• Recent News Summary

• South Asian ministers meet to debate environment(Infoseek-31/10/98)
• Sri Lanka firm rides a three-wheel dream(Infoseek-31/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says destroys six rebel boats in sea battle(Infoseek-31/10/98)
• Development going on apace in Jaffna(The Daily News-31/10/98)
• Programme to educate service personnel in Jaffna(The Daily News-31/10/98)
• CID makes major break through in credit card fraud investigation(The Daily News-31/10/98)
• An insight into the inner Prabhakaran(The Daily News-31/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says 422 rebels have surrendered in 1998(Infoseek-31/10/98)
• Chandrika calls for regional approach on environment (The Hindu-31/10/98)
• Passenger ship escapes LTTE attack(The Hindu-31/10/98)
• South AsiaTamil Tigers sink naval craft(BBC-31/10/98)
• LTTE sinks Lankan escort ship; 15 sailors missing (The Indian Express-31/10/98)
• Gulf dream ends in death for Asian workers(The Indian Express-31/10/98)
• LTTE may move base, Lanka cautions SA(The Indian Express-31/10/98)
• Rebels sink navy craft in attack in Sri Lanka (Infoseek-31/10/98)
• Sri Lanka road capture hit by attack (Infoseek-31/10/98)
• Rebels attack navy ships in northeastern Sri Lanka (Infoseek-31/10/98)
• Sri Lanka grave probe delayed, no security-Amnesty (Infoseek-31/10/98)
• Sri Lanka invites Amnesty for mass grave probe(Infoseek-31/10/98)
• Amnesty: Sri Lanka Delaying Probe(Washington Post-31/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says 422 rebels have surrendered(Infoseek-30/10/98)
• Sri Lanka concerned over LTTE activity in S.Africa (Infoseek-30/10/98)
• To heal old wounds, catch 'em young, say Lanka teachers (The Indian Express-30/10/98)
• Sri Lanka Tamil parties still awaiting peace(Infoseek-29/10/98)
• Sri Lanka seeks to boost Iraq(Infoseek-29/10/98)
• Indian origin Tamils cry for attention(The Hindustan Times-29/10/98)
• Lankan Govt, Tamil rebels looking to resume peace talks (The Indian Express-29/10/98)
• Storm might skip Dhaka (The Indian Express-29/10/98)
• LTTE ready for talks, say released hostages (The Hindu-28/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says 19 rebels, policeman killed in battles(Infoseek-28/10/98)
• Sri Lanka frees Tamil journalist after three months (Infoseek-28/10/98)
• Asia-Pacific vows closer ties to fight crisis (Infoseek-28/10/98)
• Hostages' release fuels rumours of renewed Lanka-LTTE talks (The Indian Express-28/10/98)
• LTTE scores over Sri Lanka again(The Indian Express-28/10/98)
• Sri Lankan soldiers suprised to be freed by rebels(Infoseek-27/10/98)
• Sri Lankan Opposition Leader now ardent LTTE supporter - Gen. Ratwatte(The Daily News-27/10/98)
• Cricket-Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by five(Infoseek-27/10/98)
• Arvinda bowled by a "model" googly; to tie the knot in December(The Indian Express-27/10/98)
• Children still victims of Sri Lanka war (Infoseek-26/10/98)
• LTTE releases Lankan sailor after three years of captivity (The Hindustan Times-26/10/98)
• LTTE scores propaganda point (The Hindu-26/10/98)
• A legitimate warning for those who have violated human rights in Sri Lanka
  Pinochet sustained himself in power by open terrorism and secret repression. His regime was noted for its brutality, locking up his critics without charge or trial, ill-treating, torturing and summarily executing captured opponents and killing. Sri Lanka has also gone through a similar period of terror both by the State and anti-government rebels. In this context, the action of the British Government is both laudable and gives the salutary message that violators of human rights, however powerful they may be, will be called to answer for their acts against humanity sooner or later.Shadow Of The Dictator(The Times (UK)-25/10/98)
• Brutality marks Pinochet years(The Times (UK)-25/10/98)
• Let old dictators lie(The Times (UK)-25/10/98)
• Reign of Terror during 17-year UNP rule(Lankaweb-25/10/98)
• Riddle of the suicide in Christie hotel (The Times (UK)-25/10/98)
• Sri Lanka peace package collects dust(Infoseek-25/10/98)
• -Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels release nine hostages(Infoseek-25/10/98)
• India onion shortage brings tears to S.Lankan eyes(Infoseek-25/10/98)
• Strategic gains outweigh battlefield losses(The Sunday Observer-25/10/98)
• From babies to toddlers(The Sunday Observer-25/10/98)
• The UNP disowns open economy(The Sunday Observer-25/10/98)
• Delegation to again approach UNP(The Sunday Observer-25/10/98)
• Private sector initiative to end Lanka war flops -The joke going around in Colombo now is the ethnic conflict is the latest sector to be privatised in Sri Lanka.(The Hindustan Times-24/10/98)
• High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekeratne said he would kill me like a dog and fired in the air- Witness(The Daily News--24/10/98)
• Definite proof J. R. Jayewardene Cultural Centre accessed five porn sites - Mangala Samaraweera announces legal action(The Daily News--24/10/98)
• Confirm administration in Jaffna is normal - Leaders of two key Tamil political parties nail LTTE canard(The Daily News-24/10/98)
• Relics of Buddhist monks found (The Hindustan Times-24/10/98)
• Sri Lanka glorifies Sita to lure Indian tourists(The Indian Express-24/10/98)
• Proposed UN International Criminal Court: India for provision on terrorism(The Hindustan Times-24/10/98)
• New terrorism methods pose challenges-UK(Infoseek-24/10/98)
• Lankan private sector criticised(The Hindustan Times-24/10/98)
• Colombo flexible on draft constitution'(The Hindu--24/10/98)
• Sri Lanka private sector bid to resolve ethnic crisis (The Hindu-24/10/98)
• Chandrika assails UNP's role(The Hindustan Times-24/10/98)
• Australia or Sri Lanka favourites - Cronje(Infoseek-24/10/98)
• World rubber pact hangs on edge as Thais negotiate(Infoseek-24/10/98)
• Malaysia confirms quitting INRO(Infoseek-24/10/98)
• England players arrive, Warne bowls for first(Infoseek-24/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says destroys rebels base in east (Infoseek-23/10/98)
• LTTE using eastern Tamils as cannon fodder (The Hindustan Times-23/10/98)
• Sri Lanka parties, business gather to discuss(Infoseek-23/10/98)
• Colombo women protest against violence(The Hindu-23/10/98)
• Hopes for a consensus recede in Sri Lanka(The Hindu-23/10/98)
• Sri Lanka transit point for drug trafficking (The Hindu-23/10/98)
• In connivance with certain figures in Armed Forces - President bares UNP conspiracy to sabotage Govt's war effort(The Daily News-23/10/98)
• Close glasnost file, PM tells Jethmalani (The Indian Express-23/10/98)
• Outrage over Indian woman's murder(The Indian Express-23/10/98)
• Neighbour Watch - No third party mediation: LTTE agrees(The Indian Express-23/10/98)
• Sri Lanka seeks pensions for kin of women soldiers (Infoseek-22/10/98)
• Sri Lankans wary over gov't peace proposals - survey(Infoseek-22/10/98)
• 2 killed in LTTE bombing on Diwali musical show(The Hindustan Times-22/10/98)
• Chicken can cause cancer (The Hindustan Times-22/10/98)
• Sri Lanka opposition opts out of key peace meet(Infoseek-22/10/98)
• Up To 300,000 Child Soldiers In Conflicts-UN Report (Infoseek-22/10/98)
• Sri Lankan women protest against increasing violence(Infoseek-22/10/98)
• Interest rates spook Sri Lanka investors (Infoseek-22/10/98)
• Cricket-Mahanama, Vaas & Soysa in Sri Lanka squad (Infoseek-22/10/98)
• Jaffna University Teachers for Human Rights in special report makes shocking revelations(The Daily News-22/10/98)
• Tigers throw hand grenade at musical show killing two, injuring 18(The Daily News-22/10/98)
• Sri Lanka opposition cold on all-party peace talks(Infoseek-21/10/98)
• Sri Lanka to spend $3.6 mln on airport security(Infoseek-21/10/98)
• South Africa giving firm suport to Govt's devolution proposals(The Daily News-21/10/98)
• Jaffna University Teachers for Human Rights say: Conclusive proof Lionair flight 602 was shot down by LTTE(The Daily News-21/10/98)
• Sri Lanka 1998 rubber output seen lower
  A decline in global rubber prices and bad weather has affected Sri Lanka's rubber production and the country is unlikely to even reach last year's output of 105.78 million kg, an industry official said on Tuesday.(Infoseek-21/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says 12 rebels killed, 15 surrender (Infoseek-20/10/98)
• Sri Lankan Opposition Party plans to get Mandela to mediate (The Hindustan Times-20/10/98)
• Covert 'scam' operations against Mangala Samaraweera: Jayewardene Cultural Centre employees quizzed(The Sunday Observer-19/10/98)
• UNP's 'unconditional talks' call : Aussie Lankans lash out at Ranil(The Sunday Observer-19/10/98)
• Ill-fated LionAir flight No. 602: Four survivors 'rescued' by LTTE?(The Sunday Observer-19/10/98)
• Security forces, LTTE step up recruitment(The Hindu-18/10/98)
• Conference on Ayurveda(The Hindu-18/10/98)
• ``Very soon,' people would teach a lesson to barking dogs who belittled the achievements of the armed forces" - Sri Lankan President Chandrika
  Kumaratunga has not given up her plans to hold mid-term elections in March next year despite the worst ever reverses suffered by the army in therecent battle of Killinochchi against the LTTE, analysts said. Ignoring the criticism mounted by opposition UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe that over 11,500 armed forces were killed due to aggressive defence strategies pursued by Kumaratunga after her election in 1994, she told an investiture ceremony here last night ``very soon'' people would teach a lesson to ``barking dogs'' who belittled the achievements of the armed forces.(The Indian Express-17/10/98)
• 17-year old LTTE boy shot down aircraft
  The University Teachers for Human Rights, Jaffna (UTHR-J) has said that the Lionair civilian aircraft, which went missing on September 29 off northern Sri Lanka was, ``shot down by the LTTE.''

  According to its evidence ``supported by independent testimony from the people of the area'', a platform constructed near a church is said to have been used for firing a missile to bring the aircraft down. The report cites a relative of a victim as having said that ``it was a 17-year old boy who shot down the plane.''Piecing together various circumstantial evidences, it says that ``two sea Tiger speed boats'' were seen rushing to the area where the aircraft fell ``within a short time.'' Frightened fishermen who went to the shore to watch what was going on ``were ordered'' by the Tigers ``to leave the place.'' (The Hindu-17/10/98)

• CID, FBI and Interpol bare internet credit card conspiracy(The Daily News-17/10/98)
• -LTTE gets past Lankan media censorship (The Indian Express-17/10/98)
• LTTE circulates video cassettes on Kilinochchi(The Hindu-17/10/98)
• Desertions hit Sri Lankan Army (The Hindu-17/10/98)
• Tigers' terror campaign paralyses Jaffna (The Indian Express-16/10/98)
• Canadian move may help check LTTE activities' (The Hindu16/10/98)
• Sri Lanka offers amnesty for deserters (Infoseek-16/10/98)
• 170 killed in Lankan fighting(The Hindustan Times-16/10/98)
• Jaffna under LTTE spell? (The Hindustan Times-16/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says 175 combatants killed in fighting (Infoseek-15/10/98)
• McDonald's Opens in Sri Lanka -- Country 114 Sri Lanka is McDonald's 20th Country to Open in Last Two Years (Infoseek-15/10/98)
• Fear stalks Jaffna (The Hindu-15/10/98)
• Sri Lanka's exports feeling a squeeze(Infoseek-15/10/98)
• Colombo port gears up for competition(Infoseek-15/10/98)
• Sri Lanka govt welcomes criticism by industry bodies (Infoseek-15/10/98)
• Food trade welcomes Russia duty cut, seeks more(Infoseek-15/10/98)
• McDonald's says bullish on crisis-hit Asia(Infoseek-14/10/98)
• Abducted Indian woman's body found(The Indian Express-14/10/98)
• Sri Lanka big business slams politicians over war(Infoseek-14/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says 11 rebels, soldier killed in clash(Infoseek-13/10/98)
• Sri Lanka launches fresh hunt for army deserters(Infoseek-13/10/98)
• Sri Lanka Jan-Aug tourist arrivals slip marginally(Infoseek-13/10/98)
• Indian bride raped, killed in Sri Lanka(Infoseek-13/10/98)
• Sri Lanka Tamil party blasts govt over inaction(Infoseek-12/10/98)
• 600 Lankan army deserters held (The Hindusta Times-12/10/98)
• Four TELO men killed in ambush by LTTE(The Hindu-12/10/98)
• Sri Lanka state media in brawl over censorship (Infoseek-12/10/98)
• Lanka 'resurrects' dead soldiers-wrote Iqbal Athas(The Hindustan Times -12/10/98)
• Mahanama Tilakaratne fundamental rights petition put off for Nov. 10(The Daily News -12/10/98)
• Non-summary inquiry put off(The Daily News -12/10/98)
• One sailor dead, nine lost overboard off Sri Lanka(Infoseek-11/10/98)
• Sri Lanka to borrow $100 million in offshore loan (Infoseek-11/10/98)
• Bank of Ceylon '97 profits down slightly -report(Infoseek-11/10/98)
• MPs urge for Commission(The Hindustan Times-11/10/98)
• MPs urge for Commission of Inquiry into UNP leaders who funded and provided arms to LTTE for use against Forces.(The Daily News-11/10/98)
• Stricken Lankan forces see Tigers in the air (The Indian Express-11/10/98)
• Aussies boot pro-Tiger candidates(Australian News-11/10/98)
• Tamil Homelands - The bird that couldn't fly(The Island-10/10/98)
• Thamilchelvam's sweet talk(The Island-10/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says will reunite country despite setbacks(Infoseek-10/10/98)
• Sri Lankan Govt. to continue war efforts(The Hindu-10/10/98)
• UNP to seek probe into Kilinochchi reverse(The Hindu-09/10/98)
• The fall of Mankulam(The Daily News-09/10/98)
• India loses $80 bn due to pollution: World Bank(The Indian Express-09/10/98)
• Lanka revises death-list; nearly 800 classed as missing in action(The Indian Express-09/10/98)
• Lanka opposition demands truth about casualties(The Times of India-10/10/98)
• She carried a dead foetus for 5 years!(The Hindustan Times-08/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says 975 troops killed or missing(Infoseek-08/10/98)
• Sri Lanka looks to boost rubber exports(Infoseek-08/10/98)
• LTTE's child soldiers blame Prabhakaran (The Hindustan Times-08/10/98)
• Sri Lanka Gov't Shows Kid Soldiers(The Washington Post-08/10/98)
• Sri Lanka's niche crepe market threatened (Infoseek-08/10/98)
• Lanka situation not apt for renewing UK mediation offer(The Hindustan Times-07/10/98)
• TULF panel to meet on Oct. 10(The Hindu-07/10/98)
• Sri Lanka shows rebel child soldiers to media (Infoseek-07/10/98)
• Heavy fighting erupts again in north Sri Lanka(Infoseek-07/10/98)
• Sri Lanka to set up elephant breeding park(Infoseek-07/10/98)
• Internet said too costly for most Sri Lankans(Infoseek-07/10/98)
• Sri Lanka unveils lower defence budget for 1999(Infoseek-07/10/98)
• Sri Lanka speaker refuses request to honour soldiers(Infoseek-06/10/98)
• Sri Lanka civil authority investigates missing plane(Infoseek-06/10/98)
• Sri Lanka Plane Dead Recovered(The Washington Post-06/10/98)
• 'Over 500 LTTE child cadre killed'(The Hindu-06/10/98)
• LTTE attacks repulsed: Jayasikuru troops consolidating at Mankulam(The Daily News-06/10/98)
• LTTE's military defeat will not ensure peace(The Hindu-06/10/98)
• Haunted by the Maldives(The Indian Express-06/10/98)
• Military court to probe Lankan army debacle(The Indian Express-06/10/98)
• War alone won't end conflict, say Sri Lankans(The Hindu-05/10/98)
• Rains shower mixed blessings on Sri Lanka crops(Infoseek-05/10/98)
• Lankan army should give up bunker mentality: Kalkat(The Hindustan Times-04/10/98)
• Most of the LTTE fighters are kids, say Tiger captives (The Hindustan Times-04/10/98)
• 10 LTTE men killed in different encounters(The Hindu-04/10/98)
• The Only Alternative(Kalaya-04/10/98)
• Troops consolidate positions south of Paranthan(The Island-04/10/98)
• Sri Lankans want fight to the finish with LTTE(The Indian Express-03/10/98)
• Undeterred by toll, Lankans see no option to war(The Indian Express-03/10/98)
• Sri Lanka Highway Battle Intensifies (The Washington Post-03/10/98)
• Mother Lanka salutes you, Deputy Defence Minister tells heroic Jayasikuru troops(The Daily News-03/10/98)
• High point, in War of Liberation(The Daily News-03/10/98)
• LTTE asks troops to surrender; assures them of safety(The Times of India-03/10/98)
• Of victories and defeats...(Editorial- The Island-03/10/98)
• Colombo hospitals work round the clock(The Hindu-03/10/98)
• Tamil party says Sri Lanka rebels shot down plane(Infoseek-03/10/98)
• Sri Lanka rebels hand over more bodies to Red Cross(Infoseek-03/10/98)
• Sri Lanka fiscal overshoot not surprising -analysts (Infoseek-03/10/98)
• Sri Lanka navy finds bodies said to be from plane (Infoseek-03/10/98)
• The LTTE treated us as animals(The Daily News-03/10/98)
• Hullabaloo about an arrest of a High Court Judge - What rationale for a commission?(The Daily News-03/10/98)
• When the vultures failed
  Heavy fighting in Sri Lanka between the army and Tamil Tiger rebels has led to hundreds of deaths on both sides. While both sides engaged in fierce fighting, the national and international news reporters were occupied in counting dead bodies. They started with More Than 500, - Toll Crosses 700, - and 900 dead - with final 1,300 reportedly killed - and bodies of 600 Sri Lankan troops handed over to Red Cross and the conflict was called "Sri Lanka's unwinnable war" giving the separatists the benefit of the propaganda victory.
  At last the truth is emerging, the army says the death toll in the attack on Kilinochchi increased to 500 soldiers even after the LTTE cadres have handed over 600 bodies to ICRC claiming to be security forces. The special teams who were identifying the bodies as at this morning (Thursday) have confirmed that only 400 bodies belong to security forces. The rebels had confirmed in their radio transmissions that they had lost 520 fighters and the total rebel loss is estimated to be in the region of 900 fighters.(Sri Lanka News-02/10/98)
• Sri Lanka Jet Bodies Recovered (The Washington Post-02/10/98)
• Pull back from Killinochchi tactical: Lankan Army(The Indian Express-02/10/98)
• Pull back from Killinochchi tactical: Lankan Army(The Indian Express-02/10/98)
• Army base near Kilinochchi to come under pressure(The Hindu-02/10/98)
• Lionair plane spotted (The Hindu-02/10/98)
• Loss of Killinochi not a setback: Lankan army(Hindustan Times-02/10/98)
• Sri Lanka Military Says Suffers Big Setback(Infoseek-02/10/98)
• Sri Lanka halts private flights to north(Infoseek-02/10/98)
• Sri Lanka stops private flights to northern Jaffna (Infoseek-02/10/98)
• Sri Lanka faces fiscal overshoot this year (Infoseek-02/10/98)
• High call money rates strenghten Sri Lanka rupee (Infoseek-02/10/98)
• South Asian economies must avoid competitive currency devaluations(Infoseek-02/10/98)
• Army sifts mountain of bodies to identify soldiers in Sri Lanka
  The Red Cross here said that the LTTE has handed over bodies of 600 fighters killed in the four day counter attack by the LTTE. The Army says bodies of LTTE members were also among the pile of bodies handed over to the Red Cross and the Army sifts them carefully to identify soldiers. But the army has so far not updated its figures. Last night army said 477 LTTE fighters and 262 troops were killed so far in the battle. (Sri Lanka News-01/10/98)
• Sri Lankan army 'captures' Mankulam(The Hindustan Times-01/10/98)
• Tamil rebels claim victory amid massive losses
  Sri Lankan authority says Tamil terrorist went on a sucidal attack on government position. The Sri Lankan forces, which have been trying to open the Vavuniya-Killinochi road for the last 16 months, were stuck in Mankulam and a final push towards Killinochi was expected any moment. But before this could start, the Tigers struck. They attacked not the units in the south where the army was geared for an offensive but defensive units billeted in camps in the northern end, namely, Killinochi and Paranthan. The LTTE massively attacked the Paranthan and Killinochi army camps, apparently, with an intention to keep the Sri Lankan troops pinned down there and prevent a possible move to link up with troops coming north. The rebel radio said government troops had been pushed out from their positions in Killinochi and Paranthan and forced to withdraw northwards.-BBC Report-(BBC-01/10/98)
• -Sri Lanka Troops Capture Key Northern Town (Infoseek-01/10/98)
• Mankulam was the last major town on the highway held by the Rebels(Infoseek-01/10/98)
• Sri Lanka says troops take key northern town(Infoseek-01/10/98)
• More than 1,300 reportedly killed in latest Sri Lankan fighting(The Nando Times-01/10/98)
• Sri Lankan Government troops have captured mankulam, the Last major rebel-held town on the key northern highway, from Tamil tiger fighters(VOA-01/10/98)
• Mystery copter over Mankulam! Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers may have a chopper(The Island-01/10/98)
• Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka have handed over the bodies of 600 government soldiers to the international committee of the red Cross. (VOA-01/10/98)
• Bodies of 600 Sri Lankan troops handed to Red Cross (Infoseek-01/10/98)
• Rebels hand over bodies of Sri Lanka troops - ICRC(Infoseek-01/10/98)
• Sri Lanka's navy searches for missing airliner (Infoseek-01/10/98)
• Hunt on for missing Sri Lanka airliner (Infoseek-01/10/98)

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