SLA moves into new territory

[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 March 1999, 14:04 GMT]
(CORRECTED) Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Defence, Gen.Anuruddha Ratwatte, visited Vavuniya today with the three service commanders and the Commissioner General of Essential Services to review the progress of Operation 'Rana Gossa'.
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"North-east students educational needs ignored"

[TamilNet, Saturday, 06 March 1999, 22:59 GMT]
"We are unable to send text books, stationery, uniforms, furniture and equipment to about 100,000 of our children who are in Vanni. How can we have science practicals for G.C.E. A/L or other grade students without science equipment? Can we think of implementing reforms satisfactorily and reducing disparities and bringing about equality of opportunity under these conditions" said Mr.Sundaram Divakalala secretary to the North-eastern provincial Ministry of Education.
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News in brief:

[TamilNet, Saturday, 06 March 1999, 18:49 GMT]
SLA artillery kills three civilians in Mullaithivu and four persons are arrested in Jaffna.
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SLA operation in Vanni

[TamilNet, Saturday, 06 March 1999, 11:45 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) began a limited operation into the areas held by the Liberation Tigers north of the Vavuniya-Mannar road in the early hours of the morning today. Army sources in Vavuniya said that the operation was launched from Poovarasankulam, 15 kilometers west of Vavuniya towards Iranai Iluppaikkulam in the interior.
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Northeast bureaucracy re-organised

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 March 1999, 22:50 GMT]
The Governor of the North-eastern Province said today that he will reactivate and chair the Provincial Planning Council (PPC) that was defunct following the dissolution of the elected North-eastern Provincial council NEPC) in 1990. The PPC was chaired by the chief minister in 1988-90.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 March 1999, 22:47 GMT]
UNP parliamentarian holds eye clinics in Vanni refugee camps and US embassy official visits Batticaloa.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 March 1999, 14:28 GMT]
Security tightens around alleged Chemmani mass grave; Sri Lankan Army orders Tamil groups to not to drive vehicles with tinted glass; Night time curfew imposed in Mannar; Malaria on increase in the Vanni; Two policemen wounded in grenade attack.
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US Caucus meets on human rights in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 March 1999, 10:37 GMT]
The US Congressional Human Rights Caucus members briefing on "Human Rights Developments in Sri Lanka" took place on March 2 at Rayburn House. It was attended by officials from the US State department, UNHCR, Amnesty International and other non governmental organisations.
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Police resign over new duties

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 March 1999, 22:18 GMT]
Twenty Sri Lankan policemen who were recently transferred from guard duty at Puliyankulam in the Vanni to new positions on the Vavuniya-Mannar road have submitted their resignations, said Police sources.
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Six arrested in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 March 1999, 11:04 GMT]
Six civilians have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Army during the past four days from Vadamaradchi east and Thenmaradchi in the Jaffna peninsula said human rights sources there.
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Premachandran sees leadership challenged

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 March 1999, 22:14 GMT]
The EPRLF's general secretary Suresh Premachandran said today that ex-chief minister Annamalai Varatharajapperumal had no authority to reorganise the group. He stated that his former colleague was in Batticaloa in his private capacity to visit friends and party members and that there is no need for Mr.Perumal to reorganise the party because it is currently functioning without any problems.
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KKS cement factory to remain closed

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 March 1999, 18:26 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) stalled a proposal by the Governor of the Northeastern province that steps should be taken to reopen the cement factory in Kankesanthurai (KKS) in the Jaffna peninsula.
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STF deployed on Mannar MSR

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 February 1999, 00:44 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government began moving the Special Task Force (STF) to areas in Mannar held formerly by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in order to pull out two brigades of the 21 division for operations in the Vanni. The STF moved into the Uyilankulam detachment yesterday.
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Displaced civilians cross FDLs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 February 1999, 17:39 GMT]
Sixty five families who had been displaced in the Vanni walked through no-man's land on the Madhu-Mannar road and crossed into areas held by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Sunday said sources.
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British Deputy High Commissioner visits Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 February 1999, 11:29 GMT]
The British Deputy High Commissioner, Martin Hill, made a one day visit to Vavuniya to find out more about the situation there and in the Vanni from officials. He was accompanied by Peter West, the Deputy Head of the South Asian Department in London.
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Paramilitary operation to abduct woman

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 February 1999, 11:21 GMT]
Paramilitary sources in Batticaloa said that the Razeek group carried out an operation into LTTE controlled areas on Monday night in order to abduct a woman who was then married, at a Sri Lankan Army camp, to one of the group's leaders.
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SLA re-deployed to hold MSR

[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 February 1999, 18:06 GMT]
The Police units deployed along the (MSR) A9 route have been replaced with the Sri Lankan Army soldiers (SLA) who were manning the Vavuniya - Mannar road, said sources in the northern town of Vavuniya.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 February 1999, 18:04 GMT]
North-East Governor promises regular passenger ship service between Trincomalee and Kankesanthurai; Heavy rains in Vanni affect paddy harvesting and another Aids victim detected in Jaffna.
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Committee on amnesties reports finding

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 February 1999, 20:02 GMT]
The Committee, appointed by the President, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunge, to inquire into and report on necessary changes in policy with regard to granting of general amnesties, has recommended that the policy with regard to commutation of death sentences, remissions in respect of unpaid fines and camp remissions should remain unchanged.
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Seven LTTE Casualties - VoT

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 February 1999, 19:33 GMT]
Six female members of the Liberation Tigers were killed in fresh clashes with the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) today in two separate incidents, the Tigers announced in the Vanni.
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