Fighters killed in Vavunathivu SLA camp attack remembered

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 03:35 GMT]
The last day events of the sixth year memorial ceremony for the 103 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters, including Lt. Colonel Balendra and Lt.Colonel Mathana, who died during the attack on the Vavunathivu Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, began at 6am Thursday at the Tharavai grounds in Batticaloa district, sources said.
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Canadian Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 01:34 GMT]
Among several foreign envoys are to visit Sri Lanka next week to assess the progress of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are Canadian Foreign Minister Mr. Bill Graham, Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Peterson, and his deputy Mr. Vidar Helgessen, said Minister and leader of GOSL negotiating team, Professor G.L.Peiris at a press conference held Thursday.


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Opposition parties plan protests against Ceasefire Agreement

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2003, 16:57 GMT]
The Opposition Alliance, formed by the main opposition party in Sri Lanka’s parliament, the Sri Lanka Fredom Party (SLFP), in an alliance with the Jantha Vimukti Peramuna (JVP), the Mahajana Eaksath Peramuna (MEP), the National Unity Alliance (NUA), and the Sri Lanka Mahajana Paksaya (SLMP), said in a press conference in Colombo Thursday that it wants to “save the country” and has planned to conduct massive protests on March 10 against the UNF Government’s Ceasefire agreement with the LTTE and its economic policies of the past year.
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Sub committee for women, children's welfare meet in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2003, 12:00 GMT]
First meeting of the Subcommittee for the welfare and rehabilitation of war affected women and children took place in Kilinochchi on Wednesday, and Thursday at the Peace Secretariat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources said.
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Thiriyai prepares for resettlement amid navy harassment

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2003, 00:30 GMT]
As the first paddy harvest after nearly twenty years is nearing completion at Thiriyai, the displaced Tamil families who returned from Vanni and residing currently in welfare camps at Nilaveli pleaded Tuesday at a mobile service held in Thiriyai, that authorities should make immediate arrangements to resettle them in their own lands, sources in Trincomalee said.
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SLA soldier, Constable, in LTTE custody released

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 March 2003, 11:54 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, Lance Corporal Nimal Kumara and Reserve Police Constable Philip Anandasekara who were in Liberation Tigers' (LTTE's) custody were released today in Kilinochchi to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission(SLMM) following a meeting with the LTTE leaders and the members of the SLMM, sources in Kilinochchi said.
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UNICEF, LTTE agree on action plan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 20:35 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the UNICEF Tuesday agreed on the development of an action plan on children affected by war in the North-East, including children involved in child labor, civilian or military, sources said.
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SLMM Head meets LTTE’s Col. Karuna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 17:21 GMT]
The head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Tryggve Tellefsen, officially met with LTTE’s senior commander, Col. Karuna, at Karadiyanaru in the LTTE controlled area in Batticaloa on Tuesday, sources said.
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MSF to wind up operations in NorthEast

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 March 2003, 00:40 GMT]
MEDICINS SANS FRONTIERS (MSF), an international non-governmental medical and humanitarian organisation which is providing medical assistance to people in the northeast province Monday expressed confidence that the ceasefire agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will lead to permanent peace in the island and that their permanent presence is not required beyond 2003, sources in Jaffna said.
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Thai delegation meets Thamilselvan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 20:02 GMT]
A special delegation of Thailand government, lead by the Commissioner of the Economic section of the Thailand ministry of Foreign Affairs met with the Head of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political section, S.P. Thamilselvan and communicated the desire of the Thai government to provide help and to participate in the development of the war affected North East region, sources in Vanni said.
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Busy schedule awaits Balasingham in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 19:34 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) theoretician and leader of the LTTE negotiating team in the current peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the LTTE, Mr. Anton Balasingham, arrived in Kilinochchi 4 pm Sunday with his wife and Secretary to LTTE peace delegation Adele Balasingham, sources in Vanni said.


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Army occupation still prevails after a year of peace - Ramesh

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 14:02 GMT]
"Twelve months have passed after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), but vast numbers of Tamil people are still living under Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupation. Army camps are still being maintained in Tamils' homes and public buildings creating a sense of mistrust and skepticism on the strength of the MoU in Tamil peoples' mind. Only by the SLA fully complying with the provisions of the MoU can the faith on MoU be restored," said Ramesh, Batticaloa-Ampara special commander of the LTTE, addressing a meeting in Batticaloa Sunday, sources said.
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Eastern HC discharges seven PTA, ER accused

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 February 2003, 20:39 GMT]
The Eastern High Court Judge Mr.S.Paramarajah Friday discharged seven accused indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulation (ER) when the State Counsel withdrew the indictments served on them.


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Fourth SIHRN meeting in Kilinochichi

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 February 2003, 17:41 GMT]
Fourth meeting of the SIHRN took place in Kilinochchi at the premises of SIHRN secretariat. Mr. Bernard Gunatillake headed the Government delegation and S.P Thamilchelvan lead the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) delegation. Ambassador Jon Westborg facilitated the meeting on behalf of the Norwegian Government. Ambassador Seichro Otsuka of Japan participated on behalf of Mr. Yasushi Akashi, principal advisor to the Sub-Committee.
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Sri Lanka human rights officials to visit Jaffna HSZ

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 February 2003, 17:08 GMT]
The delegation of the Human Rights Commission (HRZ) of Sri Lanka, which is conducting investigation into the disappearance of persons during the period of 1996-1997 in the Jaffna district, is to visit the high security zones in the peninsula Saturday. The HRC delegation comprises Jaffna former government agent Mr.Devanesan Nesiah, Mr. Camillus Fernando, Ms Jesima Ismail and Mr.Iqbal, sources said.


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Peace dividend delay eroding Tamils' faith in talks – Col. Karuna

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 February 2003, 16:10 GMT]
“There has been no development work in the northeast so far despite one year of peace. Our people find this disappointing; and it has eroded their confidence in the peace process,” said Col. Karuna, senior commander of the Liberation Tigers, speaking to presspersons Friday at the conclusion of the second round of discussions on ceasefire violations, human rights and Muslim affairs between the Government of Sri Lanka and LTTE in Vavunathivu, five kilometres northwest of Batticaloa town.
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SIHRN-World Bank formalize Establishing NE development fund

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 February 2003, 12:34 GMT]
The World Bank (WB) and the Sub Committee on Immediate Humanitarian Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) Friday signed a "Letter of Intent " as a prelude to establishing a North East Reconstruction Fund (NERF) in support of post conflict development efforts in the northeast province, a press release issued by the SIHRN said.


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Muslim parliamentarians meet Sri Lanka's PM

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 February 2003, 02:30 GMT]
A delegation of Muslim parliamentarians Thursday requested Sri Lanka's Prime Minister (PM), Ranil Wickremasinghe, for an opportunity for the Muslims to participate as an independent group in the peace talks now being held between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources said.
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Commonwealth Union delegation visits Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 February 2003, 17:07 GMT]
A four-member delegation of the Commonwealth Union, led by its Secretary General, Mr. Don McKinnon, arrived in Jaffna Thursday and held a meeting with the Government Agent and representatives of people's organizations, sources said.
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New Head of SLMM meets LTTE officials in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 February 2003, 12:49 GMT]
Tryggve Tellefsen, the new head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission(SLMM), a group of Nordic monitors overseeing the year-old truce between Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), met with officials of the LTTE at the Vavuniya SLMM office, sources said.


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