ITAK victory in Trinco proves NorthEast homeland for Tamils- TNA

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 20:19 GMT]
The victory of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) in the election for the Trincomalee Urban Council and Trincomalee Town and Gravets Pradesiya Sabah have strengthened the concept that the NorthEast province is the homeland for Tamil speaking people, said Mr.K.Thurairetnasingham, Trincomalee district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Friday evening after the counting of votes came to a close in the local councils held on Thursday.
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Tamil, Muslim candidates elected to Trincomalee UC

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 20:13 GMT]
No Sinhalese has been elected a member to the Trincomalee Urban Council in the election held Thursday. The newly elected council, which is to start functioning from April 15, will have twelve members- 10 from the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) and 2 from the Independent Group. Of the twelve members nine are Tamil members and three are Muslims. The ITAK fielded fourteen Tamils and two Muslims for the Trincomalee UC. Out of them nine Tamils and a Muslim got elected on preferential votes.
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Fonseka visits Jaffna, daughters arrive for sightseeing tour

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 13:13 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s Army commander, Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka arrived at the Palaly airport Friday morning, was taken to Jaffna Thuraiyappah stadium in a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter and proceeded to meet the commanders at the 51-2 Brigade Head Quarters in Jaffna amid high security, sources in Jaffna said.
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UPFA victory should pave way for progress in peace- TNA

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 12:33 GMT]
"Local electoral rout of Sinhala extremist parties, the marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), and Buddhist monks party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) is a clear mandate to Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse to take immediate steps to move peace process forward. Urgently, the Unitary Constitution and rejection of concepts of Tamil Homeland should be removed from "Mahinda Chintanaya," and replaced with concepts supporting Tamils right to self-determination," said Sivajilingam, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian commenting on the unfolding local election results giving UPFA huge victory and ITAK demonstrating its support base in the East.
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Thanthai Chelva's 108th birthday celebrations held in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 10:59 GMT]
"The dreams of "Thanthai" Chelvanayagam, embodied in the Vaddukkodai resolution, are coming true," said Mavai Senathirajah, Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian in the special ceremony held Friday 9 a.m, commemorating the 108th birth anniversary of Mr. S. J. V. Chelvanayagam in Vavuniya, said sources.
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Two killed in Sri Lanka election violence

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 02:33 GMT]
One person was knifed to death in Weligama at 7.30 p.m., and another was shot to death in Belliatte in Sri Lanka's south at 9.30 p.m., Thursday in election related violence between supporters of ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and opposition United National Party (UNP), sources in Colombo said.
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SLA disallows spouses to meet detained fishermen

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 00:58 GMT]
Sri Lanka security forces refused permission for spouses of three of the five fishermen who were arrested while fishing in seas of Kodiyadi off the coast of Munai, Pt.Pedro on 22 March to see their sons Thursday, legal sources from Jaffna said. The fishermen were accused by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) of engaging in smuggling arms for Liberation Tigers, and are being kept at a detainment facility in Kankesanturai (KKS) with permission from the Secretary of the Defense Ministry.
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Germany assists Jaffna, Kilinochchi Farmers' Organizations

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 00:29 GMT]
The German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ), handed over tractors to Farmers Federation in Jaffna District, said a press release issued by GTZ Thursday. The release added that GTZ, in co-operation with the Ministry for Nation Building and Development, has also dedicated a new school and Pre-School in Thadduvankoddy village in Kilinochchi district, on 1st March.
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Rajapakse begins Pakistan visit

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 22:54 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse begins his official three-day visit to Pakistan Friday. This is his second State visit since he assumed duties as President in November 2005. SL Ministers including Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Susil Premajayanth, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Jeyaraj Fernadopulle, A.L.M Athaullah, Douglas Devananda, Abdul Risath Bathiyutheen and Cegu Issadean will accompany Rajapakse, informed sources said.
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ITAK wins Trincomalee UC, PS, Thirukkovil PS, Alaiyadivembu PS

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 20:24 GMT]
Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK), the Tamil National Alliance party contesting in the local authorities elections, has won all the 9 seats in Thirukkovil and Alaiadivembu Pradeshiya Sabahs and won Karaithivu with 4 seats in Amparai district. The ITAK also won after a long time, both the Trincomalee Urban Council with 10 seats, and Trincomalee Town & Gravets PS with 6 seats. UPFA got 2 seats and UNP 1 seat in Trinco Town & Gravets PS. In the local elections results released at 2 p.m. Friday, the ruling UPFA alliance has won 116 PSs, 7 Municipal Councils (MCs) and 12 Urban Councils (UCs). The JVP has captured only Tissamaharagama, and JHU has only secured a few seats.
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Norway island attack by SLN draws warning from LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 20:04 GMT]
Mr.Elilan, LTTE Trincomalee district political head, informed the Trincomalee head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Mr.Ove Thursday evening in Sampoor that LTTE has the right to movement in seas adjoining LTTE controlled coastal areas and this right does not violate the ceasefire agreement, LTTE sources said.
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"Upsurging People's Force" warns of resuming offensive

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 19:54 GMT]
A press release titled, "Days are numbered for the traitors who sell our Mother land," signed by leaders ofthe "Upsurging People's Force of Jaffna District", was sent to all media in Jaffna Thursday night, sources said.
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HRC activities to cease, Asian Rights body raises alarm

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 12:45 GMT]
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said in a press release issued Thursday that "the real problem facing the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, as well as other commissions that are now without commissioners, is the government's deliberate attempts to place the commissions under its direct control and to discourage the monitoring of government agencies in any form." Meanwhile, Radhika Coomaraswamy, the outgoing chairperson said "Sri Lanka will find it increasingly difficult to defend itself before international treaty bodies if the country does not speedily reactivate the Commission once its members leave on April 3."
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Rajapakse casts vote, turnout less than 60%

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 12:15 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa cast his vote at the local Government polls at the polling centre in Medamulana D.A. Rajapaksa Maha Vidyalaya in Hambantota where his name is registered.
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Grenade explosion damages auto-rickshaw in Kathankudy

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 11:58 GMT]
An auto-rickshaw belonging to a muslim civilian in Kathankudy in Batticaloa was damaged when unknown assailants exploded a grenade under the vehicle at 4.45 a.m., Thursday, sources from Batticaloa said.
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LTTE political office in Arayampathi burnt

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 10:07 GMT]
The Arayampathi political office of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), located in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled area in Kathankudy, Batticaloa, was set on fire Thursaday morning by unidentified persons who had damaged and robbed the things inside the office, said sources from Kathankudy.
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Brisk polling in Amparai local election reported

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 07:04 GMT]
Brisk polling is reported in the elections for the twelve local authorities in the Amparai district, which began Thursday morning at 7 a.m. At noon about fifty percent of voters have registered their franchise. Polling to four Tamil speaking local authorities, Sammanthurai, Thirukovil, Karaitivu and Alaiyadivembu and eight Sinhala local authorities, Amparai UC, and PS of Damana, Dehiyattakendiya, Uhana, Maha Oya, Namal Oya, Padiyattalawa and Laguhala in the Amparai district are in progress, election department officials in the south-eastern district said.
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Polling commences for 266 local councils in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 05:16 GMT]
Polling in about 8829 centers to elect 3624 members to 266 local government authorities comprising 12 municipal councils (MC), 34 urban councils (UC) and 220 pradesiya sabahs (PS) countrywide began Thursday morning at 7 a.m. A total 11,037,763 voters are eligible to cast their franchise to elect their members from about 25,523 candidates fielded by political parties and independent groups.
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Muslim regiment, a calculated attempt to seed disunity- TNA MP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 00:24 GMT]
"President Mahintha Rajapakse's announcement of launching a Muslim Regiment, recruiting Muslim youth, ostensibly for the security of the Eastern province Muslims, is a calculated attempt to drive a wedge between the Eastern province Tamils and Muslims," said S. Jeyanandamoorthy, Tamil National Alliance Batticaloa parlimentarian, Wednesday. "This can be construed only as a deliberate attempt to derail the peace process and to wage war against the Tamils," added Jeyanandamoorthy in his statement.
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Sri Lankans go to local polls Thursday

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 20:42 GMT]
Sri Lankans will elect 4442 members for the 330 local councils in the elections to be held Thursday. In Trincomalee elections are being held after a lapse of 12 years, and in six NorthEast districts- Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya and Batticaloa the elections have been postponed for six months.
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LTTE will participate at Geneva Talks if safe passage guaranteed through Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 16:15 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will participate at the second session of peace negotiations in Geneva during 19-21 April provided that the Government of Sri Lanka and the Norwegian facilitators guarantee the safety and safe passage of the Tamil Tiger negotiating team through Colombo Katunayake international airport. Mr. Anton Balasingham, chief negotiator of the LTTE, said he made this specific request for the security of the negotiating team when he met the Norwegian Development Minister, Mr. Erik Solheim Wednesday at his residence in London.
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Solheim and Hanssen-Bauer to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 13:29 GMT]
Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim who met Liberation Tigers Chief Negotiator Wednesday in London, will be visiting Colombo next Thursday, according to a press release issued by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer will be visiting Sri Lanka on Monday 3 April on a four day visit.
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SL Military Intelligence collects information on trawlers in Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 13:09 GMT]
Intelligence units of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Police (SLP) have asked the Fisheries Ministry authorities to provide a report on the number of fishing trawlers and the capacity of such trawlers owned by fishermen in Pallimunai, Erukalampiddy and Pesalai in the Mannar district, fisheries sources said.
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Dead cranes cause bird-flu scare in Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 11:55 GMT]
Four cranes found dead in the premises of official bungalow of the Government Agent in Mannar Wednesday afternoon have been sent to Kandy to be examined by veterinary surgeons to determine the cause of death, Mannar hospital sources said.
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SLA, paramilitary collusion can lead to talks breakdown- TNA MP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 08:15 GMT]
"Escalation of paramilitary activities assisted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops in Valaichenai villages pose serious threat to peace process," said Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Batticaloa parliamentarian S. Jeyanandamoorthy, in a press release, issued Wednesday. Meanwhile, Mr Ariyanendran, another TNA parliamentarian, accused the SLA troops for assisting the paramilitaries in the cordon and search operation held in Valaichenia Tuesday, and urged the International Community to condemn this act which openly violated the commitments made by the Sri Lanka Government in Geneva talks.
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SLA violates ceasefire agreement in Muttur-LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 02:05 GMT]
The Trincomalee district political secretariat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Tuesday lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that a group of soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in connivance with paramilitaries had unlawfully entered the area and attacked the LTTE camp located in Athiamankerni village in Seruvila division on March 27 night around 7 p.m. SLA soldiers and paramilitaries had fled from the scene when the LTTE cadres successfully retaliated their attack, the complaint said.
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Expel Norway, demands JVP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 01:39 GMT]
"If Norway is not sacked immediately from the peace process, we will amass more than two hundred thousand people in a protest demonstration in front of the Norweigian Embassy," warned Wimal Weerawanse, parliamentarian and propaganda Secretary of marxist Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), at a meeting in Colombo Tuesday evening, sources said. Patriotic National Movement (PNM), an alliance of extreme Sinhala nationalists, organized the meeting at Mahaveli Centre Colombo.
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Hoole to work from outside Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 00:56 GMT]
Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole, recently appointed Vice Chancellor to Jaffna University (JU), announced Tuesday that Prof. A. D. Parameswaran, senior professor of the Medical Faculty JU, has been appointed as Deputy Vice Chancellor to Jaffna University and Professor Rajendra as Head of Vavuniya Campus of the JU, sources said.
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JVP accuses UPFA of attack on party members

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 00:12 GMT]
Mr.Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Sinhala extremist party accused the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) as the force behind the attacks on its party members, in a press conference in Colombo Tuesday, political sources in Colombo said.
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Indian parliamentary delegation visits Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 12:43 GMT]
A group of seven Indian parliamentarians and officials of the Lok Sabha secretariat, led by Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Honorable Sardar Charanjit Singh, arrived in Colombo to participate in a SAARC conference, a press release issued by the Indian Embassy in Colombo said Tuesday.
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TRO inaugurates Children's Home in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 12:26 GMT]
A home for 67 children who lost their parents in the war was opened Tuesday 10 a.m at Arasadithivu by Mr. Christopher, Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), Switzerland branch Director, in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled area in the Batticaloa district, sources said.
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Body with cut injuries found in Kaluwanchikudy well

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 09:57 GMT]
A severely beaten body with cut injuries of a middle aged male was recovered from a well Tuesday morning in the Onthachchimadam housing scheme by Kaluwanchikudy Police, said police sources in Kaluwanchchikudi.
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UAV comes down in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 09:35 GMT]
An unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) used by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) for surveillance and reconnaissance missions crashed down colliding against the television antenna in a private house Tuesday morning at about 10.15 in Poonthodam Maharambaikulam, in Vauniya.
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NECORD funded school buildings opened in Mannar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 08:33 GMT]
Mr.V.Visuvalingam, Mannar Government Agent, Monday declared open three new class room buildings in three Tamil schools in the LTTE held area in the Mannar district. The building were constructed at a cost of about 6.4 million rupees with the funds provided by the North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) programme. Asian Development Bank (ADB) funds the NECORD, sources said.
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NECORD allocates Rs.300m for Vavuniya development

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 08:31 GMT]
In Killinochchi district eleven schools are still functioning with basic facilities in cadjan huts. Educational facilities have to improve if our students are to become skilled workers and intellectuals in a global community which is advancing rapidly in the use of technology," said Mr.T.Lankaneson, Project Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) programme participating as the chief guest at the annual prize giving celebration of the Vavuniya Saivapragasa Ladies College held during the weekend, sources said.
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Floating container explodes injuring Mannar fisherman

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 08:30 GMT]
A fisherman, P.Shanthan Fernando, 42, of Mannar lost his two hands above the wrists when a mystery container he found floating in the Thalvupadu Sea in Mannar Monday afternoon exploded when he tried to open it, Mannar Police said.
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SLA soldiers, paramilitary cadres round up Valaichenai villages

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 06:39 GMT]
More than 150 Sri Lanka Army soldiers and around 50 paramilitary cadres belonging to three various paramilitary groups, Tuesday morning rounded up five villages in Valaichenai. The paramilitary cadres, brought in SLA vehicles around 5:00 a.m., summoned the people to Pechiyamman temple grounds and held a meeting where key operatives of Karuna Group warned the people against supporting the Liberation Tigers. Cadres from the ENDLF paramilitary group and a key operative of the EPDP group attached to the Sri Lanka Army camp in Valaichenai Harbour also took part in the show-down paramilitary operation, villagers said.
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Local election opens fault lines in ruling alliance

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 05:20 GMT]
The ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and its key constituent, Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), are engaged in battle of words to assert electoral dominance in the forthcoming local council elections, and this combined with the recent escalation in attacks against JVP members by UPFA supporters portend dangers of creating permanent fissures in the alliance, political sources in Colombo said.
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Work on NECORD funded Veerachcholai housing project begins

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 02:50 GMT]
War affected families in Veerachcholai, a remote Tamil village in Navithanveli divisional secretariat division in Amparai district are to be provided with permanent houses under a project funded by the North East Community Restoration and Development (NECORD) programme within the next six months. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funds NECORD. Mr.S.L.A.Careem, Deputy Director of NECORD in Amparai district laid the foundation stone for the housing scheme Monday, sources said.
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Fire destroys Chandrasekaran's Colombo residence

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 01:43 GMT]
Nuwara Eliya district parliamentarian and Leader of Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF), Mr Periyasamy Chandrasekaran's residence in Kepitikollawa in Colombo was destroyed by fire at 10.30 p.m. Monday, sources from Colombo said. No one was injured in the incident and the cause of the fire is under investigation, Cinnmon Garden police said.
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SL Minister's Personal Secy shot dead in Polannaruwa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 01:15 GMT]
M.L. Dharmasiri, personal secretary of Sri Lanka's Minister of Agriculture, Environment, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development, Maithripala Sirisena, was shot dead by unknown gunmen at 10.20 p.m. Monday in Aranangawila in Polannaruwa district, Polannaruwa police said.
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SLA, constant threat to security of Jaffna residents– Ilamparithy

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 March 2006, 20:49 GMT]
"Residents from 26% of land area of Jaffna peninsula remain driven out of their homes; Fishermen, trying to recover from the tsunami devastation, are unable to freely pursue their occupation; and the entire student community in Jaffna district is continuously being targetted and victimised by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers," LTTE's Political Head C. Ilamparithy told media Tuesday after meeting the new Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Mr. Ulf Henricsson at the LTTE Jaffna district political secretariat located in Pallai.
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SC holds Helping Hambantota inquiry violates Rajapakse fundamental rights

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 March 2006, 19:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Monday held that the fundamental rights of Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse when he was Prime Minister has been violated by causing an inquiry into a complaint by Mr.Kabir Hashim, United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian regarding Helping Hambantota Fund. Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse filed the FR petition citing Mr.Chandra Fernando, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Lionel Fernando, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Criminal Investigation Department-CID) and Mr.Kabir Hashim, respondents, legal sources said.
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Trinco fishermen protest against SLN ban

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 March 2006, 19:36 GMT]
Hundreds of men, women who are members of four fisheries co-operatives societies with their children held a two-hour protest in front of the Trincomalee office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Monday morning demanding that they should be allowed to fish in Trincomalee Harbor Sea, or given relief to enable them to live without the income from fishing, sources said.
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Muslim Federation demands separate delegation in talks

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 March 2006, 10:46 GMT]
In a statement released at a press briefing held Sunday evening at Sainthamaruthu Jumma Mosques conference hall, the Eastern Province Mosques Federation (EPMF) demanded that a separate Muslim delegation should be included in any future peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources said. The statement also said Muslim community should have the complete freedom to decide on the the composition of such delegation.
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New SLMM chief meets Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 March 2006, 10:36 GMT]
Former Swedish Brigadier and the new Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Mr. Ulf Henricsson, met Head of the LTTE Political Wing, S. P. Tamilchelvan, Monday at 11.45 a.m. at the LTTE Peace Secretariet in Kilinochchi, LTTE sources said.
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Jaffna students protest against SLA intervention on Annai Poopathy event

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 March 2006, 09:23 GMT]
Educational activities in Jaffna peninsula came to stansdstill Monday in a boycott called by Student oragnisations in protest against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intervention inside the Advanced Technological Institute (ATI) and the attack on the students of the ATI last Friday. Around fifteen students were wounded when SLA troopers who entered the ATI premises in Buffel APC vehicle and attacked the students smashing the garlanded picture frame of Annai Poopathy and forcefully removing the Tamileelam flag on Friday. Students organisations in Jaffna has called for protests following the SLA intervention.
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Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Village construction begins in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2006, 21:36 GMT]
The construction work on the 246 permanent houses for tsunami affected Muslim and Tamil families in Iqbal Nagar on Trincomalee-Nilaveli road under the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Village Project funded by the people and Government of Japan has begun with the ceremonial foundation-laying event held Saturday morning.
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SLA troopers' desecration of Hindu Temples condemned

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2006, 19:21 GMT]
The Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Front (EPRLF-Suresh wing) of Mannar district condemned willful descretion of Hindu Temples by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers who enter inside temple buildings and at times inside the inner sanctum with their boots on, sources in Mannar said. Mr.Ratnasigham Kumares, District Secretary of the Mannar EPRLF, urged the Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Mannar to advice the SLA to obey Hindu customs when entering Temples and to withdraw soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army from the Mannar hospital premises, sources said.
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Capturing Trinco UC, key to scuttle de-merger rhetoric- TNA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2006, 18:47 GMT]
"Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) must capture the administration of the Trincomalee Urban Council in the local poll to scuttle the campaign by chauvinist elements for a de-merger of the NorthEast province. Tamil speaking people in Trincomalee district must unequivocally demonstrate that they will not allow any moves of de-merger to materialize," said Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district ITAK parliamentarian addressing an election meeting Sunday evening at Anpuvallipuram, a suburb that comes within the Trincomalee urban council boundary, sources in Trincomalee said.
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SLN Muttur attacks endanger livelihood of fisher families

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2006, 18:42 GMT]
Muttur Divisional Fishermen's Co-operative Societies Union (MDFCSU) said a statement released Sunday in Trincomalee that more than two thousand fisher families have seriously affected economically following attacks by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on the coastal villages in the Muttur east.
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UPFA supporters attack JVP MP in Mapalagama

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2006, 15:43 GMT]
Ruling United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) supporters attacked a JVP rally wounding a JVP parliamentarian, Mr. Thillakaratne Vidanarachchi, around 2:00 p.m. Sunday in Mapalagama in Southern Province, Galle office of the JVP said. The JVP MP was attacked while he was taking part in a rally against earlier attacks on JVP members by UPFA supporters in the run-up to the local elections in the South. Vidanarachi was rushed to Karapitiya hospital. Mapalagama is located 24 km northeast of Galle in the Southern Province.
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LTTE, TNA discuss Vavuniya violence with SLMM

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2006, 13:01 GMT]
Head of Vavuniya LTTE Political Wing, Mr Gnanam, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians, and several Vavuniya civil society representatives held discussions with members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) on escalating violence in Vavuniya targetted against businesspersons, at the LTTE political office in Puliyankulam at 10.30 a.m. Saturday, sources from Vavuniya said.
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SLMM condemns Kalpitti attack, raises paramilitary issue

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2006, 11:50 GMT]
Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in a press release issued in Colombo Sunday condemned the attack on Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Kalpitti, and said that the SLMM is conducting inquiries to establish the details of the attack. While appealing to both parties to "refrain from provocative acts," the SLMM urged the Government of Sri Lanka to "take the [paramilitary] matter seriously and not close their eyes to armed elements that to our knowledge still operating in Government controlled areas."
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Funeral of LTTE cadre held in Alankulam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2006, 07:46 GMT]
Second Lieutenant Kuylan (Selvarajah Kubendrarajah) of the National Auxiliary Force of the LTTE, who was killed in an ambush by paramilitaries, was buried on Friday amid large gathering of people in Alankulam mausoleum, Sampoor, in the presence of Colonel Sornam, Special Commander of the LTTE in Trincomalee and several other commanders and activists, sources from Trincomalee said.
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Fonseka claims credit for successful ‘retaliations’

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2006, 01:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s Army commander, Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, has claimed credit for a number of killings and disappearances of Tamil political activists in during the heightened violence in December and January. The Sunday Times quoted him as telling troops: “we bravely faced the situation and retaliated on those who attacked us. Thereafter we took a proactive role by looking for those who attacked us and retaliated in places like Jaffna and Batticaloa.”
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"Upsurging People's Force" warns of resuming attacks in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 18:39 GMT]
A handbill issued in the name of "Upsurging People's Force" in Batticaloa on Saturday warned that the "UPF" would be forced to resume attacks against the paramilitary groups and the Sri Lankan armed forces if abductions and harassments continued to take place in Batticaloa and Amparai districts.
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Vavuniya Judge orders SLA Officers to appear in Court

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 18:11 GMT]
Following complaints registered with the Vavuniya District Judge M. Ilancheliyan by residents of Sasthrikoolankulam of alleged Sri Lanka Army (SLA) involvement in the killing of a merchant on Friday, the Judge ordered the Commanding Officers of Kalmadu, Pampaimadu and Thandikulam army camps to appear in courts on Monday, legal sources in Vavuniya said.
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New SLMM Head meets Elilan in Sampoor

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 17:39 GMT]
Swedish Brigadier, Ulf Henricsson, who is to assume duties on 1st April as the new head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), met with Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head for the first time Saturday evening, sources in Trincomalee said. The discussions centered on the current ceasefire agreement, Geneva peace talks and future activities related to peace process, sources said.
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Students hoist Tamileelam flag, continue Poopathy celebrations

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 12:39 GMT]
Students at the Kokuvil Technical College located 3 km north of Jaffna town hoisted the Tamileelam flag as part of the Annai Poopathy memorial celebrations Saturday 10.30 a.m., student sources said. Students replaced the picture frame Annai Poopathi that was destroyed by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers who forcefully entered the compound and attacked the students Friday.
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Paramilitary cadres stab Valaichenai man to death

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 12:38 GMT]
A young father of two children was found knifed to death in Valaichenai Saturday noon, Kalkuda Police said. The victim, Mr. Regikanth, was subjected to death threats from paramilitary operatives for some months, according to his relatives. A group of twenty armed men were waiting for Regikanth 300 meters from Valaichenai Police station while he was cycling from Karuvakerni towards his house in Kurinchinagar around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the villagers.
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Provocations and smear campaign cast peace doubts - paper

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 12:36 GMT]
The vitriolic language increasingly being used by the Rajapakse administration against the LTTE and the concerted smear campaign it has launched against the Tigers casts doubts on Sri Lanka’s commitment to the peace process, the Tamil Guardian argues in its latest editorial. “Protagonists who wish to strike peace deals seek to deescalate tensions, build mutual trust and demonstrate goodwill so as to make securing an agreement more likely. But the Rajapakse administration is doing the exact reverse of that,” the expatriate fortnightly said.
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Blast in seas off Kalpitti, 14 feared dead

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 11:22 GMT]
Six persons, on board a boat which was being intercepted by a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) vessel, have blown themselves sinking their boat and causing extensive damage to the approaching Dvora Fast Attack Craft with 19 SLN troopers on board, Sri Lanka military sources in Colombo said. At least eight Sri Lanka Navy sailors are reported missing. The blast occured 17 nautical miles off Kuthiraimalai in Kalpitti, 145 km north of Colombo Saturday afternoon, the sources added. A press statement issued by the Government of Sri Lanka said that the "magnitude of the expolsion and the damage it caused to the approaching Navy vessel indicated that the trawler was transporting a large quantity of explosives."
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TECH donates mini-lathe to self-taught craftsman

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 02:04 GMT]
The Economic Consultancy House (TECH) donated a mini-lathe and other accessories costing about Rs 50K to a self-taught entrepreneur in Muthaiyankattu near Mullaitivu to encourage his inventive spirit amid poverty, and to reward technical astuteness despite his bringingup in an technologically deprived environment, officials at TECH told TamilNet.
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Vavuniya businessman shot dead

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 01:28 GMT]
Unknown gunmen who came in a white van shot dead Ponniah Murugesu, 40, in front of his shop in Sasthrikulankulam, 6 km north of Vavuniya town, around 8.15 p.m. Friday evening, Vavuniya police said. His assistant at the shop, Mr Ramesh, was also injured in the shooting, witnesses said.
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Norway Campus opens Skills Lab in Kallady

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 00:14 GMT]
"We have established the Training and Skills Laboratory, the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, to the Eastern University (EUSL) to effectively address the medical needs of the East of Sri Lanka," said Chief Guest Ms. Solveig Wiesener, Director, Centre for International Health (SHI) of Norway Tromsø University Medical Faculty, declaring open the laboratory in Kalladi Batticaloa, Friday at 9 a.m, sources said.
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CFA flawed, allows Tigers access to SLA areas for political work - Fonseka

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 20:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, at a ceremony held at the Army Headquarters in Colombo Friday said that there are many flaws in the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) signed between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). "The LTTE has exploited these flaws to enter the Sri Lanka government controlled areas to carryout political activities," charged the Sri Lankan commander.
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Hartal paralyzes Trincomalee town

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 19:12 GMT]
Normal life was disrupted in Trincomalee town Friday due to general shut down ('hartal') in response to the Trincomalee District 'Pongu Tamil Forum' (TDPTF) call demanding the government to lift ban on fishing in the northeast coast and to implement the Geneva agreement reached between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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Mannar fisherman in SLN custody

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 19:09 GMT]
Mr.Antony Thomas, 33, who left Pallimunai in Mannar district on 14 March is reported to have been arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) while fishing in Palaithivu sea and being detained by the SLN sailors, according to a complaint lodged with Mannar Citizen Committee.
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Mercy Corps funded Trinco YMCA training center opened

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 17:39 GMT]
Ms Gretchen Ansorge, Regional Programme Manager of the Mercy Corps in Trincomalee district Thursday evening declared open the reconstructed Vocational Training and Youth Center of the Trincomalee Young Men Christian Association (YMCA). The building was reconstruvted at a cost of about two million rupees with the funding of Mercy Corps which has its headquarters in United States of America.
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BoT launches 'Bank at school' in Mallavi

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 12:04 GMT]
"Bank at school saving programme promotes students to start thinking to attain the best economical resources in their future," says K. Blakrishnan, the Managing Director, Bank of Tamileelam (BoT), in his introductory speech on the merits of School Saving Units of the Banks in LTTE administered areas. The BoT ceremoniously opened Thursday the fifth of its Students' Savings Unit, at Mallavi Central College, in the Mullaithivu district.
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LTTE's military strength key to Tamils' future- Theepan

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 11:38 GMT]
Speaking at a sports event commemorating the martyrs of the Special Reconnaissance Wing of the Liberation Tigers Wednesday, in an undisclosed location in Vanni, Northern Region Military Commander, Col.Theepan said, "Tamil peoples' future and victory in the struggle for self-determination are critically dependent on our military strength. Our continued transformation to engage and beat the enemy in all types of warfare is fundamental to our security and to live as a free nation," sources in Vanni said.
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USAID funded Children's Park opens in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 11:24 GMT]
The third of 85 planned children parks and the first in Trincomalee district built with assistance from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was opened by USAID Director Dr. Carol Becker Thursday, a press release from US Embassy in Colombo said.
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SLA provoking LTTE for another war, says Elilan

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 11:09 GMT]
"The attack by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army with the connivance of paramilitary cadres on our Forward Defense Line in Poonagar in Eachchilampathu division is aimed to create another war situation by provoking LTTE," said Mr.S.Elilan, LTTE Trincomalee district political head in a complaint lodged with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Trincomalee Friday.
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SLA soldiers attack students inside Jaffna Advanced Technological Institute

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 07:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army troopers Friday morning entered the grounds of Jaffna Advanced Technological Institute (ATI) and beat the students who were paying tribute to Annai Poopathy. Soldiers attacked the Student Union Leader of the ATI Mr. Suganthan and 15 fellow students including 8 female students. Sri Lankan soldiers, who entered into the grounds in a Buffel Armoured vehicle, removed the Thamileelam national flag, hoisted in the school grounds and smashed the photograph of Annai Poopathy, windows of the college building, and the motorbikes parked inside the college ground. Tension prevails in Jaffna where students were organising protests against the attack.
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LTTE Sentry Point in Trincomalee ambushed, one dead, two wounded

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 06:03 GMT]
A Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre was killed and two injured in an attack on the LTTE Forward Defense Line sentry point located in Poonagar in Trincomalee district Thursday around 8 p.m., said LTTE sources in the east. The Tigers charged that the ambushmen had come from the Sri Lanka Army camp in Mahindapura.
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SLN to transfer fishermen to Colombo under PTA

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 00:39 GMT]
Five fishermen who are being detained at the Kankesanthurai Police from Wednesday morning said in a statement to the Attorney at the Jaffna Human Rights Commission Mr M Remedius Thursday that soldiers of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) forcefully arrested them while they were fishing in deep seas close to Mullaitivu about 30 km southeast of Point Pedro, civil society sources said. However, SLN officials said that the five detainees are to be handed over to the Colombo Terrorism Investigation Division under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for further investigation.
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Body found in Batticaloa belongs to Ex-LTTE cadre

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 March 2006, 11:48 GMT]
Body of a young male recovered near the Batticaloa lagoon near Pillaiyarady on Monday has been identified by his wife as belonging to an ex-member of Liberation Tigers' Jayanthan Brigade who had left the LTTE and was working as a day laborer, sources in Batticaloa said.
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SLA lifts fishing ban in Vadamaradchy

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 March 2006, 11:06 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna told the Vadamaradchy North Fisheries Society representatives Thursday that SLA is lifting the three month old fishing ban along Valvettiturai Aathikovilady, Thondamanaaru and Kerudavil area coasts from 9 a.m. Thursday at a meeting held at Thondamanaaru Rural Development Centre Thursday morning, sources in Jaffna said.
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LTTE hands over home guards to Muslim leaders

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 March 2006, 09:18 GMT]
Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thursday morning handed over the two Muslim home guards to leaders of the Mosques Councils in Muttur and Thoppur. The home guards were arrested by LTTE members when they entered into the Eachchilampathu divisional secretariat division, an area held by the LTTE, on 14 March.
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SL Court to hear petition on Pirapaharan's sentence

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 March 2006, 03:47 GMT]
Colombo Appeals Court will hear, on 25 May, a petition filed by former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Kotagadeniya, to direct the Security Establishment to enforce the 200 year rigorous prison sentence passed by the Courts on Leader of Liberation Tigers, Velupillai Pirapaharan, for his role in the bombing of Central bank on January 31, 1996, legal sources in Colombo said.
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SL Government needs support of JVP, JHU- Rajapakse

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 March 2006, 02:08 GMT]
Support of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) is vital for continued smooth functioning of the Sri Lanka Government, said Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapakse, speaking at the Gampaha district Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) meeting held in Viyangoda Wednesday afternoon, SLFP sources from Colombo said.
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SLMM Trinco head meets Elilan in Sampoor

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 March 2006, 00:02 GMT]
Mr.Ove Jansen, new head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Trincomalee district, Tuesday morning met with Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and held discussions on the latest volatile situation in the Muttur east coastal villages which were attacked by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), LTTE sources in the eastern town said.
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Businessman, conductor shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 20:40 GMT]
Unknown gunmen riding in a motorbike shot and killed M. Gunaratnam, a prominent businessman in Vavuniya and his bus conductor Jude in Kurumankadu Vavuniya, Wednesday night at about 8.45 p.m, Vavuniya police said.
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Sinhala nationalist extremists obstacle to peace – Balasingham

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 20:21 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers will view any further attacks by military-backed paramilitaries as an act of war and may postpone next month’s talks in Geneva unless the state fulfils the Ceasefire Agreement and disarms them, the LTTE’s Political Strategist and Chief Negotiator, Mr. Anton Balasingham said Tuesday. In an interview to Reuters at his London home, Mr. Balasingham also said President Mahinda Rajapakse should dump his Sinhala nationalist allies and seek support from the main opposition UNP party which led a government that held six rounds of talks with the LTTE in 2002-3.
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WB Country Director concludes visit to Trincomalee district

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 18:37 GMT]
Mr.Peter C.Harold, World Bank Country Director who was on a two-day visit to Trincomalee district handed over 78 houses reconstructed under the first phase of the WB funded North East Housing Reconstruction Programme (NEHRP) to war affected families and inaugurated the second phase of the Reconstruction Programme in Avvainagar in Morawewa division.
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Swiss TRO funds housing project in Vakarai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 16:53 GMT]
Foundation stone was laid for one hundred permanent houses project for tsunami-hit families in Kandalady village in Vakarai Divisional Secretariat Division in Batticaloa district, Wednesday morning. The Swiss Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) has funded the project. The implementing partner is Vakarai TRO. Mr.Christoph Muller, Co-ordinator of the Swiss TRO participated in the event.
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Japan funds development projects in Mannar, Puttalam, Monaragala

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 12:45 GMT]
Japan has provided US$191,365 for three rural development projects, Integrated Programme for Rasamadhu and Kattaspathri Cluster Villages in Mannar District, Integrated Development through Sustainable Livelihood and SocioEconomic Development in Puttalam, and Livelihood Improvement for Identified Seven GN Divisions in Siyambalanduwa, Moneragala District, a press release from the Embassy of Japan issued Wednesday in Colombo said.
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SLA troops threaten students at Annai Poopathy celebrations

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 12:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops threatened students at the Jaffna Technical College where celebrations marking Annai Poopathi's anniversary are taking place. More than 300 SLA soldiers who arrived at the Technical College premises at 3 p.m. Wednesday demanded taking down of the Tamileelam National flag which the students hoisted in the morning as part of the celebrations, sources said. Tension prevailed for more than an hour while the students refused to comply with the SLA demands.
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Firefight in Vadamaradchy East SLA checkpoint

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 11:43 GMT]
Unknown gunmen fired at a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry point in Aarangkattai in Vadamaradchy east at noon Wednesday, sources in Point Pedro said. SLA troopers returned fire but the gunmen escaped from their positions inside the adjoining casuarina forest, sources added. The SLA 52-4 Brigade said that no SLA soldiers were injured in the attack.
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USAID funds political puppet show in Sri Lanka TV

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 11:32 GMT]
Key decision makers in the Sri Lanka Government will interact with a Puppet cast representing "a socio-politically diverse cross-section of Sri Lanka, and contributes varied perspectives into a weekly discussion of prominent political issues," in the USAID funded "Janathalaya" in the Telshan Network Limited (TNL), said a US Embassy press release issued from Colombo Wednesday.
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PNM alliance aims to split East from NEP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 11:10 GMT]
The Patriotic National Movement (PNM), an alliance of Sinhala nationalists, on Wednesday formed a "task force" named "Defenders of Eastern People's Rights" in collaboration with Sinhala nationalist parties, Muslim and Tamil groups in the East. The task force was formed after a meeting with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), MLM Ataulla's National Muslim Congress (NMC), K. Vigneswaran's Akila Ilankai Tamil United Front (AITUF), a break away party of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), and key operatives of Karuna Group, a PNM activist has disclosed to Colombo media. The task force aims to split the East from the North Eastern Province (NEP).
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Tigers reject Colombo's "pre-conditions" for re-entry of political cadres

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 09:29 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in a letter addressed to the Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) on Wednesday accused Colombo of imposing pre-conditions for the re-entry of their political cadres into Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas in the NorthEast. Rejecting the concept of "new pre-condtions," the Tigers charged Colombo of violating the understanding reached in Geneva in re-establishing the status quo that existed prior to the LTTE decision to withdraw political cadres. The letter, released to media by the LTTE Peace Secretariat, urged the monitors to ensure the conditions for the re-entry of their political cadres in "strict accordance" with the CFA agreement.
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LTTE boat detained, says SLN

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 06:08 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has intercepted and taken into custody a boat belonging to the Liberation Tigers in the seas of Kodiyadi off the coast of Munai, Pt.Pedro in the north of Sri Lanka Wednesday morning, the northern command of the SLN said.
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LTTE hands over arrested home guards to Thamileelam Police

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 01:31 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Tuesday afternoon said at a press briefing held in Sampoor that they have handed over to the Thamileelam Police the two home guards who they arrested on March 14 caught riding in a motorcycle inside the LTTE controlled area, The Thamileelam Court in accordance with the normal procedure could release these two home guards, Mr.Sithik Reseen (23) of Valaichchenai and Mr.Haniffa Anzar (30) of Thoppur, LTTE Trincomalee leaders said at the briefing.
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SLA cordon, search area surrounding LTTE political office

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 00:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) cordoned off and searched Tuesday morning area around LTTE Political Office at Potpathi Road, Kokuvil in Jaffna, scheduled to reopen Wednesday with the arrival of the LTTE poltical group headed by C. Ilamparithi, sources in Jaffna said. Having failed to get assurances from Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Jaffna guaranteeing their safety, the LTTE political section cancelled their plans to resume political work on Wednesday, sources added.
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Justice Ministry to repair damaged Court buildings in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 00:07 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Ministry of Justice team consisting of Mr. W. A. Seniveratne, Additional Secretary, and Chief Engineer Mr. D. A. Hemasiri, inspected Justice Courts buildings in Kayts and Mallakam Monday, and Point Pedro Tuesday morning and assessed the damages, sources in Jaffna said. The Justice Ministry is planning to repair the war damaged buildings to allow judicial activities to resume in these buildings, sources added.
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TNA MP condemns SLN attacks on Muttur coastal villages

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 17:55 GMT]
Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian in a statement issued on Tuesday condemned the continued attack by the Sri Lanka Navy on the coastal villages Soodaikuda, Koonitivu, Sampoor and Kadatkaraichchenai for the second day Tuesday from about 11 a.m. Two students of the Sampoor Maha Vidiyalayam are reported injured in the second day attack by the SLN, according to reports he received from Muttur east civilian sources, Mr.Thurairatnasingham said.
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Emergency Regulations extended

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 13:27 GMT]
Sri Lanka parliament extended the state of emergency Tuesday, parliamentary sources in Colombo said. First imposed after the assassination of its foreign minister six months ago, Emergency Regulations have been extended every month, but the Sri Lanka Government said violence has fallen sharply since talks with Liberation Tigers in February.
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Bhikku Front calls for Norway ouster

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 12:24 GMT]
More than one hundred Buddhist monks belonging to the National Bhikku Front (NBF), an ultra Sinhala nationalist organization of Buddhist monks of Sri Lanka, demonstrated in front of the Norwegian Embassy in Horton Place Colombo Tuesday afternoon demanding the ouster of Norway from Sri Lanka's peace process, sources in Colombo said.
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Pakistani Navy Frigate on goodwill visit to Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 11:30 GMT]
A Pakistan Navy Frigate will call on Colombo port on March 23 on a good will mission. During its 3-dy visit, the PNS Shahjahan will take part in joint exercises with the Sri Lanka navy (SLN) and the Commander of the ship will meet senior officials of the Sri Lankan navy to strengthen professional linkages between the two forces, a press release issued by the High Commission of Pakistan Tuesday said.
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Father of four shot dead in Eravur

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 07:03 GMT]
Unidentified gunman shot and killed a Tamil man with T-56 assault riffle at Iyankerny in Eravur, 14 km. north of Batticaloa, around 9.30 p.m., Monday, police said.
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Ilamparithi details SLA's CFA violations to SLMM

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 02:12 GMT]
Violations of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) by Sri Lanka Armed forces after the February Geneva talks were pointed out to the officials of the Jaffna Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) when Jaffna district Political Head of the LTTE, Mr. C. Ilamparuthi, met the SLMM officials Monday 10 a.m at the LTTE Jaffna district Political Secretariat in Pallai, sources said.
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Court stays Cabinet decision on Chandrika's land, security

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 00:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Monday issued an interim order staying the Sri Lanka Cabinet's decision to allocate land in Madiwela and to provide additional security personnel to former Sri Lankan president, Chandrika Kumaratunge, legal sources in Colombo said. The three member bench of the Supreme Court chaired by the Chief Justice Mr.Sarath N. Silva made the interim order after preliminary hearing of a Fundamental Rights application, legal sources said.
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SLMM monitors inspect areas affected by SLN attack

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 19:43 GMT]
Monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Trincomalee town Monday afternoon visited the coastal villages Sampoor, Koonitivu, Soodaikuda and Kadatkaraichchenai which came under attack by the Dvora gunboatsand water jets of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and inspected the damages caused to several houses of civilians, sources said.
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Local elections in Trincomalee, Amparai to be held

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 19:27 GMT]
Elections to 12 local authorities in Trincomalee district and 17 in the Amparai district are to be held on March 30. Elections to forty-six local authorities in the other six districts of Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Mannar and Batticaloa in the North East are to be postponed by six months, Colombo media sources reported Monday evening quoting an official of the Department of Elections.
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Red Cross Movement commits tsunami-housing partnership with UN HABITAT

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 19:07 GMT]
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the weekend between the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) and UN HABITAT, marking the beginning of a collaboration that will help thousands of tsunami affected families to rebuild their homes, said a press release issued by the SLRCS.
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TRO assists Mullaitivu child's heart surgery

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 11:48 GMT]
Tamil Rehabilitation Organization Monday donated Rs 45,000 towards heart surgery expenses for Saruaka, an eight month old ailing baby from Silavattai in Mullaitivu district, sources in Vanni said. The surgery is to be performed at the Colombo Jayawardenepura Hospital, medical sources in Vanni said.
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SLA steals prawn catch, Vallai fishermen complain

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 11:11 GMT]
Fishermen who catch prawns in the Vallai lagoon located between Point Pedro and Valigamam complained Monday that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stationed in the area regularly steal their catch and also has made fishing difficult by installing concertina fences in key areas in the lagoon, sources in Jaffna said. The prawn fishermen have registered complaints with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the Vadamaradchy Fisheries consortium.
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SLAF trooper drowns in Galkissa

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 10:47 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) officer, engaged in training exercises Monday morning, accidentally fell in the sea off Mt. Lavinia during a search and rescue exercise, Police said. The incident took place one km into the sea off Mt. Lavinia, Galkissa, located 11 km south of Colombo.
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India assisted Bio Institute opens in Hill-country

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 10:45 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapakse, Saturday, ceremonially opened a Bio Technology Institute set up under the assistance of an Indian Agricultural expert in Kotagala, press release issued from Colombo said. Leader of Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Arumugam Thondaman, welcomed Mr Rajapakse and India's High Commissioner, Ms Nirupama Rao to the opening ceremony. The Institute will train rural youths, the release said. Another model farm at Kirindiwela in Gampaha district is already in operation.
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SLN attacks Muttur east coastal villages -Elilan

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 08:32 GMT]
A Dvora and two water jets of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) have been firing towards the coastal villages Sampoor, Soodaikuda, Koonitivu and Kadatkaraichchenai in the Liberation Tigers held Muttur east in the Trincomalee district from Monday morning around 11 a.m. "Firing is still going on with interruptions and several civilian houses have been damaged. Casualties are not known as it was early to assess the loss of lives and other damages," said Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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Unidentified body found on riverside in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 06:55 GMT]
The body of a young man was found with gun shot injuries behind Manresa Training Centre, 4 km. west of Batticaloa town, Monday morning, police in the eastern town said.
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Trinco art exhibition promotes community amity

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 04:44 GMT]
The Trincomalee District Development Association (TDDA) held a one-day Art Exhibition labelled "Kids in touch" in Trincomalee Hindu Cultiral Hall with the financial assistance of the Save the Children-Sri Lanka (SciSL) Saturday to promote better understanding between all three communities and to ensure peace in the district, sources said.
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MIOT helps Trincomalee rural children

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 01:43 GMT]
Mother and Child Care Centre, and a Hall to provide daily free meals to children constructed by the All Ceylon Hindu Development Society (ACHDS) at a cost of 1.3 million rupees in Deva Nagar, a suburb in Trincomalee was declared open by Srimath Swami Tandredeva Maharaj Sunday, sources said. Medical Institute Of Tamils (MIOT) in United Kingdom provided funding for the project, ACHDS officials said.
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Threats to Vavuniya traders must be stopped, MP tells Rajapakse

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 01:37 GMT]
Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Wanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian has appealed to Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse to take immediate steps to disarm persons intimidating members of the business community in Vavuniya district with death threats and extortion, sources in Vavuniya said.
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Four students drown in Trincomalee Sea

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 March 2006, 12:26 GMT]
Four students, three Tamil and one Burgher, drowned in the Trincomalee Dutch Bay Sea around noon on Sunday caught in the under current while they were spending an afternoon with friends. The bodies of the dead are lying in the mortuary of the Trincomalee general hospital, hospital sources said.
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TNA, LTTE discuss local elections at Kilinochchi meet

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 March 2006, 12:19 GMT]
Selvam Adaikalanathan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Vanni district addressing media in Kilinochchi after a meeting between the Liberation Tigers and the TNA parliamentarians Sunday morning, accused Colombo for delaying making decision on holding local elections in the NorthEast
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Human Rights Watch backtracks on extortion charge

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 March 2006, 12:14 GMT]
Stung by criticism by expatriate Tamils of its report last week claiming the Diaspora was gripped by ‘a culture of fear’ regarding LTTE extortion, Human Rights Watch this weekend issued a statement that stepped back from its earlier sensational claims. Acknowledging that accusations of extortion were only being made about “a small number of individuals” who were “claiming to represent the LTTE or groups linked to the LTTE,” HRW said: “we do not suggest that significant numbers of Tamils are engaging in extortion or other unlawful activity. We also note that many Tamils actively and willingly support the LTTE.”
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Rajapakse mulls ditching JVP for UNP - paper

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 March 2006, 07:48 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse is considering a national government or a snap general election to move the peace process forward, The Sunday Leader newspaper reported this week, adding a final decision on the two options is to be taken by Rajapakse after the local authority polls on March 30. This entails a tieup between Rajapakse’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the main opposition United National Party (UNP).
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Three hundred police trainees begin training in Vanni

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 March 2006, 00:31 GMT]
Three hundred officers newly recruited for Thamileelam Police started training on Saturday in Vanni. The recruits, under the coaching of Police Trainer S. Thamilarasan, were the second unit to be trained in 2006, said T. Kanahan, the head of administration of the Police.
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US Court orders release of Tamil asylum seeker

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 22:28 GMT]
US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco Friday ordered release of a Tamil Sri Lankan asylum seeker detained since October 2001 in San Diego on suspicion that he once belonged to the Liberation Tigers, an organization included in the US Terrorism List, Washington Post Saturday edition reported.
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SLA arrests Jaffna journalist

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 17:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers arrested a journalist working for the Tamil daily Thinakkural for photographing the front portal of the admintrative office of Jaffna jail located on the Main Street in Jaffna Town at 4 p.m. Saturday, sources in Jaffna said. The SLA soldiers refused to accept press credentials of Kandasamy Iruthayabavan and took him into the SLA camp for interrogation. He was released after two hours, sources said.
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Six farm laborers abducted in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 13:17 GMT]
Six workers harvesting paddy in Akkuranai in Batticaloa district were abducted by paramilitary cadres belonging to Karuna group from the Welikande and Thivuchenai area 12 March, Political Section of the Batticaloa LTTE office said in a press release issued Saturday.
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Sri Lanka Bus, Railway employees threaten strike action

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 12:50 GMT]
The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government said Saturday that it will not allow the private sector bus to increase the fare by twenty percent. "A conference to decide on the demand of the private sector bus owners will be held on Monday with the participations of officials of finance and transport ministries. Private bus owners have no right to revise the fare unilaterally," said Mr.A.H.M.Fowzie, Railway and Transport Minister said.
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Court intervenes in Law College Tamil medium admissions

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 12:43 GMT]
Eleven additional Tamil medium candidates were admitted to the Law College in Colombo Friday following the intervention of the Supreme Court after Tamil students filed Fundamental Rights application citing discriminatory procedures in admissions, legal sources said. Only one Tamil medium candidate was allowed to enter the college based on the results released in 1995 entrance examination held by the Law College, sources said.
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Thiruketheeswaram war affected families receive houses

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 12:38 GMT]
Seva Lanka, a non-governmental organization handed over twenty-four houses constructed in Thiruketheeswaram area in the Mannar district to beneficiaries on Wednesday. Mr.T.Lankaneson, Project Director of the NECORD ceremonially opened the housing scheme, sources said. Funding for the housing projecte was praovided by the North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) project.
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World Bank, EU delegates to visit Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 12:31 GMT]
World Bank Country Director, Mr.Peter C.Harrold and a representative of the European Commission is scheduled to visit Trincomalee district March 21 for two days to monitor the progress in the housing reconstruction programme in the war torn districts in the NorthEast. North East Housing Reconstruction Programme (NEHRP) funded by the World Bank is the implementing partner, sources said.
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Mannar Bar Association elects new president

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 12:27 GMT]
Mr. Emmanuel Gius Beldano, senior attorney-at-law was elected unanimously the President of the Mannar District Bar Association for the year 2006-2007 at the annual general meeting held Thursday in the Mannar court complex. Mr.M.B.Farook was elected General Secretary and Mr.M.Sathakathullah Treasurer, sources said.
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Kattankudy Muslims protest against violence

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 10:58 GMT]
Kattankudy Muslims Saturday observed a shut down in protest against the escalating violence in their area where on Friday four motorbikes belonging to Muslim individuals, were hijacked, allegedly by paramilitary cadres. There is a concerted attempt to create communal violence between Tamils and Muslims, protesters said. Saturday's protest paralysed the entire Kattankudy. Transport on Batticaloa - Kalmunai road remained blocked and tension prevails in Batticaloa - Kattankudy Tamil, Muslim border areas. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers were seen deployed in the streets.
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Commissioner yet to decide on holding NorthEast elections

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 10:36 GMT]
Final decision on holding the local elections in the NorthEast will be taken in a few days, said Mr Dissanayake, Sri Lankan Commissioner of Elections, Saturday when District Secretaries of the NorthEast met him in Colombo to discuss the difficulties in holding the local elections on 30 March, Election Department officials said.
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Local council election contestants meet TNA in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 March 2006, 13:12 GMT]
Candidates competing in the Vavuniya district local council elections under the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) ticket met with Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians in Vavuniya Hindu Youths Hall Thursday, sources in Vavuniya said.
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Businesses target of two Vavuniya grenade attacks

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 March 2006, 10:05 GMT]
Unknown group of men hurled hand grenades near business establishments in Vavuniya town Thursday night escalating fear and tension among the Vavuniya trading community which has become the target of several incidents of threats and grenade attacks recently. Vavuniya police said no one was injured in the two attacks.
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Asylumn seekers in UK face deportation

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 March 2006, 09:10 GMT]
Action Group of Tamil Asylumn Seekers (AGTAS) in U.K. is organising a protest rally against the British move to deport rejected asylumn seekers. "We fear more than 2000 persons have already been either deported or detained by the British authorities during the recent months," said Mr. M. Selvarooban, an organiser of the Action Group. The rally is to be held on Sunday between 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Trafalgar Square in London.
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Hartal shuts down Batticaloa district

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 March 2006, 09:05 GMT]
A district-wide hartal, called by the Eastern University society, protesting against the increasing abductions by paramilitary cadres, has paralyzed the entire Batticaloa district Friday. Business establishments, government offices, markets, schools, private and public sector bank branches remain closed.
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Paramilitary issue raised in Congressional Hearing

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 March 2006, 02:19 GMT]
Congressman James A Leach, Chairman, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and Donald Camp, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, during a House Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Hearing on Recent Developments in Nepal held on 15 March 2006, mentioned the presence of armed paramilitary groups as one of the impediments to peace.
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Modern building for Sambaltivu Children Home commissioned

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 March 2006, 00:55 GMT]
Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian, Wednesday declared open the modern building constructed at a cost of 3.5 million rupees for the Sambaltivu Saratha Children Home with the funding of New Jersey Tamil Arts and Cultural Society in the United States of America. Mr.Thurairatnasingham cut the ribbon and unveiled the tablet of the new building, which could provide space for about fifty children, sources said.
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Norwegians assist Kinniya tsunami affected families

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 March 2006, 00:52 GMT]
Twenty permanent houses constructed with the funds collected by Norwegians in their country under the sponsorship of Norwegian Solidarity Organization were handed over to the tsunami affected families in Naduottu, a village in Kinniya division in Trincomalee district Wednesday afternoon. Each 500 sq.ft house was constructed at a cost of five hundred thousand rupees, sources said.
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Aussie minister visits Mannar, assesses ground situation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 18:35 GMT]
Australian Minister of Emigration and Multi-Culture, Ms.Amanda Vanstone, accompanied by Dr. Greg French, Australian envoy in Colombo, Thursday visited Mannar and held discussions with top officials of civil authority and military regarding the ground situation. She arrived in Sri Lanka Navy base in Talaimannar by a special helicopter of the Sri Lanka Air Force Thursday morning around 9 a.m. where Mr.A.Neekilaspillai, Additional Government and Mr. Stanley de Mel, Mannar Divisional Secretary, received her, sources said.
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2005, a black year for Tamil media journalists in Sri Lanka- SLTMA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 18:33 GMT]


The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) in its annual report said 2005 was a black year for Tamil media journalists in the country. "We lost three Tamil media persons including Mr.D.Sivaram, a reputed journalist and military analyst," the annual report said. The annual general meeting of the SLTMA was held last Sunday evening at Hotel Ranmuthu in Colpetty in Colombo. Mr.S.Rajkumar was elected President, Mr.R.Barati General re-elected Secretary and Mr.S.Sri Gajan, re-elected Treasurer for the year 2006, sources said.
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Grenade attack, extortion threats unsettle Vavuniya businessmen

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 12:34 GMT]
Unknown attackers on Wednesday lobbed a grenade at the residence of a businessman in Vavuniya, sources in Vavuniya said. No one was injured in the attack. Five traders have registered complaints with Vavuniya police that persons claiming to be belonging to Karuna group have threatened over the phone demanding large sums of money, Vavuniya Police said.
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Thamichelvan meets Brattskar in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 11:31 GMT]
Head of LTTE's Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan, met with Norway's Ambassador Mr Hans Brattskar at the LTTE Peace Secretariat building in Kilinochchi at 9.30 a.m. Thursday, LTTE sources in Kilinochchi said. Acting Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Brigadier Hagrup Haukland, also accompanied Mr Brattskar on his Kilinochchi visit, sources added.
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Special Envoy to assist Solheim in Sri Lanka peace process

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 10:58 GMT]
The Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim has appointed Jon Hanssen-Bauer, Director, Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies, University of Oslo, as new Special Envoy to Sri Lanka Peace Process, according to a press statement issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo Friday. "Mr Hanssen-Bauer will report to International Development Minister Erik Solheim, who will lead the work, visit Sri Lanka regularly and be responsible for Norway’s role as facilitator of the peace process. Norway’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar, will continue to be the parties’ day-to-day point of contact in Sri Lanka", the press statement added.
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Jaffna DDC meets under heavy security

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 10:53 GMT]
Mr. Douglas Devananda, Minister in the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, and North East Governor Mohan Wijewickrema, retired Rear Admiral of the Sri Lanka Navy, Thursday morning arrived at the Jaffna District Secretariat in a troop carrier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for the Jaffna District Development Committee (DDC) meeting held Thursday morning, sources in Jaffna said. The entire surrounding of the secretariat building was fortified with large numbers of troops and armored vehicles, sources added.
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TRO donates permanent houses to tsunami victims

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 10:43 GMT]
"We have plans to build 250 houses in the Mullaitivu district. Houses we have constructed in Kallappad are expensive, structurally strong and are better than many similar houses donated as part of tsunami relief across Sri Lanka," said K.P. Regi, Executive Director, Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), speaking at the handing over ceremony held Tuesday morning in Kallappadu village in the Mulaitivu district.
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Thamilchelvan to meet Norway's Ambassador, TNA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 02:06 GMT]
Head of Liberation Tigers Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan is to meet Norway's Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr Hans Brattskar, and a representative of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) at the LTTE Peace Secretariat Building Thursday, sources in Kilinochchi said. Thamilchelvan is also expected to meet the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians also in Kilinochchi on the 20th March, sources added.
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Abducted Valaichenai students released

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 01:13 GMT]
Valaichenai Hindu College students, Jeyaraj Kirisanth and Suthaharan Kulosan, abducted Monday in front of ZOA office in Valaichenai, were released by the captors and arrived at 1.30 p.m. at the Valaichenai Veterinary Hospital in a bus, sources in Batticaloa said. Within ten minutes of their arrival, Valaichanai Police officers arrived at students' homes and took the students to the Police Station for investigations, sources said.
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Lectures resume at Jaffna University

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 00:32 GMT]
Lectures at University of Jaffna suspended from December 2005 due to violence in Jaffna district and the presence of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops in the university environment, resumed for freshmen to Senior classes of students Wednesday, said an official of the Jaffna University Student Union (JUSU). Only a few out of district students attended the first day but JUSU official said most of the other outstation students will arrive soon.
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Donors to ensure equity in aid distribution- Norway diplomat

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 00:15 GMT]
"The donor community is currently focusing its attention in ensuring equity in tsunami aid supply to North East," Mr. Erik F.Brede, Counselor of the Norwegian embassy in Colombo told presspersons when he paid a visit to Naduottu, a village in Kinniya division in Trincomalee district on Wednesday. Mr Brede was in Trincomalee to participate in the handing over event of twenty houses constructed with the funds provided by a group of Norwegian citizens to the tsunami affected families.
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TNA to boycott Devananda meeting

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 22:54 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians said Wednesday that they will boycott the District Integration Meeting schedueld for Thursday 16th at the Jaffna Secretariat to be chaired by Sri Lanka Cabinet Minister Douglas Devananda, the leader of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party, with the newly appointed Governor for NorthEast, Rear Admiral (Retd) Mohan Wijeyawickrema, and Mavai Senathirajah, TNA parliamentarian as co-chairmen, TNA sources said. The EPDP is a paramilitary group working with Sri Lanka Government and a political party aligned with the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
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EU provides housing aid for NorthEast war affected families

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 11:30 GMT]
European Commission agreed to finance E$ 22 Mn (European Dollars) for housing of conflict affected families in the Vavuniya and Mannar Districts through the World Bank, North East Housing Reconstruction Programme (NEHRP) officials said.
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Valaichenai protests against student abductions

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 11:19 GMT]
Valaichenai-wide hartal was observed and Valaichenai Hindu College in Batticaloa was closed Wednesday as protesters demanded the release of students, Jeyaraj Kirisanth and Suthaharan Kulosan, who were abducted by paramilitary cadres two days ago, sources in Batticaloa said. All public institutions, shops, banks, and hospitals were closed and the streets were deserted. Security was strengthened with increased police patrols and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers deployed at several key junctions, sources added.
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Canadian Tamils protest against HRW charges

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 11:00 GMT]
Expatriate Tamils in Canada reacted Wednesday against a report by Human Rights Watch alleging extortion by the Tamil Tigers, saying the report had characterized their entire community as one moribund by fear and questioned its integration into Canadian society. Pointing out there has not been a single prosecution for extortion in Canada amongst the Tamil community, they said anecdotal evidence and assumptions, not sound social science research, formed the basis for HRW’s allegations.
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UNICEF "shocked" over SLA misreport

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 09:55 GMT]
Junko Mitani, UNICEF Spokesperson in Sri Lanka said "UNICEF is shocked" on learning the figures of child recruitment cases quoted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were incorrect, reported Morning Leader, a Sri Lanka English daily Wednesday. It further adds that UNICEF has opted to take action against State media for indicating UNICEF reported figures to be false.
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SLMM repudiates SL minister's claim on paramilitaries

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 09:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on being interviewed by BBC in London, told that Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) report had proved there were no armed groups operating in government controlled areas, reported Daily Mirror, a Sri Lanka English daily Tuesday. The minister's claim was rejected by the SLMM, added the daily.
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Tamil language seminar begins in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 09:06 GMT]
Two-day Tamil Language seminar for students taking 2006- GCE Advanced Level Examination began Tuesday in Trincomalee Vivekananda College. The seminar is being organized under the guidance of Trincomalee Zonal Education Office and sponsored by the Organization For Refugees Rehabilitation (OFERR) to raise the declining standard of Tamil language skill among students in the Trincomalee district, organizers said.
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Three youths abducted in Vavuniya, family dispute suspected

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 March 2006, 12:15 GMT]
Unidentified armed men has abducted three youths, two Muslims and one Tamil, Tuesday early morning at 1 a.m. in Pattanisoor area in Vavuniya, Officer in Charge of Vavuniya Police, Mr Tennekoon, said. Residents speculated that the abductions are linked to the relationship one of the abductees' brother had with a Tamil girl which the families were opposed to.
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NGOs meet Planning Secretariat Officials

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 March 2006, 11:54 GMT]
Representatives of Local and International Non-Governmental Organizations met with Officials of the Liberation Tigers' Development Planning Division in Kilinochchi Tuesday 10.30 a.m.,at the LTTE's Planning Secretariat Building, sources in Kilinochchi said. K. Ranjan, Director of Planning Secretariat, presided the meeting.
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Seven more youths abducted in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 March 2006, 11:20 GMT]
Five Tamil youths, aged between 15 and 20 were arrested by Sinhala speaking persons and paramilitary cadres in military fatigue Monday around 3:00 p.m. inside the LTTE controlled Murithanai in Vaharai, residents said. All five youths were laborers, villagers said. Murithanai is 5 km west of Valaichenai where two youths were abducted by paramilitary cadres on Monday. Further 2 youths were kidnapped in Urani in Batticaloa around 6:00 p.m. Monday. Nine youths were reported missing in Batticaloa on Monday.
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Trinco Inner Wheel Club assists widows

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 March 2006, 09:43 GMT]
Trincomalee Inner Wheel Club has provided livelihood assistance to nine widows in the suburbs of Trincomalee town. Of them four lost their husbands in violence and others due to natural causes. Last year a group of widows in Muttur and Mallikaitivu received the assistance under this project, sources said. The Medical Institute of Tamils located in South Thames Region in London funded this project for the third year.
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Teacher shortage in Vanni schools spotlighted

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 March 2006, 09:41 GMT]
Tamil medium schools in the Vanni electorate are in urgent need of trained teachers to teach various subjects, but no action has been taken by the education authorities to post enough teachers to these schools, said Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Wanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in a letter to the Minister of Education.
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Paramilitary cadres abduct two 15-years-old boys in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 13:43 GMT]
Paramilitary cadres, riding in a white van on Kalkudah road in Valaichenai, abducted two 15-years-old boys around 5:30 p.m. Monday. The van, without a number plate, rushed towards Valaichenai fisheries harbour camp of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) with the abducted boys, eyewitnesses alleged. The incident took place in front of the office of ZOA, a Christian International NGO, located close to the Valaichenai Bus stand.
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SLA bans drying fish in Northern shores

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 13:00 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Armed forces (SLA) prohibited fishermen from Kudathanai, Manatkadu regions in Vadamaradchi east Monday from drying their catch of seasonal sprats on the shores . The affected fishermen have lodged complaints with Jaffna Fisheries Union Consortium, said Fisheries Union officials.
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Geneva peace talks in grave danger – Balasingham

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 11:16 GMT]
"The Geneva peace talks will face grave danger if the Sri Lanka government refuses to disarm Tamil paramilitary organisations and continues allowing them to launch offensive military operations against our military positions in Batticaloa district," warned Mr Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Commenting on the current situation Mr Balasingham told TamilNet that the LTTE leadership would be compelled to review its decision to participate in the next round of talks, to be held in Geneva on 19 April, if Colombo fails to fulfil the pledges agreed in the joint statement issued after the first session of talks in Geneva.
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Japan Funds Disaster Reduction Training in Galle District

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 11:09 GMT]
The Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Mr. Akio Suda signed an agreement with Dr. Tetsushi Kurita The Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC) under the NGO grant aid scheme where the Japanese Government will provide US $92,468 to ADRC to carry out a series of community based disaster reduction through Hands-on Training in Galle District, a press release issued by the Embassy of Japan in Colombo Monday said. ADRC will collaborate with Galle District Secretariat in this effort, the release added.
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Local elections in NorthEast likely to be postponed

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 10:40 GMT]
A final decision to conduct elections to local government authorities in the North East is to be announced by the Commissioner of Elections this week after consultations with NorthEast district returning officers, political sources in Colombo said. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse last week agreed in policy to postpone the local elections in the NorthEast local authorities at meeting with a delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led by its parliamentary group leader Mr.R.Sampanthan, sources added.
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SLA rebuilding FDL posts in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 08:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is reconstructing previously abandoned positions in the Valikkandy area, a border village between Vadamaradchy North and Vadamaradchy east in Jaffna district. SLA soldiers are using large amounts of sleepers brought from Palaly military base for construction of the sentry posts and positions. The rebuilding of Valikkandy checkposts is part of an effort in strengthening the forward defense positions of the SLA in Jaffna district, SLA sources said.
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Free medical clinics held in Batticaloa villages

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 04:59 GMT]
Members of Tamileelam Health service conducted free medical clinics to school children and families from deprived villages of Veeranagar and Vadamunai in Batticaloa district Monday, civil society sources from Batticaloa said.
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Muttur youths, students receive assistance

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 01:35 GMT]
Three months' masonry training for tsunami affected youths of Muttur east conducted by the Pattalipuram Poonchcholai People's Development (PPDO) Organization with financial assistance from UK-based Christian Aid organization concluded recently. At an event held in the Pattalipuram Training Center, Mr.M.A.M.Niyas, Muttur Divisional Secretary, handed over the certificates and a package of masonry implements to twenty-three youths who completed their training.
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EPDP, Karuna Group and PLOTE amongst paramilitaries - US State Dept

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 01:32 GMT]
Commenting, amongst other abuses, on the numerous killings in Sri Lanka’s northeast last year, the US State Department’s 2006 annual human rights report blamed “paramilitary forces” as well as the Liberation Tigers for “politically motivated killings” and singled out three paramilitary groups – the Karuna Group, EPDP and PLOTE – for criticism. The State Department said many of those killed by the LTTE were members of the anti-LTTE paramilitary groups and informants for the security forces.
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Trinco Bar Association elects new president

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 01:14 GMT]
Mr.T.Thiruchenthilnathan, Attorney-at-Law, was unanimously elected new President of the Trincomalee District Bar Association for the year 2006-2007. Mr.R.Thirukumaranathan was elected General Secretary and Mr.T.Thushyanthan Treasurer at the annual general held at the Trincomalee court complex recently.
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Jaffna University reopens

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 00:15 GMT]
Lectures at Jaffna Campus are to resume 15th Wednesday according to press release issued by Jaffna University Students Union Sunday. Though complete normalcy is yet to prevail, arrrangements have been made for all students to pursue learning again, said University sources. The University was suspended on the 19th December after attacks by Sri Lanka Armed (SLA) forces on University students' protest demonstration and the ensuing violent incidents.
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TNA rejects JVP's claimed right to nominate CC member

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2006, 00:07 GMT]
As the dispute among the 'minority parties,' Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in selecting the sixth member of the Constitutional Council continue to stymie CC from functioning, the Speaker Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara has asked the Leader of the House, Mr Sripala de Silva, to speak to the leaders of the three parties to resolve the matter urgently, parliamentary sources said.
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Sea Tigers launch Deep-Sea Ops training to Auxiliary Flotilla

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 March 2006, 12:33 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Special Commander of Sea Tigers, Col. Soosai, on Friday launched Deep-Sea Operations training for selected naval auxiliarists from the recently trained flotillas of Thamileelam Naval Auxiliary Force, Sea Tiger sources in Mullaithivu said. The auxiliary naval flotilla, named after Lt. Col. Oscar of the Sea Tigers, is the first auxiliary flotilla to be trained in assisting the Tigers in offensive operations in the sea, sources added.
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SLN relaxes fishing ban in Thondamannar-VVT seas

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 March 2006, 12:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) announced relaxation of restrictions on fishing to the east of Kankesanthurai harbor from Thondamannar to Valvettiturai shores, during a meeting between Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Jaffna representatives, SLN officers and Jaffna Fisheries Union representatives at Chithampara College, Valvettiturai, held around noon Sunday, sources from Jaffna said.
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Defunct committees cause hardships to fishermen, farmers

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 March 2006, 11:51 GMT]
Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Wanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, expressed serious concern over the lethargic attitude of the Mannar District Secretariat for not holding monthly meetings of the District Fisheries Committee (DFC) and the District Agricultural Committee (DAC) regularly to address problems faced by Mannar farmers and fishermen when they are undergoing severe difficulties due fishing ban and violence, sources in Mannar said.
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SLN takes Indian poachers to Point Pedro military base

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 March 2006, 09:13 GMT]
Five South Indian fishermen from Puthuchcheri district in TamilNadu who entered Munai area in the northern waters around 11:00 a.m. Sunday, were taken to the shore by Vadamaradchi fishermen. Tense situation ensued between the Sri Lanka Navy troopers and the local fishermen as they refused to hand over the Indian fishermen to the SLN. However, the SLN soldiers threatened the local fishermen and have forcibly taken the Tamil Nadu fishermen to the 52-4 Brigade quarters for investigations, fisheries officials said.
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Manalkadu refugee families lack basic facilities

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 March 2006, 03:33 GMT]
More than 350 tsunami affected families living in temporary shelters in Manatkadu, located 5 km east of Point Pedro, are undergoing severe hardships without very basic living facilities, civil society sources said. Only ten latrines have been built for the 350 families and no local or International relief agencies, nor Sri Lanka Government authorities have heeded the desperate appeals to provide additional latrines, sources added.
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Mullaitivu fishermen receive fishing nets, accessories

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 17:39 GMT]
The Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) under its accelerated rehabilitation project after tsunami with the funding of the Church of South India handed over a consignment of fishing nets to affected fishermen in Mullaitivu district at an event held Friday. Mr.Maraiyarasa, President of the Fisheries Co-operative Federation presided over the event, sources said.
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Trinco private sector told to expedite development work

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 17:38 GMT]
Rehabilitation and development work in the Trincomalee district should be expedited under a coordinated scheme, representatives of the Trincomalee District Construction Association and private sector organizations responsible for development projects were told at a conference held Saturday at Kadatkaraichchenai, a village in the LTTE held Muttur east, sources said.
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FAO provides assistance to Muttur East families

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 17:35 GMT]
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) provided livelihood assistance to forty seven families affected by the two decades of war in Nallur, a village located in the Liberation Tigers held territory in the Muttur east in Trincomalee district, civil society sources said. Under a self-generating income project in collaboration with a local partner organization, families received livestock for home breeding, sources said.
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Tamileelam bus service inaugurated in Muttur east

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 17:28 GMT]
Tamileelam Transport Board (TTB) Saturday morning inaugurated its first bus service in the territory held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Trincomalee district. Mr.Sithamban, LTTE Financial Head of the Trincomalee District cut the ribbon at an event held in Ganeshapuram in Muttur east and allowed the first to proceed to Verugal with passengers, sources said.
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New prison to help Vavuniya residents, law enforcement officials

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 16:14 GMT]
The Commissioner of Prisons has agreed to build a new prison complex in Vavuniya after repeated requests by Tamil parliamentarians, local police and officials of Vavunia judiciary, Sivanathan Kishokumar, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian said Saturday. Until now crime suspects who are directed to be kept in remand by Vavuniya courts have to be taken to Anuradhapura prison causing logistical nightmare for law enforcement officials and severe hardships to relatives of suspects.
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Verugal FDL attack by paramilitaries repulsed- LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 15:06 GMT]
Liberation Tigers repulsed an attack on its Forward Defence Lines in Kattumurippu in Verugal area Batticaloa district by paramilitaries and members of Sri Lanka Army Friday night at 9.30 p.m., LTTE's media co-ordinator Thaymaster told TamilNet.
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Amnesty fears for safety of disappeared TRO staffers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 12:28 GMT]
Amnesty International in an Urgent Action release issued Friday expressed "grave concern" for the safety of the seven Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) staffers who were abducted on 29-30 January and are still missing. Amnesty urged all concerned to write to the Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence, Inspector General of Police and Sri Lanka's President Mr Mahinda Rajapakse to "undertake and complete as a matter of urgency thorough investigations into the fate and whereabouts of the seven," and to ensure safety of all TRO workers and the families of the missing.
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SLA rejects rent request for HSZ properties

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 03:07 GMT]
A meeting held Friday between the representatives of Consortium of Jaffna Welfare Associations and the Sri Lanka Military officials at 51-2 Brigade Headquarters in Jaffna to explore ways to simplify procedures allowing civilian owners of SLA occupied private buildings and houses to collect rents, ended without any agreements, sources attending the meeting said. The meeting was arranged by the Jaffna Human Rights Commission officials, sources added.
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Poverty drives NorthEast children to shelters- Childcare official

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 01:02 GMT]
Sixty percent of the nearly 8500 children currently sheltered in 168 children homes in the NorthEast were driven out of their homes due to poverty, a conference held Thursday in the provincial education ministry auditorium, revealed. Mr. Richard Mawer, Country Director of the Save the Children-Sri Lanka (SciSL) organized the conference at the end of two-day visit to Trincomalee district, sources said.
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Abducted Erlalai youth found with serious cut injuries

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 00:46 GMT]
A Tamil youth who was abducted by three armed men from his home in Erlalai East, Jaffna Thursday at 11 p.m. was found near a cemetary in Chunnakam with serious cut wounds to his body inflicted by a sharp instrument, sources in Jaffna said. Kottiyal Hindu cemetary where the injured youth was found is located in Chunnakam Road, Punnalaikattuvan nearly 3 k.m. south of Erlalai where he was abducted.
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Tamil Women's Reawakening Day held in Eachchilampathu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 00:39 GMT]
Tamileelam Women's Reawakening Day was celebrated in the LTTE controlled Eachchilampathu division, south of Trincomalee district. Hundreds of women in the villages in the division participated. One week long sports competition also came to a conclusion on Wednesday evening at Sri Sembaga Maha Vidiyalayam grounds, coinciding with the International Women's Day, sources said.
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Camp held in memory of Scouts Commissioner

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 21:07 GMT]
Trincomalee District Scouts Association held a scout camp in memory of their former District Scout Commissioner Mr.G.A.de Almeida who passed away at the age of 87 last January. Scouting was introduced in Trincomalee district eighty-seven years ago in the year 1920.
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Trinco remembers Tamil scholar Akilesapillai

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 17:39 GMT]
The 153rd birthday of Tamil scholar Poet and writer V.Akilesapillai was observed in Trincomalee town where he was born on 7th March 1853. He wrote a book in the year 1889 on the history of historic Koneswaram temple in Trincomalee under the title 'Thirukonasala Vaipavam' which is still considered a valuable document among intellectuals and historians who research on the Koneswaram history and history of Tamils in the east port district, sources said.
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Creation of new Trincomalee DS divisions causes concern

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 12:26 GMT]
Mr.R.Sampanthan, Trincomalee district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian raised concern over an attempt to create two more new divisional secretariat divisions, one in the north and the other in the south, in the Trincomalee district. "It is my view that consensus of people within the existing divisions should be sought on such matters. There should not be any attempt to impose a decision on any people," Mr.Sampanthan said in a letter to the Government Agent of Trincomalee district.
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SLA closes Katkovalam fish market

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 12:15 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has ordered closure of the fish market located close to the shore in the coastal town of Katkovalam located 2 km east of Point Pedro town. The SLA recently has built new sentry points and a mini camp near the fish market and claimed that the market poses security threat to their new positions, Vadamaradchy Fisheries Consortium officials said.
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Tamil youth shot, injured in Kanniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 09:45 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and injured a Tamil youth Friday noon in the village Kanniya located above seven km northwest of Trincomalee. The wounded youth, Suthakar, was admitted to the Trincomalee general hospital with gunshot injuries in his shoulder, Police said. Kanniya village comes under the Uppuveli Police division in the Trincomalee district.
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EU report calls for international body to administer future elections in NorthEast

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 06:44 GMT]
Chief Observer of EU Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) to Sri Lanka, John Cushnahan, commenting on the report of the EU-EOM for the 2005 Sri Lankan Presidential elections, has called for an International Organisation to "administer" and "supervise", on the invitation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) the parties to the peace process, if future elections in LTTE controlled and influenced areas are to be held in accordance with internationally recognised principles. The EU report also stated that the SL Supreme Court Interim order of 9th November introduced "de facto" discriminatory measures against voters in LTTE controlled areas.
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Nuwara Eliya has no Tamil administrative officers- UPF

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 03:09 GMT]
Nuwara Eliya, a district with 80% percent Tamil population, and a district which has the largest concentration of Tamils outside NorthEast, does not have a single Tamil Administrative Officer, said Leader of Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF), Periyasamy Chandrasekaran, in an urgent letter sent to Sri Lanka President, Mahinda Rajapakse, UPF's media co-ordinator said Thursday.
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Samaraweera leaves for Europe

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 02:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, Mr Mangala Samaraweera, left Colombo Thursday on an official visit to UK, France and Belgium accompanied by Dr Jayantha Dhanapala, Senior Advisor to Sri Lanka President, and senior officials of the Foreign Ministry, a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo said. Mr Samaraweera is scheduled to meet his counterparts, Jack Straw and Phillippe Douste-Blazy during his visit, the release further said.
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Kanniya resettled families celebrate Women's Day

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 00:29 GMT]
Traditional Tamil village of Kanniya in Trincomalee town celebrated the International Women's Day Thursday evening with the support of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), sources in Trincomalee said. Several hundred families from Peeliaydi, Managaiootu and Kanniya, resettled since the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in the year 2002, participated in the celebrations.
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Reduce admission requirements to nursing school, appeals TNA MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 00:02 GMT]
Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Wanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian has written to the President to take steps to implement the assurance given Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva that in future youths who obtained pass in science subject in the (GCE O/L) examination will be allowed to apply for admission to Nurse Training School. Current admission policy requires students to pass in Science subjects in GCE A/L examination, sources said.
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International Women's Day observed across NorthEast

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2006, 00:00 GMT]
International Women's Day was observed in several parts of NorthEast on Wednesday, sources said. Local women's organizations and Non-governmental organization participated in events held in Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Mannar.
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Jaffna big match starts Thursday

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 March 2006, 12:36 GMT]
First day of the annual cricket match between Jaffna Central College and St.Johns College was played Thursday after the Principals of both schools hoisted the school flags at the Jaffna Central College grounds near the clock tower junction in Jaffna.
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Prof. Hoole appointed VC of Jaffna Campus

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 March 2006, 12:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka University Grants Commission (UGC) announced Thursday the appointment of Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole, Professor Peredeniya University and member of (UGC), as the new Vice Chancellor (VC) of Jaffna University by Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse. He will succeed Prof. S. Mohanathas whose tenure expires end of March, education officials said.
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Paramilitary cadre guns down bus passenger in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 March 2006, 07:14 GMT]
A young man travelling on a public transport bus from Eravur to Batticaloa was shot dead by a gunman, around 11 a.m., Thursday, police in the eastern town said. Eye wintnesses named the assailant as paramilitary 'Karuna group' cadre "Mathushan," attached to Palpody camp of the Special Task Force (STF). Two other civilians were injured in the shooting.
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Positive contribution by International players, key to Peace in Sri Lanka - Senewiratne

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 March 2006, 02:45 GMT]
"Marginalising and excluding the Liberation Tigers, a key player to the peace process in the island, will mean the end of the failed state Sri Lanka," a Sinhala expatriate physician supportive of Tamils right to self-determination told a gathering of EU officials at a symposium organised in the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday. "The EU has essentially opted out of making a meaningful contribution to rescue Sri Lanka," he noted. Tamil, Sinhala and European panelists presented their views in the symposium titled "The EU Contribution to the Peace Process in Sri Lanka."
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Sri Lankan State lacks consent of Tamil people - TNA MP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 March 2006, 00:45 GMT]
Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, the Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian, speaking at a symposium in Brussels, Belgium,Tuesday, explained how the Sri Lanka state failed to win the consent of the Tamil people, whom it claimed to govern. "The Tamil Nation is being consistently denied meaningful access to Governance to pursue political, economic, social and cultural development. All three Sri Lanka constitutions entrenched the unitary character of the Sri Lanka State in the face of demand for power sharing arrangement by Tamils asserting their right to self-determination," said Mr Ponnambalam.
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Early Childhood Centre opened in Sambaltivu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 March 2006, 17:11 GMT]
Mr. Richard Mawer, Country Programme Director of the Save the Children-Sri Lanka Tuesday declared open an Early Childhood Development Centre (ECDC) at Sambaltivu, about 7 km. north of Trincomalee town. This center, second in the 15 such centers in the Trincomalee district was constructed at a cost of about 1.18 million rupees by the Namagal Community Center and funded by the Save the Children-Sri Lanka.
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SLA cordon, search Erlalai, beat bakery owner

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 March 2006, 12:02 GMT]
More than five hundred Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops with a few paramilitary cadres arrived in several heavy military vehicles and eight Buffel armored vehicles, cordoned off, and searched residences in Erlalai South, Kalavodai Amman Temple areas at 3.30 a.m. Wednesday morning, sources in Jaffna said. The SLA soldiers, at 6 a.m., entered the house of a 30 year old civilian who owns a bakery, beat him and left after ransacking his business premises, sources added.
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Indian High Commissioner visits eastern province

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 March 2006, 11:31 GMT]
Ms Nirupama Rao, Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Tuesday morning visited the South Eastern University, which is located in Oluvil in Amparai district and discussed with the Vice Chancellor and the academic staff regarding its needs and future development. Sri Lankan Minister of Irrigation, Mr.Anwer Ismail, accompanied her. Ms Nirupama Rao arrived in Batticaloa Monday morning on a two-day tour in the eastern province by a special helicopter of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).
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Act upon Geneva commitment, NPC urges GoSL

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2006, 17:25 GMT]
The National Peace Council (NPC), a Colombo based peace group, on Tuesday urged the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to apprehend and deal with the armed groups that were responsible for continued attacks on Liberation Tigers. "The attack on an LTTE security point within the LTTE-controlled territory that has left two LTTE cadres dead is a serious cause for concern as it threatens the credibility of the commitment made by the Government of Sri Lanka, the NPC said in a press release. "If those responsible are not immediately apprehended and dealt with, it is likely this will set a precedent for further attacks that would completely undermine the Geneva agreement," NPC statement said.
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Rural Volunteers Brigade passing out parade held in Eachchilampathu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2006, 17:23 GMT]
"The Government of Sri Lanka led by President Mahinda Rajapakse is pushing us to the war front to win our rights," said Colonel Sornam, Special Commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) participating as the chief guest after taking salute at the passing out parade of a class of rural volunteers brigade held Tuesday afternoon in the grounds of Eachchilampathu Sri Sembaga Maha Vidiyalayam. The volunteers underwent three months of rigorous military training including handling heavy weapons, LTTE sources said.
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Jaffna student reported missing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2006, 17:20 GMT]
Parents of a seventeen-years-old boy in Jaffna, registered a complaint with Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) office Tuesday that their son, Thushyanthan, has been missing for more than four days. HRC officials said there have been a marked increase in disappearances of persons in Jaffna district the last several days after a decline in the three weeks leading up to talks in Geneva.
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ADB funded pre-school opens in Pooneryn

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2006, 11:42 GMT]
A pre-school building, constructed by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) and CAARP, was declared open Monday at Netpulavu village in Pooneryn in the Killinochchi district. Mr.Ramanathan, President of the Socio-Economic Development Society (SEDS) presided the event, sources said.
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Armed men rob Kaluwanchikudy petrol station

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2006, 11:33 GMT]
Two unidentified armed men came on a motorbike and robbed a petrol station situated in Kaluwanchikudy in the east Monday night around 8.30 p.m. According to a complaint made by Mr.S.Nagendran, owner of the petrol station the men absconded after taking one hundred thousand rupees from his till when he was about to close the business for the day, Police sources said.
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LTTE delegation returns from Geneva

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2006, 10:55 GMT]
Members of the Liberation Tigers delegation which took part in the Geneva talks held on 22-23rd February returned to Kilinochchi at 3 p.pm. Tuesday on a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter, media sources in Kilinochchi said. Head of LTTE Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan, Head of Tamileelam Police P Nadesan, Col Jeyam and LTTE Peace Secretariat's Ilanthirayan were flown to Kilinochchi while the other members will be taking the land route accompanied by members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) sources added.
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JVP demands expulsion of Norway from peace process

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2006, 09:15 GMT]
Wimal Weerawanse, Propaganda Secretary and Parliamentary Group Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Permuna (JVP), Sri Lanka's powerful Sinhala nationalist "marxist" party, demanded during Tuesday's parliamentary session that Norway be stripped of its facilitator role in Sri Lanka. Accusing Norway of attempting to hold on to its facilitator role for two more years to provide diplomatic status to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and assisting LTTE towards earning international recognition for its Declaration of Independence (UDI) for Tamil Eelam, the JVP's propaganda secretary demanded immediate expulsion of Norway from the peace process, parliamentary sources said.
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Northern fishermen call off protest action

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2006, 02:43 GMT]
Valligamam South and West fishermen temporarily called off their protest against Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) after the Northern Regional Sri Lanka Navy Chief assured the fishermen, at a meeting Monday at Mathagal SLN base between Fishermen Societies Consortium and SLN, that he will take action to stop SLN soldiers from harassing the fishermen and damaging their fishing accessories, source said.
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Muslim businessman shot dead in Eravur

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2006, 02:31 GMT]
Mr M Jawfar, 45, a Muslim businessman and a father of a child, died at the Eravur hospital after being shot and seriously wounded by a Muslim armed group Monday night at 10 p.m. near the Women's Market Road, Eravur-1, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Tsunami affected Trinco students treated to variety show

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2006, 02:15 GMT]
The Children World International of United Kingdom with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Monday held a variety entertainment show as a part of traumatic counseling for tsunami-affected students in Trincomalee district, NGO officials in Trincomalee said. More than five hundred students participated in the show held at Namagal Tamil Vidiyalayam located in Trincomalee town, sources said.
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NorthEast Governor visits Amparai district

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 March 2006, 18:30 GMT]
Rear Admiral (Retd) Mohan Wijeyawickrema, Governor of the North East Province, is on a working tour to the Amparai district since Sunday, sources in Amparai said. He addressed heads of government departments at Amparai district secretariat Monday and at an event held at Ullai-Sarvothayapuram in Pottuvil electorate Sunday he handed over the first permanent house of the seventy constructed with the funding of the Netherlands to a tsunami-affected family from Pottuvil Jalaldeen Square, sources said.
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Entertainment show for tsunami hit Trinco students held

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 March 2006, 17:04 GMT]
The Children World International of United Kingdom with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Monday held a variety entertainment show as a part of traumatic counseling for tsunami-affected students in Trincomalee district.
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Newly constructed Adampan hospital opened

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 March 2006, 16:58 GMT]
The newly constructed district government hospital complex in the village of Adampan in the Liberation Tigers controlled area of Mannar district was decalred open, Monday morning. The hospital was construvted at a cost of 22.4 million rupees by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded North East Community Restoration Programme (NECORD).
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Jaffna students boycott schools

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 March 2006, 15:54 GMT]
Students organisations in Jaffna district jointly boycotted schools Monday protesting against increasing Sri Lanka Army(SLA) officers' interference in administrative affairs in Jaffna,student officials said. Protesting students burnt the effigy of Northern Region Sri Lanka Military Commander, Maj. Gen. Chandrasiri in front of Jaffna Hindu College. Though large number of armed Police and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were stationed near all schools from early morning the boycott ended without incidents and normalcy prevailed in Jaffna, sources said.
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JHU, JVP reject Geneva agreement in All Party Conference

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 March 2006, 11:38 GMT]
Sinhala extremist parties, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), during the All Party Conference (APC) held Monday at the Old Parliamentary building in Colombo submitted separate memoranda rejecting the agreement made between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers in the talks held in Geneva on 22-23rd February, parlilamentary sources said.
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EU Election Observation Mission chief visits Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 March 2006, 06:33 GMT]
John Cushnahan, the chief of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Sri Lanka will arrive in Colombo on Monday to present the full and final report on the 2005 Presidential election. A press release issued by the EU organisation said "the report will make a number of major recommendations for strengthening the electoral process in Sri Lanka." Mr. Cushnahan will meet President Mahinda Rajapakse, the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the leaders of Sri Lanka’s other main political parties.
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Tsunami affected NorthEast teachers to receive help from INGO

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 March 2006, 20:44 GMT]
Education International (EI) funded compensation scheme for NorthEast teachers affected by tsunami was inaugurated by the Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU) in an event held Sunday in Trincomalee Vikneswara Maha Vidiyalayam, education officials said. EI has allocated 3.2 million rupees through the Sri Lanka Teachers Tsunami Rehabilitation Project for the North East for the benefit of nearly 1655 teacher-families affected by tsunami, CTTU General Secretary Mr.T.Mahasivam said.
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Valaithoddam village gets own medical clinic

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 March 2006, 20:42 GMT]
The opening event of the newly constructed Newton Memorial House after martyr Lt.Colonel Newton and the inauguration of Thileepan Medical Service in the building commenced Sunday in Valaithoddam village in Verugal division in Trincomalee district. Dr. Ramani Sri Renganathan, a Canadian philanthropist, contributed to the project, which has helped families in Valaithoddam, a hamlet neglected in medical and health services, sources said.
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Workshop on "Peace and Muslims" held in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 March 2006, 16:09 GMT]
One-day workshop on the topic "Peace and Muslims" was held Sunday in Kalmunai Mahmud Girls College. Muslim Women Research Action Front (MWRAF) and Network for Sustainable Community Development (NESCOD) organized the event. Deshabandu Ms Jezeema Ismail chairperson of these two organization presided.
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SLN fires at fishermen inside LTTE areas- Elilan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 March 2006, 15:52 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Trincomalee district political Head, Elilan, registered a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Sunday that Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers had entered the LTTE held coastal areas from Ilakanthai to Mankerni in the Muttur east division and fired at a group of fishermen, violating the CeaseFire Agreement (CFA), sources said. Sixteen fishermen in eight fishing boats in Koddadi near Ilakanthai were fishing within 200 meters of the shore line when SLN fired at them, according to LTTE political office.
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Ex-SLA soldier shot dead in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 March 2006, 15:22 GMT]
A former soldier of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was shot dead by an unknown armed group in Oddumavadi, Valaichenai at 5.30 p.m., Sunday, Valaichenai police said. Mohamed Navas, 22, a resident of Division 2 in Oddumavadi, was in the house of one of his friends when three men entered the house, talked to Mohamed before firing at him.
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Southern NGO donates books to Muttur students

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 March 2006, 12:50 GMT]
Vipra Foundation, a non-governmental organization in the south of Sri Lanka, donated a consignment of textbooks and other learning materials to students affected war and tsunami in the Liberation Tigers held Muttur east in the Trincomalee district. The event took place at a Sinnakulam government Tamil mixed school which has a history of lacking resources for primary education, sources said.
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Jaffna students burn SLA Commander's Effigy

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 March 2006, 11:39 GMT]
In continuing protests in Jaffna against interference of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officers in the adminstrative functions of Jaffna Government officials, more than one hundred students from Kokuvil Techical College at 12 noon Sunday took the effigy of Northern Region Sri Lanka Military Commander, Maj.Gen.Chandrasiri, along Brown Road, and set the effigy on fire at Kaladdy junction, sources in Jaffna said.
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Italian NGO donates boatyard to Muttur east fisheries federation

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 March 2006, 08:27 GMT]
Inter SOS, an Italian non-governmental organization which has been engaged in rehabilitating the tsunami destroyed fishing industry in Muttur east, in the Trincomalee district handed over its Boatyard in Kadatkaraichchenai and its office building to the Muttur Fisheries Societies Federation (MFSF).
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Secondary School, pre-school open in Thattuvankotti

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 21:03 GMT]
Ceremonial opening of a pre-school and a secondary school, constructed with financial assistance of German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) of the German Federal Government, took place in the ex-garrison town of Thaduvankoddy near Elephant Pass Wednesday, sources said. Mr. Sivakurunathan, Social Development officer at the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), presided the event.
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Peace Process stabilizes after Geneva- Bogollagama

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 20:22 GMT]
Geneva peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held on 22-23rd February have stabilized the peace process, and strengthened the trust between the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE, said Sri Lanka's Minister of Industries, Investment and Promotion, Mr.Rohitha Bogollagama addressing members of the Trincomalee District Chamber of Commerce held Saturday evening in the conference hall of the Trincomalee district secretariat, sources said.
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Vaiko, Jayalalitha form alliance

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 18:07 GMT]
Leader of MDMK, Vaiko, and Leader of AIADM and TamilNadu Chief Minister, Jayalalitha Jayaram, formed an alliance signing an agreement that allows Vaiko's MDMK to contest in 35 of the 234 Assembly seats in the forthcoming Assembly elections in TamilNadu, media reports from TamilNadu said.
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Outgoing Trinco SLMM head meets Sornam, Elilan in Sampoor

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 17:51 GMT]
Mr. Arthur Tveiten, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Trincomalee district, Saturday met with Colonel Sornam, Special Commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Trincomalee district, and Mr.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head at Sampoor political secretariat in Muttur east on the eve of relinquishing his post next Tuesday, sources said.
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Jaffna Muslim contestant attacked by armed group

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 17:14 GMT]
Attack on the family of Jaffna Municipal Council contestant, S.M.Suhaib by armed men early morning 9 a.m. Friday is a provocative attack planned to worsen the climate of fear that has already been created by the Sri Lanka Military and collaborating paramilitaries, said Secretary of Jaffna Consortium of Welfare associations ,E Parvatharajah, in a communiqué issued Saturday, sources in Jaffna said.
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LTTE Women's wing Junior officers complete training

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 14:03 GMT]
Leader of Liberation Tigers, V Pirapaharan, participated in a graduation ceremony for successful Junior officers of LTTE Women's military wing Wednesday in an undisclosed location in Vanni, media sources in Kilinochchi said.
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LTTE condemns attack on Vavunathivu sentry point

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 07:15 GMT]
The Batticaloa Political Wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in a communiqué issued Saturday, condemned the attack by the paramilitary cadres working with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on the LTTE Vavunathivu sentry point where two LTTE cadres were killed Saturday early morning 12.30 a.m. "We point out that the killings are a gross violation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), and provides further evidence that Sinhala extremists, SLA, its intellligence wing and the collaborating paramilitary forces are engaged in nefarious activities designed to trigger an all out war in our homeland to bring further calamity to our people," the communiqué further said.
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Jaffna fishermen protest against SLN attacks

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 05:57 GMT]
Valligamam south and west fishermen have suspended all fishing activities in Northern seas from Saturday in protest against the Sri Lanka Navy(SLN) forces' persistent harassment and attacks on fishermen, and demanded freedom to fish without hindrance, said Fishermen Societies Consortium in Jaffna Friday evening in a press meet held in Jaffna, sources said.
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Women's Day sports competition begins in Muttur east

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 05:33 GMT]
A week-long sports competition to mark the Tamileelam Women Reawakening Day, conducted by the Tamileelam Sports Department, began Friday morning in Ilankatihurai Muhathuwaram Maha Vidiyalayam grounds in the LTTE held Eachchilampattu division in the Trincomalee district. About five hundred women from about twenty-five sports clubs are participating in the competition., sources said.
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Vote counting to take place in district secretariats

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 01:56 GMT]
Counting of votes in the forthcoming local council election scheduled to be held on 30th March will be held in the district secretariat complex of each district throughout the island instead of earlier practice that in each local authority area counting took place, election department sources said.
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UPFA to choose heads of local councils after polls

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 01:31 GMT]
The ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has decided to declare the names of candidates for the posts of Mayor and Chairman of local authorities after UPFA captures power in the forthcoming poll on March 30. However, Mr.Vasudeva Nanayakara, veteran trade unionist and a leading member of the left movement in the island has been named as the Mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council, UPFA sources said.
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Sri Lanka peace delegation head meets JHU leadership

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 00:39 GMT]
Mr.Nimal Sripala de Silva, senior minister and the leader of the Sri Lanka Government peace delegation Thursday evening met with Mr.Champika Ranawake, Secretary of the Policy Formulation of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) to clarify the outcome of the Geneva peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held last month and also to urge JHU to soften the criticism against the government for accepting the ceasefire agreement, political sources said.
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UPFA candidates urged not to criticize JHU, JVP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 March 2006, 00:14 GMT]
The ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) leadership has instructed its candidates contesting the forthcoming local council elections not to criticize the policies of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the all monks' party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), said Mr.Mathiripala Sirisena, Minister and the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), main constituent of the UPFA addressing a conference held recently in Colombo, sources said. "UPFA candidates should confine their electioneering to unveil their plans to develop their respective local authorities when they win," he added.
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LTTE sentry ambushed in Batticaloa, two dead

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 20:57 GMT]
Two Liberation Tigers cadres were killed Saturday midnight when a heavily armed group of attackers, who entered the Liberation Tigers controlled area beyond the no-go zone in Vavunathivu, launched an ambush on a LTTE sentry point, LTTE's Batticaloa District Political Head Daya Mohan said. A firefight ensued for more than 10 minutes and the attackers withdrew towards Vavunathivu Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base, Daya Mohan added.
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Colombo should demonstrate CFA obligations - Thamilchelvan in Oslo

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 18:48 GMT]
"It is time for Colombo to prove demonstrated commitment to February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement," said LTTE's Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan, who met Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahre in Oslo Friday. Speaking to TamilNet following his meeting with the Norwegian FM, Political Head of the LTTE expressed dismay over the controversial statements made by Sri Lanka peace delegation seeking to weaken the the Ceasefire Agreement, the sole foundation of continued peace- engagement.
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10 km race marks International Women's Day celebrations

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 12:13 GMT]
Vavuniya District Rehabilitation Organisation for Women conducted a 10 km marathon race Thursday 6 am celebrating International Women's Day, presided by Ms. Pathmavathy, District Director, sources said. Forty two women took part in the race that extended from Mankulam to Kanagarayankulam.
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Dental health awareness effort reaches 18,000 students

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 11:49 GMT]
Centre For Health Care, as part of the Dental Health Awareness Month of February declared by Tamileelam Health Services, conducted dental screening, therapy, and health education to more than 18,000 pre- and primary school students in deprived areas of NorthEast, health officials in Kilinochchi said.
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Student participation in LTTE functions irks SLA commander

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 02:39 GMT]
Major General Chandrasiri, Northern Region Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Thursday warned the five Regional Directors of Education in the Jaffna peninsula, not to permit students to participate in activities outside schools during school hours, education officials in Jaffna said.
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Lectures to recommence in Jaffna Campus

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 01:48 GMT]
University educational activities, suspended end of last year due to impediment caused by the presence of State armed troops in university environs and resulting violent incidents, are to recommence partly Wednesday 8th March, University Student Union said in a press release issued Thursday. If lectures and examinations for the final year students take place without any incidents, lectures will be extended to other faculties, the press release added.
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Kilinochchi Central College holds Inter-house Sports Meet

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 01:29 GMT]
Killinochchi Central College held its Inter-house athletic meet Tuesday presided by Principal S. Rajamahendran and with K.Pathmanathan, the Kilinochchi Regional Deputy Director of Education as chief-guest, Education officials said. The school was occupied by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) during 1996 'Sathjeya' offensive and resumed classes in 2000 after Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam recaptured Kilinochchi in the 'Unceasing waves' offensive in 1998.
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Aussie assisted pre-school opens in Vakarai

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 01:13 GMT]
A pre-school constructed by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) at Kandalady, a village in the Vakarai division in Batticaloa district, and funded by a group of Australian citizenst a cost of about one million rupees, was declared open Wednesday.
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Missing LTTE cadres arrested by SLA, charges Elilan

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 00:48 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers in Trincomalee said Thursday that they have submitted fresh evidence to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to confirm that five of their members who had been reported missing since 25 February were arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers. "Our organisation has lodged a fresh complaint based on evidence though eye-witnesses to substantiate our earlier complaint," said Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the LTTE.
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SL President urged to write off agricultural loans

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 00:01 GMT]
Amparai District Mosques Federation (ADMF) has appealed to Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse to write off all agricultural loans given by state sector banks to farmers who were affected by tsunami and flood. The memorandum reminded the President that according to his policy statement "Mahinda Vision" agricultural loans to affected farmers would be written off once he assumed power, sources said
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World Vision supported projects inaugurated in Muttur east

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 March 2006, 20:01 GMT]
World Vision, an international non-governmental organization inaugurated two projects Wednesday, one at Ganeshapuram and the other at Kadatkaraichchenai in the Liberation Tigers held Muttur east to provide learning facilities for students and psychosocial development for children children.
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Lord Konesar three-day procession concludes

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 March 2006, 12:09 GMT]
The three- day procession of Lord Konesar, chief deity of historic Koneswaram temple which began on Monday evening after Maha Sivarathiri day observance covering entire Trincomalee town in three stages concluded Thursday morning with the return to temple located inside the Fort Frederick, Trincomalee residents said.
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Japan provides US$185m development loan to Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 March 2006, 11:58 GMT]
Japanese Government Thursday announced a new package of loan of US$185 million (Yen 21,560m) for three projects, Galle Port Development (US$125m)), Infrastructure Development of Eastern Province (US$38m), and Tourism Resources Improvement (US$22m). This 37th yen brings the total loan provided by Japan to Sri Lanka in the last 14 months to $370m.
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Rajapakse to hold All Party Conference

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 March 2006, 11:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse is planning to hold the All Party Conference (APC), on March 6 Monday to brief the leaders of all registered political parties represented in the current parliament on the outcome of the Geneva peace talks, political sources in Colombo said. He will also brief the leaders on the matters to be discussed at the next round of talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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Move to install Buddha statue in Hindu Temple stirs controversy

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 March 2006, 02:23 GMT]
Leader of Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF), Periyasamy Chandrasekaran, has brought to the attention of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chandra Fernando, the alleged attempts by local Sinhala residents to install a Buddha statue inside the premises of the historic Hindu Temple in Ukkuwela in Avissawala, UPF media office said.
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Troop presence impedes education in Jaffna Campus

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 March 2006, 02:11 GMT]
Jaffna University Student Union representatives and the University officials led by Vice Chancellor C. Mohanadas met at Jaffna University campus premises Wednesday 2 pm to explore possibilities of recommencing educational activities at Jaffna Campus, University officials said. Lectures and other campus activities were suspended from December 2005 due to escalating violence in Jaffna district and the presence of Sri Lanka troops in areas close to the University.
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New Ambassadors present credentials to SL President

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 12:29 GMT]
New Ambassadors from Colombia, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, State of Palestine and Panama presented their credentials to Sri Lanka's President Mr.Mahinda Rajapaksa at Presidential Secretariat Wednesday morning, diplomatic sources in Colombo said.
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SLN fires artillery in Vadamaradchy deep seas

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 12:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers fired artillery in deep seas in Vadamaradchy east between 8 and 9 am Wednesday causing frightened fishermen fishing between Mamunai up to Uduthurai to hastily return to shore, sources in Vadamaradchy said.
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LTTE protest to Sri Lanka Government over amendment issue

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 11:18 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTE) has registered its strong protest, expressing deep displeasure to Sri Lankan President Rajapakse administration over the stand taken by members of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) negotiating team claiming that the Ceasefire Agreement has been amended. Mr. Anton Balasingham, LTTE’s chief negotiator and political ideologue, told the TamilNet that a message expressing serious concern and disapproval was conveyed to the Government of Sri Lanka through the Norwegian facilitators Wednesday.
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Appeal Court to hear petition against CFA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 10:58 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Court of Appeal fixed the inquiry for 29 March into the petition filed by the Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and all monks' party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) seeking the court to nullify the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) entered into between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The JVP and JHU argue that the CFA is against the Constitution of Sri Lanka and illegal. The GoSL and the LTTE renewed their commitment to respect and uphold the Ceasefire Agreement of February 2002 in Geneva last week.
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Ashraff to brief Muslim leaders on Geneva talks

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 10:27 GMT]
Ms Ferial Ashraff, Minister and the leader of the National Unity Alliance (NUA), one of the constituent parties in the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), is to hold a meeting with Muslim leaders this week in Colombo to decide on a plan of action to draw the focus of the Government and LTTE to the problems related to Muslim community and to include a separate delegation in the future peace talks, sources said.
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Muttur Magistrate reprimands Police irresponsible arrests

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 10:26 GMT]
Mr.Manickavasagar Ganesharajah, Muttur Magistrate instructed the Police to adhere to proper procedures while arresting and investigating suspects in cases. He admonished the police to not to harm and harass innocent civilians, and not to arrest suspects arbitrarily. The Magistrate made this remark Tuesday in open court when the Police submitted a report in a case stating that they did not recover any explosives from a suspect during the investigation. The Magistrate acting on the police report released the suspect from the case, legal sources said.
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Kalmunai refugees call off protest

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 07:48 GMT]
The sit-in-protest of tsunami-affected families in front of the office of the Kalmunai Divisional Secretariat (Muslim) division, which began on 22 February, came to an end after Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse Wednesday morning assured the refugees through a specially set up satellite link that they would be provided with permanant houses within 3 months.
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Colombo misleads public on CFA amendments- UNP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 03:21 GMT]
"Sri Lanka delegation to the Geneva talks has claimed that they were sucessful in amending the Cease Fire Agreement. If so the Sri Lanka Government has an obligation to disclose to the people the details of these amendments," said Colombo district parliamentarian of the United National Party (UNP), Bandula Gunawardene, in a press meet held in Colombo Wednesday.
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Sri Lanka should ignore Geneva Agreement- JHU

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 01:30 GMT]
"Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) has to be amended urgently. Sri Lanka Government delegation to the next round of talks in Geneva should strictly adhere to the principles promulgated in Mahinda Chintanaya," said Ven. Ellawala Medananda Thero, the leader of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), the all monks Buddhist nationalist party, in a press meet held at the Buddhist Centre in Colombo Tuesday afternoon, sources said.
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Jaffna fishermen's woes discussed in SLN, civil society meet

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 00:54 GMT]
A meeting between Northern Region Commander of Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Major General Chandrasiri and a delegation of civil society members held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Kankesanthurai command of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) to explore solutions to hardships faced by fishermen in Jaffna district, ended inconclusively, sources in Jaffna said. Maj.Gen Chandrasiri told the civil society delegation that responses will be provided within two weeks after consultations with higher authorities in Colombo.
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SL President to meet JVP, JHU separately before APC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 00:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse is planning to meet the leaders of the Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and all monks' party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) separately before holding the All Party Conference (APC) to brief the outcome of the Geneva peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), political sources in Colombo said.
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Supreme court hears Jaffna HSZ Fundamental Rights case

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 00:05 GMT]
The Supreme Court (SC) Monday gave additional time to the prosecution to obtain a report from the Jaffna Government Agent which dealt with issues related to allowing cultivation on lands within the high security zones in the Jaffna district. The SC made the order when the Fundamental Rights (FR) applications filed by three farmers and Mr.Mavai Senathirajah, Jaffna district parliamentarian, were taken up for further inquiry, legal sources said.
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