Public transport crisis looming in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 October 2008, 16:32 GMT]
Shortage of tires and spares for buses operated by Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) in the North has reached a critical situation and may soon cripple transport services in the peninsula, officials of SLTB Koa'ndaavil bus depot said Friday. Sri Lanka government authorities’ delay in supplying the necessary spares in time is said to be the reason for the situation, they added.
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Tamil nationalism undefeatable - Prof. Kumar David

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 October 2008, 10:59 GMT]
Looking at the characteristics of Tamil nationalism within the four demographic groups, North, East, Colombo and the diaspora Tamils, Professor Kumar David, in an opinion column in the weekend edition of Lakbima, says that the anger of the Tamils with the Sinhala state, though very real, will always remain muted and the "rise of the LTTE in the shape of a militarist alternative is precisely the dialectical response, the antithesis, the rejection, that this [Sri Lankan] state of affairs gave rise to." The Tamil diaspora can drive the nationalist movement forward for decades, irrespective of the outcome of today's military campaigns, he says.
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3 Tamils reported missing after arrest by SLA in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 October 2008, 19:45 GMT]
Three Tamil civilians, residents of Chaavakachcheri in Jaffna district and staying in Wellawatte, are reported missing after being taken in for questioning by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Thursday evening, according to complaints lodged with the police and human rights groups in Colombo by their relatives.
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Diaspora Tamils in Germany exhibit humanitarian aid

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 October 2008, 08:54 GMT]
More than 3,000 Eelam Diaspora Tamils in Germany, organised by 16 Tamil organisations, demonstrated on Friday through a central part of Berlin, exhibiting humanitarian supplies that they have collected to be sent to their kith and kin in Vanni, urging the International Community to facilitate transport from Colombo to Vanni.
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30 Tamils arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 October 2008, 20:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police conducted cordon and search operations in Grandpass, Kotahena and Mutuwal in Colombo district from Wednesday night till Thursday and took several civilians, majority of them are Tamil, for interrogation. All were released later except 30 Tamil youths who are being detained in police stations for further investigation, civil sources said.
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Abducted Tamil brothers found dead in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 October 2008, 19:48 GMT]
Bodies of two Tamil youths with gunshot injuries were recovered from Ja-Ela and Ragama in Colombo district Wednesday. Both were brothers and identified as Jebamalai Kugathas and his younger brother Jebamalai Sajith. Both were abducted by unidentified men from Inthurugoda on October 6.
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Jayalalithaa recognises Eelam Tamils Right to Self-Determination

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 October 2008, 18:33 GMT]
Ms. Jayalalithaa, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and leader of the state's major opposition party, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), said in a press release, clarifying AIDMK stand Thursday that her party fully recognized Eelam Tamils right to Self-Determination. She also said that her party accepted the demand for Tamil homeland with self-governance within a united framework of a Sri Lankan constitution.
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British, Norway ambassadors visit Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 October 2008, 10:46 GMT]
British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Dr. Peter Hayes, and Norway's Ambassador Tore Hattrem accompanied by UNHCR residential representative in Colombo, were on a visit to Jaffna Wednesday. The emissaries met Jaffna Appeal Court Magistrate R. T.Vignarajah around 4:30 p.m. and discussed the humanitarian as well as the general security concerns of the civilians. Meanwhile, informed sources in Jaffna told TamilNet that the Sri Lankan Defense Ministry had initially declined permission for the delegation to visit Jaffna Prison and Kurunakar Special Rehabilitation Centre where civilians seeking protection from the threat of the SLA and paramilitaries are placed in protective custody.
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Bomb attack targets Sri Lankan minister in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 October 2008, 09:36 GMT]
A bomb attack has targeted the convoy of Maithripala Sirisena, the Sri Lanka's Minister of Agricultural Development and former Secretary of SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa's SLFP, at Piriwena Junction in Boralesgamuwa in Colombo Thursday around 1:15 p.m., killing at least one person and causing injuries to seven, Police said. A deputy minister, Siripala Gamlath, sustained injuries in the balst.
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Muslim youth shot dead in Dehiwala

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 October 2008, 15:37 GMT]
A 27-year old Muslim youth was shot dead at Dharmaraja Road junction in Dehiwala in Colombo district Wednesday early morning around 2.30 a.m. The victim was identified as Farook Deen of Matale, according to police spokesperson Ranjit Gunasekara.
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SL police arrest seven Tamil youths in Anuradhapura

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 October 2008, 19:20 GMT]
Seven Tamil youths from upcountry districts were taken into custody during a cordon and search operation conducted by Sri Lanka police personnel in Anuradhapura from morning till noon in the aftermath of the assassination of Opposition Leader of the United National Party (UNP) in North Central Province, Maj. Gen (retd.) Janaka Perera.
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900 million USD in World Bank aid for Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 October 2008, 14:52 GMT]
The World Bank will give Sri Lanka 900 million dollars in aid under its new four-year country assistance strategy aimed at achieving "more balanced and equitable growth" press reports said. World Bank country director Naoko Ishii said one of the aims of the country assistance strategy (CAS) aid to the island riven by protracted ethnic conflict is to expand economic opportunities in "lagging regions" in the interests of "inclusive and equitable" economic development, reports said.
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Tamil Nadu exerts pressure on New Delhi against Sri Lanka's war

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 October 2008, 09:36 GMT]
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state in Southern India, Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, on Monday indirectly declared that his government would no longer tolerate Indian Central government aiding the Sri Lankan government against the Eezham Tamils, even if it aided Colombo "unwittingly". The move comes after the veteran DMK leader urged his party members to telegram New Delhi to convey their displeasure with the attitude of the Central government. He has issued a veiled threat to New Delhi implying that he would not hesitate to withdraw his support to the ruling UPA alliance, if Sri Lanka continued its war against Eezham Tamils, media reports in Tamil Nadu said.
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Journalist among the dead in Anuradhapura blast

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 12:11 GMT]
Five media organisations (SLWJA, FMETU, SLTMA, SLMMF, FMM) Monday expressed deep sorrow over the death of TV journalist Rashmi Mohamed around at 8:40 a.m. in Anuradhapura. Rashmi, a provincial correspondent of Sirasa TV, was covering the opening ceremony of the new office of the United National Party (UNP) in Anuradhapura, close to the old bus stand, a press statement issued by the Free Media Movement (FMM) in Colombo said.
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UPFA to appoint Karuna as national list parliamentarian

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 11:21 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, following the advice by his brother and SL Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has approved a suggestion to appoint Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, alias Karuna, a renegade Tiger commander who turned leader of a paramilitary group operated by the Sri Lanka Army in Batticaloa and Ampaa'rai, as national list parliamentarian of the UPFA, informed sources in Colombo said.
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Eastern Province must function as a separate unit - SL Chief Justice

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 10:53 GMT]
"Eastern province should continue to be separated from North. Eastern province is a very important province in Sri Lanka and will serve as an example to all other provinces in the country," said Mr.Sarath N Silva, the Chief Justice speaking in Batticaloa Saturday during the opening ceremony of a High Court and an appeal Court, sources in Batticaloa said. The event was chaired by High Court judge S.Paramarasa.
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Ex-Service Commanders elevated in rank with increased pension

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 10:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka Government has elevated in rank and increased pension privileges of two former Commanders of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), two former Rear Admirals of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), and four former Air-Vice Marshals of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) with effect from October 1, 2008, political sources in Colombo said.
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SLA arrests youth, another reported missing, in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 10:28 GMT]
A 26-year-old Tamil youth from Kaithadi in Jaffna, temporarily staying Colombo, was reported missing after going out on an errand 22nd September, according to a complaint registered by his mother with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) office in Jaffna. Meanwhile, another 24-year-old Tamil youth has disappeared in Cha'ndilippaay Jaffna after being arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers while he was on his way to a closeby Saiva temple, his mother said in a complaint to the HRC.
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Janaka Perera assassinated, blast kills 28 in Anuradhapura

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 03:58 GMT]
Opposition Leader of the United National Party in North Central Province, Maj. Gen (retd.) Janaka Perera and his wife, a former Sri Lanka Army officer, were killed in a bomb blast in Anuradhapura Monday morning around 8:45. Around 28 persons were killed and 80 wounded in the blast, Police said. An attacker, strapped with hidden explosives, embraced the former commander killing himself and several others, initial reports said. Janaka Perera was the UNP candidate for the Chief Minister post in 2008 Provincial Elections in North Central Province, which was marred by violence.
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7 Tamil youths arrested in Wellawatte

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 October 2008, 19:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and police arrested seven Tamil youths during a cordon and search operation covering all lodges, hotels, houses and business places, conducted from Friday night till Saturday morning in Wellawatte area in Colombo, sources in Colombo said. The arrested are still being detained in the police station for further inquiries.
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