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FES donates computers to Sampoor School[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 December 2005, 16:53 GMT]Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), German Non-governmental organization, through the Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU) handed over two computers and accessories worth more than two hundred thousand rupees to Sampoor Sri Murugan Vidiyalayam in Muttur east in Trincomalee district to promote computer education to students. FES is also providing Rs 200,000 to build a Children’s Park. The Park is expected to be declared open on Thaipongal Day in January 2006. Full story >> Mannar Police interrogates, detains photographer[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 December 2005, 16:44 GMT]Mr.Thevarajah Kirubakaran, 29, father of one child and a photographer by profession, was taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on December 29 at the site where a claymore mine was recovered near the Mannar Bishop's House and is being detained in the Mannar Police Station for further investigations. SLN handed over Mr.Kirubakaran to the Mannar Police on December 30, human rights sources said. Full story >> Two Mannar fishermen reported missing[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 December 2005, 16:39 GMT]Mr.Jeyaraj Terrance aged 25, father of two children and Mr.Sanmugam Govindan aged 36, both fishermen from Kitaspathiri, Pesalai in Mannar district have been reported missing since December 28, sources from Mannar said. According to complaints lodged with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Mannar and Mannar Citizen Committee by Ms Subashini (25), wife of Mr.Terrance and Ms. Shanmugavelu (56), mother of Mr.Govindan, both had gone for fishing in Mannar Sea in a fibreglass boat on December 28 but have not returned yet, sources said. Full story >> SLA conducts house-to-house search in Ilavalai[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 December 2005, 12:46 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off and conducted a house-to-house search Mailankudal area in Illavalai 12km north of Jaffna town Saturday for nearly four hours from 7 a.m, sources from Jaffna said. The search area included Mareesankudal where two vehicles belonging to Halo Trust, robbed Tuesday from the Organization's offices in Nallur Jaffna, were later found abandoned. Full story >> 920 Tamils arrested in major cordon, search operation in Colombo[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 December 2005, 11:01 GMT]Sri Lankan Military troopers and the Colombo Police have arrested 920 Tamils, including 105 Tamil women, in a joint cordon and search operation in Colombo between Friday midnight and Saturday noon, police said. The arrested were taken in busses to 8 different police stations and were being photographed, finger-printed and videoed by the Sri Lankan Intelligence agencies, informed sources said. The search operation was conducted in Tamil residential areas in Wellawatte, Bambalapitiya, Maradana, Kotahena, Grandpass and Mutuwal. Fifty three Tamils were detained after identity-registration in the operation code named "Strangers Night III," Police said. Full story >> Christian prelates meet LTTE in Kilinochchi[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 December 2005, 10:05 GMT] Bishops and Senior Clergymen from different districts across Sri Lanka met with the Liberation Tigers leadership in Kilinochchi Peace Secretariat at 11.45 a.m. Friday. Discussions focussed on exploring ways to return normalcy to the NorthEast which has witnessed increasing levels of violence in the last few weeks, sources in Kilinochchi said. Prelates expressed their deep desire that peace return to NorthEast.Full story >> Civilian shot dead at Urelu in Jaffna[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 December 2005, 09:35 GMT] Unidentified gunmen riding in a motorbike shot and killed a 28 year old man, Jeyaseelan Yogalingam, near a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) checkpost located close to Urumpirai Hindu College, Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m., Chunnakam Police said.Full story >> Six SLA troops injured in attack on Varani 52-4 Brigade HQ[TamilNet, Friday, 30 December 2005, 18:38 GMT]Six Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured in an attack on 52-4 Brigade Head Quarters in Varani, in the Thenmaradchi sector of the Jaffna Penisula, around 9 p.m., Friday, sources from Jaffna said. An explosion was heard in the area, followed by several gunshots, according to residents in the area. The SLA camp is located on the Kodikamam – Pt.Pedro road, between Varani market and Varani Maha Vidyalayam. Full story >> SLA imposes restrictions on Thiruketheeswaram residents[TamilNet, Friday, 30 December 2005, 18:33 GMT]The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has imposed restriction and close surveillance on the movement of about forty families residing in the surrounding of the historic Thiruketheeswaram Sivan Temple following several explosions and violent incidents in other parts of the Mannar district. These families are among several hundred families displaced in the year 1990 due to violence. They were allowed to resettle to assist reconstruction work on the damaged temple. Full story >> SLN withdraws passes from Punguduthivu fishermen[TamilNet, Friday, 30 December 2005, 14:55 GMT]Angered by the damages to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) building caused by the residents of Punguduthivu when they protested against the rape of Tharsini (20), the SLN command has withdrawn fishing passes from Punguduthivu fishermen, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian said Friday. Mr Ponnambalam has written a letter to Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, Deputy Minister of Defence, requesting him to direct the SLN to immediately reissue the passes. Full story >> Claymore discovery, a deception by SLN, SLA, says LTTE[TamilNet, Friday, 30 December 2005, 11:49 GMT]The alleged discovery of claymore mines by the Sri Lanka security forces in Mannar Pattithottam area and along Mannar-Madavachchi road is a canard concocted by the Security forces to create a war atmosphere in the area, said the Mannar district Political Wing of the Liberation Tigers in a press release issued Friday. "We deny any involvement in the planting of these mines and condemn the Sri Lanka security forces for creating conditions where Mannar residents can be subjected to further harassment and indiscriminate attacks," said the release. Full story >> Gunmen fire on SLA patrol in Jaffna[TamilNet, Friday, 30 December 2005, 11:24 GMT]Two soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were injured when unidentified men fired at an SLA patrol close to the Jaffna Kandarmadam junction and Jaffna Hindu Ladies College Friday around 2.30 p.m, sources said. The firefight lasted for more than 10 minutes, according to the same sources. However, the Sri Lanka military did not confirm of injuries to soldiers. Full story >> SLN's restrictions strip Mannar fishermen of livelihood- Selvam[TamilNet, Friday, 30 December 2005, 10:50 GMT]Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Wanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Thursday appealed to Sri Lanka's President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse by a memorandum to take immediate steps to lift the ban on using boats with 30 HP engines and restrictions in taking kerosene by fishermen of Mannar district. He said the restrictions imposed by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) after the violent incidents of December 22 have deprived the livelihood of many local fishermen. Full story >> Rajapakse concludes visit to India[TamilNet, Friday, 30 December 2005, 10:29 GMT]The Prime Minister of India and the President of Sri Lanka reached bilateral understanding on identifying joint ventures, amongst others, for the development of the eastern port city of Trincomalee, and its surrounding region, according to the Joint Statement. Both countries are to prepare a Master Plan for realizing the project, the statement said. The statement stressed the importance of a negotiated settlement between the parties to the conflict through the internal processes that promote consensus and reconciliation, and said both sides emphasized the need for the strict observance of the ceasefire and immediate resumption of talks aimed at strengthening the ceasefire. Full story >> Four claymore mines recovered in Mannar - SLA, SLN[TamilNet, Friday, 30 December 2005, 10:18 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) troopers recovered two Claymore mines and Sri Lanka Army (SLN) soldiers recovered two more Claymore mines Thursday in Mannar according to the Police in Mannar. The mines were tied to trees, sources added. Full story >> TamilNadu CM cancels Rajapakse meeting[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 19:16 GMT]"Dinathanthi," a Tamil daily based in Tamil Nadu, India, in its print edition Thursday quoted India's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Navtej Sarna, as saying that the meeting scheduled for Friday between the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, Ms. Jayalalitha Jayaram, in Chennai was cancelled due to the SL President's "full schedule in Delhi," and the Chief Minister not being available that day. Disclosing that the Sri Lankan President was scheduled to visit the bordering state of Kerala to attend a pooja at the Thiruvayoor temple on Friday, the paper said that the cancellation is more due to the increasing concerns being expressed in Tamil Nadu on the Sri Lankan Tamils' situation. Full story >> Bishops, clergy to meet LTTE political head[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 18:51 GMT]Clergy and Bishops from various parts of the island are scheduled to meet with Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan, the political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, on Friday to discuss the current political situation following the slaying of senior Tamil politician Joseph Pararajasingam, sources in Colombo said. Bishops from Colombo, Kandy and Kurunagala were expected to attend the meeting with the Bishops of Jaffna and Mannar, the sources said. Full story >> Peace Group calls for early resumption of talks[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 18:22 GMT]The National Anti-War Front (NAWF), in a statement issued in Colombo Thursday, called upon the Government of Sri Lanka to invite the Norwegian facilitators immediately to resume negotiations with the Liberation Tigers. NAWF also urged the militaries on both sides to meet with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), to explore ways to stop the violence. Full story >> Solheim to visit Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 18:15 GMT]Minister of International Development in the new Norwegian Government and peace envoy, Eric Solheim, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from 23rd January to 26th January, said a press release issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued in Oslo Thursday. Full story >> Pararajasingham slaying has endangered direct talks - TNA MPs[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 16:33 GMT]Addressing the mourners who had gathered to pay the last tribute to the slain Tamil National Alliance MP, Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, TNA parliamentarians Mavai Senathirajah and M.K. Sivajilingam said that the Government of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan President, in his capacity as Defense Minister, are responsible for the continued engagement of paramilitary cadres and for the killing of the MP. "The whole affair of resuming the peace process has been placed at maximum risk by the brutal act," Mr. Sivajilngam told the gathering. Full story >> Jaffna Catholic hierarchy mourns the death of Pararajasingham[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 13:38 GMT] The Bishop of Jaffna and the priests belonging to the diocese expressed profound sadness at the loss of Joseph Pararajasingham and said the act was unjustifiable and unacceptable to men of good-will. "Perpetrators of this inhuman act will, one day, stand trial in the presence of the creator," Bishop of Jaffna Thomas Soundaranaygam said in his message. Full story >> HALO Trust vehicle fleet ordered moved inside HSZ[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 13:02 GMT]Government of Sri Lanka has ordered all vehicles belonging to HALO Trust, an NGO involved in demining operations in Jaffna, to be moved inside the High Security Zone (HSZ), said a media release issued by HALO Trust in Jaffna Thursday. The release added that the Halo Trust's demining activities would be halted until further notice. This directive follows the recent robbery of two vehicles belonging to the Halo Trust. Full story >> STF soldiers fire into LTTE held area in East[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 12:03 GMT]Around fifty soldiers of the Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) Thursday morning 11:00 a.m. opened fire at random into paddy fields located inside the LTTE held area, dispersing more than a hundred farmers working in the fields. Only minor injuries were sustained by a few farmers in the gunfire, LTTE's Udumpankulam area Co-ordinator Mr. Veeramani told TamilNet. Full story >> Grenade attacks in Inuvil, VVT, Nallur[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 11:54 GMT]One Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was seriously injured when unknown gunmen attacked an SLA foot patrol in Inuvil area, Jaffna, at 6 p.m Thursday. Inuvil has been isolated after the incident as the SLA has cordoned off the area. No other details of the injured soldier are available. Full story >> Policeman shot, seriously wounded in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 11:40 GMT]Unidentified gunmen shot and wounded Alagaratnam Lingarajah, 36, a Sri Lanka Police constable, Wednesday night 8:45 p.m. at Thandawanveli Telecom Juction in Batticaloa town. Gunmen riding in a motorbike opened fire on the policeman, who was off-duty and was going to a shop to purchase food, Batticaloa Police said. The wounded policeman has been admitted to Batticaloa Hospital. Full story >> SLMM chief reiterates call for direct dialogue[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 09:35 GMT]Hagrup Haukland, the Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, in a press statement issued from Colombo on Thursday, condemning the claymore attack on the Sril Lanka Army vehicle on Tuesday as well as all other attacks, has called the parties for direct dialogue. The spiral of violence is not conducive to a such high-level meeting, he said, clarifying that his monitors were still operating in Jaffna-, Mannar-, Vavuniya-, Trincomalee-, Batticaloa- and Ampara districts. However, the Nordic monitors cannot operate in an insecure environment that has made the work increasingly difficult for his monitors, the SLMM chief has warned. Full story >> 16-years-old boy shot dead in Thenmaradchi, Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 08:50 GMT] Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday midnight shot and killed Thambirajah Arul Ajanthan, 16, at his house located in Eruvan in Kodikamam. The gunmen who entered the victim's house premises, following a Sri Lanka Army patrol in the area, opened fire and killed the victim, the younger brother of a youth who took part in organising Martyrs day remembrance events, civilian sources said. Full story >> Grenade attack on SLA sentry, soldiers assault civilians in Mannar[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 08:43 GMT]Unidentified men lobbed a grenade at a Sri Lanka Army sentry, which is located in Mannar playgrounds Wednesday night around 9:30 p.m. No one was injured in the incident. More than hundred SLA soldiers, following the explosion, launched a search operation in areas, Moor Street, Sinnakadai and Uppukulam. The soldiers fired in air at random and assaulted civilian travellers waiting in the Mannar bus stand, sources said. Full story >> Film, book released to mark tsunami anniversary[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 December 2005, 01:15 GMT]North East Provincial Education and Cultural Ministry released a short film "Thuduppu" (Oar) and a compilation of selected paintings of students in the province to mark the first year anniversary of the tsunami. Mr. R. Thiagalingam, Provincial Education Ministry handed over the first copy of the book to Mr.S.Amirthalingam, Secretary to the Provincial Governor, and lawyer and film critic Mr.K.Sivapalan handed over a copy of the film to the chief guest at an event held at Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College Monday evening, sources said. Full story >> Mannar observes hartal condemning Pararajasingham killing[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 18:44 GMT]A general shutdown was observed in the Mannar district Wednesday, condemning the killing of the late Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham. Mannar District Tamil Resurgence Movement organized the hartal. Normal life in Mannar town and its suburbs was completely paralyzed, sources said. Full story >> Kilinochchi pays tribute to Pararajasingham[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 12:43 GMT] "It is the occupying Sri Lankan forces that have unleashed violence on the Tamil people. Destructive effects of such crimes will likely boomerang on the Sinhala armed forces. The Sri Lankan Government is solely responsible for controlling its armed forces to bring back normalcy," said the Liberation Tigers' Political Head, Mr.S. P. Thamilchelvan, addressing the mourners who gathered to pay tribute to the slain TNA MP, Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, at the Kilinochchi Cultural Hall Wedesday morning. Full story >> Two youths shot and killed in Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 12:01 GMT]Sri Lanka Army soldiers manning the checkpoint at Mutthirai Junction, located on Jaffna - Point Pedro Road near Nallur, stopped two youths who came in a motorbike and shot dead both of them after beating one of them against a wall. The incident took place Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Civilian sources said that the youths were inebriated after a party, and stopped only at a distance from the checkpoint when the soldiers ordered them to stop. Jaffna Police said that the SLA soldiers had recovered a grenade from the killed youths but witnesses said the youths were unarmed. Meanwhile, two SLA soldiers were wounded in two different grenade attacks in Jaffna Wednesday. Full story >> Residents against new SLA camp in Barathipuram[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 11:39 GMT]People of Barathipuram, a Tamil village between Muttur and Killiveddy, located at 58th milepost, have complained to Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials are preparing to establish a new camp in their village. Mr.Thurairatnasingham promptly has sent his protest to the President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse requesting him to abandon the plan for the new camp, sources said. Full story >> Solheim calls for urgent talks[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 11:25 GMT] Norwegian Development Minister Mr. Erik Solheim on Tuesday expressed concern at the recent acts of violence including shooting of civilians near Jaffna University, attacks on Sri Lankan Military personnel and civilians, Claymore attacks, violence against Muslims and the assassination of parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham during Mass on Christmas Eve, and urged the two parties to meet urgently to strengthen the CeaseFire Agreement. Attending a one-year Tsunami remembrance event in Oslo on Monday, Erik Solheim has gone on record saying that "Norway was even prepared to take the parties to the moon" if that was the only venue left for talks.Full story >> US urges immediate end to violence[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 09:41 GMT]Deputy Spokesman of U.S. Department of State Adam Ereli on Tuesday called on both sides in the Sri Lankan conflict to embrace peace and work together and said that the United States, as one of the Co-Chairs of the Sri Lanka Donors Group, reiterates the Co-Chairs' message to the LTTE urging an immediate end to violence and encouraging the LTTE to engage positively with the Government of Sri Lanka in peace talks. The US statement comes as the Sri Lankan President Rajapakse left Tuesday to India in his attempt to woo India's support in favour of the Sri Lankan state. Full story >> Grenade attack kills soldier, injures wife in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 04:29 GMT]Mr. Sunil, a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, was killed, and his wife and brother-in-law were injured when unknown assailants hurled a grenade and opened fire inside the soldier's house located in Sangamam, a suburb located about five km northeast of Trincomalee town along Kandy-Trincomalee highway Tuesday night around 9 p.m, sources in Trincomalee said. Full story >> SLA bars INGOs from entering NorthEast without MoD permission[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 01:01 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has temporarily barred all International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOS), excluding UNHCR, ICRC and Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), from entering Liberation Tigers Controlled areas in the NorthEast, NGO sources in Colombo said. NGO officials speculated that the move was tactical and instituted in response to the deteriorating conditions in the NorthEast. Procedures to obtain MoD clearance is expected to be instituted soon, according to the same sources. Full story >> Military uniforms discovered in Batticaloa church[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 00:55 GMT]Two pairs of military fatigue jackets and trousers, two pairs of shoes and a bag were recovered Tuesday morning around 11:00 a.m. from a rest-room attached to St. Anthony's church located close to the St. Mary's church where the Tamil National Alliance MP Joseph Pararajasingham was murdered on Sunday. Full story >> Pirapaharan pays tribute to slain TNA MP[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 22:43 GMT] The leader of the Liberation Tigers, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, on Tuesday, paid tribute to the slain senior Tamil politician Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham in the Vanni. The body of the Tamil National Alliance paraliamentarian, who was shot inside Batticaloa St. Mary's Co-Catherdal during Christmas mass on Sunday, was taken to LTTE controlled Kokkadicholai on Monday and to Kilinochchi on Tuesday. The funeral service of the MP is to take place in the church where he was slain Thursday after receiving Holy Communion from Bishop Kingsley Swampillai. Full story >> Seven persons missing in Jaffna[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 17:44 GMT]Three fishermen who went to Mannar seas for fishing last Thursday and four other persons, including three who were arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA)in various parts of Jaffna, have been reported missing in Jaffna. Full story >> Refugee homes gutted by fire in Pesalai[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 16:05 GMT]Eleven temporary shelters with cadjan roof tops, out of more than one hundred such huts in the open refugee camp (ORC) located in the premises of the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation in Pesalai in Mannar district, were gutted by fire Tuesday afternoon around 2.30 p.m. The families have lost all their belongings and have been given shelter in the Vettrimatha Church, which is now housing several families driven out of the One Hundred Housing Scheme following the claymore mine attack on Sri Lanka Navy personnel, sources said. Full story >> Armed men drive away two Halo Trust vehicles[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 15:32 GMT]Unidentified armed men forced into the parking garage located close to the offices of Halo Trust, located at the junction of Nallur Cross Street and Navalar Road, and drove away two vehicles belonging to the NGO after tying the guards Tuesday afternoon, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Rajapakse leaves for India on his first visit abroad[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 13:06 GMT]Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse, accompanied by his wife Shiranthi Rajapakse, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Ministers Ferial Ashraf,Jeyaraj Fernadopulle and the Secretaries to various Ministries, left for India Tuesday in his first visit abroad at the invitationof the Indian President Abdul Kalam, government sources in Colombo said. Full story >> Trincomalee observes hartal in protest against Pararajasingham's killing[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 13:01 GMT]Trincomalee Tamil speaking people Tuesday observed a general shut down in response to the call by the Trincomalee district Tamil Resurgence Committee condemning the assassination of Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham and killings of Tamil civilians in their homeland, and demanding the withdrawal of government armed forces deployed in Trincomalee violating the Ceasefire Agreement, sources said. Full story >> Kallady tsunami victims get permanent houses[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 12:36 GMT]Thirty permanent houses constructed by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) with the financial assistance from the Operation-USA, an international non-government organization, were handed over to tsunami affected families in Kallady, at an event held Monday to mark the first year remembrance of tsunami disaster. Kallady is a remote village in the Eachchilampathu division, down south of Trincomalee district. Full story >> US Tamils call for sanctions against SL Government[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 11:24 GMT]Expressing anger and sadness at the killing of Senior Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham, US based Tamil Organizations, in a press release issued Monday, pointed out that "Tamils killings are never investigated...and armed forces in Sri Lanka operate with complete impunity," and urged the international community to "show political and moral courage and impose sanctions on the government of Sri Lanka in order to put an immediate end of this deliberated and calculated violence." Full story >> All five Jaffna victims identified as civilians[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 10:48 GMT]The young woman, who was shot and killed by the SLA soldiers and dressed up with denim trousers last Saturday, was identified as a heart patient, Ms Parameswari Somasundaram, 26, who had come to Jaffna Hospital for treatment from Konavil in Kilinochchi. Two other remaining bodies were also identified as belonging civilians from Kanakarayankulam and Pallai. Two bodies were earlier identified as belonging to a night watcher and a garage worker in Kottady. The Sri Lanka Military spokesman in Colombo had claimed that the five persons were gunmen who were shot by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and that troopers had recovered weapons from the victims. Full story >> Eleven SLA soldiers killed in Claymore attack[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 07:36 GMT]Eleven SLA soldiers were killed and six wounded in a Claymore ambush on a Sri Lanka Army convoy near the Regional Bus Depot, 1 km south of Point Pedro town on Jaffna-Point Pedro road at 12:50 p.m. Tuesday, Police said. Three civilians who were shot by the SLA troopers following the ambush were rushed to Point Pedro Teaching Hospital, medical sources said. Tension prevails in Point Pedro. Full story >> 3 SLA soldiers, 2 Police officers injured in Jaffna attacks[TamilNet, Monday, 26 December 2005, 17:53 GMT]Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and two Sri Lanka Police officers were injured in three different attacks against security forces in Jaffna district Monday, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Colombo's bona fides for peace, suspect- TNA[TamilNet, Monday, 26 December 2005, 17:11 GMT]The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in a press release issued Monday said the assassination of Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham raises serious doubts in regard to the genuineness of the Government's commitment to the honest and purposeful pursuit of the peace process. "We consider it our duty to point out that the assassination of Mr. Pararajasingham, a Tamil leader unequivocally committed to the resolution of the Tamil question by peaceful means is a serious blow to the credibility of the peace process," the statement said. Full story >> SLMM member denied entry to tsunami event[TamilNet, Monday, 26 December 2005, 17:07 GMT]Soldiers manning the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) check point Monday morning refused permission for a woman monitor of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) based in Mannar to attend the one year tsunami remembrance religious event held at Madhu church in the LTTE held area, sources said. Full story >> Youth shot, seriously wounded in Akkaraipattu[TamilNet, Monday, 26 December 2005, 13:02 GMT]A 24-years-old Tamil youth, Mr. Satheeskumar, was shot and seriously wounded by unindentified gunmen Monday evening around 5:30 pm. at Pisthar Road in Akkaraipattu, 58 km south of Batticaloa town. Full story >> Senior PLOTE operative shot dead in Vavuniya[TamilNet, Monday, 26 December 2005, 12:36 GMT]A senior paramilitary PLOTE cadre, Mr. Veerappan Thripupathy, 52, alias Thiruppathy Master, who was shot and seriously wounded by an unidentified gunman, succumbed to his injuries at Vavuniya hospital. Another PLOTE cadre, wounded in his hands, is to be transferred from Vavuniya Hospital to Anuradhapura hospital for security reasons, police said. Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) soldiers and police officials rushed to the spot and conducted investigations following the incident that took place at Rambaikulam 1 km southeast from Vavuniya at 5:30 p.m. Full story >> Two three-wheeler drivers killed in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Monday, 26 December 2005, 11:19 GMT]Unidentified men shot dead Mr.Ramanan and knifed Mr.Wijeseelan to death Sunday night in two separate incidents in Trincomalee, security sources said. The body of Mr.Wijeseelan was recovered from the Kanniya-Wilgam Vihare junction, and the body of Mr.Ramanan was recovered near fourth milepost along Trincomalee-Kandy highway with gunshot injuries. Both were three-wheeler drivers, Police said. Full story >> Two Tamil youths shot and killed by SLA soldiers[TamilNet, Monday, 26 December 2005, 09:59 GMT]Sri Lanka Army troopers shot and killed two Tamil youths at Santhiveli 9 km north of Eravur in Batticaloa district around 10:30 a.m. Monday. The SLA soliders have told Eravur Police that they opened fire following gunshots fired at their troopers. The youths shot dead by the Lankan troopers are yet to be indentified, Eravur Police said. Full story >> Boycott call cripples administrative services in Jaffna[TamilNet, Monday, 26 December 2005, 09:57 GMT]Civil administration in Jaffna district came to a halt Monday following call by the NorthEast Government Services Workers Consortium for Government workers to shun work to protest against Sri Lanka Army (SLA) attacks against civilians and workers. The Consortium warned that the strike will continue until troops are vacated from main roads and Government offices, and their workers' safety is guaranteed. Primary offices of Civil administration including Jaffna Secretariat, Divisional secretariats, Health services department, Department of Education remained closed. Full story >> Checkpost near SLAF airport in Batticaloa attacked, one dead[TamilNet, Monday, 26 December 2005, 09:42 GMT]Unidentified gunmen fired at a checkpost at Puthunagar, near Batticaloa Valaiyiravu Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) airport, 4 km west of Batticaloa town, wounding a policeman Sunday night around 1:20 a.m. The policeman, N. Karunaratne, later succumbed to his gunshot wounds at Batticaloa Hospital, medical sources said. Full story >> Housing for war, tsunami affected Trinco families[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 17:20 GMT] Twenty-six war affected Tamil families among several hundreds displaced from villages in the Kuchchaveli division, north of Trincomalee district and sheltered in a refugee camp, located in Alles Garden, sea coast of Trincomalee, moved to permanent houses built under the tsunami rehabilitation at Kumburupiddy east village Saturday. Some families have been living in temporary accommodation for more than twenty years, officials said.
Full story >> Rajapakse, SL Military Intelligence responsible for MPs murder - IFT[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 16:39 GMT] The Geneva based International Federation of Tamils (IFT), a consortium of more than 150 expatriate Tamil organizations, on Sunday urged the International Community, to condemn without delay, the brutal murder of the Tamil Parliamentarian and human rights activist Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham during the midnight Christmas cathedral service. The Federation urged the International Community to hold Sri Lanka government and President Mahinda Rajapakse responsible for the murder. IFT said Joseph Pararajasingham was a pragmatist, advocating for over a decade, even before the signing of the CFA, a direct dialogue between the government and the LTTE. Full story >> LTTE confers "Maamanithar" title to Pararajasingham[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 15:17 GMT]Leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Velupillai Pirapaharan, bestowed the title Maamanithar (Great Humanbeing) on the slain Senior Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham Sunday. "Steadfast and honest, he is an excellent political leader. The Tamil people affectionately hailed him as a formidable fighter for human rights. His extra-ordinary attachment to the Tamil cause gravitated all towards him. The demise of Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham is an irreparable loss to the Tamil Nation," Pirapaharan said in the statement conferring the award. Full story >> NESOHR mourns killing of Pararajasingham[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 14:59 GMT] Praising Joseph Pararajasingham as a human rights activist ready to take up human rights violations against his community in Batticoloa disregarding risks to his life, the Northeast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) in a press release issued Sunday said, " A land where human rights defenders’ life can be taken away so cheaply is a damned land. It is also a damning indictment on those who are charged with the responsibility of protecting
them."Full story >> Mannar Army sergeant shot dead by fellow soldier[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 14:41 GMT]Sergeant Kappukotowa of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stationed in the Parapaankandal camp in the Mannar district was shot dead Sunday morning at about 8.30 a.m by a fellow soldier, security sources said. Personal enmity between the two was speculated to be the motivation behind the killing. The incident took place inside the camp, Police sources said. Full story >> SLN soldier's body washed ashore in Mannar[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 14:36 GMT]The body of Mr.G.S.Paranavitharene, a Petty Officer attached to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) who had been reported missing since December 22 following a firefight between the LTTE and SLN in Pallimunai Sea was washed ashore near South bar in Mannar in decomposed state Sunday morning, Mannar Police said. Full story >> SLA guns down two civilians in Jaffna[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 14:08 GMT]Two civilians from Thoppu, in Atchuvely Jaffna, who went to hunt wild boars in shrub jungles close to the Palaly High Security Zone (HSZ) armed with shotguns, were shot dead by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops at 12.15 a.m Sunday early morning, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Identity of Jaffna victims raises questions[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 12:43 GMT] One of the five bodies recovered by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and transferred to Jaffna Teaching Hospital claiming to be those of LTTE fighters, after the firefight near Jaffna Fort Saturday, was identified as belonging to Krishnar Vimaleswaran (31), a watcher at Jaffna Central College, located 300 meters from where the bodies were found. Relatives identified another body as belonging to Balasingham Santhirakanthan (24) who owns a motorbike repairshop in Kottadi Jaffna.Full story >> One dead, another injured in separate incidents in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 12:25 GMT]Mr.Weerakody (65), retired employee of the Sri Lanka Port Authority was shot dead Saturday night around 8.30 p.m. by unidentified men close to his house located in Orr's Hill area, a suburb in Trincomalee town. Large number of soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy rushed to the site and took several Tamil civilians residing close to the scene for questioning. They were released Sunday afternoon by the Police, sources said. Full story >> Civilians burnt to death in Pesalai[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 10:25 GMT]Remains of burnt bodies including a four-year-old boy were discovered inside a house of the Victoria Hundred Houses resettlement in Pesalai Sunday at 10:30 a.m. by residents who reached the site for the first time following Friday's revenge attacks on the civilians by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN). Soldiers blocked residents from searching for two other missing persons in parts of surrounding area. Three houses and a shop were burnt and almost all the houses were found looted. The victims were burnt using madras, kajan leaves and palmyrah stems, sources said. The exact number of victims killed in the revenge attacks is not known yet. Full story >> Tigers condemn the killing of Pararajasingham[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 08:37 GMT]Condemning the "appalling and vicious murder" of the Tamil National Alliance MP Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, the Political Wing of the Liberation Tigers, on Sunday, charged the Sri Lankan military intelligence and the paramilitaries working with them for the killing of Mr. Pararajasingham, a Tamil nationalist and human rights activist. The Tigers also said the killing at the Christmas mass symbolised the "long hand of the chauvinistic forces such as the Jathika Hela Urumaya," was working through the Sri Lankan military intelligence wing. Full story >> Pararajasingham slaying, a barbaric act - fellow Batticaloa MP[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 December 2005, 01:19 GMT] "The slaying of the senior and experienced politician from Batticaloa, Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, while at prayer inside the church on the holy day of Christmas, was a barbaric act affecting the collective Tamil psyche," said the fellow Batticaloa District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament Mr. S. Jeyananthamoorthy, who was on a political tour to Europe. The Batticaloa MP said that the time has come for the International Community, specially the EU and the Co-Chairs, to prevail upon the Sri Lankan Government to fully comply with the Ceasefire Agreement. Full story >> Joseph Pararajasingham MP shot dead in Batticaloa church[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 December 2005, 19:56 GMT] Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, a senior Tamil politician and the Batticaloa district Member of Parliament (MP) of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was shot and killed by two unidentified gunmen at St. Mary's co-cathedral church in Batticaloa town while attending Christmas prayers early morning at 1.20 a.m Sunday. The MP's wife, Mrs. Sugunam Pararajasingham, seriously wounded in the gunfire, was rushed to Batticaloa Hospital in critical condition. Seven more persons were injured in the gunfire, civilian sources said. Full story >> 4 men, 1 woman killed, 3 SL troopers wounded in Jaffna attack[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 December 2005, 15:12 GMT] Dead bodies of four men and a woman have been brought to the Jaffna Hospital at 10:30 p.m., medical sources in Jaffna said. The bodies, yet to be identified, have been recovered near Jaffna Fort where a firefight between unidentified gunmen and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers was reported at 6.10 p.m. Saturday. Three SLA soldiers were njured in the firefight, one of them seriously. The trooper with serious injuries was air lifted to Palaly military hospital, sources said. Meanwhile Sri Lanka military sources in Colombo claimed that those killed in Jaffna were armed men who ambushed their troopers. Tension prevails in Jaffna. Full story >> Mannar fisherman abducted[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 December 2005, 12:36 GMT]Ms Vigneswary (29) of Vankalai Saturday complained to the Mannar Citizen Committee that whereabouts of her husband, Nadarajah Yogeswaran (33), was abducted by a group of ten armed masked men Friday early morning from her home. She has sought the assistance of the Mannar Citizens Committee to trace him, sources said. Full story >> LTTE firm on venue, Co-chairs "committed and impartial"[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 December 2005, 10:38 GMT] "The Tamil leadership is firm and will oppose Colombo's effort on imposing geographical limitations and preconditions on the venue of talks on the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and thereby alienating the Liberation Tigers from European countries," the LTTE Political Head Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan told media after a two-hour-long meeting with the Co-Chairs' representatives held in Kilinochchi Saturday. Head of the EU Delegation to Sri Lanka, Ambassador Julian Wilson, speaking to the media, reiterated the Co-Chairs statement on Monday and urged the parties to "start talks on Ceasefire Agreement's Implementation immediately," adding that Co-Chairs were "committed" and "impartial." Full story >> Firefights in Point Pedro, Thavady[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 December 2005, 01:39 GMT]Unknown assailants hurled hand grenades and fired at the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) post guarding the Northern Regional Bus Depot located at 1 km from Point Pedro town on the Pt Pedro-Jaffna road at 9 p.m. Friday. SLA returned fire and the firefight continued for more than five minutes, according to residents. Full story >> Chavakachcheri woman succumbs to gunshot wounds[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 December 2005, 01:01 GMT]Ms Markandu Pushpamalar (31), also known as Malar, who was injured when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired indiscriminately at civilians following a grenade attack on their checkpost in Chavakachcheri Friday 1.30 p.m, succumbed to injuries at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Saturday morning, medical sources at the hospital said. Full story >> 28 wounded, 13 hospitalized in SLN revenge attack on IDPs[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 16:57 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers Friday evening around 5:30 p.m. entered the settlement of Internally Displaced People (IDP), the Victoria Hundred Houses scheme, and attacked the civilians with batons, bike-chains and shoes after tying their hands and legs. Eleven persons, 9 males and 2 females, were admitted to the Peripheral Medical unit in Pesalai and two men requiring further medical care were rushed to Mannar General Hospital. Another 15 persons, with minor injuries, have returned after treatment at OPD (Out Patients Department), medical sources said. Meanwhile, more than 100 families living along Talaimannar-Pesalai Road have moved into the Vetrimatha Church in Pesalai for safety. Full story >> Indian High Commissioner meets TNA delegation[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 16:51 GMT]A delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Friday met with the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ms Nirupama Rao and discussed at length the current situation, concerns on potential breakdown of CeaseFire Agreement (CFA), and the urgent need to restart the peace process. The TNA delegation impressed upon the High Commissioner the need for peace talks to commence without further delay, Mr.R.Sampanthan, TNA parliamentary group leader said in a press release Friday. Full story >> Co-Chairs representatives to meet LTTE[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 15:20 GMT]A top level diplomatic team representing the Co-Chairs of the peace process in Sri Lanka are scheduled to visit Kilinochchi and meet the LTTE's Political Head Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan on Saturday to discuss the situation following the recent escalation of violence in Jaffna and Mannar districts, sources in Kilinochchi told TamilNet. Full story >> Vaiko meets Indian Premier, Defence Minister in New Delhi[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 13:54 GMT] Vaiko, the General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) from the Tamil Nadu state in India, met Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi Friday at 5 p.m. Following the meeting with the Indian Premier, Vaiko also met the Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday evening. When contacted by TamilNet, the MDMK chief Vaiko described his meetings with Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee as cordial and constructive. Sri Lanka was trying to trap India to get embroiled into Sri Lanka's conflict as it did in the eighties, Vaiko said, adding that he had cautioned the Indian leaders that Sri Lanka's moves are inimical to Tamil interests. Full story >> SLA attacks on Jaffna civilians increase, NGO closes office[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 12:58 GMT]Two civilians, Ms K Malar (31) and K Rajathurai (64) were seriously injured and were admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital after Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers fired indiscriminately after the SLA sentry near the Multipurpose Cooperative building in Chavakachcheri came under grenade attack at 1.30 p.m. Friday, sources said. Full story >> Chavakachcheri Police post comes under attack[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 12:29 GMT]Chavakachcheri police post in Thenmaradchy came under grenade attack and small-arms fire at 8.30 p.m. Thursday, sources in Jaffna said. Police returned fire from their positions inside the Police station premises and the firefight lasted for more than 15 minutes, according to sources. No injuries were reported. Full story >> Grenade attacks in Puttur, Katkovalam sentry points, 2 soldiers injured[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 11:29 GMT]Unidentified men Friday morning around 5.30 a.m. lobbed a grenade at the checkpoint of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) located along the sea shore near Katkovalam in Vadamarachchi-Point Pedro area in Jaffna district. One soldier was reported injured, sources said. In another similar attack one SLA soldier was injured when unidentified persons lobbed a grenade at the army sentry point located at Ramavil area between Kodikamam and Puttur in Jaffna district, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Thirteen SLN troopers killed in Claymore attack in Mannar[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 09:21 GMT] Thirteen Sri Lanka Navy sailors were killed and more than fifteen sailors were wounded in a Claymore attack on their bus in Pesalai 15 km northwest of Mannar around 1:30 p.m. Friday, SLN sources said. The vehicle, a bus, sustained heavy damage and has burned down, according to civilian sources. Sri Lanka Military has blocked all traffic. Full story >> Woman shot dead, father wounded in Chenkalady[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 07:34 GMT]Unidentified gunmen who entered a house to abduct a young man in Chenkalady opened fire inside his house as the family members spoiled the attempted abduction. The angered gunmen, armed with a T-56 rifle, shot and killed the sister of the youth, Eravur Police said. The victim's father was wounded in the incident that took place inside the house located on Boundary Road in Chenkalady, 13 km north of Batticaloa town, Thursday around 9:00 p.m. Full story >> Mannar Police releases four fishermen, detains three[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 07:21 GMT]Three internally displaced fishermen from Jaffna district, arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), while being engaged in fishing in Pallimunai in Mannar area, are still being detained in the Mannar police station for further investigation regarding the firefight that took place between the Sri Lanka Navy and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thursday morning. They are among the seven arrested by the SLN following the firefight. The other four fishermen including two students who are residents of Pallimunai were released Thursday night around 11:30 p.m. to the relatives in the presence of Mannar Parish Priest Rev.F.A.Gnanapiragasam. Full story >> Mannar LTTE office burnt down[TamilNet, Friday, 23 December 2005, 04:11 GMT]The office of the LTTE Mannar district administrative unit was found Friday early morning burnt and damaged by unidentified persons. This office is located along Moor Street in Mannar town, sources said. Full story >> Press freedom under threat in Jaffna, IFJ warns[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 December 2005, 21:27 GMT]President of The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Christopher Warren, in a statement issued Thursday, warned that the "clamp down on media freedoms in Jaffna following incidents of journalists being beaten, arrested and news paper offices being searched," is just the beginning which will result in a total clampdown. Full story >> SLN arrests, assaults 7 Mannar fishermen[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 December 2005, 20:02 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) arrested seven Tamil fishermen Thursday morning when they were returning to the shore after night-fishing. They are being detained at the Sunny village Naval Camp in Mannar, sources said. Medical officers at the Mannar hospital said the fishermen were brought to the General hospital in the evening for medical examination, and confirmed that all seven had assault injuries. Full story >> Three SLN sailors died in Mannar sea - LTTE[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 December 2005, 18:45 GMT]The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have informed the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that their cadres had returned fire for self-protection on Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) boats that intercepted and attacked three LTTE vessels in the seas of Mannar Thursday morning. Two SLN sailors were found dead inside a boat that was abandoned by the SLN fleet, and another sailor, seriously wounded and rescued by the Tigers, later drowned in a Tiger boat that had sustained extensive damage, the LTTE said. One LTTE cadre was wounded in the clash, the Tigers said adding that their cadres were continuing to travel in the seas with arms for self-defence in accordance with their earlier announcement. Full story >> WPPF leader meets Thamilchelvan in Kilinochchi[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 December 2005, 16:36 GMT]Leader of Western Province People's Front (WPPF), Mano Ganeshan, met with Head of LTTE's Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan, in Kilinochchi Thursday morning sources in Kilinochchi said. "Forming a united front of all Tamil parties to secure a formidable bargaining position in Sri Lanka parliament was the basis of our discussion today," Mr.Ganeshan told the reporters after his meeting. Full story >> Quality education lacking in tsunami-hit areas- NGO[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 December 2005, 12:34 GMT] Saying "considerable strides have been made in education delivery considering the enormity of the disaster," the Save the Children (Sri Lanka) in a media release issued in Colombo Thursday, said lack of proper housing, absence of essential facilities like clean, functional classrooms and toilet facilities in schools, increased alcoholism in society, and threat of military action still hamper quality education of children in schools across tsunami affected areas of Sri Lanka, one year after the disaster.Full story >> Attacks escalate in Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 December 2005, 08:42 GMT]Unidentified gunmen and Sri Lanka Army soldiers exchanged gunfire for more than five minutes near Ainthusanthi, a junction in the outer suburb of Jaffna town around 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Four civilians, severely beaten up by the soldiers, were rushed to Jaffna Hospital. A policeman was wounded at Kantharmadam junction, 300 meters away from the University of Jaffna, around 1:00 p.m., when unidentified attackers launched an attack on the troopers, Police said. An SLA vehicle narrowly escaped from a claymore attack at Nelliyadi in Vadamardhci around 5:30 a.m. Thursday. Grenade attacks were reported in Ariyalai, Kopay, and near Nachimar Temple in Jaffna. Tension prevails in Jaffna. Full story >> LTTE urges Norway to initiate steps to restore normalcy[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 December 2005, 06:15 GMT]Noting that the Tamil people have been highly pertubed over the brutal rape and the murder of Tharshini Ilayathamby in Punguduthivu, and the military-unleashed violence on the peaceful demonstration where the Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna Univeristy was attacked and a lecturer was shot, has created "tension, panic and uncontrollable civilian unrest," the Political Head of the Liberation Tigers, Mr. S.P.Thamilchelvan has called for meaningful steps on the part of the Norwegian facilitators and the International Community in a letter addressed to the Norwegian Ambassador, Mr. Hans Brattskar on Wednesday. Full story >> SLN boats attacked in Mannar, three troopers missing, one wounded[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 December 2005, 05:30 GMT]A soldier of the Sri Lanka Navy Mr.S.G.T.Sanjeeva,23, was injured Thursday morning around 7.30 a.m. when unidentified attackers fired at three SLN boats enroute to Pallimunai camp in the Mannar town. The attackers have abducted three SLN soldiers with their patrol boat, Mannar Police said. A Tamil fisherman Mr.P.Rukman, 25, was also injured in the incident. Full story >> Tamil activist shot dead in Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 December 2005, 02:59 GMT]Mr K. Navaratnam (47), Jaffna district organizer for Tamil Resurgence Task force, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in front of the Thinakural offices in KKS road in Jaffna town at 5.30 a.m. Thursday, sources from Jaffna said. He worked part-time as news paper distributer and had gone to collect Thinakural edition for delivery to Poopalasingham Book Shop located on the Hospital Road when he was shot. Full story >> SLA attacks on Jaffna protesters justified, says Fonseka[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 20:52 GMT] A "third force" in Jaffna is using peaceful demonstrations to
instigate violence and therefore Sri Lanka Army (SLA)
had to take defensive action, said Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka,
the Sri Lanka Army commander, justifying the recent attacks by the
SLA soldiers on unarmed protesters in Jaffna, during a meeting between
SL President Mahinda Rajapakse and TNA parliamentarians
Wednesday at Temple trees, TNA sources said. The Vice Chancellor of Jaffna
Campus, the Dean of the Arts Faculty and a TNA Member of Parliament were attacked, several students were injured and a lecturer received gunshot
wounds when the SLA soldiers violently brokeup a peaceful demonstration
near Jaffna campus Monday.
Full story >> SLA Corporal killed, six soldiers injured in Kilaly ambush[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 13:50 GMT]A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Corporal was killed and six soldiers including two SLA majors were injured when unknown gunmen ambushed a SLA military vehicle along Kachchai-Kilali road in Thenmaradchy at 6.30 p.m. Wednesday, sources in Jaffna said. Gunmen used light machine guns and grenades in the attack, according to sources. Three SLA soldiers were injured in two other grenade attacks in Ariyalai and Kalviyankadu. Full story >> Rajapakse meets TNA delegation[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 11:19 GMT] A high level discussion between the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians led by its parliamentary group leader R.Sampanthan is currently in progress in the SL President's Office in Colombo. The meeting began around 4:00 p.m. Wednesday at the urgent request of the Tamil National Alliance, political sources said.Full story >> SLA assault on VC, Arts Dean worrisome sign - NPC[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 11:02 GMT]National Peace Council (NPC), a Colombo based NGO, in a Media release issued on Wednesday condemned the security forces for attacking non-violent protests of students and staff of Jaffna campus, including Vice Chancellor and the Dean of Arts. The violence began when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers attacked the students marching to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) offices against the killing of Ilyathamby Tharsini (20) in Punguduthivu near an Sri Lanka Navy post. Postmortem examination has revealed that Tharsini was raped before being strangled to death. Full story >> RSF dismayed by arrests of Tamil journalists[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 03:14 GMT]Noting the escalating political tension in Sri Lanka where a Tamil journalist was arrested and three assaulted in a two-day period, Reporters Without Borders (RSF- Reporters Sans Frontieres) in media release said, "Instead of calming down the situation, the police and the army are carrying out unjustified arrests that only stir up resentments. The security forces and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) should guarantee the safety of Sri Lankan journalists whatever their origin." Full story >> LTTE, SLMM meet in Pallai[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 01:03 GMT]Recent attacks by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers on unarmed civilians have made Tamil people lose all confidence in the peace process and in the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), C.Ilamparithy, Jaffna district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Tuesday told a two-member delegation of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Tuesday at the LTTE's political secretariat in Pallai. The pattern of attacks clearly indicates that the attacks were premeditated, Ilamparithy further told the SLMM. Full story >> Tharsini raped before murder- Medical Report[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 18:43 GMT]Ilayathamby Tharshini (20), whose body was recovered from an abandoned well in Punguduthivu Saturday, was brutally raped before being strangled to death, according to postmortem examination conducted in the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Dr.Balasubramaniam, Judicial Medical Officer, who conducted the postmortem examination later handed over the medical report to the Kayts Police. The funeral of Tharshini was held Monday amid intimidation and threat by the Sri Lanka Navy personnel in Punguduthivu, residents said. Full story >> World concerned over escalation of violence, Solheim calls for urgent talks[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 18:24 GMT] The global community is gravely concerned over the rising tide of violence in the Jaffna peninsula and calling for urgent talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers to de-escalate the conflict. This message was conveyed to the LTTE’s Chief Negotiator and theoretician, Mr. Anton Balasingham when a high level Norwegian delegation met him at his London residence Tuesday morning, sources told TamilNet.
Full story >> Vavuniya undergrads boycott in support of Jaffna students[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 13:02 GMT]Undergraduates from Vavuniya campus boycotted classes Tuesday to protesting against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) aggression including physical assault and indiscriminate firing on students at the Jaffna campus, sources in Vavuniya said. Vavuniya students accused the SLA of violating students right to non-violent protest and demanded that SLA immediately withdraw from the Jaffna Campus area. Full story >> SLA attacks protesting auto-rickshaw drivers in Jaffna[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 12:32 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Tuesday 3.30 p.m. attacked group of more than one hundred auto-rickshaw drivers and their vehicles who had assembled in Jaffna town in a protest by the Auto-Owners Union in support of a colleague injured by the SLA Monday, sources in Jaffna said. The auto drivers blocked Stanley Road, Kasturiar road and the roads proximity to the SLA camp when the SLA attacked the protesters. Full story >> Remand extended for Sri Lanka policemen[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 12:03 GMT]Tamil Eelam district court, Kilinochchi ordered further remand for three Sri Lankan policemen until 3rd January when inquiry into the case of the policemen accused of illegally crossing into Liberation Tigers controlled areas was taken up for inquiry Tuesday, legal sources said. Full story >> SLA trooper knifed in Ampan[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 11:43 GMT]Ajit Kumara, a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier attached to the Ampan SLA camp located in the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Vadamarachy East, received cut injuries from a sharp instrument by unknown attackers at 10 a.m. Tuesday, security sources said. The injured soldier has been admitted to Palalay military hospital in serious condition. Full story >> TNA MPs protest, pandemonium in SL Parliament[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 11:24 GMT]Pandemonium reigned in Sri Lanka Parliament Tuesday morning when Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians protested and shouted slogans against the firing on the Tamil civilians in Jaffna Monday injuring several undergrads and university teachers when they were proceeding in a peaceful march to the office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), sources said. Full story >> Withdraw armed forces from civilian inhabited areas in NE- TNA[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 09:50 GMT]The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in a statement tabled in parliament Tuesday demanded the Sri Lanka government to withdraw all armed forces from all civilian inhabited areas in the North East. TNA further called the government to take disciplinary and legal action against all members of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces who are responsible for the attack on Tamil civilians in Jaffna district in the last several days. Full story >> SLA soldiers enter university premises, open fire, arrest lecturer, student[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 07:30 GMT]Hundreds of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers who entered the premises of the University of Jaffna Tuesday noon opened fire in the air, charged tear gas and attacked the students. The soldiers arrested Mr. Manickavasagar Ilampirayan, the lecturer of physical education and a student, Mr. Gowri Senthooran, university staff said. Hundreds of students who gathered in front the university building have launched a protest setting up road-blocks. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials have rushed to the site to diffuse tension. The University administration has condemned the conduct of the SLA soldiers, who entered the university premises on Tuesday for the first time since 1995. Full story >> GoSL handling of paramilitaries, LTTE violence, key issues for Sri Lanka peace, say Co-Chairs[TamilNet, Monday, 19 December 2005, 21:39 GMT]The Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference in the final statement after the conclusion of their meeting in Brussels Monday said they recognized that activities of the paramilitary groups are among the causes for the deteriorating situation and urged “the Government to ensure that such groups cease their paramilitary activities, as a demonstration of its commitment to a peaceful way forward.” They also called on the LTTE “to put an immediate end to their on-going campaign of violence and again urge the LTTE to demonstrate their commitment to the Ceasefire Agreement and the peace process,” and warned, “Failure to demonstrate a willingness to change would not be without serious consequences.” Full story >> New military top brass responsible for Jaffna attack - Vice Chancellor[TamilNet, Monday, 19 December 2005, 13:19 GMT] Jaffna University Vice Chancellor Professor C. Mohanadas charged the newly sworn-in top brass of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for unleashing troopers on a peaceful demonstration. "This is a worst form of politically motivated military tactic," he said addressing a press meet held at the Jaffna Campus Student Union offices at 5 p.m. Monday. Professor Mohanadas condemned the attacks by the SLA on peaceful demonstrators including the attack on him Monday morning at Parameswara junction in Jaffna. Full story >> FMM condemns SLA attack on Jaffna journalists[TamilNet, Monday, 19 December 2005, 13:14 GMT]"Free Media Movement deplores and condemns assault on journalists covering a peaceful demonstration in Jaffna by government security forces today. Three journalists- Thinakural staff reporter Mr. T. Sabeswaran, Thinakaran (Lake House) reporter Wintson Jeyan and Namathu Eelanadu reporter Mr. J. Jerad – were beaten and their cameras were damaged," said FMM in a press release issued in Colombo Monday. Full story >> No peace talks until SLA atrocities on Tamil civilians cease-TNA MP[TamilNet, Monday, 19 December 2005, 11:54 GMT] Mr.Mavai Senathirajah, Jaffna District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian speaking during the budget debate in parliament Monday warned the Government not to think of peace negotiations until the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stops attacks on Tamil civilians in Jaffna district. SLA soldiers are seen in front of every house in Jaffna district and people are living under fear. Under these circumstances no meaningful peace negotiations could be held, said Mr. Senathirajah.
Full story >> SL troops open fire on demonstration in Jaffna, Lecturer shot, VC attacked[TamilNet, Monday, 19 December 2005, 06:02 GMT] Sri Lanka Army troopers opened fire at a peaceful demonstration march by Jaffna University students and staff, wounding at least seven demonstrators including Prof. N. Perinpanathan, a Senior Lecturer, and a student leader of the medical faculty T. Kandeepan. Professor C. Mohanadas, the Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University, Prof. R. Sivchandran, Dean of Arts, and S. Kajendran, Jaffna MP were severely beaten by the soliders. The demonstration march from Jaffna University towards the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) did not proceed beyond Parameswara Junction where the troopers began firing at the demontrators around 11:00 a.m. Monday. Tension prevails in the area.Full story >> Factional rivalry behind trawler fire in Mannar[TamilNet, Monday, 19 December 2005, 04:37 GMT]Two trawlers belonging to Tamil fishermen and anchored in Erukalampiddi sea in Mannar district were destroyed by fire set by unidentified persons Sunday early morning, sources from Mannar said. Destroyed trawlers were estimated to cost about two million rupees each. Pesalai fishermen have been anchoring their fishing vessels in Erukalampiddy Sea during rough weather for safety, fisher society sources said Full story >> International political advocacy indispensable to maturing Tamil struggle- Sithamparanathan[TamilNet, Monday, 19 December 2005, 00:03 GMT] “Congressional meetings gave me hope that a conducive atmosphere is emerging in the supreme legislative body of the US with regards to the Tamil struggle. It is critical that we maintain sustained efforts to reinforce relationships with congresspersons interested in our struggle, and address human rights issues raised by UN agencies and watchdogs. With the maturing phase of our struggle, focussed political action in major world capitals has become an urgent priority,” said Pathmini Sithamparanathan of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), and the first woman Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaffna, when she talked to TamilNet in Washington D.C concluding her two-week speaking tour in US Saturday.Full story >> PAFFREL against early elections[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 December 2005, 17:10 GMT]Amidst reports that the Sri Lanka government is considering to have parliamentary election or local government elections in March next year, the People's Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL), a leading election monitoring organization, has urged President Mahinda Rajapakse to defer elections by another three months from March until the irregularities in the 2004 voters' register are rectified, sources said. Full story >> LTTE confers National Patriot title to sportsman Gunaratnam[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 December 2005, 17:01 GMT] The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sunday conferred "Nattupattalar" (National Patriot) title on the departed veteran sportsman Mr.A.S.Gunaratnam. Attorney-at-Law Mr.K.Sivapalan read out the statement issued by the LTTE Trincomalee district political secretariat conferring the title at an event held Sunday morning at Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall where the body of late Mr.Gunaratnam was kept for paying last respects by the people of the east port city, sources said.
Full story >> SLTMA condemns arrest of Tamil journalist[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 December 2005, 16:54 GMT]The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) Sunday condemned the arrest and detention of a Tamil senior journalist working in a leading Colombo based Tamil daily newspaper "Thinakkural"along with two other employees in the computer unit of the same newspaper in the Kirulapone Police Station Saturday night. The SLTMA, in a letter sent to Mr.Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Media Minister, to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of Tamil journalists from the harassment of government law enforcement authorities. Full story >> Jaffna Campus area tense, SLA attack injures worker[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 December 2005, 14:14 GMT]Rasaratnam Puhalasri (33) from Navaly South, an employee at an ice cream parlor at the Parameswara juntion was severly injured when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops attacked civilians around the Jaffna campus areas following altercation between Jaffna campus students at the International Tamileelam Student Union offices near Parameswara junction at 5.30 p.m. Sunday. Residents said that troopers forced entry into Student Union offices to prevent a group of campus students from travelling to Punguduthivu, triggering confrontation. Full story >> Book released on history of Kokuvil Hindu[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 December 2005, 14:05 GMT] Past students of Kokuvil Hindu College Jaffna released a book detailing the ninty five year history of the school in an event held at the Subramaniam Hall at 10.30 a.m. Sunday presided by the present Principal of the school Mr P Kamalanathan.Full story >> SLA attacks Irupalai auto-rickshaw drivers[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 December 2005, 13:04 GMT]Drivers of auto-rickshaws at Irupalai junction located on Jaffna-Point Pedro road Irupalai, 5 km North east of Jaffna town, were attacked again Sunday morning by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers, in retaliation for complaining to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Saturday afternoon when SLA soldiers had attacked them and forced them away from the junction threatening them not to return. Full story >> Punguduthivu erupts in violent protests against SLN[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 December 2005, 08:53 GMT]Civlians in Punguduthivu Sunday morning protested against the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Punguduthivu following the discovery of the body of Ilayathambi Tharsini (20) from an abandoned well near SLN camp Saturday. A fifty-five years old civilian was rushed to Jaffna Hospital with serious gunshot wounds. Four more civilians sustained minor injuries. All traffic beyond Velanai thuraiyoor remains cut, reports from the islet said. Punguduthivu remains tense. The navy camp, an administrative office of the SLN, was stoned and later set on fire as the troopers withdrew from the camp, sources said. Full story >> Veteran NorthEast sportsman dies[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 December 2005, 00:00 GMT] Mr.A.S.Gunaratnam, retired Assistant Director of Sports in the North East Provincial Education, Cultural, Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry and currently Assistant Director of the North East Youth Affairs Ministry passed away Friday in Colombo after a brief illness. He had been a colorful personality in the field of sports not only in the North East but also at the national level. He had been fluent in all three languages, Tamil, Sinhala and English. He was 68 at the time of his death, family sources said.
Full story >> Punguduthivu disappeared woman's body found[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 December 2005, 17:06 GMT]The body of Ilayathambi Tharsini (20), the young woman from Punguduthivu 7th district, who disappeared on Friday, was found in an abandoned well near the Sri Lanka Navy (Navy) camp Friday, sources from Jaffna said. Full story >> Norway best venue for truce talks - LTTE[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 December 2005, 09:57 GMT] Reiterating that they wished to engage in talks on the effective implementation of the February 2002 Cease Fire Agreement with Sri Lanka, the Liberation Tigers suggested Saturday that Norway would be the ideal venue to host such talks as Oslo was not only the facilitator of the peace process, but leading the monitoring mission supervising the truce. “Based on a mutual consent, a suitable venue for peace negotiations could be selected following the successful conclusion of the CFA talks,” he said pointing out that Norway has earlier extended invitation to the parties to hold talks on the implementation of the CFA.Full story >> Formation of united Tamil front, a strategic need- Thondaman[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 December 2005, 07:37 GMT] The leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Mr. Arumugam Thondaman, Saturday held discussions with the LTTE's Political Head Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan at the LTTE Peace Secretariat on his plans to form a united effort among the Upcountry and Western Province Tamil political parties. The Upcountry politician said that his party, CWC and the LTTE discussed the strategic need to form a broad Tamil front to meet the challenges from the Southern polity and to further the common aspirations of both the Tamil communities in the Northeast and the Upcountry. Full story >> New SLA sentries in Mannar town[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 December 2005, 02:11 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has established several new sentries in Mannar town and its suburbs, and has blocked the road leading to the office of the Superintendent of Police from use by the public as a part of strengthening the security of the district, sources said. Full story >> Maintaining symmetry of power, key to meaningful peace talks- Adaikalanathan[TamilNet, Friday, 16 December 2005, 20:34 GMT] “Instead of choosing a constructive political path setting incremental milestones to monitor progress in addressing the national crisis, various Sri Lanka governments in power, were preoccupied with an "oppressive mindset" and have attempted to weaken the Tamil struggle by purposely dragging out peace processes,” said TNA parliamentarian Selvam Adaikalanathan, speaking to TamilNet Friday. He said that a meaningful peace process is possible only if the prevailing strategic symmetry of power is maintained between the two parties. Full story >> SLA cordons off, searches Ariyalai village[TamilNet, Friday, 16 December 2005, 12:54 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off and conducted a house to house search Mulli, a village in Ariyalai in Nalllur Pradeshya Sabha Friday morning. Villagers who assumed the presence of SLA troopers as part of intensified patrol of the area were alarmed when troops entered houses and demanded national identity cards from villagers, residents said. Full story >> FMM concerned over search on Jaffna press[TamilNet, Friday, 16 December 2005, 11:48 GMT]Expressing concern over the search carried out by the Sri Lanka military at the editorial, administrative and press sections of the Tamil daily Namathu Eelanaadu in Jaffna Thursday, the Free Media Movement (FMM), in a press release issued Thursday, urged "both sides of the conflict to respect the right to freedom of expression and information and not to target media under any situation that may arise out of developing military confrontations." Full story >> UNP meets SL President[TamilNet, Friday, 16 December 2005, 11:31 GMT] Senior members of the United National Party (UNP) led by its leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickramesinghe met with Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse at the Temple Trees Thursday, parliamentary sources in Colombo said. Matters related to Peace Process and UNP's stand for future approach to peace were discussed in the meeting, according to sources.Full story >> Paramilitary cadre shot dead in Welikanda[TamilNet, Friday, 16 December 2005, 07:08 GMT]Unidentified attackers shot and killed a paramilitary cadre of Karuna Group at Kudapokkuna in Welikanda, Police said. The incident took place around 9:45 p.m. Thursday. The attackers escaped from the area, the police added. Full story >> Decomposed body found in Valaichenai[TamilNet, Friday, 16 December 2005, 06:50 GMT]A decomposed body of a woman, in her twenties, was found at Nasivanthivu, 30 km north of Batticaloa town, Friday morning. Valaichenai Police recovered the body following a tip-off from the civilians in the Sri Lanka Army controlled area. Full story >> Mental health unit opened in Trincomalee hospital[TamilNet, Friday, 16 December 2005, 04:19 GMT] The newly constructed Mental Health Unit in the Trincomalee general hospital by the Medicos Del Mundo (MDM Doctors of World, Spanish NGO) at a cost of 12 million rupees under the Tsunami Rehabilitation of Medical Institutions' Project in the northeast province was opened Wednesday. The Unit includes facilities for counseling, treatment section, and play room for the children. It also has 12 beds for male and female indoor patients, health department sources said.
Full story >> Ground rules for peace engangement to be clarified during Solheim visit[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 December 2005, 16:34 GMT]Norwegian Development Minister Erik Solheim is expected to visit Sri Lanka to meet officials of Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam soon. An NTB report filed from Hong Kong on Thursday said that the "ground rules" for the process forward would be decided during this visit. Full story >> Jaffna Group warns of attacks if SLA harassment is not stopped[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 December 2005, 14:24 GMT]If the increasing incidents of rounding up of civilians, and cordon and search of Tamil areas by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers continue, campaign of attacks against SLA will intensify in Jaffna, warned an organization of Tamil youths called "Roaring Tamil Force," in a memorandum submitted to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) offices in Jaffna Thursday. Twenty-five youths identifying themselves as belonging to the Group delivered the memorandum at the Temple Road offices of the SLMM, sources said. Full story >> Indian Naval Commander in Chief in Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 December 2005, 11:32 GMT] Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Commander in Chief of the Indian Navys Eastern Naval Command is on a visit to Sri Lanka between 12 Dec to 16 Dec 05, a press release by the Indian Embassy in Colombo said Wednesday. Vice Admiral Mehta met with Sri Lankan Government President and Commanders of Security forces, the release added.Full story >> CWC MP crosses over to SL Government[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 December 2005, 11:24 GMT]Vadivel Suresh, of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) which is led by former Minister Arumugam Thondaman, has crossed over to the Sri Lanka Government and he has been made the Deputy Minister of Health and Nutrition Wednesday, parliamentary sources in Colombo said. Full story >> SLA soldiers search Jaffna press, threaten workers[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 December 2005, 05:52 GMT]Sri Lanka Army cordoned off the offices of the popular Tamil daily Namathu Eelanaadu located in Navalar road Jaffna Thursday 6.30 a.m. and searched the editorial, administrative and press sections of the paper's offices thoroughly for nearly half an hour, workers at the premises said. SLA soldiers questioned several workers at the daily and demanded to see workers' national identity cards. Civil groups expressed alarm at this ominous development to suppress press freedom in Jaffna district. Full story >> Adampan hospital reopens after fifteen years[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 December 2005, 03:52 GMT]The newly constructed government hospital at a cost of about twenty million rupees at Adampan in Mannar district was declared open for the use of civilians residing in the villages of Aandankulam, Palaiyady, Puthukulam, Parapukadanthan, Vaddakandal, and Karukkaikulam held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with religious observances. Adampan is located in the LTTE held area. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) project carried out the project, sources said. Full story >> Norwegian FM to meet Samaraweera in Hong Kong[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 15:45 GMT]Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is scheduled to meet with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera in Hong Kong on Thursday where he is expected to convey the response from Norway to the Government of Sri Lanka on the Norwegian facilitation of the peace process in Sri Lanka. Norway is expected to press for acceptance of certain terms from both parties regarding the talks, the Norwegian news agency, NTB reported Wednesday. Full story >> SLAF Helicopter comes under fire in Arugambay[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 13:56 GMT]An MI-17 Military helicopter of the Sri Lanka Airforce (SLAF) came under gunfire and made an emergency landing in Kumana, Amparai district, around 3.15 p.m. Wednesday, Sri Lanka Air Force spokesman Ajantha de Silva told media in Colombo. The incident took place 10 air-miles off Arugambay. The gunfire did not cause any damage except puncturing a few holes in the frame and the helicopter took off after a brief inspection, SLAF sources said. Full story >> Jaffna tense as SLA cordon, searches continue[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 12:14 GMT]Tension prevailed in Jaffna as Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off and searched several villages in Jaffna district including Kachchai area in Thenmaradchy, Ariyalai in Jaffna, Myilankadu in Valikamam North, Erlalai North and Mandan in Vadamaradchy area, Wednesday morning as the troops continued their security operations for a second day, sources in Jaffna said. Early reports said seven youths have been detained for futher questioning by the SLA in Mandan area. However, the SLA has not officially released any information on the detention. Full story >> Cabinet size, luxury vehicles draw JVP fire[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 11:45 GMT]The extreme Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Parliamentarian Nandana Gunatillake severely criticised the new Government of Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse during the Budget debate Tuesday for appointing a large cabinet thus violating the election pledge. He said the President has appointed all 60 Parliamentarians of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), including their allies, except SLFP Parliamentarian Nirupama Rajapakse, as Ministers and deputy Ministers in the SL Government. Full story >> SL Police arrests two Tamils in Mannar[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 11:25 GMT]Sri Lanka Police took two Tamil youths into custody in a three-hour cordon and search operation conducted in the bazaar area of the Mannar town Wednesday morning by combined armed forces. These youths are now detained in the Mannar Police Station and are being interrogated, civilian sources said. Full story >> Self-employment assistance centers open in Pooneryn[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 03:13 GMT] Opening event for a Sewing Training Center and a Center for Animal Husbandry Training built with financial aid from Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and International Labor Organization (ILO) was held in Pooneryn Monday. Planning Director for ILO, Mr Janarthanan presided the event. The Economic Consultancy House (TECH), an NGO working exclusively in the NorthEast on employment generation projects, will adminstrator the two centers.Full story >> UK NGO helps Trincomalee disabled[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 01:37 GMT] Leonard Cheshire International (LCI) of United Kingdom (UK), an organization which assists people with special needs worldwide, handed over livelihood assistance to fifteen selected tsunami affected disabled beneficiaries to rebuild their lives and to parents to generate income to maintain their disabled children, at an event held Monday at the Trincomalee Rotary House. Mr.K.R.Rajendra, South Asian Representative of LCI attended the event.
Full story >> Pesali injured transferred to Colombo, A'pura hospitals[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 19:18 GMT]Twenty five police personnel injured in a grenade attack on a Pesalai police post Monday night were transferred to Anuradhapura general hospital and Colombo national hospital Tuesday morning around 11.30 a.m. in four ambulances from Mannar hospital under tight security. Security concerns forced officials to initiate the move, police sources said. Full story >> France extends Euro 10m soft loan to Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 17:00 GMT]France and Sri Lanka signed a financial protocol Tuesday extending 10 million euros soft loan to the Government of Sri Lanka for assist in building Greater Trincomalee Integrated Water Supply Scheme, a joint press release issued by the Embassy of France in Colombo said. Full story >> Mortar fire on Meeravodai SLA camp - Police[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 14:41 GMT]Four rounds of 81 mm Mortar fire was reported close to Meeravodai Sri Lanka Army camp located 2 km west of Valaichenai in Batticaloa district around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Police said. Miravodai is located 4 km north of Kiran where two Tamils were shot and killed by unidentified gunmen Monday night. Full story >> India cannot be a card in Colombo’s oppressive politics game - Vaiko[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 12:59 GMT]Indian Defence Minister Mr Pranab Muhkerjee assured the Tamil Nadu Politician Mr. Vaiko Monday that he will investigate the press reports on the reconstruction efforts of Palaly airstrip in the main Sri Lankan military base in Jaffna. “Earlier Indian political leaders had acted with great care, and had declined to enter into a defence treaty or airbase reconstruction projects when I have brought the Tamil concerns to the Indian leadership’s notice,” Vaiko said.Full story >> Vavuniya abduction discussed in LTTE, SLMM meet[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 11:53 GMT]Members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) met with representatives of the Liberation Tigers in the Puliyankulam office of the LTTE 5 p.m. Monday and again at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The discussions centered on the disappearance of Sinnathamby Ganeshalingam alias Farook, a senior cader of PLOTE on Monday 1.30 p.m. Vavuniya. Vavuniya district Political Head of the LTTE, Gnanam, said that he had told the SLMM that LTTE has no involvement in the reported abduction. Full story >> Security forces cordon, search Potpathi Road area[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 11:18 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has cordoned the area surrounding the road leading to Potpathi Road Jaffna from Kondavil on Palaly Road and are conducting house to house searches early morning Tuesday, sources in Jaffna said. SLA arrested a youth who was involved in brokering motor bike sales. Youth is still in custody, according to reports. Full story >> Two Tamils shot dead in Kiran in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 05:25 GMT]Unidentified gunmen who entered a house in Kiran in Batticaloa district Monday night abducted two men at gunpoint, shot and killed them 500 meters away from the house, police said. Full story >> Grenade attack on Pesalai police post, 20 injured[TamilNet, Monday, 12 December 2005, 18:10 GMT]Twenty police officers including a sub-inspector were injured when unidentified persons lobbed a grenade into the Pesalai police check post in Mannar district Monday night around 7.30 p.m. At that time of incident police officers were attending a class inside the police post. Pesalai is located about 14 km off Mannar town. Full story >> "STF, SL Ministers complicit in paramilitary operations, Karuna in India"[TamilNet, Monday, 12 December 2005, 17:12 GMT] The two paramilitary cadres who surrendered to the Tigers in Amparai disclosed
that Karuna operates from India and that Pillayan was leading the Karuna group
operating in the east. They also revealed that Sri Lankan Government Ministers A L M Athaullah, Douglas Devananda and Maithripala Sirisena are complicit in helping paramilitaries operating in the east, during a press conference held at Thenakam guest house in LTTE controlled Karadiyanaru Monday. The cadres also said that the paramilitaries were involved in violence against Muslims to create dissension between Tamil and Muslim communities.
Full story >> Senior PLOTE cadre abducted in Vavuniya, 3 arrested[TamilNet, Monday, 12 December 2005, 09:28 GMT]A senior cadre of PLOTE, operating with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Vavuniya, was reported missing Monday noon. Unidentified persons riding in a van allegedly abducted the senior cadre, a central committee member of PLOTE, police said. Meanwhile, three men riding in a van were arrested by the Police around 1:30 p.m. at Kidacheri in Vavuniya. The police alleged that the arrested persons were involved in the abduction of the PLOTE operative. Full story >> Civilian wounded in grenade attack in Valaichenai[TamilNet, Monday, 12 December 2005, 08:01 GMT]A civilian was wounded when two unidentified men riding in a motorbike lobbed a grenade at a road patrol of Sri Lanka Army soldiers at Pethalai in Valaichenai around 12:45 p.m. Monday, police said. Full story >> Claymore attack on unmanned SLA post in Vavuniya[TamilNet, Monday, 12 December 2005, 06:12 GMT]A claymore mine went off Monday morning around 7:00 a.m. at an unmanned SLA post on Vavuniya - Mannar road at Varikuddiyoor, 12 km northwest of Vavuniya town, poice said. Additional troopers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Special Task Force (STF) and policemen were deployed and the security was beefed up in Vavuniya on Monday. Full story >> Claymore attack in East, 2 SLA soldiers wounded[TamilNet, Monday, 12 December 2005, 04:50 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were seriously injured when unidentified attackers detonated a claymore mine at a foot patrol of twelve SLA soldiers in Vantharumoolai, 17 km northwest of Batticaloa town. The attack took place Monday morning around 7:30 a.m. near the Eastern University building on Batticaloa - Valaichenai main road, police said. Full story >> Colombo blocks Akashi from visiting Kilinochchi[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 December 2005, 22:04 GMT] The Sri Lankan government has prevented Japanese Special Peace Envoy, Yasushi Akashi, from visiting Kilinochchi to meet the political wing leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to discuss matters related to peace process. Denying media reports in Colombo that Japan wanted to become partner of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Akashi said Japan has no intention of becoming a partner to the SLMM and applauded the Scandinavian countries for their effective work.Full story >> India, Sri Lanka to begin joint naval exercise[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 December 2005, 15:27 GMT]Indian Navy and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) will stage a joint naval exercise on Tuesday, 13 December, in Lankan waters.This is the first joint Naval exercise between the two countries to exchange the naval stategies in combatting common threats faced by the two countries territorial waters close to India and Sri Lanka, Naval sources said. Vice Admiral Suresh Mehta of the Eastern Command of the Indian Navy, the second high ranking Indian Defence official to visit Sri Lanka in one week, will be in Sri lanka today to oversee the joint exercise. Full story >> Security forces cordon, search Mandaitivu[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 December 2005, 12:39 GMT] Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers and Sri Lanka Police cordoned and searched large areas of Mandaitivu, an islet located south west of Jaffna town, from 9 a.m. and 12 noon Sunday, sources in Jaffna said.Full story >> LTTE's Human Rights engagement on constructive track - Thamilchelvan[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 December 2005, 11:21 GMT] “While Colombo has been increasingly engaged in portraying Tamils’ struggle for self-determination as ‘terrorism’ in international fora taking advantage of the changed political climate following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and the consequent war on terrorism, Liberation Tigers have exhibited genuine desire to adhere to the international human rights standards by closely engaging with UN agencies,” said Political Head of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) , S.P. Thamilchelvan, during his keynote address on Human Rights day event organized by the NorthEast Secretariat On Human Rights (NESOHR) in Kilinochchi Saturday.Full story >> Policeman killed, LTTE cadre abducted from Vavuniya Hospital[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 December 2005, 10:20 GMT]Unidentified gunmen shot and killed an armed policeman, Mahes Ranasinghe, inside the Vavuniya Hospital premises and abucted Ms Gunaratnam Puveneswari who was undergoing treatment at the hospital under police custody. The incident took place around 2:45 p.m. Sunday at ward no 1. Mr Ranasinghe was killed at the entrance to the ward while four unarmed policemen were guarding the patient inside the ward, police said. Puvaneswari, who took cyanide when Sri Lanka Navy arrested her with four others on board a boat in Mannar sea last Tuesday, was taken away by the men who entered the ward. Full story >> LTTE confers "National Patriot" title on murdered sisters[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 December 2005, 22:14 GMT] Liberation Tigers conferred "Tamil National Patriot" titles to the two sisters, Mrs. Yogarasa Yogeswary, 26, and Thurairasa Vathany, 17, who were victims of a revenge killing, Wednesday night, by suspected paramilitaries, at Palacholai in Batticaloa. Their bodies were kept for viewing at Illupadicheni Tamil School and were cremated with full military honors at the LTTE Cemetary for Patriots Saturday, daily Batticaloa Eelanaatham reported.Full story >> US NGO exhibits tsunami relief photos[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 December 2005, 20:59 GMT] Operation USA, a Non Governmental Organization based in US, held a photo exhibition featuring tsunami relief activities carried out in the NorthEast of Sri Lanka by Tamil Rehabilitation Organization and other relief agencies. More than 300 photographs were on display at the exhibition which opened for public Thursday 7 p.m. at the Operation USA offices at Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for Jaffna district, Ms Pathmini Sithamparanathan who is currently in US on a speaking tour, also attended the opening event. Full story >> Akashi visits Amparai[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 December 2005, 17:56 GMT] Mr. Yasushi Akashi, representative of the Government of Japan for Peace-building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, arrived Saturday morning in Amparai and held separate meetings with Muslim, Sinhala and Tamil delegations comprising of civil society members, sources in Amparai said.Full story >> CID to interrogate LTTE cadres in Colombo[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 December 2005, 13:49 GMT]Mannar Magistrate Thursday agreed to an application by Police to send the five alleged LTTE cadres arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on Tuesday evening to Colombo for further investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The five, including two women, were arrested in Pallimunai Sea in Mannar district when they were traveling in a boat, police said. Full story >> Fanoos leaves thousands homeless in Jaffna[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 December 2005, 12:32 GMT] Effects of cyclonic storm Fanoos which passed throught Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry coast was felt in Jaffna district, as hurricane force winds and heavy rains belted Jaffna distric from Friday night leaving thousands displaced in Vadamaradchy north and east. The storm weakened into a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal on Saturday morning, according to weather center in Tamil Nadu.Full story >> Trinco hospital gets new X-ray Plant[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 December 2005, 11:58 GMT] Mr.Krishanth Hewage, Private Secretary of the North East Governor Mr.Tyronne Fernando, declared open the newly constructed X-ray unit at a cost of one million rupees and commissioned the X-ray plant Thursday. The project was carried out from money allocated from the Governor's Capital Fund, sources said.Full story >> Trincomalee observes general shut down[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 December 2005, 11:48 GMT]Tamil speaking people Friday observed general shut down in Trincomalee town and its suburbs responding to a call made by the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples Consortium demanding the withdrawal of troops from the east port city and condemning the killings of civilians in the northeast province. Full story >> Bomb explosion in EPDP office in Trinco, 4 wounded[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 December 2005, 10:10 GMT] Four EPDP cadres were injured in a bomb explosion inside their office located along the Inner Harbour Road in front of the Trincomalee Harbour around 11:30 a.m. Saturday. One cadre was seriously wounded.
Full story >> Two youths shot dead in Valaichenai[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 December 2005, 05:26 GMT]Unidentified gunmen Friday night shot and killed two Tamil youths in Kiran, 4 km south of Valaichenai. The vicitms were abducted from their houses on Kali Kovil Road around 9:30 p.m. Friday by the gunmen who wanted to "interrogate" the youths for having contacts with the Liberation Tigers, residents said. Valaichenai Police recovered the dead bodies Saturday morning. Full story >> Colombo to build Naval base in Batticaloa[TamilNet, Friday, 09 December 2005, 17:11 GMT] Preparations by the Sri Lanka Government to set-up the first naval base in Batticaloa district close to Eravur was revealed in a meeting between the Police officers of the Batticaloa district, a Muslim Minister and Muslim representatives in Eravur. The special meeting which took place at Eravur Ummah Mosque Friday noon also discussed special security arrangements for Muslims in Eravur. Punnaikudah beach 4 km northeast of Saddam Hussain Village was identified as the location for the first Sri Lankan naval base in Batticaloa district, Muslim attendees to the meeting told TamilNet. Full story >> Exert pressure to curb military violence, IFT urges International Community[TamilNet, Friday, 09 December 2005, 14:53 GMT]The Geneva based International Federation of Tamils (IFT), a consortium of more than 150 expatriate Tamil organizations, in a media statement released on Friday appealed to the International Community to exert its influence on the Government of Sri Lanka to help bring normalcy in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas in the Northeast. Full story >> CFA has to be revived says Lankan Chief of Defence[TamilNet, Friday, 09 December 2005, 13:22 GMT] Sri Lanka Chief of Defence Staff, Daya Sandagiri, during a press meet in Colombo Friday ruled out Sri Lanka armed forces going to war but said that they will be prepared to meet any military situation that may arise. He said that the military leadership has submitted a report to SL President Mahinda Rajapakse concluding that the Cease Fire Agreement has to be revived and that Mr Rajapakse will make the final decision on this matter. Full story >> CFA, Muslim Tamil amity, key to peace - Thamilchelvan[TamilNet, Friday, 09 December 2005, 11:31 GMT] Pointing out that the recent escalation of violence is due to military aggression and sabotage activities of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) supported paramilitaries, LTTE's Political Head Mr. S.P.Thamilchelvan stressed the urgent need for effective implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) and the critical need to maintain Muslim, Tamil amity to maintain peace, when he addressed the media following a meeting with the Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar Friday morning. The meeting that began at 9:30 a.m. lasted for one and a half hours at the LTTE's Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi. Full story >> Brattskar visits tsunami transit camps in Mullaitivu[TamilNet, Friday, 09 December 2005, 03:37 GMT] Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo, Hans Brattskar, toured tsunami affected Mullaitivu area and visited transit centers housing tsunamil refugees to directly witness their living conditions. Ambassador Brattsker arrived in Mullaitivu at 2.30 p.m. Sunday after travelling overland from Jaffna via A9 highway, sources said.Full story >> Muslim man shot dead, one wounded in Eravur[TamilNet, Friday, 09 December 2005, 02:43 GMT]Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Mr. S. Samsudeen, 53, a Muslim civilian employed as watcher at a timber shop in Punnaikudah, 5 km northeast of Eravur town Thursday midnight. Another Muslim civilian, Mr. Mohammed Asanar, 55, who was sleeping inside his restaurant, located close to the timber shop, was shot and wounded by the gunmen who came in a van, Eravur Police said. Punnaikudah is a border area between Tamil and Muslim villages. Full story >> Student protests escalate in Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 December 2005, 18:30 GMT]University students protest at Kaladdy in Jaffna turned violent when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers fired at the air and tried to disperse the protestors. The Scandinavian ceasefire monitors who tried to calm the situation had to withdraw from the site at 12:30 p.m. as they were unable to persuade SLA commanders and student leaders to come to an understanding to defuse the situation, sources said. Full story >> Clause 1.8 key to saving truce - paper[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 December 2005, 15:34 GMT]Arguing that “a period of mutual de-escalation and confidence building is a sine quo non if a meaningful peace process is to resume,” the Tamil Guardian newspaper said this week “[this] must begin with an end to the Army’s covert onslaught,” in reference to the ongoing shadow war by Army-backed paramilitaries against LTTE members and supporters. Despite the recent sharp rise in violence, fears of an imminent war are overstated, the Diaspora newspaper argued, noting that this is not the first time incidents involving heavy loss of life have occurred since the February 2002 ceasefire. Full story >> Revenge killing by suspected paramilitaries[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 December 2005, 10:06 GMT]Two sisters of Puhalventhan, Mrs. Yogarasa Yogeswary, 26, and Thurairasa Vathany, 17, were shot dead, Wednesday night, by suspected paramilitaries, at Palacholai in Batticaloa. Puhalventhan, a renegade paramilitary cadre from Karuna Group, had surrendered along with Gnanatheepan, his colleague, to the LTTE in Amparai, Tuesday. The sisters were shot as they emerged from their door to greet two callers who had entered the compound around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. A two years old child was seriously wounded. Full story >> US Congressmen decry obstruction to tsunami aid flow to Northeast[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 December 2005, 03:10 GMT] Pointing out that "obstruction of legitimate help from USAID and private donations for the reconstruction effort in North East Sri Lanka continues," and that "Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has suspended P-TOMS and its future is mired in confusion and controversy," United States Congressmen, Sherrod Brown, Danny K Davis, Patrick Tiberi and Brad Sherman, in a letter addressed to US Assistant Secretary of State Ms Christina Rocca, urged the "State Department to carefully and dispassionately revisit the situation and consider alternatives that would allow relief aid to quickly reach those in desperate need."Full story >> Legal Aid Centre for tsunami victims opened in Trinco[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 December 2005, 00:29 GMT] Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka Wednesday morning opened its Free Legal
Aid Centre in Trincomalee district to provide free legal assistance to
victims of tsunami disaster. Asia Foundation is funding the project tsunami
victims in obtaining relief for their hardships. Mr.S.S.Wijeratne, Chairman
of the LACSL and Mr.Anton Balasingham, High Court Judge, Trincomalee
district jointly declared open the office of the Trincomalee centre on the
second floor of the Trincomalee Court Complex. Mr.K.Sivapalan,
Attorney-at-Law has been appointed co-coordinating officer of the centre.Full story >> SLA blocks Mannar traders from entering LTTE area[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 December 2005, 18:32 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Uyilankulam camp Wednesday refused entry into the LTTE held Wanni region for about six hundred traders of Nanattan division in the government controlled Mannar district to go to Killinochchi to attend a conference. SLA soldiers manning the checkpoint had told traders that they could not allow such large gathering to enter LTTE area, traders' association sources said. Full story >> SLMM head arrives in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 December 2005, 18:30 GMT]Mr.Hagrup Haukland, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) arrived in Trincomalee Wednesday by air on a two day stay in the east port town to hold discussions with the local heads of Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Police and LTTE district political head on the tense situation in Muttur following a spate of violent incidents in which several Tamil and Muslim civilians were killed, SLMM sources said. Full story >> SLMM head meets Elilan in Sampoor[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 December 2005, 18:20 GMT]Mr.Hagrup Haukland, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Wednesday 2 p.m. held a two hour discussion with Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at the LTTE political secretariat located in Sampoor in LTTE held Muttur east. Full story >> Rajapakse invites Norway to continue as Sri Lanka peace facilitator[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 December 2005, 13:43 GMT]Sri Lankan President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse Wednesday invited the Royal Norwegian Government to continue its role as facilitator to the Peace Process in Sri Lanka. Mr. Rajapakse met with the representatives of the four Co-chairs, US, EU, Japan and Norway Wednesday afternoon to discuss the preparatory work required for the continuation of the peace process, according to a media release issued by the Information Department in Colombo. Full story >> Grenade explosion in Vavuniya, civilian killed, seven wounded[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 December 2005, 10:56 GMT] A civilian was killed and seven persons, including a Sri Lanka Army soldier, were wounded near Vavuniya bus stand around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday in a grenade explosion that took place on the pavement, Vavuniya Police said. Full story >> Reopen channels for direct dialogue at local level - SLMM[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 December 2005, 07:48 GMT]Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission on Tuesday urged the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to reopen the channels for direct dialogue at the local level to diffuse the situation in the NorthEast. The attacks that have taken place over the last few days must stop immediately if the peace process is to move forward, the SLMM statement said. Colombo, on Monday, declined permission to the Jaffna commander of the Sri Lanka Army to proceed with the SLMM facilitated meeting in Muhamalai no man zone with the LTTE's political head in Jaffna. Full story >> UNICEF provides shelters for Akkarayan flood victims[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 December 2005, 03:16 GMT] Thirty two families who lost their houses due to recent floods in Akkarayan area in Kilinochchi district received temporary housing funded by the UNICEF and implemented by Akkarayan Development Organization (ADO) at an event held Tuesday 1.15 p.m., sources in Kilinochchi said. ADO president S Krishnapillai presided the event.Full story >> SL Military commanders visit Jaffna[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 December 2005, 02:24 GMT]Cheif of Defence Staff Admiral Daya Sandagiri, the newly appointed Commander of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, Commander of the SL Navy Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal G D Perera visited Palaly Military base Tuesday evening and discussed security situation in Jaffna, sources in Colombo said. Lt Gen Fonseka's Jaffna visit is the first major visit the General has undertaken after he was appointed to the top military job. Full story >> Student protests to widen[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 December 2005, 01:57 GMT]Jaffna Student Consortium said Tuesday evening that they have decided to expand the protests across Jaffna district schools Wednesday since the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has not met the demands by the protesting Hartley College students and has continued to use force to suppress student actions the last two days, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Sinhala-Only for President[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 22:22 GMT] President Mahinda Rajapakse declared last week that as a matter of policy he will address all important events in Sinhala, the Sunday Times reported this week. He pointed out that “Sinhala was his Mother tongue” the paper said.Full story >> SLN arrests five LTTE cadres in Mannar Sea, one takes cyanide[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 16:47 GMT]Sri Lanka Navy (SLAN) Tuesday evening around 4.30 p.m.arrested five LTTE cadres including two women traveling in fibre glass boat in Pallimunai sea area in Mannar district. One political cadre, Miss Gunaratnam Puvaneswary alias Uthaya, (20), took cyanide and was immediately taken to Mannar hospital. She was later taken to Vavuniya hospital in critical condition, Mannar Police said. Full story >> Gnanakone released[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 13:14 GMT]Mr. Charles Gnanakone who was detained for the past two months on alleged charges of involvement in the assassination of late SL Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, was released by the Colombo High Court Monday. Gnanakone, a leading bussinessman from Australia, was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department for "misleading" the late Mr. Kadirgamar with regard to his security and safety. Full story >> Akashi to visit Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 13:01 GMT]Embassy of Japan in Colombo said in a press release issued Tuesday that Mr. Yasushi Akashi, representative of the Government of Japan for Peace-building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, will visit Sri Lanka from Wednesday to Sunday to discuss the current situation with the Sri Lankan government and other parties concerned. Full story >> Student protests continue, Vadamaradchy tense[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 12:30 GMT]Tension griped Vadamaradchy area as students protests condemning attacks against the students by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) yesterday, and calling for removal of checkpoints near the High Security Zone (HSZ) encompassing Hartley College and Methodist Girls High School, continued for a second day Tuesday, sources in Point Pedro said. Full story >> British Minister to visit Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 11:58 GMT] British Cabinet Minister, Ms. Tessa Jowell MP, Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, will visit Sri Lanka on 8 and 9 December as part of a five-day visit which also included India and Thailand. Ms Jowell will be the first British Minister to visit Sri Lanka since President Rajapakse was elected.Full story >> Two paramilitary cadres surrender, say Karuna group responsible for attacks against Muslims[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 11:28 GMT]Two paramilitary cadres, Mr. Gnanatheepan and Mr. Puhalventhan, have surrendered to the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) in Amparai following the counter-attack on Karuna Group cadres where four paramilitary cadres were killed Tuesday, Mr. Daya Mohan, political head of the LTTE in Amparai told TamilNet. The surrendered cadres have confirmed the death of the key operative Iniyabarathy, and have revealed that the paramilitary cadres led by Iniyabarathy were behind the recent attacks against Muslims in Amparai district, including the grenade attack on Akkaraipattu Mosque where four Muslim worshippers were killed, said Daya Mohan. Full story >> Claymore attack on SLA vehicle in Jaffna, Seven dead[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 04:29 GMT] Six Sri Lanka Army soldiers and an SLA official were killed in a Claymore mine attack on a SLA tractor in Irupalai, 5 km North east of Jaffna town Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., police said. The explosion took place 200 meters west of Irupalai junction on Jaffna - Point Pedro road. SLA soldiers at the site opened fire following the attack and cordoned off the site, civilian sources said. Traffic remains blocked and the civilians were seen moving from the area. Full story >> US condemns Jaffna attacks, urges parties to uphold CFA[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 04:15 GMT]US State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli in a statement issued on Monday called on the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to take immediate action to prevent violence and to uphold the terms of the Ceasefire Agreement. Full story >> Key Karuna Group operative, 3 paramilitary cadres killed in East[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 02:56 GMT]A key operative of the paramilitary Karuna Group, Iniyabarathy alias Barathy, was killed Monday night when the Liberation Tigers launched a counter attack on a group of paramilitary cadres who were on an ambush mission towards Kanjikudichcha Aaru forward defence post of the Tigers, Mr. Daya Mohan, LTTE's political head in Amparai told TamilNet Tuesday. Iniyabarathy was killed with three other paramilitary cadres in the no-man zone between the Sri Lanka Army held Manthoddam and the LTTE held Kanjikudichcha Aaru, located 5 km east of Siyambalanduwa near the border of the Moneragala and Amparai Districts. Full story >> Two Muslim fishermen shot dead in Kalmunai[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 02:02 GMT]Unidentified gunmen shot and killed two Muslim anglers Monday night at Maruthamunai, 34 km south of Batticaloa town. Maruthamunai remained tense Tuesday morning when the dead bodies were recovered by the Police. Batticaloa - Kalmunai road remained deserted with no vehicular traffic, civilian sources said. Full story >> Muttur death toll rises to seven[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 December 2005, 01:30 GMT]Muttur Police recovered two bodies of civilians Monday evening from the old jetty in Muttur town. Tamil sources said the bodies belonged to two of the five Tamils abducted Sunday evening by a mob. Number of people who have died in violent incidents in Muttur division since Saturday has now increased to seven, four of them Tamils and the rest Muslims. Full story >> Place Sri Lanka on war alert, JHU tells Rajapakse[TamilNet, Monday, 05 December 2005, 15:33 GMT] Ven. Ellawala Medananda Thero, the leader of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), the all monks Buddhist nationalist party, Monday demanded the Sri Lankan Government to place the country on war alert. Warning that Colombo urgently needs to go on war footing, the Monk urged the SL government to adopt urgent measures to ensure security in Colombo and in southern Sri Lanka. Full story >> Colombo cancels Muhamalai meet[TamilNet, Monday, 05 December 2005, 14:25 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials informed the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) representatives who were present at Muhamalai Monday evening that the Sri Lanka's Peace Secretariat in Colombo had declined permission to the SLA Jaffna Commander, Maj. Gen. Sunil Tennakoon, to attend the proposed meeting with the LTTE, sources at the LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi told TamilNet.Full story >> SLA fires tear gas at student protest in Point Pedro[TamilNet, Monday, 05 December 2005, 11:11 GMT] Hundreds of students of Hartley College and Methodist Girls High School located in the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Point Pedro setup road blocks and protested against the Sri Lanka Army's (SLA) attempt to construct a new checkpoint on College Road leading to both schools, Monday at 8 a.m., sources said. SLA soldiers fired warning shots into the air and tear gas to disperse the protesting students.Full story >> LTTE, SLA to discuss Jaffna situation[TamilNet, Monday, 05 December 2005, 04:50 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander of Jaffna area Major General Sunil Tennakon, and the Jaffna District Political Head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Mr. C. Ilamparuthi will meet Monday evening in the presence of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to discuss the deteriorating situation in the Jaffna district, informed sources in Colombo said. The meeting is expected to take place in the no man zone at Muhamalai Monday evening at 4:00 p.m., sources added. Full story >> India should insist on Federal solution - Indian Tamil Daily[TamilNet, Monday, 05 December 2005, 03:32 GMT]"India should not hesitate to impress on Rajapakse Government that resolution to Sri Lanka’s ethnic problem should be based on a Federal solution,” said Tamil daily Dinamani in a recent editorial commenting on Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s meeting with India’s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. “India should be cognizant that Tamil national question in Sri Lanka determines the human rights, social justice and political destiny of 3 million Tamils, and that more than 60 million Tamils in TamilNadu have an emotional stake in the issue,” said the daily. Full story >> HRCSL to formulate Rights education policy for Sri Lanka[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 December 2005, 16:52 GMT]The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has been conducting a series of seminars with the aim of formulating a national level human rights education policy. The first seminar was held in Vavuniya Thursday, the second in Trincomalee Friday and the third in Batticaloa Saturday, HRCSL sources said. Full story >> LTTE-Muslim leaders meet to diffuse tension in Muttur[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 December 2005, 16:46 GMT]A Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) delegation led by Trincomalee district political head Mr.S.Elilan and a delegation of Muslim civil leaders led by Moulavi Careem, President of the Muttur Mosque Federation, met Sunday evening at Kaddaiparichchan in the presence of Mr. Arthur Tveiten, head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and explored ways to diffuse escalating tension in Muttur division following several violent incidents which resulted in the death of five persons from both communities, sources said. Full story >> Recognize Tamil need for Self-Government- Boston Globe[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 December 2005, 15:18 GMT] Pointing out Pirapaharan's Heroes Day message that he will intensify struggle for self-determination if no "political framework that will satisfy the political aspirations of Tamils" was forthcoming, the Boston Globe in an editorial appearing on 4 December issue, opined that this "either-or threat, seen alongside Rajapakse's own hard-line stance, presages an imminent renewal of civil war," and said, "India and the United States should bring international pressure to bear on the island's belligerents to sustain the current ceasefire and craft a political resolution that recognizes the Tamil need for self-government."Full story >> Firefight near Neervely SLA camp, one soldier killed[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 December 2005, 14:29 GMT]A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier seriously wounded when unknown gunmen attacked Neervely Jaffna SLA camp at 6.10 p.m. Sunday succumbed to his wounds, military sources in Colombo said. SLA soldiers returned fire and the firefight lasted more than five minutes, sources in Neerveli said. The SLA camp is located near the Kopay junction on Point-Pedro Jaffna A9 highway. Sri Lanka Army deployed soldiers along the coastal suburbs of Jaffna town, Ariyalai and Navanthurai, Jaffna police said adding that a curfew might be imposed in Jaffna. Full story >> TNA MP on US visit[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 December 2005, 13:35 GMT] Ms Pathmini Sithamparanathan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaffna district arrived Friday evening in US for a two week speaking tour. She accepted an invitation by the Florida Tamil Sangam to speak at the organization's annual event on 11 December, organizers of the event said.Full story >> SLMM calls for immediate end to violence[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 December 2005, 12:54 GMT]Pointing to the "countless attacks" in Jaffna peninsula, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) warned that "there is a real danger that these disturbances and hostilities can spread and result in irreparable deterioration of security and prevent any real restoration of normalcy in the affected communities," and said that SLMM "stands ready to assist all the Parties and affected communities in bringing an end to these attacks," in a press release issued in Colombo Sunday, Full story >> Six SLA soldiers killed, four wounded in Jaffna[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 December 2005, 08:49 GMT]Six Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed and four wounded when a claymore mine hit their tractor Sunday at 12:52 p.m. 200 meters south of Kondavil Junction on Palaly Road in Jaffna. Wounded soldiers were rushed to Palaly Military hospital, civilian sources said. SLA soldiers cordoned off the site, blocked all the traffic and started to attack the civilians in the area, sources added. Tension prevails in the area. Full story >> Muttur violence death toll increases to five[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 December 2005, 08:44 GMT]The death toll in clashes that took place in Muttur division since Saturday afternoon has increased to five with the recovery of three more bodies of Muslim persons Sunday early morning from an abandoned well in Muttur town area. One Muslim person was admitted with cut injuries in Muttur government hospital, Muttur Police said. Full story >> SLA soldier killed in Chavakacheri, civilians attacked in reprisal[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 December 2005, 16:10 GMT]One Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed when a tractor carrying SLA soldiers came under gunfire from unknown gunmen near Chavakacheri Hindu College Saturday evening, sources in Jaffna said. Three SLA soldiers were injured in three other grenade attacks in Meesalai located 3 km from Chavakachcheri. The injured soldiers were first taken to Puttur SLA camp by road and from there they were airlifted to Palaly military hospital. SLA troopers stationed along the A9 highway between Meesalai and Chavakacheri attacked civilan travellers with gun butts. Smashed motorbikes were seen on both sides along the highway, travellers who escaped from the site told TamilNet. Full story >> Two SLA troopers injured in Point Pedro grenade attack[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 December 2005, 14:44 GMT]Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers providing security to the Sri Lanka Telecom's Transmission tower based in Malusanthi in Vadamaradchy were seriously injured when unknown assailants riding in a motorbike hurled a grenade at the sentry at 6.10 p.m. Saturday, sources said. The injured soldiers have been taken to Palaly military hospital for treatment. Malusanthi is a town located 3 km southwest of Point Pedro town and lies between Manthikai hospital and Nelliady on the Point Pedro Jaffna road. Full story >> CFA, key to end Rights violations- Thamilchelvan[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 December 2005, 13:38 GMT] “Only creating conditions of normalcy will restore the denied human rights to our people. Sincere and committed implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) is necessary in the post-war situation as CFA can bring normalcy to a people affected by two decades of war that resulted in large scale displacement and destroyed the social and economic infrastructure,” said Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan, Head of the LTTE Political Wing in a meeting with Ms. Irene Zubaida Khan, Director, Amnesty International Saturday, 3 December 2005, at the LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi.Full story >> Two attacks in Jaffna, civilian wounded in SLA gunfire[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 December 2005, 11:55 GMT]A civilian traveller was seriously wounded when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers opened fire following a grenade attack on their checkpost in Kantharmadam, close to Parameswara Junction on Palaly Road in Jaffna around 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Normalcy was reported in many areas of Jaffna, except in Neerveli, where the funeral of the farmers shot and killed on Thursday took place Saturday. Full story >> Muslim shot, two Tamils killed in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 December 2005, 10:54 GMT]A mob attacked and killed two Tamil civilians travelling in a three-wheeler at Thoppur, a Muslim village 20 km south of Trincomalee town Saturday evening. Another Tamil civilian with cut injuries was rushed to Trincomalee Hospital in unconscious state. The attack took place after a Muslim person, Mr. Saja Mohaideen, was shot and wounded by unidentified gunmen at 2.40 p.m. in Muttur, police said. Tension prevailed in Muttur and its suburbs following violent incidents which took place place Saturday afternoon. Bus services were terminated and the roads remained deserted Saturday evening in Muttur. Full story >> SL communities at brink of tragedy- Schaffer[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 December 2005, 00:34 GMT] "The international friends of the SriLankan peace process need to proceed with bracing realism and appeal to the most urgent self-interest on both sides. Without a new commitment to a real cease-fire and a serious dialogue, all of Sri Lanka’s communities stand at the brink of tragedy. The inclusiveness Rajapakse has promised could stand him in good stead, but the key quality he will need is leadership," says former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Teresita Schaffer. Full story >> Sinhalese fish vendor shot dead in Trincomalee[TamilNet, Friday, 02 December 2005, 17:12 GMT]Unidentified men Friday afternoon around 3.30 p.m. shot dead a Sinhala fish vendor, Mr.Hemasiri, alias Lokku Iya (57), in the market located at Anuradhapura junction, about two km off northwest of Trincomalee town, Uppuveli police said. Full story >> Grenade attacks escalate, Jaffna tense[TamilNet, Friday, 02 December 2005, 15:55 GMT] At least seven grenade attacks were reported Friday in Jaffna. The attacks on Sri Lanka Army (SLA)positions escalated amid total shutdown in several SLA controlled areas of the Jaffna peninsula following the Neerveli kilings on Thursday. A handbill issued in the name of "Roaring People's Force" warned that reprisal attacks on SLA soldiers and intelligence operatives will escalate if attacks against Tamil activists and civilians continued. Full story >> EPDP vehicle hits civilian auto-rickshaw in Jaffna, five wounded[TamilNet, Friday, 02 December 2005, 15:28 GMT]Five civilians including women were severely wounded when a speeding pickup-vehicle belonging to the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) collided with an auto-trishaw at 5:20 p.m. Friday at Pannai bridge which links Jaffna mainland with islets. Tension escalated when villagers shouting against the EPDP cadres were attacked by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers and policemen escorting the EPDP vehicle, civilian sources in Navanthurai said. Full story >> Withdraw troops, lift embargo, demands Trinco Civil group[TamilNet, Friday, 02 December 2005, 12:17 GMT]Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples' Consortium (TDTPC) Thursday requested Sri Lanka's President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse to take immediate steps to remove all temporary camps and checkpoints of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) now located in the Trincomalee town following the erection of Buddha statue in the bus stand vicinity on May 15 midnight this year, sources said. The Civil group also demanded that the embargo on essential food and other items to Muttur east be lifted. Full story >> Four SLA soldiers injured in grenade attacks in Chavakachcheri[TamilNet, Friday, 02 December 2005, 11:37 GMT]Four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured in two separate grenade attacks on a SLA camp in the northern town of Chavakachcheri, Friday afternoon. The SLA soldiers have set up road blocks in the area and are conducting a house-to-house search, sources said. Full story >> SL Parliament to hold one-day debate on Govt's policy statement[TamilNet, Friday, 02 December 2005, 10:04 GMT]One-day debate on the policy statement of the new Sri Lankan President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse is to take place when parliament meets on December 7 on a request made by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) at the leaders of political parties. Mr Rajapakse presented his policy statement in parliament last Friday. Full story >> Kattankudy Divisional Secretary shot, injured[TamilNet, Friday, 02 December 2005, 08:46 GMT]Two unknown motorbike-riding gunmen shot and wounded Mr. A.L.M. Falleel, the Divisional Secretary (DS) of Kattankudy, at his office around 12:40 p.m. Friday, Police said. The DS, with gunshot injuries to his head and chest, was rushed to Batticaloa hospital. Kattankudy, a muslim town, is located 5 km south of Batticaloa town. Full story >> India sees "internal processes" producing solution[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 December 2005, 17:51 GMT]Commenting on Sri Lanka’s conflict and peace process, India said Thursday it "believes that an enduring solution can only emerge essentially through internal political processes." In a joint statement issued by both countries on the occasion of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s visit to Delhi, the Indian government said it “continues to maintain an abiding interest in the security of Sri Lanka and remains committed to its sovereignty and territorial integrity." Full story >> Two farmers shot dead, one wounded in Neerveli, Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 December 2005, 16:03 GMT]Unidentified assailants shot and killed two farmers at a tea shop close to Athiyar Hindu College in Neerveli at 8 p.m. Thursday. A youth who was standing inside the tea shop was seriously wounded and was rushed to Jaffna Hospital, civilian sources said. Tension prevails in the area. The Tamil National Vigilance Association has called for a hartal in Jaffna on Friday to protest against the killings. Full story >> SLMM Head meets Thamilchelvan[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 December 2005, 12:52 GMT] Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Mr. Hagrup Haukland, met with Head of Liberation Tigers Political Wing, S.P. Thamilchelvan, in Kilinochchi LTTE Peace Secretariat building Thursday at 2.30 p.m., sources in Kilinochchi said. Full story >> Indian Commander visits Vavuniya SLA frontlines[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 December 2005, 12:26 GMT] General Officer Commander-in-Chief of Southern Command Lt. Gen. B.S. Thakker Thursday visited the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) front lines in Vavuniya and discussed with SLA Commanders matters related to security, sources in Vavuniya said.Full story >> Relief reduction draws protest from HSZ displaced[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 December 2005, 11:51 GMT]Hundreds of families displaced from the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Valigamam district and living in refugee camps for more than fifteen years picketed in front of Uduvil Pradeshya Sabha offices protesting against the reduction in the relief assistance announced by the Government of Sri Lanka, sources in Jaffna said. Full story >> Book on Eelam war history released in Jaffna[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 December 2005, 10:36 GMT] Paintings and cartoons filled book depicting the history of Eelam Wars, "Puyalin Nirangal (Color of tornado)" by artist Puhalenthi was released at the Kailasapathi Auditoriam of Jaffna Campus Wednesday at 3.00 p.m. President of Campus Student Union, C Vijeyaruban presided the event.Full story >>
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