Editor seeks protection after JVP threats

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 May 2005, 11:07 GMT]
Mr. Lasantha Wickramatunga, Editor of Colombo based newspaper Sunday Leader, informed of imminent risk to his life and sought protection from Inspector General of Police, Mr Chandra Fernado, after threatening statements were made by Mr Wimal Weerawansa, a government-party MP and leader of the parliamentary group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) during a meeting held at Maharagama by JVP's front, the ultra-nationalist Patriotic National Movement (PNM).
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TNA demands international commission to probe Sivaram murder

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 May 2005, 10:16 GMT]
Mr.R.Sampanthan, parliamentary group leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Friday demanded in Sri Lanka's parliament that the government should take steps to constitute an international commission of inquiry comprising of impartial and qualified persons from the countries in the SAARC region, like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and from the Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand and canto to investigate all aspects of the murder of journalist Mr.D.Sivaram.
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‘Sivaram killing a blow against peace’ – US don

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 17:46 GMT]
The abduction and murder last Thursday of political columnist and military analyst, Dharmeratnam Sivaram by suspected Sri Lankan state agents “will hinder peace and promote war” in Sri Lanka, writes Prof. Tom Plate, Director of Asia Pacific Media Network, in a op-ed published Thursday in the Korean Times. “The anguish felt worldwide perhaps surprised the morally suspect government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga,” Prof. Plate, who is with the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote.
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Engine drivers' strike disrupts SL train service

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 10:22 GMT]
The train service in Sri Lanka came to a standstill Thursday with the strike of engine drivers entering the second day. No passenger or goods train left from Fort Railway Station in Colombo Thursday morning. The strike began Wednesday night after the Transport Minister failed to provide satisfactory response to the demand for a new salary scheme and a name change for engine drivers, trade union sources said.


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Petroleum unions give ultimatum on privatization, CEB unions contemplate future action

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 May 2005, 16:54 GMT]
Joint Trade Unions' Federation (JTUF) of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Wednesday issued an ultimatum to the United Peoples Freedom Alliance government to openly give an assurance before 31st May on the question of privatising the CPC according to conditions laid down by the international lenders, trade union sources said.
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India, Sri Lanka foreign office consultations held

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 May 2005, 17:06 GMT]
Indian participation in post-tsunami construction, bilateral trade, economic cooperation and Sethusamudram project are some among the issues discussed Monday during the Foreign Office consultations between the Governments of Sri Lanka and India, a joint press release issued in Colombo said.
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Protests mark Press Freedom Day

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 May 2005, 11:02 GMT]
Marking the World Press Freedom day, hundreds of journalists of print and electronic media demonstrated carrying placards with photos of Mr Sivaram and shouting slogans demanding freedom of expression, in front of the Fort railway station in Colombo Tuesday, sources said.
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Sivaram: ‘Don’t raise false hopes amongst our people’

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 May 2005, 18:35 GMT]
The last article published by Mr. Dharmeratnam Sivaram, the political columnist and military analyst abducted and murdered on Friday, was an appeal to his colleagues in the Tamil media. Urging them not to hype up the chances of a positive outcome with regards to the joint mechanism until it actually happens, Mr. Sivaram argued that the media has a duty to not to raise false hopes amongst the Tamil people and to keep the Sri Lankan state’s determination not to meet Tamil expectations in sight.The article, written in Tamil for the Colombo-based Virakesari newspaper appeared in its edition of Sunday April 24.
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India's Foreign Secretary to meet President Chandrika

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 May 2005, 16:55 GMT]
Mr.Shyam Saran, Indian Foreign Secretary Monday met with Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse and discussed in detail bilateral issues including commercial, political, post-tsunami rehabilitation, Indian financial assistance and credit lines, parliamentary sources in Colombo said. Mr.Saran is scheduled to meet President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Tuesday, sources said.


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FMM to hold demonstration in Colombo condemning Sivaram murder

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 May 2005, 15:55 GMT]
Free Media Movement (FMM) is planning to hold a demonstration Tuesday evening in front of the Fort Railway Station in Colombo condemning the brutal killing of journalist Mr.D.Sivaram and demanding the Government to conduct impartial inquiry to identify the assassins, sources said.
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Peace Process has brought nothing tangible, TNA tells India's Foreign Secretary

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 May 2005, 13:42 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA)MPs told India's Foreign Secretary Mr. Shyam Saran during a meeting in Colombo that nothing tangible had occurred to further the Peace Process, that even the post Tsunami Mechanism had not reached fruition, and that the situation of drift and stalemate was very harmful, said a press release issued by the TNA in Colombo Monday.
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Funeral of Sivaram held in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 May 2005, 10:13 GMT]
Murdered Tamil journalist Mr D Sivaram's funeral rites began at his family home in Lady Manning Drive, Batticaloa Monday afternoon after his body was taken to LTTE controlled Karadiyan Aaru earlier in the day. The body of Mr.Sivaram is now being taken to the cemetery in Aalayadichcholai, which lies in a High Security Zone of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). The funeral procession is escorted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and Police. Representatives of the SLMM are also following, TamilNet correspondent in the eastern town said.
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Govt. of Sri Lanka is accountable for journalist's murder- US Tamils

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 May 2005, 00:48 GMT]
"Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is accountable for the murder of journalist Mr D Sivaram," said a press release issued by a group of US Tamil Organizations, Sunday. "Sadly, the murder of Mr. Sivaram is not an aberration; it is consistent with a long history of state-sponsored murders of journalists and political opponents, and general contempt for freedom, democracy and the rule of law which have become the norm for Sri-Lanka," the release further said.
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Sivaram funeral cortege leaves Colombo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 May 2005, 17:19 GMT]
The body of murdered Tamil journalist Sivaram Dharmeratnam was taken from his residence in Colombo at 10pm local time to Batticaloa where his funeral will take place on Monday. The skies opened up momentarily around No.15/4 Mahindarama Road, Ratmalana from where the cortege left with Police escort. The cortege is expected to reach Batticaloa in the early hours of Monday
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Massive military expansion ‘without publicity’

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 May 2005, 15:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka is to buy several powerful warships from Britain, Serbia and Uruguay, the Sunday Times reported this week. From Britain, the SLN is keen to buy warships to support major amphibious assaults on coastal targets. The SLN is also to buy two nearly 100-metre long Russian built missile frigates from Serbia and five fast gunboats from Uruguay. “What is known quite clearly is that millions of dollars are to be spent for military procurements,” the Sunday Times’ defence correspondent, Iqbal Athas, writes. “Without the glare of publicity, behind-the-scene manoeuvres to secure some big deals are under way.”
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Trade unions hold May Day rallies in Jaffna, Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 May 2005, 13:59 GMT]
Tamil speaking trade unions under one wing held May rallies followed by processions in Jaffna and Trincomalee Sunday with large number of trade union activists participating. Marchers carried photograph of journalist Mr.D.Sivaram who was brutally killed in Colombo last Thursday.
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Heavy security marks May day rallies in Colombo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 May 2005, 11:37 GMT]
Thousands of supporters of major political parties in southern Sri Lanka joined the May day rallies being held in capital Colombo, amidst heavy security measures. The ruling United People’s Front Alliance (UPFA) is holding a rally at the Galle Face Green, under the patronage of Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunge. Several government Ministers, Parliamentarians and UPFA leaders are taking part in the rally, sources in capital said.
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Jaffna journalists protest over killing of Sivaram

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 April 2005, 16:41 GMT]
A large number of civilians and journalists protested in Jaffna town, Saturday morning, demanding the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure safety to Tamil media persons.
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"NorthEast is very close to India's heart"- Foreign Secretary

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 April 2005, 14:21 GMT]
"India is committed to assisting in the development of Sri Lanka's NorthEast through economic and technical assistance. The welfare and well-being of the people living in the NorthEast is very close to India's heart," Mr.Shyam Saran, Indian Foreign Secretary said Saturday in Trincomalee handing over a consignment of materials worth about five million rupees donated by the Government of India to the Government Technical College located in Mihindupura, a suburb of the east port town.
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Indian Foreign Secretary arrives in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 April 2005, 12:58 GMT]
Mr.Shyam Saran, Indian Foreign Secretary arrived in Colombo on a four-day visit Friday. He is scheduled to meet the Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, Foreign Minister Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar and several Sri Lankan government officials. Ms Neelan Deo, Joint Secretary of the Indian Foreign Ministry and several officials also accompanied him, diplomatic sources in Colombo said.
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