Bail application filed seeking Ki’linochchi ACLG release

The wife of Kandiah Balasubramaniam, Assistant Commissioner of Local Government in Ki’linochchi district who is being kept in detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) since June 25 this year, has filed a bail application in the Court of Appeal Wednesday seeking the release of her husband.

Colombo court releases 9 Jaffna youths

The Colombo Chief Magistrate Tuesday ordered the release of nine Tamil youths, residents of Jaffna district, kept in detention in Boosa detention camp. Some of them were arrested in Colombo and its suburbs during cordon and search operation.

IPKF was victim of vile LTTE propaganda: Tamil rights activist.

The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) which was deployed in Sri Lanka’s troubled North and East between 1987 and 1990, was a victim of vile propaganda by the LTTE, an internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan Tamil human rights activist has said.

Six Tigers and three soldiers killed in Omanthai.

Tamil Tigers using small arms, mortars and artillery continuously attacked the Sri Lankan troops deployed along the Forward Defence Lines west of Omanthai throughout yesterday, the military said today.

Sri Lanka government to set up an industrial city.

Sri Lanka Ministry of Industrial Development has taken steps to set up an industrial city at Kappalthurai in the Eastern Province that was recently captured from the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Post workers start 48-hour strike

Royal Mail workers have started the first of two 48-hour walkouts in a protest over pay and fears of job cuts. After last-minute talks between Royal Mail managers and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) failed to reach a deal, the strike started at noon.

Bhutto hints at power-share deal

Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has said she expects a breakthrough on Thursday on power-sharing talks with President Pervez Musharraf.

Ms Bhutto said she expected to be given an amnesty on corruption charges. In return Gen Musharraf wants Ms Bhutto to stop any boycott of a parliamentary vote on Saturday which is expected to re-elect him president.

Gotabhaya bans transport of livestock from abandoned Tamil homes in Batticaloa

Acting on a complaint made by Ameer Ali, Sri Lankan minister of disaster relief services, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan defense secretary, has instructed teh Batticaloa district commanding officer of Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Superintendents of Police and officers of Special Task Force (STF) to ban the transport of livestock belonging to Tamils from the areas in Batticaloa district, recently brought under the control of the SLA. Tamils in these areas have repeatedly lodged complaint with Mr. Ameer Ali that cattle from their homes were being systematically stolen out of the district by paramilitaries and Sri Lankan soldiers and sold in Sinhala areas of the Polonnaruwa district.

SLA blocks SLMM officials at Oamanthai border

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Northern Region officials scheduled to meet Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials in Ki’linochchi Thursday noon were blocked entry at Oamanthai entry point by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) according to instructions from Colombo. General Secretary of Liberation Tigers Peace Secretariat, S. Puleedevan, told TamilNet that by refusing entry to the SLMM officials, Colombo was trying to block the information flow between the SLMM and the LTTE. Meanwhile, SLMM sources said the monitors had returned after being instructed by the SLA of new routines that involved going through a body check, inspection of vehicles and early enlistment of travelers.

IFJ condemns SL defence ministry attack on Journalist Athas

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), on Wednesday said it was concerned for the safety of Iqbal Athas, associate editor and defense correspondent for the Sunday Times in Colombo. Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, in a web-posting, on Tuesday alleged that the recent work of Mr. Iqbal Athas, “raised doubts whether he has been assisting in the psy-ops of Liberation Tigers” and warned: “whoever attempts to reduce public support to the security forces or attempts to damage the loyalty of the soldiers towards their commanders at this moment can only be considered as those who serve the cause of the terrorists.”