LTTE leader calls for negotiations

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 November 1998, 18:12 GMT]
In his Heroes Day speech, LTTE leader, Vellupillai Pirabhakaran, said the Tigers were willing to negotiate an end the conflict in Sri Lanka. However, he said the LTTE favoured third party mediation and ruled out talks based on pre-conditions. "We have not close the doors for peace. We are open to the civilized method of resolving conflicts through rational dialogue", he said. However, he expressed doubts the Sri Lankan government would negotiate in earnest.
Full story >>

Great Heroes' Day celebrations in Vanni

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 November 1998, 18:02 GMT]
Velupillai Prabakaran leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam saluted the slain heroes of the movement in the Vanni ceremony marking the Maaveerar's Day, the VoT said.
Full story >>

Northeast treated as two entities

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 November 1998, 04:30 GMT]
Mr. Balachandran, MP for Vanni, asked in the Sri Lankan Parliament yesterday why two Deputy Inspector Generals of Police (DIGs) have been nominated for the North-East Province, when it is considered as one province when funds are allocated during the budget.
Full story >>

University students appeal to President

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 November 1998, 20:23 GMT]
Jaffna University Student's Union put forward three demands in an appeal sent today to the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunge.
Full story >>

Mother's Front Appeal to President

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 November 1998, 23:01 GMT]
In a message to the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge, the Mothers' Front in Jaffna said they were still waiting for an official statement from her regarding what had happened to their children who have been reported missing after they were arrested by the Sri Lankan Army in 1996. The message, that was written in Sinhalese, was faxed to the President today.
Full story >>

Grenade blast at Katunayake

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 November 1998, 00:05 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) trooper guarding the runway at Colombo's Katunayake International Airport accidentally fired a rocket-propelled grenade at around 9.00 a.m., shortly before the plane carrying the British Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett landed.
Full story >>

Tamil politicians meet President

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 November 1998, 12:54 GMT]
Douglas Devananda, leader of the EPDP, T.Sidharthan, leader of the PLOTE and S.Premachandran of EPRLF met the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge yesterday, at Temple Trees, the official residence of the president.
Full story >>

President solicits Tamil MP's Support

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 October 1998, 19:45 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumarathunge will meet leaders of Tamil political parties on November 6 prior to debate on government's budget proposal for the next year, said political sources in Colombo.
Full story >>

Kilinochchi landmines wound civilians

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 October 1998, 22:03 GMT]
A youth identified as T.Roopan lost one of his legs yesterday when a land mine exploded in Kilinochchi. Sources said the youth had gone to see the area that the Tigers had recently captured from the Sri Lankan Army.
Full story >>

Massive protests in Tamil Nadu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 October 1998, 12:29 GMT]
Over 2000 demonstrators were arrested this morning by Police in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, during widespread demonstrations protesting against the killings by Sri Lankan troops of over 400 Tamils whose bodies are said to have been buried in mass graves in Chemmani on the Jaffna peninsula.
Full story >>

UNP conspiring with the LTTE - President

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 September 1998, 19:42 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunge accused the main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP), of conspiring with the Liberation Tigers to overthrow the government this evening, while addressing a party meeting in Kurunagala.
Full story >>

Government delays mass graves inquiry

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 September 1998, 17:49 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army soldier, Somaratne Rajapakshe, sentenced to death for the rape and murder of Krishanthi Kumaraswami, is reported to have asked for his relocation.
Full story >>

Amnesty protests illegal detentions

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 September 1998, 23:10 GMT]
Amnesty International, the human rights watchdog, has appealed for an immediate halt to use of unauthorized places of detention in Sri Lanka. In a press release issued on 3 September, Amnesty has condemned the PLOTE, TELO and EPRLF for rights abuses.
Full story >>

President Chandrika to address NAM summit

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 September 1998, 13:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President, Chandrika Kumarathunghe, left the island on Monday to take part in the 12th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in South Africa.
Full story >>

Civilians caught in retaliatory shelling

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 August 1998, 18:42 GMT]
Two infants, aged one and two years, were killed and seven people were injured when the Special Task Force (STF) based at the Kalavanchikudi camp, shelled the villages of Poraitheevu, Munaitheevu and Palukamam, 20 km south-west of Batticaloa, on Thursday around 8:00 p.m., said sources in Batticaloa. The mother of dead infants was among the injured.
Full story >>

New Sri Lankan officer academy

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 August 1998, 08:28 GMT]
A new officer training academy for Sri Lanka's military is expected to be opened today, by the Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Mr. A. S. D. Vijeyendre, is expected to be commander in charge the academy, located in Mahagola Sapuskantha.
Full story >>

Jaffna traders list losses

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 10:31 GMT]
A list detailing the items that were lost with the sunken ship, Princes Kash, has been despatched to the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, opposition leader Ranil Wikramasinghe and various Tamil parliamentarians, said sources.
Full story >>

Anti harassment group 'seeks advice'

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 10:05 GMT]
A representative of the anti-harassment group, Mr. M. Suhair, MP, told the Thinakaran newspaper that his organisation is "seeking helpful advice and comments" from intellectuals, human rights groups and NGOs.
Full story >>

Large scale projects cut - President

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 August 1998, 23:13 GMT]
Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, has ordered her ministers not to initiate any large-scale development projects said sources. The President made this declaration at a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday August 19, they said.
Full story >>

President informed of mysterious killings

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 August 1998, 13:23 GMT]
Joseph Parajasingham MP (Tamil United Liberation Front Batticaloa District) has brought to the notice of Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the increase in the number of mysterious killings in Batticaloa District which he says "points the finger at one of the armed groups working along with the law abiding forces in Batticaloa."
Full story >>