Gazette notification on 19th amendment postponed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 September 2002, 15:26 GMT]
The United National Front government Tuesday decided to postpone the gazette notification on the nineteenth constitutional amendment until Friday to give time for President Chandrika Kumaratunge to submit her response, Prime Minister office sources said.
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Monks urge President to block de-proscription

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 September 2002, 09:48 GMT]
A deputation of the National Bhikku Front (Jathika Maha Sangha Sammelanaya) Monday night requested President Chandrika Kumaratunge to take control of the Defence Ministry and to use her executive powers to prevent the de-proscription of the LTTE and setting up of an interim administration in the Northeast Province.
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PA parliamentarian for ban removal before talks

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 September 2002, 18:11 GMT]
A leading People’s Alliance parliamentarian Monday openly said that the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam should be lifted before the commencement of Thailand peace talks on September 16. " All peace efforts taken by the United National Front government will be ruined if the ban on the LTTE is not removed before the commencement of Thailand talks," said Mr.A.H.M.Fowzie, a senior minister in the then PA government and a leading member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
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Chandrika slams UNF government 'without vision'

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 September 2002, 18:32 GMT]
"The United National Front government has no vision nor ability to rule the country," said President Chandrika Kumaratunge Sunday evening at Bogambara grounds, Kandy in the Central province. The President was addressing a large gathering at the fifty first convention of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which was founded by her father, late Premier S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike in 1951.
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President lays conditions for de-proscription, interim administration

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 September 2002, 12:25 GMT]
President Chandrika Kumaratunge has announced her stand on the removal of ban on the Liberation Tigers in Sri Lanka and setting up of an interim administration in the northeast province. "I will oppose de-proscribing the LTTE before the commencement of direct peace talks. I will also oppose the setting up of interim administration in the northeast before reaching an agreement with the LTTE by the government on the core issues related to the conflict," said the President when addressing a gathering, according to a press release issued by the Presidential Secretariat Sunday.
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SLFP opposes 19th amendment

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 September 2002, 12:16 GMT]
The central working committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent of the main opposition People's Alliance (PA) Saturday night decided to oppose the proposed nineteenth constitutional amendment restricting the Presidential powers to dissolve parliament.
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Cabinet approves 19th constitutional amendment

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 August 2002, 13:24 GMT]
The United National Front (UNF) government said Friday that it will gazette the nineteenth amendment to the constitution restricting powers to the Executive President to dissolve parliament, on September 3 Tuesday. “The cabinet has approved the proposed amendment and it will be tabled in parliament on September 11. The President can make any statement regarding the constitutional amendment on or before September 3,” said Constitutional Affairs Minister and government media spokesman Mr. G.L.Peiris Friday at a press briefing held at the Department of Information.
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PA-JVP anti-peace moves criticised

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 August 2002, 23:13 GMT]
"People's Alliance (PA) and the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) are working together to derail the peace process. Peace loving people of the country should not allow these elements to succeed," said Media Minister Mr.Imtiaz Bakeer Markar when addressing a gathering Friday in Trincomalee, after opening the newly built Rs.112 million Post Office complex.
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UNF decides to limit Executive Presidency powers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 August 2002, 11:42 GMT]
The United National Front government has decided to bring in amendments to the 1978 Constitution to limit the discretionary powers of the Executive Presidency to dissolve parliament and measures to allow parliamentarians to vote according to their conscience, Constitutional Affairs Minister and Cabinet spokesman Mr. G.L.Peiris said Thursday.
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New Colombo Archbishop exhorts national unity

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 July 2002, 16:14 GMT]
"All Sri Lankans should join hands to find a lasting solution to national issues irrespective of communal, religious and other differences," said the newly installed Archbishop of Colombo Most.Rev.Dr. Oswald Gomis. The Canonical installation of the eighth Archbishop took place Saturday at the Cathedral of St.Lucia, Kotehena in Colombo.
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SLFP power struggle goes to court

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 July 2002, 15:55 GMT]
The Colombo District Court Tuesday issued a restraining order on the senior leaders of the main opposition, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) preventing them from suspending the party membership of Colombo district parliamentarian Mr.A.H.M.Fowzie. The District Judge said that his restraining order will be valid till 31 July this year. The SLFP is the major constituent of the main opposition Peoples Alliance (PA).
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Ferial Ashraff demands revision of cease-fire agreement

[TamilNet, Friday, 12 July 2002, 15:36 GMT]
The National Unity Alliance (NUA) Friday demanded a complete revision of the cease-fire agreement that has been signed by the Prime Minister and the LTTE leader. The NUA is one of the constituents of the main opposition People's Alliance (PA). The Executive President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge is the leader of the PA.
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Ex-EPDP cadre makes confession on journalist's murder

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 July 2002, 19:56 GMT]
The confession of an ex-member of the paramilitary group EPDP to the Jaffna Magistrate, Thursday, may throw fresh light on the investigation into the murder of journalist, Mylvaganam Nimalarajan, legal sources in the north said.
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Quit notices on Linganagar Tamil families withdrawn

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 June 2002, 05:13 GMT]
The Trincomalee Divisional Secretary (DS) has decided to withdraw ejectment applications filed in the magistrateís court under the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act against several Tamil residents who live on state lands in the Linganagar area, a suburb in Trincomalee, when the defense counsel submitted that the affidavits of the prosecution were bad in law and not in conformity with the land.
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Kumaratunga ally slams PA's chauvinism

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 June 2002, 16:55 GMT]
The Lanka Sama Samaja party (LSSP) Monday accused the main opposition Peoples Alliance (PA) led by President Chandrika Kumaratunge that "it does not maintain a definite position regarding the ongoing peace efforts and the government's economic programme". The general secretary of the LSSP and a former minister in the PA government Mr. Batty Weerakone said the PA has joined the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to whip up racial hatred in the country, forgetting the economic problems of the masses.
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CID questions Kumaratunga's ex- media advisor

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 May 2002, 18:15 GMT]
Top officials of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Wednesday questioned controversial Sinhala film actor Sanath Gunatileke who has been accused of abductions, intimidation and malpractices during the People's Alliance regime, whilst serving as the media spokesman for President Chandrika Kumaratunge for about six years, police sources said.
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HC acquits PTA accused in conspiracy case

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 May 2002, 17:22 GMT]
The Colombo High Court Friday acquitted an accused indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for conspiring to assassinate President Chandrika Kumaratunge in 1995.
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Sinhala opposition to peace deal gathers momentum

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 May 2002, 18:55 GMT]
More than five thousand protestors Thursday afternoon thronged the Virodhaya (oppose) campaign by Sri Lanka's main opposition alliance against the ruling United National Front's policy on peace talks, the economy and style of governance at Nugegoda Junction, a busy intersection in greater Colombo.
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"Settlement sans traditional homeland concept" - PM

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 May 2002, 20:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe said that a system of devolution of power must be found at the negotiating table without dividing the country and without accepting the concept of a traditional Tamil homeland. He was addressing the first May Day rally of the United National Front (UNF) government held Wednesday at Colombo Municipal Council grounds.
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UNP captures power in central province

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 April 2002, 19:10 GMT]
President Chandrika Kumaratunga's People's Alliance Monday agreed to hand over the administration of the Central Provincial Council (CPC) to the United National Party which defeated the PA's budget in the council and demanded control of the CPC.
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