Devanesan Nesiah appointed to inquire Jaffna disappearances

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 November 2002, 15:20 GMT]
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sri Lanka Saturday appointed a one-man committee, Mr.Devanesan Nesiah, a retired civil servant and the government agent of Jaffna, to probe into complaints of disappearances of persons arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) during 1996-1997 military operations in Jaffna district. A leading human rights activist Mr.M.C.M.Iqbal will function as the Committee's secretary, sources said.
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PTA accused freed after seven years in prison

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 November 2002, 19:18 GMT]
The Colombo High Court Friday discharged an accused in a Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) case when the State Counsel withdrew the indictment on the instruction of the Attorney General. The accused had been in prison since his arrest seven years ago in the hill town of Nuwaraeliya.
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Veteran Tamil activist Gunanayagam passes away in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 November 2002, 10:52 GMT]
A veteran Tamil social worker and a politician in Trincomalee district Mr. Subramaniam Gunanayagam passed away Thursday at the age of seventy after a brief illness.
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Minister, journalists meet Nedunthivu residents

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 November 2002, 07:43 GMT]
Hundreds of residents of Nedunthivu (Delft island) in Jaffna district fasting for the thirteenth day against the presence of para military Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) told a group of visiting journalists Thursday that they would continue their campaign until the EPDP cadres left their village.
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Fishermen picket Point Pedro District Secretariat

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 November 2002, 21:13 GMT]
Fisherment from Point Pedro and surrounding areas picketed the Point Pedro distric secretariat offices this morning demanding that they be allowed to return and resettle in their own homes located inside the High Security Zone (HSZ), sources in Point Pedro said.
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Karuna Oslo bound

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 November 2002, 12:14 GMT]
Colonel Karuna, Senior Commander of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) took off from Batticaloa in an Sri Lanka Airforce helicopter to Colombo at 9.30 am today on his way to the next round of peace talks between LTTE and Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) to be held in Oslo, Norway 2 December, sources said.
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Karuna joins Tharavai Heroes day event

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 November 2002, 01:01 GMT]
Special commander of Batticaloa-Ampara district Karuna, who is also the co-chair of the sub-committee on De-escalation and Normalization formed at the second meeting of the first round of peace talks in Thailand, lit the sacrificial flame at the Heroes day event at the Maaveer cemetary in Tharavai, 70km Northwest of Batticaloa town, held 27 November afternoon.
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LTTE leader calls for autonomy and self-government for Tamil homeland

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 November 2002, 12:17 GMT]
In a radical move to clarify the policy orientation of his organisation, Mr Velupillai Pirapaharan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) declared that he would favourably consider a political framework that offers substantial regional autonomy and self-government to the Tamil people on the basis of their right to internal self-determination. The text of Mr. Pirapaharan’s annual Heroes’ Day address was released to the media in an official statement.
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North East celebrates Heroes Day

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 November 2002, 10:44 GMT]
Towns, villages, remotest hamlets in the northeast province held by government forces and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are gaily decorated with yellow and red flags and cut outs depicting the Tamil liberation struggle observing the final day of the 'Maaveerar Naal' (Heroes Day) celebrations Wednesday. Jaffna, Batticaloa, Vavuniya and Mannar Maveerar Naal final day celebrations are being held on a grad scale.
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CID submits confidential report on Chemmani mass graves

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 November 2002, 10:43 GMT]
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted its confidential report on the Chemmani mass graves' exhumation to the Colombo Chief Magistrate Tuesday afternoon, legal sources said. Further inquiry in regard to the Chemmani mass grave continues, CID officials told the Chief Magistrate.
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SLA dismantles Maveerar Naal decorations in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 November 2002, 16:23 GMT]
Students of Hartley College, Point Pedro, in the Jaffna district Tuesday boycotted classes in protest of the removal by the Sri Lankan Army of cutouts and other decorations made in celebration of the Maveerar Naal (Heros' Day).
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Countries in Oslo Meet declare support to Sri Lanka peace

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 November 2002, 13:13 GMT]
"The Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have already taken resolute steps towards peace. They face many challenges in seeking a lasting political settlement, acceptable to all communities living in the island. We therefore pledge to support their efforts with financial assistance to the people of Sri Lanka and continued encouragement to the parties in their search for a lasting peace through a negotiated final resolution of the conflict," said a communique issued by the countries in Asia-Pacific region, North America and Europe which met in Oslo 25, November.
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Sri Lanka's parliament suspended due to uproar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 November 2002, 12:13 GMT]
Pandemonium reigned in Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday morning when opposition members created a commotion in the well of the House forcing the Chair to suspend its sittings indefinitely following the refusal by the government to put the budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Justice, Judiciary and National Integration to vote at the conclusion of the committee stage debate.
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Batticaloa Chapel Road opens after 12 years

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 November 2002, 05:31 GMT]
Chapel Road in Batticaloa district which was closed for traffic last twelve years was opened yesterday morning by soldiers from the SriLanka Army (SLA), sources said.
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EU promises substantial contribution, says will engage Tamil Diaspora

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 November 2002, 04:35 GMT]
Petter Hansen from Denmark addressing the Oslo peace support conference on behalf of the European Union (EU) said that "EU stands ready to support the peace process and is committed to delivering a substantial contribution to the post-conflict rehabilitation of Sri Lanka." He added that "the EU will strengthen its engagement in the peace process" and introduced a new perspective to the support effort by asserting EU "will also engage the Tamil Diaspora to support the process."
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Heroes memorial opened in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 November 2002, 01:57 GMT]
The Heroes memorial constructed at Mahajana College hall displaying 4535 photos of LTTE members killed in the war was declared open at 9am Monday by Batticaloa-Ampara LTTE special commander Ramesh allowing the public to pay their respect, said sources in Batticaloa.
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US calls to renounce violence, says ready to play its part

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 21:06 GMT]
Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State, US, the highest ranking American official to visit Sri Lanka since the start of the conflict, said that his country will continue to support programs that promote peace and good governance in his address at the Oslo donor conference, 25 November. He called on the LTTE to renounce violence and secession. The presence of Secretary Armitage during Anton Balasingham's address later in the day sent a strong message of recognition of LTTE's growing legitimacy, analysts said.
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'We are sincerely and firmly committed to peace' - Balasingham

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 18:26 GMT]
"We urge the international governments to offer substantial financial assistance for the resettlement and rehabilitation of the war affected people in the northeast..On our part, we can assure the international community that our organisation is sincerely and firmly committed to peace and negotiated political settlement..we will not resort to war or violence. We fervently hope that the Sri Lankan armed forces will also abide by that commitment," said Mr. Anton Balasingham, the advisor and theoretician to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in his address to the Oslo aid conference 25 November.
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All Sinhala jury acquits Mylanthanai accused

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 16:29 GMT]
All the eighteen accused in the Mylanthanai massacre case were acquitted by the High Court Judge Mr.S.Sriskandarajah when the Sinhalese speaking Jury brought a unanimous verdict of not guilty Monday around eight thirty p.m. In this case the Attorney General had indicted eighteen Sinhala soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army with the murder of thirty-five Tamil civilians including fourteen children in the Mylanthanai village in Batticaloa district on August 9 1992.
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'Donor community must respond to LTTE, GOSL's pragmatism' - Jan Peterson

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 14:17 GMT]
While announcing increased funding support to assist Sri Lanka's peace process, Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Jan Petersen, said "The parties are showing a high degree of pragmatism and innovation in the peace negotiations. They are showing courage and political leadership in taking a gradual approach. It is incumbent upon donor governments to respond likewise," urging the international community to financially support NorthEast development in his Opening speech at Oslo 25 November 2002.
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Britain announces funding support at Oslo meeting

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 13:49 GMT]
The international donor conference organized by the Government of Norway in support of the peace process in Sri Lanka was ceremonially opened by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen at Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica in Oslo at 10:00 AM. Over 100 representatives from 19 nations are participating in the Conference. Claire short, Secretary of state for international development of UK in her address expressed full support for the peace process in Sri Lanka congratulating the Liberation Tigers (LTTE), Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Norway.
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'Country cannot afford to miss this opportunity for peace'- Sampanthan

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 12:54 GMT]
"We must not lose the present opportunity to achieve permanent peace with a just, fair and lasting political solution to the ethnic conflict," said Mr.Sampanthan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group leader addressing the Annual Parents' Day and Oli Vizha of the Trincomalee St.Mary's College Sunday evening. Hundreds of parents attended the function held at College Thresian Auditorium.
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'International support vital to sustain peace' - Ranil

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 12:42 GMT]
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking at the opening session of the Oslo support meeting 25 November appealed to the International community to help Sri Lanka rebuild the economy devastated by war. "Without continuing international support and help with resources to build the peace dividend, the momentum for peace could be retarded. With the re-creation of opportunities for growth politicians and negotiators alike will be driven to stabilize and advance the peace," said Mr. Wickremesinghe.
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Heroes Day celebrations commenced in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 12:40 GMT]
The ‘Maaveerar Naal’ (Heroes Day)celebrations commenced in Trincomalee district Monday. At Sampoor, LTTE district military commander Colonel Pathuman inaugurated the Maaveerar Day celebrations by hoisting the Tamil Eelam national flag while District Political Head Mr.Tilak lighting the flame of sacrifice.
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Martyrs' parents honoured in Mullaitivu

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 02:43 GMT]
Parents of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters who sacrificed their lives in the two decades old war were felicitated in a meeting at Mullaitivu Maha Vidyalayam presided by Mariathas, Head of Mullaitivu Rehabilitation Committee, Sunday, sources said.
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UNHCR help sought to resettle refugees in TamilNadu

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 02:10 GMT]
When officials of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Commission on Human Security met Mr. S. P. Thamilselvan, head of the Liberation Tiger's (LTTE's) Political wing in Kilinochchi Friday, Thamilselvan requested the UNHCR to take action as soon as possible to resettle Tamil refugees from NorthEast currently living in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu, India, sources said.
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Historic meeting between LTTE and Sri Lankan PM

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 November 2002, 19:27 GMT]
The historic hour long discussion between Anton Balasingham, Chief Negotiator of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, took place today at the Holmenkollen Park hotel situated in Oslo. The discussion was arranged by Norwegian facilitators ahead of the 19 country Donor meeting in Oslo Monday being convened as part of the Norway-led peace process to find a negotiated solution to Sri Lanka's civil war.
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First Heroes' Day Celebrations in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 November 2002, 19:00 GMT]
The 'Maaveerar Naal' (Heroes Day) celebrations to occur for the first time in the eastern port town of Trincomalee will commence Monday 25, November morning at the Cultural Hall venue, with the hoisting of Tamil Eelam national flag and the lighting the flame of sacrifice remembering the LTTE martyrs, sources said.
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Mylanthanai massacre case verdict on Monday

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 November 2002, 18:59 GMT]
The verdict in the Mylanthanai massacre case is to be delivered after the High Court Judge Mr.Sriskandarajah concludes his charge to the Sinhala speaking Jury Monday (25.11.2002). The case is being heard in the Colombo High Court since October 2 daily excluding weekend and public holidays, court sources said.
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Maheswaran meets with Nedunthivu protesters

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 November 2002, 16:57 GMT]
In a Ministry of Defence authorized visit, the Hindu Religious Affairs Minister Mr.T.Maheswaran Sunday travelled to Nedunthivu (Delft Island) and met with the protesters who are on a fast demanding the members of the para military Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) vacate the island, sources said.
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Wickremesinghe and Balasingam to meet Sunday

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 November 2002, 01:43 GMT]
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Chief Negotiator of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Mr. Anton Balasingam, will meet for the first time at Holmenkollen Park Hotel in Oslo Sunday 24, said Royal ministry of Foreign Affairs of Government of Norway in a press release.
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Joint appeal for funds before Oslo Donor meeting

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 November 2002, 19:16 GMT]
The Sub-Committee for Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East (SIHRN) formed after the second round of peace talks in Thailand sent out an appeal to the international community for support to rebuild NorthEast.
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Tamil Eelam Courts opened in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 November 2002, 18:03 GMT]
"We open our police stations and law courts in our areas only and not in areas held by the government to maintain law and order as mandated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leadership," said the head of the Tamil Eelam Judicial Service Mr.Para addressing gathering after he declared open the law courts for the Batticaloa-Ampara district in Arasadithivu Saturday.
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STF withdrawal, Muslim farming discussed in Ampara Meeting

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 November 2002, 17:42 GMT]
After the meeting of the Amparai district committee of the Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalization, the Defence Secretary Mr.Austin Fernando who led the government delegation and Mr.Kausalyan, LTTE political head for the Batticaloa Amparai district told the press an agreement was reached to implement a phased withdrawal of Special Task Force (STF) camps now located in schools, houses and public buildings.
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SLN stops food delivery to Deft protesters

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 November 2002, 15:24 GMT]
Student supporters lead by a University lecturer carrying supplies of food and drinks to the protesters in Nedunthivu (Delft) island were prevented from travelling to Delft by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel, sources in Jaffna said.
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Residents call for removal of Malwatte STF camp

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 November 2002, 14:18 GMT]
Residents of Malwattai in Ampara district has appealed in a Memorandum signed by 142 residents sent to the Ampara Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to remove the Special Task Force (STF) camp from their village, sources in Ampara said.
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Ranil leaves for Oslo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 November 2002, 08:39 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe Saturday morning left for Norway to attend the Oslo aid conference, which is scheduled to begin on November 25. The Prime Minister's party left around 3 a.m. Saturday from Katunayake international airport on its first leg of the tour to London. From London they will fly to Oslo, government sources said.
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PM's meeting with TNA, EPDP, and PLOTE fail to reach consensus

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 November 2002, 16:33 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe Friday evening held a one hour discussion with delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the leaders of the para military Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) and the Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) to diffuse the tension now prevails in the Jaffna peninsula following picketing campaign against EPDP presence in Neduntheivu.
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Maveerar Day celebrations for the first time in Batticaloa town

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 November 2002, 16:12 GMT]
The ‘Maveerar Naal’ (Heroes Day) will be observed in Batticaloa town for the first time this year. The Mahajana College, where the LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan had his primary education (1960-63), has been chosen as the venue for the observance, LTTE sources said.
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Vadamaradchi EPDP head attacked

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 November 2002, 07:35 GMT]
An unidentified group of persons Thursday night attacked the acting head of the para military Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), Vadamarachi branch in Jaffna district. Mr.Arafath has been admitted to the Manthikai government hospital in Point Pedro with cut injuries, medical sources said.
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No decision on re-opening Nagarkovil-Point Pedro road

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 20:00 GMT]
The conference held Thursday at the office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Jaffna to discuss the opening of the Nagarkovil-Point Pedro road ended without a decision. The matter will be taken up for discussion at the meeting of the Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalization, which is scheduled to be held on December 14, conference sources said.
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De-escalation, normalisation district committee meets in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 19:27 GMT]
The first meeting of the Trincomalee District Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalisation (TDCSDN) was held Thursday at the office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in the eastern port town. The three hour discussion, observed by the head of the SLMM in Trincomalee, Mr. Jan Ledang, centred on high security zones, resettlement of displaced people and opening of roads now closed for security reasons, sources said.
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Swedish Ambassador meets Thamilselvan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 18:52 GMT]
Ambassador to Sri Lanka from Sweden, Ms. Ann Marie Fallenius, met with Thamilselvan, Head of Political Section of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), on Wednesday morning in Kilinochchi and held discussions regarding rehabilitation and development activities of North East, sources said.
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Thenmaradchi EPDP office attacked

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 16:51 GMT]
The Thenmaradchi office of the paramilitary Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) located at Nunavil east in the Jaffna district was attacked by unidentified men around mid night Wednesday, police sources said.
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Picketing in Jaffna as EPDP stays put with armed forces' guard

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 14:40 GMT]
Several hundred people Thursday picketed the headquarters of the para military Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) located in Jaffna town, demanding their immediate withdrawal from the Neduntheivu (Delft) islet. Sources in Jaffna said Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and armed police personnel are now guarding the EPDP headquarters.
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Protests against EPDP presence in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 November 2002, 19:33 GMT]
All commercial, judicial, governmental and transport activities in the Jaffna district came to a standstill Wednesday for about two hours starting 8.30 a.m. in support of the demand of the people of Delft that the members of the paramilitary Eelam People Democratic party (EPDP) be withdrawn from their village immediately.
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Peace brigades proposed to defeat saboteurs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 November 2002, 19:32 GMT]
A senior minister in the United National Front government said Tuesday that peace brigades should be formed to defeat some elements that are actively engaged in sabotaging the peace initiatives commenced in 1994 and 2001.
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TRO assesses Kumburupiddy resettlement needs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 November 2002, 16:55 GMT]
The Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) Tuesday conducted a need assessment programme in Kumburupiddy, 22 km north of Trincomalee district where hundreds of displaced Tamil families who have returned from Vanni after the signing of the ceasefire agreement struggle for survival with little rehabilitation assistance.
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‘Col. Karuna’s approach very positive’ -Maj. Gen. Kottegoda

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 November 2002, 13:25 GMT]
“I think Col. Karuna’s approach is very positive. If we continue in this manner we should be able to sort out a lot of issues pertaining to de-escalation and normalisation,” said Maj. Gen. Shantha Kottegoda of the Sri Lanka army, speaking to the press Wednesday at the conclusion of the meeting of the Batticaloa District Committee of the Sub-Committee on De-escalation and Normalisation held in Vavunathivu, 5 kilometres southwest of Batticaloa, near the line of control.
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TNA wants EPDP disarmed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 November 2002, 07:49 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Wednesday appealed to the United National Front government to take immediate steps to ensure that no one engaged in political activity in Neduntheivu and Kayts in Jaffna district is armed. "The UNF government should take appropriate action to diffuse the situation and to assure the people of Neduntheivu and Kayts that they will not be subjected in the future to the violent and undemocratic actions of the Eelam Peoples Democratic party (EPDP)," said in a press release issued by the parliamentary group leader of the Tamil National Alliance Wednesday.
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Movie on Sri Lanka war premieres at Oslo Film Festival

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 November 2002, 02:33 GMT]
“In the name of Buddha,” a movie based on the war in Sri Lanka, centering on the experiences of a Tamil youth and his family, premiered at the 12th Oslo Film Festival on 17 November. The film shot in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and United Kingdom was well attended and received wide acclaim, attendees to the film festival said.
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Railway employees in Batticaloa strike, demand pay rise.

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 November 2002, 20:30 GMT]
Demanding a pay rise, employees of the Railways Department working at railway crossings have started work stoppage, seriously impacting timely repair of railway tracks from Batticaloa to Valaichenai, some stretches of which are in urgent need of repair, sources said.
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Tensions high in Delft over EPDP presence

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 November 2002, 20:02 GMT]
Tensions in Delft remained high today as the residents continued their protests demanding that the EPDP make a complete withdrawal from Delft. EPDP cadres have agreed to vacate early morning tomorrow, as the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) is attempting to bring the situation under control sources said.
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Muslim youth shot dead in Galle

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 November 2002, 18:06 GMT]
Karzi Mohammed Rameez,a 22 year old Muslim youth was shot dead and three other Mulims and four police officers were injured when police opened fire to quell disturbance in Galle-Katugoda area 18 November night, sources said. Curfew has been imposed in Galle municipal area according to sources.
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Curfew re-imposed in Puttalam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 November 2002, 16:58 GMT]
Curfew which lasted from 6 pm yesterday to 6 am this morning in Puttalam-Mathurankuli area has been re-imposed from 2 pm today to 6 am tomorrow to prevent further violence due to prevailing tension between the Muslim and Sinhala communities, sources said.
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Palugamam police records 135 complaints

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 November 2002, 15:25 GMT]
Recently opened Police station by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Palugamam has recorded 135 complaints from the residentsof the surrounding villages in the last two weeks, sources close the security division of the LTTE said.
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Limited progress reported in Omanthai meet

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 November 2002, 13:05 GMT]
The meeting between the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) and the Officers of Security forces to discuss problems arising from High Security Zones (HSZ) in Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu districts, conducted in Omanthai no-mans land concluded with decision taken to continue discussions at the forthcoming sub-committee meeting, sources said. The meeting started Monday morning at 9.30am and lasted for 5 hours.
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TNA meets PM over EPDP cadres in Delft

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 November 2002, 19:41 GMT]
A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary delegation Monday brought to the notice of the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe that members of Eelam Democratic party (EPDP) now in Delft island in Jaffna district are armed and are also moving about in naval uniform. The TNA delegation requested the Prime Minister to take stern steps to prevent incidents similar to those that had taken place at Kanchirankuda and Trincomalee last month, in the Delft Island.
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TNA abstains from voting to register protest

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 November 2002, 17:54 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians Monday refrained from voting when the Interior Ministry financial allocation in the 2003 budget was put to vote during the committee stage debate. "The TNA parliamentary group decided not to vote for the Interior Ministry financial allocation to register our dissatisfaction to the government for its inaction regarding Kanchirankuda and Trincomalee incidents in which several Tamils were killed," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, TNA parliamentary group leader.
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Secretariat formed to manage NE development

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 November 2002, 17:46 GMT]
Setting up of a Secretariat to manage the rehabilitation and development to start functioning on 15 December was discussed at the first meeting of the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs of North East (SIHRN) comprising delegations of the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held Monday, 18 November, at the Killinochchi District Secretariat auditorium.
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Curfew imposed to diffuse ethnic tension in Chilaw

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 November 2002, 17:42 GMT]
A twelve-hour dusk to dawn Police curfew has been imposed in Mundal, Marunthakuli and other eleven villages in the Chilaw division in the North Western Province Monday evening to diffuse tension between Muslims and Sinhalese. The curfew will be lifted Tuesday morning at 6 a.m., police sources said.
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'Military readiness vital for self defence' - Ramesh

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 November 2002, 13:57 GMT]
"Sri Lankan governments of the past, under the cloak of peace talks, have been deceiving the Tamil people. We firmly believe that Sri Lankan politicians in power will not make the same mistake this time. If the State attempts to oppress our people again with the use of military force we will be ready to defend," said Ramesh, head of Liberation Tigers Batticaloa-Ampara military section, at the passing out ceremony of a commando unit in Ampara, Sunday.
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TULF commends Norway, International Community

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 November 2002, 19:21 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), main constituent of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), while commending Norway and International Community for their support to the peace process, made an appeal to Tamils from making statements that will have adverse impact on the peace process. People who have rarely stood up for the human rights or democratic rights of the Tamil people cannot make any honest contribution to the Tamil question, said the Secretary General of the TULF Mr.R.Sampanthan in a press release at the conclusion of the central committee meeting held Sunday in Colombo.
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RSF plans Nimalarajan memorial discussion

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 November 2002, 17:51 GMT]
Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF, Reporters Without Borders) in association with The Nimalarajan Foundation is organizing a discussion in honour of Mylvaganam Nimalarajan, a BBC reporter in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, who was gunned down on 19 October 2000 at his home in Chunukili allegedly by Eelam People Democratic Party(EPDP) cadres, sources from UK said. The discussions will be held in the National Union of Journalists, London on 25 November.
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EPDP abandons attempt to regain Delft

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 November 2002, 13:54 GMT]
The para military Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) is said to have abandoned its attempt Sunday to regain its position in Delft Island in the Jaffna peninsula following vehement protest by villagers.
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EPDP return to Delft draws protest

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 20:42 GMT]
Forty cadres of the paramilitary Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) landed on the island of Delft, Saturday, travelling in a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) craft. The people of the Delft immediately lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Jaffna opposing the presence of EPDP cadres.
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Military-LTTE commanders meet at Muhamalai second time

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 18:40 GMT]
The delegations of the Sri Lanka armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam met Saturday at Muhamalai and discussed several issues regarding the question of resettling displaced families in high security zones and removal of fishing restriction in the Jaffna peninsula. The discussion, the second of its kind, commenced around ten in the morning, continued till six in the evening, sources said.
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Trinco journalists briefed on torture victim rehabilitation

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 18:33 GMT]
The Family Rehabilitation Center (FRC) in Trincomalee Saturday held a one-day seminar for local journalists on rehabilitating torture victims. "The main objective of the FRC is to rehabilitate the victims of torture physically and psychologically and make them to lead normal lives in the society," said Dr.Gnanagunalan, medical officer of the FRC when addressing the seminar held at Trincomalee Town Hall Saturday morning.
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Multi-community sportsmeet in Kalutara

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 14:50 GMT]
Seven hundred sportsmen and women and officials from the North travelled to Kalutara to participate in a sportsmeet for peace being held in Matara starting from today. The participants departed from Vavuniya yesterday by a special train, sources said. Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe, will be the chief guest at the prize giving ceremony on the last day of the meet, sources said.
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NorthEast prepares to celebrate Heroes Week

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 13:43 GMT]
Preparations are underway throughout Northeast to mark Heroes week celebrations between 25th and 27th November during which Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) venerates its fighters who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Tamil people.
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PA slams international aid conference

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 12:03 GMT]
(News Feature) As Norway confirmed the participation of US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, British Secretary of State for International Development Claire Short and European Union Commissioner Margot Wallstrom at a high level aid conference for Sri Lanka to be held in Oslo on November 25, the main Sri Lankan opposition party Friday condemned the event as "rewarding terrorism."
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Protecting Northeastern Coastal Resources

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 02:14 GMT]
Northeast costline, approximately 1000 km long, is home to more than 30 estuaries and sustains a rich ecosystem. Northeast region has remained relatively unhindered by human activity and less affected by the degradation and depletion of coastal habitats usually caused by urbanization, economic growth and overdevelopment.
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Kumburupiddy displaced struggle for survival

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 00:54 GMT]
Hundreds of displaced Tamil families returned from Vanni to resettle, live in temporary sheds put up with cadjan dried leaves in Kumburupiddy, a traditional Tamil village twenty two km north of Trincomalee district, waiting assistance to reconstruct their destroyed houses and to rehabilitate their lives. They were driven out of Kumburupiddy when SLA soldiers moved into the village in 1990, returnees said.
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East development review before Sub-Committee meet

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 November 2002, 22:37 GMT]
Three Tamil Parliamentarians and political officials of the Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from the eastern province are meeting in Kilinochchi Saturday to review development needs of the eastern districts in preparation for the forthcoming meeting of the Sub-Committee for Rehabilitation and Resettlement scheduled for Monday, 18 November, sources said.
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LTTE opens political office at Kumburupiddy

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 November 2002, 21:38 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Friday opened a political office at Kumburupiddy, a traditional Tamil village, twenty-two km north of Trincomalee town. "We should work hard to resettle the displaced and rehabilitate their lives," said Mr. Sivakumar, Kumburupiddy LTTE political head addressing a gathering, which followed the ceremonial opening.
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UNF government briefs Chandrika on Thailand peace talks

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 November 2002, 21:37 GMT]
A senior minister in the United National Front government Friday briefed President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge on the outcome of the second session of the first round of Thailand peace talks. The Presidential Secretariat later confirmed the meeting between President and Minister Milinda Morogoda through a media release.
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Parliament approves President votes without cut

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 November 2002, 21:33 GMT]
The parliament Friday evening approved the votes for the offices of the President and Prime Minister without cut. The committee stage budget debate, which began Friday morning, continued for about five hours. The votes were approved without division.
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LTTE seeks applicants to join Police Force

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 November 2002, 18:25 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has requested men and women who satisfy requirements published by the LTTE Police Personnel department to apply to fill vacant positions in its Police Force, sources said. This request follows the opening of a Police station at Palugamam in Batticaloa district last month.
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Ratwatte released on bail

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 November 2002, 14:00 GMT]
The Colombo High Court Friday allowed all the fifteen accused in the Udathalawinne murder case in a sum of five hundred thousand rupees personal bail and fixed the trial for January 20 next year. The accused included the former Deputy Defence Minister General Anurudha Ratwatte and his two sons Lohan and Chanuka.
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Parliament adopts UNF second budget

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 November 2002, 07:49 GMT]
The second budget of the United National Front government was passed Thursday in parliament by a majority of thirty-six votes. One hundred twenty nine parliamentarians voted for the budget and ninety three voted against. Parliamentarians of the main opposition People's Alliance (PA), Sinhala hardliner party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the National Unity Alliance (NUA), the breakaway group of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress voted against the budget.
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Access to quality education is Children's Right - UNICEF

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 November 2002, 22:18 GMT]
"The prolonged conflict has affected the education system badly in the northeast and as a result too many children are still not in school. However getting children back to school is not enough. We also have to remember to look into the environment of the school and quality of the teaching," said Mr.Jean Luc Bories, Chief project Director of the UNICEF in Colombo when he addressed the concluding session of the two-day North East Education Exhibition, "Towards a new Era," at Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College Thursday evening.
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Budget fails to recognize needs of NorthEast -Sampanthan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 November 2002, 21:15 GMT]
"The budget does not provide any relief to the devastated northeast. To treat the northeast in the same way as the rest of the country would tantamount to a refusal to acknowledge the devastation and deprivation suffered by the people of northeast," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) group leader participating in the budget debate Thursday.
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Human skull, bones found in SLA vacated premises

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 November 2002, 20:34 GMT]
Chavakachcheri Magistrate, Mr.Annalingam Premashankar, Wednesday evening inspected a house vacated recently by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Mirusuvil where a human skull was discovered from the refuse dump, sources said.
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NE Resettlement, Relief Oslo talk focus- Peiris

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 November 2002, 19:39 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government Thursday announced that it would submit a white paper regarding the issues that are to be taken up for discussion which is scheduled to be held on November 25 at Oslo, Norway. "Priority will be given to resettlement of displaced and relief to the people in the war torn northeast province in the island at the Oslo aid talks," said Minister G.L.Peiris at the weekly cabinet briefing held Thursday.
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Insurrection fears as JVP commemorates dead

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 November 2002, 22:25 GMT]
The Janata Vimukthi Peramuna, the third largest party in Sri Lanka’s Parliament, Wednesday commemorated in Colombo its founder leader Mr. Rohana Wijeweera and party cadres who were killed by the Sri Lankan armed forces during two unsuccessful but bloody insurrections in 1971 and 89 to capture state power.
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Exhibition highlights Children's Rights

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 November 2002, 21:45 GMT]
A two-day education exhibition named "Towards a new Era" organized by the North East Provincial Ministry of Education and sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was inaugurated Wednesday morning in Trincomalee. The main objective of the exhibition is to raise social awareness on the rights of children, said Mr.S. Subramaniam, Additional Provincial Director of Education in charge of the project.
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Vavuniya Children with Special Needs excel in sports

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 November 2002, 18:57 GMT]
Kirupananthamoorthy Nitharshan and Raveendran Thanusha, students at the Empowerment Campus in Vavuniya district, obtained medals in a nationwide sports meet for children with special needs organized by the Colombo Metropolitan Rotary Club, held earlier this month.
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Sea Tigers, SLN confer on Jaffna issues

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 November 2002, 12:44 GMT]
The Deputy Commander of the Sea Tigers Wednesday urged the Sri Lanka Navy not to engage in any action that would disrupt the peace negotiations to end the island’s conflict at a meeting with a Sri Lankan military delegation in the no man’s land in Muhamalai in southern Jaffna Wednesday.
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Writers felicitated at Trinco literary celebrations

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 November 2002, 21:18 GMT]
Three leading writers, Pundit R.Vadivelu, Ms N.Baleswary, Mr.S.Mohamed Anas and a leading local physician Mr.Somapala Ranasinghe were honoured at the Divisional Literary Day celebrations held Tuesday at Trincomalee Town Hall organized by the Trincomalee Divisional Secretariat. Presiding over the celebration, Trincomalee Divisional Secretary Mr. Sundaram Arumainayagam said, "we should preserve our arts and culture from being destroyed. We should not forget that the glory of a race is preserved by its literature and culture."
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Fresh water crisis looms large over Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 November 2002, 16:38 GMT]
Jaffna is running out of drinking water because its underground fresh water sources are getting polluted rapidly, said a German expert in the northern town Tuesday. Mr. H. Karft, the German expert, spoke about the drinking water crisis that Jaffna will have to face if adequate measures are not taken to arrest pollution of the underground water sources of the peninsula at the regional office of the GTZ.
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Muslim fishermen complain of attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 November 2002, 16:36 GMT]
About seventy five Muslim fishermen entered the conference hall of the Trincomalee district secretariat Monday evening, interrupting the meeting of the District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) which was in progress, and lodged complaint to the parliamentarians and security officials that they had been assaulted by a group of persons backed by members State armed forces and police personnel in civil uniform, sources said.
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MP calls for camp removal, opening of road

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 November 2002, 01:55 GMT]
Selvam Adaikalanathan, Member of Parliament (MP) of the Vanni district, appealed to the Minister of Interior, Mr John Amaratunge, to remove the army detachment camped at the road leading to Kunjukulam village from the Mannar-Madawachchi road, sources said.
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SLA provides escort to LTTE cadres

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 November 2002, 19:47 GMT]
A contingent of 185 members of the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) arrived in Batticaloa from the northern Vanni region Monday evening with special commander for Batticaloa-Ampara, Mr.Robert and commander of women-wing Nilavini, leading the LTTE members who made the journey to Batticaloa to take part in the annual Heroes' Day celebration which falls on 27 November, sources said.
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Resettlement should focus on most deserving –Sampanthan

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 November 2002, 19:45 GMT]
Tamil national alliance MP, Mr. R. Sampanthan, Monday strongly objected to moves by Sri Lankan government officials to ignore the most deserving and the most numerous Internally Displaced Persons in Trincomalee and instead to give priority to demographic balance in selecting families for resettlement projects in the district.
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SLA asked for EPDP weapons over journalist's murder

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 November 2002, 19:13 GMT]
The Jaffna Magistrate Monday directed the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army to hand over to court all firearms received from the paramilitary group EPDP under the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement between the Liberation Tigers and Colombo to identify the weapon allegedly used for murdering journalist Mr. Mylvaganam Nimalarajan on 19th October 2000.
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Rebel Muslim MPs cut committee deal

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 November 2002, 15:08 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka Monday appointed a committee headed by its Interior secretary to look after the interests and concerns of Muslims in the island’s northeast in a bid to retain the crucial support of eight MPs of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the main partner of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s ruling coalition, who have been boycotting Parliament amid allegations that the opposition was manipulating them to instigate communal tensions in the east to scuttle the peace talks for ending the island’s conflict and to topple the United National Front government.
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Kuchchaveli IDPs urge speedy resettlement

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 November 2002, 17:34 GMT]
Hundreds of displaced Tamil families from villages in Kuchchaveli division, 34 km north of the Trincomalee district and now residing in refugee camps elsewhere Sunday said that they should be resettled in their areas without delay and should be provided with necessary facilities. They attended a meeting held Sunday at Kuchchaveli Vivekanandan Maha Vidiyalayam where the resettlement of the displaced and their rehabilitation were discussed.
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TEEDOR appeals IDPs to Resettle

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 November 2002, 14:59 GMT]
Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organization (TEEDOR), a development agency working in the NorthEast, has requested displaced residents from villages of Maiyilavettuvan, Eeeralakulam and Veerakkattaru in Eravur regional boundary, 30 km Northwest of Batticaloa, to consider moving back to their villages, source in the east said.
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Tigers, GOSL optimistic after first defence meet

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 November 2002, 13:39 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers and the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) said they were confident of making further progress in stabilising the island’s peace process on the ground as their high-level defence teams wound up four hours of talks in Omanthai, 18 kilometres north of Vavuniya, on the line of control, Sunday.
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JVP lambasts peace talks

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 November 2002, 20:07 GMT]
“It is very foolish to believe that Norway, which is America’s quisling, would bring peace to our country. America is trying to oppress and rule over the people of the world. It is America that has unleashed terror on Iraq, Cuba, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Eritrea,” said the Janata Vimukthi Permamuna (JVP), currently a powerful third force in Sinhala politics, in a pamphlet issued Saturday at the conclusion of a house-to-house campaign against the peace process.
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Kanjirankuda inquiry one sided - Chandra Nehru

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 November 2002, 02:40 GMT]
"The Committee appointed to investigate the Kanjirankuda violence has produced a grossly one-sided report. I have no faith in this Committee. I urge the Prime Minister to appoint a new Committee that can maintain its independence and conduct an impartial and thorough investigation of the recent violence," said Chandra Nehru, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ampara district while speaking in the Parliament on 8 October.
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Kanjirankuda report unacceptable - Vivekanandan

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 November 2002, 19:34 GMT]
"The report on the Kanjirankuda violence is mainly based on the statements given by members of the Special Task Force (STF) and representatives of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). No prominence is given to statements from the people affected by the violence and therefore I am not accepting the report," said Samithamby Vivekanandan, the only Tamil member of the three member committee appointed by the Sri Lanka Government to investigate the killings of eight Tamil civilians wounding at least 20 at Kanchirankuda on 9 October when the STF opened fire on protestors.
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NE rehabilitation cannot be de-linked from peace process

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 November 2002, 17:41 GMT]
"Rehabilitation and reconstruction issues in Sri Lanka's northeast cannot be de-linked from the peace process," said Mr.Yasushi Akashi, Japan special envoy to Sri Lanka addressing a press conference in Colombo, Friday.
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Tamil member of Kanchirankuda committee dissents

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 November 2002, 17:30 GMT]
The sole Tamil member of the committee appointed by Sri Lanka’s Interior Minister to inquire into the shooting incident at Kanchirankuda on the island’s southeastern coast on October 9, 2002 said Friday that he strongly disagreed with the conclusion of that his colleagues had arrived at.
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LTTE opens Sampoor Police Station

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 November 2002, 17:01 GMT]
The first Tamil Eelam Police Station in the Trincomalee district was declared open Friday morning at Sampoor, a village in Mutur east. The President of the Mutur Mosques Federation, Mr.Alhaj S.M.Javabdeen, unveiled the name board of the Police Station. Mr. Uthayan, Trincomalee District Commander of the LTTE opened the new police station by cutting the ribbon.
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Discussion on core political issues to start

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 November 2002, 21:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government said Thursday that it would begin discussions next week with the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) on political issues to find a solution to the ethnic conflict.
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Tigers help IDPs resettle in high security zone

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 November 2002, 18:08 GMT]
(News Feature) In a major gesture to reiterate their commitment to peace in Sri Lanka, the Liberation Tigers Thursday helped displaced civilians settle in a village situated in one of their most heavily defended high security zones in the north. The village of Kudarappu is on Jaffna’s southeastern coast in the Nagar kovil sector where the armed forces of the Liberation Tigers and Sri Lanka face each other across heavily defended and mined Defence Lines.
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MP gives up boycott after meeting SLA commanders

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 November 2002, 14:22 GMT]
Mr. Gnanamuthu Krishnapillai, Member of Parliament (MP) of Batticaloa district agreed to give up his boycotting of parliament after meeting commanders of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Thursday morning. The MP met with Brigadier S.R. Balasuriya, commander of 23rd division in Minneriya and Colonel R. de Silva, commander of 23-3 Brigade in Batticalo at the MP's residence in Kaluwanchikudi on instructions from Joint Chief of Staff, Lionel Balagalle.
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Mannar Co-op council seeks building from SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 November 2002, 13:09 GMT]
The District Co-operative Council of Mannar has requested Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence to return a two-story building at the entrance to the northwestern town, occupied by the Sri Lankan armed forces from 1990, officials said. The building for long functioned as the SLA’s office for issuing permits to civilians for entering and staying in the Mannar Island. The building’s upper floor was used by the SLA for interrogating and detaining civilians arrested on suspicion and during cordon and search operations.
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Co-ordination of Trinco NGO activities stressed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 November 2002, 07:46 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Wednesday stressed better co-ordination between the local non-governmental organisations in implementing rehabilitation and reconstruction projects in the Trincomalee district." From January next year we will supervise all projects carried out by local NGOs in the district with a view to rectify shortcomings, duplication of works and other discrepancies. However, we will not directly interfere with the administration of the NGOs," said Mr.S.Tilak, LTTE district political head at a discussion held Wednesday at Trincomalee Valluvar Kottam.
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SLA refuses Vanni returnees to resettle in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 November 2002, 07:44 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army Wednesday refused permission for ten displaced families who returned from Vanni region to resettle at Koddady in Point Pedro in Jaffna district. These families left the area in 1996 following military operation by the SLA.
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Upbeat budget speech foresees rapid economic development

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 November 2002, 18:14 GMT]
The Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Wednesday presented the second budget of the ruling United National Front government in parliament that emphasized on generating employment and developing the rural sector. "With the support expected from development partners in Oslo and Tokyo the UNF government will launch a number of new projects next year for the creating a number of productive employment opportunities," said Finance Minister Mr.K.N.Choksy when delivering his budget address.
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More Tamil Eelam police stations

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 November 2002, 14:50 GMT]
The Tamil Eelam Police serice will open its first police station in Trincomalee district at Sampoor on Thursday, LTTE officials in the eastern port town said. The Sampoor station will be the 19th of the Tamil Eelam police service. The Liberation Tigers Tuesday opened a new police station in Palugamam at a ceremony attended by local government officials and community and religious leaders.
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MP demands investigation on SLA conduct

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 November 2002, 12:28 GMT]
G. Krishnapillai, also known as Vellimalai, Member of Parliament (MP) of Batticaloa district, is boycotting the parliament protesting against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for using force in trying to stop him from attending a district development meeting held in Batticaloa Secretariat on 29th October.
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Negotiators to study ethnic conflict resolution models

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 November 2002, 22:07 GMT]
(News Feature) In a major step forward in the Norwegian peace process, both the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers said Sunday they are to begin exploring longer term solutions to the island's protracted ethnic conflict. In another surprise announcement at the press conference Sunday which concluded the second round of direct talks between the two sides, the chief negotiators of both sides said they would be examining ethnic conflict resolution efforts from around the world.
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Top rights official to join peace process

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 November 2002, 22:06 GMT]
(News Feature) As the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers begin to explore models for a political solution to the island's protracted ethnic conflict, calls for human rights to be given greater prominence in the deliberations look set to receive a fillip with the participation of a senior international human rights official. Responding to reporters' questions, the chief negotiators of both sides announced Sunday that Mr. Ian Martin, who has considerable experience of human rights work in Rwanda, East Timor, Bosnia and Eritrea would join the talks in future.
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'No time frame for talks'

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 November 2002, 22:04 GMT]
(News Feature) Whilst hailing the success of the second round of talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers in Thailand last week as "exceeding expectations," Norwegian facilitators echoed the views of both sides' chief negotiators in saying the peace process could not be time bound.
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LTTE emphasises cordial relations with Muslims

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 November 2002, 18:21 GMT]
"The Tamil Eelam Police force will function without discriminating against anyone on grounds of religion, ethnicity or creed. Our leadership is firm that there should be cordial relations with the Muslim people in this region. Col. Karuna has sent us specific instructions in this regard from Thailand," said T. Ramesh, the Liberation Tigers‚ special commander for the Batticaloa-Amparai region, addressing the opening ceremony of the Tamil Eelam Police station in Palugamam, 30 kilometres southwest of Batticaloa, Tuesday.
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Mylanthanai massacre accused make statements from dock

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 November 2002, 18:20 GMT]
All eighteen accused soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Tuesday made statements from the dock in the Colombo High Court (HC) in the Mylanthanai massacre case denying their involvement in the crime. The case is being heard daly from 2nd October before a Sinhala speaking Jury at the request of the accused, who are also Sinhalese.
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Proper burial rites requested for bodies left in bunker

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 November 2002, 18:19 GMT]
A bizarre application was made by a son Tuesday before the Chavakachcheri Magistrate seeking permission to exhume the bodies of his dead father and mother which have been left inside the bunker in his house at Nunavil two years ago before he left the area at the height of large military operation launched by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).
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Police arrests student in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 November 2002, 16:28 GMT]
The Point Pedro Police Sunday arrested a Tamil student for causing damage to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) property in the high security zone on 2 September during an agitation by residents and students demanding the removal of SLA camps and sentries located in the vicinity of Hartley College and Methodist Girls High School.
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Trinco observes Major Ganesh's sixteenth death anniversary

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 November 2002, 14:58 GMT]
The sixteenth death anniversary of Major Ganesh, a commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was observed in Trincomalee district Tuesday. Major Ganesh hailed from Kantalai, a traditional Tamil village that has now become a Sinhala dominated town in the Trincomalee district following systematic state aided colonization schemes under successive governments.
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Bribery officials quiz JVP leader

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 November 2002, 14:28 GMT]
The parliamentary group leader of the Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Mr.Wimal Weerawanse, Tuesday appeared before the Bribery and Corruption Commission on notice. He was quizzed by a team of bribery officials about a complaint lodged by a person from Piliyandala that he was maintaining a bank account with another person in the name of JVP, sources said.
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Government briefs Buddhist prelates on Thailand talks.

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 November 2002, 12:47 GMT]
The Constitutional Affairs Minister Monday briefed the Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters the outcome of the second round of peace talks held between the United National Front government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Thailand last week.
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Japanese special envoy’s visit highlights interest

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 November 2002, 17:42 GMT]
‘Tamils and Muslims have lived peacefully for long in the east. Misunderstandings arose between the two communities after the Tamils started the armed struggle for the rights. But we now believe that these can be resolved through dialogue,' a delegation of Muslim religious and civil society leaders in Batticaloa told Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Japan's special envoy for peace building and rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka, who visited the eastern district Monday.
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Tamil poetry 'Towards the path of Peace' released in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 November 2002, 23:12 GMT]
A collection of Tamil poems titled 'Towards the path of Peace' and composed by Poet Sigandithasan was released in Trincomalee Saturday evening. "No one can benefit by derailing the peace process now being taken forward," said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group leader Mr.R.Sampanthan addressing the event.
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Rehabilitation Ministry withdraws spoilt WFP rice from NE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 November 2002, 17:52 GMT]
The Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Ministry Sunday began withdrawing its stock of spoilt rice sent to the Trincomalee Multi Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) under the World Food Programme (WFP) for the distribution to the internally displaced in refugee camps and welfare centres in the east port town. The withdrawal was prompted by the Medical Officer of Health (MoH) declaration Friday that the rice was unfit for consumption. Rehabilitation Ministry sources said spoilt rice sent to Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mannar will also be withdrawn and be replaced with good quality stock.
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Long term political matters on Talks agenda

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 November 2002, 13:58 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), at the conclusion of the second meeting of the first round of peace talks held in Thailand, agreed to set up a joint task force (JTF) to identify immediate humanitarian and rehabilitation needs of north east, work towards military de-escalation and to look at political questions at the heart of two decades of war. The JTF is first tasked to prepare for a political-level meeting of key government s to take place in Norway on 25 November.
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Colombo’s CFA obligations list remains long

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 November 2002, 15:04 GMT]
The Sri Lankan military occupies 216 temples and churches and at least 45 schools in Jaffna. In scores of other schools and places of worship in the northern peninsula the Sri Lankan armed forces have vacated only buildings but are camped in or around the same locations. The Sri Lankan government agreed to pull out its armed forces from schools and places of worship in the island’s Northeastern province when it signed a ceasefire agreement (CFA) with the Liberation Tigers in February 2002.
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SLN takes into custody six LTTE cadres

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 November 2002, 14:50 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy Friday evening intercepted a boat between Trincomalee and Sampoor in the east coast and took six members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam into custody. Later they were handed over to the Trincomalee Police.
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Abandoned villages in Trinco to be revived

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 November 2002, 02:34 GMT]
The Trincomalee District Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Committee (DRRC) met Friday and decided to take immediate steps to provide drinking water, electricity supply, education and other basic facilities to villages abandoned due to displacement following war. "We cannot allow our people to stay in refugee camps and welfare centres indefinitely after the ceasefire agreement came into force. We must see that they are resettled in their villages," said Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr. R. Sampanthan speaking at the meeting.
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Thenmaradchi displaced sit-in-protest continues

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 November 2002, 02:17 GMT]
Hundreds of displaced people Friday continued their sit-in-protest for the second day in front of the Chavakachcheri Divisional Secretariat demanding the immediate removal of the Sri Lanka Army located in more than fifty houses in Meesalai and Manthuvil in Thenmaradchchi area, sources said. The protest launched by the consortium of welfare organization forced closure of DS office on Friday.
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Accused in Devananda attempted murder released

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 November 2002, 01:55 GMT]
Colombo High Court Friday discharged Kathirgamathamby Jeyapalan who was charged under the Prevention of terrorism Act (PTA) with attempting to kill Douglas Devananda, Secretary General of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), by poisoning him in February 1996, legal sources said.
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Protest against rape, murder of Tamil woman

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 November 2002, 01:12 GMT]
Hundreds of people Friday held a protest march in Vavuniya town demanding immediate inquiry into the mysterious killing of Lucia Aurampillai, 42, after sexual assault by unidentified persons. The protest march commenced Friday morning from Sivan temple at Kovilkulam and arrived at the Vavuniya district secretariat. Women organizations, non-governmental institutions and the people of the area organized the protest campaign.
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MOH certifies 'WFP rice unfit for consumption'

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 November 2002, 22:45 GMT]
Trincomalee Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Friday informed the Multi Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) in the east port town to stop the distribution of rice supplied under the World Food Programme (WFP) project as it was found unfit for human consumption. WFP earlier this week denied a TamilNet report of October 8 that rice the UN agency had supplied was spoilt and not fit for distribution to the internally displaced in the district.
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Religious leaders meet to diffuse tension in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 November 2002, 22:36 GMT]
Curfew was re-imposed for the third day Friday afternoon till Saturday morning as seven police divisions in the city of Colombo are slowly returning to normalcy with the heavy presence of state armed forces and police, security sources said.
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Karuna and Hakeem to work closely

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 November 2002, 15:27 GMT]
Improving the security situation in the East was a key topic of discussion in the second round of peace talks between the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) and the Government of SriLanka which began on the 31 October in Thailand. "Mr. Hakeem and Mr. Karuna agreed to work together in the east to meet with local communities and address their specific concerns and aspirations, including matters relating to the occupation and cultivation of land," a release from the Norwegian Embassy in Thailand said.
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