AGOTIC President passes away

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Dr. K. Velaythappillai , the president of the Action Group Of Tamils In Colombo (AGOTIC) died late last night of illness in Colombo.
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SLA bans Jaffna paddy cultivation

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA has banned paddy cultivation in the Palai administrative division of the Jaffna peninsula.
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SLA caught in its own trap: LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
"The Sinhala army leadership wants to draw the Tigers widely into battle by opening several fronts simultaneously and thereby destroy their strength of resistance. However, it is caught in its own trap" says the latest issue of the LTTE's official organ 'Viduthalai Pulihal' which is published in the Vanni.
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Tamil parties unhappy over package

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation today interviewed the leaders of the TULF, PLOTE, SLMC and the EPDP about their stand on the PA’s devolution package.
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TULF ranks back self determination

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Batticaloa district branch of the TULF passed a unanimous resolution this morning that any solution to the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka should recognise the Tamil people's right to self determination.
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Biggest ever search operation in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
A massive combined security forces operation was launched in the city and suburbs of Colombo in the early hours of the morning today. The Sri Lankan army, Navy, Airforce and Police completely sealed all entrances to the city by 1.00 am.
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SLA says Jaffna Tamils funding Tigers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army's 51 division issued a press statement yesterday in Jaffna warning people who are giving money to the Liberation Tigers. This follows widespread reports in the peninsula that the Liberation Tigers were receiving money from a large number of people living in the high-security zones of Jaffna.
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Pararajasingham calls for talks with Tigers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham MP for Batticaloa said today that the international community and the Sri Lankan government have now realised the truth and the reality that no solution to the ethnic problem can be found without the participation of the Liberation Tigers.
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Police grill Batticaloa drivers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
A special police investigation team is in Batticaloa now to independently conduct inquiries about the lorry that was involved in the Galadari bomb blast.
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Jaffna told of the latest 'best solution'

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
A government - SLA sponsored propaganda meeting was held in a public hall in Kaithady, Jaffna recently. This was part of a series of meetings organised by officials from the ministry of constitutional affairs and members of theSLFP's Sudu Nelum (White Lotus) movement with the SLA assistance to give publicity to the PA's devolution proposals among the Tamils of Jaffna.
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News in Brief

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan navy captures Tamil refugees and a bus escapes explosion
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Package to parliament, despite Tamil protests

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The chairman of Sri Lanka's Parliamentary Select Committee on constitutional reform , Prof. G.L Pieris deputy finance minister and Minister for Constitutional affairs will submit the committee's report to Parliament on Friday October 24.
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Canada Tamils stage candle light vigil

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Thousands of Canadian Tamils attended a candle light vigil on Saturday, demanding the release of Tamil community activist Mr. Manickavasagam Suresh and condemning the Sri Lankan government's war in the Tamil homelands.
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Civilians flee SLA shelling

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Reports from Vavuniya said today that a large number of displaced persons who had settled in the eastern sector of the Mullaithivu district following Operation Riviresa in early 1996, have begun moving enmasse to the western areas of the Vanni.
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SLA punishes Batticaloa village officers

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Life has become nightmare for village officers in the Batticaloa district as the Sri Lankan army has begun a sinister campaign to intimidate them into not working in the poverty stricken villages of the district's hinterland which is controlled by the LTTE. Many are languishing in prison and at least one may have been murdered.
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Mass arrests of Colombo Tamils

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan police and army continued round up and search operations in Colombo today. Reports said that more than five hundred Tamils have been arrested in the city and its suburbs.
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SLA pulls out of Muthur

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army closed down eight camps in the Muthur region this week. The main Sri Lankan military base in this large southern sector of the Trincomalee district will be closed either today or tomorrow, depending on the rate of troop pull out that is under way now.
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President tries to stem panic

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
"I will even negotiate with the Devil to end the conflict" said the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaranatunge Bandaranaike addressing a special press conference convened by her this morning at the Temple Trees, her official residence.
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News In Brief

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Tigers hit two SLA camps in the east and violent incidents continue in Jaffna.
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Poverty driving people to suicide - study

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
More than five hundred people who attempted to commit suicide were admitted to the Batticaloa hospital between January and September this year. Of these forty four died upon admission.
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