Civilians to picket against army presence

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 September 2002, 21:19 GMT]
The Vadamaradchi People's Movement (VPM) Sunday announced that a mass picketing campaign blocking three supply routes to the Sri Lanka Army's 524 Brigade Headquarters in Point Pedro town would be launched Monday demanding the withdrawal of armed forces from areas encompassing court house, post office, schools, rest house, places of worship and several civilian homes.
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Chandrika slams UNF government 'without vision'

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 September 2002, 18:32 GMT]
"The United National Front government has no vision nor ability to rule the country," said President Chandrika Kumaratunge Sunday evening at Bogambara grounds, Kandy in the Central province. The President was addressing a large gathering at the fifty first convention of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which was founded by her father, late Premier S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike in 1951.
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PM secretary told Jaffna difficulties

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 August 2002, 20:58 GMT]
The difficulties faced by the students and fishermen of the Jaffna district were highlighted at a conference Saturday morning at the Jaffna district secretariat, despite the existence of the ceasefire agreement. The Prime Minister's secretary, Mr. Bradman Weerakone, attended the conference. Education officials said that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) still occupies sixty schools and students fear to attend classes in several schools, which arestill surrounded by SLA camps.
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'Peace vital for economic development'- Minister

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 August 2002, 19:12 GMT]
"The twenty year old brutal war has now come to an end paving way to promote better understanding between all communities in the island. Permanent peace is vital for the economic development of the country," said Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Mr.Alick Aluwihare at the conclusion of the one-day mobile service held at Trincomalee St.Mary's College Saturday.
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PM to meet WB President next month

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 August 2002, 21:54 GMT]
A government delegation led by Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe is to visit several countries seeking foreign aid for the development of the island soon after the first round of direct peace talks commenced at Thailand in mid September, Constitutional Affairs Minister Mr. G.L.Peiris said Friday. During his visit to United States of America, the Prime Minister is to confer with the World Bank President regarding the proposed aid to the country, he said.
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Vanni artistes highlight detainees' plight

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 August 2002, 05:46 GMT]
A Tamil parliamentarian Thursday called for the repeal of Sri Lanka’s notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) under which hundreds of people continue to be detained. Mr. K. Thurairatnesingham, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was addressing people assembled at Trincomalee St. Joseph's College auditorium Thursday evening to view the play enacted by the Vanni Teachers' Aesthetic Society, a group of teacher-artistes of Vanni region.
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Cabinet approves move to curb President

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 August 2002, 08:13 GMT]
(News Feature) The constitutional standoff between Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe deepened this week as state media reported that the cabinet Wednesday adopted the 18th amendment which seeks to curb the powers of the President to dissolve parliament whilst also precluding action against members who vote for same.
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Court seeks Chemmani report

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 August 2002, 14:42 GMT]
The Colombo Chief Magistrate has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit on November 26 a full report regarding the investigation into the mass graves at Chemmani. The court issued the directive when the case against six Sri Lanka Army suspects held in connection with the Chemmani graves was taken up for inquiry Tuesday.
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Prime Minister briefs Archbishop on peace process

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 August 2002, 16:40 GMT]
The Archbishop of Colombo, Right Reverend Dr. Oswald Gomes, Tuesday urged Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe to take forward the peace process and find a honourable solution to the ethnic conflict. The Archbishop made the plea when the Prime Minister met him Tuesday afternoon and briefed him on the present status of the Norwegian peace initiative.
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Fishing restrictions reimposed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 August 2002, 23:51 GMT]
More than six hundred fishermen residing in three villages close to the east of Sri Lanka Army's main Palaly base in Jaffna district did not go fishing Monday protesting against the restriction imposed by the SLA that they should go to sea from the shore where the Myliyathanai army camp is situated. The SLA has further instructed them not to keep their fishing crafts in their villages but to keep them at Myliyathanai army camp site under its supervision.
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St John Ambulance National Cadet camp concludes in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 August 2002, 20:50 GMT]
More than eight hundred youths of all communities from north to south of the country attended the five-day National and Cadet Camp for the year 2002 of the St.John Ambulance Association and Brigade held at Trincomalee Vipulananda College.
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Government corresponds with NEPC in Sinhala language

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 August 2002, 20:55 GMT]
The central government of Sri Lanka still maintains official correspondence with Tamil dominated North East Provincial Council only in Sinhala language. This has caused provincial officials immense difficulties in getting those letters and circulars translated into Tamil or English, NEPC sources said.
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US Deputy Secretary of State visits Chavakachcheri

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 August 2002, 11:36 GMT]
The United States Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Richard Armitage, visited Chavakachcheri Urban Council grounds Thursday morning accompanied by Sri Lanka’s Economic Reforms Minister Mr. Milinda Morogoda, Defence Ministry Secretary Mr. Austin Fernando, US Ambassador in Colombo Mr. Ashely Wills and the three heads of the armed forces. While touring the Chavakachcheri area, the visiting US diplomat said, "It reminds me of Vietnam where I served for six years. This shows the urgent need of finding a political solution to Sri Lanka's crisis."
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Unions demand halt to privatisation moves

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 August 2002, 20:20 GMT]
Hundreds workers from state owned banks, insurance and petroleum corporations and members of trade unions aligned to the Sinhala nationalist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) demonstrated Tuesday against the United Front Government's plans to privatise public institutions that have become a heavy burden on the island's cash strapped economy. The demonstration at Lipton Circus, a busy intersection in the heart of the city, was organised by the JVP backed All Ceylon Trade Union Federation.
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Nimalarajan murder suspects further remanded

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 August 2002, 18:11 GMT]
The Jaffna acting Magistrate Tuesday allowed an application made by the Police seeking permission to send the 9 mm pistol and two spent bullets which had been recovered from the office of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) to Colombo for forensic examination and report. The Police recovered the pistol and bullets when they raided the EPDP office, August 9.
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Batticaloa SLA commander replaced

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 August 2002, 21:38 GMT]
Col. Rajitha de Silva will assume duties as the commander of the 23-3 Brigade of the Sri Lanka army in Batticaloa from Wednesday, replacing Lt. Col. V. L. R Anthoniz, sources in the eastern town said Tuesday.
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'Last chance to find peace' -Chandrasekaran

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 August 2002, 21:18 GMT]
"This is the last opportunity given to a government in the island to find permanent peace with honourable political solution to the Tamils," said Minister and the leader of the Upcountry People's Front Mr. P.Chandrasekaran when addressing as the guest of honour at the fourth day of the five-day 'Yuga Thekma' exhibition in Trincomalee.
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SLA hands over two schools in Tellipalai

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 August 2002, 20:13 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army Monday (SLA) officially handed over Tellipalai Union College and ‘Thanthai Chelva’ Tamil School to the Department of Education in Jaffna district. The SLA allowed only students and teachers to enter buildings of these two schools.
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US Deputy Secretary to visit Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 August 2002, 17:45 GMT]
A three-member defence team of the American Embassy in Colombo Monday arrived Jaffna to ensure security for the UA Deputy Secretary of State Mr. Richard Armitage who is scheduled to visit the peninsula Thursday. The US team flew into Palaly main SLA base Monday morning.
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Peiris to lead Sri Lanka delegation to Thailand

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 August 2002, 18:25 GMT]
"The Thailand peace talks will pave way for permanent peace in Sri Lanka. I will be leading country's delegation to the peace talks scheduled to be held in mid September," said Constitutional Affairs Minister, Professor G.L.Peiris, Sunday. The Minister was addressing after opening the third day of ‘Yuga Thekma’ industrial exhibition in Trincomalee Sunday evening.
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