Plantation workers call off strike

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The strike in Sri Lanka's plantation sector was called off today following talks between the trade unions, representatives of the plantation companies and President Chandrika Kumaratunge.
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Fishing ban said hampering resettlement

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority of the North (RRAN) has requested Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga, to issue an order so that displaced persons in the area between Tellipalai and Kankesanthurai north of Jaffna town, which includes the army's vast High Security Zone, are allowed to resettle in their original homes, said sources in Jaffna.
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President meets CWC over strike

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunge met the leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) Mr. C Thondaman, the powerful plantation trade union this morning, in a fresh bid to resolve the massive strike that has brought the country's large plantation sector to a stand still.
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Gen. Ratwatte submits resignation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka's deputy minister for defence Gen. Anurudha Ratwatte resigned his portfolio this afternoon. He submitted his resignation to President Chandrika Kumaratunge. His resignation is yet to be accepted by the Sri Lankan President said sources in the Presidential secretariat this afternoon.
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Polls overshadowed by developments elsewhere

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Civilian activity on the roads of Jaffna came to a virtual standstill today, the eve of local government elections, as residents stayed at home through fear, said sources in the peninsula. What was seen on the roads were buses, specially brought from Colombo for the polls, transporting officers on election duty, ballot boxes and ballot papers, under heavy armed guard by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).
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President appeals for 'valuable' vote

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Leaflets from Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga exhorting the people of Jaffna to cast their vote at the forthcoming local elections are being distributed from today by the Sri Lanka Army, said sources in Jaffna.
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Detainees face more severe conditions

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Conditions for detainees arrested under the Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) have been made more severe by stringent new restrictions on prison visits introduced by the Sri Lanka Government, said Tamil legal sources today.
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Parents protest to Human Rights Commision

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Parents of 23 persons who disappeared after they were arrested by the army in villages in the Thenmaradchi Division of the Jaffna Peninsula in July last year, lodged their complaints with the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna town yesterday.
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Monsoon floods disrupts Jayasikurui again

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army made a fresh attempt to resume the final phase of the 'Operation Jayasikurui' this weak said sources in Vavuniya. However, the columns of the Sri Lankan Army could not advance as the heavy monsoon rains which resumed in the Vanni this weak impeded the movements of the military vehicles.
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SLA commandeers Jaffna public busses

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army in Jaffna took away five buses from the main bus terminal in Jaffna Town at 11 a.m. this morning. An emergency situation for the SLA is said to have prompted the requisition of the busses.
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SLFP candidates contest via EPRLF lists

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The EPRLF filed nominations to all the local government bodies in the Jaffna peninsula this morning including the Valvettithurai urban council. Former central committee member of the EROS Kandasamy Balanadarajah (Sinna Bala) is the group's chief candidate for the Waligamam east Pradeshiya Sabha.
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TULF announces election plans

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) sources in Jaffna said yesterday that they were planning to contest only Jaffna Municipal Council, Valigamam West, Valigamam East, Valigamam North, Nallur Pradeshiya Sabhas and the Chavachcheri Urban council.
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Claim of normalcy in Jaffna questionable: VoT

[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers radio service said today in a comment which usually follows its night news bulletin that the Sri Lankan government's claim that there is normalcy in the Jaffna peninsula has now become questionable in the light of the recent Amnesty International report on "disappearances" in Jaffna.
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LTTE leader delivers Heroes Day address

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
In his annual Heroes day speech, the LTTE leader Mr. V. Pirabakaran said that the Sri Lankan government's devolution package was a political ploy staged to justify the strategic aims of its military campaign in the Tamil homelands. Mr. Pirabakaran's speech was broadcast on the Voice of Tigers radio today.
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Portrait of SLFP organiser unveiled

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
A portrait of the Jaffna SLFP organiser C. Tharmalingam was officially unveiled at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Office (SLFP) in Jaffna town today. The SLFP office is located at the Hospital road- Vembady road junction.
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SLA opening alternative supply route?

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Sources in Vavuniya said today that the Operation Jayasikurui is now aimed at securing the old Kandy road to Kilinochchi. They said that the army is currently building a highway which begins from the Sinhala village east of Vavuniya called Maamaduwa.
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President will avoid critic

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
President Chandrika Kumaratunge Bandaranaike told the SLFP central committee this week that she will boycott functions to which Mr. Vasudeva Nanayakkara MP is invited.
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TULF leader defends Chandrika

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
TULF leader Mr. M. Sivasithamparam came under fire for attempting to justify the actions of President Chandrika Kumaranatunge in a television program in which he appeared this afternoon.
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Girl attempts suicide after rape

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
A girl who was abducted and found the next day near her house tied up and unconscious in Nayanmarkaddu in Jaffna recently was admitted to hospital on Wednesday Oct.29 after attempting to commit suicide by consuming a large quantity of kerosene.
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Sinhala Budhists launch ultra-nationalist weekly

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Sinhala Buddhist lobby which is campaigning against the PA's devolution package has brought out a weekly now to exclusively promote their cause. The broad sheet is appropriately called 'Sinhala Jaathiya' (the Sinhala race).
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