SL Navy boards, searches fishing vessel

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 19:28 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy boarded and searched a fishing vessel off the LTTE controlled coast in southeastern Jaffna in the early hours of the morning Wednesday, fishermen in Sembianpattu said.
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Business Development Centre opened in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 17:27 GMT]
The office of the Business Development Centre (BDC) for eastern region was declared open in Trincomalee Tuesday. The BDC Network supports capacity building for the business development services market serving the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in Sri Lanka. Trincomalee district Government Agent Mr. Gamini Rodrigo, Business Services Support Facility (BSSF) Executive Director Mr. Mark Van Steenwyk and Mr.Shakila Wijewardene, Managing Director of the Sarvodhaya Economic Enterprise Development Services (GTE) Ltd (SEEDS) jointly declared open the BDC office.
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Thamilchelvan conveys LTTE’s stand on CFA, talks to Solheim

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 08:37 GMT]
“If the Sri Lankan President and government are serious about the cease-fire agreement and peace talks they should stop sheltering Karuna and backing the murder and mayhem in which some of his henchmen are indulging Batticaloa. This is what we told the Norwegian facilitators today”, said Mr. S. P Thamilchelvan, head of the LTTE’s political division, speaking to the press after meeting Norway’s special peace envoy Mr. Erik Solheim Wednesday in Kilinochchi.
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Sri Lanka FCA holds exhibition of war and peace photos

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 06:35 GMT]
The Foreign Correspondents’ Association (FCA) of Sri Lanka will hold an exhibition of photographs by five photojournalists starting Wednesday at the Barefoot Gallery in Colombo. “The photos are of war and peace in the island, taken over the many years of conflict as well as in the past two-and-a-half years since the Tigers and Colombo signed a cease-fire”, the FCA said. The five photojournalists are members of the FCA.
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Solheim to meet President Kumaratunge

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 05:32 GMT]
Norwegian special envoy Mr.Erik Solheim is scheduled to meet Sri Lanka President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge on his return from Killinochchi Wednesday evening after holding discussions with the LTTE political leadership in the morning, Presidential secretariat sources said.
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UPFA renews attempt to woo CWC support

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 05:30 GMT]
Leaders of the minority United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government Tuesday held talks with Mr.Arumugam Thondaman, leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) in a fresh bid to secure majority in parliament when it is scheduled to meet on July 20, political sources said.
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Sampanthan to address U.S. Tamil meet

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 02:25 GMT]
Secretary General of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Parliamentary Group leader, R.Sampanthan, is scheduled to address the Annual Convention of the Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America (FeTNA) at the Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center, Morgan State University, in Baltimore during the 4th July weekend, sources said.
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Seven Karuna-cadres apprehended

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 02:05 GMT]
Batticaloa-Amparai district secretariat of the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) said today that they have arrested seven cadres belonging to renegade Karuna group who were working with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Intelligence, media sources said.
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TRO provides computer training to needy students

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 00:12 GMT]
Eighty two students completed computer training conducted by the Social Economic Development Organization (SEDO), a sub-unit of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), and were awarded with certificates at an event held during the weekend in Trincomalee Vipulananda College in Anpuvallipuram, a suburb located about 2 km off the east port town.
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Special envoy Solheim to meet Thamilchelvan Wednesday

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 15:07 GMT]
Norwegian special envoy Mr. Erik Solheim is to visit Killinochchi Wednesday to hold discussions with Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan, political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bid to break the deadlock in resuming the stalled peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, embassy statement said.
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Jaffna court fixes inquiry into HC applications

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 15:06 GMT]
The Jaffna High Court Judge Mr.K.P.S.Varatharajah fixed the inquiry for July 28 into the six Habeas Corpus (HC) applications submitted by parents and relatives of 45 persons who are reported disappeared after the arrest by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) during the year 1996, legal sources said.
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Sacked SLMC parliamentarians file petition in SC

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 15:04 GMT]
Three dissident Sri Lanka Muslim Congress parliamentarians Messrs Hussain Baila, Najeeb Abdul Majeed and Risard Badiudin Tuesday filed a petition in the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court (SC) against their dismissal from the party and seeking the court to declare that their removal from the party is illegal, legal sources said.
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Tamil journalists condemn slander

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 14:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) and the East Lanka Journalists’ Association (ELJA) Tuesday condemned what they described as “attempts in a section of the Colombo to discredit independent Tamil journalists”. Referring to a report in the Tuesday edition of ‘The Island’, an English language daily published from Colombo, a spokesman for the ELJA said, “the paper refers to us as ‘supporters of LTTE leader Pirapaharan’. This is a dangerously mischievous report aimed at discrediting us and thereby justify the intimidation and murder of eastern journalists”.
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Leaflet warns anti-social elements in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 10:53 GMT]
"We will not hesitate to punish anti-social elements in our society and traitors who act against our national struggle," said a group callling themselves Special Forces of Pandaravanniyan, in a leaflet distributed in Vavuniya district, sources said.
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Kalmunai Rotary Club elects Tamil woman as President

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 03:08 GMT]
Dr Ms Pushpalatha Loganathan became the first Rotary Club President in the northeast province. She was elected as the new President of Kalmunai Rotary Club in the Amparai district at an event held last week with the former Rotary District Governor Mr. N.Pathmanathan as the chief guest, sources said.
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Prelate to boycott events attended by Ministers, MPs

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 01:00 GMT]
The Most Venerable Udugama Buddharakita, Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter Sunday said that he has decided to boycott functions attended by Sri Lanka Government Ministers and parliamentarians as a protest to their unruly conduct in the parliament recently. He made this announcement when a senior leader and former minister of the then United National Front (UNF) government Professor G.L.Peiris paid his homage to the prelate, sources said.
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Detainees have rights to U.S. Courts- Supreme Court

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 00:13 GMT]
Striking down Bush administration's argument that inmates held in Guantanamo have no right to challenge the conditions of their detention because the US courts do not have jurisdiction over the base, the U.S Supreme Court with a 6-3 majority ruled today that detainees have a right to challenge their detention in U.S courts. The Court said that the Cuban base is not beyond the reach of American courts even though it is outside the country, reports in U.S media said.
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Minister discusses BoI activities in NorthEast

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 2004, 16:49 GMT]
Mr.Arjuna Ranatunge, Deputy Minister for Tourism and Foreign Investment Promotion Monday paid a visit to Trincomalee, and held discussion with the officials of the Trincomalee District Chamber of Commerce and local investors. He later briefed the media based in the east port city about the future activities of the Board of Investment (BoI).
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Parents naming children in Tamil honoured

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 2004, 13:41 GMT]
"Silampam" an organization run by Tamil expatriates in Canada through its northeast branch Sunday evening honoured selected sixty five Tamil parents at a function held in Trincomalee St Joseph's' College for having named their children with 'pure' Tamil names. "Silampam" has been engaged in a campaign to create awareness among Tamils worldwide to safeguard Tamil language.
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‘SLA intelligence behind Batticaloa murders, confusion’ - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 2004, 13:08 GMT]
“We have very reliable evidence now that the Sri Lanka army is using Karuna as a pretext to murder and to create mayhem in Batticaloa. We have indubitable proof that he is working with the Sri Lankan military intelligence. The Liberation Tigers will not recommence meetings with the Sri Lanka army while the Sri Lankan government and its military continue to harbour Karuna and continue to instigate murder and confusion in Batticaloa. We made this clear to the head of the monitoring mission today”, said Mr. S.P Thamilchelvan speaking to the press Monday in Kilinochchi.
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Middle-aged Vavuniya resident shot dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 2004, 00:21 GMT]
55 year old K. Thevaraj was shot dead by unknown gunmen 7.30 pm Sunday while he was riding his bicycle along Pattakadu Road in Ganesapuram Vavuniya, Vavuniya Police said.
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LTTE, Muslims meet in Muttur

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 June 2004, 22:20 GMT]
Representatives of the Liberation Tigers and Muttur Muslim community in Trincomalee met at the offices of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in Muttur Sunday, BBC Tamil service reported. This is the first meeting between the two parties in four months.
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Monks urge Sinhala unity over Karuna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 June 2004, 11:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s hardline monks’ party, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), has called on the Sri Lankan government and opposition to work together in supporting the renegade LTTE commander, Karuna, “in the interests of national security.”
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MRE week programme in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 June 2004, 04:20 GMT]
Over 700 children from 10 children's clubs in mine affected areas throughout the Batticaloa education zone marched from Eastern University, Chenkaladi junction to Tamil Maha Vidiyalayam in Eravur Saturday as part of the cultural day dedicated to Mine Risk Education (MRE) week activities organized by the Batticaloa UNICEF and Sarvodhaya, UNICEF sources said.
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Maj. Gen. Kottegoda SLA's new commander

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 2004, 18:17 GMT]
Major General Shantha Kottegoda will be appointed as the Sri Lanka army’s 17th commander from 1 July 2004. President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the commander in chief of the Sri Lankan armed forces, has approved his appointment despite speculation that she might extend the present SLA commander’s term for six months. Maj. Gen. Kottegoda, like his predecessor, is a senior intelligence officer. He was appointed to a special post as Overall Operations Commander (OOC) for the east after the LTTE crushed a renegade’s short-lived rebellion in the region.
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Singapore PM arrives in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 2004, 14:49 GMT]
Goh Chok Tong, Singapore's prime minister who is due to hand over power to his deputy, Lee Hsien Loong, in July, arrived in Sri Lanka Friday afternoon for a three day visit as the final leg of a South Asian tour, after visiting Pakistan and Bangaladesh, sources in Colombo said.
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Major fire at Sri Lanka govt. press

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 2004, 13:27 GMT]
A major fire broke out at the Sri Lanka Government Printers in Colombo Saturday evening. Fire fighters were struggling to put out the fire and bring the situation under control, Police said. "We are not sure whether it is sabotage or an accident," a Police source in Colombo said.
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Vavuniya Campus strike ends

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 2004, 11:19 GMT]
Five day strike at the Vavuniya campus of Jaffna University ended Saturday after students reached an agreement with the Vice Chancellor Professor S.Mohanadas in the presence of Vavuniya Government Agent k.Ganesh and Vanni district parliamentarian Sivanathan Kishore, sources in Vavuniya said. The University administration gave written assurance to the students that they will immediately begin a program of upgrading the basic student and teacher facilities at the Vavuniya campus.
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Students grieve over death of school children in the South

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 2004, 03:08 GMT]
The Trincomalee district branch of the Thamileelam Students Forum Friday issued a statement expressing grief over the tragic deaths of two Sinhalese students who were killed by a passenger bus Wednesday morning in Polgahawela while they were on their way to school, sources said.
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Opposition leaders to meet Speaker Monday

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 June 2004, 20:17 GMT]
Leaders of opposition parties, United National Party (UNP), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) are to meet the Speaker Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara Monday before discussing the strategy to adopt to present a co-ordinated front to the actions of the ruling minority UPFA government when the parliament meets on July 20, sources said.
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Jaffna students' savings highest in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 June 2004, 13:57 GMT]
In Sri Lanka, school students save most in Jaffna, a senior state bank official in the north said Friday. Mr. S. Ilampirainathan, special executive of People's Bank, northern region , said Jaffna school children have 157.8 million rupees in savings accounts in his bank. Private and state banks in Jaffna say savings are highest in Jaffna despite two decades of war that has left the northern peninsula in tatters.
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Campus Teachers Union expresses support to Students' strike

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 June 2004, 10:29 GMT]
Lectures and other administrative activities at the Jaffna University's Vavuniya campus were brought to a standstil as the members of the campus Teachers Union joined the students Friday as a show of support to the students strike which is entering its fourth day, sources from Vavuniya said.
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Mine Risk Education week in progress in NE

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 June 2004, 01:05 GMT]
Exhibitions, plays, processions, demonstrations and other activities are being held as part of UNICEF supported Mine Risk Education (MRE) Week between 21 June and 27 June across the NorthEast province. In addition MRE stickers, key tags and T-shirts with messages advocating a total ban on mines have also been produced and are being distributed during this week, UNICEF sources said.
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HALO Trust’s vehicles burnt in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 2004, 12:21 GMT]
Several vehicles belonging to the ‘Halo Trust’ in Jaffna were burnt or damaged by unidentified men in the early hours of Thursday, police officials in the northern town said. The Halo Trust is a British demining charity engaged in mine clearing activities in Jaffna
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SL Government admits SLA complicity in Karuna affair

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 2004, 10:39 GMT]
Contradicting Defense Secretary Cyril Herath who denied Monday that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) gave shelter to renegade commander Muralitharan (alias Karuna), Information Minister of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, Mangala Samaraweera, admitted to the press today that the SLA helped Karuna "escape and wage a covert war of attrition against the Tamil Tigers" according to a BBC report from Colombo today.
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Headless body found in Mannar coast

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 2004, 04:30 GMT]
Headless body of an unidentified young woman washed ashore in the Mannar coast near Nadukuda village close Pesalai area. Residents of the area found the body lying on the beach Wednesday early morning, police said.
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Jaffna university employees' strike to be called off

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 2004, 04:17 GMT]
Nine days old strike of the Jaffna University employees is likely to be called off Thursday following an agreement reached between the union leadership and the Vice Chancellor at a discussion held Wednesday afternoon on several demands of the strikers, sources in Jaffna said.
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NorthEast prepares to celebrate Black Tigers Day

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 2004, 00:41 GMT]
Celebrations marking the Black Tigers day are to be held in different parts of NorthEast on 5 July, event organizers said. Key junctions and roads leading to celebration venues will be decorated and Sporting events, Poetry, Story writing competitions, and welfare activities to assist students in poor neighrborhoods will be held during the day, according to the organizers.
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Sri Lanka's health workers issue ultimatum

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 2004, 16:58 GMT]
The Health Sector Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) Wednesday issued an ultimatum to the Central Ministry of Health to fulfill their demands before June 28 or face further strike action, trade union sources said.
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Sri Lankan Tamil refugees rescued in Mannar Sea

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 2004, 16:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Wednesday morning rescued 26 persons from seven Tamil refugee families returning from Rameswaram in South India from a sandbank in Talaimannar Sea.
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UNP said investigating Moulana

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 2004, 14:21 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) in a press release Wednesday reiterated its policy of non-interference in the internal matters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The UNP leadership Wednesday clarified its stand amid revelation that one of its national list parliamentarian Mr.Ali Zahir Moulana Seyed helped LTTE renegade commander Karuna safe passage to Colombo from east on April 11 following the outbreak of Karuna revolt, sources said.
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NEIAP to receive $64m World Bank funding

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 2004, 13:01 GMT]
North-East Irrigated Agriculture Project (NEIAP) is to get an additional $64.7m credit from the Worldbank for rehabilitation work and to bring normalcy to conflict affected communities of North East Sri Lanka, a report released by World bank said.
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Ali Zahir Moulana resigns MP post over Karuna affair

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 2004, 13:01 GMT]
Mr.Ali Zahir Moulana Seyed, National List Parliamentarian of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Wednesday evening handed over his resignation letter to Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the UNP following the revelation of his connection in the escape of the LTTE renegade commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna and his associates from the East to Colombo, party sources said.
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Opposition to urge reconvening parliament before PC elections

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 2004, 03:59 GMT]
Leaders of opposition parties are scheduled to meet Wednesday in the parliamentary complex to decide on the next course of action taken in regard to safeguard the parliamentary democracy. The Leader of the Opposition and main opposition United National Party (UNP) Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe is to preside over the meet, political sources in Colombo said.
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Health workers plan hunger strike

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 2004, 00:10 GMT]
More than eighty thousand health sector workers struck work Monday in nearly 1270 government medical institutions in Sri Lanka demanding increases in pay for temporary and casual workers, removal of salary anomalies of the Registered Medical Officers (RMO) and integration of provincial health staff into central government service. Health Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) organized the token strike, sources said.
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Jaffna varsity students issue deadline to settle employee's strike

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 2004, 17:07 GMT]
The Jaffna University Students Union (JUSU) issued a deadline to the Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor C. Mohanadas to settle the strike of the varsity employees before June 28 at a discussion held Monday evening between the VC and representatives of the JUSU, sources in Jaffna said.
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SLMC reiterates conditional support to UPFA government

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 2004, 17:05 GMT]
Mr.Rauff Hakim, Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) told media persons in Kandy Monday that his party is prepared to consider supporting the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government if it decided to abandon its attempt to revert the parliament into a constituent assembly and accommodate a separate Muslim delegation in the future peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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One accused in Bindunuwewa massacre case acquitted

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 2004, 13:37 GMT]
Specially constituted five-member bench of the Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court comprising Justices Asoka de Silva, T.B.Weerasuriya, Nihal Jayasinghe, N.E.Dissanayake and Raja Fernando Monday acquitted the fifth accused Sub-Inspector of Police Mr.Tyronne Roger Ratnayake who was sentenced to death along with Inspector of Police Mr. Senaka Jayampathi Karunasena and three civilians in the Bindunuwewa massacre case, for want of evidence, legal sources said. The inquiry into the appeals of four other accused-appellants is continuing.
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"UPFA government will prove parliamentary majority"- PM

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 2004, 05:55 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse Monday declared that his United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government would prove its majority in parliament when it meets on July 20 after elections to six-provicincial councils, scheduled to be held on July 10. "UPFA is prepared to face the challenge of the common opposition if it claimed to have a majority in parliament," said Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse addressing the first election rally in support of UPFA candidates contesting the North Central Provincial Council.
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Tamil author writes on Third world's financial woes

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 2004, 00:49 GMT]
The release of research book "Monetary Exploitation" written in English by Tamil scholar Mr.A.R.Arudpragasam took place in Trincomalee Town Hall Sunday evening with the Jaffna University Vice Chancellor Professor C.Mohanadas as the chief guest.
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VC fails to end Jaffna varsity employees' strike

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 2004, 00:25 GMT]
Vice Chancellor (VC) of Jaffna Campus, Professor C.Mohanadas, Monday failed in his attempt to bring the eight-day-old strike of the Jaffna University Employees Union to an end. Jaffna University Students Union issued a statement the same day that they will stage a one-day token strike Tuesday to exert pressure on the administration to find an early solution to employees' strike so that education of students is not adversely affected, sources said.
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Karuna stayed with SLA in Colombo - Nilavini

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 2004, 16:42 GMT]
A senior associate of the renegade LTTE commander Mr. Vinayagamoorthy Muraleetharan (Karuna) said Monday that she and other associates of Karuna stayed in a house provided and protected by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in a suburb of Colombo. Ms. Nilavini (Charlie), formerly the commander of the LTTE womens' fighting formations in the Batticaloa-Amparai district who rejoined the tigers on Friday 18 June spoke to the press Monday about the renegade LTTE commander's activities with the SLA since he fled Batticaloa on 11 April.
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Tamil cultural activities in Trincomalee to be revived

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 2004, 15:10 GMT]
Poet Puthuvai Ratnathurai, Head of the Arts and Cultural Association of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said his leadership is prepared to open a Fine Arts Academy in the Trincomalee district to develop arts and literary activities. As a prelude Mr. Ratnathurai during the weekend at an event held in Trincomalee handed over some carnatic musical equipments to LTTE Trincomalee district political head Mr.S.Elilan.
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Battle lines drawn to prove parliamentary majority

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 2004, 14:49 GMT]
Opposition parliamentarians in the Sri Lanka's thirteenth parliament Monday handed over a memorandum to the Speaker Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara to safeguard the parliamentary democracy. 114 parliamentarians from the United National Party (UNP), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) signed the memorandum, parliamentary sources said.
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Uyilankulam entry to remain open for Madhu festival

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 2004, 03:06 GMT]
During the popular annual festival days at Madhu shrine between 30 June and 2 July, Uyilankulam and main Madhu roads will remain open 24 hours, according to Mannar Assistant Police Commissioner, A.K.Jayawardene, local media reorts said.
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Details of Karuna's whereabouts emerge

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 2004, 01:15 GMT]
Revelation by four Senior LTTE women commanders who escaped from Colombo and rejoined the LTTE Friday, that Karuna is working with the Sri Lanka Security Forces in Colombo, is likely to raise serious doubts on the bona fides of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and has introduced a potentially explosive component to prospects for peace, political sources in Colombo said.
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World Refugee Day held in Trincomalee welfare centre

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 2004, 00:46 GMT]
The World Refugee Day (WRD) was celebrated in Trincomalee Sunday morning in the welfare centre at Allesgarden, about three km off north of east port town where about 1665 persons of 437 displaced families live since 1993. Trincomalee district head of the UNHCR Ms Brita Helleland made the introductory speech at the event. This year theme of the WRD is "A place to call home: rebuilding lives in safety and dignity," UNHCR sources said.
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SL propaganda aims to create fear psychosis in East- Ramesh

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 June 2004, 15:02 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Special Commander to Batticaloa-Amparai district, Col.Ramesh denied recent reports in Sri Lanka Government media on fighting in Thoppigala jungles in Batticaloa district, and dismissed the reports as propaganda to create a fear psychosis in the minds of eastern Tamils, during an interview with United Kingdom based Vectone Broadcasting network, Sunday.
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Southern intellectuals, artists participate in book release

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 June 2004, 12:54 GMT]
"A letter from Vanni (Vanniye sita liyuma)" and "Voice from the heart of the Silent (Handak Nathiyunge Hathawatha Sakshiye Handa)," two books describing the political and social liberation feelings of the tamil community were launched ceremonially today in Vavuniya with T.Gnanavel, Vavuniya district political head of the LTTE presiding the function at Muthiah Hall, sources in the Northern town said.
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SLN acquires decommissioned US Coast Guard vessel

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 June 2004, 04:25 GMT]
Vice Admiral Sandagiri of Sri Lanka Navy is to leave for United States Tuesday to formally sign papers to transfer US Coast Guard (USCG) cutter named "Courageous," a B-Type Reliance Class 210-Foot Cutter, built at the American Shipyards in Lorain, Ohio, launched on 18 March 1967 and decommissioned on 19 September 2001, media reports in Colombo said.
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SLA firing exercise disrupts fishing in Thondamanaru lagoon

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 June 2004, 04:01 GMT]
Fishing in Thondamanaru lagoon in Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district has come to a standstill for about a week following beginning of live firing exercise by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). Representatives of fisheries societies in the division told military officials at a conference held in SLA's 52-4 Brigade Head Quarters located in Point Pedro high security harbour area that they would launch an agitation campaign if the firing exercise in the lagoon area is not stopped, fishery sources said.
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"SL President's duplicitous politics threatens peace"- MP

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 June 2004, 03:08 GMT]
Delays in resumption of peace talks due to Sri Lanka President Ms Kumaratunge's continually shifting positions on the peace process, and suspected Sri Lanka Government's complicity in destabilizing the Batticaloa district, portend imminent danger to prevailing peace, said Joseph Pararajasingham, Senior Vice President of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Member of Parliament (MP), talking to TamilNet from Colombo, Sunday morning.
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Senior Tamil Journalist talks to German HR Group

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 June 2004, 17:46 GMT]
Dharmaretnam Sivaram, a Senior Tamil Journalist and an editor of TamilNet, spoke to International Human Rights Association in Germany during his recent trip to Europe. One segment of the interview was recorded after his colleague Mr. Aiyathurai Nadesan was assassinated in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.
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"SLA is giving shelter to Karuna"- Ramesh

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 June 2004, 14:17 GMT]
"We have confirmed reports that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is giving shelter to Karuna and that the Sri Lanka military is trying to use him against the Liberation Tigers," said Special LTTE Commander for Batticaloa- Ampara, Col.Ramesh speaking to reporters at a press conference held in Thenagam in Kokkadicholai Saturday evening.
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Sinhala books on Tamil struggle to be released

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 June 2004, 13:14 GMT]
Two books written in Sinhalese, "A letter from Vanni (Vanniye sita liyuma)" and "Voice from the heart of the Silent (Handak Nathiyunge Hathawatha Sakshiye Handa)," describing the Tamil liberation struggle for the first time, are to be released in Vavuniya, Sunday, at the Hindu Youth Hall, media sources said.
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Two Eravur farm workers killed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 June 2004, 12:10 GMT]
Two farm workers, Kandakutti Mylvaganam of Kirankulam, and Devamani Kuttickannan of Rajapuram Marpalam, were hacked to death in Eravur Pattu Navundaniya madhu on Friday, security sources said.
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150th birthday of Mother Saratha Devi celebrated in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 June 2004, 18:42 GMT]
The Hindu Society of Trincomalee Sri Shanmuga Hindu Girls College Friday morning celebrated 150th birthday of Mother Saratha Devi of Ramakrishna Mission in Trincomalee town. The photograph of Mother Saratha Devi was taken in a procession along several roads in the town with large number of students joining the procession along with teachers and members of public.
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"LTTE losing confidence in peace process"- UNF

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 June 2004, 02:35 GMT]
"The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) appears to be losing confidence on the peace process because of the contradictory stands taken by President Chandrika Kumaratunge," said the media spokesman of the main opposition, Professor G.L.Peiris, at a press briefing held Friday in Colombo, according to media sources.
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Anti-Conversion Bill to be tabled in Sri Lanka Parliament

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 June 2004, 00:36 GMT]
Based on a proposal submitted by Buddha Sasana Minister Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government Friday decided to table a draft bill in Sri Lanka Parliament prohibiting forcible conversion of religion, UPFA spokesman Mr. Mangala Samaraweera said at a press briefing.
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Colombo security tightened

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 2004, 16:42 GMT]
State armed forces tightened the security of Colombo city following the discovery of a suicide jacket and a bag of explosives Friday early morning by a foot-patrol party of the Police amid allegations by the main opposition United National Front (UNF) Friday evening that the security of Colombo has been weakened, sources said.
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No ISGA outside parliamentary procedure - UPFA govt.

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 2004, 16:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Media Minister and United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government's new cabinet spokesman Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, Friday rejected reports in a section of the media that the President was exploring the possibility of establishing Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) in the northeast province outside parliamentary procedure as baseless. '' There is absolutely no truth in such reports,'' Mr. Mangala Samaraweera said at the cabinet press briefing.
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Pakistan dismisses Indian magazine's report

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 2004, 12:31 GMT]
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly dismissed "the allegations that Pakistan's High Commissioner - designate to Sri Lanka poses national security threat to India", said the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo in a press statement issued on Thursday.
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Suicide jacket recovered in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 2004, 12:28 GMT]
A foot-patrol party of the Sri Lanka Police Friday early morning recovered a suicide jacket and some explosives concealed in a bag near Grandpass area in the heart of Colombo city. The army bomb disposal squad rushed to the site and deactivitated the explosives, which included claymore mines, police sources said.
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Protest rally in Jaffna draws large crowd

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 2004, 11:57 GMT]
Around sixty thousand people participated in the protest march and rally held in Jaffna town Thursday putting forward five demands including the restoration of normal life and the establishment of the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) put forward by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the northeast province. Jaffna District Peoples' Forum organized this demonstration and rally.
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Sri Lanka Prime Minister to visit India after poll

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 2004, 01:39 GMT]
Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister (PM) of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government is to lead a high-level delegation to India next month after the provincial council elections, which are scheduled to be held on July 10, PM’s office spokesman said Friday.
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Establish ISGA, appeals Jaffna Peoples Forum

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 2004, 00:40 GMT]
Tamil Speaking Peoples Forum for Human Rights and Development based in Jaffna Wednesday appealed to the President Ms.Chandrika Kumaratunge to initiate bold step of recommencing negotiations with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to establish the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) which could handle all development and reconstruction projects in the northeast province.
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SLMC politburo rejects dissident parliamentarians' appeals

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 June 2004, 17:36 GMT]
The politburo of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) decided not to readmit the two dissident parliamentarians Messrs Risard Badiudin and Najeeb Abdul Majeed. SLMC politburo, which met Tuesday night, decided to reject their appeal to rejoin the party, party sources said.
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Tigers slam Sri Lankan state media for vicious propaganda

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 June 2004, 10:01 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers Wednesday expressed serious concern about ‘malicious and false propaganda’ in Sri Lanka’s state controlled media regarding the situation in the Batticaloa district, during discussions with the Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo. “If the Sri Lankan Government is honest in taking the LTTE as a sincere partner in the peace process, this type of clandestine media activity should stop forthwith”, Mr. S. P Thamilchelvan told the ambassador. There is yet no agreement on restarting the talks the ambassador told the press at the conclusion of the meeting.
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CWDR opens new Secretariat

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 June 2004, 02:17 GMT]
Centre for Women’s Development and Rehabilitation (CWDR) opened its newly constructed Secretariat building in Kilinochchi Tuesday, sources in Vanni said. Director of CWDR, V.Sutharshini presided the opening ceremony.
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Pirapaharan felicitates artists in Medical corps

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 June 2004, 01:45 GMT]
Leader of Liberation Tigers, V.Pirapaharan, received the first Compact Disc "Empowering our struggle" containing songs composed and sung by members of the LTTE medical corps, in a ceremony held in Kilinochchi Monday, sources from Vanni said. The audio CD encapsulated the inner feelings, thoughts and experiences of the members of the LTTE medical unit while serving in the battle field, organizers of the event said.
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"Under God" stays- U.S. Supreme Court

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 June 2004, 00:04 GMT]
Supreme Court of the U.S. Monday unanimously struck down a challenge against the phrase "Under God" in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance filed by Michael Newdow, an atheist father from California. Mr.Newdow claimed that his right to influence his daughter's religious views was infringed by the daily recitations in school of the pledge "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
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Jaffna University employees' strike continues

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 2004, 15:40 GMT]
The strike of the Jaffna University employees entered second day Tuesday without any sign for a settlement. The administrative function of the university has been paralyzed for the second day due to the strike, sources said.
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Thamilchelvan meets INGO delegates

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 2004, 11:11 GMT]
Head of Liberation Tigers Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan met with United Nations and International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) delegates at the Planning and Development Secretariat of the LTTE in Kilinochchi Tuesday, LTTE's Peace Secretariat website said. Thamilchelvan told the delegates the critical importance of making the "people real stake holders in development."
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Black Sea Tiger Lt.Col. Hillary remembered

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 2004, 04:57 GMT]
Lt.Colonel Hillary alias Murugesan (Ganeshan Sivagurunathan) of Anaicoddai, a member of the Black Sea Tiger who died on 30 July, 2003 in the international water in a boat mishap was remembered Monday evening, at Kopay Heros Cemetery in Jaffna district.
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Mannar town paralyzed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 2004, 04:54 GMT]
Normal life of Mannar town was completely paralyzed Tuesday when civil groups launched one day general shut down (hartal) protesting against the assault on civilians by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Monday evening.
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Black Sea Tiger Major Puhalini remembered

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 2004, 00:10 GMT]
Major Puhalini, member of the Black Sea Tiger wing of the Liberation Tigers, who died on 30 July, 2003 in a boat mishap in international waters, was remembered Sunday evening in Muttur east in Trincomalee district. Her mother Ms Vadivelu unveiled the memorial plaque constructed at Alankulam Heroes Cemetary, sources said.
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Jaffna varsity non-academic staff on strike

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 June 2004, 14:37 GMT]
Non-academic staff of the Jaffna University Monday struck work putting forward seven demands, which crippled the administration of the institution. However, the academic work has not been affected due to the strike, university sources said.
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Inquiry into Bindunuwewa massacre appeal continues

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 June 2004, 14:27 GMT]
Specially constituted five-member bench of the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court comprising Justices Asoka de Silva, T.B.Weerasuriya, Nihal Jayasinghe, N.E.Dissanayake and Raja Fernando, which began to hear the appeals of the five accused in the Bindunuwewa massacre case last week has fixed the further inquiry for June 22, legal sources said.
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Mannar tense following SLA interrogation of LTTE activists

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 June 2004, 13:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army soldiers manning the checkpoint at the entrance to the Mannar town Monday afternoon at about 1.30 p.m. stopped two leading political activists of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Ms V.Nilavarasi, Mannar District Political Head of Women's wing and her deputy Ms Kavimani and subjected them to severe interrogation when they arrived from LTTE controlled Vattakandal area.
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Resettlers warned to avoid areas not cleared of mines

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 June 2004, 02:41 GMT]
Head of Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), Mr.Reggie, requested potential resettlers in the Vanni region to avoid building homes or attempting to use lands that have not been declared as mine free, local media reported. The urgent warning was issued following the death recently of three workers in Puthukudiyiruppu who were killed due to pressure mine explosion.
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JDMPGA seeks TNA MPs support to trace missing youths

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 June 2004, 18:37 GMT]
The Jaffna District Missing Persons Guardians Association (JDMPGA) Sunday requested Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians to protest in and outside parliament highlighting the issue of disappeared persons in Jaffna peninsula after being arrested by the security forces during the period of 1996-1997, civil sources said.
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Sports meet for disabled held in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 June 2004, 12:24 GMT]
"Civil society and public oganizations should co-operate to strengthen the skills of our disbled to facilitate participation and excel at a national level," said Vavuniya district Judge, M.Ilancheliyan, speaking at the third annual sports festival held at the Empowerment Campus for the Disabled in Vavuniya, sources said.
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Tigers lambast Kumaratunge's political duplicity

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 June 2004, 02:56 GMT]
Blaming Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunge for "linking ISGA with permanent poltical solution," as a "manipulative strategy to take forward the peace process for a while and then to abort it," the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam called upon the International community to recognize Ms.Kumaratunge's political duplicity and to "bring pressure on her government to be principled and honest in political negotiations," in a statement published in the Peace Secretariat website.
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Kumaratunge on private visit to London

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 June 2004, 02:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge left for London on a private visit Saturday night. She will be away for a week, government sources said. Ms. Kumaratunge left the country when her recorded address to the nation was being relayed through the state television and electronic media.
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‘Viduthalai’ released in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 June 2004, 22:24 GMT]
‘Viduthalai’ (Liberation), a collection of articles written by Mr. Anton Balasingham, the senior advisor to the Liberation Tigers, was released to the public in Vavuniya at a function on Saturday.
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Kumaratunga hints at "an effective compromise" with the LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 June 2004, 15:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s President Chandrika Kumaratunga, in a prime-time TV address, has indicated that she is "seeking an effective compromise" to overcome the dragging differences with the LTTE that delay peace talks. The LTTE has been insisting on negotiating its interim administration proposals first, while the government wanted to have parallel talks on the final solution to the conflict. In her nation-wide telecast Saturday night Kumaratunga hinted at her readiness to "prioritise" the LTTE demand while not openly abandoning the government's position to have parallel talks on the final settlement.
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SLA - fishermen clash in Katkovalam

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 June 2004, 14:41 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Saturday did not allow hundreds of fishermen of coastal village, Katkovalam in Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district to go for fishing following an altercation between a soldier and a fisherman, civil sources said.
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Pressure mine explosion kills three

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 June 2004, 10:14 GMT]
Amarasinghe Dayaratne (47), Sellthurai Suresh (27) and Ambrose Alex (32) were killed instantly Friday when the vehicle they were travelling hit a pressure mine in First mile post along Puthukudiyiruppu road in Kilinochchi district, Jaffna daily Uthayan reported.
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SL President to give televised address

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 2004, 16:11 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge is to address the people of Sri Lanka on Saturday 8.30 p.m. through state television and electronic media, ruling party sources said Friday evening.
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Two SLA personnel reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 2004, 16:05 GMT]
Second Lieutenant W.A.S.Wikremaretna and soldier private Mr.Joseph Thomas Peter Karunaratne of the Sri Lanka Army are reported to be missing since June 8 from the 551 Brigade of the SLA which is located in Nagarkovil in Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district, security sources said.
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US Pacific Commander arrives in Jaffna on two-day visit

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 2004, 10:34 GMT]
United States Commander for Pacific Region, Lieutenant General James L. Campbell, currently on a visit to strengthen relationship between Sri Lanka and the U.S., Friday morning arrived in Palaly Sri Lanka Army (SLA) military base and held discussions with the Commander of Sri Lanka Northern region Major General Susil Chandrapala and other senior SLA officers, security sources said.
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Legal wrangle over dissident JHU MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 2004, 09:59 GMT]
The Colombo District Court Friday ordered the newly sworn in Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parliamentarian Venerable Akmeemana Dayaratna Thera to appear in court on July 25 and issued a stay order on him prohibiting him from performing the functions of an elected representative till the legal suit filed against him is finalized, legal sources in Colombo said.
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Sri Lanka President urged to establish ISGA immediately

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 2004, 20:33 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Thursday told Sri Lanka President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge that Tamils couldn't depend any more on the Sinhala political leadership to enjoy their rights. ''The Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) should be established in the northeast without delay so that Tamils could enjoy self rule in their homeland,'' Mr.R.Sampanthan, leader of the TNA parliamentary group, told the President during a discussion held Thursday night in the Presidential House at the latter's invitation, TNA sources said.
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Massacred Mandaitivu Tamil fishermen remembered

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 2004, 16:11 GMT]
18th death anniversary of 31 Tamil fishermen who were killed by the Sri Lanka Navy by cutting with swords in midsea when they were engaged in fishing in Mandaitivu sea area in Jaffna peninsula on 10th June, 1986 was observed Thursday.
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Speaker urged to safeguard democracy in Parliament

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 2004, 13:25 GMT]
The members of opposition political parties in the Sri Lanka's parliament numbering about 114 Thursday submitted a petition to the Speaker to take steps to safeguard democracy in the parliament. Leaders of the common opposition took this step in a major reaction to the battle in parliament Tuesday and to show that they are in a majority and to assert their authority, political sources said.
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Violence in Parliament is setback to peace - NPC

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 2004, 13:11 GMT]
"The recent violent incidents in the Sri Lanka Parliament can have devastating consequences on the confidence of the minority communities on the capacity of the country's political leadership to resolve the ethnic conflict through a negotiated solution", said the National Peace Council (NPC), a Colombo based Sri Lankan peace group, in a media release issued in Colombo Thursday calling upon the party leaders to ensure that further breakdowns do not take place within Parliament in the future.
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Salvage operation of Mig-27 underway

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 2004, 11:13 GMT]
The salvage crew recovered the blackbox, or flight data recorder, of the ill-fated Mig-27 that plunged into the Negombo lagoon after taking off from Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday, according to media reports in Colombo.
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TNA MPs to boycott NE Province Governor's meet

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 2004, 02:20 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians decided to abstain from a meeting called by the Governor of NorthEast Province to discuss development activities for the Province, media sources reported. The decision to boycott the meeting was taken in Colombo Wednesday, according to reports.
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General shut down paralyses Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 2004, 17:39 GMT]
The normal life of Trincomalee town was disrupted Wednesday due to a one-day hartal (general shut down) observed against the killing of a senior Tamil journalist Mr. Iyathurai Nadesan on May 31 in Batticaloa, TamilNet sources in the eastern port town said.
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Jaffna protest march postponed for next week

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 2004, 17:17 GMT]
Jaffna District Consortium of Civil Organizations (JDCCO) Wednesday announced that it has postponed its protest march scheduled to be held on Friday (June 11) for June 17 Thursday, civil sources said.
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LTTE Senior political cadre assaulted by SLA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 2004, 15:33 GMT]
Head of the LTTE’s political wing for the Puthukkulam area in Vavuniya district, Mr. Alakarasan , was assaulted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, Wednesday morning , sources in Vavuniya said.
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Sri Lanka President invites TNA for discusssion

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 2004, 13:13 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Wednesday invited the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for discussion. The TNA parliamentary group, which met Wednesday afternoon decided to accept the invitation. The discussion between the President and Tamil National Alliance have been fixed for Thursday night 8 p.m., TNA sources said.
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Protest demo held in Colombo condemning Nadesan killing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 2004, 10:25 GMT]
The Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) Wednesday held one hour demonstration in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station commencing from 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. against the killing a senior Tamil journalist Mr. Aiyathurai Nadesan. Several senior journalists based in Colombo and outstations, Tamil parliamentarians of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Upcountry Peoples Front and Western Province Peoples Front participated in the demonstration, sources said.
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SLAF Mig 27 crashes

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 2004, 09:28 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Mig 27 aircraft crashed near the Colombo international airport, around 9 a.m., Wednesday, military sources said.
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Rehabilitated NE Provincial council, no substitute for ISGA- Paper

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 2004, 00:22 GMT]
”Sri Lanka Government appears to think that by strengthening the NorthEast provincial council and Center for Rehabilitation it could weaken LTTE’s claim for ISGA and convince the International Community to start disbursing the allocated aid money. This back door diplomacy will not work. The mandate of 90% of NorthEast Tamils should be recognized and the Government can ignore Tamils demand only at its own peril,” said Thinakkural, a popular Tamil daily in its editorial Tuesday.
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GA takes steps to maintain law and order in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 2004, 21:58 GMT]
The Jaffna District Government Agent Mr.S.Pathmanathan has instructed the Divisional Secretaries in the peninsula to take immediate steps to maintain law and order in their areas by holding talks with police officers of the respective areas, district secretariat sources said.
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Jaffna civil organizations to hold protest march

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 2004, 21:55 GMT]
Jaffna District Consortium of Civil Organizations Tuesday decided to hold a protest march in Jaffna town Friday demanding the Government of Sri Lanka to restore normalcy in the lives of Tamil people and stop killing in the east and attacks on plantation Tamils, sources said.
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Sri Lanka's parliament adjourned for July 20 after disruption

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 2004, 10:22 GMT]
Speaker Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara Tuesday adjourned the Sri Lanka's parliament for July 20 after failing in his attempt to resolve the issue of administering oath to newly nominated parliamentarian JHU parliamentarian Venerable Akmeemana Dayaratna Thera. The Speaker announced his decision to postpone the parliament when it resumed its sitting Tuesday afternoon at about 2.30 p.m, parliamentary sources said.
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Pandemonium in parliament, two monk MPs injured

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 2004, 07:46 GMT]
Pandemonium reigned in Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday morning for about an hour when Venerable Akmeemana Thera, the newly nominated parliamentarian of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) was invited by the Speaker Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara to take oaths, parliamentary sources said.
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Parliament meets amid confusion over majority to ruling UPFA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 2004, 04:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament is meeting Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. to appoint standing committees and ministerial parliamentary consultative committees. Battle lines are drawn by the minority ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the main opposition United National Front (UNF) to capture control of these committees, parliamentary sources in Colombo said.
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Foreign envoys to be briefed on JVP's stand on ISGA

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 2004, 21:00 GMT]
The Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Monday said that it would brief Colombo based foreign envoys the reasons for opposing the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposal submitted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the northeast province, media sources in Colombo said.
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TNA to hold district level ISGA awareness meeting

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 2004, 14:26 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is to hold its first district awareness meeting on the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) in Trincomalee town this weekend. "Probably it will be held on Friday or Saturday", TNA parliamentary group leader Mr.Sampanthan said.
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Sri Lanka's Malwatte Mahanayake Thera passes away

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 2004, 13:35 GMT]
The Mahanayake Thera of Malwatte Chapter Most Venerable Rambukwelle Vipassi passed away Monday afternoon around 3.15 p.m.in the Kandy general hospital after a brief illness at the age of 89.
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Protest planned against Nadesan killing

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 2004, 12:38 GMT]
Sri Lankan journalists’ associations are planning to picket outside the main railway station in Colombo, Wednesday, protesting against the killing of leading Tamil journalist Mr. Iyathurai Nadesan. The Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) are organising the protest, media sources said.
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Court to hear appeals of Bindunuwewa massacre accused

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 2004, 01:44 GMT]
Chief Justice of Colombo Supreme Court, Sarath N.Silva has appointed five High Court justices to hear the appeals of the five accused, including Sri Lanka police officers, Senaka Karunasena and Roger Ratnayake, and three civilians from Bandarawela who were convicted of the massacre of 27 inmates of rehabilitation camp for young Tamil persons in Bindunuwewa on October 2000 and were sentenced to death, legal sources in Colombo said.
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Danish Refugee Council assists resettled Swamimalai villagers

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 2004, 00:02 GMT]
The Trincomalee District Development Association (TDDA) under its Integrated Rehabilitation Programme (IRP) with the funding of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has provided infrastructure facilities to the resettled Tamil village, Swamimalai, in Thampalakamam Divisional Secretariat division. Swamimalai is located along Trincomalee-Kandy highway, about 24 km northwest off east port town.
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Vavuniya celebrates Students Resurgence Day

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 June 2004, 15:48 GMT]
Large number of Vavuniya students and residents participated in different processions to celebrate the Students Resurgence Day Sunday carrying cut outs of student martyr Pon.Sivakumaran and Leader of the Liberation Tigers, Velupillai Pirapaharan, sources in Vavuniya said.
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Students Resurgence Day celebrated in NorthEast

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 June 2004, 12:30 GMT]
Thousands of Tamil students joined to celebrate the Students Resurgence Day in different parts of NorthEast organized by the Federation of Tamil Students participating in processions and holding public meetings in several schools and public arenas, initial reports said.
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Mannar Court releases refugees, orders remand for boatmen

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 June 2004, 11:27 GMT]
The Mannar Magistrate Mr. N.M.M.Abdullah Sunday released all 29 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees but ordered remand till June 10th for three boatmen, S.Jayarasa (27), S.Chandrabose (19) and A.Thavarajah (29) who brought them to the shore , legal sources in Mannar said. The three boatmen are Sri Lankan Tamils.
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Auto-rickshaw driver shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 June 2004, 10:04 GMT]
An auto rickshaw driver was shot dead by unidentified men in the northern town of Vavuniya, Saturday night. The driver was identified as Sathees Thamotharampillai, 21, of Railway Station Road, Vairavapuliyankulam, police said.
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NE parliamentarians to be briefed on NEPC activities

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 June 2004, 08:33 GMT]
North East Parliamentarians are to be briefed of the development activities now being carried out by the North East Provincial Council (NEPC) administration. The two-day briefing will be held on June 10 and 11 at the conference hall of the NEPC which is located in Uppuveli, a suburb, about 2 km off north of Trincomalee, provincial council sources said.
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Krishanthy case accused to turn witness

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 2004, 17:38 GMT]
Mr.Rajapakse, one of the accused who was sentenced to death in the Krishanthy Kumarasamy rape and murder case and now kept in prison in the South has appealed to the Jaffna High Court through his lawyer to cite him as a witness instead of respondent in the 12 Habeas Corpus applications which are pending in court for inquiry, legal sources said.
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Jaffna picketers to demand reinstatement of relief supply

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 2004, 17:30 GMT]
The Consortium of Jaffna District Public Organizations (CJDPO) said in a memorandum sent to the Sri Lanka President's media spokesman and the Director General of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Ministry,Mr.Harim Peiris, that they would launch a picketing campaign in front of the Jaffna district secretariat crippling the civil administration if the government failed to supply free dry ration to all 128,582 families, civil sources said.
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Self Governance, main focus of TNA Thamilchelvan Meet

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 2004, 13:56 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians met with Leader of LTTE's Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan Saturday in the LTTE political head quarters in Kilinochchi for a four hour long meeting. The issues and the urgent need for institutionlizing self governance for NorthEast based on LTTE's Interim Self-Governing Authority proposals were discussed in the meeting, , LTTE peace secretariat website said.
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Gunmen storm Deputy Minister's office, kill two

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 2004, 13:45 GMT]
Gunmen Saturday afternoon attacked the political office of Mr.Sripathy Sooriyarachchi, a Deputy Minister in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in Kelaniya in the western province and killed two persons. One of them is said to be a bodyguard of Mr.Sripathy Sooriyarachchi and the other a supporter. Another supporter sustained injuries, police said.
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Pirapaharan opens new home for elderly

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 2004, 13:20 GMT]
Leader of the Liberation Tigers (LTTE), Velupillai Pirapaharan, attended the opening ceremony of a new building in the Home for the Elderly, 'Anpucholai,' in Kilinochchi and awarded prizes of faith to many older parents of LTTE war heroes, sources from Vanni said.
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SLA soldier kills superior, commits suicide in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 2004, 13:06 GMT]
Mr. Ratnayake Mudiansalagae Seneviratne, a twenty-year-old soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Friday shot dead his 37-year-old superior Sergeant Mr. Gunaratne Vasantha Liyanage and then committed suicide by shooting himself. He left a letter stating that he had killed his superior, as he was unable to tolerate his punishment, police said.
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UNICEF assists maternal, childcare services in Trinco district

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 2004, 04:42 GMT]
Ms Gabriela Elroy, UNICEF head in Trincomalee zone Thursday handed over a consignment of medical equipments valued 13 million rupees to government hospitals to improve the maternal and child health services in the Trincomalee district to medical officers. Eighteen motorbikes valued at 1.4 million rupees were also handed over to eighteen public health inspectors who have been serving in eighteen Medical Officer of Health areas in the Trincomalee district.
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UNICEF strengthens district child protection committee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 2004, 03:59 GMT]
With the support of UNICEF, the Trincomalee District Child Protection Committee (DCPC) held a one-day workshop to further strengthen its activities in the district. Ms Gabriela Elroy, Head of Office, UNICEF Trincomalee, inaugurated the workshop in the Trincomalee district secretariat together with Additional Government Agent, Mr.N. Singarayer, and Provincial Commissioner Probation and Childcare, Mrs. N.R. Ranjini, sources said.
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TNA MPs to meet LTTE political leadership Saturday

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 2004, 00:40 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians are scheduled to the meet Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan, political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Saturday to discuss the current political situation in the south and the latest developments in reviving the peace talks through Norwegian facilitation, sources said.
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LTTE leader honors senior journalist

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 June 2004, 16:59 GMT]
The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Mr.V. Pirapaharan, Friday honored the senior journalist, Mr. S.M.Gopalaratnam (“Gopu”) with an award embossed with the Tiger emblem, for his “magnificent contributions to Tamil national consciousness and Tamil people’s national awakening” throughout his journalistic career for more than 50 years, LTTE sources said.
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CWC said still undecided on support to UPFA

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 June 2004, 14:57 GMT]
The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), a constituent of the main opposition United National Front (UNF), is still undecided on extending support to the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance, sources in Colombo said. Meanwhile, the Presidential Secretariat Friday denied media reports that talks were held Thursday between the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunge, and CWC leader Mr. Arumugam Thondaman. The media reports said that the talks had ended in failure.
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Tamil youth found dead with cut injuries in Vadamarachchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 June 2004, 13:08 GMT]
Mr.John Chandramohan alias Victor aged 26 and a father of two children was found dead Friday morning with cut injuries on his neck and his both hands were tied behind his back in a restroom which is located along Udupiddy-Vathiri road in Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district, Nelliayadi Police said.
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World recognizes Tamils' struggle- Elilan

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 June 2004, 10:13 GMT]
"Brussels aid conference has told the Sri Lankan government to commence peace talks immediately with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) if the 4.5 billion dollars aid pledged in Tokyo is to be disbursed for development. This clearly shows that the international community has understood and accepted our freedom struggle," said the LTTE Trincomalee district political head Mr.S.Elilan addressing the inaugural meeting of Anna Fisheries Development Organization in Paththamkurichchy (Division No: 10), a suburb in the heart of Trincomalee, Wednesday morning.
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11th Thileepan medical unit opened in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 2004, 17:45 GMT]
Colonel Banu of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thursday afternoon declared open the eleventh "Thyaga Theepam" Thileepan Medical Service Medical Unit of LTTE in the village Pattalipuram in the LTTE held Muttur east, down south of Trincomalee town. Trincomalee district LTTE Military Commander Sornam unveiled the name board of the Thileepan dispensary.
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FMM urges government to arrest killers of Nadesan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 2004, 17:33 GMT]
"The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) should take prompt action to bring the culprits who had been responsible for the brutal killing of a senior Tamil journalist Mr. Iyathurai Nadesan to book", Mr.Sunanda Desapriya, leading activist of the Free Media Movement (FMM) in Colombo Thursday appealed when delivering funeral oration on behalf of the Southern journalists Thursday at Nelliyady Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam where remains of Mr.Nadesan were kept for last respects before being removed to Alankattai cemetery for cremation, sources said.
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Large crowds attend Nadesan's funeral

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 2004, 14:39 GMT]
Remains of the slain Tamil journalist, Mr.Aiyathurai Nadesan, were cremated Thursday afternoon at Alankattai cemetery in Vadamarachchi division in the Jaffna district. Two sons of Mr.Nadesan lit the fire to the pyre. Large number of people, students, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians, politicians, leading members of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and media personnel from all parts of the country attended the funeral, sources in Jaffna said.
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LTTE opens new political office in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 2004, 02:17 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Tuesday opened a new Trincomalee town political office located in Main Street in the heart of Trincomalee town. Trincomalee town political head Mr.Sivakumar said that the new office was opened with the objective of expanding the political activities of the LTTE in the Trincomalee district.
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Sampanthan complains of SLN intrusion into civilian lands

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 2004, 17:39 GMT]
The Trincomalee district parliamentarian, Mr.R.Sampanthan, Wednesday complained to the Trincomalee Government Agent that the Sri Lanka Navy has intruded into a rectangular plot of land in the Manayaveli-Sandicove residential area, which comes under the Trincomalee divisional secretariat division, and erected concrete fence in an attempt to annex the rectangular plot of land to the SLN-occupied lands.
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Disabled girl strangled and killed in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 2004, 17:35 GMT]
A 15-year-old girl from the Thalikulam settlement in Vavuniya, who went out to shepherd her goat at about 3:30 pm on Wednesday, was found strangled and dead, sources in Vavuniya said.
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Nadesan funeral put off to Thursday

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 2004, 17:06 GMT]
The cremation of the body of assassinated Tamil journalist, Mr. Aiyathurai Nadesan, is to be held Thursday evening at the Alankattai cemetery in Vathiri, in the Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district. The body will be kept in his home in Vathiri from Thursday morning and will be removed later in the day to Nelliayadi Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam where funeral orations will be delivered by leading media personnel, academics, politicians and LTTE leaders.
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SLA, LTTE agree on establishing security measures in the East

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 2004, 12:23 GMT]
At a meeting organized by the Sri lanka Monitoring Mission in the Batticaloa district Wednesday, Col. Ramesh, the special commander of the Liberation Tigers for the Batticaloa-Amparai region, pointed out to Major General Shantha Kottegoda, the Overall Operational Commander of the Sri Lanka Army for the Eastern Province, that elements of the SLA were involved in the recent killings in Batticaloa and that the SLA was associating closely with the renegade Karuna group. Col. Ramesh also agreed to immediately establish direct liaison with the SLA and Police, LTTE and SLMM sources said.
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Pattern of intimidation and murder to silence independent Tamil journalists

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 2004, 11:50 GMT]
“Nadesan had been harassed and threatened before his death because he had criticized the government and security forces, according to CPJ research”, the New York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a statement condemning the murder of the veteran Tamil journalist in Batticaloa on Sri Lanka’s east coast. Meanwhile Mr. Nadesan’s colleagues in the east demanded investigations into “the pattern of intimidation and murder to silence Tamil journalists”.
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Donors warn Sri Lanka on peace process, economic reforms

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 2004, 11:06 GMT]
Following their meeting in Brussels Tuesday, the co-chairs of aid donors to Sri Lanka issued a statement warning the Colombo government that there should be "no drift and no delay in resuming and taking forward the peace process" and pointing out that "the peace process and the development process are mutually reinforcing and interlinked." The co-chairs called for "the establishment of effective delivery mechanisms for donor-financed development activities in the North and East."
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NorthEast observes day of mourning, hartal for Nadesan

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 2004, 10:46 GMT]
Areas of NorthEast from Point Pedro to Amparai observed a day of mourning and general shut down (hartal) Wednesday to protest against the killing of a leading Tamil journalist Mr. Iyathurai Nadesan, media sources said.
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RSF condemns Nadesan's murder

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 2004, 21:57 GMT]
The Paris based world media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontieres) Tuesday condemned the murder of Tamil journalist Aiyathurai Nadesan in Batticaloa and voiced concern that "dissension within the Tamil separatist movement and existing tensions with the security forces could lead to an escalation of violation against the news media".
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Public to pay last respects to Nadesan in Kilinochchi, Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 2004, 18:40 GMT]
The remains of the assassinated Tamil journalist, Mr. Aiyathurai Nadesan, will be kept at the Kilinochchi Cultural Hall Wednesday morning from 10 a.m. and in Jaffna at the Veerasingham Hall on Thursday morning for the public to pay last respects before being cremated in Nelliyady in the Vadamaradchi division of Jaffna district Thursday evening, media sources in Jaffna said.
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'Committee to sort out differences in UPFA'

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 2004, 18:31 GMT]
The leaders of Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the two major constituents of ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), Tuesday night agreed at a discussion to appoint a committee to sort out the differences that have arisen in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two parties, sources said.
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North-East to shut down over Nadesan's murder

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 2004, 14:47 GMT]
Media associations in the North-East province Tuesday called for a general shut down (Hartal) on Wednesday to condemn the slaying of a leading Tamil journalist, Mr. Aiyathurai Nadesan, who was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Monday in Batticaloa town, sources said.
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Vanni journalists condemn Nadesan’s murder

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 2004, 13:56 GMT]
The Vanni district journalists association Tuesday released a statement expressing its shock and grief at the murder of the Batticaloa-based senior journalist, Mr. Iyathurai Nadesan, Monday. The association strongly condemned the murder and said the journalist's slaying has created a sense of fear and insecurity among Tamil journalists.
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Peter Harrold meets Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 2004, 10:50 GMT]
Director of World Bank Country Representative for Sri Lanka, Mr. Peter Harrold, met with LTTE's Head of Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan at the Kilinochchi Peace Secretariat today, the peace secretariat website said. The discussions centered on the need of funds to support urgent humanitarian needs in the NorthEast, the website added.
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Killings threaten press freedom- SLTMA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 2004, 02:53 GMT]
"We urge all those who cherish press freedom and democracy to pressure the Sri Lanka Government to take immediate steps to safeguard the journalists from murder and harassment, and to bring to justice those who perpetrate dastardly crimes on Tamil journalists who question oppression and injustice," said members of the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA), in a memorandum released Tuesday.
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