Colombo transformer destroyed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An electricity transformer exploded in Kadawatte, a suburb of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo around 3.30 a.m. today, said sources. Oil leaking from a container on the transformer is believed to have caused the explosion, sources said.
Full story >>

Police commander found dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dharmasiri Weerakoonwho, the chief of the Special Task Force (STF), was discovered at around 6.30 a.m. today, said Police sources in Colombo. He went missing yesterday while swimming in the sea at Beruwala, a tourist resort 55 kilometres south of Colombo, the sources added.
Full story >>

Mankulam fighting continues - SLA

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Heavy fighting broke out between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan Army yesterday in the general area of Mankulam, when the troops engaged in Operation Jayasikurui made a fresh attempt to advance from their positions around 10.45 a.m. said LTTE sources in Europe.
Full story >>

Kadirgamar to resolve China-India tension

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan foreign ministry sources said today that the Sri Lanka has accepted a request by the foreign minister of China that Sri Lanka should take steps to reduce the tensions that have arisen in the south Asian region following the recent nuclear tests by India.
Full story >>

SLA claims early success

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Heavy fighting is reported between the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) near Ambakamam, north-east of the strategic Mankulam junction in the northern Vanni region, said sources in Vavuniya. Four SLA soldiers were killed and 22 were wounded in the latest fighting, said SLA sources.
Full story >>

Market falls as foreign investor withdraws

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Colombo stock market fell by 18.8 points (2.6%) today, from 718.80 to 700.00 points, following the withdrawal of a major foreign investor. The Colombo stock market's Sensitive index also fell from 1197.20 to 1082.80 points.
Full story >>

Jayasikirui resumes

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has launched a fresh attempt to capture the strategic Mankulam Junction this morningas part of its ongoing Operation Jayasikurui said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
Full story >>

Ratwatte visits Jayasikurui areas

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Defence Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatta visited the forward areas of Operation Jayasikurui today along with the Army commander and other senior service commanders.
Full story >>

President addresses SLMC meeting

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunge, while speaking at the annual meeting of the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress (SLMC) said that Sri Lanka will win the war against the Tigers. However a political solution has to be found for the ethnic conflict and all the parties should support it unanimously, she said further.
Full story >>

SLMC meeting amid protests

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) will hold its 15th annual national congress at Stanley Grounds in Colombo today. The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunge is expected to be the chief guest for the event. The Opposition leader, Mr. Ranil Wikremasinghe is also expected to address the congress, said sources in Colombo.
Full story >>

TULF advisor mooted as new Mayor

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front's (TULF) legal advisor, Mr. Sivapalan is expected to be nominated as the new Mayor for the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC), said TULF sources Thursday evening.
Full story >>

Jaffna Mayor cremated in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of Ms. Sarojini Yogeswaran, Mayor of Jaffna, was cremated today at the Borella Cemetery around 4:00 p.m., according to Hindu tradition, said sources in Colombo.
Full story >>

Muted public response to killing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
While political parties and civic organisations in Colombo issued strident statements of condemnation of the assassination of Jaffna Mayor, Sarojini Yogeswaran, there was muted public reaction to the killing in Jaffna, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Mayor's body sent to Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of Sarojini Yogeswaran, covered with TULF flag was kept at the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) office this morning for local people to pay their respect. About one thousand people paid their respects this morning, said sources in Jaffna. Among the mourners who filed past the Mayor's bier today, were many Sri Lanka Government (SLG) officials and members of the local bodies, the sources said.
Full story >>

Mayor's body arrives in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The aircraft carrying the body of the assassinated Mayor of Jaffna, Sarojini Yogeswaran touched down at Ratmalana air- base, in the suburbs of Colombo around 1:30 p.m., said sources.
Full story >>

Jaffna Mayor's killing claimed

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An organisation called 'Sangiliyan Force' claimed responsibility yesterday evening for the assassination of Jaffna Mayor, Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran, in a message sent to Uthayan, the only Tamil daily published in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Mayor's funeral on Wednesday

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The funeral of Jaffna Mayoress, Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran, who was shot dead yesterday, will be held on Wednesday May 20 in Colombo said a spokesman for the TULF today.
Full story >>

International delegation visits Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Officials from the British, Dutch and Indian High Commissions in Colombo visited Jaffna yesterday, to obtain first hand information about the situation there, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Senior SLA officer killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Brigadier Larry Wijeratne, Commander of the SLA's Pt. Pedro garrison, was killed and three others wounded when his vehicle was destroyed by a suicide bomber, in Pt. Pedro town 32 km north of Jaffna, around 3:30 p.m today, said sources in Jaffna.
Full story >>

Poor response to latest amnesty

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) Commander, Maj. General R.Daluwatte said today that 5000 SLA deserters had accepted the general amnesty and had returned to their duties during the period the amnesty had been offered to SLA deserters. However, SLA sources in Colombo said the actual response was far less than the official figure.
Full story >>