Colombo said considering alternative to Nordic truce mission

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 August 2004, 06:36 GMT]
Sri Lanka' Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr. Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka, said Monday that his government is thinking of either enhancing the powers of the Nordic truce monitoring mission in the island or finding a more effective alternative to it.
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Soldier injured in grenade attack in Batticaloa north

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 August 2004, 08:57 GMT]
A Sri Lanka army soldier was injured in a grenade attack in Mankerni, about 47 kilometres north of Batticaloa Saturday morning around 6.30 p.m. Police in the eastern town said. The soldier was riding a motorbike with another trooper when unidentified assailants lobbed a grenade at them. The second soldier was unhurt, Police said. Residents of the area, however, said that an army captain was also injured in the attack. He was identified as Captain Wijeratna of Sri Lanka army's 55-2 Brigade in Valaichenai. The trooper is private Tennekoon.
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Policeman shot dead in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 August 2004, 07:17 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Police sergeant was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Kalmunai town, 40 kilometres south of Batticaloa, Friday night around 9 p.m. The sergeant, Mr. G. L Jayaratna was on Resthouse Road with a homeguard when he was shot dead, Police in Kalmunai said.
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"Tamil national patriot" Selliah Ratnam passes away

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 August 2004, 07:40 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) conferred the title "Tamil national patriot" on Mr. Selliah Ratnam, retired Assistant Government Agent and the Jaffna district co-ordinator of SIHRN who passed away Sunday in Colombo Apollo Hospital after a brief illness. The remains draped by the Tiger flag were kept first at SIHRN office in Killinochchi district secretariat and later at Thooyavan Political Science College of the LTTE Tuesday for the public to pay homage.
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Tamil women's problems spotlighted in Vavuniya gathering

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 August 2004, 14:28 GMT]
A gathering of Tamil Eelam Women Associations, Sangamam, was held in Vavuniya Irambaikulam Girls Maha Vidiyalayam Monday on a grand scale. Noting that "women are subjected to more violence than during the war period", Vavuniya district Political Head of the LTTE's Women Wing, Ms Alai, said that the gathering was conducted to study about the violence and the forces behind the atrocities committed against women.
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Army officials' committee holds inquiry into Tamil journalist's complaint

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 August 2004, 13:39 GMT]
A three-member committee comprising military officials of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commenced inquiry Tuesday into the complaint made by journalist Mr.Velupillai Thavachelvam that he had been threatened with death by a military officer when he was covering the visit of a leading Buddhist prelate to Jaffna during the early part of this year.
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Record crowds attend Madhu Church festival

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 August 2004, 15:32 GMT]
The annual festival of Madhu Church concluded Sunday with three Bishops - Thomas Soundaranayagam (Jaffna), Malcolm Ranjit (Ratnapura) and Rayappu Joseph (Mannar) - jointly holding Holy Mass. About three hundred thousand devotees from all parts of the island participated in the final day of the festival of the Madhu Church, which is also called Jungle Shrine, revered by Tamils and Sinhalese, sources said.
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TNA MPs welcome POTA's repeal, urge India to revoke ban

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 August 2004, 13:52 GMT]
''We welcome the Indian Central Government for its intention to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). At the same time, we also urge the Indian Government to consider lifting the ban on the LTTE and create a more meaningful and conducive environment necessary to bring the stalled peace process in Sri Lanka back on track'', TNA MPs Mr. Joseph Pararajasingam and Mr. Selvam Adaikalanathan told TamilNet Friday.
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TNA, LTTE map strategy for grass roots campaign

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 August 2004, 17:29 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers and Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians in the Batticaloa-Amparai districts Thursday mapped out a strategy for grass roots campaign to educate people in the region about ''the political, economic, social and historical background and roots of the Tamil struggle'', an LTTE official in the east said.
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Jaffna TNA MPs to implement common development programme

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 August 2004, 15:31 GMT]
Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians Thursday decided to implement a common development programme in the Jaffna district with the funds allocated to them under the Decentralized Budget (DCB) by the central government.
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Usan IDPs picket demanding resettlement

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 August 2004, 22:50 GMT]
Internally displaced families of Usan, a village in Thenmaradchchi division in Jaffna district Monday picketed the Thenamaradchchi divisional secretariat demanding that they should be allowed to resettle in their own houses now being occupied by the Sri Lanka Army in the name of high security zone. The picketing crippled the normal function of the Thenmaradchchi DS office, civil sources said.
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HNDA holders in Trincomalee demand employment

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 August 2004, 00:57 GMT]
The members of the Association of Unemployed Higher National Diploma in Accountancy Holders (AUHNDAH) in Trincomalee suspended their two-day demonstration against the lack of employment at the request of Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian. The MP assured the AUHNDAH that he would meet the Minister of Finance, Dr.Sarath Amunugama, on August 17 and would place their demand for favourable consideration.


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English learning room opened in Trinco

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 August 2004, 15:41 GMT]
'Lighthouse Resource Room' providing learning facilities to students in the Trincomalee education zone to enhance their knowledge in English language was opened in Trincomalee Methodist Girls' College Thursday. Mr.G.Gunatilake, Director of Navodhya Education Project in the central government declared open the centre.
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Calamity in Sri Lanka Parliament following assault attempt on Tamil MP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 August 2004, 10:56 GMT]
Proceedings of Sri Lanka's Parliament were suspended Thursday after a ruling party MP triggered pandemonium in the house by attempting to assault Tamil National Alliance MP Mr. M. K Sivajilingam. Ruling party MP Mr. Mervyn de Silva rushed to assault the TNA parliamentarian who had walked up to the speaker's chair urging him to expunge from Hansard a statement by tourism minister Mr. Anura Bandaranaike that Mr. Sivajilingam was elected "by fluke and by accident".
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ISGA critical to prevent secession- MP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 2004, 10:50 GMT]
"There is increasing evidence that the Sri Lanka Government is unwilling to accept Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) for NorthEast. If this situation is not reversed soon, Tamil people will have no option other than to seek a path of secession, said Tamil National Alliance (TNA) member of Parliament for Jaffna District, M.K.Sivajilingam, during a debate on Regulations on Electricity Board, Wednesday, parliamentary sources said.
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Man with alleged link to Karuna Group killed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 2004, 05:22 GMT]
Mr.Kiruparatnam Vimalethiran, 32, believed to be a Sri Lanka military intelligence informant with links to the paramilitary 'Karuna Group' was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Mavadivembu, 22 kilometres north of Batticaloa Tuesday night. Police in the eastern town said Vimalenthiran was a petty criminal.
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LTTE returns paddy fields to displaced Muslims

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 August 2004, 09:44 GMT]
Liberation Tigers returned twenty nine paddy fields belonging to Muslims in Thannimurippu in the Mullaithivu District recently, Mr. Sathasivam Kanakaratnam Tamil National Alliance MP for Vanni told TamilNet Tuesday. The MP said all Muslims displaced from the district during the war can reclaim their lands as soon as they produce documents to prove ownership.
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UNHCR urged to organize boat service to refugees in India

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 August 2004, 16:54 GMT]
Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Vanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian has appealed to the UNHCR Sri Lanka's Representative to take steps to organize boat service between India and Talaimannar to transport Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who are willing to return to their villages. Currently thousands of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are in refugee camps in Tamilnadu in South India.
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Jaffna commemorates "Valvettithurai massacre"

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 August 2004, 10:38 GMT]
People of Jaffna district and residents of Valvettithurai town Monday commemorated the fifteenth anniversary of Valvettithurai massacre of 63 innocent Tamil people the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) which took place on August 2, 1989, civil groups said.


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Civil society role vital to peace- SLMM Trinco Head

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 August 2004, 13:33 GMT]
Lions Club of Trincomalee Town honoured its past presidents at a special event held Saturday at the Trincomalee New Silver Star Hotel with Mr.Dagffin Aadness, Trincomalee head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) as the chief guest. Mr Aadness speaking at the event said the civil society including Lions Clubs and other organizations could play a vital role in safeguarding the current peace environs, sources attending the event said.


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