Oxfam funds sapling planting in Kilinochchi villages

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 April 2006, 03:14 GMT]
Rural Rehabiltation and Development Organization (RRDO) organized delivery of free saplings of Mango, Orange, Jak Fruit and Gauva trees, funded by Oxfam, to twenty selected families of two Kilinochchi Planned Villages, Umayalpuram and Kumarapuram Thursday, sources in Kilinochchi said.
Full story >>

Muttur east Tamils pay homage to Vigneswaran

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 April 2006, 10:02 GMT]
The remains of the slain President of the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples Forum TDTPF) Mr.V.Vigneswaran was taken on Sunday morning to Liberation Tigers held Muttur east by road with the escort of International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). The Sri Lanka Police provided the security up to and from Kaddaiparichchan Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp located on the border separating the LTTE area.
Full story >>

Pirapaharan confers Maamanithar title to Vigneswaran

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 April 2006, 12:31 GMT]
Leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Velupillai Pirapaharan, bestowed the title Maamanithar (Great Human being) on Mr.Vanniasingham Vigneswaran, President of the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples' Forum (TDTPF) who was shot dead Friday. "Steadfast and honest, he opposed the genocidal war by the successive Sinhala governments which destroyed thousands of tamil lives and their property, plundered Tamils possessions and resources, and was intent on destroying Tamil National symbols. Vigeswaran fought to free Tamils from this menace," Pirapaharan said in the statement conferring the award.
Full story >>

Course correction by International Community urged

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 April 2006, 22:51 GMT]
Blaming the International Community for aiding a State that failed to adopt a political formula embodying shared sovereignty, and which demonstrated its incapacity to persecute a successful war against LTTE, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, in a paper presented at a symposium in Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA, Thursday, said, the International Community should make clear to the Sri Lankan State that "its commitment to territorial integrity is conditional on the Tamil Nation’s legitimate aspirations being met."
Full story >>

Batticaloa students hoist Tamileelam flag in Annai Poopathy event

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 April 2006, 11:32 GMT]
Students and the staff of Manchanthoduvai Technical College in Batticaloa Thursday 9 a.m. hoisted Tamileelam flag at the college premises at the memorial event for Annai Poopathy, sources in Batticaloa said. Sri Lankan policemen rushed to the College and removed the flag around 11:30 a.m. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), informed of the police action, arrived immediately to defuse the tension, and the commemoration continued till 1:00 p.m., sources said.


Full story >>

Trincomalee women march for peace

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 April 2006, 11:15 GMT]
Hundred of women, Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims Wednesday participated in a silent march for solidarity and peace organized by the Women And Children Care Organization (WACCO) condemning war and demanding peace. Participants carried placards urging the government and others to work for the success of finding lasting peace in the country, sources said
Full story >>

Vavuniya pre-schools call for immediate release of TRO workers

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 April 2006, 12:48 GMT]
Staff, children and parents of Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala Preschools in Vavuniya marched in protest to the Government Secretariat, demanding the safety and release of the seven Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) staffers who were abducted on 29-30 January and are still missing, TRO officials in Vavuniya said. They handed over a memorandum addressedto Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse to Vavuniya Government Agent (GA), T. Sinnathamby, Tuesday morning at the Vavuniya Government Secretariat.
Full story >>

Vavuniya protest to demand release of abducted TRO employees

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 April 2006, 19:59 GMT]
Staff, children and parents of Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala Preschools in Vavuniya are to protest Tuesday, 4th April in Vavuniya demanding the safety and release of the seven Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) staffers who were abducted on 29-30 January and are still missing, TRO officials in Vavuniya said. Mr. Kasinathar Ganeshalingam, TRO's Pre School Education Development Center (PSEDC) North-East Province Secretary, is also one of the missing staffers.
Full story >>

Annai Poopathy, a supreme model for Tamils- Ilamparithi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 April 2006, 14:15 GMT]
"Annai Poopathy who sacrificed her life, in a fast-to-death protest in March 1988 protesting against the Indian peace keeping forces (IPKF) and supporting the Tamils liberation struggle, is an example for all Tamils to emulate. In all key events, like the local council elections, we have to tell the world that we Tamils stand determined and united in achieving our just aspirations," said S. Ilamparithi, Jaffna district head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE political wing, presiding at the 18th anniversary memorial celebration held Saturday 10 a.m, at Palai Maha Vidyalayam.


Full story >>

Separate regiment, a ruse to split communities, say Muslim Leaders

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 April 2006, 18:16 GMT]
"Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is launching a Muslim regiment in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to widen the split between Muslims and Tamils. Muslim community should not fall prey to this sabotage scheme," said several speakers at the Muslim Council's Eastern Conference held Saturday morning in Loyds Hall in Akkaraipattu, Adalaichenai, Batticaloa, chaired by its president N. M. Ameen.
Full story >>

ITAK victory in Trinco proves NorthEast homeland for Tamils- TNA

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 20:19 GMT]
The victory of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) in the election for the Trincomalee Urban Council and Trincomalee Town and Gravets Pradesiya Sabah have strengthened the concept that the NorthEast province is the homeland for Tamil speaking people, said Mr.K.Thurairetnasingham, Trincomalee district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Friday evening after the counting of votes came to a close in the local councils held on Thursday.
Full story >>

Tamil, Muslim candidates elected to Trincomalee UC

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 20:13 GMT]
No Sinhalese has been elected a member to the Trincomalee Urban Council in the election held Thursday. The newly elected council, which is to start functioning from April 15, will have twelve members- 10 from the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) and 2 from the Independent Group. Of the twelve members nine are Tamil members and three are Muslims. The ITAK fielded fourteen Tamils and two Muslims for the Trincomalee UC. Out of them nine Tamils and a Muslim got elected on preferential votes.
Full story >>

UPFA victory should pave way for progress in peace- TNA

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 12:33 GMT]
"Local electoral rout of Sinhala extremist parties, the marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), and Buddhist monks party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) is a clear mandate to Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse to take immediate steps to move peace process forward. Urgently, the Unitary Constitution and rejection of concepts of Tamil Homeland should be removed from "Mahinda Chintanaya," and replaced with concepts supporting Tamils right to self-determination," said Sivajilingam, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian commenting on the unfolding local election results giving UPFA huge victory and ITAK demonstrating its support base in the East.
Full story >>

Thanthai Chelva's 108th birthday celebrations held in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 March 2006, 10:59 GMT]
"The dreams of "Thanthai" Chelvanayagam, embodied in the Vaddukkodai resolution, are coming true," said Mavai Senathirajah, Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian in the special ceremony held Friday 9 a.m, commemorating the 108th birth anniversary of Mr. S. J. V. Chelvanayagam in Vavuniya, said sources.


Full story >>

"Upsurging People's Force" warns of resuming offensive

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 19:54 GMT]
A press release titled, "Days are numbered for the traitors who sell our Mother land," signed by leaders ofthe "Upsurging People's Force of Jaffna District", was sent to all media in Jaffna Thursday night, sources said.
Full story >>

Muslim regiment, a calculated attempt to seed disunity- TNA MP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 00:24 GMT]
"President Mahintha Rajapakse's announcement of launching a Muslim Regiment, recruiting Muslim youth, ostensibly for the security of the Eastern province Muslims, is a calculated attempt to drive a wedge between the Eastern province Tamils and Muslims," said S. Jeyanandamoorthy, Tamil National Alliance Batticaloa parlimentarian, Wednesday. "This can be construed only as a deliberate attempt to derail the peace process and to wage war against the Tamils," added Jeyanandamoorthy in his statement.
Full story >>

TRO inaugurates Children's Home in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 12:26 GMT]
A home for 67 children who lost their parents in the war was opened Tuesday 10 a.m at Arasadithivu by Mr. Christopher, Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), Switzerland branch Director, in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled area in the Batticaloa district, sources said.
Full story >>

Army plans new Muslim unit amid militancy furore

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 02:01 GMT]
Amid a furore over the Liberation Tigers’ demands that Sri Lankan government disarms a Muslim entity called ‘Jihad’ which is amongst five anti-LTTE paramilitary groups being sponsored by military intelligence, the Sri Lanka Army is reportedly planning to raise an exclusive Muslim unit in the island’s volatile eastern province. The issue of Muslim militancy has been gaining focus amid renewed suggestions by the LTTE that Jihad has links to Pakistani intelligence – a charge leveled by Indian military analysts as early as in 2004.
Full story >>

Muslim Federation demands separate delegation in talks

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 March 2006, 10:46 GMT]
In a statement released at a press briefing held Sunday evening at Sainthamaruthu Jumma Mosques conference hall, the Eastern Province Mosques Federation (EPMF) demanded that a separate Muslim delegation should be included in any future peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources said. The statement also said Muslim community should have the complete freedom to decide on the the composition of such delegation.
Full story >>

Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Village construction begins in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2006, 21:36 GMT]
The construction work on the 246 permanent houses for tsunami affected Muslim and Tamil families in Iqbal Nagar on Trincomalee-Nilaveli road under the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Village Project funded by the people and Government of Japan has begun with the ceremonial foundation-laying event held Saturday morning.
Full story >>