School boy killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Army soldier was killed and four wounded when suspected members of the Liberation Tigers lobed a grenade at an army position in Madduvil-north in the Jaffna peninsula today, said sources in Jaffna.
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Civilian killed in army fire

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A young woman, Thevathas Subajini, 19, was killed and five others wounded by retaliatory fire from the army following an attack by the Liberation Tigers, in which two Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers were killed, said sources in Jaffna. The attack, which took place around 6.30 p.m yesterday, was mounted against a SLA position at the Chavakkalai Chanthi (junction) in the tight security area of Kurunagar, near Jaffna town.
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50 SLA troops killed - VoT

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Over fifty Sri Lankan Army soldiers (SLA) were killed and a large number were wounded when the Liberation Tigers counter attacked a column of SLA troops which began to advance from their positions west of Ampakamam last Thursday, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said today.
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NGO condemns military pressure

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Organisation for Social and Economic Development, a non governmental organinsation (NGO) working in the Vadamaradchi region of the Jaffna peninsula, issued a statement yesterday condemning the Sri Lankan Army's (SLA) frequent house-to-house searches conducted during the night.
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9 SLA bodies exchanged through ICRC

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) official confirmed that around 4.00 p.m. today the bodies of 9 soldiers, killed in the latest fighting near Ampakamam, were handed over to Sri Lankan army officials in Vavuniya by representatives of the ICRC. The ICRC received the bodies from the Liberation Tigers at Mallavi, earlier today, the official added.
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Fierce fighting continues

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Eleven Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers have been killed and over hundred wounded in the latest fighting between the Liberation Tigers and the troops of Operation Jeyasikurui which erupted Thursday morning, said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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Leader of Muslim sect killed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Leader of a Muslim sect, ostracised by the Ulama Committee, the highest religious body of the Sri Lankan Muslims was shot dead at his home in Kaththankudy near Batticaloa town last night around 10.30 p.m. Sources said that the killing was the result of a long standing religious enmity between orthodox Muslims and followers of the sect who have been branded as heretics by tthe Ulama committee.
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Two SLA soldiers killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Latest reports from Jaffna said two soldiers were killed in the attack by the Liberation Tigers on an SLA position at Chavakkalai Chanthi (junction) in the high security zone of Kurunagar this evening around 6.30 p.m. Residents in the area said the LTTE had fired on the army and lobbed grenades at the troops.
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Kadirgamar to resolve China-India tension

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan foreign ministry sources said today that the Sri Lanka has accepted a request by the foreign minister of China that Sri Lanka should take steps to reduce the tensions that have arisen in the south Asian region following the recent nuclear tests by India.
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Tigers attack Police post

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Police constable (PC) was killed an another seriously wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked the Uppuveli junction Sri Lankan Police post in Trincomalee town in a surprise attack around 8.45 p.m. this evening, said police sources in the eastern port town.
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Missing persons found dead

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three bodies of the four civilians who were reported missing since May 24 in Murunkan in the Mannar district have been found the Murunkan Police informed the Mannar District judge today.
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TELO warns against anti social behaviour

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three men involved in brewing illicit liquor (kasippu) were publicly punished yesterday, near the railway station in Jaffna, by the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), an ex-Tamil militant group which has members in some of the local government bodies in the Jaffna peninsula and operates with the army in the eastern province, Vavuniya and Mannar.
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SLA claims early success

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Heavy fighting is reported between the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) near Ambakamam, north-east of the strategic Mankulam junction in the northern Vanni region, said sources in Vavuniya. Four SLA soldiers were killed and 22 were wounded in the latest fighting, said SLA sources.
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Tigers say army advance in deep trouble

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The latest offensive launched by the Sri Lankan Army yesterday to capture Mankulam has run into deep trouble claimed the Liberation Tigers in a press release issued today from their international secretatriat.
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Minister to sue Thinamurasu

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Post and Telecommunications and Media Mr. M.L.A.M.Hisbulah (SLMC) will file a case against 'Thinamurasu', a Tamil weekly with the largest circulation in Sri Lanka, for libel, claiming 2.5 million Rupees from the paper, said sources closed to the SLMC leader today.
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LTTE activity in Jaffna Town

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA sources in Jaffna said yesterday that the army in Jaffna Town discovered that more than forty landmines, a pistol and some army uniforms have been removed from a house used by troops to store materiale in Koddady, Northeast of the town centre.
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Market falls as foreign investor withdraws

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Colombo stock market fell by 18.8 points (2.6%) today, from 718.80 to 700.00 points, following the withdrawal of a major foreign investor. The Colombo stock market's Sensitive index also fell from 1197.20 to 1082.80 points.
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Increased security in Jaffna islands

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
There has been an increase in road checks and patrols on the coastal roads between Jaffna and the surrounding islands following renewed activity by Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) personnel in the area, said sources in Jaffna.
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No Jaffna team for 'mini-Olympics'

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Dean of the Jaffna University Arts Faculty Prof. A. Shanmugathas has announced that Jaffna University team will not take part in the inter university sports meet, which will held at Ruhuna University, in the southern province later this year.
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Jayasikirui resumes

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has launched a fresh attempt to capture the strategic Mankulam Junction this morningas part of its ongoing Operation Jayasikurui said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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Three council members resign in Velanai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three members of the Velanai Pradheshiya Sabha (PS) resigned from their posts yesterday. Their letters of resignation have been sent to the assistant commissioner of elections for the Jaffna district.
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Batticaloa youth hit by TELO fire

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Muslim youth, Shaul, 22, was wounded yesterday evening around 5.30 p.m., when a TELO cadre opened fire, said sources in Batticaloa. The TELO cadre was guarding a Sri Lankan Army check post in the boader area between Kaththankuddy and Ariampathy on Batticalo-Kalmunai road, said sources.
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Police patrol ambushed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Policeman was wounded today when the Liberation Tigers attacked a Police patrol at 32nd mile post on the Mannar-Madawatchi road . Four Tigers were also wounded when the Police returned fire, said police sources.
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Ratwatte visits Jayasikurui areas

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Defence Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatta visited the forward areas of Operation Jayasikurui today along with the Army commander and other senior service commanders.
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Batticaloa villages shelled

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired mortars from its Valaichenai Paper Mill camp and Harbour View Camp in the Batticaloa district this morning from 2.00 a.m. till 5.00 a.m. said sources in the eastern district. The villages of Kannakikiramam, Kinnaiyadi and Pendukalsenai were hit by the SLA shelling, said the sources.
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Public must bear responsibility - Police

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police in the Vadamaradchi sector of the Jaffna peninsula have been announcing over public address system that residents of the region should bear responsibility for the killing of Brigadier Larry Wijeratne, Commander of the SLA's Pt. Pedro garrison.
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SLA deserter Surrenders

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A deserter from the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) who was arrested and sent to operational areas of the Vanni surrendered to the Liberation Tigers, said the LTTE today. The Liberation Tigers added that the SLA soldier would be handed over to his parents according to his wishes through the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC).
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Alarm follows warning

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army launched a search operation on Sunday from 5.30 a.m. to 12 noon, in the villages north of Manipay and south of Sandilippay in the Jaffna peninsula. Villagers were summoned to local libraries in Seerani, Kaddudai, Sanguveli, before their houses were searched, said sources.
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Search operations in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Road checks and search operations have been increased since Brig. Sanath Karunaratne assumed duties as the new Commanding Officer for the Vadamaradchi sector, said sources. Security has been also tightened in the army check posts, sources said.army check posts, sources said.
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Fourteen Tigers died in Chenkladay attack - VoT

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Fourteen Liberation Tigers died in the attack on Karuththappalam SLA-PLOTE camp in Chenkladay yesterday, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its morning broadcast. The radio said that the camp was overrun in 15 minutes and the Tigers held the camp for two hours.
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President addresses SLMC meeting

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunge, while speaking at the annual meeting of the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress (SLMC) said that Sri Lanka will win the war against the Tigers. However a political solution has to be found for the ethnic conflict and all the parties should support it unanimously, she said further.
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Tigers attak PLOTE-SLA camp

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two soldiers were killed in the LTTE attack on the Karuththapalam PLOTE-SLA camp in the early hours of the morning tody , said SLA sources in Batticaloa this morning. They said that the fighting which started around 1.30 a.m went on till 4 a.m. this morning.
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Woman accused of aiding Tigers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A young woman, Muthuthambi Prethap, 19 was arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at her home in Chankanai in the Jaffna peninsula in the early hours of yesterday morning, said sources. Her father who tried to prevent the soldiers from taking Prethap, was assaulted.
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Police retaliatory fire kills one

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan police fired at random as they recovered the body of a policeman who was shot dead by suspected Liberation Tigers earlier today, said sources in Trincomalee. Velupillai Thavarajah, 24 was killed instantly in front of his house when he was hit by police fire.
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SLMC meeting amid protests

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) will hold its 15th annual national congress at Stanley Grounds in Colombo today. The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunge is expected to be the chief guest for the event. The Opposition leader, Mr. Ranil Wikremasinghe is also expected to address the congress, said sources in Colombo.
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Youths assaulted

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at Valipuram assaulted fifteen Tamil youths who were returning from Vadamaradchi East having collected firewood today saids sources. The troops also confiscated the firewood.
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Policeman shot dead

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Sri Lankan policeman in mufti was shot dead today by unidentified attackers, believed to be members of the Liberation Tigers, at Nilaveli north of Trincomalee, said police sources in the eastern port town.
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APC attacked in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were wounded when a Buffel APC was attacked by the Liberation Tigers at around 2.00 p.m today at Atchuveli in the Jaffna peninsula, said sources. However, an SLA press communique stated that there were no casualties in the attack in which the APC was slightly damaged.
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TULF advisor mooted as new Mayor

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front's (TULF) legal advisor, Mr. Sivapalan is expected to be nominated as the new Mayor for the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC), said TULF sources Thursday evening.
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Refugees protest against detention

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
142 Tamil refugees being held at the Glass factory detention centre in Trincomalee staged a token protest this morning urging the authorities to send them back to their homes in the Jaffna peninsula said sources in the eastern town.
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Three wounded fishermen in hospital

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three of the thirteen fishermen injured in the air strike by Kfir jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) have been admitted to the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio.
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Six missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four teenagers from Nallur Sathaana Mahaviththiyalayam in Jaffna town have been missing from yesterday, said sources in Jaffna. It is believed that the boys have been arrested by the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP).
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Fifteen killled in Vanni fighting

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) Radio said today that thirteen Liberation Tigers were killed in separate clashes with the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Navy says LTTE boats sunk

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan military sources in Trincomalee said today that five boats were believed destroyed and an estimated 13 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) killed, when the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) attacked a group of boats in the seas off Verugal, approximately 65 km north of Batticaloa, last night between 10:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.
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Shelling kills two civilians

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two persons were killed at a village in the Poovarasmtheevu grama seveka (GS) division, in the Aalenkerni area, near Kinniya, 14 km south of Trincomalee, due to intense shelling from a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp and police station in the area, said sources in Trincomalee.
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'Last chance' amnesty - again

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A final amnesty of 16 hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight on Sunday May 24, will be granted to deserters of the Sri Lanka security forces to report back for duty, said the state run Daily News today.
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Crocodiles attack fishermen

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Crocodiles attacked two men fishing in a boat in the Paddiruppu lagoon, near Kaluwanchikudy, 25 km south of Batticaloa around 2:00 a.m. on Monday, killing one and ripping off the other's arm, said sources.
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Tigers, SLA clashes in Vanni

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five Sri Lankan Army soldiers were killed and twelve wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked forward defences of the Paranthan SLA camp this morning around 5.30 a.m., said SLA sources.
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Jaffna Mayor cremated in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of Ms. Sarojini Yogeswaran, Mayor of Jaffna, was cremated today at the Borella Cemetery around 4:00 p.m., according to Hindu tradition, said sources in Colombo.
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SLA thrust repulsed, post attacked

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army soldiers who tried to advance from Karadippoku junction around 2.00 a.m. today were attacked by the Liberation Tigers,said theVoice of Tigers in its night transmission today.
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Sangiliyan Force HQ denies killing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
In contrary to its earlier message, the Sangiliyan Force said in a statement issued in Jaffna yesterday, that it did not assassinate the Jaffna Mayor Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran.
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Snake claims two lives

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A poisonous snake claimed the lives of two children on the same night at Maharambaikkulam in Vavuniya. Sisters Amarasree Naharanee, 5 and Amarasree Sharmiladevi, 2 died on Sunday night.
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Muted public response to killing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
While political parties and civic organisations in Colombo issued strident statements of condemnation of the assassination of Jaffna Mayor, Sarojini Yogeswaran, there was muted public reaction to the killing in Jaffna, said sources in Jaffna.
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Massacre suspects granted bail

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Attorney General will file plaints by June 2, on the members of the police and home-guards involved in the killing of eight persons at Potkunruni near Thambalakamam on February 1 this year, said Krishanthi Mahindaratne, the prosecuting State Counsel.
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Vavuniya SLA fire mortars

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA troops fired mortars from the forward defences in the west of Vavuniya this afternoon towards LTTE positions, said SLA sources in Vavuniya. However, there were no fighting reported said, the sources.
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Enforced sympathy?

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Members of the public, including Sri Lanka Government officials, are forced to sign a condolence book kept open for Major General Larry Wijeratne, Brigade Commander, 524 Brigade of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), at a checkpoint at Vallipuram, near Pt. Pedro, in Vadamaradchi, 34 km north of Jaffna, said sources.
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Tigers probe Vavunaathivu SLA camp

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were wounded, three of them critically, when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) opened fire at Vavunaathivu SLA camp, 6 km west of Batticaloa, around 12:00 midnight on Monday, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Mayor's body arrives in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The aircraft carrying the body of the assassinated Mayor of Jaffna, Sarojini Yogeswaran touched down at Ratmalana air- base, in the suburbs of Colombo around 1:30 p.m., said sources.
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Hartal draws poor response

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. K. Kirubarajah, Member of the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) in a speech this morning before the body of the slain Jaffna Mayor Sarojini Yogeswaran blamed her death on the Sri Lankan government's haste to claim normalcy in Jaffna.
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Mayor's body sent to Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of Sarojini Yogeswaran, covered with TULF flag was kept at the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) office this morning for local people to pay their respect. About one thousand people paid their respects this morning, said sources in Jaffna. Among the mourners who filed past the Mayor's bier today, were many Sri Lanka Government (SLG) officials and members of the local bodies, the sources said.
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SLA operation in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A group of Sri Lankan soldiers are reported to have advanced from their positions in Vallipuram around 9.30 a.m. this morning, into the Vadamaradchi East sector of the Jaffna peninsula, said sources in Jaffna. However no confrontations have been reported, they said.
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SLA offers 'high security' protection

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) members of the Jaffna Municipal Council were invited to a meeting today from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the 512 Brigade (Jaffna Brigade) headquarters at the Gnanam Hotel, to discuss the councilors' future security, said sources in Jaffna.
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Furore over SLA Commander's comments

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A comment by the Lieutenant General Rohan Des. Daluwatte, the army commander, that the devolution package drafted by the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) as a political solution to the ethnic conflict, "would offer no solution - and give rise to problems that did not exist now" has raised a furor in SLG circles, the Sunday Times said yesterday.
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Nervous soldiers shoot mental patient

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at a sentry point inside the Jaffna Hospital shot and wounded Chitravelu Sivabalan (35), a patient who is mentally ill and warded there, around 12:30 a.m. Friday night, said sources in Jaffna.
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Jaffna Mayor's killing claimed

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An organisation called 'Sangiliyan Force' claimed responsibility yesterday evening for the assassination of Jaffna Mayor, Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran, in a message sent to Uthayan, the only Tamil daily published in Jaffna.
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Mayor's funeral on Wednesday

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The funeral of Jaffna Mayoress, Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran, who was shot dead yesterday, will be held on Wednesday May 20 in Colombo said a spokesman for the TULF today.
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Fresh fighting near Mankulam

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Fighting is reported to have broken out in the general area of Mankulam as the Sri Lankan Army launched a fresh attempt to advance towards the strategic Mankulam junction, said SLA sources in Vavuniya today.
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Kumarapuram trial stalls again

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
There is concern among human rights activists that the Kumarapuram massacre case, where 24 persons were killed and equal number wounded on February 11, 1996, has been put on the back-burner by the Sri Lanka Government (SLG), by postponing the appointment of a regular magistrate to hear the case.
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Tigers step up Jaffna activity

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Six SLA soldiers were killed in four separate attacks n the Jaffna peninsula by the Liberation Tigers between May 12 and 16, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its broadcast this evening.
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Jaffna hospitals said critical

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Surgical operations at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital and at the Pt. Pedro Base Hospital have been postponed due to drugs and other medical accessories requisitioned for the second quarter of 1998 not having arrived in Jaffna as yet, said sources in Jaffna.
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Chavakachcheri mine kills two

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were killed and four wounded when a claymore mine exploded at Pulliyadi junction, near Nunaavil in Chavakachcheri, 18 km south of Jaffna, this morning at 8:30 a.m., said sources in Jaffna.
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Jaffna mail slower than usual

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Only 37 bags of mail arrived by sea last week in Jaffna, which is far below the usual weekly average 120 bags, despite the settlement of the postal strike, said sources in Jaffna.
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Traffic from Vadamaradchi East restricted

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Civilian traffic from Vadamaradchi east to other parts Jaffna is restricted following the killing of Major General Larry Wijeratne, Brigade Commander 524 Brigade on Thursday, said sources in Jaffna.
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TELO suffers extortion hangover

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Some members of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), who visit taverns in Jaffna and Pt. Pedro towns to extort money, often end up drinking themselves silly instead, said sources in Jaffna.
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EPDP may withdraw support

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Douglas Devananda, Leader of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) told family members of missing persons in Jaffna, that his party will refrain from supporting the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) in Parliament, if the problems of these families are not resolved in six weeks, said sources in Jaffna.
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Protests after policeman's killing

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Activity in Akkaraipattu town, 50 km south of Batticaloa, drew to a halt as Muslims in the area organised a two day hartal today, in protest of the killing of police constable Bahurdeen in a mosque around 10:00 p.m. yesterday, said sources.
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Translation of LTTE Leader's speech (13 May 98)

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The LTTE leader, Mr. Vellupillai Pirabhakaran delivered a speech in Tamil on 13 May 1998, the first anniversary of the launch of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Operation, 'Jaya Sikirui'('Victory Assured' in Sinhala). The following is TamilNet's translation of the speech.
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PLOTE military leader promises retaliation

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Some evil force who does not wish the unity among the Tamil groups was behind the attack in which 5 PLOTE members were killed, said Mr. Manikathasan, PLOTEs second in command and the group's military wing leader, speaking at the funeral of the PLOTE members in Vavuniya, yesterday.
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Tigers probe eastern police stations

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A series of attacks were mounted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the towns of Batticaloa, Kalmunai and Akkaripattu in the Batticaloa and Amparai districts last night, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Jaffna uneasy as bomber buried

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One soldier was killed and another injured in an explosion at a bunker near Chavakachcheri Hindu College at Chavakachcheri, 18 km south of Jaffna, last evening, said sources in Jaffna.
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SLA says finds LTTE member's body

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA sources in Vavuniya said that they had recovered a body of an LTTE member who was killed in the yesterdays attack at Cheddikulam. The body was found when the SLA launched a search operation in the area, said the SLA sources. The body was later handed over to the Sri Lankan Red Cross (SLRC).
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Bomber's remains in hospital mortuary

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Shops were closed and Pt. Pedro town, 32 km north of Jaffna, was quiet today, after the killing of Brigadier Larry Wijeratne, Commanding Officer of 524 brigade yesterday by a suicide bomber, said sources in Jaffna.
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International delegation visits Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Officials from the British, Dutch and Indian High Commissions in Colombo visited Jaffna yesterday, to obtain first hand information about the situation there, said sources in Jaffna.
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Senior SLA officer killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Brigadier Larry Wijeratne, Commander of the SLA's Pt. Pedro garrison, was killed and three others wounded when his vehicle was destroyed by a suicide bomber, in Pt. Pedro town 32 km north of Jaffna, around 3:30 p.m today, said sources in Jaffna.
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13 SLA soldiers killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Atleast 13 Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 37 wounded when the military bus they were traveling in hit a land mine, at Cheddikulam this afternoon, said SLA sources. The injured have been sent to Anuradhapura and Madawachi hospitals.
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Victory theme in celebrations - VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The theme of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam s (LTTE) celebrations to mark the first anniversary of Operation Jayasikurui was 'Victory will be Ours', said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its broadcast last night.
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Priest's manoeuvres provoke fury

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
In a hard-hitting public statement, Chelliyan Perinpanayakam, Mayor of Batticaloa, called for the removal of all sentry points and bunkers in the Batticaloa town if the environment was to remain clean, said sources.
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Crocodiles add to fishermen's problems

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
While mortar shells, mines and bullets make life miserable for the people in the Batticaloa District, fishermen in the area face an occupational hazard as well - killer crocodiles.
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Indian official refuses to be drawn

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. R K Sachdeva, Political Officer, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, said that the Indian Government was prepared to assist in the rehabilitation of the war torn areas and contribute to improving the health and education services in Jaffna, but declined to comment on whether India would play an active role in bringing about a settlement to the ethnic conflict, said sources in Jaffna.
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Country dance in celebration

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) celebrated its success in impeding the advance of Operation Jayasikurui, (Victory Assured) in the Vanni, by staging a country dance -'Tholvi Nitchchiyam' (Defeat Assured) - in areas under its control west of Batticaloa, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Funeral procession for PLOTE casualties

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The bodies of PLOTE cadres killed in a land mine attack yesterday were taken in a procession through Vavuniya today, said sources there.
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Three killed in clash

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Troops of Operation Jayasikurui fired mortars towards villages west of Mankulam, said the Voice of Tigers radio in its evening broadcast.
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Tigers shell Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Areas within the Batticaloa town - the Batticaloa airport, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) headquarters adjacent to it, and the security complex and government buildings at Weber Stadium, were shelled from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled areas today around 6:00 p.m., said sources in Batticaloa. There were no casualties.
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Security forces celebrate Wesak

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Wesak lantern competition began last night at Batticaloa's Weber Stadium with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Sri Lanka AirForce (SLAF) and the Sri Lankan police participating, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Civilians caught in SLA fire

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A girl was killed and at least two others injured when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired at random, immediately after a claymore mine blast killed five members of the Peoples' Liberation Organisation Tamil Eelam's (PLOTE), including Das, its local military commander in the Vauniya District, said sources.
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Burglars operating during curfew

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The suburbs of Trincomalee town such as Anbuvelipuram, Chelvanayakapuram and Alles Gardens have been terrorised during the past few weeks by an armed gang of burglars who break into houses between 11:30 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., said sources in Trincomalee.
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LTTE plans celebrations

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will celebrate the stalling of Operation Jayasikurui, on its first anniversary, on 12, 13 and 14 May at Kokkadichcholai and Iluppadichenai in the LTTE controlled areas west of Batticaloa, said sources in Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Extortionist wounds five

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five persons were injured when a man, identified by the public as close to the police, threw a grenade to escape capture when his demand for protection money from a shop on Second Cross Street at Mamangam in Batticaloa town, incensed bystanders who tried to apprehend him, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Seven killed in Vavuniya blast

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five members of the People's Liberation Orgainsation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), including its military wing leader for the Vavuniya district, Thas, alias Sinnathas, were killed and 6 others wounded, when a claymore mine exploded this afternoon. Two bystanders were also killed and two others were wounded, said police sources in Vavuniya.
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Deserter commits suicide on return to front

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
S. Shanthakumar (27), of Hikkaduwa, a deserter with criminal charges against him, who was arrested and sent to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp at Sittandy, 25 km north of Batticaloa, committed suicide by shooting himself yesterday, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Eight LTTE fighters killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Seven LTTE fighters died in two different accidental explosions yesterday in the Vanni said Voice of Tigers (VOT) in its night transmisssion today.
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Youths shot in Pulmoddai

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One Tamil youth was killed and two Muslim youths were wounded when Sri Lankan Army troops opened fire in Pulmoddai, north of Trincomalee, Friday night, said sources.
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Poor response to latest amnesty

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) Commander, Maj. General R.Daluwatte said today that 5000 SLA deserters had accepted the general amnesty and had returned to their duties during the period the amnesty had been offered to SLA deserters. However, SLA sources in Colombo said the actual response was far less than the official figure.
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STF restrictions to hit trade

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Special Task Force (STF), of the Sri Lankan Police warned people in the Eastern Batticaloa district, that those who contribute money and render other assistance to the Liberation Tigers would be arrested and severely punished, as the Sri Lankan Government has proscribed the LTTE.
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Detainee gives birth

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mrs.Shyamalawathie Wijesundaram, 25, held in the Welikade prison gave birth to a boy on May 6 at the Colombo General Hospital. She was admitted to the hospital by the prison officials after labour pain started.
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VoT reports UN official's visit

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar's accusations that the Liberation Tigers have built up a military force by conscripting very young children is absurd, senior LTTE officials told Mr. Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, last Thursday, according to the Voice of Tigers radio.
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Aid to be monitored - UN official

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, stated at a press conference yesterday, that both parties to the conflict had to come together if a solution to the ethnic problem is to be found.
Full story >>

Trinco UC's deadline ignored

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Trincomalee Urban Council (UC) resolved at a special meeting on Saturday, to stage a token fast in front of the Council's office on May 20, protesting against the failure of the Regional Assistant Commissioner of Local Government to grant the UC permission to open the new general market in Trincomalee town, said sources there.
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New restrictions on Vadamaradchi East

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army had imposed severe restrictions on taking notebooks, pens and other writing materials into Vadmaradchi east since May 6. Each person is allowed to take only two pens and one notebook through the SLA check point at Vallipuram.
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Fisherman's body washes ashore

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of a fisherman, Gnanapillai Bastiampillai, 42, who was reported missing after his fishing boat collided with a Sri Lankan Navy craft on May 5, was washed ashore in Pt. Pedro yesterday.
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SLA soldier killed in Thenmaradchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One SLA soldier was killed and three others were wounded, yesterday at 7.00 a.m., in Usan in the Thenmaradchi sector of the Jaffna peninsula, when the Liberation Tigers activated a claymore mine, said a press statement issued by the Sri Lankan Army Head Quarters in Palay today.
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Jaffna detainees held elsewhere

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
According to lists of detainees submitted to the Human Rights Commissionand the Jaffna courts, people arrested in Jaffna are being taken to distantdetention centres, such as in the central province and Colombo.
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Forced labour builds SLA defences

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is using forced labour to strengthen the Sri Lanka Army - Police checkpoint at Ottamavadi Bridge 36 km north of Batticaloa, following an attack on the position by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last Tuesday May 5, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Mortar shells traded

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A mortar shell fired from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled area of Paduvankarai in the outskirts of Batticaloa town, fell in the premises of the Batticaloa Airport which is across the lagoon from Paduvankarai, but caused no casualties nor damage, said sources in Batticaloa.
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UN official calls for end to war

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The number of children who are being affected by the war in Sri Lanka is on the increase and all those who are concerned with the welfare of the children must come together and stop this, said visiting UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, Mr. Olara Otunnu, while speaking at a meeting held at Vavuniya Town Council hall, yesterday.
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It's the taking part

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The members of two Jaffna soccer teams, the Singing Fish Sports Club, Gurunagar and the Jaffna University team, are unhappy that only members of Nilmini Sports Club from Matara, in the Southern Province, which played two friendly soccer matches in Jaffna, were given certificates of participation while members of the two local teams were not, said sources in Jaffna.
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Flu epidemic among refugees

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
S. Satchithanantham, head of Aalankerni Vipulananda Mahaviththiyalayam (school) told a school principles conference in Trincomalee this morning, that 35 families displaced from Upparu, 40 km south of Trincomalee, are camping in the school premises from March 18 without any facilities or a place to go to, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Sinhala race 'being destroyed'

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"None of the resources in this country can be preserved until the Sri Lankan Government declares the country as Buddhist", said Professor Nalin De Silva, while speaking at a meeting in Colombo, which was titled, "We will protect our race and resources," said sources.
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Spotters mark eight for arrest

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Around 700 persons from the villages of Vandaramoolai and Kaluvankerni, 15 km north of Batticaloa, were rounded up and marched to the Vishnu temple at Vandaramoolai during a cordon and search operation by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), which lasted from 5:00 a.m. till noon, said sources in Valaichenai.
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Police blamed for murder

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mohammed Haniffa Mohideen (60) was shot dead at point blank range around 12:00 noon today in his home at Aiyankerni in Eravur, 6 km north of Batticaloa, allegedly by a Sri Lankan policeman, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Batticaloa travellers being filmed

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Passengers undergoing security checks at Mannampitty, 65 km north of Batticaloa, while en route from Batticaloa to Colombo are video filmed by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at the checkpoint, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Child rape, murder suspects bailed

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A SLA soldier who was remanded for alleged sexual abuse of a seven year old child last year, in Pathaimeni in Achchuveli, in the Jaffna Peninsula was released on 2000 Rupees (USD 31) cash bail on May 4, said sources in Jaffna.
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SLA recruiting children - Opposition leader

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"The security forces are campaigning in schools, to encourage 15 year old school children to join the army. When I comment on this, they call me a traitor. If it is so, is Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar also a traitor, who is campaigning in foreign countries saying that LTTE is recruiting children to their forces?", asked Opposition Leader Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe in the parliament yesterday.
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Govt. opposed to North-East merger - Peiris

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris said "we do not support the complete merger of the north and eastern provinces. We have clearly stated in the draft proposal our view regarding this", speaking at the weekly press meeting yesterday.
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SLA short of troops - Commander

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Lieutenant General Rohan DeS Daluwatte, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), said at a press conference today, that there was a shortage of security forces personnel to open the road from Vavuniya to Kilinochchi. He said that it was due to this necessity that deserters were being recalled to service.
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UN official on talks with LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A press statement issued today, Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict, following his visit to the Vanni said that the Liberation Tigers had assured him that they do not recruit anyone under the age of 17 and they do not deploy anyone under the age of 18 in combat now.
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Another telecom exchange blasted

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A bomb explosion around 7 a.m, this morning damaged Sri Lanka Telecom exchange in Kuliyapiti, north of Colombo. Adjoining Mobitel building was also damaged in the blast. Bomb is believed to have placed in an air conditioner.
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Military activity in Mankulam area

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three SLA soldiers were wounded in Mannakulam, southwest of Mankulam, when the Liberation Tigers fired mortars on troops of Operation Jeyasikurui yesterday, said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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UN official meets LTTE delegation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict met a delegation from the Liberation Tigers today at an unspecified location in Thunukkai in the Vanni, today, said sources in Vavuniya.
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Army ignores cease-fire - VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Despite the declaration of cease-fire by the Liberation Tigers in order to support the visit of Mr. Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, to the Vanni, the Sri Lankan forces have launched a heavy mortar barrage from their positions near Mankulam and Kilinochchi, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its broadcast this morning.
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Deadly flu spreads to East

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The deadly influenza A virus, that caused havoc in Colombo and other towns in south, central and northwest Sri Lanka, has now moved to the East, with Trincomalee town recording the deaths of three children and the wards at Batticaloa hospital chock-a-block with patients, said sources in the East. Three students, two females and one male, have died in Trincomalee.
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Extra checks on Colombo heavy vehicles

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
All heavy vehicles entering Colombo from southern part of the island will be checked for bombs and explosives and will be given security clearance at Kattubedde check point, 8 km south of Colombo, before they are allowed to proceed to the city.
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Jaffna to tighten belt

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Government (SLG) has ordered a ten percent cut on all expenditure of central government departments functioning in the Jaffna District, as well as those coming under Northeast Provincial Council (NEPC), said sources in Jaffna.
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One killed in firefight

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One unidentified armed man, believed to be a member of the LTTE, was killed in Mannar in the northwest of the island, this afternoon around 1.30 p.m in a firefight that lasted for 45 miniutes, said Sri Lankan police sources.
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Human rights group quits in protest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Peace Brigades International (PBI), an international human rights organisation active in Sri Lanka, has withdrawn its services from the country after the Sri Lankan Government imposed conditions which it could not meet, said human rights activists in Colombo.
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Anura defends S.W.R.D. on Sinhala-Only

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"There are some people who say my father's (former Prime Minister, S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake) decision to make Sinhala the official language of this country lead to the ethnic conflict. I strongly denounce this", said Anura Bandaranayake, UNP parlimentarian and brother of Sri Lanka's President, Chandrika Kumaratunge while speaking at a meeting in Ratmalana on Sunday.
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SCF to study Vanni children's plight

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Ten thousand school children from a total of 66,000 living in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled areas, are unable go to school due to the war. These statistics were presented at a seminar in Trincomalee organised by the Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Sports of the Northeast Provincial Council (NEPC), and sponsored by Save the Children Fund (SCF).
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Security tightened after blast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Arms, ammunition and other military hardware worth of more than 10 million Rs. (USD160,000) were destroyed in the explosion in the ammunition dump in the 211 Brigade Headquarters at Thachchankulam, in Vavuniya, said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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Fishermen to share sea with fish

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Fishermen working near certain villages on the northern coast of Waligamam in the Jaffna peninsula, about 15 km north-west of Jaffna, are forced to stay in waist deep water for up to four hours, due to new security restrictions imposed by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on shallow water fishing, said sources in Jaffna.
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Three Policemen killed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three Sri Lankan Policemen, including one sub-inspector were killed and two injured when the Liberation Tigers attacked Policemen travelling in a tractor, this afternoon in Jeyalathgama in Cheddikkulam, southwest of Vavuniya, said police sources in Vavuniya.
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Twelve detainees released

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Twelve persons arrested by the Sri Lankan forces in the Jaffna District on dfferent occasions were released today after being produced in the Anuradhapura courts. Human rights lawyer and secretary of the Organisation for Human Dignity, Miss. Maheswary Velayutham appeared on behalf of them in the courts.
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UN official calls for end to war

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu, and the other speakers at the auditorium of the Medical Faculty of the University of Jaffna, all said that both sides of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka had to come together to find a solution to the war, said sources in Jaffna.
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Otunnu declines calls for UN intervention

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict arrived to Vavuniya this afternoon and met Sri Lanka government officials, said sources. The Sri Lankan officials said that it is the wish of the people that UN should put pressure on both parties in the conflict and to bring about peace.
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Senior MPs call for UN intervention

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Senior Members of Parliament (MPs) from six political parties who met Mr. Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict, requested him to intervene in the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict to bring about a solution, despite the subject not coming strictly within his mandate, said sources in Colombo.
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Rumbled Tiger impersonators retaliate

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A group of people returning home after poosai (worship) at a temple in Chulipuram, 15 km northwest of Jaffna, were accosted and asked to hand over the food they were carrying by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) posing off as members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) around 8 p.m. on Monday, said sources in Jaffna.
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Tigers attack homeguard, SLA posts

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two home guards were killed when the Liberation Tigers attacked their forward defence post at Sampitty in the Amparai district at 12.50 a.m today, said the Voice of Tigers in its night broadcast.
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Jaffna island troops pulled out

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sections of the 514 Brigade of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stationed at Allaipiddy, Mandatheevu and Mankumban, in the islands off the Jaffna peninsula, are in the process of being withdrawn to other areas, said sources in Jaffna.
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Mine wounds three

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two SLA soldiers and a woman police were wounded when the jeep in which they were traveling hit a claymore mine in Kondavil, north of Jaffna town, yesterday around 12.00 noon, said police sources in Jaffna.
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Ratwatte warns of conscription

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Deputy Defence minister, General Anuruddha Ratwatte warned today that if the 15000 personnel who had deserted from the Sri Lankan armed forces did not return, he will be forced to order general conscription.
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SLA thrust ahead of anniversary?

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Large number of troops have been sent to the forward areas of Operation Jayasikurui, north of Kanakarayankulam, to defend the areas captured by the army, as troops stationed in Olumadu, 4 km. east of Mankulam, are preparing to advance towards north, said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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Artillery barrage follows skirmish

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police camps around Valaichenai, 30 km north of Batticaloa, went on a shelling spree last night following an attack on the SLA-Police checkpoint at Ottamaavadi bridge, 36 km northwest of Batticaloa, by the Liberation Tigers around 2:50 a.m. today, said sources in Valaichenai.
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Massacre suspects denied bail

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The 21 suspects involved in the massacre of the villagers at Puthkudiyiruppu near Thambalakamam in the Trincomalee District on February 1, 1998, were produced before P Swaranaraja, the Trincomalee magistrate this morning, but remanded further despite the cousel for the defence pleading that they be enlarged on bail, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Troops loot unoccupied houses

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Unoccupied houses in the coastal areas of Vadamaradchi that come under Sri Lanka Army (SLA) control are being stripped bare of furniture, fittings and other goods by the soldiers, who take them away to be sold, said sources in Jaffna.
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UN official in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Olara Otunnu, United Nations Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, visited Jaffna yesterday and had meetings with the Jaffna Government Agent said sources in the Jaffna Kachcheri. He also met Maj. Gen. Balagalle, at the Palaly SLA base yesterday said SLA sources in Jaffna.
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Former SLAF chief's guard charged

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Rukmal Herath, a bodyguard of the former Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) commander, Air Marshal Oliver Ranasinghe, was produced before the Gangodawila courts, in a suburb of Colombo, on the charge of attacking Iqbal Athas, a well known Sri Lankan journalist, said legal sources in Colombo.
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Seminar on education of war children

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A seminar is in progress at the Pastoral House in Trincomalee on how the estimated 10,000 children in the areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who are unable go to school due to the war, can be educated, said sources at the Ministry of Education inTrincomalee.
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Tamil groups seek govt. cease-fire

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP), Peoples' Liberation Organisation Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and EPRLF. are meeting this evening to draft a request to the Sri Lanka Government to reciprocate the cease-fire declared by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Wednesday and Thursday (May 6&7), said sources in Batticaloa.
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Two killed in Vavuniya blast - SLA

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A short circuit or an accident might have triggered the explosion yesterday in the main Vavuniya SLA camp which destroyed the entire stockpile of ammunition stored in an ammunition dump, said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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Sinhala papers to help SLA recruitment

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Anuruddha Ratwatte, summoned editors of the Sinhala press today and requested their cooperation in the Sri Lanka Government's fresh recruitment drive for soldiers, and in a final call for deserters from the security forces to rejoin, said journalist sources in Colombo.
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Archaeological treasures to be catalogued

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A two day workshop, which was addressed by prominent scholars, began today in Trincomalee today, to recruit 30 graduates and equip them with the required Equipment to make an inventory of the archaeological and traditional artefacts in north-east, said sources in Trincomalee.
Full story >>

Police demand better security

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A conference was held at the Kalmunai police station today, to seek ways whereby security at the police stations and posts in the Kalmunai area could be strengthened, said sources in Batticaloa.
Full story >>

LTTE Lt. Col killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers radio in its night broadcast today confirmed that 10 Sri Lankan Policemen and one SLA soldier were killed when the Liberation Tigers attacked the Manatchenai camp at 64th mile post on the Muthur-Thoppur road yesterday. The Tigers did not suffer any casualties, it said.
Full story >>

Wattewewa police station attacked

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One home-guard was killed and two policemen injured, when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attacked a police post at Wattewewa, within the Madirigiriya police division in the Polonnaruwa District, around 12:30 a.m. last night, said sources in Valaichenai.
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Ratwatte orders Amparai borders strengthened

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Deputy Minister of Defence, Anuruddha Ratwatte, during a tour of the camps coming within the Amparai Brigade's area of command, told senior SLA personnel that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which was once on the fringes of the area coming under SLA control in Amparai, had managed to infiltrate within, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Thoppur KIA at Muthur hospital

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The bodies of the ten policemen and one soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) killed last evening at the Thoppur police and SLA camp when it was stormed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are now lying at the Muthur District Hospital 40 km south of Trincomalee, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Army uses civilians as human shields - MP

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Joseph Parajasingham MP (Tamil United Liberation Front, Batticaloa District) has written to Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga requesting her to bring to a halt the practice of subjecting youths to hard labour under inhuman conditions by Sri Lankan Army (SLA).
Full story >>

LTTE declares cease-fire for visit

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has declared a cease-fire on Wednesday and Thursday (6 and 7 May) as an expression of its support for the visit of United Nations Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict Areas, Olara Otunnu, said Voice of Tigers (V0T) in its broadcast tonight.
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Vavuniya blast said accident

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA officials in Colombo said an accident caused the explosions at the Vavuniya SLA camp this afternoon. The explosions began at 12.45 p.m. One SLA soldier was wounded in the explosion and a SLA truck was burnt in the fire caused by the explosions.
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Explosions at Vavuniya SLA camp

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Several loud explosions are being reported from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base in Vavuniya. The explosions are said to be ongoing since 12.45 p.m (06.45 GMT). However, a SLA officer, who did not wish to be identified denied the camp was under attack.
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Protest prompts police guard

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A police guard was placed at the entrance of the controversial United General Market in Trincomalee town last night, after the members of the Trincomalee Urban Council resolved on Thursday to stage a protest fast in front of the offices of the Northeast Provincial Council, if the opening of the market is delayed beyond a month, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Four missing after attack

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked a Sri Lankan police station at Maancholai in Valaichenai, 30 km. north of Batticaloa last night around 11 p.m.. Four policemen are reported missing in the attack, said police sources.
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Five soldiers killed in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and one wounded yesterday around 4.30 p.m. in the SLA controlled part of Kilinochchi when the Liberation Tigers activated a claymore mine, said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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Eleven killed as camp overrun

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Ten policemen and one soldier were killed when the Thoppur Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police camp, 40 km south of Trincomalee, on the Muthur-Thoppur road, was overrun by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) around 5:30 p.m. today, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Lone gunman panics police force

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two contradictory stories emerged today of a man who went berserk at the Kalmunai police station this evening, shooting three policemen dead and wounding seven others, before he was killed, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Unidentified man killed in confrontation

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An unidentified man, suspected to be a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was killed and a soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) injured in a confrontation at Sivappupaalathady in Aarankal in the Kinniya area, 15 km south of Trincomalee on Friday night, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Batticaloa unemployed assured of jobs

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Eastern Province Unemployed Graduates Association has threatened to go on a fast unto death if immediate steps are not taken to give them employment, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Meetings mark Jaffna May Day

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Eleven public meetings were held in Jaffna yesterday as part of the May 1 celebrations. Eelam People's Democratic Organisation (EPDP) organised 6 public meetings in Jaffna yesterday. Approximately 40-50 people attended each of these meeting, said sources in Jaffna.
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Villagers' bodies found

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The bodies of three villagers from Thaandaamalai, 60 km west of Batticaloa and near the Amparai-Batticaloa border, were spotted in the jungles near the village today, but could not be recovered due to the presence of Special Task Force (STF) personnel lying in ambush for the Liberation Tigers, said sources in Batticaloa.
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SLA operation in Vadamaradchi East

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Eight SLA soldiers were killed and seven were wounded in three seperate attaks by the LTTE in the northern Jaffna peninsula last week, said the Voice of Tigers radio. The LTTE suffered no casualties in these attacks, the radio said.
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Grenade blast kills 1, wounds 14

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four SLA soldiers were injured in a grenade explosion in the Kodikamam Market this morning around 10.30 a.m. An old man identified as Krishnar Velayutham, 71 was killed and 10 other people were injured in the attack, said sources in Jaffna.
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Thopoor embargo begins to bite

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A shortage of food and other consumer necessities has arisen at Thopoor, 25 km south of Trincomalee, since last week, when the police intensified restrictions placed on food and other consumer items being transported into the village, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Eight Tigers killed - SLA

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
SLA sources in Vavuniya said today that they killed eight members of the Liberation Tigers in a round up in Apparkaani in Olumadu yesterday around midnight. Olumadu is an interior village, 4 km. east of strategic Mankulam junction, on the Mankulam-Mullaitheevu road.
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Two more boats stolen

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two fibre glass boats belonging to the Fisheries Training School at Navalady, 4 km north of Batticaloa, were removed around 11:00 p.m. last night, by unidentified persons after they overpowered the guards in the training school premises, said sources in Valaichenai.
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May Day celebrated in Mannar, Pooneryn

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The May Day procession at Madhu, in the largely LTTE held Manner District, began at Thatchanamaruthamadukulam, 3 km from Madhu and proceeded to the playing fields nearby, where the LTTE's Madhu political leader unfurled the LTTE flag and addressed the gathering, said the Voice of Tigers, (VoT) in its broadcast tonight.
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May Day celebrations muted

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
News Feature"There were so many cops about the place watching your every movement, that you were scared to bend down and pick upsomething you dropped," said a man who had ventured out on to the streets of Colombo on May Day.
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Three killed in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A youth identified as Krishnapillai Jegan was shot and killed by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Sri Lankan Police at Ampalathadichanthi (junction) in Akkaraipattu yesterday around 5 p.m, said local recidents.
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One woman's agony

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mrs.Shyamalawathie Wijesundaram,25, was arrested on 31 October 1997 by the Vavuniya Police. At the time of her arrest she was two months pregnant. Currently she is being held in the Welikada jail in Colombo. She is in cell no.4530 of the female ward of the prison.
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News in Brief

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Hatton blast damage is to cost 1 million rupees to repair and the police suspect exchange staff involvement in the Kalutara blast. Meanwhile, the bodies of two Tigers were returned today, and a mentally ill person was shot dead.
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Two Tiger boats sunk - SLN

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two boats of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were sunk by the Sri Lanka Navy's (SLN) Dvora Inshore Patrol Craft after an hour long battle in the Mullaitivu sea near Challai, around 5:30 a.m. this morning, said SLN sources in Trincomalee.
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Tigers confirm boats' capture

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has acknowledged its military activity at Sathurkondan, 4 km north of Batticaloa Wednesday night, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) broadcast in its night transmission yesterday.
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Central province blasts

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two transformers at Hatton, a town in the Central Province's Nuwara Eliya District, were extensively damaged by explosions around 4:00 a.m. this morning, said sources in Hatton. One of transformers is located at Malliappuwa and the other at Dunbar Road.
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