The Lanka Academic
 
APRIL 1, 2002 EST, USA
 
A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED BY LACNET
 
VOL. 2, NO. 360
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
No Violations of Sri Lanka's Ceasefire Agreement: Top Monitor
Nothern Light, Monday, April 01, 2002 10:26 PM EST . COLOMBO, Apr 2, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- None of the complaints investigated by the Norway led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has been identified as violating the ceasefire agreement between the government and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, The Island newspaper reported on Tuesday. Head of the monitoring mission Trond Furuhovde said in an interview with the paper that reports of abductions, extortion and child conscription were criminal acts unrelated to the ceasefire agreement that needed to be dealt with by the police. He said the monitors could not look into speculation or turn general reports into complaints for the purpose of investigating them. There were no direct complaints lodged with the mission about the activities reported in the media, he added. More...
Published: Mon Apr 1 23:50:30 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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Safeguard our rights, Sri Lankan Muslims tell Govt.
 The Hindu (International), 02 April 2002. Sri Lanka's Muslim parliamentarians cut across party lines today to make a united appeal to the Government to safeguard their political rights, safety and security in the east where the community has been at the receiving end of harassment and intimidation by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam... Back to the top
First ceasefire monitoring secretariat opened in Vauniya
 Ranmali Wijesuriya in Colombo, SLT 7.25 a.m Tuesday 2 April. First ceasefire monitoring secretariat was opened in Vairapuliyankulam in Vauniya yesterday... Back to the top
Coming soon: Muslim Awakening
 Ranmali Wijesuriya in Colombo, SLT 7.15 a.m Tuesday 2 April. A group of Muslim students in the East are making arrangements to hold meetings on the same lines of Pongu Tamil in Attalachchena on April 11, 12 and 13... Back to the top
Peace talks after Sinhala and Tamil New Year
 Frederica Jansz in Colombo, 9.10 p.m. SLT Monday April 1. The Norwegian Embassy today said that peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE would most likely begin after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, this month... Back to the top
American Demining Experts Arrive in Sri Lanka
 Press Release:US Embassy - Sri Lanka, 02 April 2002. Colombo, 01 April 2002: A five-member team of demining experts has arrived in Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka and sponsored by the United States Embassy... Back to the top
LTTE sets up political office in Vavuniya
 Frederica Jansz in Colombo, 9 p.m. SLT Monday April 1. Eight cadres from the LTTE today entered Vavuniya in order to set up a political office and carry out political work in the government held area... Back to the top
ICRC helping Lanka forces clearing mines
 Gulf-News, 02 April 2002. The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) yesterday began assisting the Sri Lankan security forces in clearing mines on a key highway linking the northern part of the country to the south due to be declared open for the civilians next week... Back to the top
LTTE moonshine in Uppuweli!
 Ranmali Wijesuriya in Colombo, SLT 9.00 p.m Monday 1 April. LTTE cadres have ordered the moonshine(kasippu)dealers in Uppuweli area in Trincomalee stop production immediately , residents told The Lanka Academic today... Back to the top
Sri Lanka Ceylon Electricity Board's Chairman Resigns
 Yahoo, 02 April 2002. LINK Back to the top
Sri Lankan opponents cooperate to clear mines
 Yahoo India, April 1, 11:26 PM. The Sri Lankan army and their long-time opponents the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels began joint work on Monday to clear mines from the road to the northern Jaffna peninsula, the International Red Cross said... Back to the top
OIC foreign ministers? meet gets under way Targeting civilians is terrorism: Mahathir
 Deccan Herald, April 1. Whether the attackers are acting on their own or on the orders of their governments, whether they are regulars or irregulars, if the attack is against civilians, then they must be considered as terrorists," Asia's longest serving leader told the three-day meeting of 57-member grouping... Back to the top
Two abudcted teenagers run away from the LTTE
 Frederica Jansz in Colombo, 3.10 p.m. SLT Monday April 1. The defence ministry today said that two abudcted teenagers had surrendered themselves to a police post South of Muttur on Saturday evening claiming they had been kidnapped by the LTTE five days ago... Back to the top
Visiting Karikalan in his lair in East
 Daily Mirror, April 1, 2002. by Paul Harris of London Daily Telegraph.
If he is to be believed, the outlook would appear to be distinctly bleak for the 300,000 Muslims of the east; an independent state of Tamil Eelam still remains the "ideal"; but there just might be an interim compromise; forced conscription of school children was denied and the US criticisms of the LTTE were vigorously rejected and construed as a threat; India should be involved in the peace process and Rajiv Gandhi simply got his just desserts . . ... Back to the top
Sri Lanka Expresses Concern Over Middle East Situation
 Nothern Light, Monday, April 01, 2002 12:01 PM EST . COLOMBO, Apr 1, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- the Sri Lankan government expressed on Monday its grave concern over the deterioration of the security situation in the Middle East and called for a halt to the violence and the resumption of negotiations on a political settlement to the conflict between Palestine and Israel... Back to the top
Troops say armed LTTE men violated truce
 Press Trust of India, Colombo,Monday, April 01, 2002. Nearly 300 armed LTTE militants passed through an Army-held area in eastern Sri Lanka on Saturday, in violation of the terms of the ongoing truce, the government said today... Back to the top
Anuruddha transferred to Bogambara Prisons
 Frederica Jansz in Colombo, 2.55 p.m. SLT Monday April 1. Former Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte was this morning transferred on the orders of the Teldeniya magistrate to the Bogambara prisons in Kandy... Back to the top
Foreign secretary without an official residence
 Ranmali Wijesuriya in Colombo, SLT 2.00 p.m Monday 1 April. Foreign secretary Nihal Rodrigo is yet to move to his official residence since the former foreign secretary G... Back to the top
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... Back to the top
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
PAKISTAN MONOPOLISES SRI LANKAN POTATO MARKET
 Nothern Light, Monday, April 01, 2002 12:31 AM EST . KARACHI, Apr 01, 2002 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- Pakistani exporters have beaten out Indian competitors to take full control of Sri Lanka's potato market, according to industry insiders... Back to the top
Lankan. Govt. to impeach Chief Justice
 The Hindu NUS, April 01. The Sri Lankan Government has decided to impeach country's Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva and will place a motion in Parliament after the ongoing budget debate... 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
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