SLMC, Fowzie request crash probe

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 September 2000, 13:42 GMT]
Minister of Transport and Highways Mr.A.H.M.Fowzie has requested the President to order an impartial inquiry into the crash of the Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter on Saturday in which his cabinet colleague was killed. Sri Lanka's Ports Minister and Sri LAnka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader, Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff was killed in the crash at Aranayake in the Kegalle District.
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President promises to consult Maha Sangha

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 September 2000, 21:10 GMT]
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge has assured a group of Buddhist priests that in future she would consult the Maha Sangha before taking any decisions regarding important national problems.
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EPDP cheating people of Jaffna -Anandasangari

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 September 2000, 20:24 GMT]
"The EPDP was Premadasa's agent from 1989 to 1994. It has been operating as Chandrika's agent since 1995. Douglas Devananda, who did not have even half a cent in the past, is now getting seven million rupees a month from the government. The EPDP is cheating the people of Jaffna" said Mr. V. Anandasangari, senior vice President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) lashing out at the pro-Sri Lankan government armed Tamil group, the Eelam People's Democratic party, at a press conference in Jaffna town Tuesday morning.
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Suspended jail term for editor

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 September 2000, 10:28 GMT]
Mr.Lasantha Wickrematunge, the editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was sentenced to two years simple imprisonment by the Colombo High Court in a criminal defamation case. The Colombo High Court Judge informed Mr. Wickrematunge that the jail sentence has been suspended for a period of five years.
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Attanagala disabled get free land

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 September 2000, 14:44 GMT]
At the commencement of a function held at Temple trees for the disabled soldiers on Friday, President Chandrika Kumaratunge Bandaranaike distributed deeds of lands to disabled soldiers and families in the Attanagala area. Attanagala is the hometown of Bandaranaike family, about 33 km. northeast of capital Colombo.
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SLMC on PA ticket in East

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2000, 14:25 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslin Congress will contest under the ticket of People's Alliance (PA) in the eastern districts of Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee, while it will field its own list in northern Jaffna and Vanni electoral districts, according to an agreement reached between the President Chandrika Kumaratunga and SLMC leader A.H.M.Ashraff.
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President toughens stand on war, reforms

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2000, 05:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunge said Wednesday that her government was prepared to talk to the Liberation Tigers if they laid down their arms, and would eradicate with every means at its disposal if they refused. She was addressing a rally of her Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) at Wellawaya in the deep south of the island.
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SLMC to stand alone

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 August 2000, 16:02 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) decided Wednesday to contest the forthcoming general election under the National Unity Alliance (NUA). Nomination lists of the SLMC would be submitted by Friday, SLMC sources said. A decision to this effect was made at the party convention held today in Colombo.
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PA aligns with hard-line Sinhala party

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 August 2000, 11:19 GMT]
The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and the Peoples' Alliance (PA) have signed an electoral agreement, to compete the forthcoming general elections together. PA General Secretary D.M.Jayaretna and MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardene signed an agreement in this regard Sunday.
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SLMC split over election ticket

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2000, 12:47 GMT]
The rank and file of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) is sharply divided over the question of contesting the forthcoming general election under the Peoples Alliance banner, SLMC Leader and minister M.H.M.Ashraff said after meeting President Chandrika Kumaratunge on Monday morning at Temple Trees. SLFP General Secretary S.B.Dissanayake and National Organizer General Anuruddha Ratwatte were present during the discussion.
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Cessation of hostilities if elected -Ranil

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2000, 13:20 GMT]
The United National Party (UNP) will bring about a cessation of hostilities agreement with the Liberation Tigers if it comes to power said party leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing a press conference Sunday at the opposition leader's office in Colombo.
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PA to contest in northeast

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2000, 12:53 GMT]
The ruling People's Alliance (PA) has decided to field candidates in all districts, including northeast of the island in the next parliamentary elections, Mr.D.M.Jayaretna General Secretary of the PA said Sunday.
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President asks SLMC to stand with PA

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2000, 10:33 GMT]
M.H.M.Ashraff, Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), says that his party would on whether to contest the forthcoming general election under the People's Alliance (PA) banner or on the SLMC ticket island wide decide after meeting President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge on Monday over a breakfast discussion. Minister Ashraff made this statement in an interview with State Television"Rupavahini" Saturday morning.
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New SLA Commander

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2000, 15:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army's Chief of Staff Major General Lionel Balagalle will assume duties as the new SLA Commander on 25 August. President Chandrika Kumaratunge has confirmed this appointment.
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Parliament dissolved, polls October 10

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2000, 08:11 GMT]
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga issued a proclamation Friday dissolving parliament with effect from midnight under powers vested in her by Article 70 of the Sri Lankan Constitution. Nominations for the polls will be called from August 28 to September 4 according to the proclamation. The date for the general election has been set for October 10. The new (eleventh) Parliament of Sri Lanka will meet on October 18 after the conclusion of the elections.
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UNP first to seek Norway's help - Bondevik

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 19:03 GMT]
The United National Party was the first to seek Norway's assistance in the effort to find a political settlement to the ethnic conflict on the island when it was in power in 1990 according to Mr.Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Norwegian Prime Minister. he made this statement when delivering the keynote address at the commemoration meeting to mark the first death anniversary of veteran foreign minister A.C.S.Hameed, held at Colombo Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall Thursday evening.
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Plea to President: help find my husband

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 16:10 GMT]
A mother of five children has appealed to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge to help her to trace her husband who was last seen by her when being questioned by some Sri Lanka Navy personnel on the morning of August 11.
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Dissnayake is General Secretary of SLFP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 16:09 GMT]
Mr.S.B.Dissanayake, Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Samurdhi has been elected new General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the major constituent political group of the ruling People's Alliance.
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Former Norwegian PM will not speak to leaders

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 12:50 GMT]
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Mr.Kjell Magne Bondevik will not hold talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunge, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe as scheduled, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said Thursday.
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Former Norwegian PM visits Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2000, 21:45 GMT]
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik will arrive in Colombo on a two day visit Wednesday afternoon. During his stay in Colombo he will have talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunge, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe.
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