Ballot boxes dispatched to polling booths in Jaffna, Ki’linochchi districts

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 April 2010, 11:07 GMT]
Jaffna secretariat started dispatching Wednesday morning ballot boxes and polling cards in vehicles escorted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police to the polling centres in Jaffna district and to the cluster voting centres set up in Ki’linochchi district and in the islets of Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said. The ballot boxes, cards and election duty officers to Nedunththeevu were flown in a helicopter. Meanwhile, Saravanabavan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) candidate contesting Jaffna electorate, alleged that nearly 3,000 polling cards had been snatched away by Eezham People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) men in the islets of Jaffna.
Full story >>

EPDP continues to intimidate other contestants in the islets of Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 2010, 14:35 GMT]
Eezham People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), an ally of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the islets of Jaffna which is under the absolute control of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), has spread a false news in its website and media that 3 local youths had been attacked with swords in Naaranthanai in Oorkaavatu’rai in the islands of Jaffna with the aim of scaring the polling agents of other contestants from appearing for duty in the islets of Jaffna on the election day, sources in Jaffna said. Sinhalese thugs from South brought to Jaffna by United National Party (UNP) had slashed the youths, according to news spread by EPDP, the sources added. However, residents of Naaranthanai denied any attack on youths in their village while Jaffna dailies did not carry any such news.
Full story >>

Eezham fishermen not responsible for attack on Tamil Nadu fishermen

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 2010, 14:11 GMT]
The president of Jaffna peninsula fishermen society federation, C. Thavarathinam, said Tuesday that the Tamil fishermen from Jaffna peninsula had nothing to do with the attack on Tamil Nadu fishermen on Kachchaitheevu seas Monday night. While refuting the rumour blaming Jaffna fishermen for the attack he said that there is a strong suspicion that the Sinhalese fishermen from the South who engage in deep fishing on Northern seas in large numbers had attacked the fishermen from Tamil Nadu with the assistance of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers who are in full control of the islets of Jaffna and the seas around. Meanwhile, fishermen who were attacked said that SLN soldiers had assaulted them and cut off their nets besides confiscating their catch, sources in Raameasvaram said.
Full story >>

Abductors demand ransom from family in the islets of Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 April 2010, 04:25 GMT]
The young family man from Veala’nai in the islets of Jaffna gone missing since 30 March has been abducted for a ransom of 300,000 rupees, according to a complaint lodged with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office by his family members Sunday. Unknown persons had phoned the neighbours of the family and demanded the money. Attempts to contact the callers on the number of the cell phone used had failed, according to the complaint.
Full story >>

EPDP accused of attack on UNP supporters in Kaarainakar

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 April 2010, 08:15 GMT]
The Chief Candidate of United National Party (UNP), Ms. Vijayakala Maheswaran, accused Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), an ally of ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), men for attacking her supporters Wednesday night at Valanthali junction, Kaarainakar in the islets of Jaffna as they were returning after attending an election meeting at Araali. She added that her supporters were rescued from EPDP men by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) authorities to whom she had complained.
Full story >>

EPDP continues to obstruct political parties from campaigning in the islets of Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 March 2010, 10:37 GMT]
The election campaign activities that were planned to be carried out in the islets of Jaffna by political parties including United National Party (UNP), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and other independent groups contesting Jaffna electorate Wednesday with police protection were given up at the last minute as Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) men continue to obstruct anyone other than the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and its allies engaging in election campaign in the islets of Jaffna which is held in the complete control of Sri Lanka Navy, sources in Jaffna said.
Full story >>

EPDP men alleged of attack on UNP campaigners in the islets of Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 March 2010, 16:37 GMT]
United National Party (UNP) chief candidate for Jaffna electorate Ms. Vijayakala Maheswaran registered complaints with Jaffna Election Officer that persons of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) had attacked UNP candidates and supporters when they were pasting election campaign posters in Suruvil, Oorkaavattu’rai in the islets of Jaffna Sunday. Meanwhile, EPDP officials denied the allegation saying that the attackers were not their party men but ordinary civilians, sources in Jaffna said. When the islets of Jaffna is said to be under the full control of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) there is no possibility of ordinary civilians attacking them, the UNP candidates and supporters said.
Full story >>

2 resettled Vanni IDPs gone missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 March 2010, 16:19 GMT]
A 17-year-old student from Sangkaanai in Jaffna peninsula and a family man from Naaranthanai in the islets of Jaffna, both Internally Displaced Persons brought from Vavuniyaa camps and resettled in Jaffna district by Sri Lanka Army, had been reported missing by their family members to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office. The mother of the student and the wife of the family man had made the complaints to HRC.
Full story >>

Government engaged in rebuilding courts in North

[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 March 2010, 05:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Chief Justice, Asoka de Silva who arrived in Jaffna Saturday accompanied by Justices Balapatabendi, K. Saravanabavan and S. Amaratunge officially opened the newly built court complex in Nedunththeevu in the islets of Jaffna Saturday evening. The Chief Justice will lay the foundation stones for the court complexes in Mallaakam and Chavakachcheri court premises Sunday, sources in Jaffna said. The government had already taken steps to erect new court buildings in Vanni though people had not been permitted to resettle in those areas, the sources added. The active and urgent interest of the government to build police stations and court complexes in places where people are not permitted to resettle reveal its motive to consolidate its authority in the north, legal society sources in Jaffna said.
Full story >>

EPDP obstructs other parties campaigning in the islets of Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 March 2010, 14:57 GMT]
Candidates contesting Jaffna district electorate allege that supporters of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), a constituent party in the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), obstruct other political parties from electioneering in the islets of Jaffna which are under the complete control of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN). EPDP is trying to secure a seat in the parliamentary election in the islets of Jaffna with threats and physical harm to the contestants and supporters of other political parties, the candidate of a national political party who had been to the islets for election campaigning told TamilNet.
Full story >>

Pilgrims to Paalaitheevu St. Antony’s church annual festival asked to register with SLN

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 March 2010, 18:41 GMT]
Jaffna Bishop House, instructed by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), has requested the devotees who wish to attend the annual two days festival of Paalaitheevu St. Antony’s church on the 6th and 7th of March to register their names and the particulars of their boats, with local SLN authorities. Devotees are being allowed to attend this festival of this church which is also known as the ‘Pilgrims Church’ after a period of five years, sources in Jaffna said.
Full story >>

'Madras Mail' passes away in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 February 2010, 03:38 GMT]
Madras Mail, the President of the Development Council of Tamil Traditional Arts, and a recognized Saiva scholar and dramatist passed away Tuesday in Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) where he was admitted with heart ailment, sources in Jaffna said. Chelliah Madras Mail, a native of Puthukkudiruppu in Vanni, residing in Nalloor had dedicated himself to the task preserving and maintaining the Tamil traditional arts and drama and been the author of ‘Veazham Paduththa Veerangkanai’ Tamil drama which he directed and staged in many parts of Jaffna peninsula.
Full story >>

SLA demolishes Liberation Tigers’ Heroes’ Resting Homes in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 February 2010, 05:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupying Jaffna peninsula is actively engaged in demolishing the Heroes’ Resting Homes (HRH) of fallen Liberation Tigers in Uduppidi, Kodikaamam, Koappaay and Veala’nai in the islets of Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said. Foreign media persons now visiting Jaffna peninsula in large numbers who show a keen interest in visiting the HRHs are shocked to witness the systematic demolishment of war heroes’ memorial monuments which are given due respect all over the world.
Full story >>

Indian fishing trawlers encroach Jaffna seas

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 February 2010, 02:59 GMT]
Indian fishing trawlers encroaching the seas around Jaffna peninsula have increased in large numbers recently, damaging the fishing nets of local fishermen while robbing local fish resources, president of Federation Jaffna peninsula fishermen societies, S. Thavaratnam said. Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) turns a blind eye to deep sea trawler fishing by Indian fishermen in the seas from Mayiliddi in Kaangkeasanththu’rai to Maathakal and in the seas of the islets of Jaffna, he added. Meanwhile, trawler fishing is being permitted in peninsula seas despite protest by local fishermen and against Fisheries Department regulations, with the blessing of a government minister, sources in Jaffna said.
Full story >>

SLA, SLN restrictions in Jaffna peninsula imposed again

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 January 2010, 04:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) which had relaxed their various restrictions in Jaffna peninsula prior to president election have begun to impose them again actively, sources in Jaffna said. These restrictions include the checking of passengers travelling within the peninsula and to the islets of Jaffna besides access to their places in the SLA High Security Zones (HSZs), they said. People of Ezhuthumadduvaa’l in Thenmaraadchi who were told by Minister Douglas Devananda and SLA officials that they would be permitted to resettle in their places immediately after the presidential election were turned back when they tried to go to their homes Friday.
Full story >>

TNA accuses EPDP for voter fraud in the islets of Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 January 2010, 03:04 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna parliamentarians accused Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) for having taken large number of persons to the islets of Jaffna with the intention of committing voter fraud, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, EPDP men have instructed the post masters in the islets of Jaffna to issue polling cards to persons without calling for their identity documents and that EPDP supporters have collected the polling cards of many persons in many parts of Jaffna peninsula, TNA parliamentarians further accused.
Full story >>

70% of relocated Vanni IDPs in Jaffna not allowed to reside in their homes

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 January 2010, 17:54 GMT]
Sri Lanka Armed Forces in Jaffna district have not permitted the Vanni IDPs brought to Jaffna district in the name of resettlement to live in their own houses, Jaffna NGO sources said. Particularly the IDPs in the islets in Jaffna are forced by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) to stay in makeshift shelters located in private lands near their camps, the sources said.
Full story >>

SLN permits worship in Ma’ndaitheevu St. Peter’s church after 20 years

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 January 2010, 15:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) occupying Ma’ndaitheevu in the islets of Jaffna since 1990 allowed people to worship in St. Peter’s Church in Ma’ndaitheevu Friday, sources in Jaffna said. Jaffna Bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Soudaranayagam and the SLN top officials stationed in the islets of Jaffna were present on the occasion, sources added. However, only a group of people permitted to resettle in Ma’ndaitheevu were allowed to participate in the mass. Meanwhile, Jaffna Bishop stressed that the armed forces should vacate the surroundings of the church so that residents could observe their religious rites freely.
Full story >>

Basil Rajapakse expected to visit Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 January 2010, 03:13 GMT]
Basil Rajapakse, the brother and senior advisor to president Mahinda Rajapakse, will be arriving in Jaffna Wednesday to engage in election campaign for Mahinda Rajapakse who is expected to visit Jaffna on 9 January, according to a press notification released by Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) Tuesday. Meanwhile, United National Party will begin its election campaign in Jaffna peninsula from 11 January, sources in Jaffna said.
Full story >>

Resettled IDPs in Jaffna ordered to register particulars with SLA, SLN

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 December 2009, 03:13 GMT]
The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) brought from Vanni camps and resettled in Jaffna have been ordered to register their particulars with the local civil administrative authorities of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) or Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), sources in Jaffna said. These IDPs who had already registered their particulars with their local Village Officers are again being subjected to endless inconvenience, the sources added. The IDPs in Jaffna peninsula and the islets cannot move freely without the Family Registration Certificate (FRC) issued by SLA or SLN.
Full story >>