Accident victims die

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 December 1998, 16:21 GMT]
A civilian who was injured when a Sri Lankan Police pickup truck hit his bicycle in Polihandy, a coastal village between Valvettithurai and Pt.Pedro in Vadamaradchi in Jaffna, on Saturday December 19 succumbed to his wounds today at the Jaffna hospital.
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Curfew lifted for Christmas

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 December 1998, 16:18 GMT]
The Sri Lankan security forces headquarters in Jaffna said today in a press note that the night curfew in Jaffna which is imposed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. everyday will be lifted on Christmas eve.
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Grandfather describes grenade attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 December 1998, 00:22 GMT]
"I heard the blast of a grenade in my shop around 8.15 p.m. on Sunday night December 20. I called for my grandson but there was no answer. I saw him lying in a pool of blood in the shop when I went in to check with the lamp I got from our neighbour Haabis Naana"
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VoT's reach seen expanding

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 December 1998, 13:02 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio’s broadcast through the short wave has attracted more listeners in the eastern and southern parts of the country, sources said. The radio service of the Liberation Tigers in the 41 Short wave meter band commenced last week.
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SLA ambush kills five civilians - radio

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 December 1998, 22:46 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said in its night transmission that five civilians were killed in a Sri Lanka Army(SLA) ambush along the Nedunkerni - Mullaithivu road around 8.30 am today.
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28 civilians killed recently

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 December 1998, 22:43 GMT]
Twenty eight civilians were killed in the Vanni during the past 80 days in separate attacks carried out by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Air Force (SLAF), human rights sources said. Over 30 other civilians were wounded.
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Buddhist clergy claims Hindu, Muslim threat

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 December 1998, 22:03 GMT]
Hundreds of Buddhist monks demonstrated at Borella junction in Colombo this afternoon to protest against the building of Hindu temples in various parts of the country and the introduction of the Halal bill.
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SLA convoy attacked

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 December 1998, 11:16 GMT]
Eight soldiers were wounded and one was killed when the Liberation Tigers attacked a Sri Lankan Army (SLA) convoy this afternoon around 2.30 p.m. at Aarumukathaankudiyiruppu, 13 kilometers north of Batticaloa on the main road.
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On duty, armed - and drunk

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 18:18 GMT]
Batticaloa was tense this evening as shots were fired in the heart of the town from the upper floor of the Orient Hotel building in front of the Police quarters. Military trained Policemen and SLA soldiers took cover in their bunkers as the firing commenced.
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Bishop calls for unity to end war

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 18:12 GMT]
The Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph called out to leaders of different religious faiths to strive in unity to bring an end to the war. He made his plea after declaring open the renovated St.Antony's Church at Rambaikulam in Vavuniya this morning.
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350 eastern villagers arrested

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 15:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) arrested more than 350 civilians in the villages of Kondaiankerny, Kinnaiady, Sungaankerni and Karuvaakerny near Valaichenai, 32 kilometers north of Batticaloa, this morning for interrogation in connection with the activities of the Liberation Tigers in the area.
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Vadamaradchi fishing ban partially lifted

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 15:07 GMT]
The army partially lifted the early morning ban on fishing in the seas close to the coast between Polihandy and the Thondamanaaru area in the Vadamaradchi division of Jaffna from yesterday. The SLA said that fishing is now permitted between 1 a.m. to 5.30 a.m.
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Oddusuddan residents relocated

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 12:28 GMT]
The SLA has brought 761 persons belonging to 216 families to Vavuniya from Oddusuddan, officials said today. About 40 persons are still remaining at Oddusuddan in the custody of the SLA, the sources added.
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16 Indian fishermen detained

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 December 1998, 14:24 GMT]
Sixteen fishermen from India's southern state of Tamil Nadu were detained yesterday by the Sri Lankan Army SLA in Nagar Kovil on the southeastern coast of Jaffna when they came ashore after having lost their bearings in the sea.
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Protest march against Gulf attacks

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 December 1998, 14:18 GMT]
About 2000 people marched along the streets of Vavuniya, protesting at the US and UK attacks on Iraq. The march was organised by the PLOTE, a paramilitary group which operates with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) against the Liberation Tigers.
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14 Tamil refugees intercepted

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 December 1998, 14:16 GMT]
Sources in Mannar said that the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) has arrested 14 Tamil refugees in the seas of Thalaimannar on Thursday, December 17, when they tried to cross over to the neighbouring India.
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Frustrated troops destroy property

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 December 1998, 10:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) burnt a grocery and barbershop last night in Kannankiramam, a village on the outskirts of Valaichenai, 32 kilometers north of Batticaloa.
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Shelling victim dies

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 19:46 GMT]
An elderly civilian, M.Vadivel (74), who was wounded by a shell fired from the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) base at Elephant Pass, towards Muththyankaddu on December 3, died in a Colombo hospital, said sources.
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New amnesty for deserters - SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 15:12 GMT]
Twenty six soldiers were wounded in limited operations conducted by the Sri Lankan Army in Kudarappu and Kaithady in Jaffna and in the Paranthan during the last 48 hours said military spokesman Brig.Sunil Tennekoon, addressing journalists at the cabinet press briefing today. He said that 21 Tigers were killed in Paranthan and 6 Tigers in Jaffna in these operations.
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Government eases graduate unemployment

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 December 1998, 14:14 GMT]
The Sri Lankan cabinet has decided to provide jobs for 4000 graduates before the end of December, said Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Posts, Telecommunication and Media. The announcement came at the weekly press meeting at which cabinet decisions are announced.
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