Increased STF surveillance in Amparai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 March 1999, 12:52 GMT]
The Special Task Force (STF) stepped up surveillance in the Tamil areas of the Ampara district in south east Sri Lanka yesterday following information that several suicide bombers of the Liberation Tigers had moved in recently for attacks.
Full story >>

Four SLA killed in blast

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 March 1999, 06:32 GMT]
More than four Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers were killed in a blast at Maasaar in the Thenmaradchi division of Jaffna in the early hours of the morning today around 1.30 a.m.
Full story >>

Bishop concerned at troops proximity to church

[TamilNet, Friday, 26 March 1999, 22:22 GMT]
The Bishop of Mannar Rt.Rev.Rayappu Joseph has strongly objected to the presence of Sri Lankan Army (SLA) troops in the precincts of the Madhu church. Although the army had initially given an undertaking that it would only be encamped in the environs of the Madhu church for two weeks, arrangements being made now indicate that troops intend staying permanently in the precincts, said the Bishop.
Full story >>

No elections in North or East

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 March 1999, 20:45 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President announced today that elections to local government bodies in the Eastern province and the Vavuniya district which are to be dissolved on April 3 will not be held until "conditions improve" in these areas.
Full story >>

Policeman killed in Mannar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 March 1999, 07:37 GMT]
Three Sri Lankan Policemen were shot this morning around 9.45 a.m. in the heart of Mannar town by two gunmen, suspected to be members of the Liberation Tigers. One of the wounded policemen identified as Bandara, 24, died on admission to the Mannar base hospital.
Full story >>

"Avoid Madhu church", Bishop pleads

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 March 1999, 16:22 GMT]
The TamilNet's Mannar correspondent spoke to the Bishop of Mannar Rev. Rayappu Joseph about the current situation in Madhu this evening. The Bishop said that he had met the Mannar Brigade Commander Ranjith De Silva this morning and requested him to avoid the precincts of the Madhu Church while conducting military Operations in the area.
Full story >>

SLA takes new ground

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 March 1999, 11:51 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) said that it has brought a section of Aandaankulam, six kilometers north of Uyilankulam junction under its control by 4 p.m. this afternoon. The Uyilankulam junction is on the Mannar-Vavuniya highway and is currently the entry point for civilians to the LTTE controlled parts of the Vanni.
Full story >>

Displaced seek refuge in jungles

[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 March 1999, 16:50 GMT]
More than four thousand civilians who fled Vidaththaltheevu, Aandankulam etc., due to heavy Sri Lankan Army (SLA) shelling since last week have sought refuge in the jungles of Kalliady said Mannar Kachcheri sources today. They said that the local school was filled with refugees when the main body of the people who fled the SLA shelling arrived here this weekend.
Full story >>

Civilians flee artillery barrage

[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 March 1999, 17:21 GMT]
Heavy SLA artillery fire on Vidaththaltheevu from its positions in Thallaady has completely driven out the civilian population from the area since last Thursday said the Mannar TamilNet correspondent today.
Full story >>

SLA repairs damaged defences

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 March 1999, 23:38 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army (SLA) headquarters sources in Colombo said that the food store of the Thallady base was also completely burnt out in the LTTE shelling yesterday.
Full story >>

SLA starts operation towards Madhu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 March 1999, 06:51 GMT]
The SLA began an operation towards Madhu this morning, sources in Vavuniya said. The operation was launched from army positions at Madhu Road Junction on the Mannar Vavuniya road this morning they said.
Full story >>

Oral argument concluded in LTTE vs State Dept.

[TamilNet, Monday, 08 March 1999, 00:35 GMT]
The oral argument in the case between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Petitioner) and the US Department of State (Respondent) filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit took place on March 5, 1999.
Full story >>

Foreign ministry withdraws Chemmani statement

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 February 1999, 14:15 GMT]
The Foreign Ministry spokesman today apologised for the mistakes in its statement on the alleged mass grave at Chemmani which was issued last Wednesday.
Full story >>

SLA ban hits fishermen

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 February 1999, 20:15 GMT]
More than 900 fishermen have been deprived of their livelihood due an SLA ban on inland fishing in the northernmost parts of the Batticaloa district. Their condition, according to the TamilNet correspondent who visited the affected areas this week, is particularly critical as they have been unable to fish during the prawn season.
Full story >>

Rights group call to investigate atrocities

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 February 1999, 23:55 GMT]
The Forum for Human Dignity in Colombo has brought to the notice of the Anti-Harassment Committee several cases of disappearances and deaths in the Jaffna peninsula and the eastern province, FHD officials told TamilNet.
Full story >>

Call for NORAD projects in all Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 February 1999, 23:48 GMT]
The Batticaloa District Coordinating Committee (DCC), which comprises all the top government officials, including the Government Agent (GA) who functions as its secretary, and members of Parliament of this eastern region unanimously passed a resolution today that the Norwegian government aid program for development and rehabilitation should be implemented without discrimination in all parts of Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Acute shortage of teachers in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 February 1999, 22:27 GMT]
There is an acute shortage of teachers in Kilinochchi district sources at the Department of Education said today. At least 1271 more teachers are needed, they said.
Full story >>

Serum ban increases deaths -MO

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 January 1999, 12:11 GMT]
Deaths due to snake bite has increased in Batticaloa's hinterland in recent months due to Sri Lankan Army (SLA) restrictions said medical sources in the eastern town. They said that exact figures were not available for the whole region as yet because few cases are recorded.
Full story >>

SLA death squad spreads terror

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 January 1999, 16:58 GMT]
Aarumugam Kaaththalingam, 51, a poor plumber from Kokkuvil, an impoverished village on the northern outskirts of the Batticaloa town was gruesomely shot dead last night by unknown gunmen, suspected to be members of an SLA terror squad operating from a detachment nearby.
Full story >>

Six hurt in clash

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 January 1999, 16:12 GMT]
A member of the PLOTE, a Tamil para-military group working with the SLA, and a soldier were seriously wounded when a group of Liberation Tigers opened fire on them this afternoon around 12.55 p.m. at Thoonadi, 6.5 kilometres Southwest of Batticaloa. The Tigers has come in a tractor said sources.
Full story >>