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.
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International help to Vanni demining operations

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 August 2002, 00:13 GMT]
The Humanitarian Demining Unit (HDU), a subsidiary of Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) has begun operations in Vanni with modern protective gear provided by the British demining agency Mine Action Group (MAG), UK with the assistance of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
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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.
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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.
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St John Ambulance National Cadet camp concludes in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 August 2002, 20:50 GMT]
More than eight hundred youths of all communities from north to south of the country attended the five-day National and Cadet Camp for the year 2002 of the St.John Ambulance Association and Brigade held at Trincomalee Vipulananda College.
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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.
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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.
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North-South peace sports festival proposed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 August 2002, 19:05 GMT]
A conference, chaired by the Minister of Lands, Mr.Rajitha Senaratne, was held in Trincomalee Saturday to discuss holding a four-day, North-South Peace Sports Festival in Kalutara, in the south of the country.
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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.
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Government corresponds with NEPC in Sinhala language

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 August 2002, 20:55 GMT]
The central government of Sri Lanka still maintains official correspondence with Tamil dominated North East Provincial Council only in Sinhala language. This has caused provincial officials immense difficulties in getting those letters and circulars translated into Tamil or English, NEPC sources said.
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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.
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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.
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US Deputy Secretary of State visits Chavakachcheri

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 August 2002, 11:36 GMT]
The United States Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Richard Armitage, visited Chavakachcheri Urban Council grounds Thursday morning accompanied by Sri Lanka’s Economic Reforms Minister Mr. Milinda Morogoda, Defence Ministry Secretary Mr. Austin Fernando, US Ambassador in Colombo Mr. Ashely Wills and the three heads of the armed forces. While touring the Chavakachcheri area, the visiting US diplomat said, "It reminds me of Vietnam where I served for six years. This shows the urgent need of finding a political solution to Sri Lanka's crisis."
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UNF to move confidence vote in parliament

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 August 2002, 15:42 GMT]
The United National Front Wednesday decided to move a vote of confidence on the government led by Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe in parliament next week. The motion will be taken up for debate on August 29. A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of leaders of all political parties represented in parliament, Minister W.M.J. Lokubandara, leader of the House said Wednesday.
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Twenty injured at music festival

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 August 2002, 09:38 GMT]
At least twenty people, including two policemen, were injured in clashes during the last day of a musical show held in Trincomalee. The five day mega industrial exhibition 'Yuga Thekma', organised by the Industries Ministry in Trincomalee, ended in the early hours of Wednesday.
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'Economic recovery depends on permanent solution' -Sampanthan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 August 2002, 21:35 GMT]
"The economy of the country will be improved only when the interim administration starts functioning with necessary powers to develop the Northeast province following the Thailand peace talks scheduled to be held in mid September," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group when addressing the fifth and final day of the 'Yuga Thekma' industrial exhibition held in Trincomalee esplanade.
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Leadership training for Trinco war widows inaugurated

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 August 2002, 18:47 GMT]
The first phase of leadership training for war widows in the Trincomalee district was inaugurated Tuesday in Trincomalee by the District Planning Secretariat and sponsored by the World Food Programme.
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'Released Tamil youths harassed by Police' -Selvam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 August 2002, 18:21 GMT]
"I wish to bring to the notice of the Defence Minister that the Tamil youths released from prisons are being harassed by the Police. These youths find in difficult to live in peace in their homes due to unwanted interference by the Police," said Vanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Tuesday, in parliament participating in the second day debate on the no-confidence motion against the Interior Minister moved by the opposition.
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TRO launches new scheme in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 August 2002, 17:18 GMT]
The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) in Trincomalee has decided to launch a scheme called 'Grama Dhrasanam' (Village Vision) in the district, giving priority to the rehabilitation of the displaced families. A decision to this effect was taken at its directors' meeting held Tuesday.
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TNA accuses 'PA playing dual role'

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 August 2002, 21:46 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Monday accused the main opposition People’s Alliance playing a dual role regarding the present peace process brokered by the Norwegians. "The People’s Alliance should come forward to tell its clear stand on the peace process now being taken forward by the United National Front government," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance parliamentary group participating in the debate of no confidence motion against the Interior Minister John Amaratunge.
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