18.08.24 21:23 
Viraj Mendis: A beacon of international solidarity and a pillar in the Eelam-Tamil liberation struggle
Viraj Mendis: A beacon of international solidarity and a pillar in the Eelam-Tamil liberation struggle
Reporting to the world on Tamil Affairs
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Another five TRO staff reported missing[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 17:17 GMT] Five persons, four Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) Pre School Education Development Center (PSEDC) personnel, and their driver, have been reported missing in the East, the TRO said in a press release issued Tuesday evening. The team, which was expected to have returned to the Kilinochchi FORUT office Tuesday, had left Valaichchenai, Batticaloa District, Sunday around 7:00 p.m. The PSEDC personnel had gone to Batticaloa to carry out the final assessment of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) funded Temporary Pre School Construction Project for Tsunami Welfare Centers and to evaluate the progress of the construction of Permanent Pre Schools funded by Save the Children in Sri Lanka.Full story >> PAFFREL files Court action to stop local elections[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 16:57 GMT]People Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Tuesday filed a petition seeking the Court of Appeal (CA) to order the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Authorities, the Commissioner of Elections and the Commissioner of Registration of Persons to stop holding elections to three hundred and thirty local government institutions in Sri Lanka based on 2004 Voters' Register, legal sources said. Full story >> Trinco SLA commander meets NGO representatives[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 16:51 GMT]Maj. Gen. Tissa Jayawardene, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Sri Lanka Army in Trincomalee district Tuesday held a two-hour discussion with delegates of the international and national non-governmental organizations (INGO and NGO) regarding the ground situation and other related difficulties in taking forward the tsunami rehabilitation and econstruction work in the district. The discussion was held at the Tincomalee SLA headquarters located in Plantain Point in Orr's Hill, NGO sources said. Full story >> US urges Sri Lanka to investigate kidnapping of TRO staff[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 15:11 GMT]The US Embassy in Sri Lanka, on Tuesday, expressed concern about the reported January 30 kidnapping of five members of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) at Welikanda in Polonnaruwa District. Urging the relevant authorities to rapidly investigate the allegations of the kidnapping, the US embassy called on all parties to exercise restraint and calm, especially in the run-up to the cease-fire talks in Geneva. Full story >> More UNP Pradeshya Sabha members cross over to SLFP[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 12:27 GMT] United National Party (UNP) members of Pradeshya Sabhas from Navalapitiya and other areas obtained membership in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in a simple ceremony held at the Temple trees, office of the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse, Tuesday, parliamentary sources in Colombo said.Full story >> Meeting with SLA constructive- Rights officials[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 11:20 GMT]A delegation human rights activists led by Head of Human Rights Commission in Jaffna, Rohitha Priyatharsana, met with Commanders of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Palaly Military Camp Tuesday at 3.30 p.m. for nearly two hours, sources said. The discussions centered on issues related to increasing numbers of disappearances, arrests, and harassment to civilians caused by frequent cordon and search operations carried out by SLA in populated areas, sources said. Full story >> Police constable shot, injured in Muttur[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 10:55 GMT]Ranjith Ratnayake, 30, a police officer attached to Pachchanoor police, was shot and seriously injured by unknown gunmen at 5.30 a.m. Tuesday, while he was duty at the Pachchanoor police post sentry, police sources said. Full story >> SLA cordon, search Thumpalai area[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 10:26 GMT]Lourdes Mary Catholic Church area in Thumpalai, Point Pedro was cordoned off and house-to-house search conducted by more than 500 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, sources from Point-Pedro said. Residents of the area were not allowed to getout of their houses and vehicular traffic was blocked from entering or leaving the area during the search operation. Full story >> Chulipuram student missing, familes continue to flee Jaffna[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 01:39 GMT]Ramanathan Ratheeskumar, 20, from Chulipuram east and a student at the Vaddukoddai Technical College has disappeared after leaving home Thursday to attend school, said his parents in a complaint registered with the Human Rights Commision in Jaffna Monday, civil society sources said. Full story >> World Bank, ADB, UN representatives to meet LTTE Political Head[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 01:21 GMT]Representatives of multilateral donor agencies, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNDP and IMF, will travel to Kilinochchi on Friday to discuss with the leadership of the Liberation Tigers issues related to the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development activities in the NorthEast, according to LTTE officials in Kilinochchi. Full story >> Paramilitaries abduct 5 TRO staff in Welikande[TamilNet, Monday, 30 January 2006, 19:54 GMT] "Five (5) staff members [of Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO)] travelling from the Batticaloa office to Vanvuniya for training have been stopped by unidentified paramilitary personnel immediately after the Welikanda, (Polunnaruwa District) Sri Lankan Army Checkpoint at approximately 2:00 pm 30 January, 2006," TRO said in a press release issued Monday. Full story >> CWC, UPF to jointly contest local elections[TamilNet, Monday, 30 January 2006, 17:03 GMT]The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) Monday decided to field candidates in the forthcoming local elections jointly as one group with a common symbol. The second round of talks between CWC delegation led by its President Mr.Armugan Thondaman and UPF delegation led by its President Mr.P.Chandrasekaran was held Monday in Nuwara Eliya. The first round of talks was held on January 26 in Colombo, sources said. Full story >> Indian Air Force Chief arrives in Colombo[TamilNet, Monday, 30 January 2006, 14:04 GMT] The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal S.P.Tyagi arrived Monday in Sri Lanka on a five-day official visit, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) officials in Colombo said. During his stay in Sri Lanka, he is scheduled to meet SL President Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse, Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Daya Sandagiri and the commanders of the three forces.Full story >> Rights commission to meet SLA officials in Jaffna[TamilNet, Monday, 30 January 2006, 11:55 GMT]A delegation of members of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and other civil rights activists are meeting high level officials of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at the military head quarters in Palaly at 3.30 p.m. Monday, civil sources in Jaffna said. The discussions will center around the several disappearances in Jaffna district, and the attacks on civilians and journalists by the SLA soldiers, sources added. Full story >> SLA soldier killed in accidental firing[TamilNet, Monday, 30 January 2006, 11:44 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, U.L. Thanuska, 30, was killed in an accidental firing incident Sunday at 5 p.m. at Uva Kudaoya area in Polannaruwa, security sources said. Full story >> Another grenade attack on civilian residence in Vavuniya[TamilNet, Monday, 30 January 2006, 08:38 GMT]Unknown attackers lobbed a grenade at a civilian residence in Vavuniya Sunday night. No one was wounded in the attack, which was the sixth grenade attack to be reported on civilian residences within the last few days, Vavuniya Police said. At least two houses of reputed businessmen were among the targets in Vavuniya. Incidents of extortions and violence, allegedly by paramilitary cadres, have escalated in Vavuniya. Full story >> ILO funds computer center in Mannar[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 January 2006, 19:19 GMT] International Labor Organization (ILO) funded computer training center for Vellankulam area in Mannar district which will be adminstered by the NGO the Economic Consultancy House (TECH) was declared open on 25 January at 10 a.m. Full story >> 2948 places of worship destroyed in war, tsunami[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 January 2006, 16:02 GMT]2948 places of worships of all faiths have been destroyed in the island due to two-decade-old war and tsunami disaster in the year 2004, according to the report prepared by the Resettlement Ministry. A sum of Rupees 2538 million is needed for the reconstruction of these places of worships, according to a report submitted by the ministry to the Cabinet, sources said. Full story >> Kalmunai tsunami-affected schools to be developed[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 January 2006, 15:57 GMT]The year 2006 has been declared Kalmunai Education Development Year to rebuild schools destroyed and damaged in tsunami disaster in December 2004. 214 schools function in the Kalmunai education district which comprises three education zones, Akkaraipattu, Kalmunai and Sammanthurai, sources said. Full story >> CTTU to raise troop presence near schools with Minister[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 January 2006, 15:47 GMT]Mr.Susil Premajayanth, Minister of Education has invited the Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU) for a meeting on February 7 afternoon to discuss its several demands including the demand that soldiers of the State armed forces should be withdrawn fifty meters away from schools in the northeast province, and also to vacate schools now occupied in the high security zones in Jaffna district. The meeting is to be held at the Education Ministry in Colombo, sources said. Full story >> Passing out parades held for Sea Tiger auxilliary force[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 January 2006, 15:07 GMT]Cadres of the ninth group of Sea Tigers' auxilliary force who trained at the Lt.Col.Maravan training camp in Vadamaradchy east, participated in a passing out ceremony held at 5 p.m. Sunday, LTTE sources said. Vadamardchy East Head of LTTE Political Wing, Isaiyooran, presided the ceremony. In another ceremony held at 10 a.m. Sunday, 125 cadres graduated from the Lt Col Thiruvadi training camp in Manalaru in Mullaitivu district. Full story >> SLA troop presence at school entrances irks parents[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 January 2006, 13:20 GMT]Increasing presence of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops near the entrances to several schools in Jaffna district has irked parents and have increased absenteeism in schools, civil society sources in Jaffna say. Educational institutions along the Jaffna-Kankesanthurai Road, from Jaffna town to Tellipallai entrance to the High Security Zone (HSZ) are the most affected, sources added. Full story >> Tamil farmer shot dead in Lingapuram[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 January 2006, 12:34 GMT]Unidentified persons shot dead Mr.Thambiah Jeyarajah (50), father of six children Saturday night around 9.30 p.m.while guarding his paddy crop in Lingapuram, a Tamil village in Seruvila division, down south of Trincomalee district. He was the second Tamil farmer killed in Lingapuram within two weeks' period, Police sources said. Full story >> Three wounded in grenade attack on Vavuniya trader's house[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 January 2006, 11:16 GMT]A 13-year-old boy, his 14-year-old sister, and their mother were wounded when unknown attackers lobbed a grenade Saturday night around 8:40 p.m. on the front-yard of the residence of a reputed trader in Vavuniya, Police said. The cause of the attack on the house of the businessman, Chandrakumar, the owner of Gopi Agency, is not known, the Police said. This is the fifth grenade attack to be reported in Vavuniya town within the past 7 days, sources said. Full story >> Floods worsen tsunami refugees' woes[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 January 2006, 03:40 GMT] One year has passed since Boxing day disaster. Tsunami relief supplies have stopped and the fourth installment of the six monthly installments promised by the Sri Lanka Governmnt was paid only two months ago. The refugees at Thiraimadu, an outer suburb of Batticaloa town, are yet to hear from the NGO that promised to build permanent houses for them. Meanwhile, refugees were hit by floods, twice in December, and again last Saturday when continuous rain for three days soaked the temporary shelters and inundated the shelter grounds with flood water. Full story >> Two attacks against troops Saturday night, says SLA[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 January 2006, 01:11 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops on foot patrol in Irupalai area along Jaffna Point-Pedro came under fire from unknown gunmen Saturday evening, and in another incident in Chulipuram one SLA trooper was injured when unknown gunmen hurled a grenade at a SLA foot patrol, military sources in Jaffna said, without blaming any party for the attacks. Full story >> Tamil students allege discrimination in University Admissions[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 January 2006, 15:19 GMT]Two Tamil female candidates who sat for the Sri Lanka Law College entrance examination have filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) application in the Supreme Court alleging discrimination against Tamil medium candidates. Both have begged the court to order for re-correction of their answer scripts, legal sources said. Meanwhile, fifteen Jaffna students filed another FR application challenging admission procedures to the Faculties of Engineering and Medicine, legal sources added. Full story >> Three vie for Jaffna campus VC post[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 January 2006, 15:12 GMT]The Jaffna University Senate Saturday decided to send the names of three Professors for the post of Vice Chancellor which is to fall vacant on March 12 when the incumbent, Professor S.Mohanathas, leaves office. Jaffna University Senate, which met Saturday afternoon, selected three out of six professors who contested for the post and decided to send these names to the President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse for his choice through the University Grants Commission (UGC), sources said. Full story >> LTTE, Muslim leaders meet in Muttur[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 January 2006, 15:03 GMT]A discussion between the leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Trincomalee and a twenty-member delegation of Muslim religious and civil leaders in Muttur division was held Saturday afternoon in the LTTE district political secretariat in Sampoor in Muttur east in the presence of the members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), sources said. The discussion centered on exploring ways to resolve differences and to promote mutual understanding between the two communities. The meeting follows in the wake of the formation of an armed Muslim group in Muttur division. Full story >> Sewing training to tsunami-affected Kaddaikadu women[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 January 2006, 13:23 GMT]Sewing training course conducted by the Rural Rehabilitation and Development Organization (RRDH) under an income generation project for about fifty women affected by tsunami at Kaddaikadu village in Vadamarachchi East division in Jaffna district concluded Friday, sources said. Full story >> Children Nutrition Park opens in Yogapuram[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 January 2006, 12:01 GMT] Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) Wednesday declared open a Children Nutrition Park with a Day-Care Centre for
children and a pre-school in Yogapuram in Mallavi area in Mullaitivu district. The project funded by TRO(USA) was implemented by the Mallavi Zonal Office of the TRO Mullaitivu district. The park is named Vaiharai Children Nutrition Park.Full story >> Balasingham leaves for UK[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 January 2006, 11:32 GMT] LTTE's Chief Negotiator and Political Strategist Mr. Anton Balasingham, left Kilinochchi Saturday at 9:30 a.m. to Katunayake in a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter, facilitated by Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials. Full story >> Holding local elections to face legal action[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 16:38 GMT]Holding elections to three hundred and sixty local government institutions based on the 2004 Voters' List has become a contentious issue among political parties and election monitoring institutions. The main opposition United National Party (UNP) has already filed a petition seeking the Court of Appeal to order the Commissioner of Election Mr. Dayananda Dissanayake not to hold the local government elections on the 2004 Voters' List. The UNP alleges that this list deprives about three hundred thousand voters of their franchise, legal sources said. Full story >> Nominations called for Local government elections[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 16:36 GMT]The Commissioner of Elections has called for nominations from registered political parties and independepent groups under the proportionate representation with effect from February 9th to February 16 at noon 12, department sources said. Full story >> Pallimunai fishermen complain of SLN harassment[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 16:33 GMT]Fishermen of Pallimunai in Mannar district are undergoing severe hardship due to restrictions imposed by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in leaving for fishing and returning from sea. According to SLN directive fishermen could leave for fishing after 6 in the morning and return by 5.30 in the evening. But SLN soldiers are allowing the fishermen to leave the shore only around 9 in the morning after delaying deliberately conducting checks and other procedures, fishermen have complained to local fisheries officials, sources said. Full story >> EU commends Solheim, welcomes LTTE, GoSL agreement[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 15:39 GMT]The European Union welcomed the agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the LTTE to have talks in Geneva, and praised Norway's Minister of International Development, Erik Solheim, for his "longstanding and untiring efforts" for peace in Sri Lanka, in press release issued Friday. The office of Julian Wilson, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives in Colombo, issued the release. Full story >> Kapilan slaying, a provocative act - LTTE official[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 15:33 GMT] The funeral of Major Kapilan, a senior Liberation Tigers cadre, who was killed in an ambush attack, allegedly carried out by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and paramilitary cadres Thursday in Vadamunai in Batticaloa district, was held in Tharavai war heroes' cemetery, 70 km Northwest of Batticaloa town Friday. Full story >> Foundation stone laid for Muttaiyankattu preschool[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 12:07 GMT] Project Co-ordinator at The Economic Consultancy House (TECH), Mr Pulendran, presided over the foundation stone laying ceremony for a new preschool for children of the war-affected community in Jeevanagar, Muttaiyankattu in Mullaitivu district Wednesday at 10 a.m., sources in Kilinochichi said. TECH is a Sri Lanka Government registered NGO working exclusively in the NorthEast on employment generation projects.Full story >> Live claymore mine recovered in Pesalai school[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 11:41 GMT]Talaimannar police recovered and disarmed a live claymore mine concealed in a discarded water tank kept in the premises of the Pesalai St.Fatima Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam at 9.30 p.m. Thursday, sources in Mannar said. ol. The police rushed to the site and took steps to remove the explosive when notified of the mine's presence by the school's principal. Full story >> UK welcomes LTTE, GoSL agreement[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 11:35 GMT]The British Foreign and Commonwealth office in a press release issued Thursday welcomed the agreement between Liberation Tigers and the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to talks and said the British Government "strongly appreciates and supports the efforts of Erik Solheim and his Norwegian colleagues in their important facilitation work.” Full story >> STF arrests mother, daughter in Kalmunai[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 11:22 GMT]Soldiers of Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) arrested a mother and daughter in Batticaloa for helping a suspected gunman responsible for the grenade attack on Veenamunai Police sentry at 10 a.m. Friday, police sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> Razeek cadre's residence damaged in grenade attack[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 11:13 GMT]Paramilitary Razeek Group cadre Mr Baskaran's house was damaged Thursday night at 9.30 when an unknown assailant hurled a grenade, sources said. The house is located at Thiruchchenthuru Temple Road in Kallady, Batticaloa. Full story >> Hartal against civilian killings brings Vavuniya to standstill[TamilNet, Friday, 27 January 2006, 10:40 GMT] Normal life and business in Vavuniya town and suburbs came to a standstill Friday by a hartal (shut down) organised by Tamil Student's Union in protest against the killings of civilians in NorthEast by the Sri Lankan Armed forces, Intelligence operatives and paramilitaries. Very few vehicles plied the streets, shops remained closed, schools were closed, businesses and private institutions remained closed and the town was deserted. The hartal was peaceful, Vavuniya Police said. Full story >> Displaced families in Mannar camp to return to Killinochchi[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 17:36 GMT]Eight families with 38 members of the 211 families with 876 members staying since 1990 in Open Refugee Centre (ORC) in Pesalai, a village in Mannar district, have expressed their desire to return to their own district Killinochchi, Divisional Secretariat officials said. Full story >> Mannar fishermen's sufferings spotlighted[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 17:33 GMT] About twenty thousand fishermen in Mannar district have been directed by
the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) to submit their application forms before January 31,
with two photographs of each applicant authorized by their respective
village level officers (Grama Sevaka Officers), fisheries inspectors and secretaries of fisheries societies, to obtain special permit for fishing in Mannar sea. Starting from February every fisherman should possess a permit before he goes out to sea to fish, SLN said.
Full story >> SLA gunfire injures elderly man[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 14:47 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers on foot patrol shot and injured
Velupillai Nagarajah, 70, along A9 road in Madathady area in
Chavakacheri Thursday morning, sources from Thenmaradchy said.
SLA spokesperson said that an SLA trooper's gun had fired accidentally
wounding the elderly Tamil man.
Full story >> Japan welcomes talks agreement[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 13:12 GMT]The Government of Japan in a press release issued Thursday welcomed the agreement between the Liberation Tigers and the Government of Sri Lanka to have talks in Geneva, and said it hopes that the escalation of violence in the NorthEast will stop. Full story >> LTTE official killed in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 12:12 GMT]An LTTE official, Major Kapilan, was killed and at least one cadre was wounded when Sri Lankan Intelligence operatives and paramilitary cadres ambushed a LTTE tractor in LTTE held area in Vadamunai near Welikande in Batticaloa-Polannaruwa border, Thursday around 9 a.m., LTTE sources in Batticaloa said. Sri Lanka Army's 23-1 Brigade camp in Welikande backed up the withdrawing ambush group with 5" mortar fire from their base, the sources added. Meanwhile, S.Puleedevan, the Director of LTTE's Peace Secretaraiat, speaking from Kilinochchi, condemned the attack on their cadres in the east and accused Colombo for playing "double game, betraying its pledge to cease the violent campaign." Full story >> Switzerland welcomes decision to hold talks in Geneva[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 11:55 GMT]"Switzerland welcomes the decision by the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to hold talks on the implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement in Switzerland," and "Switzerland is ready to provide Norway with its utmost support and hopes that the talks can get underway as soon as possible," said a press release issued by the Swiss Government in Berne Wednesday. Full story >> US joins Sri Lanka in Container Security, Megaports initiatives[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 11:48 GMT]United States joined Government of Sri Lanka in inaugurating Container Security Initiative and Megaports Initiative Thursday, a press release from US embassy in Colombo said. The Megaports Initiative will deter possible terrorist acts involving the illicit shipment of radioactive and nuclear materials through the maritime shipping system.The Container Security Initiative will enhance global container security from the threat posed by terrorism and to promote the smooth movement of international trade, the release said. Full story >> LTTE releases Sri Lanka Policeman[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 10:17 GMT] The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eleam released Thursday one of the three Sri Lankan policemen held in custody since September 2005 for illegally entering into Liberation Tigers controlled area. S.Thangan, Deputy Head of the Political Wing handed over the policeman to Liaison Officer of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), LTTE sources in Kilinochchi said. The policeman was handed over Sri Lankan Government Security Forces in Vavuniya, the SLMM said.
Full story >> US welcomes agreement to hold peace talks in Geneva[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 09:10 GMT]United States Department of State issued a statement on Tuesday welcoming the the agreement by the Sri Lankan government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to hold peace talks in February in Geneva and commending the Norwegian Special Envoy Erik Solheim for his effort in advancing the process. "The United States remains fully committed to the Sri Lankan peace process," said Sean McCormack, spokesman for the Department of State in the statement issued in Washington DC. Full story >> Ensure end of violence before talks - NPC[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 07:42 GMT]National Peace Council (NPC), a Colombo based Peace Group, in a press release issued on Thursday urged the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers to ensure that the present violence is ended. "It is only then that the decision to negotiate will become meaningful and a change of strategy will be demonstrated," the organisation said. Full story >> Tamil civilian shot dead in Muttur[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 17:01 GMT]Mr.Thambipillai Selvarajah (48) a mason by profession was shot dead by unidentified men Wednesday night around 7.30 p.m. close to the market in Muttur town in Trincomalee district. He was the second Tamil civilian shot dead by unidentified persons in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled Muttur town since Tuesday morning and the third in the Trincomalee district, police sources said. Full story >> Two UNP parliamentarians cross over[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 17:00 GMT]Two senior opposition United National Party (UNP) parliamentarians have crossed over to the SL Government. Sri Lanka's Opposition Leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesighe on Monday has told Mr. Erik Solheim, the visiting Norwegian Peace Envoy, that he will withdraw his support for peace efforts if Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse tried to buy UNP members, sources in Colombo said. Full story >> SLTMA urges action on journalist killing[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 11:03 GMT]The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) in an urgent letter to the Media Minister Mr.Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has asked him to reveal his proposed actions to prevent future killings and harassing of Tamil media journalists following the murder of Tamil journalist on Tuesday in Trincomalee. Full story >> Two youths shot and killed in Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 10:47 GMT]Two youths were shot and killed in Jaffna in two separate incidents in Nallur, Jaffna, Wednesday morning around 11:00. Unidentified gunmen riding in a motorbike shot and killed a youth on Konavalai lane in Kokkuvil East and another youth, around the same time, in Kondavil East on Potpathy lane, Police said. The victims are yet to be identified. Full story >> LTTE, GoSL to hold talks on truce implementation in Geneva[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 08:23 GMT] Liberation Tigers said Wednesday that they have agreed to hold talks in Geneva with the Government of Sri Lanka on "smooth implementation" of the February 2002 Cease Fire Agreement. Chief Negotiator and Political Strategist of the Liberation Tigers, Mr. Anton Balasingham, told reporters that the talks, expected to begin in mid-February, would be limited to the implementation of the truce which has come under increasing strain recently. Talks on further matters could only take place after complete cessation of the Sri Lankan military's violent repression of the population in Government held areas of the Northeast, he said.Full story >> Erik Solheim arrives in Kilinochchi[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 06:35 GMT]The meeting between the Norwegian Minister of International Development Mr. Erik Solheim and the Leader of the Liberation Tigers, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, began at 11:25 a.m. in Kilnochchi, LTTE officials said. The Norwegian Minister, upon his arrival at 10:35 a.m., had a meeting with the officials of NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) and a group of parish priests from Jaffna and Mullaithivu districts, NESOHR sources said. Full story >> SL Intelligence, paramilitaries responsible for Manipay, Kodikamam killings - NESOHR[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 01:07 GMT]NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) in the case histories of Manipay killing of three members of the same family and the killing of a 15 year old youth in Kodikamam, released this week, provides details of involvement of Sri Lanka Intellligence operatives and paramilitary cadres belonging to Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) in the killings. Full story >> MEPs attend White Pigeon's tsunami remembrance event[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 00:34 GMT]Members of European Parliament (MEPs) Jean Lambert and Robert Evans participated in Tsunami anniversary remembrance event organized by UK Tamil Charity, White Pigeon, held at the Trafalgar Square during on the 22nd Sunday, a press release from Jean Lambert's office said. Director of White Pigeon, Dr Moorthy, also spoke at the event where the participants stood in silence, and then held multi-faith prayers, the release added. Full story >> Journalist killed for reporting on paramilitary abuses- RSF[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 January 2006, 18:23 GMT]Reporters sans frontières (RSF) in a press release issued Tuesday said that Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan, a correspondent of the Tamil-language daily Sudar Oli was killed for writing about "abuses committed in his region by Tamil paramilitary groups," and that in Sri Lanka, "the impunity enjoyed by the instigators and perpetrators of these murders encourages more violence against the press." Full story >> Maaveerar family member shot dead in Varani[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 January 2006, 12:15 GMT]In the escalating incidents of killings in Thenmaradchy area, a student from Varani Yakkalai area was shot dead by unknown gunmen at 2.30 p.m. Tuesday. Sources from Varany said the student was a member of a Maaveerar family. His brother, a member of Liberation Tigers, had died in combat earlier. Full story >> Muttur Co-operative officer shot dead[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 January 2006, 11:47 GMT]Mr.Ramalingam Suntheralingam, 54, a board member in Muttur Co-operative Society, was shot dead Tuesday morning around 7.30 a.m. in the premises of his house in Muttur town by unidentified gunman. The house is located along the Methodist Church Road between the Muttur police station and a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, sources said. Full story >> FMM condemns killing of Tamil journalist[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 January 2006, 11:17 GMT]Expressing shock and dismay at the killing of Tamil journalist Mr Sugirdharajan, the Free Media Movement (FMM) in a press release issued Tuesday in Colombo said, "It is time to put a complete stop to the impunity which has been the hallmark of attacks on the freedom of expression in this country and ensure that culprits are arrested and held account for their crimes." Full story >> LTTE condemns Tamil journalist's killing[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 January 2006, 05:46 GMT]Trincomalee district political section of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Tuesday condemned the killing of Mr.S.S.Rajan, Trincomalee correspondent of the Colombo based Tamil daily 'Sudar Oli'. "Para military groups collaborating with the Sri Lanka Army had committed this murder", LTTE accused in a statement released Tuesday, sources said. Full story >> Tamil journalist shot dead in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 January 2006, 04:20 GMT] Mr.S.S.Rajan, Trincomalee correspondent for "Sudar Oli," a Tamil daily published from Colombo was shot dead Tuesday morning around 6:00 by unidentified men close to his residence while waiting for transport to his workplace. Full story >> Aussie MPs attend Pararajasingham memorial event[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 January 2006, 02:22 GMT] Several Australian parliamentarians and representatives from humanitarian agencies attended a memorial meeting to pay tribute to the slain Tamil Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham held on at the Homebush Boys High School auditorium, Sydney Australia organized by Tamil Australians on 22nd January.Full story >> Civil group calls for probe into Pesalai civilian killings[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 20:40 GMT]Pesalai Parish Pastoral Council and Mannar Citizen Committee through a joint memorandum Monday appealed to Sri Lanka's President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse to order an impartial inquest into the killing of four innocent civilians including a three-year old child by soldiers of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on December 23, and to pay compensation to the dependants of those killed, sources said. Full story >> LTTE, GoSL dialogue imperative for peace, says Burns[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 16:17 GMT] "We hope that the LTTE will understand that it will have no
relationship with my government and, indeed, no effective
relationship with any country in this world as long as it seeks to redress its own grievances through the barrel of a gun. Now, we understand the Tamil community here has legitimate grievances, and legitimate issues that ought to be addressed by the government. And there out to be a dialogue, a better dialogue, between the government and the Tamil community," said US Undersecretary of Political Affairs, Nicholas Burns, in a press briefing in Colombo Monday.
Full story >> Private tutor shot dead in Vavuniya, one wounded[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 12:51 GMT]An unidentified gunman riding in a motorbike shot and killed a private tutory teacher on Goodshed Road, 1.5 km west of Vavuniya town around 5:00 p.m. Monday. The victim, Kamalachandran, who received seven 9 mm gunshot wounds, died on the spot. A friend of the victim was rushed to Vavuniya Hospital with serious wounds, Vavuniya Police said. Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Special Task Force (STF) soldiers were deployed at the site following the shooting incident. Full story >> EPDP threatens Jaffna government workers[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 12:42 GMT]In a letter addressed from the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) office, Sridhar Theater, Jaffna, to selected government officers, the EPDP threatened with death those who defy EPDP's call to attend a meeting in Vathiri, Karaveddy on 23 January, sources said. Full story >> Solheim to meet LTTE leaders in Kilinochchi Wednesday[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 12:20 GMT]Norwegian Minister of International Development and peace envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim, will be traveling to Kilinochchi on Wednesday to meet with the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources from Kilinochchi said. Full story >> Meesalai trader shot dead[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 12:03 GMT]The owner of an eating house in Meesalai, Thenmaradchy district, was shot dead along the A9-highway near the Chavakachcheri market by two men riding in a motorbike at 1.30 p.m. Monday, sources in Jaffna said. A young woman was seriously injured when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers randomly fired at the civilians after the shooting incident. Full story >> Sri Lanka Police officer injured in Batticaloa grenade attack[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 11:49 GMT]M. Ansar, 34, a Sri Lanka Police Constable, was injured in a grenade attack by unknown assailants at Arasady Junction in Batticaloa Town at 10.45 a.m. Monday, Batticaloa Police said. Full story >> Solheim to Participate in the Opening Ceremonies of Buddhist Temples[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 11:28 GMT]Norwegian Minister of International Development Mr. Erik Solheim will attend the Opening Ceremony, on 26 January, of two Buddhist temples damaged by the tsunami. The temples have been reconstructed with funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to a press release issued by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, Monday. Full story >> Hartal cripples Mannar[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 11:18 GMT] Normal life in the Mannar island Monday came to a complete standstill when the Tamil speaking people observed general shut down in response to the call made by the Pesalai Tamil Peoples Forum to condemn the killing fo four members of two families by Sri Lankan Navy.
Full story >> SLA cordons, searches Kallikaddaikadu village[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 07:20 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off Kallikaddaikadu village in the north western Mannar District and conducted house-to-house search operation Monday morning, sources in Mannar said. Nearly fifty families with about 180 members reside in Kallikaddaikadu which is a traditional Tamil village. Full story >> Balasingham arrives in Kilinochchi[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 06:23 GMT] The Chief Negotiator and Political Strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Mr. Anton Balasingham, arrived in Kilinochchi Monday morning around 9:00 in a Sri Lankan Air Force Helicopter. Mr. Balasingham will hold consultations with the leader of the Liberation Tigers, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, Monday, regarding the current state of the peace process. Mr. Balasingham, who will assist the LTTE leader during the forthcoming meeting with the Norwegian Minister of International Development, Mr. Erik Solheim, is expected to hold a press conference on Wednesday, LTTE officials said.Full story >> 3 SLA troops killed, 4 injured in Batticaloa claymore attack[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 02:43 GMT]Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and four soldiers injured in a claymore mine attack on an SLA foot patrol in Urani, along Batticaloa-Valaichenai road Monday morning at 7.45 a.m., security sources in Batticaloa said. One of those killed and one injured were Razeek group cadres, medical sources said. Full story >> US Tamils question timing of Ambassador Lunstead's speech[TamilNet, Monday, 23 January 2006, 00:41 GMT] Questioning Ambassador Lunstead's "reckless exercise at a time of great risk to the peace process, and just a few days before Mr. Erik Solheim’s visit, which everyone was looking to as the only way of defusing an extremely dangerous situation," US Tamils, in a memorandum to Secretary of State, Dr Condoleezza Rice and to Mr Nicholas Burns, the U.S. under secretary of state for political affairs, said they hoped that Mr. Burns, who will be in Sri Lanka during Mr. Solheim’s visit, "will clarify to everyone what US policy is at this critical time, and help revive the peace track."Full story >> More than 200 families flee Jaffna Sunday[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2006, 19:06 GMT] Forthcoming talks between Norwegian facilitators and top leadership of Liberation Tigers early next week notwithstanding, Tamil families continued to flee Jaffna district to safety within LTTE controlled areas of Vanni, civil society groups in Jaffna said. More than 200 families crossed Muhamalai checkpoint into Vanni between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, according to reports.Full story >> 3 SLA troops injured in Vadamaradchy grenade attack, civilian beaten[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2006, 17:59 GMT]Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers were injured in a grenade attack by unknown assailants in Thumpalai, Point Pedro at 3 p.m. Sunday, sources in Jaffna said. The soldiers severely beat a civilian worker during a cordon and search operation conducted by the SLA in the surrounding areas. Full story >> SLA trooper present during Katkovalam killing- NESOHR[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2006, 16:45 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) trooper identified as Jegath was one of the men who shot to death Iyathurai Baskaran, 27, on 6 January in Kudathanai, NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) said in the case history released Sunday. The NESHOR report produced after interviews with residents and relatives of the deceased said, armed SLA soldiers stood guard at the adjoining houses while a group of men including Jegath went to Baskaran's house to commit the murder. Full story >> Police officer injured in Batticaloa grenade attack[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2006, 16:31 GMT]Mr Karunaratne Ajith, 33, a Sri Lanka Police constable was injured when unknown assailants attacked Sunappodai, Batticaloa police sentry at 7.15 p.m. Sunday, Batticaloa police said. The incident took place near the Kallady bridge. Full story >> Four STF soldiers injured in grenade attack[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2006, 15:54 GMT]Four Special Task Force (STF) soldiers were seriously injured in a grenade attack by unknown assailants in Kannagi village in Akkaraipattu at 7.30 p.m. Sunday, security sources said. The STF soldeirs were on foot patrol along Akkaraipattu-Sagamam Road when the attack took place. Full story >> Jaffna University undergrads continue boycott[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2006, 15:48 GMT]The Jaffna University administration is awaiting for response from the Colombo Education Ministry for its representation that undergrads are boycotting their classes since January 16 demanding assurance for students' security. University authorities said the administration couldn't provide security to undergrads, academic and non-academicals staff under the current ground situation. Full story >> Balasingham to arrive in Kilinochchi on Monday[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2006, 15:13 GMT] Mr. Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and his wife Adele Balasingham will arrive in Kilinochchi Monday morning between 9 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. and will be received by Head of LTTE Political Wing, S.P Thamilchelvan, LTTE officials in Kilinochchi said. A Norwegian Embassy official will accompany the Balasinghams in a Norwegian Embassy facilitated transport in a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter, LTTE sources said.Full story >> ICRC help sought for night ambulance service in Jaffna[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2006, 14:53 GMT]Provincial health authorities in the Jaffna district have sought the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide ambulance facility to transport people who need emergency medical attention during nights to nearby hospital under the prevailing unstable situation in Jaffna district, civil society sources said. Full story >> Mannar Keeri village residents face displacement[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2006, 11:10 GMT]More than 350 Tamil families living in Keeri village along Mannar-Thalvupadu road are facing displacement any time following intimidation by state armed forces and as the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers are extending the front defense line of SLN's Sunny Village main camp located on the border of Keeri village, civil sources said. Full story >> Muttur Tamils flee to LTTE areas seeking safety[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2006, 00:29 GMT] Families from Tamil villages in the divisions of Muttur and Seruvila in the government controlled areas in the Trincomalee district continued to flee to LTTE controlled areas seeking safety and to escape harassment from Sri Lanka Government troops, civil society sources said. About one thousand three hundred familes have relocated in the last two weeks, NGO sources said.Full story >> Retired technical officer shot dead in Thunnalai[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 20:51 GMT]A retired technical officer in Thamaraikulam area Thunnalai Karaveddy was shot to death inside his home by unknown gunmen at 10.50 p.m. Saturday, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Youth shot dead in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 20:08 GMT]Subramaniam Kishor, 21, was shot dead by two gunmen riding in a motorbike along Sagaya Matha Temple Road in Mamangam Batticaloa at 6.00 p.m. Saturday, sources said. Full story >> Provincial health authority warns of dengue outbreak in Trinco[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 17:25 GMT]North-East Provincial Ministry of Health has warned of a major outbreak of dengue fever in Trincomalee and its suburbs if prompt steps are not taken to remove accumulated garbage immediately. Our survey has revealed that dengue vector mosquito density is significantly high in all parts Trincomalee town, said provincial health ministry officials in a letter to Provincial Chief Secretary. Full story >> Speech damages credibility of US role in SL peace, say Tamil Americans[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 15:34 GMT]Tamil Americans in a letter to United States Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Lunstead, commenting on the Ambassador's speech on 9 January, and his subsequent clarification of 17 January, expressed concern that "his partisan message has done immense damage to the peace process and to the credibility of US role in it."Full story >> Transport operator shot dead in Thenmaradchy[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 15:01 GMT]Unknown gunmen shot dead a Tamil businessman and seriously injured his relative near Puttur junction along A9 road between Kodikamam and Chavakachcheri in Thenmaradchy around 4.30 p.m. Saturday, sources in Jaffna said. Gunmen entered his business in Puttur junction and escaped after shooting at close range. Full story >> LTTE confers Maamanithar award to stalwart at Niedharsanam[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 13:41 GMT] Leader of Liberation Tigers, V Pirapaharan conferred Maamanithar (Great Humanbeing) award to Mr V Satchithananthasivam (also known as Gnanatharan) a tamil activist, jounalist, political thinker, and later the key force behind the LTTE's visual media division Niedharsanam. He was 65-years old when he died on Wednesday after a prolonged illness. Gnanatharan, who began his literary career as a novelist in 70s, directed the first short film in 1992 and the first full length film of Niedharsanam, LTTE media sources said. Gnanatharan was the Chief Advisor of the National Television of Tamileelam (NTT). Full story >> Tamil MPs telecom link to Kilinochchi severed[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 13:19 GMT]Charging that disconnection by the Sri Lanka Telecom authorities of the telephone connection between the Tamil MPs' parliamentary complex offices to Kilinochchi region was politically motivated, Jaffna district parliamentarian, S Gajendran, demanded in a letter to Speaker Mr M J M Lokkubandara that he should take immediate steps to restore the lines, parliamentary sources said. Full story >> Retired Navy Chief of Staff appointed NorthEast Governor[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 12:18 GMT]Retired Rear Admiral Mohan Wijeyawickrema Friday assumed duties as the sixth Governor of the NorthEast Province at the sub-office of the Governor's Secretariat in Colombo. Mr Wijewickrema retired as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) prematurely as his seniority was overlooked when Ms Kumaratunge appointed Rear Admiral Vasantha Karanagoda as the Commander of the SLN in 2005. The new Governor is scheduled to pay his first official visit to the Secretariat located in Trincomalee facing the Trincomalee harbor next week, officials of the Secretariat said. Full story >> Home guard, driver shot dead in Serunuwara[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 10:29 GMT]Unidentified men shot and killed Nilantha Madugalle aged 26, a home guard and Mahinda Navaretna aged 34, a three wheel driver Saturday morning around 8.35 a.m. at Serunuwara police division when they were going towards Mavilaru area, police sources said. Full story >> Two civilians killed in police fire, policeman wounded in grenade attack[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 08:57 GMT]Two civilians were killed when policemen opened fire following a grenade attack at Chettikulam, where a policeman was wounded. The civilians killed were attackers, the Police claimed. Full story >> SLA attempt to enter LTTE area in Mannar thwarted[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 08:30 GMT]A seven-member group of the deep penetration unit of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fled leaving their bags inside the LTTE controlled Adampan area when members of the Civil Volunteers Unit and LTTE cadres counter-attacked them Saturday morning around 6:00 a.m., LTTE sources in Mannar said. The bag recovered by CVF volunteers and LTTE cadres was found with army uniforms, military boots and food packets, according to the sources. Full story >> Kayts businessman shot dead[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 03:48 GMT]A supporter of Liberation Tigers was shot dead in Kayts, an islet off Jaffna peninsula, by gunmen alleged to be belonging to paramilitary Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and Sri Lanka Security forces intelligence operatives at Friday 8 p.m., sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> SLN bans night use of Jaffna, Islet jetties[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 03:13 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has strengthened security and banned the use of fishing jetties, small harbors in Jaffna peninsula and in Jaffna islets during night hours, civil society sources in Jaffna said. Civilian movement near Mavalithurai jetty, in Delft (Nedunthivu) islet off Jaffna coast, regularly used by passenger boats, and jetties off Gurunagar coastal areas have been strictly prohibited duirng nights, the SLN's directives said. Full story >> Sri Lanka continues to violate state obligations towards Tamils, say Tamil parties[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 00:20 GMT] The Government of Sri Lanka not only failed to carry out proper investigations into the assasinations of reputed Tamil leaders, parliamentarians, journalists and activists, but it has also failed to take appropriate actions to prevent the recurrence of such crimes against the ordinary Tamil civilians, all four Tamil parties in the Lankan parliament charged in a joint memorandum sent to SL President Mahinda Rajapakse Friday. The joint statement was issued by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Upcountry Peoples' Front (UPF) and Western Province Peoples' Front (WPPF) that jointly staged a protest campaign within the chambers of the Sri Lankan Parliament.
Full story >> Firefight in Mathakal sea[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 00:02 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) patrol boats and two unknown boats exchanged fire in Mathakal, Senthankulam seas west of Kankesanthurai Naval camp between 6.55 p.m. and 7.40 p.m., Friday, SLN sources said. The two boats were moving in a suspicious manner and when the SLN opened fire the boats returned fire, SLN sources added. Full story >> Man shot dead in Point Pedro[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 00:01 GMT]Thamotharampillai Suntharalingam, 53, was shot dead along Thambachetty Road in Point Pedro Friday at 8 p.m., sources in Jaffna said. Suntharalingam was travelling towards Navalady on a motorbike when gunmen who followed him on another motorbike shot him in front of Mayakkai Pillaiyar Temple, according to sources. Full story >> SLMM re-opens Trinco office, resumes monitoring[TamilNet, Friday, 20 January 2006, 19:28 GMT]Monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in Trincomalee district Friday morning returned to their office, which is located along the Inner Harbor Road in the east port town. The office was closed on the orders of the SLMM headquarters since Tuesday evening following a cycle- bomb attack on a convoy of the Sri Lanka Navy injuring about eleven sailors and government troops killed two Tamil civilians and injuring six others in retaliation. Full story >> Grenade attack on STF's Buffel vehicle in Kalmunai[TamilNet, Friday, 20 January 2006, 18:02 GMT]Unknown men riding in a motorbike hurled grenades at a Special Task Force's (STF's) Buffel armoured vehicle Friday night 6.30 p.m. at Pandiruppu in Kalmunai, Kalmunai police said. Full story >> SLA trooper killed civilian in close range, says NESOHR[TamilNet, Friday, 20 January 2006, 13:11 GMT]North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESHOR) in a case report released Friday, said it had uncovered evidence that Mr Murugesu, 68, was killed by shots fired from close range. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had claimed earlier that gun had gone off accidentally killing the victim. Full story >> SLA cordon, search Kokuvil area[TamilNet, Friday, 20 January 2006, 11:03 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers stationed in Thavady cordoned and searched Nanathavil Champion Lane and surrounding areas in Kokuvil East between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m Friday, sources in Jaffna said. No one was arrested in the search. Full story >> Sunkankerni SLA patrol attacked[TamilNet, Friday, 20 January 2006, 10:54 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers from Sunkankerni Batticaloa camp on foot patrol came under fire from unknown gunmen at 8 p.m. Thursday night, sources said. The firefight lasted for more than 15 minutes. SLA sources said there were no SLA casualties. Full story >> Ratwatte, sons released, 5 sentenced to death in Udathalawinne case[TamilNet, Friday, 20 January 2006, 10:25 GMT] High Court judges sentenced to death five Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and released former Deputy Defense Minister, Anurudha Ratwatte, his two sons, Rohan and Chanuka in the Udathalawinne case the verdict of which was released Friday morning, legal sources said. Other eight SLA soldiers were also released.Full story >> Tamil businessman abducted in Colombo[TamilNet, Friday, 20 January 2006, 10:17 GMT]A Mannar businessman involved in dried fish trade was abducted by an unknown group who came in a white van Friday morning at 8 a.m. in Crow Island Modara, Colombo, sources in Colombo said. Full story >> EU condemns attack on SLMM Batticaloa office[TamilNet, Friday, 20 January 2006, 09:55 GMT]The European Union on Friday condemned the attack on Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Batticaloa office Last Friday. A press release issued by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Sri Lanka in its capacity as local representative of the EU presidency, said the attack was a deliberate attempt to undermine the Ceasefire Agreement. The EU renewed its commitment to the SLMM and commended the contributing countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden for their engagement. Full story >> Canadian Conservative Party calls for increased participation in peace process[TamilNet, Friday, 20 January 2006, 08:12 GMT] The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) Thursday announced that it has prioritized Canada's role in the Sri Lankan Peace process. The CPC leaderhsip said the party also wanted to increase assistance spending to further build the conditions for a negotiated peace in Sri Lanka. Full story >> Funeral of two Trinco civilians killed by SLA held[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 January 2006, 17:02 GMT]The funeral of the two Tamil civilians killed in retaliation by security forces in Uppuveli area, about two km off north of Trincomalee town following a claymore mine attack on a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN)convoy was held Thursday afternoon. Several hundred Tamil people participated in the funeral procession and the burial at Allesgarden cemetary in Uppuveli, about 3 km off north of east port town, civil sources said. Full story >> Journalists complain to SL Defense Ministry about harassment[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 January 2006, 16:28 GMT]The official media accreditation issued by the Government Information Department has been disregarded, under Emergency Regulations, not only when detaining Tamil media journalists but also when they carry out their official duties, five media organisations said in a joint memorandum urging the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry's Secretary, Gothapaya Rajapakse, the brother of the SL President Mahinda Rajapakse, to provide an opportunity to meet him and place before him the harassment meted out to Tamil media journalists under the Emergency Regulations, media sources said. Full story >> 4 killed, 34 wounded in Claymore attack in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 January 2006, 15:34 GMT]Three police constables and a sixteen-year old boy were killed and 17 Sri Lanka Army soldiers, 9 policemen and 8 civilians, including a woman, were wounded in a Claymore attack at Thandavanveli in Batticaloa town around 4:55 p.m. Thursday, police said. Two vehicles, an SLA truck and a bus, carrying soldiers and policemen for a clearing operation were caught in the explosion. The wounded soldiers were airlifted to Polonnaruwa and Colombo hospitals. Around 20 T-56 rifles and ammunitions, blown away from the hands of the troopers in the powerful explosion, were recovered by the SLA soldiers who rushed to the site following the attack. Tension prevails in Batticaloa town. Full story >> 10 civilians, 3 SLA soldiers, policeman wounded in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 January 2006, 15:23 GMT]Ten civilians were wounded in a bomb attack on a Sri Lanka Navy Jeep and the retaliatory fire and assault on civilians by the troopers Thursday evening in Trincomalee district between Gandhinagar and Anuradhapura junction along the Trincomalee - Kandy Highway, 3 km southwest of east port town. SLA soldiers opened fire wounding civilians following the explosion. The bomb exploded Thursday around 4 p.m., according to the Police. Tension prevailed in the area. Full story >> Emergency extended, Tamil MPs stage mock funeral in parliament[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 January 2006, 15:18 GMT]Tamil parliamentarians Thursday continued their sit-in-protest for the third consecutive day in the parliament when it resumed sitting Thursday morning against the killings and harassment of Tamil people by State armed forces under the State of Emergency. However amid noisy protest "Stop killing Tamil people, Stop genocide of Tamil people," "Withdraw emergency regulations", Mr.M.J.M.Lokkubandara, Speaker announced from his Chair that the extension motion of the State of Emergency moved by the government was carried unanimously. There was no debate and voting on the extension motion, parliamentary sources said. Full story >> Search operation in Nanattan after grenade attack on army sentry[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 January 2006, 12:24 GMT]Sri Lanka Army soldiers launched a cordon and search operation in Nanattan village Wednesday following a grenade attack on a sentry of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Tuesday night around 11:00 p.m. No one was injured in the attack by unidentified persons, SLA sources said. Full story >> Canadian parties commit to active role in Sri Lankan peace process - CTC[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 January 2006, 01:17 GMT] The four national parties contesting in the upcoming federal election in Canada, have vowed to play an active role in the Sri Lankan peace process in a public debate organized by the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) at the Delta Toronto East Hotel in Toronto on Tuesday. Referring to a media report Wednesday in the National Post that cited Peter MacKay, a leading member of the Conservative Party, as supporting a ban on the LTTE, the spokesman of the national body of the Canadian Tamils, Ashwin Balamohan, said that the issue has been raised with the Conservative Party and said all the four parties have reiterated their commitment to an "unbiased policy" on the Sri Lankan issue.Full story >> Mannar Sinhala medical officers demand security[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 16:15 GMT]Ten Sinhalese medical officers working in the Mannar general hospital left for Colombo Tuesday evening stating that they would not return for work until their security is guaranteed. Their action follows the grenade attack on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry located in the premises of the hospital which killed a SLA soldier, health department sources said. Full story >> Five passengers die in ferry mishap[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 16:15 GMT]Five passengers, three women and two children drowned in Yan Oya when a bus bound to Trincomalee plunged into the river when the driver attempted to take the bus on board the mechanized ferry. Yan Oya, located about 70 km off north Trincomalee town, separates the villages Pulmoddai and Thenamaravaddi from Trincomalee mainland. The mishap took place Wednesday afternoon around 3 p.m., police sources said. Full story >> Deep-sea fishing ban endangers livelihood of Mannar fishermen[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 16:14 GMT]Hundreds of fisher families in Mannar are in the risk of starvation as fishermen are not allowed to go for deep sea fishing, Pallimunai St.Lucia Fisheries Society said in a memorandum sent to the Mannar Government Agent and Mannar Bishop Wednesday. Deep-sea fishing is banned by the Sri Lanka Navy from the month of December last year, the memorandum said. Full story >> Trinco students died due to gunshot injuries- Magistrate[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 16:13 GMT]"The court determines that the five Tamil youths killed on January 2 night near the sea beach of the east port town had died due to gunshot injuries instantaneously. The court has come to a conclusion that an offence has been committed in this instance. Therefore the court orders the Police to conduct further inquiry into these deaths and to produce the suspects before the court," said Mr.V.Ramakamalan, Trincomalee Magistrate in his order delivered Wednesday at the conclusion of the magisterial inquest, legal sources said. Full story >> Batticaloa housewife shot, critically injured[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 15:23 GMT]A housewife in Kali Temple Road in Eravur, Batticaloa was critically injured by an unknown gunman who entered the house and shot her with a pistol while she was talking to her husband Wednesday at 7.30 p.m., sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> Vakarai residents complain of increased SLA harassment[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 12:47 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has constructed three additional checkpoints along the road leading to Vakarai in Batticaloa district and travellers to the Liberation Tigers' controlled area are being subjected to increased harassment during security checks at these checkpoints, civil society sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> SLN soldiers attack, injure five Karainagar fishermen[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 12:04 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLAN) soldiers who were patrolling the northern seas off Jaffna islets attacked and seriously injured five fishermen from Karainagar at 12 midnight Tuesday, sources from Jaffna said. The injured fishermen with broken limbs have been admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, medical sources said. Full story >> Widening grenade attacks injure four SLA troopers in Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 11:54 GMT]Four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured in three different incidents of grenade attacks in Kodikamam along Kodikamam-Point Pedro road, Kunjarkadai along Jaffna-Point Pedro Road and in Chavakachcheri, Wednesday sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> JHU demands Colombo to stop Balasingham's visit[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 11:30 GMT] The Sinhala nationalist party of Buddhist monks, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Wednesday demanded the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) to stop the visit of Chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Mr.Anton Balasingham , to Killinochchi. Venerable Athuraliya Rathana Thera, parliamentary group leader of the JHU addressing a press briefing Wednesday in the parliamentary complex said the present government is also trying to hand over the sovereignty of the country to the LTTE in the cover of peace process, parliamentary sources said.
Full story >> Nordic countries condemn attack on Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 07:30 GMT]The contributing countries to Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, have condemned the attack on the Batticaloa district office of SLMM on Friday 13 January. Four vehicles parked in front of the SLMM office were damaged in the explosion. Batticaloa office of the SLMM is located on Lake Road, 50 meters from the paramilitary Razeek Group camp, which is attached to a Sri Lanka Army camp. The area, a high security zone of the SLA, also houses other paramilitary camps and ex-militant offices of EPRLF (Varathar faction), PLOTE and EPDP. Full story >> Tamil MPs protest, SL parliament suspended second day[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 06:43 GMT]Parliamentarians of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Upcountry People's Front (UPF) and Western Province People's Front (WPPF) Wednesday resumed their sit-in protest in the well of the House for the for the second consequtive when the parliament resumed its sitting, Wednesday morning. Speaker M.J.M.Lokkubandara suspended the sitting for the day because of noisy protest by the Tamil MPs demanding the Sri Lanka Government to stop the killings, arrests and harassment of Tamil speaking people by the State armed forces, using Emergency Regulations, parliamentary sources said. Full story >> TRO(USA) to hold tsunami anniversary fund raiser[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 01:49 GMT]Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (USA) is holding its annual fund raiser at the cultural hall of Murugan Temple in Lanham, located 20 km north east of US capitol, Saturday. Voluntary contributions from families are earmarked for the Senthalir Illam in Mullaitivu where more than seventy children perished during the tsunami, organizers of the event said. Cultural events from local children will dominate the evening as a mark of respect for the Senthalir children. Full story >> Tamil shop employee injured in Trinco grenade attack[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 18:27 GMT]Unidentified person lobbed a grenade inside a Tamil shop located in the Madathady junction in Trincomalee Tuesday morning. Mr.Thevatharsan, 25, an employee of the shop was critically injured in the attack. The shop was also damaged, Trincomalee Police said. Full story >> State terrorism rising in NorthEast, say Tamil MPs[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 15:31 GMT]"Violence and terror unleashed by the State armed forces is on the increase in the North East province. Fifty Tamil civilians have been abducted in the Jaffna district within few months. From December 1 to January 12 the State armed forces and para military groups in Jaffna have killed thirty-one Tamil civilians. Forty-two Tamils have been killed in other districts of the province," said leaders of Tamil political parties addressing a press briefing after their protest in parliament Tuesday morning. Full story >> SLMM suspends operational activities in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 14:48 GMT]Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) closed its office in Trincomalee until further notice at 4 p.m. Tuesday. SLMM's day to day activities in Trincomalee district will remain suspended until the office reopens, officials said. Recent spate of killings and a number of attacks including exchange of fire with the danger of innocent travellers getting caught in fire, make it difficult for the truce monitors to move around in the district, the sources added. The monitors have urged the Sri Lankan troops to abide by their responsibility of ensuring security to the civilians. The Tigers have also been urged to use their influence on the Tamil population to calm down the sitatuion, the sources added. Full story >> Mannar playgrounds out of bound for sportspersons[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 13:02 GMT] For more than six months the Mannar public playgrounds has been declared out of bound for students and youths because of the occupation of State armed forces. The gymnasium constructed in the playgrounds at a cost of about 2.5 million rupees with valuable sports equipments is idling as sports loving persons in the town fear to go there for practice, sports activists said.Full story >> Deputy Solicitor General leads evidence in slain students' inquest[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 12:22 GMT]Deputy Solicitor General Mr.D.Livera with two senior State Counsels on the direction by the Attorney General led the evidence of witnesses into the murder of five Tamil students allegedly by the government troops on January 2 night along the Trincomalee sea beach when the inquest proceedings resumed before Mr.V.Ramakamalan, Trincomalee Magistrate Monday morning, legal sources said. Full story >> Muslim businessman beaten to death in Akkaraipattu[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 12:11 GMT]Mr Ahamedlebby Abthul Bahir, 35, was beaten to death and his friend Nahurthamby Athambaba Lebby, 25, was seriously injured by unknown tamil group on Wednesday evening 3.30 p.m. at Periyakalai in Akkaripattu, police sources said. Full story >> Balasingham to visit Vanni next week[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 11:33 GMT]Mr. Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), will visit the LTTE held region of Vanni, northern Sri Lanka, on 23rd January in a fresh effort to resume the peace process. Mr. Balasingham will assist the LTTE leader, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, during the forthcoming meeting next week between Mr. Erik Solheim, the Norwegian Minister of International Development, and the LTTE leadership.Full story >> Mannar hospital staff protest against SLA presence[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 11:25 GMT]Nearly 250 employees including few medical officers Tuesday morning staged a walkout in protest demanding the withdrawal of State armed forces from the premises of the Mannar district hospital and to stop soldiers visiting the wards of the hospital with arms and other weapons. The protest was held from about 10 a.m. till 11 a.m., sources in Mannar said. Full story >> Ground conditions will dictate process forward - Thamilchelvan[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 10:09 GMT] Unless there is a marked change in the ground conditions currently dominated by violent conduct by the Sri Lankan Armed forces and the paramilitaries, the patience of the Tamil population, facing killings on a daily basis in the SLA controlled Tamil homeland, will be put on a serious test, LTTE's Political Head S.P. Thamilchelvan, told media following the meeting in Kilinochchi with the Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hans Brattskar and the Head of the Scandinavian truce monitors in Sri Lanka, Hagrup Haukland. LTTE Political Head further said that the LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan would convey LTTE's stand to the Norwegian Special Envoy Erik Solheim at the end of January.Full story >> Two SLA soldiers killed, one wounded in Claymore attack in Thenmaradchi[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 08:41 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed and one soldier sustained serious wounds in a Claymore explosion that took place in Sarasalai, 4 km northeast of Chavakachcheri in Thenmardchi, Jaffna district, around 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, Police said. The Claymore attack was reported after two civilian dead bodies were recovered Tuesday morning in Thenmaradchi. Full story >> Tamil MPs protest in parliament against killings in NorthEast[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 07:56 GMT]Pandemonium prevailed in the Sri Lankan parliament Tuesday when it met for the first time in the new year 2006 following the protest held by parliamentarians of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Upcountry Peoples' Front (UPF) and Western Province Peoples' Front (WPPF) against the killing of parliamentarian Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, rape and murder of a girl, Tharshini, in Pungudutivu, killing of five Tamil students in Trincomalee and several Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan armed forces and the paramilitary groups and the arbitrary arrests of Tamil civilians in Colombo, parliamentary sources said. Full story >> Navy convoy attacked in Trinco, 2 civilians killed in retaliation[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 06:19 GMT]A cycle bomb placed along the Nilaveli-Trincomalee road near a bus depot hit a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) bus convoy carrying soldiers towards east port town at the third mile post junction Tuesday around 10:05 a.m. Sri Lanka troops fired in retaliation killing two Tamil civilians and injuring several Tamil civilians, four of them have been brought to Trincomalee general hospital. Initial reports said about eleven soldiers were seriously injured and are admitted to navy hospital, which is located inside the SLN eastern region headquarters in the east port town. Full story >> Ten civilians said arrested by SLN in Karainagar[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 03:22 GMT]Human Rights Commission in Jaffna received complaints Monday that ten civilians in Karainagar in Jaffna islets have been arrested by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) at 12.30 p.m. Monday, sources in Jaffna said. The arrests occured when Navy soldiers carried out cordon and search operation after discovering hand grenades hidden near a tree at the Valanthalai junction in Karainagar. Full story >> Man found shot dead in Urumpirai[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 03:09 GMT]Body of Suppiah Murugan was found with gunshot wounds Monday night at Urumpiray Junction along Jaffna Palaly road in front of Urumpirai Hindu College, sources said. Mr Murugan is from Trincomalee and was presently a resident of Navatkuly. Full story >> Mannar residents struggle to get petrol[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2006, 03:06 GMT] Petrol station run by Manthai West Multi Purpose Co-operative Society is surrounded by camps and sentry points of the State armed forces and residents of Mannar town fear going to the station. This petrol station located at the entrance to the town serves a population of about forty thousand and about two thousand vehicles with fuel for domestic, agricultural and fishing and transport purposes, civil sources said.Full story >> Karu Jayasuriya appointed chairman of UNP executive committee[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 17:40 GMT]Mr.Karu Jayasuriya has been appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee of the United National Party (UNP) in addition to his Deputy Leadership post. This decision was unanimously taken at a meeting of the United National Party parliamentary group held in the Parliamentary complex Monday morning. The new post was created as a compromise to end the rift between two factions in the party over its defeat in the last presidential election held on November 17 last year, party sources said. Full story >> SLA trooper killed in Mannar grenade attack[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 17:36 GMT]A soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was killed Monday night around 8.50 p.m. when unidentified persons lobbed a grenade at a sentry located in the premises of Mannar General Hospital, sources in Mannar said. A combined camp of the SLA and Sri Lanka Navy is located close to the Balamurugan Temple in the hospital premises, police sources said. Full story >> Muttur Magistrate directs SL Police to provide details of arrested[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 16:23 GMT]Mr.Manickavasagar Ganesharajah, Muttur Magistrate at a conference held Monday directed the authorities concerned to submit all names, other details of persons arrested, and the reasons for their arrests in Tamil areas in the government controlled territory in Muttur division. The failure to furnish these details with valid legal reasons could lead to serious human right violations, Mr.Ganesharajah cautioned. Full story >> TRO responds to media reports[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 12:37 GMT]"The false allegations, complete fabrications, and twisting of facts reported in the articles are a weak attempt to malign the largest and most efficient NGO in the NorthEast. It appears that there is a coordinated malicious campaign by pro-government, anti-Tamil forces to malign TRO and the work that it performs. It is also disturbing that the increased levels of propaganda correspond to the diminished levels of peace discourse in Sri Lanka," said Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), an NGO registered with the Government of Sri Lanka, in a press release issued from Colombo Monday. Full story >> Norwegian Ambassador, SLMM Head to meet LTTE Political Head[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 11:11 GMT]Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar, and the Head of Mission of the Scandinavian truce monitors, Hagrup Haukland, will be visiting Kilinochchi to meet the Political Head of the Liberation Tigers, S P Thamilchelvan on Tuesday, according to the LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi. The LTTE is likely to press for urgent de-escalation of violence in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas of the NorthEast in the meeting viewed to be a preparatory meeting for the visit of Norwegian Development Minister Erik Solheim, expected to take place at the end of the January as announced by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. Full story >> Sinn Fein negotiator to visit Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 11:09 GMT]Mr Martin McGuinness, Chief Negotiator of Sinn Fein, the Political Wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) from Northern Ireland will be visiting Sri Lanka from 17th to 19th January, a press release from Initiative for Political Transformation (INPAC) an NGO based in Colombo issued Monday said. Mr McGuinness is expected to meet leaders of political parties to share his experiences and "communicate his understanding of the issues affecting political, conflict, peace processes within the country [Sri Lanka]," the release added. Full story >> Two LTTE supporters killed in Akkaraipattu[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 10:56 GMT]Two Tamil youths Chandranathan Sasikumar, 23, also called Appuhami, a resident of Kurukkal Road in Akkaraipattu and Gopalakrishnan Suresh, 16, of RKM Road Akkaraipattu, were shot dead by unknown gunmen on Monday at 12 noon at Deans Road in Akkaraipattu Town, sources in the eastern province said. Both victims were said supporters of Liberation Tigers, Akkaraipattu residents said. Full story >> Ex-EPDP cadre shot dead in Nelliadi[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 04:45 GMT]Navaratnarajah Jegatheeswaran, 26, from Rajakiramam in Karaveddy, Jaffna was shot dead at 8.30 a.m. Sunday by unknown gunmen riding in a motorbike along Nelliady-Kodikamam road, sources from Jaffna said. Jagatheeswaran was formerly a member of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and left the organization some time ago, Karaveddy residents said. Full story >> Two civilians, one SLAF soldier injured in Trincomalee attacks[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 04:06 GMT]An Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) soldier manning a checkpoint in Anpuvallipuram in Trincomalee district was injured when an unidentified person lobbed a hand grenade around 8.30 p.m. In a separate incident, two Tamil civilians, Selvanayagam Mayooran, 35, and Sabaratnam Mathivathanakumar, 32, were injured when unknown gunmen fired at them at 10.30 p.m. Sunday while they were going to their residences in Pallathoddam in Uppuveli Police division, sources in Trincomalee said. Full story >> Tamil Civil Group calls off hartal in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 02:44 GMT]Trincomalee District Tamil Resurgence Forum (TRF) Sunday evening called off the general shut down, and the closure of government departments, and state, private sector banks in the district with effect from Monday, civil society sources said. The decision to call off hartal was taken after Mr.Mahinda Balasuriya, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the North-East and Anuradhapura district, gave assurances during a meeting between a group of leading citizens and the members of armed forces that he would implement decisions taken to normalize the situation in the east port town from Monday. sources said. Full story >> Three women members of Maaveerar family shot dead in Manipay[TamilNet, Monday, 16 January 2006, 02:33 GMT] Two young sisters, Bojan Renuka, 30, and Bojan Shanuka, 23, and their mother Bojan Arthanageswary, 51, residents of a house in Mudaliyar Kanagasabai Road in Manipay, close to the Manipay Hindu College, Jaffna district, were shot dead Sunday night at 11.45 p.m. by gunmen, suspected to be Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intelligence operatives and members of Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) paramilitary, who entered the house and sprayed bullets at the residents, sources said. The father, Nagendran Bojan, 55, and brother Bojan Ullasan, 26, sustained gunshot injuries and are receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, medical sources said.Full story >> Pirapaharan opens new Senchcholai campus in Kilinochchi[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 January 2006, 18:22 GMT] Leader of Liberation Tigers, V Pirapaharan, opened the new Sencholai campus, a children's home established to care for children who had lost both parents in the war, at a location in Kilinochchi in a ceremony held Sunday, media sources in Kilinochchi said. The facility contains several residential blocks for girls. An adjoining facility for Kantharoopan Arivuchcholai, a home for boys, is expected to be completed soon, according to Senchcholai officials.Full story >> Colombo security tightened after intelligence warning of attacks[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 January 2006, 17:56 GMT]Security in Colombo and its suburbs has been strengthened following warning by government intelligence agencies warned of imminent "terrorist" attacks on government strategic installations. Additional Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) soldiers have been deployed at the Katunayake international airport, police sources said. Full story >> SL Parliament to debate extending Emergency[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 January 2006, 15:51 GMT]The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group is to meet Tuesday to prepare for a full debate on the extension of the State of Emergency following allegations that Emergency Regulations (ER) are being used by Sri Lankan police and armed forces to harass Tamil civilians, TNA sources said. The extension motion of the State of Emergency for another month is to be debated in parliament Thursday. Full story >> DIG orders inquiry into grenade attack on Tamil family in Trinco[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 January 2006, 15:32 GMT]Mr.Mahinda Balasuriya, Senior Deputy Inspector of Police in charge of North-East Province and Anuradhapura district has ordered full investigation into the grenade attack on a residential quarter of the Trincomalee Urban Council (UC) which caused serious injuries to a whole Tamil family Saturday evening. The UC residential quarters' complex is located between Abeyapura, Sinhala settlement and Anpuvallipuram, Tamil settlement on Trincomalee-Kandy main road, about three km off west south of east port town, police sources said. Full story >> Youth shot dead in Thenmaradchi[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 January 2006, 12:13 GMT]Sellathurai Yogarajah, 26, who was on his way to a Hindu temple in Kodikamam, in Thenmaradchi in Jaffna district, was shot and killed allegedly by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in Thenmaradchi Sunday around 8:30 a.m, civilian sources said. The victim's body was found on Varani North lane near Suttipuram Amman temple located in Kudamiyan. Full story >> Abducted man found shot dead in Kayts[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 January 2006, 08:27 GMT]Tharmarasan Tharmaseelan, 37, who was abducted by unidentified men Saturday night, was found shot dead with his hands tied behind near a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) check post in Kayts town, north-west of Jaffna, Sunday morning. Full story >> Colombo not forthright in paramilitary issue- SLMM[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 January 2006, 01:59 GMT] "The [Sri Lanka] government claimed that it had nothing to do with this [Karuna] group and was not aware of their existence. But when we visited the spot in the east and asked the Sri Lankan army where we could find Karuna, they told us where to go. So it was clear that the local army knew where he was," said Sunday Leader, a Colombo weekly, in the Sunday edition, quoting Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir as saying in an interview to the paper.
Full story >> More Jaffna families flee to Vanni[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 18:49 GMT] More than 150 families fled from areas controlled by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Jaffna peninsula and crossed to LTTE held Vanni region through Mukamalai, Saturday. These families were received at Transit centre for displaced people at Mukamalai by Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, a Sri Lanka Government registered Non-Governmental organization operating predominantly in the NorthEast, TRO said in a media release.Full story >> LTTE sharp shooters take aim on Pongal day[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 18:16 GMT] Liberation Tiger fighters from the forward lines in the Northern region battle front participated in a sharpshooting competition in an undisclosed location in the North Vanni region under the command of Northern Region Senior Commander Col Theepan on Thai Pongal day, Saturday, LTTE media sources in Kilinochchi said. This event marked the second such competition held in 2006 following the one held on the New Year, reflecting the increased importance given by LTTE military leadership to markmanship. Full story >> SLN sexually harrassed women, beat men in Pesalai- NESHOR[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 15:45 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers forced women to sit on the hot sand with their face to the sand, "asked crude sexually motivated questions and dropped their trousers in front of the women," and beat all 42 men, nine of them severely, said North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESHOR) in a case report issued Saturday on the revenge attack by the SLN on residents of "Hundred House Scheme" in Pesalai following the claymore attack on SLN convoy which killed thirteen soldiers on 23rd December. Full story >> Jaffna farmers encouraged to breed cattle[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 15:39 GMT]The demand for milk per day in the Jaffna district is about 125,000 litres, but only 25,000 litres are produced. To bridge the gap in demand and supply every farmer in the district should rear at least a cow, appealed Dr.P.Ramanathan, Assistant Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry in the district at an event held to honor best farmers recently. Full story >> Claymore remote detonation device found in Mannar[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 15:29 GMT]A remote control device and several parts of an equipment needed to detonate a claymore mine were found in a parcel abandoned near the Pesalai Peripheral OPD Unit Saturday morning around 9.30 a.m., sources in Mannar said. A minor employee of the Pesalai Peripheral Unit (PPU) OPD immediately brought to the notice of the medical officer in charge of that time after he found the parcel in the premises of the PPU, Police sources said. The medical officer promptly conveyed the message to the Mannar Bishop through Pesalai Parish Priest Rev.Fr.Vincent Patrick who informed the Police of the whereabouts of the parcel. Full story >> LTTE condemns attack on SLMM office[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 14:19 GMT]Expressing concern about the attack on the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) offices, and relief that no one was hurt in the attack, Head of the Liberation Tigers Political Wing, S P Thamilchelvan, in a letter to the Head of the SLMM, Mr Hagrup Haukland, Saturday said: "Our leadership views this attack as an attempt to wreck the ceasefire agreement. Our leadership also expresses the continued support of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to the SLMM to implement the ceasefire agreement in its fully intended meaning and to rectify the deteriorating ceasefire environment. " Full story >> Two fighters killed in SLA attack on Trinco minicamp - LTTE[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 13:52 GMT]The Liberation Tigers on Saturday said two of their fighters, a Lieutenant and a Second Lieutenant were killed Friday evening when a minicamp located in the LTTE held Kadavanaikulam area in Trincomalee district was attacked by a group of around 50 soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army, according to the LTTE's Trincomalee Political office. The LTTE Political Head in Trincomalee, Mr. S. Elilan has lodged a complaint with details, the sources added. Full story >> Governor to hold Conference on Trincomalee violence[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 13:38 GMT]North East Provincial Governor, Mr.Tyronne Fernando, has called for a conference to discuss the volatile situation in the Trincomalee district following frequent general shut down by rival parties. The conference earlier scheduled to be held on Thursday has now been advanced to Wednesday evening and will be held in Colombo, provincial council sources said. Full story >> Two SLA soldiers sustain injuries in Eravur grenade attack[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 13:31 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers sustained minor injuries when unknown assailants hurled a grenade at a SLA road clearing patrol in Arumugathankudiyiruppu in Eravur along the Batticaloa-Valaichenai highway at 1.30 p.m. Saturday, sources said. SLA arrested three Tamil youths playing closeby as suspects. Full story >> Speaker to rule on Dissanayake's future[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 13:19 GMT]Speaker Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara is to officially inform the leaders of all political parties represented in the current parliament whether the jailed Mr.S.B.Dissanayake is still a parliamentarian or he has lost his post. Mr.Dissanayake is the National Organizer of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and was jailed for defaming the Supreme Court, parliamentary sources said. Full story >> EPDP cadre shot dead in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 13:09 GMT]Mr Raman Ranjan, 36, was shot dead by unknown gunmen who came in a motorbike at Karuwappankerny near Naagathampiran temple in Batticaloa at 5.00 p.m. Saturday, sources said. Rajan is a resident of Aaraiyampathy Batticaloa and cme to celebrate Pongal with his relatives in Karuwappankerny when he was killed. Raman Ranjan was an EPDP cadre, who was collaborating with the Sri Lanka Army Intelligence in Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa border, according to ex-militant sources in Batticaloa. Full story >> Four injured in grenade attack on Tamil family in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 12:02 GMT] All the members of a Tamil family were wounded in a grenade attack in Trincomalee on Saturday evening. An unidentified attacker lobbed a greande into the front verandah of the house located in Gandhinagar, 3 km southwest of the east port town, when the entire family, a father, mother and their two children, was watching a television programme following Pongal celebrations, police sources said.Full story >> JVP MP says he was attacked for "opposing shut down"[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 08:48 GMT]A Sinhala nationalist JVP parliamentarian, who was attacked Friday in a suburb of Trincomalee town, has claimed, on Saturday, that he was attacked by a group of Sinhala persons for "opposing" the continuation of the shut down on the Tamil festival day, Thai Pongal. However, most of the Sinhala-owned shops remained closed in the east port town for the third day while Tamils remained in their homes to celebrate Thai Pongal. Two Sinhala nationalist organisations, backed by the JVP, had called for the four-day shut down in Trincomalee. Full story >> 2 SLN troopers killed, 2 wounded in Kayts, Jaffna[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 08:39 GMT]A Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel was killed on the spot and three others were seriously injured in a roadside blast in Kayts, an island north-west of Jaffna town, around 1.30 p.m., Saturday. A wounded trooper, later succumbed to his wounds, naval sources in Colombo said. The naval troopers were on a road patrol in the area when the mine went off, according to military sources in the northern town. Full story >> SLMM office attacked in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2006, 01:11 GMT] Unidentified attackers lobbed a grenade at the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) office located on Lake Road in Batticaloa Friday night around 11:30 p.m. No one was wounded in the attack, Batticaloa Police said. Three vehicles parked outside the SLMM office were damaged in the attack. The SLMM office is located inside Sri Lank Army High Security Zone near a SLA base that also houses the paramilitary Razeek Group.Full story >> Dry ration to families affected by SLA fishing ban[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 16:31 GMT]Jaffna District Government Agent Mr.K.Ganesh is preparing to supply dry ration relief for the several hundreds fisher families who are economically crippled by the fishing ban imposed by the Sri Lanka security forces in several parts of the Jaffna district, district secretariat sources said. Full story >> Claymore mines recovered in Thambalakamam[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 16:30 GMT]Sri Lankan security forces Saturday afternoon recovered two live claymore mines at a place close to Swami Malai, a resettled Tamil village in Thambalakamam division about 27 km off northwest of east port town along Trincomalee-Kandy main road. Both were defused by the army bomb disposal squad. Police sources said. Full story >> Lankan soldiers attack LTTE minicamp in Trincomalee - Elilan[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 15:49 GMT]A minicamp of the Liberation Tigers in Trincomalee district was attacked by Sri Lankan troopers Friday evening, the Tigers have informed the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) truce monitors in the east port town. The Tigers have lost contact with the minicamp which was attacked by the Sri Lankan soldiers around 5:15 p.m. in Kadavanaikulam near Palampoddaru Bridge, LTTE sources said. At least 4 cadres were reported missing. Exact casualty figures were not available at the moment. Full story >> Abeyapura residents attack JVP parliamentarian[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 14:34 GMT]A group of Sinhalese residents in Abeyapura, a suburb in Trincomalee town, Friday afternoon around 4 p.m. attacked the vehicle of Mr.Jayantha Wijeysekara, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarian of Trincomalee district when he was traveling through the area. Sri Lanka policemen rushed to the scene of the incident and rescued Mr Wijeysekara from being manhandled by the angry crowd, police sources said. Full story >> SLA trooper killed in Mallakam grenade attack[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 12:57 GMT]One Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed when unknown assailants hurled a hand grenade at the troops in Mallakam junction in Vallikamam at 3.45 p.m. Friday. One civilian was injured when SLA troops returned fire, sources from Jaffna said. Full story >> 24 Mannar Tamils seek refuge in Tamil Nadu[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 12:39 GMT]A group of twenty four Tamils including nine children from Selvapuram and Olathoduvai in Mannar district reached Rameswaram coast in Ramanathapuram Thursday, a daily in Tamil Nadu said. The influx has begun after a lapse of three years and refugees said threat of war, and harassment by the Sri Lanka armed forces after the recent attack on Sri Lanka Navy as the reasons for deciding to leave Sri Lanka shores, the paper said. Full story >> Thousand Tamil families flee Muttur, Seruvila villages[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 12:27 GMT]More than one thousand families have fled from their homes in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled divisions of Muttur and Seruvila in the Trincomalee district due to harassment and intimidation allegedly by the government troops manning sentries located in their villages and have sought refuge in schools and with their relatives in the LTTE held areas, social service activists said. Full story >> One SL Police, two civilians injured in Jaffna grenade attack[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 12:16 GMT]One Sri Lanka Police officer, Mr Piyantha, 46 was seriously injured in Nallur, Jaffna Aadiyapatham Road, Old junction when unknown gunmen hurled a grenade at the officer on patrol at 11.50 a.m. Friday, sources said. Two youths from Neervely, P Anushan, 23, and R Ravi, 21, who were riding on a bicycle closeby were also injured in the explosion. All three have been admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, medical sources said. Full story >> Brick labourer shot dead in Kalmunai[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 11:58 GMT]Mr Sulaimanlebbai Mohammed Esmail, 33, a labourer at a brick quarry in Nainakaddu Sammanthurai in Kalmunai was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Thursday night at 11-00 pm while he was sleeping in a shed near the quarry, sources said. Full story >> Disarm paramilitary, stop Claymore attacks - SLMM[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 10:59 GMT]The Scandinavian truce monitors, who condemned the Claymore attack on Sri Lanka Navy personnel in Chettikulam on Thursday, have blamed the Government of Sri Lanka emphasizing that the current situation also stems from "the fact that alternative armed elements have been able to operate freely in the East" in Sri Lanka Army controlled areas. While urging Colombo to "face up to its responsibility" to disarm the paramilitaries, the truce monitors said that the LTTE involvement in Claymore attacks cannot be ruled out. The SLMM appealed to both the parties to come up with firm confidence building measures with the "truthful aim of reaching a peaceful solution." Full story >> Ex-Razeek group cadre shot dead in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 06:17 GMT]Unindentified gunmen shot and killed a paramilitary cadre of the EPRLF group, Sinnavan, Friday at 10:45 a.m. at Kallady, 2 km south of Batticaloa town, Police said. Sinnavan was a former cadre of Razeek Group, a paramilitary group, that has lost its significance in the counter-insurgency operations waged by the Sri Lankan military against the Liberation Tigers in Sri Lanka's east coast. Full story >> Senior Editor accuses SL President of issuing verbal threats[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 06:05 GMT]Citing the complaint made by Editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper Mr. Lasantha Wikramatunge to the Inspector General of Police alleging that President Mahinda Rajapaksa threatened him with abusive language over the telephone, Free Media Movement (FMM) in a press release issued in Colombo Friday said, the incident "serves as a sombre reminder of the insecure and dangerous situation that journalists in Sri Lanka has to face." Full story >> Abducted school girl's family under SLA threat[TamilNet, Friday, 13 January 2006, 03:03 GMT] The Jaffna school girl abducted by four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers from Paalpannai (Milk Farm) Road in between Thirunelvely and Kondavil junction was returned to her parents in Kondavil Tuesday night by higher officers of the SLA, reliable sources from Jaffna said. Full story >> Fisher families flee back to Vankalai following SLN threats[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 January 2006, 15:55 GMT]About two hundred fisher families, residing in Siruthoppu near Pesalai since 1980, have returned to Vankalai about 20 km off Mannar town following intimidation and threats by sailors of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), civil society sources said. They took their fibreglass fishing boats and nets and other fishing gear in tractors and available means of transport. A SLN camp is located close to Siruthoppu, which is also called Vankalaipaddu since these fisher families arrived from proper Vankalai village twenty-five years ago, sources said. Full story >> NZ Peace Group condemns Pararajasingham killing[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 January 2006, 13:10 GMT]Global Peace and Justice, an Auckland based civil society group, condemned the killling of Mr Pararajasingham and said: "This is yet another conflict where the people of New Zealand can have an international impact beyond its size. We look forward to swift government action to contribute to justice and peace in Sri Lanka," in a press release issued in New Zealand, Sunday. Full story >> Join hands to arrest spread of violence- EU Commissioner[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 January 2006, 12:35 GMT] Mrs Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations, European Commission in a message issued Thursday said that inspite of the escalating violence "Sri Lanka's leaders may yet be able to build on to pull back from the brink: it is the profound desire of the people of Sri Lanka for peace," and added that "it is imperative that the government, other political parties and the Tamil Tigers heed the call of the people and join hands to arrest the spread of violence prevailing in the north and in the east."
Full story >> Peace Group calls for urgent talks on CFA[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 January 2006, 12:24 GMT]Peace Support Group (PSG), a group consisting of civil society peace activists, expressed "deep sorrow and concern" at the escalation of violence in the NorthEast, reiterated the necessity to "return to direct talks as a matter of the utmost priority," and called upon the Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers "to affirm their commitment to the maintenance of law and order in the areas under their control, and take all steps to prevent a return to armed hostilities," in a press release issued in Colombo Monday. Full story >> Hartal cripples Trincomalee[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 January 2006, 12:14 GMT]Normal life and business in the Trincomalee town and its suburbs were completely paralyzed Thursday when shops, government offices, schools, public markets, non-governmental organizations and state and private sector banking institutions were closed down. Public and private transport came to a complete halt. All main roads in the town were seen deserted except government troops manning sentry points and patrolling, sources in the east port town said. Full story >> Firing accidental in Point Pedro civilian's death, says SLA[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 January 2006, 12:04 GMT]69 year-old Kanapathy Murugesu, a retired Post Master, was shot dead by a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers 200 meters south of 1st mile post, in Point Pedro in Jaffna district Thursday at 1 p.m., sources in Jaffna said. SLA sources said the gun had gone off accidentally killing the victim. Full story >> Nine SLN sailors killed, 10 wounded in Claymore blast in Chettikulam[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 January 2006, 10:48 GMT] Nine Sri Lanka Navy sailors were killed and ten wounded when their bus hit a Claymore mine in Chettikulam Thursday evening around 4:20 p.m., Sri Lankan naval sources said. The attack took place on Madawachi - Mannar Road. A Sinhala home guard was reported killed and a Muslim youth was wounded in SLN gunfire following the attack. Sri Lanka Army soldiers who cordoned off and searched the area have attacked civilian residents in Veerapuram village located close to the site of explosion. Tension prevails in the area, civilian sources said. Full story >> SLA troopers beat to death Tamil farmer in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 January 2006, 08:28 GMT]Sri Lanka Army soldiers at Lingapuram Wednesday morning ganged up and beat to death a 40-year-old Tamil farmer, Thanabalasingham, in his paddy fields, villagers have lodged a complaint with the truce monitors in the east port town. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials based in Muttur town rushed to the site following a protest by the villagers. Full story >> 7 civilians wounded in SLA’s retaliatory fire[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 January 2006, 06:43 GMT] Five civilians, including a mother, a 60-year-old devotee and a 71-year-old man were wounded in Sri Lanka Army soldiers' retaliatory fire after two grenade attacks at the SLA troopers and policemen manning the checkpoints at two separate junctions in the suburbs of Jaffna town Thursday morning. Three policemen, an SLA soldier and two civilians were injured in the grenade attacks that took place at Parameswara and Thatatheru junctions, Police said. Full story >> Civilian shot dead by SLA soldiers in Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 22:16 GMT] Sri Lanka Army soldiers opened fire in Kokkuvil, Jaffna, killing a civilian traveller on Jaffna KKS Road around 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, residents in Kokkuvil said. The SLA soldiers opened fire after two soldiers were wounded in a grenade attack, sources added. The victim was identified as Pasupathy Palani, a father of two, according to medical sources.Full story >> Amnesty International concerned about escalation of violence[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 22:01 GMT]Amnesty International has appealed to the parties to halt the killings, abductions and "disappearances," being reported daily from the north and east of Sri Lanka. The Amnesty International, in a public statement issued on Wednesday said it was appalled by the news of the killing by unidentified attackers of Member of Parliament Joseph Pararajasingam, while he attended mass at St Mary's Church, Batticaloa on Christmas Eve. The deteriorating security situation will also drastically effect aid and relief operations to those displaced by the tsunami and by years of conflict who see no hope of returning to their homes, Amnesty has warned. Full story >> Australia condemns CFA violations in Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 11:23 GMT]In a media release issued on the 8 December, Mr Alexander Downer , Australia's Minister of Foreign Affairs said, "Australia is deeply concerned about the recent escalation in violence in the North and East of Sri Lanka, and condemns in particular the two attacks in Jaffna on 4 and 6 December by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)," and called upon "both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to take appropriate steps to bring an end to the current violence and to work towards the implementation of the letter and spirit of the Ceasefire Agreement as a crucial step in seeking a just and sustainable peace settlement." Full story >> Two de-mining workers abducted in Point-Pedro[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 11:14 GMT]Two demining workers, Tharmasiri and Kandeepan, employed by the humanitarian Danish De-mining Group, DDG, were abducted by unknown armed men who came in a white Hiace van Wednesday early morning in Point Pedro, sources in Jaffna said. The workers were on their way to de-mining in their motorbikes. The abduction occurred close to the Sri Lanka Army's (SLA's) High Security Zone (HSZ) about 100 meters from the SLA 52-4 Brigade camp in the area, civilian sources said. Full story >> Journalists to demonstrate against Emergency Regulations[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 11:12 GMT]Media organizations including Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Media Employees Trade Union Federation and Free Media Movement, in a press release issued Wednesday, said they are planning to demonstrate in front the Fort Railway Station Thursday protesting against the Emergency Regulations that allows Sri Lanka Security personnel to detain and harass journalists. Full story >> Puthur trader shot dead[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 10:49 GMT]In the escalating shadow war against traders in Jaffna district, Thambu Nadesu, who runs a business near the Puthur junction on the Jaffna - Point Pedro road was shot dead allegedly by Sri Lanka military intelligence operatives Tuesday around 11.30 p.m. civilian sources said. His body was found inside a banana field near the Amman temple in Siruppitty along the Puthur-Nilavarai road. Nadesu was an active organisor of the civilian protest against an attempted rape of a woman in the area allegedly by Sri Lanka Army soldiers on October 28. Full story >> Woman shot and killed in Thenmaradchi[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 10:26 GMT] Unknown gunmen shot and killed a 31-years-old woman in Thenmaradchi Wednesday noon at the grounds of Panrithalaichi Amman Temple. The victim, Pavalarani, was abucted from her house in Mattuvil East, 6 km north of Chavakacheri, Wednesday morning by the gunmen, civilian sources said. Full story >> Clothing store owner killed in Chavakachcheri[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 03:26 GMT]P. Sivasankar, 28, from Meesalai and owner of a clothing store in Chavakacheri town was shot dead at 5.30 p.m. Tuesday on Dutch Road by gunmen suspected to be Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intelligence, sources in Jaffna said. Sivasankar, originally from Erlalai in Valigamam, was displaced from his home town, married and settled in Meesalai, sources said. Full story >> Eight Tamil youths arrested in Puttalam checkpoint[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 21:04 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers arrested eight Tamil youths on Tuesday night at 7 p.m at the Manpuri checkpoint located in Puttalam - Kalpity Road, security sources said. All youths are residents of Liberation Tigers controlled area of Kaddaiparichchan in Mutur. Full story >> Inquest into students’ murders begins at Trinco court[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 18:59 GMT]The inquest into the killings of five Tamil students last week in Trincomalee by suspected members of Sri Lanka’s armed forces, began Tuesday before the Trincomalee Magistrate, Mr.V.Ramakamalan. The inquest was initially scheduled to be held on Monday, but was moved to Tuesday as the parents of the slain students had to attend to the eighth day rites of their slain children on Monday according to Hindu customs, legal sources said. Full story >> Large crowds attend Resurgence Convention in Muttur east[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 17:24 GMT]Large number of Tamils thronged the grounds of Kadatkaraichchenai, a village in Muttur east for Tamil National Resurgence Convention, the first in the New Year in the northeast province held Tuesday evening. Thousands walked from several villages in the divisions of Vaakarai, Verugal and Eachilampathu to Kadatkaraichchenai, a village in the Muttur east, sources said. Full story >> Youth disappeared in Ilavalai, parents complain to NESOHR[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 15:11 GMT] Unknown persons who came with Sri Lanka Army soldiers abuducted a boy, Rajeevmohan, in Ilavalai, 13 km north of Jaffna town Monday night. NE Secretariat on Human Rights, NESOHR, has filed a Case Report on the disappearence with an eyewitness account from the mother of the disappeared youth. Full story >> US wants cost of return to war to be high[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 12:43 GMT] The United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Lunstead, told a business gathering in Colombo on Monday that the US wanted the "cost of a return to war to be high," in Sri Lanka. Resisting from accusing the Sri Lankan Armed forces in the escalation of the recent viloence, the US Ambassador, in his address to the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka, said that the US wanted it to be clear, if the Tigers chose to "abandon peace," they will face a "stronger, more capable and more determined" Sri Lankan military.Full story >> Jaffna school girl abducted by SLA soldiers[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 12:36 GMT] A school girl, yet to be identified, was forcefully taken away by four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers when she was walking home along PaalPannai Road (Milk farm Road) from school between Kondavil and Thirunelvely junctions in Jaffna at 2 p.m. Tuesday, residents of the area who witnessed the incident said.Full story >> Students graduate from Kilinochchi English Language College[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 12:01 GMT]Second batch of twenty three students who completed the Diploma course at the Kilinochchi English Language College were awarded graduation certifications by Head of LTTE Political Wing, S P Thamilchelvan in a ceremony held at the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization's (TRO's) secretariat Monday 10 a.m., sources said. Full story >> Two SLA soldiers injured in Punanai attack[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 11:37 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured Tuesday morning 8.30 a.m. when unknown gunmen ambushed a SLA foot patrol at Punanai in Valaichenai along the Batticaloa-Polannaruwa highwat at the 18th mile post, police sources said. Full story >> Red Cross constructs national disaster management centre[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 02:05 GMT]The Red Cross Movement has pledged to construct 15,000 houses to the tsunami affected families and the reconstruction is ongoing in districts destroyed by the natural disaster in the island, said Mr.S.H.Nimal Kumar, National Secretary of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, who was elected to chair the Disaster Management and Relief Committee of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescents Societies at its general assembly held in Seoul, South Korea, recently. Full story >> Gnanakone to sue Sri Lanka’s Defense Ministry, IGP[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 20:54 GMT]Mr. Charles Gnanakone, an Australian citizen who was arrested while in Colombo and detained by the Colombo Crimes Division of the Sri Lanka Police in connection with the murder of Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar, before being released by an order of the Court of Appeal, has given notice through his lawyer to the Defense Secretary and the Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka, that he intends to sue them for millions of rupees in damages for unlawful arrest and detention, legal sources said. Full story >> Media associations to hold demonstration against harassment[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 20:28 GMT]The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum and Media Employees Trade Union Federation have decided to hold a demonstration in front of the Fort Railway Station in Colombo Thursday evening against the security forces for harassing Tamil media persons and media institutions using the Emergency Regulations, sources said Full story >> SLA attack on LTTE sentry said repulsed[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 18:54 GMT]The deep penetration unit of the Sri Lanka Army, backed by paramilitary groups, entered the no-man zone in Vavunatheevu and attacked the LTTE sentries in the area at 7:30 p.m. Monday night, but the LTTE returned fire and the attackers withdrew, LTTE sources in Batticaloa said, quoting Mr. Thayamohan, the political head of the LTTE for Batticaloa-Amparai. Full story >> Divers yet to locate missing SLN sailors[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 13:03 GMT]700 meters depth of the sea near the place of explosion and absence of debris from the dissappeared Dvora have hampered Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) divers from locating the remains of missing thirteen SLN soldiers from the missing Dvora, sources close to the recovery operations in Trincomalee said. Vice Admiral Vasantha Karanagoda, SLN Commander was in Trincomalee soon after the explosion to organize the recovery, SLN sources said. Full story >> Youth shot dead in Jaffna[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 12:09 GMT]Pancharatnam Pranavan, 24, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in front of a video store located in Aadiyapatham Road that links Thirunieveli and Kalviyankadu near Jaffna town Monday at 2 p.m., sources in Jaffna said. Pranavan was followed by the gunmen while he was on his way to obtain copies of video tapes. Full story >> Maize vendor shot, injured in Akkaraipattu[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 11:42 GMT]Mr Ratnam Karunakaran, 32, also known as Sinappodiyan, was shot and seriously injured by unknown gunmen on Monday evening 3.30 p.m. at Piscal Junction, a predominantly muslim area in Akkaraipattu along the Akkaraipattu-Kalmunai main Road. Karunakaran was selling maize at the time gunmen shot him, sources said. Full story >> SL President meets Co-Chairs, World Bank Director[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 11:15 GMT] Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse met with Ambassadors of Co-chairs of Tokyo Donor Conference at the President's office on Monday. Separately, Mr Dhanendrakumar, World Bank's Executive Director for Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bhutan made a courtesy call on the SL President Monday, parliamentary sources in Colombo saidFull story >> FMM condemns SLA searches of Jaffna press[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 11:01 GMT]Free Media Movement (FMM) in a press released issued Monday in Colombo condemned the cordon and search of the office of Jaffna Tamil daily Yal Thinnakkural on Friday by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and urged the "authorities to look in these complains without delay and instruct security forces to respect freedom of information rights of all and journalist right to cover all issues of public interest." Full story >> SLA soldier, two civilians killed in Muttur[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 10:12 GMT]A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed in a grenade attack on a sentry post at 58th milepost in Killiveddy area in Muttur division, south of Trincomalee, around 9 p.m., Sunday. Two civilians were killed when the soldiers retaliated, residents of the area said. SLA authorities, however, claimed that the men killed were members of the Liberation Tigers and that they have recovered a firearms from them. Full story >> Abducted men found dead in Vavuniya[TamilNet, Monday, 09 January 2006, 06:48 GMT]The bodies of two men who were abducted by unidenfied persons, Sunday night were found with gun shot injuries at Skanthapuram cemetary, 6 km. southwest of Vavuniya, Monday morning, police said. Meanwhile, according to civilian sources in Vavuiya, the two victims were believed to be Sri Lankan Intelligence personnel, Ajith and Suresh, who worked at Omanthai checkpoint of the Sri Lanka Army. Full story >> More demonstrations against Trinco students' murders[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 19:35 GMT]Two demonstrations were held separately in the Liberation Tigers-held Muttur east and Eachchilampathu divisions Thursday and Friday, condemning the brutal killings of five Tamil students in Trincomalee town, allegedly by Sri Lanka armed forces last week. The Muttur east Tamil Students Forum and Verugal Tamil Students Forum organized these events. A large number of students, parents and civilians participated, sources said. Full story >> SL Navy orders Trinco residents to hoist white flags[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 18:51 GMT]Several Tamil residents of Trincomalee and its suburbs Sunday complained to civil right leaders and parliamentarians that soldiers of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) manning checkpoints in the eastern port town are harassing them to hoist white flags to observe mourning for the SNL personnel who died in the Dvora gunboat blast, sources said. Full story >> Three SLA soldiers injured in Mutur grenade attack[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 14:29 GMT]Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were seriously injured when unknown gunmen hurled grenade at their truck in Mutur, Pachchanoor at 7.20 p.m. Sunday, sources said. The injured soldiers have been taken to Trincomalee General Hospital, medical sources said. Full story >> Seven detained over Point Pedro claymore attack[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 13:33 GMT]Seven residents of different Point Pedro suburbs who disappeared after being arrested by the Sri Lanka security after the Claymore ambush on a Sri Lanka Army convoy near the Regional Bus Depot, south of Point Pedro town which killed twelve Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers are found to be detained in Point Pedro Police station, security sources said. Mr.Rohitha Priyatharsana, Jaffna regional co-ordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) visited the detainees Sunday, according to civil society sources. Full story >> White Pigeon delegates meet EU parliamentarian[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 13:18 GMT]Executive Director of Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), K.P. Regi, Chairman of White Pigeon, Dr N S Moorthy, and Evelyn Rodriguez, a volunteer at White Pigeon met with Jean Lambert Member of European Parliament (MEP). at her offices in London Friday, sources in UK said. Full story >> SLA informant shot dead in Point Pedro[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 12:52 GMT]Sinnarasa Rasaiah, 47, from Vinayaga Mudaliyar (VM) Road in Point Pedro town, and owner of a bakery, was shot and killed at 3.30 p.m. Sunday by unknown gunmen who forced entry into the bakery located within 100 meters of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) 52-4 Brigade Head Quarters within the High Security Zone (HSZ) encompassing the Point-Pedro harbour, sources said. Residents allege that Rasaiah was a military informant. Full story >> Two SLA soldiers injured in Kopay grenade attack[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 12:30 GMT]Unknown gunmen riding in a motorbike hurled grenades at a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) foot patrol near the Sub office of Valigamam east Pradeshya sabha building along the Jaffna Point Pedro road in Kopay at 1.15 p.m. injuring two soldiers, sources in Jaffna said. Military sources said that the condition of one of the soldiers remains serious. Full story >> Personal vendetta behind Valaichenai grenade attacks[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 12:18 GMT]Grenade attack damaged two different houses belonging to Muslims on Saturday night at Meera Odai, Valaichenai in Batticaloa. The houses were located in Bathuriya Nagar and Mancholai in Meera Odai, sources said. Valaichenai Police said a Muslim armed group was involved in the incidents and personal feud was behind the attacks. Full story >> Man shot dead by SLA in Eravur[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 12:11 GMT]Kandasamy Shanmuganathan, 31, a civilian, was shot dead by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m. in Eravur Vantharumoolai in Batticaloa. The incident took place in front of the Pathini Amman Temple iin Thevapuram sources said. SLA said they killed the man in self-defence when he tried to attack them, but the residents of the area said that Mr Shanmuganathan was on his way to buy provisions in a shop when he was killed. Full story >> Tamil Resurgence Convention to be held in Muttur east[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 12:08 GMT]Tamil Resurgence Convention (TRC) is to be held on January 10 evening at Kadatkaraichchenai, a village in the LTTE held Muttur east. This is the first convention to be held in the New Year 2006 in the northeast. The main objective of the TRC is to seek the international community to recognize the self-determination rights of the Tamil-speaking people in the northeast province, organizers said. Full story >> STF fired at students in Trinco- paper[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 01:39 GMT] The execution style killing of five Tamil students, all under 20 years of age, on Monday at Dock Yard Road in Trincomalee town, was allegedly carried out by “a team of Police Special Task Force (STF) commandos,” said the Situation Report column of Sunday Times in its 8th January Sunday edition. The paper further said the deployment of the STF was ordered by “a retired police official who has now been named as an advisor in the Defence Ministry,” and the order was issued during the period “when Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse was away in India accompanying his brother, President Mahinda Rajapakse.”Full story >> SLTMA demands protection for Tamil media persons[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 January 2006, 00:24 GMT]The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) has requested the Media Minister Mr.Anura Priyadarshana Yapa to take immediate steps to stop harassment of Tamil media institutions and Tamil media persons by government armed forces. SLTMA in its letter to the Media Minister listed several incidents where members of armed forces have subjected Tamil media persons and institutions with unwanted inquiries and harassment, sources said. Full story >> Doyenne of Hindu scholars, Thangamma Appakuti, celebrates 81st birthday[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 15:14 GMT] The eighty first birthday celebrations of Ms Thangamma Appakuti, the endeared savant of Tamil and Hindu culture, was celebrated Saturday 12.00 noon in a simple ceremony held at Tellipalai Thurkai Amman Temple Cultural Hall, sources from Jaffna said. Dr K Sivalingarajah, K Thevarajah and Dr S Nithiananthan from Jaffna University and many other well wishers were present at the ceremony.Full story >> CTTU demands withdrawal of SLA troops from Trinco town[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 14:57 GMT]The Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU) has requested Sri Lanka's President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse to order an impartial inquiry into the execution-style killing of Tamil students in Trincomalee, and to the bring the culprits responsible for the crime before the Court of Law. The CTTU also urged the President to withdraw State armed forces deployed within the fifty meter zone of schools, hospitals, places of worships and public places in the Trincomalee town immediately and areas where civilians live in large numbers, CTTU sources said. Full story >> Explosives found in bus, Murunkan Police detains driver, passengers[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 14:49 GMT]The Murunkan Police on Friday morning around 4.40 a.m. detected explosives in a Mannar bound bus that left Colombo Thursday night and arrested five persons including the driver and the conductor of the bus. The explosives were discovered during an inspection at the checkpoint in Kaddaiadampan, a village in the Mannar, Police said. The Murunkan Police served three-day detention order on the driver who is a Sinhalese, conductor and three passengers for further investigation, legal sources said. Full story >> Grenade attack in Point Pedro[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 13:01 GMT]Unknown assailants riding a motorbike hurled a grenade at the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) checkpoint in Navalady in Alvai, Point-Pedro at 1.15 p.m. Saturday, sources said. Unconfirmed reports said two SLA soldiers were injured in the attack. SLA sources did not confirm any injuries in the explosion. During the indiscriminate firing by the SLA troops following the attack, Sivaraja Jesipan, 13, a school boy walking close to the sentry, was seriously injured, sources said. Full story >> TamilNadu parties ready to lend support to Tamil struggle- Ramdoss[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 12:21 GMT] "While the Tamil National struggle in Sri Lanka has assumed new dimensions in its progress towards its goal, parties in Tamil Nadu are spiritually bound to provide unflinching support to Eelam Tamils. We are mobilizing our supporters in India to show our strength and unequivocally express our support," said Leader of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Dr Ramdoss, when Sri Lanka's Leader of Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF), Periyasamy Chandrasekaran met him Saturday. Mr Chandraseakaran is currently on a two week long visit to Tamil Nadu to meet political leaders sympathetic to Tamil struggle, media co-ordinator for UPF in Colombo, Prabha, said.Full story >> SL Police arrests 30 Tamil youths in Puttalam[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 06:25 GMT]More than 100 police officers cordoned and searched Puttalam Town area Friday between 7 to 9 p.m. and arrested 30 Tamils including two women, sources in Puttalam said. Arrested youths are being detained in Puttalam Police station. Full story >> TRO's Travelling photo exhibit to continue into 2006[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 06:21 GMT] Labelled "The healing continues..," the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), an NGO registered with the Government of Sri Lanka working exclusively in the NorthEast, in conjunction with the international TRO offices, has held nineteen exhibitions in fourteen countries displaying photographs of emergency response to the Tsunami, its devastation and long term reconstruction, rehabilitation projects, TRO sources said. Exhibitions in additional cities will take place thorughout 2006, sources added.Full story >> Two LTTE cadres die in SLA's claymore attack in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 05:58 GMT]The Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Thambalakamam jungle has killed two cadres of Liberation Tigers Friday early morning around 2 a.m in a claymore mine attack. The attack took place inside the LTTE held area, Elilan, Political Head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for Trincomalee district, told TamilNet Saturday. Full story >> LTTE supporter shot dead in Point Pedro[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 05:46 GMT]Body of Iyathurai Baskeran, 27, displaced from Kudathanai Vadamaradchy East was discovered in Katkovalam, a coastal village south of Point Pedro, at 11.30 p.m. Friday with gunshot wounds, sources from Point Pedro said. Full story >> Sri Lanka's President meets TNA delegation[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 05:31 GMT]Sri Lanka's President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse and a delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led by its parliamentary group leader Mr.R.Sampanthan began Saturday around 11 a.m. at Temple Trees at the invitation of the SL President, parliamentary sources in Colombo said. The discussion currently is in progress, government sources said. Full story >> General shut down cripples Trincomalee fourth day[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 05:25 GMT]Normal life in Trincomalee town and its suburbs was completely paralyzed Saturday due to a general shut down called by the Tamil Resurgence Forum (TRF) which renewed its call for continued general shut down until the withdrawal of armed forces from the east port town soon after the burial of five slain Tamil students Thursday afternoon. Full story >> Senior PLOTE cadre shot, injured in Jaffna[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 05:17 GMT]A senior member of Peoples Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Kennedy, was shot and seriously injured by two unknown gunmen at the bicycle park in front of Jaffna Teaching Hospital at 10.15 a.m. Saturday, sources in Jaffna said. He was immediately admitted to the emergency operating unit of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital with life threatening gunshot injuries, medical sources said. Full story >> Halo Trust to resume Jaffna demining operations Monday[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 January 2006, 02:06 GMT]Non-Governmental Organization, Halo trust, which suspended its demining operations in Jaffna following the theft of two of their vehicles, announced Friday that it will be resuming its operations from Monday, 9 January, officials of the NGO said. Full story >> SLN Dvora reported missing[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 22:15 GMT]A Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Dvora fast attack craft has been reported missing off the coast of Trincomalee, naval sources said. A big explosion was heard off the coast of Foul Point around 2.30 a.m. Saturday, police in the eastern port town said. A statement issused by the Sri Lanka Army said two survivors of the crew have been found and thirteen are still missing and the Dvora has sunk without any traces. Liberation Tigers' media spokesperson Daya Master, speaking to TamilNet from Kilinochchi, said that LTTE has no involvement in the explosion. Full story >> SLA arrests 10 youths in Mannar[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 18:22 GMT]Ten youths, nine tamils and a muslim, were arrested in Uppukulam, in the northwestern district of Mannar during a joint house-to-house search by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police, Friday. The operation began around 6.30 a.m. and lasted till noon, sources said. Full story >> Trincomalee suburbs tensed as SLA builds new sentry[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 15:59 GMT]Tension prevails in Anpuvallipuram and Abeyapura, suburbs of the Trincomalee town located off about 2 km northwest along Trincomalee-Kandy highway following attempts by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to set up a new sentry since Friday afternoon. Tamils live in Anpuvallipuram and Sinhalese reside in the adjoining suburb Abeyapura. The new sentry near the junction, which leads to Anpuvallipuram has drawn the opposition of Tamil families, civil sources said. Full story >> Protest in Colombo over indiscriminate arrests of Tamils[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 12:40 GMT] Hundreds of protesters demonstrated Friday afternoon 3 p.m.at the Five Lamp junction in Colombo city against indiscriminate arrests and harassment of Tamil people in Colombo under the Emergency Regulations. Several organizations and Sinhala and Tamil political party leaders participated in this jointly organized event, sources said. Full story >> Two killings in Jaffna[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 12:08 GMT]Two Tamil youths were killed in two different incidents in Vadamaradchy and Valigamam area Thursday night. Thabendran Mathan, 28, a long term employee at the Point Pedro Urban Council was abducted from his home by unknown men and was stabbed to death Thursday night, sources in Jaffna said. The body was discovered along Thumpalai Road near 2nd Cross Street, 1 km east of Point Pedro town with severe cut wounds, sources said. Full story >> SLA searches Thinakkural office amid grenade attacks in Jaffna[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 11:41 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Friday 2.45 p.m. cordoned off and searched the offices of Jaffna daily Yarl Thinakkural amidst escalating incidents of harassment of Jaffna media by the SLA soldiers, sources said. SLA conducted searches inside the building including editorial section, press section, administrative section and advertisement section, media sources said. Full story >> SL Foreign Minister meets US Secretary of State Rice[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 11:33 GMT]"Minister Samaraweera, who noted that Sri Lanka was Asia’s oldest democracy, thanked the US Government for the pro-active role it had played to support the peace process. He stressed that the solution the Government of Sri Lanka envisaged is one that is based on democracy, human rights and pluralism," a press release issued by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington said, referring to a meeting of Minister Samaraweera with US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice Thursday. Full story >> Claymore defused in Eravur[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 11:23 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) bomb squad Friday 1 p.m. defused a claymore mine found in Puthukudiyiruppu in Eravur along Batticaloa-Valaichenai highway at Thuraichsamy junction, security sources said. The Road Monitoring Patrol of the SLA located the Remote controlled bomb was buried along the roadside. Full story >> Batticaloa woman found knifed to death[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 11:14 GMT]Ms Mahenthiran Kumutha, 28, a resident of Kali Kovil Road, Sinna Urany in Batticaloa was found dead with severe wounds to her neck near Sinna Urany Police post, about 300 meters from New Boundary Road Batticaloa town, sources said. The victim worked as a clerk in the Irrigation Department. Full story >> Educator missing from Nelliady HSZ[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 01:24 GMT]Rasaratnam Thevachandran, 29, a father of two children and Director of a popular private educational institute in Nelliady, 4km south west of Point Pedro town, has gone missing from Tuesday, 03 January, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> SLN bans fishing east, west of KKS harbor[TamilNet, Friday, 06 January 2006, 00:09 GMT]Sri Lanka Security Forces have banned fishing on seas east and west of Kankesanthurai Harbor High Security Zone (HSZ), stripping nearly six hundred fisher families from their livelihood, said K Thavaratnam, president of Jaffna District Consortium of Fisheries Unions. According to Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) officials the ban will be lifted only when violents incidents subside and Jaffna district returns to normalcy, Mr Thavaratnam further said. Full story >> One youth killed, three injured in Valaichenai grenade attack[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 16:42 GMT]Mr Kunam Thanus, 22, was killed and three others seriously injured when unknown gunmen hurled a grenade and fired gunshots at the youths Thursday night at 8 p.m. near a tailor shop in Kanagaratnam Road, Valaichenai, sources from Batticaloa said. Full story >> Grenade attack injures woman in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 16:28 GMT]A Sinhala woman was injured when unidentified men threw a grenade at a sentry point located near the Abeyapura Sinhalese settlement near Trincomalee town, Thursday night, sources in Trincomalee said. Full story >> Rights Group faults AG for Chemmani prosecution delays[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 12:10 GMT]Noting that "six years after the exhumation of the graves however, the police were only able to tell the court that as there have been no instructions forthcoming from the attorney general’s department, they have been unable to proceed with the case," the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), in a press release issued Thursday, accused the Attorney General's Department of "failing in its duties promptly and effectively prosecute perpetrators of serious crimes," and urged the AG's Department to "immediately initiate effective legal proceedings on the basis of the Chemmani exhumation." Full story >> Man without National ID card, shot dead by SLA[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 11:54 GMT]Rasaratnam Kuganenthiran, 24, also called Sinnathamby, a resident of Puthukkulam in Kiran Batticaloa was shot dead by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Thursday 9.30 a.m. in front of the offices of a local NGO, Thadagam, on the Korakallimadu Batticaloa-Valaichenai Highway, sources in Batticaloa said. Sources said the Mr Kuganenthiran did not have the National Identity card in his possession. Full story >> Indian Executive shot dead in Colombo[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 11:25 GMT]Mr Atmakuru Prasad, 25, from Hydrabad in Andhra Province in India was shot dead by unknown gunmen at 9.30 p.m. Wednesday near Alfred Place in Dehiwela Colombo, sources said. Mr Prashad was returning to his house after finishing his dinner at a Galle Road hotel when he was shot. Full story >> Norway drops EU's terror list[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 10:42 GMT]The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said Norway's continued alignment with the EU list of banned individuals and organisations could cause difficulties for Norway in its role as "neutral facilitator in certain peace processes" stating that Norway will no longer align itself with any other list than that published by the UN. The statement further said that Norway wanted to intensify its involvement in various peace processes, with the recognition of the international community including the EU and the US, but wanted to avoid a situation that makes it difficult for Norway to have contact with any of the parties to a conflict. Full story >> Large crowd partake in students funeral procession in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 09:33 GMT] Thousands of residents of all walks of life thronged the playgrounds of the Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College Thursday morning and paid their last respects to the slain five Tamil students. These students were allegedly shot dead by members of Sri Lankan armed forces while enjoying the sea breeze with other friends on the second day evening of the new year 2006 close to the roundabout junction where a Gandhi statue is erected. Bodies of the five students were brought to college playgrounds from their respective houses from Thursday morning after religious rites.Full story >> Claymore attack on SLA tractor in Vavuniya, 2 wounded[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 07:23 GMT]Two SLA soldiers were wounded in a Claymore attack on a SLA tractor at Thevakulam, near Ichankulam northwest of Vavuniya around 9:45 a.m. Thursday. One SLA sergeant with serious wounds was rushed to Vavuniya Hospital, Police said. Seven soldiers were traveling in the tractor. Full story >> Security strengthened for students' funeral, hartal relaxed[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 01:52 GMT]Trincomalee residents in large numbers Wednesday paid their last respects to the five Tamil students killed Tuesday whose bodies were kept in their respective houses located in the east port town, sources in Trincomalee said. The students, all under the age of 20, were shot dead execution style by members of the Sri Lanka State armed forces Tuesday night at 7.50 p.m. in front of the Trincomalee Dutch Bay sea beach when they had gathered at the roundabout to spend the evening there. Full story >> Postponing NE local elections requires new legislation[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 01:07 GMT]Mr.Dayananda Dissanayake, Commissioner of Elections said Tuesday that he has no authority to postpone the elections to the local authorities in the North and East. Only District Returning Officers are empowered to change dates of holding local elections, Mr Dissanayake said at a press briefing held Tuesday at the auditorium of the Department of Elections. Full story >> SLA's Deep Penetration Unit responsible for Claymore attack - LTTE[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 January 2006, 13:40 GMT]LTTE's Political Head of Mannar District, Mr. Iniyavan, said Wednesday that there were two Claymore mines bound to a tree and wired to a triggering device operated a few meters away from the spot where LTTE Vavuniya West Political Co-ordinatar Major Jeyanthan was killed with a civilian supporter riding in a motorbike Tuesday. "A deep penetration unit of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is known to operate from the Iranai Illuppaikulam SLA base," Iniyavan told TamilNet after showing the site to Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) members Wednesday morning. The Claymore explosion that claimed the life of Maj. Jeyanthan, took place 4 km near Chinnavalayankattu, 47 km east of Mannar. Full story >> Trincomalee students died of gunshot wounds- Medical Report[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 January 2006, 11:47 GMT]Dr.Gamini Gunatunge, Judicial Medical Officer who held the postmortem examination held in the Trincomalee general hospital on the bodies of five Tamil youths killed on Tuesday by the State armed forces in Trincomalee sea beach area, ruled that the students died due to gunshot injuries. The JMO's report has been handed over to the Trincomalee Magistrate's Court. Full story >> SLA fire seriously injures two Jaffna youths[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 January 2006, 11:37 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers indiscriminately fired at youths near Ainthusanthi (Five Junction) in the outer perimeter area of Jaffna town Wednesday 11.45 p.m. seriously injuring Rasaratnam Kandeepan, 25, from Urumpirai west, and Poolokasundaram Selvakrishnar, 30, from Manvetty Navanthurai, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Man shot dead in Kayts[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 January 2006, 11:24 GMT]Kankesan Sivanesan, 30, was shot dead by unknown gunmen at 7.30 p.m. Tuesday in front of his house near Hospital Road, Kayts. Residents said that Sivanesan earlier worked for the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and later had joined the Liberation Tigers. Full story >> Wife dead, Husband injured in gunfire in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 January 2006, 02:15 GMT]Mrs Sepamalai Victoria, 32, was killed and her husband Vadivel Manokaran, 40, was injured in gunfire Tuesday night at 8.30 p.m. in Sethukkuda Batticaloa. The couple was talking in front of their house when the incident happened. The exact cause of gunfire and the motive behind the shooting is yet to be established, Police said. Full story >> NESOHR documents Civilian Impact of war, Forced Evictions[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 January 2006, 01:56 GMT] Historical details of forced evictions of Tamils by the Governments of Sri Lanka and statistical details on the impact of war on Tamil civilians are detailed in two documents released Monday by the NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESoHR) located in Karadippoku junction in Kilinochchi.Full story >> Abducted PLOTE cadre's body found in Kepitikollawa[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 January 2006, 01:01 GMT]The body of Krishnasamy Thirunavukarsu, 26, also called Mani, a paramilitary operative of the People's Liberation Organisation of Thamil Eelam (PLOTE) who was abducted from his home in Veppankulam in Vavuniya Saturday, was found Wednesday morning at the Sinhala border village of Attambusgasgoda located 15 km southeast of Vavuniya town, Kepitigollawa Police said. Full story >> Tamil Americans urge Co-chairs to promote "equal partnership for peace”[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 January 2006, 00:35 GMT]A group of US organizations representing Tamil Americans, in a letter sent to Co-chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference Monday, welcomed the Co-chairs' call for an immediate meeting of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers, and urged the Co-chairs to make clear to both sides that attacks on civilians will not be tolerated, ask military to withdraw from civilians homes and public buildings and to threaten SL Government with sanctions if steps are not taken to disarm paramilitaries. Full story >> Tamil businessman succumbs to gunshot wounds[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 18:39 GMT]Mr Balenthiran, a Tamil businessman and father of two children, who was shot and seriously injured by unknown gunmen on Tuesday night 10.30 p.m. at Wellawatta in Colombo, succumbed to his injuries at 2.50 a.m. Wednesday in Colombo National Hospital, medical source said. He was shot near the Rolex Bakery. He was initially rushed to the Kalubowila Hospital in critical condition and was later transferred to Colombo General Hospital, medical sources said. Full story >> Mannar court remands Tamil youth[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 18:26 GMT]Mannar Magistrate Mr.N.M.M.Abdulla Tuesday ordered remand till January 4 for a Tamil youth, a resident of Mallawarayan-Kaddaiadampan in Mannar when Murunkan Police produced him on a report that he was taken into custody for possessing a number plate of the LTTE organization, legal sources said. Full story >> Civil group calls for general shut down, demands SLA vacate Trinco town[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 17:36 GMT]Trincomalee Tamil Resurgence Forum has called for a general shut down and to bring civil administration in the eastern port city to a standstill until the removal of all Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentries and checkpoints. The orgainzers is also demanding the withdrawal of Sri Lanka armed forces from Trincomalee town. In a statement released Tuesday the Resurgence Forum has condemned the killing of Tamil students on Tuesday by Sri Lankan government armed forces. Full story >> Trinco Students' funeral to be held Thursday[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 17:10 GMT]Funerals of the five Tamil students killed by Sri Lanka armed forces on Tuesday will take place together on Thursday morning in the Trincomalee Hindu Cemetery. Bodies of the students are now kept in their respective houses for Trincomalee residents to pay last respects. The bodies will be brought to Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College on Thursday morning around 9 a.m., sources said. Full story >> TNA accuses Security forces of killing Tamil youth in Trinco[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 15:53 GMT]The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Tuesday charged that the State armed forces have killed five Tamil youths in Trincomalee town and injured two others. "The five youths killed came by their death as a result of gunshot injuries. The terror of the State's armed forces has been unleashed against the Tamil people. It would be futile for the State to think that the Tamil people can be suppressed in this way," TNA said in its press release issued Tuesday. Full story >> SL Navy blocks fishermen from entering Northern Seas - Jaffna MP[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 15:06 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel in Valvettithurai and Polikandy coastal areas in Jaffna have blocked fishermen from fishing for the past 3 days, Jaffna District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament Mr.Selvarajah Gajendran told TamilNet Tuesday. The fishermen who are dependent on daily income from fishing for their livelihood were blocked also from moving their boats to other parts of the Jaffna peninsula, the MP said. Full story >> LTTE official, civilian killed in Claymore attack[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 12:43 GMT] Major Jeyanthan, Liberation Tigers Vavuniya West area political head and a civilian, Mr. Vinotharan Thevarasa, were killed when a Claymore mine exploded hitting the motorbike in which they were riding in LTTE controlled area at Chinnavalaiyankattu, 45 km east of Mannar town, LTTE sources said. The Claymore mine was allegedly exploded by a group of Sri Lankan soldiers around 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, according to the sources. Full story >> Free Tamil women from fear of rape- Sithamparanathan[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 11:33 GMT]International community should condemn the acts of sexual harassment and rape by the Sri Lanka security forces on Tamil women and urge the Sri Lanka Government to vacate the military from Jaffna, said Ms Pathmini Sithamparanathan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Jaffna and a social activist, in a letter sent Tuesday to Ambassadors of Co-chairs and other European countries in Colombo. Full story >> Chief Hindu priest shot dead in Kiran[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 11:12 GMT]Sellathamby Visagaratnam, 55, Chief priest at the Santhively Kannagi Amman temple was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Monday night at 10-30 pm at Alaiyadychcholai in Kiran Valaichenai, sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> Two SLA soldiers wounded in grenade attack in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 10:51 GMT]Unidentified attackers riding in a motorbike lobbed a grenade on Sri Lanka Army troopers seriously wounding two soldiers who were on duty at a checkpost on Bar Road in Batticaloa town, near Batticaloa Railway station. The attack took place around 01:45 p.m. Tuesday, Police said. Full story >> Trinco Magistrate orders release of bodies after postmortem[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 09:02 GMT]Mr.V.Ramakamalan, Trincomalee Magistrate Tuesday ordered postmortem examination on the bodies of five students who were killed in front of the Dutch Bay sea beach in the eastern port town, Monday night around 7.50 p.m. The students were shot and killed by unidentified armed men, civil rights sources said. Earlier reports said they were killed in a grenade blast. Full story >> Canadians mourn loss of Pararajasingham[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 06:41 GMT] Canada’s Minister of Defence and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bill Graham, together with four parliamentarians from the Canadian Government, five representatives from the opposition and a number of Canadian Human Rights and Peace activists joined the expatriate Tamil community in Toronto, on Monday, to mourn and pay tribute to "Mamanithar" Joseph Pararajasingam, the senior Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian who was slain at Batticaloa St. Mary's Church on Christmas Day. "Joseph Pararajasingham was a man of peace, but he also a man of steely determination, of great courage, a man who was willing to risk his life for his people," the Canadian Defence Minister said in his tribute.Full story >> Two SLA soldiers shot, wounded in Jaffna[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 06:27 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers, including a lieutenant were wounded when two unidentified bicycle-riding gunmen shot at them at Kasthuriyar - Hospital Road junction of Jaffna town, around 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, sources in the northern town said. Full story >> Trincomalee in shock over killing of students[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 04:29 GMT] Trincomalee residents are shocked and angered over the killing of five old students of Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College in a grenade attack by unidentified men Monday night at about 7.50 p.m. Two old students, one from Sri Koneswara Hindu College and another from St.Joseoh’s College in Trincomalee are warded in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Trincomalee general hospital. All the dead and injured are identified as Tamils and below the age of 20 years. Two of the dead students have gained university admission for the current academic year, police sources said.Full story >> Pararajasingham was at peace with his life's work- Balakumaran[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 00:01 GMT] “The murder of rights advocates in churches and holy sanctuaries is a historical phenomenon. From El Salvador’s Archbishop Oscar Romero to our own Joseph Pararajasingam, their lives did not end with death. On the contrary, they become alive into the collective consciousness of their people for whom they have struggled," said V. Balakumaran, a senior leader of the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) talking during his weekly address to LTTE radio "Pulikalin Kural (Tigers Voice)" Saturday.Full story >> JVP to contest local elections alone[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 17:25 GMT]The politburo of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Marxist Sinhala Nationalist Party, Monday decided to contest the forthcoming elections to local government authorities in Sri Lanka alone and not in alliance with other political parties, political sources said. Full story >> JVP to move no-confidence motion on CWC MP[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 17:20 GMT]The Parliamentary group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Monday decided to move a no-confidence motion on Mr. M.Sachchithanandan, Deputy Chairman of Parliamentary Committees, when the parliament resumes its sittings on January 17, parliamentary sources in Colombo said. JVP accused Mr.Sachchithanandan of violating Sri Lanka's constitution by going to LTTE held Killinochchi to pay homage to the slain parliamentarian Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham. Full story >> Teachers demand release of arrested colleague[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 17:16 GMT]Trainee teachers at the Palaly Teachers Training college boycotted classes Monday demanding the release of fellow trainee Packianathan Kamalakannan who was arrested and being detained by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) following the claymore mine attack in Point Pedro on 27 December when twelve SLA soldiers were killed. Full story >> 8-Lane swimming pool to be built in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 16:43 GMT] Swim Lanka, a Charitable Trust, has laid foundation for the construction of an eight-lane swimming pool at an estimated cost of ten million rupees in Trincomalee esplanade. This will be the first swimming pool to be constructed under "Learn to Swim Campaign," after tsunami disaster. Mr.Sundaram Arumainayagam, Trincomalee Divisional Secretary and the Special Commissioner of the Trincomalee Urban Council (UC) laid the first stone for the project Saturday evening in a forty-perch plot released by the UC from its esplanade, sources said.
Full story >> Two Vadamaradchy women complain of sexual assault by SLA[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 15:50 GMT]Two women from Malusanthi, a village located 3 km southeast of Point Pedro town on the Jaffna Point-Pedro, road registered complaints with the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commision (SLHRC) offices in Jaffna Monday that they were sexually assaulted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers around midnight Sunday, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Five killed, two wounded in Trincomalee grenade attack on civilians[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 14:58 GMT]Unidentified men riding in a three-wheeler lobbed a grenade into a group of people killing five persons and wounding two, on the Dockyard Road in Trincomalee town, Monday night around 7:50 p.m. The victims are yet to be identified, Trincomalee Police said. Full story >> LTTE markspersons compete in New Year competition[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 12:57 GMT] Sharp shooters from Liberation Tigers fighting brigades participated in a shooting competition to mark the New Years day held in an undisclosed shooting range in Vanni supervised by the Northern Region Commander, Col Theepan, and organized by the the LTTE Military Academy Sunday, LTTE media office in Kilinochchi said.Full story >> Dutch minister to visit Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 12:33 GMT] Mrs van der Hoeven, Netherlands Minister of Education, Culture and Science, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from 8-10 January to support projects in education and cultural-corpoeration in tsunami affected areas, said a press release from the Royal Netherlands Embassy issued Monday. Her visits are confined to the South, to Rathgama and Galle Fort, according to the release.
Full story >> Mannar skeletons sent for forensic tests[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 11:45 GMT] Mr.N.M.M.Abdulla, Mannar Magistrate Monday allowed an application by the Mannar Police to send the partially burnt human skeletons recovered on 25 December from a burnt out house in the "100 House Project" for medical examination to Karapitya hospital in Galle district. The skeletons were recovered two days after the claymore mine attack on a bus carrying Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers that took place on December 23 afternoon near the housing project in Pesalai, legal sources said.
Full story >> Mannar youth missing[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 11:35 GMT]Mr.Navaratnam Thiyogu Vasanthakumar, 25, who was taken away by three masked men on the 26 December night has not returned home yet, his wife, Ms Siromi, 23, mother of four year old girl Monday lodged a complaint with the Mannar Citizen Committee, Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC), civil society sources said. Full story >> Civilan shot dead in Eravur[TamilNet, Monday, 02 January 2006, 10:46 GMT]Unidentified gunmen, riding in a white van, shot and killed an owner of an electric workshop at Vantharumoolai, 5 km northwest of Eravur, Police said. The shop owner was at his workshop located on Batticaloa - Valaichenai main road when the gunmen shot and killed the victim with a T-56 rifle around 9:30 a.m. Monday. Full story >> 102 families seek safer areas outside Jaffna, Campus to reopen[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 January 2006, 18:44 GMT]Following escalating violence and disruption to normal life by the activities of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Jaffna district, one hundred and two families have travelled through the Muhamalai checkpoints from Jaffna to safer areas in Vanni and other districts taking their belongings, Political office of the Liberation Tigers in Pallai said Sunday. More than 50 families are from the coastal areas of Vadamaradchy including Valvettiturai according to entries made in the Muhamalai customs offices of the Liberation Tigers. Full story >> LTTE, SLMM meet in Sampoor[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 January 2006, 17:23 GMT]Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sunday at a two-hour discussion held at LTTE district political secretariat in Sampoor at 10 a.m. with Mr. Arthur Tveiten, head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) based in Trincomalee, registered complaints on the violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Sri Lanka security forces now taking place in the district, LTTE sources said. Full story >> Gunmen attack SLA patrol, 2 wounded in Jaffna[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 January 2006, 09:20 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers were wounded when unidentified gunmen lobbed a handgrenade and opened fire at an SLA patrol in Varani, northeast of Jaffna in Thenmaradchi at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The attack took place between Varani market and the SLA's 52-4 Brigade Head Quarters in Varani, SLA sources said. Full story >> PLOTE cadre abducted in Vavuniya[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 January 2006, 05:46 GMT]Krishnasamy Thirunavukarsu, 26, also called Mani, a paramilitary operative of the People's Liberation Organisation of Thamil Eelam (PLOTE), was abducted by unknown persons at 10.30 p.m. Saturday from his home in Veppankulam in Vavuniya, Police sources in Vavuniya said. Reports from Vavuniya said, the intruders announced themselves as Vavuniya Police and when Mr Thirunavukarasu opened the door, he was subdued and driven off in a vehicle. Full story >> Give peace a chance- Jaffna Bishop[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 January 2006, 01:28 GMT] "In the dawning of the new year 2006, the Government of Sri Lanka, Liberation Tigers and all communities must resolve to give peace a chance," said Bishop of Jaffna, Thomas Saundaranayagam, in a new year message delivered Sunday in Jaffna.Full story >>
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