Deportation issue raised with German Envoy

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2000, 18:50 GMT]
Batticaloa District Member of Parliament, Mr. Selvarajah, has appealed to the German Envoy in Colombo not to deport Sri Lankan Tamils who have sought asylum in Germany as it would endanger their lives in the hands of Sri Lanka security forces, said sources in Colombo.
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Deported Tamils taken into police custody

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 March 2000, 20:26 GMT]
Sri Lankan Police took two Jaffna Tamils deported from Germany into custody at Katunayake International Airport. State run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in its night news bulletin today said that two key Tamil Tigers who had been raising funds for the LTTE in Germany were taken into custody by the CID at Katunayake International Airport.
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JVP to agitate against Norway's role

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 March 2000, 17:25 GMT]
The Janata Vimukthi Peramuna, (JVP) the Marxist party that led two unsuccessful insurrections to capture state power in Sri Lanka, threatened today to hold country wide demonstrations against Norwegian mediation to end the island's ethnic conflict.
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Six Tamils arrested over Friday attack

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 March 2000, 11:05 GMT]
Six Tamils have been arrested in Colombo by the investigations arm of the Sri Lankan Police in connection with the suicide attack by a commando group suspected to be of the Liberation Tigers on the main route to the Parliament on Friday, March 10.
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Ketheeswaram in disrepair says MP

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 March 2000, 21:13 GMT]
The group of Tamil devotees from the Sri Lanka's capital who went to observe the Saivite festival of Maha Sivarathiri at the ancient Shiva temple at Thiruketheesawaram occupied by the Sri Lankan army until last Friday returned to Colombo today with reports that the shrine was in disrepair and its sanctity had been defiled.
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38 detainees held in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 February 2000, 18:07 GMT]
Thirty eight persons including, 4 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers are held in the custody of the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) and Military Intelligence, in Vavuniya, said Human Rights Commission sources.
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Call to remove rigid limits on Travel Permits

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 February 2000, 07:24 GMT]
Peoples Committee for Peace and Reconciliation, a grass root organization in Jaffna, has requested the Brigadier in-charge of civil administration of Jaffna district, T.E. Tillekeratna, to extend the validity of travel permits issued to Tamils travelling to other districts, to one year, said sources.
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LTTE calls for De-escalation of conflict as necessary condition for peace talks

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 February 2000, 09:13 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has urged the Government of Sri Lanka to take constructive measures to remove the conditions of oppression of the Tamil people to create conducive atmosphere for peace talks.
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Attacks prompt Pettah traders to close shop

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 February 2000, 07:41 GMT]
Pettah business establishments owned by importers of perishable goods were closed on Friday to protest against the 'quota' system on import of onions and potatoes, imposed by some businessmen with connections to underworld criminal gangs, sources in Colombo said.
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TULF will oppose budget -Pararajasingham

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 February 2000, 12:46 GMT]
"The millennium budget of the PA government is a war budget. The TULF will therefore oppose it when it comes up for vote in Parliament," said TULF MP for Batticaloa Joseph Pararajasingham.
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Fifteen arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 February 2000, 08:22 GMT]
More than fifteen Tamils were arrested by the Sri Lankan police during a search operation in Pettah and Armour Street areas in Colombo yesterday night. They are being questioned at the Pettah police station.
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Court action awaits Pass system

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 February 2000, 17:41 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front's (TULF) central committee decided today to file fundamental rights case if the Government enforces the controversial pass system for the Batticaloa District, sources said. The meeting was presided by TULF's Vice President Mr.V.Anandasangari.
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No Tamil selected for Administrative Services: Pararajasingham

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 February 2000, 19:46 GMT]
None of the Tamil Language candidates who sat for the Limited Competitive Examination for the Sri Lanka Administrative Service held in July, 1999 were successful, according to a letter sent to the Sri Lankan President by the TULF Parliamentary Group Leader Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham.
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Poor turnout at Batticaloa independence day celebrations

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 February 2000, 12:22 GMT]
Twenty-two people including a Government Agent, eight officials, seven employees, religious dignitaries representing all faiths and two journalists attended the 52nd Independence Day celebrations held at the Dutch Fort at Batticaloa this morning.
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150 Tamils arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 February 2000, 15:31 GMT]
At least 150 Tamils were arrested during a search operation in the Welikade and Nawale areas of Colombo today, police sources said.
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TULF meets Canada foreign ministry officials

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 January 2000, 20:33 GMT]
Joseph Pararajasingham, Parliamentary Group Leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front, told the visiting Canadian official from the South East Asia Department of the Canadian Foreign Ministry, Robert Burley, that any resolution to the Tamil problem should fulfil the fundamental demand of the permanent merger of the northern and eastern provinces.
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2000 arrested in Colombo search

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 January 2000, 11:39 GMT]
More than 2000 Tamils were arrested in a massive cordon and search operation in Kolonnawa, a suburb of Colombo, and in Gampaha district, today. The combined operation by the Sri Lanka Army and Police began in the early hours of the morning after enforcing a ten-hour curfew.
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Kalutara detainees refused transfer

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 January 2000, 11:58 GMT]
Tamil prisoners detained in Kalutara prison won't be transferred to jails in the Northeast Province despite the reported killing of three Tamils inmates by prison wardens, sources said.
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Ponnambalam's funeral held

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 January 2000, 06:25 GMT]
The funeral of Mr.Kumar Ponnambalam took place in Colombo today. His body was cremated at Khanate Hindu cemetery around 1 p.m. this afternoon. His son Gajenthirakumar set fire to the pyre.
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Tamils mourn Ponnambalam's death

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 January 2000, 23:59 GMT]
The killing of Kumar Ponnambalam on January 5 has triggered a wave of emotion across the Tamil Diaspora. Sadness and anger has been expressed by Tamil community organisations and individuals in statements and messages on bulletin boards. Ponnmabalam's death has arguably been the main topic of conversation amongst Tamils recently - as is his last public letter to President Chandrika Kumaratunge and the latter's recent stern warning to supporters of the Liberation Tigers.
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