New military spokesman

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Major General Sarath Munasinghe, former Sri Lankan military spokesman, has been appointed as the new Commanding Officer (CO) of the Elephant Pass base in the northern province, said defence sources in Colombo.
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Cargo Ship Sinks

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Port authorities in Colombo said today that a cargo ship sank off the shores of Negombo, north of Colombo. All the sailors have been rescued, they added.
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Devananda's condition improves

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The condition of Douglas Devananda is improving rapidly said ex-militant sources in Colombo today after visiting him at the Colombo National Hospital. Mr. Devananda was moved from the intensive care unit yesterday night, they added.
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Mine clearing delayed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A seminar on educating the public on deactivating buried pressure mines was held in Jaffna on Monday, under the auspices of the Department of Community Medicine, University of Jaffna, and UNICEF, said sources in Jaffna.
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Sri Lanka conflict not on SAARC agenda

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Leaders of the seven South Asian countries who are expected to meet in Colombo for the South Asian Association for Regional Co- operation (SAARC) summit at the end of this month are not expected to focus on Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict, said sources close to the Indian diplomatic mission in Colombo.
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'300 to 400 bodies have been buried'

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
On 3 July 1998, the Colombo High Court sentenced five Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and policemen charged with rape and murder in the Krishanthi Kumaraswamy case to death. Local and international human rights activists have welcomed the fact that a severe sentence was passed, indicating the gravity of the crimes, but there are doubts as to whether this marks an end to the climate of impunity in Sri Lanka.
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Amnesty commends sentences, appeals for clemency

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The international human rights watchdog Amnesty International commended the sentences passed on the six accused security forces personnel in the Krishanthi Kumaraswamy rape and murder case, but also said that it will go through the formality of asking the Sri Lanka President for clemency because it did not believe in the death sentence.
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Death sentence for Krishanthi accused

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and a policeman were given the death sentence by the three member bench trial at bar, for the abduction, rape and murder of Jaffna schoolgirl Krishanthi Kumaraswamy, and the murder of three other people, including her mother and brother, in September 1996, said sources.
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EPDP leader's condition 'serious'

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The condition of Mr. Douglas Devananda, leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) and Parliamentarian for the Jaffna district, who was attacked by detainees at the Kalutara prison yesterday is said to be serious, said hospital sources.
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Investigation into EPDP leader's stabbing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Justice has appointed Mr. P.Paskaralingam to investigate the attack on EPDP leader Mr. Douglus Devananda in the Kaluthura prison, said sources. Mr. Paskaalingam is expected to submit his report to the Minister of Justice, Prof. G.L.Pieris shortly, they added.
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Munasinghe makes Major General

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Brig. Munasinghe of the Sri Lankan Army has been promoted to a rank of Major General said sources. Brig. Munasinghe has been the official SLA spokesman for several years.
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EPDP leader critically injured

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP) leader Douglas Devanda was critically injured when he was stabbed by a group of priosners today at the Kalutara prison around 6:00 p.m., said Ms. Maheswari Velayutham, Secretary for the Forum for Human Dignity who accompanied Mr. Devanda.
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To be or not to be?

[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The question of elections is hanging in the balance without a firm announcement by the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) as to whether it would go ahead with the provincial council polls, or opt for Presidential election after November this year.
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Colonisation in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An illegal colonisation of Sinhalese, backed by the Sri Lankan Army and Police is taking place in areas between the native Tamil villages of Kurankup Paalam and Vilankulam in the Trincomalee district, on the Trincomalee-Colombo road, said sources in the eastern port town of Trincomalee.
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Fast unto death continues

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Attorney General and the Prison Commissioner are yet to respond to demands put forward by the Tamil detainees held at the Kalutara prison who began a fast unto death yesterday, demanding their release or the implementation of legal proceedings against them.
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Batticaloa troops sent to Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) is moving front-line soldiers from Batticaloa to the areas of Operation 'Jeyasikurui' and replacing them with re-instated deserters and fresh recruits, ex-militant sources in Europe told TamilNet today.
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Shortage of drugs causes hard ship - GA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A large displaced population, the shortage of drugs, medical personnel, hospital facilities and the ongoing Jeyasikiru military operation are all factors contributing to an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension in the Mullaitheevu District, said the Government Agent (GA), Mr. R. Tharmakulasingam in his latest report on situation there.
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Political detainees to begin protest fast

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Forty-seven Tamil political prisoners held at the Kalutura prison, 43 km south of capital Colombo, have warned that they will begin a fast unto death from Tuesday, June 23, demanding that the authorities either begin legal proceedings against them or release them.
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Two arrested for transporting bomb

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two persons were arrested at a police checkpoint in Siyambalanduwa in the Amparai District, 45 km west of Amparai town, transporting a bomb strapped to their motorbike, said police sources in Batticaloa.
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Government moves to postpone PC Elections

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government is reported to have approached the main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP), to get it's support to postpone the forthcoming Provincial Council (PC) elections for another year, said sources close to the UNP.
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