Cabinet reshuffle at appropriate time- Rajapakse

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 December 2006, 15:58 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse said Sunday in Colombo that he will initiate a cabinet reshuffle at an appropriate time when such need arises, political sources in Colombo said.
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Jaffna Campus to reopen 22 January

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 December 2006, 13:14 GMT]
Jaffna University board of governors, at a meeting presided by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kumaravadivel, decided to reopen the Campus on 22 January, administrators at Jaffna campus said. Sri Lanka Military Command has agreed to arrange sea transportation to the more than 800 out of district students to come back to the campus, officials added.
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Curfew in Thenmaradchi continues

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 December 2006, 04:11 GMT]
The indefinite extension of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) curfew on Thenmaradchi from Thursday 9:00 p.m continued for more than 24 hours, causing untold difficulties to the residents of the area, confining them indoors, sources from Chavakacheri said. There had been no clashes or extraordinary circumstances calling for search operation in the area where the curfew is being imposed by the SLA, the sources added.
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SLAF Kfir jets bomb Vaharai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 December 2006, 21:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) kfir jets flew four bombing sorties over Puliyankandalady in Vaharai in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held territory, Saturday around 9:00 a.m, forcing the civilians who had sought safety in the Vaharai hospital to flee in panic, seeking safety inside bunkers, sources from Vaharai said.
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Six civilians disappear in Jaffna last week

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 December 2006, 16:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and collaborating paramilitaries have abducted six civilians in the Jaffna district between 24th December, and 30th December according to complaints filed at the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC), civil society sources in Jaffna said. The disappearances and arrests in Jaffna have escalated to alarming proportions in the last few months as part of the counter-insurgency campaign mounted by Colombo on the civilian population in the district, according to rights officials in Jaffna.
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Hindu Congress condemns attack on Verugal Murugan Temple

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 December 2006, 16:07 GMT]
All Ceylon Hindu Congress (ACHC), which has its headquarters in Colombo, has condemned the aerial attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Thursday on the historic Sithirivelautha Swami (Murugan) Temple located in Verugal in Eachchilampathu division, south of Trincomalee district.
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Kayts Police constable killed in "accidental" gunfire

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 December 2006, 15:38 GMT]
One police constable was killed in an accidental gunfire at Kayts Police station Friday afternoon, police sources said. The constable was cleaning his weapon when it accidentally fired, killing the officer, the Officer-in-Charge of Kayts police said.
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Jaffna dailies face closure due to newsprint shortage

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 December 2006, 13:23 GMT]
Acute shortage of newsprint and printing ink in Jaffna may force closure of Tamil dailies, Uthayan, Yarl Thinakural and Valampuri, administrators at the papers' main offices said. After the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) closed A9 in 11 August, no printing material and ink were allowed into Jaffna district, officials added.
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MP slams aerial bombardment on water refinery

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 December 2006, 10:37 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), in its latest bombing raids in Vaharai on Thursday, completely destroyed a water refinery constructed by the UN agencies to remedy the drinking water shortage in the area near Verugal Murugan temple, charged S. Jeyanandamoorthy, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian from Batticaloa. In a press communiqué issued on Friday, the MP said: "the bombardment on the water refinery is not only a Ceasefire violation but is a human rights violation and a war crime too."
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Paramilitary attack repulsed in Batticaloa - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 December 2006, 07:13 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched a counter-attack on a group of paramilitary cadres of Karuna Group, Friday night, when the group attempted to launch a penetration attack on a LTTE camp in Kudumbimalai, northwest of Batticaloa. A wounded paramilitary cadre was captured alive and the dead body of another was recovered by the Tigers, according to the Military Spokesman of the Tigers Irasiah Ilanthirayan. Four Tiger fighters were wounded in the confrontation. Kudumbimalai, a hat shaped hill, is located in the middle of the large Vadamunai-Tharavai region, northwest of Batticaloa.
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Abducted PLOTE members found dead

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 December 2006, 15:48 GMT]
Bodies of two senior members of the Peoples Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) who were abducted on Wednesday night around 8 p.m.at Puttalam area by an unknown armed gang were recovered Friday morning along Kurunagala-Medagama road in Galgamuwa police division with gunshot injuries. Their hands were tied behind their back, sources said.
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UNP in the dark over NorthEast de-merger

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 December 2006, 14:02 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP), which has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) giving top priority to solve the ethnic conflict, is in dark over the actions currently being taken by the Provincial Governor, Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema, to split the administration of the merged North East into two provinces, Colombo media sources said, quoting UNP General Secretary Mr.Tissa Attanayake.
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UNP to attend next APRC-Wickremasinghe

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 December 2006, 13:14 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) is expected to attend the next meeting of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC), which is scheduled to meet in the second week of January, Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the UNP, said Friday.
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Vaharai IDPs rally, demand International relief, re-opening of A-15

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 December 2006, 11:28 GMT]
Thousands of Tamils, most of them Internally Displaced Persons in the Sri Lanka Army besieged Vaharai region, Friday at 10:00 a.m. marched from Vaharai school IDP camp towards the Vaharai Hospital in a prosession, and handed over an appeal addressed to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, calling on the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to allow the International Relief to reach Vaharai and re-open the A-15 access route, that has remained closed by the Sri Lanka Army for the last 2 months. The IDPs also raised concerns over the alleged move to select Sampoor region to set up a Coal Power Plant preventing the internally displaced people of the area from resettling in their own lands.
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India, Sri Lanka sign agreement on Trinco coal plant

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 December 2006, 10:40 GMT]
The process of site selection for the establishment of the planned coal-fired power plant in Trincomalee is expected to commence in the near future as the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka signed an agreement Friday at the Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, according to a press release issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
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SLA curfew on Thenmaradchi extended indefinitely

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 December 2006, 09:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) announced the official extension of curfew on Thenmaradchi in Jaffna peninsula with effect from 9:00 p.m Thursday until further notice without citing any reason, over its radio at the Palaly Army Head Quarters Thursday night. The curfew hours imposed on the rest of the Jaffna peninsula are extended by two hours from 8:00 p.m to 5:00 a.m, according to the SLA announcement, Jaffna sources said.
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Two Tamil youths abducted in Mannar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 17:07 GMT]
A group of unidentified armed men Thursday early morning around 5.30 a.m. forcibly entered a house at Eluthoor area in Mannar town and abducted four Tamil youths. Two of the abducted, were released shortly. The two persons, still missing, have been identified as Rasanayagam Jeyasekar, 30, a father of one child and Francis Thurairaj, 26.
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Tamil Law students protest discrimination in admissions

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 13:18 GMT]
Tamil students who were denied admission to Law College staged a token hunger strike in Colombo outside the Law College on Wednesday morning at 10:00am protesting against discrimination in admission process. Colombo police officials at the scene warned the students that protests were banned inside the High Security Zone, and forcefully removed the students.
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1 SLA soldier, 1 student injured in Vadamaradchy grenade attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 13:06 GMT]
One Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, deployed on road-side security duty near Madathady junction, 1 km west of Manthikai, along Point Pedro-Jaffna road, and another student passing-by were injured when unknown gunmen riding a motorbike hurled hand grenades at the SLA sentry point at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, sources in Vadamaradchy said.
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Call on UK to lift ban on LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 13:01 GMT]
A petition to the British government to lift the proscription of the LTTE and to recognise the Tamil people’s right to self-determination has received the support of two ruling party Parliamentarians and trade union officials in UK.
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2 SLA troopers killed, 3 injured in Chavakacheri claymore attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 12:52 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and three seriously injured when unknown assailants triggered a claymore mine targetting the pickup truck the soldiers were travelling in between Post Office Road and Dutch Road in Chavakachcheri in Thenmaradchy at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, sources in Jaffna said.
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UNP-SLFP MoU under threat- Wickremasinghe

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 12:45 GMT]
Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), Thursday said the smooth implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), main constituent of the United peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government and the UNP, was under threat by forces opposed to a peaceful resolution to the ethnic conflict.
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Night-watchman disappears in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 12:32 GMT]
Night watchmen at the Pampaimadu, Vavuniya Ayurvedhic Hospital has been reported missing from Wednesday 6:00 p.m., a complaint filed by his relatives at Vavuniya Police said. His possessions and motorbike were found intact inside the building by the Police, according to police reports.
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Police Official shot, injured in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 12:19 GMT]
Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the Suduventhapilavu area police station in Vavuniya was shot and seriously injured when unknown gunmen carrying pistols fired at him in close range at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, police in Vavuniya said.
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Sunday Leader editor faces arrest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 10:46 GMT]
Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been instructed by the Defence Ministry to arrest Lasantha Wikramatunga, the editor of the Sunday Leader, who exposed last Sunday a move to build a 500 million rupee bunker at Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's official residence, editorial staff of the paper said. As the news spread, media personnel in Colombo surrounded the Sunday Leader office Thursday evening.
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Two PLOTE operatives disappear in Puttalam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 10:02 GMT]
Armed men riding in a van have reportedly abducted two Tamil persons, said to be senior operatives of PLOTE, from a house located at Chenaikudiruppu along Puttalam-Anuradhapura Road Wednesday night, ex-militant sources in Colombo said.
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Batticaloa Unemployed graduates demand employment

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 23:22 GMT]
More than sixty unemployed graduates in Batticaloa district staged a protest rally Wednesday morning at 9:00 am outside the zonal Educational office demanding the government to recruit them into public service. All activities of the education office were interrupted by this protest campaign.
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Rajapakse pays surprise visit to Trincomalee naval base

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 20:16 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse paid a surprise visit to the SL Naval Base in Trincomalee Wednesday morning and inspected the naval installations and participated in a passing out parade held in the naval base. This was his first visit to Trincomalee after assuming the executive presidency in December last year. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Sri Lanka.
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8 white van abductions in Jaffna in 5 days

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 19:43 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and collaborating paramilitaries have abducted eight youths, including two students, in the Jaffna district between 20th and 25th December, according to complaints filed by the relatives with the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC), civil society sources in Jaffna said. SLA troops arrive in Buffel armoured cars with paramilitaries in white vans, and abductions take place either on streets in broad day light or at the victims' houses during night, the relatives of those abducted said.
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Youth shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 16:14 GMT]
The body of a youth was found with gunshot injuries at Varothiyanagar, a suburb in Trincomalee town Wednesday evening. His hands were tied from behind.
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Abducted man found dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 12:28 GMT]
Eravur police in Batticaloa district recovered the partly buried body of a man along Kaluvankerny beach Wednesday around 9:30 a.m on information provided by the local residents, and handed the body over to Eravur hospital.
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Two SLA troopers injured by LTTE fire in Vaharai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 11:25 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers from the Kadjuwathe SLA camp were seriously injured when the Liberation Tigers retaliated to the intensive mortar and artillery barrage launched by the SLA from its camps at Mankerny, Kadjuwathe and Valaichenai Paper Factory on Vaharai area in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held territory, Wednesday from 7:30 a.m until 11:00 a.m, sources from Vaharai said.
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Two youths abducted in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 11:06 GMT]
Unidentified armed men abducted two youths displaced from Vaharai area, from their relatives house at Union Colony, Valaichenai in Batticaloa district, Tuesday around 9:30 p.m police said. The two abducted youths were forcibly taken away by the armed men who said the youths have to be interrogated, police added.
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Claymore blast kills policeman in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 05:48 GMT]
A policeman was killed when unidentified persons set off a claymore mine targetting a police patrol about 150 metres from Special Task Force (STF) camp at Park road in Vavuniya, at 8:35 a.m., Wednesday, police in the northern town said.
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Low-key tsunami anniversary memorials held in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 December 2006, 23:20 GMT]
With Sri Lanka Army (SLA) imposed restriction of free movement of people in force, the second anniversary memorial events on the coastal villages of Jaffna peninsula were held Tuesday in several places of worship quietly, sources from Jaffna said. A tsunami sculpture carved by a famous sculptor from Tellipalai was unveiled today by the Government Agent Jaffna, with several civil society leaders and public participating in the event.
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Five of 19 abductees surrender to Eravur Police

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 December 2006, 14:47 GMT]
Five of the 19 passengers abducted by Karuna paramilitary cadres from the Saravana Travels private bus on its way from Kathankudy to Colombo on December 20 at Korakalimadu in Eravur police division in Batticaloa, escaped Monday evening, and surrendered Tuesday at Eravur police station.
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Karuna office destroyed in Amparai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 December 2006, 14:40 GMT]
Unidentified persons launched Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) Monday around 9:45 p.m on the office of Karuna paramilitary group located at 15th Colony in Amaprai district, completely destroying it, Amaparai sources said. The attackers first lobbed hand grenades and followed with RPGs.
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Ceasefire, dialogue imperative for recovery- Bill Clinton

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 December 2006, 13:09 GMT]
While noting that all must "recognize that peace is critical to any recovery process," Bill Clinton former President of the US, said in an op-ed column in the Tuesday edition of the Washington Post, that "tragically the tsunami has not had a similar impact on reconciliation in Sri Lanka, where the recovery will continue to be hampered until the parties resume a serious dialogue and reestablish ceasefire."
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SLAF Jets bomb Vaharai, disrupt tsunami memorial event

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 December 2006, 12:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Airforce (SLAF) kfir fighter jets bombed Tuesday morning Kathiraveli and Palchenai residential areas in Vaharai in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) territory, and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched artillery and rocket fire from SLA camps in Mankerny, Kadjuwathe, during the second anniversary memorial prayers were being held for the tsunami victims at Vaharai Vigneswara temple around 9:25 a.m Tuesday. Five houses were badly damaged but no one was hurt when shells fell and exploded on residential areas, Vaharai sources said.
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80% tsunami displaced in NorthEast, still in temporary shelters- TRO

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 December 2006, 12:19 GMT]
"Almost 80% of the Tsunami displaced in some districts of the NorthEast of the island, which sustained 65% of the tsunami destruction and deaths, continue to languish in Temporary Shelter Camps or have been displaced once again due to military offensives, bombing, and shelling," said Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in its two-year tsunami report, issued in Colombo, Tuesday.
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Family woman shot dead at Akaraipattu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 December 2006, 12:09 GMT]
Unidentified armed men called out a woman from her house at Akkaraipattu in Amparai distrtict Monday around 7:35 p.m and shot her dead on the spot, Akaraipattu police said. The armed men had come looking for the victim's 25 year old son and had killed the mother not finding the son, added the police.
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4 civilians wounded in alleged SLA grenade attack in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 December 2006, 08:41 GMT]
Four civilians, two women and two brothers employed at a shop, were severely wounded in a grenade attack near a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) post close to Sathira Juction on Hospital Road in Jaffna town Tuesday noon. No SLA soldier was wonded in the grenade attack reported amid repeated threats by the SLA troopers to the shop owners in the area, to close down their establishments near the army post.
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6 killed, 9 injured in Jaffna clashes - SLA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 December 2006, 08:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army authorities in Jaffna said that 6 LTTE members were killed and 9 SLA soldiers were injured, two of them seriously, in clashes at Kakaithivu in Navanthurai, a suburb of Jaffna town, around 8:30 p.m, Monday.
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Tsunami survivors carry 'deep scars' - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 December 2006, 07:56 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in a statement issued Monday, marking two year remembrance of the Boxing Day Tsunami disaster, said the assistance to the people devastated by the tsunami has not progressed beyond the temporary shelter-stage in Tamil areas as Colombo scuttled the internationally promoted joint mechanism signed between the parties. Tamils were "deeply hurt" as Colombo continued to find comfort in using the label of a "sovereign" government, the Tigers said.
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Navaratnam's funeral in Montreal, Tuesday

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 December 2006, 20:11 GMT]
Federal Party co-founder V. Navaratnam's remains are kept for public to pay their last respects at Darche Funeral Parlour, 7679 Taschereau boulevard, in Montreal, and the funeral would be held Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. His nine grandchildren will carry the casket from the funeral parlour to the site of the burial service, family members said.
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Jaffna Bishop urges all to "turn aside from hatred and enmity"

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 December 2006, 19:50 GMT]
In a Christmas message wishing "all the clergy, faithful, and all men and women of Good–will of Sri Lanka, a joyous Christmas and Peace in the New Year," the Bishop of Jaffna, Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundaranayagam, said: "Jesus Christ came into the world to bring Peace and Brotherhood and Sisterhood. The Angels chorused “Glory to God in the highest and Peace to men of good will," But men continue to wage war and make division and dissension in the society and in the world.
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Tamil youths arrested in Galle, Kandy

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 December 2006, 16:10 GMT]
Seven Tamil youths including a woman were arrested in Habaraduwa in Galled district and in Kandy town in two separate cordon and search operations conducted by security forces Sunday evening, sources said.
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Cellular phone service returns to Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 December 2006, 14:54 GMT]
Mobile phone customers subscribing to the wireless-carrier Dialog GSM have started receiving dial-tones sin Jaffna district starting from the Christmas day after a break of 5 months, residents in Jaffna said.
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Eastern University staff continues boycott

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 December 2006, 14:43 GMT]
The acadamic and non acadamic staff of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka (EUSL) continued their boycott for the 10th concecutive day demanding the release of abducted Vice Chancellor Prof. S. Ravindranath who is believed to be held by the paramilitary Karuna Group in Colombo from 15 December.
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One SLA soldier killed, another injured in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 December 2006, 13:49 GMT]
Unidentified men attacked a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry point located along the Vathiry- Uduppiddy road in Navindil, Vadamarachchy Jaffna district, killing one SLA soldier, and seriously injuring another around 10:00 a.m. Monday, sources from Jaffna said.
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LTTE hands over Jordanian ship's crew to ICRC

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 December 2006, 10:53 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) media spokesman Thaya Master said that the 25 sailors including the Captain of the Jordanian ship, rescued on the LTTE territorial waters off Mullaithivu Saturday, were handed over to ICRC Monday around 10:00 a.m. in Kilinochchi.
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One police sergeant killed in grenade attack in Pallimunai

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 December 2006, 10:12 GMT]
One police sergeant was killed and three constables were injured when an unidentified person lobbed a grenade on a group of police personnel who were on duty near the Pallimunai St.Lucia Church premises in Mannar district Monday early morning around 1:30 a.m.
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Tigers confer 'Patriot' title on Navaratnam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 December 2006, 22:29 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sunday posthumously conferred "Naattu Patralar" (Patriot) title on V. Navaratnam, who passed away in Montreal, Canada, Friday at the age of 97.
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STF infiltration repulsed in Amparai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 December 2006, 21:42 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) cadres repulsed an attack by the Special Task Force (STF) inside LTTE controlled Kanchikudichcharu area in Amparai district around 10:30 am Sunday, said LTTE sources in Amparai.
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Tamil youth abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 December 2006, 18:13 GMT]
A Tamil youth, identified as Mayuran, working in a telecommunication center along 37th Lane in Wellawatte, Colombo was abducted by unidentified persons Saturday night.
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SLA curfew subdues festivities in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 December 2006, 16:56 GMT]
Christian parish priests in Jaffna peninsula requested Friday their parish members to observe Christmas and New Year festivities in a quiet manner at their homes with their neighbours because of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) all night curfew imposed on the peninsula and the risks involved. Special Christmas and New Year Church services including mid night Christmas mass celebrating the birth of infant Jesus have been postponed, Christian sources said.
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LTTE repulses SLA attack in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 December 2006, 11:43 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) combatants successfully repulsed Saturday around 8:30 p.m an attack by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and its collaborating paramilitary group from Black Bridge SLA camp at Chenkalady in Batticaloa on the LTTE held Karadiyanaru area, LTTE Batticaloa district political wing sources said. Three SLA troopers were seriously injured while no one was injured on their side, the sources added.
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Four Tamil youths arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 December 2006, 11:21 GMT]
The Sri Lanka forces arrested four Tamil youths Sunday morning in combined search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Army and Police in Dehiwala area, suburb in Colombo city. The search operation was conducted between around 3:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
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Drifted ship's Captain talks to Jordanian Ambassador in India

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 December 2006, 10:49 GMT]
Iraqi Captain of the Jordanian owned cargo ship M.V. FARAH III that drifted and struck the ground in LTTE territorial waters off Mullaithivu Saturday, Ramaz S. Abdul Jabbar, has contacted the Jordanian Ambassador in India Sunday evening, from the Peace Secretariat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Kilinochchi, conveying the message of safety of his crew members. Asked to comment whether there has been any military standoff between the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sea Tigers, the Captain of the ship told TamilNet: "this, I guess is all political. We are all safe and we have good cooperation here."
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Civilian shot dead, another seriously injured in Thenmaradchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 December 2006, 10:41 GMT]
Two unidentified armed men following on a motor cycle opened fire on two civilians riding a motor bicycle along Kachai Road at Kodikamam in Thenmaradchi Saturday around 3:00 p.m, killing one on the spot and seriously injuring the other, sources from Kodikamam said. The seriously injured man was rushed to Jaffna Teaching hospital and the dead body of the victim is kept at the hospital morgue.
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Two shot dead, six seriously injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 December 2006, 09:56 GMT]
Unidentified armed men opened fire on persons returning from a funeral Saturday around 11:00 p.m, killing two on the spot and seriously injuring six, at Puthukudiruppu in Batticaloa, sources from Batticaloa said. The injured were first rushed to Kathankudy hospital and later transferred to Batticaloa Teaching hospital in a critical condition.
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SAR appeals to SL President to locate disappeared Vice-chancellor Raveendranath

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 December 2006, 22:40 GMT]
Scholars At Risk (SAR), an international network of universities and colleges dedicated to promoting academic freedom and its constituent freedoms of thought, opinion and expression -freedoms essential to any healthy society, operating from New York, has written Thursday to the President of Sri Lanka expressing concern about the disappearance of Professor S. Raveendranath, Vice Chancellor of Eastern University, reported missing since Friday 15 December.
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Critically ill Vaharai patients transferred to Batticaloa by sea

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 December 2006, 21:01 GMT]
Request made by Vaharai hospital authorities Friday to Batticlaoa ICRC and Deputy Director of Batticaloa District Health Services to transfer patients in need of essential medicine to Batticaloa hospital resulting in no positive response, Vaharai hospital staff headed by Dr. Thurairasa Varatharasa, managed to send patients to Valaichenai hospital in two boats Friday, Vaharai hospital sources said.
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One SLA trooper killed, two seriously injured in Vadamaradchy

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 December 2006, 18:49 GMT]
Unidentified armed men opened fire on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) patrol unit troopers who were conducting a search for armed persons said to be moving around at Manandy in Vadamaradchi Saturday around 4:30 p.m, killing one and seriously injuring two of the SLA troopers.
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Germany wants peace conditions on Sri Lanka aid

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 December 2006, 18:04 GMT]
The international community should make further assistance to Sri Lanka dependent on the resumption of the peace process in the country, German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul was quoted as saying in an interview to be published Sunday.
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Karuna group cadre shot, injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 December 2006, 17:59 GMT]
Unidentified armed men opened fire Friday around 9:45 p.m on the office of Karuna group on New Muhathuvaram Road in Batticaloa injuring one Karuna group member, Batticaloa police said. There were more than eight Karuna group members inside the office at the time of the shooting, the police added.
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Cargo ship's crew safe, Tigers inform IMO

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 December 2006, 14:57 GMT]
Liberation Tigers officials have informed International Maritime Organisation in UK that the 25-member crew of the cargo ship that drifted into LTTE waters off Mullaithivu coast due to technical failure, were safe in Kilinochchi. LTTE's U.N. Liaison officer Pavarasan is in touch with the ICRC to facilitate safe passage to the crew members as the cargo ship was grounded, according to LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan.
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Three pronged artillery barrage on Vaharai villages

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 December 2006, 09:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army, with massive firepower, launched artillery barrage simultaneously from three directions, Kallaru SLA camp, north of Vaharai, Karadikkulam, in the west and from Mankerni SLA camp in the south towards Kathiraveli, Kandalady, Palchenai, Vammiveduvan, Vellayadimadu and Uriyankattu villages in the Vahara region. The artillery barrage, launched around 6:30 a.m. Saturday, continued for more than 8 hours. Vaharai hospital sources reported artillery explosions 200 meters close to Vaharai hospital. Casualty details were not available.
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Cargo ship caught up in rough seas at LTTE waters

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 December 2006, 07:36 GMT]
Captain of the Cargo ship, drifting towards Mullaithivu shore, with fellow crewmen, is engaged in bringing the ship to operation Saturday afternoon, Sea Tiger officials said. 15 crew members have reached the shore. Earlier, Liberation Tigers Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told media that the cargo ship, caught up in the rough seas, had drifted into LTTE territorial waters off Mullaithivu and that the Sea Tigers were engaged in saving the crew members.
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SLHRC discovers missing youth in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 December 2006, 22:08 GMT]
A youth, from Thunalai, Pandaitharippu in Valigamam, whose family members had complained to the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) Jaffna office of his disappearance earlier, was found to be held at the Special Detention Police Camp at Kankesanthurai by Jaffna SLHRC officers Friday, when they went on their weekly customary visit to the Special Detention Camp, sources from the Rights office said.
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Navaratnam, the doyen of Federal Party, passes away

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 December 2006, 21:42 GMT]
V. Navaratnam, the only surviving founder member of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), the Federal Party, and who turned 97 last October, has passed away in Montreal, Canada at 4:10 p.m. Friday. The doyen of Tamil politics who inked the Bandaranaiyake Chelvanayagam pact and negotiated with the Sri Lanka leaders for sharing state power within a federal framework for almost three decades, came to a conclusion that the Sinhala polity would never compromise or agree on any decision to share state power with Tamils, and left the Federal Party, calling upon the Tamil youth to fight for the establishment of a separate self-governing Tamil State, as early as in 1969.
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Child Protection Authority empowered - LTTE Political Wing

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 December 2006, 11:19 GMT]
The LTTE Political Wing, in a press statement issued on Friday, said the Tiger leadership had taken decisive steps to stop the practice of underage recruitment. The Tigers have strengthened the Child Protection Authority with certain powers to investigate future allegations of underage recruitment and to take immediate action to release them, the statement said. The statement also made reference to Tamileelam Child Protection Act 2006 (Act No. 03 of 2006), which was enacted in October by the Tamileelam legislatature, making education compulsory upto grade 11. The Act has outlawed recruitment of under-17s and participation in combat of under-18s.
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Indian Prime Minister receives TNA leaders

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 December 2006, 07:48 GMT]
Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Friday received five Tamil National Alliance leaders R. Sampanthan, Mavai Senathiraja, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Selvam Adaikalanthan and Suresh Premachandran at his office in New Delhi. TNA MPs told media that the meeting was very cordial and that they had brought focus to the humanitarian crisis in Vaharai and Jaffna where food is used as tool of war by Colombo. Dr. Manmohan Singh emphasized that he had conveyed to Colombo that there could be no military solution to resolve the Tamil national problem and that it should address the political aspirations of the Tamil people through a negotiated settlement.
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SLAF bombs Mullaithivu suburb

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 December 2006, 07:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets Friday bombed a Mullaithivu suburb between 8:50 and 9:15 Friday morning. Also on Wednesday, when Vanni observed the funeral of LTTE theoretician and Chief Negotiator Mr. Anton Balasingham, SLAF bombers targeted a suburb in Puthudiyiruppu in Mullaithivu district.
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Veteran Tamil writer 'Varathar' passes away

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 December 2006, 22:46 GMT]
Shanmugam Varatharasan, a well known Tamil writer and a literary award winner, known as 'Varathar,' passed away Thursday at the age of 82, at his residence on Manipay road in Jaffna. Varathar, besides being a creative writer, was a successful publisher of Tamil literary works of many Tamil writers, accommodating fresh and alternative ideas in Tamil creative writing.
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Body identified as belonging to Karaveddy youth

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 December 2006, 22:42 GMT]
The body of a youth recovered Wednesday evening at Vallaiveli along the Valvai-Thondaimanaru road by Valvetithurai police, was identified as belonging to their son by parents from Karaveddy Thursday, Valvetithurai hospital sources said. The youth was abducted forcefully by armed men in a white van Tuesday on Nelliady road while he was riding his bicycle, his parents said.
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Abducted VC's mother appeals for son's release

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 December 2006, 19:55 GMT]
Mrs. Saraswathy Sivasubramaniam, 75, the mother of abducted Vice Chancellor of Eastern University appealed to the abductors to release his son without harm when TamilNet talked to her and her extended family in South London Thursday. "For the last 28 years my son and his family have been living in Batticaloa, the foremost thing in his mind was the development of Batticaloa, especially modernizing the agriculture in Batticaloa," she said. Prof. Raveendranath is 55.
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Governor orders de-merger steps, keeps Trincomalee separate

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 December 2006, 18:49 GMT]
The Governor of the North Eastern Province, Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, with exclusive powers delegated on him by the Sri Lankan President, has ordered the officials of the NorthEastern Provincial Council (NEPC) to split the unified administration of NEPC into two separate administrations, breaching the core aspect of the 1987 Indo Lanka accord. One administrative unit is to be set up in Vavuniya, to look after the affairs of the Northern Province and the other unit is to be located in Kalmunani to administer the Eastern Province, excluding Trincomalee district, which is to be under direct rule of the Governor and the GA, both ex-military officials posted to civil positions.
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Vaharai patient dies due to lack of medicine

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 December 2006, 17:10 GMT]
A 70 year old patient suffering from pneumonia succumbed to his illness Thursday around 6:30 p.m at the Vaharai hospital for want of medicine, Dr. Thurairasa Varatharajah of Vaharai hospital said. Friday last, the doctor made an urgent appeal to transfer 7 patients critically ill warded at Vaharai hospital for further treatment to Batticaloa Teaching hospital to the ICRC and the Deputy director of health services in Batticaloa, but the patients are yet to be taken to Batticaloa Teaching hospital, the doctor said.
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SLA shoots dead a youth in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 December 2006, 14:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) handed over the dead body of a youth to Vavuniya hospital Thursday evening , claiming the youth was killed in a fight between the SLA and the Linberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Wednesday between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m at Nedunkulam area in Kidachoori in Vavuniya when five LTTE cadres entered 50 meters into SLA held area.
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Basil Rajapakse visits Jaffna with Devananda

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 December 2006, 13:43 GMT]
A heavily guarded Special Conference was held at the Jaffna Public Library Thursday from 10:30 a.m to 1:00 p.m, presided by Basil Rajapakse, the brother and advisor of President Mahinda Rajapakse, to discuss matters related to restore normalcy to Jaffna peninsula with the key Government officials of the peninsula, attended by minister and leader of EPDP, Douglas Devananda and a team of junior ministers of the relevant ministries from Colombo, Jaffna sources said. Diffusing the present critical situation in the matters of supply and distribution and resuming normalcy were the important subjects dealt with, in the conference, sources close to Jaffna Secretariat said.
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Two children seriously injured in SLA shelling in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 December 2006, 12:02 GMT]
Two children were seriously injured Wednesday around 7:30 p.m when a mortar shell, launched from the Kumburumoolai Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp at Kiran in Batticaloa, fell and exploded on a house in Kiran. The children were rushed to Batticaloa hospital.
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Armed men abduct 19 youths in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 December 2006, 09:07 GMT]
Armed men clad in military fatigues abducted 19 youths, 16 boys and 3 girls, from a private bus en route to Colombo from Kattankudy at Korakallimadu in Kiran, in Batticaloa district around 9:00 p.m., Wednesday. The abductions have taken place on Katankudy - Polonnaruwa route, heavily guarded by Sri Lanka Army soldiers. Parents of six children have lodged complaints with the Police.
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Solheim extols Balasingham's integrity

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 December 2006, 02:07 GMT]
"I met so many other people in the Peace Process in Sri Lanka, of all communities. But I have to say that Bala is one of the very very few people who never lied to me in this peace process," said Erik Solheim, the Norwegian International Development Minister, addressing the large crowd assembled in Alexandra Palace UK to pay respect to late Anton Balasingham, advisor and theoretician for the Liberation Tigers, Wednesday.
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Karunanidhi praised for message on Balasingham

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 December 2006, 18:31 GMT]
S.P. Thamilchelvan, head of Liberation Tigers Political Division, in his concluding telecast address to expatriate Tamils in Alexandria Hall in London Wednesday to pay last respects to theoretician and political advisor of the LTTE Mr. Anton Balasingham, thanked Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, Muthuvel Karunanidhi, for the comfort he gave to Tamils worldwide by being the first voice to deliver condolence message from Tamil Nadu, and to Ms Adele Balasingham for her three decade long service to welfare of Tamil women and for her motivating support to her husband's service as the "Voice of Tamil Nation."
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Jaffna peninsula mourns for Balasingham

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 December 2006, 17:17 GMT]
Tamils in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupied Jaffna peninsula observed Wednesday as a day of mourning for the demise of Anton Balasingham, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) theoretician and chief negotiator who passed away last Thursday in London. Most of the shops, private and public establishments remained closed for the whole day while the roads were empty with the residents keeping indoors. Quiet events paying homage to late Anton Balasingham were held in higher educational institutions, University of Jaffna and Technical College.
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Body found with gunshot wound in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 December 2006, 17:08 GMT]
Valvetithurai police recovered Wednesday evening a dead body of an unidentified man among shrubs in a deserted place at Vallaiveli along the Valavai-Thondaimanaru road in Vadamaradchi. The body had a 9 mm gunshot wound on the head.
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Vanni pays homage to 'Voice of the Nation' Balasingham

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 December 2006, 11:05 GMT]
"Anton Balasingham bore the cross for the liberation of Eelam Tamils," said Puthuvai Iratnathurai, the Poet and the head of the Cultural Organisation of Tamileelam, addressing the mourners at Kilinochchi where LTTE Commander Col. Theepan hoisted the Tamileelam flag at half mast. "Bala Annai, when he visited Vanni last, told me that he wished to breathe his last in an Independent homeland," Puthuvai told the gathering. "We will support our Nation's leader, paving the way for the freedom of our nation, fulfilling Bala Annai's wish."
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Thousands throng Balasingham’s funeral held in London

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 December 2006, 10:16 GMT]
Thousands of Tamils in London have been paying their respects to Anton Balasingham, the LTTE’s theoretician and chief negotiator who passed away last Thursday. Thousands of people are filing past Mr. Balasingham’s body which is lying in state at Alexandra Palace in north London. In parallel, a funeral service is being held in Vanni, with footage from each location being broadcast to the other.
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SLA trooper seriously injured in claymore attack in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 December 2006, 10:04 GMT]
Unidentified persons triggered a claymore device Wednesday around 12:10 p.m, concealed in a rubble heap along the A9 route at Thandikulam in Vavuniya, seriously injuring a Sri Lanka Army (SLA)trooper who was first rushed to Vavuniya hospital and later transferred to Anuradapura hospital for further treatment, Vavuniya police said.
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Three youths missing since Friday in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 December 2006, 00:14 GMT]
Three youths who left their homes Friday morning to purchase at Chavakacheri in Thenmaradchi were reported missing from Friday by their parents at the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) Jaffna office Monday. One of the youths was on his motor cycle while the other two went riding bicycles and all three had to pass Chemani area between Chavakacheri and Jaffna, close to the Sri Lanka Army(SLA) camp, where two months ago many youths had mysteriously disappeared, the parents said.
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Collective agreement signed on plantation workers' salary increase

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 18:14 GMT]
Representatives of the Employers' Federation and the trade unions, Ceylon Workers Congress, Ceylon Estate Workers Union and Plantations Union, have signed a collective agreement regard to the daily salary increase of the plantations workers Tuesday morning in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapakse at Temple Trees, the State-run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) said in its Tuesday noon news broadcast in all three languages quoting government sources.
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Hurricane force winds displace civilians, damage houses in Amparai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 17:53 GMT]
The coastal village of Komari in Amparai district was affected by a mini cyclone Tuesday early morning at 5:00 a.m forcing over 200 civilians to flee their homes and seek refuge in the homes of their relatives, sources in Amparai said.
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One killed in RPG attack on paramilitary office in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 17:43 GMT]
A paramilitary cadre of Karuna Group was killed and another wounded when unidentified gunmen armed with Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers attacked the office of the group in Kalmunai town, located 36 km southeast of Batticaloa. The paramilitary office, located between a police post and the Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) camp in Kalmuani, was completely damaged in the attack that took place around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
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Two LTTE cadres to be disciplined over Thirukkovil episode

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 17:22 GMT]
Two Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres have been ordered transferred to Kilinochchi from Amparai, to face disciplinary action for enlisting underage youths from a tuition centre in Thirukkovil Monday, LTTE officials in Amparai told TamilNet. All the 23 civilians, including the 21 students, in the custody of an LTTE unit attached to a training camp, were freed after an internal investigation initiated by LTTE Commander Ram.
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Hairdressing saloon owner shot dead in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 17:06 GMT]
Two armed men shot dead the owner of a hairdressing saloon close to Athiady temple on the Thondamanaru-Valvetithurai road in Vavettithurai in Vadamaradchi at his saloon Tuesday around 10:30 a.m.
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Global appeal for release of Vice Chancellor Raveendranath

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 15:11 GMT]
67 academics, colleagues, and partners of Eastern University, across country borders, Tuesday jointly urged for the safe release of Professor S. Raveendranath, the Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University, who was reported missing Friday in Colombo's High Security area. In September, an unidentified armed group kidnapped the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Eastern University, demanding Professor Ravindranath's resignation in return for the Dean's release.
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Melbourne Tamils pay homage to Balasingham

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 12:19 GMT]
Over 700 Melbourne Tamils and community leaders gathered in Mt Waverley Sunday to remember the life of the late Anton Balasingham, theoretician and chief negotiator of the LTTE, who passed away last Thursday. Mrs. Betty Wilby, mother of Mrs. Adele Balasingham, inaugurated the meeting by lighting a candle.
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Three men shot dead, woman injured in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 09:33 GMT]
Three unidentified armed men arriving in a car shot dead three men and injured a woman at their house at Chalampaikulam in Vavuniya Monday around 7:45 p.m, said the injured woman to Vavuniya police.
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Amparai LTTE commander orders release of 21 students

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 05:57 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Amparai District Special Commander Ram has ordered immediate release of 21 students and 2 teachers who were found in the custody of an LTTE unit in Amparai Tuesday, LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told TamilNet. The cadres were removed from operational duty and an internal investigation was on, the LTTE spokesman quoted Commander Ram.
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University students protest supporting plantation workers

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 02:24 GMT]
Large number of University of Colombo students held a protest rally Monday afternoon at 12:30 p.m near Thummulla junction in Colombo, in a show of support to demands for wage rise of the tea plantation Tamil workers, sources in Colombo said. The Students warned that if the government does not accede to the demands of the plantation workers the protest will spread to all the other universities.
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Ring tones remain dead in Jaffna mobile phones

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 01:09 GMT]
Officials of Dialog GSM and Mobitel, the two mobile telephone companies providing cellular telephone service in Jaffna Peninsula, denied widespread rumors Monday that the wireless service, disconnected in August, are to be restored soon, sources from Jaffna said.
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Reduced curfew hours bring little succor to Jaffna residents

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 December 2006, 20:09 GMT]
The reduction in curfew hours announced by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for Jaffna district brings little relief to the residents cut-off from rest of Sri Lanka, living with severe shortage of food and basic essentials, and gripped with fear of abduction by SLA and paramilitaries as part of the counter-insurgency campaign unleashed by Colombo, civil society sources from Jaffna said.
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TNA urges GoSL, employers to respect Up-Country Tamils' contribution

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 December 2006, 15:23 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the employers of the plantation sector, must act responsibly to address the plight of the plantation sector workers, the majority of whom, economically and socially the most marginalised Tamils of Indian origin, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said Monday, expressing solidarity with the plantation workers in the up-country. "It cannot be denied that these plantation workers, through their sweat and toil, have continuously made a steadfast contribution to the country's economy."
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Eastern University shuts down in protest against forced disappearance of VC

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 December 2006, 13:39 GMT]
Students and academic staff of the Eastern University in Vantharumoolai, 17km north of Batticaloa, have shut down the University in protest against the reported forced disappearance of their Vice Chancellor in High Security area in Colombo, Friday. Vice Chancellor Professor S. Raveendranath, a founder member of the EUSL, was forced to submit resignation of his post in October to the University Grant Commission (UGC), to secure the release the Dean of the Arts Faculty, Bala Sugumar, who was abducted by the paramilitary demanding the resignation of the Vice Chancellor. The resignation, pending approval by the UGC, had forced the VC to function from Colombo till he was reported disappeared.
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Torrential rain floods Muslim, Tamil villages in Amparai

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 December 2006, 13:31 GMT]
Several Muslim and Tamil villages in Amparai have been inundated with floodwater from torrential rain, and thousands of families have been displaced from their homes in Amparai district. About twelve thousand members of seven thousand families from 27 grama niladhari sectors in Pottuvil division have been displaced and sheltered in temporary structures, sources said.
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Police Sergeant commits suicide in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 December 2006, 10:24 GMT]
A Police Sergeant attached to Kalmunai in Amparai district shot himself dead Monday around 1:25 p.m at the Kalmunai police station lodge, using his friend's AK47 rifle, Kalmunai police said.
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Norwegian University appeals for the release of Vice Chancellor Raveendranath

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 December 2006, 09:53 GMT]
Norwegian University of Life Sciences has appealed to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to take urgent action to find the whereabouts of the Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University, Professor S. Raveendranath, and ensure his safe return. The Vice Chancellor, who was reported missing while he was on duty in Colombo last Frdiay, was engaged in a sustained effort of building the academic capacities of the EUSL and was working with the Norwegian University in developing a master's degree programme i peacebuilding and development, said Professor Ruth Haug, Department Head of International Environment & Development Studies, Noragric Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
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3 Karuna paramilitary cadres shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 December 2006, 07:42 GMT]
Unidentified armed men using pistols shot dead on the spot Monday around 8:30 a.m three cadres of Karuna paramilitary group standing along the Main Road near Chenkalady market in the Earvur police division in Batticaloa, sources in Batticaloa said. One civilian, standing by and seriously injured in the shooting was first rushed to Chenkalady hospital and later transferred to Batticaloa Teaching hospital for further treatment.
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14,000 Civilians displaced from Vaharai

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 December 2006, 00:37 GMT]
Nearly Fourteen thousand Tamil refugees have been displaced from LTTE-controlled Vaharai area in Batticaloa District towards the areas under the control of Sri Lankan Army (SLA), Koralai Pattu North (Vaharai), Regional secretariat sources reported on Sunday.
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Relatives appeal to abductors for VC's release

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 December 2006, 00:06 GMT]
Relatives of the abducted Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. S. Raveendranath issued an urgent appeal Sunday requesting those who had abducted Prof. Raveendranath to kindly release him. Dr Malaravan, son-in-law of the VC said that the members of Raveendranath's family will ensure that the Professor will resign his post of Vice Chancellor at the Eastern University.
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Jaffna security arrangements add to Islets residents woes

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 December 2006, 16:48 GMT]
Recent relocation of Jaffna bus terminal to Pannai by Sri Lanka Army (SLA), and overflow of traffic along outer peripheral roads due to reconfiguration of traffic flow including prohibition of parking, have created additional burdens to families from the islets entering and leaving Jaffna town, civil society leaders said. Restrictions of intra-islet travel, and of transport in interior land routes have added further hardships for the people in these areas.
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Red Cross hands over bodies of six LTTE cadres

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 December 2006, 11:15 GMT]
Batticaloa district ICRC handed over to M. Mathy, Karadiyanaru LTTE head of political wing, Friday around 11:00 a.m, bodies of six Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres killed in an ambush by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and its paramilitary troopers Wednesday at Miyankulam. The LTTE cadres, injured in an earlier battle, were being taken for treatment across the Colombo-Batticaloa road at Miyankulam, when they were ambushed, Batticaloa sources said. Miyankulam lies on the border between LTTE held area in Vaharai and SLA held areas.
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Wickremasinghe to brief Rajapakse on US visit

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 December 2006, 07:17 GMT]
Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), returned to Sri Lanka Sunday after a week's visit to United States of America (USA) at the latter's invitation, sources in Colombo said. During his stay in Washington he held discussions with Political Affairs Secretary, Nicholas Burns, Assistant Secretary of Central and South Asian Affairs of the US government, Richard Boucher, and former US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, regarding the current political and security situation in Sri Lanka.
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Seven civilians feared killed in SLA artillery attack

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 December 2006, 18:52 GMT]
Seven Internally Displaced civilians traveling from Kathiraveli to Vaharai in a two-wheel tractor were killed when an artillery shell fired by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) exploded on their vehicle at 5:00 pm Friday, injured passengers in the tractor told medical officials in Kathiraveli. The fellow passengers told the officials that they had to bury the dead before returning to Kathiraveli.
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Bomb blast injures boy at Ottamavadi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 December 2006, 18:27 GMT]
A eleven year old boy was seriously injured when an Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) he found behind his house exploded Saturday around 10:30 a.m, at Aalam Veethy, Meeravodai 4 at Ottamavadi in Valaichenai police division in Batticaloa. The boy was first rushed to Valaichenai hospital and then transferred to Batticaloa Teaching hospital in a critical condition for further treatment, Valaichenai police said.
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Claymore mine diffused in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 December 2006, 15:57 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police, following a tip, recovered a powerful claymore mine weighing 2kg from Kandasamy Kovil Road in Vavuniya Saturday morning, sources in Vavuniya said.
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Trader shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 December 2006, 12:33 GMT]
Four unidentified armed men arriving in two vehicles in Vepankulam in Vavuniya, called out a trader out of his shop in Sinhalese and opened fire using T-56 type assault rifles, killing the trader on the spot at 8:30 p.m. Friday, eyewitnesses said.
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Eastern University Vice Chancellor reported missing

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 December 2006, 05:41 GMT]
S. Raveendranath, the Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka (EUSL), who was forced to resign his post recently following threats from paramilitary Karuna Group that abducted a Deen of the EUSL demanding the resignation of the Vice Chancellor, was reported missing since 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dehiwale Police in Colombo said. The VC was reported missing in High Security area in the Bauddhaloka mawatta.
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Payilvan's remains exhumed, Sufi building demolished

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 December 2006, 04:02 GMT]
The remains of M. S. Abdul Payilvan, a leader of the Suffi sect, which was buried amidst vehement protests by the orthodox Muslims of Kathankudyat Tharikathul Mufliheen Mosque burial grounds, was exhumed Friday around 5:30 p.m, in the presence of Batticaloa Senior Superintendent of Police Maxie Proctor on the orders of Special Judge Mohamed Isardeen from Colombo, Kathankudy sources said. The burial triggered controversy and brought clashes between orthodox Muslims and members of the Sufi sect in Kathankudy for the past 9 days,
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More IDPs arrive from Vaharai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 December 2006, 03:42 GMT]
Around 4000 people from nearly 1000 families from Vaharai area in the LTTE controlled Batticaloa district arrived to military controlled area on Thursday and Friday and the authorities made arrangements to house them in the villages of Mankerny, Vinayagapuram, Kiran, Chenkalady and Savukkady, S. Punniyamoorthy, the District Secretary of Batticaloa said.
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We've lost a friend, says Norway

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 December 2006, 03:01 GMT]
Norwegian special envoy for the peace process in Sri Lanka Jon Hansen-Bauer praised late Anton Balasingam for his invaluable contribution to the peace efforts, and said Norway will miss a much valued friend. Speaking at a memorial meeting in Oslo arranged at the Tamil Resource and Consultation Centre in Oslo Friday, the Norwegian Special Envoy said that it is through Mr. Balasingham he learned much about the plight of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
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Declare Vaharai a safe zone ­-Trinco MP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 December 2006, 00:23 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Trincomalee district, K. Thurairetnasingam, urged the International Community and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to convince the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), to demarcate a safe zone in Vaharai where thousands of Internally Displaced People (IDP) from Trincomalee district who had fled their homes due to SLA onslaught are currently trapped.
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Two youths shot dead in Murunkan

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 23:32 GMT]
Bodies of two unidentified youths with gunshot injuries on their heads were found Friday at Pichchaikulam area in Murunkan police division in Mannar district. On receipt of information from residents of the area Murunkan Police rushed to site brought the bodies to Mannar general hospital Thursday evening around 4:00 p.m.
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INGOs strengthen security of Jaffna Offices

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 22:51 GMT]
Both International and local Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Jaffna are reinforcing security arrangements around their offices in the last two weeks due to violent incidents and abductions taking place close to their offices, sources in Jaffna said.
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Body with stab wounds found in Mirusuvil

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 15:38 GMT]
The body of a family man with stab wounds was found inside his house at Mirusuvil north, in an area close to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Front Defence Line (FDL) in Thenmaradchi north, by Kodikamam Police on information given by the dead man's neighbours. A motorcycle and another vehicle of the dead man had been stolen by the killers, the neighbours said.
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Tamil Nadu leaders express sorrow over Balasingham’s death

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 15:33 GMT]
“I am unable to bear the sorrow over the death of my friend Mr Anton Balasingham, who I have known for many years. Balasingham grieved for his people dismissing his terrible illness as “merely a pebble compared to the vast ocean of tragedy faced by his people,” he captivated Tamils worldwide for his dedicated service to his people, developed, nurtured friendship with Norway and people like us, and kept the flame of self-respect of Tamils burning bright until his last breath,” said M. Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in a report of condolence issued Thursday. “I express my deep sympathies to his wife and friends," he added.
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Balasingham funeral at Alexandra Palace, London

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 14:25 GMT]
The funeral of Mr. Anton Balasingham, the theoretician and chief negotiator of the Liberation Tigers who passed away Thursday, will be held on Wednesday 20th December at Alexandra Palace in London, official sources said. The venue would be open from 8am to 3pm that day for people to pay their respects.
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Balasingham's demise creates a great void - TNA

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 13:54 GMT]
R. Sampanthan, the Parliamentary Group Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), in a condolence message following the demise of Liberation Tigers theoretician Anton Balasingham, said: "Mr. Balasingham had a clear understanding of the inequalities and inequities to which the Tamil people as a whole, were consistently subjected by the Sri Lankan State. He was also aware of the collective violence unleashed against the Tamil people when they engaged in peaceful protests and civil disobedience campaigns. He also had clear comprehension of the political aspirations and goals of the Tamil people. He was able to articulate the views of the Tamil people on these questions with clarity."
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SLA shelling kills two civilians, injures three in Vaharai

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 12:22 GMT]
Kallaru Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Trincomalee launched shells Friday around 12:30 p.m on Kathiraveli civilian settlements in Vaharai in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) territory killing two civilians and seriously injuring three, sources from Vaharai said.
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STF, LTTE exchange mortar fire in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 10:54 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF), stationed at Pattiruppu Bridge, Kalavanchikudy in Batticaloa, launched mortar shells Friday around 1:30 a.m on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) territory in Porathivu. The LTTE retaliated with mortar fire. Two civilians were injured in the exchange, sources from Batticaloa said.
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3 boats capsize, 14 feared dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 07:34 GMT]
Three of seven boats with Vahari Internally Displaced Persons leaving from Vaharai to Valaichenai Friday around 4:30 a.m capsized due to rough seas and overloading. Only two of the boats reached Valaichenai jetty safely while two boats are still missing. Five bodies were recovered near Valaichenai jetty where the third boat turned over and four persons including a 3 days old infant and a boy were saved. The first boat capsized within a short distance from Vaharai jetty at the start of the journey and the second boat drowned at mid sea between Vaharai and Valaichenai, sources from the region said.
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LTTE leader's condolence message on the demise of Anton Balasingham

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 07:08 GMT]
LTTE leader Velupillai Pirapaharan, bestowing the title of honour, Voice of the Nation, as a recognition for Anton Balasingham's service for the Tamil freedom movement, said: "There is a permanent place for Bala annai in the development and growth of our expanding movement. As elder statesman, as ideologue, as philosopher, above all as my intimate friend, he gave me inspiration and encouragement; gave advice and support. He shared my feelings and my burden. From the very inception of our movement he shared with me burdens of all the trials, tribulations, challenges and difficulties. He stood as the protagonist in the forefront of our political and diplomatic maneuvers."
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Anton Balasingham - The Times’ Obituary

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 06:52 GMT]
In an obituary Friday, The Times of London described Mr. Anton Balasingham, the theoretician and chief negotiator of the LTTE who passed away Thursday, as “the one man the Tigers could trust with their destiny in what looked like being a breakthrough in talks.” At one stage in the Norwegian peace process, the British broadsheet noted, Mr. Balasingham had steered the Tigers away from their demand for independence. However, it said, “everybody underestimated the determination of hardcore Sinhalese organisations like the JVP and hardline Buddhist clergy to scuttle any deal that gave the Tamils even a hint of autonomy.”
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Police Inspector injured in Kattankudy

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 01:10 GMT]
A Police Sub Inspector was injured when unidentified persons hurled hand grenades on a Buffel Armed Personnel Carrier (APC) taking the Police officials from Batticaloa Police Head Quarters, to a conference with Kattankudy Ulamas (Muslim religious hierarchy) at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Police sources said. The meeting was aimed at exploring ways to diffuse the escalating tension among orthodox Muslims, members of Islamic Sufi sect, and the police in Kattankudy area in Batticaloa district.
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Fisherman shot dead in Chavakachcheri

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 00:04 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a fisherman of Koyilkudiyiruppu, Thambuthottam in Chavakachcheri area in Thenmarachchi region in Jaffna around 8:30 p.m Thursday while he was returning from fishing in Kachchai Sea.
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Tamil homeland, diaspora in 3-days mourning for Balasingham

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 21:52 GMT]
Liberation Tigers officials in Kilinochchi announced a 3-day mourning period, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, for the death of LTTE's theoretician and political advisor Anton Balasingham. Meanwhile, representatives of the diaspora Tamil organisations, expressing condolences following the demise of Mr. Anton Balasingham, have also announced a 3-day mourning, according to IBC Tamil radio.
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Viral fever epidemic affects over 100,000 in Jaffna peninsula

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 19:08 GMT]
The mosquito borne viral disease Chikungunya currently sweeping across Jaffna peninsula is believed to have affected more than 100,000 civilians, according to a preliminary survey A.Ketheeswaran, Director of Public Health Services, Northern Region has reported.
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LTTE leader salutes 'Voice of the Nation'

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 18:42 GMT]
LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan in his condolence message following the demise of Anton Balasingham Thursday said that a "source of unwavering strength in the political and diplomatic efforts of our freedom movement, and the light of our nation is extinguished," and conferred the title "Voice of the Nation." LTTE leader, in his message further said: "Bala Annai has a permanent historic place in the growth and the spread of our movement. He was its elder member, its ideologue, its philosopher and, above all, my best friend who gave me encouragement and energy. He shared my sorrows, my anxieties and my travails."
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Anton Balasingham passes away

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 14:11 GMT]
Anton Balasingham, theoretician and political advisor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has passed away in London Thursday. Mr. Balasingham has been associated with the Tamil liberation struggle for more than 30 years and participated as chief negotiator on behalf of the Liberation Tigers in almost all political negotiations, beginning with the Thimpu talks in 1985. He was diagnosed with bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), a rare and aggressive malignancy of the biliary system, in the middle of November.
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JVP meets US

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 13:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka's ultra-Sinhala nationalist JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Perumana) is building a 'cordial' relationship with United States, which it earlier denounced as an imperialist force conspiring to divide Sri Lanka, reports in Colombo said.
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Abducted youth shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 12:36 GMT]
Unidentified armed men abducted a youth from his house Tuesday at Kali Kovil road in Araiyampathy Batticaloa and shot him dead Wednesday night near Selvanagar junction in Ariyampathy from where Kathankudy police recovered his dead body.
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Youth shot dead in Vadamaradchy

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 12:25 GMT]
Two unidentified men riding a motorbike shot dead a youth near the 4th Cross street in Thumpalai Road, Point Pedro at 12:00 noon Thursday, sources in Vadamaradchy said. Meanwhile, the officials of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Jaffna said that they have received several complaints of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) confiscating National ID cards of young men and women during cordon and search operations, and refusing to return them.
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$210m ADB loans for Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 11:43 GMT]
The Asian Development Bank signed a loan deal for Sri Lanka worth 210 million dollars on Thursday, to upgrade national highways and water sector, reports said. A loan package of 150 million dollars will be used to widen and rehabilitate a network of 350 kilometres of roads, LankaBusinessOnline reported, quoting the finance ministry.
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Mannar shuts down, traders ignore SLA threats

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 11:36 GMT]
General shut down was observed in Mannar Thursday in remembrance of the internally displaced people in Vaharai in Batticaloa district killed due to the indiscriminate artillery fire and air strike by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources in Mannar said. The appeal for show of solidarity was made by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
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Police, orthodox Muslims clash in Kathankudy, 1 killed, 8 wounded

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 11:21 GMT]
A Muslim protestor was killed and 8 wounded when Police fired at the protestors Thrusday in Kathankuddy town, in Batticaloa district, which continues to be in turmoil for the eighth consecutive day as police open fire and teargas Thursday to control crowds which have set fire to a police sentry post, four auto rickshaws, four shops and four banks in Kathankudyy town. The orthodox Muslims, engaged in a spate of anger against the Islamic sect Sufi, demand the remains of M. S. Abdul Payilvan, one of the leaders of Sufi sect and the President of All Island Tharikathul Mufliheen, to be removed from Katthankudy soil and buried elsewhere. A police curfew has been imposed in Kathankudy Thursday.
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SLA attacks LTTE medics transport, 5 killed, "cowardly act," says LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 11:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army troopers attacked a convoy of wounded LTTE cadres transported by the LTTE medics from Vaharai to LTTE controlled Karadiyanaru for medical treatment via sea route Wednesday night around 10:30 p.m. SLA sources said 5 Tigers were killed and a wounded Sri Lanka Army soldier, K.M.S. Ratnayake, who was in the LTTE custody since 08 October and being transported by the Tiger medics, was captured. Meanwhile, LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said the SLA has attacked an unarmed medical transport and described the attack, a "cowardly act."
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Vavuniya shuts down in remembrance of Vaharai victims

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 08:46 GMT]
Normal life in Vavuniya Wednesday was affected to a great extent because of the shut down observed in remembrance of the dead Internally Displaced Persons of Vaharai in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) rocket and artillery fire. Shops, bankss, government and private institutions remained closed in response to the request made by the Vanni Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians.
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Police restricts parking in Jaffna town

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2006, 00:45 GMT]
Jaffna police issued a directive in Jaffna Wednesday that barred drivers from parking their vehicles in the central area of Jaffna town, except in seven places demarked for parking. Vehicles violating the directive will be confiscated, the Police warned.
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Leaked Expert panel's reports trigger controversy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 December 2006, 13:19 GMT]
The 17-member panel of "Legal/Constitutional Experts" tasked by Sri Lanka' president Mahinda Rajapakse to aid the sub committee on Constitutional Reforms to formulate proposals for constitutional changes, in June 2006, failed to agree to produce a single set of recommendations, and instead produced four separate, competing reports which were leaked to the media. The exercise widely believed by the Tamils and noted Think-tanks in Colombo, as a project by Colombo to buy time while engaginng in military offensives in the East, has triggered controversy in ruling circles, as Colombo attempted to distance itself from recommendations in the main reports.
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Anti-terrorism regulations suppress legitimate civil activities - CPA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 December 2006, 11:39 GMT]
Colombo based Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in a statement issued Tuesday, noting the public pronouncements made last week by the Sri Lankan President and Prime Minister that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979 was to be reintroduced, and calling for urgent clarification by the Government on the state of confusion and mixed messages surrounding the operational status of the PTA that contradict the February 2002 Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), expressed serious concern regarding the new regulations called Prevention and Prohibition of Terrorism and Specified Terrorist Activities Regulations (PPTSTAR).
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Reckless driving kills 3, injures 3, Amparai boils

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 December 2006, 11:14 GMT]
A lorry speeding through Kalmunai hit two Muslim civilians Tuesday around 8:00 p.m at Mavadipalli, Sammanthurai in Amparai district, killing both on the spot. The allegedly drunk Sinhala driver sped without stopping, hitting two more Muslim civilians in Sammanthurai town killing one and seriously injuring the other, and continued along on recklessly hitting two more Muslim civilians injuring both before stopping, Sammanthurai police said. Enraged Muslims in Sammanthurai town, set fire to the lorry throwing the driver's assistant (cleaner) into the fire, killing him.
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APRC to continue without JVP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 December 2006, 10:58 GMT]
All Parties Representative Committee (APRC) would continue to meet to formulate a political consensus in finding a solution to the ethnic conflict. The withdrawal of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) would not deter the functioning of the APRC, said Minister Tissa Vitarane, Chairman of the APRC Wednesday.
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EROS founder dies

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 December 2006, 01:20 GMT]
Eliyathamby Ratnasabapathy, one of the founder members of the Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS), passed away Tuesday morning in London after a prolonged illness. He was 68.
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Civilian beaten to death in Pottuvil

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 14:46 GMT]
Pottuvil police recovered the body of a male civilian from a well in the premises of the office of the Veterinary Surgeon of Vaddiveli Tuesday morning in Pottuvil area in Amparai district with severe bodily injuries, sources said.
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Policeman shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 14:31 GMT]
An unidentified young man shot dead a policeman attached to Palameenmadu police station at Kurukalmadam in Kalavanchikudi police division in Batticaloa district Monday around 6:05 p.m, Kalavanchikudi police said. The assailant had followed the policeman and shot him while he was waiting for bus to report for duty, the police added.
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Two civilians killed, one policeman shot, injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 13:04 GMT]
A 50 year old civilian, caught in the cross fire in a clash between unidentified armed men and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) road patrol unit at Kokuvil in Jaffna Monday night, was killed on the spot. Jaffna police recovered the body around 8:45 p.m and handed it over to Jaffna Teaching hospital. In a separate incident at Udupiddy in Vadamaradchi, two unidentified armed men shot dead an employee of the Jaffna Teaching hospital at his house Tuesday around 7:00 a.m, sources in Jaffna said.
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Monitors urge parties to refrain from violence in Vaharai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 11:33 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), in an statement issued from Colombo Tuesday, urged the Parties, the GoSL and the LTTE, to refrain from "any further viloence" in Vaharai area. Restriction of SLMM access by GoSL forces to areas where violations may have taken place is in itself a violation of the CFA and more importantly prevents the SLMM from working according to is mandate, charged the statement. "The LTTE has failed to protect civilians in Vakarai by restricting their movements," the SLMM statement accused the Tigers.
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JVP quits from APC deliberation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 10:53 GMT]
The Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has withdrawn from the deliberation of the All Parties Conference (APC) in protest to the report of eleven-member experts panel report. The decision to quit the APC was announced by Somawanse Amerasinghe, leader of the JVP at a press briefing held Tuesday, electronic media sources said.
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Abducted youth shot dead in Amparai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 10:03 GMT]
Unidentified armed men abducted a youth Monday around 9:30 p.m at Kalmunai in Amparai district and shot him dead, said Kalmunai police who recovered the youth's dead body Tuesday around 9:00 a.m.
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SLAF kfirs drop eight bombs on civilian settlements in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 09:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) kfir jets dropped eight bombs in four sorties Tuesday around 10:00 a.m on the civilian villages of Kattumrivu, Kathiraveli and Palchenai in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held territory in Batticaloa district, sources in Batticaloa said. No casualties were reported though four houses of civilians were badly damaged.
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Two SLA soldiers killed in Murunkan claymore attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 06:38 GMT]
Two soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army were killed and one soldier and an elderly woman were injured when a claymore mine was detonated targeting SLA soldiers Tuesday around 10:00 a.m. at Sirukandal in Murunkan area in Mannar district.
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UN demands protection of Vaharai civilians

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 05:34 GMT]
United Nations Office of the Resident and Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Colombo, in a press statement Tuesday called on the parties, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), to adhere to their responsibilities under international humanitarian law and said: "it is imperative that direct shelling where civilians reside stops and the civilian population must be granted full and unhindered freedom of movement, away from military operations."
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Talks fail, plantation workers' strike continues eighth day

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 03:37 GMT]
The strike by plantation workers entered eighth day Tuesday as the talks held Monday evening at the Labour Ministry office between representatives of strikers and employers' federation again failed to reach a settlement on the demand for a daily wage increase to Rs: 300, trade union sources said.
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SLA allows limited fishing in Jaffna lagoon

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 01:54 GMT]
Following talks held Saturday between the representatives of Fishermen Societies in Pasaiyoor, Gurunagar, Colombuthurai and officials of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna, limited fishing was allowed in Jaffna lagoon providing a measured relief to fisher families affected by the four month old fishing ban, fisheries society sources said. The relaxation did not apply to Vadamaradchi north, east and many of the islets.
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Protest condemning Vaharai killings held in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 December 2006, 22:56 GMT]
Several hundred residents of Kilinochchi held a demonstration Monday condemning the killings of Tamil refugees in Vaharai area by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and demanding the opening of the A9 land route, civil sources in Kilinochchi said. The demonstrators gathered in front of the Kilinochchi Kanthasami Kovil around 10:30 a.m. and marched north along A9 to the UNHCR office at Karadippokku Junction.
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AG seeks additional time on TRO funds case

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 December 2006, 15:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Attorney General's (AG's) Counsel requested additional time to file his response to Tamil Rehabilitation Organization's (TRO’s) written submission on the question of whether the High Court of Colombo has the jurisdiction to “vary or vacate” it’s order to freeze the TRO Bank Accounts, when the High Court held hearings on the case today, legal sources for TRO said in a press release issued Monday. The Judge acceded to the Attorney General’s request and set Friday 15 December 2006 as the date for the Attorney General’s submission.
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SLA seeks ICRC assistance in locating missing soldiers

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 December 2006, 15:41 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has sought the assistance of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to trace and bring back the bodies of four soldiers reported missing in the fighting in Vaharai in Batticaloa district. ICRC sources confirmed that it had received such request from the SLA, media sources in Colombo said.
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Sinhala nationalist movement demands ban on LTTE, abrogation of CFA

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 December 2006, 15:25 GMT]
The National Patriotic Movement (NPM), a broad coalition of extreme Sinhala Buddhist nationalists, held a protest meeting at Lipton Circle Monday at 3:00 p.m. demanding the Sri Lanka government to proscribe the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and to abrogate the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) entered into with the LTTE. Wimal Weerawanse, parliamentary group leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a constituent of the NPM, warned that failure to meet the demands would result in a public agitation against the government, sources in Colombo said.
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ICRC transports 30 wounded from Vaharai

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 December 2006, 14:03 GMT]
The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Batticaloa Monday noon transported 30 wounded, including 7 children in 7 boats from Vaharai to Valaichenai hospital, at least one guardian accompanying each child. The critically wounded were being transferred to Batticaloa hospital. Meanwhile, LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told media that Sri Lanka Army fired artilleries hit the ground at the close vicinity while the injured were being boarded, causing the ICRC to abandon one part of their mission. The ICRC in a press statement said many difficulties had to be overcome to organize this evacuation and said more injured patients were waiting to be evacuated.
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Vaharai students miss GCE(OL)

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 December 2006, 12:29 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Department of Examination organized General Certificate of Examination (Ordinary Level) began Monday in about 3900 centers except in the three centers in Vaharai, Kathiraveli and Vammivedduwan located in LTTE held areas in Batticaloa district, education officials in the East said. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has refused to allow question papers and other related documents to be transported through Mankerni checkpoint from the co-coordinating center located in the government controlled Valaichchenai.
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Plantation Tamil worker strike continues for seventh day

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 December 2006, 11:12 GMT]
Plantation Tamil workers in the upcountry districts struck work Monday for the seventh day demanding that their daily wage increased to Rs. 300. They have been holding demonstrations, sit-in-protests in upcountry towns and villages irrespective trade union differences, Trade Union (TU) sources said.
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Six policemen, two civilians seriously injured in claymore attack in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 December 2006, 08:54 GMT]
Unidentified persons triggered a claymore device, targeting a bus in front of Al Hithaya School on Amapari Road at Akkaraipattu, Monday around 10:10 a.m, seriously injuring six policemen and two civilians, Akkaraipattu police said.
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Abducted youth found shot dead in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 December 2006, 08:48 GMT]
Five unidentified gunmen abducted a youth Sunday around 11:00 p.m from his house at Pansala road in Akkaraipattu in Amparai district. The dead body of the abducted youth was recovered Monday morning, with gunshot wounds, close to Akkaraipattu Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, sources in Akkaraipattu said.
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Church groups slam PTA

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 December 2006, 00:10 GMT]
Churches in Sri Lanka have denounced the revival of a draconian anti-terrorism law by the government. "Many still have painful memories of the harsh impact of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) on the life of the nation not too long ago. It was political wisdom coupled with political will that finally led to it being suspended," Anglican Bishop Duleep de Chickera of Colombo said last week after the government declaration.
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"Colombo on genocidal war path" - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 23:50 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Political Head, S. P. Thamilchelvan, in his address on International Human Rights Day held in Kilinochchi Sunday, stated that the Sri Lankan Government, depriving the Tamil people of their fundamental birthrights such as the "right to life, right to national identity and the right to homeland," and disabling the Ceasefire Agreement with its presently introduced "Prevention of Terrorism" act, was on a "genocidal war path," violating not only human rights laws, but also the Geneva humanitarian laws by carrying out bombardments on hospitals and schools. "Tamil people stand deceived by the membership conferred on the Sri Lankan state to the newly formed Human Rights Council."
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Jaffna Tamil daily staffer disappears

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 15:21 GMT]
An employee at the computer section of the Jaffna Tamil daily, Namathu Eelanadu, has not been seen from 4:30 p.m Tuesday, officials from the Jaffna Human Rights Commisssion (HRC) said Sunday.
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Two SLA troopers injured in claymore attack in Karaveddy

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 15:10 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured when unidentified gunmen triggered a claymore mine in Yaakeru, Kevalai area in Karaveddy East, Vadamaradchy, at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, sources said. The injured troopers were first taken to Manthikai Hospital and later transferred to Palaly Military Hospital in a helicopter.
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Rajapakse to intervene on estate strike

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 14:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse is to meet the leaders of Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF), Ceylon Workers United Front (CWUF) and National Estate Workers Union (NEWU) Monday to find an amicable settlement to the plantation workers strike which entered sixth day Sunday, trade union sources said. The workers at tea estates are demanding a minimum daily wage of Rs 300 (US$3).
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Elilan: SLA offensive repulsed in Panichchankerni

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 13:33 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army offensive south of Vaharai along the costal line towards Panichchankerni was defeated by the defence forces of the Tigers, said S. Elilan, Trincomalee Political Head of the Tigers. 19 civilians were killed in SLA and Sri Lanka Navy shelling and 50 civilians were wounded Sunday.
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Paramilitary penetration into Pendugalchenai beaten back- LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 13:29 GMT]
Attempt by a group of 25 members of paramilitary cadres and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to penetrate into Liberation Tigers controlled area of Pendukalchenai to launch attacks around 7:30 a.m. Sunday was foiled when the LTTE counter attacked killing two and injuring ten paramilitaries, S. Seeralan, head of LTTE Batticaloa political wing said. Two cadres of LTTE were also killed in the counter attack.
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TRO appeals for SLMM, ICRC access to Vaharai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 12:48 GMT]
Pointing out that "over 30 shells have landed close to the Vaharai Hospital in the past few hours and 6 TRO Camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the area have received direct hits from shells resulting in 17 deaths, including a 6 month old baby, and 67 injured," Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), in a press release issued from its Colombo office Sunday, appealed to the Humanitarian Organizations and the International Community to pressure Government of Sri Lanka to allow access to the ICRC and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to the Vaharai area.
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MP accuses Colombo for "coward's war"

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 09:12 GMT]
Batticaloa District Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian S. Jeyanandamoorthy, has condemned Colombo Sunday morning for attacking Tamil women and children refugees in Vaharai. The entire Vaharai region has been under siege for more than 3 months. 40 000 civilians are tightly packed in the area and the Government of Sri Lanka has imposed a war on the civilian population, Mr. Jeyanandamoorthy said. The MP called on the International actors, monitors and the Norwegian facilitators "not to show bias in their condemnation of the attacks that targeted civilians."
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19 more Tamil refugees killed, new SLA offensive south of Vaharai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 06:16 GMT]
19 Internally displaced people, who fled artillery bombing in Palchenai and Vammivedduvan in Vahrai region to Kandalady Government School, were killed and more than 25 wounded when Sri Lanka Army fired artillery shells hit the school Sunday morning, according to LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan. Sri Lanka Navy gunboats were also engaged in firing shells towards densely populated refugee camps as Sri Lankan forces opened a new front towards Panichchankerni Sunday morning. Meanwhile, a Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation official in Vaharai told TamilNet all the five refugee camps in Vaharai were being targeted by artillery shelling forcing all civilians to flee.
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School boy, fishmonger shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 03:25 GMT]
Two civilians, a teen-ager studying in high school, and a fish trader were shot dead by unknown gunmen in two separate incidents on Friday night and Saturday morning in Jaffna district, sources in Jaffna said. Bodies of both victims have been taken to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital for postmortem examinations, hospital sources said.
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Karunanidhi orders explosives probe amid Delhi’s denials

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 December 2006, 02:24 GMT]
After police in Tamil Nadu found a vehicle carrying a huge quantity of explosives meant for Sri Lanka, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today ordered officials to ascertain whether any business house was exporting explosives without the Centre's knowledge. A Sri Lankan Government request for supplying the explosives, dated October 10, 2005, was carried by the vehicle's driver Ravi Verma, PTI said. According to the papers, the consignee for the explosives was a Sri Lanka naval base in Colombo.
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Two paramilitaries injured in Kallaru

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 21:11 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and injured two cadres of Karuna paramilitary group on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 pm on Kallaru main road near Sinnapillayar temple in Kallaru in Batticaloa district..
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15 Tamil civilians feared killed, 41 wounded in 11 hour artillery barrage

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 19:18 GMT]
At least 15 civilians, including a 6-month-old baby, were feared killed and 41 wounded when SLA troopers fired artillery shells towards IDP camps in Vammivedduvan and Palchenai, medical sources in Vaharai told TamilNet. The parents of the baby killed in artillery barrage were admitted at Vaharai hospital. Nine dead bodies, 5 male and 4 female victims, were brought to hospital, according to doctor M. Varathan at Vaharai hospital. Ten of 26 patients, incuding children from 3-years to 15, admitted at hospital were at critical state. Many more were feared wounded. The SLA has refused access to ambulances from Batticaloa to transport wounded out of Vaharai.
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Verugal offensive thwarted, 30 troopers killed, 1 captured alive - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 18:12 GMT]
Liberation Tigers officials in Vaharai told TamilNet Saturday night that Sri Lankan troopers who advanced into LTTE territory Saturday morning from Mahindapura camp, were defeated at 2:30 p.m. after 9 hours of stiff resistance by the Tigers. More than 30 troopers were killed, around 100 wounded, one soldier was captured alive and 9 bodies recovered by the Tigers. An artillery gun in Kallaru SLA camp was destroyed in LTTE artillery fire, LTTE officials claimed. The SLA troopers who had advanced 2.5 km into LTTE territory north of Vaharai, were hastely withdrawn after suffering heavy casualties.
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Avoid criticism, pay ransom, paramilitaries tell Tamil dailies

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 12:34 GMT]
Following a 7th December press release by the Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) that "pro-government militia led by Tamil warlord Karuna" has issued death threats to distributors preventing the circulation of the papers in Batticaloa, paramilitary TMVP office in Colombo placed conditions as they attempted to negotiate with the management of Colombo Tamil dailies of allowing circulation of papers in Batticaloa SLA controlled areas, Tamil media sources in Colombo said.
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Teachers urge postponement of exams for refugee students

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 12:24 GMT]
Parents and teachers of displaced Tamil students from Muttur east and Eachchilampathu divisions and sheltered in temporary structures in Vaharai and other areas in Batticaloa district have appealed to the education authorities to postpone the GCE (Ordinary Level) examination which is scheduled to commence Monday to a later date until a conducive situation is created for hundreds of students to sit for this examination, sources said.
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Official accused of issuing fake National ID card

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 12:13 GMT]
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka Police arrested a former Assistant Director of Department Registration of Persons accused of issuing a fake National Identity card to a suspect in connection with the abortive suicide attack on Defense Ministry Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse, media sources said.
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UK to remove Sri Lanka from asylum "whitelist"

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 11:36 GMT]
Asylum & Appeals Policy Directorate attached to the British Home Office, Friday said it would remove Sri Lanka from the list of countries designated for non-suspensive appeals under Section 94 of the 2002 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act, in the light of the deterioration in the situation in Sri Lanka.
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Terror campaign stepped up in Trincomalee, 5 Tamils killed since Wednesday

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 10:33 GMT]
A Tamil civilian was shot dead and another wounded Friday evening in Orr's Hill, a suburb of Trincomalee town, bringing the death toll to 5 in individual slayings since Wednesday. Armed men who came in a three-wheeler opened fired at the victims Friday night around 7.30 p.m in front of a house along Lower Road in Orr's Hill. The victim, identified as 46 year-old Desmond Antony, was a sea diver. Tension prevailed in the area following the shooting.
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Thousands flee Eachilampattu, Palchenai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 08:49 GMT]
Hundreds of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim families started fleeing villages surrounding Eachilampattu border area into SLA and LTTE controlled territory as thousands of refugees from Palchenai and Verugal areas north of Batticaloa district started fleeing towards Vaharai, where Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers engaged in aerial bombardment in an attempt to block civilians from reaching Vaharai.
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SLA fired artillery shells hit school, 13 refugees wounded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 06:29 GMT]
Thirteen refugees, including a 4-year-old child, were wounded when Sri Lanka Army fired artillery shells hit a school in Paalchenai, 8 km north of Vaharai Saturday, around 11:20 a.m., as SLA intensified a ground offensive from Eachilampattu, via A15 trunk road towards Verugal, 15 km northwest of Vakarai amid indiscriminate artillery barrage. Nine wounded refugees from the school where IDP families were staying, were rushed to Vaharai hospital, medical sources said. Heavy fighting was reported between Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lanka Army at Eachilamapattu.
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Civilian shot dead in Amparai

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 16:19 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen called out a mason out of his house and shot at him with a T56 gun Thursday around 8:15 p.m at Sinnakulam in Alalayadivembu area in Akkaraipattu police division in Ampara, Akkaripattu police said. The seriously injured victim was rushed to Akkaraipattu District hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
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Jaffna Bishop urges firm action from Co-chairs

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 12:55 GMT]
Robert O. Blake, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka paid a sudden visit to Jaffna Thursday and met with Jaffna Bishop Rev. Thomas Soundaranayagam at the Bishop's House, and discussed the current situation in the Jaffna peninsula, source in Jaffna said. The Rev. Bishop stressed on the urgent need for the Co-chair countries to exert due pressure on the Sri Lanka government (GoSL) to restore peace in Sri Lanka, Bishop's House sources said.
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Youth shot dead in Sithandy

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 12:28 GMT]
An unidentified gunman following a youth, shot him dead on the spot Wednesday around 7:30 p.m at Sithandy in the Eravur police division in Batticaloa district while the youth was walking towards his friend's house, Eravur police said.
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Lethargic response hurt Batticaloa tsunami development– NECORD Official

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 12:08 GMT]
R.Sivanandarajah, deputy director of North East Community Restoration and Development (NECORD), speaking as the chief guest at the prize giving ceremony and laying of the foundation for a new three storied building at Chenkallady Central College on Wednesday morning 9:00 am, said that the delay in receiving expenditure proposals for reconstruction of the Tsunami-ravaged Batticaloa District was the reason for non-allocation of funds for development of some of the affected areas in the district.
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Demonstration against abductions held in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 11:52 GMT]
The Committee for Investigation of the Disappeared, and the National Front Against War (NFAW) staged a protest demonstration Friday around 10:00 a.m at Peliyagoda circle on the Colombo-Negombo road calling for a stop to forced disappearances and to safeguard humanity, sources in Colombo said. The Protest was led by Dr. Wickremabahu Karunaratne, the patron of the Committee for Investigation of the Disappeared and the leader of the New Leftist Front party.
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Four youths abducted in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 11:38 GMT]
Unidentified armed men abducted four youths at gun point Monday around 11:00 p.m from Santhiveli, Palayadi Thona area in Batticaloa district while they were sleeping at their houses, according to a complaint made Thursday by the relatives of the abducted at Earavur police station, Eravur police said.
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Re-opening of landroutes, non-negotiable humanitarian priority - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 10:15 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Political Head, S. P. Thamilchelvan, Friday told media after meeting Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer in Kilinochchi, that the re-opening of A9 and A15 landroutes constituted basic humanitarian priorities for the survival of the civilian population. "It is critical that the International Community addresses the issue of Colombo's cooperation in re-opening of A9 and A15 landroutes ensuring the Tamil people their top-most basic humanitarian need," Mr. Thamilchelvan said. Tamil people are at the verge of losing hopes in Norwegian facilitators, the SLMM and the International Community for failing to condemn Colombo for refusing to re-open the landroutes, he said.
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Youth shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 10:11 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot and killed a youth Thursday night at Samalamkulam area in Vavuniya, police in Vavuniya said.
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Three SLA troopers seriously injured in claymore attack in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 09:29 GMT]
Unidentified persons triggered a claymore device Friday around 7:50 a.m at Asikulam area in Vavniya, seriously injuring 3 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers who were on their way to fetch water from a well close to the Asikulam SLA camp, Vavuniya police said. The injured troopers were rushed to Vavuniya military hospital.
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War budget bares Colombo's intent - Senathirajah

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 01:09 GMT]
"This budget allows 140 billion rupees for defence which clearly exposes the intent of the Sri Lanka government to suppress the Tamils by waging war on them. Our people have been suppressed for the last 50 years by the successive Sinhala governments. Our youth were forced to take up arms because of such racist attitude," Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian said participating in the debate on budget Wednesday in the Sri Lanka Parliament, Colombo sources said.
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SLA denies transport to critical Vaharai patients

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 December 2006, 00:07 GMT]
K. Thurairatnasingham, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Trincomalee district said Thursday that four civilians including two children are fighting for their lives in Vaharai hospital as the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Mankerny camp on the A15 route refuses to allow the patients to be transported to Batticaola Teaching Hospital for intensive treatment. His appeals to the Defence Ministry officials and Batticaloa SLA high commands had not been responded favourably, the MP added.
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Payilvan dies, sectarian violence flares up in Kattankudy

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 22:50 GMT]
Sectarian violence between orthodox Muslims against the Islamic sect, Sufi, that preaches pantheism, resurfaced in Muslim town of Kattankudy in Batticaloa district Thursday following the death of M. S. Abdul Payilvan, one of the leaders of Sufi sect and the President of All Island Tharikathul Mufliheen, and his burial in Kattankudy. The orthodox Muslims observed a Hartal demanding the removal of the body from the burial grounds. Three houses belonging to the followers of Payilvan were set ablaze on Thursday night, Police sources said.
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Two more Tamils shot and killed in Trinco Thursday

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 20:50 GMT]
Two more Tamil civilians were shot dead by armed men who came in a motorbike Thursday evening at Aathimoddai village located at sixth milepost along Trincomalee-Nilaveli road. The armed men fired at the victims when they were standing at a shop in the area, Police sources said.
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UN: Karuna denies child recruitment, commits to collaborate with UNICEF

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 17:45 GMT]
Vinyagamoorthy Muralitharan (Karuna), who leads the paramilitary Karuna Group operated by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), has contacted the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, on Monday, regarding the listing of his group to the UN Security Council, according to a press release issued by the UN office in Colombo. The move, comes following a report by Allan Rock, the Special Advisor to the UN Special Representative, who accused the Sri Lankan military for recruiting children to the ranks of the paramilitary group, in November when he concluded a 10-day mission to Sri Lanka. Tamil Tigers in October outlawed the recruitment of under-17s.
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One Tamil youth dead, another injured in SLN shooting in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 14:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) cadres shot dead a Tamil youth and seriously injured another, Thursday around 8:30 a.m on the Crow Island beach in Modara police division in Colombo. The SLN allege that when its cadres approached the youths to inquire about their suspicious movement on the beach, the youths attemted to pull their guns resulting in the shooting in self defence by the SLN marines, Modara police said.
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RSF calls for free circulation of Tamil papers in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 12:43 GMT]
Reporters without Borders (RSF), in a press release issued Thursday, called on the Government of Sri Lanka to facilitate free circulation of Tamil newspapers, Thinakural, Virakesari and Sudar Oli in areas controlled by the Government. RSF said that "pro-government militia led by Tamil warlord Karuna" has issued death threats to distributors preventing the circulation of the papers in Batticaloa.
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13 Jaffna civilians abducted after reinstatement of PTA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 12:07 GMT]
Thirteen civilians, including a former Halo Trust personnel, in Jaffna district were abducted Wednesday night after the Government of Sri Lanka reinstated the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) Wednesday. Nine civilians from Kalviyankadu, Kadaipirai, Dutch road areas in Valigamam east were abducted Wednesday night by armed men alleged to be Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police, residents in these areas said. The same night four civilians in Valigamam north were abducted by SLA, according to complaints made by the relatives of the abducted, at the Jaffna office of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC).
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Aid groups protest Sri Lanka’s obstruction of aid

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 11:54 GMT]
Several Western aid groups this week warned of a struggle to conduct humanitarian work in Sri Lanka’s Tamil areas, citing official bureaucracy that has paralysed their work. Speaking to AFP news agency, they protested the Sri Lankan government’s “strategy of preventing the presence of international actors” amid escalating conflict and said aid was being blocked from reaching Tamils in LTTE-controlled areas.
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LTTE denies shelling school, heavy fighting north of Vaharai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 11:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Thursday morning launched artillery attacks towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Verugal, 14 km northwest of Vaharai and 27 km southeast of SLA captured Sampoor. Meanwhile, SLA troops that moved 5 km inside LTTE territory into Kattumurivu, southwest of Vaharai, have stationed in a school, following stiff LTTE resistance.
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Monks begin fast-to-death demanding proscription of LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 11:24 GMT]
Two Buddhist monks began a fast unto death protest Wednesday evening in front of Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse's residence at Thangala, demanding that either the President or the Prime Minister should hand over to them the official document proscribing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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Students, teachers wounded in artillery fire in Kallar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 11:02 GMT]
11 students and two teachers were wounded when artillery shells hit Somadevi Sinhala School around 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Sri Lankan military sources said the Tigers were targeting the Mahindapura SLA camp with artillery fire, but the shells had missed the target. Three soldiers were wounded, an hour later when the shells hit the SLA camp, according to the SLA.
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Two SLA troopers killed in claymore attack, a civilian shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 10:49 GMT]
Unidentified persons triggered a claymore device Wednesday around 7:45 p.m on the Chettikulam-Madavadchi road in Vavuniya killing two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers on the spot and in a separate incident on the same night around 7:30 p.m, unidentified armed men shot dead a civilian at Sasthrikoolankulam in Vavuniya, the police in Vavuniya said.
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Two Tamil civilians shot dead, one injured in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 09:38 GMT]
Unidentified armed persons shot dead two Tamil villagers at Uppuveli in Trincomalee when they were returning in their carts with firewood from Kanniya, a village located about eight km off northwest of the east port city. Another Tamil civilian was injured in the incident, Uppuveli police said.
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SLFP, UNP MoU monitoring committees meet

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 01:17 GMT]
The two high level committees appointed by the Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP), main constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government and the main opposition United National Party (UNP) under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by these two parties met Wednesday morning for the first time in the Sri Lanka parliamentary complex, parliamentary sources in Colombo said.
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Viral fever spreads in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 01:04 GMT]
More than 15,000 people in the Jaffna peninsula are suffering from Chikungunya viral fever but Panodol and Paracetamol, recommended by medical authorities, are not available in the open market due to the inability of the traders to transport these medications from Colombo for the last four months, said civil society sources in Jaffna.
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Pope's envoy, US Embassy Officials visit Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 00:15 GMT]
The resident representative of Vatican to Sri Lanka, Rev. Mario Zanari, visited Jaffna Wednesday to observe the prevailing situation in the Peninsula and the hardships faced by the people in the aftermath of the closure of A-9 road in August, Bishop's house sources said. Four Officials from the US Embassy in Colombo also arrived in Jaffna for a fact-finding mission.
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Boycott against Jaffna busstand relocation called off

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 19:57 GMT]
The three day boycott by the employees of the Jaffna Transport Board (CTB) protesting against the relocation of the Jaffna Central Bus Terminal to Pannai Bridge area by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) ended Wednesday after an agreement was reached between the SLA and the CTB officials in talks held during the last three days, CTB officials said.
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Four civilians killed in claymore blast in Jaffna town

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 12:24 GMT]
Unidentified assailants triggered a claymore device attached to a motor cycle parked near the Pannai Bridge in Jaffna targeting a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) vehicle Wednesday around 1:30 p.m killing two civilians on the spot and seriously injuring four others. Two of the injured succumbed to injuries at the Jaffna Teaching hospital, sources in Jaffna said. The blast overturned the SLA vehicle, injuring several soldiers, SLA sources said.
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Plantation workers continue agitation for wage increase

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 11:55 GMT]
Hill country workers as part of their on going agitation for reasonable increase in daily wages began striking since Tuesday morning . Thousands of workers from tea estates in Norwood, Puliyawatte, Dickoya, Bogawantalawa, Saami Malai, Maskeliya, Norton Bridge, Wattawala,Kottagala, and Talawakelle, belonging to various trade unions, setting aside policy differences, joined hands to voice their protest, paralyzing tea production in the island
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Engage in peace talks, Thondaman tells Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 11:52 GMT]
"Sri Lanka Government should give up the idea of proscribing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who fight for the rights of the Tamils and engage in peace talks instead," said Arumugam Thondaman, the leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and a minister in the Sri Lanka government (GoSL), in a statement released Tuesday in Colombo.
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Sri Lanka reinstates Prevention of Terrorism Act

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 09:33 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake, announcing a cabinet decision, Wednesday said the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) would be implemented in full force. The PTA, introduced in 1979 as a temporary measure, and permanently enacted in 1982, was not applied following the February 2002 Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The cabinet decision, viewed as a major breach of the CFA, gives excessive powers of arrest and detention to the Sri Lankan armed forces.
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Vavuniya identification parade postponed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 02:22 GMT]
Manickavasagar Ilancheliyan, Vavuniya District Magistrate, postponed the identification parade related to the killing of five students of Thandikulam School of Agriculture originally scheduled to be held Tuesday, to December 19, legal sources in Vavuniya said.
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Rajapakse, Wickremasinghe meet to discuss MoU

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 01:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse and Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Tuesday held a lengthy discussion at Temple Trees on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), main constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), and UNP on identified issues giving top priority to solve the ethnic conflict, according to news report of the State-run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).
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More youths surrender to Rights Group in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 01:21 GMT]
The number of youths surrendering to the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Jaffna branch out of fear being abducted and killed by the Sri Lankan Forces, are increasing, human rights activists in Jaffna Peninsula said Tuesday.
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GoSL considering proscription, reimposition of PTA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 00:36 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is considering seriously to proscribe the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) and re- impose the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) again, Ratnasri Wickramanayake, the Premier and Deputy Defense Minister of Sri Lanka, announced in Parliament Tuesday, while addressing allocation of funds to the Ministry of Defense in the new budget for the year of 2007, Parliamentary sources said.
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2 SLA troopers, 1 policeman injured in Chenkalady mortar attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 00:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Batticaloa said two of its troopers including a woman, and a policeman were injured in a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) mortar attack launched Tuesday from 3:45 p.m until 4:15 p.m on its sentry post at the Black Bridge on the Chenkalady-Badula road leading into LTTE held region. Two mortar shells fell and exploded near the sentry post injuring the victims, the source added.
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Civilian shot dead in Vadamarachchy

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 18:04 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen abducted a civilian from Satkoddai, a coastal village in Vadamarachchy north region in Jaffna district on Monday and shot him dead near a temple in Samarapahu, Karaveddi in the same region around 2:45 pm, civil sources said. He is the third person killed in Vadamarachchy region within 48 hours and one other person was injured in different incidents.
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Tiger Lieutenant Colonel, SLA troopers killed in Vaharai battle

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 16:18 GMT]
Heavy fighting was reported between Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers at Kattumurivu for the second day and the SLA attempt to advance further into LTTE territory was halted following heavy casualties, said LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan. Lt. Col. Viduthalai, military coordinator of Vaharai kottam, died in the battle Tuesday. Ilanthirayan claimed that more than 30 SLA troopers were killed in a fierce battle.
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130 billion rupees defence budget approved in Sri Lankan Parliament

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 15:00 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force commanders, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse, who narrowly escaped a suicide attack last Frdiay, were present at the Sri Lankan Parliament Tuesday when it approved the defence budget allowing an increased defence spending by 43% to USD 1.3 billion. The Sri Lankan parliament would adopt the budget for 2007 on Wednesday while the Sri Lankan cabinet is expected to decide on re-imposing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) that has not been invoked since the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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One Vaharai IDP dead, another critical

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 14:00 GMT]
Deaths, caused by the acute shortage of medicine at Vaharai hospital and the continuing Sri Lanka Army (SLA) heavy rocket and artilery fire from Mankerny, Kadjuwathe and Kattumurivu camps on Vaharai in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held territory, are on the increase, according to sources in Vaharai.
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Four partly burnt bodies recovered in Habarana

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 12:49 GMT]
Kekirawa police recovered four dead bodies partially burnt in a paddy filed at Ganewella area in Kekirawa police division in Habarana Tuesday around 5:00 a.m. The bodies have been transferred to Polanaruwa hospital.
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SLA conducts search operation in Mannar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 12:15 GMT]
Hundreds of Sri Lankan troopers and police cordoned off and searched Mannar areas covering Moor Street, Uppukulam, and Sinnakadai from 2:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, sources in Mannar said. All houses and vehicles in the area came under intensive search.
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Electricity Board employee shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 11:59 GMT]
Unidentified men shot dead an employee of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) , Tuesday morning while he was on his way to report for work in the CEB office located in Uppuveli, suburb in the Trincomalee town, sources in Trincomalee said.
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2 SLA troopers killed, 19 injured at Kattumurivu in Vaharai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 11:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Batticaloa said that two of their troopers were killed and 19 injured in a clash between the SLA and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at the LTTE held Katumurivu area in Batticaloa district Tuesday between 4:00 a.m and 12:00 noon. The SLA also said that they learnt from LTTE communications that five LTTE cadres were killed in the fight.
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Two shot dead, one seriously injured in two incidents in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 09:25 GMT]
Two armed men on motorcycle shot dead a youth and seriously injured his cousin Monday night around 7:00 p.m, near Lourdes Church at Thumpalai in Point Pedro while two gunmen on motor cycle shot dead Tuesday morning a trader at Viyaparimoolai in Point Pedro.
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Two Muslim youths shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 08:50 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead two Muslim youths Monday night around 7:45 p.m at Annar Nagar area in Vavuniya, the police said. The youths, from Nuwera Eliya, were staying at their relative's house in Vavuniya, the police added.
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Sri Lanka civil liberties ‘already under strain’ – US Ambassador

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 01:09 GMT]
Asked about the salience of a Patriot Act-style law for Sri Lanka, US Ambassador to Colombo, Robert O' Blake, told the state-owned Daily News: “civil liberties, frankly, are already under strain here (in Sri Lanka). So, I wouldn't want to suggest other things that might further imperil them.” He pointed out that the US Patriot Act was operating in tandem with strong respect for civil liberties there. Mr. Blakes’s comments were published in Tuesday’s edition of the Daily News as the Colombo government says it preparing to revive the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) – breaching the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.
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Heavy fighting breaks out in Vaharai region

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 December 2006, 15:09 GMT]
Heavy fighting broke out between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Kattumurivu, located 5 km inside the LTTE controlled Vaharai region in Batticaloa district Monday morning around 10:00 a.m. The fighting continued amid heavy artillery and mortar shelling at 5:00 p.m.
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SLA, LTTE clash at Vavuniya FDL

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 December 2006, 15:04 GMT]
Liberation Tigers clashed with Sri Lanka Army troopers who attempted to move beyond the no-go zone towards Puliyankulam at Omanthai Forward Defence Line in Vavuniya district around 2:00 p.m. Monday. The SLA troopers withdrew after facing resistance from the Tigers, according to LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan. Meanwhile, medical sources in Kilinochchi said an ambulance with 7 patients needing advanced treatment at Vavuniya hospital could not proceed to Vavuniya as the Omanthai exit point remained closed following the clash. Artillery and mortar fire was also reported in Northern Front FDL in Muhamalai since Sunday evening.
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SLA abducts 2 youths, 1 adult in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 December 2006, 13:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and collaborating paramilitaries abducted a 52-year old man from his home in Tellipallai Monday, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, two youths were abducted Friday evening from Mallakam area in Jaffna. Relatives of the victims have registered the three cases at the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna.
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Sri Lanka Cabinet to review relationship with LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 December 2006, 13:04 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday will make crucial decisions regarding the relationship with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the State run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) reported Monday in the afternoon news bulletin quoting Mr.Keheliya Rambukwella, defense ministry spokesman and minister in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government.
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Norwegian peace envoy meets Hakeem

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 December 2006, 11:22 GMT]
Jon Hansen Bauer, Norwegian peace envoy Monday met with Rauff Hakeem, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and discussed the current security and political situation in the country. The discussion took place at the official residence of Mr.Rauff Hakeem.
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Four killed in STF's failed offensive in Amparai

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 December 2006, 09:28 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) repulsed a major Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) troopers offensive against LTTE held Kanchikudichanaru in Amparai from the Kanchirankuda Special Task Force (STF) camp, backed with heavy artillery fire, Monday around 7:15 a.m, said M. Veeramani, Deputy Head of Amaparai district LTTE political wing. Four Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) troopers were killed and eight seriously injured in the attack, he added.
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Hill country protests for wage increase continue

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 December 2006, 03:21 GMT]
Hill country Tamils employed in tea estates, as part of the on-going agitation to increase daily wages, called on the businesses to observe a hartal in the town of Talawakelle, Sunday, spokesperson of the employees said. Workers were protesting against the dead-lock in salary negotiations between the Trade Unions of the employees and the Employers Federation, and appealed for speedy resolution to their wage demand.
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Tamil Americans celebrate Heroes day in New Jersey

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 December 2006, 17:28 GMT]
More than 500 Tamil Americans attended a packed auditorium for the Heroes Day event held Saturday evening at South Brunswick Middle School in New Jersey. Tamils from York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland attended the event, the second biggest after the largest turnout in 1999, attendees said.
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Tamil woman shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 December 2006, 16:38 GMT]
Unidentified armed men Sunday afternoon around 1:30 p.m. shot dead a 42 year old Tamil civilian woman Pakkianathan Calista Nirmala in her house located along Antony Road at Palaiyootu, a suburb in Trincomalee town. The area is located in the Uppuveli police division.
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SLA trooper seriously injured in sniper fire in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 December 2006, 10:42 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Army (SLA) trooper was seriously injured in a sniper attack made Sunday around 9:05 a.m on the Vavunativu SLA sentry post in Batticaloa, Vavunativu SLA sources said. The injured trooper, air lifted to Polanaruwa hospital, is in a critical situation.
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Rajapakse, Wickremasinghe to meet Tuesday

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 December 2006, 10:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse and Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), are expected to hold discussions on Tuesday on deteriorating security situation and the prospect of peace process, political sources in Colombo said.
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Two civilians killed in Trincomalee district

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 December 2006, 10:29 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot killed a Tamil civilian Friday night at Menkamam, a Tamil village in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled Muthur region in Trincomalee, said Muthur police who are investigating into the killing.
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Widen focus beyond child soldiers to humanitarian issues, Rock tells UN

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 December 2006, 03:47 GMT]
In the wake of his visit to Sri Lanka in November, the Special Envoy of the UN Under Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflicts, Ambassador Allan Rock, has recommended that the United Nations widen its focus from only recruitment and use of child soldiers at present to include the killing of children and the denial of humanitarian access for children. As part of his visit, Ambassador Rock observed the situation facing children in areas under embargo by the Sri Lankan security forces.
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Forcing Vaharai students to miss GCE(OL), morally reprehensible- TNA MP

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 December 2006, 02:53 GMT]
Joint decision by Sri Lanka Ministry of Education and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to not hold the GCE Ordinary level examinations in Vaharai Educational Circuit citing unstable security situation, has brought condemnation from Batticaloa district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, S. Jeyanandamoorthy, sources said.
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Norwegian peace envoy to visit Kilinochchi Tuesday

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 18:56 GMT]
Norwegian peace envoy, Mr. Jon Hansen Bauer, who has been staying in Colombo since his arrival last Wednesday, is scheduled to visit to Kilinochchi to hold talks with Senior leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources in Colombo said.
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Escaped prisoners from Kalutara re-arrested

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 17:34 GMT]
Five prisoners who escaped from Kalutara prison Saturday early morning around 4.30 a.m. were recaptured the same day at about 1.30 p.m. by a group of police party. They had been on remand for alleged murders and robberies, sources said.
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Boycott against relocation of Jaffna bus stand continues

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 15:21 GMT]
The protest by the employees of the Jaffna district Central Transport Board (CTB) boycotting work condemning Sri Lankan Army (SLA) action to relocate the Central Bus Terminal from the heart of Jaffna town to an empty area near Pannai Bridge continued for a second day Saturday, CTB employees union officials said. Except for limited transport actiivity related to school children rest of public transport service was crippled by the boycott, Jaffna residents said.
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Garage owner shot dead in Chavakacheri

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 14:09 GMT]
Owner of a vehicle repair facility in Dutch Road, Chavakacheri in Thenmaradchy district was shot dead by two gunmen riding in a motorbike at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, sources said. The body has been transferred to Jaffna Teaching Hospital for postmortem examinations.
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SLA trooper killed in Vadmaradchi, woman injured in Kayts

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 13:29 GMT]
Unidentified men triggered a claymore device hidden along the Udupiddy-Valvettithurai road Friday around 5:00 a.m killing a trooper of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) unit returning to Valvettithurai SLA camp after constructing sentry posts near Ellankulam Heroes Resting Home, sources in Jaffna said. In a separate incident, a young Kayts woman was injured Friday by a stray bullet fired during the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) combat training at the Kayts SLN base. She was rushed to Jaffna Teaching Hospital.
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Ten SLA soldiers injured in Kantalai traffic accident

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 13:23 GMT]
Ten soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were injured when two buses carrying troopers collided near Kantalai, along Habarana Kantalai road Thursday afternoon, sources said. Kantalai is located 24 miles off southwest of Trincomalee town.
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Tamil farmer injured in SLA fire

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 13:18 GMT]
A farmer was seriously injured when a group of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers in ambush fired at him at Poonagar village in Eachchilampathu division Thursday evening. The victim had gone to the area in search of his cattle, civil sources said.
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Road Authority vehicle damaged in DPU claymore attack

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 12:49 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) attackers, exploded a Claymore mine, damaging a Road Development Authority vehicle at Moonru Murippu along Mankulam-Mallavi Road in Liberation Tigers controlled territory in Vanni around 4.00 p.m.
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SLAF bombs civilian settlements in Mullaithivu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 08:14 GMT]
At least one civilian was wounded and three houses were damaged when Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers hit a civilian area where temporary settlement for the tsunami-affected in Mullaithivu district, Saturday around 11:30 a.m. Another village, Vadduvahal, was attacked within an hour in another sortie while two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) were engaged in reconnaissance mission over Kilinochchi.
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CSW voices concern over Christians in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 03:12 GMT]
Citing violence agains Christian worshippers in Gampola, Gampaha, Kandy and Puttalam district, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a human rights organisation specialising in religious freedom, expressed concern over the safty of Christians in Sri Lanka. In a news item published in its website, the Organization urged the authorities in Sri Lanka to "ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to practice their chosen religion with out fear of harassment by mobs and urge all faith communities to show tolerance and respect for one another.”
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SLA trooper injured in sniper attack

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2006, 02:48 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was seriously injured in a sniper attack inside Vavunathivu camp at 1:30 p.m. Friday, source in Batticaloa said. The injured soldier was taken to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital first and later transferred to Colombo General Hospital, according to hospital sources.
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Headless body of abducted Kayts youth found

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 December 2006, 23:00 GMT]
The headless body of a youth of Naranthanai who was abducted from his home on Wednesday by unidentified men was found on Thursday evening at Nerunchimunai area in Kayts in the islets of Jaffna, relatives said. Kayts is under the control of Sri Lankan Navy (SLN).
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Two civilians shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 December 2006, 14:36 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot dead two civilians in Jaffna within the past twenty four hours. An elderly woman from Oddumadam, in the suburbs of Jaffna was killed by gunmen Friday morning at 11:00 a.m, and in a separate incident, a youth was shot dead Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. outside his residence in Chavakachcheri.
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Court to issue verdict on TRO funds case

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 December 2006, 12:21 GMT]
The Colombo High Court Judge, after receiving the written submissions by the Lawyers representing the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), and by the Attorney General representing the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, set 11 December 2006 as the next court date when a decision on the Court’s jurisdiction would be conveyed to the parties, legal sources in Colombo said.
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Three men abducted, shot dead in Thirukovil

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 December 2006, 12:18 GMT]
Three civilians abducted by unidentified armed men from their houses Friday around 1:30 a.m at Vinayagapuram, Thirukovil in Amparai, were found shot to death Friday at 6:00 a.m., sources in Amparai said. The bodies of the victims were found by Vinayagapuram residents at a junction near Vinayagapuram Tamil Maha Vidyalayam around 200 meters from the victims' houses, said Thirukovil police. The bodies have been transferred to the Thirukovil hospital.
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2 Police constables killed in Jaffna claymore attack

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 December 2006, 11:48 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Police constables were killed when unknown assailants triggered a claymore mine fitted to a motorcycle parked near the junction of Clock Tower road and Hospital road in the security reinforced high security zone (HSZ) near Jaffna town Friday 3:00 p.m., sources in Jaffna said.
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Critical shortage of blood in Jaffna Hospital

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 December 2006, 11:28 GMT]
Acute shortage of blood in the Blood bank of Jaffna Teaching Hospital is seriously endangering the lives of patients who urgently need transfusion, said Dr K. Tharany, Medical officer at Jaffna Hospital, Thursday.
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US condemns suicide attack on Sri Lankan defence secretary

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 December 2006, 10:17 GMT]
The US Embassy in Colombo has condemned the suicide attack on Gotabaya Rajapakse, the Sri Lankan defence secretary and brother of SL president.
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Gotabaya Rajapakse narrowly escapes Bomb blast

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 December 2006, 06:41 GMT]
Gotabaya Rajapakse, the Sri Lankan Secretary of Defence and brother of SL President Mahinda Rajapakse, narrowly escaped a bomb blast in Colombo Friday morning. A security guard providing escort to the convoy was killed in the attack. Seven security commandos were among the 14 wounded in the attack, suspected to be a suicide mission, Police said. Lt. Col. (retd.) Gotabaya Rajapakse, who advocates a military solution to the Tamil national problem, was on his way to a defence meeting with Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse when the attack took place.
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Bus Terminal relocation evokes protest

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 December 2006, 00:27 GMT]
The employees of the Jaffna district Central Transport Board (CTB) will begin boycott of transport services in the Peninsula from Friday to condemn Sri Lankan Army (SLA) relocating the Central Bus Terminal from the heart of Jaffna town to an empty area near Pannai Bridge, CTB sources said Thursday.
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Avoid Sri Lanka, France warns citizens

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 December 2006, 00:15 GMT]
France has warned its nationals against making non-essential visits to Sri Lanka because of an increase in violence and suicide attacks, Reuters reported. In an advisory published on its Web site, on Thursday the Foreign Ministry strongly advised French visitors to avoid the north and east of the island and warned against non-urgent travel in the rest of the country.
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