Jaffna fishing co-ops to boycott Colombo workshop

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 March 2003, 17:00 GMT]
Representatives of Jaffna district fisheries co-operative federations Monday decided to boycott the national workshop on development of Jaffna district scheduled to be held in a five star hotel in Colombo, sources said.
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Military complex in heart of Jaffna unacceptable - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 March 2003, 16:28 GMT]
"We are totally opposed to the re-occupation of lands in the Jaffna Municipal area and the setting up of a large military complex in the heart of the city," said Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political head, S.P.Thamilchelvan, in a letter to Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) Minister of Defense Tilak Marapone today, sources in Vanni said.
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HSZs, scant funds slow resettlement in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 March 2003, 15:09 GMT]
The flow of refugees returning from the Vanni to resettle in Jaffna has slowed down because the fate of their villages and towns occupied by the Sri Lanka army (SLA) inside High Security Zones in the northern peninsula still remains uncertain, a senior government official said Monday.
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LTTE political team begins Nordic tour

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 March 2003, 21:37 GMT]
A delegation of the political affairs committee of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) consisting of twenty one members left Killinochchi earlier today to begin its visit to the Nordic countries to study aspects of federalism, constitutional frameworks and administrative structures employed in those countries, the LTTE peace secretariat website said.
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SLA garrison work on track amid Tamil concerns

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 March 2003, 18:39 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) began preparations for building a garrison on the southern sector of the Jaffna town this weekend amid growing concerns in the Tamil press and political circles about its implications for the northern peninsula.
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Chariot festival in Koneswaram temple after AD 1624

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 March 2003, 15:22 GMT]
For the first time after the destruction by Portuguese invaders in 1624 “ Ther” (chariot ) festival is to be held in the historic Koneswaram temple in Trincomalee on April 3rd Thursday. The newly constructed “Ther” was taken around the temple on a trial-run successfully Sunday morning amid thousands of devotees chanting prayers.
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'LTTE strength vital for success of peace talks'-Sampanthan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 March 2003, 14:19 GMT]
Tamils should strengthen the hands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to find a meaningful political resolution to the Tamil national question through the present peace talks, said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group leader Mr.R.Sampanthan addressing a heavily attended musical event at Sampoor in the LTTE held Muttur east in the Trincomalee district Saturday night organized by the Trincomalee political division of the LTTE, sources said.
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Conference demonstrates Women's strength behind freedom struggle - Karuna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 March 2003, 05:11 GMT]
"National conference on Tamil Eelam Women's development is an appropriate event to awaken Tamil women at this juncture when there is a climate of peace with the cessation of hostilities. The event demonstrates to the International Community the forces behind our military struggle," said Colonel Karuna, Senior commander of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, speaking as a chief guest third day of the conference organized with the support of the Organization for the upliftment of women in Batticaloa.
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Second day events of Women's Conference

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 March 2003, 19:34 GMT]
Batticaloa-Amparai Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) women's wing political head, Bhanuka, presided the second day events of the National conference on Tamil Eelam Women’s development, organized with the support of the Organization for the upliftment of women in Batticaloa-Ampara, Friday at the Kallady Vipulanantha School for music and dance in Batticaloa.
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Mannar HSZs discussed as re-settler loses arm

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 March 2003, 19:12 GMT]
The Bishop of Mannar said Saturday that High Security Zones (HSZs) are necessary only during war and that displaced people should return to their homes as there is peace now. The armed forces should understand this and leave the HSZs at least in stages, Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph said, speaking at a seminar in Mannar Saturday.
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Bullock cart 'buses' Mullaitivu school children

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 March 2003, 16:09 GMT]
Students in Meelivanam village located 5km from the Karipattamurippu Government mixed school in Mullaitivu district will use an improvised bullock drawn carriage as transportation to and from their school, sources in Mullaitivu said.
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Opening of Pooneryn causeway urged

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 March 2003, 13:28 GMT]
“The Sri Lankan government should take steps to re-open the Kerathivu- Sangupiddy causeway to ease the burden of the civilians living in western parts of Vanni region," said that the President of the Kilinochchi branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRC), Mr. P. Karthigesu, speaking to Tamilnet about recent moves to further improve transport facilities between Jaffna and the mainland.
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Vakaneri fields cleared for paddy cultivation

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 March 2003, 13:21 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Saturday 29 March, permitted paddy cultivation in more than 90% of arable land owned by Muslim farmers in the Vakaneri irrigation scheme located in Kalkuda, 34 km northwest of Batticaloa district, LTTE sources in Batticaloa said.
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SLA soldier injured in shooting incident

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 March 2003, 01:08 GMT]
A soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was admitted to the Palaly military hospital Friday morning with grievous gunshot wounds obtained in a shooting incident allegedly by another soldier, security sources said.
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SLA warns public from entering Council lands

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 March 2003, 01:02 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has put up a notice board Thursday warning the civilians not to enter the Jaffna municipal lands which have been earmarked for establishing new army camps. "This is a government-military property. Any unauthorized intruders will be dealt with minimum force," said the notice board erected near the MC lands, sources in Jaffna said.
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‘Normalcy in NE only when displaced are resettled’ - Sampanthan

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 March 2003, 17:14 GMT]
Normalcy will return to the North East province only after thousands of displaced people now languishing in refugee camps and welfare centers are resettled in their own lands, said Mr.R. Sampanthan, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)parliamentary group leader, at a function to open the office of the Socio Economic Development Committee (SEDC) in Thiriyai, a traditional Tamil village forty-two kilometers north of Trincomalee, sources said.
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Tamil Eelam national conference on women’s development held

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 March 2003, 15:47 GMT]
A national conference on Tamil Eelam Women’s development, organized with the support of the organization for the upliftment of women in Batticaloa-Ampara, started at 9:00 am on Thursday at the Kallady Vipulanantha School for music and dance in Batticaloa.
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Col. Karuna returns to Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 March 2003, 15:45 GMT]
The LTTE’s special commander for the Eastern Region, Col. Karuna, returned to Batticaloa Friday from Japan, where he participated in the sixth round of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, sources said.
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TRO, UNICEF work to build management capacity in Northeast

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 March 2003, 11:55 GMT]
An intensive 40 day course, organized by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in partnership with UNICEF, on building the management capacity of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working throughout the Northeastern Province, commenced earlier this week at Puthukuddyrippu, sources in Vanni said.
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New camps will damage peace process - JDCHA

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 March 2003, 02:38 GMT]
The Jaffna District Consortium of Human Agencies (JDCHA) Thursday sought intervention of Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe to stop moves by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to establish new army camps in Jaffna Municipal grounds, said sources in Jaffna.
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TRO starts housing project for Thiriyai resettlers

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 March 2003, 01:55 GMT]
Trincomalee district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr.R.Sampanthan, at twelve noon Thursday, laid the first foundation stone for the first house for resettled families at Kaddukulam in Thiriyai village, forty-two km north of Trincomalee town. Trincomalee district office of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) is building five hundred houses as part of this housing project, sources said.
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Court orders arrest of key suspect in Nimalarajan murder

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 March 2003, 17:44 GMT]
The Jaffna Magistrate Mr.R.T.Viknarajah Thursday afternoon ordered the Police to arrest and produce a key suspect Napoleon in court in connection with the murder of journalist Mylvaganam Nimalarajan. Earlier the same day the Magistrate ordered the release of Napoleon when he was present in court in connection with the Naranthanai murder and assault case, legal sources said.
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LTTE, Muslim parley on key issue

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 March 2003, 17:42 GMT]
“Muslims enjoy the same rights as Tamils in areas under our control. There is no need for them to ask us for their fields because we did not take any. They could not cultivate their lands because of the war. Now they are free to come here and engage in agriculture”, said Mr. T. Ramesh, the LTTE’s special commander for the Batticaloa-Amparai District, speaking to the press Thursday afternoon at the conclusion of a meeting with a delegation of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.
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Sri Lanka Police quibble over spent ordnance

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 March 2003, 16:57 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police Thursday produced in the district court of Mannar a person arrested allegedly for transporting empty casings of artillery shells. Police told court that they had found six empty casings, each two feet long, in a lorry bringing scrap metal from the Vanni at the Uyilankulam entry point in Mannar. Legal sources in the Mannar courts, however, said expended ordnance was not illegal.
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Sinhala settlements in Batticaloa Tamil villages

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 March 2003, 16:22 GMT]
Tamil people from Mayilankarachchi and Thiyavaddavan, near Ottamavadi in the Batticaloa district, who lost their belongings and their lands in past riots between Muslims and Tamils, have complained of attempts to create Sinhalese settlements in their village, and the construction of a Buddhist temple (Vihare) while they were displaced.
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Muslim MPs meet Norwegian envoy

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 March 2003, 01:38 GMT]
A delegation of Muslim parliamentarians met Norwegian ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Jon Westborg, at the Norwegian embassy on Wednesday and requested that Muslims of the North-East be allowed to have separate representation in the peace talks currently being conducted between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources said.
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CAET appeals to PM in support of volunteer teachers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 March 2003, 01:34 GMT]
The Council for Advancement of Education of Tamils (CAET) which has its headquarters at Paravipanchan in Killinochchi Thursday appealed to the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe to take meaningful action to give permanent appointment to the volunteer teachers who are carrying out a protest supported by teachers from many districts of Northeast. .
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Killinochchi, Mullaitivu teachers join Trincomalee protest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 March 2003, 01:19 GMT]
Volunteer teachers from Killinochchi and Mullaitivu Wednesday joined their counter parts in the east in the sit-in-protest campaign now being held in front of the North East Provincial Ministry of Education for the twenty fourth day demanding that all the thousand volunteer teachers in the northeast be made permanent without delay and as promised by the government earlier, sources said.
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TRO launches housing scheme for Thiriyai resettlers

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 March 2003, 19:37 GMT]
The Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) is to lay foundation Thursday for a housing scheme in Thiriyai village, a traditional Tamil village, about forty-two km north of Trincomalee town. The proposed housing scheme is to facilitate refugees to return to their own land after about twenty years, sources said.
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SLRC provides assistance to Trinco displaced eye patients

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 March 2003, 19:28 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC) Wednesday launched a special project 'Sight Restoration and Vision Correction Programme-2003' with the financial assistance of the UNHCR to provide specialized treatment to the displaced people in Trincomalee district who suffer from eye diseases, sources said.
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Workers in Colombo walk out against privatisation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 March 2003, 19:23 GMT]
Hundreds of workers in state run banks and major public enterprises walked out of their offices in Colombo Wednesday to protest against plans by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Front government to privatise their institutions. The protesting workers also demanded better wages.
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Farmers’ protest brings civil admin to standstill in Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 March 2003, 13:38 GMT]
More than 1500 farmers in Mannar demanding fair prices for their rice harvest and the removal of Sri Lankan armed forces units which continue to occupy fields and buildings in the region blockaded the District Secretariat Wednesday and brought all government administration in the Northwestern island town to a standstill.
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Commonwealth Secretariat delegation visits Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 March 2003, 11:53 GMT]
A four-member delegation of the Commonwealth Secretariat (CS) is now on a visit to Sri Lanka from March 16 to March 29 for discussions with representatives of local, national and international level non-governmental organizations and government agencies to promote the peace process. The Commonwealth Secretariat has proposed a national consultation meeting on 'Women, Men and Young People in Partnership for Sustainable Peace' to be held in two parts in Trincomalee and Kandy in June 2003, sources said.
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CTTU to picket education offices in support of volunteer teachers

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 March 2003, 21:10 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU) Tuesday announced that its members would picket the offices of North East Provincial Department of Education and the Provincial Ministry of Education in Trincomalee from April 1st if the authorities concerned failed to grant permanent appointments to one thousand Tamil medium volunteer teachers according to the Cabinet approval by the then Peoples Alliance government and the present United National Front government on or before March 31st, sources said.
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'Tamil voters' fundamental rights violated' -- Supreme Court

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 March 2003, 20:15 GMT]
The Supreme Court Tuesday held that the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and the Commissioner of Elections had violated the fundamental rights of the voters in the LTTE held areas of the North-East province by preventing them from casting their votes at the last general elections held in December 2001, legal sources said.
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PM urged to stop SLA camp in Jaffna municipal land

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 March 2003, 19:37 GMT]
An urgent appeal has been made to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, Tuesday on behalf of the people of Jaffna that the Sri Lanka Army should not be allowed to relocate its Jaffna brigade headquarters in the municipal council land close to the Jaffna fort, sources said.
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SLA to establish camps in Council land in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 March 2003, 19:38 GMT]
The reconstruction project of the Jaffna Subramaniam Park is likely to be abandoned following the action taken by the Sri Lanka Army to shift its Jaffna brigade headquarters to the surrounding lands, which belong to the Jaffna Municipal Council, sources said.
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Soldier on leave arrested with explosives in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 March 2003, 19:32 GMT]
A soldier of the Sri Lanka Army was caught Saturday by air force personnel at the main Palaly military base in the Jaffna district when he was allegedly taking explosives to his home in the south, security sources said.
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Volunteer teachers extend their protest to Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 March 2003, 19:25 GMT]
The five zonal education offices in the Jaffna district did not function Monday following the sit-in-protest by volunteer teachers who demand that they should be made permanent as approved by the cabinet and the newly formed Public Services Commission of the central government, sources said.
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Economic development, TEEDOR's main focus - Ramesh

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 March 2003, 11:28 GMT]
Farmers and officials associated with agriculture should co-operate with the Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organization (TEEDOR) to build the economic sector of the Northeast which has been badly affected by war, said Ramesh, Batticaloa-Amparai Special commander of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), speaking as the chief guest in the Farmer' day event held at the Ampalanthurai Sports ground, Batticaloa, Sunday, sources said.
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Compulsory transfer for NE teachers to serve in difficult areas

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 March 2003, 14:26 GMT]
North East Provincial Ministry has instructed its twenty-four zonal directors of education to formulate a transfer scheme for teachers to serve in schools in difficult rural areas in the province for at least three years, sources said.
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Sinhala settlers occupy Uyanthapadu beach in Trinco

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 March 2003, 12:43 GMT]
An appeal has been made to the Hindu Affairs Ministry and Local Government Ministry of the United National Front (UNF) to take immediate steps to relocate Sinhala fishermen who settled illegally in the Uthayanpadu beach of the Back Bay sea in Trincomalee to their own homes in the outskirts of Trincomalee and to declare the beach a sacred area where Hindu temples in the east port town have been conducting their annual festivals and other religious rites for centuries, sources said.
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Northeast photographic exhibition opens in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 March 2003, 04:44 GMT]
A two-day photographic exhibition of the North East Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs was declared open Saturday by the Secretary of the Provincial Public Service Commission, Mr.P.Balasingham. More than five hundred photographs focusing on historic places, antiques, cultural identity and scenic beauty of the Tamil dominated province were part of the exhibit.
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Monks demonstrate demanding consultation with Maha Sangha

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 March 2003, 04:31 GMT]
"Constitutional reform of any form should be carried out in consultation with the Maha Sangha and should satisfy the aspirations of the Sinhala nation. The Sanga Sammelanaya will institute a National Constitutional Reform Commission to fulfill this task," said spokesperson for the Buddhist Monks who held a religious demonstration in Colombo Saturday afternoon.
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SLMM chief meets Trinco LTTE commander Pathuman

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 March 2003, 15:45 GMT]
The new head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Major General Triggve Teleffsen, Friday afternoon held discussions with the Trincomalee area commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Colonel Pathuman, and Trincomalee district political head, Mr.Tilak. The discussion centred regarding the movement of LTTE cadres in the Trincomalee district, sources said.
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Batticaloa, Jaffna residents pay respect to Sea Tigers killed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 March 2003, 13:22 GMT]
Several memorial events were conducted Friday in Batticaloa district and Jaffna peninsula to pay respect to the eleven Sea Tigers of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) killed on 10 March when their merchant vessel in international waters off the coast of Trincomalee was sunk by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) craft, sources said.
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Officers criticized on inactive youth resource centers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 March 2003, 05:07 GMT]
The regional youth resource centers constructed in twelve divisional secretariat regions in the Batticaloa district are not helping the youths in any meaningful way to meet the education and employment expectations of the youths, and the main reason for this is the negligence of senior youth service officers, Batticaloa residents have alleged.
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Anti-war protests in Colombo, North-East.

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 March 2003, 20:11 GMT]
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Colombo, after Friday's Jummah prayers, protesting the US-led war on Iraq. Government and opposition parliamentarians, including those from the Janata Vimukti Peramuna, took part in the protest, sources said.
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TRO organizes social mobilization training seminar

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 March 2003, 17:57 GMT]
A five-day social mobilization training seminar for volunteers engaged in resettlement and rehabilitation works of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in the Trincomalee district commenced Thursday at the Anpuvallipuram Agricultural Extension Office, sources said.
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US Demining group arrives in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 March 2003, 15:17 GMT]
A group from the US State Department’s Quick Reaction Demining Force (QRDF), headed by demining advisor Mr. Don Smith of the US, and consisting of twenty-two demining technicians from the Republic of Mozambique and four mine-sniffing dogs, arrived in Jaffna Thursday to continue demining in the Sarasalai area in Jaffna, sources said.
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Trinco pays homage to 11 LTTE cadres died in sea

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 March 2003, 13:26 GMT]
A day of mourning was observed Friday morning in Trincomalee for the deaths of eleven senior cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at a function organized at the LTTE town political office. Photographs of eleven LTTE cadres were kept in specially erected hall, sources said.
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Hakone talks focus on federalism, security concerns at sea

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 March 2003, 12:02 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) delegations in their sixth session of peace talks agreed to have their senior naval and political personnel meet to 'workout effective arrangements for the operation of naval units.' The parties also agreed to present a complete plan at the seventh session on the steps to be taken towards negotiating a federal solution for Sri Lanka.
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Sea Tigers deny involvement in trawler sinking

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 March 2003, 11:09 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers Friday denied accusations by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) that they were involved in the sinking of a Taiwanese trawler about 40km off the Mullaitivu coast. International monitors were investigating the incident in which seventeen Taiwanese sailors are said to have died. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said information was sketchy and investigations were continuing.
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Vehicle owners fear fuel shortage in Northeast

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 March 2003, 03:26 GMT]
With the onset of war in Iraq, gas stations in Sri Lanka including Northeast are struggling to meet the increased demand for petrol and kerosine from residents who fear imminent shortage of fuel. Long lines were seen throughout the day at several stations which had supply of fuel, sources said.
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Remand for Indian fishermen extended

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 March 2003, 00:05 GMT]
The Mannar district judge, Mr. M. A. Mohideen, ordered Thursday that the remand for twenty-six Indian fishermen, who were arrested by local fishermen and handed over to the police on March 5 for trespassing into Sri Lankan waters, be extended until April 3, sources said.
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Akashi hosts Tiger delegation to traditional meal

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 March 2003, 10:57 GMT]
Japan’s Special Peace Envoy to Sri Lanka, Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Thursday hosted a lunch for the Liberation Tigers’ delegation at the sixth round of direct talks between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government, officials said. Japanese diplomats and LTTE officials sat down to a traditional Japanese meal at a top restaurant in the hot spring resort of Hakone where the talks are being held.
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Annai Poopathi anniversary celebrated in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 March 2003, 04:03 GMT]
"Today represents a historic day in our freedom struggle. The fifteenth year anniversay of the day Annai (mother) Poopathi sacrificed her life waging non-violent struggle against the might of the Indian Army. She demonstrated that no force can suppress the determination of the Tamils to fight for their rights," said Batticaloa-Amparai special commander of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), T. Ramesh, addressing the anniversary celebrations held in Navalady, Batticaloa, sources said.
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Volunteer teachers threaten hunger strike

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 March 2003, 03:16 GMT]
The North East Province Volunteer Teachers' Consortium (NEPVTC) Wednesday issued a statement that it would extend its present sit-in protest in front of the provincial ministry of education in Trincomalee to a hunger strike from March 28 if the United National Front (UNF) government fails to grant permanent status to them before March 27, sources said.
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Names of Sea tigers killed in merchant vessel announced

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 March 2003, 01:18 GMT]
The names of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sea tigers killed in international waters 220 miles from Trincomalee shores when the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) fired on their merchant vessel on March 10 were announced by the LTTE Wednesday, sources in Vanni said.
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Trinco St. Joseph's celebrates 136th annual college day

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 March 2003, 22:49 GMT]
The St. Josephs' College in Trincomalee, one of the leading educational institutions in the eastern port town, Wednesday celebrated its 136th annual college day with religious observances and sports activities among teachers and students, sources said.
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NEPC to hold two-day photographic exhibition

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 March 2003, 22:34 GMT]
The Nort- East Provincial Council is to hold its first photographic exhibition in Trincomalee on March 22 and 23, and photographs focusing on historic places, antiques, cultural identity and scenic beauty will be displayed in the two-day exhibition, provincial ministry sources said.
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Trincomalee Koneswaram temple festival begins

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 March 2003, 22:29 GMT]
The annual twenty two-day festival (’Mahotsavam’) of the historic Koneswaram Temple in the east port town of Trincomalee began Tuesday with the flag hoisting ceremony. The water cutting festival will be held on April 4 at "Papanasa Theertham" (sin destruction holy well), which is located inside the Fort Frederick where Koneswaram temple is also situated. The "Boat Festival"(Theppath Thiruvizah) will be held on April 6, temple sources said.
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Udathalawinna massacre case postponed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 March 2003, 20:12 GMT]
When the Udathalawinna massacre case was taken up for hearing on Wednesday by the three member trial-at-bar, the ninth suspect was not produced in court, and the judges agreed to a request by the defence attorney and postponed the case to March 24, legal sources said.
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Tamil political prisoners cases to be expedited

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 March 2003, 04:01 GMT]
Attorney General (AG) of Sri Lanka, Mr.K.C.Kamalasabeyson, has instructed district court judges to expedite the hearings of cases of Tamil prisoners arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulations (ER), legal sources said. The only evidence against majority of Tamil political prisoners, many languishing in jails for several years, is self-confession obtained under threat of violence or torture, according to legal sources.
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20-year-old ban on Palaithivu church festival lifted

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 March 2003, 15:17 GMT]
Agreeing to a request by the Jaffna Bishop House, the Sri Lanka Army has lifted the twenty-year-old ban on visiting Palaithivu, an islet located in the Jaffna lagoon, to hold the annual festival of the St.Anthony's Church located there, sources in Jaffna said.
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Government urged to declare Keerimalai in HSZ sacred area

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 March 2003, 13:13 GMT]
The Valigamam North Rehabilitation Organization (VNRO) has requested the United National Front (UNF) government to declare Keerimalai in the high security zone (HSZ) as a sacred area, sources said. Keerimalai located in the north western corner of Jaffna peninsula is considered a sacred area by Hindus in Sri Lanka.
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Record crowd at Amman temple water cutting ceremony

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 March 2003, 12:09 GMT]
More than twenty thousand devotees participated in the water-cutting festival of the historic Trincomalee Pathirakaliamman temple held Tuesday morning at the traditional ’Uyanthapadu Theertha Kadatkarai’ (Back Bay sea) in the east port town sources said.
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Sixth session of peace talks begin in Hakone

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 March 2003, 10:15 GMT]
Sixth round of the peace talks began today in the hot-spa resort of Hakone, some 60 km (37.28 miles) west of Tokyo. Norwegian deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen and Japan's special peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Mr. Yasushi Akashi chaired the opening session.
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Monitors says no evidence sunk ship carried weapons

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 March 2003, 09:42 GMT]
Concluding an investigation into the sinking last week of an LTTE-owned vessel by the Sri Lanka Navy, international ceasefire monitors Monday confirmed the ship was a merchant vessel and said there was no evidence it was carrying weapons as claimed by the Navy. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said it had not been informed in time of the interception of the vessel by the Navy and could not rule on the incident as it occurred almost 200 miles from Sri Lanka’s shore, in area where the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea applied.
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SLA vacated schools in HSZ still closed

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 March 2003, 23:31 GMT]
The Eluthumadduval North Maruthankulam Government Tamil Mixed School in the northern Jaffna district has not started functioning even after the Sri Lanka Army troops who occupied the school premises have vacated. Villagers complain that the school authorities are unable to repair the damaged buildings and restart the school, as the school is located in the Sri Lanka Army High Security Zone (HSZ).
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Historic Trinco temple chariot festival draws large crowd

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 March 2003, 23:28 GMT]
Several thousand devotees from all parts of the island participated at the Chariot (Ther) festival of the historic Trincomalee Pathirakali Ambal Temple held Monday. Three chariots were taken in procession around the temple while devotees chanted 'Arohara,' sources said.
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Interactors pledge to promote mutual understanding

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 March 2003, 23:23 GMT]
The fourth annual zonal Interact conference held for two days in Trincomalee came to a close Sunday evening as Interactors from Jaffna, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts expressed their firm commitment to promoting a better understanding, thus ensuring progress of their societies and the country at large, sources said.
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NIE discriminates Tamil medium education -CTTU

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 March 2003, 18:59 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU) has requested the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to take up the problems confronting Tamil medium education in the Northeast province at the next round of peace talks which is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Japan this week.
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LTTE peace secretariat launches official website

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 March 2003, 15:57 GMT]
The peace secretariat of the LTTE has launched its official website from its headquarters in the Vanni, and the website, www.lttepeacesecretariat.com, will regularly carry the official press releases, current updates, events and photographs of the peace process, LTTE sources at the peace secretariat in Kilinochchi said.
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Development Board formed in Vavuniya to further education

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 March 2003, 12:00 GMT]
An Education Development Board to work towards improving the general standard of education in Vauniya district, to establish means of providing educational assistance to poor children and to raise the level of technical education, has been formed in Vavuniya, sources said.
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Film on Women's struggle released in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 March 2003, 21:47 GMT]
Commemorating International Women Day, the Nitharsanam women film unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) released a full feature film, “Uppil Uraintha Uthirangal” (Blood stained sea), in Kaluthavalai Maha Vidyalayam, Batticaloa, Sunday sources said.
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CTTU threatens strike over teacher appointments

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 March 2003, 16:18 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU) warned the United National Front (UNF) government that if one thousand Tamil medium volunteer teachers now working in the northeast schools are not made permanent within one week the union will launch a continuous strike till the demand is met, in a statement issued Sunday by the General Secretary of the CTTU Mr. T. Mahasivam, said sources.
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Trinco Rotary holds Zonal Interact conference

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 March 2003, 11:56 GMT]
Students from schools in Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa are participating in the fourth Interact Zonal conference which is being held in Trincomalee St.Joseph's College hall starting Saturday for two days. The theme of the two-day zonal conference is "Progress and Understanding," said the conference secretary Mr.G.K.Joel Janantan.
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German supported Computer Training Center opens in Trinco

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 March 2003, 18:45 GMT]
North East Provincial Council Chief Secretary Mr.S.Rangarajah Saturday morning declared open a new computer-training centre at the Provincial Management Development and Training Department (MDTD). The Integrated Food Security Programme (IFSP) in Trincomalee donated twelve computers and accessories worth 1.6 million rupees to the centre, sources said.
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SLA imposes 6 pm curfew around Weber stadium

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 March 2003, 18:39 GMT]
The 23-3 Brigade of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) which is located in close proximity to the Weber stadium in Batticaloa, has prohibited the use of the Weber stadium sports facilities after 6 p.m, sources said. Youths and other users of the playing fields are also being subjected to severe body search, added sources.
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SLA blocks resettlement outside HSZ

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 March 2003, 18:01 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has refused permission for resettlers to build new houses or repair their damaged ones in Pannalai area close to Vasavilan which is outside the forward defence line of the Palaly high security zone (HSZ) in Jaffna district, civil sources said.
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LTTE to attend Japan peace talks

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 March 2003, 17:38 GMT]
The delegation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will leave Colombo on Sunday night to attend peace talks in Hakone, Japan, scheduled to commence on March 18, said Mr.Anton Balasingham, LTTE theoretician, Saturday, addressing a press conference held at Killinochchi Peace Secretariat, sources said.
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'Minister’s argument feeble' - Thamilselvan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 March 2003, 17:27 GMT]
“We wish to express our great displeasure and dispute the feeble argument you advanced to justify and legitimize the unwarranted and impulsive action taken by the Sri Lanka Navy in attacking and destroying our merchant vessel on the international waters,” said Mr.S.P.Thamilselvan, political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in a letter to the Defence Minister Mr.Tilak Marapane Saturday.
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25,000 widowed in Jaffna district

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 March 2003, 13:42 GMT]
The fifteen administrative divisions in Jaffna district released figures that 25,773 women have lost their husbands, and of these 3,368 are from Thenmaradchy district, popular Jaffna daily, Uthayan reported.
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Ian Martin meets Thamil Eelam Police Chief

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 March 2003, 13:15 GMT]
Ian Martin, the former Secretary General of Amnesty International, and special envoy to monitor Human rights dimension in Sri Lanka, met with the members of the Thamil eelam police force, Thursday, for discussions on human rights issues, sources in Vanni said.
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Bank of Tamil Eelam opens branch in Pallai

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2003, 23:50 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) declared open a branch of Bank of Tamil Eelam today in Pallai, a town that lies between Elephant Pass and Jaffna on A9.
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SLN gets coast guard frigate from USA

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2003, 16:57 GMT]
The leader of the Government of Sri LAnka (GOSL) peace team and Minister Mr. G.L.Peiris addressing a seminar for principals of national schools in Colombo Friday said that the United States of America (USA) has gifted a coast guard frigate to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), sources in Colombo said.
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Trinco Rotary organizes home economics exhibition

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2003, 16:51 GMT]
"The younger generation should be encouraged to shun white-collar jobs and facilities should be created to engage them in self-employment projects, which could ensure self-reliance and economic prosperity in their lives," said the President of the Trincomalee Rotary Club, Mr.R.Thirukumaranathan, addressing a gathering after he declared open a one-day exhibition on Home Economics in the east port town.
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Hartal cripples Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2003, 16:39 GMT]
Normal life in Trincomalee district was disrupted Friday due to the general shut down (hartal) and the resulting closure of all Tamil medium schools, offices of provincial and local institutions, shops, non-governmental organizations, state and private sector banks, sources said. The transport services were curtailed to minimum and almost all the roads in the east port town were deserted.
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Unmanned Vehicle seen in Killinochchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2003, 12:06 GMT]
An Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) was seen in skies above Kilinochchi and Mankulam, circling and flying in different directions around 10 am for half an hour Friday, sources in Kilinochchi said.
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Chandrika Kumaratunge meets Muslim delegation

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2003, 11:28 GMT]
The President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge held a two-hour discussion Thursday afternoon at presidential Secretariat with a delegation of Muslim parliamentarians on representation to Muslims in the peace talks now in progress between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere, Muslim sources said.
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Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister holds talks with LTTE leaders

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2003, 03:13 GMT]
Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Vidar Helgesen met with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Political head, S.P. Thamilchelvan, and Anton Balasingham, LTTE theoretician and leader of LTTE peace delegation, Thursday afternoon at Killinochchi, sources said.
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Vanni TNA MPs fast, demanding Tamil detainees' release

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2003, 02:19 GMT]
Three Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians Messrs Selvam Adaikalanathan, Raja Kuhaneswaran and Sivasakthi Anandan with hundreds of Tamil residents Thursday held a fasting campaign in front of the S.J.V.Chelvanayakam statue in Mannar town Thursday from morning till evening demanding the immediate release of all Tamil political prisoners from prisons at Kalutara and elsewhere in the south, sources said.
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LTTE officers graduate from Karadiyanaru Training school

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2003, 01:29 GMT]
A graduation ceremony to award certificates and confer honor badges on 89 LTTE fighters (49 of them women fighters) trained at the Lt. Col. Balendra Officer Training College in the second lieutenant grade, took place Thursday in Karadiyanaru, in the LTTE controlled area of the Batticaloa district, sources said.
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SLA stops Gurunagar ice factory construction

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 March 2003, 23:28 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army Thursday ordered the Northern District Fisheries Co-operative Federation (NDFCF) to stop the construction work of the ice factory immediately in the Gurunagar area in Jaffna town.
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Tamil political prisoners' hunger strike continues

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 March 2003, 23:26 GMT]
As the hunger strike of about sixty Tamil political prisoners at Kalutara prison entered its thirteenth day Thursday, demonstrations and a general shut down (hartal) are being organized in the North-East province demanding the immediate release of them.
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Tamil medium volunteer teachers sit-in-protest continues

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 March 2003, 23:21 GMT]
The sit-in -protest campaign by the North-East Tamil medium volunteer teachers in front of the provincial ministry of education office in Trincomalee entered its eleventh day Thursday without any solution in sight.
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Provincial economic commission to be established

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 March 2003, 23:19 GMT]
The United National Front government Thursday announced the establishment of economic commissions at the provincial level from next Wednesday, as stated in its last general election manifesto. Three provincial economic commissions will be first established. A business tycoon, Mr. Lalith Kotelawala, Chairman of the Seylan group of companies, will head the North Western Provincial Economic Commission and the Central Provincial Economic Commission, said Minister Mr. G.L.Peiris at a press briefing Thursday.
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‘Peace talks to go on despite challenges’ – PM

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 March 2003, 13:46 GMT]
"The ethnic problem in this country can be solved only by talks, and there is no other way; hence, whatever the challenges and road blocks the peace talks will face, we cannot abandon the talks," said Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe, addressing the general meeting of the United National Party (UNP) held in Kandy Wednesday evening.
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Vavuniya hartal condemns SLA sinking of merchant vessel

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 March 2003, 12:44 GMT]
Shops were closed, transportation came to a stand still and black flags were seen flying across the town as Vavuniya district observed hartal (general shut down) Thursday to mourn the eleven cadres of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who died when a merchant vessel belonging to LTTE was sunk by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and to express protest against the SLN's action, sources in Vavuniya said.
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Norway's Deputy FM holds talks with LTTE leaders

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 March 2003, 12:10 GMT]
Talks between the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Vidar Helgessen and the leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam began Thursday afternoon at Killinochchi, sources said.
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Ian Martin holds meetings, workshop for LTTE judges

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 March 2003, 04:00 GMT]
The former Secretary General of the Amnesty International, Mr. Ian Martin, visited Kilinochchi Wednesday and had a meeting with Mr. Anton Balasingham and S.P. Thamilselvan of the LTTE, where the discussions focused on human rights and the rights of children on women, sources said.
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'Destruction of LTTE ship is a grave ceasefire violation' - Balasingham

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 March 2003, 19:40 GMT]
The interception and destruction of the Liberation Tigers' merchant cargo vessel in international waters by the Sri Lankan Navy is a grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and contravenes international law, Mr. Anton Balasingham, the LTTE's political advisor and chief negotiator, told a delegation of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Kilinochchi on Wednesday, according to Mr. Balasingham, who spoke to journalists after the meeting.
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SLMM head holds talks with senior LTTE leaders

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 March 2003, 17:35 GMT]
The new head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Mr.Triggve Teleffsen Wednesday arrived in Killinochchi to hold discussions with senior leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) regarding the attack by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on a LTTE merchant vessel off Mullaitivu Monday, sources in Vanni said. The LTTE had earlier condemned the attack as "a grave violation of the ceasefire agreement,” and warned that “this grave incident will have far reaching implications for the peace process.”
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Jaffna mourns death of eleven LTTE cadres

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 March 2003, 17:29 GMT]
Black flags were hoisted on public buildings, business houses and educational institutions and a day of mourning was observed in Jaffna district Wednesday for the death of eleven senior cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), civil sources said.
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Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister visits Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 March 2003, 09:06 GMT]
The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Vidar Helgesen, is visiting Sri Lanka today to hold meetings with the Presidient, Prime Minister and the LTTE leadership. Mr. Vidar Helgesen will after his visit to Sri Lanka travel to Japan to take part in the next session of Peace Talks in Hakone 18-21 March.
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'We are committed to peace' - Balasingham

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 March 2003, 00:22 GMT]
The political advisor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Mr.Anton Balasingham said that the LTTE will not allow the peace process to become a trap to weaken the Liberation Tigers. "Despite provocations and attacks on us we are determined to participate constructively in the peace process. We want to convince the world, particularly the Sinhala people, that we are committed to peace," said Mr.Balasingham addressing a gathering, which followed the opening of the main court complex of the Thamileelam judiciary in Killinochchi Tuesday morning, sources said.
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CTTU holds strike, demonstrations in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 March 2003, 18:03 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Union Teachers’ Union Tuesday held a one-day token strike in the North-East and claimed that their strike was a success as almost all Tamil medium schools in the North-East province did not function as teachers struck work and students did not attend classes.
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Norwegian Foreign Minister postpones Sri Lanka visit

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 March 2003, 17:12 GMT]
Jan Pettersen's scheduled visit to Sri Lanka today has been postponed indefinitely, reports Norsk Riks Kringkasting (NRK).
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US Ambassador visits Jaffna, meets civil group leaders

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 March 2003, 17:02 GMT]
The Ambassador for United States of America in Colombo, Mr.Ashely Wills, paid a one-day visit to Jaffna Tuesday and held discussions with representatives of Jaffna civil groups and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians, sources said.
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Batticaloa schools function without course books

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 March 2003, 12:45 GMT]
Government schools in Batticaloa district are functioning without the necessary school books and students are being severely impacted by this shortage, education officials in Batticaloa said.
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Teachers protest against army occupation in Northeast

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 March 2003, 11:50 GMT]
Tamil and Muslim Teachers in Northeast organized a symbolic strike by calling in sick demanding the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) vacate the schools, places of worship, private residences and public buildings which have been converted to SLA camps, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Jaffna Consortium demands release of PTA suspects

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 March 2003, 17:35 GMT]
The Consortium of Peoples' Associations of Jaffna (CPAF) in a memorandum has blamed the United National Front government for acting irresponsibly in delaying the release of Tamil political prisoners who are at present languishing in prisons in the south for several years under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without being brought to trial in courts of law, civil sources said.
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Picketing in Jaffna demanding release of PTA suspects

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 March 2003, 17:21 GMT]
Hundreds of people and civil activists participated in a one-hour picketing conducted in front of the Jaffna district secretariat Monday morning from 10.30 demanding the immediate release of all Tamil political prisoners from prisons at Kalutara and elsewhere in the south of the country. Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians Messrs Mavai Senathirajah, G.G.Gajendrakumar, A.Vinayagamoorthy, M.K.Sivajilingam, N.Raviraj participated in the campaign, sources said.
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LTTE vehemently condemns sinking of merchant vessel in International Waters

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 March 2003, 14:23 GMT]
The leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam condemned the sinking by the Sri Lanka Navy of an LTTE merchant vessel in international waters, 220 nautical miles off Trincomalee, today. In a letter to Sri Lankan Defence Minister Tilak Marapane, the head of the LTTE’s Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, condemned the attack in which eleven LTTE cadres were killed as “a grave violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
Full story >>

Mannar fishermen protest

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 March 2003, 12:33 GMT]
Members of Parliaments (MPs) Selvam Adaikalanathan, N. Sivasakthi Anandan and K. Rajakuganeswaran joined members of the Federation of Mannar fishing coopertive in a protest march today against South Indian fishermen poaching in SriLankan seas, said sources from Mannar.
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Opposition holds peaceful demonstration against peace process

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 March 2003, 11:51 GMT]
The joint opposition demonstration with hundreds of thousands of people wearing red caps, buddhist monks, and front line leaders of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and the National Unity Alliance (NUA) participating, commenced around two p.m. from Campbell place in Colombo and arrived at the Town Hall by five p.m. without any incidents. The Police provided tight security along the route of the demonstration, sources said.
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Appeal Court releases six LTTE cadres on bail

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 March 2003, 11:43 GMT]
The Court of Appeals comprising of judges Rajah Fernando (President) and E.W. Edusuriya Monday ordered bail for the six cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who are now in remand in connection with the alleged transporting of landmines by sea, legal sources said.
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Commission to investigate attacks on Tamil Journalists

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 March 2003, 01:57 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has ordered to form a Commission consisting of retired judges to investigate into incidents in the NorthEast of attacks against Tamil journalists by the police and security forces, Government Information Department said in Colombo according to sources.
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Colombo put on red alert to face opposition demonstration

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 18:22 GMT]
The city of Colombo has been put on red alert from Sunday and more than two thousand armed police personnel have been deployed at strategic junctions and near key buildings to thwart any disturbances when the joint opposition procession comprising the Sri Lanka freedom party (SLFP), Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and, National Unity Alliance (NUA) is scheduled to commence Monday around 1 p.m., sources in Colombo said.
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Trinco historic Pathirakali Amman temple festival begins

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 18:18 GMT]
The annual festival ('mahotsavam') of the historic Pathirakali Ambal Temple in Trincomalee commenced Saturday with the flag hoisting ceremony. The ten-day 'Mahotsavam' comes to an end on March 17 with the chariot (Ther) festival. The next day water cutting ceremony will be held in the Back Bay Sea in the east port town, sources said.
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Tamil leader Kumar Ponnambalam remembered

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 18:07 GMT]
Tamils should join hands irrespective of party politics to defeat the forces that are now rallying round in the south against the peace process, said a political activist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Mr.Vennilavan addressing the third death anniversary of late All Ceylon Tamil Congress leader Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam at Nelliyady Rajaledchumi Theatre Sunday.
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IGP orders probe of Jaffna journalist torture complaint

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 14:10 GMT]
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has ordered an inquiry into the complaint of torture by a Jaffna based Tamil journalist Mr.A. N .S. Thiruchelvam when he was under detention at the Terrorist Prevention Division of the police during the year 2001. The Inspector of Point Pedro Police Mr.K.Sihappu Arachchi Sunday conveyed the decision of the IGP to Mr. Thiruchelvam, sources in Jaffna said.
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Minister addresses Security forces in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 13:54 GMT]
"Our government is committed to and working hard to finding a political solution through peace talks. Every citizen of this country should be able to live with dignity and freedom and enjoy equality of status. Based on this premise, we are engaged in talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, to find a solution that provides extensive devolution of political powers within a united Sri Lanka," said Prof. G.L.Peiris, Minister of Political Affairs, Government of SriLanka, while addressing security forces in Vavuniya, Sunday, sources said.
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Vavuniya Hospital to provide expanded health services

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 13:05 GMT]
Vavuniya Government Hospital is to be upgraded to a General Public Hospital by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) said H.A.P. Gajantha Liyanage Health Services Commissioner. Dr. Arumugam Ketheeswaran, the Vavuniya district assistant Commissioner of Health services, confirmed that the facilities and additional medical equipment required for the upgrade will be implemented immediately, said health sources in Vavuniya.
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Modern equipment assists Swiss Organization to demine NE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 12:41 GMT]
The Swiss Demining Federation (FSD) is currently clearing mines in Thallaimannar and in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled areas surrounding villages of Pallamadu, Paapamoddai, and Periya Madhu, with a view of preparing these areas ready for resettlement, said a spokesperson for FSD, a Switzerland-based organization currently involved in demining operations in different war affected areas of NorthEast.
Full story >>

Foundation stone laid for Kilinochchi hospital building

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 05:39 GMT]
Mr. Tadoa Chino, the president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), laid the foundation stone for a new hospital building in Kilinochchi Friday during a ceremony organized by the Government Agent (GA) of Kilinochchi, T. Rasanayagam and the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East (SIHRN), sources said.
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Batticaloa-Amparai women stage protest meetings on Women’s day

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 00:05 GMT]
Thousands of young women, widows and elderly mothers participated in a large protest march followed by a general meeting organized by Batticaloa-Amparai Women’s Social Foundation on Women’s day March 8 in Batticaloa town, sources said.
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Film on Women's sacrifice to Tamil struggle released

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 18:02 GMT]
In commemoration of the International Women Day, the Nitharsanam women film unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) released a film named “Uppil Uraintha Uthirangal” (Blood stained sea) in all the districts of northeast province Saturday evening . Ms Kuyili who produced the film released the first copy at the event held at Trincomalee Koneswara Hindu College Saturday evening, sources said.
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Kalutara fast draws more prisoner support

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 17:56 GMT]
The protest fast by Tamil inmates entering its eigth day at Kalutara prison, appealing to the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) for their release, drew support from Tamil prisoners in Batticaloa, Bogambara, Welikada and Negombo jails who have also started hunger strike, sources in Batticaloa said.
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SLN encourages poaching by Indian fishermen - Adaikalanathan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 16:50 GMT]
The Vanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan in a letter to the Prime Minister Saturday blamed the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) for causing rift between Sri Lankan Tamil and Indian fishermen. "I strongly condemn the SLN for purposely allowing Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters as a ploy to create ill feeling between fishermen of Mannar and India," said Mr.Adaikalanathan.
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Resettlement to begin in Omanthai-Thandikulam HSZ

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 16:44 GMT]
In a meeting at the Government Secretariat presided by the Vavuniya Government Agent (GA), K. Ganesh, it was decided to resettle former residents of selected areas within the High Security Zone (HSZ) between Thandikulam and Omanthai centered around the A9 highway in Vavuniya district, starting from coming Monday, sources in Vavuniya said.
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GOSL, LTTE gender issues meeting said constructive

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 12:00 GMT]
The Sub-Committee on Gender Issues (SGI), established by agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE during the third round of negotiations in December 2002, held its first stage of meetings on Wednesday and Thursday in Kilinochchi, and in positive and constructive talks between delegates from both parties, agreed to secure“ active participation of women and the effective inclusion of gender issues in the peace process,” said a press release by the Sub-Committee.
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SLA commander refuses refugees to resettle in Mylanthanai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 02:12 GMT]
Commander of the 23rd division of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Minneri, Batticaloa, A.R. Balasuriya, refused permission to allow resettlement in the border village of Mylanthanai, sources in Batticaloa said. Former residents who went to their village to resettle had to turn back to their refugee camp in Valaichenai, according to sources.
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Tamil women's contribution to liberation struggle lauded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 01:14 GMT]
The women's wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Ms Thamilini, addressing a workshop on women rights held Friday at Nallur Young Artists' Forum(Ilankalaignar Mantram) in Jaffna said that Tamil women have proved that they are not second to men in contributing to the armed liberation struggle, sources in Jaffna said.
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NE Education officials meet LTTE in Vakarai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 01:10 GMT]
Officials from the NorthEast Provincial Education Department met with members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam political division, Friday morning, in Pannichangkerni School, Vakarai, Batticaloa district for detailed discussions related to educational development in the Vakarai region, sources said.
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LTTE-TNA agree to take forward peace process

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 18:22 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Tamil National Alliance Friday agreed to work jointly to take forward the present peace process strengthening the relationship between Tamils and Muslims, TNA sources said.
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ADB President visits Killinochchi, holds talks with LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 18:21 GMT]
The President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mr.Tadao Chino, Friday reaffirmed ADB's commitment to supporting the peace process with rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance, during a meeting with representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Killinochchi, northern Sri Lanka, a press release issued by the Sri Lanka Resident Mission of the ADB said.
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Fighters killed in Vavunathivu SLA camp attack remembered

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 03:35 GMT]
The last day events of the sixth year memorial ceremony for the 103 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters, including Lt. Colonel Balendra and Lt.Colonel Mathana, who died during the attack on the Vavunathivu Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, began at 6am Thursday at the Tharavai grounds in Batticaloa district, sources said.
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Canadian Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 01:34 GMT]
Among several foreign envoys are to visit Sri Lanka next week to assess the progress of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are Canadian Foreign Minister Mr. Bill Graham, Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Peterson, and his deputy Mr. Vidar Helgessen, said Minister and leader of GOSL negotiating team, Professor G.L.Peiris at a press conference held Thursday.
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Judge returns homicide verdict in Trinco hartal killing

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 01:11 GMT]
The Trincomalee Magistrate and Additional District Judge Mr.S.Thiagendran Thursday returned a verdict of homicide at the conclusion of the inquest held into the deaths of three Tamil civilians who were killed in a grenade attack on October 11 hartal (general shutdown), legal sources said. The Judge ordered police personnel who were on duty at the scene on the day of the incident to appear in an identification parade.
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Trinco remembers disappeared social worker

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 00:05 GMT]
Dr S.Gnanasekaram, a leading social worker and popularly known as "Gnani" in Trincomalee, who was abducted and disappeared in 1989, was remembered in the east port town Wednesday by Trincomalee residents, sources said. Scholarships, named after Dr. Gnanasekaram were awarded to fifteen poor students of Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College, during the rememberance ceremony.
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Opposition parties plan protests against Ceasefire Agreement

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2003, 16:57 GMT]
The Opposition Alliance, formed by the main opposition party in Sri Lanka’s parliament, the Sri Lanka Fredom Party (SLFP), in an alliance with the Jantha Vimukti Peramuna (JVP), the Mahajana Eaksath Peramuna (MEP), the National Unity Alliance (NUA), and the Sri Lanka Mahajana Paksaya (SLMP), said in a press conference in Colombo Thursday that it wants to “save the country” and has planned to conduct massive protests on March 10 against the UNF Government’s Ceasefire agreement with the LTTE and its economic policies of the past year.
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NE Music, Dance, Drama festival to be held in Trinco

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2003, 16:56 GMT]
A five day North East Tamil Music, Dance and Drama festival is to commence on March 20 in Trincomalee. Around four hundred artists are expected to participate in the festival.
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Sub committee for women, children's welfare meet in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2003, 12:00 GMT]
First meeting of the Subcommittee for the welfare and rehabilitation of war affected women and children took place in Kilinochchi on Wednesday, and Thursday at the Peace Secretariat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources said.
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Thiriyai prepares for resettlement amid navy harassment

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2003, 00:30 GMT]
As the first paddy harvest after nearly twenty years is nearing completion at Thiriyai, the displaced Tamil families who returned from Vanni and residing currently in welfare camps at Nilaveli pleaded Tuesday at a mobile service held in Thiriyai, that authorities should make immediate arrangements to resettle them in their own lands, sources in Trincomalee said.
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NE volunteer teachers to continue sit-in protest

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 March 2003, 18:49 GMT]
The sit-in-protest by several hundred Tamil medium volunteer teachers from the districts of Batticaloa and Amparai in front of the provincial education ministry in Trincomalee continued for the third day on Wednesday.
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Court releases Indian fishermen on police application

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 March 2003, 18:47 GMT]
The Mannar Magistrate, Mr.M.P.Mohideen, Wednesday released 80 Indian fishermen from remand when the Police made an application to release them, saying there was turmoil in India over their arrest and the security of Sri Lankan refugees in South India was at stake until the Indian fishermen were released, legal sources said.
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SLA soldier, Constable, in LTTE custody released

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 March 2003, 11:54 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, Lance Corporal Nimal Kumara and Reserve Police Constable Philip Anandasekara who were in Liberation Tigers' (LTTE's) custody were released today in Kilinochchi to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission(SLMM) following a meeting with the LTTE leaders and the members of the SLMM, sources in Kilinochchi said.
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PM urged to solve Tamil medium teacher shortage in NE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 March 2003, 07:05 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Wednesday requested the United National Front government to grant permanent appointments to around one thousand volunteer teachers without any further delay as per the Cabinet approval already granted by the previous government “ This would only to some extent reduce the existing shortage of around 5500 Tamil medium teachers in the northeast province,” said TNA parliamentary group leader and the Trincomalee district parliament Mr.R.Sampanthan in a three page letter faxed to the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe.
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CTTU to protest against army presence near schools

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 March 2003, 01:58 GMT]
The twenty thousand member strong Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU) Tuesday decided to hold a one day token strike on March 11 in the northeast province demanding the removal of the presence of government troops in the vicinity of schools. The protest will also highlight the delay in providing permanent appointment to about one thousand volunteer teachers in the northeast schools, said its general secretary Mr.T.Mahasivam.
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UNICEF, LTTE agree on action plan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 20:35 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the UNICEF Tuesday agreed on the development of an action plan on children affected by war in the North-East, including children involved in child labor, civilian or military, sources said.
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SLMM Head meets LTTE’s Col. Karuna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 17:21 GMT]
The head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Tryggve Tellefsen, officially met with LTTE’s senior commander, Col. Karuna, at Karadiyanaru in the LTTE controlled area in Batticaloa on Tuesday, sources said.
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MP demands removal of Periyaneelavanai checkpoint

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 17:00 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament (MP) from the Ampara district, Mr. A. Chandraneru, has requested in a letter to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe, that the police checkpoint operating from the Cultivation Services Office at Periyaneelavanai in the Ampara district should be removed, sources said.
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Second day of Koneswaram festival in Trinco

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 12:26 GMT]
The second day procession of the chief deity Lord Konesar and his consort Maathumai Ambal of the historic Trincomalee Koneswaram temple commenced Monday evening from Sivan Kovil in the east port town. The procession arrived Sri Pathirakali Amman temple Tuesday early morning.
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Minister orders return of RRAN vehicles

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 12:17 GMT]
Rehabilitation Minister Dr.Jayalath Jayawardene Monday instructed Jaffna's Government Agent to take back all vehicles handed over to the chairmen of local authorities by the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority for the North (RRAN) when elected councils administered these institutions, district secretariat sources said
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17 Indian fishermen injured

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 11:51 GMT]
Seventeen Indian fishermen who tresspassed into Sri Lankan waters 7 pm Monday were injured during clashes with fishermen from Pesalai, Mannar district when the local fisherfolks rounded up Indian fishermen and brought them to Pesalai shores, sources in Mannar said.
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IDI team visits Trincomalee to identify district development needs

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 00:51 GMT]
The nine-member team of the Infrastructure Development Institute (IDI) of Japan, which is on a fact-finding mission in the northeast province since February 28, visited Trincomalee Monday. The IDI team held wide ranging discussions with central and provincial level officials in the Trincomalee district at the North East Health Ministry Auditorium Monday morning, sources said.
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MSF to wind up operations in NorthEast

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 00:40 GMT]
MEDICINS SANS FRONTIERS (MSF), an international non-governmental medical and humanitarian organisation which is providing medical assistance to people in the northeast province Monday expressed confidence that the ceasefire agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will lead to permanent peace in the island and that their permanent presence is not required beyond 2003, sources in Jaffna said.
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SLN refuses to hand over Nedunthivu PS building

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 00:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Monday refused to vacate the office complex of the Nedunthivu Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) saying that the Pradeshya Sabha could function in a portion of the office complex, when a delegation of the Nedunthivu PS met the SLN officials and demanded the immediate and complete withdrawal of the SLN, sources said.
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25% students in NE need special education –Provincial Ministry

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 00:05 GMT]
About twenty percent of students in the North-East province have been identified as children with special needs as majority of them have been mentally and physically affected by the twenty-year-old war, and about seventy five percent of these students have not received any specialized medical attention, education officials said at a two-day workshop on non-formal education and special education held in Trincomalee Sunday and Monday at the management centre of the North East Provincial Education Ministry.
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Volunteer teachers picket demanding permanent appointment

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 March 2003, 19:02 GMT]
More than two hundred volunteer teachers from Batticaloa and Amparai districts Monday launched a picketing campaign in front of the office of the North East Provincial Ministry of Education in Trincomalee demanding that they should be made permanent immediately as given assurance earlier, sources said.
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Japanese IDI team meets Kilinochchi GA

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 March 2003, 00:48 GMT]
A delegation of the Infrastructure Development Institute of Japan (IDI), led by Mr.Yoshiyo Yabe, Senior consultant and Director of Planning Department of IDI, met with Kilinochchi Government Agent(GA), Rasanayagam, at the Kilinochchi secretariat Saturday, sources in Kilinochchi said.
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Three-day Konesar procession commences in Trincomalee town

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 March 2003, 00:31 GMT]
The annual procession of the chief deity Lord Konesar and his consort Maathumai Ambal (Parvati) of the historic Trincomalee Koneswaram temple, which is located inside the Fort Frederick in the east port town, commenced Sunday evening, the day after the Holy Maha Sivarathiri Day. This year a new chariot built at a cost of about two hundred thousand rupees will carry deities Lord Konesar and Maathumai Ambal, sources said.
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Pallai youth loses hand in explosion

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 March 2003, 00:17 GMT]
Jeyarajah Sivanesan (18) of Vembadukerni, Pallai, in Kilinochchi district lost his hand while cleaning his backyard when an Unexploded ordnance (UEO) exploded, sources in Jaffna said.
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Thai delegation meets Thamilselvan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 20:02 GMT]
A special delegation of Thailand government, lead by the Commissioner of the Economic section of the Thailand ministry of Foreign Affairs met with the Head of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political section, S.P. Thamilselvan and communicated the desire of the Thai government to provide help and to participate in the development of the war affected North East region, sources in Vanni said.
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Busy schedule awaits Balasingham in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 19:34 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) theoretician and leader of the LTTE negotiating team in the current peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the LTTE, Mr. Anton Balasingham, arrived in Kilinochchi 4 pm Sunday with his wife and Secretary to LTTE peace delegation Adele Balasingham, sources in Vanni said.
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HRC special committee visits Jaffna HSZ

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 16:55 GMT]
The special committee of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sri Lanka, which is inquiring into the complaints in regard to the disappearance of more than six hundred Tamil civilians between 1996 and 1997 in the Jaffna district arrived Saturday, to conduct further investigation, sources said.
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Sixteen villages in Jaffna get electricity supply

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 14:24 GMT]
Minister of Power and Energy Mr.Karu Jayasuriya Sunday inaugurated electricity supply to sixteen villages in the Jaffna district. The electricity supply to these villages was disconnected ten years ago, Ceylon Electricity Board sources said.
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Army occupation still prevails after a year of peace - Ramesh

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 14:02 GMT]
"Twelve months have passed after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), but vast numbers of Tamil people are still living under Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupation. Army camps are still being maintained in Tamils' homes and public buildings creating a sense of mistrust and skepticism on the strength of the MoU in Tamil peoples' mind. Only by the SLA fully complying with the provisions of the MoU can the faith on MoU be restored," said Ramesh, Batticaloa-Ampara special commander of the LTTE, addressing a meeting in Batticaloa Sunday, sources said.
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Japanese Development team arrives in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 02:30 GMT]
A nine-member delegation of the Infrastructure Development Institute of Japan (IDI) Saturday held talks with civil officials in Jaffna regarding proposed development of roads, water supply, sanitation and flood control in the peninsula, said Jaffna district secretariat sources. The IDI team is on a fact-finding mission in the northeastern province from February 26 till March 6.
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SLN claims Thampalakamam pastureland as HSZ

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 March 2003, 23:09 GMT]
Hundreds of cattle farmers in the predominantly Tamil village, Thampalakamam, in the Trincomalee district have almost lost their livelihood following a ban by the Sri Lanka Navy to use pastureland allocated close to the Attavanaikulam tank for their cattle to graze. The Sri Lanka Navy has imposed the ban stating that about one thousand acres of pastureland in Attavanaikulam comes under the high security zone, agricultural sources said.
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Hindus observe the Maha Sivarathiri day

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 March 2003, 21:33 GMT]
Hundreds of thousands of Hindus in Sri Lanka Saturday night observed the Maha Sivarathiri day with great devotion. Special poojahs and religious discourses are being held throughout the night in several leading Hindu temples in the island, especially in the North-East province, exhorting Hindus to lead their lives according to the teachings of Saiva saints and philosophers, sources said.
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MPGA to sue army, civil officials

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 March 2003, 16:38 GMT]
The Missing Persons Guardians' Association (MPGA) in Jaffna has decided to file a case in the High Court against some Sri Lanka Army officials and government civil administrators regarding dozens of Tamil civilians who have been reported missing after being arrested by Sri Lankan government troops during the period between 1996 and 1997 in the Jaffna peninsula.
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