In the fighting both sides suffered heavy casualties, military sources said.

The fresh fighting erupted when Tamil Tiger rebels attempted to advance deep into government controlled territory from Chavakachcheri. But government troops equipped with state-of-art weapons fought pitched battles forcing the Tiger rebels to flee.

The fleeing prompted the battle commanders to order a limited operation against the rebels and push them to eastern coastal lines of northern Jaffna peninsula. But the rebels reinforced with additional cadres prevented the soldiers punching corridors by either killing or wounding a large number of soldiers belonging to a company, military officials added.

At the time of writing heavy battles were raging, with Sri Lankan air force fighter planes strafing LTTE targets north of A9 highway that is dubbed as highway of death. Fresh fighting came just 48 hours after government dedicated the day for fallen war heroes'.

And the fighting also followed after the assassination of minister for industries Clement Victor Gunaratnae by a LTTE suicide cadre. He was killed along with 22 others in a LTTE suicide attack just out side of the commercial city of Sri Lanka.

Military officials said the fighting was centered around Kodikamam, a big town located between Jaffna and Elephant Pass. The fighting also prompted the senior military officials in Colombo to convene an urgent meeting to review the security situation.

Tamil Tigers rebels, branded and banned as a terrorist organisation by the government of United States of America is fighting to create an independent homeland for minority Tamils. Published: Fri Jun 9 12:44:15 EDT 2000

Colombo: Three people, including a woman, were arrested on Thursday in connection with the LTTE suicide bomb attack here in which a senior minister and 23 others were killed. Police also established the identity of the suicide bomber, media reports said here on Friday.two businessmen and a woman were arrested on the basis of a letter recovered from the suicide bombers' clothes.

Incriminating evidence, suggesting that the three had provided a safe house for the suicide bomber or bombers along with transportation to carry out the attack, was obtained, the report said. A van purportedly used by the suicide bomber to reach the spot was also seized. Police have identified the suicide bomber as one 'Ruben' from the evidence they managed to collect so far, the report said. More... Published: Fri Jun 9 10:24:49 EDT 2000

The fighting escalated after Tamil Tiger rebels attempted a push deep into the peninsula from Chavakachcheri. But government troops anticipating the push counter attacked with heavy artillery and armoury forcing the rebels to retreat.

Military officials said the Tamil Tiger rebels were falling backwards with heavy casualties. However they refused to divulge the casualties of government troops. But independent sources said hat both sides suffered heavy casualties and heavy fighting was continuing. Published: Fri Jun 9 09:17:50 EDT 2000

Police named him as Ruban, a native of northern Wanni. In the Wednesday's attack the minister for Industries was killed along with 22 others during a peace rally in the suburbs of Colombo. The assassination sent shock waves through the defence circles, which immediately detailed troops and policemen on to the streets of Colombo to check vehicles and civilians entering or leaving the city.

Aftermath of the assassination, police raided Mortuwa university and apprehended 58 under graduates for questioning. Many of them were released subsequently as no evidence was found that they were involved in the attack.

The killings prompted human rights activists in Colombo to call for a negotiated settlement for the ongoing 18 years of bloody war that has claimed the lives of over 75,000 people.

Against the backdrop, the lull in the war theatre continued except for minor skirmishes between government troops and separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in northern Jaffna peninsula.

"It's definitely a calm before a major storm, both sides waiting one of them to make a move", a Colombo based diplomat told The Lacnet. On Thursday, the opposition leader Ranil Wickrmasinghe lambasted ruling-PA government for handling the war in a callous manner and questioned the government ministers of funds received to the fight the war. Published: Fri Jun 9 07:22:39 EDT 2000

The late Trade Minister will be accorded a State funeral. The date is undecided as the family awaits the return of the Ministers two sons from abroad. Published: Thu Jun 8 11:35:37 EDT 2000

The Tamils, including women were taken in for questioning on suspicion they have links with the dreaded Tamil Tiger rebels fighting for a seperate state in Sri Lanka's North.

Meanwhile sources at Moratuwa University revealed that 58 Tamil students from the entire University faculties were also arrested in connection with last afternoon's bomb blast. Published: Thu Jun 8 11:35:38 EDT 2000

The Deputy Minister for Media, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa will head the special parliamentary committee that will serve as watchdog on all media reports detailing proceedings of the House. Published: Thu Jun 8 11:35:38 EDT 2000

The full text of the organisation, the Peace council is given below…

The National Peace Council condemns the assassination of the Minister of Industries C. V.Gooneratne by a suspected LTTE suicide bomber. At least 20 others were killed and over 60 others wounded in the blast that occurred at a procession in Ratmalana, a densely populated suburb of Colombo, on war heroes' day declared by the government.

The assassination of the Guneratne followed the removal of the ban on public meetings and the censorship on foreign journalists by the government. These accompanied the lull in fighting in Jaffna that peaked about a fortnight ago.

The experience of the past 17 years is that the parties to the conflict have harboured a hope that the lull would be to their advantage and their opponent's disadvantage. However, time and again this hope has proved to be an illusion, which has camouflaged plans that have led to inevitable escalation of fighting by both sides. This is manifested in the increase, by leaps and bounds, of military budgets and improved war technologies that both sides employ.

Based on the NPC's interactions with people from different sectors of society, we can assert that people are asking for an honorable negotiated settlement. The warring parties are answerable to the people who wish the war and the killings to cease with a sustainable and just political solution. In this context, the recent statement by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was significant. He stated that the government would be willing to declare a ceasefire with the LTTE in northern Jaffna provided it is linked to immediate commencement of peace talks that could include political principles, such as the Thimpu principles.

On the other hand, President Kumaratunga's recent assertion that peace talks with the LTTE were not possible at this time may have been based on the government's assessment, whether right or wrong, of the LTTE's own unwillingness to negotiate at this time. This assessment will be further strengthened by the suicide bombing at Ratmalana.

With the exception of a statement by its international representative, Dr Anton Balasingham, the LTTE has consistently stated that the evacuation of government troops from Jaffna would be a pre-condition for negotiations to commence with the government. We call on the LTTE to make their intentions clear that they are prepared for peace talks now and without preconditions which will prevent further blood shed and bring a lasting and just political solution.

What is needed now is an immediate end to killings and to military confrontations and not conflicting messages from the government and LTTE about the possibility of negotiations. Published: Thu Jun 8 10:40:45 EDT 2000

The search was mounted after the country's intelligence agencies tipped off that some LTTE suicide cadres were holed-up in some areas just outside of Colombo. Just a few minutes after the suicide cadre detonated the explosives strapped onto her body killing the minister and 21 others, police took into custody three persons suspected of links with Tamil Tigers, now fighting the government troops in northern Sri Lanka in a bid to create a separate state for 18 per cent minority Tamils.

Gunaratnae known as "puggy and Churchill" was killed just a few hours after he attended a commemoration ceremony at the presidential secretariat at Colombo fort. The assassination sparked a minor volatile situation, but local police clamped down an indefinite curfew to crack down those attempting to create violence.

Military observers described the assassination as "divisionary tactic" of Velupillai Pirabhakaran, who had lost more than 700 of his men in northern Jaffna peninsula since December 11 in the ongoing battles with government forces.

The government made repeated appeals to young unemployed men to join the armed forces of the country in an aim to eradicate the terrorist menace that had been dragging for the past 18 years.

" The response is good", an army official said. Published: Thu Jun 8 04:39:13 EDT 2000