The Galadari Blast - Fallout

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Financial analysts in Colombo said today that the Galadari hotel blast could cost Sri Lanka more than the Central Bank blast in February last year. Initial estimates put the damage around six billion rupees.
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Tigers overrun eastern TELO camp

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
A small commando team of Liberation Tigers destroyed the TELO camp in Araipattai, a large village seven kilometers south of the Batticaloa town in the early hours of the morning yesterday.
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TULF politician helped plan 'Jaya Sikurui' - paper

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
'Thinamurasu' the Tamil weekly tabloid with the largest circulation in Sri Lanka accused a senior Tamil politician today of providing valuable information about a little known, but strategic jungle track to the Sri Lankan army engaged in Operation Jayasikurui.
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LTTE denies responsibility for Colombo blast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The LTTE's London based spokesman, Mr. Anton Raja told TamilNet that the LTTE 'categorically deny any involvement' in today's bomb blast.
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London Tamils plan 'Friendship Train'

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
At the end of October, the Commonwealth heads of state will be meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland. The peoples of the Commonwealth will be exhibiting their diverse cultures during the event. London's Tamils are planning to be amongst them.
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Tigers shell Batticaloa army HQ

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
More than sixteen Sri Lankan soldiers were injured this morning around 7.45 a.m when the Liberation Tigers launched a long range heavy mortar attack on the Third Brigade headquarters in the Batticaloa town.
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News In Brief

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
A seventeen year old Tamil girl has been assaulted by Sri Lankan soldiers. Puththur market is seeing a revival after SLA troops pulled out from the area, and Pandaththarippu Co-op is to be repaired by the UNDP.
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Complete package delivered to PSC

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The PA government officially presented its complete devolution proposal to the Parliamentary Select Committee this afternoon. The Committee will meet again on Oct.21 to discuss the modality of presenting the document to Parliament.
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Reject Separate Muslim Council - Muslim leader

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
"The proposal for a Muslim majority Southeastern regional council should be totally rejected'" says M.H Segu Issadeen, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Party. The 'Eastern Times', a Tamil fortnightly published from Akkaraippattu in the Ampara district threw open its columns for a debate on the Southeastern Muslim council, in its latest issue out today, with an article by MH Segu Issadeen.
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Hartal Brings Vavuniya to Standstill

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Vavuniya town came to a standstill today due to a hartal called by the PLOTE. All shops were closed, the Kachcheri did not function as staff kept away from work, there was no public transport and the morning train from Colombo returned empty soon after it arrived.
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EPDP, PLOTE, CWC discuss Package with Peiris

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The PLOTE, EPDP and the Ceylon Workers' Congress will meet Sri Lanka's minister for Constitutional Affairs and deputy minister for Finance, Prof.G.L Peiris tonight at his residence to discuss the government's latest position on the devolution package.
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PLOTE's Deputy condemns US action

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Deputy leader of the PLOTE, Manikkam Dasan issued a strong statement in Vavuniya this evening condemning the American government for listing the LTTE as a terrorist organization.
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LTTE responds to US terror listing

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The LTTE has formally responded to the US State Department's decision to include it on the list of organizations engaged in terrorism. Expressing both 'deep dismay and displeasure', the LTTE said that the State Department's decision would only serve to escalate the conflict.
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Military to conduct Jaffna elections

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Local government elections will be held in the Jaffna peninsula in January next year said Sri Lanka's deputy minister for defense, Gen.Anuruddha Ratwatte. He stated that the PA government is making arrangements for the elections with a view to creating a leadership for development work in the peninsula.
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News In Brief

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army leaves its landmines in University grounds. New passports for Jaffna's troublesome citizens while its farmers face a new problem.
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JVP resurgence in Yala?

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
An armed group set fire to fifteen buses and other vehicles in the Kadirgamam peoplised transport board last night.
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Douglas goes to Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
EPDP leader Douglas Devananda flew to Jaffna today to supervise and reorganize his group in the peninsula and in Kayts.
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News In Brief

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Heavy fighting is taking place in the Vanni. The Jaffna satyagraha protests are to continue and several Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested allegedly for assisting the LTTE. A Sinhala paper says a Buddhist priest raped 4 teenagers.
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Ranil's India visit worries PA

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The leader of the UNP Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe will make an official visit to India on Oct.13. He is scheduled to meet with the Indian Prime minister Inder Kumar Gujral and top officials of India's foreign ministry during the visit.
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Upcountry Tamils fear being ignored

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Upcountry People's Front (UPF) will oppose the PA's devolution package if there is no provision in it to resolve the problems of the hill country people said Mr. P.Chandrasekeran, leader of the UPF who is deputy Minister for Public Utilities in the PA government.
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