Jaffna students storm SLA positions

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 September 2002, 14:15 GMT]
(News Feature) Over two thousand protesting Tamil students Monday forced their way into Sri Lanka Army positions and camps in Point Pedro in the northern Jaffna peninsula, destroying barriers, sentry points and checkpoints. Students demanding the withdrawal of troops from public places also blocked the main entrance of the SLA's 52-4 Brigade headquarters. Troops fired tear gars and live rounds and assaulted students, journalists and local officials of the Liberation Tigers' political wing who intervened.
Full story >>

Batti TEEDOR launches Book

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 September 2002, 08:51 GMT]
"Our National Leader's objective is not to prolong the long, devastating war. His primary focus is in obtaining a lasting peace through negotiations that allows our people to live free and with dignity," said Ramesh, the Special Military commander of LTTE for Batti-Ampara district at a book launching ceremony organised by the TEEDOR (Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organisation).
Full story >>

Chandrika slams UNF government 'without vision'

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 September 2002, 18:32 GMT]
"The United National Front government has no vision nor ability to rule the country," said President Chandrika Kumaratunge Sunday evening at Bogambara grounds, Kandy in the Central province. The President was addressing a large gathering at the fifty first convention of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which was founded by her father, late Premier S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike in 1951.
Full story >>

President lays conditions for de-proscription, interim administration

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 September 2002, 12:25 GMT]
President Chandrika Kumaratunge has announced her stand on the removal of ban on the Liberation Tigers in Sri Lanka and setting up of an interim administration in the northeast province. "I will oppose de-proscribing the LTTE before the commencement of direct peace talks. I will also oppose the setting up of interim administration in the northeast before reaching an agreement with the LTTE by the government on the core issues related to the conflict," said the President when addressing a gathering, according to a press release issued by the Presidential Secretariat Sunday.
Full story >>

PM Secretary meets Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 September 2002, 12:22 GMT]
Prime Minister's secretary and advisor Bradman Weerakone met the head of the Liberation Tigers' political section, S.P. Thamilchelvan at the Political Head Office in Kilinochchi at 10 am Sunday. Mr. Weerakone who arrived in Jaffna Saturday morning, travelled to Vanni by land.
Full story >>

Prisoners swap postponed by ten days

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 August 2002, 21:55 GMT]
The exchange of prisoners between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has been postponed by about ten days and it will not take place as scheduled for Saturday at Omanthai in Vavuniya, the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) sources said.
Full story >>

PM to meet WB President next month

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 August 2002, 21:54 GMT]
A government delegation led by Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe is to visit several countries seeking foreign aid for the development of the island soon after the first round of direct peace talks commenced at Thailand in mid September, Constitutional Affairs Minister Mr. G.L.Peiris said Friday. During his visit to United States of America, the Prime Minister is to confer with the World Bank President regarding the proposed aid to the country, he said.
Full story >>

Vanni artistes highlight detainees' plight

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 August 2002, 05:46 GMT]
A Tamil parliamentarian Thursday called for the repeal of Sri Lanka’s notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) under which hundreds of people continue to be detained. Mr. K. Thurairatnesingham, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was addressing people assembled at Trincomalee St. Joseph's College auditorium Thursday evening to view the play enacted by the Vanni Teachers' Aesthetic Society, a group of teacher-artistes of Vanni region.
Full story >>

Congress of Religions for LTTE ban removal

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 August 2002, 20:51 GMT]
The Congress of Religions Wednesday said that it disassociates with the statements made by some members of the organisation at a press conference held Tuesday regarding the removal of ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The Congress of Religions in its statement issued Wednesday said that especially Hindu and Christian leaders in the organisation are of opinion that that the ban on LTTE should be lifted."
Full story >>

LTTE decides on delegation for talks

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 August 2002, 16:50 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers have decided on the delegation they will be sending to the Norwegian facilitated peace talks in Thailand next month, a Tamil expatriate newspaper reported Tuesday. The LTTE will be sending a four person delegation led by the movement's chief negotiator and political advisor, Mr. Anton Balasingham, to the 3-day negotiations scheduled to begin on September 16, LTTE sources told Tamil Guardian Monday. The paper also quoted LTTE officials as welcoming the Sri Lankan government's announcement Sunday that the ban on the movement would be lifted on September 6.
Full story >>

Prime Minister briefs Archbishop on peace process

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 August 2002, 16:40 GMT]
The Archbishop of Colombo, Right Reverend Dr. Oswald Gomes, Tuesday urged Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe to take forward the peace process and find a honourable solution to the ethnic conflict. The Archbishop made the plea when the Prime Minister met him Tuesday afternoon and briefed him on the present status of the Norwegian peace initiative.
Full story >>

Fishing restrictions reimposed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 August 2002, 23:51 GMT]
More than six hundred fishermen residing in three villages close to the east of Sri Lanka Army's main Palaly base in Jaffna district did not go fishing Monday protesting against the restriction imposed by the SLA that they should go to sea from the shore where the Myliyathanai army camp is situated. The SLA has further instructed them not to keep their fishing crafts in their villages but to keep them at Myliyathanai army camp site under its supervision.
Full story >>

Special govt. team arrives Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 August 2002, 11:21 GMT]
A special team of development experts and bank officials flew to Kilinochchi in a special Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter, Monday morning , to hold talks with the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, government sources said.
Full story >>

Govt.to lift LTTE ban on Sept 6.

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 August 2002, 20:57 GMT]
The United National Front government Sunday announced that it will lift the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam with effect from September 6, ten days ahead of direct talks begin in Thailand, the state run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation reported Sunday.
Full story >>

Announcement on lifting ban due soon

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 August 2002, 20:50 GMT]
The United National Front government said Saturday that official announcement on lifting the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam will be out in a day or two. "The government has already decided to lift the ban on the LTTE if it would be an obstacle for having direct talks with that organisation to find a negotiated political solution to the present conflict. There is no change in that decision. The government is now in the process of making arrangements to issue an official announcement in this regard," said the Defence Minister Mr.Tilak Marapone.
Full story >>

Govt. special team to visit Killinochchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 August 2002, 20:32 GMT]
A government special team headed by Peace Secretariat Secretary General and comprising top representatives of several development agencies is to visit Killinochchi on Monday to have extensive talks with the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Full story >>

Govt. peace official holds talks with Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 August 2002, 21:01 GMT]
The Peace Secretariat Secretary, General Mr.Bernard Gunatillake, Friday held talks with the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The two-hour talks held with Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan by the government peace official centred on various issues including the development of the north east province, government sources said.
Full story >>

AG withdraws indictments in sixteen PTA cases

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 August 2002, 13:25 GMT]
The Jaffna High Court Friday discharged seven accused in sixteen cases when the State Counsel withdrew the indictments filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, on the instruction of the Attorney General. In one case, the accused was enlarged in bail, court sources said.
Full story >>

TNA meets Armitage

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 August 2002, 09:35 GMT]
"The United States of America should help the Tamils to find an alternate and just political solution to their longstanding problems while reiterating its stand against the division of the country," the delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) told the visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Mr. Richard Armitage when it met the latter at the official residence of the US ambassador in Colombo Thursday evening.
Full story >>

Peace official to meet LTTE leadership

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 August 2002, 16:29 GMT]
The ruling United National Front (UNF) Thursday said it expects Norway to announce in a few days the date direct peace talks between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are to commence in Thailand. "Peace Secretariat Secretary General Mr. Bernard Gunatilake is scheduled to visit Killinochchi shortly to hold vital talks with the Head of the LTTE's political wing, Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan. Talks are also expected to focus on development activities in north," said Minister G.L.Peiris, cabinet spokesman Thursday at a press briefing.
Full story >>