Scandal surrounds Attorney General

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 October 1998, 17:21 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Attorney General (AG) Sarath N Silva had a tough time defending himself against charges of adultery and obstruction of justice at the weekly cabinet press briefing today. The embarrassed AG was helplessly cornered by the press with evidence of his alleged misconduct, despite interruptions by Media Minister Mr.Mangala Samaraweera in his support.
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Strain shows at press conference

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 October 1998, 12:59 GMT]
The SLA spokesman Brigadier Sunil Tennekoon told journalists at today's cabinet press briefing that a joint "project" by the army and Police to arrest 15000 deserters which was launched on October 7, has so far netted 2889 soldiers who have been absconding. He said 25000 soldiers had deserted the Sri Lankan security forces. He said that 14 thousand of these were arrested or returned to their units voluntarily.
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Kilinochchi reversal, not setback - SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 October 1998, 11:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) spokesman Brigadier Sunil Tennakoon appeared flustered and discomfited by questions journalists fired today at the weekly cabinet press briefing, regarding the fall of the Kilinochchi base. He said that the army received 600 bodies yesterday through the ICRC and by this morning 400 had been identified.
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UNP begins legal challenge

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 September 1998, 20:32 GMT]
The United National Party filed action in Sri Lanka's appeal court today challenging the constitutional validity of the government's decision to postpone the provincial council elections under emergency regulations.
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Editor's home shot at

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The home of Lasantha Wickramatunge, controversial editor of the Sunday Leader newspapers, was sprayed with bullets last night around 11:30 p.m., by an unidentified gang, said journalist sources.
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New Regulations for foreign investors

[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
It will become mandatory for foreigners who want to invest or enter into project contracts in Sri Lanka to operate through local agents according to a Sri Lankan cabinet decision announced to the press in Colombo yesterday.
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Jaffna Mayor cremated in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of Ms. Sarojini Yogeswaran, Mayor of Jaffna, was cremated today at the Borella Cemetery around 4:00 p.m., according to Hindu tradition, said sources in Colombo.
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Furore over SLA Commander's comments

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A comment by the Lieutenant General Rohan Des. Daluwatte, the army commander, that the devolution package drafted by the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) as a political solution to the ethnic conflict, "would offer no solution - and give rise to problems that did not exist now" has raised a furor in SLG circles, the Sunday Times said yesterday.
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SLA recruiting children - Opposition leader

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"The security forces are campaigning in schools, to encourage 15 year old school children to join the army. When I comment on this, they call me a traitor. If it is so, is Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar also a traitor, who is campaigning in foreign countries saying that LTTE is recruiting children to their forces?", asked Opposition Leader Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe in the parliament yesterday.
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Capture of Mankulam proving elusive?

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan army's media spokesman Brig. Sarath Munasinghe told journalists at yesterday's cabinet press briefing that it is not the army's objective to capture Mankulam but to draw out the Liberations Tigers from the jungles and destroy as many of them as possible.
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Corrupt practices of Sudu Nelum denied

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Peoples' Alliance (PA), which opened a branch office for the first time in the Jaffna Peninsula today, denied responsibility for the corrupt practices of the Sudu Nelum Movement during the run up to the local government elections held in the Jaffna Peninsula in January this year, said sources in Jaffna.
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Protests planned over attack on journalist

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Free Media Movement (FMM) and other human rights and media organisations are to hold a demonstration tomorrow at 12.00 noon at Lipton Circus, Colombo, protesting against the harrowing ordeal of senior Sri Lankan journalist Iqbal Athas in the hands of unidentified armed men, said media sources.
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Temporary Jaffna library opened

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The temporary Jaffna Public Library was opened this noon by Sri Lanka's media minister Mr.Mangala Samaraweera under very heavy multi-layered security.
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Hindu priest denied access to new library

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Soldiers guarding a checkpoint near the venue of the opening ceremony of the temporary Jaffna Library this morning harassed a Hindu priest and political activists, said Jaffna sources.
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SLFP disowns keen candidate

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Minister for Media Mangala Samaraweera, dissociated the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Sudu Nelum Movementor (SNM) White Lotus Movement, from the actions of Mr. Mangala Nesan a candidate for the forthcoming local government elections in the north, said press sources in Jaffna.
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Reluctant official threatened by SLA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A top local government administrator of the Jaffna Municipal Council was threatened with arrest yesterday for refusing to cooperate with the Sri Lankan Army in connection with a major state function to be held tomorrow in the Jaffna town, said sources in the peninsula.
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SLFP candidates contest via EPRLF lists

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The EPRLF filed nominations to all the local government bodies in the Jaffna peninsula this morning including the Valvettithurai urban council. Former central committee member of the EROS Kandasamy Balanadarajah (Sinna Bala) is the group's chief candidate for the Waligamam east Pradeshiya Sabha.
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Puliyankulam, Mankulam not captured: SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
SLA spokesman Brigadier. Sarath Munasighe said he had not received any reports about the capture of either Puliyankulam or Mankulam while answering questions by journalists this morning at the weekly cabinet press briefing which began about 10.30 a.m. at Sri Lanka's parliament complex.
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Portrait of SLFP organiser unveiled

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
A portrait of the Jaffna SLFP organiser C. Tharmalingam was officially unveiled at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Office (SLFP) in Jaffna town today. The SLFP office is located at the Hospital road- Vembady road junction.
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News In Brief

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Heavy fighting is taking place in the Vanni. The Jaffna satyagraha protests are to continue and several Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested allegedly for assisting the LTTE. A Sinhala paper says a Buddhist priest raped 4 teenagers.
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