JVP MP resigns his post to contest provincial election

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 19:32 GMT]
Wasantha Samarasinghe of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Monday tendered his resignation from the post of Member of Parliament to contest the election of the North Central provincial Council (NCPC) as the chief ministerial candidate of the JVP. He submitted his letter of resignation to the Secretary General of the parliament.
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Kathirkaamam foot pilgrims to be photographed

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 16:25 GMT]
The annual festival of the historic Kathirkaamam Murukan temple located in the southern province is to commence on July 3 and to conclude on July 18 with the water-cutting ceremony (Theerththath thiruvizhaa) in the Maa'nikka Kangkai. Foot pilgrims from the eastern province are expected to enter Kathirkaamam area Tuesday, temple sources said. However, foot pilgrims are to be photographed by the security forces when they trek through the Yala sanctuary to Kathirkaamam
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Tamil teachers in Kandy district under surveillance

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 16:23 GMT]
About three hundred Tamil teachers who have been working in Kandy district on transfer from the northern and eastern provinces are under special surveillance. The activities of teachers transferred from Ki'linochchi district are closely monitored, said Kandy Police Superintendent (SP) Sisira Weerakone addressing a conference held in Kandy district secretariat, according to a news report carried in Monday's Thinakkural.
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Knifed youths yet to be identified in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 16:20 GMT]
Bodies of two youths knifed to death Saturday night at Paarathipuram and Thaalikku'lam in Vavuniyaa, lying in the mortuary of the Vavuniyaa general hospital since Sunday are yet to be identified, medical sources said.
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STF threatens shop owners in Batticaloa city, collects details

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 16:15 GMT]
The Special Task Force (STF) commandos in Batticaloa city have been collecting personal of details of the employees of the various business establishments as well as the occupants of the residences within Batticaloa police division for the past four days, residents in the city said. The STF commandos have further threatened the shop owners that if any bombs fixed to bicycles parked outside their stores ever explode and cause causalities to the commandos, they would be targeted in retaliation.
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Trinco IDPs arrested in Batticaloa, released after detention

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 16:11 GMT]
Eleven civilians arrested during a cordon and search operation conducted by STF commandos Saturday afternoon in Kalviyangkaadu IDP camp located within the administrative area of Ma'nmunai North District Secretariat in Batticaloa, were released Sunday afternoon. The arrests were made while a sports competition for the children in the camp was being conducted by the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Save the Children (STS) under the “Improvement of Education of Refugee Children” scheme was in progress.
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Unemployed graduates launch token protest in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 16:01 GMT]
More than 300 unemployed graduates launched a token protest Monday around 7:00 a.m in front of Jaffna Main Educational complex in Nalloor preventing the officials entering the Education Offices, in a demand for immediate employment, sources in Jaffna said. The graduates said that they were prepared to launch a continuous fast protest from Tuesday if the authorities were not ready to meet their demands.
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10 Jaffna Tamil youths arrested in Chilaapam

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 15:51 GMT]
Ten Tamil youths were taken into custody by the police in a cordon and search operation conducted covering two fishing hamlets Aluthwatte and Yampuwatte located in the Chilaapam (Chilaw) police division from morning till evening on Sunday. They are being detained in the police station and subjected to interrogation, police said.
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Sri Lankan forces arrest 60 Tamils in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 15:46 GMT]
Sri Lankan forces Monday evening arrested around 60 Tamils, most of them who had their place of birth or residence address from Jaffna in their identity cards. Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian from Vanni, Selvam Adaikkalanathan said he had taken up the concerns of the relatives with the authorities.
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Media organizations demonstrate against detention of journalist Tissanayagam

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 15:26 GMT]
Members of five media organizations staged a peaceful demonstration Monday around 10.30 a.m demanding the release of senior journalist J. S. Tissanayagam who is held in the custody of Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of Sri Lanka police for the last 115 days, in front of Colombo District Court. The Court extended the detention order served on Tissanayagam and two other Tamils, V. Jasikaran and Ms. V. Valarmathy until September 5 on request made by TID.
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U.S. Embassy reopens for normal operations

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 10:08 GMT]
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo, which has been closed to the public since June 25 after a suspicious powder was found, will reopen for normal operations Tuesday, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Colombo.
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3 killed, 5 missing, train derails in Hikkaduwa

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 08:08 GMT]
Three passengers were killed and several wounded when a Matara bound train from Madawaachchi, derailed at Seenigama in Hikkaduwa near the Southern port town Galle Monday afternoon, initial reports said. Five persons were reported missing as the train slided into a river, gintota, after the derailment.
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Two Tamil youths reported missing in Kotahena

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2008, 18:53 GMT]
A 37-year old Tamil flower-vendor and his assistant are missing from Kochchikade in Colombo since June 26, according to complaints lodged with the Kotahena Police and Rajagiriya Police by their relatives, sources in Colombo said.
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DPU Claymore explodes claiming the life of attacker

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2008, 13:35 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed while he was engaged in setting up a Claymore mine in Vannearikku'lam in Karaichchi division of Ki'linochchi, Sunday morning around 9:30, Tamileelam police officials in Ki'linochchi said. The SLA DPU team that hurriedly withdrew from the area, had left behind the dead body of the SLA soldier, 2 km away from the site of the blast. Police said a bus carrying civilians was approaching the area when the explosion took place.
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Thu'nukkaay DS killed in DPU attack

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2008, 13:06 GMT]
The Divisional Secretary (AGA) of Thu'nukkaay division of Mullaiththeevu district was killed in a Claymore attack carried out by the Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Tamileelam Police officials in Mullaiththeevu told media. The DS, Mr. N. Nanthakumar, 36, father of three-month-old baby girl, was killed on the spot in the attack which was reported at 4:50 p.m. Sunday.
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Australian socialist conference highlights Tamil rights

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2008, 12:20 GMT]
Tamil youth activists addressed a packed audience, who attended 'Resistance 2008', an annual conference of Australia's largest socialist youth organisation, held at the University of Technology in Sydney this weekend. At a workshop on Saturday the Tamil presenters urged the socialist activists in Australia to voice support for the right to self determination of the Eezham Tamils.
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Maanippaay police arrests Jaffna HRC driver

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2008, 09:32 GMT]
Maanippaay police arrested the driver of the vehicle belonging to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Saturday, claiming that weapons were found hidden in the vehicle that was parked in a motor repair garage in Maanippaay, sources in Jaffna said. Two employees of the garage were also arrested by Maanippaay police Saturday.
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SIM card details registered during search operation

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 June 2008, 09:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army and the Police, while conducting a joint search operation in Wellawatte, a Tamil suburb of Colombo, on Saturday registered details of mobile phone numbers and the serial number of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. Meanwhile, many of the civilians taken for inquiries are yet to return, the residents said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2008, 14:40 GMT]
A Tamil youth was shot dead during a joint cordon and search operation conducted Saturday morning 7:00 a.m. in Ka'luvaangkea'ni area within Ea’raavoor Police division in Batticaloa district by Special Task Force (STF) troopers of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and paramilitary operatives of Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP).
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Former Jaffna sportsman passes away

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2008, 11:51 GMT]
Popular NorthEast sportsman and Jaffna Schools Sport Association (JSSA) secretary during late 70's, Mr. T.K Vilvarajah passed away Sunday June 22 in Ottawa, Canada after a brief illness, sources in Toronto said. Mr Vilavarajah served as vice president of Jaffna Amateur Athletic Association during 1993-1996, and was known as the best starter for track events at national level.
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Jaffna student reported missing in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2008, 11:47 GMT]
A 20-year Tamil youth from Jaffna, staying with his aunt in Wellawatte in Colombo, has been reported missing since June 26, according to complaints lodged with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) by relatives.
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A'laveddi Tamil youth missing in Dehiwala

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2008, 11:43 GMT]
A 21-year Tamil youth from A'laveddi in Jaffna district, working in Colombo for nearly a one year, has been reported missing since June 24, according to complaints lodged by his sister with the Dehiwala Police, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and International Committee of Red cross (ICRC), sources said.
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Sri Lanka appoints Jayantha Wickremaratne as new IGP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2008, 11:41 GMT]
Jayantha Wickremaratne, senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, has been appointed 31st Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Sri Lanka with effect from July 1. He is to assume office on July 2. The incumbent IGP Victor Perera is to retire from service on June 30th, sources in Colombo said.
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Tamil woman shot dead in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2008, 10:42 GMT]
A 31-year old Tamil woman was shot dead by unknown gunmen waiting under the cover of shrub jungle when the victim was returning home after work with her husband in a motorbike near a cemetery along I'rampaikku'lam area in Vavuniyaa Friday night, police sources said.
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Weerawansa, Pillayan discuss alliance

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2008, 10:04 GMT]
Wimal Weerawansa, a pro-government politician who heads a breakaway faction of the Sinhala extreme nationalist JVP, Saturday morning held discussions with Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, the leader of the paramilitary-cum-political party TMVP, who was recently installed by Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling UPFA as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province, to reach a 'common understanding' and to form a 'common political front', informed sources in Colombo told TamilNet. Meanwhile, JVP sources, when contacted with the news, described the move as 'alliance of puppets.'
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TMVP person shot, injured in Ampaa'rai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2008, 08:28 GMT]
Unidentified armed men on motorcycle shot and seriously injured Friday around 9:15 p.m the person in charge of Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) office in Aalaiyadivempu in Akkaraippattu police division in Ampaa’rai district, near the office. The injured person was first rushed to Akkaraipattu hospital and then transferred to Ampaa’rai District Hospital for further treatment.
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Young SLN recruit commits suicide in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2008, 06:33 GMT]
A 23-year-old Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) recruit, enlisted six months ago, shot himself to death Wednesday night at Allaippiddi, in the islets of Jaffna. The young recruit left a letter saying that he was deceived by his recruiters and brought to the north and that he was not granted leave to go home.
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Attack on SLA, after thorough search operation in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 June 2008, 01:47 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army soldier was killed and another seriously injured following an ambush carried out on SLA soldiers returning to Manthikai base in Vadamaraadchi, Jaffna, after completing a day-long search operation in Thunnaalai area Friday night. The SLA has launched another cordon and search operation Saturday morning, blocking civilian movement in Thunnaalai and Nelliyadi areas, residents there said. Thunnaalai has been subjected to record high search operations in the Jaffna peninsula so far this year.
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SLA hands over 25 LTTE bodies to Vavuniyaa hospital

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 15:55 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Vavuniyaa handed over 25 dead bodies of Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) fighters, claiming that they were killed in action at Chriraddikku'lam, which is a GS area in Maanthai East division of Mullaiththeevu district. Meanwhile, Murungkan police handed over a dead body of a combatant to Mannaar hospital Friday evening.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 14:55 GMT]
Unknown gunmen shot dead a Tamil youth in Sivapuram in Vavuniyaa Thursday afternoon. The body of the youth has been lying in the mortuary of the Vavuniyaa general hospital for identification and postmortem examination, police sources said.
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Kaithadi Tamil youth abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 14:53 GMT]
A Tamil youth Subramaniam Vaseeharan, 21, was abducted Thursday night while staying in a lodge located along Kathiresan Road in Colombo, according to complaints lodged with the Kotahena Police by his relatives.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 14:45 GMT]
A 33-year old Tamil youth was shot dead Thursday night in Paalaiyoottu, a suburb in Trincomalee by unidentified armed persons riding a motorbike. The victim had been working in a lodge and was shot while returning home, according to complaints lodged by his relatives with the police.
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Abducted EPDP person recovered dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 12:48 GMT]
An EPDP person reportedly abducted by the TMVP group seven days ago was recovered dead near a pond in Vinayaakapuram Friday by the Vaazhaichcheani Police. The dead EPDP person was identified as Kaliyappan Gunaseelan, 34. The EPDP has alleged that a group headed by TMVP operative Ajith had kidnapped Gunaseelan.
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FMM: State media level dangerous allegation against Press Institute

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 12:41 GMT]
Colombo based media watchdog, the Free Media Movement (FMM), on Friday expressed serious concern against a false story planted in the Sri Lankan state controlled newspaper, 'Dinamina', a paper considered as one of the mouthpieces of the government, leveling dangerous allegations against Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) and a group of journalists who participated in a journalism course in Denmark. The story alleged that the SLPI had sent members connected to LTTE under Journalist label. The FMM has demanded the Sri Lankan media minister to extend a formal apology to the Sri Lankan Press Institute (SLPI) and the journalists who participated a journalism training course in Denmark.
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Criminalization of Tamil diaspora counterproductive - IFT

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 10:27 GMT]
Geneva based Tamil diaspora federation, the International Federation of Tamils (IFT), in a press release issued Thursday, expressed disappointment on the misuse of anti-terrorist legislation by Canada to "suppress the voice of Canadian Tamil diaspora by listing the World Tamil Organization (WTM) as a terrorist organization," denounced the measures taken by other western governments on criminalization of Tamil diaspora as "plainly unhelpful and clearly counter productive."
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Slain Maheswaran’s associate knifed to death

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 09:53 GMT]
Unknown men killed Friday around 1:40 a.m. knifed to death a close associate of late T. Maheswaran, former Sri Lanka minister and United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian for Colombo district at his residence on Wyman Road in Jaffna, police said. The victim was making arrangements for a memorial event that was to be held in Nalloor Thurkkaa Ma’ni Ma’ndapam Friday in remembrance of late Maheswaran who was slain on 01 January in Colombo.
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Youth’s corpse found in Naavaanthu’rai

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 01:24 GMT]
Residents of Naavaanthu’rai in Jaffna city recovered the corpse of a youth with a rope around his neck lying in an abandoned house at the Ainthu Santhi area Thursday evening, sources in Jaffna said. Recently, the burnt body of a woman abducted from Kokkuvil was found in this same area, the sources added.
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SLA cancels sports event leaving Jaffna students stranded in Trinco

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 00:55 GMT]
325 students and the teachers from Jaffna peninsula arriving in Trincomalee by ship to participate in the Northern Province Athletic Meet (NPAM) for students in Vavuniyaa Wednesday were left stranded due to the sudden cancellation of the event by the Governor of Northern Province. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities had advised the Governor to cancel the event citing security reasons.
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Vattaappazhai resident shot dead in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2008, 21:11 GMT]
A resident of Vattaappazhai in Mullaiththeevu district was shot dead by a group of unidentified persons along Marakaarampazhai Road in Vavuniyaa town Wednesday morning around 11:30.
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Chinese firm to supply 36MW generators in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2008, 15:42 GMT]
A team of Chinese engineers and workers arrived Wednesday at Kaankeasanththu’rai (KKS) harbour direct from China with six high-capacity generators, each capable of producing nearly 6MW, to supply electricity to Jaffna peninsula in accordance to the agreement entered between their firm named North Lanka Private Ltd and the Sri Lankan government, Sri Lanka Electricity Board (SLEB) officials in Chunnakam and Government Agent Jaffna said.
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SLA shells A9 gateway to Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2008, 15:13 GMT]
A 52-year-old civilian was wounded when four artillery shells fired by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) hit the Pu'liyangku'lam entry, exit point to the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled area in Vavuniyaa Thursday around 12:30 p.m., Tamileelam Police officials told reporters in Ki'linochchi.
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No change in curfew in Jaffna - SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2008, 14:45 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) announced Wednesday night over its radio in Palaali that the curfew hours will be extended, the new hours being 7:00 p.m to 5:00 a.m daily with effect from Thursday night. But, later on Thursday the SLA announced that the curfew will be between 9:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., as usual. Artillery fire exchanges that took place between the SLA at Palaali and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from their territories Wednesday evening may have caused the initial announcement, residents said.
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Heavy fighting in Vavuniyaa front

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2008, 14:33 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials in Vanni told reporters Thursday that their fighters confronted the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from 8:30 a.m. till 3:20 p.m. at Paalamoaddai in Vavuniyaa claiming that 8 SLA troopers were killed and 24 wounded in repeated clashes. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Army officials in Colombo claimed that their troops have brought Periya Madu in Maanthai West of Mannaar district, under their control.
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Farmer, fishmonger reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2008, 14:11 GMT]
A young farmer from Maathakal East is reported missing since 16 June after leaving his house to his farm, according to the complaint made to Human Rights Commision (HRC) Jaffna office by his mother. Meanwhile, a fishmonger from Kudaththanai in Vadmaraadchi is reported missing since 21 June after going to sell fish to Point Pedro on his motor cycle, his family members complained to HRC Jaffna.
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Grama Sevaka’s assistant shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2008, 13:43 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed Wednesday around 7:40 p.m a young man in Aavarangkaal in Valikaamam East, during power-cut, as he stood in front of his house talking to his friends, sources in Jaffna said. Mallaakam divisional magistrate Ms. Sarojini Illankoavan conducted inquiries into the death at the place where the young man was shot and killed.
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Ea’raavoor police arrest four EPDP cadres

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2008, 13:09 GMT]
Four cadres of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) alleged to have been involved in the recent spate of abductions, robberies, extortion of money from traders in Chengkaladi region were arrested Wednesday morning by Ea’raavoor police, produced in courts, and detained for 14 days on the instruction of the magistrate, Officer in Charge (OIC) of Ea’raavoor police said.
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9 Tamils arrested in Embilipitya, Kottagala

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 June 2008, 02:00 GMT]
The Police arrested nine Tamils, majority of them upcountry residents, in a joint cordon and search operations conducted jointly with the Sri Lanka Army from Monday night till Tuesday morning in Embilipitya and Kottagala in the southern province, media sources said.
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Oslo Forum delegates urged to adopt principled approach to Sri Lanka peace process

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 23:09 GMT]
Welcoming the reiterated stand of the International Community (IC) that there is no military solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka, a Norwegian Tamil organisation urged Tuesday global mediators to adopt a principled approach to the conflict in Sri Lanka. The organisation called on the IC to recognise the historical realities that there is a legacy of oppression by the Sri Lankan state against the Tamils and that the constitution of Sri Lanka has been a major hurdle in implementing agreed arrangements under the ethnic-majoritarian rule. The appeal further urged the IC to affirm that the Tamil people have a justifiable concern to safeguard the territorial integrity of their homeland.
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DPU mine attack kills student, 4 wounded in Vanni

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 16:16 GMT]
A 16-year-old student, who was moving with his father and another family on a tractor due to increased artillery shelling by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was killed in a mine attack at Annatheavan madu, Kuzhavisuddaan in Nedungkea'ni Wednesday morning around 9:30, Tamileelam Police officials told media in Vanni. The TE Police blamed the SLA Deep Penetration Unit for the attack that has injured the victims father and three brothers of another family.
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Decapitated body of male found in Kayts

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 15:19 GMT]
A young family man’s body with his head cut off separately was found Wednesday morning near the Little Flower School at Nerugnchiyadi, Churuvil in Oorkaavaththu'rai (Kayts), an islet of Jaffna, police said. The victim, originally from Visuvamadu in Ki'linochchi, was married to a woman in the islet four years ago and had been residing in Kayts since then, residents said.
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3 expatriate Tamils arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 14:33 GMT]
Kollupittiya police arrested three expatriate Tamil family men returning after many years abroad 18 June in kollupittiya, according to a complaint lodged with Sri Lankan Deputy Minister for Vocational Training and Industrial Education, P. Rathakrishnan, by the sister of one of the arrestees, sources in Colombo said. Police said that the arrests were made on a tip received by them that one of them was in possession of fake hundred dollar bills.
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White powder scare closes Colombo U.S. Embassy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 14:05 GMT]
United States Embassy officials in Colombo ordered complete closure of the embassy after mysterious white powder in a paper container was recovered in the visa section Wednesday 11:00 a.m., sources in Colombo said.
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Batticaloa graduates end protest fast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 11:32 GMT]
Hundreds of unemployed graduates in the Eastern Province ended the fasting campaign Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. outside the Zonal Education Office in Batticaloa, sources in Batticaloa said. The protest against the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) Chief Minister (CM), Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillaiyan), for not fulfilling the pledge made to the Association of Graduates of Eastern Province (AGEP), started at 7:00 a.m.
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Janaka Perera promises victory for UNP in provincial election

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 11:12 GMT]
"As I have demonstrated in the battlefield, I will also show my organizational ability in the elections," said Major General (retd) Janaka Perera, sources in Colombo said. Mr Perera has been nominated by the main opposition United National Party (UNP) as the chief ministerial candidate for the North Central Provincial Council (NCPC).
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SLA demands personal information from families in Vadamaraadchchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 07:56 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna peninsula is subjecting families in the coastal villages of Vadmaraadchi to severe interrogation at their camps late into the night, and demanding personal information, the residents of these villages said. The SLA is conducting the screening operation to issue Special SLA Identity Cards to all Jaffna residents before the end of the year.
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Price of cement in Jaffna peninsula soars

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 05:56 GMT]
A 50 kg bag of cement sold at Rs. 650 in the rest of Sri Lanka is being sold at Rs. 2200 in the black market in Jaffna peninsula, sources in Jaffna said. Jaffna Government Agent (GA) issued a circular Monday fixing a controlled price of Rs. 1500 per bag and warned that action will be taken against traders who do not observe the stipulated fixed price for cement.
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Director of SCOPP visits Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 03:42 GMT]
Director of Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), Professor Rajiva Wijayasinghe, visited Tuesday Batticaloa to study the situation in Batticaloa district and to identify the obstacles in resuming normalcy of life of the people of Batticaloa district, Batticaloa District Secretariat sources said. Security was beefed up around District Secretariat and the Judicial Complex. The officials were not permitted to take their vehicles in, according to sources.
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Police shoot dead Tamil fish vendor in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 02:43 GMT]
Vavuniya police shot dead a fish vendor Tuesday early morning close to the refugee camp located in Poonthoddam in Vavuniyaa, sources in Vavuniyaa said. The victim's wife identified the body at the inquest held at the site by Vavuniyaa Magistrate M.Y.M.Isardeen same day morning around 9:00 a.m. The body was handed over to the Vavuniyaa general hospital for postmortem examination.
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4 students arrested in Batticaloa district

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 01:52 GMT]
Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) elite commandos arrested a grade eleven student and a grade ten student in Ka’luvaangnchchikudi police division on 15th June, while on 13th June Batticaloa police arrested two students for stealing a bicycle, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Batticaloa traders appeal for closure of EPDP office

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 June 2008, 14:16 GMT]
Traders of Chengakaladi area closed their shops for the second day in protest against the forcible abduction of a fellow trader, Thursday around 3:30 p.m. Armed men of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) in a white van allegedly carried out the abduction, according to complaint made by the victim’s relatives with Ea’raavoor police, Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the Red Cross Society. Meanwhile, representatives of Chengkaladi Traders Association met Pillayan Tuesday, and appealed to him to close the EPDP office in the area.
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Moscow International film festival defies SL request on Black Tiger documentary

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 June 2008, 10:30 GMT]
The world-renowned Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF), despite being approached by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which was under pressure from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Russia, turned down the Sri Lankan request not to feature a documentary film on Black Tigers in the film festival. The MIFF screened Monday 'My Daughter The Terrorist,' the award winning documentary on Black Tigers by Director Beate Arnestad from Norway.
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Unemployed graduates resume protest fast in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 June 2008, 08:14 GMT]
Hundreds of unemployed graduates in the Eastern Province launched a fasting campaign Tuesday from 7:00 a.m outside the Zonal Education Office in Batticaloa in protest against the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) Chief Minister, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillaiyan), for not fulfilling the pledge he made to the Association of Graduates of Eastern Province that he would find employment for all the unemployed graduates in Eastern Province, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Colombo court reserves order in Tissanayagam case

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 June 2008, 04:20 GMT]
Colombo Chief Magistrate Monday reserved his order for June 30 on the application made by counsel for journalist J.S.Tissanayagam and two others that continuous detention by the Terrorism Prevention Unit exceeding thirty days under the Emergency Regulations is a violation of law, and pleaded the court to transfer the suspects to remand prison immediately, legal sources said.
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STF exposed in Batticaloa killings: TNA MP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 June 2008, 01:07 GMT]
The indiscriminate shooting on Sunday by Special Task Force (STF) troops of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) resulting in the killing of two civilians and injuring three others in Ka’luthaava’lai, Batticaloa demonstrates the 'barbaric behaviour' of STF, Batticaloa district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian T.Kanagasabai Batticaloa district said in a press communiqué released Monday.
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3 policemen killed in Claymore attack in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2008, 18:31 GMT]
A Claymore attack targeting policemen of Aayithiyamalai police station in Batticaloa district, Monday around 6:15 p.m. killed 3 policemen and seriously injured another, Aayiththiyamalai police said. A Claymore device hidden in the thickets close to the place where policemen from Aayithiyamalai police station go for bath was activated by unknown men, the police added.
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Missing youth found dead in Nainaatheevu

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2008, 16:26 GMT]
A youth who had gone out with his friends Sunday afternoon in Nainaatheevu, an islet of Jaffna, was found dead Monday morning with assault injuries on his body in a barren land near his house in Ward 4. Kayts magistrate conducted inquires at the place where the body was found and directed Kayts police to hand it over to Jaffna Teaching Hospital for post mortem examination, sources in Kayts said.
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India helping Colombo to perpetrate genocide on Tamils, accuses Vaiko

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2008, 14:39 GMT]
In a letter to the Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Vaiko, General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), accused India of “equipping the Sri Lanka Government to help its war machine to perpetrate genocidal attacks against the Tamils...throwing to winds the farsighted foreign policy adopted by Pandit Nehru and Mrs. Indira Gandhi,” and urged the Prime Minister to not participate in the SAARC Conference.
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Aaaraiyampathi public ignores TVMP call for hartal

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2008, 14:02 GMT]
A call by TMVP(Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal) for hartal (mass protest) in Aaarayampathi to commemorate 31st day of the death of a key paramilitary operative Shanthan and his associate slain May 22 was ignored, and all activitities continued as usual, local residents said.
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Woman, 3 children reported missing in Uduppiddi

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2008, 13:50 GMT]
A woman and her three children from Uduppiddi in Vadamaraadchi are reported missing since 17 June, according to a complaint to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna by her husband Monday. The husband had flown back from a Middle East country on being informed of the disappearance of his family by neighbours.
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Police shoot dead family man in Vellaavea’li

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2008, 09:36 GMT]
Vellaavea’li police in Batticaloa district shot and killed a Tamil family man Monday around 2:30 a.m. when he tried to escape from custody at Vangkaal area in Vellaavea’li, the police said. The man was arrested by the police last month, and was being taken to identify other suspects, when he tried to escape, the police further said.
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Insurance salesman shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2008, 04:29 GMT]
Unidentified armed persons shot dead a Tamil person employed by Trincomalee branch of a private sector life insurance company in Trincomalee town Sunday night around 7.50 p.m., police sources in Trincomalee said. The company is headquartered in Colombo.
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White van abduction in Ka’luthaava’lai

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 June 2008, 02:15 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in a white van abducted a family man Sunday around 6:30 p.m. from his home at Ka’luthaava’lai in Ka’luvaangchchikudi police division in Batticaloa district while he was watching TV with his family, according to the complaint made by his wife to Ka’luvaangchchikudi police.
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Civilian killed in DPU attack in Vanni

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 15:38 GMT]
An Internally Displaced Person (IDP) who was residing in Mallaavi was killed in a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) Claymore attack Sunday around 9:30 a.m. at Paalaippaa'ni near Mallaavi, Tamileelam Police officials said.
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Shut down protest in Chengakaladi against abduction

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 14:32 GMT]
Traders of Chengakaladi area shut down their shops Sunday in protest against the forcible abduction of a fellow trader, Thursday around 3:30 p.m. Armed men of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) in a white van allegedly carried out the abduction, according to complaint made by his relatives with Ea’raavoor police, Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the Red Cross Society. The shut down followed the distribution of the hand bill issued by the Traders of Chengkaladi calling for the immediate release the fellow trader, sources in Chengkaladi said.
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18 SLA killed in Vavuniyaa, SLA bodies recovered - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 14:23 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) on Sunday said they put up stiff resistance to a three-pronged attempt by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to break into their territory in Paalamoaddai, Vavuniyaa. 18 SLA soldiers were killed and three dead bodies of the SLA, two of them severely damaged, were located by the Tigers. More than 31 SLA soldiers were wounded in the confrontations, according to the LTTE. Three T-56 assault rifles with kit-bags, holsters and ammunition have been seized by the LTTE.
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STF shoots dead 2 Tamil youths after Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 13:25 GMT]
Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) commandos, an elite commando unit that comes under the Sri Lankan Police, shot and killed two young Tamil males, as the STF went amok on the residents in Ka'luthaava'lai, 22 km southeast of Batticaloa city, after a Claymore ambush killed a STF commando and a policeman in the village Sunday morning. Several civilians, including women and children, were assaulted by the STF.
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Janaka Perera to be UNP defense spokesman

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 09:38 GMT]
The main United National Party (UNP) leadership has decided to appoint Major General (retd) Janaka Perera as the defense spokesman of the party. Janaka Perera, after retirement from the Sri Lanka Army, served as the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Australia and Indonesia. Informed sources further said that the party had also decided to name him as its candidate for the post of Chief Minister for the North Central Provincial Council.
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White van gang abducts family man in Chengkaladi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 09:29 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in a white van forcibly abducted Thursday around 3:30 p.m. a family man from Chengkaladi in Ea’raavoor police division in Batticaloa district while he was going to Chengkaladi public market with his friend on a bicycle, according to complaint made to Ea’raavoor police by his family members.
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Former Journalist abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 09:15 GMT]
A former reporter of Colombo Tamil daily Thinakkural, Thiruchelvam Thirukumaran, currently an officer attached to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment, was abducted from his house at Dehiwala by a group of men who arrived in a white colour van around 8:45 p.m. Saturday, according to a complaint lodged by his parents with the Dehiwala Police Sunday. The abductors were clad in police uniform.
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Claymore blast kills STF soldier, police officer

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 09:00 GMT]
A Special Task Force (STF) elite soldier and a police officer were killed in a claymore blast at Ka'luthaava'lai, in the Ka’luvaangchchikudi police division, 22 km, south of Batticaloa around 7:45 a.m., Sunday. Attacks on police, STF and paramilitary personnel have escalated in Batticaloa.
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Prayers for peace observed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 08:29 GMT]
Leaders and followers of Saiva, Protestant, and Catholic religions in Jaffna peninsula participated in a joint prayer event for peace in Sri Lanka, organized by Northern Region Sathiya Seva institution at Nallur Saturday around 2:30 p.m, presided by Jaffna magistrate Vasanthasenan. “Love is God, Live in Love” was the main theme on which the devotional singing prayer programme was held, according to the attendees.
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South African Tamils rally for Eezham Tamils' rights

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 00:46 GMT]
Tamils in South Africa on Saturday gathered for Pongku Thamizh rally at the Arena Park Regional Hall, in Chatsworth, where they pledged to support the Eezham Tamils' right to statehood, and urged the international community to voice for the Tamils’ rights.
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SLA, police arrest two youths in Naavalady

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 00:45 GMT]
Two youths were taken into custody during a cordon and search operation jointly conducted Saturday from 9:00 a.m. till noon by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and police personnel in Naavalady area in the administrative area of Maanmunai North District Secretariat within Batticaloa police division, sources said.
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Two TMVP men wounded in ambush

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2008, 17:21 GMT]
Two TMVP paramilitary personnel were seriously wounded Saturday around 7:00 p.m. when attackers opened fire on the office of the paramilitary-cum-political party, located near Vellaave'li police station, 20 km south of Batticaloa.
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Sampanthan regrets neglected relationship

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2008, 15:23 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group leader R. Sampanthan, who on Saturday met the visiting Indian top officials at India House in Colombo, told the delegation that "Tamils believed all these years that they were the natural allies of India, but it is not so today." Even the human rights violations against Tamils, abductions and genocide are largely ignored by India.
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WTM to fight Ottawa's decision

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2008, 03:24 GMT]
Following Ottawa's decision to designate the World Tamil Movement (WTM), a non-profit organization run by Canadian Tamils, as a terrorist organization, the Counsel for WTM, in a press briefing Friday said they will "apply for a stay of regulation," and if Minister of Public Safety, Mr Stockwell Day, is not inclined to reconsider his recommendation, WTM will make an application to the Federal Court for "judicial review" of the decision.
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Two more killed in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2008, 02:37 GMT]
Dead bodies of two young men, with gunshot wounds, were found at Uppukku'lam near the Sree Raja Rajesvari Amman temple, within the city limit of Mannaar, Saturday morning. Four persons have been shot and killed in Mannaar within the past 36 hours.
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TMVP operative injured in gun mishap in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2008, 01:34 GMT]
The fire arm of an operative of the paramilitary-cum-political party Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) accidentally went off Friday night around 8:30p.m. seriously injuring him at Ka’radiyanaa’ru TMVP office in Batticaloa district, Batticaloa police said.
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UNP dissidents withdraw their case against Wickremasinghe

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2008, 01:30 GMT]
Eleven dissident parliamentarians of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and have been functioning as UNP Democratic Wing in the parliament holding ministerial posts in the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Friday withdrew their petitions filed against Ranil Wickremasinghe and Tissa Attanayake, president and general secretary of the UNP from taking steps to expel them from the proper UNP, legal sources said.
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SL Supreme Court dismisses petitions against dissolution of provincial councils

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2008, 01:11 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Supreme Court Friday refused without inquiry four petitions filed separately by the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) challenging the dissolution of the Sabragamuwa Provincial Council and North central Provincial Council by the respective governors was illegal. UNP filed two petitions, one against the dissolution of SPC and the other against NCPC. Like wise the JVP also filed two petitions, legal sources said.
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Fisherman reported missing in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2008, 00:57 GMT]
A fisherman from Moor Street in Mannaar city has been abducted around 9:00 a.m. Thursday, according to a complaint by his family with humanitarian institutions in Mannaar.
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SLN arrests begging children in Thalaimannaar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 June 2008, 00:55 GMT]
A 12-year-old girl with her 9-year-old sister and another 10-year-old girl, who had taken to street-begging and reached Thalaimannaar pier where a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) camp is located, were arrested by the SLN. They were later handed over to Thalaimannaar Police, who brought the children to the Mannaar Courts Friday. Mannaar District Judge T. J. Prabakaran ordered the children to be placed under protective custody till 26 June. The children were sent to Anuradhapura prison from Mannaar, according to legal sources.
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Mysterious death of 15 young SLN recruits in Delft

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 22:40 GMT]
More than 15 young Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) recruits between 16 to 20 years of age were found dead following a mysterious shooting incident in their camp, last Monday, in Delft (Neduntheevu), the farthest island off Jaffna. Unconfirmed reports allege collective suicide due to frustration caused by isolation and harsh training. Before the incident, the trainees had conveyed their frustrations to reliable sources. The trainees were reportedly deceived by their recruiters that they were to be trained somewhere in the South of Sri Lanka, but had been brought to Nedunththeevu in the North.
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Dissident JVP parliamentarian seeks security from police

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 20:56 GMT]
Anjana Umma, dissident Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarian Friday wrote to the Inspector General of Police seeking security for her as she and her family members have been facing threats due to her latest political decision, media sources said.
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Man abducted after refusing motorbike to Pillayan group

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 11:29 GMT]
A 29-year-old man, K. Prabakaran, from Naakathampiraan Road in Ki'n'naiyadi, Batticaloa, was abducted after refusing to hand over his motorbike to a Pillayan group paramilitary operative known as Oviyan, according to the relatives of the victim. The family, yet to lodge a formal complaint with the police, has been visiting the offices of the paramilitary group almost on a daily basis, urging the group to release the victim.
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JVP dissident parliamentarian says she is safe

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 11:23 GMT]
Anjana Umma, the dissident Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarian Friday around 10:50 a.m. telephoned the Officer-in-Charge of the Mirigama Police and said she is safe. She contacted the police by telephone in response to the complaint made by her husband Thursday night that he had not heard about his wife since she left to parliament on June 16 with two her parliamentary colleagues.
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Tamil man abducted in Puththa'lam

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 10:29 GMT]
A 30-year-old Tamil male who has been working in a grocery shop in Puththa'lam for nine years was abducted Thursday night by armed men who came in a white van, according to a complaint made by his parents to the Police in Puththa'lam.
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Gunmen target Tamil Jewelery shop owners in South

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 08:31 GMT]
Two unidentified persons riding a motor cycle shot and killed a Tamil jewelery shop owner, Kanagaratnam Devanayagam, at Kamachchoalai, in Negombo, Thursday around 7:30 p.m., police said. 8 days ago, the owner of Vasantha Jewelery was gunned down in Ambalangoda by two armed men who arrived in a motorbike.
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Top Indian delegates visit Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 08:04 GMT]
India's Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and India's Defence Secretary Vijay Singh have arrived in Colombo Friday morning, informed sources said.
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Fein seeks action against Sri Lanka officials

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 05:41 GMT]
Bruce Fein, a Washington Times columnist, and a functionary in the Ronald Reagan administration, who is currently in Toronto, told a Toronto newspaper, that he is seeking support to "gathering evidence against two brothers of current Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse (one a U.S. citizen) and that nation's army chief, Sarath Fonseka," who he claims are responsible for "daily atrocities" in Sri Lanka.
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Moscow film festival features Arnestad's Black Tiger documentary

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 04:45 GMT]
Norwegian Director Beate Arnestad's documentary on Black Tigers, "My daughter the terrorist," is to be featured in the Moscow International Film Festival to be held between 19th and 26th of June. The documentary, produced after Tamil Tigers for the first time allowed a foreign film team to "hand-pick, follow, interview and dig deep" into the lives and faiths of two female Black Tigers, was premiered in Oslo in March, was featured in the North Carolina, US film festival, and also in Paris.
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Fishermen demonstrate against SLA restriction in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 04:20 GMT]
More than 300 fishermen from PanangkaddukKoddadi area in Mannaar district launched a protest demonstration in front of Mannar Regional Secretariat Thursday around 10:30 a.m against the restrictions imposed by Sri Lanka Army (SLA), and submitted memoranda to Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, S. Vino Noharathalingam and Mannaar Assistant Government Agent (AGA), requesting their help to solve their problems, sources in Mannaar said.
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Family man abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 04:01 GMT]
Two men in police uniform and three armed men in civil clothes arriving in a police jeep and a white van at the house of a family man Saturday early morning in Maddakku’li in Mukaththuvaaram police division in Colombo took him away in the van, according to the complaint made to Mukaththuvaaram police station and Human Rights Commission, by his family members.
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2 dead bodies recovered in Mannaar public cemetery

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 03:40 GMT]
Dead bodies of two young men were found Friday morning, with gun shot wounds, in Mannaar public cemetery located along the A-14 Mannaar Thalaimannaar Road, Police said. In recent months, 4 dead bodies have been located from the cemetery.
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Dissident JVP parliamentarian missing, husband complains

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 02:46 GMT]
Anjana Umma, a dissident parliamentarian of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), who on June 17 expressed her desire to function as independent has not returned home since she left for parliament with two other JVP parliamentarians, according to the complaint lodged with the Mirigama police by her husband Farook Thursday night, an electronic media reported Friday morning.
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'Tamils seek liberation, not just an end to human rights abuses' - paper

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 June 2008, 02:21 GMT]
By reducing the Sri Lankan state’s multi-faceted repression of the Tamils to simply a problem of ‘human rights abuses’, the international community is avoiding the central question of Tamil self-determination and, through the logic of ‘reform’, seeking to legitimize its efforts to strengthen the Sri Lankan state, the Tamil Guardian newspaper argued this week. “For the Tamils, the atrocities inflicted on them by the Sri Lankan security forces are a symptom, an indicator of the racist logic of the Sinhala-dominated state; for the international community, they are the problem itself i.e. end the abuses and thus solve the crisis,” the paper’s editorial said.
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Stay order extended in tsunami house distribution to Muslims

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2008, 16:47 GMT]
The Supreme Court Thursday extended its interim stay order in the Fundamental Rights petition filed by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parliamentarian Venerable Ellawela Methanananda Thera and officials of Deegavapi Restoration Committee against the distribution of about five hundred houses constructed under tsunami rehabilitation project to members of the Muslim community, legal sources said. The three member bench of the Supreme Court said the stay order would be in force until the inquiry into the FR petition is over. The inquiry has been put of for September 9.
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SLN arrests 10 fishermen in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2008, 16:32 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) arrested Wednesday ten fishermen for having strayed beyond the 3 km distance limit enforced by the security forces in the seas of Vadamaradchi North and Munnai areas, confiscating their five catamarans, sources in Point Pedro said. The arrested fishermen were warned by the Point Pedro magistrate and allowed on 2,000 rupees cash bail each Thursday when they were produced at Point Pedro Court. The magistrate also directed SLN to return the confiscated catamarans to the fishermen.
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Number of School drop-outs escalate in Jaffna district

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2008, 15:57 GMT]
The number of children dropping out of school due to economic hardships, particularly children of fisher families in the coastal areas of Jaffna peninsula and among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is on the increase at a disturbing rate, Education Officials in Jaffna warned. Jaffna Government Agent (GA), Thursday, requested Education Authorities in the peninsula to submit data on the student drop-out immediately, Jaffna Secretariat sources said.
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Jewelry shop owner reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2008, 15:07 GMT]
A young jewelry shop owner from Ka’n’naapuram in Naavaanthu’rai, Jaffna, is reported missing since Tuesday evening after leaving home to collect his dues from some jewelry shops in Jaffna town, according to the complaint made by his mother to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office.
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CWC, UPF to contest Sabragamuwa PC separately

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2008, 08:30 GMT]
The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) Thursday officially announced that they would contest the election to the Sabragamuwa Provincial Council separately and not in the ticket of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA). CWC and UPF are constituents of the UPFA. Leaders of the parties have been holding ministerial portfolios in the cabinet led by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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2 policemen shot dead in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2008, 06:59 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen following on a motorcycle two policemen along Kalmunai-Batticaloa main street shot and killed them with pistols Thursday around 9:10 a.m near P'l'laiyaaradi junction, sources in Kalmunai said. Tension prevails in Kalmunai.
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Pongku Thamizh rally in France draws 7000

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 23:21 GMT]
Around 7,000 French Tamils thronged the venue of Pongku Thamizh rally at Place du Président Edouard Herriot close to the French Parliament in Paris Wednesday. A parliamentarian of the French Communist Party (PCF), Maxime Gremetz, who came out of the Parliament, appreciated the Tamils for voicing for their rights. In a spontaneous address to the audience, he said that the proscription imposed on Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) was unfair and the movement was essentially a freedom movement.
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Anjana Umma to join JNP led by Weerawanse

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 19:08 GMT]
Anjana Umma, the latest dissident parliamentarian of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has expressed her desire Wednesday to join the Janatha Nidahas Peramuna (JNP), which is led by Wimal Weerawanse. Ms Anjana Umma, the sole Muslim parliamentarian of the JVP in the Sri Lanka parliament had announced Tuesday that she was going to function as an independent.
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SL Supreme Court to inquire petitions against PCs dissolution

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 19:07 GMT]
Petitions filed by the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) separately challenging the dissolution of Sabragamuwa Provincial Council and North Central Provincial Council are to be inquired by a panel of judges of the Supreme Court, legal sources said.
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Tamil physical instructor abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 19:03 GMT]
Unidentified armed persons Monday night abducted a Tamil youth, native of Ki'linochchi, in Kotahena (Koddaagncheanai) in Colombo, according to complaints lodged with the police by his relatives Wednesday. The victim, Selliah Sivasubramaniam, 27, had been working in a physical training center, located along George.R.De Silva Mawatte in Kotahena, as an instructor.
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385 Tamil civilians languish in SLA detention in Nanaaddaan - MP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 19:00 GMT]
385 civilians from 177 families of Mannaar are languishing in Sri Lanka Army detention at Ka'limoaddai in Naanaaddaan for three months without any inquiries, said Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Sivasakthy Anandan in a letter to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday. The TNA parliamentarian for Vanni District appealed to the Sri Lankan president to order the release of the civilians detained in the SLA camp. Some of those detained include those who were born in India and had their education in the schools and Universities there.
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Student reported missing found dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 13:41 GMT]
Batticaloa police recovered Wednesday around 10:30 a.m. the body of a youth reported missing since Monday, along Naavaladi Lake in Batticaloa police division, with severe assault injuries. The youth was reported missing after going on his motor cycle to Kadalaadchi Amman Temple festival Monday, according to the complaint.
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Tamil woman arrested in Kandy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 11:27 GMT]
Kandy police arrested a Tamil woman Tuesday afternoon while present at a meeting attended by Arumugam Thondaman, Sri Lankan Minister of Youth Empowerment and Socio economic Development.
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14 awarded Diploma in Journalism at Jaffna University

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 10:19 GMT]
“The responsibility of guiding the society on a just and proper path rests with the media,” Vice-chancellor of Jaffna University, Prof. N. Shanmugalingan, Guest of Honour, said in the convocation ceremony held Wednesday at Jaffna University, Media Resource and Training Centre (MRTC). Fourteen students, including a woman, were awarded Diploma in Journalism at the ceremony. “Though the journalists passing out today have to work in a dangerous security climate, I fervently hope they will fulfill their responsibility to the society, Prof. P. Balasuntharampillai, the head of MRTC and former Vice-chancellor of Jaffna University, said in his speech.
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Seven leaders including G.G.Ponnambalam honored in SL parliament

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 04:29 GMT]
Seven political leaders, C.W.W.Kannangara, A.E.Goonesinghe, Dr.S.A.Wickremasinghe, G.G.Ponnambalam, Dr.N.M.Perera, Phillip Gunawardene and Alhaj T.B.Jayah were honored for their services to Sri Lanka, Tuesday in Sri Lanka's parliament. Their photographs were unveiled Tuesday morning in the parliament as a mark of respect in an event presided by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, parliamentary sources said.
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SL Parliament begins debate on Witness Protection Bill

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 04:28 GMT]
Ruling and opposition parties in Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday agreed to debate the Assistance and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Bill. The Minister of Justice Amarasiri Dodangoda presented the Bill, parliamentary sources said.
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SLA position ambushed in Mannaar city

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 03:05 GMT]
A group of guerrilla fighters lobbed a grenade and opened fire on a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) post located at the public playground on Mannaar - Thalaimannaar Road in Mannaar city in the early hours of Wednesday, at 2:05 a.m., killing one SLA soldier and seriously wounding another, Police said. Tension prevailed in the city as SLA soldiers opened fire from their posts throughout the city continuously for 45 minutes.
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JVP Muslim woman parliamentarian to function as independent

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 02:22 GMT]
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarian Ms Anjana Umma representing Gampaha district has decided to function as an independent, parliamentary sources said. She made this known to parliamentary circles Tuesday when she made a complaint to the police unit in the parliament seeking their assistance to get her two vehicles assigned to her from the party.
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SLA trooper shot, injured in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2008, 16:35 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen opened fire Monday around 7:20 p.m. on a road patrol unit of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) near the Clock Tower on Chaakama Veethi in Akkaraipattu police division in Ampaa’rai district, seriously injuring a soldier, sources in Akkaraipattu said. SLA launched a cordon and search operation immediately after the attack.
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ACF quits, says no confidence in SL's investigations into massacre

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2008, 12:33 GMT]
"It has been almost two years and we have seen nothing...We no longer have any confidence the Sri Lankan investigations will deliver justice." Executive Director, Francois Danel, of Action Contre la Faim (ACF) told Reuters saying that "it [ACF] had no confidence in the government investigation and had quit the island in protest."
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TNA MP meets Norwegian Special Envoy in Oslo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2008, 12:14 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Batticaloa District, S. Jeyanandamoorthy, who is currently on a visit to Europe, met Norwegian Special Envoy to Sri Lanka, Jon Hanssen-Bauer, in Oslo on Monday and discussed the political and humanitarian situation prevailing in the North and East. "Rajapaksa government is now attempting to seek regional recognition, especially from India, as it attempts to seek foreign funds for implementing a colonisation-agenda in the East," the MP told TamilNet after his meeting with the Norwegian Envoy.
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Sri Lankan Appeal Court decides to inquire Batticaloa election petition

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2008, 10:34 GMT]
The Court of Appeal Tuesday decided to hold inquiry into the petition filed against the results of the Batticaloa district in the East Provincial Council election held on May 10. Two petitioners who contested the election from the Batticaloa district on the opposition party ticket have sought the court to annul the results as no fair and free election was not held in the district due to the presence of a paramilitary grou. Justice Ranjit Silva fixed the inquiry on July 11, legal sources said.
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9 Up-Country Tamils arrested in Marawila, Kochchikade

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2008, 10:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police took into custody nine Up-Country Tamil civilians including a woman into custody Monday in two separate search operations. Marawila Police took eight Tamil youths and the Kochchikade Police took a Tamil woman. All have been residents of Passara in Badulla district and had been employed in Marawila and Kochchikade.
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JVP trade unions announce token strike demanding wage increase

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2008, 10:19 GMT]
The National Trade Union Centre (NTUC), which claims that it comprises of hundreds of public, private and state sector trade unions, has called for a one-day token general strike on July 10 demanding a salary increase of five thousand rupees to public, private and state sector employees and a five hundred rupees increase in the daily wage of plantation workers. NTUC is backed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)
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UK to close down Defense Section in Colombo office

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2008, 10:17 GMT]
The Defense Section of the British High Commission in Colombo is to be closed down soon. The resident Defense Advisor will be removed from Colombo, media reports said quoting a spokesman of the British High Commission in Colombo.
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8 Tamils arrested in Polonnaruwa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2008, 03:03 GMT]
Eight Tamil civilians were arrested Tuesday morning in a cordon and search operation conducted jointly by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police in Polonnaruwa town in the north western province. They are being detained in police station and are being interrogated for alleged involvement in LTTE activity, sources said.
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Canada says WTM is a terrorist group

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 June 2008, 01:12 GMT]
Stating that “[t]he Government is once again taking decisive action to protect Canadians from terrorism and to safeguard our nation’s security,” Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, announced Monday that the Government of Canada has listed World Tamil Movement (WTM) as a terrorist group, effective June 13, 2008.
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Rajapakse-Weerawanse agree on establishing All Party Defense Council

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2008, 20:05 GMT]
The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government has agreed to set up an All Party Defense Council as suggested by the Janatha Nidahas Peramuna (JNP), a splinter group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to take precautionary steps to curb the increase of bomb explosions in the south. A decision to this effect was taken at a discussion held Monday between President Mahinda Rajapakse and the JNP delegation led by Wimal Weerawanse, presidential secretariat sources said.
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Dinesh Gunawardene appointed government chief whip

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2008, 20:03 GMT]
Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardene has been appointed as the government chief whip at a meeting held Monday and attended by leaders of constituent political parties of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), media sources said. His name was proposed by Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse for the post that fell vacant with the murder Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.
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Tamil civilian disappeared in Moneragala

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2008, 17:17 GMT]
Kandasamy Ramakrishnan, a 34 year-old permanent resident of Moneragala is reported to have disappeared from Sunday evening, according to a complaint lodged by his wife with Moneragala police. He had been the owner of a three wheeler.
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Couple with child seeks protection with HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2008, 16:22 GMT]
A trader and his wife with their four-year-old daughter sought protection due to continuous death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and SLA-backed paramilitaries, with Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) office, Monday. Soldiers from SLA Achcheazhu camp in Ooreazhu, Chunnaakam in Valikaamam have been persistently demanding the trader to appear for interrogation at their camp, the trader said in his statement to the HRC Investigating Officer.
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Thousands pay their last respects to Thangamma Appakkuddi

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2008, 15:08 GMT]
More than five thousand people gathered together at Thellippazhai Monday to pay their last respects to the mortal remains of Thangamma Appakuddi, the veteran religious and cultural personality of Eezham Tamils, in the homage paying event held around 12:00 p.m. in the Common Hall outside Thellippazhai Thurkkai Amman Koayil, presided by Aa’ruthirumurkan. Most of the schools in the peninsula were closed before lunch interval while all schools, shops, private and public institutions in Valikaamam north were closed before noon enabling all to attend the funeral.
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Italian Tamils express support for Eezham homeland

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2008, 14:40 GMT]
Diaspora Tamils in Northern Italy gathered Sunday for Pongku Thamizh rally held in Piazza Argentina in Milan, one of the largest cities in Italy, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and voiced their support for Eezham Tamil homeland, Tamils right to self-determination, and protested against the Sri Lankan state's aerial bombardment of Tamil civilians and rights violations of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. Burani Vainer, a renown lawyer in Italy for his legal defence of freedom struggles, addressed the audience as a chief guest, on the principles of the right to self determination.
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12 policemen killed, 23 injured in Vavuniyaa explosion

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2008, 02:57 GMT]
An unidentified rider in a motorbike detonated an explosive in front of the office of the Senior Superintendent of the Police (SSP) around 7:15 a.m. killing 12 Sri Lankan policemen and himself, and injuring 23, according to Vavuniyaa Police. Four of the wounded were civilians. Two schoolchildren sustained minor injuries in the blast.
Full story >>

UNP to form election alliance

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2008, 18:59 GMT]
The leadership of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) has been holding talks with leaders of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Western Peoples Front (WPF), and the splinter group of the Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) on forming an alliance to contest the elections to the Sabragamuwa Provincial Council (SPC) and North central Provincial Council (NCPC), political sources in Colombo said.
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40 Tamil civilians arrested in Polonnaruwa, Chilaw

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2008, 18:48 GMT]
Forty civilians, most of them are Tamils were taken into custody in two separate cordon and search operations conducted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police in Polonnaruwa and Chilaw police divisions. All are being detained in police stations and being interrogated by the Terrorist Intelligence Division (TID).
Full story >>

JVP to announce general strike date

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2008, 17:34 GMT]
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leadership said Sunday the date for the general strike demanding a salary increase of five thousand rupees to public servants has been finalized. "We will announce the date of our general shut down Monday at a news conference," said JVP parliamentarian K.D.Lalkantha in the capacity of the President of the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC). NTUC which has a membership of one hundred trade unions is the front organization of the JVP in the trade union sector.
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2 police constables shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2008, 17:15 GMT]
Two police constables were shot dead by unidentified men at Kalladi in Batticaloa Sunday around 3.20 pm, media sources in Colombo said.
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SLAF airstrike kills 4 Tamil civilians, 10 wounded

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2008, 06:45 GMT]
Three civilians were killed on the spot Sunday morning when Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombed a civilian settlement of Internally Displaced Persons in Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaiththteevu district. Another civilian succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. 10 civilians, including a pregnant mother, were wounded in the air attack, Tamileelam Police said. Puthukkudiyiruppu Central College, located 100 meters away from the IDP settlement, zonal office of education, and temples in the vicinity have sustained damage in the SLAF attack. Tension prevails in the town as shrapnels from the air-blasts of the bombs were spread around the area.
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Family man reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2008, 06:05 GMT]
A family man from Moo’laay in Valikaamam, Jaffna has been reported missing since Thursday, according to the complaint by his wife to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Friday.
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SLAF fighter jets bomb preschool in Kumarapuram

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2008, 05:48 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir fighter jets, in four sorties, bombed the Kaaththaan preschool area in Kumarapuram, Paranthan in Ki’linochchi Saturday around 1:10 p.m when the school children, teachers and parents were gathered for the school’s sports meet to begin, sources in Ki’linochchi said. 35 children, 2 teachers and the parents narrowly escaped death in the bombing which caused damage to the school building and ten houses, the sources added.
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Civilian shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2008, 05:13 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a Tamil family man Saturday around 6:10 p.m. at Anpuvea’lipuram in Trincomalee.
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Abductions have blessings of Colombo- Ganeson

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 June 2008, 00:01 GMT]
Responding to the recent press communiqué released by the Presidential secretariat, Mano Ganeshan MP, the leader of Western Province People Front (WPPF) and Convenor of Civil Monitoring Commission on Extra judicial killings and Disappearances state, in a press release issued Friday said: "It is good to note that the President is concerned of this situation but we did not create this situation. In fact this was created due the abductions created with the blessings of this Government."
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Norwegian Politician regrets irrationality of International Community

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2008, 23:56 GMT]
The International Community, stamped out all important Tamil organisations by branding them as terrorists, while remaining passive to the misdeeds of the Sinhala government. By doing so, the IC has acted irrationally, said Trond Jensrud, a ruling Labour Party (AP) politician of the Oslo Municipal Council while addressing the Pongku Thamizh rally held at Valle Hovin stadium in Oslo, the capital of Norway, on Saturday. The Norwegian government should seriously consider the Tamil stance stated clearly in this rally and take it up with the International forum, he further said.
Full story >>

Sri Lanka’s envoy urges UN call on British monarchy - paper

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2008, 23:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s envoy to the United Nations Human Rights Council raised concerns over Britain’s monarchy, leading to the HRC stating in its report that the UK must "consider holding a referendum on the desirability or otherwise of a written constitution, preferably republican” according to British press reports Saturday.
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Nominations for two provincial councils called

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2008, 19:01 GMT]
Nominations for the Sabragamuwa Provincial Council (SPC) and North Central Provincial Council (NCPC) will be accepted from June 27 to July 4. Nominations close on 12 noon on July 4, says the Commissioner of Elections in a gazette notification issued Friday midnight.
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Weerawanse to meet Rajapakse

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2008, 17:37 GMT]
Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawanse, leader of the Janatha Nidahas Peramuna (JNP), a splinter group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is scheduled to meet Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse on Monday. This would be the first official meeting between the Wimal Weerawanse and Mahinda Rajapakse after the split in the JVP, political sources said.
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Diaspora Tamils launch Pongku Thamizh 2008

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2008, 13:41 GMT]
Diaspora Eezham Tamils on Saturday began rallying in support of the Eezham Tamils Right to Self-Determination in 'Pongku Thamizh,' which means 'Tamil Upsurge', an annual move aimed at Tamil awakening through cultural programmes. First country to mark the move was New Zealand, where Tamils gathered at Potters Park in Auckland for two hours on Saturday between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
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Tissainayagam in wrongful custody, Jasikaran tortured, allege counsels

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2008, 19:07 GMT]
Senior Tamil journalist and Sunday Times columnist, J.S Tissainayagam, under detention since his arrest on March 6, was produced Friday before the chief magistrate N. Hettiarachchi 98 days into his detention, legal sources in Colombo said. The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) of Sri Lanka's Defense Ministry objected to Tissainayagam and other detainees from being moved to the Fiscal Custody according to regulation 21 (2) of the emergency regulations of 2005.
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SL Appeal Court to inquire into Ampaa'rai EPC election petition

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2008, 17:28 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Court of Appeal Thursday decided to hold inquiry into the petition seeking the court to annul the Ampaa'rai district results of the Eastern Provincial Council election held on May 10 as the poll was heavily rigged with mass scale impersonation and intimidation of voters. The petitioners are Mohamed Thamby Hassan Ali of Ninthavoor and Daya Dharmapala Kilituwa of Ampa'raai. The petition was taken up for preliminary inquiry Thursday, legal sources said.
Full story >>

11 new political parties apply for registration

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2008, 17:17 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Commissioner of Elections is to hold interview to leaders of eleven newly formed political parties who have applied for registration on June 17. Janatha Nidahas Peramuna (JNP), a splinter group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led by Wimal Weerawanse is one of eleven parties. Meanwhile the Commissioner of Elections is reported to have decided to call for nominations for the Sabragamuwa Provincial Council (SPC) and North Central Provincial Council (NCPC).
Full story >>

Tamil youth abducted in Kuchchave'li

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2008, 17:05 GMT]
A Tamil youth was abducted Thursday afternoon in Kuchchave'li village in Trincomalee district by unidentified armed person who arrived in a white van, according to complaints lodged with the police by his relatives.
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Killers hijacked vehicle, coordinated attack on protection-seeker

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2008, 15:38 GMT]
The killers who shot and killed the two youths inside the prison vehicle Friday had abducted a vehicle in Jaffna city, bound the driver and drove to the place to intercept the prison vehicle, according to the initial investigations, police said. Following the co-ordinated attack, officials responsible for the safety of the persons in protective custody and other prisoners during transport to courts are demanding armed guard protection for the vehicles transporting persons in their custody. Fear prevails among the persons in protective custody and the inmates of Jaffna prison.
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2 persons arrested in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2008, 13:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police launched a cordon and search operation Friday from 8:00 a.m till 1:00 p.m. in Koaddamunai public market, Bus stand and some streets in Batticaloa town. Two persons have been arrested on suspicion in the search.
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2 SLA soldiers shot dead in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2008, 12:37 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at Pa'raiyanaalangku'lam in Vavuniyaa Friday around 1:00 p.m., police said.
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Youth shot dead in Thenmaraadchi west

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2008, 10:26 GMT]
Unidentified armed persons shot and killed Thursday evening a youth in Ma’ravanpulavu, Koayilaakkandi, Thanangkki'lappu area in Thenmaraadchi West.
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Protection-seeker shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2008, 06:25 GMT]
Armed men stopped a prison vehicle Friday morning, identified a youth who had been placed under humanitarian protective custody, and opened fire, killing two victims, near Punnaalaikkadduvan High Security Zone area while they were being transported with other prisoners to Point Pedro courts, according to initial reports. One of the victims, S. Leptinraj, was alleged to be involved in the killing of Ms. Maheswary Velayutham, Eelam Peoples’ Democratic Party (EPDP) Key advisor, on May 13 in Kareveddi in Vadmaraadchi. Mr. Leptinraj and his sister had sought protection one week after their parents and a brother were abducted and a cousin shot and killed in Karaveddi.
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U.S. Supreme Court upholds Habeas Corpus rights of Guantanamo detainees

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2008, 05:08 GMT]
The United States Supreme Court, in a momentous decision, widely seen as one of the most important decisions made by the Court in the last 50 years on separation of powers, ruled that foreign terrorism suspects held at the Guantánamo Bay naval base in Cuba have the right to challenge their detention in federal courts, and that the Congress acted unconstitutionally when it stripped the Court of that jurisdiction.
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Time bomb recovered near Anuradhapura bus stand

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2008, 22:34 GMT]
A time bomb wrapped in a parcel was recovered Wednesday afternoon by the police in close proximity of the Anuradhapura bus stand and a branch of the commercial bank on receipt of information from a member of the public, Sri Lankan police said.
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Tamil trader shot dead in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2008, 22:30 GMT]
A Tamil trader was shot dead Tuesday night by unidentified persons at Champalthoaddam in Nelukku'lam in Vavuniyaa, according to complaints lodged by his relatives with the Vavuniyaa police station. The victim has been identified as Veluppillai Sivasuthan, 38.
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Jaffna youth abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2008, 17:47 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in a white van arriving at a private lodge in Colombo Wednesday night called by name a youth from Jaffna staying there and forcibly abducted him, according to the complaint made by his mother with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office, Thursday. The number of persons from Jaffna peninsula being abducted in Colombo has escalated recently, HRC Jaffna office sources said.
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East CM wants foreign funds for rehabilitation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2008, 16:16 GMT]
"We need assistance from foreign countries to provide dwellings to resettle displaced," said Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, the Chief Minister of Eastern Province and the head of TMVP paramilitary. "My administration will not show any discrimination while maintaining law and order with our own police force," he said.
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26 IDP children hospitalized after eating toxic seeds

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2008, 15:12 GMT]
Twenty-six children of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) living in Yoakapuram Settlement Camp in Urumpiraai after being displaced Palaali High Security Zone (HSZ) in Valikaamam north, were admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) Tuesday evening, after eating poisonous seeds of the wild Castor Oil plant. The children are recovering after treatment, and are out of danger, JTH sources said.
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3 Tamils abducted, youth reported missing in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2008, 13:40 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in civil clothes abducted Wednesday around 10:30 p.m. the manager of a lodge in Kotahena while a family man was abducted the same night by a gang of armed men arriving at his house in Kotahena. In the third abduction, three men in police uniform and one in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) uniform abducted Monday an elderly man from his house in Wattala, sources in Colombo said. Meanwhile, a Tamil youth from Kotahena is reported missing from his home since Tuesday, according to the complaint made by his relatives to Kottahena police.
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STF, Police cordon, search Batticaloa villages

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2008, 12:28 GMT]
Acting on the information some suspicious persons have intruded into Batticaloa, Special Task Force (STF) commandos together with police personnel conducted cordon and search operations Wednesday early morning in selected villages within Batticaloa municipal council, sources said.
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Unemployed graduates fast outside Batticaloa Education Office

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2008, 12:05 GMT]
A one day token fasting campaign by hundreds of unemployed graduates organized by the Association of Graduates of Eastern province Tuesday outside the Zonal education office of Batticaloa district effectively stopped functioning of the office from 7:00 till 11.00a.m, sources in Batticaloa said.
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SLA deployment beefed up in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2008, 11:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army has been increasing deployment of fresh troops along the Forward Defence Lines with the supply of military hardware. The coastal stretches along the Jaffna lagoon have also been strengthened jointly by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the SLA. Extended hours of curfew and increased restrictions on vehicular and civilian movement, blocking all crossings across the main roads, have caused tension among the residents of Jaffna. Additional troops have been brought to Jaffna city within the past 24 hours.
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CPA: Trincomalee HSZ violates international law

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2008, 01:00 GMT]
Asserting that "sustainable solutions are required to reduce tension, discrimination and deprivation of communities," the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a Colombo-based political, humanitarian think-tank, in a report on the current status of issues related to land in Trincomalee, said that, "[u]nfortunately, the various policies adopted by the authorities have had the opposite effect." Noting that 7,338 people will lose their homes due the 'reduced' High Security Zone (HSZ), the report said, "a serious review needs to be taken of the necessity of incorporating such a large extent of land into the HSZ."
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Veteran Tamil civil servant Sangaravel passes away

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 23:53 GMT]
Veteran civil servant and renowned social worker Poopalapillai Sangaravel, former Additional Government Agent of Batticaloa passed away Monday night in London, succumbing to heart failure four days before his 79th birthday. He is remembered with gratitude for his committed, relentless and yeoman service to the people of the Eastern Province for a long time. He was a well-wisher of TamilNet and readily helped it on many occasions with consultancies related to the Eastern Province. TamilNet joins the multitudes of mourners in paying tributes to him and conveying condolences to his bereaved family members.
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19 SLA killed in Vavuniyaa fighting - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 22:07 GMT]
19 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, including a Lance Corporal, were killed and 23 soldiers were wounded when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) fighters at the Kugnchukku'lam Forward Defence Line in Vavuniyaa district put up heavy resistance confronting a multi-frontal attempt by the SLA to break into LTTE territory, according to LTTE officials in Vanni. Two Tiger fighters were killed in the counter-attack.
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CID arrests Tamil lady doctor in Dambulla

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 20:01 GMT]
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) police from Kandy arrested a Tamil lady doctor attached to Dambulla District Hospital in Matale district, according to a complaint made by the doctor’s mother to Deputy Minister P. Rathakrishnan of the Upcountry People's Front (UPF).
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Muslim civilian abducted in Puththa'lam

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 19:11 GMT]
A Muslim civilian was abducted in Puththa'lam Tuesday afternoon by unidentified armed persons who arrived in a white van, according to a complaint lodged with the Puththa'lam police by the relatives of the victim, Mohamed Nisthar.
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Police seek electronic media assistance to ensure security

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 19:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police has requested the electronic media to alert the people by making announcement every half an hour to ensure their safety when traveling in bus, train and other mode of transport. Electronic media has been running their services throughout day and night.
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UNP, SLMC councilors attend EPC meeting

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 19:05 GMT]
Fifteen councilors of the opposition group in the East Provincial Council led by Rauf Hakim, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) attended the special session of the council held on Wednesday morning in Trincomalee town.
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Persons arrested in Kaaththaankudi unrest released

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 17:31 GMT]
Batticaloa magistrate released Tuesday fourteen persons arrested in the unrest in Kaaththaankudi 27 May and held in remand custody, on a cash bail of 3,000 rupees and personal surety bail of 3,000 rupees each, legal sources in Batticaloa said. The released 14 persons had been charged for causing damage to government properties during the unrest.
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Jaffna SLA Command announces security measures to Tamil dailies

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 17:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Jaffna Commander, Major. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri, informed the representatives of the editorial boards of the three Tamil dailies Uthayan, Valampuri and Yaazh Thinakkural published in Jaffna peninsula that the SLA has taken steps to provide police and SLA security measures for the offices of the three Tamil dailies, in a meeting held Wednesday at the SLA Head Quarters in Palaali High Security Zone.
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22 Tamil youths arrested in Colombo suburb

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 12:51 GMT]
22 Tamil youths were arrested Wednesday in Dehiwala, a suburb of Colombo, during a pre-dawn cordon and search operation by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police. The arrested Tamils were being detained at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Kalkissa (Mount Lavinia) police station for questioning, Police said.
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Sea Tigers raid key SLN camp in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 22:18 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) naval wing, the Sea Tigers, launched a surprise attack on Sri Lanka Navy camp at Erukkalampiddi in Mannaar in the early hours of Wednesday, brought the installation under their control and have seized the arms and military equipments, including a radar, LTTE officials in Vanni told TamilNet. The operation was carried out by Marine Commandos, a special forces unit of the Sea Tigers. The Tigers have seized a 50-caliber machine gun, 81 mm mortars, Light Machine Guns, Rocket Launchers and several other military hardware from the camp, the Tigers said.
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Sri Lanka government orders closure of state schools for two days

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 18:04 GMT]
Sri Lankan Government Tuesday ordered the closure of all state schools in the island on June 11 and June 12 following the threat by the teacher trade unions that their members would go on strike on these days demanding a salary increase.
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Dissolution of provincial councils to be challenged in court

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 18:02 GMT]
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Tuesday announced that it would file action against the dissolution of the Sabragamuwa Provincial Council and North Central provincial Council. Opposition leaders in these two councils have also announced their decision to take up this matter in courts, sources in Colombo said.
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Muslim Liberation Front urges Rajapaksa to disarm Pillayan group

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 17:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Muslim Liberation Front (SLMLF) Tuesday appealed to SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa to take immediate steps to disarm Pillaiyan group operating in Batticaloa as it has been proved beyond doubts that this group is responsible for the recent attack on Muslim people in Kaathankudy and Eraa'vur. SLMLF general secretary M.I.M.Cader addressing a press briefing in Colombo Tuesday said Muslim youths would take up arms if government fails to disarm Pillayan group.
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SLA shoots dead 3 men in Addaa’laichcheanai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 17:06 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops shot and killed two men Tuesday around 9:00 a.m in a joint cordon and search operation with police in Addaa’laichcheanai area in Akkaraipattu police division in Ampaa’rai district, and another man around 1:00 p.m. in a paddy field west of Addaa’laichcheanai, according to Akkaraipattu police. The police claimed that the three were members of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and that the two shot dead in the first incident had hurled a hand grenade on SLA troops during the search, and SLA fired at the third man when he tried to escape.
Full story >>

Muslim Council urges Rajapaksa to disarm armed group in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 14:12 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Council, the apex body of about 120 Muslim organizations has appealed to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to take immediate steps to disarm the illegal armed group operating in the eastern province. "We make this urgent appeal as Muslim people in the province live in fear of their lives and properties due to the presence of the armed group," said in an urgent letter to Mr. Rajapaksa by the Sri Lanka Muslim Council.
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7 upcountry Tamil youths arrested in Yatiayantota

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 14:10 GMT]
Seven upcountry Tamil youths were taken into custody by the police following the discovery of two hand grenades in an estate in Yatiayantota in Sabragamuwa province. The police said they found the explosives hidden in the estate Panawatte in Yatiayantota on receipt of information.
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Tamil youth abducted in Mukaththuvaaram

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 14:08 GMT]
A Tamil youth, Thambiraja Suthaharan, was abducted by unidentified persons arrived in a white van from his house located along James Street in Mukaththuvaaram in Colombo city Tuesday early morning, according to complaints lodged with the police by his relatives.
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Outgoing Vavuniyaa Judge says he held inquests into 1000 deaths

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 14:06 GMT]
Newly appointed High Court Judge of Trincomalee district M.Ilancheliyan at a farewell event held in Vavuniyaa magistrate's court Monday said that he had held inquests into the deaths of over one thousand persons during his service in Vavuniyaa as Magistrate and District Judge, reports from Vavuniyaa said. He added that killing in nights, abductions and disappearances in Vavuniyaa district should be brought to an end. Authorities concerned should move into stop all atrocities committed against civilians in Vavuniyaa without delay.
Full story >>

Haphazard judiciary appointments irk Jaffna legal personnel

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 14:03 GMT]
Contradictory actions by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) including abrupt transfers and appointments of Magistrates for the various courts within Jaffna peninsula followed by cancellations without reasons have caused confusion within legal circles, a spokesman for the Jaffna lawyers association said Monday.
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Rival London demonstrations as Rajapaksa meets Commonwealth leaders

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 13:49 GMT]
Over thousand expatriate Tamils demonstrated Tuesday outside the Commonwealth Secretariat where Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa was attending a conference of Commonwealth leaders. Meanwhile several hundred other Tamils who arrived at the demonstration in Pall Mall were turned away by Police, citing space restrictions, to another space in Trafalgar Square. Next to the Tamil demonstration fifty Sinhalese staged a protest in support of the SL President Rajapaksa.
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Fear mounts in costal villages of Jaffna lagoon

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 13:19 GMT]
Shells across Jaffna lagoon from Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held areas fell and exploded Tuesday morning on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) bases and sentry points located in the coastal villages of Jaffna lagoon causing panic also among the residents, sources in Jaffna said. Large number of additional soldiers were brought from other areas in Jaffna peninsula and posted along the coastal line of the lagoon from Jaffna Fort to Ariyaalai during the last couple of days.
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Vavuniyaa Inter school sports competition indefinitely postponed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 11:37 GMT]
A sports competition for the students of a number of schools within the Northern provincial council scheduled to be held in Vauniyaa has been postponed indefinitely due to security concerns, Trincomalee based Northern Province Ministry of Education announced in a media communiqué released Monday.
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SLAF fighter jets bomb LTTE FDL in Mukamaalai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 11:22 GMT]
Four Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir fighter jets jointly bombed the Front Defence Line (FDL) positions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Mukamaalai Tuesday around 8:00 a.m. after circling over Jaffna peninsula for quite a long time, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, SLAF spokesperson Janaka Nanayakara told media that a second air raid was launched on the LTTE FDL at 3:00 p.m. in the evening.
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Shady force speaks of revenge, claims responsibility for bus bombs

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 10:19 GMT]
'Ellalan Force', a shady identity in which name terror threats come from time to time in Colombo as well as in Jaffna, on Monday, claimed responsibility for the recent attacks on "transport vehicles" and said the attacks were "stern replies" to four Sri Lankan attacks, an aerial bombardment and three LRRP (also known as DPU) Claymore attacks, in which 26 Tamil civilians were killed.
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2 elected provincial councils in south dissolved

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 17:22 GMT]
Governors of North Central Provincial Council (NCPC) and Sabragamuwa Provincial (SPC) Council now being administered by the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) have decided to dissolve the elected administrations of these councils on the recommendation of the respective chief ministers. The dissolution would come into effect from Monday midnight, government sources said.
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Tamil youth abducted in Thampalakaamam

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 17:20 GMT]
A Tamil youth S.Arumugam, a farmer in Thampalakaamam, was abducted by unidentified persons Monday morning around 11:00 a.m. The abductors arrived in a white van and took the victim by force, according to complaints lodged with the Thampalakaamam police by his relatives, sources said.
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50 civilians arrested in Ratnapura

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 17:18 GMT]
About fifty persons, majority of them Tamils of upcountry origin, were taken into custody in Ratnapura town in Sabragamuwa province in a cordon and search operation conducted jointly by the Sri Lanka Army and Police Sunday morning from 8 till afternoon. Police ordered owners to open their shops and searched, sources said.
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4 SLA killed, 9 wounded in Vavuniyaa fighting - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 15:20 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Monday attempted to break through Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Forward Defence Line three times at Paalamoaddai in Vavuniyaa district between 6:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. with the support of artillery and mortar fire. At least 4 SLA soldiers were killed in the fighting and 9 wounded, LTTE officials told reporters in Vanni.
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White van gang abducts Tamil civilian in Dehiwela

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 15:11 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in a white van abducted Sunday night the owner of a hair dressing saloon in Dehiwela while he was returning home after having closed the saloon, according to a complaint made to Dehiwela police. Policemen had gone a few days ago to the house of the person abducted and interrogated him, his mother Raasaathi complained to Deputy Minister P. Radhakrishan, Colombo district parliamentarian.
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SLN restrictions worsen situation in Jaffna peninsula

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 15:10 GMT]
The extended hours of curfew Saturday and the restrictions on movement of public imposed again besides the ban on fishing by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) have severely affected normalcy of life in Jaffna peninsula, sources in Jaffna said. The relaxation of the above restrictions adopted after the recent meeting of people’s representatives with the SLA commander at Palaali Military Head Quarters has been withdrawn along with the extension of curfew hours. Meanwhile, all cellular phone connections in the peninsula have been cut off since Saturday and all CDMA mobile phones were also disconnected from Sunday.
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Normalcy returns to Aaraiyampathi,, Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 15:02 GMT]
After more than a week of violence, normalcy returned Sunday in Kaaththaankudi, Aarayampathi areas in Batticaloa district sources said. All the business establishments have reopened and normal transport is being continued without any interruption. Muslims and Tamils are able to travel through each others’ villages, the local residents said.
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SLN conducts large scale search in Nedunththeevu

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 13:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Nedunththeevu, assisted by policemen and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops brought down from Jaffna peninsula in large numbers, launched a joint cordon and search operation in Nedunththeevu Sunday, clamping a curfew from 10:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. sources in Jaffna said. Anyone arrested during this search is not known.
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Diaspora Tamil students mark Sivakumaran Day

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 12:03 GMT]
The Tamil Students' Uprising in Sri Lanka, originating in the late 1920s and early 30s against the Donoughmore Constitution, remained a peaceful struggle even in 1970 when the Tamil Students League entered into the scene. But, the 1972 Constitution inevitably compelled the Tamil youth to get into armed struggle and Sivakumaran was the pioneer marking this transition and setting its basic attributes such as sacrificing one's life by consuming cyanide, said Ki. Pi. Aravinthan, a close associate of Sivakumaran, while addressing an event held for the memory of Sivakumaran at Rohr in the district of Aarau in Switzerland on Saturday.
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International inaction reveal hollowness of external assurances - paper

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 10:29 GMT]
By rearming and stabilizing the Sri Lankan state after the ceasefire and then encouraging a hardline approach to the Liberation Tigers, the international community is responsible for the catastrophe unfolding in the island, the Tamil Guardian newspaper argued in its latest editorial. "Rather than seizing the moment [of the peace process] and making the restoration of the Tamils' dignity and self-rule their focus, the international community made the weakening and marginalizing of the LTTE their preoccupation" the paper said. "Presently, whilst an imposed solution is in the interests of everyone except the Tamils, a just solution is, conversely, in the interests of only the Tamils."
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SLA launches ground movement in Ma'nalaa'ru

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 08:01 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army launched a ground movement in Ma'naalaa'ru region Sunday night. The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam claimed that at least 15 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 20 wounded when they put up heavy resistance Sunday night.
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42 SLA killed in two days, heavy fighting in Mannaar - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 07:57 GMT]
At least 42 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 76 wounded Within the past 48 hours at two fighting fronts in Mannaar, Tiger officials cited LTTE Operations Command in Mannaar as saying. On Monday, 22 SLA soldiers were killed when the SLA launched a ground movement at 5:30 a.m. at Aalangku'lam towards Vaddakka'ndal, the Tigers said. The SLA move was thwarted at 10:00 a.m. Meanwhile, at Periyamadu the SLA opened a ground operation on four fronts on Sunday. The SLA was defeated at 2 of the fronts. Meanwhile, the SLA said it had recovered three dead bodies of LTTE fighters and handed over the bodies to Murungkan police on Monday.
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Hand granade attack on Muslim official's house in Vaazhaicheanai

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 03:10 GMT]
Unidentified youths threw a hand grenade Sunday early morning 5:00 a.m.at the house of a director of the Department of Muslim religious and cultural affairs in Oaddamaavadi within Vaazhaicheanai police division in Batticaloa district, sources said.
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250 Tamils arrested Monday in Colombo region

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 June 2008, 02:44 GMT]
Police arrested more than 250 persons in a search conducted Monday in Colombo, Avissawela, Buwakpitiya, Peliyagoda and Gampaha, Sri Lanka police spokesman and Senior Police Commissioner Ranjith Gunasekara said. Persons from outstations without documents of identification and proper reason for their stay were arrested, he said. More than 220 Tamils have been arrested in Avissawela and Buwakpitiya areas.
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Defense Ministry culpable of exposing journalists to reprisals- RSF

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 20:32 GMT]
While noting that Reporters sans frontières (RSF) has added Sri Lanka's Defense Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, to RSF's list of "Predators of Press Freedom," RSF in a press release issued Sunday, pointed to the ministry’s website "carrying virulent attacks on journalists critical of the government," and condemned the "defense ministry campaign against independent media, especially journalists who cover military affairs."
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Fourth Muslim journalist injured in post election violence- FMM

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 17:31 GMT]
Noting with disappointment continued violence in the eastern province, the Free Media Movement (FMM), a Colombo-based media watchdog, in press release issued Sunday, condemned the politically motivated attack on journalist M.A.C. Jalees, and said, "FMM holds the ruling party responsible for the anti-media activities and view these tactics as a part of increasing suppression of freedom of expression rights in Sri Lanka."
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Sri Lankan forces step up deployment, rehearsals in Jaffna peninsula

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 17:20 GMT]
The three armed forces of Sri Lanka have jointly stepped up patrol on land and sea areas in Vadamaraadchi north and east as well as in Jaffna lagoon since Thursday besides conducting large scale war rehearsals in areas close to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Palaali High Security Zone (HSZ), sources in Jaffna said. The SLA seems to be engaged in active preparations for a major offensive in the coming days, residents in Vadmaraadchi said.
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Three Tamil judicial officers promoted as High Court Judges

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 16:39 GMT]
Three judicial officers M. Ilancheliyan, R.T.Vikanarajah and Ms Chandramani Sivapathasuntharam currently serving in Vavuniyaa, Jaffna and Trincomalee have been promoted High Court Judges by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the recommendation of the Chief Justice Sarath Silva. The promotions have come into effect from May 16, according to directives issued by Presidential Secretariat.
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3 SLA attempts thwarted in Vavuniyaa, Tigers attack DPU team - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 15:41 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam officials on Sunday said that the LTTE fighters in Vavuniyaa thwarted three repeated attempts by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to break into LTTE controlled territory throughout the day in Paalamoaddai in Vavuniyaa between 8:00 til 5:00 p.m.
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Sri Lanka Navy disallows resettlement in Naavaladi in Moothor DS

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 14:38 GMT]
29 Tamil families have been denied permission to resettle in their village Naavaladi in Moothoor DS division in Trincomalee district. These families displaced from Naavaladi in 2006 military operation have been sheltered in a welfare centre in Moothoor town.
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JVP Trincomalee parliamentarian protests against fishing ban

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 14:29 GMT]
Trincomalee district parliamentarian of the Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Jayantha Wijesekara while participating in the emergency debate in parliament on Thursday said that people of Trincomalee district had a better life under the control of LTTE than under the rule of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. If the present fishing ban continues, the LTTE would draw popular support among the rural people for armed struggle, he warned.
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Journalist Tissanayagam's detention extended by three months

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 14:23 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Defense Ministry has extended the detention order served on a senior journalist J.S.Tissanayagam and two other Tamils, V.Jasikaran and Ms V.Valarmathy for another three months as the earlier order had lapsed on June 5. The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of Sri Lanka Police produced three detention orders for each of the suspects instead of producing them before the Colombo Additional Magistrate Ms Kumari Jayewardene Friday, June 6, legal sources said.
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48 persons arrested after Katubedda blast produced in court

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 14:20 GMT]
48 civilians of 56 arrested in Moratuwa, Katubedda and its suburbs during cordon and search operation following bus bomb blast that took place Friday morning were produced in Moratuwa magistrate's court on Saturday. The court ordered further detention of them. Eight were released, legal sources said.
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JVP to file case opposing Indian power plant in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 14:11 GMT]
Parliamentarian Vijitha Heart, propaganda secretary of the Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said Saturday in Colombo that his party has been contemplating to file a case in the superior court against handing over several acres of lands in Champoor in Trincomalee district to India for constructing a coal power plant.
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Fein seeks SL Defence Ministry approval to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 02:37 GMT]
Responding to Sri Lanka Defence Ministry posting that labeled U.S. based attorney for a Tamil activist group, Bruce Fein, as "Carrion Bird of LTTE Terrorism," Fein said in a letter to Sri Lanka's President Rajapakse that he accepts Sri Lanka Defence Ministry's invitation to "any interested party to visit Sri Lanka and see how the people of all ethnicities live in harmony in this country," and requested the Ministry to inform him the travel dates allowing him to obtain "direct and candid testimony of Tamil sentiments toward a unitary state as opposed to separate Tamil statehood."
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Fishing restrictions push Jaffna fisher-families to starvation

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 June 2008, 01:51 GMT]
Nearly 19,000 fisher-families in Jaffna peninsula face starvation and severe economic setbacks due to the frequent and sudden ban on fishing in the Jaffna lagoon, Vadmaraadchi, and Maathakal seas, fisheries societies complain. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) restrictions on fishing citing security concerns have pushed the fisher-families to the brink of starvation, fisheries officials added.
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Don't visit Colombo, Ganesan tells NorthEast Tamils

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2008, 16:58 GMT]
Accusing both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers for action irrationally, Mano Ganesan, leader of Western People’s Front (WPF) and the Convener of Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC) said in a media release Saturday, "[n]either the government nor the LTTE have any control over blasts going on in the respective territories under their own control," and appealed to the Tamil civilians travelling from NorthEast to stay away from Colombo and the South as both areas are "unsafe and insecure for Tamil civilians."
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Tamil youth shot dead in Paalaiyoottu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2008, 16:52 GMT]
A Tamil youth was shot dead Saturday evening around 6.30 p.m. in his house in Paalaiyootu, in Uppuve'li, Trincomalee, by a group of armed persons arrived in a white van. His wife was injured in the incident, sources in Trincomalee said.
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Amnesty vigil for killed journalists during Rajapakse's visit

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2008, 15:25 GMT]
Amnesty International, UK, is organizing a vigil for "Sri Lankan journalists killed and under threat," at the Marlborough House, Commonwealth Secretariat, London from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 9th Monday, the organizations UK co-ordinator Sarah Oliver said. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse will be in UK to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting scheduled for 9th and 10th June.
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4 SLA killed, 7 wounded in Vavuniyaa, SLA offensive thwarted - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2008, 13:53 GMT]
At least 4 Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed and more than 7 wounded Saturday when the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) put up heavy resistance against the SLA that attempted to advance through three fronts targeting Kugnchukku'lam in Vavuniyaa district, LTTE officials told media in Vanni. The SLA's attempt to advance was thwarted after five-hours heavy fighting, the Tigers said. Meanwhile, residents in Vavuniyaa - Mullaiththeevu district border said more people were displaced by the artillery shelling stepped up by the SLA in recent days.
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SLA extends curfew in Jaffna peninsula

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2008, 13:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Head Quarters in Palaali announced Saturday that the daily curfew imposed in Jaffna peninsula will be extended to last from 7:00 p.m to 5:00 a.m, with effect from Saturday night, increasing the existing number of hours by 2.5 hours. The earlier curfew hours were from 9:00 p.m to 4:30 a.m daily.
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Australia asks citizens not to travel to North, NorthCentral, East

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2008, 10:07 GMT]
Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in a reviewed and reissued travel advisory for Sri Lanka, asking citizens not to travel to "Northern, north central and eastern areas (including Cultural Triangle, Wilpattu and Yala National Parks),...because of the very high risk of politically motivated violence. " The advisory added that "[a]ttacks in Colombo have become more frequent and have killed many civilians. Recent attacks have been directed against public buses and trains. Further attacks can happen at any time, anywhere in Sri Lanka. Australians could inadvertently become victims of violence directed at others.
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SLA arrests Moratuwa university Tamil students at checkposts

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2008, 08:36 GMT]
At least 20 Tamil students studying at the University of Moratuwa, transferred by the Sri Lankan police to Bambalapitiya, security-checked and cleared to travel to their native places after the Claymore attack that took place in the morning, were arrested by the Sri Lanka Army at Medawachchiya and at Iraddaip Periyaku'lam in Vavuniyaa Friday night. More than 30 Tamil students are detained by the Sri Lankan forces after the attack in Katubedda.
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SLA officer shoots dead subordinate soldier

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2008, 07:17 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Army (SLA) officer shot and killed a SLA soldier Friday around 6:00 a.m. at Thangkilappu Front Defence Line (FDL) post in Thenmaraadchi allegedly for not carrying out his orders, sources in Chaavakachcheari said. Chaavakachcheari magistrate directed the police to arrest the said officer and place him in remand custody for further inquiries.
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Two Tamils abducted in Colombo Friday

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2008, 03:01 GMT]
Two Tamil civilians were abducted in Vaalaithoddam and Aattupattiththeru in Colombo city Friday afternoon by unidentified persons who came in vehicles, according to complaints lodged with respective police stations by the relatives, media sources in Colombo said.
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SLN blocks resettlement in Naavaladi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2008, 01:57 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) refused permission to twenty nine Tamil families to resettle in their village Naavalady in Moothoor division in Trincomalee district. These families displaced from Naavalady in 2006 military operation have been sheltered in a welfare centre in Moothoor town, civil society sources in Trincomalee said.
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Nine Muslim abductees released in Poththuvil

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2008, 22:56 GMT]
Unidentified men who abducted 12 Muslim civilians collecting firewood from Meyaangoda area within Poththuvil police division, Ampaa’rai, four days ago released nine of them Friday, sources said.
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Muslim hooligans sexually assault mother, daughter in Akkaraippattu

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2008, 22:31 GMT]
A mother and her daughter who were custodians at a coconut estate were sexually assaulted by a gang of Muslim thugs at 1:30 a.m. Friday in Oluvil area within Akkaraippattu police division in Ampaa'rai District, police sources said.
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28 men, 7 women arrested following Kattubedda Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2008, 16:17 GMT]
Sri Lanka police imposed a curfew from Friday 9:00 a.m morning and launched a joint cordon and search operation, following the Claymore attack Friday around 7:45 a.m. on a bus in the area near the University of Moratuwa, in which 28 men and 7 women, most of them Tamil students of Moartuwa University, were arrested. The arrestees are held in police detention, sources in Colombo said.
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2 killed, 20 wounded in bus bomb in Kandy

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2008, 10:53 GMT]
At least 2 persons were killed and 20 wounded in a bus bomb at Polgolla in Kandy around 4:10 p.m. Friday, initial reports said. The wounded are being rushed to Kandy hospital.
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Mechanic abducted in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2008, 09:59 GMT]
Five unidentified men in a van abducted a motor mechanic from his repair garage in Maruthamunai, Periya Neelaava’nai in Kalmunai police division in Ampaa’rai district, Thursday around 5:30 p.m, according to the complaint made by the victim's wife to Kalmunai police, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Amnesty Australia exhibits photos on Sri Lankan rights abuses

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2008, 09:21 GMT]
Amnesty International Australia held a photo exhibition, Cries of the Voiceless, over two days in central Sydney city, at the Martin Place Amphitheatre on 5-6 June 2008, o highlighting human rights abuses and violence against journalists in Sri Lanka. The photos taken with a rented camera by a 23-year-old man in Sri Lanka and explore life as a child in a conflict situation.
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SLA field-bike elite troops attack students in Valikaamam

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2008, 03:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) field-bike elite troops severely assaulted Wednesday evening a Jaffna University student when a group of students stood talking on the side of a road in Eazhaalai area in Valikaamam North, seriously injuring him, sources in Jaffna said.
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Claymore attack in Colombo kills 22 civilians, 50 wounded

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2008, 02:45 GMT]
At least 22 civilians, including 8 females, were killed and more than 50 wounded when a Claymore mine targeted a bus at Katubedda, near the University of Moratuwa, 18 km south of Colombo at 7:35 a.m. Friday, Police said. The wounded were rushed to Lunawa and Kalubowila hospitals. Police has clamped down a curfew in Katubedda area.
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Batticaloa district PC results challenged in court

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2008, 01:03 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) Thursday filed a petition in the Court of Appeal challenging the validity of the results of the Batticaloa district in the east provincial council which was held on May 10. Three candidates of the UNP who contested the election filed the petition through their lawyer G.G.Arulpiragasam, legal sources said.
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Two policemen killed, another injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2008, 00:32 GMT]
Two police constables were killed, and another injured in two separate shooting incidents Thursday afternoon 7:15 p.m. in Kalladi and Thaandvenwe’li, Batticaloa, sources said.
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2 journalists targeted in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 21:51 GMT]
Masked men called a senior journalist of Free Media Movement (FMM) out of his house Wednesday 10:30 p.m. in Kaaththaankudi, flung chili powder on his face, and stoned him, but he managed to escape unhurt through the backdoor, sources in Kaaththaankudi said. Meanwhile, unidentified persons set fire to the house of a senior journalist of Rupavahini Televsion causing damage to a section of the house. The news broadcast on Independent TV about Kaaththaankudi residents calling the members of their area not to participate in the first sitting of the Eastern Province Council is said to be the reason for the above attacks, the sources added.
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Gang obstructs Wickremasinghe on his way to parliament

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 21:05 GMT]
"It is a slur on the democracy," said Speaker W.J.M.Lokkubandara Thursday in parliament commenting on the protest by a group of persons blocking the road that leads to Jayewardene Parliamentary Complex and shouting slogans against Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main United National Party (UNP) when he was on his way to attend the opening of the third session of the sixth parliament, parliamentary sources said.
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Pillaiyan elected Chairman of CM Forum, decides not to seek police powers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 21:03 GMT]
Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillaiyan, has been elected Chairman of the Chief Ministers' Forum, which decided not to press for police powers to the provincial council but sought powers pertaining to land and transport. The Forum also decided to take legal action to achieve this.
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Emergency extended for another month

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 21:01 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Thursday adopted the motion to extend the state of emergency by another month with a majority of 89 votes. 106 parliamentarians voted for the motion and 19 parliamentarians voted against. Parliamentarians of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) were not present in the house at that time when the motion was put to vote, parliamentary sources said.
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27 Tamils arrested in Wellawatte

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 20:59 GMT]
Twenty seven Tamil civilians including four women were taken in for questioning by the police in Wellawatte in a lightning cordon and search conducted in Wellawatte area Thursday. They are being detained in the police station and interrogated by the Terrorist Intelligence Division (TID), media sources reported.
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Two civilians killed in DPU Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 16:58 GMT]
A 45-year-old man and a 24-year-old youth were killed on the spot Thursday morning when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) set off a Claymore mine targeting a tractor carrying Internally Displaced Persons who were on their way to relocated their personal belongings from the houses in Maanthai West in Mannaar district to Maanthai East in Mullaiththeevu district, Tamileelam Police officials said.
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138 military personnel killed, 549 injured in May - Wikremanayaka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 16:48 GMT]
During the third session of Sri Lanka's parliament which commenced Thursday morning after a month long prorogation by Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa using his executive powers, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake stated that during May 138 members of the three armed forces and police were killed and 549 were injured in confrontation with the LTTE. 63 civilians were also killed during that period, according to Wickremanayaka.
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Tamil Businessman shot dead in Dambulla

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 09:54 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen who came in a motorbike entered the shop of a Tamil vegetable businessman and shot him dead inside his shop at Dambulla Economic center Thursday morning around 9:45, police said.
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Mob attacks ambulance in Kaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 07:56 GMT]
Nine civilians, 6 of them patients and 3 medical staff, were wounded Thursday around 11:00 a.m. when a mob stoned an ambulance which was on its way to Batticaloa Hospital from Akkaraippattu Base Hospital. The angry Muslim mob was not aware that it was attacking an ambulance with 6 Muslims, Police said. Tension prevails in Kaaththaankudi and the surrounding areas. Meanwhile, medical staff at Batticaloa Teaching hospital staged a protest rally towards Batticaloa Police protesting against the security laps in the area where tension prevailed Thursday and demanded improved security measures for medical workers and ambulances.
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Sea Tiger Marines raid SLA posts in Naakarkoayil

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 07:20 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials in Ki'linochchi on Thursday said that the Sea Tiger Marines of the LTTE's naval force launched a sea-borne raid on Sri Lanka Army positions along the coast of Naakarkoayil in the Northern Front at 6:00 a.m. Thursday, destroying 3 posts and causing damage to 5 posts.
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16 Tamils wounded in mob attack in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 06:40 GMT]
Sixteen Tamil civilians, traveling in a private bus, lorry and another vehicle on Batticaloa Kalmunai road were wounded when a Muslim mob armed with stones and batons attacked them in Kaththaankudi around 10:30 a.m., following a rumour that a Muslim trader was knifed in Araiyampathi. Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) opened fire to disperse the crowd and brought the said Muslim trader to the street to show that he was unhurt, police officials said. 26 Tamils were wounded. 16 Tamils including 3 females and a 12-year-old minor were admitted to the district hospital in Aaraiyampathi and four of them were transferred to Batticaloa Teaching hospital.
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SLMC, UNP file petition against Ampaa'rai election result

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 06:33 GMT]
A petition challenging the result of the Ampaa'rai district in the east provincial council election held on May 10 was filed in the Court of Appeal Wednesday by two main contenders who contested on behalf of the main opposition United National Party (UNP).
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Muslim trader abducted in Puththa'lam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 05:23 GMT]
A Muslim trader was abducted in Puththa'lam by unidentified armed men who came in a white van around 6.10 p.m., Wednesday. He has been identified Mohamed Hussein, 55, manager of a mobile phone shop, police said.
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Armed gangs rob houses in Jaffna at gun point

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 02:51 GMT]
Unidentified armed men on more than five motorcycles robbed millions of rupees worth jewelry and money during curfew hours at gun point from a house in Vaddukkoddai and another in Kokkuvil area Tuesday night, sources in Jaffna said. Earlier, Sunday night, during curfew hours, armed men on motor cycles assaulted a Saiva priest in Kokkuvil and set fire to the vehicles of another Saiva priest in Koa’ndaavil when their attempts to rob the houses of the priests failed.
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UNP, SLMC councilors boycott EPC first sitting

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 00:32 GMT]
Fifteen councilors elected to the 35 member Eastern Provincial Council on the main opposition United National Party (UNP) ticket Wednesday boycotted the first sitting of the council convened on the instruction by the East Provincial Governor Mohan Wijewickrema, sources in Trincomalee said. Eighteen councilors elected on the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and sole member of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and of the Democratic National Tamil Alliance (DNTA) participated.
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10 SLA killed in Vavuniyaa fighting - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 23:06 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials have claimed that the Sri Lanka Army had suffered casualties, at least 10 killed and more than 18 wounded, on Wednesday, when the LTTE fighters at Paalamoaddai in Vavuniyaa district confronted the SLA that attempted to break into LTTE FDL.
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9 civilians arrested in Dehiwala

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 21:35 GMT]
Nine Tamil persons were taken into custody by the Dehiwala police in connection with the bomb blast that took place along the rail track Wednesday morning in which eighteen persons were injured. They are being detained in the police station to conduct further inquiries, police sources said.
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Indian Tamil fishermen on token strike against Sri Lanka Navy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 17:47 GMT]
Fishermen's associations in Thangakchchimadam in the state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday organized a token strike to protest against the Sri Lanka Navy that shot and killed a 20-year-old Indian Tamil fisherman in the waters off Raameasvaram. An SLN vessel had opened fire on four Tamil Nadu fishermen who had set out in a mechanized boat on Monday when the 45-day fishing ban imposed by the state government of Tamil Nadu had come to an end, according to the representatives of the fishermen's associations in Thangkachchimadam. The fishermen were fishing near Kachchatheevu around midnight. The Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai, has denied SLN involvement in the attack.
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Muslim youths attack CEB employee, damage vehicles in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 12:51 GMT]
Two vehicles belonging to Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Kalladi in Batticaloa district, escorted by Special Task Force (STF) troops, were attacked Monday noon at Telecommunication centre junction, Kaaththaankudi by a mob of Muslim youths, resulting in an employee of CEB being injured and both CEB vehicles receiving damages, officials form Kallady CEB office said.
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2 civilians wounded in SLA artillery attack in Vavuniyaa North

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 12:38 GMT]
Two civilians were seriously wounded Wednesday noon when artillery shells fired by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) hit the civilian settlements in Nedungkea'ni, Olumadu, Paddikkudiyiruppu and Cheanaippulavu villages in Vanni, Tamileelam Police officials told media. Nedungkea'ni is located in Vavuniyaa district, 37 km northeast of Vavuniyaa town and 30 km southwest of Mullaiththeevu town.
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SLA mortar base neutralised in artillery fire - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 10:41 GMT]
A key Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp with its mortar launchpad at Ezhuthumadduvaa'l in the Northern Front was targeted by Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) artillery guns Wednesday morning from 10:00 a.m., LTTE officials in Vanni told media. Claiming that the mortar launchpad was neutralised in the attack, the Tigers said that the SLA had suffered heavy casualties in the artillery barrage.
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7 injured in Police, STF baton charge on protestors in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 08:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka police and Special Task Force (STF) commandos, in an attempt Tuesday to disperse the demonstration march of the protestors in Kaaththaankudi against the killing of the Muslim vegetable trader from Kaahthtaankudi Sunday in Batticaloa, assaulted the demonstrators causing injuries to seven, sources in Kaaththaankudi said. The police confiscated 3 motorcycles and 30 bicycles of the protestors.
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Death toll in floods reaches 20 in south

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 07:23 GMT]
Floods due to incessant rain in the south continued Wednesday and the death toll has risen to twenty. Most of the deaths took place in Kalutara district in the western province and second Galle district. About four hundred thousand peoples have been internally displaced and being sheltered in public buildings, schools and welfare centres, according to the officials at Sri Lankan social department.
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Bomb explodes along railway track in Dehiwale

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 07:03 GMT]
At least 17 persons sustained minor injuries when a bomb exploded along the railway track in Dehiwala Wedensday morning around 7:00, Police said.
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Two Muslims youths arrested by Vaazhaicheanai police

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 03:58 GMT]
Vaazhaicheanai police arrested Monday night two Muslim youths involved in robberies in Chemma'n'nodai area within Vaazhaicheanai police division in Batticaloa, Vaazhaicheanai police said.
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Court refuses police motion against UNP demonstration

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 19:55 GMT]
The Colombo Chief Magistrate Tuesday rejected a motion filed by Welikada Police seeking the court to issue restraining order on the main United National Party (UNP) from holding demonstration against the increase of fuel price in the Colombo and other areas in the district. The court gave the reason for the rejection that the motion was against the Freedom of Expression enshrined in the Constitution under Section 14, legal sources said.
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Kaaththaankudi tense, shutdown continues third day

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 19:47 GMT]
The shutdown launched in Kaaththaankudi Monday in protest against the killing of the Muslim vegetable trader from Kaaththaankudi Sunday in Batticaloa, continued for the third day with all shops, schools, government and private institutions remaining closed, sources in Kaaththaankudi said. Police and Special Task Force (STF) commandos were jointly engaged in maintaining order and peace in Kaaththaankudi.
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SLA arrests 15 Tamil youths in Ka'luvaagnchikkudi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 19:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) arrested fifteen Tamil youths on suspicion following the killing of two TMVP Pillayan group operatives including the deputy chairman of Ma'nmunai South Eruvilpattu Piratheasa Chapai (Pradeshiya Sabah) Monday in Eruvil, 35 km south of Batticaloa, sources in Ka'luvaagnchikkudi said.
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Civilian reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 19:26 GMT]
A 30-year-old man placed in protective custody in Jaffna prison last year due to death threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated paramilitaries is reported missing since 25 May after having gone home for personal reasons, according to complaint lodged by his father with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Monday. The youth was last seen near SLA High Security Zone (HSZ) in Thellippazhai.
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Colombo conspires Tamil - Muslim divide: Vaiko

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 12:47 GMT]
The General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Vaiko, on Monday strongly condemned the Sri Lankan minister Keheliya Rambukwelle for distorting his comments made in Oslo in April, to sound anti-Muslim. It was part of the 'scheming machination' of the Sri Lankan government to divide Tamils and Muslims in Sri Lanka, especially in the East, said Vaiko in a statement issued in Tamil.
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SLN arrests 12 fishermen in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 09:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy arrested Monday evening 12 fishermen fishing in Jaffna lagoon for having gone beyond the distance specified by the SLN following the sudden curfew imposed Monday afternoon in the vicinity of the lagoon, within Jaffna Municipality area. The SLN detained the arrestees in their camps Monday night for interrogation and handed them Tuesday morning to Jaffna police.
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Batticaloa masons allege extortion by Pillayan group

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 03:22 GMT]
Masons involved in construction of houses donated by Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Batticaloa district are alleging that Pillayan group operatives are extorting money from them, informed sources in Batticaloa said.
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Heavy flood claims the lives of Eleven

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 00:23 GMT]
At least eleven people have been killed and two gone missing in different parts of Sri Lanka due to floods caused by heavy rain, police said. Torrential rain has caused flooding and land slides in eight districts in southern, south-eastern, western and central provinces, displacing 150,000 people belonging to 47,000 families, according to the officials at the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo.
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6 civilians killed in SLA claymore attack - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 18:09 GMT]
Six devotees including two children on their way to Naakathampiraan Temple in Maangku'lam were killed and 4 wounded, including 2 children, in a claymore mine explosion in Vanni Monday night. LTTE's Director of Peace Secretariat S. Puleedevan blamed the Deep Penetration Unit operated by the Sri Lanka Army for the attack on civilian target.
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Abducted Pastor, Assistant released in Puththa'lam

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 16:36 GMT]
A pastor of a Christian church Kanthiah Sivakumaran, 28, and his assistant Mariyappan Yuvaneswaran abducted by a group of persons who came in white van Saturday in Tabbowa in Puththa'lam district were dropped near in Puththalam town Monday morning around 11:00 a.m. On receipt of information police rushed to the site and took them for questioning, police spokesman Ranjit Gunasekara said in Colombo.
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3 white van abductions in Puththa'lam

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 16:31 GMT]
Three Tamils were abducted by unidentified men in Puththa'alm Saturday afternoon and Sunday, sources in Puththa'lam said. One was abducted by gunmen in a white van Sunday, and the other two Saturday afternoon while travelling in an auto-rickshaw, also by men who arrived in a white van.
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Youth shot dead, SLA imposes curfew in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 15:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) implemented a sudden curfew Monday afternoon in three coastal towns in the vicinity of Kudaakadal , within the Jaffna municipality area. The announcement of the curfew to be implemented from 5:00 p.m. Monday until 5:00 a.m. Tuesday in Kozhumpuththu’rai, Paasaiyoor and Kurunakar was made Monday noon through loud speakers fixed to three wheelers with the assistance of Fishermen’s Federation, sources said.
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Tigers counter-attack SLA ambush unit, seize weapons -LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 15:30 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials on Monday said their fighters in Vavuniyaa, who launched a counter-attack on a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) ambush unit that attempted to engage in covert operation close to LTTE Forward Defence Line at Kugnchukku'lam, have seized an assault rifle, claymore mines and other military accessories.
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SLMC responsible for inciting violence between communities – Amir Ali

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 13:44 GMT]
Rauff Hakeem, the leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), and Basheer Segudawood the chairman of the party are responsible for creating a conspiracy to initiate ethnic conflict between the Tamil and Muslim communities, charged Minister of Disaster Relief Services M.S.S.Ameer Ali at a conference held May 28 at Ea’raavoor police station attended by a number of senior government officials and media personnel.
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Armed gang attacks Saiva priest during robbery attempt

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 09:56 GMT]
An unidentified armed gang during a robbery attempt Sunday in Kokkuvil and Koa’ndaavil areas close Jaffna town at 12:30 a.m. during curfew hours, severely assaulted the priest of a Saiva temple at his house in Pottpathi Veethi in Kokkuvil when the priest tried to confront the robbers, sources in Jaffna said. The armed gang had also tried to rob the house of another Saiva temple priest in Koa’ndaavil and when he refused to come out of the house the gang set fire to his motorcycle and other vehicles parked outside.
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TMVP councilor, assistant shot dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 09:53 GMT]
Two TMVP Pillayan group operatives including the deputy chairman of Ma'nmunai Then Eruvilpattu Piratheasa Chapai (Pradeshiya Sabah) were killed Monday in Eruvil, 35 km south of Batticaloa when unidentified gunmen opened fire on them.
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Boy killed, 2 injured in bomb blast in Valikaamam

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 09:31 GMT]
A bomb left in an abandoned house in Eazhaalai North, Chunnaakam in Valikaamam exploded Sunday evening killing a 9-year-old school boy and seriously injuring his younger brother and a small boy while they were playing in the abandoned house, sources in Jaffna said. The injured boys were rushed to Jaffna Teaching Hospital and are under treatment in the Intensive Care Unit.
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Hartal observed in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 08:48 GMT]
Kaaththaankudi came to a stand when traders observed a shutdown Monday in protest against the killing of the Muslim vegetable trader from Kaaththaankudi Sunday in Batticaloa. Following the interment of the remains of the victim Monday morning, more than 3000 Muslims protested condemning Pillayan paramilitary group and the government of Sri Lanka, sources in Kaaththaankudi said.
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Floods claim 5 lives in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2008, 17:27 GMT]
The South-west monsoon rains that has been pouring down non-stop for the past four days have claimed 5 lives while affecting 32,000 people belonging to 10,000 families in Ratnapura, Galle, Kaluthura, Gampaha and Colombo districts, Disaster Management Centre in Colombo said. The torrential rain may continue for another 5 days due to low pressure created by the South-west monsoon, according to Sri Lanka Meteorological Centre.
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Elderly man knifed to death in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2008, 14:27 GMT]
Unidentified intruders knifed to death a 71-year old man living alone in his house in Kudamiyaan, Va’ra’ni Thenmaraadchi, Saturday night during curfew hours, sources in Thenmaraadchi said. Kudamiyaan village is located close to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) High Security Zone (HSZ) of the 52nd Division of the SLA.
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Muslim mob injures 4 Tamils near Aarayampathi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2008, 13:07 GMT]
Muslims from Kaaththaankudi armed with knives and machetes cut injured four Tamil building masons returning to Aarayampathi after work Sunday around 5:30 p.m, in the boundary area between Kaaththaankudi and Aaryampathi following the recovery of the corpse of a Muslim vegetable trader in Batticaloa Sunday around 1:30 p.m,. The Muslim mob, trying to enter into the Tamil village of Aarayampathi, is being held back police and Special Task Force (STF) commandos deployed in the said area.
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8 Tamil youths arrested in Dehiwela

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2008, 12:18 GMT]
Eight Tamil youths, seven from upcountry and one from Jaffna, were arrested in Dehiwala last Wednesday and are being detained in Dehiwala Police station. Police officers are conducting inquiries to ascertain their identities and the background. Those who can prove their identity would be released and the rest would be remanded with the permission of the court, police said.
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Muslim trader recovered dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2008, 12:13 GMT]
Batticaloa police recovered the corpse of a Muslim vegetable trader from Kaahththaankudi along Kalladi Chivaananthaa School Street Sunday around 1:30 p.m on information from the residents of the area. Signs of tension prevail in Kaaththaankudi where police and Special Task Force commandos have been deployed to maintain order and peace.
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Court remands two train commuters arrested in Puththalam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2008, 11:59 GMT]
Puththalam Magistrate Friday ordered remand till June 11 for two youths, a Tamil and Muslim, who were taken into custody by the police while they were traveling in a train bound for Colombo from Puththalam between Munthal and Mathurankuli railway stations, sources said. They were produced in court as they failed to prove their identity and the permanent address, sources said.
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SLA appropriating Tamil IDPs' properties in Ampaa’rai district

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2008, 09:38 GMT]
The appropriation of the properties of the Internally Displaced People (IDP) and a Non-government organization in the Tamil areas in Ampaa’rai district by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Special Task Force (STF) Friday is a premeditated government plan to prevent the displaced from resettling in their traditional villages, K. Pathmananthan, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Thikaamaduva in Ampaa’rai district, said.
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