities failed to release the two students arrested on January 25 by the Police when they were in their respective schools.
Full story >>

Appeal for peace in South Asia

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 February 2000, 17:14 GMT]
In a joint statement issued by the participants for the South Asian countries who attended the Neelan Tiruchelvam Commemoration Program in Colombo have made an urgent appeal to the leaders of India and Pakistan to take decisive measures to defuse the tensions before it is too late and to revive the Lahore process so that both Indian and Pakistan along with other South Asian neighbours march together building a vibrant and prosperous south Asian community.
Full story >>

Perumal in Court contesting expulsion

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 February 2000, 16:12 GMT]
The expulsion of former Chief Minister of North East Provincial Councils, Varatharaja Perumal from the EPRLF was restrained yesterday by an enjoining order by Colombo District Court.
Full story >>

Government information release ban

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 February 2000, 15:05 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Cabinet re-imposed a ban on public officers releasing information to the media. The ban is effective from today.
Full story >>

CTTU to support Vasavillan students boycott

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 February 2000, 00:11 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU) has issued a statement stating that its members would be forced to boycott schools along with students if the SLA failed to release the two pupils arrested and detained by them in Jaffna district.
Full story >>