Trial-at-bar urged for Sarathambal rape case

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 January 2000, 18:59 GMT]
Sarathambal rape and murder case should be tried before a trial-at-bar court, Leader of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization, Attorney-at-Law N. Srikantha said.
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Presidential condolence note 'predates assassination'

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 January 2000, 22:22 GMT]
The assassination January 5 of Kumar Ponnambalam, President of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, might have been planned by the Sri Lankan government eight months ago, a Paris based Tamil publication alleged this week. The Eelamurasu cited a condolence letter by President Chandrika Kumaratunge to Ponnambalam's widow which bore the date 6 May 1999.
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Jaffna women condemn Sarathambal rape, murder

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 18:11 GMT]
A large number of women took part in a public protest Thursday evening, condemning the gang-rape and murder of a young mother, Sarathambal. The meeting, organised by the Women Development Center, was held at Navalar Cultural Hall in Nallur, near Jaffna town.
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AG's opinion sought in defamation case

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 11:53 GMT]
Criminal Investigation Departmental Officers have sought the opinion of the Attorney General (AG) in respect of the Report of the investigations into the complaint made by President Chandrika against Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.
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UNP Challenges Election Result

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 January 2000, 16:04 GMT]
The legality and the propriety of the recent Sri Lankan Presidential election has been challenged in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka by the opposition United National Party.
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FMM protests conspiracy claim

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 January 2000, 13:50 GMT]
The Free Media Movement has deplored the statements in the state owned print and electronic media linking a group of journalists in a conspiracy to assassinate President Chandrika Kumaratunge and establish a military government, as ludicrous.
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Tamils mourn Ponnambalam's death

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 January 2000, 23:59 GMT]
The killing of Kumar Ponnambalam on January 5 has triggered a wave of emotion across the Tamil Diaspora. Sadness and anger has been expressed by Tamil community organisations and individuals in statements and messages on bulletin boards. Ponnmabalam's death has arguably been the main topic of conversation amongst Tamils recently - as is his last public letter to President Chandrika Kumaratunge and the latter's recent stern warning to supporters of the Liberation Tigers.
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TULF calls for Kalutara inquiry

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 January 2000, 11:21 GMT]
The Secretary General of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Mr.R.Sampanthan, has requested the President Chandrika Kumaratunga to order an impartial inquiry into the incident resulting in the death of one Tamil prisoner and injuries to several other Tamil prisoners at Kalutara prison on Thursday.
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Opposition slams President's "racist" speech

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 12:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunge's marathon television speech on January 3 was an attempt to kindle racist feelings in the country, said the leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe when briefing the press Thursday morning.
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TULF condemns Ponnambalam slaying

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 January 2000, 10:30 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has strongly condemned in a statement today, the killing of All Ceylon Tamil Congress president, Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam this morning.
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Kumaratunga critisises media, opposition

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 January 2000, 22:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranaike said that she will bring the war to an end this year in her first interview cum speech for 2000 in the state run TV tonight. She spoke for more than three hours, from 8.30 p.m to 11.45 p.m. The President harshly criticized sections of the independent media in Sri Lanka for working against her.
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Bomb Blast Magisterial Inquiry

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 January 2000, 19:10 GMT]
Colombo Chief Magistrate, G. D. Kulatileke, conducting the Magisterial inquiry into the deaths at the bomb blast at the final People's Alliance rally at the Town Hall directed the CID to summon a senior officer of the Presidential Security Division to depose on the next date of hearing.
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Investigate gangrape/murder of young mother: President

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 December 1999, 12:57 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has told the Defence Secretary to conduct an investigation into rape and murder of a young mother, allegedly by the security forces, said sources in Colombo.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 December 1999, 04:51 GMT]
Villagers forced to stay home, SLA bans cremation at Kanapitty, SLA permits food lorries into Mannar, Court holds inquiry into rally explosion, Youth commits suicide.
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UNP will support steps to end war

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 December 1999, 18:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) today said it would extend its support to the President Chandrika Kumaratunge if she took firm and reasonable steps to end the island's protracted conflict.
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Elections 'most fraudulent ever' - UNP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 December 1999, 14:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Presidential elections held last Tuesday were the most fraudulent in the history of the country, declared Mr . Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) today at a press conference.
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'General' rigging in Jaffna claimed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 December 1999, 10:55 GMT]
The large number of votes garnered by fringe and extremist Sinhala political parties based in the south in the presidential polls held in Jaffna, indicated general rigging had been conducted, officials in the northern town said Wednesday.
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Relatives of SLMC official killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 December 1999, 09:49 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a mother and her daughter at Mallikaikadu in the south-eastern Ampara District, in the early hours of the morning Thursday police sources said. Residents said local politics were involved in this attack.
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Kumaratunge vows relentless battle against 'hatred'

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 December 1999, 15:52 GMT]
(NEWS FEATURE) Mrs Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, after being sworn in as Sri Lanka's fifth Executive President this afternoon at her official residence Temple Trees before the Chief Justice, vowed to "rid this land of death and destruction." Political commentators said it indicated her speech heralded a stronger effort to defeat the Liberation Tigers militarily.
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Kumaratunga declared President

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 December 1999, 07:57 GMT]
Chandrika Banadaranaike Kumaratunga was declared President by Sri Lanka's acting Commissioner of Elections D.M.P.B Dassanayaka this afternoon. The Commissioner made the declaration on the basis of the votes counted so far.
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