'Donor community must respond to LTTE, GOSL's pragmatism' - Jan Peterson

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 14:17 GMT]
While announcing increased funding support to assist Sri Lanka's peace process, Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Jan Petersen, said "The parties are showing a high degree of pragmatism and innovation in the peace negotiations. They are showing courage and political leadership in taking a gradual approach. It is incumbent upon donor governments to respond likewise," urging the international community to financially support NorthEast development in his Opening speech at Oslo 25 November 2002.
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Britain announces funding support at Oslo meeting

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 November 2002, 13:49 GMT]
The international donor conference organized by the Government of Norway in support of the peace process in Sri Lanka was ceremonially opened by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen at Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica in Oslo at 10:00 AM. Over 100 representatives from 19 nations are participating in the Conference. Claire short, Secretary of state for international development of UK in her address expressed full support for the peace process in Sri Lanka congratulating the Liberation Tigers (LTTE), Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Norway.
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Maheswaran meets with Nedunthivu protesters

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 November 2002, 16:57 GMT]
In a Ministry of Defence authorized visit, the Hindu Religious Affairs Minister Mr.T.Maheswaran Sunday travelled to Nedunthivu (Delft Island) and met with the protesters who are on a fast demanding the members of the para military Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) vacate the island, sources said.
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SLN stops food delivery to Deft protesters

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 November 2002, 15:24 GMT]
Student supporters lead by a University lecturer carrying supplies of food and drinks to the protesters in Nedunthivu (Delft) island were prevented from travelling to Delft by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel, sources in Jaffna said.
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PM's meeting with TNA, EPDP, and PLOTE fail to reach consensus

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 November 2002, 16:33 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe Friday evening held a one hour discussion with delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the leaders of the para military Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) and the Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) to diffuse the tension now prevails in the Jaffna peninsula following picketing campaign against EPDP presence in Neduntheivu.
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No decision on re-opening Nagarkovil-Point Pedro road

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 20:00 GMT]
The conference held Thursday at the office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Jaffna to discuss the opening of the Nagarkovil-Point Pedro road ended without a decision. The matter will be taken up for discussion at the meeting of the Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalization, which is scheduled to be held on December 14, conference sources said.
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De-escalation, normalisation district committee meets in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 19:27 GMT]
The first meeting of the Trincomalee District Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalisation (TDCSDN) was held Thursday at the office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in the eastern port town. The three hour discussion, observed by the head of the SLMM in Trincomalee, Mr. Jan Ledang, centred on high security zones, resettlement of displaced people and opening of roads now closed for security reasons, sources said.
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Thenmaradchi EPDP office attacked

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 16:51 GMT]
The Thenmaradchi office of the paramilitary Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) located at Nunavil east in the Jaffna district was attacked by unidentified men around mid night Wednesday, police sources said.
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Picketing in Jaffna as EPDP stays put with armed forces' guard

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 14:40 GMT]
Several hundred people Thursday picketed the headquarters of the para military Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) located in Jaffna town, demanding their immediate withdrawal from the Neduntheivu (Delft) islet. Sources in Jaffna said Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and armed police personnel are now guarding the EPDP headquarters.
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‘Col. Karuna’s approach very positive’ -Maj. Gen. Kottegoda

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 November 2002, 13:25 GMT]
“I think Col. Karuna’s approach is very positive. If we continue in this manner we should be able to sort out a lot of issues pertaining to de-escalation and normalisation,” said Maj. Gen. Shantha Kottegoda of the Sri Lanka army, speaking to the press Wednesday at the conclusion of the meeting of the Batticaloa District Committee of the Sub-Committee on De-escalation and Normalisation held in Vavunathivu, 5 kilometres southwest of Batticaloa, near the line of control.
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TNA wants EPDP disarmed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 November 2002, 07:49 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Wednesday appealed to the United National Front government to take immediate steps to ensure that no one engaged in political activity in Neduntheivu and Kayts in Jaffna district is armed. "The UNF government should take appropriate action to diffuse the situation and to assure the people of Neduntheivu and Kayts that they will not be subjected in the future to the violent and undemocratic actions of the Eelam Peoples Democratic party (EPDP)," said in a press release issued by the parliamentary group leader of the Tamil National Alliance Wednesday.
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Movie on Sri Lanka war premieres at Oslo Film Festival

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 November 2002, 02:33 GMT]
“In the name of Buddha,” a movie based on the war in Sri Lanka, centering on the experiences of a Tamil youth and his family, premiered at the 12th Oslo Film Festival on 17 November. The film shot in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and United Kingdom was well attended and received wide acclaim, attendees to the film festival said.
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Curfew re-imposed in Puttalam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 November 2002, 16:58 GMT]
Curfew which lasted from 6 pm yesterday to 6 am this morning in Puttalam-Mathurankuli area has been re-imposed from 2 pm today to 6 am tomorrow to prevent further violence due to prevailing tension between the Muslim and Sinhala communities, sources said.
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TNA meets PM over EPDP cadres in Delft

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 November 2002, 19:41 GMT]
A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary delegation Monday brought to the notice of the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe that members of Eelam Democratic party (EPDP) now in Delft island in Jaffna district are armed and are also moving about in naval uniform. The TNA delegation requested the Prime Minister to take stern steps to prevent incidents similar to those that had taken place at Kanchirankuda and Trincomalee last month, in the Delft Island.
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EPDP abandons attempt to regain Delft

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 November 2002, 13:54 GMT]
The para military Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) is said to have abandoned its attempt Sunday to regain its position in Delft Island in the Jaffna peninsula following vehement protest by villagers.
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EPDP return to Delft draws protest

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 20:42 GMT]
Forty cadres of the paramilitary Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) landed on the island of Delft, Saturday, travelling in a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) craft. The people of the Delft immediately lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Jaffna opposing the presence of EPDP cadres.
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Military-LTTE commanders meet at Muhamalai second time

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 18:40 GMT]
The delegations of the Sri Lanka armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam met Saturday at Muhamalai and discussed several issues regarding the question of resettling displaced families in high security zones and removal of fishing restriction in the Jaffna peninsula. The discussion, the second of its kind, commenced around ten in the morning, continued till six in the evening, sources said.
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PA slams international aid conference

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 12:03 GMT]
(News Feature) As Norway confirmed the participation of US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, British Secretary of State for International Development Claire Short and European Union Commissioner Margot Wallstrom at a high level aid conference for Sri Lanka to be held in Oslo on November 25, the main Sri Lankan opposition party Friday condemned the event as "rewarding terrorism."
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Protecting Northeastern Coastal Resources

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 02:14 GMT]
Northeast costline, approximately 1000 km long, is home to more than 30 estuaries and sustains a rich ecosystem. Northeast region has remained relatively unhindered by human activity and less affected by the degradation and depletion of coastal habitats usually caused by urbanization, economic growth and overdevelopment.
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Kumburupiddy displaced struggle for survival

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 00:54 GMT]
Hundreds of displaced Tamil families returned from Vanni to resettle, live in temporary sheds put up with cadjan dried leaves in Kumburupiddy, a traditional Tamil village twenty two km north of Trincomalee district, waiting assistance to reconstruct their destroyed houses and to rehabilitate their lives. They were driven out of Kumburupiddy when SLA soldiers moved into the village in 1990, returnees said.
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