SLA-LTTE officials meet in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 August 2005, 17:41 GMT]
An LTTE delegation led by Mr.C.Ilamparithi, Jaffna district political head and Major General Sunil Tennekoon, Jaffna area commander of SLA, met at 6.45pm for nearly two hours in the presence of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Jaffna SLMM offices. They discussed in detail the current ground situation in the district following Thursday incidents and to take steps to restore normalcy, SLMM sources said.


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Two soldiers remanded in Inuvil killing

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 August 2005, 17:36 GMT]
Mallakam Magistrate Ms Sarojini Ilankovan Friday night ordered remand till August 20th for two Sri Lanka Army soldiers in connection with the killing of Jeyaseelan Santharoopan Thursday afternoon inside the hairdressing saloon in Inuvil in Jaffna district, legal sources said.


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Time for donors to provide direct aid to NorthEast- Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 August 2005, 11:20 GMT]
"Time has come for the International Community to provide direct aid to the Tamil homeland without waiting for Colombo," LTTE's Political Head Mr. Thamilchelvan told reporters in Kilinochchi after a meeting with the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Vidar Helgesen and his delegation at LTTE's Peace Secretariat on Friday. "Joint Mechanism to deliver tsunami aid has been scuttled, internally displaced people continue to suffer due to Colombo's denial to let them return to their homes, and the Cease Fire Agreement is severely threatened by Colombo's shadow war using paramilitary groups in the East. The patience of the Tamil people is running out," Mr. Thamilchelvan told the press.
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SL President denounces Jaffna killings

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 August 2005, 10:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Friday directed the relevant authorities to investigate Inuvil incident in Jaffna district where a Tamil civilian Mr.Santharoopan was shot dead by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army and Jaffna Police Superintendent Mr. Charles Wijewardene by a crowd in retaliation. Kumaratunga has directed to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay, according to a media release issued by the Presidential Media Unit.
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Curfew lifted in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 August 2005, 09:47 GMT]
The curfew imposed in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas in Jaffna district since 8:00 p.m. Thursday night was lifted around 12:30 p.m. Friday. Normal life is returning slowly and transport services commenced immediately to and from Jaffna through Muhamalai SLA checkpoint in the afternoon Friday, police said. However, police sources said a night curfew may be imposed Friday.
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Police curfew disrupts normal life in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 August 2005, 05:50 GMT]
All roads in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas in Jaffna district almost deserted due to the police curfew imposed from Thursday night around 8.30 p.m. Schools did not function. Government offices did not open. Normalcy has been disrupted, civil and media sources in Jaffna said. Along KKS road near the Inuvil Kandasamy Temple vicinity large contingent of Sri Lanka Army soldiers and policemen has been deployed since Thursday night. Several riot police squads are kept in readiness to quell any disturbance, Police said. All transport services to and from Jaffna have come to a standstill. The curfew will be lifted on Saturday morning 5 a.m. police said.
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Inquest held into the death of Jaffna SP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 August 2005, 16:45 GMT]
Jaffna Police Superintendent Mr.Charles Wijeratne's body is to be taken to his native place Kurunagala in the south Friday. Ms. Sarojini Ilankovan, Mallakam Magistrate held the inquest into the death of Mr.Wijeratna Thursday evening and directed the authorities to take the body to Colombo and to hold autopsy examination by Colombo Judicial Medical Officer.


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Jaffna tense: Civilian shot dead by SLA, angry mob kills police officer

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 August 2005, 09:14 GMT]
A salon employee, identified as Mr. Jeyaseelan Shantharooban, 24, was shot in his head by Sri Lankan Army soldiers who entered the hairdressing salon located at Innuvil Junction on KKS Road in Jaffna around 1:00 p.m. Thursday, residents said. Another employee Mr. K. Thevathas was injured. Mr. Shantharooban, who was being rushed to Jaffna Hospital, succumbed to gunshot wounds, hospital sources said. Residents angered by the incident blocked the road and were seen throwing stones at SLA vehicles approaching the site. Riot Police were seen firing tear gas at the protesting residents. A Superindent of Police, abducted and attacked by an angry mob, later succumbed to his wounds.
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SLA soldiers harass devotees at Jaffna checkpoints

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 August 2005, 09:01 GMT]
Jaffna residents attending to celebrate "aadi amavasai" festival at the Keerimalai Naguleswarar temple and at Keerimalai seas were subjected to severe checking and harassment at the Tellipalai and Senthankulam Sri Lanka Army (SLA) checkpoints in Jaffna Thursday, sources from Jaffna district said. Hindus commemorate death anniversary of their fathers on 4 August.
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Homeguard injured in friendly fire

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 August 2005, 11:12 GMT]
Anura Basanayake, a homeguard attached to Thanthirimalai Police station was injured when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers opened fire while he was hunting near the army camp Tuesday morning, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) C. Abeysinghe said.
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Jaffna trader complains of SLA harassment

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 July 2005, 15:57 GMT]
Mr.T.Nisakaran, owner of a photographic studio in Urumpirai area, has registered a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) that he has been continuously harassed and intimidated by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers of the Urelu army camp located in Jaffna district, civil sources said. Jaffna Regional Co-ordinator of the HRCSL has initiated procedures to hold an inquiry into the complaint, HRCSL sources said.


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Fish vendors complain harassment at Muhamalai SLA checkpoint

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 15:49 GMT]
Vendors engaged in the sale of fish in Jaffna district have complained to civil authorities that they are harassed by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army at Muhamalai checkpoint when bringing fish from Vadamaradchchi east division. They are asked to wait several hours at the Muhamalai checkpoint before entering the government-controlled areas in Jaffna district, civil sources said.
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Mannar explosives case suspects complain of torture

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 15:28 GMT]
Mr.N.M.M.Abdullah Friday ordered further remand till 12 August for the seven suspects including a woman arrested in Mannar for possessing explosives, legal sources said. The Magistrate further instructed Anuradhapura prison authorities to keep the suspects in the prison hospital and to submit medical reports on the conditions of the suspects when they complained in open court that they had been subjected to assault and torture while in custody, legal sources said.
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EPDP demonstrate in Jaffna against killing

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 July 2005, 14:37 GMT]
Members of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) Friday afternoon held a demonstration with the body of Mr.Suriyapillai Nixon in front of the Jaffna office of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) demanding guarantee for their security and safety, sources in Jaffna said. Mr.Nixon, a member of the EPDP was shot dead Thursday afternoon by unidentified gunmen when was on his way to distribute copies of Thinamurasu, the weekly organ of the EPDP.
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Soil excavation by SLA ruins fertile fields

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 15:15 GMT]
Mr.V. Shanmugam, President of the Thenmaradchchi-Mirusuvil Farmers Associations' Federation Monday expressed deep concern that several acres of fertile paddy fields are ruined following excavation of soil by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). SLA soldiers use soil from paddy fields to build earth bunds and to strengthen their bunkers and sentry points, civil sources said.


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SLN releases arrested Pt.Pedro fishermen

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 04:05 GMT]
Three fishermen of Supparmadam in Point Pedro in Jaffna district arrested by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers Friday morning for venturing into LTTE controlled Vadamaradchchi east division were released after fellow fishermen protested to the Point Pedro Police, sources in Vadamarachy said.
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SLA refuses to allow Thondamanaru bridge reconstruction

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 03:42 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has again refused permission for the Jaffna civil authorities to commence reconstruction work on the bridge over the Thondamanaru lagoon, which connects Valigamam north and Vadamaradchchi division in the Jaffna district district secretariat sources said. The Thondamannaru Bridge was destroyed during the military operation SLA launched in 1987.
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One civilian, policeman killed in Pottuvil

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 July 2005, 06:08 GMT]
A civilian was killed when the Police opened fire after an unidentified gunman shot and killed a Police constable in Pottuvil town around 11.00 p.m. on Thursday. The civilian victim, identified as Mr. Kanagasabai Ranjithkumar, is a 21 year old Tamil youth from Kundumadu.
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Three injured in grenade attack on Police checkpoint in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 July 2005, 15:55 GMT]
One homeguard and two civilians were injured when two unidentified attackers, riding a motorbike, lobbed a grenade on a checkpoint at Kalavaddam Junction on Kalmunai Main Road around 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Special Task Force (STF) soldiers and the Police cordoned off and searched the area following the attack, residents said.
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Two STF soldiers, policeman injured in grenade attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 July 2005, 07:56 GMT]
Two Special Task Force (STF) soldiers and a police constable were injured when two unidentified attackers lobbed a grenade into a checkpoint close to a tsunami-refugee camp at Tharmsangari playground near Ramakrishana Mission School in Akkaraipattu at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Tension prevailed in the area following the attack as STF soldiers opened fire and stopped civilian vehicles passing by the area and attacked the travellers following the incident, residents said. Handbills issued in Akkaraipattu in the name of "Amparai District Seerum Padai" (Roaring Force in Amparai) claimed responsibility for the attack.
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