12 Tamil civilians arrested in Battaramulla

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 May 2007, 17:05 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police in a combined cordon and search operation conducted in Battaramulla in Talangama police division in the western province Thursday morning arrested twelve Tamil civilians. They were taken into custody as they failed to provide satisfactory reason for their stay in the location.
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SLA shoots dead youth in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 May 2007, 16:50 GMT]
Unidentified armed men lobbed hand grenades Thursday around 9:00 a.m. on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and Karuna group members jointly engaged in a cordon and search in Meeravoadai Tamil area in Vaazhaichcheanai police division in Batticaloa district, injuring two troopers. SLA troopers shot death a youth when they fired in retaliation.
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Tamils ordered to vacate lodges in Pettah

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 May 2007, 15:57 GMT]
Tamil owners of 68 lodges in Pettah (Peaddai) Police Division in Colombo have been instructed by the Police Officer in Charge of Pettah to immediately expel around 5000 Tamil tenants from Northeast and Upcountry, currently staying in 68 lodges in Pettah, to their "native places" within 24 hours before the military is deployed to forcefully transport the inmates. Chief Inspector Jayaratne, the OIC, Thursday evening summoned the owners of the lodges on short notice to convey the warning, lodge owners told media. Tension prevails in Pettah as Tamil parliamentarians were trying to get in touch with the Sri Lankan government officials.
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Pungkudutheevu body identified as belonging to Fr.Brown

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 May 2007, 12:01 GMT]
DNA testing completed at the Ragama General Hospital in Colombo has confirmed that the mutilated torso found at Pungkudutheevu sea on 14 March 2007 packed in a military sand bag, belonged to the disappeared Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Jim Brown, independent, unofficial hospital sources said Thursday. Earlier the Medical legal officer at the hospital had confirmed that blood samples from Fr Brown's parents and remains of Fr Brown's body parts were received by the hospital and the hospital would soon be completing the DNA identification.
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India opposes Sri Lanka buying arms from China, Pakistan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 May 2007, 11:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka should not seek weapons from Pakistan or China and it should come to India whatever might be their requirement, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan was quoted by India media as saying Thursday. "We are a big power in the region. We don't want the Sri Lankan government to go to Pakistan or China. Whatever may be their requirement, the Sri Lankan government should come to us," he was quoted as saying. However, he said, "India will not provide weapons with offensive capabilities to Sri Lanka."
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SLFP to take disciplinary action against sacked Ministers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 May 2007, 11:40 GMT]
The central working committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), main constituent of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government decided Wednesday night at its special meeting to take disciplinary action against the sacked ministers Mr.Mangala Samaraweera and Mr.Sripathi Sooriyarachchi. The meeting was held in Temple Trees with Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse in the chair as the president of the party, sources said.
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APRC to submit proposals in 2 months

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 May 2007, 11:35 GMT]
The All Party Representatives' Council (APRC) will present the political proposals to solve Sri Lanka's ethnic crisis in two months, said its Chairman Professor Tissa Vitarane, a senior minister in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government Thursday to media sources in Colombo. He is the general secretary of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), a constituent of the UPFA government.
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Tiran Alles remanded

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 May 2007, 11:31 GMT]
Mr.Tiran Alles, publisher of Sinhala weekly Mawbima, who was arrested by the Terrorist Intelligence Unit of the Police on Wednesday evening around 5.45 p.m. in a private hospital in Colombo has been remanded till June 13. Colombo Chief Magistrate Sarojini Kusala Weerawardene ordered remand Wednesday night on an application by the police, legal sources said.
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10 Tamil civilians arrested in Tissamaharagama

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 May 2007, 11:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police arrested ten Tamil civilians in a combined cordon and search operation on Wednesday evening in Tissamaharagama, a town in the Matara district, south of Sri Lanka, sources said.
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White van squads abduct 2 Tamils in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 May 2007, 11:12 GMT]
Unknown men in a white van, pretending as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers, took away a trader in Dehiwela, a suburb of Colombo Saturday, according to complaints made by his wife to the Dehiwela police. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, armed men arriving in a white van took away a youth Monday from his house in Mattakuliya, Colombo 15, relatives complained to the Civil Monitoring Committee, a Colombo-based human rights watchdog.
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Bomb hoax causes panic in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 May 2007, 22:08 GMT]
An abandoned auto rickshaw with a suspicious parcel inside, found close to a Buddhist Shrine along Olcott Mawatte, created panic in Fort area Colombo Wednesday evening at peak traffic time, sources in Colombo said. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and Policemen rushed to the site blocking traffic, but the bomb disposal squad discovered a number of bricks inside the parcel.
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SLA conducts large scale cordon, search operation in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 May 2007, 22:02 GMT]
More than one thousand Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and police officers launched an intensive cordon and search operation in Jaffna town area, covering Koddadi and Naavaanthu'rai coastal areas Wednesday morning until noon, sources in Jaffna said.
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Mawbima publisher Tiran Alles arrested

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 May 2007, 16:23 GMT]
A team of police officials of the Terrorist Intelligence Bureau arrested Tiran Alles, publisher of the Sinhala weekly Mawbima, Wednesday evening. He was taken into custody from a private hospital where he was warded, media sources in Colombo said.
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Uyilangkulam checkpoint reopened

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 May 2007, 14:50 GMT]
Uyilangku'lam checkpoint, gateway to the Liberation Tigers controlled territory from Mannaar district, was reopened Wednesday morning around 9:00 a.m. after a one-week's closure, sources in Mannaar said. Large number of civilians started travelling to and from government controlled territory and LTTE held areas soon after the re-opening.
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SLAF bombs Vea'naavil again, girl wounded

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 May 2007, 12:35 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Air Force bombers targeted a civilian area in Vea'naavil in Puthukkudiyiruppu in Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled Mullaiththeevu district for the second day on Wednesday. A 7-year-old girl, identified as Nilaxana was wounded on Wednesday.
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Tigers, SLA clash in Madu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 May 2007, 12:32 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Wednesday said they confronted a contingent of Sri Lanka Army troopers who attempted to advance through LTTE defence line in Madu. The SLA suffered casualties and fled the battleground carrying their own casualties, Irasiah Ilanthirayan, the military spokesman of the Tigers told media Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka military spokesman in Colombo, Brigadier Samarasinghe told the press that five SLA troopers were killed in action in Madu.
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3 fishermen from Analaitheevu reported missing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 May 2007, 10:47 GMT]
Relatives of three fishermen from Analaitheevu (Analaitheevu) island have reported at the Jaffna office of Human Rights Commission (HRC) office and at the office of Jaffna Fisheries Consortium Tuesday that the men have not returned after going fishing on May 17.
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Civilian killed in SLA artillery attack in Iyakkachchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 May 2007, 08:40 GMT]
A civilian was killed Wednesday morning around 7:00 a.m. in Iyakkachchi, north of the Elephant Pass (Aanaiyi'ravu) as Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intensified artillery shelling hitting the houses in the village, civilians who fled the area said.
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SLA planted mines to accuse youths, court told

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 20:00 GMT]
Kodikaamam police produced two youths arrested by Sri Lanka Army(SLA) in Chaavakachcheari District Courts Tuesday, charged with possession of claymore mines, under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The youths, however, maintained that they were innocent and that SLA had planted the mines to incriminate them.
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2 SLA troopers killed in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 17:11 GMT]
Unidentified armed men opened fire on troopers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp at Madaththadi junction, Madduvil in Then:maraadchi Tuesday around 9:30 a.m, killing two troopers, Madduvil residents said. An exchange of fire between the armed men and the SLA lasted nearly ten minutes
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President of Auto drivers union shot dead in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 17:10 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen on motor cycle, using a T56 rifle, shot dead the president of Kalmunai Auto Drivers' Union at Kalmunai in Ampaa'rai district Tuesday around 7:15 a.m, sources in Kalmunai said. The victim had acrimonious exchanges previously with Karuna group members on union related issues, and this may have had a bearing on the killing.
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Civilian killed, 2 wounded in SLAF air strike

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 11:35 GMT]
A 56-year-old woman was killed and 2 civilians were wounded Tuesday afternoon when two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) fast attack crafts bombed Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaiththeevu twice. A 50-year old man and a 26-year old female were wounded in the aerial attack that targeted a civilian area. 12 houses were damaged and children from a school located 75 meters near the attack site narrowly escaped the attack.
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Tamil youth found dead in Chilaw

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 11:33 GMT]
A Tamil youth was found dead in his paddy field at Kattaikaadu area in Munthal police division in Chilaw district Monday. The victim has been identified as Weeramalai Jegan, 29. Police began inquiry into the death following a complaint lodged by the deceased mother Ms B.Weeramalai, sources said.
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Abductions force families to flee Thiriyaai village

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 10:37 GMT]
Large number of resettled families in Thiriyaai, a traditional Tamil village in the Trincomalee, have fled to safer areas due to frequent abductions and disappearance since October last year. About fourteen members from resettled families are said to have been abducted or disappeared since the outbreak of fresh violence last year, according to reports submitted to the International Committee of Red Cross and Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) by civil groups.
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Tamil prisoners file FR petitions in Supreme Court

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 10:28 GMT]
Two Tamil civilians arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on August 11 last year at Muhamaalai in Jaffna district have filed separate Fundamental Rights (FR) applications in the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Monday seeking the court to declare that their fundamental rights have been violated due to the illegal arrest and detention, and to order their release with appropriate compensation, legal sources said.
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SLA, Police conduct search operation in Colombo suburbs

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 10:24 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police conducted cordon and search operations in several parts of the city of Colombo Tuesday morning from 9:00 a.m., sources in Colombo said. The special operation has followed the claymore attack Monday evening targeting a bus carrying Special Task Police (STF) personnel from Ratmalana in which eight were killed and 35 others injured.
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Bomb blast kills 3 civilians in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 10:13 GMT]
Three civilians were killed in a bomb explosion Monday evening near the well in a house compound at Poonthoaddam area in Vavuniyaa, police said. One body was found inside the well and the other 50 meters from the well. The third victim succumbed to his wounds while being rushed to Vavuniyaa hospital, the police added.
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Mother shot dead in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 May 2007, 20:33 GMT]
Unidentified persons shot and killed a mother of six children Saturday around 1:40 p.m. on Naavatkudaa Pi'l'laiyaar Koayil Veethi in Kaaththaankudi police division in Batticaloa district, when she went out on a personal errand.
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Family man reported abducted in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 May 2007, 20:02 GMT]
A family man from Ka'luvankea'ni First division in Ea'raavoor police division in Batticaloa district is reported missing since May 21 evening, according to complaints made by his wife at Ea'raavoor police station and at Batticaloa ICRC office.
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SLA troopers on A9 security attacked near Kodikaamam

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 May 2007, 15:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers carrying out security duty along A9 highway in Thenmaraadchi between Kodikaamam and Chaavakachcheri came under attack from unidentified armed men between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday, sources in Jaffna said. Local residents said they saw injured troopers being taken in military ambulances. The Jaffna Military high command did not officially confirm the attack.
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8 killed, 27 wounded, Bomb blast in Colombo targets STF vehicle

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 May 2007, 12:39 GMT]
A bomb exploded in Ratmalana near the domestic airport Monday around 5:30 p.m., targeting a military vehicle on Galle Road at Gohumadama junction. Eight civilians have succumbed to their injuries and 27 including 6 STF elite troopers were wounded in the blast, Police said.
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Rights monitoring needs International presence, US Caucus told

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 May 2007, 18:39 GMT]
Addressing the Congressional Human Rights Caucus briefing on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka held Thursday, at 2:00 p.m. in room 2247 Rayburn Building Washington DC, Hans Hogrefe, Senior Professional Staff Member, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said there was much hope after the 2002 cease-fire, but today this agreement was "practically meaningless." He added that the LTTE has stepped up aggression with its air wing, and in addition to the LTTE, now the GOSL is also accused of severe HR abuses, including cooperation with the Karuna group, denying access to camps, hampering investigations.
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SLN confiscates outboard motors of Neduntheevu fishermen

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 May 2007, 18:17 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers Sunday confiscated all outboard engines belonging to Neduntheevu fishermen while allowing the passenger transport by boat between Ku'rikaadduvaan in Pungkudutheevu to Neduntheevu, sources in the islet said. Neduntheevu residents trapped in Jaffna peninsula for three days were able to return to the islet, civil society sources said.
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Special police unit formed to monitor anti-government activity

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 May 2007, 11:40 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Police has formed a special unit to monitor the activities of politicians, industrialists, public servants, media personnel, trade union leaders and members of non-governmental organisations who express adverse opinions in regard to government's defence policy, development projects and law enforcement strategy, media reports in Colombo said Sunday quoting a senior police officer.
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Trade Union talks on salary demand fail- NUTC

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 May 2007, 11:35 GMT]
The National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) backed by the Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has expressed dissatisfaction over the outcome of the talks held between the Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse and a delegation of trade union representatives in finding satisfactory solution to several demands including the removal of salary anomalies and restructuring the public sector salary scheme and other related problems, union sources in Colombo said.
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11 Tamils arrested in Bandarawela

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 May 2007, 11:34 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police arrested eleven Tamil civilians in a cordon and search operation conducted on Saturday evening in Poonagala estate in Bandarawela division in the central province. The suspects are now detained in Bandarawela Police and being interrogated, sources said.
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18 STF personnel wounded in Kudumpimalai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 May 2007, 09:29 GMT]
Eighteen elite commandos of Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) were wounded Saturday when the STF launched an offensive into Liberation Tigers controlled Kudumpimalai (Thoppigala) jungles, 36 km northwest of Batticaloa city, Sri Lankan police officials in Batticaloa said. The STF has been intensifying offensive operations into the LTTE controlled areas in Kudumpimalai jungles in recent weeks.
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Travel to Neduntheevu banned for third day

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 May 2007, 15:54 GMT]
With travel ban to and from Neduntheevu imposed by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) continuing for the third day after the attack by the Sea Tigers on the SLN camp, relatives of Neduntheevu residents in Jaffna and the several hundred Neduntheevu residents stranded in Jaffna have made appeals to the Sri Lanka Government authorities to inform the status of the civilians trapped in the islet, civil society sources in Jaffna said.
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2 SLA soldiers reported killed, major search in Chaavakachcheari

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 May 2007, 13:50 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were reported killed in Meesalai Thursday reports from Thenmaraadchy said. The killings, not officially confirmed by the SLA, took place a day before an SLA trooper was killed and another injured in attacks by unidentified armed men in Thenmaraadchy.
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Court orders bail for Tamil woman held under PTA

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 May 2007, 12:08 GMT]
A Tamil woman from Jaffna, arrested and held for thirty-five days in detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for failing to register her presence with the Colombo police, was released on surety bail by the Mt.Lavinia Magistrate Friday, legal sources in Colombo said.
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Japan unmoved on Sri Lanka aid

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 May 2007, 12:04 GMT]
Japan, which provides over 60% of Sri Lanka’s foreign aid, said this week it had no plans to cut its support, despite British and German reductions intended to pressure the Colombo government into action over the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights conditions in the island. "Japan is not planning to reconsider its aid to Sri Lanka," a Japanese foreign ministry official told AFP Saturday, when asked about lobbying by Human Rights Watch (HRW) for Tokyo to support international efforts to pressure Sri Lankan.
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Court releases 3 Jaffna traders detained under ER

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 May 2007, 11:55 GMT]
Three Tamil traders arrested by Wellawatte Police in a lodge in Colombo on 27 January 27 this year with a consignment of wristwatch batteries were released by the Mt.Lavinia Magistrate Friday after four months in detention under the Emergency Regulations on a report from the Attorney General that they did not commit any offence.
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SLA trooper killed, another injured in Chaavakachcheari

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 May 2007, 11:40 GMT]
Unidentified armed men opened fire Friday around 4:30 p.m on the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry post in front of Chaavakachcheari Divisional Secretariat, along A9 road within SLA High Security Zone (HSZ), killing a trooper and seriously injuring another, sources in Jaffna said. The exchange of fire lasted for nearly ten minutes.
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SLA imposes daytime curfew in Thenmaraadchchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 May 2007, 21:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) High command at Palaali on its FM radio Friday announced that the night curfew from 8:00 p.m to 4:00 a.m will continue during the daytime Saturday in Thenmaraadchchi area, sources in Jaffna said. Residents in Thenmaraadchchi fear clashes on Thenmaraadchchi Front Defence Line (FDL) positions between SLA and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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ICRC Batticaloa hands over 6 bodies to LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 May 2007, 21:17 GMT]
International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Batticaloa representative said that six bodies of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) combatants shot dead by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Wednesday at Chavukkadi Tha'lavaay area in Ea'raavoor in Batticaloa district were handed over to the LTTE Friday at Kaavaththamunai.
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Defense Secretary's security infringes on Special privilege- UNP MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 May 2007, 20:14 GMT]
Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse should be called before the Parliament Special Privilege Committee and questioned on violation of an Member of Parliament's (MP's) special privilege, said United National Party parliamentarian, Mahinda Ratnatilleke, tabling a special privilege motion when the House of Representatives met around 9:30 a.m, presided by Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara, parliamentary sources in Colombo said. The MP said that his special privilege has been violated when the police made him to wait nearly 30 minutes inside a hotel until Gothabaya Rajapakse had passed Galle Face road, delaying his presence at the sitting of the house
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Travel restrictions to Delft continues for second day

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 May 2007, 18:41 GMT]
Restrictions on sea travel between Delft islet and Ku'rikkadduvaan pier imposed by Sri Lanaka Navy (SLN) since Thursday continues to remain in effect, causing severe hardships for civilians, civil society sources in Jaffna said. The action by SLN following the pre-dawn attack on the naval base in Delft, off Jaffna coast Thursday by Sea Tigers has isolated the islet from rest of the peninsula. All telephone connections to Delft have been disconnected and no information is available about the fate of the 7000-strong residents in the islet.
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Sri Lanka's Human rights situation "deteriorated dramatically"- Amnesty

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 May 2007, 10:59 GMT]
Amnesty in its 2007 report on human rights in Sri Lanka released this week said: "The human rights situation in Sri Lanka deteriorated dramatically. Unlawful killings, recruitment of child soldiers, abductions, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations and war crimes increased...Hundreds of civilians were killed and injured and more than 215,000 people displaced by the end of 2006...A pattern of enforced disappearances in the north and east re-emerged. There were reports of torture in police custody; perpetrators continued to benefit from impunity."
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Jaffna students allege discrimination in University Admissions

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 May 2007, 10:32 GMT]
Nine Tamil students from Jaffna district have filed separate petitions in the Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal seeking the court to order the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka to admit them to medical faculties in universities for the current academic year. The petitioners state in their suits that they have failed to gain admission due to continuous discrimination and unjust policies adopted by the UGC in granting admission to Tamil students, legal sources said.
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SLA arrests 14 Tamil civilians in Puttalam

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 May 2007, 10:21 GMT]
Fourteen Tamil civilians aged between 18 and 26 were arrested in Wennapuwa town in Puttalam division in the northwestern province Friday morning in a cordon and search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police. All were employees at a local shoe factory, sources said.
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Colombo court releases young mother

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 May 2007, 10:16 GMT]
A young Tamil mother who was taken into custody in Colombo two weeks ago on suspicion that she was a member of the LTTE was released Thursday by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Ms Sarojini Kusala Weerawardene when the prosecution told court the that there was no evidence to implicate her with any offence, legal sources said.
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4 Tamil youths arrested in Kandy

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 May 2007, 10:10 GMT]
Kandy Police town took four Tamil youths, natives of Vavuniya, Walapane, Ginigathena in Kandy, and Mahiywa into custody on Thursday night. They are being detained by Kandy police for further investigation, Police said. At that time of arrest, the all except the youth from Vavuniya were not in possession of national identity cards and other required documents to prove their identity and the purpose of their stay, according to Police sources.
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Upholding Humanitarian principles, key for conflict resolution- Saravanamuttu

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 May 2007, 02:05 GMT]
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, the director of Colombo-based think tank, Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), in a discussion titled, “Sri Lanka's Elusive Peace Process – a Role for the United States Government?” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington, Thursday, characterized Sri Lanka as "the worst place in the world for civilians, in the 15 months," and spoke of the need for increased awareness for the humanitarian dimension to revitalize the peace process.
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Court releases four Tamil youths

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 May 2007, 10:18 GMT]
The Colombo Magistrate released two Tamil youths, Velupillai Rajkumar, 21, and Gnanaseelan Gajendran, 21, natives of Jaffna when the Colombo police produced them in court Wednesday, legal sources in Colombo said. In another case, two Tamil youths arrested in a cordon and search conducted in Grandpass area in Colombo and kept in remand for about two months under the Emergency Regulations (ER) were released by Colombo Additional Magistrate Mr.Ajit Seneviratne Wednesday when the prosecuting police submitted that there were no evidence against them, legal sources said.
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Home guard shoots dead four in Keppitgollawa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 May 2007, 10:09 GMT]
Four persons including a child and two women were shot dead by a home guard at Keppitgollawa in Anuradhapura district in the north central province Thursday morning. One of the women killed in the attack was the wife of the home guard. The attacker fled from the area after committing the crime, police sources said.
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DPU Claymore attack kills 2 civilians in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 May 2007, 08:44 GMT]
An Internally Displaced woman and her brother were killed on the spot Thursday morning when a Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) triggered a Claymore mine targeting their motorbike near Kugnchukku'lam in Vavuniyaa (Vavuniyaa) - Mannaar (Mannaar) border, according to Tamileelam Police officials in Liberation Tigers controlled Vavuniyaa North.
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Bike bomb targets military transport in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 May 2007, 05:43 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army solder succumbed to his injuries and six persons, including three soldiers, were admitted at Colombo national hospital after a bomb attack that targeted a bus carrying Sri Lanka Army soldiers, on Reclamation Road in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, Thursday morning. The bomb, attached to bicycle was detonated near the main entrance to the Colombo port at 8:45, Police said.
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JVP holds demonstration against public sector corruption

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 May 2007, 05:01 GMT]
The Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) held a one hour protest demonstration Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in Colombo in front of Fort Railway station condemning the failure of the Sri Lanka's government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse to curb the increasing corruption and other malpractices in public sector.
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Tigers attack Sri Lanka Navy installations in Delft

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 May 2007, 04:52 GMT]
Commando marines of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) naval wing, the Sea Tigers, launched a pre-dawn attack Thursday on Delft islet off Jaffna coast inflicting heavy losses to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), Military Spokesman of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE), Irasiah Ilanthirayan told media. At least 30 SLN sailors were killed, a Dvora Fast Attack Craft was destroyed and two other SLN vessels sustained damages in the operation that lasted for 2 hours, according to the Tiger spokesman. Recently, the Northern Naval Area Command of the SLN has been strengthening the naval presence by establishing a commanding office in Delft.
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Jaffna students temporarily suspend boycott

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 May 2007, 02:19 GMT]
Tamil Students Union (TSU) Jaffna District, temporarily suspended Wednesday the two weeks boycott launched in protest against the abduction of four high school students, in response to requests made by the Jaffna University students, educationists, high officials and pledges made by the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Jaffna Commander.
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Separate flags for North and East Provincial Councils

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 May 2007, 01:22 GMT]
Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema, Governor of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) and acting Governor of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Tuesday introduced two separate provincial flags to the de-merged Northern Provincial Council (NPC) and Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) to be used in future official functions. Mr Wijewickrema handed over the NPC flag to its Chief Secretary Mr.S.Rangarajah, and the EPC flag to its Chief Secretary Mr.Herat Abeyeweera at an event held Tuesday at the Governor's Secretariat.
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UNP parliamentarian receives telephone threat

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 May 2007, 00:20 GMT]
United National Party (UNP) member of parliament for Gamphaha and former cabinet minister, John Ameratunga, with the permission of the speaker of the House, V.J.M.Lokubandara, tabled a special privilege motion when parliamentary sessions resumed at 9:30a.m Tuesday, stating that he received a telephone death threat before he left to attend the parliamentary session.
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Police officer abducted in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 20:43 GMT]
Unknown persons abducted a high ranking police officer attached to Nelliyadi police station in Vadamaraadchi Sunday, after taking him for a drink at the liquor shop at Nelliyadi junction, in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) High Security zone, 300 meters from the police station, sources in Vadamaradchi said. Sri Lanka Police has not officially confirmed the alleged abduction.
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3 LTTE cadres, SLA trooper, killed in clash at Earaavoor

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 18:07 GMT]
Ea'raavoor police claimed that three members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) trooper were killed, and a Special Task Force (STF) trooper was injured Wednesday around 5:00 a.m in a clash at Chavukkadi coast in Tha'lavaay, Ea'raavoor in Batticaloa district.
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Youth shot dead in Earaavoor

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 16:32 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a youth Monday around 7:30 p.m at a cross road in Ka'luvankea'ni in Ea'raavoor police division in Batticaloa while riding to his employer's house on his bicycle, Ea'raavoor police said.
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SLA, threat to Jaffna students- TNA MP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 11:16 GMT]
A resolution regarding the abduction of students and the threat issued to Jaffna University community was tabled Wednesday by Mavai Senathirajah, Deputy President of parliamentary group of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Jaffna district Member of Parliament, parliamentary sources said. Mr. Senathirajah speaking about the situation prevailing in Jaffna, pointed out that the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) was posing a clear threat to the educational activities of the students in Jaffna.
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SLA arrests 25 civilians in Chilaw

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 10:52 GMT]
Twenty-five Tamil civilians were arrested in a cordon and search operation by Sri Lanka security forces Wednesday early morning at Uddapu, a traditional Tamil village in Chilaw division in the northwestern province. One of the arrested is a native of Jaffna and another a native of Trincomalee town. Six civilians were natives of Thampalakamam, a Tamil village in Trincomalee district and eighteen are residents of Uddapu, sources said.
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29 Tamils arrested in Anuradhapura

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 10:47 GMT]
Six Tamil youths were taken into custody on Tuesday evening in Anuradhapura, capital of the north central province. They were arrested on a tip off from the public, for allegedly taking photographs of the Anuradhapura police station with their cell-phone cameras hiding in a bush, police sources said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka security forces Wednesday morning launched a cordon and search operation in Anuradhapura town and arrested about 23 Tamil civilians, from lodges and rental houses, sources said.
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Tamil reported missing in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 06:50 GMT]
A former employee of Jaffna Secretariat presently living in Rajagiriya in Colombo is reported missing since Sunday when he went to a shop near his residence to buy milk powder for his child, according to complaints made by his wife to the Human Rights Commission in Colombo.
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Tamil Australians protest Sri Lanka rights abuses

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 03:12 GMT]
Several hundred Tamil Australians protested in front of the Victoria Parliament in Melbourne Tuesday, highlighting the escalating number of abductions and killings of Tamils in the NorthEast and in Colombo, sources in Melbourne said. The protest started at 2:30 p.m and lasted for three hours, attendees said.
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Colombo will shun peace, until LTTE demonstrates futility of military option- Gajendrakumar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 01:24 GMT]
Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian and Member of the Parliamentary Consultative Committees for Constitutional affairs, in an interview with TamilNet Tuesday, said that Sri Lanka will not pursue a political solution until it finds itself unable to prosecute a military solution, and the only option open for peace is for the LTTE to demonstrate that Colombo's military agenda will not succeed. Gajendrakumar added that this unfortunate reality is the direct result of the International community's demonstrated unwillingness to stop the Sri Lanka Government from proceeding with the military agenda.
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70,000 farmers affected in Paduvaankarai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 20:34 GMT]
Around 17,000 acres of paddy cultivation in Batticaloa district were affected due to the recent military offensive in the district, a report released by the Agrarian Services Department, Batticaloa said. Eleven Agrarian divisions- Kiraan, Vaazhaichcheanai, Ea'raavur, Thaanthaamalai, Vanthaa'rumoolai, Karadiyanaa'ru, Vellaave'li, Kokkaddichchoalai, Pazhukaamam, Aayiththiyamalai and Ma'ndapaththadi- were included in the study, officials said.
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Youth found cut to death in Chunnaakam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 19:59 GMT]
The body of a youth cut to death was found Tuesday dumped in a shrub land near the Electricity Power Plant of the Electricity Board at Chunnaakam area. Mallaakam district court magistrate, Ms. Sarojini Illankovan conducted the inquest into death at the site and directed the body to be handed over to Jaffna Teaching hospital.
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Lectures resume at Jaffna University

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 19:56 GMT]
Activities of Jaffna university resumed Tuesday after the two weeks boycott launched by Jaffna University Student Union was suspended Monday, University officials said. The boycott began as a protest against the abduction of students, death notices to undergrads and staff, intrusion into the campus by armed men and the violations perpetrated by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitaries disrupting educational activities in Jaffna peninsula.
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Archbishop's statement an observation, not endorsement of military action- Bishops

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 15:41 GMT]
Amid continuing controversy following comments by the Archbishop of Canterbury which appeared to justify President Mahinda Rajapakse’s military action against the Tamil Tigers, two Sinhala Bishops Wednesday defended Archbishop Rowan Williams, saying his comments had been taken out of context. In a letter to TamilNet, Rt Revd Kumara Illangasinghe, Bishop of Kurunagala, and Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo, said Archbishop Williams had meant that military action was not justified “unless it had the clear aim of enhancing the possibility of dialogue.”
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Norway refutes SL Diplomat's passport allegation against LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 11:32 GMT]
Norwegian Government, in a press release issued Tuesday, categorically denied that "large number of Norwegian Passports were stolen," and said that the allegation are "drawing links between unrelated matters and have no basis in reality." In an interview to the Washington Post Radio last week, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to U.S., Bernard Gunatillake, had alleged that the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) had stolen Norwegian passports and sold them to organizations including Al Qaeda. He had also alleged that a "LTTE rebel" was caught in Thailand with 700 of the stolen passports.
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JVP-backed Union to organize general strike in June

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 11:08 GMT]
The Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) backed National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) has planned to launch a general strike in June to protest against the failure of the government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse to honour the pledges given to the working class during the presidential election, sources said.
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JVP to hold demonstration against corruption in public sector

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 10:57 GMT]
The Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is to hold a protest demonstration Wednesday in Colombo demanding the Sri Lanka's government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse to bring immediate halt to increasing corruption and other malpractices in the public sector, and to punish officials found guilty of corruption, political sources in Colombo said.
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Tamil youth found dead in Kandy

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 10:54 GMT]
The body of a Tamil youth was recovered from a drain in Peradeniya, Kandy district Monday. His relatives have identified the victim as Ananda Rajendran, 28, of Udaperadeniya, Peradeniya Police sources said.
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Protest held against disappearance of Norwegian Tamil

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 01:02 GMT]
Over 200 Norwegian Tamils demonstrated in front of Norway Foreign Ministry in Oslo Monday between 2:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m, organized by Norway Tamil Sangam (Society), drawing attention to the disappearance of Sounthararajan Thambirajah, a Norwegian citizen of Tamil origin, since March 31. Tore Hatrem, Leader for Peace and Reconciliation Section of the Foreign Ministry, accompanied by Jon Hanssen Bauer, the Norwegian Special Envoy to Sri Lanka Peace Process, received the memorandum submitted by the demonstrators.
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Courts releases 4 fishermen arrested in Neduntheevu seas

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 00:04 GMT]
Four fishermen from Mannar (Mannaar), arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Neduntheevu seas, were produced before the Kayts Court and released unconditionally on Monday, Mannar sources said.
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Two youths from Karaveddi reported missing

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 21:56 GMT]
On April 25, a 17-year old student on his way to his relatives house on bicycle had gone missing in Charachaalai in thenmaraadchi area, from his home in Karaveddi, Vadama'raadchi. On April 30, an Finansco employee, 31, went missing on his way to work on his motor cycle from his home at Ka'ra'navaay north, Karaveddi, according to reports made with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office.
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Jaffna undergrads temporarily suspend boycott

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 21:53 GMT]
In response to the request made by Jaffna University Acting vice-chancellor (VC), Jaffna Government Agent (GA), University Senate and Education society members, the Jaffna University Student Union (JUSU) temporarily suspended the boycott, JUSU leaders said. The students launched the boycott in protest against the abduction of students, intrusion into the campus by armed men and the violations perpetrated by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and collaborating paramilitaries disrupting educational activities in Jaffna peninsula.
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Sri Lanka missed the richness of plurality – Amartya Sen

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 19:58 GMT]
While answering a question put to him on Sri Lanka, the Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen observed that Sri Lanka successfully implemented a number of welfare programmes such as free education, free health etc., to its people which should have contributed to peace in that country. But, by taking a position of upholding exclusive status to Buddhism and Sinhalese, it isolated other sections of the society from having a sense of national identity. Now, there is no likelihood that the Sri Lankan state will go back from that position. Sri Lanka didn’t realize the richness in plurality, said the Nobel Laureate Professor Sen to a tightly packed audience in Oslo on Monday.
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Postal services resume in Vellaaveli, Schools re-open in Poaratheevupattu

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 18:08 GMT]
Postal services in Vellaave'li region has resumed after the commencement of the resettlement of the Internally displaced persons(IDPs) residing in transit camps in Batticaloa district, K.Kanagasunderam, Superintendent of postal Services Batticaloa Division, said Monday.
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Abducted IDPs released in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 18:05 GMT]
Two youths abducted by Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) members Friday from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) refugee camp at Kiraanku'lam were brought in a vehicle to Kiraankulam area and released Sunday night.
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EPDP member killed in Kayts

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 16:34 GMT]
Kayts police recovered the body of a member of Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) hacked to death, at the beach in Naaranthanai north in Kayts, an islet of Jaffna, Monday morning. Kayts magistrate, Jeyaraman Trotsky conducted inquest into the death visiting the site where the body lay,
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Mass job loss for Batticaloa cellular employees

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 16:31 GMT]
Disconnection of cell phone services in Batticaloa district since 06 March, has resulted in many cellphone related activities being suspended causing loss of employment for the repair technicians as well as those involved in sale of cell phones, SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards and refill cards, sources in the area said.
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Tamil youth arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 11:11 GMT]
A Tamil youth from Jaffna studying in Colombo was arrested Saturday night in Grandpass in Colombo for allegedly carrying a map of Colombo harbour in his travelling bag, Granpass police said.
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11 Tamil civilians arrested in Galle

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 11:03 GMT]
Eleven Tamil civilians were arrested by the Police in cordon and search operations conducted in the police divisions of Galle, Matugama and Maharagama in the southern province from Saturday night till Sunday morning. The Terrorist Intelligence Division (TID) of the Police subjected them to special investigation while being detained in police stations.
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Oamanthai check point to be re-opened Monday

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 02:28 GMT]
The representatives of International Commission of Red Cross (ICRC) meeting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Vavuniya political head, Gnanam, at his office Sunday afternoon from 2:00 p.m. till 3:30 p.m.assured that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) check point at Oamanthai closed since Thursday would be reopened Monday, sources close to LTTE said. Representatives from ICRC offices of Ki'linochchi and Vavuniya (Vavuniyaa) were present at the meeting.
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STF arrests two IDPs from Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2007, 00:55 GMT]
Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) members on a road patrol in Ka'luvanchchikkudi arrested two youths who were on a bicycle to visit their relatives in Ka'luvanchchikkudi from the refugee camp in KiranKu'lam in Batticaloa Friday morning, witnesses said. The two were arrested near Roksy Estate along the Eruvil Police station road.
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Five youths missing in Mannar seas

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 May 2007, 14:51 GMT]
Five civilians from Poompuhar, Kalmadu in Vavuniya have disappeared after they went fishing at shores close to Vellanku'lam in Mannar, sources in Mannar said. The relatives of the missing have reported the disappearance to the Vavuniya Police Sunday, police sources said.
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Civilians stranded at Oamanthai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 May 2007, 12:33 GMT]
Continued closure of Oamanthai check point by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for the past three days has caused severe hardships for the general public, sources in the area said. SLA troops commenced heavy artillery attack targeting civilian areas and A-9 Highway, Thursday, and abruptly closed the checkpoint at about 11:00 a.m. Public has been blocked from traveling through the checkpoint, stranding a large number of civilians on either side.
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Mother files HC application for daughter held 8 months under ER

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 May 2007, 12:05 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal Friday issued notice on the Defence Secretary and five other respondents to appear in court on 6 June on a Habeas Corpus (HC) application filed by a mother seeking her daughter held in detention under Emergency Regulations (ER) to be produced in court. The HC application came up for inquiry before a two-member bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justices Ranjit Silva (Chairman) and Sisira de Abrew.
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Court asks AG to appear on Fundamental Rights petition

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 May 2007, 11:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Friday issued notice on the Attorney General (AGT) to appear in court on 30 August and provide his submission on the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by the Jaffna undergraduate Sivaraj Paheerathan. Mr. Paheerathan was released about two weeks ago by the Colombo Chief Magistrate on a report submitted by the Attorney General that there was no evidence to implicate Paheerathan with any offence, legal sources said.
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Balance of power, imperative to work towards sustainable solution - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 May 2007, 09:48 GMT]
Head of the Political Division of the Liberation Tigers, S.P.Thamilchelvan, in an interview with TamilNet on Saturday said that the decision by the International players to ban the Tigers in various countries and the actions which restricted the political work of the Tigers, were being interpreted by Colombo as endorsing its military approach. The southern polity was working on unacceptable solutions, that were rejected by the Tamils 30 years ago, he said, alluding that it was the Sinhala leadership which needed to change first. "It is fallacy to think that by weakening the LTTE, the movement can be forced to compromise on its political stand," the LTTE's Political Head said.
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Resettlement Conference held in Paduvaankarai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2007, 22:02 GMT]
A conference chaired by S.Arumainayagam, Batticaloa Government Agent (GA) was held Saturday at Paddippa'lai Divisional Secretariat to discuss the details relating to the second stage resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Paduvaankarai, Paddipa'lai areas in Batticaloa district, sources in Batticaloa said. A number of officials from Batticaloa Divisional Secretariat, Paddippa'lai Divisional Secretary (DS) and Special Task Force (STF) officials attended the conference.
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SLN arrests two siblings in Mannar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2007, 17:07 GMT]
Two youngsters, a sister and brother, who arrived in Peasaalai Saturday morning around 8:00 a.m. in a fibre glass boat from Iluppaikkadavai in LTTE held territory in Mannar (Mannaar) district were taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN). They were later handed over to Thalaimannaar Police for questioning, sources said.
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Abducted Tamil civilian released in Badulla

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2007, 16:30 GMT]
Pakkianathan Vijeyasanthan, 32, who was abducted in Colombo Friday by unidentified persons, according to complaints with the Colombo Police, has reported his presence to the Badulla police station Saturday morning, sources said. He was alleged to have been abducted in a white van Friday afternoon.
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Artillery duel intensifies in Thenmaraadchi FDLs

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2007, 15:53 GMT]
Liberation Tigers and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) exchanged intense artillery fire across Thenmaradchi (Thenmaraadchi) Forward Defense Lines (FDLs) Friday and Saturday, sources in Thenmaraadchi said. FDL in Mukamaalai also came under severe artillery attack around 12:00 noon Saturday, according to the same sources.
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Legal battle of UNP-dissidents continues

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2007, 11:58 GMT]
The Colombo District Court Friday extended its stay order for the third time against the decision of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) to expel eleven dissident parliamentarians of the UNP who joined the government led by Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse and accepted ministries, and called for further explanation from the UNP leadership, legal sources said.
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TNA charges SLA-backed paramilitary for killings in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2007, 11:50 GMT]
"Until Sri Lanka Army (SLA)-backed paramilitary Tamil groups are disarmed there is no salvation for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. Therefore the SL President and his security establishment should come forward immediately to guarantee the security of Tamil people," said S.Vino Noharathalingam, Vanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, in a statement describing the current volatile situation in Vanni district.
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SLAF jets bomb in Ampaarai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2007, 11:40 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets dropped four bombs on Kagnchikudichchaanaa'ru area in Ampaa'rai district Saturday around 10:00 a.m, sources in Ampaa'rai said. Residents of this area have already been displaced by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) offensives, and no one was hurt.
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UNP rules out forming national government

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2007, 05:06 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) Saturday ruled out the possibility of forming a national government with the government led by Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse. "The present government has lost its credibility among the masses due to its undemocratic acts and human rights violations. It is a dream to think of forming a national government with Mr.Rajapakse who tore down the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the UNP with the SLFP, main constituent of the government to find lasting solution to all problems affecting the country," said UNP general secretary Mr.Tissa Attanayake commenting on a call to form a national government.
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Court releases eight Tamils arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2007, 01:52 GMT]
Eight Tamil civilians including three members of the same family, all natives of Jaffna, were discharged by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Ms Kusala Sarojini Weerawardene Thursday when prosecution informed the court that they were not objecting the release of the detainees. The Fort Police arrested them on 6 May while staying in a lodge located along Dam Street in Colombo in a cordon and search operation, and later remanded by the Colombo court, sources said.
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Oamanthai closure endangers sick, elderly

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2007, 00:05 GMT]
"Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is adamantly against opening of the A9 land route but we continue to make efforts to have the A9 opened so that people are given the freedom to travel," Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Vavuniya political head, Gnanam told TamilNet Friday. Discussions are being held with the representatives of Vavuniya Red Cross, he added.
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University Senate discusses crisis in Jaffna Campus

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 May 2007, 23:14 GMT]
The Jaffna University Senate held a special meeting presided by Acting Vice-chancellor Prof. K. Kumaravadivel Friday to discuss matters related to the reopening of the university amid death notices issued to Jaffna University staff and students allegedly by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and the recent student abductions, sources close to University administration said.
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SLA artillery damages civilian property in Koayilkugnchukku'lam

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 May 2007, 23:13 GMT]
Artillery attacks by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) since Thursday from their Forward Defence Lines (FDL) in Ira’nai Illuppaikku’lam, Nocchchikku’lam and Kalmadu areas towards civilian targets in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) - controlled Vavuniya district have inflicted heavy damages to property and livestock in Koayilkugnchukku'lam area, sources in the area said.
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5 youths abducted in six days in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 May 2007, 21:35 GMT]
Five youths have been reported either abducted or gone missing from Friday 11 to Wednesday 16, in Jaffna district according to complaints made at Human Rights Commission Jaffna office.
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Tamil civilian abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 May 2007, 15:25 GMT]
Unidentified men operating from a white van abducted a Tamil civilian Friday morning at 10:30 a.m along King street, Borella, Colombo, sources in Colombo said. The victim has been identified as Pakianathan Vijeyasanthan, 32, a married man from Trincomalee.
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Bishop refutes story, TamilNet responds

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 May 2007, 12:23 GMT]
Jaffna Bishop Rt. Rev. Thomas Savundaranayagam, in a letter to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Jaffna Commander Maj. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri, has denied speaking to TamilNet. TamilNet story was based on verified information from other sources and TamilNet stands by its story. TamilNet did not indicate that Bishop talked to TamilNet directly. However, TamilNet has made changes to the title of the story, to remove any mistaken perception that the story was based on direct communication with the Bishop.
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9 bodies of LTTE cadres recovered in FDL encounter, says SLA

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 May 2007, 11:45 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) said Thursday that they handed over six bodies of Liberation Tigers killed during firefight at the Vavuniyaa Forward Defence Lines (FDL) bringing the total to nine bodies recovered and lying in Vavuniyaa General Hospital. SLA sources further said they are seeking assistance from the ICRC to transfer the bodies to the LTTE.
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Gunmen, SLA exchange fire near Uduppiddi SLA camp

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 May 2007, 11:19 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen, after creating road blocks preventing movement of pedastrians and vehicular traffic near the Uduppiddi Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, sprayed gunfire towards the camp Friday afternoon. In a firefight lasting more than 15 minutes the soldiers returned fire at the attackers. Gunmen escaped from the scene after the attack according to sources. Details of injuries or casualties are not available.
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SLN shoots dead two fishermen in Kayts

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 May 2007, 10:55 GMT]
Two fishermen from Thampaaddi area in Kayts were shot dead by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) at 3:00 a.m. Firday, according to fisheries union officials. SLN had claimed that they shot dead two cadres of Liberation Tigers during a firefight at Kayts shores early morning.
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3 labourers shot dead in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 May 2007, 07:05 GMT]
Unidentified armed men abducted three labourers Thursday between 11:00 p.m and 1:00 a.m from their house at Kaaththaar Chinnakku'lam in Mahaa Rampaikku'lam area in Vavuniyaa and shot them dead, Vavuniyaa police said. The Police recovered their bodies and handed them over to Vavuniyaa General Hospital.
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Outside undergraduates to leave Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 22:11 GMT]
The Jaffna university undergraduates from outside the district are seriously considering leaving the Peninsula due to the deteriorating security conditions for students, University sources said. Escalating student abductions and the recent posters bearing a hit list of students have shaken the student community, and the frequent disruptions to lectures have affected academic progress, student leaders said.
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Curfew hours relaxed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 22:10 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Military command in Palaali announced Thursday that the new curfew hours in Jaffna peninsula will be from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., a reduction of one hour, sources in Jaffna said. The new hours took effect from Thursday. Curfew hours, first introduced after the outbreak of violence on 11 August 2006, have been altered several times and stood at 7:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., before the latest announcement.
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SLN arrests fisherman in Kayts

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 19:10 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Kayts Coast Guards arrested a fisherman who after his boat had capsized in Mannar (Mannaar) sea, fought for his life for two days, and swam back to the shore at Veala'nai, Ma'ndaitheevu, Wednesday, fisheries sources in the islets said.
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SLA closes Uyilangku'lam checkpoint

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 11:54 GMT]
The Uyilangku'lam checkpoint of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Mannar (Mannaar) district was closed since Friday afternoon following artillery attack from Adampan in the LTTE held territory. All transport activities to and from LTTE held territory and government held areas in the Mannaar district through Uyilangku'lam have come to halt.
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Lack of facilities plague IDP resettlement in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 10:59 GMT]
The resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Batticaloa district has begun from Monday and a special office was established adjoining the Ma'nmunai South West Divisional Secretariat (Ka'luvaanchchikkudi) to expedite the process. The IDPs living in the Transit Camps were escorted to the said office and sent to their respective villages following necessary registrations and checking.
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UNP urges impartial inquiry into monk's murder

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 10:50 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) Thursday demanded the Sri Lanka government to order an impartial inquiry and to arrest the killers of Venerable Hathugamuwe Nandaratna Thera, Chief Priest of Mahadiulwewa Buddhist Raja Maha Vihare. The government should act with a sense of responsibility instead of making vague allegations against some elements for the murder, UNP said in a statement.
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14 Tamil civilians arrested in Wellawatte still in detention

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 10:42 GMT]
Fourteen Tamil civilians arrested in a cordon and search operation conducted in Wellawatte area in the Colombo city on Tuesday night when they failed to prove their identity and the reason for their presence in the location, are still being detained in the police station and interrogated, sources in Colombo said.
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2 LTTE cadres killed in Vavuniya - SL Police

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 10:36 GMT]
Two Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) commandos were killed in a clash Wednesday on the Front Defence Line (FDL) at Mu'l'likkulam, Kalmadu in Vavuniyaa district, Vavuniyaa police said.
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Civilian killed in cross fire in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 01:04 GMT]
A civilian was killed in crossfire Tuesday when Sri Lanka Police attempted to arrest a robbery suspect at about 4:45 p.m. in Vavuniyaa, police sources said. The victim was identified as K.Mahendran, 52, a family man and a mason by profession.
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Normalcy not possible without students' release, SLA Commander told

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 00:19 GMT]
"Immediate release of the abducted students is the only way to bring Jaffna peninsula educational activities back to normalcy," Jaffna Bishop Rt. Rev. Thomas Savundaranayagam said in a special meeting held Wednesday around 3:30 p.m between representatives of Peoples Committee for Peace and Goodwill (PCPG) and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Jaffna Commander Maj. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri inside the Palaali High Security Zone. The meeting lasted more than two hours.
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Constable commits suicide in Ea'raavoor

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 00:05 GMT]
K. G. Wijayasinghe, 43, a Police constable attached to Ea'raavoor Police station committed suicide by shooting himself around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Police sources said. He was in a disturbed state due to family related problems, sources close to the constable said.
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Mirror story on Jaffna youths, false, says Rights Group

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 20:58 GMT]
Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna Officials dismissed as blatant lie, the Colombo based Daily Mirror front page report Wednesday claiming that parents in Jaffna handed over 200 children to them, fearing abduction by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), quoting a former HRC member, Jaffna HRC sources said.
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Media watchdog condemns CID's questioning of Morning Leader Editor

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 17:19 GMT]
Expressing concern over questioning of Ms. Sonali Samarasinghe, Editor of The Morning Leader, by the Criminal Investigations Department, to reveal the sources of an investigative article, the Free Media Movement (FMM), a Colombo-based Media watchdog, said in a press release that CID's actions, "not just encroaches the domain of media freedom, but seriously erodes it...Quashing investigative reportage and independent journalism, we clearly see this as another incident wherein the State authorities, despite overt commitments to media freedom, in reality have a callous disregard for it."
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Student killed in SLA artillery shelling on Pooneryn

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 14:41 GMT]
A 17-year old boy was killed on the spot and his father was wounded when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells hit their house in Pooneryn (Poonakari) Tuesday noon, according to Tamileelam Police officials in Ki'linochchi. The scattered body of the victim, Kanakaratnam Mohanraj, a student at the Ki'li/Poonakari S'ree Viththiyaalayam, was recovered Tuesday evening.
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Colombo court discharges two youths charged under PTA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 11:16 GMT]
Two youths, one a Tamil and another a Sinhalese, were discharged by the Colombo Magistrate Mr.Mohamed Irshadeen Tuesday when the prosecuting police officer told court that there was no evidence to implicate them with any crime. The two had been charged for taking photographs of Borella police station with their cell-phone camera, sources said.
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Arrest warrants issued in Sivaram murder case

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 11:07 GMT]
The Colombo High Court has issued arrest warrants on three key State witnesses listed by the Attorney General in the murder case of popular journalist and Senior Editor of TamilNet, Dharmaretnam Sivaram. The sole accused Arumugam Sriskandarajah alias Peter of Trincomalee was produced in court when the case was taken up for inquiry Monday.
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Lawyers to meet political prisoners in Boosa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 11:03 GMT]
Terrorist Intelligence Bureau (TIB) of the Police as instructed by the Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry has granted permission for five lawyers to meet thirteen political prisoners now being detained in Boosa Detention Camp located in Galle in the southern province. Five are members of the New Democratic Party, one a Tamil from the eastern province and seven others Sinhalese, accused as "Sinhala Tigers" by the security forces, sources said.
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Tamil fisherman disappears in Mannaar Sea

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 10:58 GMT]
Felistus Miranda, 33, a father of five children of Ward No 3, Pe'saalai in Mannaar district has been reported missing since he left for fishing in Mannaar Sea in a fibreglass boat on May 14th afternoon, according to complaints lodged by his relatives with the Talaimannaar Police, sources in Mannaar said.
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Habeas Corpus cases stall in Jaffna Courts

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 02:12 GMT]
Legal cases dealing with writs of Habeas Corpus filed by family members of youths abducted and missing since 1996 have difficulty proceeding as witnesses are terrified to testify against the members of Sri Lanka Armed forces, legal sources in Jaffna said. Corporal Rajapakse, the main accused in Krishanthi murder case and Chemma'ni mass killings was produced in Jaffna High Courts Monday and Tuesday before Magistrate, R. T. Wicknarajah.
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Transcription: TamilNet thanks responses

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 01:59 GMT]
Three weeks ago, TamilNet launched a transcription system to present Tamil text to English readers. The system was developed with automation facilities to convert any Tamil text into Roman alphabet and vice versa. Recently, the Tamil Lexicon Transliteration system was also added for automation, making a three-way conversion possible. The aims of TamilNet Transcription, readers' comments and our observations are brought forth here for further improvements.
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Journalist's murder case postponed for lack of witnesses

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 01:31 GMT]
Jaffna magistrate postponed Uthayan journalist Rajivarman's murder case for the third time Tuesday as there were no witnesses to testify at Jaffna High Courts. The police filed a petition requesting the Court to allow more time to find witnesses, legal sources in Jaffna said.
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SL Government uses arrest threat to silence MPs- UNP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 00:50 GMT]
The United National Party (UNP), the main opposition party in Sri Lanka Parliament accused the Government for intimidating and threatening arrests of UNP parliamentarians who expose misdeeds of the ruling party politicians. Thayasri Jeyasekara, the UNP Member of Parliament (MP) for Kurunagala district, said Tuesday, in a Press Meeting held at the residence of the Leader of Opposition in Colombo, that the government's current target is Luxman Kiriyella, the UNP MP for Kandy district.
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SLA denies involvement in Jaffna death notice

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 00:04 GMT]
Legal Advisor to Human Rights Commission (HRC), Mudiyapu Remediayas, raised issues concerning the worsening situation following the abduction of four high school students in Jaffna and the anonymous death notices to Jaffna University students, staff and principals of schools, with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander of Jaffna, Major. Gen. Chandrasiri Tuesday around 2:30 p.m in a meeting held in Palaali Military High Security Zone. The Commander, while rejecting any SLA involvement in the issuing of death notice, told Mr. Remedias that he is in contact with the Vice-chancellor, Jaffna Government Agent and other authorities regarding the issue.
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Fuel sales tightened in Mannar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 May 2007, 21:53 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has instructed filling stations in Mannar (Mannaar) town to obtain names of persons who purchase fuel and the registration numbers of their vehicles and driving licence. The scheme has come into effect from Tuesday.
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2 Tamil boys injured in Chelvanaayakapuram explosion

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 May 2007, 21:42 GMT]
Two Tamil boys were injured when a hand grenade concealed under garbage, exploded near a Hindu Temple around 3:00 p.m. Tuesday at Chelvanaayakapuram, a suburb two km south of Trincomalee town. The explosion occurred when people living in the vicinity of the temple were engaged in clearing garbage along the roadside.
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Tamil youth shot, injured in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 May 2007, 16:04 GMT]
A Tamil youth was shot and injured Tuesday early morning in Uppuve'li, a suburb located about three km off north of Trincomalee town.
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"Direct communication to LTTE would have had concrete benefits"- Lunstead

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 May 2007, 11:25 GMT]
Jeffrey Lunstead, former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, in a report detailing the involvement of his country in Sri Lanka's peace process says "that direct communication with the LTTE would have had concrete benefits including the ability to deliver a clear U.S. message about possible delisting of the LTTE as an FTO [Foreign Terrorist Organization]," but that the Deputy Secretary Armitage believed "such a contact would have been worth trying--but emphasized the difficulty of doing so at that time." The report was published by The Asia Foundation, Sri Lanka.
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Bus set on fire in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 May 2007, 10:45 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus plying the Navaali-Chaavakachcheari route in Thenmaraadchi was burnt by unidentified attackers at 7:30 a.m Tuesday, sources in Jaffna said. The attackers forced the passengers to alight from the bus before setting fire to the vehicle.
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No amendments will be made to SLFP proposals - Rajapaksa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 May 2007, 10:33 GMT]
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, speaking at the meeting of the working committee of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) held Monday 11:00 a.m. at his official residence Temple Trees, has said that no changes will be made to the proposals put forward by the party for resolving the ethnic conflict to "please other political parties," in Sri Lanka, SLFP sources in Colombo said. Rajapaksa's comments come 4 days after a top US envoy, Richard A. Boucher, urged the southern political parties to come up with a consensus.
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Woman missing in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 May 2007, 21:41 GMT]
A young woman with 2 children from Naaraanthanai in Kayts has disappeared in Trincomalee where she had gone to get a ticket on a ship bound to Jaffna, parents said in a complaint made to Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna. The woman has not been seen or heard from after 13 April, the complaint said.
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Civilian abducted, postman disappears in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 May 2007, 17:40 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in a white van forcibly abducted a youth Saturday around 10:00 a.m at Vaddukoaddai, according to the complaint made by his father to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna. Meanwhile, a postman of Kaithadi post office disappeared Saturday on his way to work in a bus, his mother said in her complaint to the HRC.
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SLA shoots dead security guard in Cha'ndilipaay

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 May 2007, 15:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers of a night patrol unit shot dead a security guard Sunday night at Cha'ndilippay. The SLA claimed that they shot the man when he failed to stop at their command and tried to flee away and that they recovered a hand grenade from his body.
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Aid agencies fear for Batticaloa displaced

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 May 2007, 14:57 GMT]
Aid agencies in Sri Lanka’s volatile eastern province say they are concerned that over 140,000 Tamils displaced by earlier military offensives are being forced to go back to their homes despite unsafe conditions there. However, the Sri Lankan government insists it will continue with the resettlement. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme is warning that food supplies to displaced people is running out.
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Jaffna Campus staff, students receive death threats

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 May 2007, 11:18 GMT]
Students at Jaffna Campus called for a week-long boycott of lectures after armed intruders left "death notices" inside the campus Sunday night, student leaders said. The notice listed details of staff and students in the death list, and gave "Final Warning" to those who are involved in "terrorist activities" abetting and aiding the Liberation Tigers. The notice was signed by 'Tamil Alliance to Save Sri Lanka,' sources in Jaffna said.
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Muslim youth shot dead at Saambaltheevu

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 May 2007, 10:29 GMT]
A Muslim youth was shot dead Monday morning around 8:30 a.m. at Aaththimoaddai, a suburb in Saambaltheevu village along Trincomalee-Nilaave'li road by an unidentified armed person. The victim has been identified as Mohamed Azaath, 25, a native of Irrakakandy, a suburb in Nilaave'li.
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Norwegian Tamil reported missing in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 May 2007, 06:43 GMT]
A 31-year old Norwegian citizen of Tamil origin has been reported missing since March 31, after he was questioned by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Vavuniyaa. Sounthararajan Thambirajah who has lived in Norway for 13 years since 1993 had come to Sri Lanka last year to get married but was trapped in Ki'linochchi as violence broke out in August 2006. Mr. Sounthararajan crossed into the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) controlled territory at the end of March this year, a Norwegian daily reported Saturday.
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Security of Tamils, critical for reconciliation- Kajendran

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 May 2007, 15:25 GMT]
"Sri Lanka parliament cannot abdicate its responsibility from debating issues related to security of the Tamil people living in the Northeast. My statements Wednesday that generated much controversy were related to Tamils' basic issue of security," Selvarajah Kajendran, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Jaffna district, told TamilNet Sunday. Kajendran's statement welcoming the emergence of Tamileelam Air Force (TAF) as a threat-equalizer that can limit the incessant bombing campaigns of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on Northeast Tamils, created an uproar in Sri Lanka parliament Thursday.
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SLA fire injures youth in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 May 2007, 14:33 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers opened fire Sunday around 7:50 a.m on civilians fishing in a lake at Thampaanam Ve'li located along Chengkaladi-Badulla road in Batticaloa district, seriously wounding a youth from the refugee camp at Aiyangea'ni village in Ea'ravoor police division, sources in Batticaloa said. His father narrowly escaped injuries.
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Youth, Samurthi officer shot dead in Ampaa'rai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 May 2007, 14:26 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a youth at his house Sunday around 3:00 a.m at 3rd division in Ka'n'nakipuram in Akkaraipattu police division in Ampaa'rai district and in a similar shooting, unknown gunmen shot and killed a Samurthi officer at Nattpddimunai area in Kalmunai police division in Amparai district Friday around 8:00 p.m, sources in Kalmunai said.
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SLA cordons off, searches Kaithady

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 May 2007, 12:21 GMT]
More than 600 soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) cordoned off a large area in Kaithady and conducted house-to-house search Sunday starting early morning, sources in Jaffna said. Local residents were asked to remain inside the house while the search until the operation was completed.
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SLA imposes fuel quota in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 May 2007, 12:15 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has imposed restriction on the sale of fuel in Mannaar district. Fuel filling stations in Mannaar town have been ordered to sell a maximum of five litres of diesel to each vehicle and three litres of petrol to each motor bicycle for a day. Residents are allowed buy five litres of kerosene per day for their domestic purposes, sources said.
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Buddhist priest shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 May 2007, 12:09 GMT]
A Buddhist monk, who worked for peaceful coexistence among ethnic communities, was shot and killed by unidentified attackers Sunday morning around 9:30, Morawewa police sources said. Venerable Nandaratena Thera, Chief Priest of the Mahadiulwewa Buddhist Rajamaha Vihare in Morawewa division in Trincomalee district, has participated in events such as Pongu Tamil event in past in the east port town.
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Prison conditions prompt youths' release from protective custody

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 May 2007, 04:22 GMT]
Forty-five youths, placed in the protective custody in Jaffna prison for fear of death by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and the SLA-backed paramilitaries, were produced at Jaffna Magistrate Courts Thursday, and are to be released due deteriorating hygenic conditions in the prison premises, sources in Jaffna said. Magistrate R.T. Wicknarajah allowed 34 of them surety bail of a relative.
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Tiger air attack costs Shell 700,000 dollars

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 May 2007, 03:22 GMT]
The Sri Lankan unit of Royal Dutch Shell suffered damages of at least 700,000 dollars in an air attack by a Tamil Tiger aircraft last month, AFP quoted the company as saying Saturday. A second aircraft bombed an oil storage site scored a direct hit and destroying a storage tank holding heavy oil, officials told AFP.
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Allaippiddi case: Court denies request for forensic tests on bullets

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 May 2007, 02:08 GMT]
Kayts Magistrate, Jeyaraman Trotsky, disallowed Friday a petition by Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials investigating into the Allaipiddi killings to perform forensic tests and compare the bullets recovered from the bodies of the victims and those of the weapons used by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) troopers involved in the killings, legal sources in Kayts said.
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Batticaloa District IDPs to be resettled in June- GA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 May 2007, 00:15 GMT]
Civilians displaced from Paduvaankarai will be resettled starting from 14 June, Sundaram Arumainayagam, Batticaloa Government Agent (GA) said Saturday. A team headed by Mr.Arumainayagam after visiting Poara’theevu Saturday said that all prelimilinary activities for resettlement have been completed in schedule.
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US military sales to Sri Lanka up from $1.4m to $60.8m

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 May 2007, 18:08 GMT]
The Center for Defense Information (CDI), an independent think-tank based in Washington D.C which provides expert analysis on various components of U.S. national security, international security and defense policy, said in a report that Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Sri Lanka from US increased 40 fold, from $1.4m in 2006 to $60.8m in 2007.
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Hindu priests fear SLN, islets' temple activities at standstill

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 May 2007, 14:45 GMT]
Regular prayers and religious functions in Hindu Temples in Veala'nai in Kayts, and in Jaffna Islets in general, have come to a standstill following the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN's) killing of the main priest in one temple and the arrests of the chief priest and custodian of another temple in Veala'nai in last week of April and first week of May, sources in Jaffna said.
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Body with gunshot wounds found in Irupaalai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 May 2007, 14:15 GMT]
The body of a youth, estimated to be about 25 years old, was found along V.H Lane in Irupaalai East, Jaffna Saturday morning, sources in Jaffna said. The body had several gunshot wounds to the head and upper body, local residents who saw the body said. The youth was wearing a black trouser and brown shirt.
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SLAF MiGs drop 20 bombs in Puthukkudiyiruppu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 May 2007, 12:51 GMT]
Three MiG-27 fast attack aircrafts belonging to Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) dropped 12 bombs in two sorties one at 7:30 a.m. and another at 11:20 a.m Friday in Kaively Puthukkudiyiruppu area causing damages to civilian residences, sources in Mullaitheevu said. Two MiG-27s dropped eight bombs in the same area at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, according to residents in Kaively. Local residents trained on safety measures escaped injuries by taking refuge inside bunkers during the air-attacks, according to civil society sources in Kaively.
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Muslim mob attacks Tamil-owned gas station in Vaazhaichcheanai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 May 2007, 12:32 GMT]
A fuel station in Vaazhaichcheanai owned by a Tamil business man, located near the railway station in an area patrolled by SriLanka armed forces was attacked by a mob of more than 200 Muslims Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m soon after the noon prayer at Oddamaavadi Grand Mosque, sources in Batticaloa said. The damage to the fuel station located in a property owned by the businessman was estimated to be more than Rs.500,000.
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Court refuses bail for Tamil woman arrested for not registering

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 May 2007, 12:23 GMT]
The Colombo Chief Magistrate Friday ordered further remand till May 17 for a Jaffna Tamil woman who has been charged for the failure to register her name with the Wellawatte Police. She was produced in court Friday after 21 days in remand. The court made the order responding to the objection of Terrorist Intelligence Department (TID) that she should be remanded until the investigation against her is completed, legal sources said.
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SLA distributes death notice to Jaffna principals, students

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 May 2007, 11:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers Friday distributed notices listed with the name of Principals of leading schools in Jaffna town and some students, branding them as members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), University students said. The notices distributed near the Jaffna Campus warned the listed persons that they will be killed if they fail to give up "terrorist activities." The notice was signed by 'Tamil Alliance to Save Sri Lanka,' sources in Jaffna said.
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Disabled man abducted at Pa'ndaiththarippu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 May 2007, 11:39 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in a white van forcibly abducted a disabled family man Friday around 3:45 a.m at Kalaivaa'ni Road area in Pa'ndaiththarippu, according to complaint registered by his wife with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office. Meanwhile, an auto driver who disappeared on 4th May, after going to Kokkuvil Sri Lanka Army campy for interrogation, was released by the SLA after being severely tortured in detention at the SLA camp, according to his wife who reported the return of her husband to HRC in Jaffna.
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Court releases Jaffna Undergrad held for 9 months without charges

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 May 2007, 11:28 GMT]
Sivaraj Paheerathan, Jaffna university student kept in remand since his arrest on August 18 by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in a cordon and search operation was released by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Ms.Sarojini Kusala Weerawardene Friday following a report from the Attorney General (AG) in writing that there was no evidence to charge him under the Emergency Regulations or to detain him by the Defence Ministry under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), legal sources in Colombo said.
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Grenade attack injures 10 refugees in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 May 2007, 22:00 GMT]
An unidentified attacker threw a hand grenade Thursday night at 10:20 p.m. at a refugee camp located at Saratha Vidyalayam in Magnchaththoduvaay in Kaaththaankudi police division in Batticaola district, injuring ten civilians, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Archbishop of Canterbury accepts Colombo's military action

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 May 2007, 17:46 GMT]
The head of the Anglican Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has gone on record Friday as saying it was “inevitable” that Sri Lanka was launching “surgical military action against terrorism.” Archbishop Rowan Williams told the BBC Sinhala service, Sandeshaya, he hoped this action would lead to an opening of communication between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers. The Archbishop concluded a 3-day visit to Sri Lanka earlier this week.
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International hopes rest on Rajapakse’s war strategy - paper

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 May 2007, 12:49 GMT]
Solid international backing for President Mahinda Rajapakse’s militarist approach to the ethnic question has made all out war inevitable, the Tamil Guardian’s editorial said this week. Operating with a problem definition that blames the LTTE for the island’s conflict, rather than the oppressive Sri Lankan state, international actors are backing Colombo’s war, the paper said. “Every action by the Sri Lankan government is intended to foreclose the possibility of a peace process and strengthen the war effort. Yet the international response to has been one of total acquiescence. No Sri Lankan government has had it so good in this regard.”
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'No change' in US policy towards Sri Lanka - Boucher

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 May 2007, 11:48 GMT]
Concluding his visit to Sri Lanka, top US envoy Richard A. Boucher Thursday expressed concern about human rights abuses in the country backed President Rajapakse’s military campaign against the Liberation Tigers. Promising international assistance would help Sri Lanka “to face the threat of terrorism,” he called on Sinhala parties to forge a consensus and “show the Tamils they have a role in [Sri Lankan] society.” Saying “in all this we continue to view the situation with hope,” Mr. Boucher made clear: “I don’t see any immediate changes [in US policy toward Sri Lanka].”
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Building contractor shot dead in Vaazhaichcheanai

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 May 2007, 11:06 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a building contractor at his house Thursday around 9:00 p.m at Puthukkudiyruppu in Vaazhaichcheanai police division in Batticaloa district, sources in Vaazhaichcheanai said.
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5 bodies with gun shot wounds recovered in Kiraan

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 May 2007, 10:45 GMT]
The bodies of five youths, suspected to be paramilitaries belonging to breakaway faction of Karuna group, were recovered Wednesday afternoon around 5:00 p.m. buried in a wooded area three miles from Vairavan Temple road in the village of Kiraan, Earaavoor police said.
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JVP pressure led to expulsion, says Kajendran

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 May 2007, 01:32 GMT]
"Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament W.J.M.Lokubandara despite being advised by Chief Government Whip, Jeyraj Fernandopulle, that Parliament Standing Orders allow parliamentarians freedom to make comments, succumbed to the pressure exerted by the extremist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in expelling me from the parliament," Selvarajah Kajendran, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian told TamilNet speaking on his eviction from the Parliament Thursday for making comments on the air attack by the LTTE.
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80 abducted in 4 months in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 20:58 GMT]
According to Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) representatives, there were 20 abductions in January, 8 in February, 33 in March, and 19 in April have either been abducted or gone missing in the last 4 months of this year. 72 persons have sought protective custody in Jaffna prison through HRC Jaffna for fear of death, abduction by the SLA and armed groups, the HRC added.
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Fuel transport to Mannar resumes with police escort

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 20:19 GMT]
Anuradhapura-to-Mannar town fuel transport, suspended over the past ten days due to reluctant container drivers worried of increased attacks along Mannaar-Madawachchi road, resumed with escort provided by Cheddikulam police.
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Katunayaka Night Ban on civilian flights

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 20:11 GMT]
The ban on night flights to and from Katunayake international airport in Sri Lanka starts Thursday. No passenger aircrafts will be allowed to land or take off from Katunayake international airport between 10.30 pm. and 4 a.m., Civil Aviation Authority sources said.
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Two civilians shot dead in East

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 19:38 GMT]
Unidentified gun men shot and killed two civilians Wednesday in Periyakallaa'ru, Ka'luvaagnchikkudi in Batticalo district, and in Kolavallai, Amparai distict.
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India: Sri Lankan Navy attacking Tamil Nadu fishermen

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 12:11 GMT]
The Indian government said Wednesday that it “is aware that a number of fishermen from Tamil Nadu are being attacked and killed by Sri Lankan Navy.” In a written response to a query in Parliament, India’s Defence Minister, Shri AK Antony, noted: there have been incidents of firing on Indian fishing boats in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar area and recently slight increase in such incidents has been noticed.” The Defence Minister did not comment on recent accusations by Tamil Nadu Police that Tamil Tigers had also fired on fishermen.
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‘The gun is silencing the pen’ – Jaffna journalists

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 11:49 GMT]
Following the recent murder of another journalist in Jaffna by suspected Army-backed paramilitaries, the Journalists Union there has appealed to the international community to defend media freedom in Sri Lanka. Despite international media watchdogs’ disquiet over threats to Sri Lankan journalists, paramilitaries are openly threatening media workers and civil society activists in the northern peninsula, reporters say. The journalists appeal was supported this week by an appeal to the government signed by the Tamil Nationalist Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka’s largest Tamil party.
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Right to self-determination, Equal rights, key to solution, Bishop tells Boucher

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 11:07 GMT]
The Bishop of Jaffna, Rt.Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundranayagam, after meeting Ambassador Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Affairs, accompanied by US Ambassador in Colombo Robert O' Blake, Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m at the Jaffna Public Library, called upon the foreign countries to help find a solution to the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka. In a communiqué issued to the media Wednesday night, the Bishop pointed the out that the recent peace package proposed by Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) does not meet any of the reasonable aspiration of Tamils.
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SLAF bombardment disturbs schools in Mullaiththeevu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 09:19 GMT]
Primary school children in Mullaiththeevu and Vadamaraadchi districts in Vanni increasingly exhibit anxiety related psychological disorders, said a visiting consultant psychiastrist in the coastal town. On Thursday, two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) MIG fighter jets bombed Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaiththeevu district in Liberation Tigers controlled Vanni Thursday around 8:15 a.m.
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JVP MPs demonstrate outside British High Commission

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 07:02 GMT]
A group of JVP parliamentarians led by Wimal Weerawansa, the propaganda secretary, with hundreds of supporters and district organizers of Jathika Viumukithi Peramuna (JVP), demonstrated Wednesday afternoon outside the British High Commission in Colombo. The protest voiced opposition for interference by Britain and condemned the debate held in the House of Commons in London regarding the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, sources in Colombo said.
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Speaker expels TNA MP from Parliament session

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 06:14 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian, a former student leader from Jaffna, S. Gajendran, was expelled from the parliament session Thursday as his recent comments in the Sri Lankan House on air raids by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) drew strong protest from the JVP Parliamentarian, Wimal Weerawanse, who demanded the Speaker of the Parliament to invoke 6th amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution and expel Mr. Gajendran, stating that those supported the LTTE failed to honour the 6th amendment. Suresh Premachandran, a prominent TNA parliamentarian, has warned that the JVP-intiated move was a hidden motive to alienate Tamil representation in the Sri Lankan Parliament.
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Child Rights group acts to release LTTE under-age recruits

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 23:39 GMT]
Tamileelam Child Protection Board (TCPB), an authority empowered by the Liberation Tigers' Political Wing with the task of implementing Tamileelam Child Protection Act, has urgently requested the parents of children under 17 who had joined the LTTE and yet to be released, to contact the TCPB, in an announcement published Tuesday in Eezhanaatham, the Tamil daily circulated in LTTE controlled areas.
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Killing, abduction in Kanthalaay

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 21:16 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in unnumbered vehicles abducted a Tamil youth Wednesday afternoon, and in a separate incident, shot dead another Wednesday night in the Kanthalaay division.
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TNA MPs offer support for Jaffna abduction Boycott

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 16:39 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group in a statement issued to the press Tuesday night, said they would join the peninsula wide school boycott, if the four Jaffna district high schools students abducted by armed men Friday were not released before Wednesday.
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STF officer killed in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 12:47 GMT]
A Sub Inspector (SI) attached to the Vellaave'li camp of the Special Task Force (STF) was killed during an attack by unidentified armed men against the SFT troopers involved in security patrol in Vellaave'li area, in Batticaloa district, Wednesday early morning at 3:45 a.m., sources in Batticaloa said.
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Wickremasinghe to visit China

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 10:43 GMT]
Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) is to pay a four-day official visit to China commencing from May 11. A group of UNP parliamentarians will also accompany Mr.Wickremasinghe on an official invitation from the Chinese government, UNP headquarters said.
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UNP to launch "people's struggle"

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 10:38 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) is to launch a three-month long "people's struggle" Sri Lanka wide starting from Thursday, according to Mr.Tissa Attanayake, UNP general secretary and Kandy district organizer. Demonstrations, public meetings and religious observances of all faiths would be held in every district during the ninety-day campaign. The first public meeting under this programme is to be held in Gampola in the central province Thursday, Attanayake said.
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Five persons die in boiler explosion in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 10:32 GMT]
Five workers were killed and another four were injured when a boiler exploded in a rice mill in Saainthamaruthu in Kalmunai police division Wednesday morning around 1:20 a.m., sources in Kalmunai said. Three died on the spot and later two succumbed to burn injuries at Kalmunai Ashraff Memorial Hospital in Ampaarai district.
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Ambassador Boucher visits Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 10:15 GMT]
Ambassador Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Affairs, accompanied by US Ambassador in Colombo Robert O' Blake, arrived in Palaali in Jaffna district around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday by a special flight. Mr. Richard Boucher held discussion with the Sri Lanka army high officials in Palaali military headquarters and at 11:15 a.m. he met with the Jaffna Government Agent K.Ganesh at the latter's office located in the Jaffna district secretariat and discussed about the ground situation in the peninsula. Government officials also attended the discussion.
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Two Tamil youths abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 10:09 GMT]
In two separate incidents, unidentified men who came in white vans abducted two Tamil youths in Colombo city Tuesday night, according to complaints made by relatives at Wellawatte and Kotahena police stations, sources said. Both youths are natives of Jaffna.
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Swedish NGO conducts workshop for journalists in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 03:04 GMT]
Swedish FOJO International, engaged in developing journalism, along with Jaffna University Media Resource and Training Centre (MRTC), conducted a workshop for Jaffna peninsula journalists at Jaffna University, Tuesday. Acting vice Chancellor Prof. R. Kumaravadivel ceremonially started the event where FOJO International consultant Mr. Y. Henrik Grunnet was an honored guest.
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SLA threatens Jaffna media to censor news of student abductions

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 02:03 GMT]
"I strongly condemn the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) personnel intimidating the Jaffna media not to publish any news of the student agitation calling for the immediate release of the four students. This is a gross violation of the freedom of the press," S. Gajenthiran, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna parliamentarian said.
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UK, USA, assuming Policeman role in Sri Lankan affairs - Wimal Weerawanse

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 01:05 GMT]
"Britain and the USA have assumed the role of policemen in the affairs of Sri Lanka," the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) propaganda secretary, Wimal Weerawanse accused at an adjournment debate in Sri Lanka parliament Tuesday, parliamentary sources in Colombo said.
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2 civilians shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 00:02 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen killed two civilians in ka'luvaagnchikkudi and Ea’raavoor police divisions Monday night, sources in Batticaloa District said.
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Ambassador Boucher arrives in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 20:05 GMT]
Ambassador Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Affairs in the US government arrived in Colombo Tuesday afternoon around 3:00 p.m. on a three day visit to Sri Lanka. US embassy officials in Colombo received him at the Katunayake international airport.
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Youth shot dead in Va'ra'ni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 15:15 GMT]
Three unidentified men armed with T56 rifles forced their way e into the house of a youth along Kodikaamam-Point Pedro road at Yaththaalai, Va'ra'ni in Thenma'raadchi, and shot the youth dead at point blank range, Tuesday around 10:00 a.m.
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Civilian wounded in SLAF attack on Puthukkudiyiruppu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 14:48 GMT]
A mother of seven children was wounded when two Sri Lanka Air Force bombers attacked Kar'nankudiyiruppu in Puthukkudiyiruppu around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, medical sources in Puthukudiyiruppu said.
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LTTE, SLA clash in Vavuniya Mannar border

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 14:15 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Tuesday said they repulsed another Sri Lankan offensive in Vavuniyaa Mannaar border around 2:30 p.m. LTTE's field officials claimed to have recovered a dead body of a Sri Lankan trooper and military hardware including an AK-LMG after putting up stiff resistance against the SLA for 30 minutes. Two LTTE fighters were killed in action.
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Vavuniya police shoots dead youth

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 11:07 GMT]
Vavuniya Police said Tuesday that they have shot dead a youth alleged to be a member of the Liberation Tigers near Pa'ndaariku'lam Amman temple road in Vavuniya. Police said two youths opened fire at the police, and one was killed and the other escaped when the Police opened return fire.
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SL parliament to debate UK moves on ethnic conflict

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 10:58 GMT]
The Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is to move for a special debate in Sri Lanka's parliament on the appointment of an all-party committee by the House of Commons in United Kingdom to assist in finding a political solution to the island ethnic conflict, parliamentary sources in Colombo said. Earlier the JVP politburo issued a statement condemning the United Kingdom for interfering in Sri Lanka's internal affairs and undermining the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Moothoor

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 05:26 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a Tamil youth at Ma'natcheanai in the government held territory in Moothoor south division in Trincomalee district Monday night around 8:45 p.m., sources in Trincomalee said.
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Ea'raavoor shuts down protesting buring down of shops

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 02:21 GMT]
All Ea'raavoor business establishments, government schools, government offices, and banks shut down Monday demanding the arrest of the arsonists who burnt three shops early Sunday morning. Consortium of mosques, Muslim organizations, and Jamiyathul Ulama Board in the area organized the protest, according to sources in in Ea'raavoor.
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Student unrest in Jaffna following abductions

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 01:20 GMT]
Fear and unrest spread across the student community in Jaffna following the abduction of four high school students by armed men Friday, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna parliamentarians and Jaffna Technical College (JTC) students made a public appeal Monday calling for the immediate release of the four high school students, sources in Jaffna said.
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Jaffna University students boycott lectures

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 00:23 GMT]
Jaffna University students Monday boycotted lectures protesting against unlawful entry by armed men into the campus Saturday morning destroying memorial photographs of students killed in the conflict and stealing the funds raised by students to support the refugees in the east, student union officials said. The boycott will continue through Wednesday, according to student leaders.
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Bomb scare disrupts Colombo Municipal Council work

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 May 2007, 16:10 GMT]
Soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police personnel evacuated all employees of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), and conducted an extensive search of the premises after they received a tip off from an unidentified source that a bomb is about to detonate within the offices, sources in Colombo said.
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SLA soldiers search Thiriyaai village

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 May 2007, 16:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Monday morning conducted cordon and search operation in Thiriyaai, a traditional Tamil village located about 42 km off north of Trincomalee town along Trincomalee-Thennamaravaady road. The operation was launched following the attack on a group of SLA soldiers Sunday night in which one soldier sustained injuries.
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Armed men open fire on Udupiddi SLA camp

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 May 2007, 15:15 GMT]
Unidentified armed men opened fire on the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Udupiddi junction camp and its sentry posts, positioning themselves between Udpuiddi junction and the road to Vathiri in Vadam'raadchchi, Monday evening, blocking the road for public traffic, sources in Udupiddi said. The firefight lasted nearly fifteen minutes, and the attackers escaped after the exchange of fire.
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Two civilians abducted in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 May 2007, 11:31 GMT]
Two civilians, one from Sarasaalai in Thenmaradachy and the other from A'laveddy, were abducted in Jaffna district on Friday and Saturday according to complaints filed at the Jaffna offices of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), sources in Jaffna said.
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SLA cordons off, searches Kokuvil area

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 May 2007, 11:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off and search large residential areas in Kokuvil east Monday early morning, sources in Jaffna said. Potpathi road, Medical Faculty road, Ka'lngkarai Road, Railway Station Road, and Temple Road areas were subjected to house-to-house search.
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LTTE hands over 5 SLA bodies to ICRC

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 May 2007, 11:06 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) officials Monday around 1:30 p.m. handed over the bodies of five soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) killed in action during a SLA initiated offensive Sunday, to a delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC). The handing over event took place at Vaddakka'ndal where the LTTE Mannar (Mannaar) district political secretariat is located.
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Sri Lanka's Minister opposes DC system

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 May 2007, 10:40 GMT]
"The proposed District Council (DC) system by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would not help to solve the ethnic conflict. The quazi-federal constitution now in force in India would be ideal to find a lasting political solution to the conflict," Mr.Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, a senior minister and the chief whip of the SLFP in parliament told media persons.
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Dissidents to rejoin UNP?

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 May 2007, 10:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament is to meet Tuesday after Tamil-Sinhala New Year and Wesak celebrations amid speculation in political circles that some dissident parliamentarians of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) are expected to re-join the UNP. The dissidents are expected to cross over to the opposition side during the current session of the parliament, informed political sources in Colombo said.
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SLAF bombs fuel storage in Vanni

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 May 2007, 08:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers Monday morning dropped bombs over a fuel storage at Vaddakkachchi around 7:30, Liberation Tigers officials in Kiliniochchi said. The fuel storage, located 8 km east of Ki'linochchi, belonged to the Chamber of Commerce of Private Businesses in Kilinochchi, they said.
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Arson destroys 3 shops in Ea'raavoor

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 May 2007, 19:39 GMT]
Unidentified persons doused petrol and set fire to a hardware store located between Kaaddupa'l'li junction and Bus-stand junction, on Ea'raavoor Main Street in Batticaloa district Sunday 00:20 a.m, sources in Batticaloa said. Two shops adjoining the hardware store were also completely burnt. Damage is estimated to run into millions of rupees.
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Number of Jaffna students abducted Friday rises to four

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 May 2007, 15:35 GMT]
Jaffna offices of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) said Sunday that the number of students abducted by 'white van' armed men has increased to four. R. Ramanendran, 18, a Commerce student at the Jaffna Hindu College has also been reported as the fourth student forcibly abducted by armed men Friday night, HRC sources said citing complaints by Ramendran's parents. Earlier reports said two students from Jaffna Hindu College, and one from St. John's College were abducted.
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Gas shortage looming after LTTE air raid - paper

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 May 2007, 14:27 GMT]
Sri Lanka is facing an imminent gas shortage after last Saturday’s LTTE air raid as the bombs had scored a direct hit on the firefighting unit of the Kerawalapitiya storage complex of Shell Gas Lanka Ltd, forcing the company to shut down the facility, the Sunday Times reported. Shell is the biggest gas supplier in Sri Lanka with an 80 per cent share of the market. Market sources told the paper the other main supplier - and Shell’s arch rival - Laugfs Gas is unable to meet the immediate shortfall even if it steps up its refilling operations.
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Tigers repulse Sri Lankan offensive in Mannar, recover 5 SLA bodies

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 May 2007, 13:41 GMT]
Liberation Tigers recovered 5 dead bodies of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers as more than 300 SLA troopers who advanced into LTTE controlled area in Thampanai in Mannar (Mannaar) - Vavuniya border were repulsed after 10 hours of heavy fighting in the area, LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told media in Ki'linochchi.
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Trader shot dead, fisherman's body recovered in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 May 2007, 12:50 GMT]
Unidentified armed men waylaid a family man and shot him dead Sunday around 7:30 a.m near Aiyanaar temple, Vadaliadaippu area in pa'ndaitheruppu, Valigaamam, as he was returning home on his bicycle, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, Jaffna police handed over the remains of a fisherman, Sunday afternoon, recovered at Kaakkaitheevu, Aanaikkoaddai. .
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Sri Lanka buying advanced fighter jets from Russia - paper

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 May 2007, 11:50 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s air force is shortly to take delivery of five advanced fighter aircraft from Russia to counter the threat posed by the LTTE’s air wing, The Nation newspaper reported Sunday. In addition to buying the five MiG 29 interceptors, Sri Lanka is looking to upgrade its ground attack Kfirs to interceptor role by adding radars and missiles, the paper said.
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3 STF troopers killed, 4 injured in claymore attack, in Kokkaddichcholai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 May 2007, 10:32 GMT]
Unidentified persons triggered a claymore device Sunday around 10:00 a.m at Kokkaddichcholai in Batticaloa, killing three Special Task Force (STF) troopers and injuring four. The injured troopers were rushed to Batticaloa Teaching hospital. The STF took over the bodies of the troopers killed in the attack.
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SLA assault repulsed in Vavuniya - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 May 2007, 05:51 GMT]
A group of Sri Lanka Army soldiers who attempted to move towards Naavatku'lam in Liberation Tigers controlled territory in Vavuniya Mannar border Sunday morning were repulsed and 2 SLA soldiers were killed, LTTE's military spokesman told media. On Saturday, five days after the Tigers shot down a Sri Lankan jet fighter, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) attacked Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaiththeevu district. Meanwhile, 3 Sea Tigers were killed in action Friday night, when a sea-fight broke off Pulmoaddai in the north-east coast. Both the LTTE and the Sri Lanka Navy claimed to have inflicted heavy damage on the other in the clash off Pulmoaddai seas.
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Swiss Tamil children hone language, religion skills

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 May 2007, 04:02 GMT]
3858 Tamil children sat for proficiency tests in Tamil and religion in forty two test centers in 17 of the 23 cantons in Switzerland Saturday conducted by the Swiss Tamil Educational Service (TES), a volunteer organization administered by expatriate Tamils, sources in Switzerland said. The examinations are being conducted for the 13th consecutive year, according to TES officials.
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3 High School students abducted in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 May 2007, 15:28 GMT]
Three students studying advanced level in two prominent high schools in Jaffna were forcibly abducted Friday night from their homes by armed men arriving in white vans, according to complaints filed by the parents of the students with the Jaffna Human Rights Commission offices. Two are students at Jaffna Hindu College and the third student attends St.John's College.
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SLFP proposals, an outrageous offer, says Edirisinha

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 May 2007, 12:02 GMT]
Deriding the claim that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) proposals pave the way for a "lasting and honourable solution to the ethnic issue," Dr.Rohan Edirisinha, head of the Legal and Constitutional Unit of the Colombo-based think-tank Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), says in an opinion column in Saturday issue of daily mirror that the proposals go back to the failed district council proposals of the 1980s and "are potentially dangerous for democracy, good governance and the existence of independent institutions," and "demonstrates that those responsible for the proposals are completely out of touch with the realities of constitutional reform for conflict resolution."
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Armed men in civil, force entry, search Jaffna Campus

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 May 2007, 06:41 GMT]
A gang of more than ten armed men in civil clothes, forcibly entered and searched Jaffna University (JU) campus, holding the security officer at gun point, Saturday around 1:00 a.m, sources in Jaffna said. The security officer was severely beaten and held by some of the armed men at gun point while the others searched the campus area for several hours.
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TamilNet Transcription: automation for trial

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 May 2007, 04:07 GMT]
Readers are requested to refer to our transcription system launched last week. Here is an automation trial to convert the Tamil text into Roman characters and vice versa. Try and comment to us. It is restricted to 200 characters at present. A full version for the use of our readers will be presented shortly.
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LTTE hands over two SLA bodies to ICRC

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 May 2007, 17:58 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Liason officer for the NGOs, Thiyagarajah, Friday morning at 10:00 a.m., handed over the bodies of two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers to Maurizio Geremila, Acting Head of Sub Delegation of ICRC, at the secretariat for Non Governmental Organizations (NGO), sources in Kilinochchi said.
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2 Karuna cadres, auto driver shot, injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 May 2007, 11:33 GMT]
Two members of Karuna group in an internal strife were shot and injured Thursday around 6:35 p.m at the Karuna Camp located near Toddy Tavern junction on Muhaththuvaaram Road in Batticaloa police division. Meanwhile, an auto rickshaw driver passing by close to the camp was caught in the cross fire and was injured, sources in Batticaloa said.
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35 civilians arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 May 2007, 11:29 GMT]
Sri Lankan armed forces Thursday and Friday arrested thirty-five civilians, majority of them Tamils, in cordon and search operations conducted in Wellawatte, and Vaalaithoddam in Colombo city. Five have been remanded on the orders of the Colombo Magistrate and the others are detained in police station and are being interrogated, police sources said.
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Tamil Journalists launch protest in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 May 2007, 08:45 GMT]
"Tamil journalists in Jaffna are hunted down and shot dead with impunity. So far six Tamil journalists had lost their lives for writing about and exposing the misdeeds of those in power," the press release of North Ceylon Journalists Association (NCJA) Thursday said. NCJA observed the World Press Freedom Day by launching a token demonstration programme protesting against the violence unleashed on the journalists of NorthEast and demanding the freedom to write.
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Police powers to military threatens democracy - NPC

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 May 2007, 06:16 GMT]
Colombo based National Peace Council, a peace group, Friday said it was "extremely concerned," about SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa's decision, a month ago, about delegating police powers to the military. "There is an urgent need for the government to demonstrate clear political will in regard to law and order processes if it is to retain the confidence of the civilian population that it is not taking the country on a journey to anarchy and to the breakdown of democratic governance," the NPC said. The group said it was apprehensive that this government decision will send wrong signals and lead to an aggravation of the hardships faced by the civilian population.
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Muslim teacher arrested with weapons in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 May 2007, 05:41 GMT]
Thampalakaamam Police arrested a Muslim teacher Monday night after recovering a hand grenade and a T 56 rifle magazine with 27 live- bullets, hidden in the roof of his house at Mullippoththaanai, along Thampalakaamam - Kanthalaai road in Trincomalee. The police searched the teacher's house from a tip-off, police sources said. He is currently being detained at the Thampalakaamam police station.
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UK lawmakers urge LTTE de-proscription

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 May 2007, 23:47 GMT]
Amid signs of greater British involvement in efforts to end Sri Lanka’s conflict, the UK government was this week urged by ruling and opposition lawmakers to lift the ban on the Liberation Tigers in the interests of a negotiated solution. At a landmark debate on Sri Lanka’s conflict in the British Parliament on Wednesday, leaders of a newly formed all party group representing the interests of the island’s Tamils urged the Blair government to lift the ban on the LTTE and also called for LTTE political leaders to be allowed to address the British parliament to better understand their views.
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Katunayake international airport to be shut down at night

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 May 2007, 19:36 GMT]
The Katunayake International Airport, the main airport in the island is to be shut down for civilian air traffic during nights between 10.30 p.m. till 4:30 am from May 10, according to Sri Lanka's civil aviation sources. The restriction is being instituted as a temporary security measure and no passenger planes will be allowed to land or leave between these hours
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UK arms sales to Sri Lanka match tsunami aid

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 May 2007, 16:45 GMT]
Britain licensed £7 million worth of weapons and military equipment for export to Sri Lanka this year alone, it was revealed during a debate in Parliament Wednesday. The sum matches the amount of British aid provided in the wake of December 2004 tsunami. On Thursday the UK government said it was holding back half its £3 million annual aid allocation for this year citing British concerns over human rights in Sri Lanka.
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Two youths shot dead in Veala'nai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 May 2007, 10:43 GMT]
Two youths on their way to the temple for prayers were gundown by unidentified men riding in a motorbike Wednesday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. in 4th district in Veala'nai east in Jaffna Islets, sources in Jaffna said.
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1 Police, 3 civilians killed in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 May 2007, 10:16 GMT]
One Sri Lanka Police constable was killed when unknown gunmen fired at the sentry point in Pampaimadu in Vavuniya Thursday morning Vavuniya police said. The gunmen escaped amid hail of return fire by the police said. Meanwhile, three bodies of civilians were recovered in two sites in Vavuniya Thursday morning, sources said.
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SLA offensive thwarted, bodies captured - LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 May 2007, 09:26 GMT]
Liberation Tigers have repulsed a fresh offensive by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Vavuniya Mannar border Thursday morning, LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told media in Kilinochchi. 2 dead bodies of SLA soldiers were captured with arms and ammunition by the Tigers when the SLA offensive towards Paalmpiddi by more than 300 SLA troopers was thwarted, Mr. Ilanthirayan said. A Tiger fighter was killed in action.
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Home guard shot, killed in Ea'raavoor

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 May 2007, 02:31 GMT]
Unidentified armed men opened fire on a police jeep Wednesday around 11:15 a.m at Punnaikudaa in Ea'ravoor police division in Batticaloa district, killing a home guard who drove the jeep to the service station at first mile post.
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SLN arrests 5 including temple priest in Veala'nai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 May 2007, 00:49 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers arrested the chief priest and the Temple Trustee Board Chairman of Perunkulam Muththumaariamman Hindu temple at Veala'nai in Kayts Wednesday around 10:00 a.m along with three workers, when the temple authorities informed the SLN of explosives found in the temple building site, sources in Kayts said.
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Body with gunshot wounds found in Thenmaraadchchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 20:52 GMT]
Kodikaamam police recovered the body of a male, estimated between 35 to 40, with gunshot wounds in Kottiyaathoo cemetery in Chanthirapuram, Madduvil in Thenmaraadchchi Wednesday, sources in Thenmaraadchy said. The police handed over the body to Jaffna Teaching hospital.
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2 SLA troopers injured in claymore blast in Vadamaraadchchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 19:00 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers were injured Wednesday around 9:15 a.m, when a claymore device hidden in an empty building along Vathiri-Udupiddi road in Navindil, Karaveddy in Vadamaraadchchi, exploded when the troopers tried to remove the device, sources in Vadmaraadchchi said. One of the troopers is seriously injured while the other sustained minor injuries.
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France suspends TTN broadcast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 15:46 GMT]
France based GlobeCast, a satellite TV and radio channel distribution company, has stopped relaying Tamil Television Network (TTN), a Tamil diaspora Television, Wednesday evening, after receiving instructions from the French broadcasting authority, TTN officials in Paris told media.
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Australia arrests will jeopardize humanitarian help- AFTA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 11:55 GMT]
The recent arrests in Australia of Tamil activists on allegations of misdirecting of funds for the LTTE, "could jeopardize the humanitarian projects funded by the Australian Tamil community and NGOs that assist over 500,000 internally displaced Tamil civilians in the Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. Denial of this assistance to the needy would only help the Sri Lankan government in their attempt to “beat the Tamil people in Sri Lanka into submission,"" the Australasian Federation Of Tamil Associations (AFTA) said in a press release issued Wednesday.
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Swiss Tamils May day rally highlights State opression in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 11:33 GMT]
Hundreds of Swiss Tamils participated in the May day rally held in Zurich, starting at the Central platz near the Main railway station and ending in Helvetia platz, sources in Switzerland said. Tamils joined the multi-national labor organizations, and liberation groups in the rally.
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Tamils hold May day rally in Paris

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 11:03 GMT]
Thousands of Tamils participated in the May day rally held in Paris Tuesday starting in Republique and ending in Nation area, sources in Paris said. Participants distributed leaflets urging the French to recognize Tamils right to self-determination, carried photographs of the leader of Liberation Tigers, Velupillai Pirapaharan, and shouted slogans in support of Tamileelam during the procession.
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Mannar PTA case detainee files bail application

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 10:53 GMT]
A bail application has been filed in the Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal seeking the release of Sebastiampillai Vethanayagam, 40, a minor employee of the Murungkan government hospital in Mannar district on bail. Vethanayagam is currently detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) since his arrest on October 5 last year by the Murungkan Police, legal sources said.
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May Day observed in Vanni

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 10:41 GMT]
Hundreds of residents of different parts of Vanni participated in the May Day events held Tuesday in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts, sources in Kilinochchi said. Three separate regional events were held in Kilinochchi district, and the event in Kilinochchi town was held in the Kilinochci Co-operative Hall at 10:00 a.m.
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Tamil civilian shot dead in Moothoor

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 10:38 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a fifty-eight year-old civilian at Menkaamam, a Tamil village in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled territory in Moothoor south division in Trincomalee district Tuesday night, Moothoor police sources said.
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Two Tamils arrested in Puttalam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 May 2007, 16:11 GMT]
Sri Lanka Government armed forces Tuesday arrested two Tamil civilians in Puttalam area during the cordon and search operation, sources in Puttalam said. The two had failed to prove their identity and the reason for their stay in the location, police sources said.
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3 Tamil IDPs shot dead in Ea'raavoor

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 May 2007, 09:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers lying in ambush along a lake at Siththaa'ndi in Ea'raavoor police division in Batticaloa district shot dead three Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) including a woman, who had gone Sunday to check their cultivation.
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SLA shoots dead mentally-ill youth in Palaali

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 May 2007, 09:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers shot dead a youth Sunday night at Senthaankulam SLA Front Defence Line (FDL) area, within Palaali High Security Zone (HSZ), according to statement given during inquest into death conducted by Mallaaham Magistrate Ms. Sarojini Illankovan, Monday.
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MP urges Media watchdogs to highlight Tamil journalists plight

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 May 2007, 04:47 GMT]
The killing of Jaffna based young Tamil journalist, Selvarajah Rajivarman, shows us clearly that the lives of journalists working in Sri Lanka, especially in Northeast, are in imminent danger. The international media watchdogs should pay special attention to the safety of Tamil journalists, S. Jeyananthamoorthy, one time journalist and a Member of Parliament representing Batticaloa district said in a press communique released Monday.
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RSF condemns murder of Jaffna journalist

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 May 2007, 01:12 GMT]
Reporters Without Borders (RSF - Reporters Sans Frontiers) the French based Journalist organization condemned the killing of young journalist, Selvarajah Rajivarman, who was killed in Jaffna Sunday by a lone gunman riding a motorbike.
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2 shot, killed in Thenmaraadchchi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 May 2007, 00:47 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a youth Monday morning at Dutch Road area in Meesaalai in Themaraadchchi, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, unknown gunmen shot and killed a trader in a commercial establishment Sunday at Manthuvil in Thenmaraadchchi, the sources added.
Full story >>