SLA weighs Colombuthurai losses

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 September 2000, 05:40 GMT]
"It cannot be denied that the loss of lives was greater than what was achieved" Jaffna Sri Lanka army spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratna told the Jaffna daily Uthayan published Wednesday, referring to the heavy losses sustained by the SLA when it attempted to take a section of Colombuthurai, the southeastern coastal suburb of Jaffna town. "There is no point in capturing mere territory " the brigadier told the paper, adding that the Liberation Tigers are continuing to vehemently block the army from constructing new defence lines in Colombuthurai. The SLA's forward defences here were damaged and destroyed in a fierce counter attack by the Tigers on Monday.
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EPDP cheating people of Jaffna -Anandasangari

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 September 2000, 20:24 GMT]
"The EPDP was Premadasa's agent from 1989 to 1994. It has been operating as Chandrika's agent since 1995. Douglas Devananda, who did not have even half a cent in the past, is now getting seven million rupees a month from the government. The EPDP is cheating the people of Jaffna" said Mr. V. Anandasangari, senior vice President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) lashing out at the pro-Sri Lankan government armed Tamil group, the Eelam People's Democratic party, at a press conference in Jaffna town Tuesday morning.
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Suspended jail term for editor

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 September 2000, 10:28 GMT]
Mr.Lasantha Wickrematunge, the editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was sentenced to two years simple imprisonment by the Colombo High Court in a criminal defamation case. The Colombo High Court Judge informed Mr. Wickrematunge that the jail sentence has been suspended for a period of five years.
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Confusion over Trincomalee Government Agent

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 September 2000, 05:03 GMT]
The Supreme Court on Friday directed that Mr.S.D Chandradasa be allowed to function as the Government Agent (GA) of Trincomalee district with immediate effect until a fundamental rights violation case filed by him is determined. This leaves the position of the current GA, Mr.Nelumdeniya, in confusion.
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UNP releases election manifesto

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 September 2000, 14:46 GMT]
The election manifesto released today by the United National Party (UNP) stated that the constitution would not be amended until a political solution to devolve powers agreeable to all political parties is reached. The clergy, civil organisations and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) would also be consulted for a broad consensus, the manifesto further said.
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Attanagala disabled get free land

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 September 2000, 14:44 GMT]
At the commencement of a function held at Temple trees for the disabled soldiers on Friday, President Chandrika Kumaratunge Bandaranaike distributed deeds of lands to disabled soldiers and families in the Attanagala area. Attanagala is the hometown of Bandaranaike family, about 33 km. northeast of capital Colombo.
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Sinhala nationalists contest in East

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2000, 14:23 GMT]
Two Sinhala nationalist parties are to contest in the next parliamentary elections in the eastern Batticaloa District. 'Bhumiputhra Party' or Sons of the Soil and 'Runhuna People's Party' filed their nominations Thursday, said sources.
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SLMC to stand alone

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 August 2000, 16:02 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) decided Wednesday to contest the forthcoming general election under the National Unity Alliance (NUA). Nomination lists of the SLMC would be submitted by Friday, SLMC sources said. A decision to this effect was made at the party convention held today in Colombo.
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Ashraff invited to meet PA, resolve differences

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2000, 14:44 GMT]
The People's Alliance (PA) leadership has invited Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff, Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) for talks to sort out differences which arose following Minister Fowzie's statements, SLMC official sources said. Mr.Ashraff returned to Colombo Tuesday morning after pilgrimage to Mecca.
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Ex-Jaffna communists for Tamil self determination

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2000, 14:42 GMT]
The Democratic Left Front (DLF) a leftist party contesting elections to the Sri Lankan Parliament held a press conference Tuesday in Jaffna town to explain its stand on political issues affecting the island's Tamils. The group's chief candidate for the Jaffna electoral district, Mr.Kasippillai Senthivelavar, said that the DLF will agitate for an immediate cease-fire and emphasise the right of self determination of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
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Court releases Vavuniya Red Cross head

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 August 2000, 16:46 GMT]
Sivanathan Kishore, the head of the Vavuniya branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRC), who was arrested by the Sri Lankan Police allegedly for links with the Liberation Tigers and detained for more than 16 months under the draconian Prevention Terrorism Act (PTA) was released Monday without charges by the Colombo high court.
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Independent Tamil group to contest in Ampara

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 August 2000, 04:16 GMT]
A last minute appeal has been made to the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) to join the independent group nominated by the Tamil Maha Sabha to contest in the Ampara District in the forthcoming general election.
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TULF candidates for Trincomalee decided

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 August 2000, 11:18 GMT]
Attorney-at-Law Kasinathar Sivapalan will lead the list of Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) candidates to contest the Trincomalee electoral district during the forthcoming parliamentary election.
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Cooray's party to contest elections

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2000, 11:31 GMT]
'Citizens Front', a new political party led by a former United National Party (UNP) strong man, Mr.Sirisena Cooray has decided to contest in 22 electoral districts out of 25 during the forthcoming general election.
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Former Jaffna GA dies

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2000, 12:41 GMT]
Karhtikesu Manikavaskar, a former Government Agent of Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts died of a suspected heart attack at a private hospital in Colombo Tuesday morning, said sources.
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Cessation of hostilities if elected -Ranil

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2000, 13:20 GMT]
The United National Party (UNP) will bring about a cessation of hostilities agreement with the Liberation Tigers if it comes to power said party leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing a press conference Sunday at the opposition leader's office in Colombo.
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Madhu devotees pray in peace

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2000, 06:20 GMT]
Only boy scouts and no members of the armed forces or Liberation Tigers were present in areas surrounding the Madhu shrine, and tranquil atmosphere prevailed allowing people to conduct their prayers in peace, said Christopher Fernando, a devotee from Negombo who visited the Madhu shrine during the August festivals.
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UNP first to seek Norway's help - Bondevik

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 19:03 GMT]
The United National Party was the first to seek Norway's assistance in the effort to find a political settlement to the ethnic conflict on the island when it was in power in 1990 according to Mr.Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Norwegian Prime Minister. he made this statement when delivering the keynote address at the commemoration meeting to mark the first death anniversary of veteran foreign minister A.C.S.Hameed, held at Colombo Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall Thursday evening.
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Former Norwegian PM will not speak to leaders

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 12:50 GMT]
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Mr.Kjell Magne Bondevik will not hold talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunge, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe as scheduled, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said Thursday.
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SLMC member receives junior minister post

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2000, 18:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Parliamentarian U.L.M.Mohideen was sworn in Wednesday as Deputy Minister for Social Services in front of the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. Mr.Mohideen is one of the parliamentarians representing the south-eastern Ampara district.
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