Committee formed to co-ordinate psychosocial counselling

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 July 2005, 13:07 GMT]
In a meeting held at the Planning and Development Secretariat (PDS) in Kilinochchi 10.30 am Saturday to draw plans for further promoting effective delivery of psycho-social services, Rev Father Edmond Reginald was elected to lead a Committee that is tasked to co-ordinate such efforts in the NorthEast, sources in Kilinochchi said. Director of TamilEelam Health Services, S Vickraman presided the event.
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Festival for children begins in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 July 2005, 16:45 GMT]
Two day "Sunshine Festival" for tsunami and war affected children and adults in Trincomalee district began Saturday morning in the McHeyzer Stadium in the east port town. The Community Empowerment Network of Trincomalee (CENT), which comprises more than thirty international and national aid agencies and civil groups, is organizing the festival to provide an opportunity for affected children of all three communities to come together and take part in social activities, sources said
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Danish Demining Group briefs Jaffna media trainees

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 July 2005, 16:12 GMT]
Forty four percent of land mines and anti personnel explosives are buried in Jaffna district, said Ms Bodil Jacobsen, Programme Supervisor of the Danish Demining Group (DDG), at a discussion held with trainees of the Media Research and Training Centre of the Jaffna University Saturday, sources said.
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Jaffna trader complains of SLA harassment

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 July 2005, 15:57 GMT]
Mr.T.Nisakaran, owner of a photographic studio in Urumpirai area, has registered a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) that he has been continuously harassed and intimidated by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers of the Urelu army camp located in Jaffna district, civil sources said. Jaffna Regional Co-ordinator of the HRCSL has initiated procedures to hold an inquiry into the complaint, HRCSL sources said.
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Eravur man arrested for possessing explosives

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 July 2005, 11:23 GMT]
Mr. Mohamed Sayed, 39, was arrested by the Sri Lankan Police for alleged posession of explosives Saturday morning at Iyankerni. Police unearthed explosives kept buried beside a coconut tree in the compound of his home on Jinna Road, Eravur Police said.
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Tamileelam TV to begin broadcasts to SouthEast Asia

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 July 2005, 04:12 GMT]
"The importance given to nurturing the electronic and printed media by the Tamil Eelam leader Pirapaharan is why we are now able to extend our Television services to countries in Asia," said K Veera of National Television of Tamileelam (NTT), speaking at an event held Friday 10 am at the Media Co-ordinating office in Kilinochchi to mark the inauguration of television broadcasts to southeast asian countries on 1st August, sources in Kilinochchi said.
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Key provisions in US Patriot Act struck down third time

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 July 2005, 00:50 GMT]
U.S. District Court Judge Audrey Collins ruled Thursday that a key provision in the USA Patriot Act criminalizing the provision of "expert advice or assistance" to designated foreign terrorist groups is unconstitutional, despite an attempt by Congress to fix the problems in the 2004 Intelligence Reform Act. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) based in New York originally filed the case on behalf of Humanitarian Law Project, a human rights organization and several Tamil-American organizations that seek to support the lawful activities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka, especially in areas affected by the 2004 tsunami.
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SLMM meets LTTE, TNA parliamentarians in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 23:47 GMT]
Members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) met with Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians Sivanathan Kishor and Sivasakthi Ananthan at 2.30 pm Friday at the SLMM offices in Vavuniya, and had another meeting with Vavuniya district Head of LTTE political wing Gnanam and Peace Secretariat co-ordinator for Vavuniya Mr Kumaravel at 3.30 pm at the LTTE political offices, sources in Vavuniya said. Discussions centered on Thursday's Thirunavatkulam grenade explosion and the recent increase in threats of violence, according to sources.
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Colombo requests SC to remove P-TOMS stay order

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 16:25 GMT]
Mr.M.S.Jayasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Friday filed a petition in the Supreme Court requesting for the removal of its restraining order from implementing four clauses of the P-TOMS (Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure) till its final determination on the Fundamental Rights application filed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarians. The SC made the restraining order on July 15 when the FR application came up for inquiry, the State run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) reported in its Friday night news bulletin quoting legal sources.
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Helgesen, Solheim to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 15:59 GMT]
The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Vidar Helgesen and the Norwegian Special Envoy Mr. Erik Solheim are expected to visit Sri Lanka next week, Minister Mr. Nimal Sripala De Silva, said in a press conference at the Government Information Department in Colombo Friday.
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Fish vendors complain harassment at Muhamalai SLA checkpoint

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 15:49 GMT]
Vendors engaged in the sale of fish in Jaffna district have complained to civil authorities that they are harassed by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army at Muhamalai checkpoint when bringing fish from Vadamaradchchi east division. They are asked to wait several hours at the Muhamalai checkpoint before entering the government-controlled areas in Jaffna district, civil sources said.
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Presidential election controversy goes to court

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 15:46 GMT]
Mr.Dharmadasa Gomes, Attorney-at-Law Friday filed a petition in the Court of Appeal to order the Commissioner of Elections to declare the date of the Sri Lankan Presidential election citing Commissioner of Elections Mr.Dayananda Dissanayake, and Attorney General Mr.K.C.Kamalasbaeyson, as respondents, state run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation reported in its Friday night news bulletin quoting legal sources.
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Vadamaradchchi traders hold demonstration

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 15:38 GMT]
Traders in Vadamaradchchi division in Jaffna district Friday morning held a demonstration that they are not provided any assistance by the Sri Lankan government to rehabilitate their industry suffered due to tsunami, sources said.
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Mannar explosives case suspects complain of torture

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 15:28 GMT]
Mr.N.M.M.Abdullah Friday ordered further remand till 12 August for the seven suspects including a woman arrested in Mannar for possessing explosives, legal sources said. The Magistrate further instructed Anuradhapura prison authorities to keep the suspects in the prison hospital and to submit medical reports on the conditions of the suspects when they complained in open court that they had been subjected to assault and torture while in custody, legal sources said.
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NE Bishops meet LTTE's Political Head

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 15:12 GMT]
The Rev. Dr. Kingsley Swampillai, Bishop of Batticaloa and Trincomalee, Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar and the Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna met with LTTE's Pollitical Head Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan in Kilinochchi Friday at the LTTE Peace Secretariat, LTTE's website said.
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Father of three shot dead in Achchuveli

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 14:47 GMT]
Mr.Phillipiah Leonard Jeyaraj aged 52, father of three children of Achchuveli West in Jaffna district, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen Friday evening around 6 p.m. while he was walking towards his agricultural land. The Police handed over the body of the dead to the Achchuveli hospital, police said.
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EPDP demonstrate in Jaffna against killing

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 14:37 GMT]
Members of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) Friday afternoon held a demonstration with the body of Mr.Suriyapillai Nixon in front of the Jaffna office of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) demanding guarantee for their security and safety, sources in Jaffna said. Mr.Nixon, a member of the EPDP was shot dead Thursday afternoon by unidentified gunmen when was on his way to distribute copies of Thinamurasu, the weekly organ of the EPDP.
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US embassy officials visit Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 13:35 GMT]
A delegation of the US Embassy officials in Colombo arrived in Jaffna Thursday on a two-day visit and met with representatives of the civil groups, non-governmental organizations and senior journalists Friday at the Yarlpadi Restaurant, sources said. Ms Helena W.Rathore, Information Officer of the US Embassy said US assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the tsunami destroyed coastal areas would be channeled through USAID and other agencies.
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Kalmunai Muslims protest against SL Minister Athaulla

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 12:30 GMT]
More than one thousand Muslims from three different mosques in Kalmunai town marched Friday in protest against the Minister of Infrastructure Development in the Eastern Province, Mr. A.L.M Athaulla, a leader of one of the breakaway factions of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), accusing the lankan minister of "betraying Muslims in Kalmunai" and favouring his native town of Akkaraipattu in securing governmental facilities. Demonstrators also carried placards supporing Tamil - Muslim relations in Kalmunai.
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Royal Navy war ship to visit Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 08:31 GMT]
Royal Navy Warship HMS YORK and her accompanying Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship BLACK ROVER are due to arrive alongside Colombo, Sri Lanka on 5 August. The ships will visit for three days before heading further east as part of a Royal Naval deployment called VOLANS 05, said a press release of the British High Commission issued Friday.
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Sunshine Festival for tsunami affected Trincomalee children

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 01:03 GMT]
About three thousand children and two thousand adults affected by tsunami and decades old conflict in the Trincomalee district are to participate in a "Sunshine Festival "scheduled to be held in Trincomalee Mc Heyzer Stadium for two days, on July 30 and 31, sources said. The Community Empowerment Network of Trincomalee (CENT) comprising international aid agencies, local non-governmental organizations and community leaders is organizing this event.
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LTTE office in Vavuniya attacked

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 July 2005, 17:22 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen lobbed grenades at the Administrative Office of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Vavuniya around 10:00 p.m. Thursday. No one was injured in the attack. The attackers, who came in a motorbike, fired into the building after charging two grenades, Mr. Tharmendra, LTTE's deputy head of political affairs in Vavuniya, told TamilNet. The office is located at Thirunavatkulam, two kilometers north of Vavuniya town. There are two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) checkpoints, each located 100 meters away from the office.
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Bhikku front holds convention against P-TOMS

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 July 2005, 16:44 GMT]
The National Bhikku Front (NBF), an ultra Sinhala nationalist organization of Buddhist monks of Sri Lanka, held a special National Sanga (Monks) Convention against the Post -Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) at Bandaranaiake Memorial International Center Hall (BMICH) in Colombo Thursday evening. More than five thousand nationalist monks and their supporters attended the conference that urged all Sinhala nationalist forces to join hands in one platform against the scuttled P-TOMS deal.
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Jaffna Tamil youth reported missing

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 July 2005, 16:27 GMT]
Mr.Gunaretnam Rajatheepan (22) of Navakiri in Puttur, Jaffna district, is reported missing since July 18 after he left for Batticaloa. He has been enrolled as a student of the Batticaloa National College of Education, according to a complaint lodged with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Thursday morning by his parents, civil sources said.
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"Human Rights in Sri Lanka under-addressed" - Karen Parker

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 July 2005, 11:23 GMT]
Noting that the Sri Lankan military and paramilitary forces are carrying out "a kind of shadow war", Ms. Karen Parker, J.D., a San Francisco based attorney, addressing the 57th session of the UN Sub-Commission On Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on Wednesday said that the Tamil people, already having suffered nearly 20 years of war, are also suffering from the failure of the Sri Lanka to allow international post-Tsunami aid to reach the Tamils. Ms. Parker urged the Sub-Commission members to voice their concerns in their own statements, and to "seek out ways to communicate concerns to other UN bodies" for action.
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UN Sub-Commission urged to protect human rights in the NorthEast

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 July 2005, 09:54 GMT]
Outlining the bias in the Sri Lankan judicial system against Tamils, the Tamil Centre for Human Rights (TCHR), a France based Tamil rights group, in a letter handed over to Mr. Vladimir Kartashkin, the chairperson of the UN Sub-Commission On Promotiion and Protection of Human Rights, said: "Justice has been denied to Tamils systematically, over several decades, in all aspects of life. They have suffered systematic human rights violations of genocidal proportions, the perpetrators of which have not been brought to book." The UN Sub-Commission opened its fifty-seventh session on Monday.
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SLFP names Mahinda Rajapakse Presidential candidate

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 July 2005, 09:32 GMT]
The central committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Thursday endorsed the name of Prime Minister, Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, as its candidate of the Sri Lanka's executive presidency. Mr.Nimal Sripala de Silva, Cabinet spokesman and Minister in the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government announced this at a press briefing held in Prime Minister's official residence 'Temple Trees'.
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NE part time teachers receive permanency

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 July 2005, 09:01 GMT]
Mr.R.Thiakalingam, North East Provincial Education Ministry Secretary Wednesday handed over appointment letters absorbing 203 part time English teachers comprising all three communities out of 860 into the Class 3 Grade 2 of the Ceylon Teachers Service. They have been serving in northeast schools for several years. This is the first time in the Sri Lanka's education history part time teachers served on contract basis are made permanent, education sources said.
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EPDP paramilitary cadre shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 July 2005, 07:35 GMT]
Unidentified persons shot dead an EPDP cadre identified as Sooriyapillai Nixon, 24, Thursday around 12:30 p.m. in Jaffna town. The cadre was taking a parcel of copies of a Tamil weekly, Thinamurasu, published by the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), a paramilitary group and a close ally of the Sri Lanka's United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, to be distributed to sale outlets, Police sourcers said.
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Trinco Lions honour Past Presidents, appoint new Head

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 July 2005, 02:51 GMT]
Mr.A.Ramanan was appointed as the fourteenth President of the Lions Club of Trincomalee Town and eight Past Presidents Messrs Ben Xavier, T.Sivaretnarajah, M.S.Devadasan, N.Mahendran, B.Janaranjan, M.M.Jalaldeen, B.Udhayasankar and A.Ravindrarajah of the Club were honored at an event held last weekend at Silver Beach Hotel in Trincomalee, sources said.
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US should facilitate equitable, expeditious aid distribution- Gajendrakumar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 July 2005, 00:39 GMT]
Speaking at a Members' briefing organized by the Congressional Human Rights Caucus Wednesday at the Rayburn building of the Capitol Hill Washington D.C on "Sri-Lanka: Challenges and Efforts to Effectively Deliver Humanitarian Relief in the Wake of the Tsunami," Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Gajendrakumar urged the United States Government to "resolve any legal issues that prevent the US government from directly, equitably and expeditiously providing all forms of assistance to all parts of the Northeast," sources in Washington said.
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LTTE: "no need to renegotiate ceasefire"

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 19:06 GMT]
Rejecting a call by the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga inviting the Liberation Tigers for top-level talks to review and restructure the February 2002 ceasefire agreement, the Tigers this week urged the Sri Lankan government to implement the clauses and obligations of the truce without delay, so as to "consolidate the conditions of peace and normalcy in the Tamil homeland."
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Muslim businessman shot dead in sectarian violence

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 18:28 GMT]
A muslim businessman, Mr. M. M. Ibrahim Mohideen, a follower of a Sufi muslim sect led by charismatic cleric Abdul 'Payilvaan,' was shot and killed by two unidentified muslim gunmen on Wednesday at 9:55 p.m in Abdul Jawath Alim Mawatta, Kaththankudy, a large Muslim town 4 km south of Batticaloa, Police said.
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Joint appearance of SLFP foes

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 18:15 GMT]
Mr.Anura Bandaranaike, a senior minister and the brother of incumbent President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge appeared with Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister on the same platform Wednesday and declared that he would support Mr.Rajapakse in the coming Presidential election as the candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), sources in Colombo said. Both candidates have aspired for the SLFP Presidency and canvassed support separately till Tuesday.
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Body found floating in Batticaloa river

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 18:01 GMT]
The body of an unidentified male aged 30 and 35 was recovered from Erumaitheevu river in no-man zone in Batticaloa around 5:30 p.m Wednesday, Police sources said.
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Tamil convention demands immediate withdrawal of SL military

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 14:45 GMT]
Proclaiming that an environment must be created to enable Tamils to decide their political destiny, the Tamil National Resurgence Convention held in Vavuniya, demanded that the occupying Sinhala forces must vacate the land and seas of the NorthEast with immediate effect. The proclamation concluded urging the International Community to recognise the "basic rights and life of freedom with peace on the basis of our traditional homeland, our nationhood and self rule and struggle for sovereignty."
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Batticaloa youth shot dead in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 14:34 GMT]
Mr. Kirupaharan Krishnapillai, 28, a Tamil youth, who was shot by unidentified gunmen Tuesday night around 11:30 p.m in Colombo, succumbed to gunshot wounds Wednesday morning around 6:30 a.m. at Colombo Hospital, Police sources said.
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Journalists protest against SL Deputy Minister

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 13:43 GMT]
Hundreds of print and electronic media personnel demonstrated against the Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment, Mr. Mervyn Silva, condemning the verbal abuse by the Deputy Minister against the Sirasa, Swarnavahini television jouranalists and several other news paper reporters and photographers who were at the Colombo Fort Magistrate Courts to cover a case against Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva's son on Monday, sources said.
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Tamil National Resurgence Convention begins in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 09:37 GMT]
A Tamil national resurgence conference with more than one thousand Tamil national activists comprising academics, writers, religious dignitaries, representatives of civil organisations and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs from Amparai, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Vanni and Mannar, began in Vavuniya at 10:30 a.m on Wednesday at Vairavapuliyankulam Children's Park. Leaders of the Up-Country Peoples Front (UPF) and the Western Province Peoples' Front (WPPF) are also participating in the conference, sources in Vavuniya said.
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EPDP cadre shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 05:30 GMT]
Mr. Pankirajah George, 39, a cadre of the paramilitary group Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman riding a bicycle Tuesday night around 11:00 p.m., Batticaloa Police said. The incident took place 2 km. south of Batticaloa town, at Chinese Road in Puthur located close to the Valaiiravu airbase, within the High Security Zone of the Sri Lankan forces.
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SLFP to announce candidate for SL Presidency

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 04:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Ms.Chandrika Kumaratunge is likely to announce the names of candidates for President of Sri Lanka and the post of Prime Minister of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) at the central working committee of the SLFP which is scheduled to be held on Thursday or Friday, government sources said.
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286 Tamil medium teachers to be posted to NE schools

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 July 2005, 16:45 GMT]
286 GCE Advanced Level qualified Tamil medium teachers are to receive their appointment letters from zonal education offices in their respective districts in the northeast province Wednesday. These teachers have been selected by the Colombo Ministry of Education based on the results of the competitive examination held in December last year and the list has been handed over to the North East Provincial Ministry of Education for posting, education department officials said.
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Tamil Media Alliance condemns Minister for insulting journalist

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 July 2005, 16:13 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance has condemned Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment, Mr. Mervyn Silva for verbally abusing and nearly assaulting the Veerakesari photographer Mr. S. Surenthiran who went to cover a court case where the Deputy Minister's son was involved.
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SL President convenes meeting of top military brass

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 July 2005, 15:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga convened a meeting of senior officers of all three armed forces in Colombo at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) Tuesday, and spoke on the current political trends, sources in Colombo said.
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"Sri Lanka's Judiciary consistently denied justice to Tamils" - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 July 2005, 15:21 GMT]
"We have seen how the Judiciary of Sri Lanka aided the oppression of Tamil people during the period of war, and we have recently witnessed how Colombo's Supreme Court crippled the Agreement on Joint Mechanism accepted by the President of Sri Lanka," LTTE's Political Head Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan said in his key note address delivered in Kilinochchi at the ceremony to mark the opening of the new building for Legislation Secretariat of the Judicial Administrative Unit of the Tamil Eelam on Tuesday. "The Sinhala Nation has failed to seize the opportunity during this three and a half year period of absence of war to resolve the Tamil national question," LTTE's Political Head said.
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USAID to provide $77m for tsunami reconstruction

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 July 2005, 11:10 GMT]
United States signed an agreement Tuesday with the Government of Sri Lanka authorizing USAID additional funding of $77m "to implement a broad-reaching package of tsunami reconstruction projects," a press release issued by the US Embassy in Colombo said. The new funding "complements the $56 million already obligated for the relief and recovery program," the release said.
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Tamil Uprising Convention to be held Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 July 2005, 10:59 GMT]
Tamil National Uprising Convention is to be held in Vavuniya at the Vairavapuliyankulam Children's Park on Wednesday where about one thousand delegates from civil groups in the northeast province are expected to participate, organizers of the conference said.
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Two youths knifed to death in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 July 2005, 05:44 GMT]
Two Tamil youths, Mr. Kumarasamy Pathmaharan, 23, from Jaffna town and Mr. Subramaniam Kohulan, 26, from Sarasalai west, Chavakachcheri, were found knifed to death at Manippuram 4 km. northwest of Vavuniya, Police said.
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NE part-time English teachers to be made permanent

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 July 2005, 03:12 GMT]
Two hundred and three part time English teachers of more than seven hundred and fifty serving in schools in the North East are to get permanent appointment with effect from Wednesday. Officials at the Provincial Ministry of Education in Trincomalee began scrutinizing their certificates and documents according to the 27/2001 Public Administration Ministry Monday and will continue till Tuesday, Mr.R.Thiyakalingam, and Provincial Education Ministry Secretary said
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JVP launches campaign against CFA in south

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 15:58 GMT]
More than 1500 cadres and supporters of Marxist Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) staged a protest demonstration against the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) demanding Colombo to make the CFA null and void. The main protest was held in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station Monday evening from 4:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m. Similar protests were also held in Kalutura, Puttalam, Kandy, Matala, Monaragala, Ratnapura and Anurathapura on Monday.
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P-TOMS Court action, a true tragedy - Prof Plate

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 15:52 GMT]
Expressing his view that that the stay order by Sri Lanka's Supreme Court suspending four key provisions of the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) "a true tragedy," Prof Tom Plate of University of California, Los Angeles, told TamilNet that he is optimistic that aid dollars will still go to NorthEast.
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Soil excavation by SLA ruins fertile fields

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 15:15 GMT]
Mr.V. Shanmugam, President of the Thenmaradchchi-Mirusuvil Farmers Associations' Federation Monday expressed deep concern that several acres of fertile paddy fields are ruined following excavation of soil by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). SLA soldiers use soil from paddy fields to build earth bunds and to strengthen their bunkers and sentry points, civil sources said.
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Kumaratunge meets Tokyo co-chairs

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 15:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga met with diplomatic representatives of the four Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference Monday to discuss the current state of the peace process and the status of the CeaseFire Agreement (CFA), a media release issued by SL President's Office said. On 15 July the co-chairs issued a statement expressing alarm at the escalating violence, and called on the LTTE to stop killings, and the Government of Sri Lanka to disarm all paramilitaries and to guarantee security to unarmed LTTE cadres.
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Violence shuts down Mannar private busses

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 13:51 GMT]
Private bus traffic in Mannar came to a halt following three violent incidents between Sri Lankan government operated Transport Board (SLTB) bus drivers from Vavuniya depot and private bus operators from Mannar, affecting large number of passengers Monday, sources from Mannar said.
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UNICEF funds Vadamaradchy schools to build basic facilities

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 11:08 GMT]
UNICEF has allocated Rs 2.5m to build basic nine schools in Vadamaradchy, Jaffna, to build facilities to provide drinking water and to build latrines, sources in Jaffna said.
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SLN releases arrested Pt.Pedro fishermen

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 04:05 GMT]
Three fishermen of Supparmadam in Point Pedro in Jaffna district arrested by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers Friday morning for venturing into LTTE controlled Vadamaradchchi east division were released after fellow fishermen protested to the Point Pedro Police, sources in Vadamarachy said.
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IOM provides transition homes to Kallady villagers

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 03:50 GMT]
Ms Mary Sheehan, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Friday handed over 148 transition homes to tsunami hit villagers of Kallady, a fishing hamlet in the Eachchilampathu division, down south of Trincomalee district. In addition the IOM has provided livelihood assistance to these families, sources said.
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SLA refuses to allow Thondamanaru bridge reconstruction

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 03:42 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has again refused permission for the Jaffna civil authorities to commence reconstruction work on the bridge over the Thondamanaru lagoon, which connects Valigamam north and Vadamaradchchi division in the Jaffna district district secretariat sources said. The Thondamannaru Bridge was destroyed during the military operation SLA launched in 1987.
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Tsunami warning, no threat to Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 July 2005, 16:53 GMT]
An earthquake of initially estimated magnitude of 7.3 Richter scale near Nicobar Islands was reported by Japanese Meteorological agency Sunday 16.02 GMT, CNN reported. The earthquake has potential to generate tsunami in littoral areas in Indian Ocean, the report cautioned. However, Sri Lanka's Meteorology Department later said that there was no threat of a tsunami hitting Sri Lanka, AP reported.
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Trinco Rotary Club gets new president

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 July 2005, 03:01 GMT]
Mr. A.Z.Jeeno Singarayer was elected as the twenty- seventh President of the Trincomalee Rotary Club for the year 2005-2006. Mr.S.I.R.Croos, outgoing President, handed over the presidency at an event held Thursday at Trincomalee Hotel Club Oceanic with the Rotary District Governor Mr.Nihal Bogahalande as the chief guest and Mr.Krish Rajendran, Past District Governor as the Guest of Honour, sources said.
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Social mobilization workshop begins in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 July 2005, 02:18 GMT]
Opening event of a residential nine-day workshop for nearly 30 staff engaged in social mobilization in different districts of NorthEast was held in Kanagapuram in Kilinochchi Saturday at 3.30 pm, sources said. Director of the Socilal Mobilization section of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), Mr M Selvarajah, presided the event.
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Home Guard shot dead in Thampalakamam

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 July 2005, 16:34 GMT]
Mr.Dayananda, a Home Guard of the Sr Lanka Police was shot dead by an unidentified gunman Saturday night around 7.30 p.m. at Potkerny, a suburb in Thampalakamam village located about twenty two km off southwest of Trincomalee town on Trincomalee-Kandy high way, Police said.
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Indian official's limousine stolen in Ambepussa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 July 2005, 16:30 GMT]
Thieves stole the limousine of the Deputy Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Mr Ramanpillai, at gun point in Ambepussa, a popular tourist spot along the Colombo-Kandy road Saturday morning. The incident took place at around 10:30 a.m. when the Deputy Indian envoy who is based in Kandy stopped his vehiche and entered the Ambepussa Rest House for tea with his family, sources said.
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Environmental Commission formed in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 July 2005, 11:25 GMT]
The inaugural event of the Thamileelam Commision for Environmental Governance (TCEG) was held at the Planning and Development Secretariat (PDS) located in Kilinochchi presided by Liberation Tiger's Head of Political Wing S P Thamilchelvan at 10 am Saturday, sources in Kilinochchi said. The main mission of the Commission is to ensure environmental protection in the NorthEast, PDS officials said.
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Family injured entangled in SLA's concertina fence

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 July 2005, 11:08 GMT]
Three members of a family including a baby were injured when they got entangled in a barbed wire erected by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) along the Point Pedro Guest House Road Thursday night. The incident took place when several families were returning late in the night after attending an event where boats and nets were handed over to tsunami affected fishermen held at Supparmadam coastal area, sources said.
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Colombo to file objections to P-TOMS stay order

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 July 2005, 13:49 GMT]
Within the legal framework, the Government will canvass its case in favor of the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure, cabinet spokesman Nimal Siripala De Silva said Friday. Speaking to reporters at a press briefing in COlombo Mr. Silva said that lawyers for the Government will file objections in the Supreme Court on July 29th regarding the Court ruling that imposed an interim order on the implementation of four vital clauses of the Bill.
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World leaders call for early Presidential elections

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 July 2005, 10:35 GMT]
A resolution by the International Democratic Union (IDU) which met in Washington DC Monday under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, expressed concern "at the attempts made by the Government of Sri Lanka to postpone the Presidential Election scheduled for this year [2005]," and called for the elections to be held in 2005, said a press release issued by the opposition United National Party offices Thursday.
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Japan funds rural development in Badulla

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 July 2005, 10:30 GMT]
Japanese Governement is to provide Rs 9 million for the "rehabilitation of the Galahagama Irrigation scheme, construction of the Welihela Ladduma Water Supply Project and improve the Kahatapitiya - Hangiliela Road," said a press release issued by Japanese Embassy in Colombo Friday.
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One civilian, policeman killed in Pottuvil

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 July 2005, 06:08 GMT]
A civilian was killed when the Police opened fire after an unidentified gunman shot and killed a Police constable in Pottuvil town around 11.00 p.m. on Thursday. The civilian victim, identified as Mr. Kanagasabai Ranjithkumar, is a 21 year old Tamil youth from Kundumadu.
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Stay order defers expropriation of estate workers' land

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 July 2005, 01:10 GMT]
Colombo High Court Monday issued a stay order on the the State's attempt to expropriate land belonging to estate workers at the Ingurugama tea estate in Badulla district, legal sources said. Families of several estate workers were asked to relocate to provide space for building University campus for Uva province.
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Humedica assists tusnami-affected fishermen in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 July 2005, 18:40 GMT]
Humedica, a Gernam non-governmental organization Thursday concluded its first phase distribution of fishing boats with outboard engines, fishing nets and bicycles to tsunami affected fishermen in the coastal villages from Thondamannaru to Katkovalam in Point Pedro in the Jaffna district.
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Three injured in grenade attack on Police checkpoint in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 July 2005, 15:55 GMT]
One homeguard and two civilians were injured when two unidentified attackers, riding a motorbike, lobbed a grenade on a checkpoint at Kalavaddam Junction on Kalmunai Main Road around 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Special Task Force (STF) soldiers and the Police cordoned off and searched the area following the attack, residents said.
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Two STF soldiers, policeman injured in grenade attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 July 2005, 07:56 GMT]
Two Special Task Force (STF) soldiers and a police constable were injured when two unidentified attackers lobbed a grenade into a checkpoint close to a tsunami-refugee camp at Tharmsangari playground near Ramakrishana Mission School in Akkaraipattu at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Tension prevailed in the area following the attack as STF soldiers opened fire and stopped civilian vehicles passing by the area and attacked the travellers following the incident, residents said. Handbills issued in Akkaraipattu in the name of "Amparai District Seerum Padai" (Roaring Force in Amparai) claimed responsibility for the attack.
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Army searches Punguduthivu hospital

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 July 2005, 19:03 GMT]
LTTE Jaffna district political secretariat Wednesday complained to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Jaffna that soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army had forcibly entered the Thileepan memorial hospital in Pungudutivu on Monday and conducted a search operation. Soldiers surrounded the hospital stopping people from going out of the premises before moving in, sources said.
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Grama Sevaka officer shot and killed in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 July 2005, 16:42 GMT]
Mr. Marimuthu Baskaran, 54, the Grama Sevaka (GS) officer of Kalmunai 3rd Division, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen Wednesday around 8:30 p.m. at his house on Amman Kovil Road, 500 meters from Kalmunai town.
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Disarming paramilitaries vital for peace - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 July 2005, 10:34 GMT]
LTTE's Political Head Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, after meeting with a Norwegian delegation Wednesday morning in Kilinochchi told the press that the ceasefire monitors did not bring any new message that will improve the deteriorating ground conditions in the NorthEast. He accused Colombo and the Sri Lankan armed forces for nurturing and promoting paramilitary groups in the SLA held areas of the NorthEast in violation of clause 1.8 of the CFA. "We stressed to Norwegian delegation the urgency of disarming the paramilitaries according to the terms of the CFA," Thamilchelvan told the reporters.
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TNA seeks govt. stand on Trinco Buddha statue issue

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 July 2005, 06:06 GMT]
Mr.R.Sampanthan, Tamil National Alliance ( TNA ) parliamentary group leader and Trincomalee district parliamentarian made a statement in parliament Wednesday morning seeking the Government to reveal its stand on the Trincomalee Buddha statue issue following the withdrawal of the case filed by the Attorney General in the Trincomalee District Court for the removal of the statue.
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P-TOMS to be debated in SL parliament

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 16:58 GMT]
A debate on P-TOMS signed by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is scheduled for August 11 and 12 in Sri Lanka Parliament, political sources said. The decision was taken at the party leaders meeting held Tuesday evening with the Speaker Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara in the chair.
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Court acquits Dissanayake in bribery case

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 16:50 GMT]
Ms Rohini Perera, Colombo High Court Judge Tuesday acquitted Mr.S.B.Dissanayake, a former minister in the then UNF government and now serving two year jail sentence in a contempt of court case without calling for the defense from another case in which he had been indicted for accumulating assets by improper means, legal sources said.
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A9 travellers checked at gunpoint

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 14:40 GMT]
Passengers reaching Jaffna from Colombo Tuesday evening said that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were checking the travellers on A9 at gunpoint at a newly constructed checkpoint at Arasankulam, 1 km. south of Omanthai checkpoint.
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Mannar fishermen demonstrate against Sedusamudram project

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 12:23 GMT]
A large number of civilians, majority of them fishermen, demonstrated Tuesday morning in Mannar town, opposing the implementation of the Sedusamudram Canal Project (SSCP) claiming that the project will destroy fishing resources in Mannar Sea. Mannar District Fisheries Societies' Federation and Mannar Peace Movement jointly organized the protest.
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Peace co-chairs call for end to violence

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 11:25 GMT]
In a press release issued by the US Embassy in Colombo Tuesday, the Co-chairs for Sri Lanka Peace Process expressed alarm at the escalating violence called on the LTTE to stop killings, and the Government of Sri Lanka to disarm all paramilitaries and to guarantee security to unarmed LTTE cadres.
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SLA soldier shot in Eravur

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 11:20 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was shot and injured Monday noon at Vantharumoolai in Eravur, Police said. The soldier, N. Dhinapala, attached to Kommanthurai camp of the SLA, was on duty at 19th Mile Post in Vantharumoolai when he was shot by an unidentified gunman who used a T-56 rifle from long distance, Eravur Police said.
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Court instructs AG to withdraw case against Buddha Statue

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 10:11 GMT]
On the instrustion of Supreme Court Justice Sarath N Silva, Attorney General (AG) withdrew the case filed by him in the Trincomalee District Court last month seeking a declaration that the Buddha statue which was erected in the Trincomalee bus stand vicinity is illegal. Consequently Venerable Dehiowitta Piyatissa Thera, chief priest of the Chinabay Sri Bodhirajamaha Vihare withdrew the Fundamental Rights petition he filed against the AG. The AG also agreed to withdraw the letter instructing the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to take steps to remove the Buddha statue, legal sources said.
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New Institute to boost Tamil education in NorthEast

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 01:30 GMT]
In an event held in the Killinochchi zonal education office in Kilinochchi Sunday, The Education Development Institute of North East (EDINE) was inaugurated to develop Tamil medium education in the northeast province, education sources said. Professor C.Mohanathas, Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University, unveiled the name board of the office and Mr.R.Thiakalingam, from North East Provincial Education Ministry, declared open the office.
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Mobs attack Tamil estate

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 July 2005, 22:51 GMT]
Sinhala mobs armed with batons attacked Tamil plantation workers in Panthi tea estate near Mathugama, a small town in Western Province, 61 km. from Colombo, Mr. Mano Ganesan, leader of the Western Province Peoples' Front (WPPF) told TamilNet. Two Tamil civilians were injured in the attack that took place around 10:30 p.m. Monday.
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German Foundation donates water pumps

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 July 2005, 17:58 GMT]
Juergen Wahn Stiftung, a German Foundation which has been funding the Veloor Development Project since the village was destroyed by tsunami disaster, Sunday donated water pumps with accessories worth about 2 million rupees to 41 farmers to restart their cultivation.
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Peoples agitation campaign planned in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 July 2005, 14:14 GMT]
About five hundred representatives of civil groups in the Jaffna district Monday decided to hold one-day peoples' agitation campaign mustering several thousand people to seek the support of the international community to recognize the self-determination rights of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, civil sources in Jaffna said.
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Civilian shot in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 July 2005, 13:03 GMT]
Mr. Kanapathipillai Ilaiathamby, 40, was shot and injured Sunday around 8:00 p.m. at his house on School Road at Kalkuddah in Valaichenai.
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New Ministers take oath

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 July 2005, 10:22 GMT]
Five Cabinet Ministers, a non Cabinet Minister and six Deputy Ministers took their oaths today Monday, 18th July 2005, before Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga, a media release from the Presidential Media Unit issued in Colombo said Monday.
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Mannar court remands suspects caught with explosives

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 July 2005, 10:10 GMT]
Mannar acting Magistrate Mr.M.B.Farook Sunday evening ordered remand till July 29 for the seven suspects arrested by the Mannar Police Sunday early morning with alleged possession of a consignment of explosives. All suspects were immediately taken to Anuradhapura Remand Prison under heavy security, legal sources said.
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Parliament to meet Tuesday after Court ruling on P-TOMS

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 July 2005, 05:42 GMT]
The Secretary General of the parliament has summoned a meeting of leaders of political parties for Monday evening at 4 p.m., which is to be presided by the Speaker Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara in his chamber. The meeting has been called to finalize the business of the Parliament, which is to meet Tuesday for the first time after the Supreme Court ruling on the P-TOMS.
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Colombo's political drama shatters hopes for peace- LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 July 2005, 03:14 GMT]
"As Tamil people have repeatedly witnessed in their tortuous history of the past several decades, Colombo has shown its reluctance to provide remedies to Tamil people even after humanitarian disasters of colossal proportions. Sinhala leaders under severe international pressure, signed the deal after dragging for six long months, the Sinhala chauvinists then staged protests to derail the deal, and when all techniques were exhausted Sinhala nationalists engaged the willing apex court to use constitutional reasoning to scuttle the deal," said S P Thamilchelvan after a 4-hour long meeting with the TNA leaders in Kilinochchi Sunday.
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Upcountry youths march in support of P-TOMS

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 July 2005, 18:46 GMT]
Upcountry Youth Front held a meeting in Hatton in Nuwara Eliya district Sunday near the Hatton bus stand to express support for the Post-tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers, sources in Hill country said. Although the meeting organizers had obtained permission to march from Mallikaipu Junction to the Hatton bus stand, Police withdrew the permit before the march was to begin, organizers said.
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Kantalai ancestral farmers face denial of water rights

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 July 2005, 13:19 GMT]
Mr.R.Sampanthan, Trincomalee district parliamentarian, has requested the Sri Lanka's Ministry of Irrigation not to divert water from Kantalai tank for irrigating fields in a newly created Sinhala settlement Jayanthipura undermining the preferential rights of ancestral (Purana) farmers of Tampalakamam and Mullipoththanai of the down stream. When the augmentation of Kantalai tank took place in 1950s to support new Sinhala settlements Government of Ceylon gave an undertaking to traditional Tamil and Muslim farmers ensuring their right to water from the tank.
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SLA bans transporting batteries, wires in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 July 2005, 12:00 GMT]
Sri Lakan Army (SLA) soldiers manning the check points between LTTE controlled and SLA held areas in the eastern districts of Batticaloa and Amparai imposed restrictions on transporting batteries, wires and electric devices from SLA held areas towards Vaharai and other LTTE held areas in the East since Saturday. Civilians were subjected to severe questioning and and body searcj by SLA, Special Task Force (STF) soldiers and the Police. Security is tightened in Batticaloa, Amparai districts, Police sources said.
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Elilan calls for eradication of child marriage

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 July 2005, 08:29 GMT]
"Child marriage is still common in some areas in Eachchilampathu division. We are taking action to stop this social ill. It is the duty of every responsible citizen to eradicate this menace," said Mr.S.Elilan, LTTE Trincomalee district political head participating as the chief guest at the Women Confluence organised by the Eachchilampathu Women Development Organization Saturday. Trincomalee District Fund for Affected Students collaborated in holding this event at Eachchilampathu Sri Senbaga Maha Vidiyalayam.
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Mannar Police arrests seven persons with explosives

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 July 2005, 08:14 GMT]
Mannar Police Sunday early morning around 1:45 a.m. seized two plastic boats and a three-wheeler with a consignment of claymore mines and explosives. Police arrested four persons while they were landing at Konthaipiddy shore with explosives and another person with his three-wheeler waiting to transport the consignment, according to the Police.
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SLA to construct new access road to Tellipallai hospital

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 July 2005, 23:39 GMT]
Mr.Tyronne Fernando, North East Governor Saturday declared open the renovated Tellipalai District Hospital and commissioned the newly installed Cobalt Cancer Treatment Plant in the cancer unit of the hospital. Meanwhile, a decision was taken at a conference held in Sri Lanka Army Jaffna headquarters in Palaly and attended by the Mr.Tyronne Fernando and Major General Sunil Tennekoon, Jaffna SLA commander, to open a new access road to the Cancer Treatment Unit enabling the patients and employees to have easy access to the hospital, sources said.
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Court ruling adds fuel to Sri Lanka chauvinism- Sampanthan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 July 2005, 19:36 GMT]
"Sri Lanka's Supreme Court's ruling on the P-TOMS is not a challenge to Tamil people but to the two main political parties, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP). The ruling ia a boost to the chauvinist forces that insist on the continuation of the unitary constitution and would like to see the P-TOMS abrogated," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group leader addressing members of the Trincomalee branch of Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Saturday morning in his residence, sources said.
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P-TOMS receives belated praise from Clinton

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 July 2005, 17:15 GMT]
Although Sri Lanka's aid deal, the Post Tsunami Operations Management Structure (P-TOMS), is engulfed in crisis with extreme Sinhala nationlists and Muslim groups opposing the deal, Sri Lanka President's official website quoted former US President, Bill Clinton, as saying, "problems between Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims have been now solved and they are working well together for tsunami recovery," and that the task forces established for post-tsunami rehabilitation must be kept for future disaster management.
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SLA soldier shot and killed in Chenkalady

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 July 2005, 15:32 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, Lance Corporal Sumith Kumara, 25, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen Saturday around 5:30 p.m. at Vantharumoolai Main Road, Police said. The soldier, attached to Kommanthurai Army Camp in Eravur, was deployed at duty in around 900 meters from the camp.
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Methodist Church assists Kallady villagers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 July 2005, 15:09 GMT]
The Trincomalee Methodist Church distributed one million rupees worth household implements to 204 families and 500,000 rupees worth push cycles to 70 students in Kallady in Eachchilampathu division, who were afftected by tsunami that hit the village in December 2004.
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Vavuniya not safe for doing political work, says LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 July 2005, 11:20 GMT]
Vavuniya district Head of LTTE Political Wing, Mr Gnanam, in a meeting held at the District Secretariat Friday 3 p.m., protested to the members of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that harrassment by the Sri Lanka Security forces on LTTE cadres engaged in political work has increased and requested the SLMM to take steps to ensure LTTE cadres' safety, sources said.
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Jaffna Cancer unit to reopen after 15 years

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 July 2005, 10:43 GMT]
The renovated Tellipalai District Hospital at a cost of about 90 million rupees and the Cancer Treatment Unit at a cost of 55 million rupees are to be commissioned by the North East Provincial Governor Mr.Tyronne Fernando on Saturday morning after a lapse of fifteen years. North East Provincial Ministry of Health has organized the opening event, sources said.
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Man shot dead in Chilaw

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 July 2005, 10:22 GMT]
Arumugam Kuhendran, 28, an alleged member of Karuna Group, was shot and killed by an unknown gunman while he was visiting a hotel in Chilaw, a town located in the West coast 50km south of Puttalam Saturday around 12:30 p.m, Police said. Police apprehended a man with a revolver fleeing the scene after the shooting incident.
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Hindu Conference begins in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 July 2005, 18:36 GMT]
Three day Hindu Conference began in Jaffna Friday at the Jaffna College of Education premises. The All Ceylon Hindu Mamantram (ACHM) has organized the conference in collaboration with the Jaffna College of Education to mark the golden jubilee year of the ACHM. Mr.V.Kailasapillai, President of ACHM presided over the inaugural event.
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Ilamparithi meets with SLMM after Kilinochchi visit

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 July 2005, 16:54 GMT]
Mr.C.Ilamparithi, LTTE Jaffna district political head, Friday returned to Jaffna after consultation with LTTE leadership in Killinochchi. The LTTE leadership invited him for a discussion on the current political and ground situation of the northeast province, sources said.
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Inquest held into Kumburupiddy death

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 July 2005, 16:51 GMT]
Inquest into the death of Muthiah Rasa (20) of Kumburupiddy village, north of Trincomalee district was held Friday in the Trincomalee General Hospital (GH) by the acting Magistrate Mr. M.K.Sellarajah. The security forces handed over the body of the deceased to the Trincomalee GH Thursday night and admitted another youth Thangarajah Ketheeswaran (25) with gunshot injuries.
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Armed forces chiefs visit Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 July 2005, 16:29 GMT]
High-level defence team headed by Rear Admiral Daya Sandagiri, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy and the Joint Chief of Staff of three armed forces Friday evening visited Trincomalee on the instruction of President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge and held discussions with top officials of the Army, Navy and Air Force and Police based in the east port town to bring the tense situation under control. Defence team comprised Commanders of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Air Force the Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police, security sources said. Ms.Chandrika Kumaratunge briefed the high level defence team Friday morning before it left Colombo to Trincomalee, Colombo sources said.
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Graduates protest, demand permanent jobs

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 July 2005, 10:43 GMT]
Thousands of unemployed graduates and those who hold temporary teaching jobs protested in front of the Fort Railway station in Colombo demanding the Sri Lanka Government provide them with peramanent employment, civil source said.
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LTTE responds to GoSL proposals, calls for immediate action

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 July 2005, 06:58 GMT]
In a letter addressed to Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) on Friday, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, Political Head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eealm (LTTE), rejected the conditions stipulated by Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) restricting the number of journeys and the number of persons. The letter said that the GoSL has the responsibility to ensure the safety of LTTE's unarmed members in military controlled areas and urged that the proposals sent to GoSL on 30 June 2005 need to be accepted in full in order to ensure safe travel of their cadres. It further said that the time frame set by the LTTE was consequent to the long delay incurred.
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Sri Lanka's Supreme Court issues stay order against P-TOMS

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 July 2005, 06:24 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court (SC) Friday issued a stay order on four main points of the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) signed between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), legal sources said. Fund management, location of Regional Committee in Kilinochchi, Project approval and implementation issues in Regional Committees are the issues being mentioned in the stay order, according to the information available at the moment. The marxist Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Buddhist Sinhala nationalist JHU filed cases seeking the Court to make P-TOMS null and void.
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Three persons killed in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 July 2005, 05:36 GMT]
Three persons, two Muslims and a person with Sinhala-Tamil mixed background, were shot and killed by unidentifed gunmen at the Sixth Mile post, Akkaraipattu on Thursday night. The killers had stopped the persons, who were travelling in a three-wheeler, tied the victims hands behind before shooting them dead, Police said. Soldiers from the Special Task Force (STF) and Police personnel are deployed in Akkaraipattu town as the situation in the area was reported as tense following the discovery of the bodies Friday morning.
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Campaign to locate illegal arms to begin in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 July 2005, 00:48 GMT]
Officers from nineteen police stations in Colombo, led by Deputy Inspector General (D.I.G), Poojith Wijeysundra, will begin the "Operation Cleanup" campaign Friday to confiscate to illegal firearms in possession of criminal elements including underworld gangs, sources from Police Head Office, said Thursday.
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Police post attacked in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 17:21 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen attacked Veeramunai Police post in Samanthurai, Kalmunai at 8:40 p.m. Thursday. Gunmen fled the scene after firing continuously at the post for five minutes under heavy rain, sources said. There were no casualties according to the information available at the moment, Police sources said.
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Colombo names P-TOMS high level representative

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 16:50 GMT]
Constitution Affairs Minister D.E.W.Gunasekara has been appointed as Sri Lanka Government's representative to the High Level Committee of the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS), said Cabinet spokesperson Nimal Siripala De Silva at a post Cabinet press briefing in Colombo Thursday. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on Friday on the validity of the P-TOMS after it was challeneged in Courts by the JVP and the JHU.
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One LTTE cadre killed, two Navy soldiers injured in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 16:21 GMT]
One Liberation Tiger cadre was killed and two Sri Lankan Navy soldiers were injured in a shooting incident that took place near Perkar area in Kumburupiddy division north of Trincomalee, according to Police sources. The incident took place near the German radio relay station Deutche Velle around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Meanwhile, Kumburupiddy villagers, who have taken refuge in the Methodist Church, said that two Tamil civilians are missing in the area following the shooting incident.
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Sri Lanka military pushing for war- Batticaloa LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 15:01 GMT]
"Sri Lankan military is visibly pushing for a war. Sri Lanka Military Intelligence personnel is deployed all over the borders monitoring our cadres. Heavily armed Sri Lankan soldiers are being deployed in SLA held areas of Batticaloa. The situation is getting tense and our political officials in SLA held areas are under threat. If this situation continues, we will be forced to relocate all our political cadres and officials," said Deputy Head of LTTE's Batticaloa-Amparai Political Division, Mr. Dayamohan Thursday.
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Two civilians injured in grenade explosion in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 13:17 GMT]
Two civilians, a Tamil and a Sinhalese , were wounded when a grenade lobbed by an unidentified person missed the target and fell into a saloon and exploded. The incident took place at Anuradhapura junction, about two km off Trincomalee town on Trincomalee-Kandy highway, police said.
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SL President appeals for restraint and calm in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 12:23 GMT]
Expressing concern and sadness for the violence triggered by the killing of several senior unarmed political cadres of the LTTE in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka's President Kumaratunga appealed for calm and "instructed [authorities] to conduct a complete investigation of the events that have occurred in the Trincomalee area and to take strict action against the perpetrators in accordance with the law."
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Security beefed up in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 10:05 GMT]
Sri Lanka President's Official residence and adjoining streets have been declared as high security zone, The Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) Poojitha Jayasundera who is in-charge of the Colombo's security said that the declaration of the high-security zone areas around the President's official residence has been already gazetted last Friday.
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Police officer shot in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 08:12 GMT]
Mr.Ranjit Lokkuhettige, Officer in Charge of the Tampalakamam police post was injured when an unidentified person shot at him Thursday morning around 8:45 a.m. when he was returning to his station in motorbike after physical training. The attack took place at Pokkuruni, a suburb in Tampalakamam village, which is located along Trincomalee-Kandy highway about 24 km off southwest of east port town, police said.
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Thamilchelvan to meet TNA parliamentarians on Sunday

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 05:07 GMT]
Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan, Political Head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is to meet all twenty-two Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians of the northeast province on Sunday evening at Killinochchi political secretariat. Mr. Thamilchelvan is expected to brief TNA parliamentarians about the thinking of LTTE leadership on the present volatile situation in the northeast, TNA sources said
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Ten soldiers injured, security beefed up in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 July 2005, 04:52 GMT]
Security has been beefed up in the Trincomalee district following a grenade attack on a truck of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) injuring ten soldiers including a Lieutenant Wednesday night around 8.30 p.m. at Palathoppur in Muttur division. The attack took place when the army truck was on its way distributing meals to soldiers located in the area, military sources said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Puttalam

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 16:49 GMT]
Mr Krishnan Ravichandran,23, a Tamil, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen Thursday around 2:30 a.m. at Sempattai, Mathuramkuli in Puttalam district, sources said.
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Trinco district secretariat conference hall opened

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 16:03 GMT]
Mr.Pandu Bandaranayake, Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs declared open the new conference hall built at a cost of 12.7 million rupees in the Trincomalee District Secretariat built inside the Fort Frederick in the east port town last weekend. The District Secretariat has been functioning in a two-century-old building constructed during the British rule. The conference hall is the first new building constructed in the District Secretariat premises after about two hundred years, said Mr.Gamini Rodrigo, Government Agent and District Secretary at the opening event, sources said.
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CSU policeman succumbs to injuries

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 12:20 GMT]
Kalmunai police station Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) police constable Mr. M. Rafaideen,35, who received serious injuries on 06 July in a shooting incident in Kalmunai town, succumbed to injuries in Colombo Hospital Tuesday night, hospital sources said.
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Four SLA soldiers injured in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 09:15 GMT]
Four soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army were injured in two separate grenade attacks in Trincomalee and Muttur since early morning Wednesday. With these casualties the number of soldiers injured in grenade attacks and firing increased to six and policemen to thirteen since Tuesday following the general shut down called by Tamil District Tamil Peoples Forum (TDTPF) condemning the killings of LTTE cadres at Chelvanayakapuram on Sunday, police said.
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Bodies of LTTE cadres buried in Alankulam cemetery

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 01:34 GMT]
Bodies of Lieutenant Colonel Dikkan alias Vengai, Second Lieutenant Ilampuli and Anushan Kulasingham of the National Auxiliary Force who were gunned down by an armed group Sunday at Chelvanayakapuram in Trincomalee were buried at Alankulam cemetery in LTTE controlled Muttur east Tuesday evening with full military honours, sources said.
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Historic Trinco Sivan Temple Chariot festival held

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 01:21 GMT]
The annual "THER" festival of the four-century-old historic Sri Visvanathaswami (Sivan) Temple in Trincomalee was held Tuesday morning after about twenty-two years in a newly constructed thirty-three feet tall chariot. The trial run of the new chariot buit at a cost of Rs 4 million was held Monday morning.
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SC will not unnecessarily intervene in national issues- Chief Justice

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 July 2005, 16:15 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court (SC) Tuesday reserved its order for Friday on the application of providing interim relief in the fundamental rights case filed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS). JVP fundamental rights applications came up before the three member-bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Sarath N.Silva, Justice Raja Fernando and Justice Nimal Gamini Amarathunge on Tuesday for further inquiry, legal sources said.
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Navy rescues two Tamils from sandbank in Mannar Sea

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 July 2005, 14:07 GMT]
Mannar Magistrate Mr.N.M.M.Abdullah Tuesday ordered remand till July 22 for two persons-one Sri Lankan Tamil and another Indian citizen when they were produced by Talaimannar Police on a report that they had been rescued from a sandbank in Mannar sea by Sri Lanka Navy Monday evening around 5 p.m., legal sources said.
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Student killed in grenade attack in Eravur

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 July 2005, 13:33 GMT]
A nineteen year old student, Mr. Perinpam Sangarapillai, was killed Monday night around 9.00 PM by unknown attackers who lobbed a grenade at him at Savukkady on Tharavari Road in Eravur. Mr. Perinpam was returning home in bicycle after attending a computer course.
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One soldier, 13 policemen injured in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 July 2005, 11:58 GMT]
One soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and four policemen of the Sri Lankan Police including a Sub-Inspector sustained injuries in two separate incidents in the suburbs of Trincomalee town Tuesday when the east port town observed a general shut down condemning the killing of LTTE cadres by a group of unidentified gunmen last Sunday at Chelvanayakapuram, Police said.
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General shut down paralyses Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 July 2005, 11:31 GMT]
The normal life in Trincomalee town Tuesday came to standstill following a general shout down called by the Trincomalee District Tamil People's Forum (TDTPF), condemning the murder of LTTE memebrs at Chelvanayakapuram by unidentified armed men in military uniform, Sunday.
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Trinco mourns deaths of LTTE cadres

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 July 2005, 10:11 GMT]
"The ceasefire now in operation has become a question mark because of the complicity and collusion of a section of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) with paramilitaries in attacking unarmed LTTE cadres doing political work in army controlled areas," said Mr.S.Elilan, LTTE Trincomalee district political head Monday evening at the meeting held in Trincomalee esplanade to pay last respects to LTTE cadres killed in the Sunday Chelvanayakapuram attack, sources said.
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More than 200 000 participate in UNP march, Colombo at standstill

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 July 2005, 08:20 GMT]
The final lap of the protest march organised by the opposition United National Party (UNP) drew around two hundred thousand anti-government protesters in Colombo on Tuesday as it reached the final destination. The protest demanding the UPFA Government and President Chandrika Kumaratunge to hold the Presidential polls this year crippled the traffic in Colombo city. The march commenced at 9 am in Dehiwala along the main Galle road was led towards Lipton's circle in the heart of Colombo. Armed forces and the Police were deployed to guard Government institutions and departments which remained closed. Routes leading to the President's residence were shut down.
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ICRC takes bodies of LTTE cadres from Trinco to Sampoor

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 July 2005, 17:07 GMT]
The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Monday evening took charge of bodies of Lt.Colonel Dikkan alias Vengai (Sebastiampillai Jeyachandran, Ward No 06, Periyakulam, Sambaltivu), Second Lieutenant Ilampuli (Thangarajah Wijendrarasa, Koonitheivu, Muttur) and Anushan Kulasingham, National Auxiliary Force member at the Trincomalee esplanade to be handed over at Sampoor in the LTTE held Muttur east for burial, sources said. They were killed Sunday morning by an unidentified group at Chelvanayakapuram farm complex.
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Colombo responds to LTTE ultimatum

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 July 2005, 13:43 GMT]
"...Government has requested SLMM personnel to be present on the buses with the LTTE cadres and SL Army escorts," said a media release by the Government of Sri Lanka in response to LTTE's request to ensure security to LTTE cadres when they are transported in the east. The LTTE also demanded a response before 15 July.
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UNP march reaches Dehiwela

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 July 2005, 10:46 GMT]
"Sri Lanka's President and the Government have ruined the peace process, which the United National Party (UNP) started, and have brought Sri Lanka to the brink of war. The term of office of President ends this year and the electorate should be given the opportunity to elect a new President this year," said UNP and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at Panadura inauguration of his party's Janabala Meheyuma (Operation People's Power) meeting. Tenth day of the UNP foot march is expected to reach Dehiwela Monday evening.
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Capital Hill warms to "Occupier" theory on Suicide attacks

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 July 2005, 01:39 GMT]
Faulting the U.S policy makers for misreading suicide terrorism as a function of Islamic fundamentalism, Robert A Pape of University of Chicago says that most suicide attacks are undertaken to drive away occupying forces, Washington Post said in an article Sunday reviewing Pape's recent book "Dying to win." "Several of the 18 legislators at the Capitol Hill briefing found his [Prof Pape's] ideas interesting," the paper added.
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Trinco to observe day of mourning, hartal

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 July 2005, 18:11 GMT]
Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples Forum (TDTPF) Sunday appealed to Tamil people of the east port town to observe a day of mourning on Monday and a general shut down ('hartal') on Tuesday when the bodies of two LTTE members and two civilians who were gunned down in Chelvanayakapuram are expected to be buried at Alankulam LTTE war cemetery, sources said.
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Trinco security tightened following bomb explosion

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 July 2005, 17:47 GMT]
A bomb exploded at Mudcove junction along Mattikalai road in Trincomalee town, around 9.30 p.m., Sunday. There were no casualties, police said. Meanwhile, top officials of the Sri Lanka Navy, Army and Police in Trincomalee held an urgent meeting Sunday evening to strengthen the security of the eastern port town following the Chelvanayakapuram killings, security sources said.
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TNA condemns Chelvanayakapuram killings

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 July 2005, 17:14 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Sunday condemned the Chelvanayakapuram killings and said that the motive of the attack is the disruption of the ceasefire agreement. "The government cannot be unmindful of its obligation to take the maximum possible measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur. It is necessary for the Government to take steps to erase the impression of collusion or complicity in such attacks," said in the press release signed by Mr.R.Sampanthan, TNA parliamentary group leader.
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STF cordon and search Thiraikerni

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 July 2005, 13:29 GMT]
More than two hundred Special Task Force (STF) soldiers cordoned off and conducted a house to house search operation in Thiraikerni, a Tamil village in Akkaraipattu Sunday from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm, sources said. Thiraikerny is a suburb, 3 km from Akkaraipattu town, 64 km south of Batticaloa.
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SLA responsible for Chelvanayakapuram killings- Elilan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 July 2005, 11:55 GMT]
Mr.S.Elilan, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Trincomalee district political head Sunday afternoon lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) based in the east port town that the killing of two LTTE cadres and two civilian supporters at Chelvanayakapuram house was a pre-planned act of the Sri Lanka Army. Mr.Elilan brought to the notice of the SLMM his earlier complaint regarding the threat by army intelligence operative to a LTTE cadre Mr.Kaarvannan when being interrogated at the Plantain Point army camp in Orr's Hill, Trincomalee.
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European Commission Vice-President to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 July 2005, 07:25 GMT]
The Vice-President of the European Commission Mrs. Margot Wallström will visit Sri Lanka from 11th to 14th July 2005. The Vice-President is responsible for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy.
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Two LTTE officials, two civilians killed in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 July 2005, 05:46 GMT]
A group of unidentified gunmen shot and killed two LTTE officials and two civilians inside a residence office at 3rd Mile Post in Selvanayagapuram, Trincomalee. At least 7 well armed men, in military uniform, lobbed two grenades into the building and fired at the LTTE officials and civilians inside the residence premises Sunday morning at 10.45 AM. The attack took place a few minutes after a group of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sodiers, who visited the residence and talked to the LTTE officials, had left the scene, according to residents.
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Estate Tamils' security is tied to NorthEast's strength- Chandrasekaran

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 July 2005, 23:52 GMT]
"Recognition of the fundamental rights and the right of citizenship of Hill country Tamils is imperative for long term sustainable peace and stability in Sri Lanka," said Parliamentarian and Leader of Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF), Mr Periyasamy Chandrasekaran, when he talked with TamilNet Saturday in Washington D.C. On the future security of the people of Indian origin, Mr Chandrasekaran said, "As a minority community powerless to defend itself against discrimination and repression, the security is tied closely to the security framework to be established by the NorthEast Tamils under the political and military leadership of the Liberation Tigers."
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Research book on Tamil language released in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 July 2005, 20:06 GMT]
A research book on Tamil Language written by a Tamil scholar Pundit V.Paranthaman was released Saturday at an event held in Kailasapathy Auditorium of the Jaffna University. Mr.C.Ilamparithi, Jaffna district LTTE political head handed over the first copy of the book to Ms Thilakavathi Periythambi, Chairperson of the Jaffna District Educational Development Forum and former Director of Education. Dr.S.Sivalingarajah, Dean of the Tamil Department in the Jaffna University presided, sources said.
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Tenth anniversary of Navaly church massacre observed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 July 2005, 19:51 GMT]
Tenth death anniversary of 147 Tamil civilians including men, women and children who were killed in the indiscriminate bombing by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and artillery attack by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Navaly St Peters Church and Navaly Murugamoorthy Kovil in the Jaffna district on 09 July 1995 was observed Saturday. "The massacre of hundreds of civilians who sought refuge in places of worships was a gross human rights violation by the government security forces," said Rt.Rev Thomas Soundaranayagam, Jaffna Bishop at the Holy Mass held at the Navaly St.Peter's Church Saturday evening, sources said.
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Former Minister of Central Province among the four killed in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 July 2005, 00:07 GMT]
Mr. Mohammad Ameen, 39, a former agricultural minister of Central Province, was among the 4 persons found dead by the Police in Colombo Saturday morning, sources said. Mr Ameen was kidnapped last Friday in Pusalawa in Gampola. A Land Cruiser vehicle with the four bodies was located at Malalasekara Mawatha, near the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), in Colombo-7 Saturday morning. Police suspected involvement of an underworld gang for the killings.
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NorthEast Governor visits Mannar

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 July 2005, 16:24 GMT]
Fishermen from Pesalai and Talaimannar in Mannar district Friday complained to NorthEast Governor Mr.Tyronne Fernando that deepening of the Palk Straits under the Sethusamudram Canal Project (SSCP) would destroy the breeding ground of fish in the sea territory close to Mannar shore. Mr.Tyronne Fernando during his one-day visit to Mannar Friday afternoon met with groups of fishermen in Pesalai and Talaimannar separately and inquired about their grievances and difficulties, Mannar district secretariat sources said.
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GTZ funds Elephant Pass Girl's Hostel

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 July 2005, 11:15 GMT]
A Hostel for more than 50 women employees working at the Elephant Pass salterns and salt packing plants was ceremonially opened last week, sources in Kilinochchi said. The facility was built with financial support of the German Government through the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ).
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SL government destroys weapon collection

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 July 2005, 10:52 GMT]
15, 000 of about 26,000 lethal weapons collected by the Sri Lankan government since 1985 during the insurrection by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and from criminal gangs were destroyed Friday morning in the presence of Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Deputy Defence Minister, and Mr.Chandra Fernando, Inspector General of Police, sources in Colombo said. This event took place to mark the International Weapons Destruction Day
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"No international legal action on SSCP project"- Kadirgamar

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 July 2005, 10:41 GMT]
Sri Lankan government has rejected a suggestion to take up the controversial Sethusamudram Canal Project (SSCP) to the International Court of Justice. "With regard to the reference made by a parliamentarian to possible international legal action, it must be said that at this point it is some what premature and remains in the realm of possibility. This is so because the Indian authorities at the highest level have indicated that they will co-operate with us and we hope they would agree to joint monitoring and assessment of any adverse implications,"said Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister in a seven-page statement on the SSCP in parliament Thursday evening, parliamentary sources said.
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US says legal restrictions hinder its contribution to P-TOMS Trust Fund

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 July 2005, 07:23 GMT]
Because of legal restrictions, the USA will not be contributing to the Trust Fund associated with P-TOMS, a press release issued by the Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo said Friday. However, the US welcomed other donor's participation in the Trust Fund.
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Sri Lanka sends condolence message to Londoners

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 July 2005, 01:33 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Thursday sent a condolence message to the British Government expressing her and Sri Lanka's citizens' grief over the death and destruction caused by bomb blasts, sources in Colombo said.
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HRC official holds inquiry into Gurunagar death

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 July 2005, 17:15 GMT]
Mr.Rohitha Priyatharshana, Jaffna Regional Co-ordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Thursday advised the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to maintain their military positions in the high security zones in Jaffna district without causing unnecessary hardships or deaths to civilians. He made this observation at the inquiry held Thursday morning into the death of a Gurunagar young fisherman on July 2nd when he got entangled in SLA's live wire fence in the Gurunagar fisheries jetty, civil sources said.
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Haukland meets Trincomalee heads of SLN, SLA, and Police

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 July 2005, 17:14 GMT]
Mr.Hagrup Haukland, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Thursday afternoon met with Rear Admiral Vasantha Karanagoda, new Eastern Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy and Major General Sumith Balasuriya, General officer Commanding of the Sri Lanka Army in Trincomalee and held discussion regarding the ground situation of the district, sources said.
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SL Parliament approves Terrorist Financing Suppression Bill

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 July 2005, 11:11 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Thursday adopted the Draft Bill to give effect to the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing with a majority of sixty votes, 81 parliamentarians including ruling party, United peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), main opposition United national Party (UNP), National Unity Alliance (NUA), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the four dissidents of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted for the bill. 21 parliamentarians including 20 Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs and one UNP MP Mr.T.Maheswaran voted against the bill. parliamentary sources said.
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State of Maryland declares Thirukkural Week

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 July 2005, 10:53 GMT]
A three day international conference on Thirukkural, a 2000 year old literary and ethical treatise of Tamils starts on 8 July Friday at Smith Auditorium, Howard Community College, Columbia Maryland in USA. Professor George Hart, a well known Tamil scholar who holds the position of The Tamil Chair at the University of California Berkeley, will be one of the keynote speakers, organizers said. State of Maryland has issued a proclamation declaring 8-10 July as a "Thirukkural Conference Week."
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US lends remote-controlled de-mining machine

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 July 2005, 10:28 GMT]
Government of the United States has lent Sri Lankan de-miners a "remotely operated, self-propelled brush-clearing machine," that will "eliminate the risk of horrible injury when teams go out to clear some of the thousands of mines still active in the country," said a US embassy press release issued in Colombo Thursday. "Three American trainers from the U.S. Army are in Vavuniya to conduct the training," the release further said.
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SLMM waiting for positive response from Colombo, says Haukland

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 July 2005, 07:28 GMT]
Mr.Hagrup Haukland, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), who arrived Thursday in Trincomalee on a two-day visit, said that he is waiting for a positive response from the Defence Ministry with regard to ensuring safety passage to Liberation Tigers officials through SLA held areas. The Scandinavian monitors have discussed the issue with the Peace Secretariat and with the Defence Ministry in Colombo, the Head of Mission told reporters in Trincomalee. The Liberation Tigers, a week ago, told the monitors that they would resume their own armed escort if Colombo failed to provide satisfactory response within two weeks.
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Paramilitary cadre shot and killed in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 July 2005, 06:55 GMT]
Dead body of a Valaichenai youth identified as Mr. Rajeenthan Selvarajah, 27, was found by Valaichenai Police in Palainagar Thursday morning. Mr. Rajeenthan, a paramilitary cadre from Karuna Group, was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman around 7.30 PM Wednesday night while he was returning to his hideout after paying a visit to his house in Thiyavedduvan, residents said.
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SC to hold inquiry on JVP's petition against P-TOMS

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 July 2005, 21:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Wednesday decided to hold inquiry into the petition filed by thirty-nine parliamentarians of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the P-TOMS signed by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on July 12 but refused to issue interim injunction to the stop the implementation of the P-TOMS, legal sources said.
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Australian envoy, Japanese officials visit Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 July 2005, 20:14 GMT]
Dr.Greg French, High Commissioner of Australia in Sri Lanka, Wednesday paid an official visit to Mannar district and held discussions with the Mannar Government Mr.V.Visvalingam. Australian envoy was accompanied by his Second Secretary (Political Section) Mr. Will Nankerrif and Mr.Alex Knox, Development Programme Specialist in the Australian Agency for International Development, sources said.
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SLMM head to visit Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 July 2005, 16:26 GMT]
Mr.Hagrup Haukland, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), is scheduled to visit Trincomalee district from Thursday, July 7. On the first day he is expected to hold discussions with naval monitors at the SLMM Trincomalee district office, SLMM sources said.
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Tamil youth arrested at Uyilankulam checkpoint

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 July 2005, 10:01 GMT]
Mannar Magistrate Mr.N.M.M.Abdullah Wednesday ordered remand till July 20 for a Tamil youth, Mr. V. Sugunthan, on a report from the Mannar Police that the suspect had been arrested on suspicion when entering the government controlled area through Uyilankulam sentry from the LTTE held area in Vanni, legal sources said.
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Two policemen shot in Kalmunai, one succumbs to injuries

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 July 2005, 07:32 GMT]
Two policemen from the Counter-Subversive Unit (CSU) were shot and seriously wounded when they were riding in a motorbike from Kalmunai Police station to Amparai. Both the policemen were initially rushed to Kalmunai Ashraff memorial hospital in critical condition. One of the policemen, A Kapila (25) from Badulla, succumbed to injuries while being transported to Colombo Hospital by helicopter, sources said. The shooting incident took place in front of a National Savings Bank branch in Kalmunai, 400 meters from the Kalmunai Police station, at 11.25 AM on Wednesday.
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NorthEast observes Black Tigers Day

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 July 2005, 16:28 GMT]
NorthEast Tuesday observed Black Tigers Day with sport events and public meetings, sources in Jaffna said. A main event was held Tuesday evening at Nelliyady Central College in Vadamaradchchi division in Jaffna district where on 5th July, 1987 Captain Miller, the first Black Tiger drove an explosive laden truck on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops garrisoned in the school. Forty soldiers were killed in that attack.
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Youth shot dead in Polannaruwa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 July 2005, 14:51 GMT]
An unidentified gunman, believed to be a paramilitary cadre of Karuna Group, shot and killed a Tamil youth Mr. Nazar Mahalingam, 29, Monday night around 9.30 PM at Muslim Colony in Polannaruwa. The victim was a Muslim convert and had moved from Nelukkulam in Vavuniya to Muslim Colony recently, Police said.
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Witnesses fail to identify Sivaram murder suspect

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 July 2005, 08:31 GMT]
The identification parade in the Journalist Mr.D.Sivaram murder was held Tuesday in the Kaduwela Magistrate Court. All the six witnesses including Mr.Kusal Perera, journalist and Mr.Ravi Kumudesh, a health trade union official were present. They did not identify the murder suspect at the parade held before the Magistrate Ms Champa Janaki Rajaratne, legal sources said.
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Ex-paramilitary cadre shot Monday succumbs to injuries

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 July 2005, 07:19 GMT]
Mr.Varothiayan, who was shot by an unidentified person in Trincomalee Monday night later succumbed to injuries at Dambulla while being transferred to Kandy general hospital for emergency operation, Hospital sources said. He was an active supporter of the paramilitary Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), which is a constituent of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
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Sri Lanka parliament to hold debate on P-TOMS

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 July 2005, 07:02 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament is to hold two-day debate on the P-TOMS signed by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The dates for the debate will be fixed at the party leaders' meeting to be held later, Speaker Mr. W.M.J.Lokkubandara announced Tuesday in parliament.
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National Patriotic Movement protests against SLMM

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 July 2005, 21:50 GMT]
Mort than three-thousand supporters of the National Patriotic Movement (NPM) protested in front of the Norwegian Embassy in Ward Place, Colombo, Monday against the slaying of three Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers attached to the Intelligence Unit of 223 Brigade Head Quarters in Batticaloa last Thursday, sources in Colombo said. The National Patriotic Movement, a broad coalition of extreme Sinhala Buddhist nationalists, led by monk Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thero, also accused the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) for its failure to stop the killings.
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Tamil youth shot in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 July 2005, 17:02 GMT]
Mr.Varothaiyan, a Tamil youth was seriously injured when an unidentified person shot him Monday around 7.30 p.m.when he was in his three wheeler at Thakkia Lane junction close to Trincomalee St. Joseph's College, police said.
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Ambepitya murder accused sentenced to death

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 July 2005, 16:19 GMT]
All the five accused in the High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya murder were sentenced to death Monday by the three-member bench High Court comprising Judges Mr.Upali Abeyaratne (President), W.A.T.Ratnayake and I.M.Abeyaratne. The Chief Justice had constituted trial-at-bar to hear this high profile murder case, legal sources said.
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Gurunagar observes hartal

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 July 2005, 11:09 GMT]
A general shut down (Hartal) was observed Monday in Gurunagar, a suburb in Jaffna town, in protest of the death of a fisherman Saturday early morning when he got entangled into the live electric fence of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) which is located at the entrance to the jetty. Shops, schools and public markets were closed. Fishermen did not go to sea, sources said
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Indian High Commissioner discusses Canal Project in Mannar

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 July 2005, 10:22 GMT]
Ms Nirupama Rao, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Monday visited Mannar and met high ranking navy officials in Thalaimannar, Government Agent of Mannar Mr V Viswalingam and UPFA Minister (SLMC rebel MP) Mr Rishard Badurdeen, and discussed issues related to Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP), sources said. The SSCP attempts to create a navigable sea route between Gulf of Mannar and the Bay of Bengal within India’s own territorial waters.
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Army band member shot dead in Chinabay

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 July 2005, 09:08 GMT]
Mr.Sujith Prasanna, a band group member of the Gajaba Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base located inside the Fort Frederick in Trincomalee was shot dead by an unidentified person at Thaniyagama, a suburb in Chinabay when he was returning home Monday early morning after attending a party, Police said. Chinabay is located about nine km off the east port town, sources said.
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Grenade attack on a house in Eravur leaves one wounded

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 July 2005, 08:00 GMT]
Mr Mahadevan Ratnasigamany, 29, was seriously wounded when unidentified persons lobbed a grenade into his residence at Sithandy in Eravur. The attack took place around 9.30 PM Sunday night, Police said.
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Civilian killed in grenade attack on rice mill workers

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 July 2005, 07:20 GMT]
One civilian was killed and two were seriously wounded when unidentified gunmen lobbed a grenade into a rice mill in Pattiyadipitty, Akkariapattu Sunday night around 11.30 PM, Police said. Gunmen entered a room where six employees were sleeping and fired into the room after lobbing a grenade, sources said.
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SLMM, SLA officials to meet to discuss LTTE ultimatum

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 July 2005, 12:10 GMT]
Mr.Hagrup Haukland, Norwegian Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and top officials of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the Sri Lanka Navy will meet in Colombo Wednesday to discuss the ultimatum issued by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) demanding the government to ensure safety passage for LTTE cadres by road through army controlled areas, security sources in Colombo said.
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UNP's foot march continues for second day

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 July 2005, 11:52 GMT]
162 km long foot march organized by the main opposition United National Party (UNP), which began Saturday morning from the Vishnu Shrine, Dondra head in south of Sri Lanka, arrived Koggala Sunday evening. UNP organized the march called "Peoples Power Movement " demanding that Presidential election must be held in 2005. Protesters also demanded that the United Peoples Front Alliance government must reduce the cost of living. The first phase started from Dondra and concluded at Mirrisa from where the second phase started Sunday morning.
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Trinco fisheries get German assistance

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 July 2005, 17:12 GMT]
The German Federal Government through its Ministry for Economic Co-operation and development (BMZ), in partnership with the World Vision Germany, has launched "Fisheries Livelihood Assistance Project" in Trincomalee district at a cost of about 52 million rupees, the largest contribution yet to tsunami affected fishermen in the Trincomalee district, sources said.
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Sri Lanka's Security Council to discuss LTTE ultimatum

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 July 2005, 17:11 GMT]
Following the discussion held Friday between Mr.Hagrup Haukland, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and Dr.Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary General of the Government Peace Secretariat, Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge has arranged to meet the National Security Council to take a decision regarding the ultimatum issued by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to ensure security of the LTTE cadres when travelling through the government controlled area as mandated by the Cease Fire Agreement, political sources in Colombo said.
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Gurunagar fishermen to hold hunger strike

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 July 2005, 16:42 GMT]
Fisheries organizations in Gurunagar, a suburb in Jaffna town Saturday decided to hold a token hunger strike on Monday demanding the immediate removal of live electric fence and sentries of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) from the coastal areas and the removal of the pass system to allow freedom of movement to fishermen of the area to fish in Jaffna lagoon without any restriction, sources said.
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Police constable shot dead in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 July 2005, 08:47 GMT]
Mr Samintha Roshan, 29, a Police constable, was shot and killed Saturday around 11.15 AM in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) held Kalkudah, 35 km north of Batticaloa. The killing took place 350 metres from Kalkudah Police station at Central Road, sources said.
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GTZ funds resettlement of ex-garrison town

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 July 2005, 04:47 GMT]
More than 110 displaced families from the village of Thattuvankotti near Elephantpass moved into their reconstructed houses, built with financial support of the German Government through the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ), at a ceremony organized by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) Thursday 3.00 pm, sources in Vanni said.
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Navy's live fence electrocutes Gurunagar fisherman

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 July 2005, 03:52 GMT]
Mr. Tharman Raju (21), a fisherman from Gurunagar, a coastal suburb in Jaffna town, was killed instantly Saturday early morning around 3.30 a.m. when he got entangled in the live fence put up by the Sri Lanka Navy and was electricuted, sources said. Gurunagar jetty area is declared as high security zone by the Sri Lanka security forces. The incident took place when the Mr Raju was returning to the shore with his catch after fishing in Jaffna lagoon during the night, Jaffna Police said.
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SLN bans fishing in Chullipuram Sea

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 July 2005, 01:27 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) refused permission to about twenty fisher families in Chullipuram village in Jaffna district to fish in the sea along their village coast. The families have lodged a complaint with the regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and the Jaffna district Sea Tigers political secretariat that their livelihood has been seriously affected by the SLN ban, sources said.
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Cooray reappointed Chief Minister

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 July 2005, 00:59 GMT]
Governor Mr.Alavi Mowlana Friday reappointed Mr.Reginald Cooray of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) as Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council removing Mr.Nandana Mendis, after a split in the SLFP increased support to Mr Cooray, political sources said. Mr Mendis took oath of office on 22 June after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the UPFA and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Mr Cooray is to be sworn in on Sunday, Governor Mr.Alavi Mowlana said.
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Tamils appeal to UNESCO to safeguard Tamil heritage

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 July 2005, 17:23 GMT]
Expatriate Tamil activists in France held an awareness vigil in front of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Headquarters in Place de Fontenoy, Paris, at 10 AM Friday urging UNESCO to safeguard the cultural heritage of Tamils in their homeland against unlawful and politically motivated erection of Buddha statues in Hindu temple sites, sources in Geneva said.
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Vadamardchy civilians demand tsunami relief

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 July 2005, 15:32 GMT]
Hundreds of civilians Friday held a demonstration in front of the Point Pedro Divisional Secretariat office in Jaffna district protesting against the discrimination shown to them in providing tsunami relief and demanded immediate distribution of relief without delay, sources said.
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TRO provides temporary housing for Pottuvil Muslims

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 July 2005, 11:32 GMT]
Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), an NGO registered with the Government of Sri Lanka, has funded building temporary shelters for seventy tsunami affected Muslim families in Kalappukkatu village in Pottuvil, Amparai district, officials said.
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SC rules dissident MPs' expulsion from SLMC invalid

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 July 2005, 09:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Friday ruled that the expulsion of three dissident parliamentarians Messrs Rishard Badiudin, Ameer Ali and Najeeb Abdul Majeed from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) was invalid and of no force and effect in law. The dissident parliamentarians are currently Ministers in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, legal sources said.
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Mannar schools receive Photovoltaic systems

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 July 2005, 01:26 GMT]
Mannar branch of the The Economic Consultancy House (TECH), an NGO working to promote economic development in the NorthEast, gave Solar lighting systems to fifteen schools in Mannar which do not have electric supply at an event Monday held at Mannar Karungandal Roman Catholic Mixed School, presided by LTTE's Mannar district Political Head, Mr Iniyavan, sources said.
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