MoD firm on ration cuts

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 August 1998, 10:27 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Defence ministry has ordered the Government Agents (senior civil servants) of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts not to distribute the rations that are yet to be delivered for the current period and next month's quota as well, said sources.
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Civic groups warn of starvation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 10:34 GMT]
An umbrella organisation representing various civic groups in the Vanni region has issued an appeal to major media organisations to highlight the difficulties faced by residents in the area.
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UNESCO expresses concern

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 August 1998, 13:00 GMT]
UNESCO expressed its concern over reports that food distribution to Vanni by the Sri Lankan government (SLG) has been deliberately reduced. The organisation also urged the SLG to provide unhindered humanitarian assistance to the people of Vanni.
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Displaced' roofing held up

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 August 1998, 10:07 GMT]
Fifteen thousand, one hundred and fifty (15,150) roofing sheets earmarked for the camps of the displaced persons in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held areas, are lying at the Vavuniya District Secretary's office for the past three months awaiting clearance for transport by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), said sources in Trincomalee.
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Heavy fighting near Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 August 1998, 23:56 GMT]
Heavy fighting is reported to have taken place near Kilinochchi in the northern Vanni region. Forty Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and many were wounded when their column was encircled and ambushed there, said the Liberation Tigers, in a statement issued Thursday from their London offices. The bodies of 10 SLA troops have been recovered said the LTTE.
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Fifteen said held without charge

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Fifteen persons from Kilinochchi are detained in a house near the Jaffna Kachcheri for no known offence, said sources in Jaffna. They are said to be workers from a coconut estate in Kilinochchi who were arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and brought to Jaffna four months ago.
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Appeal for funds to arrest cholera epidemic

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The District Secretary, and the Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services, Kilinochchi District, have made an urgent appeal for rupees five million to construct special wards to arrest an alarming outbreak of cholera in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Monsoon relief supplies requested

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The District Secretary (DS) of Kilinochchi District, T. Rasanayagam made an urgent appeal for 3.2 million rupees from the Provincial Ministry of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction to purchase cadjan and other material for the displaced persons in Kilinochchi before the forthcoming northeast monsoon season, said sources in Trincomalee. The north-east monsoon is expected to set in by October.
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Fresh fighting near Mankulam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Troops of Operation Jeyasikurui made a fresh attempt to capture the strategic town of Mankulam today said sources close to the Liberation Tigers in Europe. The SLA advance was repulsed, they added.
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Sri Lanka radio allays fears

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
There is no restriction on food or medicines supplied to the Wanni as stated by certain reports, said Radio Sri Lanka (RSL), quoting a press release from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), in its broadcast tonight.
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Development meeting

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Government Agents (GAs) of the five districts of northern Sri Lanka, met with N. Obadage, the Chairman of the Relief and Rehabilitation Authority of the North (RRAN), in Trincomalee today, to brief him on the projects earmarked in their districts for financial assistance from the Australian Government, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Five councillors lose their posts

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Commissioner of Elections, Mr. Dayananda Dissanayake informed five members of the Chavakachcheri Pradeshiya Sabah that they will cease to hold office, having failed to take their oaths in the three months after the completion of the local government elections, said sources in Jaffna.
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Demonstration over cuts in relief

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Over one thousand people demonstrated in Jaffna today, protesting at the Sri Lankan Government's decision to cut relief for displaced people. The demonstration was organised by an organisation calling itself the 'Movement campaigning for Human Justice'
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Three civilians killed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three civilians, including a mother and her 7 year old son were killed and 8 others were wounded in a Sri Lankan Air Force bombing raid and SLA's shelling at Solainakar in Konavil in the Kilinochchi district, yesterday, said sources close LTTE in Europe when contacted by TamilNet.
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Shortage of drugs causes hard ship - GA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A large displaced population, the shortage of drugs, medical personnel, hospital facilities and the ongoing Jeyasikiru military operation are all factors contributing to an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension in the Mullaitheevu District, said the Government Agent (GA), Mr. R. Tharmakulasingam in his latest report on situation there.
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Behind closed doors

[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
On 5 June 1998, the Sri Lankan President once again imposed censorship on foreign and local media barring them from reporting 'sensitive military information'. The PA promised to introduce legal and institutional reforms to strengthen the freedom of expression when it came to power in 1994. According to ARTICLE 19, the international censorship watchdog that has studied press freedom in Sri Lanka in detail, none of these reforms have been implemented. The following report is based on their research.
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Another Kilinochchi advance repulsed-LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Over 75 Sri Lankan Army soldiers were killed and over 200 injured in the fresh fighting that broke out yesterday in Kilinochchi as the SLA launched another offensive to recapture the northern town, said the LTTE in a press release issued yesterday from its International Secretariat in London. Western analysts say that they expect fighting to continue in the area in the short term.
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Priests die in airstrike

[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two Christian priests were killed in a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) airstrike on 4 June whilst travelling through Kanakampikaikkulam in the Kilinochchi district said sources close to the LTTE in Europe today.
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57 SLA bodies returned

[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The bodies of 57 Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers captured by the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) in recent fighting were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) yesterday, said sources close to the LTTE in Europe today.
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Conflicting casualty claims

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Over 100 soldiers were killed and many more wounded when the Tigers counter attacked the Sri Lankan Army which tried to advance towards Kilinochchi in two directions backed by Air Force jets and artillery yesterday, said the Liberation Tigers in the Vanni today.
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