Artillery duel south of Trinco

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 December 1999, 14:40 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) have been exchanging artillery fire in the Muttur area, south of Trincomalee, for the second day, residents said today. The shelling is reported to be occurring in Kaddaiparichchan.
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Kumaratunge vows relentless battle against 'hatred'

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 December 1999, 15:52 GMT]
(NEWS FEATURE) Mrs Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, after being sworn in as Sri Lanka's fifth Executive President this afternoon at her official residence Temple Trees before the Chief Justice, vowed to "rid this land of death and destruction." Political commentators said it indicated her speech heralded a stronger effort to defeat the Liberation Tigers militarily.
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Tigers step up Elephant Pass assault

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 December 1999, 12:04 GMT]
Heavy fighting close to the southern defences of the Elephant Pass base complex was reported today as the Liberation Tigers pressed on with their assault on the northern garrison.
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Low voter turnout fuels malpractice in East

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 December 1999, 12:01 GMT]
Tamil voters living in the LTTE held areas of the eastern province have failed to show much interest in exercising their votes in today's presidential election TamilNet correspondents in the region said. As a result widespread impersonation is taking place in some areas, they say.
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Elephant Pass southern defence lines collapse -LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 December 1999, 11:39 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers have begun a concerted artillery attack today on the Sri Lanka Army's (SLA) central base camp at the Elephant Pass after overrunning two more military bases in the area between Paranthan and Elephant Pass, the LTTE said in statement today.
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Amnesty condemns rally attacks

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 December 1999, 20:22 GMT]
Amnesty International, the London based human rights group Monday condemned last Saturday's attacks on two political rallies in and near Colombo in which at least 25 civilians were killed. The attacks, within hours of each other, took place at the rally of the ruling People’s Alliance (PA) and that of the opposition United National Party (UNP).
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Artillery duels rock Jaffna peninsula

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 December 1999, 12:44 GMT]
Heavy fighting is raging in the southern defence lines of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base at Elephant Pass, SLA sources in the Jaffna peninsula told TamilNet today. The Liberation Tigers are pounding the defence lines and camps in the area with artillery, they said.
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SLA denies withdrawals

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 December 1999, 12:42 GMT]
A spokesman for the Sri Lankan military, Brigadier Sunil Tennekoon said at a press conference today that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has "rearranged" its defences at Vettilakerni only. He also said the attacks on both the People's Alliance and United National Party (UNP) rallies were caused by suicide bombers.
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Attack on SLA in Thundy

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 December 1999, 12:19 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and at least 10 wounded at Thundy in Jaffna, yesterday, in an artillery attack by the Liberation Tigers from Pooneryn, sources said.
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Tigers release two more POWs

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 December 1999, 11:04 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers said that they have released two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, arrested during their military operation in the Vadamaradchi East sector of the Jaffna peninsula.
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Tigers advance on complex - radio

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 December 1999, 09:45 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers advancing on the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base at Elephant Pass are 3 km. from the centre of the complex, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio today. Hundreds of SLA soldiers have been killed as two bases in Paranthan were overrun, the radio said.
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Paranthan SLA camp captured - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 December 1999, 11:54 GMT]
The Paranthan Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp has been captured by the Liberation Tigers, the LTTE said today in a statement from its London offices. The LTTE has also captured Sri Lanka Navy bases at Kerativu and Sangupitty in Chavakacheri sector, the statement said. 78 Liberation Tigers have died in the fighting in Jaffna since the LTTE began its offensive there, the statement said.
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Tiger manoeuvres trouble gateway garrison

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 December 1999, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army has been expecting a head on attack on the main gateway to Jaffna since reports began emanating from the Vanni that the Liberation Tigers were raising a large conventional force for an unprecedented offensive. The Elephant Pass-Paranthan base complex was therefore heavily fortified and well trained infantry units were deployed there to face the anticipated assault. But the Tigers, however, have entered Jaffna through a strategic side gate to suit the manoeuvre warfare tactics of their Operation Unceasing Waves III.
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Tiger manoeuvres trouble gateway garrison

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 December 1999, 18:53 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army has been expecting a head on attack on the main gateway to Jaffna since reports began emanating from the Vanni that the Liberation Tigers were raising a large conventional force for an unprecedented offensive. The Elephant Pass-Paranthan base complex was therefore heavily fortified and well trained infantry units were deployed there to face the anticipated assault. But the Tigers, however, have entered Jaffna through a strategic side gate to suit the manoeuvre warfare tactics of their Operation Unceasing Waves III.
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Ranil says confident, keen on talks

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 December 1999, 15:01 GMT]
"Give me chance to talk with the Liberation Tigers" said Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party candidate for next Tuesday's presidential election, Ranil Wickremasinghe. He was addressing the last press conference, before the elections, this morning in Colombo.
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Fighting continues in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 December 1999, 10:39 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers advanced further towards Iyakkachchi last night and have taken Mandalaai and Thiriyai sources in Vadamaradchi east said today. The Sri Lankan army was stationed in the environs of the Thiriyayi Amman temple. The LTTE units had advanced from Pullaveli the sources added.
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LTTE to release 2 more POWs

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 December 1999, 04:42 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said this morning that two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, who surrendered during the 'Unceasing Waves 3' operation in the Vettrilaikerni area, are to be released.
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Jaffna offensive continues - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 December 1999, 17:12 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers said today their offensive in the Jaffna peninsula was continuing as LTTE commando units tightened their grip around the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base complex at Elephant Pass. The LTTE said SLA claims of 500 Tigers being killed were baseless. So far, 60 Tigers have died in the five days of fighting, the LTTE said in a statement released in London tonight.
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SLA denies Jaffna bases lost

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 December 1999, 17:10 GMT]
Major General Lionel Balagalla, the Sri Lanka Army's (SLA) chief of staff, speaking at a special press conference at the SLA Head Quarters in Colombo this afternoon denied a TamilNet report that the Liberation Tigers had captured SLA camps in Vettrilaikerny, Kaddikkadhu and Pullaveli.
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UNP upbeat on interim council

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 December 1999, 17:07 GMT]
Ranil Wickremasinghe, Presidential Candidate of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party today addressing election meetings in Trincomalee and Akkaraipattu in the eastern province said that if he's elected,he would form an interim administrative council for the North-East,with special arrangements to safeguard the interests of Sinhalese and Muslims.
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