JVP backed anti-NE merger campaign begins in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 September 2004, 16:55 GMT]
A new campaign ''Awakening East'' organized by a Sinhala nationalist group and backed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a constituent of the ruling minority United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, demanding the de-merger of the northeast province was held Wednesday in Kalmunai Town Hall in Amparai district in the eastern province. The meeting was attended by mainly Sinhalese and by a few muslims, media sources said.
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Big protest against Bata in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 September 2004, 10:16 GMT]
More than a thousand Bata workers and rights activists demonstrated in downtown Colombo Wednesday, demanding the giant footwear manufacturer to take back the six hundred employees it sacked two months ago. The demonstrators also urged President Kumaratunga's government to repeal the Termination of Workmen's Services Act, which removes legal safeguards against indiscriminate lay offs by employers, according to organisers of the protest. Traffic was blocked by the protestors in the heart of Colombo's busy business hub.
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Greater inclusivity can revive peace process- NPC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 August 2004, 09:16 GMT]
The National Peace Council, in a press release issued in Colombo Tuesday said that killings during ceasefire are "totally unacceptable," and that a bipartisan approach is necessary to take the peace process forward to arrive at a "mutually agreed negotiated political solution."
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UPFA urged to adopt consistent stand on ISGA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 August 2004, 00:41 GMT]
United National Party (UNP) in an 8-page statement issued Monday said that UNP is "saddened by the steadfast refusal of the present UPFA government to adopt a coherent and internally consistent stand in respect of their attitude to the current ISGA proposals," and accused the UPFA government for making confusing and contradictory statements leading to the current impasse, jeopardizing the ceasefire agreement.
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JVP intensifies its campaign against ISGA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 August 2004, 13:48 GMT]
The Sinhala nationalist cum Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), major constituent of the ruling minority United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government has been actively engaged in a campaign in the south of the country against the Interim Self Governing Authority proposals of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the topic " Who is the real enemy of peace?" It launched its campaign on August 11
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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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SLMC dissident to be made Minister in UPFA government

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 August 2004, 11:41 GMT]
Mr. Najeeb Abdul Majeed, Trincomalee district parliamentarian who successfully contested the April 2 general election in the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) ticket is to be made a cabinet minister in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government shortly, political sources said.
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Sri Lanka renews weapons deal with China

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 August 2004, 14:56 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government has renewed an agreement with China to continue to procure military hardware from a bonded warehouse Beijing set up ten years ago in the southern capital Galle, the Sunday Times reported. Sri Lanka’s Army, Navy and Air Force have already drawn up their immediate requirements, the paper said.
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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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Police officer promotions questioned in SL Parliament

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 August 2004, 10:29 GMT]
Interior Minister in the former United National Front (UNF) government, John Amaratunge, raised concerns about the service promotions given recently to police officers by the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government under the leadership of Ms.Kumaratunge. He accused the UPFA government of giving recognition to corrupt officers and those who are associated with drug trade, parliamentary sources said.
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Sri Lanka in precarious political uncertainty- Uyangoda

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 July 2004, 18:44 GMT]
Warning that extended stalemate between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers may be leading Sri Lanka in a slippery slope towards war, Professor Uyangoda, in a political analysis column in Friday's Daily Mirror, says that "without partnership building premised on mutual trust and respect, there is no way for the UPFA [United Peoples Freedom Alliance] and the LTTE to return to the negotiation table in the foreseeable future."
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UNP to support peace talks based on ISGA proposal

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 July 2004, 00:18 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) said Thursday in a press briefing that it would support the resumption of peace talks by the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the basis of LTTE's Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposal.


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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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Helgesen meets SLMC leader

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 July 2004, 16:07 GMT]
Mr. Vidar Helgessen, Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister is reported to have told Mr.Rauff Hakim, Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Tuesday that renegade Karuna's affair has become a stumbling block in taking forward the stalled peace talks between the Government Of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), according to SLMC sources.


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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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Six new Parliamentarians sworn in

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 July 2004, 00:32 GMT]
Six new parliamentarians were sworn in when the fifth session of the Sri Lanka's thirteenth parliament began Tuesday morning at 10 a.m with Speaker Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara in the chair. Three of the parliamentarians were from the ruling minority United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the rest were from the main opposition United National Front (UNF), parliamentary sources said.
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No date fixed for parliamentary debate on ISGA

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 July 2004, 17:12 GMT]
No date has been fixed for the proposed three day debate on the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposal of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the fourth session of the parliament which is scheduled to begin Tuesday amid confusion and controversy as the minority United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government is still struggling to secure parliamentary majority, political sources 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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