Sri Lanka's PM meets with Norwegian PM in Athens

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 August 2004, 13:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse met with Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik Saturday in Athens. Prime Minister Bondevik believed that the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are committed to the process, a press release from the Royal Norwegian Embassy said Saturday.
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Jaffna undergrads want President's portrait removed from university

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 August 2004, 16:27 GMT]
Arts Faculty Students Union (AFSU) in the Jaffna University Wednesday decided to request the Vice Chancellor to remove the photograph of the Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge from the university common hall as a protest to the occupation of civilian houses and agricultural lands in several parts of the peninsula by the Sri Lanka Army, sources said.
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SLFP, UNP should act together to recommence negotiations - NLF

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 August 2004, 02:57 GMT]
"It is indeed absolutely incumbent on the two so-called major parties (UNP and SLFP) to get their act together to recommence negotiations and take them forward fruitfully to an equitable outcome, especially because it is these two parties that are irrefutably responsible, jointly and severally, for the sins of omission and commission that triggered the 20 year long war," Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne, the leader of the New Left Front (NLF), told TamilNet in an interview Monday.
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SC to convey its determination on Anti-Conversion Bill

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 August 2004, 17:26 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court (SC) Tuesday said that it would convey its determination on the constitutionality of the private member bill titled "Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Act No. of 2004" published in the Gazette on 28th May, 2004 to the President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge and the Speaker Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara Wednesday, legal sources said.
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“Political solution should be found without delay”-UPFA Dy Minister

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 August 2004, 02:21 GMT]
“Political solution to the ethnic conflict in the country should be found during the regime of President Chandrika Kumaratunge. She is committed to peace in the country. We cannot drag on forever a peaceful solution to the national problem,” said Mr. Dilan Perera, Deputy Minister for Ports and Civil Aviation, addressing a gathering to mark the 25th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) under which the management of all ports in the country comes.
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HNDA holders storm Jaffna secretariat

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 August 2004, 02:18 GMT]
Hundreds of Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) holders who passed out from Jaffna Technical College Monday picketed the Jaffna district secretariat forcing its closure, demanding that they also should be considered for the appointment under the Graduate Employment Scheme now being implemented by the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government to bring down unemployment in the country.
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"LTTE's ISGA, Govt's interim proposal basis for talks" - Dhanapala

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 August 2004, 12:03 GMT]
"The Sri Lankan Government is also preparing a draft interim proposal like the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Peace talks between the GOSL and LTTE could commence on the basis of the proposals by the parties concerned," said Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Chairman of the Sri Lankan Government Peace Secretariat addressing members of the Consortium of Jaffna District Non-Governmental Organizations Monday afternoon.
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SLRC's peace building training programme concluded in Trinco

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 2004, 13:53 GMT]
USAID supported one month long residential training programme for 90 youth and social animators in the Trincomalee district on the urgent need of promoting peace and harmony which was conducted by the Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC) through its Trincomalee district branch concluded during the weekend at Nilaveli SLRC Training Centre.
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Sri Lanka President resigns as head of ruling coalition

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 2004, 11:49 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga resigned her post as the leader of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance Wednesday. The President's office said in brief statement that she was resigning due to pressure of work. Political analysts however said that it could mean fissures in the ruling UPFA over restarting peace talks with the Liberation Tigers. However, sources close to President Kumaratunga's Sri Lanka Freedom Party said the move is intended to make her brother Mr. Anura Bandaranaike leader of the UPFA with a view to sidelining Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha.
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"No talks on the basis of ISGA"-UPFA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 2004, 02:15 GMT]
United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge declared Tuesday that the Sri Lanka government will not recommence peace talks with the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) on the basis of the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposals submitted by the LTTE, State-run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) announced in its Wednesday morning news bulletin in English, Sinhala and Tamil quoting Minister Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).


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"LTTE will emerge victorious if SL Government launches war"- Ilamparithi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 July 2004, 16:59 GMT]
"We are certain of victory if the Sri Lanka Government launches a war to occupy our traditional homeland," said Mr.C.Ilamparithi, Jaffna district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) addressing "Confluence (Sangamam)" event of the Jaffna District Tamil Resurgence Forum (JDTRF) held in Nelliyady, a residential town 25km northwest of Jaffna, Saturday.
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SL Government ready to resume peace talks- Cabinet Spokesman

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 July 2004, 10:25 GMT]
The minority United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government said Thursday that it is prepared to commence peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at any time and anywhere. Speaking at the post Cabinet press briefing held Thursday Media Minister Mr. Mangala Samaraweera said that the LTTE should adopt a policy of flexibility in its stand, sources in Colombo said.
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Norway says peace hopes at new low

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 July 2004, 18:02 GMT]
Hopes that the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers would soon restart peace talks plunged Wednesday after a top Norwegian envoy said there is “little reason for optimism” and warned of a resumption of the protracted ethnic conflict.
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Not a principled apology- Elilan

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 July 2004, 01:33 GMT]
"We regard Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge's public apology for the 1983 pogrom against the Tamils as a deceptive attempt, driven by political expediency rather than principles, to placate the Tamils," said Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) speaking as the chief guest at a public meeting in Trincomalee Sunday evening held at the Welikada Martyrs Memorial Hall in Trincomalee to remember the 21st anniversary of Black July.
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Karuna meets with Sri Lankan ministers, US officials- paper

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 July 2004, 00:36 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s tourism minister and brother of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mr. Anura Bandaranaike, escorted the renegade LTTE commander, Karuna, to Singapore to address US officials on combating terrorism, The Sunday Leader reported this week, quoting government sources. Another government minister and a close confidante of President Kumaratunga, Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, is to meet with Karuna, the paper also said.
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CWC blows hot and cold

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 July 2004, 12:46 GMT]
The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), a member of Sri Lanka’s opposition, blew hot and cold on joining the President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s minority government, according to reports in the Tamil press last week. Meanwhile, the Sunday Times said that the plantation workers’ party was still undecided on the switching sides, while the Sunday Leader said this week “joint opposition was buoyed by information the CWC for the foreseeable future will not join the government.”
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German FM in Colombo to lobby for UN security council seat

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 July 2004, 17:39 GMT]
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer arrived in Sri Lanka Saturday night for a two-day visit as part of his ten- day tour in Asia. He is scheduled to meet several Sri Lankan leaders, including President Kumaratunga, during his short visit. Garnering support for Germany's bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council is on top of Fischer's agenda, a press note on his visit said.
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India extends credit line to Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 July 2004, 17:23 GMT]
The Government of India has extended a special credit line with a value of US$150 million to Sri Lanka on request from Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga enabling Sri Lanka to import petroleum products from India, a statement from Ms.Kumaratunge's office said today.
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CWC empowers Thondaman to decide on next political move

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 July 2004, 18:22 GMT]
The politburo of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), a constituent of the main opposition United National Front (UNF) Tuesday empowered its leader Mr.Arumugam Thondaman to study the current political situation following the defeat of the UNF in the Saturday's provincial council and to take a decision whether to join the minority United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government or not, CWC sources said.
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Terror Stalks journalists in the East - RSF

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 July 2004, 17:48 GMT]
The French media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) said Tuesday in special report on threats faced by journalists in Sri Lanka's eastcoast: "The impunity which prevails in cases involving the murder and assault of journalists is seriously jeopardizing press freedom and the peace process in Sri Lanka."
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