Community activism urged to confront HR violations

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 September 2001, 03:16 GMT]
A human rights activist appealed to Tamil people to organize and work against the atrocities and human rights violation committed against them. "Do not wait until the violation against humanity knocks at your door," said Attorney-at-Law, Mr.Kasinather Sivapalan, presiding over the morning session of the Tamil Festival organized by the Trincomalee Thirumarai Kala Mantram (Centre for Performing Arts) held Sunday at Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College hall.
Full story >>

PA to sign agreement with Marxists

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 September 2001, 07:18 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government said Saturday that it intends to sign an agreement with the Marxist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna to form an interim coalition to run the country for an year. The signing of the agreement, however, will be subject to approval by the parliamentary group of the People's Alliance, according to Prime Minister, Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka. The JVP's General Secretary, Mr. Tilvin Silva, said that his party will sit in the opposition and extend conditional support to the PA to run the government during the 'probation period'. The JVP is against peace talks with the Liberation Tigers to end the island¹s conflict. The party is also strongly opposed to economic reforms recommended by the IMF and the World Bank.
Full story >>

PA-JVP talks continue

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2001, 18:22 GMT]
The first round of crucial talks between President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge and senior leaders of the Marxist-Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) which began Friday around 3 p.m. concluded late in the evening. JVP's Propaganda Secretary and Parliamentarian Mr.Wimal Weerawansa said another round of talks between them and the President is now being held at President's House.
Full story >>

PA-UNP talks end in failure

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 August 2001, 20:50 GMT]
The final round of talks between the ruling People's Alliance and the main opposition United National Party, which commenced Tuesday afternoon around 3 p.m. continued till late in the night. The talks which centered on forming a national reconciliation government, have finally failed to reach an agreement as both parties were adamant in their stand about sharing power in the proposed national or caretaker government, party sources said.
Full story >>

SLMC Urges Govt. to hold General Election

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 August 2001, 11:56 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Monday cautioned the Government that it would have to face dire consequences if Parliament is prorogued for second time. Mr.Rauff Hakeem, Leader of the SLMC and Kandy District Parliamentarian Monday said that the ruling People's Alliance was now holding talks with the main opposition United National Party and Janata Vimukthi Peramuna not to solve the present political crisis, but to continue in power for the rest of the period.
Full story >>

JVP ultimatum to Kumaratunga

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 August 2001, 00:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Saturday evening issued an ultimatum to President Chandrika Kumaratunge to decide on their proposal for a 'probationary government' to resolve the present political crisis. "The delegation of the JVP told President Chandrika at a discussion held Saturday evening that they should arrive at a decision regarding the formation of a probationary government on or before August 31 Friday", party spokesman said.
Full story >>

PA names team for UNP talks

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2001, 11:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s ruling People's Alliance (PA) Friday named its representatives to have political talks with the main opposition United National Party (UNP). The delegation included Ministers D.M.Jayaretna, Mahinda Rajapakse, Mangala Samaraweera, Anuruddha Ratwatte, Nimal Sripala de Silva and Lakshman Kadirgamar.
Full story >>

UNP ready for conditional talks with PA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 August 2001, 11:21 GMT]
The leader of Sri Lanka’s main opposition party said Thursday that his United National Party (UNP) was prepared to hold discussions with the ruling People's Alliance government to find a solution to the country’s political and economic crises. "However, these discussions should be based on the acceptance of the democratic policies and the concepts of parliamentary majority," Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe stressed in a letter to Sri Lanka’s Prime Minster, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. The UNP leader has said that proposed talks could commence Friday.
Full story >>

PM seeks talks with Opposition Leader

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 August 2001, 17:25 GMT]
The Prime Minister Tuesday invited the main opposition United National Party for official talks for the formation of a national reconciliation government, in a fresh bid to bring the present political crisis to an end. "Early talks could be held if the United National Party agreed to the proposals of the People's Alliance Government," said Prime Minister Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, in a letter to Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, the Leader of the Opposition.
Full story >>

Controversial weapon meant for genocide alleges MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 August 2001, 14:26 GMT]
"The Sri Lankan government is going to deploy chemical weapons against the Tamils in the island's north and east. The aim is to annihilate them totally. The use of this dangerous chemical weapon against the Tamil people should be strongly condemned," said Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, Tamil United Liberation Front MP for Batticaloa, addressing legislators who gathered Friday in the Sri Lankan Parliament and decided to press ahead with the no confidence motion against President Kumaratunga's government.
Full story >>

Anti-Govt. demonstrations in 70 towns

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2001, 19:04 GMT]
Demonstrations were held in seventy towns throughout the island Monday demanding the resignation of the People's Alliance government and "the installation of an interim government to bring in democratic reforms." The People's Movement for Democracy organized these demonstrations at Galle, Kandy, Ratnapura, Matale, Polonnaruwa, Kurunagala, Kadawatte, and other important towns.
Full story >>

Army warns of assault on LTTE in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 August 2001, 20:02 GMT]
Sri Lankan security forces in Batticaloa Thursday issued a press note warning about a major offensive assault in the eastern district, and urged civilians to move 4 km. away from the camps of the Liberation Tigers.
Full story >>

SLA shelling kills two, injures eight

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 July 2001, 07:37 GMT]
Two civilians were killed and 8 others were wounded when a shell fired by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers hit Kinnaiyadi, a hamlet in Valaichenai, 30 km. north of Batticaloa around 7.30 a.m. Saturday, civilian and hospital sources said. Villagers said the shell was fired by troops stationed at the nearby camp at Kumburumoolai.
Full story >>

Army's Intimidation of Tamil journalists condemned

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 July 2001, 22:50 GMT]
Aiyathurai Nadesan, a prize winning Tamil journalist in the eastern Town of Batticaloa, was threatened by the coordinating officer of the Sri Lanka Army's 23-3 brigade last week. The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) and the Eastern Lanka Journalists' Association (ELJA) issued statements Friday condemning the intimidation.
Full story >>

Army suspect assaults journalist

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 July 2001, 20:48 GMT]
A journalist was assaulted in court premises by a suspect in the Mirusuvil massacre case Wednesday morning. The suspect is one of fourteen soldiers accused of massacring civilians in Mirusuvil. The incident took place when the accused were brought to the court in Point Pedro, where the Chavakachcheri Magistrate's Court is sitting under heavy security.
Full story >>

Joint opposition wants debate on July 18

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 July 2001, 09:47 GMT]
The no-confidence motion against the People's Alliance (PA) Government is likely to be taken up for debate on July 18. This is in consequent of the written request by 115 opposition parliamentarians submitted Tuesday to the Secretary of the Speaker. "The entire opposition has requested the Speaker that the no confidence be taken up for debate on July 18. A certified copy the request was also handed over to the Secretary General of the parliament," Mr.Mahinda Samarasinghe, a UNP parliamentarian said.
Full story >>

PM calls for inter party unity for "nation"

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 July 2001, 20:51 GMT]
Prime Minister Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said that "discussions are now underway with main opposition, United National Party, JVP and other political parties in a bid to agree a common strategy for the welfare of the country and the nation." In an interview with ITN Television he said, "the debate on the no-confidence motion has also been postponed to continue these discussions in a conducive atmosphere".
Full story >>

PM's statement to reveal new strategy for ER extension

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 July 2001, 11:03 GMT]
The Government announced Thursday that the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake will issue a special statement in the parliament tomorrow morning about the extension of State of Emergency in the country, amidst speculation in Colombo political circles that Attorney General Department is very busy in drafting alternate legislation instead of Emergency Regulations (ER), to give more teeth to the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to deal with Liberation Tigers.
Full story >>

New dates for no-confidence motion debate

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 July 2001, 09:50 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government Wednesday said that the opposition's no confidence motion against it would be debated in the parliament for four days from 7 August. "The government's decision was announced at the party leaders' meeting held this morning" Mr.Richard Pathirana, Leader of the House told Parliament.
Full story >>

Salli woman challenges case transfer

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 June 2001, 19:15 GMT]
The Colombo High Court Friday fixed the argument in the transfer application filed by the Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Navy detachment in Nilaveli, the first respondent in the Salli Habeas Corpus Application Case, for July 26. Nilaveli is 12 kilometres north of Trincomalee. Mr.Jeyakili was arrested by the Navy while fishing in the sea with two colleagues on 25 February 2000. The Navy released Mr. Jeyakili's colleagues two days later, but denied that it had arrested him. The fisherman is believed killed.
Full story >>