Poaching by Indian fishermen discussed at conference

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 May 2004, 17:48 GMT]
Fishermen from the North-East met with their counterparts from South India at a two-day conference in Colombo on Thursday and Friday to discuss the poaching by Indian fishermen and other problems faced by them. The National Fishermen’s Cooperative Council of Sri Lanka organized the conference.
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US to host multinational peacekeeping training in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 May 2004, 11:23 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army's first Multinational Platoon Exercise (MPE) on UN Peace Support Operations Training, orientated to achieve effective inter operability among participating countries is to be ceremoniously launched at the newly established campsite at Kukuleganga on June 12. The Kukuleganga campsite will be renamed as the Institute of Peace Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOTSL), Sri Lanka Defense Ministry said in a press release.


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Kalutara Tamil prisoners put off fasting campaign

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 May 2004, 22:04 GMT]
Mr. Sivanathan Kishore, the Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament from the Vanni, who visited the Kalutara prison Thursday, said that the Tamil youths at the prison have put off their planned fasting campaign, following assurances that the TNA would take up their plight with Sri Lanka’s Attorney General and the Minister of Justice. Arrested under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), many youths have been languishing in jails for several years without their cases being brought to court.
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Thambaiah's funeral held in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 May 2004, 10:42 GMT]
The body of Mr. Kumaravel Thambaiah, a senior lecturer in the Eastern University who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his home in Batticaloa town around 4.30 p.m. Monday was brought to his home village of Aasikulam in Vavuniya on Tuesday and was cremated on Wednesday, sources in Vavuniya said. Vavuniya North Education Commissioner, S.Pathmanathan, presided over the memorial meeting after the funeral ceremony.


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Trinco Tamil School holds prize giving day

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 May 2004, 19:50 GMT]
Trincomalee Vigneswara Maha Vidiyalayan, founded by the Methodist Church in 1823, held its annual prize giving Wednesday evening day with the Trincomalee district parliamentarians, Mr.R.Sampanthan and Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham as the chief guest and special guest respectively.
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Normal life returning to Oddusuddan

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 May 2004, 21:41 GMT]
Normal life is gradually returning in the Oddusuddan region in the Mullaithivu district, an area devastated during the war that is currently under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, according to Tamil press reports from the North.
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India should reconsider decision to extend ban- Adaikalanathan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 May 2004, 13:40 GMT]
"We urge the Government of India to reconsider its decision to extend the ban on Liberation Tigers for another two years under the Unlawful Activities (prevention) Act," said Selvam Adaikalanathan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for Vanni in a request sent to New Delhi, sources in Vanni said.


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Vavuniya Police commended for action against crimes

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 May 2004, 14:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police in Vavuniya has arrested fifteen suspects in connection with armed robberies, house-breaks, murders and abductions in Vavuniya town and surrounding areas, and recovered jewelry and cash worth 3 million rupees. The Police are also seeking the arrest of three hardcore criminals involved in the incidents who are currently working with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna, police sources in Vavuniya said Friday.
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SL President urged to hand over Mannar saltern to co-op

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 May 2004, 18:00 GMT]
Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Vanni district parliamentarian, Thursday made an urgent appeal to Sri Lanka's President, Ms.Chandrika Kumaratunge, to take immediate steps to hand over the defunct Mannar saltern to the Mannar Fisheries Co-operative Society to reactivate it. The Mannar saltern has now been under the purview of the Ministry of Enterprises, and Investment Promotion, sources said.
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Foot pilgrimage From Jaffna to Kathirgamam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 May 2004, 01:38 GMT]
More than thirty hindu devotees have registered to begin a pilgrimage from Sannithi Murugan Temple in Jaffna to the Kathirgamam Murugan Temple in the South of Sri Lanka by foot Friday, local reports said. The pilgrimage was a regular annual event that got suspended more than a decade ago due to war.


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LTTE team completes assessment of development in East

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 May 2004, 15:20 GMT]
The team of political and administrative heads of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, led by the deputy head of the political division, Mr. S. Thangan, which visited the Batticaloa-Amparai district to assess development needs and activities, completed its assessment and returned to the Vanni Wednesday morning, sources said.
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TNA MPs to decide on strategy in parliament

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 May 2004, 22:25 GMT]
The parliamentarians of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) met at the parliament building Monday to discuss the strategy to follow during the election of the Deputy Speaker on Tuesday, but decided to meet again Tuesday morning to take a firm decision, a TNA MP said.


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"SLA establishes new checkpoints in Vavuniya, Mannar"- Selvam

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 May 2004, 11:22 GMT]
Vanni electoral district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan Monday sent an urgent letter to Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge that the establishment of new check points of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the administrative districts of Mannar and Vavuniya is causing serious apprehension in the minds of the people that the security forces are preparing for renewed military action, TNA sources said.


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UPFA seeks to ensure majority in parliament

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 May 2004, 05:24 GMT]
The minority United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government has been holding intensive discussions with a few selected leaders of small political parties represented in parliament to ensure majority to elect the Deputy Speaker and the Chairman of Committees when Sri Lanka's parliament is scheduled to meet May 18th morning, political sources said.
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Operation-USA, TRO donate medical equipment to NE hospitals

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 May 2004, 18:24 GMT]
"Operation USA" and the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) donated Rs.10,000,000 rupees worth of medical equipment to the Government Agents of the eight districts in the northeast province to be distributed to state medical institutions in their health divisions, health officials said. Handing over event was held Thursday evening in the Vavuniya district secretariat presided by Vavuniya Government Agent Mr. R.Ganesh, TRO sources said.


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Christina Rocca visits Trincomalee, assures development aid

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 May 2004, 15:06 GMT]
US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Ms Christina Rocca Saturday morning met with the Trincomalee Government Agent and District Secretary Mr. Gamini Rodrigo at the latter's office located inside the Fort Frederick and discussed about the development of the district, sources said. fter the discussion Mr. Rodrigo told local journalists that Ms Christina Rocca has promised US assistance to develop and strengthen the agro and fisheries industries in the district.


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Ayurvedic Hospital staff draws MP's attention to lack of facilities

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 May 2004, 11:24 GMT]
Director of Vavuniya Ayurvedic Hospital, Dr.Varnakulendran, urged Vanni Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikalanathan to take the necessary action to improve the inadequate medical and residential facilites that are currently adversely impacting the dispensation of effective medical services to general public, health officials in Vavuniya said.
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Rocca: "Ending conflict is the key to prosperity in Sri Lanka"

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 May 2004, 15:43 GMT]
" Peace, prosperity- and, of course, stability are married to each other, here in Sri Lanka no less than elsewhere," said Ms Christina Rocca, US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, said Friday in a press release.


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LTTE’s political advisor heads to London

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 May 2004, 07:18 GMT]
Mr. Anton Balasingham, political advisor to the Liberation Tigers, left Kilinochchi Friday morning after concluding extensive consultations with Mr. Velupillai Pirapaharan and senior officials of the LTTE regarding the resumption and continuation of peace talks with the Government of Sri Lanka. He will leave for London Friday evening, LTTE officials in Kilinochchi said.


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LTTE's Financial Division announces relief measures

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 May 2004, 16:04 GMT]
The Financial Division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Wednesday announced several measures offering relief to consumers and fishermen in the northeast province. The current 10 percent tax imposed on outboard motor engines and fishing gear brought to Thamileelam has been completely removed as an incentive to the development of the fisheries industry, said Mr. S.Thamilenthi, head of the Financial Division, at a press briefing held Wednesday at the Revenue Secretariat of the LTTE, sources said.
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