18.08.24 21:23 
Viraj Mendis: A beacon of international solidarity and a pillar in the Eelam-Tamil liberation struggle
Viraj Mendis: A beacon of international solidarity and a pillar in the Eelam-Tamil liberation struggle
Reporting to the world on Tamil Affairs
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AG withdraws indictments against six PTA detainees[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2003, 18:28 GMT]Six accused indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act were discharged Monday by the Eastern High Court Judge, Mr.S.Paramarajah, who presides over the Trincomalee sessions, legal sources said Full story >> ER case accused in remand for twelve years[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2003, 15:53 GMT]The Eastern High Court Judge, Mr.S.Paramarajah, Monday fixed the inquiry into the bail application of two Tamil men who have been in remand for the last twelve years since their arrest under the Emergency Regulations (ER), on Friday, July 4, legal sources said. Full story >> Japanese Ambassador meets Thamilselvan[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2003, 14:02 GMT] Tamil people have complained that the declarations made at the Sri Lankan donors’ Conference held in Tokyo did not provide any solutions to the immediate humanitarian needs of the Tamil people, Mr. S.P. Thamilselvan, the leader of the LTTE’s political division, told the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Seiichiro Otsuka, when the Ambassador visited the Vanni on Monday, sources saidFull story >> Fear of re-introduction of Police registration unfounded - Amaratunge[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2003, 10:17 GMT]The Sri Lanka Government is not contemplating re-introducing legislation requiring Tamils residing in Colombo to register the details of households with the Police. Tamil people therefore need not worry about such procedures coming into force again, said John Amaratunge, Minister of Interior. Full story >> Trincomalee club to assist under privileged women[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2003, 20:09 GMT]"We have plans to create awareness among women about their fundamental rights under the Sri Lanka's constitution and their basic rights under the normal laws of the country and how to use them," said Ms Latha Thirkumaranathan in her inaugural address Saturday after being elected as the Charter President of the Trincomalee Inner Wheel Club (IWC). Full story >> Security concerns force Buddhist prelate to cancel Jaffna visit[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2003, 19:48 GMT]The Mahanayake Thera of Asgiriya Chapter Venerable Udugama Sri Rathnapala Buddharakita cancelled his participation at the second day proceedings of the workshop of the World Solidarity Forum held Sunday at the Veerasingham Hal. "I have been adviced by the security forces against coming to Jaffna. I regret very much for this," said Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera in his message to workshop which was read out, sources said. Full story >> Tamils in Colombo fear return of mass arrests[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2003, 18:36 GMT]Three hundred and six persons were arrested in Colombo and its suburbs during the past twenty-four hours said Police in Sri Lanka’s capital Sunday. Reports in the Tamil press Sunday said that six hundred and fifty Tamils were arrested during a joint cordon and search operation by the army and Police in the city’s suburbs Saturday night. Meanwhile, a union for Police officers called on Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister and President to re-impose the draconian Emergency Regulations to facilitate their work in ensuring the capital’s security. Full story >> Human skeletons recovered in Ariyalai[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2003, 11:10 GMT]Human skeletons and other remains were recovered in Nedunkulam junction area in Ariyalai, Jaffna, by members of the Halo Trust group who are engaged in mine clearing operations along the Jaffna-Kandy (A9) road in Ariyalai, early last week sources said. Full story >> Teachers have vital role to play in changing war culture - FES[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2003, 10:12 GMT]"A change of mindset and a new positive vision for the future of Sri Lanka is required to overcome the existing culture of mistrust, prejudice, fear, suspicion, intolerance and violence," said Sri Lanka's resident representative of a German organization the Frederick Ebert Stiftung (FES), Mr.Dietmar Kneitschel, said Saturday while speaking at the inauguration of a two-day seminar on the "Rights of members in a trade union," in Vigneswara Maha Vidyalayam, Trincomalee, Saturday, sources said. Full story >> World Solidarity Forum workshop begins in Jaffna[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2003, 01:34 GMT]A Two-day workshop on the theme 'Coming to a Common Mind and raising a Common Voice' organized by the multi-religious World Solidarity Forum of Sri Lanka began Saturday at the Jaffna Veerasingham Hall, sources said. The clergy of all faiths in North and South attended the inaugural event, organizers said. Full story >> 'Armed challenge to imposed national territory inevitable'[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2003, 00:33 GMT]"Sri Lanka's colonial rulers left military power solely in the hands of a single community within an artificially created national territory on this island, created without the consent of the Tamils who, nevertheless, were included in it. Therefore the majority community had to increasingly depend on its monopoly on military force to hold on to this artificial national territory it acquired from the British. Under the circumstance, a military challenge to this was inevitable among the Tamils," said Mr. V. T. Thamilmaran, senior lecturer in law in the University of Colombo, Saturday. Full story >> LTTE hands over seven underage youths to their parents[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2003, 15:32 GMT]Seven underage youths who approached the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) expressing desire to join the movement were handed over to their parents in the presence of members of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) by the Vavuniya district LTTE officials at the LTTE political office in Vavuniaya Saturday morning, sources in Vavuniya said. Full story >> Ex-EPDP member shot dead[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2003, 10:50 GMT]Nadesan Sutharsan (24) and ex-member of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) was shot dead by unknown gunmen at 11am Friday in Akkaraipattu, Batticaloa district, security sources said. Full story >> SLMM releases report on SLN's sinking of LTTE vessel[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2003, 10:28 GMT]Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in its report on the sea incident where LTTE's vessel MT Shoshin was sunk by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on 14 June, concluded, "Since neither Party informed the SLMM in due time about the incident...the possibility to prevent the escalation was missed," that SLMM "does not consider that SLN violated the CFA by intercepting the LTTE tanker," and that "LTTE violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10th Dec 1982 by not flying an appropriate flag and official, visible identification." Full story >> Artifical Insemination Unit opened in Karadiyanaru[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2003, 10:03 GMT]Livestock Breeding Unit of the Health Commission, with the support of the Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organization, has established an Artificial Insemination Unit in Karadiyanaru, Batticaloa district. LTTE's Special Commander for Batticaloa-Amparai district, Ramesh ceremoniously opened the unit Friday morning 11 am, sources said. Full story >> 129 families resettled in Omanthai area[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2003, 05:57 GMT]Vavuniya Government Agent K. Ganesh said Friday at a meeting held in Vavuniya Secreatariat that in three villages adjoining the High Security Zone in Omanthai area 129 families have been resettled, according to Secretariat officials. Full story >> Police-SLA arrest thirteen Tamils in Wellawatte[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2003, 19:39 GMT]Police and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) conducted cordon and search operation in Wellawatte, a predominantly Tamil suburb in Colombo Friday and arrested thirteen Tamil youths, security sources said. This joint operation took place as part of the new security measures now being carried out in the capital of the country since the gunning down of a police intelligence unit head in Dehiwala, police said. Full story >> Eastern Court postpones Sathiyaraj bail hearing[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2003, 16:34 GMT]The East High Court Judge Mr.S.Paramarajah Friday postponed the hearing on the bail application submitted on behalf of Batticaloa-Puthur LTTE political head Mr.Sathirarj now in remand for July 4, legal sources said. Full story >> Final phase talks on SLFP-JVP alliance begin[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2003, 16:31 GMT]Final phase talks between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) began Friday evening around six at the Presidential Secretariat, political sources in Colombo said. Full story >> Pongu Thamil urges steps to permanent peace[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2003, 13:42 GMT]"The clouds of war have once again appeared on the horizon, for no fault of ours. We wish to change this situation" states the Pongu Thamil declaration read out by the President of the Jaffna University Students' Union Mr.Suppaiah Baheerathan. Tens of thousands gathered on the grounds held up their hands in support of the declaration. Full story >> Record crowds throng Jaffna Pongu Thamil rally[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2003, 12:33 GMT] Around hundred and fifty thousand people crammed the Jaffna Medical College grounds and its environs for the Pongu Thamil rally Friday said the organisors of the event. Pongu Thamil calls for the immediate return of thousands of homes and lands occupied by the Sri Lankan armed forces in the northern peninsula. The Pongu Thamil flame was lit by the Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University Prof. S. Mohanadas. Buddhist nuns, monks and two officials from the Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s office were among the special guests.
Full story >> Three-day education exhibition inaugurated in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2003, 09:41 GMT]Three day education exhibition "Piravaham-2003" of the Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College containing hundreds of art exhibits produced by the college students was inaugurated Thursday by the North East Provincial Education Ministry Secretary Mr. Mr.Thiagalingam. Full story >> ‘Together against Torture’ Seminar in Trinco[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2003, 00:10 GMT] Legislation against torture in Sri Lanka is kept in law libraries as an ornament and is not implemented to prevent torture, said Human Rights lawyer, Mr. K. Sivapalan, addressing a seminar on ‘Together against Torture,’ held Thursday in Trincomalee to commemorate the United Nations (UN) International Day.
Full story >> Preparations for Pongu Thamil continue amid sabotage attempts by EPDP[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2003, 20:01 GMT]All roads will lead to Jaffna university medical faculty grounds Friday evening where the second Pongu Thamil celebration is scheduled to begin around 4 p.m., stressing the theme 'we want our land,' organizers of the event said. Full story >> Security beefed up in Colombo - Peiris[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2003, 17:52 GMT]The United National Front government of Sri Lanka has streamlined its security network in the country to curb the increase of crime, and has deployed more troops and police personnel with vehicles and motorbikes to conduct search operations in Colombo, said the Sri Lankan cabinet spokesman and Minister, Mr. G.L.Peiris, at a press briefing Thursday. Full story >> SLFP-JVP alliance imminent - Weerawanse[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2003, 17:06 GMT]The final phase of talks between the main opposition Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) and Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to forge an alliance in the name of Patriotic Peoples Front will be held Friday at the Presidential Secretariat, JVP propaganda secretary Mr.Vimal Weerawanse said Thursday. Full story >> UNF govt. to submit IA proposals to LTTE[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2003, 14:23 GMT]The United National Front is preparing "a set of proposals reflecting the main features of a provisional administrative structure" for the Northeast, and plans to submit the proposals to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam within two weeks, said the cabinet spokesman and Constitutional Affairs Minister in the UNF government, Mr. G.L.Peiris, addressing a press conference Thursday. Full story >> Picketing villagers bring Trinco-Vavuniya traffic to standstill[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2003, 13:41 GMT]Vehicular traffic between Trincomalee and Vavuniya through the Trincomalee-Anuradhapura trunk road came to a standstill Thursday when a group of Sinhalese villagers held a sit in protest across the road, demanding the release of a villager alleged to have been abducted by unidentified persons, police sources said. Full story >> LTTE complains of SLA ceasefire violation in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2003, 11:42 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) made a complaint to the head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Trincomalee that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has violated the ceasefire agreement by attempting to enter Kurankupanchchan area, which is in under LTTE's control, LTTE Trincomalee district political head Mr.S.Tilak told Tamilnet Thursday. Full story >> Support to Pongu Thamil widespread - press[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2003, 10:58 GMT]"Progress and Freedom of a community depend on the solidarity and co-operation among its people. Pongu Thamil celebrations should show Tamil peoples' thirst for freedom and express their solidarity to move forward in their struggle," said Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna, in his message. Civil organizations across Jaffna peninsula have expressed unqualified support to the Pongu Thamil celebrations scheduled to take place Friday, press reports from Jaffna said. Full story >> LTTE and STF meet in Vavunathivu[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2003, 00:32 GMT]Commanders of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Military officers of Sri Lanka's Special Task Force (STF) met at the District Secretariat in Vavunathivu, in Batticaloa district Wednesday 10a.m to discuss security related matters, military sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> JVP presses with campaign against peace talks[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 18:01 GMT] The Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) held another massive demonstration and rally Wednesday near downtown Colombo denouncing peace talks between Colombo and the Liberation Tigers. More than five thousand party activists and members marched through a busy part of the city shouting slogans against the LTTE and Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mr. Minister Ranil Wicremesinghe’s government. Full story >> ADB aided computer-training centre opened in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 17:33 GMT]The first computer-training centre in the Trincomalee district, established under the Asian Development Bank funded scheme by the Ministry of Education to promote computer literacy among students, was declared open ceremonially Wednesday by parliamentarian Mr.R.Sampanthan at the Trincomalee Sri Shanmuga Hindu Girls College. Full story >> East High Court discharges two more PTA accused[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 17:08 GMT]The East High Court in Trincomalee Wednesday discharged two Tamils indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and held in detention when the prosecution withdrew the charges on the advice of the Attorney General, legal sources said. Full story >> ‘Chandrika spreading war phobia’ -UNF[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 13:03 GMT]As the spokesman for the President of Sri Lanka said Wednesday that the President, Chandrika Kumaratunge, is of the view that the LTTE is preparing for war, the United National Front government responded that a section of the main opposition People’s Alliance led by Ms.Kumaratunge is engaged in spreading war phobia in the country, political sources said Full story >> Jaffna undergrads complain of SLA intimidation[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 12:38 GMT]Jaffna University Students Union Tuesday complained to the regional office of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sri Lanka that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers intimidated its members when they were making preparations for the Pongu Thamil, which is to be held Friday at the Jaffna Medical faculty premises, sources said. Full story >> VVT fishermen protest against SLA search[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 11:47 GMT]Hundreds of fishermen of Valvettithurai, in Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district Wednesday did not go out to sea as a protest against the search conducted on their boats in their absence on Tuesday night by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). Engine rooms of all boats beached in the shore were forcibly opened by the army soldiers causing damages to fishing gear and other accessories during the search operation, fisheries cooperative sources said. Full story >> Undergrads call for closure of Offices, Businesses on Pongu Thamil day[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 11:23 GMT]P. Paheerathan, president of the Jaffna University Students Union, said Wednesday that the students have called for closure of all businesses and government offices on Friday during the Pongu Thamil celebrations. Full story >> Security tightened in Colombo[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 10:48 GMT]Inpector General of Police, T.E.Anandarajah, told the press in Colombo Wednesday that additional security measures are being instituted in Colombo following the killings of intelligence officers. Full story >> Women demining group begins training[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 05:00 GMT]A twenty seven member women group, as part of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization's (TRO's) humanitarian activities section, began training in demining opertions Monday 23 June, sources in Kilinochchi said. Full story >> Peace talks to resume soon - LTTE[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 04:27 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) this week sent a positive signal to the Sri Lankan government that the peace negotiations, stalled for the past few months, would resume soon once the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration submits concrete proposals for an interim administration. Full story >> Economic progress demands commitment from Batti officials - Ramesh[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 04:23 GMT]"Every official in Batticalo district has a contribution to make in the development of our district. Only genuine commitment from our officials will enable us to improve economic prosperity of our people, said Ramesh, special commander of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the monthly meeting associated with North East Irrigation and Agriculture Project (NIAP) held in Karadyanaru Thenakam Rest House Tuesday moring at 11am, sourcesin Batticaloa said. Full story >> Halo Trust demining group at work in Jaffna[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 June 2003, 14:36 GMT]During the past seven months, the international mine-action group known as Halo Trust has removed about 4657 explosives buried in ten zones in the Jaffna district, manually as well as using machinery, said the group’s administrative head in Jaffna, Mr. Sankar Jeyakumar. Full story >> South African human rights activist visits Jaffna[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 June 2003, 14:11 GMT]An activist from the South African Human Rights Commission, Mr. Nagendran Kolappan, arrived in Jaffna Tuesday morning and held discussions with the representatives of Humanitarian Agencies, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, People’s Organizations and local media persons at the Jaffna regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, sources said. Full story >> Ex-EPRLF member shot dead in east[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 June 2003, 02:17 GMT]Mr. Kumarasamy Kumarathasan (36), a father of two children and a former member of the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front(EPRLF Varathar wing) was shot dead by unidentified gunmen Monday evening around 6.45 pm at Veeramunai village in the Sammanthurai area in Amparai district, police said. Full story >> TRO sponsored Children's Park opens in Kilinochchi[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 June 2003, 00:12 GMT]A children's Recreational Park for use by children who lost one or both of their parents in the war and who are currently being cared for in homes Gurukulam, Gandhi Illam was opened Monday in Kilinochchi. The children homes are run by Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) which also provided the financial support for the Recreational Park, according to Reggie, Head of TRO. Full story >> Peace talks to resume soon – Balasingham[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2003, 18:44 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said today that the peace negotiations between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers, suspended for the past few months, will resume soon. Full story >> AG withdraws PTA cases against two Tamil youths[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2003, 16:47 GMT]The Eastern High Court Judge, Mr. S. Paramarajah, Monday discharged two accused in two separate cases indicted under the Prevention of terrorism Act when the prosecution informed court that it withdrew the indictments against them on the advice of the Attorney General, legal sources said. Full story >> Intelligence officer shot dead in Colombo[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2003, 11:07 GMT]Head of the Colombo-Dehiwela Intelligence Unit of the Anti-Terrorism Unit Sunil Thabrew was shot dead Monday morning at 11am at the Dehiwela police barracks by an unidentified gunman, security sources in Colombo said. Full story >> SLFP holds fourteenth party convention[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2003, 01:18 GMT] "I ordered the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) to destroy the LTTE ship that carried weapons last Saturday to safeguard the country and its people," declared President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge addressing the fourteenth national convention of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent of the opposition People's Alliance (PA) Saturday evening at Nittambuwa in western province, political sources in Colombo said.
Full story >> SLA constructs barbed wire fence along northern coast[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2003, 18:23 GMT]The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has started constructing an eight-kilometer long barbed wire fence along the northern seashore from Potpathi to Kudathanai villages curtailing the freedom of movement of fishermen in Vadamarachchi division, Potpathi Fisheries Co-operative Society said Saturday Full story >> Two Jaffna journalists honoured[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2003, 17:54 GMT]Two Jaffna based journalists Mr.V. Thavachelvam and Mr.M.K.Jeevagathas were honoured Sunday by the Kaddaiveli-Nelliyady Cultural Federation in Jaffna district in an event held at Nellai Thiru Murugan Hall where Jaffna district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Mr. S.Ilamparithi was the chief guest, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Farmers' co-operatives extend support to Pongu Thamil[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2003, 16:19 GMT]The Jaffna District Agricultural and Consumer Co-operative Societies Union (ACCSU) Sunday expressed its fullest co-operation for the success of the Pongu Thamil celebrations scheduled to be held in Jaffna university premises on June 27, sources said. Full story >> Northeast art exhibition held in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2003, 15:54 GMT] More than five hundred pieces of art work by artistss from the eight districts in the Northeast province were
displayed at a two day art exhibition held in Trincomalee St.Joseph's College auditorium on Saturday and Sunday, education officials in Trincomalee said. The exhibition was declared open by the provincial education ministry secretary Mr.R.Thiagalingam Saturday morning.
Full story >> Peninsula prepares for Pongu Thamil celebrations[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2003, 11:41 GMT]Jaffna residents are preparing to conduct street dramas and other cultural uprising events widely across the district at village level for the second Pongu Thamil celebrations to be held on the 27 June, reports from Jaffna said. Full story >> Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary visits Vavuniya[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2003, 19:51 GMT]Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary, Mr. Austin Fernando, and Secretary to the Finance Ministry, Charitta Ratwatte, were in Vavuniya Saturday to assess the current security situation and resettlement activities in Vavuniya and surrounding areas, military sources said. Full story >> Women's group meets LTTE officials in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2003, 18:21 GMT] Batticaloa Womens Movement for Social Upliftment met with Colonel Karuna and other senior officials of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the meeting hall of the Thenakam Rest House in Karadiyanaru, Batticaloa Friday at 8pm to discuss issues confronting women including employment opportunities, education, and welfare of single parent families, sources in Batticaloa said.Full story >> LTTE condemns SLA's intimidating behaviour in Jaffna[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2003, 17:44 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Saturday complained to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers are intimidating its members and public in Jaffna district, sources said. Full story >> Point Pedro workers protest against body checks by SLA[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2003, 17:40 GMT]Point Pedro harbour workers in the Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district Saturday struck work protesting against the body check by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers bringing the unloading of cargo from two vessels anchored in the harbour to a standstill, district secretariat sources said. Full story >> Creeping salinity damages 4000 hectares of Jaffna fertile land[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2003, 13:27 GMT]More than 4500 hectares of fertile agricultural lands have turned saline in the past several years and have become unsuitable for cultivation, said S. Sinnathurai, Jaffna district assistant commissioner of agriculture in a meeting of the district Agricultural Society held in Jaffna secretariat, local papers reported. Full story >> 92,000 IDPs yet to return to Valigamam north HSZ[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2003, 02:46 GMT]Of more than one hundred thousand internally displaced (IDP) Tamil people from Valigamam north since 1987, only about 8,838 persons from four hundred and sixteen families were allowed to return to their homes. Around ninety two thousand IDPs are yet to return to Valigamam north, which is designated as HSZ, Jaffna district secretariat sources said. Full story >> Advanced Technology Institute to open in Kilinochchi[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2003, 17:18 GMT]International Tamil Technical Professionals’ Organization (ITTPO), based in the Silicon Valley region of California, and founded in September 2002 funded by members of the Sri Lankan Tamil Expatriate community, said today in a press release that the opening ceremony for its planned Advanced Technological Institute in kilinochchi will be held Monday. Full story >> Peace ceremony shifted to Vavuniya due to protests[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2003, 17:05 GMT]A ceremony to honour personalities who have dedicated themselves to promote peace and harmony in the country and scheduled to be held in Jaffna University Kailasapathy Auditorium Saturday morning has been shifted to Vavuniya due to protests by civil groups, sources said. Full story >> SLA conducts house-to-house search in Vadamarachchi[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2003, 16:30 GMT]Hundreds of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Friday conducted house-to-house search in Thumpalai east and Moorkam villages in the Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district, civil group sources said. Full story >> East High Court to inquire Satyaraj bail application[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2003, 15:26 GMT]The East High Court Judge Mr.S.Paramarajah Friday said the bail application submitted on behalf of the political head of LTTE in Puthur division in Batticaloa district Mr.Subaraj Devanayagam alias Satyaraj will be taken up for inquiry on June 27 at Trincomalee session, legal sources said. Full story >> Northeast elections postponed till January 24[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2003, 15:16 GMT]The elections to fifty local government institutions in the northeast province which were scheduled to be held on June 25 has been postponed for another six months. The new election date is January 24,2004, election department sources said. Full story >> SLA bars students from entering Point-Pedro schools after hours[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2003, 15:10 GMT]524 Brigade of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) located in Point Pedro Friday ordered no students and teachers should enter the Hartley College and Methodist Girls College after three p.m. These two leading educational institutions in the Vadamarachchi division are located inside the SLA 524 brigade complex, sources said. Full story >> Anandasangari removed from TULF working committee[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2003, 11:45 GMT]Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader V. Anandasangari has been removed from the working committee of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) sources from TNA circles said. Full story >> Jaffna Islanders extend support to Pongu Thamil[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2003, 10:49 GMT]Island Peoples' Welfare Association ( IPWA) in Jaffna district Wednesday extended its wholehearted co-operation to the success of Pongu Thamil celebration, which is scheduled to be held on June 27 in Jaffna, sources said. Full story >> Supreme Court reserves order on General Ratwatte appeal[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2003, 00:01 GMT]The Supreme Court Thursday reserved its order for a later date on the appeal of the fifteen accused in the Udathalawinne massacre case including former Defence Minister General Ratwatte and his two sons Lohan and Chanuka against the High Court rejection of their bail application Wednesday, legal sources said. Full story >> Volunteers teachers made permanent assume duties in NE[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2003, 18:46 GMT]Ninety percent of the nine hundred and nine Tamil medium volunteers made permanent Thursday assumed duties in their respective Tamil medium schools in the northeast, provincial education ministry officials said. Full story >> Unidentified men lob grenade at Jaffna LTTE political office[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2003, 18:39 GMT]Two unidentified men who came in a Hero Honda motorbike Thursday night around seven and lobbed a grenade inside the premises of the political office of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which is located along Wyman Road in Jaffna town, civil sources said. Full story >> LTTE responds to Prime Minister’s offer[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2003, 18:03 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said Thursday that they would consider returning to the peace negotiations only when the Government of Sri Lanka offers a practical conceptual framework for an interim administrative structure. Full story >> Remand extended for LTTE Putur political head[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2003, 18:02 GMT]The LTTE's political leader for Putur, Batticaloa district, Mr. T. Satyaraj, who was arrested on remanded on June 6 until June 20, was further remanded for 14 days by the Batticaloa Magistrate, Abdul Gaffor when the case was taken up again Thursday, sources said. Full story >> Chankanai Secretariat employees demand release of abducted GS[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2003, 15:48 GMT]Chankanai Divisional Secretariat in Jaffna district did not function Thursday as its employees picketed the office demanding the release of a Grama Sevaka Officer (village level officer) Mr.Nagalingam Kumarakurunathan who had been abducted on June 10 by unidentified persons, civil sources said. Full story >> SLA constructs new camps, sentries in Vadamaradchi[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2003, 15:26 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Thursday commenced constructing new camps and sentries in Amban, Kudathanai and Manalkadu areas in Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district, civil sources said. Full story >> Parliament suspended following 'mock funeral ceremony'[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2003, 12:34 GMT]The Speaker Mr.Joseph Michael Perera adjourned Thursday parliament for about an hour when a group of opposition parliamentarians entered the house dressed in black clothes and carrying a replica of a coffin, parliamentary sources said. Full story >> Proposed IA should lead towards final political solution - TNA[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2003, 11:05 GMT]The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Wednesday requested the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe to formulate a structure for an Interim Administration (IA) for the Tamil dominated northeast province that serves as a step towards finding a permanent political solution to the national conflict, TNA sources said. Full story >> Northeast elections to be postponed again[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2003, 10:59 GMT]Northeast local government elections are likely to be put off for another year, according to well-informed sources in the Election Department. Meanwhile the Commissioner of Elections is likely to inform the United National Front government the difficulties in holding elections on June 25 as already gazetted, department sources said. Full story >> LTTE, Norwegians discuss ways to overcome talks impasse[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2003, 16:47 GMT]Norway's Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Hans Brattskar, visited Killinochchi and met Head of the Political section of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Mr. S.P. Thamilselvan Wednesday morning. In a meeting that lasted around ninety minutes, the two sides discussed the current impasse in the peace talks and avenues for resolving the deadlock, according to the LTTE’s Peace Secretariat. Full story >> CWC to protest against Upper Kotmale Project[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2003, 11:31 GMT]Housing and Estate Infrastructure Minister and President of Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Arumugam Thondaman, said Wednesday that CWC is organizing a protest rally calling for the abandonment of the Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project on the 23 June in Nuwareliya District, according to local reports. Full story >> High Court rejects Ratwatte bail application[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2003, 11:17 GMT]The Trial-at-Bar of the High Court inquiring into the Udathalawinne massacre case Wednesday refused bail for the fifteen accused including former Defence Minister General Anurudha Ratwatte and his two sons Lohan and Chanuka. The three member Trial-at-Bar rejected the bail application by the accused which was forwarded to them by the Supreme Court for perusal and determination, legal sources said. Full story >> Election bill amendments need 2/3 majority - Supreme Court[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2003, 10:50 GMT]The Sri Lanka's parliament Speaker Mr.Joseph Michael Perera Wednesday informed the house that the Supreme Court has determined that two third majority is required to pass the Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Bill in parliament, parliamentary sources said. Full story >> Jaffna fisheries sector condemns sinking of LTTE vessel[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2003, 19:14 GMT]The Northern Province Fishermen's Co-operative Societies Union (NPFCSU) Tuesday condemned the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) for destroying the LTTE oil tanker in the international waters. "All peace loving citizens who are working to achieve lasting political solution to the conflict would not condone such acts," said the NPFCSU in a statement released Tuesday, sources said. Full story >> SLMM action sought on stopping new SLA camps in Jaffna[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2003, 19:13 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Tuesday asked the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission to take immediate steps to stop the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from establishing new camps in the peninsula and disrupting the normal life of the people in the name of strengthening security, sources said. Full story >> Land issues discussed in Tamil, Muslim subcommittee meet[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2003, 16:35 GMT]A meeting of the subcommittee on Tamil-Muslim land issues in the Koralaipattu East (Valaichenai), Koralaipattu North (Vakarai), Koralaipattu South (Kiran), Koralaipattu West (Ottamavady) divisions of the Batticaloa district was held Tuesday morning at the Valaichenai divisional secretariat, sources said. Full story >> Jaffna private sector education to be streamlined[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2003, 13:40 GMT]Jaffna educationists and managers of private educational institutions Monday evening unanimously decided to streamline the functions of private sector education in Jaffna district to ease burden on students and to ensure welfare of the society and development of education, sources said. Full story >> Pongu Thamil organisers receive death threats[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2003, 13:13 GMT]Organisers of a mass protest in Jaffna next week calling for the withdrawal of Sri Lankan troops from homes, schools and public places are facing death threats, student leaders said this week. There have also been attempts on the lives of some organisers of the ‘Pongu Thamil’ event scheduled for June 27, they said. Full story >> Subathiran's final rites to be held in Colombo[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2003, 11:27 GMT]The body of Jaffna leader of Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF- Varathar faction) Thambirajah Subathiran (alias Robert) who was shot dead in Jaffna by a sniper Saturday was taken to Colombo from Palaly airport Monday morning amid tight security, local reports said. Full story >> Ilancheliyan reappointed as Vavuniya district court Judge[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2003, 11:10 GMT]Manikavasagar Ilancheliyan who returned recently from Hong Kong after completing his masters degree in Human Rights Law has been re-appointed to assume duties as the Judge of Vavuniya district court from Monday, legal sources in Vavuniya said. Full story >> New checkpoints added, more troops deployed in Jaffna[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2003, 17:07 GMT]The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna district is establishing new checkpoints and strengthening its existing camps and sentries, civilian sources in Jaffna said. Additional troops have been deployed in Vadamarachchi and Thenmaradchchi division in Jaffna district, sources added. Full story >> SLMM stops Sri Lanka troops from checking LTTE Jaffna office[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2003, 17:00 GMT]The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) members in Jaffna were able to diffuse the tension built up in Chullipuram area in Jaffna district when soldiers of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Monday morning surrounded the LTTE political office located at Vallakambarai- Chullipuram and attempted to search it, sources said. Full story >> SLA, LTTE meet to discuss Batti-Amparai security[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2003, 11:54 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commanders and Commanders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) met in Vavunathivu, Batticaloa secretariat 2pm Monday to discuss security issues in Batticaloa-Amparai district, security sources said. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) organized the meeting. Full story >> Batti-Amparai Education Officials meet in Karadiyanaru[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2003, 11:28 GMT]Principals and Education Officials from Batticaloa-Amparai district met in the Thenakam Rest House meeting Hall in Karadiyanaru at 7.30 pm Sunday to discuss steps to be taken to monitor progress and to improve the general level education in the district. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) head of the political wing of Batti-Amparai, E. Kausalyan presided the event, according to sources. Full story >> SLA vacates Thiruketheeswaram temple[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2003, 11:04 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) which have been occupying the buildings of the Thiruketheeswaram temple in Mannar have vacated the premises last week, according to local reports.Full story >> Jaffna Children's Media Group demands action[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2003, 10:07 GMT]In a mini-parliament involving the Children's Media Group (CMG) facilitated by the Save the Children in Sri Lanka, Jaffna district was held in Veerasingham Hall earlier this month. In the event, the children of Jaffna called on the decision makers to take action on issues of health and nutrition, child abuse and Education that affect the children. This report contains corrections to an earlier report published in TamilNet. Full story >> CJDPO condemns SLA violence against LTTE in Jaffna[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2003, 05:51 GMT]The Confederation of Jaffna District Public Organization (CJDPO) Sunday condemned several violent acts of the Sri Lanka government troops committed on Saturday and Sunday against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political activists and their offices in the Valigamam division, sources said. Full story >> SLMM diffuses tension at Siththankerny checkpoint[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2003, 18:52 GMT]The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Sunday evening diffused tension built up at Siththankerny-Pannakam road in Valigamam division in Jaffna district when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers stopped a LTTE cadre and attempted to check his bag he was carrying and grabbed his identity card, sources said. Full story >> SLA's increased checking of Jaffna civilians violates MoU - LTTE[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2003, 18:42 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Saturday complained to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is violating the ceasefire agreement by checking civilians who pass through main checkpoints at Vallai on Jaffna-Point Pedro road, Ayam on Point Pedro-Chavakachcheri road and Mulli on Point Pedro Kodikamam road, sources said. Full story >> Trinco Rotary Club selects new president[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2003, 16:13 GMT]A business executive in the east port town Mr.Ramanathapillai Rajarammohan was selected as the twenty- fifth President of the Trincomalee Rotary Club Saturday night at a function held at Hotel Club Oceanic in Uppuveli. Speaking at the function Mr. Rajarammohan said that "The Rotary club played a major role in setting up refugee camps to people in distress due to violence in 1983 and also has helped the displaced families to resettle in Trincomalee district by building houses with the support of international agencies." Full story >> LTTE registers protest with SLMM on SLN's sinking of vessel[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2003, 15:38 GMT]Thamilselvan, head of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in a letter addressed to General Tryggve Tellefsen, head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, pointed out that Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is playing a delaying game with the SLMM to allow the oil spills in the actual position in international waters where the vessel was sunk and requested the SLMM to "take immediate steps to ensure the safety of our cadres and inform us their whereabouts at the quickest time possible." Full story >> Grenade explosion injures four in Valaichenai[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2003, 11:52 GMT]Four people were injured when a grenade thrown by unknown assailants exploded near a butcher store in the Muslim market in Valaichenai, 32km north of Batticaloa town, at 10.15 am Sunday, according to Batticaloa police sources. Full story >> Colombo has failed to bring normalcy to Northeast - FJDMA[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2003, 11:08 GMT]The Federation of the Jaffna District Minibus Association (FJDMA) Sunday told the United National Front (UNF) government that it has failed to create a conducive situation in the northeast province enabling the internally displaced families to return to their villages. "Instead the government is insisting on maintaining the high security zones in residential areas according to the agenda of its military," the Federation said in a statement, Jaffna sources said. Full story >> EPDP cadre shot dead in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2003, 10:52 GMT]Ponniah Ramachandran (42), a member of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and a father of three children, was shot dead by unknown gunmen around 11am Sunday along the Batticaloa-Kallady Thiruchenthoor Road, security sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> SLA aircraft damaged on landing, troops escape injury[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2003, 18:10 GMT]Sri Lanka Air Force's (SLAF's) AN-32 aircraft carrying 55 soldiers from Colombo Ratmalana airport to Palaly airport in Jaffna veered off the runway during landing and crashed into a nearby a signpost Saturday injuring one soldier, said security sources in Jaffna. Full story >> Jaffna under tight security following Subathiran killing[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2003, 17:45 GMT]Additional government troops and police personnel were deployed Saturday in Jaffna town and its suburbs following the killing of a senior member of the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) Varathar wing Mr. Kandiah Subathiran alias Robert, sources said Full story >> LTTE blames SLN for sinking of merchant vessel[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2003, 16:19 GMT]In a press release issued Saturday by the Political Head Quarters of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Kilinochchi, LTTE said that it had informed the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission that SLN's sinking of LTTE's merchant vessel today is "a gross violation of the ceasefire agreement and if any harm were to befall the crew of the LTTE vessel then the sole responsibility for the events lay with the Sri Lanka Navy and that this incident would have very grave consequences." Full story >> Road closure by SLA halts temple festival in Kalkudah[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2003, 11:37 GMT] Trustees of Munai Murugan temple in Kalkudah, 35km North of Batticaloa town, said Saturday that devotees have no access to the temple and that the popular annual temple festivals cannot be held due to the closure of the main road leading to the temple by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).Full story >> SLN sinks LTTE vessel in international waters[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2003, 09:30 GMT]The Sri Lanka navy Saturday intercepted and sank a merchant vessel of the Liberation Tigers travelling in international waters, 266 miles off the Trincomalee coast, LTTE sources said. The twelve crewmen of the ship had donned life jackets and jumped overboard when SLN gunboats began firing on their vessel and were arrested by the Navy, they said. Full story >> SLN harrassment may lead to confrontation at sea- Thamilselvan[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2003, 03:48 GMT]Thamilselvan, leader of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) told head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) General Tryggve Tellefsen who led a delegation of SLMM members to Kilinochchi Friday that increasing intereference with LTTE vessels in LTTE areas, investigation of these vessels, and continued harrasment of sea-tigers will inevitably lead to confrontation if these SLN activities are not checked, local papers reported. Full story >> EPRLF Varathar wing senior member shot dead in Jaffna[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2003, 03:10 GMT]An unidentified sniper is reported to have shot dead Mr. Kandiah Subathiran alias Robert, the most senior member of the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (Varathar wing) Saturday morning around 6.30 when he was doing physical exercise in the upper floor of the EPRLF (Varathar wing) office which is located along the Jaffna hospital road, police said. Full story >> Measles immunization programme inaugurated in northeast[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2003, 00:31 GMT]Sri Lanka's health ministry Friday launched its first national level measles immunization programme in the country. The inaugural event was held for the time in the northeast province and the programme would be extended to other provinces in the country in September, October 2003, health ministry sources said. Full story >> PA urges UNF not to give into LTTE's demands[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2003, 00:05 GMT]The main opposition Peoples Alliance (PA) which governed Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2001 demanded the United National Front (UNF) government to place the armed forces on red alert as the PA believed that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has reverted its position to Tamil homeland policy and its demand for an institution with more administrative and political powers is a step towards LTTE's goal for a separate state, Tamil Eelam, polical sources in Colombo said. Full story >> LTTE demands release of cadre arrested one year ago[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2003, 11:25 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Friday said it would release the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldier, Mr.S.T.Ruwankumara, who is in its custody in Trincomalee district in exchange of its cadre Kururathan now in remand for more than a year, sources said. Full story >> Mandoor STF attacks Temple devotees[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2003, 03:57 GMT]Devotees of Kannakai amman temple in 15th Colony in Mandoor, who were on their way to obtain provisions from Vellavelly, Kambiyirakkam village for the final festival were beaten by the Special Task Force (STF) soldiers stationed in Mandoor, security sources said. Full story >> Leprosy Control programme to be inaugurated in Northeast[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2003, 00:20 GMT]A workshop was held Thursday in Trincomalee on the implementation of an Integrated Leprosy Control Services Project in the Northeast province at the auditorium of the provincial ministry of health. Full story >> Grenade blast injures four in Valaichenai[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 18:34 GMT]Four persons were wounded in a grenade attack in Valaichenai, 32 km. north of Batticaloa, Thursday evening. Police and Army soldiers have been put on security alert following the incident, security sources said. Full story >> Mutur Tamil youths complain of torture by Navy soldiers[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 18:18 GMT]Two Tamil youths, Vettivel Kiritharan (23) and Kanagasabai Nagendran (21) of Pattalipuram in the Mutur East have been reported assaulted and tortured by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel after being arrested on Wednesday, according to a complaint made to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) by the youths. Full story >> Three injured in Trinco grenade attack, firing incident[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 17:15 GMT]Unidentified men Thursday night lobbed grenades at a house in Orr's Hill area and fired at a person in Chelvanayakapuram area, suburbs in the Trincomalee town causing injuries to three persons including a woman, Trincomalee police said. Full story >> LTTE demands release of political official[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 11:59 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) demanded the release of its Puliyanthivu, Batticaloa district head of political wing, Sathiyaraj, as a condition for releasing the two Sri Lanka Police officers LTTE arrested in Chenkaladi Tuesday, security sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> Hartal observed in Batticaloa and Amparai[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 11:33 GMT] Batticaloa district Peoples Coalition organized a hartal (work stoppage) in Batticaloa and Amparai districts Thursday protesting the recent arrests of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political officials, increasing road checks on the civilians by the Security forces and the rise in random killings, sources in the eastern province said.Full story >> Jaffna, East undergrads condemn arrest of LTTE official[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 01:57 GMT]Undergraduates of University of Jaffna expressed their support to the protest fast being carried out by the fellow students of the Eastern University campus condemning the arrest of the Pulliyanthivu, Batticaloa district, head of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Sathiyaraj by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), student union sources said. Full story >> Measles immunization programme to begin in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 00:15 GMT]For the first time a national measles immunization programme is to be inaugurated in the northeast province on June 13, Friday. This programme would be extended to other provinces in the island from September onwards, provincial health ministry official said. Full story >> Jaffna to hold Methodist District Synod after 15 years[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 00:04 GMT]The North East District Synod of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka is to be held in Jaffna for the first time after fifteen years on June 13 and June 14. Ministers and leaders of the thirteen circuits of the Methodist Churches in the northeast will participate in the synod, church sources said. Full story >> Polikandy resident abducted[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2003, 16:54 GMT]Mr.Thambithurai Kulasingham,50, a resident of Polikandy in the Vadamarachchi division of the Jaffna district, is alleged to have been abducted by a group of persons in a white Hi-ace van when he was returning from the Nelliyadi police station Tuesday evening, police sources said. Full story >> First dengue death in Trincomalee reported[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2003, 16:44 GMT]Death due to dengue fever was reported in the Trincomalee district Wednesday for the first time. A six-year-old girl who was reported to have contracted dengue fever later died at the Trincomalee general hospital, provincial health authorities said. Full story >> LTTE insists on draft framework for interim administration to resume talks[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2003, 11:46 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in an official statement issued from its headquarters in Kilinochchi, northern Sri Lanka Wednesday reiterated its position that it would participate in the negotiating process only when the Sri Lankan government puts forward a clearly defined draft framework for an interim administrative structure for the Northeast. Full story >> Grenade attack on Trinco EPDP office[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2003, 11:14 GMT]Unidentified men lobbed grenades at the Trincomalee office of the para military group Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP) Tuesday night, police said. The roof of the building was damaged, but no one was injured, according to police sources. Full story >> Disappearance investigations need GoSL, LTTE support - ICRC[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2003, 03:19 GMT]On the appeal made at the fifth round of talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at the Norwegian Embassy in Berlin on 7, 8 February 2003, International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) came forward to provide assistance in investigation of the people who disappeared in Northeast after 1990, said Filipa Nato Marques, the resident representative of the ICRC in Batticaloa district during a press briefing held Tuesday evening at the ICRC office in Batticaloa. Full story >> Villagers oppose new police station in community centre[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2003, 00:24 GMT]Residents of Kudathanai in Vadamarachchi east division in Jaffna district have opposed the establishment of a police station in a community centre in the village, sources said. Full story >> NGO to assist farmers affected by HSZ[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2003, 00:15 GMT]An international non-governmental organization ACTIONFAIM has formulated a scheme to provide livelihood assistance to resettled villagers in Thenamaradchchi division in Jaffna district who are unable to cultivate their agricultural lands occupied by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), divisional secretariat sources said. Full story >> Policemen missing in east, youths take cyanide[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 22:03 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Police personnel were reported missing in Chenkalady, 16 kilometres north of Batticaloa, Tuesday night. The two, deployed at the Eravur Police station, were riding a motorbike off duty when unidentified persons are believed to have abducted them Tuesday night, they said. Full story >> Tokyo donors' conference will not benefit Sri Lanka -PA[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 20:06 GMT]Sri Lanka’s main opposition People’s Alliance (PA) led by President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Tuesday said ninety percent of aid pledged at the Tokyo donors' conference are loans and not grants. "Majority of the aid given at the donors' conference are on various interest rates with several conditions attached," said People’s Alliance media spokesman Mr.Sarath Amunugama at a press briefing held Tuesday at the office of the Leader of the Opposition. Full story >> De-link Tokyo aid from globalization agenda say scholars, NGOs[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 16:19 GMT]The needs assessment for spending funds pledged by donors for development and reconstruction in Sri Lanka this week should be de-linked from the globalisation agenda of the super power said two civil society groups at the conclusion of the two-day aid conference in Tokyo Tuesday. In a statement issued from Tokyo Tuesday they said the blue print for economic development presented to the donors by Colombo would exacerbate poverty in the countryside. Full story >> Indian fishermen rescued in Trincomalee seas[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 15:32 GMT]Two Indian fishermen, Palaniandy Karunanithi and Andiappan Nadukattan, were rescued by Sri Lankan fishermen in the deep seas off Trincomalee Saturday. They were sent to Mirihana detention centre to be sent back to India on the orders of the Trincomalee Magistrate and additional District Judge Mr.S.Thiagendran, legal sources said. Full story >> Trinco Pallampoddar Amman Temple festival held[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 13:12 GMT]Thousands of devotees participated in the annual ‘Pongal’ festival of the historic Pallampoddar Paththini Amman temple in the Trincomalee district, Monday night. Full story >> Sri Lankan Prime Minister's concluding remarks in Tokyo[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 11:32 GMT]"Sri Lanka has to overcome the delays, the blockages and the inertia of its bureaucratic apparatus and transform it into one capable of speedy implementation where work is done efficiently and effectively. This requires significant political resolve and I intend to provide the leadership necessary to achieve this result," said Sri Lanka's Prime Minister in his statement to the concluding session of the Japan aid meeting on 10 June. Full story >> Funds insufficient to repair Vanni irrigation tanks - Engineer[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 11:16 GMT]Muttaiyankattu Irrigation Engineer, S. Shanmugarajah, said that funds allocated for repair of several irrigation tanks in Vanni are insufficient and urgent assistance is required to rehabilitate the tanks for safe operation, local reports said. Full story >> Pongal festival celebrated in Vattapallai Amman Temple[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 02:27 GMT]Thousands of devotees from different parts of Northeast joined in the pongal celebrations held at Vattapallai Amman Temple, a popular hindu temple in Vanni, Monday. The prevailing climate of peace after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of SriLanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was the reason for such large gathering of devotees at the temple festival, sources said. Full story >> Armitage addresses Sri Lanka donors' conference[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 00:59 GMT]Noting that the momentum of the Sri Lanka peace process is slowing, US Deputy Secretary of State Armitage said the international community needs to provide an infusion of moral and material support to move the parties and the process forward when he addressed the Sri Lanka donors' conference in Japan, Monday. But, he said, "no matter how much we pledge at this conference, it is ultimately the prime minister, the president of Sri Lanka, members of the LTTE, and most importantly of all the people of Sri Lanka, who will have to deliver on the promise of peace." Full story >> Trinco TRO launches housing project in Paththinipuram[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2003, 19:17 GMT] The Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in Trincomalee Monday launched a housing project for the resettled families in Paththinipuram, a hamlet in Tampalakamam division and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Trincomalee district political head Mr.S.Tilak Monday around 12 noon laid the foundation stone for the first house to be constructed, sources said.
Full story >> Jaffna co-op officials urge Sri Lanka's PM to establish IA[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2003, 19:16 GMT]The Jaffna District Agricultural and Consumers Co-operative Societies Union (ACCSU) said Monday that the long awaited permanent peace could be achieved only through establishing an Interim Administration (IA) for the Northeast province with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at the helm, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> SLA allows re-opening of Gurunagar ice factory[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2003, 16:25 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has agreed for the opening of Gurunagar ice factory when Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Minister Dr.Jayalath Jayawardene Monday held discussions with Colonel Udawatte of 512 Brigade of the SLA located at Gurunagar in Jaffna district, security sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Tamil Language purity must be preserved - Ilankumaran[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2003, 10:54 GMT]V. Ilankumaran, head of Tamileelam Educational Organization, while addressing the audience during discussions in Kilinochchi on Tamil literature, Sunday, said that it is important to enforce discipline in the use of Tamil to prevent intrusion of foreign language words into speaking and written Tamil, and to preserve the purity of this ancient language. Full story >> NE provincial physical training competition held in Trinco[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2003, 18:39 GMT]More than five hundred students from 23 schools in Northeast province participated in the eighth annual physical training competition held in Trincomalee Mc Heyzer stadium, Sunday, sports officials in Trincomalee said. Full story >> Clearing mines in Northeast will take six years - Scottish Expert[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2003, 16:03 GMT]A scottish technical expert in the field of mine clearing, Mr. Deim, said that it will take at least six year to clear all landmines buried in the Northeast. He also said that the estimate of a total of one million landmines is too low and that he suspects the number to be much higher, according sources in Kilinochchi. Full story >> NECORD helps build war destroyed school buildings[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2003, 14:28 GMT]Two new school buildings constructed at a cost of about three million rupees by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) programme in the resettled Tamil villages Kumburupiddy and Kuchchaveli in the north of Trincomalee district were declared open Saturday, education officials in Trincomalee said. Full story >> NIAP officials survey work in Vannerikulam, Aanaivilunthan[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2003, 12:28 GMT]Nimal Fernando, the Country resident representative of the World Bank which is funding the North East Irrigation and Agriculture Project (NIAP), the Chief Engineer, Kilichochi district Government Agent (GA) Mr. T. Rasanayakam visited Vannerikulam and Aanaivilunthan kulam to survey the rehabilitation work of the irrigation tanks Saturday, said sources in Kilinochchi. Full story >> Student parliament convened in Jaffna[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2003, 02:11 GMT]Hundreds of students from schools in Jaffna district took part in a student parliament held at the Veerasingam Hall on Saturday, sources in Jaffna said. This was the first time an event of this type was organized in Jaffna peninsula, student leaders in Jaffna said. Full story >> Toppling UNF Government, PA's sole focus - Batty Weerakoon[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2003, 00:11 GMT]"People's Alliance (PA) of President Chandrika Kumaratunge does not have alternate policies for responding to issues of national importance. Instead PA is expending its energy in planning to topple the current United National Front (UNF) government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe," said Batty Weerakoon, Leader of leftist Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), speaking at a meeting of Civil Service Union in Colombo Thursday, local reports said. Full story >> Jaffna Principals appeal to UNF government to establish IA[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 17:35 GMT]The Northern Principals' Association (JPA) Saturday requested the United National Front (UNF) government to establish an appropriate administrative structure in the northeast under the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to serve as a foundation for find lasting peace in the country. "This request should be accepted by the Colombo government and the peace loving groups without delay," said the Jaffna Principals' Association in a statement issued Saturday in Jaffna, sources said. Full story >> Japanese embassy refuses visa to civil society delegation[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 16:51 GMT]Three member delegation of the North -East and South civil society invited to participate in the Japan donors conference by the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), a non-governmental organization based in Tokyo was refused visa by the Japanese Embassy in Colombo, one of the members of the delegation Mr.T.Mahasivam said Saturday. Full story >> Batticaloa-Amparai News in Brief[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 15:20 GMT]Batticaloa-Colombo train service to resume after a false start, new library for Batticalo Town to be opened on Saturday and suspension of bus service to Kannakipuram in Ampara district causes severe hardships to residents of the impoverished village. Full story >> Razeek group arrests two LTTE members in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 14:57 GMT]Razeek group cadres arrested V. Paranitharan and S.Sathiaraj, members of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and handed them over to the Sri Lanka police Friday morning in Thimilathivu in Batticaloa district, ex-militant sources said. Full story >> EPDP cadre shot dead in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 14:18 GMT]Unidentified gunmen Saturday early morning shot dead Raju Wijenathan alias Wijeyan, a thirty three year old Tamil youth who was a member of the para military group Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) when he was staying in his brother's restaurant, Trincomalee Police said. Full story >> Colombo taking steps to enforce Official Language Policy - Language Commissioner[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 13:03 GMT]"Although Sinhala, Tamil and English were declared as official languages fifteen years ago Sri Lanka governments of the past have not taken adequate measures to facilitate use of Tamil in Government offices of the Northeast," said D.U.Gunasekara, Head of the Official Language Commission briefing the press Friday in Rajagiriya, Colombo. Full story >> Ex-EPDP member killed in grenade explosion[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 10:39 GMT]Former member of Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Chinniah Samuel alias Vinoth (31) and his 15 month old daughter Samuel Abhisha were killed instantly when a grenade exploded at Araiyampathi in Batticaloa district Friday night at 9.40pm, said ex-militant sources in Batticaloa. Full story >> Talks should be based on concrete proposals – Balasingham[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 06:45 GMT]Negotiations on an Interim Administration for the Northeast could only begin once the Sri Lankan government had produced a detailed draft of its proposals for such a body, the Liberation Tigers said Friday. Discussions could only proceed usefully on the basis of “specific and concrete” proposals from Colombo, the LTTE’s Chief Negotiator and Political Advisor, Mr. Anton Balasingham, told TamilNet when asked about press reports suggesting the government had agreed to the establishment of an Interim Administration. Full story >> Supreme Court's decision awaited on Northeast election Bill[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 01:10 GMT]The Supreme Court Friday is expected to convey its determination on the Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Bill to the President and Speaker of Sri Lanka's parliament soon, legal sources in Colombo said. The bill sent by the Speaker came up for inquiry before the Supreme Court Friday for its determination, according to legal sources. Full story >> Kommathurai SLA still occupies private homes, school[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2003, 19:17 GMT]Sri Lankan Army (SLA) personnel at the SLA camp in Kommathurai, located 17 km to the North of Batticaloa town continue to occupy several private residences and the Vinayagar Vidyalayam depriving the students at the school a conducive environment for obtaining proper education, school sources said. Full story >> Colombo JVP demonstration attracts more than 10,000[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2003, 16:52 GMT] More than ten-thousand members and activists, including parliamentary members of the Sinhala nationalist party, the Janta Vimukti Peramuna (JVP), took part in a massive rally in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, Friday afternoon, protesting against attempts by the Sri Lanka government to hand over Northeast interim administration to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), political sources in Colombo said.Full story >> Cordon and search operation in Sinhala settlement[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2003, 16:40 GMT]Thirty-four people were arrested during a joint cordon and search operation by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and police in Srimavopura, a Sinhala settlement in the eastern Trincomalee, Friday morning, police said. The search was conducted to arrest the increased number of criminal seeking refuge in the Trincomalee district, the sources said. Full story >> Committee probing attack on NE journalists concludes inquiry[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2003, 14:52 GMT]The two-member committee of inquiry headed by the retired High Court Judge Mr. Oliver Weerasena concluded its three-day inquiry into assaults of journalists in the Northeast Friday evening at the Jaffna district secretariat, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Tamil students uprising celebrated in Northeast[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2003, 14:03 GMT]Thousands of Tamil students in the Northeast Friday celebrated the day of Student Uprising participating in processions and holding public meetings in several parts of the Northeast, sources from different districts in Northeast said. Full story >> Humanitarian mine clearing group completes training[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2003, 11:48 GMT]A new group of workers from the Humanitarian Mine Clearing division which completed training that complied with international standards participated in a passing out ceremony held in the training center in Paranthan in Kilinochchi district at 4pm Friday, said sources. Full story >> Ariyalai residents' resettlement delayed due to uncleared mines[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2003, 11:09 GMT]Residents of Maniyam thottam in Ariyalai Southeast in Jaffna district, in a letter to the Nallur Pradeshya sabha secretary, have appealed to expedite clearing of mines in Mulli area in Ariyalai to facilitate their temporary resettlement in Mulli, said local reports from Jaffna. Full story >> Trade Unions jointly respond to 'Regaining Sri Lanka'[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2003, 00:54 GMT]The two-day workshop held in Trincomalee Vigneswara Maha Vidiyalayam concluded Thursday as representatives of trade unions, welfare organizations and humanitarian agencies in the south and Northeast agreed to submit a joint response to the Sri Lanka government's 'Regaining Sri Lanka' document prepared as a presenting document to the aid meeting to be held in Japan starting from 9 June, sources said. Full story >> Political confusion in Colombo said undermining peace[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2003, 20:04 GMT]"It would be absolutely imprudent on our part to predicate the future of the Tamil people on the unpredictable political climate we are witnessing in Colombo now. It is getting progressively unstable. A politically powerful section of the Sinhala Buddhist clergy asserts that President Kumaratunga wowed during a meeting with its leaders that she would divide the Northeast province. The political bankruptcy of the Sri Lankan state in solving the ethnic conflict never stood so well exposed," said Mr. Selvam Adaikalanathan, MP, a senior leader of the Tamil National Alliance, Thursday. Full story >> Foundation stone laid for Chavakachcheri maternity home[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2003, 17:31 GMT]The foundation stone for the construction of a government maternity home at Chavakachcheri in the Jaffna district was laid Thursday by the Regional Director of health Services Mr.T.Sivapatham who was the chief guest at the event . The hospital complex was completely destroyed when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched multi-barrel artillery (MBRL) attack on the town in 2000. Full story >> NE observes Environment Day[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2003, 13:38 GMT]Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) and Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organization (TEEDOR), Thursday organised tree planting campaign in the Northeast province to mark the World Environment Day. Full story >> Jewellery shop deaths alarm Jaffna residents[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2003, 12:01 GMT]The deaths of two Tamil youths, Viswa (20) and Balachandran Raghavagan (19) who mysteriously died in Jaffna within the last four days inside Jewellery shops have alarmed the Jaffna public, security sources said. Full story >> Tamil students to celebrate day of Uprising[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2003, 11:55 GMT]With the motto "We will saw the seeds of education that instills responsibility and determination to preserve our motherland," Tamil students across Jaffna Peninsula are preparing to celebrate the day of student Uprising Friday, local reports from Jaffna said. Full story >> Jaffna educationists urge Lanka's Prime Minister to act on IA[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2003, 11:13 GMT]The Jaffna District Council for Advancement of Education of Tamils (JDCAET) Wednesday appealed to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe to take immediate steps to set up an interim administration for the northeast province with adequate powers to uplift the standard of living of the people of the soil and rebuild the war ravaged province, sources said. Full story >> World Bank team conducts field survey in Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2003, 04:49 GMT]Two World bank teams now in Sri Lanka Wednesday inspected four focal villages, two in Jaffna district and two in Vavuniya district in its four day field survey to assess the agricultural development works and restoration of minor irrigations tanks now being carried out by the North East Irrigated Agricultural Project (NEIAP), NEIAP sources said. Full story >> Tamil students' language skills below par - Education Secretary[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2003, 01:57 GMT]Two-day workshop for the Assistant Directors of Education (Tamil) in the twenty-one Tamil medium education zones in the northeast province organized by the NE Provincial Education Ministry in Trincomalee concluded Wednesday evening. The main objective of the workshop was to instill in the minds of the assistant directors who are in charge of teaching Tamil language in their respective zones the critical necessity of ensuring the development of Tamil language skills of Tamil medium students, sources said. Full story >> Heads of Mission from Europe meet LTTE[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2003, 14:22 GMT]Heads of Mission (HOMs) from The Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, met with Mr S P Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing of the LTTE, to reaffirm, as bilateral donors, their strong support for the peace process. Full story >> Public access to Batticaloa Police Station restricted[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2003, 11:46 GMT]Batticaloa residents are being forced to register their complaints in the checkpoint located in the main road and are not being admitted inside the Batticaloa Police station starting from Monday, local reports said. Police officials said that this procedure is instituted for the benefit of the public, according to reports. Full story >> Police yet to investigate attack on home says Batticaloa journalist[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2003, 10:37 GMT]“The Sri Lanka Police have not taken any action so far to investigate the grenade attack on my house in Valaichenai on Jan. 7 this year. I lodged a complaint at the Valaichenai Police station on the morning after the attack, in which an attempt was also made to set fire to my house”, said Mr. Senathirajah Jeyananthamoorthy, a leading Tamil journalist in the east giving evidence before a commission inquiring into attacks on media persons in the northeast Wednesday. Full story >> LTTE calls for negotiations on interim administration[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2003, 05:59 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said Wednesday it was prepared to resume negotiations with the Sri Lankan government on the establishment of an Interim Administrative structure empowered to undertake the tasks of rebuilding the war damaged economy and restoring normalcy in the Tamil speaking homeland. Full story >> World Bank teams begin field survey tour in NE[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2003, 00:50 GMT]Two teams of World Bank officials began their four day field survey tour in the districts of Northeast province Monday to assess agricultural development and restoration works on minor irrigation tanks now being carried out by the World Bank funded North East Irrigated Agricultural Project (NEIAP), government officials in Trincomalee said. Full story >> Workshop for NE planning officials begins in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2003, 00:25 GMT]A three-day workshop for the northeast planning staff to develop their skills in management and planning began on Tuesday at provincial guesthouse at Uppuveli in the outskirts of Trincomalee town, officials in the NorthEast Provincial Council (NEPC) said. Full story >> Permanent appointments for Tamil volunteer teachers[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2003, 17:08 GMT]One thousand Tamil medium volunteer teachers now serving in the Northeast province are to be made permanent in their posts on the instruction of the Public Service Commission (PSC) of the central government, NE Education Ministry Secretary Mr.R.Thiagalingam said Tuesday. Full story >> UNHCR Asst. Commissioner to visit northeast[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2003, 16:59 GMT]The Assistant High Commissioner of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Mr.Kamel Morjane is to begin his three-day field trip to Sri Lanka Wednesday, UNHCR sources said. Full story >> Jaffna to hold peace sports festival in September[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2003, 10:43 GMT]At a conference held Monday at the Jaffna district secretariat it was agreed to hold the second North-South peace sports festival in Jaffna peninsula on September 4, 5 and 6, provincial sports ministry sources said. Full story >> Indian fishermen handed over to Indian coast guard[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2003, 10:39 GMT]Nine Indian fishermen and four boatmen were handed over to the Indian coast naval guard in midsea off Mannar Monday by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on the orders of the Mannar acting Magistrate Mr.M.M.Saburdeen, legal sources said. Full story >> Speaker suspends sittings to bring order to Lanka's Parliament[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2003, 10:30 GMT]Pandemonium prevailed in Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday morning when opposition parliamentarians placed a wreath in front of the seat when the Interior Minister Mr.John Amaratunge rose to reply a verbal question from the opposition, parliamentary sources said. Full story >> EPRLF 'Varathar' wing member shot dead[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2003, 08:41 GMT]Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a member of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front ('Varathar' Wing), Mr.S.Kirubairaja, around 8 p.m., Monday night in the heart of Trincomalee town, police said. Full story >> Mathakal residents demand opening of school[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2003, 00:20 GMT]The school community of the Mathagal West Nunasai Vidyalayam, which has been displaced since the military operations by the Sri Lanka Armed forces in 1992, has requested the concerned authorities that the school should be re-opened at its original location, sources said. Full story >> UXOs hamper reforesting, forest inspection in Vanni[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2003, 00:10 GMT]The Tamil Eelam Forestry Division (TEFD) sources said that unexploded ordnances (UXOs) pose danger to the inspection of the destruction caused to forests in the Vanni during Operation JayaSikuru in 1997, when Sri Lankan military officers felled large trees, destroyed forests and profited by exporting them to the South. Full story >> Troop reduction in Jaffna imminent - SLA official[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2003, 11:48 GMT]"If the current climate of peace prevails longer there will soon be reduction of troops from current number of 40,000 to close to 10,000. We are preparing plans to introduce this reduction," said Colonel M.G.Ratnayake, special Public relations officer appointed by the Colombo Military Head Quaters, a leading Jaffna daily, Uthayan reported. Full story >> Educational institution for school drop-outs opens[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2003, 09:20 GMT]"In addition to teachers, parents involvement is also paramount in nuturing and providing the right environment for education of children," said S. Mohanasundaram, president of Educational Development Organization, participating as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the school for reintroducing school drop-outs back into the Government school system, in the LTTE controlled area of Vakarai-Periyathattumunai village in Batticaloa district sponsored by the UNICEF, education sources said. Full story >> VVT residents picket against new army camp[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2003, 09:06 GMT]Hundreds of students and residents of Valvettithurai in the north of Jaffna district Monday held a picketing campaign for about an hour opposing the establishment of a new camp of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Chithamabara College grounds. All vehicular movement on Valvettithurai-Keerimalai main road came to a standstill due to picketing, sources said. Full story >> July 1983 destroyed Trinco rice mill resumes operation[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2003, 01:39 GMT]The only rice mill of the Trincomalee Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) destroyed twenty year ago in the 1983 July pogrom resumed operation on Sunday morning at Love lane area in Uppuveli in the outskirts of east port town after being reconstructed at a cost 2.1 million rupees, MPCS sources said. Full story >> Tamileelam police issues speed advisory to motorists[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2003, 00:23 GMT]Following two deaths Saturday due to traffic accidents on A9, the Traffic section of Kilinochchi branch Tamileelam police issued an advisory to motorists to strictly adhere to speed limits instituted as safety precaution to allow A9 redevelopment work to proceed without delay, sources in Vanni said. Full story >> Former TELO member shot dead[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2003, 00:01 GMT]Kalirajah Ramanan (35), a former member of Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) and a former member of the Batticaloa Municipal Council was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Punochchimunai 7km north of Batticaloa town at 8.30pm Sunday, security sources said. Full story >> World Bank, ADB echo LTTE criticism of Sri Lanka bureaucracy[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2003, 18:26 GMT] The country representatives of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank said Saturday that they agreed with the Liberation Tigers’ criticism of the inefficiency of Sri Lanka government’s bureaucracy, the Sunday Times reported.
Full story >> NEPC donates relief materials to South disaster victims[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2003, 16:33 GMT]The North East Provincial Council Governor (retired) Major General Asoka Jayawardene is to hand over about three million rupees worth of dry ration, milk foods, clothes and other essential items to the Minister of Local Authorities and Provincial Councils Mr.Alick Aluwihare Monday morning to be distributed among victims of flood and landslides in the south of the country, sources said. Full story >> Three Sri Lanka Navy soldiers missing[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2003, 16:29 GMT]Three soldiers of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) are reported to be missing from Saturday after they went on patrol duty in a naval craft from Point Pedro Harbour at the northeastern corner of Jaffna peninsula towards Manalkadu lying south of Point Pedro, security sources in Jaffna said Sunday. Full story >> NEERP to hold workshop for northeast planning staff[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2003, 14:13 GMT]Three-day workshop for the northeast planning staff to develop their capacity will commence on June 3. The North East Provincial Planning Secretariat is to conduct the workshop sponsored by the World Bank funded North East Emergency Reconstruction Programme (NEERP) and the Ministry of Planning and Implementation of the central government, sources said. Full story >> SLA builds camp in Chithampara College Grounds[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2003, 12:01 GMT]Residents in Valvettiturai (VVT) in the northern shores of Jaffna said that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has begun construction of a camp in the sports grounds belonging to Chithampara College Saturday, according to local press reports. Full story >> Committee to investigate into attack on Batticaloa journalist[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2003, 02:08 GMT]Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed a committee headed by retired Judge Oliver Weerasinghe to investigate into the grenade attack on Batticaloa district journalist S. Jeyananthamoorthy who escaped injury in January when unknown assailants hurled a grenade into the journalist’s home, sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> Higher education scholarships for ninety-three Trinco students[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2003, 00:47 GMT]Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian (TNA) Mr.R.Sampanthan participating as the chief guest at the Mahapola higher education scholarship-awarding event held in Trincomalee Saturday appealed to the Sri Lankan government to formulate a scheme immediately to admit all qualified students for higher education to universities the same year, sources said. Full story >>
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