Train drivers strike causes frustration

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 August 1999, 16:42 GMT]
The train drivers strike that started at the Colombo fort station at 4.00 p.m. today has spread to other parts of the island.
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Safe passage can be opened next week -Balagalle

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 1999, 13:15 GMT]
The commander of the Sri Lankan security forces in the Vanni, Maj.Gen. Lionel Balagalle, said this afternoon that the message from the Liberation Tigers regarding the opening of a safe passage for civilians through forward defence positions was received by the Sri Lankan army around 11 a.m. today. He said that a reply by the SLA to the LTTE's message consenting to open a passage at Mankulam on the A9 highway was sent forthwith.
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CID seeks SLA evidence

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 1999, 11:00 GMT]
Mannar District Courts Judge M, Ilancheliyan Tuesday ordered the commanders of 21-2 Brigade in Mannar and 21-1 Brigade in Vavuniya to hand over any evidence connected to the suspects in the murder of Ida Hamilitta, to the CID officials who are now in charge of the case.
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EPDP to boycott Parliament

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 August 1999, 13:07 GMT]
The Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) said today that it will boycott Parliament until the PA government meets its demands. The Tamil group has nine MPs in the Sri Lankan legislature. Two seats, however, remain vacant currently due to a case pending in the courts.
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Peace talks ´not ruled out´

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 August 1999, 13:36 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government will not rule out talks with the Liberation Tigers said Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar addressing a press conference today at his ministry in Colombo.
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New access routes proposed

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 August 1999, 13:28 GMT]
New proposals have been sent by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to the Liberation Tigers this morning regarding the opening of an access route to the areas held by the LTTE in the Vanni, Major General Lionel Balagalla the Chief of Staff and the Commandar for Vanni told a news conference held in Colombo this afternoon.
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Jaffna students organise prayers for Vanni

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 August 1999, 07:43 GMT]
There has been no movement on the dispute over where to open an access route to the Vanni, said the Colombo spokesman of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - Mr. Harsha Gunawardene.
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Arrangements made for examinations

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 August 1999, 19:04 GMT]
Mr. S.P.Thamilchelvan, the leader of the Political section of the LTTE held a discussion with the head of the ICRC and UNHCR delegations at Mallavi, in Vanni, at around 10.00p.m. last night, said the VoT in its night new bulletin.
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Examination papers to arrive via sea route

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 July 1999, 20:59 GMT]
Stationery and question papers for the GCE Advanced Level to the areas held by the LTTE will be sent tomorrow from Mannar via a sea route, said sources.
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Government Agents of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu transferred

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 July 1999, 07:46 GMT]
The Government Agent of Mullaitivu, R. Tharmakulasingham and the Government Agent of Kilinochchi, T. Rasanayagam were transferred from their stations with immediate effect on the last evening.
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News in brief

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 July 1999, 18:59 GMT]
Jaffna student's organisation threatens to disrupt exams; Vanni teachers not yet paid for July and Nominees named for Jaffna vacancies
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Colombo students demonstrate

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 July 1999, 12:11 GMT]
Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala students of the Art faculty of Colombo University have been jointly staging a demonstration in front of their faculty today, demanding the Sri Lankan government take steps to hold GCE examinations in the Vanni, when schools elsewhere sit for papers.
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Amnesty condemns Thiruchelvam killing

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 July 1999, 16:50 GMT]
The London based human rights organisation, Amnesty International, strongly condemned the assassination of Neelan Thiruchelvam today by a suicide bomber in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, and paid tribute to him as "a politician who contributed greatly to his country".
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ICRC 'not involved in convoy crossing'

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 July 1999, 10:58 GMT]
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was at no stage involved in the organisation or escort of the convoy which transported the Vanni residents who have been stranded in Vavuniya since last month due to the closure of the access route to the areas held by the Liberation Tigers said the organisation's spokesman in Colombo, Mr.Harasha Gunawardena this afternoon.
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Attacker's accomplice still at large - Police

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 July 1999, 10:47 GMT]
Sri Lankan Police sources in Colombo said that they are yet to apprehend the accomplice of the suicide bomber who killed Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam MP at the Kynsey Road-Ward Place junction in the Colombo suburb of Borella this morning at around 9.a.m.
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Journalists to watch travellers return

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 July 1999, 16:26 GMT]
Vavuniya kacheri officials were busy this morning making arrangements to send back about 2200 civilians from the LTTE controlled areas of the Vanni who have been stranded in Vavuniya since last month.
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Tamil groups appeal to President

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 July 1999, 11:38 GMT]
Six Tamil parties in Colombo resolved today to appeal to the Sri Lankan President to take action to avert the crisis in the Vanni.
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LTTE agrees to Mannar sea evacuation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 July 1999, 07:38 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers have welcomed a proposal by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that seriously ill patients stranded in the Vanni due to the closure of the access point at Uyilankulam could be evacuated by sea, said sources close to the LTTE in Europe.
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Mass protest in Vanni -GA

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 July 1999, 18:05 GMT]
At least eight seriously ill people in the Vanni have died as they had been unable to travel to hospitals in the south, due to the closure of the access route to the region, according to K.Ganesh, the Government Agent in Vavuniya. At least three thousand travellers who had come to Mannar and Vavuniya for various purposes and stranded are undergoing severe hardship without money and spare clothes to wear, the GA said.
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ICRC may move sick

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 July 1999, 13:30 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has not agreed to let the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) take relief supplies to the Vanni by sea from Mannar to Vidaththaltheevu but has granted the organisation permission to transport the sick not only by sea but through any of the access routes that are closed now, SLA official said today.
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