"Parties must work together to diffuse present crisis" - Cushnahan

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 November 2003, 13:31 GMT]
In a press release today, Fine Gael Member of European Parliament (MEP) John Cushnahan said that "despite the alarming turn of events over the last 24 hours, they must work together to diffuse the current crisis and ensure the present peace process does not unravel." John Cushnahan, who returned yesterday from Sri Lanka where he was continuing his involvement with the Sri Lankan Peace Process, will raise the issue at today's plenary session of the European Parliament.
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US warns of "negative effect on Peace Process"

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 November 2003, 12:50 GMT]
U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli expressed concern that President Kumaratunga’s decision to sack three government ministers, suspend parliament, and deploy troops around the capital “could have a negative effect on the peace process and talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,” the Office of Public Diplomacy, Embassy of United States of America in Colombo said in a press release issued Wednesday.
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TNA urges Sri Lankan President to respect people's verdict

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 November 2003, 10:31 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance Wednesday urged Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge to respect the verdict of the people at the parliamentary election held in December 2001. “Violation of democratic rules of Governance will inevitably lead to a situation of chaos and anarchy in the whole country,” the TNA said in a press release.
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A9 highway to Jaffna not closed - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 November 2003, 10:16 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers wednesday denied reports in Colombo that the A-9 road has been closed. Mr. Daya Master, the Media Co-ordinator of the LTTE told TamilNet that "the A9 road remains open, there is no truth in the reports that we have closed the road".
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Kadirgamar slams door on LTTE proposal

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 November 2003, 07:44 GMT]
Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, advisor to President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s and Sri Lanka’s former foreign minister, slammed the Liberation Tigers’ proposal for an Interim Self Governing Authority at a press conference in Colombo Wednesday to explain his party’s reaction to the LTTE’s suggestions. “We can in no way consider the LTTE’s proposal. It is totally unacceptable that they (Tigers) would have access rights to 2/3 of Sri Lanka’s coast. This is not negotiable”, the President’s confidante charged.
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Struggle to take Sri Lanka Parliament gathers pace

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 November 2003, 06:02 GMT]
Tamil and Muslim MPs and the Sinhala nationalist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna are set to play a key role as frantic efforts by President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s People Alliance and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Front to cobble together a majority in Parliament before 19 November gathered momentum in Colombo Wednesday. Mr. Selvam Adaikalanathan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for Vanni told TamilNet: “We won’t go for horse deals. The TNA will take a principled stand in the interests of peace”.
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EU, UN, US express concern over SL situation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 November 2003, 21:37 GMT]
The European Union has expressed its concern over the action of Sri Lanka’s President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, Tuesday to sack three government ministers and the deployment of troops in Colombo. “The Presidency of the European Union and the European Commission believe that the recent developments in Sri Lanka may put at risk the spirit of cohabitation [between the President and the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers] which has proven vital for the sustained forward momentum of the peace process," the EU said in a statement Tuesday.
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SL Security forces remove speed breakers in Kodikamam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 November 2003, 16:20 GMT]
Soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army along with police personnel Monday night removed the speed breakers which had been constructed in front of the Kodikamam Maveerar Thuyilum Illam (mausoleum) in the Thenmaradchchi division of the Jaffna district as a precautionary measure to avoid accidents, civil sources said Tuesday.
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Future of Sri Lanka’s peace hangs in balance

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 November 2003, 12:10 GMT]
Prospects for ending the island’s two-decade-old conflict dimmed fast Tuesday as the status of the cease-fire agreement (CFA), which was signed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in February 2002, became uncertain after President Kumaratunga snatched the ministry of defence from his government Tuesday. “We are carefully monitoring and studying the developments. Based on this, our leadership will decide what to do," Mr. Daya Master, the Media Co-ordinator of the LTTE told TamilNet.
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LTTE's proposals significant - Armitage

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 November 2003, 11:11 GMT]
"The LTTE's proposal is the first time I've seen such a comprehensive delineation of the aspirations of the LTTE, and in this regard I think it's significant." United States Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is reported to have told in a press meet in Washington.
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ISGA a base for further talks -LSSP

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 November 2003, 14:38 GMT]
Mr. Batty Weerakoon, leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), said Monday that the Government of Sri Lanka could carry forward the peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources said.
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Hakim to prepare alternate proposals for Muslims

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 November 2003, 13:42 GMT]
The leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and Minister Mr.Rauff Hakim said Monday that he did not want to comment on the Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) proposals made by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
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SLFP to reveal its stand on ISGA Tuesday

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 November 2003, 13:33 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), chief constituent of the main opposition Peoples Alliance Monday said it has put off the special press briefing which was scheduled to be held Monday to announce its stand on the proposed Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) for Tuesday. Meanwhile President Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunge has been holding intensive consultation with leaders and constitutional experts of the SLFP and other allied parties, media sources said.
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Media reports on LTTE, UNF Ministers' meet false - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 November 2003, 11:25 GMT]
In a press release issued from its Political Head Quarters in Kilinochchi Monday morning, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) denied media reports that said a meeting took place between Peace Secretariat Director Pulithevan and Senior ministers of the United Front Government, Ravi Karunanayake, lands Minister Rajitha Senaratne, Agricultural Minister S. B. Dissanayake and Rural Economy Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Sunday in Vavuniya.
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Hakim to meet his rival Athaullah on LTTE proposals

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 November 2003, 11:13 GMT]
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Minister Mr.Rauff Hakim on his return to Colombo Monday from Britain is scheduled to meet his rival and Minister Mr.A.L.M. Athaullah on Wednesday to discuss LTTE's proposal on the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA), political sources in Colombo said Sunday.


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U.S. Government supports resumption of peace negotiations

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 November 2003, 10:20 GMT]
Applauding the Norwegian government for its ongoing facilitation efforts, the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka in a statement issued today in Colombo, said that it also believed that "it is possible for both sides to reach agreement on an interim administration which, over time, must lead into a permanent peace settlement".
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Sampanthan to address seminar on ISGA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 November 2003, 18:03 GMT]
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is organizing a one-day seminar on Friday, November 7, on the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the Tamil dominated NorthEast province. Mr. R. Sampanthan, the parliamentary group leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is expected to speak on behalf of TNA, sources in Colombo said.


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SU demands Colombo to abandon peace process

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 November 2003, 17:03 GMT]
Extreme Sinhala nationalist party, Sihala Urumaya (SU), Sunday appealed to the United National Front (UNF) Government to terminate the peace talks with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the basis of the contents of the proposals for interim self-governing authority (ISGA), which the SU said will lead to the formation of a separate state, media sources said.
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Proposal merits no discussions - JVP

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 November 2003, 16:52 GMT]
The Sinhala nationalist Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said Sunday that the interim administrative structure proposal submitted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) deserves no discussions with any one and should be thrown into waste paper basket. The JVP pointed out that the proposal contained all powers required for a separate state in the island, media sources in Colombo said.


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Sri Lanka's President urged not to retake defense ministry

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 November 2003, 15:29 GMT]
The Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters Sunday appealed to the President of Sri Lanka, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, not to retake the post of defense ministry thus plunging the country into crisis at a time Sri Lanka has joined the global community to establish peace in the country, media sources said.
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