JULY

30/July/2002

• The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in a news release yesterday stated that the problem of extortion, child recruitment, child abduction could be seen by the amount of complaints received by the SLMM from the people and it believed that the LTTE will realise the tremendous negative impact on their organisation in the eyes of the public in Sri Lanka and internationally. (The Island)

• The association of Relatives of Servicemen Missing In Action will organise an island wide protest campaign demanding the subject of servicemen under LTTE custody be included in the agenda for peace talks to be held in Thailand. (Daily News)

28/July/2002

• LTTE move to bypass Norway: The LTTE has sounded the government on the posibility of conducting further dialogue on the on going peace process on a bilateral basis, leaving out Norway, which is now playing the role of a facilitator. (Sunday Times)

• Security zones must go (TNA). (Sunday Times)

• [UNF government minister Milinda] Moragoda, [LTTE theoretician Anton] Balasingham discuss key issues in London. (Sunday Times)

27/July/2002

• LTTE invites displaced Sinhalese to return home: The LTTE Batticaloa district leadership has invited displaced Sinhalese from the district to comeback to their home villages. (Daily News)

• Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) changes sea monitoring process: annouced it was curtailing its sea monitoring activities by refraining from joining the Sri lanka Navy in inspecting intercepted vessels except under special circumstances. (Daily Mirror)

• Fear of LTTE conscription causes Tamil parents to send their children to Colombo. The head of the SLMM in Ampara said that more than half of the complaints had been made against the LTTE by Tamil people in thearea following child conscription. (The Island)

25/July/2002

• [Prime Minister] Ranil Wickremesinghe doubts talks commencing even after troop withdrawal. (The Island)

• MPs exchange blows-utter chaos in Parliament. (Daily Mirror)

21/July/2002

• LTTE in a bid to expand its police force has called for applications to recruit cadres. (Sunday Times)

• [Prime Minister] Ranil Wickremesinghe vetoes bid to impeach president. (Sunday Times)

• Tiger guerillas have launched their own bus service from Colombo to Jaffna and vice versa along the A-9 highway with the help of selected private bus operators in the city. These operators allegedly have agreed to pay the LTTE Rs. 300 per passenger. Passengers are being charged Rs. 1100 for a one way trip on a non air conditioned bus and a fare for air conditioned bus  has been fixed for Rs. 1250. This is whilst the government and the LTTE are still locked in dispute over restoration of transport service in accordance with the February 22 Ceasefire Agreement. (Sunday Times).

22/July/2002

• LTTE still drafts children-UTHR (The University Teachers for Human Rights,Jaffna). (The Island)

18/July/2002

• "Mere granting of all that LTTE asks will not bring peace" - The President (The Island)

19/July/2002

• The SLMM has recirded evidence of bruises on the two naval monitors who were detained by the LTTE on a fishing trawler they had boarded to inspect. The injuries had been sustained when LTTE cadres on board the trawler had physically hindered from jumping in to a navy boat moving alongside the fishing vessel. (The Island)

16/July/2002

• Constitutional Affaires Minister G L Peiris is to present to the Cabinet proposals to re-inforce the 17th Amendment to the constitution. The proposed legislation is expected to be presented to the Parliament next month. (Daily Mirror)

15/July/2002 - Peradiniya, Badulla Chenkalady highway (A5) reopens.

• LTTE abducts two monitors:Serious violation of MoU, says SLMM (The Island)

• LTTE abducts six farmers in Polonnaruwa demanding Rs. 150,000 as ransom. (The Island)

14/July/2002

• TNA plans fast for [MDMK leader] Y Gopalaswamy (Vaiko)'s release. He was arrested in India for making a pro LTTE speech. (The Island)

• Non-partisan 18th amendment before paliament (The Island)

• Lanka delays defence deal with US. (Sunday Times)

• TNA insists on withdrawal of troupes from schools and places of religious warship in Jaffna. (Sunday Times)

13/July/2002

• To find whether certain groups instigated clashes CID is probing violence in the Eastern Province: Nine people had been killed and 81 injured in the clashes between Muslims and Tamils in Muttur and Valachchanai over a period of about four days beginning on June 27. Of the dead six were Muslims and three were Tamils. (Daily News)

• Defence Minister Thilak Marapana making a statement in parliament yesterday on the situation in the east said that it was proposed to open more police stations in areas which are considered vulnarable. " We will carry on our vigilance and patroling of the area by the army and the STF to ensure the safety of both communities".(The Island)

• President urges early talks with the LTTE - The president in her meeting with the Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha yesterday stressed the need to commence direct talks with the LTTE at the earliest.(The Island)

• The visiting Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, who had discussions with the Prime Minister and  the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister reiterated India's commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. (The Island)   

• The Defence Ministry has appointed a four member committee of inquary to investigate the incident that occurred in Velanani, Kayts island on June 20. (The Island)

• PA repeats call for revision of MoU, warning that it was jepardising the future of both Muslims and Sinhalese in the country's east. "Muslim youth in the east now feel they need to be armed to be heared" warned Farial Ashraff, leader of the National Unity Alliance which is a PA coalition member. (The Island)

• In a tough move to prevent the recurrence of further violence in the east the government has banned hartals in the province. (Daily Mirror) 

12/July/2002

• The government is planning to decentralise the functioning of the Court of Appeal in four geographical zones to expedite litigation. (Daily News)

• Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu arrests 1,000 LTTE supporters. (Daily News)

• Political party leaders in Parliament yesterday agreed to grant a four-day debate in the House on the opposition no-faith motion on Interior Minister Jhon Amaratunge. The Opposition has asked for a debate stating that the Minister was responsible for break-down in law and order in the country. Meanwhile, the party leaders decided to debate the Value Added Tax (VAT) Bill on July 25 and to take vote the same day. (The Island)

• LTTE pledges - no more war. (Dailty Mirror)  

11/July/2002

• Muslim Parliamentarians who met yesterday decided to come together in one voice to call upon the government and the LTTE to take immediate steps to address the grievances of the Muslims in the East. (Daily Mirror)

10/July/2002

• [LTTE's political chief in East] Karikalan pledges not to allow another Muslim-Tamil clash. (The Island)

• The joint opposition yesterday accused the government of letting the LTTE take advantage of the MoU to spread its power to areas under government controlin the North_East. (The Island)

• The leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and Minister Rauf Hakeem said he met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Tuesday to obtain assurances of security for Muslims after violent clashes in the east of the country last month. (The Island)

09/July/2002

• MoU violations: LTTE 56, government 20 - SLMM. (The Island)

• Guarentee to Muslim delegation: LTTE assures safety of Muslims in the East. (Daily News)

07/July/2002

• Rauff  Hakeem, the leader of the SLMC told 'The Sunday Island' yesterday that his party has appealed to all Muslims in the eastern province to exercise maximum restraint with respect to the LTTE. This appeal comes in the face of strained relations between the LTTE and the Muslim community on account of recent clashes between the two groups. However, he warned that if things do not improve, the SLMC would be compelled to demand decommissioning of arms by the LTTE prior to talks. (The Island)

• Talks progress on A9 use: Tight controls on LTTE sea transport. (Sunday Observer)

• Effort to reach out to South: LTTE plans Sinhala newspaper, radio. (Sunday Observer)

• A5 highway to be reopened: The A5 highway known as the PBC (Peradeniya, Badulla, Chenkalady) highway, connecting the UVA and the Eastern provinces will be reopened on 15th July for passenger traffic. The 283km highway, with a 26km stretch within the LTTE controlled area, from Chenkalady to Mahaoya junction remained closed for the past six years. (Sunday Observer)

06/July/2002

• [SLMC leader and minister] Rauf Hakeem demands increased military presence in the East. (Daily Mirror)

03/July/2002

• Independent commissions for Police, Elections and Public Services will be established in August, a constitutional council told the Daily News. (Daily News)

• Britain to relax travel advisory on Lanka. (Daily News)

JUNE

31/June/2002

• President claims unfettered powers to sack Ministers: Cohabitation hits a new low. (Daily News - 31/July/2002)

• Pakistani president Gen. Pervez Musharaf will make his first official visit to Sri Lanka today.  (Daily News - 31/July/2002)

• No confidence motion against the Interior Minister.  (Daily News)

30/June/2002

• The LTTE have failed to provide security for Muslims in the east despite guaranteeing it in the MoU they signed  with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem declared yesterday. (The Island)

• Pandiruppu and neighbouring areas were tense after some Muslim families were 'detained' by a Tamil group last Friday. A hartal backed by the LTTE held in some parts of the Batticaloa and Ampara districts last Tuesday. This was followed by a hartal by Muslims on Thursday to protest against the harassment of Muslims in Muttur. During these hartals people from both communities were debarred from entering certain areas. During the hartal by Tamils Muslim people were no allowed to enter Kalmunai town. Subsequently, a Tamil family traveling to a wedding was  obstructed by Muslims on the day of the hartal, reports said. (The Island)

• Tensions continues to prevail in the eastern province following the recent incident in the Muttur, Valachchanai, Akkaraipattu and Oddamawadi. Round-the-clock curfews were in force in Valachchanai, Oddamavadi, Akkaraipattu and the border villages of Ampara. Government has deployed armed forces to monitor the situation. Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held three high-level security conferences in the last three days with the participation of defence secretary Austin Fernando, the three service chiefs, the IGP, Minister John Amaratunga, Karu Jayasuriya and Rauf  Hakeem to review the situation. The premier will shortly appoint a special commission to provide relief and compensation to the affected families, to bring to book those responsible for the clashes to maintain low and order and submit a report on the incidents. (Sunday Observer) 

29/June/2002

• Protest over move to shift Panama STF base as mortars hit Valachchenai: The STF temporarily suspended shifting of  its base at Panama to Sasthraveli, under the government LTTE ceasefire agreement with the LTTE, subsequent to a series of protests organised by Sinhala civilians. School children too joined the protests. "People blocked the road leading to the base demanding commandos continued presence in the area", a senior officer said, adding they have no option but to vacate the school building by August 2 under the cease fire agreement. Police commandos will have to shift from at least 30 bases in the Ampara-Batticaloa  sector where they play a pivotal role in maintaining law and order. Earlier the government decided to maintain troops at 3 places of Buddhit religious worship subsequent to request by chief prelates.

• Meanwhile an authoritative source said that " Some of the troops were airlifted during the Tuesday's incident in which two 60 mm mortar rounds were fired at Valachchanai. The source claimed that the two rounds were fired by the LTTE. Thye source also claimed that the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) was aware of the firing. However, there were no casualties. (The Island)

• Indefinite curfew was clamped on Ampara and Batticaloa districts yesterday. Two persons were killed and around 150 persons were injured following Thursdays clashes between Muslim and Tamil factions in Valachchanai and Eravur amidst the hartal. (The Island)  

 28/June/2002

• 12 injured, 6 shops set on fire in Valachchanai (The Island)

27/June/2002

• In an apparent move to strengthen goodwill between the Catholics and Muslims,  Colombo's Arch Bishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando and SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem have initiated a joint programme in the tense Trincomalee district. (Daily Mirror)

• Govt-LTTE move closer to talks agenda. (Daily News)

• Situation calm in Muttur. (Daily News)

26/June/2002

• Police used tear gas and had to call for army assistance to controll rival armed mobs (supporters and opponents of Harthal that was called in some parts of the eastern province against the storming of an LTTE office by an unidentified group) who fought each other in Muttur injuring four people yesterday. (Daily News)

• The government yesterday agreed to set up an independent special commission to probe the attack on two LTTE members allegedly by EPDP and Navy personnel in the Kyts island last week. (Daily Mirror)

25/June/2002

• LTTE now wants more access to sea: Having won its demand to gain access to the islands surrounding Jaffna and scaling down the military presence there. the LTTE is now asking for unrestricted sea movements. (Daily Mirror)

• No more child recruitment, says LTTE. (The Island)

• Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Dr Jayalath Jayawardene will tour Tamil Nadu in South India to find out about Sri Lankan refugees in 111 refugee camps there. (The Island)

24/June/2002

• LTTE Muttur political office attacked. (The Island)

• Alleged attack on Tiger cadres: Navy to act swiftly on MoU violation. (The Island)

• SLMM wants commission to probe Kayts attack. (Daily Mirror)

23/June/2002

• Question mark over 18th Amendment: The government's bid to introduce major constitutional amendments stripping the President of  her powers to dissolve or prorogue parliament and permit MPs to cross over or cast a conscience vote has run into stiff opposition with the PA hierarchy warning members against joining the move. The propose 18th Amendment to the constitution was due to be presented to the Parliament on May 21 but has now been postponed presumably for the lack of sufficient opposition support. The Lands Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that they have been able to convince 37 PA MP and are expecting to get the entire PA parrliamentary group back the proposed amendment. (The Island)

22/June/2002

• PA softens stand on LTTE de-proscription: In what appeared to be a significant policy shift, President Kumaratunga's foreign affairs advisro Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar said yesterday the lifting of the ban on LTTE could be implemented if it gave an assurance that it would come to the negotiation table. (Daily Mirror)

• PM urges Tamil parties to help reach consensus: requests the Tamil Parliamentarians to maintain a dialogue with the PA and the others including the Maha Sangha in a bisd to reach a consensus on a political solution to the ethnic crisis. (Daily Mirror)

02/June/2002

• The LTTE have expressed confidence in the government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe for pursuing the Norwegian backed peace process, but they are sticking to their demands for de-proscription setting up of an interim administration for the strife torn north and the eastern provinces, before the proposed direct talks with the Sri Lanka government. The Political Secretary of the LTTE, S P Tamil Chelvam, in an interview with the Sunday Times in Colombo said that Wickremesinghe "is a person who has the strength, political will and courage to go ahead with this peace initiative, come what may".  ( Tamil Times 15May/June 2002)

• 'National Government' talks again: UNP chairman meets President to discuss Joint Committee approach to the LTTE. (Sunday Times)

MAY

31/May/2002

• Jaffna: Most affected are the women: There are an estimated 15,000 widows in Jaffna alone: most of them have lost their husbands either to military attacks or because they have been killed fighting for the LTTE.  ( Tamil Times 15May/June 2002)

• Sri Lanka may enter into an agreement to allow US military aircraft and ships to refuel and be serviced in its territory, a US embassy official said today.  ( Tamil Times 15May/June 2002)

29/May/2002

• Addressing the Europian parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, The Prime Minister, Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe said his government was looking at devolution modeled on the Indian or British pattern as a solution to the country's ethnic conflict. Reiterating that a united Lanka was non-negotiable, Mr. Wickremesinghe told the members of the European parliament,  "even though the LTTE wanted the setting up of an interim administration (for the north-east) to be given priority at the direct talks in Thailand late next month, the Government will ask that all core issues be taken up at the top". This is the first time that Mr. Wickremesinghe has clearly articulated the view that an interim administration should be linked to core political issues. ( Tamil Times 15May/June 2002)

28/May/2002

• The government has published details of  proposed constitutional amendments that it says  

• will bring about " a new political culture". The main feature accor5ding to the government, is creation of an executive committee system which will comprise the elected representatives of both the ruling and the opposition parties. But the amendments are clearly designed to strengthen the parliament position vis-à-vis Sri Lanka's powerful executive presidency.  A new Article 44A will provide for the establishment of 20 Executive Committees, the Department of Information (DoI) said. (Tamil Times 15May/June 2002)

• Muslims return to find themselves homeless: After the government and the LTTE entered in to a permanent ceasefire three months ago the rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has agreed to permit the tens of thousands of Muslims who were kicked out of the Northern Province to return to their homes. "Resettlement is our biggest problem. 70 percent of the houses houses of the Muslim returnees are already occupied by locally displaced people and the military is also occupying some buildings" says Mr. Shamuganadan, Government agent of Jaffna.(Tamil Times 15May/June 2002)

27/May/2002

• The Norwegian government brokering the peace deal between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers has sent out a questionnaire to both sides to make preparations for direct talks in Thailand, according to reports from Colombo.
  The objective of the questionnaire is to ascertain how the talks between the two sides should be conducted and the composition of the teams taking part in the proposed negotiations. Among the clarifications sought by Norway are how often both sides should meet, how many days they should sit for talks at a time, the preferred size of the delegation, whether the advisors are allowed to take part in the talks or only when their inputs are required. (Tamil Times 15May/June 2002)

23/May/2002

UNHCR  on return of displaced persons: Despite the voluntary return of 71,000 internally displaced people (IDP) to their homes this year, the United nations leading refugee agency maintains that conditions in Sri Lanka are not yet conducive to promote or facilitate large scale, organised [displaced people's] return or repatriation of refugees. (Tamil Times 15May/June 2002)

21/May/2002

• Local government elections: Polls observers say 'violent', Police claim 'peaceful' - Voter turn-out 65%(The Island)

• Gall, Hambanthota, Chilaw most violent hit districts - Polls Chief (The Island)

20/May/2002

LTTE identified among others capable of attacking US

Delayed local polls

 19/May/2002

• Tigers want mediator at talks (Sunday Times)

• TNA to lobby 'South' on behalf of LTTE (Sunday Times)

• Compromise on Jaffna Islands - In a bid to end the ongoing bickering over the LTTE demand for free access to the navy-held Jaffna Islands, security forces have suggested that LTTE cadres, presence in these strategically situated islands should be subjected to the presence of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) representatives. (The Island)

• Access by LTTE political cardes considered - Navy to submit report on Jaffna islands situation. (Sunday observer)

• Lanka high on UK list of 'economic refugees' (Sunday Observer)

18/May/2002

• Global bans on LTTE should remain even if removed in SL - Prime Minister (The Island)

• Major ceasefire crisis averted: During frantic tripartite discussions involving the government, the LTTE and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) early this week following an LTTE attempt to carry out a major sea movement in the east, the navy has stressed that the cease fire agreement does not sanction such movements, authorotativr sources said yesterday. The LTTE has informed the government of its intention to move 250 cadres carrying weapons in five or six tiger craft. (The Island)

• Tomorrow D-day for Jaffna bus travel? (The Island)

03/May/2002

• Blown up trawler carried arms: Defence Ministry complain to monitoring mission. (Daily Mirror)

• President pledges to protect the country and its sovereignty. (Daily Mirror)

• Population growth: Moors spurt ahead of Sinhalese, Tamils in 2001 census: Moore population grew by 2.36% during the period (1981-2001) ahead of the Sinhalese population which showed a growth rate of 1.2% and the Tamil population which grew at 0.91% according to the Department of Census and Statistics. (The Island)  

• LTTE may day rally demands 'arrest' of Jayalalitha.(The Island)

• 200 MoU violation complaints. (The Island)

• 'Tamil Guardian' signals delay in direct talks. (The Island)

• 'Thinamurusu' (the pro-EPDP Tamil newspaper banned in Batticaloa by the LTTE)to be on sale again. (The Island)

• With ceasefire Rs. 1 million has been saved - Minister Rajitha Senatatna. (The Island)

02/May/2002

• LTTE boat explodes off Vakarai: An LTTE vessel believed to be laden with explosives and ammunition blew up minutes before the navy opened fire on another LTTE 'vallam' which had been traveling with the destroyed vessel. The navy was retaliating after LTTE cadres on the second boat shot at them. (The Island)

• [Prime Minister] Ranil does not have right to betray country - President Chandrika Bandaranaike. (The Island)

• With global opinion backing us we march to the negotiating table - PM. (The Island)

• Unite to prevent UNP handing over N-E to LTTE - Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. (The Island)

• The University Teachers for Human Rights (UTHR) have called on the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to proactively investigate allegations of violations rather than wait for them to be reported. (The Island)

• No LTTE request to enter Jaffna islands - Defence Ministry (The Island)

• Balasingham's seaplane drama enacted again. (Daily Mirror)

• Monitors probe first truce casualties. (Daily Mirror)

01/May/2002

• President bypasses PM: Summons National Security Council, protests to Norwegian PM over handling of Trincomalee incident. (Daily Mirror)

• Secret movement off Trinco seas,Balasingham deviating flight route- SLMM rules LTTE violated MoU. (The Island)

• LTTE wants to enter Jaffna islands. (The Island)

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