Civic groups warn of starvation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 10:34 GMT]
An umbrella organisation representing various civic groups in the Vanni region has issued an appeal to major media organisations to highlight the difficulties faced by residents in the area.
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UNESCO expresses concern

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 August 1998, 13:00 GMT]
UNESCO expressed its concern over reports that food distribution to Vanni by the Sri Lankan government (SLG) has been deliberately reduced. The organisation also urged the SLG to provide unhindered humanitarian assistance to the people of Vanni.
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Displaced' roofing held up

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 August 1998, 10:07 GMT]
Fifteen thousand, one hundred and fifty (15,150) roofing sheets earmarked for the camps of the displaced persons in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held areas, are lying at the Vavuniya District Secretary's office for the past three months awaiting clearance for transport by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), said sources in Trincomalee.
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Vavuniya fuel protest concludes

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 August 1998, 12:47 GMT]
The 5-day long public protest against the Sri Lankan government's permitsystem for fuel sales in Vavuniya, concluded today said sources. Apart froma short period on Wednesday, shops and businesses in Vavuniya remainedclosed and transport was severely reduced they said.
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Fighting reported at Kokkadicholai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 August 1998, 23:32 GMT]
Twelve Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers and two civilians have been admitted with injuries to the Batticaloa hospital by 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) engaged the SLA at Kokkadicholai, 20 km southwest of Batticaloa, for the first time since "Eelam War III" began, said informed sources in Europe when contacted by TamilNet on Wednesday evening.
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Military operation in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 August 1998, 10:51 GMT]
A joint operation by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Special Task Force (STF), police and Tamil para-military groups to advance into areas held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) west of Batticaloa town began in the early hours on Wednesday, said informed sources in Europe when contacted by TamilNet. No fighting has been reported as yet, they added.
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SLA positions captured - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
At least 30 Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and several others wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked their positions in Moonrumurippu, south-west of the strategic town of Mankulam, around midnight yesterday said LTTE sources in Europe.
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Tension in Vavunatheevu

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Tension is high and continuous vigilance is being maintained in the area surrounding the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) camp near Vavunatheevu, two km west of Batticaloa, because it is suspected that two Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members have infiltrated the area, said sources.
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Decapitated bodies found in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The bodies of two villagers with their heads severed and with gunshot injuries were found in the jungles west of Veerakulam in the Vavuniya district Tuesday evening, said source.
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Fresh fighting near Mankulam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Troops of Operation Jeyasikurui made a fresh attempt to capture the strategic town of Mankulam today said sources close to the Liberation Tigers in Europe. The SLA advance was repulsed, they added.
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Families without permits ordered to leave

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) has ordered the residents of the Kovilkulam, Irambaikulam areas, who do not hold permanent residence permits, to vacate the area before August 10, said sources.
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Sri Lanka radio allays fears

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
There is no restriction on food or medicines supplied to the Wanni as stated by certain reports, said Radio Sri Lanka (RSL), quoting a press release from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), in its broadcast tonight.
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Uncertainty over journalists' arrests

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Officials from the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID), of the Sri Lankan Police have said that the two Tamil journalists who were recently taken into custody were arrested for reasons not related to their work, said sources.
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SLA officer killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Army (SLA) Major was killed and a soldier was wounded in a claymore mine
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Another journalist arrested

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. P Manikkavasagam, a senior journalist with the Veerakesari newspaper was arrested by the Sri Lankan police in Vavuniya, according to his family. No reason had been given for the arrest, they added. Mr. Manikkavasagam is the second reporter from the Tamil language Veerakesari to be arrested in the past week.
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Vavuniya MP's funeral held

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The funeral of Vavuniya Parliamentarian, Mr. S.Shanmuganathan (PLOTE), and his son who were killed in a land mine attack on Wednesday was held in the Vavuniya Kovilkulam cremation ground last evening.
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Medical unit missing

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One of the three mobile emergency surgery units donated by the US military to the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has been reported missing said defence officials. Military intelligence and officials attached to the Ministry of health have launched an investigation, they added.
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Development meeting

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Government Agents (GAs) of the five districts of northern Sri Lanka, met with N. Obadage, the Chairman of the Relief and Rehabilitation Authority of the North (RRAN), in Trincomalee today, to brief him on the projects earmarked in their districts for financial assistance from the Australian Government, said sources in Trincomalee.
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PLOTE leader blames Tigers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Leader of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Mr. T. Siddarthan, blamed the Liberation Tigers for the killing of group's parliamentarian for the Vavuniya district, Mr. Saravanapavananthan Shanmuganathan, 36, yesterday.
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MP's funeral on Saturday

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The funeral of Mr. Shanmuganathan, Vavuniya parliamentarian, and his son who were killed yesterday in the mine blast will be held on Saturday at 3.00 p.m. in Vavuniya said PLOTE sources today.
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