News In Brief

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Trouble erupted at the annual general meeting of the Jaffna branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and the Tigers warn Illicit brewers in Batticaloa.

Uproar at Jaffna Red Cross Society AGM

Trouble erupted at the annual general meeting of the Jaffna branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society recently when accounts were submitted by the treasurer of the organisation.

The financial statement was not adopted as a consequence of arguments over discrepancies in the expense accounts.

The majority of the members who attended the meeting demanded that the financial statement submitted by the treasurer should be examined.

A committee under Jaffna's former municipal commissioner Mr. C.V.K Sivagnanam was selected to undertake the task.

Two hundred and eighty nine members from all the local branches in the peninsula except Nedunthivu were represented at the Red Cross AGM. The majority of the society's members from Nedunthivu boycotted the meeting.

Prof. V.K Kaneshalingam was elected President of the Jaffna branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society. Dr. Thurairajah lost the position by eleven votes.

---

Tigers warn illicit brewers in Batticaloa

The Liberation Tigers have issued a pamphlet in the border areas of the Batticaloa district warning those who brew illicit liquor (kassippu).

This follows the August tragedy in which sixty three people who drank arrack blended with a deadly brew of Kassippu died in Batticaloa. Five lost their eyesight.

"Strong action will be taken against those who brew or sell illicit liquor to prevent our people from ruining their health. Fine for brewing - 25,000 rupees. Fine for selling 15,000 rupees" says the LTTE pamphlet.