Navy fire kills 9 fishermen

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 November 1998, 10:50 GMT]
The nine fishermen who were reported missing early this morning after the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) attacked a group of fishing boats in the sea off Mullaithivu, between Semmalai and Alampil were all migrant Sinhalese from the island's west coast said one of their colleagues who escaped the midsea carnage and swam ashore this afternoon.
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Tiger boats sunk - SLN

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 November 1998, 08:29 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) claimed today that its gunboats operating in the seas off Mullaithivu between Alampil and Semmalai intercepted and destroyed five Sea Tiger vessels early this morning around 5.30 a.m.
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LTTE attack injures five policemen

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 November 1998, 22:02 GMT]
Five Sri Lankan Policemen, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police, were wounded when the Liberation Tigers fired a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) at the jeep they were travelling in, said Police sources. The attack took place at Omanthai, along the A-9 highway, about 13 km. north of Vavuniya around 6.30 p.m.
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Prayers for the hungry in Vanni

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 November 1998, 20:56 GMT]
Special services were held today at St.Mary's church in Batticaloa town, and at St.Anne's church in the suburb of Veechchukkalmunai, for the people of the Vanni affected by the severe food restrictions.
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Armed men rob village shops

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 November 1998, 20:53 GMT]
A group of unidentified armed men entered Maharambaikulam, a village 4 km. north-east of Vavuniya town, around midnight yesterday and robbed foodstuffs from shops, said local residents there.
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Police fire injures Muslim youth

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 November 1998, 20:49 GMT]
A Muslim youth was wounded in a Police shoot out in the village of Meenodaikkaddu, in the Ampara district, this evening around 7 p.m. A Police party, providing security to a Sri Lanka Muslim Congress convention at Akkaraipattu, a booming Muslim - Tamil town on the south-eastern coast, had rushed to Meenodaikkaddu upon the receipt of information that some Liberation Tigers were in the area and surrounded and fired on a house where they were said to be hiding.
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Tigers, SLA clash in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 November 1998, 10:06 GMT]
A fierce engagement was reported between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) on the south-eastern coast of Jaffna between the villages of Maamunai and Naagar Kovil last evening around 6.30 p.m.
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SLA patrol ambushed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 November 1998, 08:33 GMT]
Five soldiers were killed and three seriously wounded when the Liberation Tigers ambushed a Sri Lankan Army (SLA) foot patrol in Pachchanoor, about 28 kilometers south of Trincomalee and seven kilometers south of Mutur, this morning around 7.30 a.m. Four SLA troops have been reported missing following the attack said Sri Lankan Police sources in Trincomalee.
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Tortured, raped detainee set free

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 November 1998, 06:19 GMT]
Ehamparam Dhamayanthi, a young woman of 20 years from Kommanthurai, accused of withholding information about Liberation Tigers and kept in detention for more than 22 months, was found innocent by the Batticaloa High Courts and was released from jail. The Police had filed a case against her under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) when she was arrested by the security forces on the 2nd February 1997, said legal sources in Batticaloa.
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University student mysteriously killed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 November 1998, 19:45 GMT]
University students of Moratuwa in Colombo district have appealed to the President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranayake, to order a police investigation into the death of their colleague.
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Navy personnel arrested for rape

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 November 1998, 19:43 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police in Seeduwa, 18 kilometres north of Colombo, arrested two Navy personnel yesterday for raping a girl who had been with her boy friend by the Negombo lagoon.
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Prisoners demand to be charged or released

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 November 1998, 19:40 GMT]
Six Tamil political prisoners began a protest fast last night, on the roof of the Kaluatara prison. They are demanding that the government should either initiate legal proceedings against them or release them forthwith.
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Tamil parties welcome peace call

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 November 1998, 16:23 GMT]
All of the Tamil political parties in Colombo welcomed LTTE leader, Veluppillai Prabhaharan's, call for peace negotiations with the Sri Lankan government. The LTTE leader made this statement in his Maaveerar, (great heroes), day speech last evening. He went on to say that a negotiated solution to the conflict should occur through third party mediation.
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Tiger Air Wing participates in celebrations - VoT

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 November 1998, 05:44 GMT]
Aircrafts of the Air Tiger wing of the Liberation Tigers sprinkled flowers over the cemeteries of the slain LTTE cadres in Mulliyawalai yesterday morning, said the Voice of Tigers(VoT) in its morning broadcast today.
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LTTE leader calls for negotiations

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 November 1998, 18:12 GMT]
In his Heroes Day speech, LTTE leader, Vellupillai Pirabhakaran, said the Tigers were willing to negotiate an end the conflict in Sri Lanka. However, he said the LTTE favoured third party mediation and ruled out talks based on pre-conditions. "We have not close the doors for peace. We are open to the civilized method of resolving conflicts through rational dialogue", he said. However, he expressed doubts the Sri Lankan government would negotiate in earnest.
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Great Heroes' Day celebrations in Vanni

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 November 1998, 18:02 GMT]
Velupillai Prabakaran leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam saluted the slain heroes of the movement in the Vanni ceremony marking the Maaveerar's Day, the VoT said.
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Tigers confirm Air wing

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 November 1998, 15:55 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said in its night broadcast today that aircraft of the Air Tigers sprinkled flowers on the LTTE's Heroes' memorials in the Vanni this evening during the Maaveerar day ceremonies.
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MP protests delays in Language Act

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 November 1998, 15:40 GMT]
The Ceylon Worker's Congress (CWC) M.P Mr. Devaraj, while proposing a motion in the Parliament, during the postponement debate on November 26, protested over what he said was the People Alliance (PA) Governmentís lack of interest in implementing Tamil as an official Language, said sources in Colombo.
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Reporters harrassed at checkpoint

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 November 1998, 07:39 GMT]
Newspaper reporters on their way to cover Parliamentary news and news about Ministerial decisions, were forced to undergo extremely stringent checks at the Jayanthipura junction on November 26th, and were not allowed to proceed in autos.
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Appearance of Tiger banner alarms Armed Forces

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 November 1998, 05:07 GMT]
Alarm bells rang through the maximum security zone of Batticaloa town early this morning when it was found that the Liberation Tigers had put up a large banner commemorating their war dead during the night at Thimilathivu junction.
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Hindu priest shot dead

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 November 1998, 04:36 GMT]
The Special Task force (STF) shot dead the priest of the Aaraipattai Kaali temple last night around 10 p.m. said Police sources in Batticaloa. Aaraipattai is a large densely populated Tamil village 7 kilometers south of Batticaloa.
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Security concerns in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 22:57 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) headquarters in Colombo warned residents of the capital and its suburbs to be extra vigilant about strangers who visit high-rise buildings. It said that the warning was issued in view of possible attempts by the Liberation Tigers to destabilise the city.
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Jaffna detainees taken to Anuradhapura

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 22:55 GMT]
Twenty three persons arrested recently in Jaffna, and detained at the KKS detention centre, were produced at the Anuradhapura Courts, said the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna.
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Tension after Galle cricket match

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 22:34 GMT]
Police teams were rushed to the southern coastal town of Galle this evening following a fracas between some Sri Lankan navy personnel and local residents. The incident took place after a cricket match, said sources. Galle is a large port town, 116 kilometers south of Colombo.
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Trincomalee market used as waiting room

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 22:32 GMT]
The chairman of the Trincomalee Town Council, Mr. P.Sooriyamurthu, said that the Governor of the North-East provincial council had told him that he would find a solution to the opening of the Trincomalee New Market, after discussing the issue with the representatives of all three forces and all parties involved.
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Intensive search operations in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 12:06 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stepped up pre-emptive search operations in the Vadamaradchi and Thenmaradchi divisions of the Jaffna peninsula amidst speculation that the Liberation Tigers might launch attacks to mark the 'Maaveerar' (Heroes) Week which culminates tomorrow.
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Tigers woo ex-militant groups' cadres

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 11:38 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers in the east of the island have begun a leaflet campaign to recruit members of Tamil groups operating with the Sri Lankan Army (SLA). One leaflet addressed to "Tamil youth working with the Sinhala Army" was published yesterday along with two poetry based pamphlets said sources in Batticaloa.
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Special broadcast to carry Pirabhakaran's live speech

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 05:32 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said that the 'Maveerar' day's main celebrations will take place tomorrow 27 November and Velupillai Pirabhakaran the leader of the Liberation Tigers will deliver his speech over the Tiger radio at 5.43 pm.
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Five Jaffna councillors resign

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 04:36 GMT]
Five councillors from the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) resigned from their posts yesterday. Among the 234 councillors elected to the local council bodies in the Jaffna peninsula in January this year, 68 have so far resigned their posts.
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Appointed Governor decides market's fate

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 04:33 GMT]
The new governor's decision regarding the opening of the Trincomalee New market shall be in accordance with the practising regulations of the Trincomalee Town Council. This information was sent by Mr. P.Sooriyamurthy, chairman of the Council, in a letter he sent yesterday to Alawi Maulana, Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils.
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Northeast treated as two entities

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 04:30 GMT]
Mr. Balachandran, MP for Vanni, asked in the Sri Lankan Parliament yesterday why two Deputy Inspector Generals of Police (DIGs) have been nominated for the North-East Province, when it is considered as one province when funds are allocated during the budget.
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VoT Sinhala service begins

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 November 1998, 18:52 GMT]
The Sinhala service of the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio, which was broadcast on 97 FM, could be picked up in the Sri Lankan government held town of Vavuniya amidst frequent electronic interruptions said sources there. The programme commenced at 7 p.m. and concluded around 7.30 p.m.
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SLA shelling kills four

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 November 1998, 18:36 GMT]
(Corrected) Four civilians, including a 3 year old child, were killed at 12th mile post, Visuvamadu area in Kilinochchi district, when the Sri Lankan Army fired mortars from the Elephant Pass base around 3.15 p.m. yesterday said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio this morning. Earlier reports said they were killed in an airstrike.
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French official visits Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 November 1998, 18:32 GMT]
Mitchell Halliot the Deputy Ambassador of the French Embassy in Sri Lanka was in Vavuniya today on a one day visit to find out the situations of the displaced people in 12 welfare centres.
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Stabbed MPCS President dies

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 November 1998, 18:25 GMT]
Suppiah Veerasingam, President of the Multi Purpose Co-operative Society, Vavuniya died at Anuradhapura hospital around 7.50 p.m. today Wednesday. He had been attacked by an unidentified group on Sunday 15 November at 8.30 p.m. at his house at Nelukulam, 4 miles west of Vavuniya town.
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Former Tiger shot

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 November 1998, 18:20 GMT]
Anton Kulas, 28, said to be an informant for the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), was shot dead at Musal Utthi in Uylankulam area in Mannar district yesterday at 7.30 p.m. said police.
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Maveerar celebrations said underway

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 November 1998, 17:10 GMT]
Celebrations of 'Maveerar Naal' ( Heroes' Day) by the Liberation Tigers began this morning with decorations being put up and oil lamps being lit in various parts of the Vanni, according to reports reaching Vavuniya.
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LTTE radio begins Sinhala service

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 November 1998, 11:51 GMT]
Tamil Eelam Vaanoli (radio), the commercial service of the Voice of Tigers (VoT), will commence a Sinhala transmission from today, November 25, the radio said. The Transmission will have a news broadcast at 6.30 am and 6.30 p.m., and will be followed by other special programs, the radio added.
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Jaffna University starts joint research projects

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 November 1998, 11:49 GMT]
Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University, Prof. P. Balasuntharampillai, said that special lectures will be held for the students who have not been able to attend lectures due to disruption of transport to the Jaffna peninsula.
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Victim's parents demand compensation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 November 1998, 11:42 GMT]
The parents of the two Jaffna University students who died in the Lion Air flight crash on September 29, in Mannar, will sue the authorities for compensation said sources in Mannar.
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HRC raises Rights issues

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 November 1998, 22:39 GMT]
Officials of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) discussed matters related to human rights violation in Jaffna, by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and Tamil armed groups operating with them, with Major T.A.R.Lunuwila at the Headquarters of the Security Forces in Palaly, today.
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SLA launches recruitment drive

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 November 1998, 18:57 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) requires 20,000 additional troops to conduct its on going operations and to recapture areas taken by the Liberation Tigers said Major Gen.K.A.M.G.Gunaratne addressing a press conference held at the army headquarters this afternoon, to apprise the press, of the army's latest recruitment drive.
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PLOTE training causes panic

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 November 1998, 18:53 GMT]
The military training of the PLOTE cadres near the Vavuniya town made the public panic and shocked the soldiers on duty at the nearby road blocks this morning. The incident took place around 6.30 a.m. today at the irrigation reservoir at Rambaikulam about 2 km east of Vavuniya town.
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Solar energy sources for Vanni farmers

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 November 1998, 18:50 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government is considering a plan to set up solar energy sources in the Vanni to help farmers in the region who have been affected by the severe restriction on supply of kerosene oil and the ban on other fuels, said D.M.U.Jayaratne , Minister of Lands, Land Development and Agriculture.
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Dead bodies thought to be traders

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 November 1998, 14:54 GMT]
Two bodies of civilians were found this morning, along with cement bags, near the coast in jungle areas at Eluththoor in the Mannar district, Police said. The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has told the police that last night the security forces in the area had heard reports of guns in the area, they had gone to the spot in the morning and found the dead bodies.
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Airstrike kills three civilians

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 November 1998, 09:58 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers radio (VoT) said yesterday that 3 civilians were killed in the Sri Lankan Air Force bombing at Koddaikattiyakulam in Kilinochchi district Sunday evening at 5.30 pm. Ten civilians were wounded and admitted to Mallavi and Akkarayankulam hospitals.
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Speculation over new Jaffna Mayor

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 November 1998, 20:31 GMT]
The Deputy Mayor of Jaffna, Mr. Raviraj, is expected to be nominated as the new mayor of the Jaffna Municipal Council, said TULF sources today. The sources said that the TULF officials are holding discussions with Mr. Raviraj urging him to accept the post.
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LTTE and Army exchange fire

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 November 1998, 20:30 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers fired mortars at Sri Lankan Army (SLA) post at Viyapari Moolai, from the sea off Pt. Pedro, around 9 p.m. yesterday . The SLA retaliated by firing mortars at Pt. Pedro sea till 10.30 p.m.
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University students appeal to President

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 November 1998, 20:23 GMT]
Jaffna University Student's Union put forward three demands in an appeal sent today to the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunge.
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Arrested youth in Detention Center says HRC

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 November 1998, 17:29 GMT]
Three tamil youths arrested last week in North Erlalai in Chunnakam are being kept in the detention center at Kankesanthurai (KKS), said the Jaffna Office of the Human Right Commission (HRC).
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LTTE mortar attack kills soldier

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 November 1998, 13:55 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers launched a mortar attack on the SLA camp at Kattaiparichchaan, four kilometres northwest of Mutur in the Trincomalee district, last night around 10.30 p.m., killing one soldier and wounding three.
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Relatives to visit Lion Air graves

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 November 1998, 09:48 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers are to hand over the wreckage of the Lion Air passenger plane which crashed into the sea off the north western coast of the main land, sources in Vanni said.
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Two Mannar policemen shot

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 November 1998, 00:05 GMT]
Two military-trained policemen were shot dead by the Liberation Tigers at noon today at the Hospital Road Mannar, Police said.
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Mother's Front Appeal to President

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 November 1998, 23:01 GMT]
In a message to the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge, the Mothers' Front in Jaffna said they were still waiting for an official statement from her regarding what had happened to their children who have been reported missing after they were arrested by the Sri Lankan Army in 1996. The message, that was written in Sinhalese, was faxed to the President today.
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Tight Security Around Colombo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 November 1998, 22:51 GMT]
All vehicles entering the capital Colombo will be searched before they are allowed to enter, said the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Western Province today. He said that the Police had to tighten security in the capital as the Liberation Tigers mark 'Maveerar' Day (Heroes' Day- commemoration of war dead).
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Kfir jet bombing injures civilians

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 November 1998, 22:25 GMT]
Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) jet planes launched air attacks in the Vanni region today, for the 2nd time since November 19, when SLA headquarters at Palaly, in the Jaffna peninsula, warned the public to keep away from areas where the LTTE camps are located.
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Army announces new security regulations

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 November 1998, 13:53 GMT]
All civilians living in the Jaffna peninsula should have a National Identity Card (NIC) and anybody without a card will not be allowed to pass through Sri Lankan army (SLA) check points, the security forces headquarters at Palaly has informed the public.
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Airforce bombing kills four civilians

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 November 1998, 13:49 GMT]
Four civilians were killed and 2 wounded when the Sri Lankan Air Force Kfir jets bombed Murippu, a village in the Mullaitivu district, around 10 a.m yesterday, according to the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its night transmission yesterday.
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25 Arrested in Search Operations

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 November 1998, 20:18 GMT]
Atleast 25 Tamils were arrested during search operations by the Sri Lankan Police in the hill town of Kandy, on Thursday, said sources. However, five of them were latter released.
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TULF MP Meets Danish Delegation

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 November 1998, 18:38 GMT]
Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvan, of the Tamil United Liberation Front, told a visiting Danish delegation that Denmark should not return Tamil asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected. The delegation met Thiruchelvan in the parliament building yesterday.
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Estate youth urged to help community

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 November 1998, 08:02 GMT]
"The youth of the hill country will not be satisfied by mere resolution of labor disputes. Our past leaders were wasting their time concentrating only on labor related issues. That is why our community is backward compared to many other communities," said Estate Housing Deputy Minister B. Chandrasekaran in a meeting held on Nov 20 in Kotegala.
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Skirmishes in Vanni

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 November 1998, 00:00 GMT]
Two Liberation Tigers were killed in Mankulam, and two Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers were wounded at Ampakamam when the Liberation Tigers fired mortars said SLA sources.
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Changes imminent in NE administration

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 November 1998, 00:00 GMT]
Major restructuring is expected in the offices of the North-East Provincial Council (NEPC) after the new Governor, retired Lt. Gen. Asoka Jeyawardene, took up duties said political sources in Colombo.
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Emigrants saved from sinking ship

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 November 1998, 19:58 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Coastal Guard rescued sixty Sinhala and Tamil youths, attempting to illegally enter Australia, from a sinking ship off the western coast of Negombo yesterday, November 18, said police sources in Colombo.
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Development Aid for Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 November 1998, 12:17 GMT]
The World Bank has, for the first time, granted funds for development projects to be carried in areas not controlled by the Sri Lankan Government said Mr. Khrishnamoorthy, Chief secretary of North-East Provincial Council yesterday.
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Appointments in Trinco for stranded workers

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 November 1998, 04:54 GMT]
The new Governor for North-East Province, Asoka Jeyawardene has ordered Chief Secretary of the Provincial Council G. Krishnamoorthy to find temporary assignments in Trinco offices for Government Servants of Jaffna who are stranded in Trincomalee due to the unavailability of sea or air transportation, said sources.
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Vasudeva submits resignation

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 November 1998, 04:13 GMT]
Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) MP, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, has submitted his resignation from the membership of LSSP party, said sources in Colombo. The Party Secretary, Batty Weerakoon, however, denied knowledge of any such letter.
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SLA warns civilians of major assault

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 November 1998, 20:05 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) warned today civilians living near LTTE camps and positions, to move away to protect themselves from the attacks by the security forces. The warning was sent over the Jaffna radio broadcast at 5.00 p.m. and 11.00 p.m. This special transmission can be listened only in the Jaffna peninsula.
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Police to investigate political statements

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 November 1998, 12:11 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police will investigate in to statements made by Mr. Kumar Ponnampalam, leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, during a debate on private TV channel, Swarnavahini press reports said today.
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STF shelling wounds two

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 November 1998, 12:05 GMT]
Two civilians were wounded in Palukamam, in the eastern Batticaloa district, when the Special Task Force (STF) fired shells from it's camp at Manmunaithurai last night. The Liberation Tigers retaliated by firing shells at the STF camp.
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Danish delegation to discuss repatriation issues

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 November 1998, 04:02 GMT]
A Danish delegation is expected to visit Sri Lanka on November 19th to do preliminary work for signing an agreement between both countries related to repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees whose applications have been rejected in Denmark said foreign ministry sources in Colombo.
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Tiger aircraft sighted again?

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 November 1998, 03:45 GMT]
An unidentified aircraft believed to be flown by the Liberation Tigers was sighted in Thondamanaaru in Jaffna, said Sri Lankan Navy sources. The aircraft was spotted in Myliddi by a SLN patrol which opened fire at the plane, they added.
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Budget passes first round of voting

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 November 1998, 22:23 GMT]
The budget proposed for the next year was approved by the Sri Lankan Parliament in the first round of voting today. 124 members voted in favour of the budget while 88 voted against it. The final voting will be held next in the first week of December.
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Razeek group member shot dead

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 November 1998, 22:18 GMT]
A member of Razeek group, special Tamil paramilitary unit of the Sri Lankan Army, was shot dead by unidentified armed youth at Aarumuhaththan Kudiyeruppu 9 km north of Batticaloa town yesterday around 8.30 p.m. He is identified as Visvalingam Vijayakumar (19).
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Nominations called for North-Western Provincial elections

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 November 1998, 22:14 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Commissioner of Elections, Mr. Dayanande Dissanayake, called yesterday for nominations for the north-western provincial council. Nominations will be accepted from December 1 to December 8.
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Mylanthanai massacre case postponed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 November 1998, 07:46 GMT]
The case involving the massacre of 35 villagers of Mylanthanai in Batticaloa district on the 2nd of August 1992, scheduled to be heard yesterday in Colombo High Court, has been postponed for the 17th of March, said legal sources in Colombo. 21 soldiers stood accused of having committed the murders.
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Linga Nagar residents under pressure to vacate

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 November 1998, 05:12 GMT]
The newly appointed commander of the Trincomalee security forces, Major General G.S.C. Fonseka has ordered the Trinco district Secretary V. Velummylum to offer alternate land to 132 families who claim ownership of land in Linga Nagar and to give control of the vacated land to the security forces.
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Lift fishing ban say community leaders

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 November 1998, 05:12 GMT]
"The existing ban on fishing in Jaffna lagoon must be immediately lifted and the fishermen in surrounding areas should be again allowed to fish," said the Commission of Peace and Justice of Jaffna Diocese, in a memorandum submitted to the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense.
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More Councillors resign

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 November 1998, 23:25 GMT]
Three EPDP councillors of the Vadamaradchi south-west Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) resigned from their posts today said sources in Jaffna. They are N.Selvanayakam, P.Jeyaneethavatham and N. Thevaaranium.
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Tiger boat destroyed - SLN

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 November 1998, 23:18 GMT]
Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) said a boat belonging to the Liberation Tigers was destroyed and two other boats were damaged by them last night in the seas off Chaalai, north-east of the island.
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Bombing victim's sister commits suicide

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 November 1998, 11:28 GMT]
Sambasivam Arulmoly (26), a displaced refugee from Thellipalai in Jaffna, who had sought refuge in Puthukudiyeruppu in the Vanni region, committed suicide on Sunday after the funeral of her brother, Sambasivam Arudchelvan (25), who was killed in Sri Lankan Air Force bombing.
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Four Casualties in Uylankulam Clash

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 November 1998, 11:22 GMT]
Three Liberation Tigers and one Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldier were killed in a confrontation at Uylankulam, around midnight, last night said SLA sources. The security forces said that they recovered 3 bodies of the LTTE along with arms and 2 hand grenades, the sources added.
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NGOs protest against new legislation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 November 1998, 05:20 GMT]
More than 500 members of NGOs are to stage protest marches today against proposals to enact laws that allow the Social Services Ministry to interfere with the internal operational matters of NGOs and to have the power to dissolve the NGOs, said sources in Colombo.
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SLA interference irks Trinco UC President

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 November 1998, 00:03 GMT]
"If the Security Forces intend to continue to enforce their powers on the Trincomalee Urban Council we will be forced to recommend to the Government to dissolve the Urban Council," said the Urban Council President P. Sooriyamoorthy in a letter addressed to Major General G.S.C. Fonseka who was newly appointed as the commander of the 22nd Division.
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Traders undaunted by deaths

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 November 1998, 23:04 GMT]
Two more bodies were handed over to Mannar hospital by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) through the Police at 3.45 pm today sources in Mannar said. In the report the Police had given to the hospital authorities along with the bodies, it is stated that the two had been found at Uylankulam by the security forces today.
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Reports block compensation claims

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 November 1998, 20:00 GMT]
Families of civilians who are shot dead by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and are hence, as a rule, accounted for as terrorists by the Sri Lankan Police cannot obtain compensation and have to face difficulties said several divisional secretaries in Batticaloa at a meeting today with the Presidential Commission to inquire into disappearances.
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Sporadic violence in Vanni

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 November 1998, 19:53 GMT]
Sri Lankan defence sources said that five Liberation Tigers were killed and two Sri Lankan Army soldiers were wounded in confrontations in Paranthan and Mankulam during the last 48 hours ending this afternoon.
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Fishing ban hits Jaffna fishermen

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 November 1998, 13:38 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has banned fishing in Vadamaradchi, Vadamaradchi east and in the western coastal areas of the peninsula from today said local fishermen. However, Sri Lankan security forces Headquarters at Palaly in Jaffna is yet to confirm this officially.
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Two killed in fire-fight

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 November 1998, 13:30 GMT]
A soldier of the Razeek group and a person suspected to be a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was killed in a fire-fight with the Liberation Tigers in Batticaloa this morning when an ambush party of the special Tamil paramilitary unit of the Sri Lankan Army surprised a minor supply camp of the LTTE.
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Identity of dead youth disputed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 November 1998, 23:35 GMT]
The SLA shot dead a youth, who it claimed was a member of the Liberation Tigers, at Vaakarai, 58 kilometers north of Batticaloa, last night. The army handed over the body to the Tiger office at Paalchenai, 8 kilometers further north of Vaakarai, this morning through the ICRC.
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Seven Tigers killed in explosion

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 November 1998, 23:33 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said that 7 LTTE members were killed in an accidental explosion in the Vanni district on Saturday.
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MPCS president attacked

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 November 1998, 23:30 GMT]
(Corrected) Suppiah Veerasingam, the President of Multi Purpose Co- operative Society (MPCS), Vavuniya was shot by 3 unidentified gun men outside his house at Nelukulam, 4 miles west of Vavuniya town, along the Vavuniya-Mannar road around 8.30 pm today.
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Army shoots traders violating embargo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 November 1998, 20:05 GMT]
Four civilians were shot dead by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) at the Uylankulam forward defence lines on Friday night around 8.00, said sources in Mannar. Three of the dead have been identified as residents of the Kilinochchi district who had sought refuge at Madhu Church in the Vanni.
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Journalists barred from Presidential Commission

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 November 1998, 20:02 GMT]
Journalists were barred from attending the sittings of the Presidential Commission, set up to investigate disappearances, which began at the Batticaloa Kachcheri today. The Commission was led by Ms.Manoari Muttatuwegama, wife of the late Ceylon Communist Party MP Sarath Muttetuwegama.
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Jaffna NGOs help displaced in Vanni

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 November 1998, 19:35 GMT]
The NGO consortium of Jaffna decided unanimously at its annual general meeting, today, that all its members should do their best to help the people in the Vanni facing severe shortages of food.
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Transport restrictions hit Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 November 1998, 10:16 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) denied permits to three vehicles plying between Chempiyan Pattu in Vadamaradchi east and Chavakachcheri from yesterday, November 14. Residents in the Chempiyan Pattu area said that the approach of the 'Maaveerar' (Great Heroes) week of the Liberation Tigers may have prompted the army to take such measures.
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Jaffna islands get telephones

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 November 1998, 10:14 GMT]
Three islands off Jaffna have been linked by telephone for the first time ever. The islands of Eluvaithivu, Analaithivu and Nainathivu have each been given a special Motorola cellular phone unit. Civilians in these islands can now communicate with the outside world on these phones.
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Foreign Minister visits South Africa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 November 1998, 22:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, will be in South Africa tomorrow on an official visit to discuss the question of the LTTE's alleged activities in that country said Sri Lankan foreign ministry sources today.
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Airforce bombing kills two civilians

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 November 1998, 22:09 GMT]
Two civilians were killed and one wounded when the Sri Lankan Air Force jet bombed Kokavil junction in the Vanni region at 9.30 a.m today said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) . This attack had taken place in a crowded area the radio said.
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Trader suspected of LTTE links

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 November 1998, 22:05 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) arrested a trader and his cousin at Kantharodai in Jaffna yesterday for allegedly being contact persons for the Liberation Tigers.
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Second attack against PLOTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 November 1998, 23:37 GMT]
Armed youth belived to be members of the Liberation Tigers fired at one of the local organisers of the Peole's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) in Vavuniya. The incident occurred this afternoon at Rasenthirankulam on Nelukulam - Cheddikulam road west of Vavuniya town at 4.15 p.m.
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PLOTE, SLA attacked in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 November 1998, 08:35 GMT]
Two members of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and 4 Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers were wounded in two separate attacks launched by the Liberation Tigers in Koomankulam, 6 km west of Vavuniya town this morning.
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Students demand protection

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 November 1998, 18:38 GMT]
Jaffna university students demonstrated in front of the Vice Chancellor's (VC) office today demanding that they be protected from troops roaming the area at night. The protest was prompted by an incident last night near the university.
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Lanka Muditha to sail tomorrow

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 November 1998, 18:35 GMT]
The Lanka Muditha, the merchant cargo ship chartered by the Sri Lankan government to ferry civilians and troops from Jaffna will set sail with 1076 passengers tomorrow from the Kankesanturai (KKS) harbour to Trincomalee at 12 noon said officials this evening.
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Bread feeds Parliamentary uproar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 November 1998, 18:19 GMT]
Pandemonium prevailed in the Sri Lankan parliament this afternoon when an opposition MP threw pieces of bread on the house. Mr.Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, UNP, MP speaking on the rising cost of living during the debate on the government's budget this afternoon said that the PA came to power by promising to bring down the price of bread to 2.50 rupees but has now raised the price of a loaf to 8.50 rupees.
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Delay allows poison to kill

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 November 1998, 18:15 GMT]
A pregnant woman bitten by a poisonous insect died last night due to delay caused by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) at the Nagar Kovil checkpoint while being rushed to the Manthikai hospital.
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STF fire kills civilian

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 November 1998, 10:17 GMT]
The Special Task Force (STF), an elite commando unit of the Sri Lankan Police, shot and killed a civilian near Arukal Aaru in the Batticaloa district. He has been identified as S.Krishnapillai, 65, from Paalamunai, Mandur in the Batticaloa district.
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Army interrogates teachers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 November 1998, 10:14 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) cordoned off and searched the Teachers training school in Kopai, Jaffna, around 9.00 a.m. on November 6 and integrated more than 100 teachers there. The operation went on till 2.30 p.m.
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EPDP member claims torture

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 November 1998, 20:52 GMT]
A member of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) who surrendered this morning to the Sri Lankan Police in Jaffna town claimed that he had been detained and tortured in the group's camp at the Power House building, close to Srithar Theater on Stanley road.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 November 1998, 12:25 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army in Jaffna deny arrest of 15 persons; five Tigers have died in confrontations with the Sri Lankan Army since Saturday; displaced civilian feared dead in floods in the Vanni, and posters against British Minister's visit.
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British Minister suggests mediation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 November 1998, 18:35 GMT]
The visiting British Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett said at a press conference today that his government was willing to mediate in the Sri Lankan conflict if both parties involved expressed a wish for third party mediation. Mr. Fatchett met the press at Westminster House in Wijerama Mawatte.
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German officials visit Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 November 1998, 12:47 GMT]
Two representatives of the Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development of Germany visited Vavuniya on Monday 9 November to evaluate the projects of the GTZ in the district.
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Arrests over attack on PLOTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 November 1998, 12:45 GMT]
The Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) of the Sri Lankan Police arrested 3 persons yesterday in connection with killing of Sinna Thasan, deputy military leader of the PLOTE (People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam) in Vavuniya and S.Shanmuganathan, a PLOTE MP.
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Two Tiger boats sunk - SLN

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 November 1998, 12:41 GMT]
Sri Lankan Navy sources said that two speed boats of the Sea Tigers, the naval unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), were sunk in the seas off Saalai on the Mullaithivu coast last night.
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Grenade blast at Katunayake

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 November 1998, 00:05 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) trooper guarding the runway at Colombo's Katunayake International Airport accidentally fired a rocket-propelled grenade at around 9.00 a.m., shortly before the plane carrying the British Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett landed.
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Mosquito coils and nets banned

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 November 1998, 22:16 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has banned the transport of mosquito nets and mosquito coils through its sentry points at; Nakar Kovil in Vadamaradchi, Varani in Thenmaradchi and Thampalakamam in Palai.
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Grenade explosion wounds four

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 November 1998, 17:02 GMT]
Four Sri Lankan Policemen were wounded, two seriously, in a grenade explosion in Omanthai north of Vavuniya, this evening around 5 p.m. said police sources.
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Partial resettlement in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 November 1998, 16:22 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers have told civilians displaced from Kilinochchi during the Sri Lankan Army's (SLA) 'Operation Sath Jaya' in 1996 that they would allow them to re-settle in areas between Murigandy and bus depot junction, an area of about 9 km. Kilinochchi was captured by the SLA in August 1996. The Tigers captured the town from the SLA last month.
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TULF condemns Sri Lankan President

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 November 1998, 20:32 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front issued a statement today condemning the Sri Lankan President's statement in an interview with South African Television in which she had stated that Tamil minority people in Sri Lanka are not indigenous people of the island.
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Disappearances recur in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 November 1998, 20:30 GMT]
Human rights sources in Jaffna said today that there has been a recent increase in the incidence of arrest and detention of youths.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 November 1998, 20:23 GMT]
Sri Lanka is to observe a two minute silence in respect of dead troops, Government allocates 700,000 RS for filming documentary about S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and TELO holds annual national convention today and tomorrow.
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Displaced people suffer collective punishment

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 November 1998, 20:16 GMT]
A cut in relief supplies to the displaced people in the Vanni cannot be justified and amounts to collective punishment by the Sri Lanka Government on the displaced people, said the memorandum sent by the displaced people in the Vanni to the Unites Nations General Secretary, and to the General Secretary of World Food Programme.
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Six policemen wounded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 November 1998, 13:08 GMT]
Six Sri Lankan Police personnel were wounded when a combined convoy of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and Police was attacked by the Liberation Tigers at Morakkodanchnai in the Batticaloa district this afternoon around 12.15.
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Emergency Regulations further extended

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 November 1998, 12:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Parliament yesterday extended the Emergency Regulations for one further month. One hundred and seven parliamentarians voted for the motion on extension of the emergency regulations while 80 voted against it.
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Tamil politicians meet President

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 November 1998, 12:54 GMT]
Douglas Devananda, leader of the EPDP, T.Sidharthan, leader of the PLOTE and S.Premachandran of EPRLF met the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge yesterday, at Temple Trees, the official residence of the president.
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Time bomb blast injures a soldier

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 November 1998, 23:30 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Army soldier was wounded when a time bomb went off at Chenkalady, 10 km north of Batticaloa, around 12.00 this noon. The wounded soldier, Waithyaratne, 23, has been admitted to the Batticaloa hospital.
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Shelling kills one

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 November 1998, 23:27 GMT]
A 62 year old woman, V.Theivanaipillai, was killed and her husband, Velupillai, 70, was seriously wounded when the Sri Lankan Army fired artillery from the Elephant Pass base this morning around 6.00 a.m., towards Kandaavalai in the Kilinochchi district.
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Relief supply cuts provoke demonstrations

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 November 1998, 22:11 GMT]
Thousands of displaced people demonstrated in Puthukudiyeruppu, Mullaitivu district, today, against the Sri Lankan Government's cut on relief supplies, said sources.
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Kumarapuram case goes to high court

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 November 1998, 20:48 GMT]
The Muttur Magistrate R.M.Jayawardene on Wednesday (04.11.98) committed the Kumarapuram murder case for high court trail. In this case eight soldiers of Sri Lankan army have been charged with the murder of 24 Tamil civilians and attempted murder of 26 Tamil civilians on 11.02.1996 at Kumarapuram of remote village in Muttur division about 20 miles, south of Trincomalee town.
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News in Brief

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 November 1998, 10:54 GMT]
An EPDP cadre escapes from the group's custody; several arrests conducted in Jaffna as the poster campaign continues; police arrests a friend of alleged LTTE member in Colombo and police station destroyed by electrical fault.
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Grenade attack wounds three

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 November 1998, 10:04 GMT]
An unidentified person lobbed a grenade at a public transport bus bound to Kalmunai from Batticaloa this afternoon around 12.45 p.m. wounding three civilians who were standing by the road side.
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Search operation in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 November 1998, 10:01 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) cordoned off and searched three villages in the Valaichenai area, 32 kilometers north of Batticaloa, from 5 a.m. early this morning to 12 o'clock. Ten civilians were arrested by the army and were taken away to the SLA camp at the Valaichenai paper mills.
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Jaffna travellers arrive in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 November 1998, 16:02 GMT]
The Lanka Muditha, a cargo vessel chartered by the Sri Lankan Government to transport civilians to and from Jaffna, arrived at the eastern port of Trincomalee this morning around 9.30. A civilian passenger said that about 1000 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and 626 civilian passengers had travelled on the ship from Jaffna.
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Jaffna lagoon 'no go' area

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 November 1998, 15:57 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) announced today that the Jaffna Lagoon would become a 'no-go' zone said sources in Jaffna. The ban will come into effect from 5 a.m. tomorrow, November 5, they said. Jaffna fishermen would be severely affected they said.
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Bureaucracy restricts movement

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 November 1998, 22:47 GMT]
Save the Children fund, a UK based Non Governmental Organisation hosted a one-day seminar at the St.Josephs College, Trincomalee, to discuss problems faced by children in obtaining birth certificates, and hence national identity (NI) cards. The seminar was chaired by the Government Agent of Trincomalee, S.D.Chandradasa.
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UNP calls for deal with India

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 November 1998, 22:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka's opposition leader, Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe, said today that the Sri Lankan government should immediately sign an economic treaty with India to solve its problems. He was speaking at a meeting for UNP organisers in Paatadumbara, in the Kandy district this morning around 11.30 a.m.
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Two LTTE casualties in Mankulam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 November 1998, 22:14 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers announced in its night transmission that two Liberation Tigers died in a confrontation with the Sri Lankan Army in Mankulam sector today.
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Tiger helicopter flying in the East?

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 November 1998, 13:00 GMT]
Panic spread in Special Task Force (STF) camps in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts today upon the receipt of reports that the Liberation Tigers have flown a helicopter to the areas in the hinterland held by them.
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SLA patrol attacked

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 November 1998, 08:23 GMT]
Seven Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and two wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked a patrol in Bakkiella on the Ampara-Batticaloa district border this morning around 7.30 a.m. said Police sources in Kalmunai.
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Prayers for soldiers planned

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 November 1998, 23:32 GMT]
The Presidential secretariat in Colombo said today that special prayers will be offered in Buddhist and Hindu temples and churches tomorrow at 7 p.m. simultaneously in the evening to invoke blessings upon soldiers of the Sri Lankan army who are fighting the Liberation Tigers in the north and east of the island.
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Protest over detainee's death

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 November 1998, 23:29 GMT]
The Forum for Human Dignity (FHD) issued a statement today protesting over the Colombo coroners verdict on the death of Rajaratnam Uthayakumar who died in the Sri Lankan Army's custody in Jafna on October 27.
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Detainee's death declared as suicide

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 November 1998, 17:02 GMT]
The coroner of Colombo, Edward Ahangama, who conducted the inquest into the death of Mr.Rasanayagam Uthayakumar,44, declared that he committed suicide by hanging himself. Uthayakumar was arrested by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) at Nayanmarkaddu in Jaffna on October 23. The SLA handed over his body to the Jaffna Hospital on October 28.
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Victory, not Hindu celebrations say posters

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 November 1998, 15:46 GMT]
Posters appeared in the campus of Morattuwa University, south of Colombo, on Saturday, October 31, alleging that the "Saraswathy Pooja" celebration (a Hindu religious festival) held in the University at the beginning of this month had been organised to mark the capture of Kilinochchi by the Liberation Tigers.
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Artillery fire kills two

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 November 1998, 13:53 GMT]
Two civilians were killed and two others were wounded when the Sri Lankan Army fired artillery from the Elephant Pass base yesterday morning, towards the mainland of the Vanni.
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Indian official visits east

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 November 1998, 11:47 GMT]
"The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka cannot be resolved without talking to the Liberation Tigers; they are the key players and main actors in the Tamil issue" said Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham MP of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) during discussions with Mr. C.V Thripathi, the first senior Indian official to visit the war torn Batticaloa district in ten years, this morning. Mr.Thripathi is India's new Deputy High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.
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SLA stipulates travel restriction

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 November 1998, 09:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has stipulated that civilians living in the villages of Thambagamam and Kaluthaavalali in the Palai region of Jaffna can enter the areas under the army's control, including the Palai town, only three times a week from yesterday, October 31. Outsiders have been completely prohibited from entering the general area in which the two villages lie.
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SLA fire wounds three

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 November 1998, 00:00 GMT]
Three civilians, all women, were wounded in the SLA's retaliatory fire in the heart of the densely populated village of Kommathurai, 19 kilometers north of Batticaloa, last evening around 6 p.m.
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