SLA Mannaar advance defeated, one body recovered - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 18:07 GMT]
Liberation Tigers offered stiff resistance against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), defeating the SLA attempt Friday around 6:40 a.m, to advance from Vi'laathiku'lam in Mannaar district into LTTE territory, according to LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan. The body of an SLA trooper and weapons left behind have been recovered by the LTTE, Ilanthirayan said.
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Armed group sets fire to shops in Vaahzhaicheanai

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 17:56 GMT]
An unidentified armed group set fire to two shops and two store rooms in Thiyaavedduvaan area in Vaahzaicheanai police division in Batticaoa district Thursday night, Vaahzaicheanai police said. The four buildings were completely destroyed.
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Unidentified male body interred in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 17:53 GMT]
Batticaloa acting magistrate Mr. S. Chinnaiah directed Friday Batticaloa police to inter the body of a male recovered with gunshot wounds Monday at Paalameenmadu, Mukaththuvaaram area in a jungle behind Murukan Koayil (temple) in Batticaloa police division, at state expense. Police, Special Task Force (STF) and Karuna group camps are located in Paalameenmadu area where the police recovered the body, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Tamil woman abducted in Aalankerni

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 17:49 GMT]
A Tamil woman was abducted by unidentified armed men who came in a white van at Aalankerni, a traditional Tamil village in Kinniya division in Trincomalee district, Wednesday morning around 7.30 a.m.
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Census in East after civilian displacement

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 13:02 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian blamed the Government of Sri Lanka Thursday, for conducting a census in Batticaloa district after Tamil people were driven out of the district due to the military offensives, said R. Sampanthan, MP, the Parliamentary Group Leader of TNA, Batticaloa district members of Parliament, T. Kanagasabai, S. Jeyananthamoorthy, Miss. K. Thangeswary and P. Ariyaneththiran, Amparai district MP, K. Pathmanathan and Jaffna district MP Suresh Premachchandran, in a joint press communiqué issued Thursday.
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Tamil trader shot dead in Kanthalaai

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 12:09 GMT]
A Tamil trader was shot dead by unidentified men at Kanthalaai, located about 39 km off Trincomalee town along Trincomalee Kandy highway on Wednesday night around 8.30 p.m. inside his shop. The armed men entered his shop located along Janatha Mawatte, dragged him out and fired at him. The attackers then drove off in a white colored van.
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3 youths abducted in Mannaar town

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 11:27 GMT]
Two Muslims and a Tamil man were abducted by unidentified armed men who came in a white coloured van Friday at 12:00 noon in bazaar area in Mannaar town. Two of them were auto-rickshaw drivesrs and were were abducted near a bus-stop, and the third, an employee at a shop, was abducted from his business premises.
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Young trader shot dead in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 08:25 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen on motorcycle followed a young trader riding bicycle and shot him dead Friday around 7:00 a.m, in Manthuvil area in Thenmaraadchi.
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Batticaloa farmers want SLA to vacate occupied Agrarian Service Centers

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 07:12 GMT]
During a high-level District Development Council meeting Saturday, chaired by Amir Ali, MP, Minister of Disaster Management, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) declined to remove the army camps currently set up in the Agrarian Service Centers in Karadiyanaa'ru, Ma'ndapaththadi and Vaakarai, citing security reasons. The representatives of the Agrarian Societies had asked the SLA to relocate the camps saying that more than 11,000 farmers are affected by the camps.
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RSF urges EU, US to help protect Sri Lanka journalist

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 06:58 GMT]
Reporters sans frontiers (RSF) in a press release issued Wednesday urged European and US Embassies to do their utmost to protect Iqbal Athas, investigative journalist of the Sunday Times weekly in Sri Lanka, who had gone into hiding for fear of his life after he published an article, revealing corruptions Sri Lanka State's purchase of Mig-fighter jets from Ukraine. Athas finds himself the target of some members of the government and the army and Sri Lanka's President should order the speedy restoration of Iqbal Athas' security, RSF further said in the press release.
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Family man seeks protection with Jaffna HRC

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 August 2007, 13:32 GMT]
A young family man who had been shot and seriously injured 18 August sought protection with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Thursday, being again threatened to death, allegedly by armed paramilitary members collaborating with Sri Lanka Army (SLA). The family man was placed in the protective custody of Jaffna prison through the Jaffna Courts.
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2 EPDP members shot dead in Ea'raavoor

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 August 2007, 12:57 GMT]
Unidentified armed men on bicycle shot dead two members of Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), using pistols, Thursday around 3:25 p.m at Aiyangkearni in Ea'raavoor police division in Batticaloa district, IPS Kirigala of Ea'raavoor police said. The victims were riding on a motorcycle when the killers follwed and gunned them down.
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SLA orders special IDs to Jaffna residents

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 August 2007, 06:58 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Military Command for Jaffna based in Palaali has instructed all the residents of the Peninsula, above the age of ten, to obtain a special identity card issued by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) before 12 September, according to a press communiqué released on Wednesday.
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LTTE areas in Mannaar come under SLA artillery fire

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 August 2007, 02:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army Wednesday evening around 4:00 p.m. launched artillery attack from Thallaady base and Senath bar base on areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the Mannaar district.
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Veerapuram residents threatened by Sinhalese Mob

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 August 2007, 00:47 GMT]
Tamil civilians in the neighbouring village of Veerapuram have received death threats from a group of Sinhalese after the shooting death of four home guards and a bus driver in U'lukku'lam in Vavuniyaa on 20 August by unidentified gunmen, sources said. The group has vowed to kill three times the number killed in U'lukku'lam in Vavuniyaa.
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Youth shot dead in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 August 2007, 16:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops shot dead a youth riding his bicycle at Thikkam area in Vadamaraadchi Wednesday morning, sources in Point Pedro said. Due to SLA's cordon and search operation in the area from Wednesday morning details about the youth are not available. Point Pedro Base hospital sources said though they have not received the body of the youth, they were informed of the incident.
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Artillery duel in northern FDLs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 August 2007, 16:45 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) exchanged heavy artillery fire in Naakarkoayil and Mukamaalai Front Defence Lines (FDL) positions in the north from Tuesday 2:30 p.m, continuing into the night, residents of the areas said. SLA confirmed the exchange of fire, but did not release information on casualties or damages.
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LTTE helps Padakuththu'rai bombing victim

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 August 2007, 10:33 GMT]
S.Thangan, Deputy Head of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam (LTTE) political wing, gave a Tamil Eelam Certificate of deposit for Rs.100,000 to the six year old boy who lost his right leg during 02 January attack by Kfir fast attack aircrafts of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in Padakuththu'rai Tuesday morning. The event was held at the child's home in Kumizhamunai, Naachchikkudaa, Poonakari. The financial assistance for the child was provided from LTTE leader, Velupillai Pirapaharan’s Trust Fund.
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Cost of new ID cards to be borne by Jaffna residents

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 August 2007, 03:08 GMT]
People's Committee for Justice, Peace and Goodwill (PCJPG), the Federation of NGOs and the Human Rights Commission (HRC), in Jaffna have requested the High Commands of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) 51-2 Brigade in Jaffna to bear the cost of the Special Identity Cards (SID), that the SLA has ordered all the residents of the peninsula above the age of ten.
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Moothoor, Champoor IDPs being forcibly resettled­ - MP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 18:06 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is taking hurried, ill co-ordinated steps to force Internally Displaced people (IDPs) from Moothoor and Champoor to resettle in other areas, K. Thurairatnasingham, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Trincomalee district told media Tuesday.
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3 drown in Batticaloa boat accident

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 15:28 GMT]
Three persons including a girl drowned, and five others injured when their boat capsized Tuesday around 4:00 p.m in the Ku'rma'nve'li River in Batticaloa district when returning after attending temple festival in Ma'ndoor, Ka'luvagnchikkudi police said.
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Male body with gunshot injuries found in Vellaave'li

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 11:00 GMT]
Residents of Vellaave'li area in Batticaloa district found the body of a male with gunshot injuries to the head and chest Tuesday around 8:00 a.m, Ka'luvangchikudi police said.
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Cultural Triangle project to restore Buddhist shrines in east

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 10:57 GMT]
A cultural triangle project is to be launched to restore all Buddhist shrines in the districts of Ampaa'rai and Trincomalee by the Sri Lanka's Cultural Ministry. According to the proposed project Digavapi in Amparai district, and Thiriyaai Girihandu Seya Vihare in Trincomalee district are to be restored under the first phase, ministry sources said.
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Tamil boy, girl arrested in Anuradhapura

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 10:55 GMT]
A Tamil youth and a girl were arrested Tuesday morning near Anuradhapura railway station by the police and handed over to the Terrorist Intelligence Division for interrogation. Tamil youth is a resident of Vavuniya and the girl from Mullaiththeevu, police sources said.
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Etihad says Colombo no longer profitable destination

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 09:06 GMT]
Citing the non profitability of the Sri Lankan market in terms of passenger growth, Etihad Airway’s, Monday announced plans to code share with local carrier SriLankan Airlines, the Daily Mirror reported Tuesday. The airline will be suspending their operations to Colombo from September 15. The airline’s Regional General Manager Asia Pacific Charles Phelps-Penry told journalists in Colombo that they had changed plans for Colombo due to the non profitability of the carrier flying into the capital inspite of a load factor of 75%-80%.
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220 Tamils in Boosa detention camp

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 09:01 GMT]
About 220 Tamils, men and women are being still detained in the Boosa detention camp in the Galle town in the southern province under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). A Tamil woman of Dematagoda in Colombo city was released Sunday after 86 days in Boosa detention centre without any charge.
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Armed men abduct youth in Meesaalai, two men missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 07:27 GMT]
Unidentified armed men forcibly abducted a youth Saturday from his house at Meesaalai north in Thenmaraadchi according to a complaint filed by the family members of the youth with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Monday.
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11,000 IDP Tamil families in Batticaloa still in temporary huts

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 05:04 GMT]
About 42,595 members of 11,528 displaced Tamil families from the districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa have been staying in 41 temporary shelters and with their relatives in Batticaloa. These IDPs include displaced from Chenkalady area from Batticaloa district and Eachchilampathu division in Trincomalee district, civil society sources said.
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STF ambushes released underage youth en route to parents - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 02:46 GMT]
Fourteen underage youths, 9 boys and 5 girls, who were being taken to be handed over to their parents in Amparai district by the political division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) and the members of the Child Protection Authority (CPA), dispatched from Vanni to ensure the release, were ambushed by the Special Task Force (STF) commandos at Thaa'ndiyadi in Amparai district Monday around 6:00 p.m. The underage youths were being taken to a civilian populated area in accordance with an arrangement for handover reached between the LTTE and the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, LTTE District Political Head of Ampaa'rai, P. Kavaiyarasan told TamilNet.
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Body of youth found in Mannaar cemetery

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 00:48 GMT]
The body of an unidentified youth was found lying in the general cemetery in Mannaar town Monday afternoon around 1.30 p.m.. local residents who witnessed the body said. Mannaar Divisional Secretary Ms Stanley de Mel was informed of the site of the body, and she intimated the information to the Mannaar police.
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SLA, Tigers clash in Vavuniyaa-Mannaar border

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 August 2007, 17:29 GMT]
At least 3 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and five wounded in a fresh offensive lauched by the SLA towards Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Paalamoaddai in Vavuniyaa Mannaar border Monday around 4:00 p.m., LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told media in Ki'linochchi.
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Uduppiddi youth surrenders at HRC following abduction attempt

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 August 2007, 11:07 GMT]
A 19-year-old youth from Uduppiddi in Vadamaraadchy surrendered at the Jaffna offices of the Human Rights Commission, after armed men in a white van attempted to abduct him Monday, sources in Jaffna said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Serunuwara

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 August 2007, 17:38 GMT]
A Tamil youth was shot dead by a fellow passenger when he was travelling in a bus from Serunuwara to Neelapola junction in Trincomalee district Sunday morning. The attacker is said to be a member of an armed group, civil society sources said.
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Sri Lankan military desecrates war cemeteries in Batticaloa - TNA parliamentarian

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 August 2007, 07:03 GMT]
Tamils returning to their villages after months in refugee camps in Batticaloa were frustrated to find out that the cemeteries of their LTTE war dead sons and daughters have vanished without any trace, said Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian P. Ariyanenthiran. Sri Lankan military has recently bulldozed and desecrated Tiger War Heroes Cemeteries in the district. The destruction of the largest war heroes' cemetery in Tharavai in Vadamunai region and the next largest cemetery at Thaa'ndiyadi in the western hinterland of the district "not only mark the SL forces' continued disrespect of the norms of the civlized world, but also reveal a colonization agenda in the near future," he charged.
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SLA issues special ID cards to Jaffna residents

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 August 2007, 21:10 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has again begun issuing special Identity cards (ID) to residents within the Jaffna Municipal Council limits, and those staying close to the SLA 51-2 Brigade Head Quarters are to be issued new ID cards beginning Sunday, a top military official announced in a communiqué issued to the local media. The ID cards will be continued to be issued to other parts of the Municipal area until September 8th.
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Farmer shot dead in Vara'ni, Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 August 2007, 10:30 GMT]
A 35-year old farmer was shot dead in Vara'ni, Yakkaalai area in Thenmaraadchi at 11:00 a.m. Saturday by two unknown armed men, sources in Thenmaraadchi said. The attackers went to the victim's house, called the victim to come out of the house and shot him at point blank range before escaping the site.
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Oamanthai checkpoint to open five days

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2007, 21:15 GMT]
International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Kil'inochchi residential representative Katya Lawrence had informed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) administration that the entry/exit point between LTTE controlled Vanni and GoSL controlled Vavuniyaa town will be open for public for five days in a week, according to LTTE's NGO and U. N. Liaison Officer M. Pavarasan. Public will be able to use the gateway to Vanni from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m, Monday to Friday, weekly.
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2 Batticaloa youths abducted in Negombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2007, 16:18 GMT]
Two Tamil youths, residents of Periyapouratheivu in Batticaloa district, have been reported missing since July 22 while staying with their relatives in Negombo, according to complaints lodged by their relatives with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), Civil Monitoring Committee (CMC), Human Rights Home and International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).
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Court releases two PTA detainees

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2007, 13:24 GMT]
Colombo magistrate court Thursday ordered the release of two Tamils who were taken into custody by the Grandpass Police on July 26 on information that they were in possession of transport permit issued by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The Additional Magistrate Mr.Ajit Anaviratne made the order on a report by the police that there was no evidence to implicate the suspects Sellathurai Kanthasamy, 64, and M.Selvarajah, driver and cleaner with any offence under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), legal sources said.
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SLA orders owners to register bicyles in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2007, 11:52 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has announced that all bicycles in Jaffna have to be registered at the closeby SLA camps, sources in Jaffna said. SLA brigades in different regions have published the details using different media outlets
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Day-laborer disappears in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2007, 11:46 GMT]
A day-laborer from Thumpalai, Point Pedro has disappeared from last Tuesday after he left home for his daily labor work, his mother said in a complaint filed at the Jaffna offices of the Human Rights Commission, civil sources in Jaffna said.
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Two youths injured in SLA vehicle accident in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2007, 11:38 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) military vehicle travelling at high speed along civilian populated area in Chunnaakam, Valikaamam, hit and seriously injured two youths along KKS Road Friday morning, sources in Jaffna said.
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"Jaffna's media in the grip of terror"

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2007, 11:21 GMT]
Reporters Without Borders and International Media Support, two members of the international press freedom mission to Sri Lanka, that carried out a joint fact-finding mission in June, said in a report released Friday that "Murders, kidnappings, threats and censorship have made Jaffna one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists to work. At least seven media workers, including two journalists, have been killed there since May 2006."
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LTTE urges ICRC to restore opening days of Vavuniya entry point

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2007, 06:52 GMT]
Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Thursday discussed the operation of the only entry/exit point between the LTTE controlled Vanni and GoSL controlled Vavuniya town. LTTE officials said they had asked the ICRC to keep the Oamanthai checkpoint open for seven days a week to enable the people of Vanni to get provisions and other commodities uninterrupted.
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Male body recovered in Kayts

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2007, 06:47 GMT]
Relatives searching for a missing person found him dead in Thulaavil Ku'lam (pond) in Kayts (Oorkaavatthu'rai) Thursday evening, with stones tied to the body to keep it submerged in the water.
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Armed men abduct Tamil youth in Thampalakaamam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 18:08 GMT]
Unidentified armed men abducted a Tamil youth Thursday morning at Ka'l'limeadu in Thampalakaamam village in Trincomalee district, according to a complaint lodged with the Trincomalee Human Rights Commission (HRC) Regional Office.
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Court releases PTA-charged priest, trustee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 18:02 GMT]
The Colombo Chief Magistrate Thursday ordered the release of Brammasri Sivaramalinga Kurukal Manohara Kurukal, chief priest of Kayts Muthumaariamman Temple and a trustee Mr. Nadarajah Sivarajah on a report of the Sri Lankan Attorney General that there was no evidence to implicate both under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
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Paramilitary groups clash in Trincomalee, 1 killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 16:46 GMT]
A paramilitary person of Karuna Group was killed and another wounded when two rival factions of the paramilitary group clashed Thursday around 2:15 p.m at Chaampaltheevu, located 8 km north of Trincomalee city.
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2 STF troopers injured in Kangchikudichchaa'ru mine explosion

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 13:19 GMT]
Two troops of the Sri Lanka Task Force (STF) unit infiltrating into Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held territory in Kangchikudichchaa'ru area in Ampaa'rai district Wednesday evening, were seriously injured when a pressure mine exploded and were admitted to the Ampaa'rai District Hospital, Ampaa'rai police said.
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Nalloor devotee attendance affected by curfew hours

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 11:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna announced a half hour cut in the curfew hours, only in the Nalloor Divisional Secretariat area, in response to requests made by Chaiva devotees to relax the SLA imposed curfew on the entire Jaffna peninsula, enabling them to attend annual Nalloor Kanthasaamy Koayil festivals. According to SLA the normal curfew hours starting from 7:00 p.m to 4:30 a.m will remain unchanged in Jaffna peninsula except in Nalloor Divisional Secretariat area where the curfew period will be from 7:30 p.m to 4:30 a.m, during the current temple festival.
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Muslim fisherman body recovered in Naachikudaa Sea

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 11:08 GMT]
The body of a Muslim fisherman reported missing with his boat in Pe'saalai Sea on Sunday was found floating in Naachikudaa sea Wednesday. A group of fishermen Thursday went to Naachikudaa and brought the body to the Mannaar general hospital. The victim has been identified as 38 year-old Mohamed Silmi, a father of four children, fisheries sources said.
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Navy increases coastal surveillance in Mannar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 10:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has increased its surveillance along the coastal villages from Talaimannaar to Pe'saalaiin Mannaar district for the last one week. Naval personnel are subjecting every boat and canoe to thorough search, civil sources said. SLN sources said they have received information that large consignment of fuel and other materials are stored in government controlled areas to be taken to LTTE held territory.
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Elderly man shot dead in Valikaamam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 09:34 GMT]
Unidentified armed men called out an elderly man out of his house at Navaali north in Valikaamam and shot him dead at close range Thursday morning, sources in Jaffna said. His body, recovered from the site of the killing, is kept in the Jaffna Teaching hospital.
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TamilNet Transcription

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 04:08 GMT]
Near accurate Tamil pronunciation is a challenge to English news reporting. Tamil words and place names have long been misspelt due to ambiguity in transcription. Conventional transliteration symbols are difficult to compose, store and retrieve. Known transcription systems are unaesthetic to look at and tiresome to compose due to mix-up of lowercase and uppercase characters. TamilNet presents a standard transcription system to face the existing challenges and to cater to contemporary social and cyber needs.
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TamilNet Transcription: improved facilities introduced

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 04:07 GMT]
TamilNet Transcription is now possible in Unicode with simultaneous display facilities. Transcription from Tamil to Roman and reverse transcription from Roman to Tamil can now be done without any limit to the size of the text, using the TamilNet web tool. Readers can make use of the facility by accessing the link provided on the right-hand top of the front page. Those who wish to get the source code are welcome to contact us. It is a non-profit offer from the TamilNet.
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SLAF bombs Mullaiththeevu before GCE(A/L) exams

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2007, 03:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) fast attack aircrafts bombed twice on populated areas in Mu'l'livaaykkaal in Mullaiththeevu district Wednesday morning causing panic among students waiting to sit the G.C.E (Advanced Level), P. Ariyaratnam, Mullaiththeevu Zonal Director of Education said. The attack damaged two houses but no casualties or injuries were reported.
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Cordon, search operation troubles fishing in Ea'raavoor

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 18:38 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Police and Special Task Force (STF) commandos cordoned off fishing villages 18 km northeast of Batticaloa Wednesday early morning. The search operation in the coastal villages, where Sri Lanka Navy has banned fishing during nights, affected the fishermen, causing scarcity of fish in Batticaloa town and Vaazhaichcheanai.
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2 Vadamaraadchi fishermen feared killed by SLN

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 18:17 GMT]
Two fishermen who went fishing on Vaththiraayan Sea in Vadamaraadchi east Monday early morning have not returned home until Wednesday 3:00 p.m. The fishermen are feared to have been shot dead by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), according to complaints made by family members to Federation of Vadamaraadchi Fisheries Cooperative Societies, the General Manger, T. Balasingham said. The efforts of fellow fishermen and society members to retrieve the bodies of the missing fishermen made Wednesday morning were unsuccessful, he added.
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Young man reported missing in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 18:07 GMT]
A young family man from Point Pedro is reported missing from Tuesday afternoon after going to obtain pass to travel to Colombo from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Civil Administration office in Point Pedro, according to complaints made by his family members to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Wednesday.
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Staffer at Danish Demining NGO seeks safety at HRC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 10:55 GMT]
Amid rising threats to lives of staffers at the Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Jaffna, particularly those at the demining NGOs, allegedly from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and SLA-backed paramilitaries, a 25-year old worker at the Danish Demining Group (DDG) surrendered at the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) Wednesday, seeking safety, officials at the HRC said.
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Heavy rain adds to Moothoor IDPs' woes

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 10:36 GMT]
Heavy rain in Moothoor division have added further misery to displaced Tamil families sheltered in temporary structures in Killiveddi and Paddiththidal in Trincomalee district, civil society sources said. Flood water entering their camps, and leaking roofs have become a burden to carry out day-to-day basic acitivities, sources added.
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SLA intensifies artillery attack in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 09:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stationed in Jaffna Peninsula fired artillery shells towards the LTTE controlled Poonakari- Vadamaraadchi East area, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday. People were forced to vacate their homes from several villages in eastern shores of the peninsula as shells were also directed towards populated areas including Thaazhaiyadi, Chempiyanpattu, Uduththu'rai, Vettilaikkea'ni and Kaddaikkaadu, civil society sources said. Many of the people living in these villages have already been displaced a number of times are living at present in temporary shelters.
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SLA renames Thaa'ndiyadi to Suniththapura

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 03:01 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials, giving Sinhala names to traditional Tamil villages in the areas captured in military offensives in Batticaloa district, are compelling residents resettled in the areas to use the new Sinhala name for all purposes, accused Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Batticaloa district parliamentarian, T. Ariyanenthiran, Monday.
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627 IDPs affected by Jaundice in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 02:24 GMT]
627 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Batticaloa district are infected by jaundice, Dr.S.Thadchanamoorthy, the medical officer in charge of infectious disease control said Monday afternoon. In Vavu'natheevu alone, 328 civilians, most of them children, have been affected by the disease, according to the medical officer.
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10 Tamils arrested in Muneesvaram still under custody

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 02:18 GMT]
Ten Tamil civilians out of 62 arrested on Sunday night in a cordon and search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police at Muneesvaram area in Chilaw (Chilaapam) district in the north western province are still being detained at Chilaw police station and are being interrogated by the Terrorist Intelligence Division (TID), civil society sources said.
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IFJ calls for safety of journalists

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 02:04 GMT]
Jacqueline Park, Asia-Pacific Director of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), said that as long as journalists are continued to be intimidated and attacked in Sri Lanka, a free press in the country cannot be assured, in an IFJ media release Monday. IFJ, which represents over 600,000 journalists in 114 countries, while expressing its concern, called upon the Sri Lanka Government to act immediately to ensure the safety of journalists who serve the public's fundamental right to know, according to the media release.
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Demining suspended following killing of NGO staffer

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 00:16 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen chased two staffers of Danish Demining Group (DDG) along Kasthooriyaar road in Jaffna Monday morning and opened fire on them, killing one and seriously injuring the other. Mr. Steen Wetlesen, Country Programme Manager, DDG, expressing his shock in a statement released Monday. He confirmed that all demining activities in Jaffna were being suspended.
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Bogawantalawa tea plantation workers begin strike

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 August 2007, 22:14 GMT]
Plantation workers at the Bogawantalawa tea estate boycotted work Monday to protest the demand by the management to increase daily production, sources in hill country said.
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UNP Women's Front demonstrates against CoL

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 August 2007, 21:08 GMT]
The prices of fuel and other essential goods have soared beyond the reach of ordinary citizens of Sri Lanka due to the war waged by Sri Lanka government, United National Party (UNP) Women's Front, Colombo District Organizer, Rosy Senanayake said, after participating in a protest demonstration Tuesday from 10.30 a.m to 12:00 noon in front of Colombo Fort Railway station, to highlight the burdens faced by the public due to increase in Cost of Living (CoL).
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STF arrests 2 Tamil youths in Kokkaddichchoalai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 August 2007, 11:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF), an elite commando unit of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, arrested two Tamil youths on suspicion Tuesday morning in a search operation launched in Kokkaddichchoalai area in Batticaloa district, Senior Police Commissioner of Batticaloa, H. M. P. Hearath, said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 August 2007, 10:36 GMT]
Unidentified arm men shot dead a Tamil youth Monday evening in Jinna Nakar, a suburb located at Third Mile Post, three km north of Trincomalee Town.
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Veala'nai DS employee seeks protection

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 August 2007, 08:31 GMT]
An employee of Veala'nai Divisional Secretariat (DS), threatened to death continuously, (allegedly by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and its collaborating paramilitary members), sought safety Monday with his superior officers. The officers took steps with the help of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Tuesday for him to be placed in the protective custody in Jaffna prison, HRC sources said. Meanwhile, two Chaiva temple trustees, including an education official in Veala'nai arrested earlier, are still detained at the Sri Lanka police interrogation centre in the 'Fourth Floor', in Colombo.
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Headless body recovered, woman killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 August 2007, 07:42 GMT]
Kayts police and Neduntheevu (Delft) police recovered Monday a headless body with hands and legs severed in Neduntheevu area and handed it over to Jaffna Teaching hospital. Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen shot dead a young woman Sunday night in her house at Manthuvil north in Thenmaraadchi, Kodikaamam police said.
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SLA bombards LTTE areas from Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 August 2007, 06:45 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army Tuesday launched sustained artillery and multi-barrel rocket fire towards Tamil Tiger controlled territory from Koaddai and Palaali in Jaffna. The sudden and intensive SLA bombardment has raised fear among the residents of the northern peninsula that fighting may break out on the Front Defence Lines (FDLs). The SLA said the barrage was in retaliation for an LTTE artillery attack in which at least ten shells had been fired at the Palaali base complex from LTTE-controlled Poonakari on Tuesday at around 8:45 a.m.
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LTTE, SLA exchange artillery fire in Thenmaraadchi FDL

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 August 2007, 19:39 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lanka Army were engaged in a heavy exchange of artillery fire Monday evening. SLA fired artillery shells from Koappaay area on LTTE held Poonakari, Mukamaalai and Naakarkoayil areas, while LTTE retaliated artillery shelling SLA bases in Mirusuvil and Usan areas in Thenmaraadchi.
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IDP injured in SLA artillery attack in Poonakari

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 August 2007, 16:47 GMT]
A young family man currently residing at a camp for Internally Displaced People (IDP) located at Thikkuvil, Jeyapuram on Poonakari-Muzhangaavil road, was seriously injured during the artillery attack by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Poonakari, Sunday around 1:50 p.m.
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Jeyananthamoorthy MP's brother shot dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 August 2007, 16:07 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Batticaloa parliamentarian S. Jeyananthamoorthy's brother S. Thiyagachandra was shot dead by armed men in Oaddamaavadi, 1 km west of Vazhaichcheanai Monday evening around 6:30, according to his relatives.
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Tamil woman shot dead in Vellaave'li

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 August 2007, 14:45 GMT]
Unidentified gunman shot dead a Tamil woman Sunday around 8:00 a.m at Kampiyaa'ru in Vellaave'li police division in Batticaloa district, while she was leaving her house, Ka'luvaagnchikkudi police said.
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4 homeguards, one bus-driver killed, one injured in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 August 2007, 11:14 GMT]
Four homeguards including a female, and a bus driver were shot dead, and one injured by unknown gunmen in U'lukku'lam in Vavuniyaa around 1:45 p.m. Monday, Police sources from Vavuniyaa said. The body of a female killed during the attack has been brought to the Vavuniyaa Government Hospital, and a Police officer injured in the attack has been taken to Anuradhapura Hospital for further treatment. The bodies of the homeguards have not been transferred to the Vavuniyaa hospital until 4:00 p.m. according to hospital sources.
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Tamil Literary Festival to be held in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 August 2007, 07:55 GMT]
The Eastern Provincial Council is to hold Tamil Literary Festival in Batticaloa during the last week of October 2007 for the first time after the de-merger of North East Provincial Council (NEPC), civil society sources in Batticaloa said.
Full story >>

SLA allows cultivation, resettlement in Kurankupaanchaan

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 August 2007, 05:51 GMT]
About three hundred families displaced from Kurankupaanchaan, a hamlet in Kinniya division in Trincomalee district, will be allowed to resume cultivation of paddy and other crops in their abandoned lands immediately. Resettlement of these families displaced in 1990 would take place simultaneously, according to consensus reached at a discussion held Saturday at Kurankupaanchaan camp of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) , civil society sources said.
Full story >>

Youth killed, another injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 August 2007, 03:16 GMT]
A 31-year old youth riding a motorbike was killed and his 26-year old friend riding the pinion was seriously injured Monday morning in Kasthoori road in Jaffna , when unknown gunmen following the victims in another motorbike sprayed gunfire at the victims, sources in Jaffna said.
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Thenmaraadchi youth seeks protection at HRC

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 August 2007, 17:34 GMT]
Amid escalating numbers of youths, especially high school children, surrendering at the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) offices seeking protective custody through the Jaffna Courts, another youth from Thenmaraadchi was placed in protective custody Sunday, HRC officials said.
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SLN conducts war exercise in Maathakal seas

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 August 2007, 13:38 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) conducted a large scale war exercise in the seas between Kaarainkar and KKS along Maathakal seas between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. involving large number of ships and soldiers, sources in Jaffna said. Fishermen along the coastal waters and in mid sea were asked to return to shore before the war-exercise, affected fishemen said.
Full story >>

Trader shot dead in Jaffna Islet

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 August 2007, 13:27 GMT]
A 57-year father of five from Vealanai East in Jaffna Islets was shot dead by unknown gunmen riding in a motorbike at 12:00 noon Sunday, sources in Jaffna said. The man was buying goods for his trading business in Vealanai when the gunmen following the victim shot him from behind and escaped, according to eyewitnesses.
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Agro Technical Training program inaugurated in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 August 2007, 12:20 GMT]
Training for a group of thirty students in agro-technical field was inaugurated this week in Ariviyal Nakar, Ki'linochchi, as part of a programme implemented by the The Economic Consultancy House (TECH), a Sri Lanka Government registered NGO working in the NorthEast funded by FORUT, sources in Vanni said.
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Fernandopulle defiant at Ki-moon’s rebuke

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 August 2007, 08:12 GMT]
Senior Sri Lankan minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle launched a scathing attack against United Nation’s Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, saying that he did not give a ‘damn’ about whatever he (Ki-moon) had to say, The Nation newspaper reported. Fernandopulle was responding to Ki-Moon’s criticism that Fernandopulle’s comments last week calling UN humanitarian coordinator John Holmes a “terrorist” who took a bribe from the LTTE were “unacceptable and unwarranted.” Mr. Holmes has meanwhile has written to Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse explaining himself. President Rajapakse has not commented on the controversy.
Full story >>

Civilian shot, injured in Ariyaalai, Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 August 2007, 15:48 GMT]
A 30-year old father of two was shot and seriously injured Saturday morning 5:00 a.m. by unidentified armed men at the victim's house in Kanagaratnam Road, Ariyaalai, Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said.
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Verugal Murugan Temple to be sanctified

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 August 2007, 12:40 GMT]
The historic Verugal Murugan Temple located in Eachchilampathu division in Trincomalee district is to be sanctified on the morning of August 30 to facilitate recommencement of daily poojas. Day to day religious rituals had been abandoned due to the mass displacement of the people of the area last year following offensives by the Sri Lanka security forces.
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US in refurbishment of markets in Trincomalee region

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 August 2007, 10:44 GMT]
Breaking ground for refurbishment of Anpuvazhipuram market in Trincomalee, Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka, James R. Moore, said "The U.S. Government is proud to be able to contribute to the refurbishment of this market, which is important to the economic and social life of Trincomalee...The coming months and years will be a decisive and exciting period for Trincomalee and the East. We hope there will be new opportunities for people of all communities," the US Embassy said in a press release issued Wednesday.
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More IDPs resettled in Eachchilampathu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 August 2007, 05:01 GMT]
About 1200 members of 317 Tamil families displaced from Eachchilampathu division in Trincomalee district last year following military offensives by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were taken to their villages, Ilankaiththurai and Muhaththuvaaram, for resettlement Saturday, civil society sources in Trincomalee said.
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Kurankupaanchaan IDPs to be resettled

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 August 2007, 02:49 GMT]
Nearly three hundred families displaced from Kurankupaanchaan, a hamlet in Kinniya division in Trincomalee district in 1990, are to be resettled. A team of Sri Lanka government officials led by the Kinniya Divisional Secretary is to pay a visit to Kurankupaanchaan village during the weekend to see the ground situation before making arrangement for the resettlement, civil society sources said.
Full story >>

SL Tamil detainees on hunger strike in Tamil Nadu

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 August 2007, 17:48 GMT]
Two Sri Lankan Tamil detainees, on hunger strike from Tuesday in Chenkalpet Special Detention Centre (CSDC), are loosing consciousness, and were admitted to Chenkalpet government hospital Friday, sources in Chenkalpet said. 17 detainees in CSDC for Sri Lankan Tamils are on a hunger strike demanding release since Tuesday.
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SLA kills youth in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 August 2007, 11:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stationed near Point Pedro harbor said they have shot dead a youth who allegedly tried to infiltrate their defences Friday morning. SLA said the youth had two claymore mines with him when he was confronted.
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1 killed, 2 disappear, 2 surrender at HRC in Urumpiraay

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 August 2007, 11:13 GMT]
Koappaay Police recovered the body of a youth with gunshot wounds alleged killed by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed paramilitaries Thursday night in Urumpiraay North and transferred the body to the Jaffna Hospital Friday morning, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, in Urumpiraay two youths disappeared and two others sought safety with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna, HRC officials said. HRC officials said in the first two weeks of August, 18 have disappeared, 21 have been killed and 11 have surrendered to the HRC in Jaffna district.
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Foundation laid for Batticaloa new market building

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 August 2007, 10:53 GMT]
The foundation stone for the new market to be constructed in Batticaloa Municipal council area was laid Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the presence of a number of officials including M.Uthayakumar, Commissioner of Batticaloa Municipal Council, Ignazio, Director of Planning, USAID, and Muralitharan Batticaloa-Ampara programme co-coordinator.
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Acid attack on Tamil reporter in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 August 2007, 00:01 GMT]
Reporters sans frontières (RSF) condemned the physical attack against a Tamil journalist from Tamil daily Thinakkural Thursday in Colombo, a press release issued by RSF said. The victim, K Palamohan, 50, was attacked by Sri Lanka military in Colombo also on 28 June after being taken into a Buddhist temple in the High Security Zone in Fort in Colombo.
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Tamil civilian abducted in Peasaalai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 August 2007, 18:38 GMT]
Armed unidentified persons abducted a Tamil civilian Tuesday afternoon in Peasaalai in Mannar district, according to complaint lodged by his wife with the regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and Foundation for Co-Existence Thursday, civil sources said.
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No resettlement in Arafat Nakar, SLA tells Muslims

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 August 2007, 16:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials stationed in Moothoor area have told displaced Muslim residents of Arafat Nakar that no displaced family would be allowed to resettle in areas declared as high security zones in the Trincomalee district. Arafat Nakar is located close to Kaddaipa'richchaan (SLA) camp on the border of Moothoor east.
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Eachchilampaththu refugees without food in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 August 2007, 12:50 GMT]
111 persons of 41 Tamil families displaced from Eachchilampaththu division in Trincomalee district since the military offence by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and now being sheltered in temporary structures in Batticaloa district have not received their free dry ration for last two weeks, civil society sources said. The affected refugees are close to starvation, and are beginning to beg for food, sources added.
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Skirmish in Paasaiyoor seas, SLA recovers one body

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 August 2007, 12:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and gunmen allegedly belonging to Liberation Tigers exchanged fire Wednesday around 11:30 p.m for more than 15 minutes in Kurunagar and Paasaiyoor waters of Jaffna lagoon, local residents said. SLA, through Jaffna Police, Thursday morning brought to the Jaffna Hospital a severely injured body of an identified youth claiming the body belonged to a suicide cadre of the LTTE who tried to infiltrate the SLA camp Wednesday night. LTTE did not comment on the claim.
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Civilian shot dead in Chunnaakam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 August 2007, 10:37 GMT]
Unknown gunmen riding a motorbike shot dead a 27-year old father of three in Mayila'ni area in Chunnakam, Valikaamam, Thursday morning at 11:30 a.m., sources in Jaffna said. The killers followed the victim after he had brought his wife for a function in Chunnaakam and was returning home, when they shot him dead.
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SLA procedures affect Jaffna students sitting exams

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 August 2007, 04:14 GMT]
While the Sri Lanka Military command in Jaffna peninsula announced Wednesday that the G.C.E. O/L Examination are being conducted without any hindrances and with the full cooperation of the armed forces, the educational society blamed the Sri Lankan armed forces and allied paramilitaries for obstructing the smooth progress of the national level examination and adversely affecting the performance of the students in sitting the exam, civil sources in Jaffna said.
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SLA builds bulwark along Jaffna southern coast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 21:08 GMT]
Fearing possible Liberation Tiger infiltration, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers have intensfied construction of a security fence using concertina wires, and additional security posts and bunkers along a 5 km coastal stretch starting from Jaffna Fort including Kaakai theevu, Naavaanthu'rai, Kurunakar and Pommai Ve'li, towns located at the southern underbelly of Jaffna Peninsula, as a protective measure, sources in Jaffna said.
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Sri Lanka's Rights violations dominate TNA's European talks

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 18:57 GMT]
Senior members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) after concluding their month long visit to European capitals to meet with top Government officials, said in a press release issued Wednesday, that the meetings focussed on the "horrendous human rights situation" in Sri Lanka, the "retrogressive movement in regard to the political process," and the Sri Lanka Government's attempt to "impose a military solution" to the Tamil National conflict.
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SLAF again bombs civilian settlements in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 17:38 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Mi-24 helicopter gunship bombed civilian settlements in Nedungkea'ni in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Vavuniyaa north from Tuesday midnight up to Wednesday noon, causing heavy damages schools, houses and cultivation, sources in Nedungkea'ni said. Residents of the villages bombed, scattering in panic, managed to save their lives, seeking shelter away from the exploding bombs.
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Thai deportees held incommunicado in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 14:34 GMT]
Three Tamil asylum seekers who were returned by Thailand to Sri Lanka are being detained in Colombo and are at risk of torture or ill-treatment or disappearance, legal sources in Colombo said Wednesday. Sujith Gunapala, Sasikaran Thevarajah and Satyaphavan Aseervatham are being held incommunicado by the Criminal Investigations Division (CID).
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Sri Lanka: ‘Holmes is a terrorist’

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 13:38 GMT]
Stung by a top UN official’s criticism that Sri Lanka has one of the worst records in the world for humanitarian aid worker safety, the Colombo government Wednesday condemned him as a “terrorist” and said he had been bribed by the Tamil Tigers to tarnish the country’s reputation. Meanwhile the head of the government's peace secretariat accused French aid group Action Contre la Faim of being responsible for the massacre of 17 of their own local staff last year through "negligence" and "irresponsibility". International monitors have blamed government troops for the killings.
Full story >>

Youth abducted in Jaffna, two seek protection at HRC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 11:08 GMT]
A 21-year old youth from Chandilippaay North, Jaffna, who had come to Sinhala Maha Vidiyalayam to travel out of Jaffna to Trincomalee in Sri Lanka Army (SLA)-run passenger ship, was abducted by armed men in motocyles Tuesday morning 10:00 a.m. from Hospital road in the center of Jaffna Town within the Jaffna High Security Zone (HSZ), sources in Jaffna said.
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5 Tamils arrested near SL Parliament

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 04:36 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police arrested five Tamil youths near the Sri Lanka Parliament for staying overnight in an open ground located in Madiwela within the Sri Jeyawardanapura Municipal limits, around 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, sources in Colombo said. The youths allegedly had arrived there late evening in an auto trishaw and stayed there until dawn.
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Attendence of Sinhala Pilgrims to Madu, said low

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 02:37 GMT]
Only 15,000 Sinhala Catholic pilgrims have come to attend the Madu Church Festival, a number much lower than in previous years, Mannaar Bishop, Rayappu Joseph said Tuesday. Mannaar Bishop, Galle Bishop Anton Carol and Anuradhapuram Bishop Antony Norbert are expected to hold a joint Holy Mass at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.
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53 School girls killed in 2006 SLAF bombing, remembered

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 02:03 GMT]
The first anniversary of the death of fifty three school girls killed at Va'l'lipunam Chegnchoalai orphanage premises from an aerial raid by Kfir fast attack crafts belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on 14 August 2006, was observed throughout Vannni in Ki'linochchi and Mullaitheevu districts at 10:00 a.m Tuesday, sources in Vanni said.
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3 civilians seek protection with HRC Jaffna, 3 missing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 August 2007, 16:20 GMT]
Three civilians, two from Kaithadi and one from Koappaay, fearing for their lives from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitaries, sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Sunday. Meanwhile, one civilian had been abducted on Sunday and three others had gone missing since Friday from separate places in Jaffna peninsula, sources in Jaffna said.
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Tsunami -affected Batticaloa civilians receive new houses

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 August 2007, 13:09 GMT]
64 new houses constructed in Thiraayamadu , Batticaloa District by a Non Governmental Organization(NGO) based in United States of America (USA), at a cost of 48 million Rupees were handed over to civilians whose houses in Kalladi, Naavaladi and Thiruchchenthoor were destroyed during 2004 Tsunami.
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SLA deserters arrested in Colombo for terrorising Tamils

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 August 2007, 10:54 GMT]
The Colombo police Monday arrested three Sinhalese persons who are said to be deserters of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on a complaint that they had been collecting names of Tamils who returned from abroad and staying with their relatives in Jampettah Street at Kotahena in Colombo city.
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Uddapu Tamil youths released

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 August 2007, 10:48 GMT]
The Chilaw (Chilaapam) Magistrate Monday released four Tamil youths who were arrested in April at Uddapu, a traditional Tamil village in the northwestern province alleging that they were members of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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Three to be charged in Kadirgamar assassination- AG

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 August 2007, 10:27 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Attorney General, Mr.C.R.de Silva, told the media Sunday on the second death anniversary of former foreign minister Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar that indictments against three Tamils now in remand will be filed soon after statements from three persons are obtained, legal sources in Colombo said.
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IDPs refusing to resettle in new areas refused relief

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 August 2007, 10:12 GMT]
East Provincial Governor Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema is reported to have instructed civil authorities in districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa not to provide food and other relief assistances to Tamil displaced families frpm Moothoor east and Eachchilampathu division who refuse to be relocated in new lands allocated to them by the Sri Lanka government in other parts of the Trincomalee district. Moothoor east and Eachchilampaththu have been declared as high security zone after the military operation and civilians are not being allowed to resettle there, civil society sources said.
Full story >>

Trader shot dead in Chankaanai, Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 August 2007, 03:07 GMT]
Unknown gunmen shot dead a 30-year old trader using a pistol near Chankaanai market in Valikaamam Jaffna at 6:30 a.m, source in Jaffna said. The killers escaped in a motorbike after shooting at the victim.
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Sub-contractor shot dead in Poththuvil

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2007, 21:22 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a sub-contractor around 8:00 p.m Monday at Inspector Eattam area in Poththuvil, Ampaa'rai district, in front of Karuna group's political party office, Poththuvil police said.
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Woman killed, School destroyed in SLAF bombardment in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2007, 15:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Monday morning bombed a civilian area in Maruthoadai, Nedungkea'ni Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Vavuniyaa, killing a 20-year-old female. A government school, Maruthoadai Tamil Mixed School, was destroyed in the bombardment. A Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society building, a rice mill and two civilian houses were also damaged in the bombardment that took place twice between 6:40 and 7:10 a.m. A couple, owners of one of the houses, were seriously wounded in the air-attack.
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Youth shot, seriously injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2007, 10:26 GMT]
Unknown gunmen shot and seriously injured a 30-year old man while walking along KKS Road in Jaffna town near an autostand at 12:15 p.m. Monday, sources in Jaffna said. The gunmen sprayed bullets at the victim and escaped the site.
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Displaced Uppaaru families to be resettled

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2007, 10:19 GMT]
About five hundred Tamil and Muslim families displaced from Uppaaru, a village in Kinniya division in Trincomalee district, due to military operations in 1990 and 1999 and sought refuge in others areas are to be resettled, Secretariat sources in Kinniya said.
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Killings shock Kaithadi, 8 civilians slain in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2007, 10:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army operated gunmen in Thenmaraadchi, Jaffna, have shot and killed seven civilians since Sunday noon. Four civilians, including a Village Officer (GS) were slain on Monday in Kaithadi where two civilians were shot dead last wednesday and a gurellia ambush killed four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers on Sunday when a youth was also killed in SLA gunfire. Two civilians were killed in Meesaalai and one in Vara'ni in Thenmaraadchi on Monday. Meanwhile, a Jaffna Municipal Council employee, shot in Jaffna city has succumbed to his injuries. Tension prevails in Kaithadi where armed men also burnt down a house, according to the residents in the area.
Full story >>

14 Tamil civilians arrested in Gampaha

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2007, 08:06 GMT]
Fourteen Tamil civilians were arrested in a cordon and search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police from Sunday night till Monday early morning in Gampaha town in the western province. This was the fourth search operation conducted by the government security forces in Gampaha town during the first 2 weeks of August, sources said.
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Police arrests Tamil youth in Kandy

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2007, 05:17 GMT]
A Tamil youth was arrested on Saturday evening for allegedly taking photograph of a bridge located at the entrance to the Kandy town and is being detained in Kandy police station and subjected to interrogation by the Terrorist Intelligence Division, sources said.
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Chandrika Kumaratunge to meet Samaraweera

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2007, 02:11 GMT]
Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge, former President of Sri Lanka for two terms from 1994 till 2005, returned to Colombo from UK Sunday and is scheduled to hold talks with Mr.Mangala Samaraweera, leader the Peoples Wing of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), regarding current political situation Monday evening at her Horagolla residence, media sources said.
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Heavy fighting in the seas off Pulmoaddai - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 August 2007, 23:02 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Crafts (FACs) were damaged and more than 20 Dvora gunboats were chased away by the Sea Tigers, the naval force of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE), towards Trincomalee port Sunday night after a fierce sea battle off Pulmoaddai that lasted from 10:00 p.m. till 2:30 a.m. Monday, according to Sea Tiger officials in Vanni. Six Sea Tiger fighters were killed in action in the battle, the Tigers said. Meanwhile Sri Lankan military sources claimed that they had sunk a Sea Tiger vessel in the clash.
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LTTE fires mortars towards Weli Oya, says SLA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 August 2007, 21:18 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam (LTTE) fired mortars targetted towards Wel Oya area in Polllanaruwa district, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) spokesperson Brigadier Prasanth Samarasinghe said Sunday. The attack began at 8:00 a.m. Sunday and claimed the life of a 65-year old man and injured five others, Brig. Samarasinghe said. A number of private residences are also said to have been damaged during the attack.
Full story >>

Batticaloa youth injured in shooting

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 August 2007, 21:11 GMT]
A lone gunman hiding along a local road in Maamangkam, Kuzhaavaadi in Batticaloa shot and seriously injured a 16-year old youth Sunday morning 9:00 a.m, sources in Batticaloa said. The victim was returning home when he was shot. The killer fled the scene after the shooting, Batticaloa police said.
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SLA reinstitutes approval procedures to elderly Jaffna travellers

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 August 2007, 17:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) high command in a directive issued Saturday made compulsary for Jaffna residents who are over 55 years of age, leaving Jaffna to obtain approval from the civil administrative offices attached to the closest SLA camp. Previously SLA had exempted those over-55 and under-10 from the approval process and subjected only the 10-55 age group to the approval process.
Full story >>

Skirmishes reported in Ariyaalai, Kurunakar seas

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 August 2007, 17:10 GMT]
Residents of villages along the southern coastal of Jaffna report exchanges of gunfire between Liberation Tigers and Sri Lanka security forces intermittantly from Saturday night until Sunday morning, sources in Jaffna said. However, Sri Lanka military did not officially acknowledge that any incidents occured in the said area.
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Family man shot dead in Naavaanthu'rai, Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 August 2007, 17:01 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike shot and killed a middle aged family man Sunday morning at 6:45 a.m. in Naavaanthu'rai within Jaffna Municipal council area, sources in Jaffna said.
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Former AG Kamalasabeyson passes away

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 August 2007, 11:43 GMT]
Mr.K.C.Kamalasabeyson, former Attorney General of Sri Lanka, passed away in a private nursing home at Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu state in India, Sunday early morning around 2.30 a.m., after a brief illness, sources in Colombo said. He was 59. He retired from the post of Attorney General in April this year.
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Arafa Nagar declared HSZ, Muslim families expelled

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 August 2007, 11:37 GMT]
About two hundred Muslim families were forcibly moved from Arafa Nagar, a suburb located in Moothoor division in Trincomalee district by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Friday evening on the pretext that their village comes also under the high security zone. Arafa Nagar is located close to Moothoor east, which is declared a high security zone by the government after the completion of military operation, civil society sources said.
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4 SLA killed in Claymore ambush near Jaffna FDL

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 August 2007, 08:45 GMT]
Four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 12 troopers wounded in a Claymore ambush in Thenmaraadchi in the southwestern Forward Defence area adjoining Kaithadi Sunday around 1:30 p.m. A youth was killed when SLA soldiers in the convoy opened fire, after the attack, Police said. The attackers have targeted the SLA convoy on the Kaithadi Thachchanthoappu road in a heavily fortified area where two civilians were shot dead last wednesday allegedly by SLA operated gunmen.
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Islamic leader shot dead in Ampa'rai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 August 2007, 17:17 GMT]
Armed gunmen, believed to be members of a Muslim armed group, shot and killed a religious leader, Mawlawi Rafeek, Saturday evening around 7:30 at Ninthavoor in Ampa'rai, Chammaanthu'rai Police said.
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A few devotees attend Maaviddapuram CAR festival

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 August 2007, 16:54 GMT]
Only around two thousand devotees entered through Sri Lanka Army (SLA) checkpoint in Thellippazhai to attend the Thear festival of the historic Maaviddapuram Kandasamy temple located inside the Valikaamam north High Security Zone (HSZ). After the SLA offensives in 1990 civilians living close to temple and surrounding areas were evicted, and in 1999 the area was demarcated to fall within the HSZ, despite protests from Chaiva organizations.
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One STF soldier killed, six injured in Kagnchikudichchaa'ru

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 August 2007, 16:47 GMT]
A Special Task Force (STF) soldier was killed and six others wounded when a combined team of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and STF involved in deep penetration activity in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)-controlled areas in Kagnchikudichchaa'ru area in Ampaa'rai District stepped on pressure mines Friday evening, Amparai police said.
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Muslim man shot dead in Oaddamaavadi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 August 2007, 16:00 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot and killed a Muslim man on his way to mosque for early morning prayers Saturday morning 4:00 a.m. in the Baduriya, Oaddamaavadi in Vaazhaichcheanai police division, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Tamil civilian's body recovered in Ea'raavoor

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 August 2007, 15:51 GMT]
The highly decomposed body of a Tamil civilian was recovered Thursday afternoon by Ea'raavoor police in a farm land in 5th Division, Ea'raavoor, sources in Batticaloa said. The victim has been identified as Nagamany Yogalingam, 40, a familied man from Chengkaladi, Cheanaikkudiyirippu area.
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Family man seeks protection with HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 August 2007, 19:21 GMT]
A family man from Brown Road in Jaffna sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Friday, after receiving death threats from paramilitary members operating with Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, the 15-year-old boy who sought protection with HRC August 2 along with his widowed mother and elder brother was sent back from the protective custody of Jaffna prison.
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Youth reported dead in STF roundup in Akkaraippattu

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 August 2007, 11:06 GMT]
Sri Lankan Special Task Force commandos in Akkaraippattu cordoned off the house of a family that runs a foreign employment agency Friday around 11:30 a.m. and fired at a 28-year-old man who was visiting the house. The victim, identified as Gunaratnam Ranjan, 28, was reported dead by the Police who said the death occurred due to the intake of cyanide. The family that runs the business has fled the area and contacted Human Rights Commission officials in Batticaloa seeking protection as the Police alleged that the visitor was a Liberation Tigers of the Tamileelam (LTTE) cadres, initial reports said.
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STF sergeant loses leg in Ampaa'rai

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 August 2007, 03:21 GMT]
A Special Task Force (STF) sergeant's leg was severely injured when he stepped on a pressure mine in Kagnchikudichchaa'ru area in Amparai district, around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Surgeons at the Colombo National Hospital had to amputate Mr Herath's leg, Police sources said.
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SLA takes away youth in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 August 2007, 03:15 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) took away a young goldsmith at Adiyapatham Road at Naayanmaarkaddu within Jaffna Municipal limits on Wednesday, the victim's father lodged a complaint at the Human Rights Council (HRC) Jaffna Branch. Veerasingham Vinotharan, 19, was at his home when the SLA came and took him away.
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Civil groups silenced on raising Rights issues at UN Jaffna meeting

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 August 2007, 02:23 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Jaffna Military commander had instructed the NGOs and civil society representatives "not to refer to human rights issues and to restrict themselves to issues of humanitarian assistance," before the meeting with United Nations Under Secretary General, Humanitarian Affairs Mr. John Holmes, charged a group of Rights groups including Free Media Movement (FMM) and Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), in a letter to Mr Holmes, and in a press release issued Thursday.
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Viral disease spreads rapidly in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 August 2007, 17:50 GMT]
A form of viral fever has started spreading in Batticaloa, and Mr.Santhan, from the Department of Health Services said Wednesday morning, that he attributed the spread of the infectious disease to dense settlements of civilian population and weather changes.
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SL Parliament extends Emergency for another month

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 August 2007, 17:23 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday evening by a majority of 92 votes adopted a motion to extend the State of Emergency for another month. 107parliamentarians voted for the motion and 15 MPs belonging to Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Western Peoples Front (WPF) voted against the extension motion.
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STF arrests two civilians in Kokkadichchoalai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 August 2007, 16:49 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police and Special Task Force (STF) soldiers arrested two Tamil civilians during a combined search operation conducted in Kokkaddichchoalai police division in Batticaloa district Tuesday, police sources said. The arrested have been identified as M.Thiraviyarasa, 25 and Thiyagarasa, 36.
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Call to expeditiously resettle Moothoor IDPs

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 August 2007, 15:05 GMT]
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief, Abdul Risath Badiyudeen, Wednesday Secretary of Batticaloa District Inter Religious Federation, Mr.K.Kanesh, appealed for assistance to make immediate arrangements to assist civilians displaced from Moothoor to be settled in welfare centres.
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Food unsuitable for cooking dumped to Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 August 2007, 11:51 GMT]
Food items unsuitable to public consumption are being shipped to Jaffna peninsula when shortage of essential food items like rice and milk powder grows more acute with each day, Traders' Federation and local NGO officials charged Sri Lanka Government authorities. Jaffna Government Agent (GA) has recently taken steps to return a consignment of 600 metric tons Channa Dhal back to Colombo Thursday.
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UN official visits Batticaloa district

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 August 2007, 06:17 GMT]
United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Relief Co-ordination, John Holmes paid a visit to Batticaloa district Wednesday morning. He met Batticaloa Government Agent (GA), Suntharam Arumainayagam and the government departmental heads in the district at the Batticaloa District Secretariat (DS) Wednesday.
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Body with gunshot wounds recovered in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 August 2007, 01:45 GMT]
Vellaave'li police recovered a body of a male with gun shot wounds at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Kaakkaachchivaddai in Batticaloa district, on information received from residents in the area, police sources said.
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TRO honors ACF humanitarian workers on death anniversary

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 August 2007, 17:17 GMT]
Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), an NGO registered in Sri Lanka, in a press release issued Monday, expressed its condolences to the families of the seventeen workers of the French Action Contre La Faim (ACF) who were killed execution style on 6 August 2007 during Colombo's military offensives on Moothoor. Nordic Monitors accused Sri Lanka Government security forces as responsible for the killings.
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LTTE heroine in Indian Casablanca remake

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 August 2007, 16:25 GMT]
A South Indian remake of the Oscar winning romantic classic "Casablanca" from 1942, in Malayalam retitled "Eelam Mudra," will feature Bollywood actress Mandira Bedi playing as the Liberation Tigers woman fighter, the part played by Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca where Bergman with her Czech husband was fighting against Nazis.
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Two civilians shot dead in Kaithadi, Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 August 2007, 14:49 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot dead two civilians in two separate incidents inside the high security area of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Thenmaraadchi Wednesday, sources from Jaffna said. In the first incident a family man was shot dead in Kaithadi South. The second killing took place at 5:30 a.m. in Kaithadi North.
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British Court finds refugee at torture risk in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 August 2007, 13:31 GMT]
A British Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, in a case filed by a Sri Lankan refugee against the refusal to grant him asylum in the UK, found that the said refugee would be at real risk of torture by the Sri Lankan authorities if returned there. The Tribunal rejected Home Office arguement that only high profile members of the LTTE are at risk of detention and torture in Sri Lanka and persons involved in low level activities for the LTTE, he would not be targeted by the authorities.
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Claymore attack injures two SLA troopers in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 August 2007, 11:06 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers were injured when unknown assailants triggered a claymore mine targetted at the SLA foot patrol near Thoanikkal in Theakkanthoaddam area in Vavuniyaa at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Police sources in Vavuniyaa said. The injured troopers were first admitted to the Vavuniya Government Hospital and later transferred to the Anuradhapura Hospital, according to hospital sources.
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SLA changes convoy route following ambush in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 August 2007, 10:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA), changed Tuesday the northern coastal route the convoys travel from Point Pedro to Palaali SLA High Security Zone (HSZ), and instead started using Jaffna-Point Pedro road via Nelliyadi, following the Claymore ambush Monday which woudned five troopers and a worker, sources in Vadamaraadchy said.
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Wickremesinghe, Samaraweera to appear in court on MoU

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 August 2007, 10:28 GMT]
The Colombo District Court Tuesday issued notices on Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), and Mr.Mangala Samaraweera, leader of the newly formed Peoples Wing of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to appear in court on August 21 to show cause on why an interim injunction should not be issued against the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by them on July 19, legal sources said.
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2 abducted, youth reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 August 2007, 06:50 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in a white van and on motorcycles forcibly abducted Sunday night two persons in two separate incidents in Koapay and Kantharmadam, in Jaffna respectively, according to complaints made by family members to Jaffna Human Rights commission (HRC) office. Meanwhile, family members of a youth from Chu'n'naakam in Jaffna complained to the HRC that the youth had not returned home after going to collect his National Identity Card (NIC) confiscated by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers Saturday.
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UPFA's defeat in WPC, warning sign for future-UNP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 August 2007, 04:36 GMT]
The victory for the opposition led by the United National Party (UNP) in the Western Provincial Council (WPC) on a no-confidence motion moved against the ruling party of the Sri Lanka government is a warning signal for the defeat of the government in parliament, said UNP General Secretary Mr.Tissa Attanayake at a press briefing held Wednesday morning. WPC is at present being administered by the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
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UN top official discusses civilian welfare, human rights in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 17:07 GMT]
United Nations, Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Relief Co-ordination, John Holmes, arrived in Jaffna Tuesday morning and held a conference in Jaffna Public Library Auditorium at 10.30 a.m, led by Jaffna Government Agent, K. Ganesh. Several government officials, representatives of local and International Non-government organizations, Rights officials, Douglas Devananda, head of Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) and top officers of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) participated in the two hour long conference.
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HRW Report, grist to LTTE mill, complains SCOPP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 16:17 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), in a press release issued Tuesday, criticized the report on Sri Lanka's human rights violations released by New York-based Rights group, Human Rights Watch (HRW), charging that the report's assertion that there is "dramatic increase in abuses by the government during the past 18 months is designed to imply that the Rajapaksa government has misbehaved from the time it was elected," and that some of the damaging evidence was obtained from "a single interview with a single humanitarian worker."
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Two civilians shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 13:25 GMT]
The body of an unidentified man, estimated to be 35-years old, with several gunshot wounds to his body was found at 1:45 p.m. near Pa'ndaarikku'lam area, Vavuniyaa Police said. Less than 30 minutes later Police said another body has been found near the Ukku'langku'lam Road, nearly 1 km from the site of the previous killing.
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Search operation conducted in Mutuwal

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 10:35 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and police conducted a combined cordon and search operation covering Mutuwal, Himbula Ela and Aluthmawatte suburbs in Colombo from morning till afternoon on Monday on a tip off that suspicious persons were hiding in the area. Several residents including Tamil civilians staying with their relatives were taken in for questioning by the Terrorist Intelligence Division during the operation, civil sources in Colombo said.
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Civilians at LTTE checkpoint escape SLA MBRL attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 10:23 GMT]
More than 150 Tamil civilians waiting at the LTTE's Pu'liyangku'lam checkpoint to travel to Vanni, narrowly escaped injuries from artillery barrage and Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) around 5:30 p.m. Monday. Six busses and eight lorries loading goods to be taken to Vanni escaped without damages, according to sources in Vanni.
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NGO worker abducted in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 10:16 GMT]
Unidentified persons abducted a Muslim worker of United Methodist Community Organization for Refugees (UMCOR), an international non-governmental organization Monday afternoon from his Trincomalee office, according to a complaint lodged with the Trincomalee police by his father. The abducted person has been identified as Mohamed Zavahir Mohamed Rizvi.
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Impunity reigns, rights record seriously deteriorates- HRW

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 02:31 GMT]
Qualifying the report as focusing primarily on abuses by the Sri Lankan government, the Human Rights Watch (HRW), a New York-based rights organization, in a hard-hitting report released Monday said "the government's respect for international law has sharply declined, with it often appearing indifferent to the impact on civilians in the north and east...the main areas of concern [are], from violations of the laws of war and extrajudicial killings to unlawful restrictions on the media and nongovernmental organizations and the widespread impunity enjoyed by state security forces...Sri Lanka's defense establishment is particularly responsible for abuses."
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Allaipiddi SLN soldiers details submitted to Court

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 01:04 GMT]
Final determination on holding an identification parade for the Allaipiddi murder case of 13 May 2006, where thirteen civilians including eight from the same family were murdered, will be taken on 28 August, Kayts Court decided when the case was taken up for hearing Monday, legal sources in Jaffna said.
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SLA trooper injured in Vavuniya grenade attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 00:44 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) trooper was injured seriously when unknown assailants hurled a hand grenade at the Checkaddippulavu, Vavuniyaa, SLA sentry at 2:00 p.m Monday, sources in Vavuniyaa said. The trooper was first admitted to the Vavuniya Government Hospital and later transferred to Anuradhapura Hospital, according to medical sources.
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Landmine injures 2 STF troops in Ampaa'rai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 00:11 GMT]
One Special Task Force (STF) troop lost his leg and another seriously injured when a landmine exploded Sunday when STF troops and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were jointly engaged in a clearing operation of areas earlier controlled by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Kagnchikudichchaa'ru area in Ampaa'rai district, Ampaa'rai police said.
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SLAF kfirs bomb civilian settlements in Poonakari

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 18:26 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) fast attack Kfir fighter jets twice bombed civilian settlements in Poonakari in Vanni around 4:05 p.m Monday, causing heavy damages to the shelters and properties of the people displaced from Poonakari due to earlier offensives, sources in Vanni said. Before carrying out the bombing raid on Poonakari, SLAF aircrafts circled low for nearly 20 minutes in skies above Vanni, including Ki'linochchi, creating unrest and panic among students sitting for examinations, school officials administering the examinations said.
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UN top official arrives in Colombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 18:03 GMT]
Mr. John Holmes, United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Relief Co-ordination arrived in Colombo Monday morning. Later he met with Mr. Mahinda Amerasinghe, Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights at the latter's office in Colombo.
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Mannaar police division office opened

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 16:01 GMT]
Mr.N.H.Kudahetty Monday morning assumed duties as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) for the newly created Mannaar police division, according to security sources in Mannaar. Vavuniya Police will transfer to the new Mannaar Police station administration of all police stations and sentry points located in Mannaar district.
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Eachchilampaththu IDPs to be resettled

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 13:55 GMT]
About 260 displaced Tamil families from Eachchilampaththu division in Trincomalee district now sheltered in temporary structures at Aariyampathy, Maanmunai north, Chenkalady, Kiraan and Batticaloa are to be resettled in their own villages before the end of this month, divisional secretariat sources said.
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JVP to hold island wide demonstrations against rising Cost of Living

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 13:10 GMT]
The Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the third largest party in the parliament with 39 MPs, is to hold a series of demonstrations in the country against the increase of cost of living due to price increases of essential commodities, Mr.Lal Kantha, JVP parliamentarian and leader of the JVP trade union federation said.
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Six Tamil youths arrested in Gampaha

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 12:52 GMT]
The police at Gampaha railway station took two Tamil youths travelling in the Yarldevi train from Colombo to Vavuniya Sunday morning into custody, alleging suspicion of involvement with 'terrorist' activities. The youths are being detained in Gampaha police station and are being questioned by the Terrorist Intelligence Division, sources said.
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6 SLA wounded in Claymore ambush in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 12:28 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) vehicle was caught in fire Monday noon following a Claymore ambush on a military convoy heading towards Palaali, the Jaffna military headquarters, from the camp of the SLA 52-4 division in Point Pedro. Six SLA personnel, five troopers and a worker, were wounded according to the official casualty figures by the SLA officials in Jaffna. Large flames were seen at the site of the attack, according to the residents in the area which was closed down for traffic for more than four hours.
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2006 voters' register to be basis for East local elections

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 12:22 GMT]
Elections to local bodies in the Batticaloa district will be based on the 2006 voters' register, according to a directive issued by the Commissioner of Elections Mr.Dayananda Dissanayake to the Returning Officers of the eastern province, political sources in Batticaloa said.
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Chengkaladi-Badulla road to be reopened

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 12:07 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has announced that the main road between Chengkaladi and Badulla would be reopened within few days. This road has been closed for the last three months following Sri Lanka military offensives in Aayiththiyamalai, Karadiyanaa'ru and Iluppaiyadichcheanai areas that were held by the LTTE.
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3 fishermen reported missing in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 09:49 GMT]
Three fishermen going fishing on Batticaloa seas Wednesday around 8:00 p.m have not returned home until Monday, according to a complaint registered by the fishermen's relatives at Vaazhaichcheanai police station.
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STF shoots dead 2 Tamil youths in Vellaave'li

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 09:36 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) troops shot dead two Tamil youths Sunday evening at Vellaave'li area in Batticaloa district, after arresting them in a search conducted in the area.
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SLA detains two in cordon, search of Vadamaraadchi village

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 August 2007, 02:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops conducted an extensive cordon and search operation in Polika'ndi East, in Vadamaraadchi Saturday beginning from 4:00 p.m till 9:00 in the night, sources in Vadamaraadchi said.
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Anura Bandaranaike to visit India

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 August 2007, 16:26 GMT]
Mr.Anura Bandaranaike, Minister of National Heritage, is scheduled to leave for New Delhi on Monday to meet Indian political leaders. He is expected to meet Ms Sonia Gandhi, leader of the ruling Congress Party, and Mr.M.K.Narayanan, Indian security advisor during his stay in New Delhi.
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SLN targets fishermen again in Mullaiththeevu seas

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 August 2007, 16:17 GMT]
Two fishermen fishing on Naayaaru seas in Mullaiththeevu district narrowly escaped death when two Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Dvora gunboats fired at the fishermen Sunday around 5:30 a.m., and kept firing for more than 30 minutes, fisheries sources in Mullaiththeevu said. S. Thapenthiram, 42, the father, and his son T. Selvam, 21, managed to swam ashore without sustaining any injuries but severely exhausted .
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SLFP to discuss threat to alliance

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 August 2007, 16:14 GMT]
The central committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), main constituent of the United peoples Freedom Alliance government, is scheduled to meet Tuesday at Temple Trees resident with Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse to discuss the current political situation following the resignation of a cabinet minister and four deputy ministers of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC). CWC is also a constituent of the ruling UPFA.
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Restriction imposed on Moothoor Muslim, Tamil fishermen

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 August 2007, 16:00 GMT]
Moothoor fishermen are restricted to fish within 2 km from the shore and can only use boats without outboard motors, Government security establishment has announced. The restrictions are likely to be strictly enforced on fishermen of Muslim and Tamil communities and this will drastically impact the economic well-being of the fishing communities, fisheries society sources said.
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Man abducted in Uppuve'li

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 August 2007, 13:40 GMT]
Unidentified persons in a vehicle abducted Friday night, a man from Paarathipuram, Uppuve'li in Trincomalee district, Uppuve'li police said.
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No military solution to Sri Lanka conflict- Canada

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 August 2007, 12:17 GMT]
Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter G MacKay, said replying to a letter from Mark Holland MP, that "Canada is deeply concerned by the renewal of the conflict in Sri Lanka," and that "The Canadian government believes that there can be no military solution to the conflict. Canada calls on all parties to the conflict to renounce violence and return to negotiations in order to find a peaceful political solution to the conflict that satisfies the legitimate aspirations of all citizens, regardless of language, religion, or ethnicity."
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Madu Road to open for August festival

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 August 2007, 10:56 GMT]
Mannaar Government Agent said that the road to Madu Mary's Church blocked by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) will be opened for public from August 10 to 17 to facilitate devotees to attend the Church festival, sources in Mannaar said. The festival begins with flag hoisting on August 6 and ends on the 15 th. For security reasons, the devotees are asked to take the necessary documents for their vehicles, he said.
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HRC officials meet detainees at Jaffna prison

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 August 2007, 02:23 GMT]
A four-member team of high level officials from Jaffna office of Human Rights Commission (HRC) visited Jaffna prison Saturday to look into the general welfare of the 42 civilians placed under protective custody in the prison after surrendering to HRC seeking protection from the armed forces.
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Judge orders Allaippiddi SLN Commander to appear in Courts

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 August 2007, 18:29 GMT]
Kayts district court Judge, Jeyaraman Trotsky, Friday ordered the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Commander in charge of the Allaippiddi SLN camp to appear in Court for investigations regarding the disappearances of two Jaffna civilians, a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) staffer abducted in Veala'nai in Jaffna Islets on 7th June and a postal worker who disappeared in Neduntheevu the same day, legal sources in Jaffna said.
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Poaratheevu resettled hesitant to stay at home during night

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 August 2007, 17:33 GMT]
A survey conducted by Inter Religious Federation among the 9027 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) recently resettled in Poaratheevu Pattu in Batticaloa District revealed a vast majority of the civilians avoid staying in their homes at night, survey officials said.
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Injured Jaffna youth dies

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 August 2007, 12:23 GMT]
Balasingaham Suresh, 21 shot and seriously injured Tuesday by two armed men at Mudamaavadi junction at Nalloor Koayil Road in Jaffna Tuesday evening, succumbed to his injuries at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Jaffna Teaching Hospital Friday morning, medical sources at the hospital said.
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Family man shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 August 2007, 01:20 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike shot dead a young family man on his way to a pharmacy to buy medication Friday around 6:45 p.m. at Va'n'naarpa'n'nai near the Vaiththeesvaran school, sources in Jaffna said. The incident took place inside highly protected area within the Jaffna Municipal limits.
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Tension in Mannaar town

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 August 2007, 17:49 GMT]
Tension prevailed in Mannaar town Friday evening when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) started firing artillery shells towards areas held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) from South Bar army camp in the town, residents said.
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Basil Rajapaksa insulted Thondaman - CWC MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 August 2007, 14:39 GMT]
A leading Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) member and CWC parliamentarian Muttu Sivalingam Friday told media at Kotagala in the up-country that their party would sit as an independent group in the opposition seats of the Sri Lankan parliament following their resignation of ministerial portfolios Thursday. The CWC decision to withdraw its support was made following the disagreement on 'Mahinda Chintanaya'. Mr. Muttu Sivalingam accused Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, the brother and political advisor of SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa for verbally abusing the CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman for not acting subservient to Mahinda doctrine.
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Woman shot dead in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 August 2007, 14:24 GMT]
An unidentified gunman on a motor cycle shot dead a young woman riding a bicycle along Periya Arasady Road in Changkaththaanai, Chaavakachcheari Friday around 2:15 p.m.
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Karukaamunai IDPs to be resettled

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 August 2007, 12:38 GMT]
More than two hundred twenty families displaced from Karukaamunai, a village in Eachchilampathu division in Trincomalee district, are to be resettled next week. Currently they are being sheltered in temporary structures in Batticaloa after they fled from their homes last year following a military operation launched by the Sri Lanka Army, Eachchilampathu divisional secretariat sources said.
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Court releases Tamil youth arrested for 'loitering'

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 August 2007, 12:35 GMT]
The Colombo Fort Magistrate Thursday released a Tamil youth who was arrested by the police on a charge that he was moving around the Temple Trees residence of President Mahinda Rajapakse without any reason. The youth Somasuntharam Ramanathan (24) is a resident and employed in a business establishment in Colombo.
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New police division for Mannaar district

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 August 2007, 11:02 GMT]
Mannaar district is to be administered as separate police division under a Senior Superintendent of Police with effect from 6 August 6 Monday, sources in Mannar said. A separate Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) will be appointed in Mannaar to administer police stations in Murunkan, Talaimannaar, and Mannaar. Police sentries in Erukalampiddy, Pe'saalai, Thoo'dave'li and Uyilankulam would also come under the administration of the Mannaar police division.
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Jaffna students boycott lectures protesting Journalist's killing

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 August 2007, 10:39 GMT]
Undergraduate students at Jaffna campus and the students of Jaffna Technical College (High Tech) boycotted lectures Friday protesting the Wednesday murder of Deluxshan, 22, a young media student at Jaffna University Media Research and Training Center and Sasiroopan, 25, a student of Jaffna Technical College (High Tech) who was shot dead Thursday, sources in Jaffna said.
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SLN soldier injured in claymore attack in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 August 2007, 08:04 GMT]
Unidentified persons triggered a claymore device Friday morning around 9:00 a.m., injuring a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) sailor, in front of Siththivinaayakar Hindu College located along Pa'l'limunai Road in Mannaar. The attack targeted the SLN road patrol unit at the site.
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Mother, 2 sons seek protection with HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 August 2007, 21:35 GMT]
A widow, with her two sons, have sought protection with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Thursday after being threatened with death by paramilitary members operating with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources in Jaffna said. Armed paramilitaries had gone to the woman's house in Kurunakar in Jaffna Wednesday around 3:00 p.m and threatened her family, according to her complaints registered at the HRC office. Meanwhile, the other person surrendered is a 31-year-old family man from Thenmaradchy.
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Youth shot dead in Thenmaraadchi, student abducted in Valigaamam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 August 2007, 20:07 GMT]
Unknown armed men on motor cycle shot dead a youth Wednesday around 6:00 p.m at Maarseari, Va'ra'ni in Thenmaraadchi, following the claymore attack Tuesday evening in Thenmaraadchi in which 3 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops were killed.
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Thondaman's CWC pulls out of Rajapaksa government

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 August 2007, 11:50 GMT]
Ceylon Workers Congress, an upcountry Tamil trade union and political party, led by Arumugan Thondaman, a Cabinet rank minister in Rajapaksa's United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) on Thursday said his party was withdrawing its support to Rajapaksa government due to political differences.
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SLA lifts night fishing ban in Vaakarai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 August 2007, 10:58 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has lifted the ban on night fishing in Vaakarai Sea but asked the fishermen to register their names before leaving the shore, according to fisheries sources in the area. About four thousand fishermen is expected to benefit from the easing of ban.
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Two plantation Tamils remanded over blocking presidential convoy

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 August 2007, 10:56 GMT]
Two plantation Tamils were ordered remand till August 3 by the Colombo Additional Magistrate on a charge by the police for blocking the motorcade in which Ms Shiranthee Rajapakse, wife of President Mahinda Rajapakse was travelling. The two suspects Senthan Wijekumar and Ramiah Surendran are residents of Haputale. They were arrested by the Presidential Security Division and later handed over to Cinnamon Gardens Police, legal sources said.
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Another student shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 August 2007, 10:04 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen on a motor cycle following a student of Jaffna Technical College (High Tech), shot him dead Thursday around 7:45 a.m, as he was riding on his motor cycle near Mudamaavadi junction, a place within Jaffna Municipal Council area.
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New Buddha statues in East

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 August 2007, 08:20 GMT]
The Sri Lanka government are taking steps to install statues of Buddha in areas captured by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Moothoor east Eachchilampathu divisions. Buddha statue is being used as a symbol of naked aggression, said Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian representing the Trincomalee district, according to Colombo media reports.
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Jaundice under control in Batticaloa resettlement areas-Deputy Director of Health

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 August 2007, 04:12 GMT]
Jaundice disease that has been spreading in resettled areas such as Vavunatheevu and Vellaave'li in Batticaloa district since July has been brought under complete control , Dr.Sathurmugam Deputy Director (DD) of Health Services,Batticaloa district said Wednesday.
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Sinhalese civilian files FR petition against Thoppigala celebration

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 August 2007, 15:57 GMT]
A Sinhalese resident of Kalutara, predominantly a Sinhala district in the western province Tuesday filed a fundamental rights violation petition in the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court seeking the court to declare that the Thoppigala (Kudumpimalai) victory celebration held by the Government of Sri Lanka on July 19 has violated the fundamental rights of the petitioner and the people Sri Lanka, legal sources said.
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SLA cordon, search Thenmaraadchi after 3 casualties in Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 August 2007, 10:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army officials in Thenmaraadchi confirmed Wednesday that they lost 3 SLA soldiers in a Claymore attack Tuesday evening at Vara'ni. The SLA launched a cordon, search operation Wednesday searching for attackers.
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Media student shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 August 2007, 07:38 GMT]
Sahathevan Deluxshan, 22, a young media student at Jaffna University Media Research and Training Center and a part time journalist was shot dead Wednesday around 5:00 a.m. by unidentified gunmen on motor cycle in front of his house. The killers called the victim out of his house at Station Road, Kokkuvil West in Jaffna and gunned him down. Deluxahan was one of the editors of 'Chaa'laram', a popular student magazine published by Jaffna District Student Federation.
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SLA says uncovers large weapon haul in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 August 2007, 00:01 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stationed in Batticaloa said they recovered a large cache of weapons buried hidden by the Liberation Tigers in two separate jungle locations in recently captured areas. The weapons were discovered in Naarakamoolai, Kudumpimalai and in Thikiliveddai during a search operation carried out Monday morning, according to SLA.
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