The Lanka Academic
 
MARCH 31, 2002 EST, USA
 
A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED BY LACNET
 
VOL. 2, NO. 359
TLA FEATURE CORNER
Headline Summary
F R E E      C L A S S I F I E D S
T  O  P      H  E  A  D  L  I  N  E
Colombo to discuss transfer of power to north-east
The Hindu (International), 01 April 2002. As the Norwegian-backed peace process in Sri Lanka moves towards the crucial stage of "talks about talks,'' Colombo is preparing to discuss handing over power to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the north-east as a precursor to the final solution to the ethnic conflict. Officials said an interim administration for the north-east would be one of the issues at the preliminary talks expected to take place in May. The Sri Lankan Government expects the interim administration to be a temporary solution till a final settlement, through devolution of power within a united Sri Lanka, is reached. The LTTE is likely to run this administration or play the dominant role in it. One newspaper said today that setting up an interim administration was a LTTE precondition for further talks but officials pointed out that it was an election promise by the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. More...
Published: Sun Mar 31 19:15:38 EST 2002
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Answers 1-28 now available! The Lanka Academic is delighted to announce the 8th guest in its series of Q & A sessions: Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lankan Parliament. With the recent change in leadership in the Sri Lankan government, the peace process appears to be gaining fresh new momentum. This is your opportunity to ask questions from Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa related to Sri Lankan politics and receive answers by clicking here. The answers will appear here.

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O  T  H  E  R      H  E  A  D  L  I  N  E  S
Muslims wary of Lanka peace efforts
 Times of India, April 1. The increasing prospects of peace in Sri Lanka has thrilled most people but in the north-eastern port city of Trincomalee, Muslims are sceptical of what peace has to offer them... Back to the top
LTTE accuses Government of dishonouring Ceasefire Agreement
 Lucien Rajakarunanayake in Colombo, March 31. (NewsWatch) The LTTE has told the Norwegian mediators in the peace process in Sri Lanka that the Sri Lanka Government has not acted in keeping with important provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement... Back to the top
Cross-party concern over plight of Eastern Muslims
 Lucien Rajakarunanayake in Colombo, March 31. (NewsWatch) The plight of the Muslims in the East has led to a move for cross-party action to ensure their safety from threats and attacks by the LTTE... Back to the top
Sri Lanka's Chief Justice to Be Impeached
 Xinhuanet, 01 April 2002. A motion to impeach Sri Lanka's Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva will be presented to Parliament soon, the state-owned Daily News reported Monday... Back to the top
LTTE wants de-proscription & Interim Administration on agenda for talks
 Lucien Rajakarunanayake in Colombo, March 31. NewsWatch) The LTTE has made a clear indication that de-proscription of the LTTE and the establishment of an Interim Administration for the Northeast should be high on the agenda for talks between the Government and LTTE, at a selected location in Thailand... Back to the top
Thailand to Host Sri Lankan Talks - Slap in the face of India.
 Asian Observer, 01 April 2002. Thailand has officially agreed to host the historic Peace Talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),expected to be held in May this year in Thailand, which is being facilitated and brokered by Norway... Back to the top
Interim council focus of Lanka talks
 South Nexus, COLOMBO, Apr 01. The establishment of an interim administration for Sri Lanka's Tamil-majority north and east is expected to be the main focus of the proposed preliminary talks between the government and the LTTE in Thailand, media reports said on Sunday... Back to the top
Peace prospects pose power problems in energy-starved Sri Lanka
 AFP/Power Report, 01 April 2002. Norway's bid to broker peace in Sri Lanka has brought unexpected attention to this remote hamlet as part of a "power struggle" even though it is far removed from the battle zone... Back to the top
Tigers manoeuvre to keep rivals out of politics
 Gulf-News, march 31. Tamil Tigers have begun building up their political front in the north and eastern parts of Sri Lanka and moving out to keep the rival political groups out of politics... Back to the top
Catch a deadly viper and win a prize
 Lucien Rajakarunanayake in Colombo, March 31. (NewsWatch) Any person in Sri Lanka who catches a deadly "thith polonga" or Russel's Viper and hands it over for research purposes will be paid Rs... Back to the top
Lanka businessmen eye Jaffna
 The Pioneer, march 31. Sri Lanka's north may be parched and pockmarked with the ruins of years of Tamil separatist war, but for entrepreneurs in other parts of this Indian Ocean island nation it is a goldmine waiting to be tapped... Back to the top
LTTE wants political power before talks
 The Pioneer, march 31. Tamil Tiger guerrillas are seeking political power in Sri Lanka's embattled northern and eastern regions before starting substantive negotiations with the government, press reports here said on Sunday... Back to the top
Sri Lanka budget targets growth
 Yahoo, March 31. Sri Lanka's United National Party has presented its first state budget, pledging to cut the budget deficit and revive the country's struggling economy... Back to the top
Ranatunga named as beneficiary
 Gulf-News, March 31. Former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga has been named by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCCSL) as the beneficiary during the Shajrah Cup to be held from April 8-17... Back to the top
`Govt., LTTE conduct encouraging'
 The Hindu (International), march 31. The Norwegian-led ceasefire monitoring mission in Sri Lanka says it is encouraged by the conduct of both the Government and the LTTE in the five-week period since the two began observing a truce and sees it as an indication that both sides are serious about finding peace... Back to the top
Hakeem denies deadline for pull-out from govt.
 The Island, March 31. SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem yesterday shot down reports in two Tamil dailies alleging that he had set a deadline for withdrawing his support from the UNF government in a letter to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe saying this was a "canard" and "absolutely untrue... Back to the top
Peiris to head delegation in Lankan peace talks
 NDTV/MSNBC, March 30, 2002 (Colombo):. Sri Lanka's Constitutional Affairs Minister G L Peiris will head the government delegation in proposed talks with the LTTE in Thailand, state media said today... Back to the top
Karunanidhi hails LTTE-Lankan Govt talks in Thailand
 The Hindustan Times, Chennai, March 30 . DMK President and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, on Saturday welcomed the holding of direct talks between Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE leaders in Thailand, at the initiative of the Norwegian team... Back to the top
Indian companies mix work and play in Sri Lanka
 The Hindustan Times, Colombo, March 30 . A major drive to pull Indian tourists to Sri Lanka has seen an upsurge in arrivals with several companies and professional organisations bringing employees for conferences on attractive packages... Back to the top
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