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PMK demands New Delhi to withdraw military aid to Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 September 2008, 20:38 GMT]
The Pattali Makkal katchi (PMK, Toilers' Party) in Tamil Nadu staged Tuesday a protest rally in front of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai, where more than 2000 Tamil activists took part. Welcoming the Tamil Nadu leaders who have extended their support to Eelam Tamils at a critical juncture, Dr. S. Ramadoss, the founder leader of the PMK, urged the remaining leaders to extend their support to pressurise the Central government of India to withdraw military support to the Sri Lankan government which is engaged in a genocide against the Eelam Tamils.
Full story >> SLA cordon, search Trincomalee Orr's Hill area[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 September 2008, 17:24 GMT]The Sri Lanka Army (SLA), and Police, with the assistance of home guards, conducted cordon and search operation in the Orr's Hill area, a suburb in Trincomalee town Monday and Tuesday. The headquarters of the Sri Lanka Army Brigade for Trincomalee district is located at Plantain Point in Orr's Hills area. Full story >> Troop shortages force SLA search delays in Jaffna[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 September 2008, 17:21 GMT]With relocation of large number of troopers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to the Northern Front Defence Line (FDL) areas and outer districts, the SLA is allegedly facing difficulties in carrying out prompt cordon and search operations in Jaffna peninsula, informed sources in Jaffna said. The search operation, following the Monday attack on the SLA by the Liberation Tigers at Maasiyappiddi in Valikaamam South West division of Jaffna district , was delayed by nearly two hours, allowing the attackers sufficient time to escape, sources added. Full story >> Britain to aid displaced through functioning NGOs in Vanni[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 September 2008, 16:29 GMT]Representatives of British Tamils Forum who met the British Minister for the Department for International Development (DFID) Shahid Malik, on Tuesday in London, quoted the Minister as saying that the British Government did not agree with the general assessment of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) that all local Tamil NGOs, which are currently working within the Vanni area were all controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The British aid would be channelled through local and international NGOs to the displaced civilians in Vanni. Full story >> Defining moment for IC's credibility - Norwegian Tamil Forum[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 September 2008, 13:19 GMT]
"The defining moment for the International Community is right now, if it really wishes to establish its commitment to a principled approach towards Tamil aspirations in the island of Sri Lanka," declared a Norwegian Tamil representative on Tuesday, while concluding a fasting awareness campaign, held for more than 30 hours in front of the Norwegian Parliament in Oslo, focusing on the plight of 230,000 internally displaced Tamil civilians in Vanni.
Full story >> 15,000 newly displaced from Ki'linochchi swell Vanni IDPs to 230,000[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 September 2008, 13:03 GMT]Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), a humanitarian organization helping the displaced population in Northeast, in a report released Tuesday said, with the food stock in private stores and co-operative stores reaching dangerously low levels, the humanitarian conditions of the more than 230,000 Internally displaced are rapidly deteriorating. Since the departure of foreign NGOs on 16th September under Colombo's directives, 15,217 new IDPs from Ki'linochchi and Poonakari has joined the refugee population, the report added. Full story >> LTTE: SL military post raided in Trincomalee, 4 killed[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 September 2008, 08:31 GMT]Four Sri Lankan military personnel, including Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and homeguards, who were manning a military post in Kantha'laay (Kantale) in Trincomalee district were killed Monday morning when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) carried out a raid on the military post in the high security area, LTTE's Trincomalee command has claimed in a note issued to media on Tuesday. Two firearms were seized in the raid, the Tigers said. Full story >> 43 Tamils arrested in Wellawatte, Wattala, Katunayake[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 September 2008, 07:05 GMT]Forty three Tamils including were arrested in Wellawatte, Wattala, and Katunayake in several cordon and search operations conducted by the Sri Lanka Police, assisted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA), and home guards, from Sunday evening till Monday morning, sources in Colombo said. Full story >> Posters warn dire consequences to curfew violators in Jaffna[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 September 2008, 07:01 GMT]Anonymous wall posters announcing that persons found on streets during Sri Lanka Army (SLA) imposed curfew hours in Jaffna peninsula will be shot at sight without any warning, were found pasted on walls Sunday and Monday in areas including Vadamaraadchi, Thenmaraadchi and Jaffna town in the peninsulasources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Grenade attack wounds 21 Muslims in Kaaththaankudi, 7 children among the victims[TamilNet, Monday, 29 September 2008, 14:34 GMT]Unknown attackers riding in a motorbike lobbed a grenade near Jain Maulana mosque in Kaaththaankudi town Monday around 6:25 p.m., wounding 21 Muslim civilians. Five of the victims are children, according to initial reports. The attack has targeted Muslims on their way to evening prayers. Tension prevails in the town as elements of factionalised TMVP paramilitary and armed elements among the Muslims have been inciting violence between the Tamil and Muslim communities, sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> Gunfire ambush in Batticaloa, STF trooper wounded[TamilNet, Monday, 29 September 2008, 14:15 GMT]A Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) trooper sustained serious injuries in a gunfire ambush at Arasadiththeevu in Paddippazhai, 15 km west of Batticaloa city Monday around 1:30 p.m., police said. Full story >> Canadian Tamil youth campaign for IDPs in Vanni[TamilNet, Monday, 29 September 2008, 13:55 GMT]
35 Canadian Tamil youths on Friday launched a fasting campaign named '30 Hour Famine' at the Richmond Hill Temple community hall in the province of Ontario in an effort to create awareness regarding the sufferings of the displaced civilians deprived of basic amenities in Vanni, whose plight has worsened after the Sri Lankan government ordered the International NGOs and UN agencies to withdraw aid workers from the region.
Full story >> Ambush on SLA in Jaffna, unofficial curfew imposed in Valikaamam South West[TamilNet, Monday, 29 September 2008, 09:42 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police imposed an immediate unofficial curfew in Cha'ndilippaay, A'laveddi and Chu'n'naakam areas and launched a cordon and search operation, after a bomb attack Monday noon on the SLA at Maasiyappiddi in Valikaamam South West division of the Jaffna district. Full story >> Parcel bomb explodes in Colombo, 2 wounded[TamilNet, Monday, 29 September 2008, 08:13 GMT]Two persons were wounded Monday noon in a bomb explosion opposite Fort Railway station in Colombo, according to initial reports by the Police. Full story >> Corpse of missing Aaraiyampathi goat trader identified[TamilNet, Monday, 29 September 2008, 07:59 GMT]A highly decomposed corpse of a male, found washed ashore Friday evening on the beach along Ninthavoor Hospital Road in Chammaanthu'rai in Ampaa'rai district, was identified Saturday as the dead body of one of the two goat traders, reported missing in Kaaththaankudi when they went there on business purpose. Full story >> Blast kills two in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Monday, 29 September 2008, 07:24 GMT]Following reports of an explosion and gunfire Monday around 4:30 a.m., Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) and police recovered two shattered bodies and hand grenades at Koadai Meaduku'lam in Ka'luvaagnchikkudi in Batticaloa district, police said. Full story >> Tamil youth reported missing in Kalmunai[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 17:36 GMT]A Tamil youth who had gone to Kalmunai on his motorcycle 20 September to buy fertilizer has been reported missing since then with Kalmunai police in Ampaa'rai district Thursday, Kalmunai police said. Full story >> Tigers claim raid on joint paramilitary, military mini-camp in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 11:32 GMT]Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials in the East claimed Sunday that six Sri Lankan military and paramilitary personnel were killed in a raid carried out by a commando unit of the Tigers on a joint military and paramilitary camp at Thikiliveddai, north of Batticaloa at 2:15 a.m. Sunday. The mini-camp was brought under LTTE control within 15 minutes after they launched the raid, the Tigers said claiming that they seized a Light Machine Gun, five assault rifles and ammunitions. Meanwhile, medical sources at Chengkaladi hospital said one of the wounded TMVP personnel rushed to hospital succumbed to his injuries and that eight wounded were received at the hospital after the raid. Full story >> 5 civilians wounded in SLA shelling in Ki'linochchi[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 11:13 GMT]5 civilians were injured Sunday morning when Sri Lanka Army fired artillery shells targeted houses near A9 road between 155 Mile Post and Ira'naimadu junction, according to initial reports. A 19-year-old youth lost his two hands and another youth his leg. Full story >> Armed men shoot Tamil woman dead in Vavuniyaa[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 10:46 GMT]Unidentified armed persons shot dead a 44-year-old Tamil woman Aruljothy Sivanesawari Saturday night around 11:00, in her house at Paddaimadichchapu'liyangku'lam in Vavuniyaa police division, according to complaints lodged with the Vavuniyaa Police Sunday morning. Full story >> British statement fails to condemn Sri Lanka - BTF[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 10:43 GMT]The Tamils in UK feel confused by a British statement that acknowledges the apparent recognition by the GoSL of its responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the conflict and its continued co-ordination with humanitarian agencies, at a time when foreign aid workers of the UN and International Non-Governmental Organisations have been expelled from Vanni by the government of Sri Lanka, said a statement issued by the British Tamils Forum (BTF) on Saturday. Full story >> SLA soldier killed in clash in Yala[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 10:08 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soures in Colombo on Saturday said an soldier was killed in a clash with the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Saturday evening at Sector 3 of Yala bordering the Hambantota district. Full story >> Grenade attack on Transparency International Director's residence[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 10:01 GMT]The residence of the Executive Director of the Transparency International of Sri Lanka, Mr.J.C.Weliyamuna, located in Kohuwela in Colombo district in the western province, came under grenade attack Saturday night around 11:30 p.m.,electronic media reported Sunday morning. Transparency International is a leading international non-governmental organization addresses corruption, and has an office in Sri Lanka. Full story >> White van armed men abduct upcountry Tamil youth[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 09:57 GMT]A 28-year-old married Tamil man from Avisawella in Ruwanwela was abducted by unidentified armed men driving a white van on September 23rd evening when he was traveling with his relatives in Ruwanwela police division, according to a complaint lodged by his wife with the police. Full story >> Ethnocentric military dictatorship in the making in Colombo - Vanni MP[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 09:47 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian for Vanni, Selvam Adaikkalanathan, who blamed Sri Lanka Army commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka for his Sinhala ethnocentric comments to a Canadian paper, said Sunday that the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as Commander-in-Chief and the Executive President, should instruct the SLA commander to apologise for the statement. Fonseka's statement not only undermined democracy by justifying an ethnic majoritarian rule in the island of Sri Lanka, but also alluded that a military dictatorship was in the making in Colombo, he said. Meanwhile, Rauff Hakim, the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, also blamed that the "attack on the minorities " by the SLA commander "bordered on racism."
Full story >> Paramilitary attacked in Batticaloa, 1 killed, 7 wounded[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 05:31 GMT]Unknown attackers raided a paramilitary installation of the TMVP Pillayan group at Thikiliveddai, north of Batticaloa in the early hours of Sunday, killing one and wounding seven. The wounded were rushed to Batticaloa hospital, Police said. Full story >> US Ambassador says 'honoured' to meet paramilitary leader[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 05:23 GMT]US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert O' Blake says he was honoured to meet the leader of the Army-backed paramilitary group TMVP (Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal) which Human Rights Watch has condemend for widespread human rights abuses in the eastern province - of which Pillayan was appointed chief minister. Mr. Blake said he is "pleased that [Pillayan] assured me he too is committed to demobilizing the paramilitaries" the Sunday Times reported. The same column in the paper reported that TMVP cadres are once again being used to support the Sri Lankan security forces' counter-insurgency in the east. Full story >> 1 killed, 9 wounded in bomb explosion in Vavuniyaa[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 01:23 GMT]A civilian was killed, 4 police personnel, 3 Sri Lanka Army soldiers and two civilians were wounded in a bomb explosion near Vavuniyaa bus stand around 3:20 p.m. Sunday, Police said. Full story >> Protests in Tamil Nadu gain momentum, Jayalalithaa extends support[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2008, 00:50 GMT]
In a significant move amid the building momentum in Tamil Nadu where Tamil leaders are voicing their support to the Eezham Tamils as the Sri Lankan forces intensified their attacks on Vanni, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Leader of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, J. Jayalalithaa, Saturday extended her support to a fasting campaign being organised by the Communist Party of India (CPI). In a letter to D. Pandyan, the general secretary of the CPI in Tamil Nadu, Ms. Jayalalithaa said her party extended wholehearted support to the success of the campaign, which highlights the problems and urges to safeguard the lives, properties and the rights of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Full story >> British PM meets Rajapaksa, conveys acute concern[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 September 2008, 15:01 GMT]British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Department for International Development Douglas Alexander met with President Mahinda Rajapakse of Sri Lanka in New York Friday to discuss the situation in Sri Lanka. "The recent increased hostilities in the north of Sri Lanka are of acute concern to the UK Government," said a joint statement from the British International Development Minister Shahid Malik and Lord Malloch Brown, calling on both the parties, the GoSL and the LTTE, to respect their obligations under International Humanitarian Law to enable free access for humanitarian agencies. The statement also urged LTTE to take urgent action to allow free movement of civilians. Full story >> Civilian killed, 8 including 4 children wounded in SLAF attack[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 September 2008, 10:08 GMT]
A civilian was killed and eight, including four children, were wounded in Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) attack in Iraththinapuram, a suburb of Ki'linochchi town, Saturday around 12:15 p.m., Tamileelam Police said. The ICRC office, which was recently relocated from Ira'naimadu junction, is situated around 150 meters away from the bombed locality. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan defence ministry claimed that the attack was a 'precision air strike' against an LTTE target. Medical sources at Ki'linochchi hospital said an 8-month-old baby, a 9-month-old baby, and two 2-year-old children were among the wounded.
Full story >> Family man tortured, killed in Jaffna islet of Veala'nai[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 20:55 GMT]Unidentified armed men shot and killed a 54-year-old man after torturing him, Thursday night at Ma'nkumpaan, Veala'nai, an islet off Jaffna when he went out of his house around 9:00 p.m., his son told the media in Jaffna Friday evening. His father's hands and legs had been broken and tied together and wounds inflicted with sharp weapons on them show that he had been severely tortured before being shot and killed, he said after identifying his father's body in Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary Friday. Full story >> Kaarainakar, Trincomalee Tamils abducted in Colombo[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 17:48 GMT]Two Tamils, one a native of Kaarainakar in Jaffna district, and the other from Lingkanakar in Trincomalee district, had been abducted in two separate incidents in Colombo, according to complaints lodged with the Dehiwala Police and Fort Police by their relatives. Full story >> Tiger artillery fire kills SLA soldier in Jaffna[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 16:35 GMT]Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched artillery shells Friday around 10:00 a.m.,across Jaffna lagoon, targeted Sri Lanka Army (SLA) coastal posts in Kurunakar, Paasaiyoor and Ariyaalai East, killing an SLA soldier and seriously injuring two, sources in Jaffna said. Heavy artillery exchange followed between the SLA and LTTE which lasted nearly for an hour. Meanwhile, a Kurunakar fisherman was injured when one of the shells fell and exploded in Jaffna lagoon. Full story >> Upcountry Tamil reported missing in Colombo[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 16:26 GMT]A thirty-eight-year old Up Country Tamil was reported missing in Colombo since September 21 Sunday evening, according to complaints lodged with the Grandpass Police and with Civil Monitoring Committee by his relatives. Full story >> STF shoots dead Tamil trader in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 16:24 GMT]Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) commandos shot and killed a 48-year-old Tamil trader Thursday around 8:15 p.m. in the back yard of his shop at Veeramunai-Ampalaanththu'rai main road in Ma'ndoor in the Batticaloa district, sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> Jaffna Prison overcrowded with humanitarian protection seekers[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 16:22 GMT]Prison in Jaffna, temporarily housed in a private building that can accommodate only one hundred, has become crammed with more than three hundred inmates, who have sought humanitarian protection from the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission in Jaffna. Many of them have been languishing in the prison for more than two years. Meanwhile, two youths sought protection custody on Thursday as persons appearing for interrogation at SLA camps in Thenmaraadchi and other areas in Jaffna peninsula had been killed by unidentified gunmen while returning home after interrogation in the recent past. Full story >> LTTE leader pays homage to Thileepan, Sankar[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 12:22 GMT]
Velupillai Pirapaharan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) on Friday paid homage to Lt. Col. Thileepan, a political leader of the LTTE, who fasted unto death in 1987 and Col. Sankar, a senior commander and the founder of the Tamileelam Air Force (TAF) also known as Air Tigers. Col. Sankar was assassinated by the Sri Lanka Army on September 26 in 2001 when the LTTE was engaged in peace process with the Norwegian facilitators.
Full story >> IDP wounded in Sri Lankan air attack in Visuvamadu[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 10:57 GMT]Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a civilian settlement at Thearaavil in Visvuvamadu Friday between 1:50 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. Friday. A 35-year-old father of one child was wounded in the indiscriminate bombardment. The victim is an Internally Displaced Person from Kaaraitheevu (Kaarainakar) of Jaffna. Full story >> SLA shells Ki'linochchi suburb, IDP mother injured[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 10:32 GMT]
A 26-year-old mother was seriously wounded in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) artillery attack that
hit a civilian settlement in Uruththirapuram of Ki'linochchi district Friday morning, medical sources in Ki'linochchi said. Full story >> Homeguards shoot dead drunk SLA soldier, SLAF airman in Ampaa'rai[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 06:12 GMT]Sri Lankan Civil Defence Force home guards shot an army soldier and airman at Nillamba in Maha Oya in Ampaa'rai district Thursday afternoon around 3:00 p.m., when the soldiers, who were drunk, verbally abused the homeguards. Both the soldier and the airman succumbed to their injuries while they were being rushed to Maha Oya hospital, police said. Another person was injured in the shooting. Full story >> Family man reported missing in Jaffna[TamilNet, Friday, 26 September 2008, 04:17 GMT]A young family man from Chaddanaathar Veethi area within the Jaffna Municipality limits has been reported missing since 4 July, according to a complaint lodged by his wife with Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna. The disappearance has taken place a day after the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers took away photos of her husband from their house, she said in the complaint. Full story >> SLA, LTTE clash in Mukamaalai FDL[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 September 2008, 17:34 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) clashed for Thursday around 2:00 a.m for nearly half an hour, according to sources close to SLA. Kodikaamam police said it recovered Thursday a body of a male, who was caught in a landmine explosion in the no man zone between SLA and LTTE FDL positions. Full story >> Kaaththaankudi police arrest 17 Tamil civilians[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 September 2008, 17:13 GMT]Kaaththaankudi police arrested seventeen persons on suspicion in a joint cordon and search operation launched by police, Special Task Force (STF) commandos, and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Wednesday afternoon around 4:00 p.m. in Aaraiyampathi Murukan Koayil area, in Batticaloa district, sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> Rally at UN against Sri Lanka's genocide draws over thousand protesters[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 September 2008, 16:56 GMT]
Over one thousand American Tamils, Canadian Tamils and friends of Tamils protested Wednesday in front of the United Nations Headquarters in New York to draw attention of the United Nations, demanding sanctions against Sri Lanka, and advocating to invoke the principle of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) as a means to halt what the protesters alleged "genocide of Tamils." The protesters also denounced the visit to the UN by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. About 20 Sri Lankan Government supporters, including Buddhist monks, showed up briefly for a counter protest.
Full story >> Batticaloa woman molested in Trincomalee, 4 SL policemen remanded[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 September 2008, 11:09 GMT]A sergeant and three constables of the Sri Lanka Police were ordered remand till October 7 when they were produced before the Trincomalee Magistrate Tuesday evening on a complaint of rape of a young woman staying in a hotel at Nilave'li in Uppuve'li Police division in Trincomalee district, legal sources said. Full story >> Eyewitness to desecration of temple arrested under fabricated charges - UPF Minister[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 September 2008, 10:34 GMT]Sri Lankan police in Grandpass, Colombo, arrested last Thursday a 29-year-old Tamil man who is the main eyewitness to the desecration of a Hindu temple by a Buddhist monk at de-Mel Watte in Colombo on 03 September. Up-Country People's Front parliamentarian and a Deputy Minister in UPFA, P. Rathakrishnan has condemned the act as a move by the police to intimidate a key witness. The Tamil community viewed the arrest as a fabricated charge, he said. Full story >> Co-chairs emphasise on immediate humanitarian concerns[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 September 2008, 08:58 GMT]"We're placing a lot of emphasis right now on the protection of human rights for civilians who are caught in the fighting, and the democratic government's responsibility for extending - for respecting and extending human rights protection to the people in the areas that they take over," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Affairs, Richard Boucher, in a statement on Wednesday, after a meeting of the 'Sri Lanka Co-Chairs' in New York. Full story >> Bomb explodes in TMVP office in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 September 2008, 07:22 GMT]A bomb went off in the office of TMVP paramilitary-cum-political party, located along Nalliah Road inside the high security area of Batticaloa police division around 11:15 a.m. No one was wounded in the explosion. Full story >> SLA cautions continuous curfew in Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 September 2008, 06:59 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna cautioned Wednesday UN humanitarian organization and its other institutions functioning in Jaffna peninsula to maintain food stocks enough for three days in case a continuing curfew being imposed in the peninsula during eventual military measures on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the Front Defence Line areas or on targets within the peninsula in the coming days, sources in Jaffna said. Residents in Jaffna say this could be a measure of the SLA to transport troops and weapons, unseen by the public, to the northern FDL areas. Full story >> Arson attack destroys Grocery store in Kaaththaankudi[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 September 2008, 18:01 GMT]A petrol bomb attack on a grocery store in Aaraiyampathi within Kaaththaankudi police in Batticaloa district Tuesday night 9:30 p.m. caused extensive damages to the store, the owner stated in a complaint lodged with Kaaththaankudi police. Full story >> 40 civilians arrested in Vaazhaichcheanai[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 September 2008, 17:59 GMT]Vaahzaichcheanai police and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) arrested forty persons on suspicion Wednesday in a joint cordon and search operation launched around 6:00 a.m in Ki'n'naiyadi main street area, Vaazhaichcheanai in Batticaloa district, sources in Vaazhaichcheanai said. Full story >> STF commando killed, 3 wounded in Ampaa'rai - LTTE[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 September 2008, 14:55 GMT]A Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) commando was killed Wednesday around 11:30 a.m. in kagnchikudichcha'ru in Ampaa'rai district, while the STF commandos were engaged in a search operation, according to LTTE officials in the East. The STF personnel were caught up in a Tiger booby trap when they were on a search mission in the jungle area. Full story >> 2 SLA killed in ambush in Trincomalee - LTTE[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 September 2008, 06:38 GMT]Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials in the East claimed Wednesday that a Tiger guerrilla unit ambushed Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at Battaragaram in Thimilakadawa, a remote Sinhala area in Trincomalee district Tuesday morning around 7:00 a.m., killing 2 SLA soldiers. Full story >> Canada says Bahu an LTTE member, refuses visa[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 September 2008, 05:51 GMT]
Canadian High Commission in Colombo last week denied visa to the
Leader of New Left Front and General Secretary of New Sama Samaja party, Dr Wickramabahu Karunaratne, saying that his past actions "constitute membership in the LTTE," and therefore, Dr Karunaratne fails the admissibility tests laid out in Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Full story >> Veeramani, Thirumavalavan court arrest to condemn Indian aid to Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 September 2008, 19:17 GMT]
Tamil leaders in Tamil Nadu, K. Veeramani, President, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) and Thol. Thirumavalavan, President, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Kadchchi (VCK), courted arrest along with five hundred cadres while attempting a rail blockade in Chennai to protest against Indian aid to the Sri Lankan state. "The Indian Government should not assist the Sinhalese regime in any manner either through imparting military training, or deputing Indian defence personnel to help Sri Lanka unleash its genocidal war," Veeramani said while he addressed an enthusiastic gathering of thousands of cadres of both the parties.
Full story >> Trader shot dead in Thenmaraadchi[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 September 2008, 17:16 GMT]Unidentified armed men on motor cycle shot and killed a trader Tuesday around 2:10 p.m close to A9 road in Kaithadi in Thenmaraadchi, within the top security area of Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources in Kaithadi said. Full story >> 5 bodies washed ashore in Jaffna islets indentified[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 September 2008, 12:02 GMT]The bodies of five persons washed ashore recently along with three other corpses in Analaitheevu, Nedunththeevu and Pungkudutheevu islets of Jaffna, were identified by a relatvie Monday in the presence of Oorkaavattu'rai (Kayts) Magistrate Ms. Joy Mahadeva at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, hospital sources said. The five persons belonging to the same family died when their boat capsized mid-sea while returning to Mannaar to escape unbearable living conditions in the Tamil Nadu refugee camp, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Two Tamil females shot dead in Vavuniyaa[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 September 2008, 09:38 GMT]Unidentified armed persons, who arrived in a three-wheeler, shot two Tamil working girls dead in Vairavappu'liyangku'lam in Vavuniyaa Monday night close to their houses. The victims succumbed to their injuries on admission to the Vavuniyaa general hospital by volunteers of the Sri Lanka Red Cross, according to medical sources. Full story >> Tamil diaspora representative addresses British Labour Party conference[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 September 2008, 08:21 GMT]
Leader of British Tamils for Labour, Sen Kandiah, on Monday, addressed the annual conference of the British Labour Party, in front of over 10,000 delegates and the British masses viewing the conference on BBC, urging the Labour Party to note with alarm the increase in violence and human rights violations perpetrated by the Sri Lankan Government against Tamils. He also urged the party to note that the policies of the successive Sinhala governments and the current Sri Lanka constitution, which was adopted without the mandate of the Tamil people lies at the heart of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
Full story >> Armed men abduct Tamil fisherman in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Monday, 22 September 2008, 12:10 GMT]Unidentified armed men in a white van abducted Saturday morning a Tamil youth, K.Ganehsamoorthy, a fisherman by profession. The gang first went to the victim's house in Tha'lavaay in E'raavur police division, and then to the Tha'lavaay sea shore when being told he had gone for fishing, and took him by force in their vehicle, around 11:00 a.m., according to complaints lodged in the E'raavoor Police station by his relatives. Meanwhile, two Tamil youths were reported missing in Aaraiyampathi i Kaaththaankudi police division. Full story >> Two Tamils reported missing in Kaththaankudi[TamilNet, Monday, 22 September 2008, 12:08 GMT]Two Tamil youths of Aaraiyampathi were abducted by unidentified armed men who arrived in a white van on September 18, according to complaints lodged with the Kaaththaankudi Police and the Batticaloa regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). Full story >> Jaffna Catholics stage peace rally[TamilNet, Monday, 22 September 2008, 10:13 GMT]
More than two thousand Catholics from different areas of Jaffna peninsula, heeding the call by Commission for Justice and Peace (CJP) of the Catholic diocese of Jaffna to mark the International Peace Day, assembled at the respective parish churches Sunday early morning before proceeding in a prayer procession towards Manippaay St.Anthony's church.
Full story >> Civilian shot dead in Jaffna[TamilNet, Monday, 22 September 2008, 07:22 GMT]Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a 25-year-old man Sunday afternoon in Chu'ndikkuzhi near Jaffna secretariat at a location close to Kachcheari - Nalloor road and Rakka road, near two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps, one close to the secretariat and another near St.John Bosco School. Full story >> SL Police detain 10 civilians in Batticaloa after slaying of TMVP operative[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 September 2008, 19:05 GMT]Sri Lankan forces and TMVP paramilitary men on Saturday detained 10 Tamil civilians in a cordon and search operation jointly conducted by them in Tha'lavaay area, after a TMVP operative was slain Friday night at the office of TMVP at Tha'lavaay. Full story >> Sri Lankan forces shoot dead young male in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 September 2008, 18:39 GMT]Sri Lankan forces who were on a road patrol on Kalmunai Batticaloa main road opened fire, killing a youth around 8:45 p.m. Sunday at Puthukkudiyiruppu in Ka'luvaagnchikkudi, according to initial reports. Full story >> Heavy fighting continues in Ki'linochchi district[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 September 2008, 18:15 GMT]Heavy fighting, which erupted in the southwest frontiers of Ki'linochchi district on Sunday continued amid heavy artillery fire throughout the day. Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers were observed over Vanneari area three times and at least two airstrikes were witnessed by the residents of the district. Meanwhile, two artillery shells exploded near A9 highway around 1:00 p.m. Full story >> Chief Priest of Koa'neasvaram Temple assassinated in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 September 2008, 14:33 GMT]Unidentified armed men shot and killed the Chief Priest of the historic Trincomalee Koa'neasvaram Temple, Sivashri Kugarajakurrukal, Sunday around 6:00 p.m. The killing took place along Viththiyalayam Road located in the heart of Trincomalee city. The deceased had been riding in his motorbike when he was shot by assassin who also came in a motor bicycle, police said. The priest had returned from India four days ago, temple sources said. Full story >> Gunmen shoot SLFP activist in Poththuvil[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 September 2008, 11:17 GMT]Armed men who entered a shop in Poththuvil in Ampaa'rai shot at its owner, a 53-year-old Tamil man, who has been operating as the Pothtuvil area secretary of the SLFP, the party of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa around 8:15 p.m. Saturday. Full story >> SLA beefs up deployment in Thenmaraadchi[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 September 2008, 10:55 GMT]The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Thenmaraadchi in Jaffna has stepped up deployment after guerrilla attacks have targeted SLA's night patrols in the area in the recent days. There were two episodes of clashes reported in the past week alone in Manthuvil and Charasaalai. Full story >> TMVP office attacked in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 September 2008, 10:26 GMT]Attackers who arrived in a motorbike Saturday night around 8:30 p.m., lobbed a grenade on the office of paramilitary-cum-political party TMVP, located along Bagalow Road in Periyakallaa'ru. The attackers escaped from the site where a police post is situated 50 meters close to the TMVP office. Four persons who were inside the office narrowly escaped unhurt, Police said. Full story >> Grenade attack on UNP candidate's residence in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 September 2008, 09:02 GMT]Unidentified attackers lobbed a grenade into the house of a Tamil candidate of the United National Party (UNP) for the second time, Kalkudaa police said. The UNP member, Jehan Arumugam, 27, said he has been threatening telephone calls from the TMVP paramilitary from May, 2008, when Eastern provincial council elections were held. The attack on Saturday took place around 11:00 p.m. No body was injured. Full story >> Heavy fighting breaks out in southwest frontiers of Ki'linochchi district[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 September 2008, 01:06 GMT]Heavy fighting has broke out between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the fighting formations of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) in the southwest frontiers of Ki'linochchi district, at Vanneari, Akkaraayan and the interior of Mu'rika'ndi at 5:50 a.m. on Sunday. Full story >> STF commando killed, 3 wounded in Ampaa'rai[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 September 2008, 17:23 GMT]A Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) commando was killed and three wounded Friday around 5:50 p.m. in Kagnchikudichaa'ru region where Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) laid booby trap exploded when hundreds of commandos engaged in a search operation entered a mine field, sources in Ampaa'rai said. Full story >> Crisis unfolding in Ki'linochchi - Human Rights Secretariat[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 September 2008, 16:56 GMT]The better off among the newly displacing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ki'linochchi have gone to the extreme of dismantling their homes so that they can setup a home in due course in new place. The sight of Ki'linochchi streets with roofless, doorless homes tells the sad tale of the IDPs who once lived in them, said North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESoHR) on Saturday. Meanwhile, the United Nations office of the Resident / Humanitarian Coordinator in Colombo, in a press statement issued on Saturday, said it was seriously concerned by theft from its Ki'linochchi offices on Thursday and Friday nights and said it has brought this to the attention of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE). Full story >> Tamil diaspora representatives condemn International System Failure in Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 September 2008, 14:45 GMT]
"First was its failure to stop state human rights abuses in Sri Lanka; second was its inability to inspire a political solution in lieu of military solution; third was succumbing to government pressure in withdrawing International Agencies, and now, sitting with crossed fingers for the impending genocide and bloodbath, yet backing the failed state of Sri Lanka. What is the message the International System is trying to give to the people of the world in the test case of the Tamil crisis in Sri Lanka," asks Rev. Fr. F.C. Inpanathan, who was one of the diaspora representatives of a delegation that met Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer on Friday. "Does State Terrorism being replaced by System Terrorism?" he further questions.
Full story >> New campus in Buttala to accommodate EUSL Sinhala students[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 September 2008, 13:21 GMT]The University Grants Commission (UGC) has worked out a proposal to provide accommodation in a building located in Buttala in Uva Province to about 100 Sinhala students who left Batticaloa, and to engage lecturers from Universities of Sabaragamuwa, Uwa Vellesa, South East and East to conduct classes, according to informed sources in Colombo. The new facility comes under the administration of the Sabaragamuwa University. The proposal has come after a Sinhala student was shot dead in Batticalao district where the EUSL is situated. Full story >> 5 students reported missing in Colombo[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 September 2008, 12:56 GMT]Five students, three Tamils and two Muslims, traveling together from Kotahena to Bambalapitya on September 17th night, are reported missing, according to complaints lodged by their relatives to Maradana Police and Kotahena Police. All were born and grew up in Colombo. One of the students was to leave Sri Lanka last Thursday for higher studies in London with his father. Full story >> ASP in Tissa's case didn't think confession was important[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 September 2008, 12:47 GMT]Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Srilal Anandaraj Ranasinghe, during cross examination in Tissainayagam case 18th Thursday in Colombo High Court, said that he did not think "[Tissainayagam's] confession was not very important," legal sources following the case in Colombo said. While the main duty of the ASP Ranasinghe was to record confessions, and after admitting to having taken fifteen such confessions, the ASP said since he had not given evidence to the Court before, he did not understand the importance of statements of confession. Full story >> SL Police arrest Tamil youth returned from abroad[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 September 2008, 10:59 GMT]A 30-year-old Tamil man who returned from abroad was arrested by the Sri Lankan Police on September 12 while he was staying in a lodge located in Maradana. He is still being held in detention in the police station without any reason or any charge, according to complaints lodged by his father to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). Full story >> Fuel shortage threatens provision of drinking water in Vanni[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 September 2008, 10:45 GMT]Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has instructed the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) not to allow Humanitarian Convoys to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Ki'linochchi district with food items provided under the United Nations World Food Programme, as a "punishment" for the people of Ki'linochhci district for not "obeying" its instruction to leave Ki'linochhi to Vavuniyaa, according to an official attached to Vavuniyaa District Secretariat. Meanwhile, North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESoHR) in a press statement issued on Saturday said fuel shortage has severely affected the provision of drinking water to the internally displaced civilians. Full story >> TMVP operative shot dead in Ea'raavoor[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 September 2008, 08:25 GMT]Two men armed with hand guns entered an office of TMVP, shot and killed a paramilitary operative, said to be the coordinator of TMVP in Tha'lavaay in Ea'raavoor of Batticaloa district, Friday around 8:45 p.m. One person was rushed to hospital with injuries. Full story >> Tamil youth shot dead in Colombo[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 September 2008, 08:07 GMT]Armed men riding in a motorbike in Colombo shot and killed a Tamil youth in Colombo Saturday around 8:15 a.m. The killing has taken place near Kotahena street, Colombo 13., Police said. Full story >> Relatives identify body of Indian citizen washed ashore in Nedunththeevu[TamilNet, Friday, 19 September 2008, 19:54 GMT]The grandson and two nephews of the Indian citizen whose corpse was washed ashore 14 September in the islet of Nedunththeevu (Delft) identified and confirmed that it was their relative from Gujarath by the identifications found on the corpse. The relatives, accompanied by an attorney-at-law from India, identified the corpse in Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary Friday, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Skeleton of youth recovered in Vadamaraadchi[TamilNet, Friday, 19 September 2008, 19:51 GMT]Nelliyadi police recovered Friday a human skeleton in Ma'ndaan, Karaveddi area in Vadamaraadchi on information given by local cattle grazers who found the skeleton. Jaffna Teaching Hospital Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), K. Illankovan, who accompanied the police and Point Pedro magistrate, K. Ariyanayagam, to the site where the skeleton was found, testified that it may belong to a youth between 30 to 32 years of age. Full story >> Danish authorities strengthen quality control on South Asian groceries[TamilNet, Friday, 19 September 2008, 09:09 GMT]Danish food inspection authorities, on inspecting groceries selling oriental food products mainly from Sri Lanka and India, recently ordered a shop in Herning city to destroy all its food items and in the ensuing inspection on 5 September of two other shops in Grindsted where a large quantity of food items from Sri Lanka were seized on the assumption of illegal sales. Full story >> Pannalagama tense after ambush attacks, 4 said killed[TamilNet, Friday, 19 September 2008, 08:45 GMT]A Sri Lankan homeguard and his 9-year-old son were killed when a group of unidentified armed men attacked their tractor at Pannalagama village in Damana Police division in Ampaa'rai district Thursday evening around 6:45, according to police sources in the district. Two sustained serious injuries in the ambush and rushed to hospital. Meanwhile, a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier and a Special Task Force (STF) commando were killed in mortar and landmine attacks that followed, according to informed military sources in Ampaa'rai. Full story >> SLAF bombardment kills displaced civilian, 2 wounded[TamilNet, Friday, 19 September 2008, 01:48 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a civilian settlement in Visuvamadu Thursday around 4:00 p.m., killing a 47-year-old mother of two, who displaced from Ki'linochchi suburb Uthayanakar within the last couple of days. Two women were wounded in the bombardment, Tamileelam Police said. Full story >> Bodies of returning refugees washed ashore off Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 19:13 GMT]Seven corpses, including two children, a male and four females had been washed ashore in the last couple of days in the islets of Jaffna. One of four female corpses washed ashore was identified by the victim's brother Thursday as one of the refugees returning from Tamil Nadu, India, triggering fears of boats capsizing in the Palk Strait. People wonder at the circumstances leading to the risky return of refugees from Tamil Nadu at this juncture of war, report sources in Jaffna. Full story >> Sri Lankan forces arrest 12 Tamils in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 18:34 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Special Task Force (STF) and the Sri Lankan police arrested Thursday 12 civilians in a joint cordon and search operation from 5:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in Kalladi, Uppoadai, Nochchimunai and Naavatkudaa areas in Batticaloa police division. Paramilitary Razeek group personnel were deployed by the SLA during the search operation, residents said. Full story >> 28 Tamils arrested over Horton Place bus bomb blast[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 16:53 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Cinnamon Gardens police in Colombo arrested 28 Tamil civilians including a woman in a joint cordon and search operation conducted in several areas in Colombo city from Tuesday evening till Wednesday morning. The arrests were made in connection with the Horton Place bus bomb explosion Tuesday and the arrestees are detained and being interrogated in Cinnamon Garden police station, police sources said. Full story >> SLN imposes restrictions on Catholic devotees in Chaaddi, Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 15:59 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Allaippiddi has instructed the Catholic devotees attending the annual festival of Our Lady of Chinthaaththirai in Chaaddi, Veala'nai, in the islets of Jaffna and popularly known as Chinna Madu Maathaa (The little Mother Mary of Madu), to hand over their identity cards at their checkpost in Allaippiddi before entering the Church premises. Full story >> ICRC relocates in Ki'linochchi[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 15:23 GMT]The residential office of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in Ki'linochchi has relocated to Iraththinapuram, a suburb of Ki'linochchi town, from Ira'naimadu junction after Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells began to reach 155 Mile Post, which is located on A9 between Ki'linochchi town and Ira'naimadu Junction. Full story >> Armed men shoot dead Tamil civilian in Vavuniyaa[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 14:59 GMT]Unidentified armed men shot dead a Tamil man in his house on Wednesday morning around 10:30 a.m. at Vasanthan Kudiyiruppu in A'n'naa Nakar in Vavuniyaa police division. The victim, a married man, was identified as 30-year-old Sivalingam Ronald. Full story >> Fresh SLA advance repulsed in Vannearikku'lam - LTTE[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 11:32 GMT]The Sri Lanka Army (SLA), which launched a fresh attempt to advance in Vannearikku'lam on Thursday suffered heavy casualties as the Tigers repulsed the move after heavy fighting that lasted for almost four hours, LTTE military officials in Vanni told TamilNet claiming that 25 SLA soldiers were killed in the fighting and more than 40 wounded. Two dead bodies of SLA soldiers were recovered and the Tigers have seized arms and ammunitions from the battlefield. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan military officials in Colombo claimed that their forces were engaged in a 3-hour sea battle from 11:30 a.m. with the LTTE Sea Tigers in the seas off Naachchikkudaa, claiming an equal number of casualties on LTTE side. Full story >> SLA shelling hits convoy on A9, driver wounded[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 09:49 GMT]A driver of a lorry convoy on its way to Oamanthai, expecting humanitarian supplies, was wounded when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells hit the A9 highway Thursday around 7:30 a.m., 1 km off Maangku'lam. Full story >> Principal reported missing, one seek refuge with Jaffna HRC[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 09:38 GMT]The principal of Va'l'luvarpuram Paarathi Viththiyaalayam in Visuvamadu in Liberation Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) held area of Vanni, has been reported missing since 08 August, according to complaint lodged with the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna by his wife. Full story >> Tamil man reported missing in Ampaa'rai[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 08:58 GMT]Armed men riding in a white van abducted a 34-year-old Tamil civilian Monday night around 10:00, at his residence in Thu'raineelaava'nai in Ampaa'rai. The victim, Thambirasa Pirahalathan, is a father of two children. Full story >> Ambulance escapes Claymore blast on A9[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 08:18 GMT]An ambulance returning fro Oamanthai exit point narrowly escaped from a Claymore explosion Wednesday evening in Kokkaavil on A9 road. Tamileelam Police officials in Vanni blamed that the SLA has deployed DPU infiltration teams with the instruction to disturb the movement of Internall Displaced People and the fundamental services such as humanitarian supplies and medical transport on A9, the only access route to Vanni. Full story >> 3 killed, DPU Claymore targets bus on A9[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 September 2008, 06:33 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) infiltrators Thursday morning triggered a Claymore mine targeting a passenger bus, which was on its way from Pu'liyangku'lam to Ki'linochchi on A9 Road, killing at least three civilians, including the driver of the bus on the spot, accordingo to initial reports from the Tamileelam Police. Meanwhile, medical sources reported that five civilians were rushed to hospitals after the blast. Full story >> SLA blocks humanitarian supplies to Vanni[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 September 2008, 15:25 GMT]The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Vavunkyaa turned away Wednesday fifteen lorries carrying humanitarian supplies to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ki'linochchi district. Officials attached to the Ki'linochchi GA office said the sudden blocking by the SLA of the much needed medicine and essential supplies, which were already delayed for weeks, would affect thousands as many more civlians were being made IDPs in the district. Full story >> NEIAP engineer shot dead in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 September 2008, 14:07 GMT]North East Irrigation and Agriculture project(NEIAP) Assistant Engineer Logesh Premalatha, 28, was shot by two unknown gunmen at her residence in Theaththaatheevu in Ka'luvaagnchikkudi Wednesday around 6:20 a.m. Ms. Premalatha succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, Police said. Full story >> SLN imposed ban starves 550 fisher families in Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 September 2008, 13:59 GMT]Jaffna peninsula Federation of Fisheries Societies (FFS) extended an urgent appeal to local and international humanitarian organizations to issue relief food immediately to the 550 fisher families in Maathakal in Valikaamam which face death due to starvation caused by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) imposed fishing ban in the seas between its bases in Kangkeasanththu'rai and Kaarainakar, in a media release. Full story >> 3 corpses of women washed ashore in Nainaatheevu[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 September 2008, 13:50 GMT]Three corpses of women in highly decomposed state were found washed ashore Tuesday in Nainaatheevu, an islet of Jaffna, by local residents who informed Oorkaavattu'rai (Kayts) police. Ms. Joy Mahadeva, Oorkaavattu'rai magistrate, visited the place in Nainaatheevu where the corpses lay and held the inquest into the deaths. She directed the police to hand over the corpses to Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) mortuary for identification. Full story >> Ex-SLA soldier imprisoned for molesting child[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 September 2008, 13:42 GMT]Trincomalee HughCourt Judge Mr.M.Ilancheliyan Tuesday sentenced a former Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier to ten years rigorous imprisonment for committing grave sexual assault on a 5-year-old girl. The crime happened in February 2001. An SLA officer in the rank of Major who held the official inquiry into the incident gave evidence at the trial. Full story >> British FM meets Tamil expats in London[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 September 2008, 13:17 GMT]During a community meeting attended by over one thousand British Tamils, UK Foreign Minister Lord Mark Malloch Brown, said: "UK Government believes that minorities in any country must have their right to practice the fullest and free to expression of self determination. "We are extremely concerned about how this government behaves and treats the Tamil community, and we are using all the means available to us to press the government to do otherwise." Full story >> Female shot dead in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 September 2008, 08:28 GMT]Two unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a motorbike shot and killed a 26-year-old woman at Ma'ndoor, 30 km south of Batticaloa city around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Police said. Full story >> SLAF attack in Vaddakkachchi targets civilians, 2 wounded[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 September 2008, 07:20 GMT]The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), which attacked Vaddakkaachchi, 3 km east of Ki'linochchi town Wednesday morning while claiming that it targeted a 'high profile hideout' of the Tigers, dropped bombs on a densely populated settlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) on Hudson Road, wounding two, a 14-year-old boy and a father of three. A 15-year-old girl fainted as her father sustained injuries. Full story >> Tamil youths in Thampalakaamam, Potkea'ni live in fear[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 September 2008, 20:25 GMT]Large number of Tamil youths and girls of Potkea'ni and Thampalakaamam villages in Trincomalee district have been seeking refuge in safe areas elsewhere due to the increase of abduction by unidentified armed persons coming in white van and also due to cordon search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Army assisted by home guards during nights, civil sources have complained to human rights activists of the district. Full story >> Armed men abduct Tamil youth in Vavuniyaa[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 September 2008, 17:34 GMT]Armed men who were riding in a white van and motorbikes Sunday night abducted a Tamil youth, Sakthivel Muruganandam, from his residence at Poovarasangku'lam in Vavuniyaa police division, according to complaints lodged with the Vavuniyaa Police by his relatives. Full story >> Bomb explodes in Colombo, 1 wounded[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 September 2008, 09:30 GMT]A bomb explosion was reported inside a CTB bus at Horton Place in Colombo Tuesday at 1:45 p.m. One person was wounded and rushed to hospital, police said. The CTB bus belong to Mattakuliya depot and was heading to Moratuwa, near the Hortan place roundabout in Colombo 7. Full story >> SLAF steps up air-strikes on civilian settlements in Vanni[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 September 2008, 06:26 GMT]Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked civilian settlements in Vanni killing three Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and wounding five on Tuesday. One air-strike targeted IDPs who were dismantling their huts to leave from Mu'rika'ndi 155 Mile Post area that has been targeted by SLA shelling since Monday, as foreign aid workers and NGO officials were leaving the region. Six houses have been destroyed by the SLAF bombers that bombed four locations, with more than 16 bombs. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells targeting Puthumu'rippu, Oottuppulam, Chaanthapuram and Ira'naimadu area from 7:40 p.m. Full story >> 22 SLA killed in Akkaraayan fighting, arms seized, say Tigers[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 19:51 GMT] More than 22 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and at least 53 wounded Monday when the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) put up stiff resistance against the SLA offensive units that advanced in Akkaraayan area, southwest of Ki'linochchi district, the Tigers said. Releasing photographs taken from the battlefield where they recovered four SLA dead bodies and seized rocket launchers and machine guns, the LTTE officials told media in Vanni that the SLA was pushed back. Clearing mission was still going on, the Tigers said. Meanwhile, SLA officials in Colombo put their casualties as low as 3 killed in action and 9 wounded.Full story >> Pirapaharan pays homage to Thileepan on 21st anniversary[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 18:47 GMT] Velupillai Pirapaharan, the leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) paid homage to Lt. Col. Thileepan on Monday at an undisclosed location in Vanni, when the Tigers commenced to mark the 21st death anniversary of Thileepan's fast to death campaign, according to LTTE officials in Vanni.Full story >> 3 Tamils abducted in Uddappu, released[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 17:46 GMT]Three Tamils including a woman abducted Friday by unidentified armed men in a white van at Uddappu, a Tamil village in Chilaw district, were released Sunday morning, Munthal police said. They were forcibly taken away from their houses by the armed men in the white van. Full story >> Shoot at sight order on persons entering Moneragala jungles[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 17:42 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has launched a search operation in the jungles that come under the Divisional Secretariat divisions of Moneragala, Siyambalanduwa and Buttala in the Moneragala district in the Uva province for strangers alleged to be hiding following the killing of seven Sinhala villagers last week. SLA has warned that those who enter the jungles while the search operation is in progress will be shot at sight, Moneragala sources said. Full story >> SLA restricts devotees performing ritual in Chelvachchannathi Temple[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 17:37 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna did not permit all the devotees who attended the water-cutting (Theertham)ceremony held Monday in Tho’ndaimaanaa’ru Chelvachchannathi temple located on the east of Tho’ndaimaanaa’ru lagoon to perform their annual water-cutting rituals of bathing in the lagoon. Only a few of the many thousands who wanted to perform this rite were allowed to bathe in the lagoon by the SLA soldiers who were deployed in large numbers around the temple precincts. Thousands of devotees from all parts of Jaffna peninsula attended the Thear festival (car) held Sunday and the water-cutting festival Monday.Full story >> Corpse of Indian citizen washed ashore in Nedunththeevu (Delft)[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 17:27 GMT]Nedunththeevu police recovered the body of a 77-year-old Indian citizen found washed ashore Sunday at Nedunththeevu, an islet of Jaffna, on information given by local residents. Monday evening another corpse, suspected to be that of a Tamil person from Mannaar fleeing to Tamil Nadu by boat which had capsized mid-sea, was found on Queen’s Tower beach in Nedunththeevu by local residents, Nedunththeevu police said. Full story >> UN expects LTTE to provide safe passage to its convoy[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 15:42 GMT]The United Nations office of the Resident / Humanitarian Coordinator for Sri Lanka, in a statement issued on Monday in Colombo, said it intends to move remaining UN and humanitarian agency staff in a single convoy at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday and that it expects the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) to provide safe passage to the convoy towards Oamanthai crossing. Full story >> 3 civilians including a woman seek refuge with HRC Jaffna[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 14:04 GMT]A young woman from Kaithadi North in Thenmaraadchi and two brothers from Navakkiri in Puththoor area in Valikaamam sought refuge with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Monday due to death threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitaries, according to their complaints to HRC. The recent killing of a woman by unidentified armed men in Kaithadi North was the reason for the young woman to seek refuge while the brothers sought refuge following the recent shooting in Navakkiri area seriously injuring a mother and her daughter, according to statements to the HRC by the complainants. Full story >> EU calls for respect of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 12:05 GMT]Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, has expressed his grave concern over the escalation of the conflict in Sri Lanka and the effects on innocent civilians. The Commissioner, in a press release issued on Monday, stressed that both parties to the conflict should respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. These include not just ensuring the safety and free movement of civilians - but also ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches people in need. Full story >> STF killed in Tiger shelling in Ampaa'rai[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 10:59 GMT]A Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) trooper was killed and five sustained injuries Sunday around 7:00 a.m. when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) fired shells targeted Udumpangku'lam STF camp in Kanghikudichchaa'ru, according to informed sources in the East. Full story >> Heavy fighting in Akkaraayan, arms seized, 4 SLA bodies recovered - LTTE[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 10:41 GMT] The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials in Vanni told media that their forces were engaged in a stiff fighting with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) that launched a fresh attempt to advance in the south of Akkaraayan Monday while the SLA shelling reached the A9 highway. The Tigers said their fighters have located dead bodies of four SLA soldiers and seized weapons including six RPG launchers, nine LMGs and more than 20 assault rifles from the battlefield, causing heavy casualties to the SLA. Full story >> 2 SLA killed in Maha Oya, arms seized - LTTE[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 10:24 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) ambushed a motorbike patrol of the SLA in Maha Oya area, situated between Batticaloa district and Badulla district Monday morning around 7:30 a.m., the Tigers said adding that they seized a AK-47 and a T-56-type-2 assault rifles from the SLA with ammunitions. Full story >> India: While taking action against LTTE, steps should also be taken to protect civilians[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 09:30 GMT]India's Defence Minister A K Antony was quoted by Press Trust of India (PTI) on Monday as saying: "While taking action against the LTTE, steps should also be taken to protect the civilian Tamils in Sri Lanka and ensure their safety and security." The statement by the Indian Defence Minister has come in the wake of reports that Indian military personnel were involved in providing military support to the Sri Lankan forces. Full story >> SLA shells A9 at Mu'rika'ndi[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2008, 08:08 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has launched heavy artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire targeting A9 and the surrounding villages at Mu'rika'ndi from 7:00 a.m. Monday, according to initial reports from the area. At least one civilian was wounded in the artillery barrage and two shops in Mu'rika'ndi junction were destroyed in the shelling. Civilians were fleeing from 55th Mile Post and Ira'naimadu junction where ICRC Ki'linochchi office is located. All traffic on A9 to Oamanthai exit point has been cut off due to the artillery barrage.Full story >> History rejects military defeat of liberation movements- Gajendrakumar[TamilNet, Sunday, 14 September 2008, 18:22 GMT] Responding to a question on year-end dead line set by the Government of Sri Lanka to defeat the Liberation Tigers, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian from Jaffna said, "We have been told many times and by many governments of Sri Lanka that the war will be won and that the LTTE will be defeated...I am yet to come across an instance when a national liberation movement in any part of the world has been militarily defeated," in an interview published in Colombo weekly the Sunday Leader 14th edition.Full story >> Armed men in Black suit kill two Tamil villagers in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Sunday, 14 September 2008, 10:46 GMT]Unidentified armed men shot and killed two Tamil villagers, 50 years and 27 years of age, Saturday night at Kappalthu'rai in Chinabay Police division in Trincomalee district. The armed men entered the village Saturday night dressed in black suit and had shot dead the victims in their houses. Full story >> Australian NGO Director warns of Humanitarian Disaster in the absence of foreign aid workers[TamilNet, Sunday, 14 September 2008, 09:42 GMT] The extreme humanitarian situation of Internally Displaced Persons, including thousands of children, who are already malnourished, would deteriorate dramatically as clean water is not available for all the IDPs and they have been deprived of medicine by the Sri Lankan government, said Executive Director Paul O'Callaghan of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), which has 25 member organisations working in Sri Lanka over many decades. He has expressed fear of a blood bath as foreign aid workers of UN agencies and NGOs packed their bags following the orders by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to leave the Vanni region last week.Full story >> Building contractor shot dead in the islets of Jaffna[TamilNet, Sunday, 14 September 2008, 07:45 GMT]Unidentified gunmen alleged to be Tamil paramilitary persons following a building contrator on motor cycle shot and killed him Saturday around 5:30 p.m at Charava'nai Kaa'li Koayiladi in Veala’nai, in the islets of Jaffna, sources in Oorkaavattu’rai (Kayts) said. The victim’s two brothers who had been combatants in militant groups had died in the past, the sources added. Full story >> Wife identifies decapitated body recovered in Vadamaraadchi[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 September 2008, 21:34 GMT]The identity of the male whose decapitated body with signs of severe torture was recovered Friday by Nelliyadi police, near a bridge 400m from Kapputhoo Sri Lanka Army (SLA) main camp along Kuyilangka’ndi Road, has been identified by the victim’s wife, sources in Point Pedro said. Kapputhoo is located between Thenmaraadchi and Vadamaraadchi. Full story >> STF Trooper shoots himself dead[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 September 2008, 21:01 GMT]A Special Task Force (STF) commando attached to Ka’luvaanngchikkudi STF camp in Batticaloa district shot himself to death Saturday morning 6:00 a.m. inside the camp premises, Ka’luvaangchikkudi police said. Full story >> 2 Tamils abducted in Colombo[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 September 2008, 19:24 GMT]Two Tamil civilians were abducted in Colombo in two separate incidents. The latest abduction was reported from Colombo where a 35 year-old Sahathevan Uthayakumar, a native of Nalloor in Jaffna district had been missing since Friday morning. He had been residing in Sea Street along with his father. He had been working in Colombo as a motor mechanic. He was allegedly taken by force by some unidentified armed men when he was returning home after work, according to complaints made to the Police by his father. Full story >> SLAF bombs Vaddakkachchi, child injured[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 September 2008, 16:53 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Air force (SLAF) Kfir bombers dropped eight bombs in Vaddakkachchi area of Ki’linochchi district Saturday morning 8:20 a.m. targeting civilian settlements wounding a 7-year old child, sources in Vaddakkachchi said. Full story >> Body of youth found in Vavuniyaa[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 September 2008, 16:28 GMT]The body of a 25 year-old youth who is alleged to have been abducted Thursday from a lodge in Vavuniyaa town was recovered Friday morning around 9:00 a.m, at Pattaanichoor along Mannaar-Vavuniyaa road by the police on receipt of information. and postmortem report. Full story >> Three students abducted in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 September 2008, 15:09 GMT]Unidentified armed men abducted three students in three separate incidents in various areas of Batticaloa district, according to complaints lodged at the police stations in the areas. Full story >> Outsiders quit Colombo, tells Defence Secretary[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 September 2008, 15:03 GMT]Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse told the State run Daily News Saturday that thousands who stay in Colombo "without any valid reason" should return to their villages as they are creating a huge security concern. "We must be prepared for this. That is why wer doing human control measures. People criticise us for fundamental rights violations when we do these things," paper quoted Gotabhaya as saying. Full story >> Court orders Police to strengthen Anuradhapura security[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 September 2008, 14:56 GMT]Anuradhapura Magistrate, Mr.Ruchira Weliwatte, Friday directed the North Central Province Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Mr.K.P.P.Pathirana, to strengthen the security of Anuradhapura town and its suburbs as the court had received reports that unidentified armed groups have been moving in nights in vehicles without number plates, legal sources said. Full story >> Ambushes kill 2 policemen in Batticaloa, 7 wounded[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 September 2008, 06:40 GMT]An ambush team of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) attacked a sentry post at Thimilatheevu in Batticaloa district in the early hours of Saturday at 4:30 a.m., killing a Sri Lankan policeman at the post. Meanwhile, a Claymore attack on Ma'ndoor Vellaave'li Road targeted a truck, killing a policeman and causing serious injuries to four Sri Lankan policemen at 9:30 a.m., according to LTTE officials in the East. Sri Lankan police sources also confirmed that two of their policemen were killed in two separate attacks and said seven police personnel, including two female police, were wounded in the Claymore attack, according tot he Police sources. Full story >> Jaffna youth gone missing in Monaraagala[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 19:31 GMT]A Tamil youth from Alvaay area in Vadamaradchi had gone missing in Ve’l’lavaaya area in Monaraagala district 21 August, according to a complaint lodged by his parents to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna Friday. He was last seen after sending money to his parents from the bank in Ve’l’lavaaya, where he had been employed in the shop of his relative, the parents said in their complaint to HRC. Full story >> 3rd beheaded male corpse recovered in Kappoothu, Vadamaraadchi[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 19:08 GMT]Nelliyadi police in Vadamaraadchi recovered a male corpse with its head severed and signs of severe torture Friday, near a bridge 400m from Kappothu Sri Lanka Army (SLA) main camp along Kuyilangka’ndi Veethi in Kappoothu, a place located between Thenmaraadchi and Vadamaraadchi, sources in Point Pedro said. Meanwhile, a beheaded corpse of a male in woman’s clothing from Thenmaraadchi was recovered recently from this area and the body of a youth from Rajkiraamam in Karaveddi in Vadamaraadchi with its head severed was found dumped in the same area following it. Full story >> IDPs urge foreign aid workers not to leave Vanni, block convoy[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 16:50 GMT] Internally Displaced Persons, who gathered Friday morning in front of the UNHCR office at Karadippoakku junction in Ki'linochchi, pleaded with the remaining officials of the UN and International NGOs not to leave Ki'linochchi as their presence was critical, not only for humanitarian assistance, but also to sustain a secure zone to escape. They said they feared that in the coming days Sri Lanka military will employ Colombo’s scorched earth policy to destroy key Vanni towns using aerial and artillery bombardment. Meanwhile, a group of IDPs blocked the convoy of NGO vehicles in a peaceful protest from 6:00 a.m, forcing the NGOs to abandon their trip on Friday.Full story >> Veteran Nathaswaram exponent Kaanamoorthy passes away[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 11:50 GMT] V.K.Kaanamoorthy, an exponent in Eezham Nathaswaram music passed away Wednesday night in Jaffna Teaching Hospital after a brief illness at 60 years of age. Kaanamoorthy with his younger brother Panchamoorthy, excelled in playing Nathaswaram not only in Sri Lanka but also in Tamil Nadu in South India, Singapore and Malaysia for more than three decades. Full story >> White van gunmen abduct Tamil trader in Matale[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 11:48 GMT]A 36-year old Tamil trader was abducted at Ukkuwala in Matale police division Wednesday night by armed men who arrived in a white van. The trader was returning home by foot after closing shop for the day when he was forced into the van and driven away, according to complaints lodged with the Matale police by his relatives Thursday evening. Full story >> 5-Day Bishops' Conference to discuss peace in Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 11:46 GMT]The Bishops' Conference of Catholic Church of Sri Lanka is expected to discuss the volatile situation prevailing in the north, east and other parts of the country and to explore ways in which the Church could contribute to peaceful resolution when it commences its five-day sitting on September 18. Bishops of seventeen dioceses in the island including Jaffna, Mannaar, Trincomalee and Batticaloa are also to attend the conference. Full story >> Slain Sinhalese farmers identified in Moneragala[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 08:49 GMT]Seven dead bodies, located by police at Ethimale in Kotiyagala in Moneragala district on Thursday were identified by the relatives of the victims Friday morning in front of Moneragala magistrate Srinath Gunasekara. Full story >> Prison guards shoot dead 3 escapees in Galle[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 08:21 GMT]Three prisoners were shot and killed by prison guards while the prisoners tried to escape from the Galle prison Friday afternoon, police said. Full story >> Unemployed graduates commence fasting campaign in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 04:57 GMT]A fast-to-death campaign organized by the Association of Graduates of Eastern Province (AGEP), the third such campaign within the past three months, commenced Thursday morning outside Batticaloa district Zonal Education office, sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> LTTE leader pays tribute to Black Tiger commandos on Vavuniyaa mission[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 04:16 GMT] Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Leader Velupillai Pirapaharan on Thursday paid his last respects to the ten Black Tiger commandos, who laid down their lives during the Tiger operation on the Vanni headquarters of the Sri Lankan forces (SF HQ). LTTE officials told media that the LTTE leader paid his last respects with garlanding the photographs of the Black Tigers and by lighting the flame of sacrifice at an undisclosed location in Vanni. The Tiger mission destroyed the infrastructure of the joint operations command of the Sri Lankan forces in Vanni in the early hours of Tuesday.Full story >> Police arrests six NorthEast Tamils in Gampaha[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 02:52 GMT]Six Tamils were arrested in cordon and search operations conducted in several parts of Gampaha town from Wednesday evening till Thursday dawn. Police said they conducted the operation with the assistance of home guards on receipt of information that a group of strangers had infiltrated into the town. Full story >> Family man shot dead in Chaavakachcheari[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 17:19 GMT]Unidentified armed men on motor cycle following a young family man Thursday opened fire on him near Chaavakachcheari government hospital, sources in Chaavakachcheari said. The seriously injured victim was rushed to Chaavakachcheari hospital first and later transferred to Jaffna Teaching Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds Thursday. The vicitim was one of the persons in Thenmaraadchi who regularly report at the local Sri Lanka Army (SLA) civil administration office to sign the register on the orders of the SLA. Full story >> SLA shoots dead youth in Vaazhaichcheanai[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 16:27 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers shot and killed Wednesday around 9:30 p.m a youth at Kiraan in Vaazhaichcheanai police division in Batticaloa district, sources in Batticaloa said. SLA claimed to have found a Claymore mine, batteries, wire and cyanide in possession of the youth killed. Full story >> 2 STF wounded in Ampaa'rai - LTTE[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 15:37 GMT]Two of the commandos of a Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) unit, which entered a booby trapped area in the interior jungle of Kagnchikudichchaa'ru in Ampaa'rai, sustained injuries Wednesday evening, LTTE officials told media Thursday. Full story >> Ban Ki-moon 'helping LTTE' – Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 15:35 GMT]Sri Lanka’s hardline government Thursday criticised United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for expressing deep concern about Tamil civilians in the Vanni region. Sri Lankan human rights ministry official Rajiva Wijesinghe told reporters that there were no civilian casualties in the Colombo government’s ongoing offensive and that the UN Chief’s comments were helping the LTTE. Full story >> India betrays Tamils by providing military personnel to Sri Lanka - Vaiko[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 14:46 GMT] Referring to the news that two Indian radar operators were wounded Tuesday when the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) attacked the Vanni Headquarters of the Sri Lankan military, Vaiko, the General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), in a letter sent Thursday to the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, said that the Indian Government was "caught red handed in its unpardonable betrayal" of involving Indian military personnel in Sri Lanka's "genocidal war" against the Tamils. He blamed the top level bureaucrats in India, particularly the national security adviser, for "clandestinely conspiring" with the Sri Lankan government. Full story >> Bomb explodes again on railway track in Colombo[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 14:17 GMT]A bomb went off at Orugodawatte in Colombo along the main railway line Thursday around 7:15 p.m. Police said the explosion was similar to that reported Wednesday evening. There were no reports of casualties. Full story >> Police locate 7 dead bodies in Moneragala jungle[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 14:12 GMT]Seven bodies of male persons with gunshot injuries were found in Aayiththiyamalai jungle in Moneragala district. A group of persons who went to Aayithiamalai jungle first saw two bodies in a trailer. Later they searched around the area and found five more bodies lying on the ground, Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Ranjit Gunasekara told media in Colombo. Full story >> TNA condemns expulsion of foreign aid workers from Vanni[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 11:49 GMT]The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Thursday condemned the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) for instructing the foreign NGOs and aid workers to leave from Vanni and urged the International Community to prevail upon the GoSL to recall its decision. Full story >> White van gunmen abduct Tamil youth in Colombo[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 11:39 GMT]A Tamil youth was abducted by a group of armed men who arrived in a white van on Monday evening from a shop located along China Street in Fort, Colombo, where he had been working for several years. The abducted youth is from Pungudutheevu, an islet located to the west of Jaffna peninsula. Full story >> 4 STF killed, 3 wounded in Batticaloa - LTTE[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 11:11 GMT]Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials in the East on Thursday said a guerrilla team of the Tigers triggered a Claymore mine killing four Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) commandos and causing injuries to three, Wednesday around 5:30 p.m., near Pulipaaynthakal, which is located 30 km north of Batticaloa. Full story >> Police arrests 56 Tamils in Colombo[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 09:40 GMT]Sri Lanka Police in the city of Colombo arrested fifty-six Tamils in two separate cordon and search operations conducted from Wednesday evening till Thursday dawn in Mt.Lavinia and Dam street in Colombo. Thirty-two were arrested in Mt.Lavinia and twenty-four in Dam Street in Colombo, sources in Colombo said. Full story >> Sampanthan on excluding UN missions: Sri Lankan State destroys its sovereignty[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2008, 07:41 GMT] "The Sri Lankan Government, though it talks big about its concern for the displaced people in Vanni, does nothing more than make available to these people the meagre food items provided under the United Nations World Food Programme," said R. Sampanthan, the parliamentary group leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), while addressing the Sri Lankan Parliament on Tuesday. Also noting the Sri Lankan state's refusal to establish UN presence for monitoring the Human Rights violations, the senior Tamil politician blamed the Sri Lankan state for contributing to the "erosion and eventual destruction of its own sovereignty," in a lengthy speech during the debate on extending Emergency.Full story >> Civilian reported missing, another abducted in Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 19:26 GMT]A young family man from Kachcheari-Nalloor road is reported missing after he left home Tuesday early morning to work, according to the complaint registered with Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) by his wife Wednesday. Meanwhile, unidentified armed men in a white van abducted a family man from his house at Kalvayal, Chaavakachcheari in Thenmaraadchi Monday night, his wife complained to HRC Jaffna. Full story >> Farmer shot dead in Vadamaraadchi[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 18:57 GMT]Unidentified armed men shot and killed a young farmer Wednesday around 7:00 a.m in Kudaththanai area in Vadamaraadchi East near his vegetable farm, sources in Vadamaraadchi said. His relatives who had gone in search of him on hearing gun shots from the direction of his vegetable farm found him dead, the sources added. Full story >> Woman shot dead in Thenmaraadchi[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 18:41 GMT]Unidentified gunmen arriving at the house of a young woman Wednesday around 2:30 p.m at Kaithadi North in Thenmaraadchi, shot and killed her, sources in Thenmaraadchi said. The woman who had to report at the local Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp every week and sign in a register there, had done so Wednesday morning, the sources added. Full story >> Explosion along railway track in Colombo[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 15:11 GMT]Coastal train services in Western Province were canceled after a bomb went off along the railway line between Dehiwela and Mount Lavinia near De Saram Road Wednesday around 7:45 p.m., Police said. No one was wounded in the blast. Full story >> Family man reported missing in Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 13:43 GMT]A family man from Maanipaay Veethi, Aanaikoaddai in Valikaamam is reported missing since Monday, according to complaint registered by his wife with Jaffna Human Rights Commission Wednesday. Full story >> 5 Tamil civilians arrested in Badulla[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 13:27 GMT]Badulla police took into custody seven persons including five Tamil civilians, all of them upcountry residents, in a cordon and search operation conducted from Monday evening till Tuesday dawn. They are being detained in Badulla police station as they have failed to prove their identity, Badulla police said. Full story >> MoD suspends Dialogue cell phone service in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 11:21 GMT]The Ministry of Defence has instructed the termination of all Dialogue cell phone services within Batticaloa District since Tuesday morning until further notice, sources said. Full story >> Foreign aid workers start leaving Vanni[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 09:55 GMT]Vehicles with foreign aid workers of OXFAM, Save the Children, World Vision, Danish Refugee Council, ZOA, International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and a group of persons belonging to UN agencies were lined up at Oamanthai exit point, according to the sources in Vanni and Vavuniyaa. Meanwhile, a UN spokesman in Colombo confirmed that they have started to pull out from Vanni, but declined to give the time-frame chosen for the total pull-out. Full story >> SLA orders power cut in Jaffna following Tiger attack on Vanni SF HQ[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 09:43 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna ordered a power cut Tuesday around 4:00 a.m in its High Security Zones (HSZs) around Kaangeasanththu’rai (KKS) harbour and Palaali military complex immediately after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attack Tuesday at 3:05 a.m on Sri Lankan Forces head quarters in Vanni, sources in Jaffna said. Jetliner, the ship that transports SLA troops to Jaffna was anchored in KKS harbour at the time of the Tiger attack, the sources added. Full story >> Rise in mentally affected children in Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 08:02 GMT] Psychologists have warned that number of children in Jaffna districted mentally affected by the effects of continuing war and harassment by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) harassment is increasing in alarming rate, civil society sources in Jaffna said. Drawings and handicrafts of children identified as mentally affected were exhibited in an event held Sunday and Monday at Young Artists Hall in Nalloor by ‘Gods Own Children’ (GOC), a secular, non-government, and non-political humanitarian organization.Full story >> Tissa arrest "illegal" under CFA provisions - Counsel[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 05:41 GMT]Mr Anil Silva, the Counsel for senior Tamil journalist Tissainayagam, said during the hearing that the under the provision of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) the Government of Sri Lanka gave undertaking not to search or arrest as authorized by the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and the Sri Lanka has reneged on this promise. Mr Silva further urged the Attorney General' department to withdraw the indictment as this action would discredit the Government for reneging on the provisions of the CFA, legal sources in Colombo said. Full story >> Opposition challenges war progress claims[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 05:38 GMT]Hours after a devastating Tamil Tiger attack on the Sri Lankan military’s headquarters in Vavuniya, the main opposition Tuesday questioned the government’s claims of progress in the war against the LTTE, press reports said Wednesday. “The Air Force base and the Police HQ of Vavuniya was attacked using heavy artillery. Radar defence system is completely destroyed. This happened in an area that government has always claimed has been liberated a long time ago, and cleared of any LTTE activity,” United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Lakshman Seneviratne was quoted by The Bottom Line newspaper as saying. Full story >> TMVP gunmen shoot dead student, injures another in Akkaraipattu[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 05:16 GMT]Gunmen of Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), the paramilitary-cum-political party, opened fire Tuesday around 9:00 p.m on two students in front of their office at Aalayadiveampu in Akkaraipattu police division in Ampaa’rai district, killing one and seriously injuring the other, sources in Akkaraipattu said. Full story >> Youth reported missing in Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 03:25 GMT]The mother of a youth living in Mathavadi in Koa'ndaavil East in Jaffna lodged a complaint Tuesday with Jaffna Human Rights Commission that her son had gone missing since 3rd September. Full story >> Saiva priest’s wife, 10-year-old son, killed in Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 03:15 GMT]Unidentified robbers killed Monday night the mentally handicapped wife of a Saiva priest and her ten-year-old son in a house on Clock Tower road, Neeraaviyadi, a densely populated area in Jaffna town, sources in Jaffna said. During the inquest held at the site of the killings by Jaffna Additional Magistrate Tuesday evening the brother of the woman killed said that the valuables in the house had been robbed. Full story >> SLAF bombs Ki'linochchi town, 3 civilians wounded[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 01:46 GMT] Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers attacked Ki'linochchi town Wednesday around 7:00 a.m., wounding a 90-year-old man and a 11-year-old boy and causing damage to 23 houses. A 23-year-old pregnant mother was to be operated due to fetal death, caused by the bombardment and a 1-year-old child was admitted in fainted state, medical sources said. The attack has taken place at the heart of the town where NGO offices, residences, civilian facilities and other offices are located. The Sri Lankan bombers fired 16 bombs and deployed lethal air bursts, causing wide destruction. NGO office of Seva Lanka and a store of OXFAM are located 100 meters from the attack site. Full story >> 2 SLA killed in ambush in Ampaa'rai - LTTE[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 17:36 GMT]Liberation Tigers of Tamileelm (LTTE) officials in the East on Tuesday claimed that their a Tiger guerrilla unit triggered a land mine targeting Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers who were on road patrol in Bakmitiyawa, 30 km southwest of Ampaa'rai Tuesday morning around 9:05 a.m. Six SLA soldiers sustained injuries, they added. Full story >> 4 Sinhalese villagers abducted in Ampaa’rai[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 16:09 GMT]Unidentified armed men in uniforms similar to that of Special Task Force (STF) commandos abducted Friday four villagers who had gone to collect honey in Paa’namai Aa’lavai jungle area in Poththuvil police division in Ampaa’rai district, according to the complaint made Sunday to Poththuvil police by one of the four abductees who had managed to escape. Full story >> 12 upcountry Tamils arrested in Matale[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 15:31 GMT]Twelve Tamil youths who are residents of upcountry were arrested in a cordon and search operation conducted at Naula in Matale police division from Sunday evening till Monday. They are being detained in Naula police station for further inquiry, according to the Police. Full story >> Tamil youth abducted in Wattala[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 15:29 GMT]A 25-year-old Tamil youth John Anthony of Jampettah Street in Colombo was abducted by four armed men Monday evening when he was returning from the Wattala sea beach with his fiancé. His fiancé was later released at Matale but not the youth, according to complaint made by his fiancé at the Wattala police station Tuesday, police sources said. Full story >> Time for Britain to act, says UK Parliamentary group for Tamils[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 15:14 GMT]Sri Lanka’s decision to bar foreign aid staff at this critical juncture from the Vanni region, when these internally displaced people most need help of the aid staff, begs the question whether the Government of Sri Lanka will ever adhere to international norms, said All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils in a statement issued on Tuesday. "Government of Sri Lanka should be made to realise that time for soft talking is over and it should be warned more tough actions will follow if it fails to fall in line with international norms and standards," the group said urging the British government to act. Full story >> Sri Lanka parliament extends emergency[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 14:17 GMT]Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday adopted a motion moved by the government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse to extend the State of Emergency for another month by a majority of 99 votes. 110 parliamentarians voted in favor for the motion to extend the emergency. Eleven parliamentarians of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) voted against the motion. Parliamentarians of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) abstained, parliamentary sources said. Full story >> Mission on Vanni SF HQ successful, Tiger aircrafts safe - LTTE[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 13:24 GMT] Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) has claimed that their Black Tigers destroyed the Radar installation inside Sri Lankan military's Vanni headquarters at 3:05 a.m. on 09 September, Tuesday. Thereafter, Tamileelam Air Force (TAF) aircrafts and Col. Kittu Artillery formation targeted the Sri Lankan Vanni HQ with the coordination of the Black Tigers, successfully carrying out the operation, the Tigers said, adding that the LTTE aircrafts safely returned to their bases after completing their mission. The communication facility with its tower, engineering facility, anti-aircraft weapon and the ammunition store at the Sri Lankan base were completely destroyed, the LTTE said.Full story >> "Tackle discrimination, prevent genocide" - UN Rights Chief[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 11:46 GMT] United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, said at the opening of the ninth session of the UN's Rights Council, that Genocide is the ultimate form of discrimination...We must all do everything in our power to prevent it," and added that the Genocide Convention "grew out of the Holocaust, but we have yet to learn the lesson of the Holocaust, as genocide continues." Full story >> 155 SL forces killed, 983 wounded in August - Sri Lankan PM[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 10:56 GMT]155 Sri Lankan armed personnel were killed and 983 wounded during August in the war against the LTTE, said Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, when the parliament resumed sittings Tuesday to debate on the motion of extending the State of Emergency for another month, parliamentary sources said. Full story >> Tiger attack devastates Vanni SF HQ[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 07:25 GMT]The joint attack carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Air Tigers, artillery batteries and Black Tiger commandos, has devastated the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) installations inside the Vanni Sri Lankan forces Headquarters, according to an informed military source in Vavuniyaa. According to officials figures, 11 Sri Lankan military and police personnel were killed and 33 wounded, including two Indian radar operators. Six civilians were also admitted at Vavuniyaa hospital with injuries. Full story >> SLAF bombs school in Puthukkudiyiruppu town[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 06:29 GMT] Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers that flew over Vanni as Black Tigers were engaged in causing destruction to Sri Lankan joint operations headquarters for Vanni in the early hours of Tuesday, bombed Puthukkudiyiruppu town, three times, with bombs that caused deep craters, according to TamilNet correspondent who visited the site. The bombers hit the premises of Sree Subramaniya Viththiyaalam school with bunker-busting bomb, where the Zonal Education Office for Mullaiththeevu zone, is also located. One house, four shops, a bookshop and a mill in the town also sustained damage in the attack. One civilian was wounded.Full story >> Indian radar operators wounded in Vanni SF HQ[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 06:16 GMT]Two Indian radar operators working for Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) sustained injuries in the attack carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) on Sri Lankan forces Vanni Headquarters located in Vavuniyaa. SLA sources in Vavuniyaa said 26 military personnel were wounded in the mission. Full story >> Vanni SF HQ attacked[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2008, 00:53 GMT]The joint headquarters of the Sri Lankan forces in Vanni, situated in Vavuniyaa town, came under attack for more than 2 hours by the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) in the early hours of Tuesday. According to the casualty figures released by the Sri Lankan military sources, 9 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, 2 Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) personnel and 1 policemen were killed and 26 wounded. At least 10 LTTE Black Tiger commandos had infiltrated into the Vanni headquarters of the SL forces, causing destruction to the military facilities. LTTE's aircrafts bombed the SF HQ of Vanni around 2:30 a.m., before the Black Tigers launched the attack. Vavuniyaa town is at standstill. Full story >> Muslim fisherman abducted in Ampaa'rai[TamilNet, Monday, 08 September 2008, 17:56 GMT]Unidentified armed men abducted a Muslim fisherman in Ninthaavoor police division within Ampaa'rai district Monday early morning, according to complaint lodged by the victim’s wife with Sammaanthu'rai police. Full story >> 10 wounded in grenade explosion in Colombo[TamilNet, Monday, 08 September 2008, 16:47 GMT]Two underworld gangs allegedly clashed with each other using hand grenades along Gas Workers Street in Colombo Monday around 9:30 p.m., media sources in Colombo said. Two of the victims sustained critical injuries. Full story >> 3 Tamils arrested in Katunayake, Seeduwa[TamilNet, Monday, 08 September 2008, 16:07 GMT]Three Tamils arrested in a cordon and search operation conducted in Katunayake and Seeduwa areas from Saturday evening till Sunday morning are still detained in police station for further investigations. These three youths are natives of Jaffna district and had been working in garment factories located in trade zones in the Negombo district, media sources said. Full story >> Youth shot dead in Uyilangku’lam, Mannaar[TamilNet, Monday, 08 September 2008, 16:03 GMT]Unidentified armed men shot and killed a 19-year-old youth Monday in Uyilangku’lam in Mannaar district, media reports quoted police spokesman Ranjit Gunasekara in Colombo. The victim is claimed to be a resident of Uyilangku’lam. Full story >> SLA shelling kills farmer, injures another in Mullaiththeevu[TamilNet, Monday, 08 September 2008, 15:49 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from its Ma’nalaa’ru base in Mullaiththeevu district launched heavy artillery and mortar fire targeting civilian settlements in Kumuzhamunai and Aa’rumukaththaan Ku’lam Monday around 4:15 a.m, killing a farmer and seriously injuring another while they were threshing paddy, sources in Mullaiththeevu said. Full story >> Mother, daughter shot injured in Jaffna[TamilNet, Monday, 08 September 2008, 15:26 GMT]Unidentified gunmen on motorcycles forcibly entered a house in Navakkiri in Puththoor shot and seriously injured a mother and her daughter Monday around 6:00 p.m, sources in Jaffna said. The victims, first rushed to Achchuveali hospital by the relatives, were later transferred to Jaffna Teaching Hospital for further treatment. Full story >> Pillayan's former media coordinator shot in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Monday, 08 September 2008, 15:14 GMT] Unidentified armed men opened fire on a 35-year-old Radhika Thevakumar, a former media coordinator of Pillayan, the TMVP paramilitary leader and the chief minister of Eastern Province, seriously wounding her Monday around 7:45 p.m. The shooting took place when she went to a pharmacy at Kalladi, police said. The victim, a teacher by profession, was also a journalist who worked at Sri Lanka's state-owned Thinakaran earlier. Full story >> Civilian wounded in SLA shelling in Karaichchi[TamilNet, Monday, 08 September 2008, 11:10 GMT]A 56-year old civilian was rushed to Ki'linochchi hospital with severe injuries Monday afternoon when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops fired artillery shells towards Koa'naavil village in Karaichchi division of Ki'linochchi district. The SLA has also been continuing artillery barrage towards civilian settlements in Skanthapuram, Union-ku'lam, Gandhi Kiraamam, Oottuppulam and Puthumu'rippu in Karaichchi division of the district during nights after the SLA debacle in Vannearikku'lam. Full story >> Uprooted families in Jaffna, still waiting action plan for resettlement[TamilNet, Monday, 08 September 2008, 08:19 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials who met the committee appointed by the Colombo Supreme Court to explore the possibility of resettling uprooted people from the High Security Zone (HSZ) of the SLA, told the committee on Friday that more than 600 families, outside the HSZ and the adjoining no-man zone, have been resettled, including the data as part of the uprooted families within the HSZ. 19,000 families have been uprooted from their houses within the HSZ in Jaffna. Only 24 houses have been cleared for resettlement within the 600 meter no-go zone, the SLA has informed the committee. Full story >> 35 Tamil youths arrested in Trincomalee following LTTE air strike[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 September 2008, 10:52 GMT]About 35 Tamil youths have been arrested in several suburbs in Trincomalee district since the air strike carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Thamil Eelam (LTTE) on the naval headquarters located in Trincomalee city, according to complaints received by the regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), sources in Colombo said. Full story >> SLA forms new battalion with marginally injured soldiers[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 September 2008, 10:43 GMT]The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has formed a new battalion called Vanni Reinforcement Battalion this week by re-inducting marginally injured in infantry units in the war front, according to the Situation Report of the Sunday Times of September 7. The soldiers are being deployed for non-direct combat related tasks in Vanni. Full story >> Paramilitary kills 60-year-old man in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 September 2008, 10:19 GMT]A paramilitary unit operated by Iniyaparathy, a close associate of Karuna, shot and killed a 60-year-old relative of an LTTE commander Saturday night around 7:45, at Eruvil in Ka'luvaagnchikkudi, located between Batticaloa and Ampaa'rai, residents said. Full story >> Woman shot dead, youth beheaded in Jaffna[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 September 2008, 09:14 GMT]Unidentified armed men shot and killed a middle-aged woman in Aiyanaarkoayiladi in Kodikaamam Saturday early morning. Meanwhile, villagers in Ma'ndaan Karaveddi located a headless body of a youth, who was abducted the previous day, with severe torture wounds and hands and body tied. Full story >> Four SLA troopers killed in mistaken ambush in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 September 2008, 00:25 GMT]A unit of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers lying in ambush in Vadamunai village in Koa'ra'laippattu South District Secretariat’s administrative area, mistaking another group of SLA soldiers as Liberation Tigers, fired at the troopers, killing four of them Friday night, sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> Paramilitary abducts civilian, sets fire to house in Akkaraippattu[TamilNet, Saturday, 06 September 2008, 12:42 GMT]Armed men of paramilitary operative, Iniyapararathi, associated with Karuna, entered the residence of a civilian, identified as Mr. Vadivel at Akkaraippattu 7 in Ampaa'rai district on Friday and set fire to his house around 8:00 p.m. on Friday, residents said. In the meantime, another civilian, whom the residents identified as Mr. Moorthy, has been abducted in the early hours of Friday allegedly by the paramilitary. Full story >> Police, homeguards detain 9 Tamils in Colombo[TamilNet, Saturday, 06 September 2008, 11:34 GMT]Nine Tamil civilians, including two women, were taken into custody Friday morning in a cordon and search operation conducted in Wellawatte area in Colombo district. The operation commenced Thursday evening and concluded Friday morning, sources said. Full story >> SLA blocks NGO vehicles entry to Vanni[TamilNet, Saturday, 06 September 2008, 06:42 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Oamanthai exit point to Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled region in Vanni on Friday blocked vehicles belonging to Non Governmental Organisations from passing through the exit point, according to NGO sources in Vavuniyaa town. The move comes after SLA shells have begun targeting Ki'ilnochchi and the A9 Road. Full story >> Woman’s corpse washed ashore in Nedunththeevu[TamilNet, Friday, 05 September 2008, 17:15 GMT]Nedunththeevu (Delft) police recovered the corpse of a woman without any clothes on, Friday, being informed by a fisherman who had found the corpse on the beach in Ward 4 area in Nedunththeevu, an islet of Jaffna. Oorkaavttu’rai (Kayts) magistrate, Ms. Joy Mahatheva, conducted the inquest into the death at the site where the corpse was found and directed the police to hand the body to Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary for post mortem examination and identification to be held, Oorkaavattu’rai police said. Full story >> Casualty toll: 85 SLA killed in Vannearikku'lam[TamilNet, Friday, 05 September 2008, 17:14 GMT] 85 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed in Vannearikku'lam and 280 wounded in the fighting on Monday and Tuesday, according to informed sources close to the hierarchy of the Sri Lankan military. Meanwhile, Jayaratna florist, one of the leading florists in Colombo, took in charge 56 remains of SLA soldiers on Wednesday, before the 29 dead bodies handed over by the Tigers had reached Colombo. The high toll was not anticipated by the top brass of the SLA, which deployed elite Special Forces (SF) with high-powered rockets and explosives during the offensive push at Vannearikku'lam on Monday.Full story >> SLA Claymore attack kills civilian in Vavuniyaa[TamilNet, Friday, 05 September 2008, 16:08 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit troops triggered three Claymore mines Friday around 3:45 p.m killing a civilian and injuring another as they were riding on a motorcycle in Kurichuddaku’lam in Vavuniya district, sources in Vavuniyaa said. Full story >> Tamil civilian shot dead in Puththa'lam[TamilNet, Friday, 05 September 2008, 09:54 GMT]Unidentified armed men on motorcycle forcibly entering the house of a Tamil civilian Friday early morning, shot and killed him, at Aa’ndimunai, Udappu in Munthal police division in Puththa’lam district, according to the complaint lodged with Munthal police by the victim’s relatives. Full story >> Tamil civilian shot dead in Vavuniyaa[TamilNet, Friday, 05 September 2008, 09:50 GMT]Unidentified armed men shot dead a forty-five-year old Tamil civilian in his house at Pampaimadu in Vavuniyaa Thursday night, Vavuniyaa police said. Full story >> Buddhist monk desecrates Hindu temple in Colombo[TamilNet, Friday, 05 September 2008, 05:53 GMT] Colombo Additional Magistrate Ajith Anawaratne Wednesday ordered to remand the Chief Incumbent of Grandpass de Mel Watte Buddhagaya Viharaya, Sri Sapugasyaye Dhammanada Thero and three of his associates for destroying the adjoining Sri Muththumariamman Hindu temple in the early hours on Wednesday.Full story >> SLA Claymore attack injures civilian in Nedungkea’ni[TamilNet, Friday, 05 September 2008, 05:44 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit troops triggered four Claymore mines Thursday around 1:30 p.m targeting a tractor on its way to transport coconuts from Nedungkea’ni, injuring a civilian in the tractor, sources in Vavuniyaa said. All four Claymore mines had exploded. Full story >> Claymore attack injures STF commando in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2008, 15:40 GMT]Unidentified persons triggered a Claymore device Thursday around 5:00 p.m at Aayiththiyamalai in Vavu’natheevu police division in Batticaloa district, seriously injuring a Special Task Force (STF) commando, attached to 3rd Mile Post STF camp, who had gone to bathe in a well 200m from his camp, sources in Batticaloa said. Full story >> SLN Dvora fires on fishermen in Mullaiththeevu[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2008, 14:58 GMT]A Dvora Fast Attack Craft of the Sri Lanka Navy opened fire on fishermen who were engaged in fishing along the Chemmalai coast in Mullaiththeevu Thursday around 4:00 a.m., wounding one of the fishermen. Full story >> White van gunmen abduct trader in Vadamaraadchi[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2008, 14:18 GMT]Unidentified gunmen arriving in a white van Wednesday night just before curfew hours abducted a 26-year-old trader from his house at Karaveddi East in Vadamaraadchi, according to a complaint lodged by his wife with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna Thursday. Meanwhile, the wife of the person found beheaded and dressed in woman’s clothing Wednesday in Kapoothu, Thenmaraadchi, said that gunmen in a white van forcibly dragged him away Tuesday night, in her statement to Jaffna police. Full story >> UN's terror list breaches fundamental rights - European Court[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2008, 11:12 GMT] Setting aside an earlier ruling of the Court of First Instance, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Wednesday, annulled the Council Regulation freezing the assets of Yassin Abdullah Kadi, a resident of Saudi Arabia, and the Al Barakaat International Foundation of Sweden, part of the 'Hawala' banking system used by the Somali Diaspora to transfer funds internationally. The ECJ recognised that "the rights of the defence [of those in "terror list"], in particular the right to be heard, and the right to effective judicial review of those rights, were patently not respected."Full story >> Police arrest six SLA deserters in Ambalangoda[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2008, 11:09 GMT]Six deserters from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were taken into custody in a cordon and search operation conducted by the police in Ambalangoda, a town in the southern province Tuesday night, sources said. The arrested were remanded on the orders of Ambalangoda Magistrate Wednesday, according to legal sources. Full story >> SLA advance repulsed, army body recovered in Ma'nalaa'ru - LTTE[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2008, 09:18 GMT]Heavy fighting ensued Wednesday in Ma'nalaa'ru (Weii Oya) when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) advanced in the Ceylon Theater front. Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials said Thursday that their forces repulsed the move, seized arms and ammunitions from the SLA and recovered a dead body of a Sri Lankan soldier in the clearing operation that followed. Full story >> 2nd Claymore attack kills SLA soldier in Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2008, 07:17 GMT]Unidentified persons triggered a second Claymore attack Wednesday midnight, killing a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier and injuring some others, on a SLA vehicle on its way from Yaakkarai in Vadamaraadchi to Kappoothu in Thenmaraadchi on Point Pedro- Chaavakachcheari main road at Vi’raali located on the boundary between Vadamaraadchi and Thenmaraadchi. The first attack Wednesday afternoon had targeted a Bufflel Armored Personnel Carrier killing one soldier and injuring three in Kapoothu area, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Ki'linochchi youth arrested in Kotmale[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2008, 04:12 GMT]A Tamil youth was taken into custody by the Kotmale Police in Kandy district on Tuesday allegedly for video recording Kotmale reservoir, Police spokesperson said. The suspect was found to be a native of Ki'linochchi district. Full story >> LTTE: 8 SLA soldiers killed in Vavuniyaa front[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2008, 01:47 GMT]Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Wednesday said they repulsed a ground movement by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Paalamoaddai into LTTE territory. The Tigers claimed that eight SLA soldiers were killed and more than 14 wounded in their counter-attack. Full story >> Police recover Muslim man’s corpse in Kaaththaankudi[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2008, 01:24 GMT]Kaththaanudi police recovered the corpse of a Muslim man Wednesday around 12:30 p.m, in Poonochchi area in Batticaloa district. Unidentified men had abducted the Muslim man 12 August and his body was recovered from a house in an area where Tsunami victims are located, Kaaththaankudi residents said. Full story >> Beheaded male body in woman’s dress found in Thenmaraadchi[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 17:39 GMT]The beheaded body of a male dressed in sari and blouse and bearing wounds indicating severe torture was found Wednesday morning along Chaavakachcheari-Point Pedro road in Kappoothu, Charasaalai, in the area between Vadamaraadchi and Thenmaraadchi, Chaavakacheari police said. The victim may have been abducted from another place in Jaffna peninsula, brought to Kappoothu area, before torture and beheading, Charasaalai residents said. Full story >> Claymore attack in Jaffna kills SLA soldier[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 16:45 GMT]Unknown persons triggered a Claymore device killing a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier and injuring several others Wednesday around 1:00 p.m at Kappooothu area in Charasaalai, Thenmaraadchi. The attack targeted a SLA vehicle transporting soldiers from Kanakam Pu’liyadi Chanththi SLA camp to Kappoothu SLA camp along Chaavakachcheari-Point Pedro main road, sources in Chaavakachcheri said. Meanwhile, a beheaded body of a civilian was found in the very same area Wednesday morning, the sources added. Full story >> STF units caught in crossfire in Ampaa'rai - LTTE[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 15:58 GMT]Two units of Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) commandos, who were deployed in a search operation, after an STF commando was slain on Tuesday in a LTTE laid booby trap at Udumpangku'lam in Kagnchikudichchaa'ru area, were caught in cross fire with each other Wednesday morning around 8:00 a.m., killing 3 STF commandos and wounding 4, according to LTTE sources in Kagnchikudichchaa'ru. Full story >> Tigers seize large number of weapons from SLA in Vanni clashes[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 15:40 GMT] The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) defensive formations have seized large number of arms, ammunition and military accessories in the two-days fighting south and west in Ki'inochchi district in Vanni. Seven Light Machine Guns (LMGs), four RPG launchers, more than 25 AK / T-56 assault rifles, hundreds of LMG rounds, more than 120,000 of 7.62 mm rounds, more than 60 RPG shells, two Light Anti-Tank Weapons (LAWs), around 80 hand grenades and 15 Claymore mines were among the arms being stockpiled by the Tigers, according to the reporters who were allowed to photograph the collection.Full story >> Tamil businessman missing in Vavuniyaa[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 11:03 GMT]27 year old Tamil youth who owned a business centre in Vavuniyaa bus stand was reported missing since Monday, according to complaints lodged with the Vavuniyaa Police and the regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) by his relatives. Full story >> SLA artillery fire injures fisherman in Vadamaraadchi[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 09:33 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched heavy artillery fire Wednesday around 5:20 a.m targeting civilian settlements in Vadamaraadchi East injuring a fisherman in Vaththaraayan area besides causing damage to huts, fishing boats, nets and other equipments, sources in Vadamaraadchi said. Full story >> SLA sends deserters to jail after military court hearing[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 03:15 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials after a hearing in a military tribunal sent a group of 106 deserters to Welikada prison on Monday, and another group of 199 deserters on Tuesday, military sources said in Colombo. Full story >> Tamil youth shot dead in Nilaave'li[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 03:14 GMT]Unidentified armed persons arrived in a vehicle Tuesday evening shot and killed a Tamil youth who had been running a video centre in Periyaku'lam area in Nilaave'li in Trincomalee district. Full story >> 60-year-old woman shot dead in Ampaa'rai[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 01:43 GMT]Gunmen believed to the personnel of TMVP paramilitary-cum-political party, entered the residence of 60-year-old Thevarajah Varathaluxmy, a mother of an LTTE commander from Ampaa'rai, shot and killed her Monday night at 10:50, residents said. Full story >> Body washed ashore on Jaffna, Ma’nkumpaan beach[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 01:01 GMT]The decomposed body of male with hands and legs tied by wires was located Tuesday on Ma’nkumapaan beach, Oorkaavattu’rai (Kayts) police, said. The body was clad in a pair of black jeans, and measured 5' 2" according to the police. Full story >> Girl student’s corpse found in Vadamaraadchi[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 18:06 GMT]Cattlemen, on finding the partly decomposed corpse of a 15-year-old girl student Tuesday around 5:00 p.m in a wasteland at Yaakkarai in Karaveddi located on the southern boundary of Vadamaraadchi, informed Nelliyadi police. The girl was identified as the one gone missing Friday after leaving her home in Yaakkarai to visit a relative living close by, sources in Karaveddi said. Full story >> Tigers locate 29 SLA bodies, 75 SLA killed, 100 wounded in Vanni[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 15:06 GMT] The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam, on Wednesday recovered further 10 dead bodies of the SLA soldiers, in addition to the 19 bodies handed over to the ICRC, from the battlefield after Tuesday's heavy fighting on two fronts in Vanni. 45 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and more than 51 wounded in Naachchikkudaa when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) confronted the SLA in a stiff fighting throughout Monday night, and on Tuesday, 30 more SLA soldiers were killed and 50 wounded in another front, between Akkaraayan and Vannearikku'lam, where Tiger fighters fought against the SLA from 5:30 a.m. till 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday, LTTE officials in Vanni told TamilNet. Full story >> 1200 Tamils languishing under custody in Western Province - SL Minister[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 14:35 GMT]Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) parliamentarian and a deputy minister in Mahinda Rajapaksa's government, P. Rathakrishnan, has compiled a report with details of around 1,200 Tamil youths of both sexes, languishing in the detention centres and prisons in South after being arrested in Colombo and its suburbs recently. Mr. Rathakrishnan has told media that he would demand the advisory committee of the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry to expedite the inquiries against the detainees and the police to ensure that innocent Tamil civilians are not harmed when enforcing 'law and order.' Full story >> Another corpse recovered from a lagoon in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 14:28 GMT]Batticaloa hospital mortuary on Tuesday received another dead body, which was recovered in the lagoon near "Palpody" camp of the Sri Lanka Army intelligence. Earlier on the day, villagers discovered a mutilated body in Kaaththaankudi lagoon. Full story >> Villagers locate mutilated body in Kaaththaankudi lagoon[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 14:18 GMT]Sri Lankan Police Tuesday morning recovered a dead body with gunshot wounds from Kaaththaankudi lagoon in Batticaloa district, after being notified by the public. The magistrate who inspected the site asked the police to place the corpse at the mortuary of Batticaloa Teaching Hospital for possible identification, despite the illegibility of the body, police said. Full story >> 4 STF killed, arms seized in Ampaa'rai - LTTE[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 13:04 GMT]Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam officials in Ampaa'rai on Tuesday claimed four Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) soldiers were killed and two wounded at Sannasi malaiyadi near Ukanthai, bordering Ampaa'rai and Hambantota districts, Tuesday around 12:30 in a Tiger guerrilla ambush. A Colt Commando rifle and a T-56 assault rifle with ammunitions were seized by the Tigers, they said. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan police said one STF sergeant and a home-guard were killed at a police point at 10th mile post in Paa'nama area. Full story >> STF commando killed, 5 injured in Ampaa’rai[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 12:37 GMT]One Special Task Force (STF) commando was killed and three injured Monday morning, caught in the booby traps of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in Kanchkudichchaa’ru jungles in Ampaa'rai district when a team of STF commandos were engaged in military operations while two of them were injured in the same manner Monday evening, sources in Ampaa’rai said. Full story >> Fighting intensifies at Vannearikku'lam[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 10:27 GMT]Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) fighters were engaged in heavy clashes with the Sri Lanka Army units that advanced targeting Vannearikku'lam since Tuesday morning around 5:10, according to LTTE officials in Vanni. The SLA has suffered heavy casualties, leaving behind weapons and ammunitions. The fighting still continues, the Tigers said. Full story >> Jaffna youth abducted in Vavuniyaa[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 10:24 GMT]Unidentified armed persons arrived in a white van and abducted a Tamil youth Monday night from a lodge in Vavuniyaa town, administrators of the lodge said. The victim has been identified as 28 year-old Sathiyaseelan of Jaffna, according to complaints lodged with the Vavuniyaa Police by lodge officials. Full story >> SLA shells IDP settlements in Ki'linochchi[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 05:34 GMT] The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched artillery fire towards Union-ku'lam and Oottup-pulam villages with Internally Displaced Persons, southwest of Ki'ilnochchi town, Tuesday morning around 8:10 a.m. Artillery shells exploded near IDP settlements. Full story >> Paramilitary campaigner shot dead in Ampaa’rai[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 05:12 GMT]Two unidentified gunmen on motorcycle shot and killed Monday around 8:50 p.m a 40-year-old campaigner of the TMVP paramilitary-cum-political party in front of Thirukkoayil hospital in Ampaa’rai district. The TMVP instructed Tamil shop owners to close down their shops and imposed a shut-down in Chammanthu'rai, Akkaraippattu, Thirukkoayil and kalmunai areas. Full story >> LTTE confronts SLA, recovers 7 bodies[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 05:12 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials on Tuesday said their fighting formations confronted the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) that attempted to advance towards Naachchikkudaa, a fishing port in the Kariyaalai-Naakapaduvaan division of Ki'linochchi district, from Muzhangkaavil since Monday noon. Claiming that the SLA advancement was thwarted, the Tigers said they have located at least 7 bodies of SLA soldiers who were killed in action. Full story >> SLA to issue special ICs for Govt., NGO staff in Jaffna[TamilNet, Monday, 01 September 2008, 16:08 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) are planning to issue special identity cards to the officers and employees of government departments, banks and the local staff of International and local Non-government organizations, the SLA announced through a radio broadcast from Palaali military head quarters. The military is the first stage in the SLA plan of issuing SLA special identity cards to all Jaffna residents, civil society sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> TID arrests Upcountry Tamil youth after police training[TamilNet, Monday, 01 September 2008, 15:52 GMT]An upcountry Tamil youth was arrested by a team of the Colombo Prevention of Terrorism Unit on August 26 after one month training in the Kalutara Police Training School. Full story >> Tamil civilian released after 14 months' detention[TamilNet, Monday, 01 September 2008, 15:40 GMT]Jaffna born Tharmalingam Pushparajah, a resident of Negombo in the western province for several years was released by the Colombo Magistrate Court Friday after 14 months' detention in Welikada prison under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without any evidence to implicate him with any 'terrorist activity', legal sources in Colombo said. Full story >> Poonakari AGA office relocates documents due to SLA offensive[TamilNet, Monday, 01 September 2008, 12:57 GMT]Poonakari Assistant Government Agent’s (AGA) office which has been operating from Muddkompan due to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling, is again moving important documents to Ki’linochchi Government Secretariat as SLA attacks on Muddkompan area have escalated, Poonakari AGA, Mr. Rajan, said. Full story >> PHI Union urges action to locate missing official in Jaffna[TamilNet, Monday, 01 September 2008, 08:15 GMT]Public Health Inspectors' Union of Sri Lanka appealed to Jaffna District Director of Public Health Service to take action to find Thevasenathipathy Sukanthan, a Public Health Inspector (PHI) reported missing since 24 August after being allowed to enter Punnaalai Varatharaja Perumaa'l temple by Sri Lankan forces, to attend the annual temple festival, according to media report released by PHIU. Meanwhile, Jaffna SLA Commander Major Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri in a report to local media said that there is evidence for the exit of the missing persons from the temple on 24 August. Full story >>
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