SLA kills youth in Chenkalady

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 21:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers shot dead a Tamil civilian at 6:00 p.m. Friday in Chenkalady near the Bank of Ceylon building area in Eravur Police division, police said. Witnesses said the SLA soldiers first shot Gnanasekaram Santhiran, 30, in his head, and after he fell to the ground, shot him at close range.
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SLA informant shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 18:36 GMT]
Vijayarajah, 53, from Araly North near Vaddukoddai, alleged to be an informant of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), was shot dead by unidentified gunmen close to the Mawaththai playgrounds in Araly, Thursday at 5:30 p.m., sources from Jaffna said.
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Clash erupts in northern waters off KKS

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 17:39 GMT]
A sea fight was reported in the seas east of Kankesanthuari Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) base around 10:15 p.m. Friday. The clash, which started in an area between Valalai and Thondamanaru, went on for 30 minutes, paused for a short period, and re-started again, residents along the coastal areas in Vadamaradchi said. At least two boats were seen burning.
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SLA soldiers shoot dead Tamil civilian at Sambaltivu checkpost

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 15:53 GMT]
A Tamil civilian was shot dead by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) manning a checkpoint at Sambaltivu junction about five km off north of Trincomalee town Friday 3:00 p.m., security sources said. The body was brought to the Trincomalee general hospital and is yet to be identified, hospital sources said.
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Ex-LTTE cadre shot dead in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 15:20 GMT]
A former member of Liberation Tigers was shot and killed by gunmen belonging to a paramilitary group Friday at 1.30 pm at Vivekanantha Road in Karaitheevu Kalmunai, sources in Kalmunai said. Four gunmen came to the house in motorbikes, talked to Kanthasamy Jeyanthakumar, 28, before shooting him at close range with a 9mm pistol.
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Two SLA troopers injured in Alaveddy attack

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 14:22 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers were seriously injured when they came under fire from unknown gunmen in front of the Soosaiyappar Church in Alaveddy, Valigamam Jaffna district at 1:30 p.m. Friday, sources in Jaffna said. The troopers were carrying food parcels in bicycles for other soldiers engaged in security duty when they were attacked. The troopers returned fire and the firefight lasted for more than 10 minutes before the attackers escaped from the site, sources said.
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Police registration made mandatory to Hill Country, Colombo Tamils

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 13:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Government announced that Tamils living in Colombo and suburbs, and in hill country will be required to register with Sri Lanka Police nearest to their residences, in a Press conference held in Colombo district Administrative Secretariat, sources in Colombo said. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Pujitha Jeyasundera, detailed the procedures to be followed by Tamil residents in fulfilling this new requirement.
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US Tamils to protest in front of UN in New York

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 09:57 GMT]
US-based Tamil organizations are to jointly conduct a peace march in front of the United Nations Head Quarters in New York Friday, between 2.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. to protest against the violence on Tamil civilians by the Government of Sri Lanka and the paramilitaries, a leaflet sent to Tamil Americans said.
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Daughter shot dead, father seriously injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 09:34 GMT]
Suspected Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and EPDP paramilitaries shot and killed Jaffna resident Ms Sathasivam Mathuri, 32, and seriously injured her father Kasipillai Sathasivam, 75, Thursday midnight at 12:17 a.m. at their home in Athiyadi New road, in Athiyady, located 2 km northeast of Jaffna Town, residents said. Sathasivam is the father of a senior Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) commander Archuna, who died in mid 80's in Mannar, and Mathuri is his sister.
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SL Navy intelligence officer, gunman killed in Mannar

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 06:18 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Navy Intelligence officer was shot and killed when he was shopping at the bazaar in Mannar around 10:00 a.m., Friday. Sri Lankan troopers who surrounded the area shot the gunman who gunned down the intelligence officer, Police said.
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SLA sentry in Mannar attacked, soldier wounded

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 June 2006, 06:13 GMT]
Unidentified men lobbed a grenade at an army sentry located near the office of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) Friday early morning around 5.45 a.m. A soldier, M.Surasena,46, was injured in the attack, police sources said.
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Kalmunai Municipal Council's first meeting held

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2006, 17:31 GMT]
"We should administer the newly created Kalmunai Municipal Council as an example to show the unity of Muslims and Tamils in the town," said Deputy Mayor Mr.I.L.Kamardeen addressing the first meeting of the council Thursday morning. The Mayor Mr.Abdul Rahim Asmir did not attend the meeting due to illness, sources said.
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Muttur East resident abducted

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2006, 17:30 GMT]


Mr.Selliah Varnakulasingham, 51, a watcher of the Muttur Pradesiya Sabha (PS) was abducted Tuesday evening by unidentified men in the heart of Muttur town located in the government controlled area when he was returning in a three wheeler to his home in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held village in the Muttur east, police sources said.
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Civilian shot, injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2006, 16:07 GMT]
Unknown gunmen shot and seriously injured a civilian in Navaly North, Aanaikottai area in Valigamam, Jaffna district at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, civil sources in Jaffna said. The gunmen requested Ilayathamby Vanniyasingam, 46, to come out of his house and fired at him at close range, sources added.
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US paper advocates "loose Confederation" for Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2006, 10:45 GMT]
"The international community should press the Sri Lankan government and the Tigers alike to come to the negotiating table in Oslo and work out a loose confederation that retains Sri Lanka's unity, grants the Tamil northeast self-governing autonomy, and puts an end to the island's long agony," said Boston Globe in an editorial that appeared in its Thursday edition.
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Rationale for LTTE olive branch missed - paper

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2006, 10:07 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers’ extension of an olive branch to India has, amid the ensuing media frenzy, been widely misunderstood, the Tamil Guardian newspaper said in its editorial this week. Pointing out that amid rising violence against Tamil civilians, “twenty years [after first doing so], India is again intervening to protect the Tamils from the Sri Lankan state,” the paper said: “securing the island’s Tamils and ensuring their rights are restored and safeguarded is a goal behind which both the LTTE and India are separately, but simultaneously, once again aligned.”
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Young family man shot dead in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2006, 09:09 GMT]
Unknown gunman shot and killed Thayanithy Ketheeswaran, 29, a father of a child, with a 9mm pistol at his home in Arasunar Road, Pandiruppu, Kalmunai, 39 km south of Batticaloa, Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m., said Kalmunai Police. He was with his young family in his house when the assailant who came in a vehicle, struck him and escaped.
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Jewellery shop owner missing after SLA detention

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2006, 08:06 GMT]
Kanesan Sivanesan, 36, the proprietor of a well known Jewellery store in Inuvil disappeared following interrogation by the SLA on 28 May and since has disappeared. Relatives say, an anonymous phone caller informed the family that they were holding Sivanesan and demanded Rs.500, 000 for his release, raising the spectre of SLA complicity in a ransom racket.
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9 Tamil engineering undergrads arrested by Moratuwa Police

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2006, 01:15 GMT]
Nine Tamil students from Jaffna, following undergraduate course in engineering at the Moratuwa campus, have been arrested by Moratuwa Police, and are being detained at the Police station from Tuesday afternoon. Police officers did not disclose the reason for the arrests, sources said.
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Gunmen attack Murunkan circuit court

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2006, 00:16 GMT]
Murunkan circuit court proceedings came to an abrupt end after about fifteen minutes Wednesday morning around 10.15 a.m. when unidentified gunmen fired at the building hiding behind densely grown shrub area at the rear of Murunkan post office building, attorneys attending the court said. Mannar Magistrate Mr.N.M.M.Abdullah who was hearing a case, four attorney-at-laws, and litigants fell to the ground for safety, sources said.
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Violence adding to 600,000 displaced - Amnesty

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2006, 00:01 GMT]
Saying that over six hundred thousand displaced people are suffering the effects of intensifying violence, Amnesty International Wednesday blamed the Tamil Tigers, the Sri Lankan government and other armed groups. Almost 40,000 people have been displaced since April 7, the London-based human rights group said.
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Claymore explosion kills three Mannar civilians

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 18:36 GMT]
Three Tamil civilians were killed in a claymore explosion Wednesday afternoon around 4:00 p.m. while transporting sand in a tractor from Kallaru located in the Liberation Tigers controlled Musali division in Mannar district, civil sources said.
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SLA soldier shot, injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 17:00 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and injured a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier in Saththukondan, Batticaloa-Trincomalee road at 7:40 a.m., Wednesday near the Saththurukundan SLA camp, security sources said.
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SLA cordons off, searches large areas in Vadamaradchy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 16:00 GMT]
Several towns and villages along the Point Pedro - Chavakachcheri road, and Point Pedro- Kodikamam road were cordoned off and searched from 5:00 a.m. Wednesday until noon, residents of the area said. Manthikai, Yaakaru, and Thunnalai up to Mulli were affected by the search operation. Vehicular traffic was blocked from these areas throughout the morning, sources said.
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USAID project to revitalize harbors in Southern towns

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 11:38 GMT]
As part of the Sri Lanka Tsunami Reconstruction Program (SLTRP) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the US inaugurated an initial phase of a project costing Rs 21m to revitalize fishing harbor in Southern town of Hikkaduwa, as well as at harbors in Mirissa and Puranawella, a press release issued by the US embassy in Colombo said Wednesday.
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Three businessmen missing in Vakarai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 11:20 GMT]
Three businessmen who had gone to Vakarai area in Batticaloa in a lorry with a consignment of softdrinks have been reported missing for three days, relatives have reported to Valaiachenai Police Tuesday 9:30 p.m., sources said.
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160 disappear after SLA arrests in Jaffna- SLHRC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 09:30 GMT]
The number of civilian disappearances after detention by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Jaffna Peninsula since December has exceeded 160, the Jaffna office of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) said Tuesday. Numbers have steadily increased after the stepping up of search operations by the SLA, HRC officials added.
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3 Tamil youths shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 09:28 GMT]
Unknown gunmen who arrived in motorbikes, shot and killed 3 youths, using military-type 9mm pistols, on their way home in Mylambaveli, 7 km, north of Batticaloa town, Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., said Eravur police. The killings took place 250 meters from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp at Mylambaveli on the Batticaloa-Trincomalee road.
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General shut down paralyzes Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 09:11 GMT]
The normal life in the Trincomalee town was completely disrupted following a general shut down observed Wednesday in response to an appeal by the Trincomalee District Tamil Resurgence Forum condemning the terror unleashed by the State armed forces on the innocent Tamil civilians in the North East and the militarization of the Trincomalee district civil administration by appointing retired army and navy personnel for the key civil posts such as the Governor of the North East Provincial Council and the District Government Agent, sources said.
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One of four missing Tamil civilians found dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 09:08 GMT]
One of the four Tamil civilians Mr.Anthony Joseph reported missing was found dead with gunshot and cut injuries Tuesday evening at Periyakulam in Kuchchaveli Police division. The whereabouts of other three Tamil civilians of Bharathipuram in Killiveddy in Serunuwara police division are not still known, civil sources said.
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5 SLN sailors, 1 LTTE cadre killed in sea clash - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 07:50 GMT]
Sea Tiger vessels counter-attacked and sunk a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) navy water-jet vessel and destroyed another SLN vessel in the northwestern seas, according to a news release issued by the media unit of the LTTE. Five SLN troopers were in the boat which was sunk by the Sea Tigers. One LTTE cadre was killed in the clash. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Police sources in Puttalam claimed that the clash had taken place between Kuthiraimalai and Kalpitty in Puttalam district.
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State funeral for Major General Kulatunga

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 03:16 GMT]
The funeral of Major General Parami Kulatunga, is expected to take place with full State honors at 6:00 p.m. at the Borella Kanatte cemetary Wednesday, Sri Lanka Government sources in Colombo said. The funeral cortege will begin its journey from Maj.Gen.Kulatunga's brother's house in Kelany Maithri Mawatte to the Kanatte cemetary, sources said.
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Protect witnesses in Trinco killings, Rights Group tells Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 01:28 GMT]
“Dr. Manoharan has courageously come forward to testify about the brutal killings of these five young men [in Trincomalee]...The Sri Lankan government should show a fraction of his courage and take urgent measures to control its security forces and protect the doctor and other witnesses who may wish to testify,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in a media release issued by the New York based Rights Group Tuesday, one day before Trincomalee court will hear eyewitness testimony against a dozen security force personnel implicated in the case.
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Grenade attack injures one SL Police in Mannar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 18:06 GMT]
One Sri Lanka police constable, Mr.Vithanavasa, was injured when unidentified men lobbed a grenade at the police sentry point located in the premises of Telecommunications station in the heart of Mannar town Tuesday night around 7.15 p.m. In the retaliatory fire by the police two Tamil civilians were injured, civil sources said.
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SLA informant shot dead in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 17:55 GMT]
A youth from Singainagar in Vallipuram in Vadamaradchy, alleged to be an informant to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), was shot dead when he was on his way towards Manthikai along Jaffna - Point Pedro road at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, sources in Point Pedro said.
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Rajiv Gandhi assassination ‘a monumental historical tragedy’ – Balasingham

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 16:33 GMT]
In an exclusive interview with India’s NDTV, the LTTE’s Chief Negotiator and theoretician, Mr. Anton Balasingham, described the assassination in 1991 of Rajiv Gandhi as a “great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy.” Saying “we call upon the Government of India and people of India to be magnanimous to put the past behind and to approach the ethnic question in a different perspective” Mr. Balasingham said the event has to be seen in its political and historical context of the time, involving the military intervention of India and a war between the Indian Peace Keeping Force and the LTTE.
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LTTE cadre killed in clash with SL DPU team

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 10:32 GMT]
A cadre of a search party of LTTE fighters, who went in search of Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) attackers who had moved into the LTTE controlled territory in Kirimichchai area in Vaharai region of Batticaloa district, was gunned down by DPU gunmen, Tuesday around 6:00 a.m., according to the Political Section of the Tigers in Batticaloa.
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Protest fast held in Pesalai church

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 09:19 GMT]
More than five thousand residents participated in the one day fast organized by the Inter-Religious Forum held Monday in the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Pesalai condemning the killing Tamil civilians sought refuge in the church Tuesday, civil society sources from Mannar said. Netherlands Ambassador in Sri Lanka also paid a visit to the site, sources said.
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Four Tamil civilians reported missing in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 09:10 GMT]
Three Tamil farmers of Bharathipuram in Killiveddy village located in the government controlled Serunuwara police division in Trincomalee district have been reported missing since Monday morning around ten a.m. after they went to Aathiamankerni area in search of their cattle. Another Tamil civilian was reported missing in Periyakulam in the government controlled Kuchchaveli Police division since June 25 after he went to the nearby jungle to bring firewood.
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Senior EPDP activist shot, injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 03:03 GMT]
A senior member of Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) who served as Jaffna Municipal Council member of several years was shot and seriously injured by unknown gunmen at 7:05 p.m. Monday in Jaffna, EPDP sources in Jaffna said. Manickam Kanagaratnam, 70, was shot outside his house near Aariyakulam junction along the Jaffna-Point Pedro road, sources added.
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New building for tsunami destroyed school in Ninthavur

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 01:40 GMT]
Three storied building constructed at an estimated cost of about 25 million rupees for tsunami destroyed Ninthavur Al-Athan Vidiyalyam in the Amparai district by the Rotary Club of Nikaweratiya in association with the Rotary Club of Wariyapola was handed over to the Provincial Department of Education at an event held Sunday evening, sources in Amparai said.
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Trinco UC, NE Provincial Council employees boycott work

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 01:37 GMT]
Employees of the Trincomalee Urban Council (UC) and Provincial Department of Health Services and Public Administration Monday struck work in protest to the indiscriminate arrest and harassment by soldiers of the State armed forces.
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MPs, NGOs urge lifting of Batticaloa embargo

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 June 2006, 15:52 GMT]
Batticaloa parliamentarians P Ariyanenthiran, S Jeyananthamoorthy and Ms T Thangeswari, North East Community Restoration and Development Project (NECORD) implementing officer K Sivanantharaja, and other NGOs,Monday at 9:30 a.m., met the Batticaloa's military-civil coordinating officer Maj. Gen. Wetty Perera at a conferenceed by Batticaloa Government agent S Punniyamoorthy held in the Batticaloa Kachcheri, to appeal against the military-imposed economic restrictions in the region.
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LTTE releases 46 under-age youths

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 June 2006, 11:36 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers have released 46 under-age youths, 22 of the youths to their parents and 24 were enrolled with the Education Skills and Development Centre (ESDC) for education.
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EPDP supporter shot dead in Jaffna islet

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 June 2006, 11:10 GMT]
Owner of a welding plant in Vankalavadi, Velanai in Jaffna islets was shot dead at 1:35 p.m. by two unknown gunmen who arrived in a motorbike at the garage. C. Yogeswaran, 55, who is alleged to be a supporter of Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) is from Nayanmarkattu area in Nallur, local residents said.
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Tamil civilian shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 June 2006, 09:34 GMT]
Unidentified assailant using a 9mm pistol, shot and killed Batticaloa resident Mr Thurairajah Jogaraja, 34, at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, at his home in Onthachchimadam, Kalawanchchikudi, 20 km south of Batticaloa, said OIC Jayawardena of Kalawanchchikudi police.
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SLA arrested youth found dead in Trincomalee suburb

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 June 2006, 08:28 GMT]
The body of one of the three Tamil youths arrested by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) during the cordon and search operation held Sunday evening was recovered with cut and gunshot injuries Monday morning along cemetery road in Bharathipuram, a suburb of east port town in the Uppuveli Police Division, civil sources said. The body has been identified as belonging to Baskaran, a mason by profession, from Kanniya Road, Anpuvallipuram. The whereabouts of other two civilians arrested by the SLA were not known, civil sources said.
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Senior SLA Commander killed in bomb blast

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 June 2006, 02:59 GMT]
A senior top official of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Major General Parami Kulatunga, who holds the third position in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) high command was killed in Pannipitiya, 15 km southeast of Colombo, in Homagama police division in Western Province, in a suicide bomb attack around 7:45 a.m. Monday, Police said. Maj. Gen. Kulatunga, Deputy Chief of Staff, has served as SLA Commander for Vanni High Command of the Sri Lanka Army.
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SL police, civilian injured in Mannar gunfire

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 June 2006, 00:36 GMT]
One police constable was seriously injured when unidentified persons fired at the combined Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police sentry located in the Mannar public playground Sunday night at about 8.30 p.m. One of the two Tamil civilians in a three-wheeler were injured in the retaliatory fire by the security forces and the other was arrested by the Police, civil sources said.
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Trinco Rotary Club gets new President

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 June 2006, 00:15 GMT]
Mr. J.W.M. Borham was appointed as the 28th President of Trincomalee Rotary Club for the year 2006-2007 Saturday at an event held at Trincomalee Rotary House with Sri Lanka's Rotary District Governor Mr.Bobby Senaweera as the chief guest and Rev.Fr.C.P.Rajendran, Rector of the Trincomalee Campus of the Eastern University as the Guest of Honour, sources said.
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Tamil expatriate shot dead in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 June 2006, 15:41 GMT]
An expatriate Tamil from Switzerland who was in Valaichenai, visiting his family on a 2-weeks vacation, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen Sunday evening around 3:15 p.m. at Kannankiramam, Police said.
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Rajapakse will disarm Karuna if LTTE accepts direct peace deal- paper

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 June 2006, 12:50 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse has intimated to the editor of Jaffna daily Uthayan, N. Vithyatharan, to exchange messages with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to strike a deal for starting direct talks with the LTTE, with the intention of bypassing the facilitation of Royal Government of Norway, a leading broadsheet in Colombo, Sunday Leader said in its latest edition. Mr Rajapakse had said that he will disarm Karuna Group if his proposed two week peace-deal is accepted by the LTTE, the paper said.
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War unavoidable if Norway suspends monitoring function - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 June 2006, 10:52 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers Political Head S.P.Thamilchelvan, when asked what LTTE's reaction would be, if Norway, on 29 June, chose to suspend the monitoring role, responded that a such decision would signal an end to the already fragile ceasefire and plunge the island into war. Mr. Thamilchelvan further said that the Tigers responding to the questions posed by the facilitator Norway, had replied that they were fully prepared to continue providing diplomatic immunity to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) as a mission coordinated, facilitated and led by the Royal Norwegian Government.
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New Rs 9.3m building for Kalmunai Fatima College

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 June 2006, 10:39 GMT]
The Bishop of Trincomalee-Batticaloa Diocese Rt.Rev.Dr.Kingsley Swampillai Saturday laid the foundation stone for a modern school building to be constructed at an estimated cost of 9.3 million rupees at Kalmunai Carmel Fatima College by the Kalmunai Rotary Club with the funding of London Burnham Beaches' Rotary Club, school officials said.
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PLOTE cadre shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 June 2006, 09:35 GMT]
A Senior member of Peoples Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) was shot dead by unknown gunmen in front of Jaffna Teaching Hospital, in the bicycle park located at Hospital Road Jaffna, at 12:35 p.m. Sunday, sources in Jaffna said. Mohammed Bazeer, 42, with nom de guerre "Simon," was originally from White Sand area of Trincomallee joined PLOTE ten years ago and has been working in Jaffna district, sources said.
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SL Police officer shot, injured in Mandur

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 June 2006, 00:46 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and injured Police officer, M.W.Luxman, 35, in Mandur, Batticaloa at 7:30 p.m. Saturday near the Batticaloa-Amparai border area, police sources said. The incident took place near the Vellavely Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp.
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Ministers cancel visit to Pesalai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 18:11 GMT]
Sri Lanka Ministers Mr.Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Mr.Rischard Badiudeen and Mr.Felix Perera Saturday evening called off their scheduled visit to Pesalai and Vankalai after being notified about a firefight between the SLN soldiers and unidentified persons in Vankalaipadu coastal area, civil sources said. The Ministers had planned to visit the these areas after a conference held in the Sunny Village Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) camp in Mannar Saturday 3:00 p.m. to look into the difficulties faced by Mannar fishermen after SLN's fishing ban.
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Muttur East students need educational facilities, LTTE tells UNICEF

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 18:09 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has appealed to the UNICEF to make arrangement for displaced students due to recent military attacks by the Sri Lankan State armed forces on Muttur east villages to attend classes in schools located near their temporary shelters. Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the LTTE, made this request to the UNICEF Trincomalee head when the latter met him at Sampoor LTTE political secretariat Friday evening, sources said.
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Hartal observed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 17:37 GMT]
Hartal was observed throughout Jaffna district Saturday following a call to traders and residents in Jaffna by the Tamil National Resurgence Movement (TNRM) to condemn Sri Lankan armed forces for their desecration of Kopay National Heroes Cemetery, and for destroying the Thileepan memorial stone near the Nallur temple in Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said.
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Fishing ban lifted in Mannar, victims receive compensation

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 16:15 GMT]
The ban imposed on fishing in Mannar Sea by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) will be lifted from Sunday, except for Pesalai and Pallimunai, Sri Lanka Government sources from Mannar said. The decision was taken at a discussion held Saturday evening in Sunny Village SLN camp where three Sri Lanka Government Ministers, Mannar officials and commanders of security forces participated, sources said.
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Grenade attack on Batticaloa police sentry

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 11:55 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen hurled a hand grenade at the Sri Lanka police sentry point located in Iruthayapuram along the Batticaloa-Trincomalee road at around 4:45 p.m, Friday, security sources said. Four police officers engaged in security duty at the time fired indiscriminately after the attack, local witnesses said. No one was injured in the incident, Batticaloa police said.
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Durban Tamils protest against Sri Lanka's Rights violations

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 11:34 GMT]
Representatives of the Tamil Co-ordinating Committee of South Africa (TCC), members of organizations supporting human rights in South Africa, and expatriate Tamils staged a peaceful march and placard demonstration in front of the Durban City Hall, South Africa Friday 23rd June 2006. More than 200 people protested the human rights violations of the Sri Lanka Government against Tamil civilians and European Union’s proscription of the LTTE, organizers of the event said.
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Two SLA soldiers killed in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 10:35 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were shot and seriously injured by unidentified armed men riding a motorbike, at Vepankulam, 5 k.m. west of Vavuniya, around 2.15 p.m., Saturday. The injured soldiers succumbed to there injuries at Vavuniya hospital, police in the northern town said.
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Arson destroys Rs. 0.2m worth of property in Eravur

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 09:35 GMT]
Nearly Rs. 0.2m worth contents of a house located at Pannikkar Rd, Eravur in the Eravur police division were destroyed by fire, suspected to be arson, Thursday night, Eravur Police said. Police said they believe a family dispute was the cause of the arson and the suspect, Mohamad Kabir, is helping with the inquiries.
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SLA soldier placed grenade by husband's body, wife tells judge

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 03:02 GMT]
"On the day my husband was killed and his body lay on the ground, I saw SLA soldier hide a hand grenade inside his clothing,” said Sivathesam, 42, in her evidence at the murder inquiry of her husband Kaththamutthu Rasanayagam, 43, shot and killed by SLA soldiers at Santhivelli Main Road, legal sources said. The hearing was held before Judge M.H.M Achmir, Friday morning at the Batticaloa district court.
Full story >>

Thirukovil hospital has no medical officers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 01:50 GMT]
Thirukovil district hospital in the Amparai district is without a medical officer for the last five days causing immense hardship to large number of patients who seek medical attention, civil sources said.Two Sinhalese medical officers working in the hospital have gone leave since Monday.
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Grenade attack on civilian house in Chenkalady

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 June 2006, 00:21 GMT]
Unidentified persons lobbed a grenade at the house of Mr.Ilayathamby Indrakumar located in Ellai Veethi Kanapathipillai village at Chenkalady in Eravur Police division in Batticaloa district Thursday night around 10 p.m. The house was severely damaged but the occupants escaped unhurt, police sources said.
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Tamil journalist detained by Mt.Lavania Police

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 June 2006, 20:21 GMT]
K Kumarathasan, 35, a news editor at Jaffna based Tamil daily Uthayan, was arrested by Sri Lanka Police at 10:00 a.m. Friday in Moratuwa at a sentry point in Galle Road, and held at the Mt.Lavania police station for more than 10 hours before he was released, sources in Colombo said. Kumarathas's wife, two children, and the driver of the van he was travelling, were also held in custody with Mr Kumarathas, sources added.
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Sri Lanka reimposing press curbs – watchdog

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 June 2006, 19:13 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government is re-introducing press censorship, reimposing curbs lifted in 2002, a local media watchdog protested Friday. Noting that “cabinet had approved the re- introduction of state controlled regulation of media in Sri Lanka,” the Free Media Movement (FMM), said “the government has taken a step backward on safe-guarding the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.”
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SLN soldiers falsely implicate Mannar fisherman

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 June 2006, 15:59 GMT]
Mr.Anthony Balashankar, 35, Tamil fisherman and a father of five children, was arrested Thursday evening by the Sri Lanka Navy falsely implicating him that he was in possession of a grenade. The fisherman was produced in Mannar court Friday evening on a report that he was carrying a grenade with him at the time of arrest by the SLN soldiers. Additional Magistrate Mr.T.J.Pirapaharan remanded him till July 28, legal sources said.
Full story >>

SLA hinders school rehabilitation work in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 June 2006, 15:46 GMT]
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooporation (SDC), which is running a post-conflict school rehabilitation programme in Jaffna, has written letters to the Government agent of Jaffna and the Military commander of Jaffna, informing that due to army harassment SDC is considering suspending school rehabilitation work at Hartley college and Methodist High Girls school which lie within the High Security Zone (HSZ), sources from Point Pedro said.
Full story >>

Nordic countries to discuss SLMM's future role

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 June 2006, 11:15 GMT]
Embassy of Norway in Colombo, in a press release issued today said that according to LTTE, "European Union ban on the LTTE has seriously disturbed the neutrality of these countries," and LTTE has "repeated its demand that SLMM monitors from EU countries (Denmark, Finland, and Sweden) be replaced." The release added that this demand is "deeply regrettable and will weaken the SLMM in a critical period," and that Norway has invited the other Nordic countries to a meeting in Oslo on 29 June to discuss the safety and future role and function of the SLMM."
Full story >>

Two SLA soldies injured in Point-Pedro attack die

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 June 2006, 10:21 GMT]
Two of the SLA soldiers including a corporal who suffered serious injuries, when their road patrol came under attack in Thunnali, Wednesday evening, died Thursday in Palaly military hospital, sources said. The third SLA soldier injured in the attack is undergoing emergency treatment at the military hospital in Palaly.
Full story >>

Sri Lankan forces cordon, search Batticaloa town market

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 June 2006, 08:38 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police, Special Task Force (STF) and the SriLanka Army (SLA) troopers, with paramilitary cadres, cordoned off and searched Batticaloa town market area, located near Batticaloa Police station, Friday from 5:30 a.m. till 10:30 a.m. No arrests were made during the search operation, Police said.
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Mannar SLN Commander ordered to appear in Court

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 June 2006, 06:10 GMT]
"Within few minutes after the fire fight between the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was over in Mannar Sea on June 17th morning, four navy soldiers who returned from the shore in motorbikes lobbed grenades through the windows into the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Pesalai and fired at random on the church doors," said five witnesses giving evidence before the Mannar Additional Magistrate Mr.T.J.Pirapaharan Thursday. The Talaimannar Police led the evidence of the witnesses, legal sources said.
Full story >>

Tamil businessman shot dead in Negombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 June 2006, 03:05 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen riding motor bikes shot and killed Sivarathnam Sasikumar, a businessman, Wednesday at 10:15 p.m. in Negombo. Sasikumar was going home with a friend when he was shot in the head and chest police said.
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Two civilians shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 June 2006, 17:44 GMT]
Two separately abducted Batticaloa residents, Kanthasamy Thavarajah, 20, and Shanmugam Jeyaratnam, 39, were shot and killed by their abductors, in two different locations at Santhiveli, 19 km north of Batticaloa Town, and Vinayagapuram, 32 km north of Batticaloa town, on Thursday police sources said.
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UNICEF calls for halt to child recruitment by Karuna Group

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 June 2006, 11:27 GMT]
Following reports from the field in the past week of abductions and forced recruitment of children in the areas of Santhiveli, Kiran, Mankerni, Valaichchenai and Iruthayapuram in Manmunai North, the UNICEF, in a press release issued Thursday, condemned the abductions, and called for an immediate halt to the recruitment of children by Karuna Group.
Full story >>

STF cordons, searches Amparai villages

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 June 2006, 11:00 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) soldiers of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) cordoned off and searched Akkaraipattu, Aalaiyadi Vembu, Vaachikuda, Naavatkuda and Kolavil areas of Amparai district from 4:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Thursday, security sources said. Soldiers had in their possession a target list of names and registration numbers of motorbikes, local residents said.
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Son shot dead, father injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 June 2006, 10:43 GMT]
Armed men, carrying T56 assault rifles shot and killed, Milred Roy Weld, 39, and seriously wounded his father Milred Weld, 64, at around 9 p.m., Wednesday, while the two were resting after taking dinner at their home on Semakkalai Road in Jeyanthipuram, 1.5 km north of Batticaloa town, police sources said. Local residents alleged that the attackers were soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from Jeyanthipuram camp. The Weld family belongs to the Burgher community in Batticaloa.
Full story >>

SLA recovers claymore mine in Chenkalady

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 June 2006, 10:37 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers on a road clearing patrol discovered a claymore mine concealed in the shrub jungle along the Chenkaladi main road near Sellam Theater in Batticaloa Eravur Police division at 11:50 a.m. Thursday, security sources said.
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Arsonists target Kopay Heroes Cemetary

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 June 2006, 03:28 GMT]
Arsonalists alleged to be soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and collaborating paramilitaries set fire to the office building inside the Liberation Tigers' Kopay Heroes Cemetary on Rasa Veethy (road) Tuesday midnight, local residents said. The attackers forced open the main entrance, ransacked the office building, heaped the furniture and other photographs in the building, and set them on fire. The roof of the building sustained serious fire damage. Memorial stones were left undamaged, residents added.
Full story >>

Armed men rob three Muslim fish traders

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 June 2006, 00:48 GMT]
Three Muslim fish traders have lodged a complaint at the Eravur police station that they were robbed of Rs.83,900 and cell phones by armed men at the Punnaikuda Thalavai Road in the Batticaloa, Eravur police division at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, police sources said.
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New medical faculty established for Eastern University

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 June 2006, 00:08 GMT]
The first batch of medical students for the newly opened medical faculty, the seventh in the island, at the Eastern University was welcomed in a ceremony held at 9:00 a.m. on Monday 19th June at Kallady in Batticaloa, administrative officials of the university said. The Vice-Chancellor of the Eastern University Dr. S. Ravindranath welcoming the new students said, “This new Faculty of Health-Care Sciences, will benefit a million people living in the eastern province extending from Mullaitivu to Pottuvil."
Full story >>

Three SLA soldiers injured in Point-Pedro attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 19:44 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers including a corporal level officer were seriously injured when an SLA road patrol came under grenade attack followed by gunfire by unknown gunmen along the Point Pedro - Chavakachcheri road beween Manthikai junction and Kalikai junction in Vadamaradchy Wednesday afternoon, sources from Point Pedro said. Gunmen escaped after the attack.
Full story >>

SLA takes Colombo journalists on Jaffna tour

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 18:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Colombo based journalists, including those reporting for international agencies, were taken on a tour of security positions in Jaffna, in a convoy of 20 armoured tanks, Buffels, and Saladin pickup trucks, by the Sri Lankan Military on Tuesday and Wednesday, sources in Jaffna said. The journalists wearing bullet proof vests and army-type helmets, were seen in armoured vehicles as they passed thorough the traffic ridden Palaly road, en route to Jaffna town from Palaly army headquarters, sources added.
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2 SLA troopers injured in Jaffna clash

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 10:45 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured when soldiers on road patrol duty, and unknown gunmen clashed about 100 meters from Vaddukoddai Hindu college, in Vaddukoddai, 9 km northwest of Jaffna town, Wednesday morning, civil sources said. The gunmen escaped with no injuries, sources added.
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Mannar SLN rampage causes $5m damage to property

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 10:35 GMT]
Outboard engines, fibre glass boats, fishing nets and other related accessories belonging to fishermen of Pesalai, and Vankalaipadu in Mannar districts costing nearly US$5m were burnt and destroyed in the arson following the fire fight between the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Mannar Sea last week, according to preliminary reports submitted by the Mannar Divisional Secretary to the District Secretariat Wednesday, civil sources said.
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Aerial bombardment tantamounts to undeclared war, says Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 10:17 GMT]
S. P. Thamilchelvan, the political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Wednesday said the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) was yet to respond to LTTE's warning that the provocative air attacks, if continued, would be retaliated. "Aerial bombardment is interpreted as undeclared war on the Tamil nation," he told media after concluding a meeting with the Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar, clarifying the LTTE's response to Norway's five questions. "Colombo, obsessed with going to war with the Tamil Nation, has already begun to impose economic blockade on the Tamil homeland," LTTE's Political Head told media.
Full story >>

SL parliament observes one-minute silence to Tamil civilians

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 10:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Parliament Wednesday observed a one minute silence for those Tamil civilians killed by State armed forces and paramilitary groups working with them. Parliamentarians of all political parties including the Sinhala Nationalist Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the all monks party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) stood for one minute and observed silence, parliamentary sources said.
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TNA appeals to international community to ensure security to Tamils

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 09:59 GMT]
"We wish to impress upon the International Community that the Sri Lankan State is failing in it duty to give adequate protection to the Tamil civilian population. We wish to impress upon the International Community that it should intercede and compel the Sri Lankan State to fulfil its obligations to the Tamil civilian population. The atmosphere of unbridled impunity now prevalent should be brought to an end," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in statement made in the Sri Lanka's parliament Wednesday on the rapidly deteriorating plight of Tamil civilian population in the North East region of the country, parliamentary sources said.
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Norway, Nordic countries to respond on 29 June - Brattskar in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 07:00 GMT]
The Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar, on Wednesday, discussed with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan on LTTE's response to Norway's request of clarifications, issued on 08 June, from the parties to the Ceasefire Agreement. Confirming that the parties to the CFA, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the LTTE, have submitted their responses to the five questions posed by Norway, Mr. Hans Brattskar told media that Norway, as facilitator, has to take note of LTTE's point of view, although Norway regretted the LTTE's stand to the continued engagement of EU Member States from Nordic countries in the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
Full story >>

Youth shot dead near Urani SLA camp

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 01:18 GMT]
Unidentified armed gunmen riding a motorbike shot and killed Jeyaraj Suthaharan, 24, at Urani within the Batticaloa police division Tuesday afternoon, Batticaloa police said. The youth's body is lying in the Batticalao General Hospital, hospital sources said.
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Paramilitary cadres abduct Batticaloa youth

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 00:23 GMT]
A group of men driving a white van abducted Thayaparan Subaraj, 18, of Thalankuda in Puthukudiyiruppu in the Batticaloa Kattankudi police division at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Kattankudi police said. Local witnesses said the abductors were paramilitaries belonging to Karuna group.
Full story >>

Tamil businessman shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 16:40 GMT]
Two armed men who came in a motorbike entered a crowded liquor restaurant in Kommathurai, 16 km northwest of Batticaloa, shot and killed the business owner, Iyathurai Nirmalakumaran, 55, Tuesday around 7:00 p.m., Eravur Police said. The killers were Karuna Group paramilitary cadres, who had been demanding money from the businessman, according to civilian sources in Kommathurai.
Full story >>

85-year old man knifed to death in Jaffna islet

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 15:37 GMT]
Kathiravelu Subramaniam, 85, from 7th division in Punguduthivu, was found with severe cut wounds in his home Monday around 6:00 p.m., sources in Jaffna said. The lower parts of his body, including his genitals were severely dismembered, according to local residents.
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SLA soldier's body found with gunshot wounds in Kaithady

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 15:23 GMT]
The body of a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier who disappeared from the Thatchanthoppu SLA camp Tuesday morning at 6:30 a.m, was found with gunshot wounds in shrub jungles in a non-residential area of Kaithady in Thenmaradchy close the SLA camp, at 11.40 a.m., security sources in Jaffna said.
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SL Police delay in Allaipiddy investigations unacceptable- Judge

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 13:27 GMT]
Kayts district court Judge, Mr. Jeyaraman Trotsky accused the Sri Lanka Police of attempting to derail the investigations into the Allaipiddy killings in Jaffna islets, when the case was taken up at the Kayts Court Tuesday, legal sources said. Judge Trotsky in the earlier hearings gave 15 days extension to the special Committee lead by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) level officer Mahes Perera to submit a report detailing the investigations into the killings. Mr Mahesh Perera, instead, sent a letter to the judge citing reasons for the inability to submit the report and did not appear in Court, legal sources in Jaffna said.
Full story >>

SLMM guarantee needed to re-open Muttur east schools-Principals

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 12:24 GMT]
Around eight thousand students are not attending classes since the closure of eighteen government schools in the Liberation Tigers held Muttur east in the Trincomalee district since the three pronged attack launched by the Sri Lankan government forces in the last week of April following the suicide bomb attack on the army commander in Colombo. The artillery fire continued during the second week of June following Kebbitigollawa blast has forced them to continue the closure of schools, said Principals of Muttur east schools in a memorandum sent to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Tuesday.
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Jaffna Rights Group declines offer of SLA protection

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 10:08 GMT]
The new head of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) for the Jaffna district declined Sunday an offer made by the Jaffna Commander of SLA Major General Chandrasiri to provide security for the SLHRC's workers in Jaffna. The SLA offer was made following the death threats received by the previous head of the Commission for the Jaffna Peninsula Rohitha Priyadharshana who has since left Jaffna.
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Gunmen attack sentry at Polannaruwa Buddhist temple

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 09:51 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen fired at the joint Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Police sentry located near the Somawathiya, a historic Buddhist temple in Polonnnaruwa Monday evening at 6:00 p.m., police said. The troops returned fire but gunmen escaped. No one was injured in the incident.
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Two Claymore mines captured in Eravur, says SLA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 09:13 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers captured two Claymore mines fixed in Eravur, targeting an SLA convoy Tuesday morning, SL police officials in Eravur quoted SLA sources as saying.
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Pandemonium in SL parliament, JVP wants LTTE banned in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 06:31 GMT]
Speaker Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara Tuesday morning adjourned the sitting of the parliament when pandemonium reigned following heated arguments and fisticuffs between a group of parliamentarians of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) over the matter of observing two minute-silence for the Sinhalese civilians killed in Kebbitigollawa claymore mine explosion, and not for Tamil civilians killed by the Sri Lankan troops elsewhere in the NorthEast, parliamentary sources said.
Full story >>

Eastern volunteer teachers demand permanency

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 21:13 GMT]
The Eastern Province Volunteer Teachers' Union (EPVTU) Monday launched a protest fast on rotation basis in front of the Zonal Education Office in Kalmunai in the Amparai district demanding permanent appointment to all volunteer teachers who have been working for about ten years without payment or any allowances, union officials said.
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UNP MPs cross over speculation rife in Colombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 20:58 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Parliament is scheduled to meet Tuesday morning amid speculation in political circles about the cross over to the government rank by a group of parliamentarian of the main opposition United National Party (UNP). However the UNP officials denied such cross over, political sources said.
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Four Tamil youths arrested in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 18:05 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF), the elite counter-insurgency arm of the Sri Lankan forces, Monday morning arrested three Tamil youths in Akkaraipattu town in the Amparai district and handed them over to the SL Police in the town. The police said they apprehended another youth after interrogating the three youths. The youths were in posession of a T-56 automatic rifle, Akkaraipattu police claimed.
Full story >>

Mannar fishermen feared lost, return to Vankalaipadu

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 16:11 GMT]
Thirteen fishermen reported missing while fishing in Mannar Sea with their boats on Saturday during a fire-fight between the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) returned to Vankalaipadu shore Monday evening, sources in Mannar said. Mr.V.Visuvalingam, Mannar Government Agent, Ms Stanley de Mel, Mannar Divisional Secretary, representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and naval officers of the Vankalaipadu camp were present at the Vankalaipadu shore when these fishermen arrived from Vidathaltivu located in LTTE controlled Manthai West division.
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Clash erupts at Nagarkovil FDL

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 14:43 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were wounded in Nagarkovil in a fresh clash between the SLA and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Monday, according to SLA sources in Jaffna. The Liberation Tigers said they counter-attacked the SLA after LTTE Forward Defence Line (FDL) positions were targeted by SLA artillery fire around 5:45 p.m. Monday. Civilian sources in Thenmaradchi, Jaffna, said artillery fire was initiated from SLA 52 Brigade Head Quarters camp located in Varani.
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Man shot dead in Batticaloa town

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 11:26 GMT]
A male, aged between 45-50, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike between Lloyds Avenue and Arunagiri Road infront of the Vijaya theatre in Batticaloa at 8:45 a.m. Monday, sources from Batticaloa said. The killing took place 25 meters from a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry point.
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Independent Tamil homeland, a reality, not a myth -Elilan

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 11:02 GMT]
"Tamils as a people entitled to right to self-determination and the freedom of Tamil homeland is not a myth but a reality. The hardline Sinhala leadership in the South would come to know this soon," said Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) addressing a gathering of Tamil civilians who participated the civil defence training programme in several villages in the Muttur east Monday, sources in Trincomalee said.
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SLAF Kfir bombers observed over Vanni

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 10:01 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets were observed over remote suburbs of Vanni in high altitude around 2:25 p.m. Monday. Civilian sources reported hearing sounds of explosion. Liberation Tigers had earlier warned Colombo that they would be forced to retaliate if SLAF bombers continued to bomb Vanni.
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10,000 complaints await investigations, says Rights Group

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 09:25 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) has approximately 10,000 complaints in the Commission's head office awaiting investigations, said Mr. P Ramanathan the head of the Commission in a press statement released in Colombo last week. The statement accused some government authorities, administrative heads and judicial establishments for refusing to implement some key recommendations of the Commission to improve human rights.
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Mannar Police arrest TRO volunteer

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 07:29 GMT]
One of the volunteers of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), engaged in providing assistance to injured civilians warded in the Mannar district base hospital, was arrested by the Mannar Police on Sunday evening, TRO officials said.
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Two SLA soldiers killed in Manalaru - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 06:14 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and their bodies captured by the Tigers when a group of SLA troopers launched an attack on the Forward Defence Line (FDL) of the Tigers in the remote jungles of Manalaru, south of Mullaithivu, on Sunday.
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Tamil protest mars UK tourism push

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 03:05 GMT]
A major effort by Sri Lanka to promote tourism from Britain did not make much headway last week as British television and newspapers simultaneously gave considerable coverage to the spiraling violence in the island and highlighting fears of a slide back to war. Moreover, the grand finale of a ten-day festival promoting Sinhala culture held in Trafalgar Square Saturday drew a novel protest by Tamil youth organizations in London – traditional Tamil arts being performed for the public while volunteers distributed leaflets highlighting the bloodletting underway in the distant island.
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SLN assaults three Pallimunai fishermen

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 00:31 GMT]
Three fishermen from Pallimunai returning late Saturday around 7:00 p.m.after fishing in Mannar seas were severely assaulted by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers and have been warded in Mannar Hospital in critical condition, sources in Mannar said. Mannar residents have continued to seek refuge in the three churches in the area after the attack by SLN soldiers at the Our Lady of Victory church in Pesalai Saturday morning which killed 5 civilians and injured over 40, clergy in Pallimunai said.
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STF, paramilitary attack on LTTE office repulsed - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 June 2006, 14:49 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF), the elite counter insurgency arm of the Sri Lankan forces and paramilitary cadres launched an attack on the Political office of the Liberation Tigers, located in Pavatta, in the interior west of Thirukkovil in Amparai district, Sunday around 2:15 a.m. during the night. The Tigers repulsed the STF and paramilitary cadres, according to Amparai District LTTE Political Head, Jeya. Truce monitors are yet to visit the attack site. Paramilitary cadres brought in 2 lorries are still moving around in the STF controlled area, according to the residents.
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Paramilitary group abducts Muslims, demands ransom

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 June 2006, 14:02 GMT]
11 Muslim dairy farm workers out of a group of 18, going out to work from the Muslim village of Thambalai, were abducted Saturday by the Karuna paramilitary group on Pollonaruwa-Sunkavil road, 10 k.m. east of Pollonaruwa. The abductees were being held in the close by jungles of Sinnavil, with ransom demands of 1 million rupees, relatives of the farm workers said. Thambalai villagers have managed to collect 100,000 rupees, and paid the abductors who then released 5 farm workers, and demanded 500,000 rupees for the release of the remaining 4.
Full story >>

SLA builds new camp in Mallakam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 June 2006, 13:32 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers have established a new camp in an area between two schools along Jaffna-KKS Road near Mallakam, Mallakam residents said. Soldiers evicted elderly civilian owners from the house last week and have setup the camp in nearly half an acre (10 larchams) of land overnight, including road blocks, local residents said.
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SLN, SLAF conduct training exercise in Kayts

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 June 2006, 12:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) conducted a combined live fire exercise along the Karainagar-Kankesanthurai (KKS) seas along coast for nearly 20 minutes Saturday morning, defence sources in Jaffna said. SLN ships fired artillery shells from the sea while the Kfir fast attack aircrafts provided air cover during the training, residents witnessing training said.
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Three SL Police officers killed in Vavuniya claymore attack

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 June 2006, 11:33 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Police officers including a seargent was killed in a claymore attack in Thuttuwewa, a Sinhala settlement along Horawapotana road at 10:05 a.m. Saturday, Vavuniya Police said. The mine was fitted to a tracter with a water bowzer in tow, sources added.
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EU ban unfair, effect on expatriate support marginal- Prof. Plate

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 June 2006, 02:50 GMT]
"The European ban of the Liberation Tigers is unfair in one sense, but some one had to crack the ice; the situation cannot go on like this. However, the impact on the expatriate support is uncertain but probably marginal; the expatriates are loyal to a fault," Prof Tom Plate of University of California, Los Angeles, said Saturday when asked to comment on the EU ban.
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SLA kills man in Eravur

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 22:41 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers killed a man riding in a bicycle when the man ignored SLA's warning to stop at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Santhiveli area in Eravur Police division.
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EU ban decision primitive, says Danish Peace Council

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 17:09 GMT]
"Denmark should follow Norway and not European Union in this question [of working with both parties to the conflict]. We are part of a Nordic peace mission and that gives us much better ways to support peace than EU's labelling policy which I see as very primitive. This situation shows the world need neutral Scandinavian countries to promote peace," said Lave K. Broch, vice president of Danish peace council, commenting on violence following the EU ban of LTTE.
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Kalmunai Council ITAK members take oath

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 16:04 GMT]
All six councillors elected on Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK) ticket for the newly created Kalmunai Municipal Council took oaths before Mr.Kanagasabai Pathmanathan, Amparai district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian at an event specially held at Brothers' House Hall in Paandiruppu, Tamil sources in Trincomalee said. Mr. Y.L.Saleem, Kalmunai MC Commissioner, Mr.P.S.Peermohamed Thamby, Assistant Commissioner of Local Government, and Rev Fr.Dr.S.A.Mathew, leading educationist also participated in the event. Mr.K.Ehambaram, central committee of the TNA presided.
Full story >>

Three SLN soldiers drown in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 14:27 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers drowned in Modera sea in Colombo when their patrol craft capsized Saturday early morning, Sri Lanka naval sources said. One of the sailor's body was recovered Saturday afternoon, according to sources in Colombo.
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LTTE hands over DPU soldier's body to SL Government

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 13:54 GMT]
The body of Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), who was shot dead by members of the Tamil Auxilliary Force inside Mathiyamadu forest in the Nedunkerni area of Vavuniya district Thursday, was handed over to the representatives of the Red Cross (ICRC) Friday morning to be given to the Government of Sri Lanka, sources from Vavuniya said.
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Body recovered in Muhamalai belongs to Point-Pedro youth

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 13:27 GMT]
The body of a youth recovered from the no-man zone in Muhamalai with gunshot wounds on Wednesday 14 June was identified as belonging to a 16 year-old youth from Point-Pedro by the youth's mother at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary Saturday, hospital sources in Jaffna said.
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LTTE will be forced to retaliate, Thamilchelvan warns Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 09:54 GMT]
The LTTE has requested the Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the peace facilitor Norway's Ambassador to Sri Lanka to convey a strong warning to Colombo of possible retaliation following the provocative aerial bombing by the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) in Mullaithivu, Kilinochchi, Batticaloa, and artillery fire towards LTTE territory from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps carried out during the last 2 days in violation of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), LTTE Head of Political Wing, S.P. Thamilchelvan said in Kilinochchi Saturday.
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3 SLN boats sunk, 12 troopers killed - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 09:21 GMT]
Twelve Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel were killed and three "Blue Star" boats of the SLN were sunk in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled seas in Mannar districts when SLN boats interrupted a Sea Tiger movement, LTTE media unit said in a press note. Two Sea Tiger cadres sustained minor injuries in the defensive act, the Tigers said.
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Boat explodes, Colombo commercial hub, coastline security tightened

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 04:26 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army officials in Colombo said a suspected LTTE boat exploded near the shore between Pamunugama and Epamulla, 17 km north of Colombo town, around 6:25 a.m. Saturday. State armed forces and the police have tightened security measures along the coastline and the commercial hub of the Colombo city following the arrest of the three persons by the Wattala Police in Panagamuwa area Saturday morning, security sources said.
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Sri Lankan attacks violate CFA, SLMM officials agree with LTTE in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 04:15 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials in Trincomalee have explained to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) officials in the district that the aerial bombing and artillery fire, carried out by the Sri Lankan armed forces towards the LTTE controlled territory were considered "clear violations" of the ceasefire agreement, S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the LTTE, told media Friday after concluding a meeting with Ove Jensen, Trincomalee district head of the SLMM.
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Colombo warns foreign INGO officials, journalists in Vanni

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 03:30 GMT]
Sri Lankan military authorities in Colombo asked the foreign nationals working in International Non Governmental Organisations (INGOs) and journalists residing in Vanni to remain inside UN and INGO offices, NGO officials in Kilinochchi said Friday.
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5 civilians killed, 44 wounded in Pesalai, SLN troopers lob grenades at church

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 02:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) troopers shot and killed four fishermen at the shores of Pesalai in Mannar and lobbed at least four grenades Saturday morning into the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Pesalai, killing a woman and wounding at least 44 persons, half of them in critical condition. The four fishermen were killed at the shores of Pesalai, 15 km northwest of Mannar, around 7:00 a.m. Saturday, when the troopers began attacking civilians after a naval battle with the Sea Tigers near Pesalai. Six of eight missing SLN troopers were confirmed dead in the sea fight, according to SLN sources.
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TRO's main storage facility robbed in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 June 2006, 19:43 GMT]
The Tamils Rehabilitation Organization's (TRO), Batticaloa main storage facility located at Old road, close to the Batticaloa railway station, inside the heavy security military controlled zone of Batticaloa Town, was robbed Thursday night at around 11.15 p.m., said Kesavan, the Batticaloa district head of TRO.
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Mannar Bishop calls for end to violence

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 June 2006, 18:21 GMT]
Rt.Rev.Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar Diocese Friday said killings of civilians have increased several folds after the first round of Geneva peace talks and appealed to the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to resume the stalled peace talks immediately, with the facilitation of the international community and to put an end to these killings. The Bishop was addressing a meeting held in the premises of Mannar St.Mary's Cathedral, Friday morning.
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Three Tamil youths shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 June 2006, 12:23 GMT]
Three Tamil civilian youths were shot dead allegedly by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Friday morning at Periyakulam, located close to the Welgampura along Trincomalee-Anuradhapuram Road about ten km off the east port town, civil sources in Trincomalee said. A large Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp is located in Periyakulam area.
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Explosive wired cell phone detonates wounding girl in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 June 2006, 10:37 GMT]
A young girl was seriously wounded in Stanley Road, at a location between the Eelam People Democratic Party (EPDP) office at Srithar theatre and SLA 512 Brigade camp at Wellington theatre junction, in Jaffna town at around 10:15 a.m., Friday when an explosive device fitted cell phone detonated as the girl tried to use the phone, sources in Jaffna said. The girl, yet to identified, was admitted to the Jaffna teaching hospital and is guarded by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, sources said.
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Kilinochchi bombed again Friday evening

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 June 2006, 07:28 GMT]
Sri Lankan Kfir bombers, for the third time within the last 36 hours, Friday evening from 5:20 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., dropped 10 bombs in the suburbs of Kilinochchi. Kfir bombers also dropped six bombs in the suburbs of Kilinochchi Friday morning. At least two Kfir bombers and a reconnaisance aircraft were observed in high altitude over Vanni in the morning and the evening.
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Three SL security forces personnel killed in Jaffna attacks

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 June 2006, 01:03 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and one Sri Lanka Police constable were killed and two SLA troopers injured in four different attacks in Jaffna district in the last 24 hours, sources in Jaffna said.
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DPU agent killed, one captured, two trapped in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 June 2006, 00:18 GMT]
Two Sri Lankan Deep Penetration Unit attackers, who fled Illuppadichenai, a Liberation Tigers controlled territory 17 km west off Batticaloa, were chased by the Tigers, after a Claymore attack Thursday 9:30 p.m. The DPU personnel went hiding into the Pankudaveli jungle close to the Batticaloa lagoon. Later, Sri Lanka Army dispatched a DPU rescue team of two, from Eravur towards the Pankudaveli jungle across the Batticaloa lagoon, in boats. LTTE cadres gunned down one of the two rescue DPU team members and the other was captured alive by the Tigers around 2:20 a.m. Friday, Batticaloa District Political Head Daya Mohan said.
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Young Mayor assumes duties in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 17:46 GMT]
21 year-old youth Mr.Abdul Rahim Asmir of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Thursday assumed duties as the first Mayor of the Kalmunai Municipal Council, and 52 year old Mr. Ismalebbe Kamardeen of Maruthamunai as Deputy Mayor at an event held in the Municipal Council building Thursday. "I will discharge my duties as the first citizen of the Kalmunai promoting better understanding between Muslims and Tamils and also would be taking concrete steps to develop the town," said the new Mayor in his address.
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Three policemen wounded in grenade attack in Pesalai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 17:41 GMT]
Three policemen were wounded when unidentified men lobbed a grenade at the police sentry located in Pesalai in Mannar district Thursday night around 7.40 p.m. The injured were identified as Bandara, 44, Wijewickrema, 41 and Abeyaratne, 32, police sources said.
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SLAF Kfir bombs target tsunami camp in Mullaithivu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 13:13 GMT]
Bombs targeted by Kfir bombers of Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) at a tsunami refugee camp with 300 refugees in Selvapuram on Mullaithivu-Paranthan Road, beyond Vadduvahal bridge, Thursday noon missed the target, sources in Mullaitivu said. Refugees who fled their temporary huts in Selvalpuram seeking safety elsewhere escaped injuries from the indiscriminate bombing from high altitude by the supersonic jets.
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SLAF Kfir jets bomb Kilinochchi suburbs

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 12:55 GMT]
At least twelve bombs have been dropped on Kilinochchi suburbs from SLAF Kfir jets Thursday around 6:35 p.m.
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Kfir jets bomb Tharavai, Pulipaynthakal in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 12:40 GMT]
Sri Lankan Air Force Kfir jets bombed LTTE controlled Tharavai and Pulipaynthakal area around 3:15 p.m. Thursday. At least four bombs were dropped, LTTE's Batticaloa District Political Head Daya Mohan said. Mortar shells were fired towards LTTE controlled territory in Batticaloa from Vavunathivu SLA camp.
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Japan, Switzerland condemn claymore attack on passenger bus

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 11:37 GMT]
Embassies of Japan and Switzerland in Colombo, in press releases issued Thursday, strongly condemned the attack on passenger bus in the region of Anuradhapura which killed several dozens of civilians including children and expressed condolences to the Sri Lankan people and the authorities.
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Elilan complains to SLMM on artillery fire in Muttur east

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 08:36 GMT]
Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thursday complained to the monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission who had been witnessing the multi-barrel artillery fire launched by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) that the time has come for the SLMM to take a decisive decision on the indiscriminate artillery attack on Tamil civilian population in the Muttur east by the State armed forces., sources said.
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SLA launches artillery fire on Muttur east villages

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 08:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has been continuing its multi-barrel artillery attacks on several villages in the Liberation Tigers held Muttur east in the Trincomalee district which began around 10.30 a.m. Thursday morning. Several houses belong to Tamil civilians in Sampoor, Kaddaiparichchan, Koonitivu, Soodaikuda and Ilankanthai have been destroyed in the artillery fire now being carried out from SLA camp located at Monkey Bridge along Trincomalee-Kandy road about 10 km off southwest of east port town, sources said.
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SLA soldier from DPU gunned down, Claymore attack averted

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 08:21 GMT]
Liberation Tigers cadres shot dead a Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Thursday morning in LTTE controlled Puliyankulam Nedunkerni Road between Mathiyamadu and Nainamadu, LTTE officials told media. Meanwhile, the dead body of a SLA soldier who was wearing LTTE uniform shot dead on 13 June was handed over to the ICRC officials at the request of Vanni command of the Sri Lankan forces, the Tigers further said.
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Kebitigollawe attack, senseless violence used for political ends - LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 06:34 GMT]
The Claymore attack on Sinhala civilians in Kebitigollawe Thursday morning was "senseless violence used for political ends," the Liberation Tigers condemning the attack said in press release issued from Kilinochchi. Armed acts targeting civilians "cannot be justified under any circumstances," the press release said and charged Sri Lankan armed elements who have intensified their attacks on Tamil civilians for political ends, have also begun targeting Sinhala civilians with the aim of blaming the Tigers. The LTTE has urged the International media "not to fall prey for the reprehensible propaganda tactic."
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Paramilitary Karuna Group abducts 125 children in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 06:30 GMT]
More than 125 underage youths have been abducted by paramilitary Karuna Group in Sri Lanka Army and paramilitry launched cordon and search operations since Tuesday in Batticaloa district. SLA arrested youths were handed over to paramilitary cadres and the paramilitary cadres were allowed to enter houses, beat up the underage youths and to abduct them for training. More than 75 youths were abducted in Valaichenai area, 27 youths were abducted in a cordon and search operation Thursday morning in Kiran. Another 23 youths were abducted at Santhiveli.
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Sri Lankan Kfir jets bomb Mullaithivu, Sampoor under artillery attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 05:53 GMT]
Two Kfir bombers of the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) began bombing Liberation Tigers controlled Mullaithivu and its suburbs Thursday noon. A tsunami-resettlement village, Selvapuram, near vattuvahal bridge, was bombed, according to the initial reports from Mullaithivu. Meanwhile, LTTE's Trincomalee Political Head, S. Elilan, said Sampoor and Muttur East areas in LTTE controlled Trincomalee were being attacked with multibarrel aritllery fire.
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64 killed, 94 wounded in Claymore blast in Kebitigollawe

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 03:30 GMT]
64 passengers, including fifteen children and a Buddhist monk, were killed and around 94 wounded when a civilian bus was caught in a claymore mine blast near Kebitigollawe, 23 km southeast of Vavuniya, around 7:50 a.m. Thursday, police sources said. Wounded survivors were rushed to Kepitigollawe and Anuradhapura hospitals. The majority of victims are Sinhalese, officials said.
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Grenade attack on shop in Mannar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 01:29 GMT]
Unidentified persons Tuesday night around 7.20. p.m. lobbed a grenade at furniture shop at Emil Nagar located in Mannar Hospital Road junction, sources in Mannar said. The furniture shop was damaged but no one was injured.
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Driver arrested for transporting empty fertilizer bags

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 00:27 GMT]
The Mannar Magistrate Mr.N.M.M.Abdullah Tuesday evening ordered remand the driver of a vehicle belonging to Mannar Seed Paddy Association until June 15 based on a report by the Police that he was transporting about 72,000 empty fertilizer bags allegedly for the LTTE, legal sources in Mannar said. Mr.Marimuthu Nallamuthu, driver aged 63 was arrested with a consignment of empty bags at Manatkulam Monday, sources said.
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Joint cordon, search Operation in Batticaloa suburbs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 21:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police, Special Task Force (STF) and the SriLankan Air Force (SLAF) cordoned off and searched Puthur, Thimilaithivu and Sethukkuda, suburbs of Batticaloa along the Batticaloa ­ Vavunathivu road, Wednesday morning 5.30 a.m until 8.30 p.m., Batticaloa residents said.
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Samaraweera receives "unusually high-level" reception in Norway

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 15:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has received a high-level reception, unusual for a Foreign Minister, according to International Development Minister Erik Solheim, who said Wednesday that Norway has to maintain close relationship with the parties to the conflict if it was to achieve any progress in the peace process. Mangala Samaraweera, once an opponent of Norwegian facilitation in Sri Lanka, was received by His Majesty King Harald V while Norwegian Tamil activists protested outside the Royal Palace in Oslo.
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Two Sri Lanka Police injured in Batticaloa attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 13:37 GMT]
Unidentified armed men lobbed hand grenades at Arumuhaththan Kudiyiruppu police sentry post, 16 km north of Batticaloa, in the Tamil-Muslim border area of Eravur, at around 7:15 p.m, Tuesday, seriously injuring two police officers, Eravur police said.
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Indonesian fishing trawler catches fire in Colombo harbour

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 11:11 GMT]
Indonesian fishing trawler "WEILAI-LANKA" anchored in the fisheries harbour in Modera in Colombo caught fire Wednesday afternoon around 3.15 p.m. Sixteen Indonesian crew were in the vessel at that time, and all members of the crew were rescued unhurt, naval sources said.
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Cordon, search operation held in Mannar town

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 11:05 GMT]
Sri Lanka armed forces and Sri Lanka Police Wednesday conducted five-hour cordon and search operation covering Emil Nagar, Sinnakadai Bazaar, Hospital Road, Eluthoor Road, Thalvupadu Road and One Hundred Houses' Scheme in Periyakamam in the Mannar town, civil society sources in Mannar said. Residents were not allowed to move out of their houses between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. during the search operation, sources added.
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2 killed, 3 injured in Jaffna attacks

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 10:23 GMT]
One Sri Lanka Army (SLA) trooper and one civilian supporter of Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) were killed, and one SLA soldier and two Sri Lanka Police officers were injured in continuing violence across Jaffna district Wednesday, sources from Jaffna said.
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Home Guard shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 10:01 GMT]
Unidentified persons shot and killed homeguard, Vasantha Chandana Seneviratne, 22, at 6:15 a.m, on Wednesday in Mamaduwa, 10 km South East of Vavuniya, and robbed his T56 assault rifle and bullets, Vavuniya police said.
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One-sided pressure will not work- Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 09:45 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is prepared to demonstrate the power of balance and the parity of status beyond any doubt to the Sinhala polity, if the the deteriorating relationship between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE forces us to do so, said LTTE's Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan in Kilinochchi responding to a question on Oslo meeting, sources in Kilinochchi said. The Sri Lankan delegation walked out from the Oslo meeting on a dispute on parity of status.
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LTTE delegation leaves Zurich

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 01:39 GMT]
The LTTE delegation led by Head of Political Wing S.P.Thamilchelvan left for Kilinochchi from Zurich airport Tuesday afternoon after meeting several Swiss government officials, Tamil sources in Switzerland said. The delegation arrived in Switzerland Sunday after completing discussions with the Norwegian facilitators and with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Friday and meeting with the LTTE's Constitutional Affairs Committee Saturday. The non-cabinet level Sri Lanka delegation left Oslo mid-day Thursday after refusing to meet with a similar level group from the LTTE delegation.
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Civilian shot dead in Vahaneri

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 00:18 GMT]
A yet un-named civilian was shot and killed in front of his wife at Natrapaalathadi on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m allegedly by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers. The couple were cycling from the LTTE controlled area in Vahaneri, Mullivettavaan in the Batticaloa District to Oddamaavedi when the attack took place, said Daya Mohan, the political head of the LTTE for the Batticaloa District.
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Two SLA soldiers injured in gunfire in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 22:14 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured in three incidents of gunfire and grenade attack by unknown gunmen in Jaffna during the last 24 hours, sources in Jaffna said.
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Claymore attack averted in Vanni, 3 dead in gunfire

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 15:32 GMT]
Members of Tamil auxilliary brigade on a road clearing patrol on Nedunkerni road, between Nainamadu and Puliyankulam, inside the Liberation Tigers controlled area intercepted a team of Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) troopers of the Sri Lanka Army, who were fixing 3 Claymore mines. Two Tamil auxilliaries and an SLA soldier were killed when both exchanged gunfire. At least one bag with "SLA" mark was recovered from the attackers, according to the video footage released by the National Television of Tamileelam (NTT). The SLA soldier killed was clad in LTTE uniform. The clash took place around 11:00 a.m. Tuesday.
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Jaffna Journalists to boycott Colombo meet

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 15:05 GMT]
Members of the Jaffna Journalists Association (JJA) have decided to boycott the North-South bridge of friendship meeting planned by a group of Media Institutions in the South to be held in Colombo on the 21st, 22nd of June, a communique issued by the JJA said Tuesday, sources from Jaffna said.
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SLA detains 5 after cordon, search operation in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 12:33 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off and searched Kiran, Korakalmadu and Santhiveli, villages surrounding the Santhiveli-Kirimuddi Pannai SLA camp, 22 km northwest of Batticaloa Town, on Tuesday from 6 a.m to 11.30 a.m, sources said. The army arrested 9 people and after investigation released 4 persons detaining 5 for further inquires.
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Housing project for Akkaraipattu tsunami victims commences

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 11:46 GMT]
Mr.Kanagasabai Pathmanathan, Amparai district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian and Rev.Fr.Sylvester Sritharan, Director, EHED-Caritas Monday laid foundation for permanent housing project for tsunami affected families in Akkaraipattu Sinnamuhathuwaram in an eight acre plot at Kolaviltheevukalai, sources in Trincomalee said. EHED-Caritas is funding the project.
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JVP planning to protest in Norway

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 11:30 GMT]
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the extreme Sinhala Nationalist party that espouses radical marxism, in a memorandum issued Tuesday in Colombo, said that they are planning to hold a demonstration in Norway protesting against the Norwegian Government. JVP Parliamentarian, Mr Vasantha Samarasinghe who is currently on a visit to Norway will co-ordinate the protest rally calling on the Sinhala diaspora community in Norway to join in the protest, the memorandum further said.
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Bomb threat suspends work in Colpetty bank

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 11:16 GMT]
Work at the National Savings Bank located on Galle Road Colpetty was suspended following a bomb threat issued by an anonymous caller at 8:15 am Tuesday morning. Colpetty Police and Bomb Disposal Squad of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) rushed to the location but found no explosive devices inside the building, sources in Colombo said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Chenkalady

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 11:03 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a Tamil youth, Ponniah Pulendiran, 20, around 9.30 p.m, Monday at Ammanpuram in Kumaraveliyar village, Chenkalady, 15 km Northwest of Batticaloa, Eravur Police said. Pulendtran was with his parents when the gunmen entered the house, forced him out of the house before shooting him in close range, his parents said.
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Kalmunai Hospital to get new Psychiatry ward

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 11:03 GMT]
A Psycho-Traumatic Counselling Ward is to be constructed at an estimated cost of two million rupees at the Kalmunai base hospital by EHED-Caritas, a non-governmental organization, administrative officials of the hospital said. Rev.Fr. Sylvester Sritharan, Director of EHED-Caritas, Batticaloa District and Dr.Muhunthan, acting Medical Superintendent of the Kalmunai hospital laid the foundation stone for this project at an event held Monday afternoon, sources said.
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Two SLA soldiers injured in grenade attack in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 05:13 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured when unidentified men lobbed a grenade at a sentry post at Bharathipuram, a suburb of Trincomalee town, aroun 8 a.m., Tuesday morning, police sources said.
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Lt Col. Mahenthi’s remains buried in Kanagapuram

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 22:04 GMT]
The remains of Lieutenant Colonel Mahenthi, the Mannar Military commander of LTTE, killed Sunday in a claymore attack carried out by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, was buried with full military honours at Kanagapuram National Heroes Cemetary, Sunday, attended by several leading citizens, LTTE military commanders, LTTE cadres and residents, sources from Kilinochchi said.
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Villagers flee as SLA erects camp in Sirukandal, Mannar

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 16:06 GMT]
More than one hundred Tamil families fled from the village of Pariharakandal when more than five hundred soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) entered the village of Sirukandal, located a mile away from Pariharakandal, Monday morning and established a camp inside an area used as cemetery, civil society sources in Mannar said. By noon the entire village of Sirukandal was deserted and all small shops in the village closed, sources said.
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NGO official shot, injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 15:07 GMT]
A senior member of the Jaffna branch of the White Pigeon, a non government organization, was shot and seriously injured by unidentified armed men at his house in Moolai in the Jaffna peninsula, around 7 p.m., Monday. Thangarasa Mukunthan, 41, was former member of the Jaffna Municipal Council.
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Norway's peace role useful- Samaraweera

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 13:55 GMT]
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera who is leading a high-level delegation of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) officials to Norway said Norway's role in Sri Lanka was "useful," when he addressed the media in Oslo at the Norwegian Foreign Ministry Monday.
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Vavuniya North DS wounded, driver killed in Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 12:34 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit exploded a Claymore mine seriously wounding the driver of the vehicle in which Vavuniya North Divisional Secretary was riding in the LTTE controlled Mathiyamadu village. The driver, N. Balasingam, seriously wounded in the attack and rushed to Vavuniya hospital, succumbed to his wounds while being transferred to Anuradhapura hospital, medical sources said.
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SLA soldier killed in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 12:19 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army soldier was killed Monday around 8:00 a.m. when a Claymore mine exploded on a road clearing patrol of the SLA soldiers at Barathipuram, Police said.
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SLA soldier killed by sniper fire in Vavunativu

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 10:54 GMT]
Lance Corporal M Kumararatne, 34, was killed by sniper fire while he was engaged in security duties at the Vavunativu, Batticaloa Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp at 5:10 p.m. Sunday, sources in Batticaloa said.
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SLA interrogates 300, detains one youth in Valaichenai round-up

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 10:40 GMT]
A 26-year old youth has been detained by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers during a cordon and search operation conducted by the SLA and Sri Lanka Police in the villages of Vinayagapuram, Pandimadu, Kalmadu and Kannankiramam in Valaichenai Police division at 5:30 A.m. Monday morning, police sources in Valaichenai said.
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LTTE political official sniped and killed in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 10:10 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army sniper shot and killed Batticaloa Kudumbimalai Political Coordinator Ramanitharan in Murakkoddanchenai Saturday morning around 9:45 a.m., LTTE's Batticaloa District Political Head Daya Mohan said. The incident took place at Thihiliveddai, a hamlet across the lagoon from Santhiveli, about 24 kilometers north of Batticaloa.
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Pakistan to provide $250 million military hardware to Colombo - report

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 05:03 GMT]
A Mumbai based Indian newspaper, Daily News & Analysis (DNA), on Monday, reported that Pakistan had opend up a USD 250 million credit line for Colombo to purchase 40 tanks, and many other offensive systems from Pakistan. The move has raised several "new uncomfortable questions" for New Delhi, the report said. Bashir Wali, a former director of Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau and Pakistan's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, has taken a personal interest in the move, the paper alleged.
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40,000 child prostitutes in Sri Lanka, says Child Rights Group

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 04:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka has nearly 40,000 child prostitutes and more than 100,000 children working as domestic aides, the National Child Protection Agency (NCPA) in Colombo said quoting statistics revealed by UNICEF and ILO, Colombo daily "Daily Mirror" reported in its Monday edition. The International Labor Organization (ILO) marked 12 June as "World Day Against Child Labor" to focus world attention on the urgent need to eradicate child labor.
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LTTE delegation arrives in Switzerland

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2006, 02:47 GMT]
More than two hundred Swiss Tamils carrying Tamileelam National flag and flags of their adopted country Switzerland, welcomed the Liberation Tigers delegation at the Zurich Airport at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, Tamil sources in Swiss capital said. The LTTE delegation completed discussions with the Norwegian facilitators and with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Friday and met with the LTTE's Constitutional Affairs Committee Saturday. The non-cabinet level Sri Lanka delegation left Oslo mid-day Thursday after refusing to meet with a similar level group from the LTTE delegation.
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Swiss youths celebrate Students Uprising Day

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 June 2006, 18:47 GMT]
Swiss Tamil young adults and high schoolers celebrated Tamil Students Uprising day Saturday in Bern, Switzerland, commemorating the 32nd anniversary of Jaffna Student leader P.Sivakumaran who died on 5 June 1974. Sivakumaran was the first one in the history of Tamil struggle to take cyanide when Sri Lanka Police surrounded his hideout in Urumpirai.
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LTTE's Constitutional Affairs Committee meets in Oslo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 June 2006, 15:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) delegation led by its Political Head, S.P. Thamilchelvan met in Oslo with legal experts from the Tamil diaspora, Saturday, Tamil sources from Oslo said. The discussions focussed on the status quo between the Sri Lankan and the LTTE forces, including the territorial sea rights, and formulated recommendations to the LTTE leadership on the future course of action on these matters. Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) during Friday's meeting had confirmed SLMM's position on sea-activities that officials of the SLMM will not travel on board the Sri Lankan vessels until the sea dispute is resolved between the parties.
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Agitation planned across Tamil Nadu districts against Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 June 2006, 14:07 GMT]
Tamileelam Supporters' Co-ordination Committee (TSCC), based in Myloapore, Chennai, in a communique issued Sunday said that wide spread protests being organized in Chennai and other capitals of Tamil Nadu districts on 16 June calling all parties to join hands to condemn the attacks by the "Sinhala army on Eelam Tamils," and to raise voices exposing the plight of the Tamil refugees fleeing the NorthEast seeking sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.
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Sri Lanka's FM to visit Norway, Finland

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 June 2006, 12:34 GMT]
Sri Lanka' Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera is scheduled to visit Norway and Finland to discuss bilateral relations with high level officials, a media release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued Saturday from Colombo said.
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SLA guns down youth at Vavuniya checkpoint

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 June 2006, 12:23 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army authorities in Vavuniya said that troops have shot and killed a suspected member of the Liberation Tigers at Pandarikkulam in, around 2.30 p.m., Sunday. They said the youth was riding pillion in a motorbike and attempted to fire at the soldiers with a pistol when the the soldiers directed the riders to stop at at a SLA road check. The youth riding the motorbike escaped.
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LTTE, SLMM discuss Trincomalee ground situation

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 June 2006, 12:09 GMT]
Members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Trincomalee district Sunday morning met with the political leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and discussed the ground situation in the district. The discussion was held at the LTTE district secretariat located in Sampoor in Muttur east, LTTE sources said.
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Thirunelvely market blast injures 9

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 June 2006, 08:12 GMT]
Nine civilians were injured in a grenade explosion at Thirunelvely market, north of Jaffna town, around 10.15 a.m., Sunday.
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Two civilians killed by SLA fire in Kinniya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 June 2006, 06:29 GMT]
Two civilians, one Muslim and a Tamil were killed and another injured when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers who were lying in ambush between Kurankupanchchan and Uharveddu in the Kinniya division opened fire, around 10:00 p.m., Saturday. The victims were returning with firewood in two bullock carts when they were fired at by the SLA ambush party with small arms.
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Two civilians killed in DPU Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 June 2006, 05:39 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) soldiers exploded a Claymore mine and killed two civilians, who were riding in a motorbike, inside LTTE controlled territory, at Palaipani in Vavuniya west around 10:00 a.m. Sunday, sources in Vavuniya said.
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Tamil businessman shot dead in Wellawatte, Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 June 2006, 17:51 GMT]
A 67-year old Tamil businessman, riding in a car, was shot near Vihara lane in Wellawate, around 7:00 p.m. Saturday. The victim, who received five gunshot wounds, succumbed to his wounds on the way to hospital, Police said.
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Elilan complains to SLMM of SLA terror campaign in Muttur

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 June 2006, 10:49 GMT]
Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Saturday lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in the east port town that the Sri Lanka Army and its paramilitary groups are engaged in terrorising and preventing Tamil people from travelling to and from Trincomalee and Muttur by land and sea route.
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LTTE Commander killed in Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 June 2006, 10:10 GMT]
Lieutenant Colonel Mahenthi, an LTTE Commander in the Mannar district, was killed along with three LTTE cadres in a Claymore attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers on Vellankulam - Thunukkai Road on Saturday morning, LTTE officials in Killinochchi said. A civilian farmer, seriously wounded in a Claymore attack Saturday morning around 6 a.m., succumbed to his wounds at Killinochchi hospital. Two employees of the World Bank-funded North East Irrigated Agriculture Project (NEIAP) were wounded in a separate attack in Nedunkerni. Claymore attacks by the Sri Lankan Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP), known as the Deep Penetration Unit (DPU), have escalated in LTTE-controlled Vanni.
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Gunmen kill two Tamil civilians, injure one in Muttur

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 June 2006, 09:51 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot dead two Tamil passengers, including a 12-year old boy, who were travelling in a Trincomalee bound bus from Muttur town, Saturday afternoon. Another Tamil passenger was critically injured in the attack. This incident took place at Puliyadichchanthi in the Sri Lanka government controlled Muttur town located in the midst of several camps and sentry points of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).
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Thousands mourn Vankalai victims

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 June 2006, 07:41 GMT]
More than five thousand people took part in the funeral procession of the four victims in Vankalai who were beaten, stabbed and hanged to death allegedly by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Thursday night. The funeral Mass was held Saturday morning at St. Anne's Church at 9:00 a.m. by Vicar General A. Xavior Cruz and Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph, sources in Mannar said.
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LTTE issues Communiqué in Oslo

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 15:24 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam issued a Communiqué on Friday after concluding meetings begun two days ago with Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the Norwegian facilitators in Oslo.
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Sri Lanka's quick exit from Norway, a political blunder- Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 15:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka delegation left Thorbjørnrud Hotel in Jevnaker, Oslo, mid day Thursday, boycotting talks scheduled to continue until Friday, after being present at the talks venue for only half a day. "Sri Lanka displaying crass exhibitionism, has abandoned all norms of diplomatic protocol by disrespecting the efforts of Norwegian facilitators by making a quick exit from Norway. It is a major political blunder," said S.P.Thamilchelvan speaking to reporters at 4:00 p.m. Friday, sources from Norway said.
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India expresses deep concern over the failure of Oslo meeting

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 13:36 GMT]
The Government of India, in a press release issued from the High Commission in Sri Lanka, said it was deeply concerned over the failure of the proposed meeting between the Government of Sri Lanka and representatives of the LTTE, aimed at strengthening the role of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and ensuring the security of its members.
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SLA arrests two Batticaloa Tamil youths

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 10:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Road patrol unit arrested two Tamil youths at Murakoddanchenai in Batticaloa Thursday evening around 4.30 p.m, while they were riding on their bicycles, said Erauvur police. SLA handed over the youth to Eravur Police after interrogating them.
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Construction worker's body with assault injuries found in Polikandy

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 09:52 GMT]
The body of Rasiah Muraleeswaran, 42, of Meesalai East, a mason employed in the FORUT housing scheme for the tsunami affected at Nilavan Settlement Scheme in Polikandy in Vadamaradchy north was found at the building site Friday morning with severe assault injuries, sources in Polikandy said. Injuries indicated he was bludgeoned to death, said sources. Nilavan settlement, where the body was found, is located within the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) High Security Zone (HSZ), and is guarded 24 hours by SLA troopers.
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Valaichenai teacher succumbs to gunshot injuries

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 09:34 GMT]
Yogaraj Satheeswaran 25, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Batticaloa Teaching hospital on being shot and seriously injured by unknown men on Tuesday the 6th of June succumbed to his wounds Wednesday evening, Valaichenai sources said.
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Student abductions terrify Batticaloa parents

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 08:40 GMT]
Unidentified paramilitary gunmen in a white van and riding motor bike chased and abducted 6 students walking along the road in front of Iruthyapuram Sacred Heart Church in Batticaloa Thursday evening around 4.50 p.m, said residents in the area. 30 students in the Batticaloa region have been abducted in the past, civil society sources said.
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GS organizing Kaithady exhumation shot and injured

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 04:58 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen who came in motorbike shot and seriously injured a village level administration officer (Grama Sevaka - GS) at his house, around 8.15 a.m. Friday. Joseph Ratnarajah, 58, was activley taking part in organizing exhumation of bodies at Kaithady during the past few days.
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SLA soldiers massacre family of four in Vankalai, Mannar

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 04:47 GMT]
SLA soldiers armed with bayonets and knives entered the house of a family of four and slaughtered 35-year-old father, 27-year-old mother, 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son Thursday midnight in Vankalai, 12 km southeast of Mannar. Eyewitnesses in the area, Thomaspuri Ward No 10 in Vankalai, have told Mannar Additional Magistrate that they could identify the soldiers involved in the massacre. Villagers alleged the mother was raped before the massacre. Tension prevails in Vankalai. Religious leaders including the Bishop of Mannar, parliamentarians and civil society members in Mannar have rushed to site. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials have visited the massacre site.
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First Islamic Studies Faculty opened in Sri Lankan University

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 04:45 GMT]
The first batch of forty three students of both sexes was admitted to the Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka at an event held Thursday afternoon. This is the first Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language opened in a University in Sri Lanka since 1942, education sources said.
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Undue emphasis on direct talks sidelined key issues - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 23:46 GMT]
Preoccupied with bringing Sri Lankan government and the LTTE delegations to face-face talks, Norwegian facilitators had placed less emphasis on engaging with key issues at stake, and more on convincing the two sides to sit opposite to each other, the head of the LTTE’s Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, told reporters Thursday evening.
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Norway writes to Rajapakse, Pirapaharan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 19:49 GMT]
Expressing concern over the grave situation in Sri Lanka, the Royal Norwegian Government said in a statement, Thursday, that it has taken "the unprecedented step of requesting both parties, through letters to President Mahinda Rajapakse and the LTTE leader Mr Vellupilai Prabhakaran, to provide responses in writing to five critical questions". "The responses by the parties to these questions will determine which steps will next have to be taken by the Royal Norwegian Government and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, in close partnership with other actors in the international community," the statement further said.
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Dispute over delegation makeup derails LTTE, GoSL meeting

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 18:22 GMT]
Head of the LTTE’s Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, met top Norwegian officials and the head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) for over an hour Thursday evening. Mr. Thamilchelvan told TamilNet that the LTTE had come to Oslo to discuss the future of the SLMM with Norway. However, although Head of the LTTE’s Peace Secretariat, S. Puleedevan, was prepared to meet his counterpart, Palitha Kohona, heading the Sri Lankan delegation, but as Colombo continued to insist senior members of the LTTE be included in LTTE delegation, the LTTE-GoSL meeting did not take place, Thamilchelvan said.
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LTTE in discussions with Norway on SLMM - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 12:58 GMT]
The LTTE delegation in Oslo is involved in discussions with the Norwegian facilitators on key issues, including the role of international truce monitors, the head of the LTTE's Political Wing, S. P. Thamilchelvan said Thursday. Responding to media reports that the LTTE was refusing to sit with the Sri Lankan government (GoSL) delegation, Mr. Thamilchelvan said "discussions on the monitors at this crucial juncture would be productive and progressive when the [LTTE and government] delegations raise the issues separately with the Norwegian facilitators, giving room for them to devise approaches to resolve these issues."
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Two bodies exhumed from Kaithady site

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 11:54 GMT]
Two bodies that were suspected to be buried in Kaithady site were exhumed from the shallow grave near Kaithady bridge Thursday in decomposed state, civil society sources from Jaffna said. A wrist watch was found from one of the bodies. One body was recovered Wednesday near the site where the body of the disappeared Hindu priest was discovered by workers who went for sand mining in the area earlier this week.
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21 Tamil youths arrested in Eravur, Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 10:55 GMT]
Twenty-one Tamil youths from Kaluvanachikudy and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Batticaloa were arrested in a roundup search conducted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the police in the Eravur public market and its surroundings Thursday morning from 8.00 a.m till 10.30 a.m, said Eravur police.
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Two workers killed in SLA deep penetration attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 09:32 GMT]
A trainee caretaker and a Sinhalese driver of a water supply contractor, Thummara Enterprises, were killed in a Claymore attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit attack in LTTE controlled Mannar district Thursday at 12:50 p.m., Tamileelam Police officials said.
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Two SLA troopers injured in mortar attack in Kiran

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 09:21 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured in a mortar attack on the Kiran camp by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thursday between 5.30 a.m and 6.00 a.m, SLA sources from Kiran Bridge camp in Batticaloa district said. SLA added that they retailated with mortar fire on LTTE positions. However, LTTE sources in Batticaloa said that SLA had first attacked their positions forcing them the LTTE gunners to retaliate.
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4 health officials wounded in deep penetration attack in Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 08:49 GMT]
Four health officials of Tamileelam Health Service Mobile Medical Service were wounded when Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) exploded a Claymore mine together with three explosives. A nurse and the driver of the vehicle were seriously wounded in the attack that took place at Akkarayan, 20 km from Kilinochchi around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Police officials in Kilinochchi said. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials visited the attack site.
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GoSL, LTTE delegations in Jevnaker, Norway

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 04:36 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) delegations arrived separately at Thorbjørnrud Hotel in Jevnaker, 67 km from Oslo, Wednesday evening. Norwegian officials would be meeting the parties separately, and possibly together, Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim has told the Norwegian Television TV2 Wednesday.
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Relatives of Negombo detainees protest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 00:54 GMT]
Parents and relatives of nearly 250 detainees held in Negombo prison picketed outside the prison, Wednesday, protesting against the death of a Tamil woman detainee who died Monday due to lack of medical facilities, sources in Colombo said. The protest began at 9:30 a.m. and lasted till noon. Detainees are fasting inside the prison accusing the Sri Lanka Attorney General for violating their basic rights by holding them in custody for several months without filing any legal action against them, legal sources said.
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Court orders inquiry into Muttur abduction

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 00:05 GMT]
Muttur Magistrate, Mr.Manickavasagar Ganesharajah, Wednesday directed the Muttur Police to conduct inquiries into the abduction of Mr.Selvarajah Gajanathan, a Co-operative Development Officer, with the co-operation of public, legal sources said. Mr.Gajanathan was abducted by an unidentified person on June 1 evening when he went to facilitate the transfer of dry ration relief from Sri Lanka government controlled territory into LTTE held Muttur east through Kaddaiparichchan sentry point of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources said.
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Body found buried in Kaithady

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 17:13 GMT]
A body in decomposed state was found buried Wednesday near the site where the dead body of the Hindu priest was discovered in Kaithady a sub-division of Jaffna district which is under the full control of the 52nd division of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sources in Jaffna said. The body was discovered in shallow grave in the waste land 200 meters away from A9 highway near Kaithady bridge. Evidence of a mass grave also found, said sources in Jaffna. The body has been sent to Jaffna Hospital for identification, sources added.
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Refugees reject EPDP minister's request to return to Allaipiddy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 17:08 GMT]
Allaipiddy refugees who are currently being given shelter in St. Marys Church and St. Nicholas Church at Navanthurai rejected request by Sri Lanka Government Minister Douglas Devananda, the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), to return back to their homes in Allaipiddy, sources in Jaffna said. Mr Devananda, heavily escorted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, visited the refugees Wednesday. Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and EPDP cadres are alleged to be responsible for the extra-judicial killing of 9 persons including an infant and a four year child on the 13th of May 2006 in Allaipiddy.
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Bodies found in Thanganagar belong to Tamil youths

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 17:06 GMT]
Two bodies found in Thanganagar in Serunuwara police division in Trincomalee district Tuesday morning were identified as Thangathurai Kugan, 22, and Mylvaganam Kumarathurai, 21, of Killiveddy area in the Muttur division. Serunuwara Police reported to the Muttur Magistrate Tuesday afternoon that both youths had been shot by 9 m.m. pistol, court sources said.
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SL Parliament extends Emergency Regulations

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 17:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Wednesday adopted a motion extending the State of Emergency for another month with a majority of 84 votes. 102 parliamentarians voted for the motion and 18 voted against The main opposition the United National Party (UNP), the Sinhala nationalist cum Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, (JVP), all monks party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the ruling party United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), sources said.
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Kantalai Court orders release of Trinco co-op lorry, fuel

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 12:42 GMT]
The Kantalai Magistrate Tuesday released the lorry and the fuel of the Trincomalee co-operative society which was seized by the Kantalai Police on May 26 when the lorry was on its way to Verugal co-operative society located in the LTTE held Eachchilampathu division. Officials of the Trincomalee co-operative society took charge of the lorry with the load of fuel. The Magistrate further allowed the driver and cleaner of the lorry on personal bail of fifty thousand rupees each, court sources said.
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Students Resurgence Day observed in Muttur east

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 12:41 GMT]
Thamileelam Students Resurgence Day was observed at Kallady Tamil School in Muttur east and Eachchilampathu divisions in Trincomalee district Tuesday. Mr.K.Lingeswaran, President of Muttur East Tamil Students Forum presided. Students lit the flames of sacrifice and Mr.Arun of Kathiraveli Students Wing hoisted the Thamileelam Nation Flag. Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) addressed the event.
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Police sentry attacked in Mannar, no casualties

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 10:54 GMT]
Unidentified persons fired at a sentry of the Sri Lanka Police located at Katkadanthakulam junction on Mannar-Madawachchi Road, about 30 km off south of Mannar town Wednesday morning around 6.30 a.m. Police returned the fire. Casualties were not reported from both sides, police sources said.
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Talking peace will not win us back Tamil Homeland - TNA MP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 10:34 GMT]
"Students have been active in the past independently and individually in the struggle for liberation. Pon. Sivakumaran was the pioneer in this struggle which continues with the participation of thousands of students until today. Peace talks will not redeem our lost nation, we can only win the Tamil homeland by the active engagement in the struggle by all people," said P. Ariyanethiran, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Batticaloa District Parliamentarian Tuesday participating as the special guest in the 32nd Student Uprising Day celebration held at Karadiayanaru in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Territory in the Batticaloa district.
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SLN arrested refugees handed over to civil authorities in Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 10:32 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy Monday around midnight arrested 37 Tamil refugees and two boatmen in the mid-sea fleeing to South India in two boats from Mannar shore. These refugees include women and children were among the refugees displaced from Trincomalee coastal villages and staying in Pesalai St. Mary's School. Mannar Additional Magistrate Mr.T.J.Pirapaharan Wednesday remanded the two boatmen who were arrested the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Monday night when they were transporting 39 Tamil refugees to South India. SNL officials in Mannar handed the arrested refugees to the Mannar Divisional Secretary Ms Stanley de Mel for the safe custody in the Pesalai St Mary's Tamil School, court sources said.
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Impromptu rally as UK hunger strike ends

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 09:08 GMT]
Almost a thousand Tamils gathered in front of Britain’s Houses of Parliament as Thaya Idaikader, who had been staging a hunger strike since midday Friday prepared to end it, after his scheduled 101 hours. Begun as a one-man protest against the international community’s refusal to compel Sri Lanka’s government to halt atrocities against Tamil civilians, Idaikader’s protest struck a chord with the wider Tamil community in Britain and in many other Diaspora centres around the world.
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Claymore attack in Colombo, a covert act by Sri Lankan MI - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 08:02 GMT]
"The Claymore attack in Colombo targeting a civilian bus Tuesday morning, is part of a Sri Lankan Military Intelligence (MI) designed covert programme to discredit the Tigers," LTTE's Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan, charged Wednesday, when asked to comment on Sri Lankan reaction to the Claymore attack that targeted a civilian bus near Welisara Sri Lanka Navy camp Tuesday. The "covert programme" by the Sri Lankan MI also seeks to antogonize the Sinhala population against the Tamil people, Mr. Thamilchelvan further said from Norway's capital Oslo.
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10 civilians killed, in SLA pressure mine attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 June 2006, 06:32 GMT]
Ten civilians, including three children, were killed and ten, including two infants aged 3 and 8 months, were wounded in a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) pressure mine explosion inside a Liberation Tigers controlled border village at Nedunkal in Vadamunai in Batticaloa around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Nine of the wounded were admitted to the Batticaloa hospital, medical sources said. Batticaloa District Political Head of the LTTE Daya Mohan said that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers, who had moved beyond the Forward Defence Line of the LTTE, were behind the attack that has claimed the ten lives including three members of a family.
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Three SLA soldiers, policeman wounded in grenade attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 23:35 GMT]
Unidentified attackers lobbed a grenade into the checkpost of the 21-2 Sri Lanka Army camp, located in Mannar Stadium, wounding three SLA soldiers and a policeman at 7:07 p.m. Tuesday, Police said.
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Youth shot, injured at Vaharai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 20:52 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen forced a Tamil youth out of the bus he was travelling in from Valaichenai near Theavettuvan Araba Vidyalayam, and shot him with a pistol causing serious injuries at 6.00 p.m Tuesday, said Valaichenai police.
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Girl's death triggers prisoners' protest in Negombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 19:17 GMT]
More than 250 Tamil youth and girls held in Negombo remand prison indefinitely, began a fast-to-death campaign inside the prison Monday, to protest against the death of a girl inmate who died Monday due to lack of medical facilities, sources from Negombo said. The protesting prisoners demanded they be produced in courts or be released on bail immediately, said sources from Negombo.
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LTTE delegation meets Norwegian Development Minister

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 17:03 GMT]
The delegation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), headed by its Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan, on Tuesday, briefed the Norwegian International Development Minister, Erik Solheim, on the Tiger leadership's stand after Geneva-I talks, concerning the ground situation, the extra-judicial killings by the Sri Lankan armed forces and its paramilitaries, according to S. Puleedevan, the Director of LTTE's Peace Secretariat. The composition of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) with EU Member States, in a post EU-ban scenario, was also a topic raised at the meeting.
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Paramilitary cadre guns down Batticaloa hospital security guard

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 13:09 GMT]
A paramilitary gunman riding a bicycle shot and killed a Security guard of the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, at the main entrance of the hospital Tuesday at 4:05 p.m., police said.
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World Environment Day celebrated in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 12:19 GMT]
Tamil people, under the Sri Lankan occupation, are obstructed to carry on their age-old lifestyle of living in harmony with the nature and its environment in their traditional homeland, said Shanmugalingam Ranjan, the Director of Planning and Development Secretariat (PDS) of Tamileelam, addressing media after the World Environment Day celebrations in Kilinochchi Monday.
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Two SL Police killed, two injured in Vavuniya claymore attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 12:06 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Police officers were killed and two seriously injured in a claymore attack near the Pandarikulam road in Vairavapuliyankulam in Vavuniya at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, security sources in Vavuniya said.
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Wife of Hindu priest identify her husband's body

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 11:14 GMT]
The body of the Hindu priest who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Kopay-Kaithadi area on 26th May and found near 200 meters inland from the Kaithady bridge on an isolated earth-bund Tuesday afternoon was identified by the wife of the priest as her husband, sources in Jaffna said.
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Self-defence training to Muttur east civilians begins

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 10:40 GMT]
Self-defence training to civilians in the Liberation Tigers held Muttur East and Eachchilampathu divisions in the Trincomalee district began Monday. "Our fighting formations are waiting for the message from our national leader to initiate a definite victory. Very soon the day would dawn for the Tamil people to live in their own villages, houses and lands without being displaced any more," Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said.
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Two EPDP cadres shot dead in Velanai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 10:30 GMT]
Unknown gunmen shot and killed two men alleged to be members of the Eelam Democratic Peoples Party (EPDP) paramilitary group Tuesday morning while walking out of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp in Velanai in the Jaffna islets, said sources of Jaffna. The two men died on the spot.
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Bodies of two youths found in Thangapuram

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 10:22 GMT]
Bodies of two unidentified youths were found Tuesday morning around 7.30 a.m. lying near a school in Thangapuram, a Tamil village in the Serunuwara police division in Trincomalee district along Muttur-Batticaloa road, Serunuwara Police sources said.
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Judge assails Allaipiddy investigations as cover-up

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 02:23 GMT]
Kayts district court Judge, Mr. Jeyaraman Trotsky, rebuked the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for attempting to coverup the investigations into the Allaipiddy killing of eight civilians, when the case was taken up at the Kayts Court Monday, legal sources said. A special Committee lead by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) level officer Mahes Perera was appointed by the Sri Lanka Government to investigate into the killing that took place in Jaffna Islets on 13 May 2006.
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Claymore blast in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 01:17 GMT]
Sri Lankan military officials reported a Claymore explosion in SL capital Colombo, at Mahapage, 50 meters from the Welisara Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) camp in Ragama, on Colombo-Negombo Road, Tuesday morning around 4:45 a.m. A bus driver was wounded in the blast, which is the first claymore attack to be reported in Colombo.
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LTTE delegation arrives in Oslo

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 June 2006, 23:06 GMT]
More than one hundred Norwegian Tamil activists were present at the Gardermoen International Airport Monday night to welcome the five member delegation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) headed by the Political Head of the LTTE, S. P. Thamilchelvan. The delegation, invited by the Norwegian facilitator to the peace process in Sri Lanka, to discuss the future engagement of the truce monitors, will also have meetings with the LTTE's Constitutional Affairs Committee that played a key role in formulating the blueprint for the Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA), informed sources said.
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SLA soldier killed in Nanaddan clash

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 June 2006, 19:25 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed in a clash that erupted between a group of armed men and Sri Lanka Army soldiers near Eruvittan junction on Nanaddan - Arippu road around 3.15 p.m., Monday. Civilians in Eruvittan area were assaulted by the SLA troopers following the clash. SLMM monitors rushed to the site.
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Two men killed in Claymore blast in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 June 2006, 18:47 GMT]
Two men were killed in Claymore blast at Sinnavembu in Kumburumoolai around 4:30 p.m. Monday. Both were killed while fixing the Claymore mine, Kalkuda Police said.
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Dead body with gunshot wounds found in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 June 2006, 13:30 GMT]
An unidentified dead body of a male with gunshot wounds, was taken to Batticaloa hospital by police from Navatkadu, 4 km south of Batticaloa Monday morning. The body, located near Navatkadu Hindu Culture hall in Batticaloa, is yet to be identified, medical sources said.
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Provincial Council administration paralyses in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 June 2006, 09:10 GMT]
Offices of the North East Provincial Council, non-governmental organizations, co-operatives societies, and post offices located in the Trincomalee town did not function Monday as employees of these institutions began a 3-day boycott in protest to the abduction of Selvarajah Gajanathan, a Co-operative Development Officer (CDO) by an unidentified person in civil at Sri Lanka Army camp at Kaddaiparichchan on 1 June.
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Col.Sornam addresses displaced families in Muttur east

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 June 2006, 00:40 GMT]
Colonel Sornam, Special Commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Trincomalee district Saturday addressed a gathering of several hundred displaced Tamil families who sought refuge in LTTE held Muttur east area from Tamil villages located in the Sri Lanka government territory in the Trincomalee district.
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10,000 graduate from self-defense training in Mullaitivu

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 June 2006, 22:06 GMT]
More than ten thousand residents of Vanni villages took part in a graduation ceremony completing self-defense training at the Lt.Malathi Sports ground in Puthukkudiyirruppu in Mullaitivu, Sunday, sources from Vanni said. Graduates wore red-bands and stood in training formations for men and women.
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SLA arrests three youths in Vantharumoolai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 June 2006, 20:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Saturday afternoon arrested three youths in Eravur police district during the cordon and search operation conducted after the attack Saturday morning on SLA troopers stationed at the Marungaiyadi Pillaiyar temple in Maavadivembu, Vantharumoolai, security sources said.
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Thileepan Hospitals serve Muttur displaced Tamils

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 June 2006, 16:00 GMT]
The medical needs of about fifty thousand people residing in LTTE-held villages in the Muttur east, Eachchilampathu division in the Trincomalee district and Vaharai division in the Batticaloa district are being looked after by Thileepan Medical Hospitals located in Pattalipuram, Valaithoddam and Kathiraveli, which are manned by medical officers from the Thamileelam Medical College, said Mr. S. Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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Jaffna fuel shortage, critical- GA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 June 2006, 13:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka Government's gazetted embargo on fuel to the Jaffna peninsula will lead to crippling of agriculture and fishing industry in the very near future, administrative officials in Jaffna Secretariat said. Transport within Jaffna district and travel to and from Jaffna also will be severely affected by the embargo, sources added.
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Grenade attack injures 2 SLA soldiers in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 June 2006, 09:30 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured when unidentified attackers riding a motorbike, lobbed a grenade at a check post at Perumal temple, close to 51.2 Brigade HQ, in Jaffna, around 2.15 p.m., Sunday, sources said.
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EU ban, one-sided and counterproductive - Balasingham

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 June 2006, 09:25 GMT]
The EU ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is "extremely harsh, unfair, untimely and one-sided unlike the Donor Co-chairs declaration," LTTE’s Chief Negotiator and Political Ideologue, Mr. Anton Balasingham, has told the Colombo based weekly, The Sunday Times. It is a "misguided strategy," to assume that international proscriptions will "encourage" the penalised organisations to pursue the road maps and guidelines prescribed by the international actors, Mr. Balasingam said adding that the "anti-terrorist age," ban on the Tigers, ignoring the political context, historical background, was counterproductive and created serious obstacle to productive engagement.
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LTTE delegation leaves Kilinochchi for Oslo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 June 2006, 07:51 GMT]
A five member delegation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eealm (LTTE) headed by its Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan, left Kilinochchi Sunday to Oslo. Tamileelam Police Chief B. Nadesan, Director of LTTE's Peace Secretariat S. Puleedevan accompanied Thamilchelvan with two others, sources in Kilinochchi said.
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Eight prisoners escape from Batticaloa jail

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 June 2006, 03:29 GMT]
Eight prisoners, many of them detained for more than a year without inquiries, broke out of Batticaloa jail, Sunday morning between 7:20 a.m and 7:30 a.m. One of the prisoners was pointing a handgun on the head of the security guard at the main entrance while the escapees got into an auto-rikshaw and fled from the high security area of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). SLA soldiers and the police launched a search operation in the area Sunday morning, sources from Batticaloa said.
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SLA search of Girls' School condemned

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 22:31 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian S Jeyananthamoorthy condemned Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers' entering Batticaloa Cicilia Girls and searching the school premises at 3:20 p.m. Saturday. "This is an act of intimidation and harassment of school children and this has created a sense of fear among school children. Further, armed soldiers occupying the school premises while the GCE A/L examination was in progress is against all norms of civilized conduct," the parliamentarian said.
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TNA local election candidate, relative shot and killed in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 18:15 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and paramilitary gunmen, who emerged from the grounds of Karuvakerni Vigneswara Vidyalayam school, opened fire and killed a local election candidate and his relative around 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Valaichenai residents said. The incident took place 500 meters from Valaichenai Police station.
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SLA soldier killed in Eluthumadduval claymore attack

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 18:11 GMT]
One Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed and two soldiers seriously injured in a claymore attack on their vehicle inside SLA controlled High Security Zone (HSZ) north of Muhamalai checkpoint at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, sources in Jaffna said. The injured soldiers have been taken to the Palaly Military Hospital, according to sources.
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Transport Board worker gunned down in Batticaloa, one wounded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 16:00 GMT]
Unknown gunmen riding in a motorbike shot and killed a Sri Lanka Transport Board (CTB/SLTB) worker and wounded another youth, who were standing outside Valaichenai bus stand, Saturday around 7:45 pm., Valaichenai Police said.
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SLA soldier killed in Manalaru

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 15:43 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army soldier was killed and another injured in a Claymore mine attack while they were returning to their camp after a road clearing mission at Kokkuthoduvai in Manalaru (Weli Oya in Sinhala) on Saturday 12.30 p.m., military sources in Colombo said.
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Muslim civilian killed in SLA retaliatory fire in Mannar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 14:39 GMT]
A Muslim civilian was killed when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers in Mannar town, opend fire after an SLA soldier and two policemen were wounded in a grenade attack in front of the SLA camp in Mannar Stadium. Shops were closed and civilians remained indoors following the incident at 7:00 p.m. Saturday.
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SLA sentry in Kaakaithivu attacked, no one injured

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 14:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry points located near Kaakai thivu junction in Aanaikottai area inside the Jaffna Municipal perimeter came under gunfire from the nearby housing development at 1:30 p.m. Saturday sources in Jaffna said. SLA soldiers returned fire but no one was injured in the firefight. The gunmen used a house vacated by a family who moved to Vanni to mount the attack and escaped, according to sources.
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EU ban ‘will radically transform’ Sri Lanka’s conflict - paper

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 12:40 GMT]
The European Union's decision to proscribe the Liberation Tigers "sends an unambiguous message to all Sri Lankans that, when all is said and done, President Mahinda Rajapakse is being backed by the international community against the LTTE," the Tamil Guardian newspaper said in its editorial this week. Amid a slide to war, the EU move has "left the Tamils isolated and confronting the Sri Lankan state" and this will thus "radically transform the long-term strategies of both protagonists," the paper argued.
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Alarming increase in arrests of Muttur youths- TNA MP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 12:20 GMT]
Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian Saturday expressed concern over the increase in the number of arrests of Tamil youths by the security forces in Muttur division in the Sri Lanka government controlled territory, sources said. "Nefarious elements assisted by supporters of Sri Lanka Government are trying to create rift between Muslims and Tamils residing in Muttur town by publishing anonymous pamphlets," said Mr.Thurairatnasingham in a statement released Saturday on the tense situation prevailing in Muttur town.
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Kallady bridge closed after Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 09:45 GMT]
All traffic on Batticaloa - Kalmunai road was blocked as Kallady bridge was shut down after a Claymore attack around 8:30 a.m. Saturday. A cordon and search operation was launched by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and the policemen in the area. Kallady is located 2 km south of Batticaloa town. The traffic resumed at noon.
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Gunmen fire at SLA troopers in Vantharumoolai, one wounded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 09:33 GMT]
One Sri Lanka Army soldier was wounded when gunmen opened fire at four SLA soldiers at Vantharumooolai, 18 km northwest of Batticaloa town around 9:00 a.m. Saturday.
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STF shells Batticaloa temple

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 06:11 GMT]
Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) troopers, from Pulukunavai camp, shelled Thanthamalai Murugan temple, located in Liberation Tigers controlled territory southwest of Batticaloa, where Saiva devotees gathered Friday evening for voluntary preparation work ahead of annual festivals.
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LTTE officials in Amparai meet SLMM, raise STF harassment issues

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 06:04 GMT]
Amparai District Political Head of the Liberation Tigers, Jeya, in a meeting with the Head of the Amparai District Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Butti Ercisson, on Friday, raised concern over the recent threats issued to civilian co-operative managements in Thanidiyadi, Thankavelauthapuram and Kanchikudichcharu. STF troopers allegedly thretened the co-operative managements to shut down their services in the villages. Around thousand families were benefiting of the services being offered by the co-operatives, according to a co-operative official in the district.
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Court directs police to ensure security to all communities in Muttur

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 00:02 GMT]
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sri Lanka Police has informed the Muttur Magistrate that it has identified the anti-social elements in Muttur town who were behind the printing and distributing an anonymous pamphlet threatening Muslim families to leave the town within a stipulated period, legal sources said.
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SLA assaults Hindu priest after grenade attack

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 June 2006, 19:30 GMT]
Unidentified persons lobbed a hand grenade on the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) unit patrolling along the Kaithady-Kopay road in Thenmaradchchy Jaffna, Friday morning around 10.30 a.m causing minor injuries to two SLA troopers, sources from Kaithady said. The SLA troopers arrested the Hindu priest at a nearby Hindu Temple during the cordon and search operation, and assaulted him severely before releasing him in the evening, sources added.
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Elderly man killed in Batticaloa grenade attack

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 June 2006, 14:35 GMT]
Unidentified men lobbed a hand grenade inside a house in Puthur area in Batticaloa Thursday night around 9.15 p.m killing Rasiah Kanesan, 56, on the spot, said Batticaloa police.
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One SLA trooper dead and three injured in Claymore attack in Vantharumoolai, Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 June 2006, 11:27 GMT]
Unidentified persons exploded a Claymore mine on the Kaluvankerny Road in Vantharumoolai Friday around 12.45 p.m targeting Sri Lanka Army troopers on duty near the Railway track killing one on the spot and seriously injuring three, said Eravur police.
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Families flee Vankalai after claymore kills SLA trooper

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 June 2006, 11:07 GMT]
Nearly a hundred families consisting of around 500 members fled from their villages near Vankalai in Mannar Thursday around 7:30 p.m when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers based at the Vankalai SLA camp opened indiscriminate fire on the residents for 20 minutes after a Claymore explosion killed a SLA soldier in Naruvilikulam, sources said. The claymore targeting a two-wheel tractor carrying dinner to the SLA check post killed one soldier and injured two, said sources from Vankalai.
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Auxilliary Force member, LTTE cadre killed in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 June 2006, 10:32 GMT]
A member of Tamileelam auxilliary Force, Varothayan Sritharan, was killed, and another member injured in a claymore attack by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the LTTE controlled Nedunkerny area in Vavuniya, Thursday morning, sources in Vavuniya said.
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New world bank country director appointed for Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 June 2006, 03:40 GMT]
Ms Naoko Ishii has been appointed as the Country Director, Sri Lanka, with effective from 5th June, a memorandum from the World Bank Vice President for South Asia region Praful Patel issued Tuesday said. Ms Ishii will be replacing Peter Harrold who has held the post for the customary 3-year posting extended by a year, world bank sources said.
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Sinhalese should unite to fight the Tigers- Monks Front

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 June 2006, 01:41 GMT]
"Japanese peace envoy, Yasushi Akashi, has limited knowledge of the history of Sri Lanka and that is why he says Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cannot defeat the Tigers. Interference of international community prevented as from prosecuting a full intensity war against the Tigers in the past. We should not betray our country for the sake of foreign aid," said Ven. Dambara Amila Thero, head of National Buddhist Monks Front, presiding a meeting convened at the Bandaranaiyake Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo Wednesday evening, sources in Colombo said.
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Co-op officer abducted at Kaddaiparichchan SLA checkpoint- Elilan

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 June 2006, 00:51 GMT]
Selvarajah Gajanathan, a Tamil Co-operative Development Officer (CDO) was abducted at the Kaddaiparichchan Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Camp Thursday evening 4:00 p.m. by an unidentified person in civil clothes in the presence of SLA soldiers when he went to facilitate the transfer of relief material to Muttur east , sources in Muttur said.
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Arrested must be produced in Court sooner, Rights group tells SL Police

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 June 2006, 19:47 GMT]
Attorney for the Jaffna district offices of Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission(HRC), Mr Remedius, has requested the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) for Jaffna district, to take immediate action to produce in court youths arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in Jaffna a meeting held in the at the KKS Special detention center Thursday, sources in Jaffna said.
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Man injured in gun fire in Eravur

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 June 2006, 17:34 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen lobbed a hand grenade on a shop owner and when it failed to explode opened fire accidentally injuring a 48 year old man Wednesday night around 8 p.m at Thalavai in Eravur police division in Batticaloa, said Eravur police.
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Sinhala goons flock to A11 road in Welikanda

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 June 2006, 14:47 GMT]
Hundreds of armed Sinhala goons flocked to the A-11 road in Welikanda around 7:45 p.m. Thursday, after a protest against the presence of the paramilitary group camps and the massacre of 13 Sinhala workers on Monday in the village of Omadiyamadu, once used by the paramilitary Karuna group. Senior Police officer in Batticaloa, S.M. Keerigala, has requested the police stations to block the traffic along A11 till normalcy until normalcy returned to the area, Police sources said. The traffic between Colombo and Batticaloa remains cancelled and Welikanda remains tense.
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Tigers request diplomatic travel arrangements for Oslo meet

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 June 2006, 11:27 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers (LTTE) have agreed, in principle, to participate in discussions in Oslo this month with the Norwegian facilitator responsible for coordinating and facilitating the Scandinavian truce monitoring mission, the SLMM. "The timely participation is dependent on travel arrangements with diplomatic privileges being made available to the LTTE delegation through Sri Lanka's territory," LTTE Political Head told media in Kilinochchi Thursday.
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Police blocks fuel delivery to Verugal co-operative

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 June 2006, 11:09 GMT]
The Trincomalee Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) has lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) located in the east port town that a lorry load of fuel transported to the Verugal MPCS was taken into custody with its crew by the Kantalai Police, sources said. Verugal MPCS is located in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held Eachchilampathu division in the Trincomalee district.
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Mannar body belongs to man arrested by SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 June 2006, 10:55 GMT]
The body found along Keery sea beach in Mannar town in a fertilizer bag on Wednesday morning was identified Thursday morning as belonging to Arulappu Jesuthasan Prince Croos, 38, of Ward No: 06, Vankalai who was arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers from Mannar Bazaar area on 26 May Friday, civil society sources from Mannar said.
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Two EPDP cadres shot dead in Vavuniya, official wounded in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 June 2006, 07:43 GMT]
Two EPDP cadres were shot and killed at Pandarikulam in Vavuniya Thursday morning, Vavuniya Police said. Meanwhile, media coordinator of the paramilitary group in Batticaloa, was wounded in a grenade explosion in Batticaloa EPPD office.
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