Journalists dismayed over Sivaram debate

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 May 2005, 18:24 GMT]
The lack of a quorum in Sri Lanka’s Parliament and the subsequent lacklustre debate when the abduction and brutal murder of Tamil political columnist and military analyst, Dharmeratnam Sivaram, was taken up Friday dismayed journalists who three days earlier had taken to the streets in a major protest over the brazen killing in Colombo.
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Two LTTE cadres killed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 May 2005, 17:02 GMT]
Two bullet ridden bodies found in Pollonnorawa police division near the border of Batticaloa District were identified as Capt.Suban (Arasaretnam Vigneswaran of Valaththapitty) and Lt.Nilavarasan (Rasalingam Shankar of Kaluwankerny), both from political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources from Vanni said.
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NorthEast pre-school teachers compete for honors

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 May 2005, 12:55 GMT]
Pre-school teachers from five regions in the NorthEast province vied for honors in general knowledge test conducted by the Pre-School Development Organization to mark its 10th anniversary since its establishment with a mission of improving the education standards of pre-school children in NorthEast, sources from Kilinochchi said. Pre-school development falls under the administration of Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), an NGO registered with the Government of Sri Lanka which works exclusively in the NorthEast.
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UN petitioned to pressure GoSL for murder inquiry

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 May 2005, 11:16 GMT]
Speakers at a memorial event held in Temple Hall, Paris, condemned the murder of Tamil journalist, Mr Dharmeratnam Sivaram, and urged the United Nation's (UN's) Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression,Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders to pressure the Government of Sri Lanka to conduct an independent inquiry into the killing, a press release issued Friday in France by Tamil Center for Human Rights (TCHR) said.
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Jaffna journalists, academics protest against Sivaram murder

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 May 2005, 10:56 GMT]
Hundreds of Jaffna journalists, university academicians, priests and heads of non-governmental organizations Saturday morning held a demonstration in front of the Jaffna regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) condemning the brutal killing of senior journalist Mr.Dharmeratnam Sivaram in Colombo. sources said.
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World Bank will support Joint Mechanism- Peter Harrold

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 May 2005, 17:12 GMT]
Mr.Peter Harrold, World Bank Country Representative in Sri Lanka, Friday said in Puttalam, a Muslim dominated town in the north of Western Province, that the World Bank extends its full support to the implementation of the Joint Mechanism proposed by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for tsunami rehabilitation in the northeast.
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Civil Groups appeal to reopen Nagarkovil Road

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 May 2005, 14:39 GMT]
Nagarkovil Civil Groups Consortium in Vadamaradchchi east division in the Jaffna district Friday sent a memorandum to Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge to take immediate steps to open the Nagarkovil Road located in the high security zone (HSZ), sources said. The road is currently closed for public use.


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SLA fire damages Muttur east LTTE sentry point- Elilan

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 May 2005, 14:10 GMT]
Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Friday morning lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in the east port town that the Sri Lanka Army soldiers located in Kaddaiparichchan camp had fired at the LTTE sentry in the LTTE controlled Muttur east. LTTE sentry point was damaged in the attack, Mr.Elilan said.
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NECORD provides loans to assist small businesses

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 May 2005, 11:49 GMT]
Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) awarded loans under the Social Development scheme to increase the earning potential of small scale entrepreneurs at an event held at the Kovil Vayal village in Pachchilaipalli district in Kilinochchi Thursday at 3.30 pm sources from Kilinochchi said. Kvoil Vayal is located 2 km from the Iyakachchi junction on A9 highway.
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TNA demands international commission to probe Sivaram murder

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 May 2005, 10:16 GMT]
Mr.R.Sampanthan, parliamentary group leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Friday demanded in Sri Lanka's parliament that the government should take steps to constitute an international commission of inquiry comprising of impartial and qualified persons from the countries in the SAARC region, like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and from the Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand and canto to investigate all aspects of the murder of journalist Mr.D.Sivaram.
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Empty fire engines standby as fire destroys Jaffna shops

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 21:12 GMT]
Four shops at the Old Park road- Kandy road junction, near Jaffna Kachcheri were were destroyed by fire which broke out around 7 p.m. TamilNet correspondent in the northern town said.
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‘Sivaram killing a blow against peace’ – US don

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 17:46 GMT]
The abduction and murder last Thursday of political columnist and military analyst, Dharmeratnam Sivaram by suspected Sri Lankan state agents “will hinder peace and promote war” in Sri Lanka, writes Prof. Tom Plate, Director of Asia Pacific Media Network, in a op-ed published Thursday in the Korean Times. “The anguish felt worldwide perhaps surprised the morally suspect government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga,” Prof. Plate, who is with the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote.
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NorthEast Governor visits Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 16:10 GMT]
Governor of NorthEast, Mr.Tyronne Fernando, Thursday arrived in Jaffna by air on an official visit and attended a conference held in Jaffna Library Auditorium. A group of Tamil civilians held a protest against his visit in front of the venue holding black flags, sources said.


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Batticaloa detainees fast in protest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 10:44 GMT]
Five Tamil youths detained in Batticaloa prison for more than 6 months, Thursday, began protest fast on the roof of the prison demanding that the Sri Lankan government should either expedite legal action against them or release them on bail. The youths were arrested by police in the eastern Sri Lanka on 4 different incidents, legal sources said.
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‘Taraki died defending the Tamil cause’- paper

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 03:26 GMT]
Condemning the abduction and murder last week of political columnist and military analyst Dharmeratnam Sivaram, the Tamil Guardian newspaper this week reproached those who sought to rationalise his killing on the basis of his support for the Tamil struggle. “Yes, he was a Tamil patriot. [But] in a field laden with hyperbole and zeal, Taraki’s writing compelled prevailing understandings to be questioned rather than simply foist his own views on readers. His death will sadden those on all sides prepared to listen to rational, even if contrary, arguments,” the paper said.


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Pirapaharan extols Jeyanthan Brigade on 12th anniversary

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 00:02 GMT]
In April last year, the world witnessed the prowess, fighting spirit and the commitment of the Jeyanthan Brigade which, by executing in Batticaloa soil “the right operation at the right time and the right place, triumphed against betrayal and reclaimed our soil, our people and our cadre," said LTTE leader, Mr. Vellupillai Pirapaharan in a congratulatory message sent to the fighting unit which celebrated the 12th anniversary of its formation on Wednesday.
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SL Parliament approves Tsunami Bills

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 May 2005, 15:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Wednesday adopted the Tsunami (Special Provisions) Bill and the Disaster Management Bill. Mr.John Seneviratne, Minister of Justice and Judicial Reforms and Ms Sumedha Jeyasena, Minister for Social Services and Women Affairs moved the Tsunami (Special provisions) Bill and Disaster Management Bill respectively, parliamentary sources said.


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SL President says will establish JM despite opposition

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 May 2005, 10:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Tuesday said an excellent opportunity has arisen to achieve peace in the island by establishing a Joint Mechanism (JM) with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to reconstruct the tsunami destroyed coastal areas in the northeast. Despite opposition and risk to her presidency, she is prepared to implement the JM proposal to bring peace to Sri Lanka, she said addressing a meeting of the National Council for Peace and Reconciliation attended by leaders of all faiths held Tuesday, the State run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation reported in its evening news bulletin.
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SL Parliament to debate on Sivaram murder

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 May 2005, 09:17 GMT]
Leaders of political parties represented in the Sri Lanka Parliament Wednesday decided to hold a special debate on the killing of a senior journalist Mr.D.Sivaram, Speaker Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara announced.
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TNA MPs protest, demand inquiry into Sivaram’s murder

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 May 2005, 05:47 GMT]
Tamil Nation Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians held a demonstration at Jeyanthipura Junction and marched to the Parliament Ground, Wednesday, protesting aginst the abduction and murder of leading Tamil journalist Mr.D.Sivaram, last week. The MPs demanded Sri Lanka’s President to hold an impartial inquiry to identify the killers.
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