SLA sends deserters to jail after military court hearing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2008, 03:15 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials after a hearing in a military tribunal sent a group of 106 deserters to Welikada prison on Monday, and another group of 199 deserters on Tuesday, military sources said in Colombo.
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Tigers locate 29 SLA bodies, 75 SLA killed, 100 wounded in Vanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 15:06 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam, on Wednesday recovered further 10 dead bodies of the SLA soldiers, in addition to the 19 bodies handed over to the ICRC, from the battlefield after Tuesday's heavy fighting on two fronts in Vanni. 45 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and more than 51 wounded in Naachchikkudaa when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) confronted the SLA in a stiff fighting throughout Monday night, and on Tuesday, 30 more SLA soldiers were killed and 50 wounded in another front, between Akkaraayan and Vannearikku'lam, where Tiger fighters fought against the SLA from 5:30 a.m. till 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday, LTTE officials in Vanni told TamilNet.
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1200 Tamils languishing under custody in Western Province - SL Minister

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 14:35 GMT]
Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) parliamentarian and a deputy minister in Mahinda Rajapaksa's government, P. Rathakrishnan, has compiled a report with details of around 1,200 Tamil youths of both sexes, languishing in the detention centres and prisons in South after being arrested in Colombo and its suburbs recently. Mr. Rathakrishnan has told media that he would demand the advisory committee of the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry to expedite the inquiries against the detainees and the police to ensure that innocent Tamil civilians are not harmed when enforcing 'law and order.'
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Villagers locate mutilated body in Kaaththaankudi lagoon

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 14:18 GMT]
Sri Lankan Police Tuesday morning recovered a dead body with gunshot wounds from Kaaththaankudi lagoon in Batticaloa district, after being notified by the public. The magistrate who inspected the site asked the police to place the corpse at the mortuary of Batticaloa Teaching Hospital for possible identification, despite the illegibility of the body, police said.
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Fighting intensifies at Vannearikku'lam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 10:27 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) fighters were engaged in heavy clashes with the Sri Lanka Army units that advanced targeting Vannearikku'lam since Tuesday morning around 5:10, according to LTTE officials in Vanni. The SLA has suffered heavy casualties, leaving behind weapons and ammunitions. The fighting still continues, the Tigers said.
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SLA shells IDP settlements in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 05:34 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched artillery fire towards Union-ku'lam and Oottup-pulam villages with Internally Displaced Persons, southwest of Ki'ilnochchi town, Tuesday morning around 8:10 a.m. Artillery shells exploded near IDP settlements.
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LTTE confronts SLA, recovers 7 bodies

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, 05:12 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials on Tuesday said their fighting formations confronted the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) that attempted to advance towards Naachchikkudaa, a fishing port in the Kariyaalai-Naakapaduvaan division of Ki'linochchi district, from Muzhangkaavil since Monday noon. Claiming that the SLA advancement was thwarted, the Tigers said they have located at least 7 bodies of SLA soldiers who were killed in action.
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SLA to issue special ICs for Govt., NGO staff in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 September 2008, 16:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) are planning to issue special identity cards to the officers and employees of government departments, banks and the local staff of International and local Non-government organizations, the SLA announced through a radio broadcast from Palaali military head quarters. The military is the first stage in the SLA plan of issuing SLA special identity cards to all Jaffna residents, civil society sources in Jaffna said.
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Poonakari AGA office relocates documents due to SLA offensive

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 September 2008, 12:57 GMT]
Poonakari Assistant Government Agent’s (AGA) office which has been operating from Muddkompan due to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling, is again moving important documents to Ki’linochchi Government Secretariat as SLA attacks on Muddkompan area have escalated, Poonakari AGA, Mr. Rajan, said.
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PHI Union urges action to locate missing official in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 September 2008, 08:15 GMT]
Public Health Inspectors' Union of Sri Lanka appealed to Jaffna District Director of Public Health Service to take action to find Thevasenathipathy Sukanthan, a Public Health Inspector (PHI) reported missing since 24 August after being allowed to enter Punnaalai Varatharaja Perumaa'l temple by Sri Lankan forces, to attend the annual temple festival, according to media report released by PHIU. Meanwhile, Jaffna SLA Commander Major Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri in a report to local media said that there is evidence for the exit of the missing persons from the temple on 24 August.
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Rajapaksa's residence under tight security

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 August 2008, 18:01 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government has issued a gazette notification banning the movement of trucks, trailer lorries, parades, demonstrations, rallies, gatherings (political or otherwise) and motorcades within the high security zone in and around Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's residence "Temple Trees" in Colombo with immediate effect, officials in Colombo said. The lighting of firecrackers or fireworks for any reason within the HSZ is also totally prohibited.
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NGO vehicle narrowly escapes DPU Claymore attack in Vanni

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 August 2008, 18:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit soldiers triggered a Claymore mine Friday evening around 7:00 p.m. on a convoy of FORUT, a Norwegian NGO, at Kanakaraayanku'lam, a few minutes after the convoy has passed the entry point to Vanni, Tamileelam Police officials told TamilNet Saturday. Tamileelam police officials charged that the SLA has stepped up Claymore attacks on civilian vehicles in Vanni in a bid to terrorise the people of Vanni. The NGOs and the UN agencies have become under pressure from the Sri Lankan government, which is pressurising a move to force people to vacate LTTE administered areas.
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20 SLA killed, 32 wounded, 3 bodies recovered in Thu'nukkaay - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 August 2008, 16:34 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) confronted Sri Lanka Army (SLA) that attempted to advance towards Aalangku'lam in Thu'nukkaay division of Mullaiththeevu district from 9:40 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. Saturday. LTTE fighters have seized 7 T-56 automatic rifles and recovered 3 dead bodies of SLA soldiers after heavy fighting. The Tigers claimed that at least 20 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 32 wounded in the clashes. Heavy fighting ensued also in Vannearikku'lam where the SLA sustained casualties.
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SLA shelling kills 5 IDPs, children in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 August 2008, 12:15 GMT]
Five civilians, including two children, displaced recently from Mannaar district were killed Saturday evening when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched artillery attack on Puthumu'rippu village, situated 7 km southwest of Ki'inochchi town. Three civilians were rushed to Ki'inochchi hospital in critical condition, according to medical sources. The SLA attack, targeting the village, densely populated by IDPs, comes a day after Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) dropped leaflets threatening heavy casualties to civilians in Vanni unless they moved from LTTE administered Vanni.
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10 SLA deserters escape from custody

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 August 2008, 09:18 GMT]
Ten deserted soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) escaped from the Pelawatte SLA camp in Akuragoda, located near Colombo, on Friday while being detained for further inquiry. The deserters were arrested by the military police of the SLA and handed over to the police for follow up action, sources in Colombo said. They were later arrested by the Sri Lankan military police.
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Vavuniyaa choked with abrupt GA nominations

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 August 2008, 11:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Ministry of Public Administration recently transferred the Government Agent of Vavuniyaa S. Shanmugam from his post despite there was only a couple of months till his retirement. Meanwhile, the GA of Mullaiththeevu, Imela Sukumar, was appointed for his post and she was also instructed to look after Mullaiththeevu district from Vavuniyaa. But, her appointment has now been canceled. In the Meantime, the GA of Maanaar A. Nicholas Pillai, has been transferred to Vavuniyaa. The shifting appointments have come due to pressure from two competing paramilitary leaders operating from Colombo with vested interest in the affairs of Vavuniyaa, according to informed sources.
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Devotees sustain injuries during Chariot festival in Nalloor temple

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 August 2008, 09:48 GMT]
More than fifteen devotees among the many thousands attending the annual Nalloor Kanthasuvami Koayil Thear (car) festival Friday morning sustained injuries when a flaming torch held in front of the car, during its passage around the temple, tripped down, sources in Jaffna said. The injured devotees are admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital.
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SLA denies permission for paddy cultivation in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 August 2008, 06:55 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna denied permission for the Maha Season paddy cultivation in areas adjoining its High Security Zone (HSZ) in Ma'ravanpulavu, Thanangki'lappu and Koayilaakka'ndi in Thenmaraadchi, depriving thousands of Internally Displaced families of their sole livelihood, farmers representatives in Jaffna said. The farmers have repeatedly requested Jaffna Government Agent to allow them to cultivate their paddy fields.
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Male corpse washed ashore on Naavatku’li beach in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 August 2008, 06:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in their sentry post on Naavatku’li coast on finding a male corpse of a youth with gun shot wounds washed ashore Thursday night handed it to Chaavakachcheari police. The youth may have been killed in the clashes heard on the Front Defence Line (FDL) areas in Thanangki’lappu and Kokilakka’ndi in Thenmaradchi the day before, Naavatku’li residents said.
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SLA curfew hinder devotees attending Nalloor temple festival

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 August 2008, 05:25 GMT]
Though Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna had earlier announced a curfew lift in the entire Jaffna peninsula enabling Saiva devotees attend the annual Nalloor Kanthasuvami Koayil festival, the curfew remained imposed as usual in the rest of the peninsula except within Nalloor District Secretariat area and Jaffna Municipal Council limit, resulting in less number of devotees being present Thursday evening on the 23rd day ‘Chappa’ram’ festival, sources in Jaffna said.
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