Missing children found in orphanage

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 December 1998, 22:09 GMT]
Two children who were reported missing after the arrest of their mother have been now located in an orphanage near Nugegoda, a suburb of Colombo city, sources said.
Full story >>

EPDP leader calls for peace

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 December 1998, 22:08 GMT]
This is an opportune time for declaring a cease fire and starting negotiations with third party mediations, said Douglas Devananda, Member of Parliament and Leader of Ealam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) in a message issued to mark the new year.
Full story >>

Flooding in the Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 December 1998, 22:02 GMT]
Sources in the Vanni said that there has been a heavy down pour of rain during the past few days in the Vanni. More than 100 families are now homeless and many irrigation reservoirs have now started to spill over.
Full story >>

Jaffna councillors adopt Tamil

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 December 1998, 22:00 GMT]
The Nallur Pradeshiya Sabaha (PS) adopted a resolution on December 29 stating that all its future activities will be carried out only in Tamil, said Mr. P.Kunasingham, chairman of the council.
Full story >>

SLA operation in Thoppigala

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 December 1998, 16:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops launched a fresh offensive against the Liberation Tigers in the Thoppigala jungles 40 km northwest of Batticaloa, in the eastern province security sources said today.
Full story >>

TULF 'will continue struggle'

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 23:32 GMT]
The funeral of Mr. Pon Mathimugaraja, the Tamil United Liberation Front's (TULF) Jaffna Branch Secretary, took place in Jaffna today. His body was kept at the TULF office at Stanley road where a commemoration meeting was also held. Mr. Anandasangary, the vice president of the party, spoke at the meeting,
Full story >>

Escalating political violence

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 13:57 GMT]
The United National Party's candidate for Chief Minister at the forthcoming North-Westernn Provincial Council elections, Mr. Gamini Jayawickarama Perera, has sought Police protection amidst escalating elections related violence.
Full story >>

Amparai farmers forced to evacuate

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 13:54 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police in Akkariappattu, in the Amparai district, have ordered the villagers of Aaleemsenai, in Addanchenai, to vacate the village after a statue of lord Buddha was discovered there recently.
Full story >>

Citizen Consultation Committee announces recommendations

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 13:51 GMT]
The 18 members of the Citizen Consultation Committee, appointed by the United National Party (UNP), have recommended that a Constitutional Council advise the President on key issues in the future.
Full story >>

Explosion at Amparai Telecom building

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 13:49 GMT]
A powerful bomb exploded at the Telecom building complex in Amaparai around 11.30 p.m last night, damaging the high powered generator and computer equipment, said Police sources.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 13:47 GMT]
Demonstrating strikers demand reinstatement and payment of damages; Lion Air crash victim's body found and heavy rain lashes northern town of Vavuniya.
Full story >>

Religion, commerce and intolerance

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 00:23 GMT]
(News Feature) A project by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Tourism to build a temple to the Hindu god Ram at Seetha Eliya near Nuwara Eliya in the island's hill country with a view to attract Indian pilgrim tourists now hangs in the balance following a strong protest yesterday by forty Buddhist organisations.
Full story >>

TULF official's funeral today

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 00:15 GMT]
The funeral of Mr. Pon Mathimugaraja, the Tamil United Liberation Front's (TULF) Jaffna Branch Secretary, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the Kompayan Manal Cemetery in Jaffna around 3:30 p.m., said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Soldier charged with robbery

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 00:13 GMT]
A soldier who had returned home on leave from the battlefront was produced before the Magistrate of Homagama, a suburb of Colombo, charged with theft amounting to more than 150,000 rupees, said sources in Colombo Tuesday.
Full story >>

LTTE warns against collaboration

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 00:11 GMT]
The political wing of the Liberation Tigers in Jaffna has written to all village level government officers in the district. The letter warns Grama Seveka Officers against collaborating with the security forces in Jaffna by providing information on the movement of LTTE fighters or villagers who assist them.
Full story >>

Citizen's committee condemns attacks on civilians

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 December 1998, 18:35 GMT]
The Citizens Committee in the Vanni has urged the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to take steps to prevent Sri Lankan Army (SLA) attacks on innocent civilians.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 December 1998, 18:32 GMT]
A house was damaged in shelling from the Elephant Pass SLA base. VoT announces LTTE losses. Sri Lanka meteorological sources say there has been heavy rainfall through out the island, and 300 houses built under the resettlement programme were handed over to residents.
Full story >>

Bride sought after wedding

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 December 1998, 16:46 GMT]
A group of Sri Lankan Army (SLA) personnel went into the village of Siththaandy inquiring about girls who have been married recently. They had been on the look out for girls wearing a new 'Thasli', the traditional pendent of married Tamil women wear on a gold chain or yellow cord.
Full story >>

Ten loggers arrested

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 December 1998, 16:36 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) took into custody seven bullock carts and ten loggers coming from the western hinterland of Batticaloa behind the village of Siththaandy in the early hours of the morning today.
Full story >>

Indo Lankan trade pact signed

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 December 1998, 22:30 GMT]
India and Sri Lanka today agreed a land mark free trade pact which paves the way for reduced trade tariffs between the two countries, said sources in New Delhi.
Full story >>

Sri Lankan Pilgrim Rest "symbol of friendship"

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 December 1998, 22:28 GMT]
The new Pilgrims Rest in New Delhi would be a symbol of friendship between India and Sri Lanka, President Chandrika Bandaranayake said today. She was speaking after a foundation stone laying ceremony for the proposed Pilgrim's Rest that will be located in front of the New Delhi Railway Station.
Full story >>

EPDP denies attack

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 December 1998, 15:21 GMT]
The Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) vehemently denied this afternoon that its cadres in Neduntheevu (Delft) were attacked by the Liberation Tigers yesterday. In a statement to the press the EPDP leader Douglas Devananda said that his cadres in the island were neither armed nor were there to fight against anybody.
Full story >>

Eastern refugees languish in Mannar

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 December 1998, 15:13 GMT]
Ninety one civilians from the district of Trincomalee who had fled their villages to the Vanni as a consequence of the war since 1990 have been stranded in Mannar for more than a month due to bureaucratic apathy and bungling while attempting to return to the east.
Full story >>

Body washed ashore

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 December 1998, 15:11 GMT]
A highly decomposed body washed ashore around 11 a.m. this morning in Erukkalampiddy in the Mannar island today. This is the third to wash ashore in the Mannar island since last week.
Full story >>

Tigers shell STF camp

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 December 1998, 09:46 GMT]
Three homeguards militiamen were wounded and one was killed when the Liberation Tigers fired mortars on the Special Task Force (STF) base at the Ampara Badulla road junction in the early of the hours of the morning today around 2 a.m.
Full story >>

Hindu ceremony banned

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 December 1998, 15:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has banned the early morning Pooja for the Thiruvembaavai ceremony at the Pillaiyar temple in Vaakarai, 56 kilometers north of Batticaloa on the coast said residents of the area.
Full story >>

SLA launches artillery attack - VoT

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 December 1998, 08:30 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army (SLA) units in Mankulam and Oddusuddan carried out artillery attacks ahead of their defences from Friday, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its nightly broadcast yesterday.
Full story >>

Delft EPDP camp attacked

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 December 1998, 05:04 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked the EPDP camp at Delft, a large island south west of the Jaffna peninsula, from the early hours of the morning today. The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) sources in Jaffna said that communication with the EPDP base in the island was completely cut off.
Full story >>

Civilians move from Mulliyavalai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 December 1998, 05:02 GMT]
A large number of civilians from Mulliyavalai in the Mullaithivu district began moving towards Puthukkudiyiruppu since last night fearing another advance by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA).
Full story >>

PA crowd smashed office -UNP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 December 1998, 12:08 GMT]
A large crowd armed with knives, cudgels, guns smashed up the United National party's (UNP) election office at Ridigama in Dodangaslanda in the Kurunagela district about 100 kilometers north of Colombo this afternoon around 2.30 p.m.
Full story >>

Jaffna TULF official killed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 December 1998, 11:03 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front's (TULF) Jaffna branch general secretary Pon Mathimukarajah was shot dead around 4.15 p.m this afternoon in Nallur in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Ten civilians wounded in shelling

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 December 1998, 08:35 GMT]
Ten members of a family, including five children, were wounded in the village of Koduvamadu early this morning around 4 a.m. when Sri Lankan security forces fired artillery towards the western hinterland of the Batticaloa district.
Full story >>

Tigers shell SLA camp

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 December 1998, 05:03 GMT]
Two soldiers were wounded in the early hours of the morning around 2.30 a.m. today when the Liberation Tigers fired mortars on the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) camp at Chenkalady, 18 kilometers north of Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Campaign restrictions introduced

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 December 1998, 23:42 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police said today that they would not grant permission either for campaign meetings to be held after 9 p.m. or the use of public address systems at any meetings that may be held ahead of the forthcoming elections for the north-western Provincial Council (NWPC).
Full story >>

Telecom employees plan strike

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 December 1998, 15:53 GMT]
Employees of Telecom Ltd, which was formed after the Government Department of Telecommunication service privatised by the Sri Lankan government recently, are preparing for a general strike, trade union sources said today.
Full story >>

Eighteen detainees freed

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 December 1998, 14:46 GMT]
Ten detainees among the 47 arrested in the Oddusuddan area have been sent to Rehabilitation Centres at Pitunwewa and Borelasgamuwa sources said today. Eighteen have been released after inquiries. Sources said that the rest of the arrested are detained for further inquiries.
Full story >>

Bishops call for peace

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 December 1998, 14:40 GMT]
Calls for peace on the island that have been coming from various parts of the world have given people fresh hope said Bishop of Jaffna, Rev. Thomas Saundranayakam in his Christmas message.
Full story >>

Police patrol ambushed

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 December 1998, 11:10 GMT]
A military trained Policeman was killed and two were wounded when the Liberation Tigers set off a claymore mine at Vammiyadi in the heart of the Eravur town, 16 kilometers north of Batticaloa, on the main road this morning around 8.15 a.m.
Full story >>

To protect and serve

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 December 1998, 23:24 GMT]
A lamb was slightly bruised when it darted across a road in Valaichenai and was grazed by a bus. A nearby Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, apparently overcome with concern for the little creature, promptly took up the matter with the driver.
Full story >>

Twenty six officers graduate

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 December 1998, 22:33 GMT]
Twenty six officers from the Sri Lankan security forces, including one SLAF officer, graduated in military science for the first time in Sri Lanka. The certificates for the degree were awarded by General Anurudha Ratwatte, the Duputy Minister of Defence.
Full story >>

Sporadic violence kills 5

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 December 1998, 22:32 GMT]
One soldier was killed when the Liberation Tigers attacked a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) unit on its way to Panichchankerni bridge from local SLA camp yesterday (December 23) around 7.10 am, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said in its night news bulletin.
Full story >>

Twelve Tigers killed in boat accident

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 December 1998, 22:32 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said today that 12 members of the Liberation Tigers, includig a Lt. Colonel were killed in a boat accident in the "Tamil Ealam waters" on December 12.
Full story >>

Civilians clear protected vegetation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 December 1998, 22:31 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) forced civilians in the Aarumukaththaankudiyiruppu area, north of Batticaloa, this morning to clear the thick rattan undergrowth on the roadside before the weekly convoy passed the area. The cutting of Rattan plant (cane, genera Calamus and Daemonothops) is strictly prohibited under environmental laws in Sri Lanka.
Full story >>

Tamil millionaire businessman held

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 December 1998, 22:31 GMT]
A special Sri Lankan Police investigation team has detained a Tamil multi-millionaire in Colombo who had recently bought a ship for sending supplies to Jaffna, for alleged links with the Liberation Tigers.
Full story >>

Amnesty fears for Vavuniya missing

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 December 1998, 00:43 GMT]
Amnesty International has expressed its concern about the disappearance of the eight Tamil youths and men who went missing in Vavuniya district between 27 October and 21 December 1998. The disappearances have been attributed to the Sri Lanka Army and members of the Peoples Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), said Amnesty, adding that most of the disappeared are internally displaced people.
Full story >>

Accident victims die

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 December 1998, 16:21 GMT]
A civilian who was injured when a Sri Lankan Police pickup truck hit his bicycle in Polihandy, a coastal village between Valvettithurai and Pt.Pedro in Vadamaradchi in Jaffna, on Saturday December 19 succumbed to his wounds today at the Jaffna hospital.
Full story >>

Curfew lifted for Christmas

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 December 1998, 16:18 GMT]
The Sri Lankan security forces headquarters in Jaffna said today in a press note that the night curfew in Jaffna which is imposed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. everyday will be lifted on Christmas eve.
Full story >>

Governor plans tour

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 December 1998, 16:16 GMT]
The Governor of the North-Eastern Provincial Council(NEPC) Maj.General Asoka Jayawardena will hold a "mobile" service in all the districts of the province said sources in the Governor's office today.
Full story >>

Grandfather describes grenade attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 December 1998, 00:22 GMT]
"I heard the blast of a grenade in my shop around 8.15 p.m. on Sunday night December 20. I called for my grandson but there was no answer. I saw him lying in a pool of blood in the shop when I went in to check with the lamp I got from our neighbour Haabis Naana"
Full story >>

Girl's naked body found

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 December 1998, 00:21 GMT]
Residents found the naked body of girl in her late teens in the shrub at Irupaalai in Jaffna Tuesday morning around 9 a.m. The girl's facewas unrecognisable as it had decayed due to the body's exposure to the elements, they said.
Full story >>

Six Tigers killed - radio

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 December 1998, 00:19 GMT]
Three members of the Liberation Tigers were killed in an accidental explosion Monday at Mullaithivu, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said in its night news bulletin today.
Full story >>

VoT's reach seen expanding

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 December 1998, 13:02 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio’s broadcast through the short wave has attracted more listeners in the eastern and southern parts of the country, sources said. The radio service of the Liberation Tigers in the 41 Short wave meter band commenced last week.
Full story >>

SLA ambush kills five civilians - radio

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 December 1998, 22:46 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said in its night transmission that five civilians were killed in a Sri Lanka Army(SLA) ambush along the Nedunkerni - Mullaithivu road around 8.30 am today.
Full story >>

28 civilians killed recently

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 December 1998, 22:43 GMT]
Twenty eight civilians were killed in the Vanni during the past 80 days in separate attacks carried out by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Air Force (SLAF), human rights sources said. Over 30 other civilians were wounded.
Full story >>

Buddhist clergy claims Hindu, Muslim threat

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 December 1998, 22:03 GMT]
Hundreds of Buddhist monks demonstrated at Borella junction in Colombo this afternoon to protest against the building of Hindu temples in various parts of the country and the introduction of the Halal bill.
Full story >>

Hunger strikers injured in fall

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 December 1998, 22:02 GMT]
Two political detainees who were staging a hunger strike against their detention without trial at Kulutura prison, south of Colombo, fell from the prison's roof today, injuring themselves seriously, said sources. They have been taken to Nagoda hospital with fractured legs. Prison sources said the pair had jumped off the roof.
Full story >>

SLA convoy attacked

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 December 1998, 11:16 GMT]
Eight soldiers were wounded and one was killed when the Liberation Tigers attacked a Sri Lankan Army (SLA) convoy this afternoon around 2.30 p.m. at Aarumukathaankudiyiruppu, 13 kilometers north of Batticaloa on the main road.
Full story >>

On duty, armed - and drunk

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 18:18 GMT]
Batticaloa was tense this evening as shots were fired in the heart of the town from the upper floor of the Orient Hotel building in front of the Police quarters. Military trained Policemen and SLA soldiers took cover in their bunkers as the firing commenced.
Full story >>

NGOs write to South African MPs

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 18:16 GMT]
The NGO Consortium of Kilinochchi and the Organization for the Displaced in the Vanni has sent memorandums to the South African Parliamentarians who visited the country recently, urging them to put pressure on the Sri Lankan Government with the assistance of the international community to find a permanent solution to the ethnic issue.
Full story >>

Civilian wounded in booby trap

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 18:15 GMT]
A villager was wounded badly and his left leg had to be amputated in Kilinochchi district when he stepped on a booby trap on Friday December 18. Sinnathurai Ganesamoorthy was wounded when he went to Kanagapuram to inspect his abandoned house.
Full story >>

Bishop calls for unity to end war

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 18:12 GMT]
The Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph called out to leaders of different religious faiths to strive in unity to bring an end to the war. He made his plea after declaring open the renovated St.Antony's Church at Rambaikulam in Vavuniya this morning.
Full story >>

350 eastern villagers arrested

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 15:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) arrested more than 350 civilians in the villages of Kondaiankerny, Kinnaiady, Sungaankerni and Karuvaakerny near Valaichenai, 32 kilometers north of Batticaloa, this morning for interrogation in connection with the activities of the Liberation Tigers in the area.
Full story >>

Vadamaradchi fishing ban partially lifted

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 15:07 GMT]
The army partially lifted the early morning ban on fishing in the seas close to the coast between Polihandy and the Thondamanaaru area in the Vadamaradchi division of Jaffna from yesterday. The SLA said that fishing is now permitted between 1 a.m. to 5.30 a.m.
Full story >>

Oddusuddan residents relocated

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 12:28 GMT]
The SLA has brought 761 persons belonging to 216 families to Vavuniya from Oddusuddan, officials said today. About 40 persons are still remaining at Oddusuddan in the custody of the SLA, the sources added.
Full story >>

ASP succumbs to wounds

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 12:28 GMT]
G.G.Siriwardena Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), in charge of sector 6 of the Main Supply Route along the Vavuniya-Mankulam trunk road died in a Colombo hospital early this morning, Police sources said.
Full story >>

16 Indian fishermen detained

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 December 1998, 14:24 GMT]
Sixteen fishermen from India's southern state of Tamil Nadu were detained yesterday by the Sri Lankan Army SLA in Nagar Kovil on the southeastern coast of Jaffna when they came ashore after having lost their bearings in the sea.
Full story >>

VoT says recruiting

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 December 1998, 14:20 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio has called for applications from people who have experience in the radio broadcasting field with a working knowledge of English and Sinhala.
Full story >>

Protest march against Gulf attacks

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 December 1998, 14:18 GMT]
About 2000 people marched along the streets of Vavuniya, protesting at the US and UK attacks on Iraq. The march was organised by the PLOTE, a paramilitary group which operates with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) against the Liberation Tigers.
Full story >>

14 Tamil refugees intercepted

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 December 1998, 14:16 GMT]
Sources in Mannar said that the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) has arrested 14 Tamil refugees in the seas of Thalaimannar on Thursday, December 17, when they tried to cross over to the neighbouring India.
Full story >>

Protest over Iraq attack

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 December 1998, 13:54 GMT]
Nearly 6000 Muslims staged a protest demonstration today in Puttalam and Vavuniya against the attacks on Iraq by the US and the UK.
Full story >>

Sri Lanka buying missiles - report

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 December 1998, 12:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka is buying Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs) and radar systems, according to the latest issue of the military industry publication, Jane's Defence Weekly. Reports that the Liberation Tigers have acquired an air capability "have forced the Sri Lanka government to hurriedly procure air-defence systems" said the JDW.
Full story >>

Frustrated troops destroy property

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 December 1998, 10:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) burnt a grocery and barbershop last night in Kannankiramam, a village on the outskirts of Valaichenai, 32 kilometers north of Batticaloa.
Full story >>

"Human rights cases denied adequate aid"

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 22:57 GMT]
The Director of the Trincomalee Legal Aid Centre, Mr. Sivapalan, said that the Sri Lankan Government does not give adequate help to those who file human rights cases. Mr Sivapalan, who is also a lawyer, made these comments while speaking at a seminar to mark Human Rights Day.
Full story >>

VoT short wave transmission extended

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 19:51 GMT]
The experimental broadcast of the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in short wave transmission, has been extended, the radio said today. The radio said in its evening programme, on the FM meter band, said that the short wave transmission can now be heard from 6.30 a.m. to 8.00 a.m., daily on 41 meter band, 7460 KHz
Full story >>

PLOTE critical of American action

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 19:48 GMT]
The PLOTE's (People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam) current de facto leader, Manikkadasan, said today that he will organise demonstrations against the US and British missions in Colombo to protest against the American attack on Iraq.
Full story >>

Shelling victim dies

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 19:46 GMT]
An elderly civilian, M.Vadivel (74), who was wounded by a shell fired from the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) base at Elephant Pass, towards Muththyankaddu on December 3, died in a Colombo hospital, said sources.
Full story >>

New amnesty for deserters - SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 15:12 GMT]
Twenty six soldiers were wounded in limited operations conducted by the Sri Lankan Army in Kudarappu and Kaithady in Jaffna and in the Paranthan during the last 48 hours said military spokesman Brig.Sunil Tennekoon, addressing journalists at the cabinet press briefing today. He said that 21 Tigers were killed in Paranthan and 6 Tigers in Jaffna in these operations.
Full story >>

Government eases graduate unemployment

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 14:14 GMT]
The Sri Lankan cabinet has decided to provide jobs for 4000 graduates before the end of December, said Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Posts, Telecommunication and Media. The announcement came at the weekly press meeting at which cabinet decisions are announced.
Full story >>

University Staff demand payment

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 12:55 GMT]
Academic and non academic staff of the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna staged a strike this morning demanding payment of the incentive allowance. The strikers said that their repeated requests for the payment of the allowance had been ignored by the authorities and so they had been forced to take this action.
Full story >>

Five die in accidental explosion - VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 12:52 GMT]
The VoT said this morning that 3 Liberation Tigers and 2 of its supporters died in an accidental explosion at Kilinochchi on December 15. Another member of the Liberation Tigers died in a clash with the SLA at Ambakaamam on the same day, the radio said.
Full story >>

Two fishermen wounded

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 10:15 GMT]
(Corrected) Commandos of Sri Lanka's Special Task Force (STF) shot two fishermen in the southern part of the Batticaloa lagoon, close to the Mandoor Murukan temple in the early hours of the morning today.
Full story >>

JMC urges third party mediation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 05:02 GMT]
The Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) adopted a resolution yesterday urging the Sri Lankan government to begin negotiations with the Liberation Tigers with involvement of a third party.
Full story >>

Action urged over Chemmani graves

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 December 1998, 19:13 GMT]
The Vanni Citizen's Committee has urged the UN Commission for Human Rights to intervene in the affair of the Chemmani mass graves and to bring pressure to bear on the Sri Lankan government to take appropriate action against those responsible for the killings of those buried in the graves.
Full story >>

Food relief for 55,000

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 December 1998, 19:10 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Commissioner General of Essential Services, N.Obadage has ordered that food relief assistance be provided to another 55,000 displaced persons in the Vanni area from December 1, the Vavuniya Government Agent, K.Ganesh said today.
Full story >>

Three Tigers killed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 December 1998, 19:08 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said in its morning transmission today that one Sri Lankan policeman was killed in an attack by the Liberation Tigers at Meeravodai in the east during the early hours of Monday December 14.
Full story >>

New cycle parts banned

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 December 1998, 18:47 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) units stationed at the checkpoint between government and LTTE held areas, at Uylankulam in Mannar district have denied permission for the civilians entering the LTTE-held Vanni to take new bicycle parts along with them, civilians from there said.
Full story >>

Batticalo councillor arrested

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 December 1998, 17:20 GMT]
Rasaiah Prabhaharan a member of the Batticaloa Municipal Council was arrested by the Sri Lankan Army and was severely beaten by soldiers in public before being handed over to a special Police investigation unit this morning.
Full story >>

New SLA commander assumes duties

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 December 1998, 16:48 GMT]
"We urgently need twenty thousand more troops to fight the Liberation Tigers" said Sri Lanka's new Army commander, Lt. Gen. Sri Lal Weerasooriya, addressing a press conference this morning soon after assuming duties. He added that meeting this need by having recourse to conscription is not practical (in Sri Lanka).
Full story >>

Rioting in Panadura

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 December 1998, 22:49 GMT]
Two people were wounded when Police opened fire to disperse an angry crowd that surrounded the police station in Panadura, south of Colombo. The crowd gathered after a road accident that occurred at 2.30 p.m. today in which two children were wounded.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 December 1998, 22:04 GMT]
Police in Amparai shot and killed three youths and arrested a jeweller in connection with two motorbikes they found fixed with explosives. A special combat unit of PLOTE cadres is to work with the Sri Lankan Army in operations against the Tigers.
Full story >>

South Africa eager for peace

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 December 1998, 15:33 GMT]
A South African Parliamentary Delegation has said that their Government is prepared to act as a facilitator for peace talks in Sri Lanka, if it is called upon to do so.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 December 1998, 10:45 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Policeman was killed in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers in Mannar this morning, cash shortage delays Jaffna policemen's salary and Eastern teachers say Tamil is neglected in their training program.
Full story >>

TULF team in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 December 1998, 20:23 GMT]
A four member team of the TULF arrived in Jaffna by a special Sri Lankan military flight today to revive the function of the Jaffna Municipal Council. The team is in Jaffna with a mandate to ratify the Council's budget for 1999 said party sources.
Full story >>

Buddhist monk arrested in Amparai

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 December 1998, 16:36 GMT]
Kadiragamuwa Sri Ratna Himi, a Buddhist monk accused of stealing archaeological treasures in the south-eastern parts of Sri Lanka, was produced in the Amapara district court today.
Full story >>

Censorship has not been relaxed

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 December 1998, 16:05 GMT]
Mr.Ariya Rubasinghe, the Sri Lankan government's director of information and the newly appointed competent authority for censoring war related news denied AFP and Reuters reports on Saturday that the censorship has been lifted by Colombo.
Full story >>

Para- military infighting continues

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 December 1998, 14:14 GMT]
Arasaratnam Ganeshamoorthy, 33, a former member the EPRLF, has complained to the Human Rights Commission in Batticaloa that he has been arrested and severely beaten up by the members of the People's Liberation Organisation Tamil Eelam (PLOTE).
Full story >>

Army finds explosives on bus

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 December 1998, 22:27 GMT]
Sri Lankan police sources said that five people, including the driver and conductor of a bus, were arrested yesterday after explosives were discovered on board. The bus was on its way to Trincomalee from Kaththankudy in the Batticaloa district.
Full story >>

Mannar marks human rights day

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 December 1998, 22:23 GMT]
The Committee for Justice, Peace and Human Rights of the Mannar diocese organised a procession on December 10, to mark International Human Rights Day. The procession headed by Rev. Emilianuspillai began at St. Sebastian church in Mannar.
Full story >>

VoT Moves to short wave transmission

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 December 1998, 22:19 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio has begun its trial transmissions on short wave, said sources. The radio is currently transmitting on FM meter band.
Full story >>

Two arrested in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 December 1998, 17:25 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) arrested two persons in the peninsula in connection with a case being investigated by the 51-2 brigade in Jaffna town. The army took into custody Ramalingam Santhirakumar, the village officer (Grama Sevaka -GS) of Nallur central division in the afternoon yesterday (November 12).
Full story >>

Police fire wounds student

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 December 1998, 08:57 GMT]
Ponnuthurai Nakuleswaran,15, a student at the government school in Thambalagamam, 22 kilometers southwest of Trincomalee, was seriously wounded this morning around 9.30 a.m. when military trained Policemen opened fire indiscriminately in this large Tamil village.
Full story >>

South African delegation Visits Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 December 1998, 20:57 GMT]
The Bishop of Jaffna, Rev. Philip Thomas Saundranayagam, told the visiting South African parliamentary delegation in Jaffna that the Sri Lankan Government should address to the fundamental problems of the ethnic conflict to achieve lasting peace in the island.
Full story >>

Congressional discussion focuses on Rights violations

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 December 1998, 17:56 GMT]
A five member panel of experts on Human Rights violations in Sri Lanka, speaking at Congressional Human Rights Caucus staff round table discussions, were unanimous in their call to the Sri Lankan Government to expedite the investigations into the alleged mass graves at Chemmani, Jaffna where up to 400 bodies of Tamils disappeared in 1996 and 1997 may be buried.
Full story >>

Australian delegation visits Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 December 1998, 14:47 GMT]
Delegates from the Australian High Commission in Colombo visited Vavuniya on a fact finding mission today. They met the Government Agent of Vavuniya, Mr.K.Ganesh and other officials including the Human Rights Commission in Vavuniya, sources added.
Full story >>

Government officials return from Vanni

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 December 1998, 14:45 GMT]
The government officials who visited the areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers in the Vanni, on a two day fact finding mission, returned to Colombo yesterday night.
Full story >>

Two LTTE casualties in Mannar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 December 1998, 14:38 GMT]
Two Liberation Tigers were killed and a Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldier was woundd in a fire-fight at Hospital Road in Mannar around 12.30 a.m. The SLA cordoned off and conducted a house-to-house search opeartion in the area after the incident.
Full story >>

One LTTE member killed - SLA

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 December 1998, 20:11 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army sources said that they shot and killed a member of the Liberation Tigers at Uylankulam, west of Vavuniya yesterday afternoon. The body was taken to Mannar hospital in the evening.
Full story >>

JVP-era policemen rewarded - paper

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 December 1998, 17:58 GMT]
The Sinhala weekly Ravaya in its latest issue said 65 Sri Lankan Police officers who were involved in the brutal anti-JVP campaign during late 80s have been given promotions and cash rewards.
Full story >>

"Tigers should retain arms" - TELO

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 December 1998, 17:36 GMT]
Mr. Sivajilingam of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) said while speaking at a meeting organised in view of the International Humarn Rights Day Trincomalee that he would not ask the Tigers to lay down their arms.
Full story >>

Jaffna protest over human rights

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 December 1998, 17:16 GMT]
The Missing Persons Guardian Association (MPGA) and 15 other Non Governmental Organisations in Jaffna sent a memorandum to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan on December 10, to mark Human Rights Day.
Full story >>

Parliament blocks livestock budget

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 December 1998, 13:01 GMT]
The budget appropriation for the Ministry of Livestock development was defeated in the Sri Lankan Parliament today during the committee stage voting. Seventeen MPs voted in favour of the ministry's budget allocation for 1999 and 34 against.
Full story >>

Young girl escapes death to give evidence

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 December 1998, 08:29 GMT]
"On the day of the incident three soldiers entered our house. One of the soldiers asked us to get into one of the rooms. He placed the gun on our heads, threatened to kill us if we made any noise, and asked for our names. He then put the lamp out and emptied the bullets on us," said the 16-year old girl, Sinnarasa Vinodhini, while giving evidence to the Human Rights Commission on December 10th.
Full story >>

Tamils join HR vigil at UN

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 December 1998, 08:26 GMT]
The Association of Sri Lankan Tamils joined more than 45 international organizations in a rally and candlelight vigil in front of UN headquarters in New York yesterday afternoon to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Universal declaration of Human Rights at the United Nations.
Full story >>

Garment factory to employ disabled soldiers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 19:02 GMT]
Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Defence Gen.Anurudha Ratwatte ceremonially opened today a large scale, modern garment factory called 'Ranaviru Apparels', at Yakkala, for the benefit of the disabled soldiers.
Full story >>

Three Tigers killed - SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 18:59 GMT]
Three Liberation Tigers were shot dead by the government forces in fresh clashes in the Vanni region security sources said. Soldiers on duty ahead of their defences sniped and killed two tigers north west of Oddusuddan and another tiger member was killed in a sniper fire at Kilinochchi on Wednesday, said the sources.
Full story >>

Batticaloa women protest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 18:12 GMT]
Several women's groups in Batticaloa staged a token sit-in today in Batticaloa town to mark human rights day. About 150 women took part in the sit in demonstration in the town centre. The sit in was organised by eighteen women's groups that are active in the region.
Full story >>

Vadamaradchi exams cancelled

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 18:09 GMT]
Students, parents and teachers in Vadamaradchi east were angered today by a decision by the Jaffna district department of education not to hold the GCE (O.L)exams scheduled to be held on December 14 at five examination centres in their area.
Full story >>

MPCS outlets' opening blocked

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 18:07 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has stopped the re-opening of ten outlets of the Maruthankerni Multi-Purpose Co-Operative Society (MPCS) in various parts of Vadamaradchi east despite many pleas by several civilian interest groups for more than a month.
Full story >>

EPDP stages Satyagraha

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 18:05 GMT]
The Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) marked world human rights day in Jaffna with a token Satyagraha near the Kandasamy temple in Nallur. Sources said that more than thousand people took part in the token fast and sit in.
Full story >>

South African delegation to visit Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 11:32 GMT]
The multi-party Parliamentary delegation from South Africa which arrived in Colombo on Tuesday November 8 held discussions with the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) Douglas Devananda and Sri Lanka's minister for justice and constitutional affairs Prof.G.L Pieris this morning.
Full story >>

UNHCR urged to take action

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 11:00 GMT]
The Consortium of Non Governmental Organisation (NGOs) in Puthukudiyeryppu, in the Mullaithivu district has sent a memorandum to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Full story >>

Colombo councilor shot dead

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 10:56 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a councilor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Mr. Mohammed Imtiaz, representing the governing People's Alliance (PA), yesterday evening at around 4 p.m.
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Land mine kills two sailors - VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 10:37 GMT]
Two Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) navy personnel were killed in a land mine attack by the Liberation Tigers in Nedunkerni, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its morning transmission today. However the radio did not say when the attack had taken place.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 December 1998, 22:00 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army and Liberation Tigers agree to provide escort to transport exam papers in areas controlled by them, Paachchanoor refugees wait to receive Government's relief food, Court dismisses case against Sri Lankan Minister and Cigarettes prices go up in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Oddusuddan people arrive in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 December 1998, 14:24 GMT]
One hundred and sixty four persons, from 33 families who were in Oddusuddan when the Sri Lankan Army moved into the village last weak, have been brought to Vavuniya by military officials, said sources in Vavuniya said.
Full story >>

Schools in Northeast Neglected - MP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 December 1998, 14:20 GMT]
Mr. R. Sambanthan, TULF parliamentarian for the Trincomalee district, said in parliament yesterday that Tamil medium schools in the Northeast province were being neglected and that Tamil medium teachers were discriminated against.
Full story >>

Children wounded by mine

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 December 1998, 14:18 GMT]
Eight children were seriously wounded when a can they had picked up in the shrub jungle behind the Kalmadu SLA army camp, 33 km north of Batticaloa, exploded this afternoon around 2 p.m.
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SLA fire kills 5 Muslim civilians

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 December 1998, 07:43 GMT]
Five Muslim loggers were shot dead near the Punanai Sri Lankan Army (SLA) camp, about 52 kilometers northwest of Batticaloa, last night around 9 a.m. One person was wounded and two were reported missing but was later found to be in the custody of the army in Punanai.
Full story >>

Colombo Tamils face new regulations

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 22:10 GMT]
The Presidential Committee, set up to investigate the harassment and arrest of (Tamil) Civilians in Colombo, has been unable to prevent stringent new security regulations from coming into effect.
Full story >>

Jaffna-Trincomalee ferry service resumes

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 20:56 GMT]
Sources in the north said that the cargo ship 'Lanka Muditha' is scheduled to sail to Trincomalee from Jaffna on December 11 with 1000 passengers. It is expected that the ship will return from Trincomalee to Jaffna in order to make another trip.
Full story >>

SLA takes over coconut plantations

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 17:21 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) stopped owners of small coconut plantations in Puthukkaadu, Maasaar and Soranpattu in the Thenmaradchi division of Jaffna from taking the produce of their properties since yesterday.
Full story >>

Father of three commits suicide

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 12:59 GMT]
Kumaresu Yogarajah (36), father of three children, who had sought refuge at Thatchanamaruthmadu in the Madhu area, committed suicide by burning himself. He was unable to bear the sight of his children crying in hunger, said the Sri Lankan Police.
Full story >>

World Food Programme visits Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 12:57 GMT]
A team from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Director Social Services visited Vavuniya today. They were considering the possibility of extending WFP assistance to the internally displaced persons in the welfare centers in the army controlled areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts, said K.Ganesh, the government agent of Vavuniya.
Full story >>

Oddusuddan civilians arrested by Army

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 12:54 GMT]
Forty-seven persons who were in Oddusuddan when the SLA captured the village have been arrested by the Army on suspicion on having connection with the LTTE, said SLA sources. They have been brought to Vavuniya army headquarters for further interrogation by the military intelligence.
Full story >>

Government officials visit LTTE areas

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 12:50 GMT]
Dr.David Ratnavel, chairman of the Presidential Task Force of Human Disaster Management and N.Obadage, Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) and chairman of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority for North (RRAN) are on a two-day fact finding mission to the Vanni region controlled by the Liberation Tigers, said government sources in Vavuniya.
Full story >>

Army presence leads to social problems - report

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 12:35 GMT]
The presence of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in the Sinhala border areas of the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka has created massive social problems, said the commissioners of the Fact Finding Citizen's Commission on the Border Villages in the Northeast Affected by the War.
Full story >>

EROS nominations rejected

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 11:39 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Elections Commissioner rejected the nominations filed by the Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF) for the Northwestern Provincial Council today on the ground that a person identified as K.G.R Pathmasena, a Sinhalese from Malwana, had fraudulently signed the papers instead of Velupillai Balakumar, who still remains the general secretary of the party. Mr.Balakumar joined the Liberation Tigers eight years ago.
Full story >>

Sports goods for Vadamaradchi blocked

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 09:18 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) stopped goods allocated by the Jaffna Government Agent (GA) for thirteen sports clubs in Vadamaradchi east on November 8. Each club had been granted sports goods, including volley ball and football sets, to the value of ten thousand rupees by the GA last month.
Full story >>

SLA fire kills two children

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 09:06 GMT]
A three month old infant and his fifteen year old brother were killed allegedly when the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) opened fire in a house at Kilaly, southeast of Jaffna last night said hospital sources in the north.
Full story >>

Northern districts deprived of development funds

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 07:46 GMT]
Of the total money allocated for the Jaffna district in the 1998 Government budget, only 38.7% has been spent on different development programs, said administrative sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Roundup at Jaffna bus station

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 December 1998, 18:28 GMT]
Nearly 50 Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers who came on bicycles rounded up bystanders and passengers at the Jaffna Bus Station and conducted a search operation today. The operation went on for several hours, said sources.
Full story >>

Lion Air relatives file complaints

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 December 1998, 18:22 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police in Mannar initiated an inquest into the death of the Jaffna University student Miss.K.L.Fernando at the district courts of Mannar, on a complaint lodged by her father, Seeman Anthonymuthu Fernando of Vankalai. Miss Fernando was among the passengers of the Lion Air Flight that went missing over the seas off the northern coast of Mannar on 29 September.
Full story >>

PA-UNP clash wounds three

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 December 1998, 16:48 GMT]
Three persons were wounded in a grenade explosion following a fracas between supporters of the main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP) and the ruling People's Alliance (PA) this evening around 5.30 p.m. at Silver Town in Madampa north of Colombo.
Full story >>

EROS files nominations for PC elections

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 December 1998, 14:17 GMT]
The political party of the EROS, the Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF), filed nominations for the North-Western Provincial Council elections, scheduled to be held on January 24 in a surprise move today. Representatives of the EDF filed nominations at the Puttalam and Kurunagala Kachcheries (district secretariat).
Full story >>

SLA shelling wounds 4 civilians

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 20:07 GMT]
Four displaced civilians were wounded today when the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) stationed at Oddusuddan fired shells towards Katchilaimadu, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its night news bulletin.
Full story >>

Movements of Jaffna councillors restricted

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 20:02 GMT]
All councillors of local government bodies in the Jaffna peninsula, except those representing the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) have been banned from entering the islands off the peninsula, the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) said.
Full story >>

Vanni artificial limb facility open

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 19:59 GMT]
An artificial limb manufacturing facility was opened in the Wanni last Thursday on the International Disabled Week, said sources in the north today. The facility is called The White Dove and was ceremonially opened by Dr.S.Sivaguru they said.
Full story >>

PLOTE prisoner escapes

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 19:55 GMT]
Vasantharajah Suthaharan, 18, who was detained by the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), escaped from the group's camp at Pt. Pedro in the Jaffna peninsula, and surrendered at a near by Sri Lankan Army (SLA) camp.
Full story >>

Six Tigers killed - VoT

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 19:42 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said that six members of the LTTE were killed during the last two days in separate clashes with the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and in accidental explosions.
Full story >>

Displaced families inquire about relatives

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 19:38 GMT]
Oddusuddan residents who had taken refuge at Puthukudiyeruppu in the Mullaithivu district have been making enquiries about the fate of their family members who remained in the town, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio.
Full story >>

General Ratwatte escapes mortar attack

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 16:23 GMT]
General Anurudha Ratwatte, the Deputy Minister of Defence had a narrow escape, from an LTTE mortar attack at Oddusuddan around 2.15 this afternoon. According to the Lakhande Radio's Sinhala service the LTTE's first mortar landed 15 metres from where the General stood.
Full story >>

Tiger shelling wounds SLA officer

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 13:14 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) said that the Liberation Tigers fired three artillery rounds on the convoy and escort of Sri Lanka's deputy defence mininster, Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte, and the commanders of the Sri Lankan Air Force, Navy, and Army, around 10.30 a.m., killing four soldiers and injuring forty two.
Full story >>

Displaced housed in schools

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 12:56 GMT]
Ten schools in the Puthukudiyeruppu area of the Mullaithivu district, have been turned into welfare centres to accommodate the displaced refugees from the Oddusuddan area the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said.
Full story >>

Forensic expert arrives in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 12:52 GMT]
Mr. William De Hagland, director of the International Forensic Programme (IFP), who is on a official visit to Sri Lanka met officials from the Humans Rights Commission (HRC) and the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU), said sources.
Full story >>

Tigers shell Oddusuddan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 December 1998, 11:56 GMT]
Four Sri Lankan Army (SLA) personnel were killed and forty two wounded when the Liberation Tigers fired artillery at army positions in the Oddusuddan area today.
Full story >>

PLOTE cadre arrested for murder

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 December 1998, 22:17 GMT]
Mr. K. Seenithamby, the coroner of Chenkalady who conducted the inquest into the killing of 7 members of a family by a PLOTE cadre yesterday, ordered the police to arrest him. The burial will take place at the state's expense.
Full story >>

Civilians taken to welfare centres

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 December 1998, 19:37 GMT]
Arrangements are being made to transport nearly 750 civilians, who were in the Oddusuddan area when it was captured by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) on Thursday, to the northern government held town of Vavuniya . They are currently staying in a Hindu Temple there.
Full story >>

Journalists to visit Oddusuddan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 December 1998, 16:08 GMT]
The Ministry of Defence has made arrangements to take local and foreign journalists to the newly captured village town of Oddusuddan tomorrow, 7 December. Invitations for the guided tours have been sent to the prominent news agencies, radio journalists, printed media and TV stations, said sources.
Full story >>

Separate department for the disabled

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 December 1998, 16:05 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge, while addressing the 8th Annual Sports meet of the Disabled said that a separate department will be set up to look after the welfare and the needs of the disabled in the country. The sports meet was held at the Grounds of the Sports Ministry on Thursday 3 December.
Full story >>

Black day for human rights

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 December 1998, 11:11 GMT]
The Consortium of the Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Jaffna will mark International Human Rights Day as a "Black Day". This will be done as a protest against the Sri Lankan government's attitude towards human rights violations.
Full story >>

Pictures of LTTE aircraft released

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 December 1998, 11:06 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government has published posters with photos of aircraft and a helicopter that are believed to be in the possession of the Liberation Tigers. They have also published the photographs of 15 types of aircraft that are in the possession of the Sri Lankan Air Force.
Full story >>

SLA abandons operation Jeyasikurui

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 December 1998, 16:07 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) said that 'Operation Jayasikuri' (Victory Assured), its biggest military operation against the Liberation Tigers in the fifteen year old ethnic conflict has been called off in a communiqué released this evening.
Full story >>

SLA captures Oddusuddan

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 December 1998, 12:24 GMT]
Sri Lankan Government troops engaged in the Operation Jeyasikurui have captured Oddusuddan, 22 km. east of Mankulam on the Mankulam-Mullaithivu road Thursday and linked up with troops from Nedunkerni said SLA sources.
Full story >>

Explosion injures 3 PLOTE cadres

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 December 1998, 12:12 GMT]
Three members of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) were wounded in an explosion which took place in one of their camps at Kovilkulam in Vavuniya this morning, the police said.
Full story >>

PLOTE militiaman kills 7 family members

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 December 1998, 08:14 GMT]
An armed cadre of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), a Tamil paramilitary group working with the Sri Lankan Army (SLA), shot seven members of his wife's family, including two children and an infant at Chenkalady, 18 kilometers north of Batticaloa, in the early hours of the morning today over a personal quarrel.
Full story >>

Tiger suspect commits suicide

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 December 1998, 07:44 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in Mannar town said that a youth wearing an explosives packed jacket committed suicide by taking biting his cyanide capsule yesterday afternoon around 1.30 during a search operation by the coast.
Full story >>

Tamil medium education neglected

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 December 1998, 22:34 GMT]
Technical education in the Tamil medium has been relegated to the lowest priority and is completely neglected in Sri Lanka charged Mr. T.Mahasivam, general secretary of the Ceylon Tamil teachers Union today in a statement.
Full story >>

Jeyasikurui shell attack displaces 9000

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 December 1998, 18:45 GMT]
Troops engaged in 'Operation Jayasikurui' launched intensive shell attacks towards Oddusuddan, east of Mankulam and towards west of Mankulam, today , the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its night news bulletin.
Full story >>

Rape victim gives evidence

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 December 1998, 14:42 GMT]
The inquest in to the rape of Sivasothy Krishnapillai, 31, allegedly by three Special Task Force (STF) personnel, in Mandoor, Batticaloa district on December 31 1996, was held at the Batticaloa District court on November 30.
Full story >>

Milk powder banned

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 December 1998, 14:40 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) yesterday banned milk powder to villages south of Nagar Kovil on Jaffna's south-eastern coast. Civilians living in this region face a lot restrictions by the SLA on the quantity and kind of essential items they can take with them.
Full story >>

EU Ambassador visits Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 December 1998, 08:38 GMT]
Llkka Uusitalo, the European Union Ambassador for Sri Lanka told the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna that he understood that most of the persons arrested by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and the police in the peninsula are civilians. He said paramilitary Tamil groups operating with the SLA are also responsible for grave human rights abuses.
Full story >>

Airstrike kills six civilians

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 December 1998, 18:00 GMT]
Six civilians were killed and three wounded in an airstrike by the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets at Chundikulam in the east of Vadamaradchi around 10.30 am today the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its night news bulletin.
Full story >>

Police accused of torture at inquest

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 December 1998, 15:00 GMT]
The inquest into the death of Sathasivam Sanjeevan, an 18 year old school student who died in the Sri Lankan Police custody on October 15, was held at the Kalmunai District court on November 26. His father, Vadivel Sathasivam, 42, testifying in the courts said his son had been tortured in police custody.
Full story >>

SLMC to contest on Government list

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 December 1998, 14:46 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), the powerful partner of the Sri Lanka's ruling PA, said today that it will contest the forthcoming polls to the North-western Provincial Council on a common list, contrary to its earlier decision to go it alone at all future elections.
Full story >>

Boy killed in Police shelling

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 December 1998, 00:05 GMT]
A ten year old boy, Vivekanantharasa, was killed and two others were wounded when the Special Task Force (STF), of the Sri Lankan Police fired mortars from Paddiruppu bridge and Kaluthvalai in the east of the island, towards areas not under their control.
Full story >>

Batticaloa council welcomes LTTE Statement

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 December 1998, 00:00 GMT]
Batticaloa Municipal Council unanimously adopted a resolution yesterday welcoming the peace offer made by the leader of the Liberation Tigers, Mr. Prabakaran, said Mr. Cheliyan Perinpanayakam, Mayor of Batticaloa.
Full story >>

Jaffna University students want transfer

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 December 1998, 23:53 GMT]
Seventy-five students from the Vanni region studying at the Jaffna University, have applied for transfer to the Batticaloa University. They are unable to attend the classes due to disruption in transport to and from Jaffna said university sources in the peninsula.
Full story >>

Site of Welikade Prison moved

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 December 1998, 23:49 GMT]
Welikade prison, where many Tamils political prisoners are detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and emergency regulations, is to be moved from Welikade to Athurugiriya and Wattal in the suburbs of Colombo, said sources.
Full story >>

PA moves to push Devolution Package

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 December 1998, 22:05 GMT]
The Strategy Research Committee of the ministry of Justice, constitutional affairs and ethnic Reconciliation called all political parties, intellectuals and leading professionals to a discussion on Wednesday, December 3.
Full story >>

Four villagers reported missing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 December 1998, 16:56 GMT]
Four Tamil civilians were reported missing from the village of Koppaveli, about 26 kilometers north-west of Batticaloa this morning. A group of five civilians had gone into the jungle in the area to chop fire wood in the early hours of the morning today when they had been surrounded by well armed persons in commando fatigues.
Full story >>

Anura Bandaranaike urges peace talks

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 December 1998, 14:18 GMT]
Mr. Anura Bandaranaike MP, the brother of the Sri Lankan President, told the government this afternoon during the committee stage debate on the appropriation bill of the foreign ministry, that it should accept the peace offer made by the leader of the Liberation Tigers. Mr.Bandaranaike is a leading parliamentary speaker of Sri Lanka's main opposition party, the UNP.
Full story >>

Vadamaradchi faces isolation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 December 1998, 11:00 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) stopped from yesterday the only passenger van service between Chempiyan Pattu on the southeastern coast of Jaffna and Pt.Pedro. This has cut off the only access the civilians in these area had with the outside world. The army stopped the passenger ('Thatti') van service from Chempiyan Pattu to Chavakachcheri last month.
Full story >>