16-03-2003 at 08:50 AM(SL Time)

How Thondaman took law in to his own hands
The past few months have seen several forays made by mobs into police stations. The latest incident is reported from Nallathanni, where mobs surrounded a police station and ran berserk after forest officers took into custody six persons over alleged illicit felling in the Sri Pada forest reserve.

The suspects, it is reported, had to be set free as the mob grew violent blocking as they did the main road with boulders. The mob, as our sister paper, the Divaina reported, consisted of estate workers.(The Island/Editorial)
Full Story

Jaffna mayor casts the last stone
Former Jaffna Mayor Sellan Kandiah claimed yesterday cast discrimination was behind the non re-opening of the Jaffna library recently. "I am a minority within the minority, caste-wise as such they have a problem in placing a low caste man's name on the plaque on the wall to commemorate the opening on that day" he said.

Mr. Kandiah said he believed that was the undercurrent which was going on and "I think they came and put that in another form by saying that they did not want the library to be re-opened since the work was not yet completed."(Daily Mirror)
Full Story

WORLD CUP 2003
Sri Lanka in, host nation out
South Africa have gone out of the World Cup after a dramatic weather-hit tie with Sri Lanka in Durban.

Torrential rain brought the game to a premature end with five overs remaining and, under the Duckworth-Lewis method, both teams were awarded two points to end the hosts' progression to the Super Six stage. (BBC)
[Full Story] [Previous Stories}

UN slams Sri Lanka's chief justice, judiciary
Sri Lanka's chief justice and the judicial system came under a scathing attack from a top United Nations official here Thursday over the bizarre jailing of a man who challenged the island's top judge.

Dato Param Cumaraswamy, the UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, said he was "shocked" and "stunned" by Sri Lanka's Chief Justice Sarath Silva hearing a case against himself.(Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

Norwegian, LTTE leaders to meet soon
Sri Lanka today said Norway's Foreign Minister John Peterson and his deputy Vidar Helgesen, who are scheduled to arrive in Colombo on March 12, will meet the leaders of the Tiger rebels in the Wanni to take up various issues regarding the truce agreement and the ongoing peace talks.

Chief negotiator of the Government delegation and Cabinet spokesman Prof G L Peiris today said the Norwegian ministers would discuss with the LTTE several issues, including the truce accord.(The Hindu)
Full Story

Ranil to meet Vajpayee, Sonia
The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, left for India this evening on a three-day visit, during which the two countries will initial an agreement on information technology.

While Mr. Wickremesinghe's visit is to primarily address a symposium organised by India Today, he would also meet the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Leader of the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi, and the former Prime Ministers, Narasimha Rao and I. K. Gujral.(The Hindu)
Full Story

Monks hold pooja against division of country
An adishtana pooja organised by the Deshaya Surekeeme Bhikku Sammelanaya, and the Jathika Bhikku Peramuna was held on Tuesday afternoon at the historic Mahamaluwa of the Dalada Maligawa.

The Maha Sangha led by Prof. Kamburugamuwa Vajira Thera, Secretary of the Jathika Bhikku Peramuna Ven. Kalawelgala Chandraratana Thera, President of the All Ceylon Pavidi Sanvidane of Vatinapaha Somananda Thera, Ven. Kumbukkandawela Dheerananda Thera, President of the Jathika Bhikku Peramuna Handugala Ratanapala Thera arrived at the Dalada Maligawa in a procession from the Mahamaluwa and after offering flowers to the Sacred Tooth relic held a adishtana pooja there.(Daily Mirror)
[Full Story]

Soldier & Constable not released as promised by LTTE
The soldier of Army and the policeman detained by the LTTE have not been released as promised by the LTTE. The tiger terrorists had promised the SLMM that they would release the soldier and the policeman in exchange to the seven tiger terrorists who had been arrested by the SL Navy when they had crossed with arms to a government held area to extort money from bus passengers.

Hagrup Haukland, Deputy Head of SLMM had spoken to Pulithevan, a terrorist leader of the area reminding of the promise the LTTE had made but hasn’t had any result. SLMM had notified the Norwegian government in its capacity as facilitator as the cease-fire agreement does not specify the action the SLMM should take if a rift like the present one occurs.(Lankatruth)
Full Story

Sri Lanka talks moved to rebel-held area after arms stand-off
Sri Lanka's key rehabilitation talks will be moved to a rebel-held area Thursday following a dispute over whether Tamil Tiger delegates would be able to bring armed bodyguards, military officials said.

The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had wanted permission for their armed guerrillas to escort the head of its political wing, S.P. Thamilselvan, to a meeting in a government-held area.(Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

[Previous Stories}

CBK for peace: War is not the solution
President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday expressed confidence in the peace process spearheaded by the Wickremesinghe administration, and stressed the need for its continuance, despite the setbacks. The President however did not rule out the possibility of her intervening in the process in the interest of the people.

In the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur for the 13th Non Aligned summit, the President told the Daily Mirror that although she saw a lack of planning by the UNF in negotiating with a ruthless terrorist group like the LTTE, she had a lot of faith in the process, though Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had no faith in the process for eight years of the PA administration and had sabotaged it.(Daily Mirror)
Full Story

Sri Lankan PM vows greater freedom, responsibility for press
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe opened a Commonwealth editors' meet here Tuesday vowing greater press freedom but urging the local media not to sabotage his peace bid with Tamil rebels.

Wickremesinghe told the Commonwealth Press Union biennial conference that Sri Lanka in the next few months will enact an information act and other measures to allow greater scrutiny of his government by the press(Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

Passport, National Identity Card for Prabhakaran's son
Charles Anthony, son of LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran has been issued with a national identity card and passport with the direct intervention of an influential minister of the government.

The applications for the national identity card and the passport had been brought by the minister in question from the north to Colombo and he had contacted the Department of Registration of Persons and the Department of Immigration and Emigration personally. He had asked his personal secretary to get the national identity card and the passport, informed sources said.(The Island)
Full Story

Prabhakaran wants to send his son abroad for education but other little sons and daughters are sent to the grave
Prabhakaran’s son, Charles Anthony, according to reports, has obtained a passport and a national identity card with the help of a minister. The boy, we are told, is to be sent abroad for education. It was about two years ago that we reported he had fared well at the G. C. E. (O/L) examination.

Prabhakaran, despite his terrorist track record, has set an example in parenting for most politicians of the south whose sloshed progeny get involved in brawls over women at five star hotels or settle personal scores with rivals in public. (The Island-Editorial)
Full Story

SLMM to seek Norwegian help for release of soldier, policeman
Vexed over the LTTE’s continued defiance of its directives, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) yesterday said it would ask the Norwegian facilitators to intervene on behalf of a soldier and a policeman being held in Tiger jail.

"It is not enough to promise, the LTTE must now act," said Hagrup Haukland, deputy head of mission. The SLMM has made several representations to the LTTE over the issue and had even yesterday spoken to Pulithevan, a senior political leader(The Island)
Full Story

‘Iriyagolla’s standard Sinhala effort was commendable’
Addressing the annual All Island Hela Havula conference held recently, former senior lecturer in Sinhala Language and Literature, of the Dambadeniya Teacher Training College, A. A. Gunatilleke commended I.M.R.A. Iriyagolla’s contribution to standardise the Sinhala language.

The conference, which was held at the Susamayawardena School Hall in Borella, was presided over by the Hela Havula leader, poet and scholar, Arisen Ahubudu. It was attended by delegates representing provincial branches.(The Island)
Full Story

Sri Lanka mines take toll
Landmines and unexploded ordnance in Sri Lanka have killed 26 civilians and injured 100 others since a cease-fire came into effect a year ago, the United Nations says.

The majority of those hurt are adult males - breadwinners for their families. (BBC)
Full Story

Thai men stopped in Sri Lanka with precious stones in stomachs
Sri Lankan authorities detained two Thai men after X-rays showed they were trying to leave the island with precious stones in their stomachs, officials said Tuesday

The two men, aged 25 and 35, were stopped at Colombo international airport overnight as they were about to board a Bangkok-bound aircraft.(Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

CBK opposes US war on Iraq

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad gives the inauguration address at the opening session of the 114-nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Kuala Lumpur, February 24, 2003. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is welcomed by Malaysian Prime Minister as she arrives to the opening session (insert). (pictures by REUTERS)

As the Non-Aligned Summit opened here with a powerful call from Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamed for all wars to be outlawed and all weapons of mass destruction to be destroyed, Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga joined other leaders in speaking out strongly against any US attack on Iraq.

"We have still not seen sufficient evidence to justify an armed attack on Iraq. We are strongly of the view that a negotiated settlement can be arrived at, without using violence against Iraq", President Kumaratunga said in a clear-cut policy statement in contrast to the stand of the UNF government which has asked Iraq to fully comply with the latest UN Security Council resolution.(Daily Mirror)
Full Story

LTTE cadres exchanged for soldier and policeman
The stand-off between the Navy and seven armed LTTE cadres in Kuchchuveli - Thiriyaya road was solved with the intervention of the SLMM after striking a deal to exchange a police constable and a soldier held by the LTTE for the seven armed cadres who entered the government controlled area on Sunday, military sources said.

Although the Navy had released the seven LTTE cadres after negotiations involving the SLMM late last night the soldier and the police constable were not released by the LTTE till noon yesterday.(The Island)
Full Story

JVP protest release of Tiger rebels
Sri Lanka's main Marxist party launched a scathing attack Monday against the government for freeing seven armed Tamil Tiger rebels involved in a tense stand-off with naval troops.

The Marxist JVP, or People's Liberation Front, accused the government of engaging in a "peace deception" and of not being prepared to defend its own truce accord with the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). (Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

Jayasuriya fumes at 'amateurs'

(file photo)

Sanath Jayasuriya branded his Sri Lanka side a bunch of "amateurs" after succumbing to a 53-run defeat to minnows Kenya.

The Sri Lankan captain was fuming after his side were surprisingly outplayed in Nairobi to reduce their chances of qualifying for the Super Six stage of the tournament. (BBC)
[Full Story]

Monitor the monitors
Disturbing news comes from the East that a ceasefire monitor, a lawyer by profession, has filed a motion on behalf of two LTTE members, who had been taken into custody recently while abducting two school girls, and obtained bail for them.

The Monitoring Mission has come under fire from various quarters for its failure to do effective monitoring and its alleged partiality towards the LTTE, which critics of the peace process say, is evident from the involvement of LTTE sympathisers like Eric Solheim in the peace process and the leniency the monitors has shown in dealing with serious ceasefire violations committed by the LTTE.(The Island-Editorial)
Full Story

No army honours for soldier killed by woman Tigers
The funeral of First Wijayaba Regiment soldier K. G. Dharmadasa (24) who was killed by woman Tigers near the Kilali front defence line was held on Wednesday (19) evening at the General Cemetery of Kanangamuwa, Matale

The funeral was attended by a large crowd including ex-Minister and MP Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, Matale Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, Nihal Wijenayake, Opposition Leader Nimal Jayawardena, Matale Municipal Council Opposition Leader Rohana Dissanayake and his relatives and friends.(The Island)
Full Story

Tigers play tit for tat
Navy arrest 5 tigers, Tigers detain pilgrims
Five tiger cadres who had violated ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE have been apprehended by the Sri Lanka Navy in Trincomalee. As a revenge for this act the LTTE have detained two bus loads of pilgrims who had visited Trincomalee and other religious place in the East.

The tigers are demanding that the five arrested cadres should be released to set the pilgrims and the buses free. (Lanktruth)
Full Story

Sri Lanka averts flare up of fresh fighting
Scandinavian truce monitors Sunday helped pull Sri Lankan navy troops and Tamil Tiger rebels back from the brink of a gun battle breaching the ceasefire on its first anniversary, officials said.

The crisis began when seven armed cadres of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) tried to stop a navy vehicle at Kuchchaveli in the north-eastern port district of Trincomalee, official sources said.(Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

Duty on LTTE’s satellite equipment not fixed yet
The Customs Department has forwarded a preliminary report to the Finance Ministry on the issue of Customs duty payable on the VoT satellite communication equipment imported for the LTTE.

Director General of Customs S.C. Jayathillake told The Sunday Times that he had sent the preliminary report to the Finance Minister but declined to comment further as investigations were still in progress.(Sunday Times)
Full Story

Ceremonies in South, hartal in North
The LTTE brought life in Batticaloa district to a standstill yesterday in protest against what they described as the government’s failure to fully implement the cease-fire agreement reached an year ago, as the government marked the first anniversary of the pact with a series of events.

The main ceremony took place at the Independence Square with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe lighting a large oil lamp. Scores of ministers, MPs and a large number of supporters took part in the ceremony.(The Island)
Full Story

JVP alleges brutal attack with chemicals
Parliamentary sessions were suspended yesterday for twenty minutes when JVP members staged a protest in the House holding placards and shouting slogans and vehemently denouncing the police attack on their protest march on Thursday.

JVP Parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa rising to a point of order during the oral questions said their protest where some 100,000 took part was attacked brutally with the police spraying chemicals mixed with water.(Daily Mirror)
Full Story

We’ll bury 40,000 from the Army
If the LTTE soldiers are subjected to inspection by the Army or the women cadres are not allowed to wear their belts 40,000 Army personnel would be buried in their territory says the LTTE

This has been announced using public address systems fixed to buses. Security Forces had had intercepted one of these vehicles at 1.30 p. m. yesterday (20th) and complained to Pointpedro police which has informed the IGP.(Lankatruth)
Full Story

First Encyclopaedia on Sri Lanka in English
The first encyclopaedia on Sri Lanka in English — an A to Z guide to the country’s history, politics, culture, people, places etc., will be released on February 25 at 5.00 p.m. at the Galle Face Hotel Palm Lounge

Bradman Weerakoon will chair the event and the Minister of Human Resources Development, Education and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku will release the first copy.(The Island) Full Story

Asian countries, UN meet in Dhaka on development targets
Officials from eight Asian nations, the United Nations and non-governmental organisations will meet in Bangladesh at the weekend to work towards achieving development targets, officials said Friday.

During the three-day workshop in Dhaka beginning Sunday, representatives from South Korea, Iran, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, East Timor, Cambodia, Vietnam and Bangladesh will prepare national strategies for meeting their Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) statement said.(Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

Deal with IOC triggers strike by China Bay CPC staff
The agreement signed between the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) on February 7, 2003, for the management of the tank farm at China Bay, has triggered a strike by the CPC staff attached to the China Bay tank farm.

This has resulted in fuel supplies, required by the security forces and the civilian population of the North and East, not leaving the CPC premises on schedule. At the time of writing the tanker MT Ramboda was non-operational and tied up at the CPC’s Trinco-malee jetty, a spokesman said.(The Island) Full Story

Writ against non-selection of Batty for argument
The Supreme Court on Friday fixed for argument on May 19, 2003, the writ application filed by the General Secretary of the LSSP about the non-selection of an LSSP nominee by the People’s Alliance, to be appointed as a National List Member of Parliament.

The petitioner, Batty Weerakoon of the LSSP, has cited as respondents the Commissioner of Elections, the People’s Alliance and D. M. Jayaratne, the General Secretary of the PA.(The Island) Full Story

Air surveillance capability low
The recent bungling of a disputed operation to track down a ship-load of armaments to the Tigers off Sri Lanka revealed the insufficiency of air surveillance capability to monitor illegal sea movements.

Contrary to claims and speculation, Sri Lanka was tipped off of the impending ship movement by a ‘source’ that was not Indian. A joint air and naval operation was unable to get off the ground swiftly as one of Airforce’s two US built Beachcraft was grounded. It was not the only aircraft grounded but just one among several including the two largest C-130 transport aircraft. The two C-130s have been grounded for over a year(the Island) Full Story

Govt. calls on SLMM to act
LTTE forcibly drove away ten SLCTB owned buses parked at the Batticaloa bus depot.
The government has urged Major General Trond Furuhovde, head of the SLMM to act firmly on truce violations on a priority basis, authoritative sources said.

Emphasising that high-handed Tiger ‘actions’ in government-held areas in the north-east jeopardise a ceasefire agreement reached a year ago, the government wants the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to take up the disputed issues with the group, authoritative security sources said.(The Island)
Full Story

Red Cross dusts-off old files of 11,000 missing in Sri Lanka
The international Red Cross Wednesday said it had begun reopening files on some 11,000 people missing in Sri Lanka as it moved to help warring parties set up a system to establish the fate of the victims.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office here said 11,000 requests for tracing missing people since 1990 were still unresolved, but they have reopened the files.(Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

Sri Lanka thrash Canada

Canada lose opener John Davison as Prabath Nissanka has him caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara with the score on 0 (Photo courtesy : BBC)

Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya praised his opening bowlers after Canada collapsed to the lowest one-day international score in history.

Prabath Nissanka and Chaminda Vaas took the first seven wickets of the match as Canada were bowled out for 36, beating the previous all-time low of 38 by Zimbabwe.(BBC)
Full Story

Opposition expresses serious concern
No Sinhala reps. on review committees for land and related issues in East
The Opposition expressed serious concern over a disputed decision to exclude Sinhala representatives from three committees to be appointed to review land and all other related issues in the Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts on a priority basis.

The government and the LTTE agreed on the formation of committees at the fifth session of peace talks at the Norwegian Embassy in Berlin, two weeks ago. The committees will consist of six representatives of the Muslim population and six representatives of the LTTE. (The Island)
Full Story

Thousands of Tamils demand Sri Lankan troops withdraw from Jaffna Peninsula
JAFFNA, Sri Lanka - Thousands rallied Friday in northern Sri Lanka to demand the withdrawal of government troops after a fistfight between soldiers and Tamil rebels dealt a blow to a year-old truce.

At least 8,000 people carrying placards and shouting slogas rallied in the northern town of Jaffna, in the traditional homeland of Sri Lanka's minority Tamils. (Yahoo News/AP)
Full Story

Diplomatic passports for Sri Lanka's tea traders
The Sri Lankan government Tuesday offered diplomatic passports and millions of dollars in incentives to help boost revenue from the island's main export commodity, tea.

Plantations Minister Lakshman Kiriella said tea promoters would receive diplomatic postings in Sri Lankan missions abroad to give an added push to the island's green gold.(Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

Security measures not lax
The Sri Lankan Defence Minister, Tilak Marapane, today denied charges that the Government was lax on security and asserted that the state's vigilance mechanism had been strengthened.

Replying to a no-confidence motion brought against him by the Opposition People's Alliance (PA), Mr. Marapane told Parliament that the steps taken by the Government to ensure the return of normalcy in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, since last year's ceasefire agreement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), were "without endangering security''. (The Hindu) Full Story

‘Hand over son or face death’, LTTE threatens mother
A mother had made a complaint at the Central Camp police station in Ampara on 11 February 2003 that she would be killed unless her child was handed over to the LTTE.

An Army headquarters news release said that according to the mother, A Nila of ‘Hand over No. 04/99, Central Camp Road, Ampara, her son T. Suresh had escaped from an LTTE training camp a few years ago.(The Island)
Full Story

Ranil promises citizenship for disenfranchised Tamils
The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, today promised to bring in a legislation to provide citizenship for nearly one lakh disenfranchised estate Tamils who had opted to stay in the island.

Addressing the concluding session of the 33rd biennial convention of the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC), he said the Government was working on a draft bill that would provide citizenship for those who had stayed in Sri Lanka after the Srima-Shastri pact. All political parties, he said, had recognised the need and urgency for solving this issue. (The Hindu)
[Full Story]

Army rejects LTTE claim over killing of soldier
A simmering dispute over the army’s opposition to belts worn by female Tiger cadres, as part of their uniform in government-held parts of the Jaffna peninsula, took a new turn over the weekend as the army reported the death of a soldier in an incident involving a group of female cadres. He was identified as S/514701 K.P.A.Dharmadasa

Army headquarters yesterday vehemently denied Tiger claims that the soldier was among a group of soldiers who moved across the front-line.According to informed sources troops deployed in the area did not hear gunfire and were not aware of the fate of the soldier until the Tigers informed the army of the shooting through the SLMM.(The Island)
[Full Story]

Ranil’s security gets the works in clash with Thonda’s
The Prime Ministerial Security Division (PMSD) gave up security inspections at the 33rd Convention sessions of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) yesterday (16) at the Bogambara Grounds after the CWC leader, Minister Arumugam Thondaman, issued instructions to halt checking of his members entering the venue

The orders came from Minister Thondaman following a clash between the minister’s security and the PMSD personnel as thousands of CWC members gate crashed objecting to security checks.(The Island)
[Full Story]

Trooper shot dead as US, Japan voice concern for Sri Lanka peace
Tamil Tiger rebels shot dead a government soldier who moved into an area held by them in northern Sri Lanka where both sides are observing a truce monitored by Scandinavians, rebel radio said Sunday.

The incident came as the United States and Japan expressed concern about the stability of the island's Norwegian-brokered peace bid aimed at ending three decades of ethnic bloodshed that has claimed over 60,000 lives.(Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story]

Sri Lanka rebels kill soldier as truce under strain
Tamil Tiger rebels on Saturday shot dead a Sri Lankan army soldier who they say trespassed into their territory in violation of a truce that has been keeping the warring sides at arm's length after 19 years of civil war The Tigers said in a statement released late on Saturday the soldier was killed by a female combat unit when he tried to throw a hand grenade after being discovered in rebel-controlled territory in the northern Jaffna peninsula. (Yahoo News/Reuters)
[Full Story]

Slicing up the East for Taliban and Tigers
Decades ago as a young engineer, I rode a Jeep along the Eastern coast during a two-month stint there. I then saw clusters of Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese habitations in a multi-cultural set up. But no more. Last month I drove again up the East Coast through its present different slices of Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils.

Although the Pottuvil pansala is deserted after a Sinhala mill owner who supported it fled, the town still has a few Sinhalese traders. Pottuvil southwards is multicultural. The Akkaraipattu pansala was attacked by Tigers. Its Sinhala traders have run away, due to Muslim pressure. In the adjoining Tamil area, I hear from the LTTE office denunciation of Muslims. The Tiger spokesman -- claiming to have attacked the Colombo oil depots, and has a damaged eye to show for it -- says that Sinhalese and Tamils have commonalities but not the Muslims. (Sunday Times)
[Full Story]

Students, principals face arrest in Vavuniya

School children participating in a protest demonstration organised by pro-LTTE groups against the army's demand to remove web belts worn by LTTE women cadres when they enter government-controlled areas (photo Courtesy:Sunday Times)

Education officials or principals who permit school children to take part in anti-government demonstrations in Vavuniya will be arrested and prosecuted in courts, the military and police have warned.

Education officials or principals who permit school children to take part in anti-government demonstrations in Vavuniya will be arrested and prosecuted in courts, the military and police have warned.(Sunday Times)
[Full Story]

Tiger ‘magistrate’ re-remands soldier
Soldier H. S. Nimal Kumara taken prisoner by the Tigers on December 24 when he unintentionally entered their area has been remanded by a Tiger magistrate again.

He was produced before an LTTE ‘magistrate’ last Thursday and was remanded till March 7. Kumara who had been with the army for eight years was attached to a detachment at Welioya at the time of the incident.(The Island)
[Full Story]

Tiger delegation takes 25 packages in two choppers
contained is not known
None of them had been opened for examination
The Tiger guerrilla delegation to the latest Berlin peace talks who arrived in Colombo last Friday for their return journey to the Wanni demanded two helicopters, one to carry their members and the other for more than 25 packages they brought along. They received both

The Sunday Times learns that LTTE Political Wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan, his deputy, Pulithevan (Prabagaran) and others arrived in Colombo in a SriLankan Airlines flight. They are said to have brought in more than 25 packages of various sizes.(Sunday Times)
[Full Story]

If you want weapons, come and get them— Balasingham
Anton Balasingham addressing the LTTE office in Dusseldorf, Germany has said while talks of leaders like S. J. V. Chelvanayagam were based on non-violence today, "We are talking on artillery strength."

Balasingham further said: "We are not terrorists..... We want self-rule under a federal framework like in other countries. We want a just solution to the Tamils and this has been commended by world countries. US, Britain and EU have welcomed this. On this basis a mischievous campaign is being carried out that Tigers have given up the Eelam demand. Our leader has clearly emphasized this in his heroes’ day message.(The Island)
[Full Story]

Rebel pressure halts reopening of Jaffna library
COLOMBO - Pressure from Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels has forced authorities to postpone the reopening of the Jaffna Library, a cultural icon for the country's Tamils, lawmakers said on Thursday.

The library was gutted in 1981 after ethnic majority Sinhalese police and thugs set it ablaze in an act that fuelled the rebels' movement for a separate state for minority Tamils. (Yahoo News/Reuters)
[Full Story]

LTTE planning to set up base in Vizag
Far from the strife-torn island of Sri Lanka, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) seems to be hatching a sinister plan to set up a base in the port city of Visakhapatnam. Highly confidential Intelligence reports are pointing in this direction.

The latest Intelligence reports confirm that LTTE activists or sympathizers are making regular but secret visits to Vizag. Three suspected LTTE sympathizers were in the city in December and January and one of these is said to have come here by the Chennai-Howrah Mail in the last week of December. He stayed in a lodge near the railway station and antecedents of two persons who met him at the lodge are being ascertained.(newindpress.com)
[Full Story]

Japan urged to link loan to S.Lanka with disarming Tamil rebels
Sri Lanka's main opposition party on Friday said they have asked the Japanese government to link a loan package with de-commissioning of weapons by separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.

Sarath Amunugama, spokesman for the opposition People's Alliance, told reporters here that he has personally conveyed to Yasushi Akashi, Japanese special peace envoy on the Sri Lankan government's peace process with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels, that all Japanese grants must be interlinked to decommissioning of weapons by the LTTE. (northenlight.com)
[Full Story]

Timely talk of war,peace
In 3,000 years of recorded history,no nation has achieved the undisputed role of world leadership that the United States has today -- not Rome, not England, Spain or Portugal.

Along with that role goes the obligation to lead the world toward peace, said Christopher Gregory Weeramantry, a judge with the United Nations International Court of Justice based in The Hague, Netherlands. (The Press-Enterprise)
[Full Story]

Emboldened by Japanese aid Tiger gunmen go haywire
By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles:
The mayor of Jaffna Chellan Kandiah of the Tamil United Liberation Front(TULF) and other Municipal Councilors of Sri Lanka’s main Tamil city resigned from their posts after receiving death threats from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Jaffna political sources said.

Meanwhile the suspected LTTE terrorists shot and seriously wounded another head of a local government body in the Jaffna peninsula, the Chairman of the Kopay Pradeshiya Sabha , P.Gunasingham together with his police bodyguard, Sarath Abeysinghe in an ambush.
[Full Story]

Inspired Vaas destroys Bangladesh

Chaminda Vaas makes history by taking a hat-trick with the first three balls (photo Courtesy:BBC)

Chaminda Vaas made history by taking a hat-trick with the first three balls of the game as Sri Lanka recorded a crushing 10-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

Vaas then added a fourth victim in his opening over before finishing with six for 25.
[Full Story]

Female Tamil Tiger rebels, Sri Lankan army clash over dress code, two cadres wounded
Two female Tamil rebels were wounded Wednesday in a fist fight with army soldiers that erupted when the women were ordered to remove their military-style belts before entering a government-held area, witnesses and military sources said

The fight occurred after the soldiers stopped three unarmed women at Manipay checkpoint, near the northern town of Jaffna, and told them to remove their belts, which can hold small arms such as pistols, said a witness who asked not to be named.
[Full Story ]

50 days have passed, soldier still LTTE captive
Sri Lanka Army soldier H. S. Nimal Kumara who was taken into LTTE custody in December last year still remains in LTTE captivity due to the failure of the Sri Lanka government to secure his release.

H. S. Nimal Kumara of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Unit was seized by the LTTE on December 24 when he was unknowingly crossing the front-line in the Weli-Oya area. The LTTE is using the soldier to pressurise the government to accept its legal system. The LTTE wants the government to send its lawyers to secure the soldier’s release.(The Island)
[Full Story ]

Tamil terrorists broke peace in this country
Malwatte & Asgiriya prelates say
Peace cannot be achieved by the longing of only one section of the nation, the other side too should act towards peace in the same spirit said Most Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi Thero, Mahanayake of Malwatte Chapter when Mr. Yasushi Akashi, leader of Japanese State mission called on him yesterday (12th).

The prelate reminded the head of the Japanese mission that Sri Lanka and Japan have had a very cordial relationship for centuries specially due to their religious relationship and not do anything to harm it. He said that there had been speculation that Japanese aid is to be given only to one part of the country and stressed that aid given for the development of the country should reach all parts of the country.(Lankatruth)
[Full Story ]

Council members in Tamil town in Sri Lanka resign to protest rebel threats
All 23 members of the town council in Tamil-dominated Jaffna resigned Thursday alleging they had been threatened by Tamil Tiger rebels seeking to postpone the reopening of a public library torched by anti-Tamil mobs nearly 22 years ago

The library was scheduled to reopen Friday, but it was unclear whether it would happen on time. (Yahoo News/AP)
[Full Story ]

SLMM wants SL Police remodeled
Teitur Torkelsson, the spokesman for the SLMM has said that Sri Lanka Police is incompetent and it should be remodeled to meet challenges.

Torkelsson made this observation after the incidents at Manipay when Army riot squad had to be called in to control the disturbances that were triggered off by the LTTE when some of their women cadres had been asked at an Army check point to remove an offensive part of their garments they had been wearing. According to the ceasefire agreement signed between the government and the LTTE either party is prohibited from wearing uniforms or parts of it when visiting areas held by the other. (Lankatruth)
[Full Story ]

Taxing the state!
How costly leniency could be in dealing with a terror outfit could be seen from the bitter experience of the Sri Lankan government. The LTTE according to press reports is now slapping ‘taxes’ on the government! The CWE and the Building Materials Corporation are reported to have marked up their prices in the North and East to meet inter alia the cost of ‘taxes’ they have to pay the LTTE.

The graduation of the LTTE from ‘taxing’ helpless civilians to extorting money from the government which is, we are told, backed by the ‘international community’ has been possible thanks to the pusillanimity of the government and the indulgence with which the so-called powerful nations are handling the LTTE. (The Island-Editorial)
[Full Story ]

LTTE constructs bunkers in Sampur
The LTTE has commenced constructing bunkers in Sampur in Trincomalee, police sources said. This had been reported to the police headquarters yesterday (06).

The area where bunkers were being constructed had been declared a prohibited area by the LTTE, a senior police officer said.(The Island) Full Story

Kumaratunga asks PM to go public on LTTE peace plan
Colombo: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga on February 4 asked her cohabitation government to go public with its Norwegian-backed peace plan as the island's Tamil-dominated areas boycotted the country's 55th anniversary of its Independence from Britain.

The authorities were forced to cancel a cultural show in the Northern town of Vavuniya where unsigned posters announced that the "Independence" was not for minority Tamils. (Indiainfo.com) Full Story

Chief suspect in Katunayake bomb blast to be indicted
The Attorney General will shortly indict, P. Nirmala Ranjan (Sea Tiger), the chief suspect of the Katunayake airbase bomb blast, in July 2001.

Riyaz Hamza, State Counsel yesterday requested the Supreme Court for further time to finalise the documents, pertaining to the indictment.(The Island) Full Story

LTTE women’s belts anti-MoU: riot squad action brutal — SLMM
The LTTE yesterday protested vehemently in the Jaffna town of Manipay after soldiers ordered removal of the belts worn by some LTTE women cadres as part of their uniform.
<
An army riot squad was deployed after more than 100 LTTE cadres gathered in the town and tension built up. Some protestors tore down branches and placed trunks of trees across streets. Members from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) observed soldiers attacking by standers and passers-by with long sticks. At least, five people had been injured.(The Island)
[Full Story ]

Rajiv assassination turned AIADMK anti-LTTE
Reiterating her steadfast opposition to the LTTE, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday said Rajiv Gandhi's assassination was a watershed in changing the AIADMK's policy towards the militant outfit for ever.

Taking the gauntlet thrown by her arch rival and DMK Chief M Karunanidhi to clarify her stand on the LTTE and the complaint she had reportedly made to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi about her mentor and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran, she launched a broadside against the DMK supremo. (Sify News)
[Full Story ]

[Previous Stories} Sri Lanka will seek more Indian help in air force training, spokesman says
OLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka may ask neighboring India for more help in training air force personnel during this week's visit by the head of the Indian air force, a military spokesman said Wednesday.

India's Air Chief Marshal Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy arrived Wednesday in Sri Lanka for a four-day trip. The visit will include meetings with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Air Marshal Donald Perera, said air force spokesman Ajith Wijesundara. (yahoo News)
[Full Story ]

Women's leather belts raise Sri Lanka soldiers' ire
A bitter dispute over leather belts worn by Tamil women fighters triggered fisticuffs Wednesday between troops and rebels in northern Sri Lanka, officials said.

Police anti-riot squads were rushed to the town of Manippay in the Jaffna peninsula following the clashes between Tiger women combatants known as Freedom Birds and soldiers manning a checkpoint, officials said.(Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story ]

Govt. businesses in north face closure
Government businesses in the north may face closure with LTTE’s continuing to insist on "taxes". The LTTE which in the first few months after the opening of the A-9 highway exempted government entities has subsequently extended taxes to government establishments. Both the CWE and Building Materials Corporation branches will consider closure if their goods are not allowed through without LTTE imposed "taxes".(The Island)
[Full Story ]

Defence ministry delayed following president's orders
President’s spokesman Harim Peiris yesterday accused the Defence Minister and the Defence Ministry for delaying and not adhering to orders from the President to act swiftly on ceasefire violations by the LTTE.

President’s spokesman Harim Peiris told a news conference yesterday that the incident near Delft last week was a good example of a situation where orders from the President who is the commander in chief of the armed forces were not carried out properly when there was a clear violation of the ceasefire of the MoU by the LTTE.(The Island)
[Full Story ]

Threat to National Security
Fifth arms ship unloaded by the LTTE-says President
The fifth ship full of arms had been encircled by the Navy, this was communicated to her by the Commander of the Navy and immediately afterwards the Prime Minister contacted her and requested her not to take any action till he contacted Anton Balasingham says the President.(Lankatruth)
[Full Story ]

Sri Lankan government, Tamil rebels clear decks to address critical issue of power sharing
Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels made their first commitment to tackle human rights during their latest round of peace talks, setting the stage for crucial negotiations on power sharing when they meet again next month.

A two-day session in Berlin ended Saturday with a fresh pledge by the rebels to stop recruiting child soldiers and help them reintegrate into society. Both sides also asked a former head of Amnesty International, Ian Martin, to draft a document with a series of human rights commitments to be met as the negotiating proceed. (Yahoo News/AP)
[Full Story ]

Sri Lanka gets US training on weapons of mass destruction
The United States Monday began a training session for some 150 Sri Lankan troops and police on weapons of mass destruction and handling emergencies, the US embassy here said Monday.

The five-days of training, conducted with State Department anti-terrorism assistance, is aimed at helping local authorities deal with situations arising from the use of weapons of mass destruction, the embassy said.(Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story ]

Scandinavian monitors slam Sri Lanka Tamil Tigers over gun-running
Independent truce monitors Sunday rejected denials by Tamil Tiger rebels and said they had been caught smuggling arms and ammunition into Sri Lanka in violation of a ceasefire brokered by Norway.

The Scandinavian observing team known as the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said three Tiger crewmen blew up themselves after two Norwegian monitors found an anti-aircraft gun and ammunition aboard their trawler.(Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story ]

Sri Lanka on alert as Tigers fire rockets to mourn suicide blast
Sri Lankan troops went on red alert Saturday as Tamil rebels opened fire and ordered residents to fly black flags to mourn three colleagues who blew themselves up aboard an arms-laden trawler, officials and the guerrillas said.

As peace continued in Berlin on Saturday, the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) asked residents in the northern peninsula of Jaffna to put up the flags to mourn Friday's deaths in the explosion.(Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story ]

Red alert in Lanka after suicide bombing
Sri Lankan security forces were today placed on red alert as LTTE guerrillas fired rockets and mortar bombs and put up black flags to mark the death of three rebels who blew themselves up after an anti-aircraft gun was found on their trawler.

Troops in the island's embattled northern and eastern regions were put on alert following yesterday's incident where three rebels blasted themselves to pieces and sank their boat.(Deccan Herald)
[Full Story ]

Chandrika doubts LTTE after suicide blasts
Even as the LTTE and Sri Lanka government began the latest round of peace talks on Friday, President Chandrika Kumaratunga said the incident of three rebels blowing themselves up after the discovery of an anti-aircraft gun on their trawler raised doubts over the genuineness of Tamil Tigers' commitment to the peace process

"I have serious doubts about their sincerity and commitment to peace," Kumaratunga said in a statement issued shortly after the rebels carried out out the suicide blast off the island's north.(The Times of India)
[Full Story ]

Defence, SLMM differ over explosion
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) yesterday disputed an official defence ministry claim that LTTE cadres on board the fishing trawler which exploded on Friday had first requested SLMM members to jump overboard before setting it on fire.

"According to our monitors, there was no request or gesture to tell them to leave the boat," said Teitur Torkelsson, SLMM spokesman. "The boat was set on fire without them even knowing it at first."(The Island)
[Full Story ]

Soosai snubs Berlin decision and orders Sea Tigers’ suicide
Sea Tiger Leader Soosai personally gave the order for the three Black Sea Tigers to blow up their own boat off Delft island on Friday and commit suicide in full view of two Norwegian ceasefire monitors, despite the LTTE’s negotiators agreeing in Berlin that the arms on board their boat would be handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy and the Tiger cadres allowed to go free, according to sources in the North.

This act showed the LTTE’s utter contempt for the entire peace process and their refusal to change their culture of terror.(The Island)
[Full Story ]

Sri Lanka Navy, peace monitors responsible for Tigers' death: rebels
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have blamed the Sri Lanka Navy and the Nordic peace monitors for Friday's suicide blast, in which three Sea Tigers blew themselves up after the trawler in which they were travelling was apprehended with weapons on board, off the northern Jaffna Peninsula. The Tigers criticised the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission for not handling the incident in a "fair and responsible manner,'' and charged the Navy with "provocative, belligerent conduct.''

A report in the website, TamilNet, quoted the rebels as saying that an LTTE fast boat "set out to help" one of their trawlers which "developed engine trouble" while it was engaged in fishing on Thursday. When a Sri Lanka Navy boat was seen, the "the Sea Tiger crew of the fast boat removed the light machinegun fixed to the boat to assume a non-combative posture, left the gun in the trawler and motored near the (Navy's) Dvora to explain the situation.'(The Hindu)
[Full Story ]

A Bland end of the shorten Fifth Session of Peace Talks in Berlin with Agreement for Future Talks.
The Tamil Tigers have pledged to stop the underage recruitment in their armed forces in future. Also the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, (LTTE) has agreed to a complete cessation of recruitment of and recruitment campaigns aimed at, persons under 18 years of age.

This was revealed at the Press release issued by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Berlin, after the conclusion of the two-day talks between the Sri Lankan Government delegates and the delegates representing the LTTE.(Asian Tribune)
[Full Story ]

Sri Lanka's Tigers Vow to End Child Recruitment
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers pledged on Saturday to stop recruiting child soldiers, one of the biggest obstacles to the rebels' hopes of being seen as a legitimate political party.

The rebels also agreed -- at the end of two days of peace talks in Berlin aimed at ending a war that has killed 64,000 people -- that a former Amnesty International head would draw up a blueprint for human rights issues linked to the peace process.(ABC News/Reuters)
[Full Story ]

Government agencies pay taxes to LTTE
Tiger guerrillas have begun collecting "taxes" from Government organisations marketing goods in the Wanni and the Jaffna peninsula.

An investigation by The Sunday Times has revealed that this dubious exercise, by which the LTTE is in fact siphoning off large sums of money, is being carried out through state trading organisations like the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE), the Building Materials Corporation and the Sri Lanka Cement Corporation.(Sunday Times)
[Full Story ]

The smokescreen
Somebody has to do it, and in offering a critical assessment of the peace process, if we have to do it, we shall, even at the risk of being misunderstood as being opposed to the peace process. We are not against the peace initiatives, but just opposed to being suckered because of them by a clearly two - faced and duplicitous organisation that is talking peace while smuggling anti-aircraft weapons to the country (see front page reports and the Situation Report.)

This is not the first time that the LTTE has timed their beach landings of weapons to coincide with specific sessions of the peace talks. It happened before, and it is happening again.(Sunday Times/Editorial)
[Full Story ]

UNICEF not fooled by ‘mere assurances’
Taking a decisive stand on child soldiers, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy yesterday called for words to be translated into action and asserted that she had dealt with the issue long enough not to be taken in by mere assurances.

"We don’t stop with words on a peace document," Bellamy said at press conference in Colombo. "We are satisfied as far as words are concerned. Now we want to see some action." Bellamy was speaking after a visit on Friday to the conflict-ridden north where she held more than two hours of talks with senior LTTE leaders.(The Island)
Full Story

Tamil Tiger Rebels to Tackle Child Recruitment
Tamil Tiger rebels, under fire for recruiting children, have suggested a way to clear up such complaints, truce monitors said on Thursday ahead of a rebel meeting with the head of the U.N. Children's Fund.

At a meeting in eastern Batticaloa between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the rebels had mooted holding meetings with parents of recruited children and truce monitors to sort out complaints. (Yahoo News/Reuters)
Full Story

UNICEF chief meets Tamil Tiger rebels over allegations of child recruitment
A top U.N. official traveled Friday to northern Sri Lanka to seek new assurances from Tamil rebel leaders that they will stop recruiting children as soldiers, a spokesman said.

UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy will discuss concrete measures to stop the practice in a meeting with the leader of the rebels' political wing, S.P. Thamilselvan, in the northern territory of Kilinochchi, said UNICEF spokesman Mohamed Nizar.(Yahoo News)
Full Story

Tamil Tigers 'to return child soldiers
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have agreed to return child soldiers, international peace monitors say.

The move comes as the head of the United Nations children's agency (Unicef) prepares to meet the Tigers. (BBC)

[Full Story]

Tamil Tiger rebels blow up boat, killing themselves, after caught smuggling anti-aircraft gun

Chronology of Sri Lankan suicide blasts Following are the major suicide bombings carried out by LTTE: July 5, 1987: The LTTE carries out its first suicide bombing, killing 40 troops at the Nelliyady army camp in the north of the country March 2, 1991: Defence minister Ranjan Wijeratne is among 19 people killed when a car bomb is detonated in Colombo May 21, 1991: Former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi is killed at a meeting in southern India. May 1, 1993: President Ranasinghe Premadasa and 23 others are killed by a suicide bomber in Colombo. December 18, 1999: President Chandrika Kumaratunga is wounded and 38 are killed in two separate attacks on election rallies. January 5, 2000: At least 12 killed and 24 wounded when a woman suicide bomber detonates explosives strapped to her body outside the office of Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike.(Pro Log/AFP) Complete list

The monitors had earlier said the find was a ''clear violation'' of a cease-fire agreement the rebels signed with the government in February 2002.

"The discovery and explosion came only hours before a fifth round of peace talks were to start in Berlin, Germany. It was not immediately clear how the incident would affect the talks..(NBC/AP)
[Full Story ]

Blast overshadows Sri Lanka talks
Sri Lankan peace talks have resumed in Berlin just hours after three Tamil Tiger rebels committed suicide when caught smuggling arms.

The rebels blew up their boat after Scandinavian truce monitors had boarded it off the northern coast of Jaffna.(BBC)
[Full Story ]

Suicide bombing sinks boat, breaking Sri Lanka ceasefire
Three Tamil Tiger rebels blew themselves up off Sri Lanka's northern waters Friday to avoid capture by sailors after foreign monitors ruled they were breaking a truce, officials said.

The Tigers' first suicide bombing in 15 months came just hours before the two sides were to hold a new round of peace talks in Berlin and was the worst incident since the two sides entered a Norwegian-brokered ceasefire nearly a year ago.(Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story]

PA calls on government to step down
The People’s Alliance called for the government to step down claiming that there was rampant corruption and incompetence in its administration. Addressing the regular press briefing yesterday, PA Media Spokesman Dr. Sarath Amunugama said the UNF government had pledged a "level playing field for investors and transparency prior to the elections.

He claimed that within one year the government had proved otherwise by allowing a few selected companies to "run rough shod over the awarding of tenders."(The Island)
[Full Story]

What is the future for Sri Lanka's peace talks?
The suicide of three Tamil Tiger rebels caught smuggling arms off the coast of Sri Lanka has cast a shadow over peace talks taking place in Germany.

The rebels blew up their boat after truce monitors found weapons on board in violation of a ceasefire accord. (BBC-Talking Point)
[Full Story]

SLFP and JVP MoU in the offing
The ongoing deliberations between the SLFP and the JVP to form a joint alliance has reached a decisive stage with the SLFP agreeing to consider a series of proposals on a range of contentious issues including the peace process forwarded by the JVP.

The JVP forwarded a document containing several proposals to the SLFP when party delegations met at Janadhipathy Mandiraya yesterday, a senior SLFP spokesperson said, adding they agreed to press on with their talks on a priority basis.(the Island)
[Full Story]

Bush taps career diplomat as Sri Lanka envoy
US President George W. Bush plans to nominate career diplomat Jeffrey Lunstead as ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives, the White House announced in a statement.(Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story]

Banish Jan Westborg! -Bhikkus demand

Rev. Kalawelgala Chandaloka, of National Bhikku Front is being manhandled by Inspector of Police, Ranjith Wanaraja.The NBF had organized a protest to call upon the government to banish Jon Westborg, the Norwegian Ambassador. (Photo courtesy: Lanktruth)

“Banish Jan Westborg who makes available high-powered broadcasting equipment, international recognition and Tamil Elam to tiger terrorists,” was the theme of a protest organized by the National Bhikku Front who staged a walk from the Bo tree in Colombo Fort to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After presenting a petition Rev. Kalawalgala Chandaloka Thera, the Secretary of National Bhikku Front tried to address the more than thousand Bhikkus assembled there. The police, which had been called, snatched the mike from Rev. Chandaloka and manhandled him to the indignation of the public who had gathered there.
[Full Story Lankatruth]
[Full Story The Island] [Previous Stories}

Child soldiers to be issue at Sri Lanka peace talks
The fifth round of talks was to have focused on speeding up humanitarian work in war-hit areas, but accusations of continued recruitment of child soldiers by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) could overshadow that.

''It is something that will be on the agenda,'' said one Western diplomat. ''It is something the LTTE has to deal with. It is what the donors look at.'' (NBC)
[Full Story]

Daunting mission for Nambiar in Sri Lanka
The former head of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Yugoslavia, Satish Nambiar, today visited the Jaffna peninsula as part his weeklong trip to the island to study sensitive military issues related to the ongoing peace process.

According to sources, Lt. Gen (retd.) Nambiar, told representatives of the public in Jaffna not to expect any miracles in his report which he would present in his personal capacity on the sensitive issue of de-escalation in the northern peninsula. The veteran U.N. peacekeeper is here in his personal capacity on the invitation of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. (The Hindu)
[Full Story]

Sri Lanka's tricky transition to peace
The Tigers are accustomed to war rather than politics
As Sri Lanka's peace talks enter their fifth round this week it is clear the honeymoon is over.

The overall picture may still be positive but some of the developments on the ground are worrying. According to the international cease-fire monitors, 502 of the 556 cease-fire violations last year were committed by the Tamil Tigers. (BBC)
[Full Story]

Sri Lanka talks shift to Berlin amid uncertainty at home
President says the Tigers used the ceasefire to raise their strength from 6,000 to 16,000.
For Sri Lanka's president, peace talks opening in the German capital Friday are a charade, but for her cohabitation government they remain the best hope of ending three decades of bloodshed.

The fragile health of the London-based top Tamil Tiger negotiator, Anton Balasingham, 64, forced a shift from the regular talks venue in Thailand to Berlin, but President Kumaratunga sees the entire process as a "peace circus." "These are not peace talks," Kumaratunga told party supporters in a speech broadcast on national television Saturday.(Pro Log.AFP)
[Full Story]

Sri Lanka president wants peace plan, Tamils protest independence day

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Chandrika Kumaratunga celebrated the country’s 55th anniversary of Independence Day (Pic by Eranga Jayawardene) (Photo courtesy: The Island )

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga Tuesday asked her government to unveil its plans for a final peace deal with Tiger rebels as Tamil regions boycotted the country's independence day celebrations.

Unsigned posters in the island's Tamil-dominated Vavuniya region, 256 kilometers (160 miles) north of here, protested the celebrations saying minority Tamils did not enjoy freedom. (Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story]
[Full text of President’s speech-(Lankatruth)

Black flags in Tamil city of Jaffna as Sri Lanka president calls for a new start for war-battered nation
For the first time in 20 years, Sri Lanka marked its independence day Tuesday without the specter of civil war.

ut in the once troubled Jaffna Peninsula, home to most of Sri Lanka's 3.2 million Tamil minority, the mood was subdued. Black flags fluttered over homes as most refused to take part in the government-arranged celebrations. (yahoo News/AP)
[Full Story]

Demand to Decommission LTTE Weapons Gathers Steam in Sri Lanka
With a rise in human rights violations against certain political and ethnic groups by Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the demand for decommissioning their weapons is gaining momentum here

" Judging by the ever increasing human rights and ceasefire violations by the LTTE despite the truce in force, it is mandatory even at this late hour to make a move to decommission LTTE weapons " stressed Opposition leader in the Sri Lankan Parliament Mahinda Rajapakse. (Yahoo News)
[Full Story]

Gamini Iriyagolle dies
Eminent lawyer, civil servant and professional Gamini Iriyagolle (67) passed away at a private hospital in Colombo on Monday.

He authored several books on Sri Lankan history. Mr. Iriyagolle was educated at Ananda College and Royal College, Colombo. (The Island)
[Full Story]

Tamil Tiger leaders leave for Berlin peace talks
Departed from the international airport they bombed 19 months ago.
Top Tamil Tiger rebel leaders left here Monday to attend the next round of peace talks with the Sri Lankan government scheduled to open in the German capital Berlin, official sources said.
The negotiations, the fifth round between Colombo and the LTTE since formal face-to-face talks arranged by peace broker Norway opened in September, will start Friday and end the following day.(Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story]

"Stop recruiting child soldiers"
Chandrika appeals to LTTE
The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, today appealed to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to stop recruiting child soldiers and sought a guarantee from the peace negotiators that the core issues of the conflict would be taken up "without delay.'' She made the appeal as part of her message to the nation on the eve of the 55th Independence Day celebrations. (The Hindu)
[Full Story]

Tamil Tigers and UNICEF to develop rehab plan for child soldiers
Tamil Tiger rebels and the U.N. Children's Fund will meet in Berlin next week to develop a plan to rehabilitate children used as combatants by the rebels in Sri Lanka's two-decade civil war, the top UNICEF official said Saturday. UNICEF and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam representatives will meet after peace talks to be held Feb. 7-8 between the rebels and the Sri Lankan government in the German capital, said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy.(Yahoo News)
[Full Story]

Ashly say, Moragoda do
Economic Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda says that when the US Ambassador asks him to do things, he does not reason why, he just does it.

Startling Sri Lankans by attending a meeting of the re-launch of the US-based International Executive Service Corps (IECS), a body that promotes volunteer executives and consultants committed to promoting free enterprise worldwide at the World Trade Center, Mr. Moragoda, who was not originally listed to attend the function, said he was due to attend the function and was only there because the US Ambassador had told him to come. (Sunday Times)
[Full Story]

Sri Lanka Child Soldiers to Be Returned
Tamil Tiger rebels and the U.N. Children's Fund agreed to meet in Berlin to develop a plan to return child combatants who fought in Sri Lanka's two-decade civil war, the top UNICEF official UNICEF and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam will meet after peace talks to be held Feb. 7-8 between the rebels and the Sri Lankan government in the German capital, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy said Saturday. (Yahoo News)
[Full Story]

LTTE Moves In to Eastern University
The Tiger identified as Avinian moved into the university situated at Vantharamoolai, Chenkalady several weeks ago, an informed source said. He was described as the one in charge of education in the area.

The source said the Tiger had been also given another room in the hostel. "Two telephones have been made available to him," the source said, adding that LTTE cadres regularly visit the university. (The Island)
[Full Story]

Chandrika raises more questions on VoT
"I cannot allow preferential treatment to be accorded to the LTTE, which is denied to others,"
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has told Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that in future both she and the Cabinet should be consulted on "sensitive matters" like allowing broadcasting equipment to the LTTE.

"As Head of State, I have to keep in mind at all times, the totality of all the elements that constitute the national interest - the interest of all our peoples - on any particular issue," she has said in a letter sent to Premier Wickremesinghe dated January 29.(Sunday Times)
[Full Story]

Tigers using Vietnam model of negotiations will give armed forces a ‘send off’
-V. Balakumaran-
With the talks, the Tigers have achieved international recognition. Everyone is competing to help them and those who earlier banned them are now considering de-proscription

This was stated in a speech delivered by V. Balakumaran (formerly known as V. Balakumar), a senior leader of the Tigers and one-time leader of the EROS, at the release of the book "Ini Vaanam Velichidum" ("Hereafter The Sky Will Be Clear"). The speech was delivered at the Suththananda Hall in Vavuniya on Jan. 11, 2003.(The Island) Full Story

Sri Lanka seeks end to war on freedom anniversary

The Sri Lankan army mascot a baby elephant "Kandula", takes part in rehearsals February 3, 2003 a day ahead of the island's 55th independence anniversary (Photo courtesyAFP )

President Chandrika Kumaratunga urged Sri Lanka Monday to reflect on an end to decades of ethnic bloodshed as the island prepared to mark its 55th anniversary of independence from Britain.

Kumaratunga appealed to the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to stop recruiting child soldiers and said the country had reached a stage where war could be forgotten. "It is now time for us all to put the war behind us and look to a future where we would recognise and respect the rights and aspirations of every individual...," Kumaratunga said in the message delivered ahead of Tuesday's anniversary. (Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story]

Sri Lankans to celebrate Independence Day with cease-fire in place
For the first time in two decades, Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day on Tuesday without the threat of Tamil rebel attacks.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were to participate in celebrations at Independence Square, where Sri Lanka — then known as Ceylon — was granted freedom by the British in 1948.(Yahoo News)
[Full Story]

Tamils march against Independence Day
Thousands of people in Sri Lanka's northern town of Vavuniya have protested against independence day celebrations planned for Tuesday.
Reports say about 3,000 students took part in the demonstration which was inspired, if not directly organised, by Tamil Tiger rebels. (BBC)
[Full Story]

Unicef Says Rebels in Sri Lanka Keep Their Child Soldiers
Separatist rebels in Sri Lanka have reiterated a pledge to stop recruiting child soldiers but have failed to explain how they will end the practice, the United Nation's Children's Fund said today.

Carol Bellamy, the executive director of Unicef, said after a three-day visit that the rebel group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, had not made any concrete progress on a plan to stop recruiting children, which the rebels had agreed to develop after December peace talks.(The New York Times/Reuters)
Full Story* *First time visitors to the NY Times; please signup for one time, free and no obligation subscription to read the article.
Sri Lanka expresses deep grief over Columbia shuttle disaster
Sri Lanka Sunday expressed deep grief over the US space shuttle Columbia's disaster that killed its crew of seven and said it was a tragic loss for the entire world.

"The government and people of Sri Lanka extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the heroic astronauts who lost their lives," the foreign ministry said in a statement.(Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

'Tigers still recruit child soldiers'
says United Nations

"The true number of child soldiers is unknown" -Ms Carol Bellamy- (Photo courtesy: BBC )

The head of the United Nations children's agency, Carol Bellamy, has strongly urged the Tamil Tiger rebels not to continue with child recruitment.

Ms Bellamy said Unicef still had more than 700 complaints of child recruitment on its books. But, speaking at the end of a three-day visit to Sri Lanka she said they did not know the total number of child soldiers. (BBC)
[Full Story]

"Taxi Abey" sponsors tiger "air force"
According to intelligence units of the Army the LTTE had, a few days ago, smuggled in, through Katunayake International Airport, equipment that could be used in building light air crafts. The packages in which the equipment had smuggled in had come with Gaminie Abeyratne alias ‘Taxi Abey’, the Working Director of Port Authority who had not allowed the Customs or the Air Force Officers to inspect them.

When Customs Officers had attempted to inspect the packages ‘Taxi Abey’ had prevented them from doing so saying the Minister of Defense had given orders not to open the packages.(Lankatruth)
Full Story

[Previous Stories}

Analysis: "Sri Lanka's child soldiers"
he UN children's agency is trying to find out what Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels are doing about their child soldiers. The issue is casting a shadow over peace talks.

There is no doubt the rebels have extensively recruited under aged fighters - boys and girls sometimes as young as 12-years-old. Many have been forcibly abducted from their parents. (BBC)
Full Story

FM radio will be used to destroy T.N.
The Opposition in Sri Lanka today said the recently acquired FM radio equipment "will be used'' by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to destroy Tamil Nadu'' with pro-Eelam propaganda.

Participating in a debate on the peace process, the Opposition frontbencher, Anura Bandaranaike, told Parliament that the Government had endangered the security of Sri Lanka and India by "turning a blind eye'' to the activities of the LTTE, which, he said, had "abused'' the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa. (The Hindu) Full Story

[Previous Stories}

Double Standards of the British on Terrorism
And when the Northern Ireland Power sharing Arrangement was suspended recently, Prime Minister Tony Blair made no bones about what his government wanted. "IRA," he demanded, "has to commit itself publicly and verifiably to decommissioning." He went beyond this later when he demanded ‘demilitarisation,’ without being accused by the ‘international community’ of trying to ‘scuttle the peace process.’(The Island-Editorial)
Full Story

[Previous Stories}

Muslims hold hartal in Oluvil
About 12,000 Muslims yesterday staged a hartal in the Oluvil South East University premises against harassment by the LTTE.

Muslim women too took part in the hartal organized by the students union of the University.(DailyMirror)
Full Story

[Previous Stories}

Sri Lanka Peace Process Stalls
Tamil Tiger rebels would refuse to lay down weapons as a condition for allowing the resettlement of ethnic Tamils displaced during Sri Lanka's 19-year civil war, a top rebel official was quoted as saying Tuesday.

"What we are asking the government is to allow our people to return to their homes. It is the unconditional right of our people," the rebels' chief peace negotiator Anton Balasingham said on Tamilnet, a Web site often used to express the Tigers' views.(Yahoo News)
Full Story

Canada aid officials fear money going to LTTE terrorists in Sri Lanka
Canadian government aid officials are concerned they might be indirectly supporting terrorism because of their dealings with violent organizations banned by Ottawa and the United Nations, newly released internal documents show.

The officials were so worried they held a meeting last March on the "indirect financing of international terrorist organizations" at which they agreed more needed to be done to ensure terrorists did not receive Canadian aid money.(National Post)
Full Story

[Previous Stories}

FM radio will be used to destroy T.N.
The Opposition in Sri Lanka today said the recently acquired FM radio equipment "will be used'' by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to destroy Tamil Nadu'' with pro-Eelam propaganda.

Participating in a debate on the peace process, the Opposition frontbencher, Anura Bandaranaike, told Parliament that the Government had endangered the security of Sri Lanka and India by "turning a blind eye'' to the activities of the LTTE, which, he said, had "abused'' the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa. (The Hindu) Full Story

Double Standards of the British on Terrorism
And when the Northern Ireland Power sharing Arrangement was suspended recently, Prime Minister Tony Blair made no bones about what his government wanted. "IRA," he demanded, "has to commit itself publicly and verifiably to decommissioning." He went beyond this later when he demanded ‘demilitarisation,’ without being accused by the ‘international community’ of trying to ‘scuttle the peace process.’(The Island-Editorial)
Full Story

Muslims hold hartal in Oluvil
About 12,000 Muslims yesterday staged a hartal in the Oluvil South East University premises against harassment by the LTTE.

Muslim women too took part in the hartal organized by the students union of the University.(DailyMirror)
Full Story

Sri Lanka Peace Process Stalls
Tamil Tiger rebels would refuse to lay down weapons as a condition for allowing the resettlement of ethnic Tamils displaced during Sri Lanka's 19-year civil war, a top rebel official was quoted as saying Tuesday.

"What we are asking the government is to allow our people to return to their homes. It is the unconditional right of our people," the rebels' chief peace negotiator Anton Balasingham said on Tamilnet, a Web site often used to express the Tigers' views.(Yahoo News)
Full Story

Canada aid officials fear money going to LTTE terrorists in Sri Lanka
Canadian government aid officials are concerned they might be indirectly supporting terrorism because of their dealings with violent organizations banned by Ottawa and the United Nations, newly released internal documents show.

The officials were so worried they held a meeting last March on the "indirect financing of international terrorist organizations" at which they agreed more needed to be done to ensure terrorists did not receive Canadian aid money.(National Post)
Full Story

Visiting British minister says decommissioning LTTE suicide cadres a must
British Foreign Office Minister Mike O’Brien on Wednesday said that decommissioning of LTTE fighting cadres, at least its suicide cadres was an important factor but declined to comment further in view of the ongoing peace process.

Responding to a question subsequent to his lecture on "New Threats to International Security" at the BMICH, the visiting minister said he did not approve of the forcible conscription of children by the LTTE. He stressed that recruitment of children should not take place in Sri Lanka or any other country.(The Island)
Full Story

Sri Lankan government, Tamil Tiger rebels discuss truce violations
Top Sri Lankan defense officials met Tamil Tiger rebel leaders Thursday to discuss cease-fire violations that include child conscription and contentious security matters, an official said.

The meeting was the first on security issues since the rebels earlier this month withdrew from a joint committee designed to de-escalate the 19-year conflict because of a disagreement over rebel disarmament and the dismantling of army camps in high security areas(Yahoo News)
Full Story

UNP accused of attacking opp. activists at Eppawela
The opposition yesterday accused the UNP of attacking a group of opposition activists at Eppawela.

"They were attacked when they were returning home from Anuradhapura," an opposition spokesperson said, adding that they were among a large group of people who attended a rally held in protest against the division of the country on ethnic lines(The Island)
Full Story

Sri Lankan govt says it's not time for disarming Tamil rebels
A Sri Lankan government minister said Thursday that time has not arrived yet to call for disarming of separatist Tamil Tiger rebels who have waged a bloody ethnic war in the country.

Minister of Economic Reforms Milinda Moragoda, who is also a government peace negotiator, told the Parliament that the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels have not been able to achieve the required level of trust despite a ceasefire which has lasted one year. (Xinhuanet)
Full Story

Tamil Tiger rebels to tackle child recruitment
At a meeting in eastern Batticaloa between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the rebels had mooted holding meetings with parents of recruited children and truce monitors to sort out complaints.

The rebels are set to meet Carol Bellamy, the executive director of UNICEF, on Friday to discuss the impact of Sri Lanka's 19-year ethnic war on children.(MSNBC)
Full Story

Sri Lanka plans Gulf evacuation
The Sri Lankan Government says tens of thousands of its nationals may have to be evacuated from Kuwait should there be war in neighbouring Iraq.

Labour Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said on Thursday that plans were in place to provide food and shelter to Sri Lankans in Kuwait.(BBC)

[Full Story]

Seven years ago today, the LTTE attacked the Central Bank in Colombo
"I only look at the traitors with sympathy when they shake hands with murders"
says a mother of a victim

On Wednesday January 1996 at 10:50 in the morning the LTTE blasted the Central Bank building with a truck bomb and killed more than 100 innocent people and wounded about 750 (file photos)

It is seven years today since the LTTE attacked the Central Bank in Colombo killing number of innocent people, Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims.

Last year High Court judge Sarath Ambeypitiya handed over a 200 year prison sentence to LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakran for the attack on the Central Bank. (The Lanka Academic)
[Full Story]

Sri Lanka ruling party says it is ready for snap polls
The Sri Lankan government Wednesday said it was ready to face a snap election as a hostile president moved to form an alliance with a Marxist party to regain control over parliament.

Government spokesman G. L. Peiris said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's administration, which came to power 13 months ago and has a slender two-seat majority, was prepared for an election at "any time."(Pro Log/AFP)
Full Story

Five arrested over Chinese man's killing in Sri Lanka
Five foreigners, including three women, were arrested in Sri Lanka as they tried to dump two bags containing dismembered body parts of a Chinese man, police said Saturday.

Police in the central town of Peradeniya arrested the five people of Chinese origin after local residents alerted them that human remains were being dumped in a village in the district of Kandy on Friday, a police official said.(Pro Log/AFP)
[Full Story] [Previous Stories}

Sri Lanka investigates its 'disappeared'
A commission of inquiry has started to look into the plight of hundreds of civilians who disappeared in the northern Sri Lankan town of Jaffna when the military retook the area from Tamil Tiger rebels seven years ago.(BBC)
[Full Story]

Norway names new head for Sri Lanka truce monitoring
Norway will replace the head of the Scandinavian team monitoring a truce between government troops and Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka, it was announced Friday.

Army major general Trond Furuhovde who headed the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) will hand over his position to another retired army general, Tryggve Tellefsen, the Norwegian embassy said.(Pro Log)
[Full Story]

Bhutanese monk's life behind the camera
A man in maroon robes, his shaven head covered by a baseball cap, sits in front of a black and white television monitor.

He speaks into a walkie-talkie, but has to shout to make himself heard over the roar of a nearby river. "Camera rolling.... Ready...action," he bellows.(BBC)
[Full Story]

Tamil Tigers 'admit recruiting children'
Tamil Tiger rebels have admitted they are still recruiting child soldiers, international peace monitors say.

But the Tigers' leaders blame the recruitment on ill-disciplined junior members of the organisation. (BBC)
Full Story

South Asian leaders urge Iraq peace
Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka all call for a peaceful resolution
South Asian leaders on Tuesday called for a peaceful resolution to the Iraq crisis, urging restraint on the United States.

They were responding to Monday's report by UN weapons inspector Hans Blix that said Iraq was defying international demands to disarm.(BBC)
Full Story

Crack down on LTTE `abductions':Chandrika
The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, has ordered the island's police and military to crack down on the ``abductions'' reportedly carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the east

In strong letters to top police and military officers, Ms. Kumaratunga wanted the forces to ``act immediately to prevent these unlawful acts and apprehend the culprits whoever they may be''. (The Hindu)
Full Story

S.Lanka rebels pledge action against rogue cadres
The head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Trond Furuhovde said Tiger political wing leader S.P Thamilselvan had asked the monitors for reports on trouble-making cadres and pledged action against them, during a three-hour meeting.

''Thamilselvan asked SLMM for detailed reports on issues of abductions, harassment and child recruitment. They took the complaints very seriously,'' monitors' spokesman Teitur Torkelsson told Reuters after speaking with Furuhovde by phone from the rebels' northern Sri Lanka base. (NBC)
Full Story

Karuna appeals for funds for LTTE military

"Your financial assistance will give us strength and power. We can achieve whatever we want in the battlefield" - "We need to strengthen our military capability." - "The MoU that was signed with the Sri Lanka Government is in our favour." - "Even at the peace table we take it easy." - "But our counterparts, run here and there, because they have to discuss with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe every ten minutes." - You do not have to worry about the battlefield. We have a lot of commandos waiting."

Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan alias Karuna, Tiger Guerilla "Commander" for the East and a member of LTTE's peace negotiating team, has appealed for continued financial support of the Tamil expatriate community to maintain their military strength.

"Our fighters should be kept fit and properly looked after," he told them at a meeting in Switzerland on December 7 during a visit there after he took part in the third round of peace talks in Oslo. He said their pledges made at the aid donor conference in Oslo last month were not for military needs. They are to be used for rehabilitation of Tamil people. Hence financial support to maintain LTTE's strong military capability should be forthcoming.(The Sunday Times) Full Story


"This is a permanent marriage, there can be no divorce later"
Tyronne Fernando
Its trademark weapon is the suicide bomber. Yet, in a remarkable turnaround, the dreaded Tiger leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran has emerged from the trenches and chosen to negotiate for a homeland within the framework of a unitary Sri Lanka with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's government.

Four rounds of negotiations, conducted at the Thai resort of Sattahip and in Oslo, Norway, have been completed. Dates for the fifth and sixth have been announced, with Norway continuing to play the role of facilitator.(Gulf News)
[Full Story]

We are being stampeded along the trail to self-destruction by the LTTE and Norway who now rule our country"
While the pillars of statehood — sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, national self-respect — crumble by the day, we are being stampeded along the trail to self-destruction by the LTTE and Norway, who now rule our country. Rarely in the field of human conflict could so much harm have been done to so many by so few. In the meantime the helpless citizenry alternates between spells of euphoria, despair, confusion and apathy.(The Island-Politics)
[Full Story]

LTTE court further remands soldier
The soldier held in LTTE custody in Kilinochchi for the past one month has moved for bail in the LTTE courts through a lawyer, reports from the area said.

The soldier identified as Wimal Kumara moved for bail on Thursday, through lawyer T.S. Senthilvelar , but the application was turned down by the LTTE court and he was re-remanded until February 13.(The Sunday Times)
[Full Story]

Sihala Urumaya asks government if LTTE could have its own army
The Sihala Urumaya yesterday asked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Defence Minister Tilak Marapana why they still haven’t declared that the LTTE won’t be permitted to maintain their own army in any future power-sharing arrangement.

"We demand the government to declare publicly their stand on this issue," a SU statement said.(The Island)