SLA arrests two Tamil youths in Batticaloa

Two Tamil youths, both residents of Katpaanaikulam in Aayithimalai police division in Paduvaangkarai area in Batticaloa district were taken into custody Friday by about ten persons in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) uniform who arrived in army jeep and three motor bicycles. Perinparasa Thavaseelan, 20, was taken from his house by persons who identified them as soldiers of the SLA. Thirukeswaran, brother of Thavaseelan, was taken into custody on his way home by SLA soldiers, according to the youths' mother in...

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Chief priest fired at by SLA gun succumbs to injuries

The chief priest of Changkaanai Murukamoorthy temple, Nithiyananda Sharma, 56, fatally fired at in a robbery in the temple last week, died in the hospital Wednesday. The gun used in the firing belongs to the SLA, admits SLA military commander for Jaffna, Maj. General Mahinda Hathurusinghe. Briefing media in Jaffna, he said that two former LTTE members working closely with the SLA were responsible for the firing. But independent sources in Jaffna said that the two accused belong to the...

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Sri Lanka: SLA tightens security in Jaffna

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is employing new measures in the last several days to increase security in Jaffna, civil sources in Jaffna said. SLA has increased search operations during nights and has increased checking of motor vehicles including motor bikes. Passengers traveling in night buses are being subjected to delays as they searched in the proximity of four or five SLA camps. In addition ......

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Sri Lanka: SLA in Vadamaraadchi East pilfer properties of uprooted people

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers occupying Vadamaraadchi East continue to pilfer the roof and timber components of the houses from which the uprooted families fled during SLA offensives, the recently resettled families in Vadamaraadchi said. Though the families had fled, most of their houses in the areas from Naakarkoayil to Saalai had remained undamaged as there was no war fought in the said area ......

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Sri Lanka: SLA victimizes released ex-Liberation Tiger combatants in Jaffna

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officers and intelligence wing men threaten the owners of the shops and other places which had given employment to the ex-Liberation Tiger combatants released after arrest and rehabilitation not to employ them, sources in Jaffna said. Many of them, intimidated by SLA are sending away the ex-Tiger combatants who have no other means to earn their living. Meanwhile, the ......

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SLA intensifies surveillance on ‘outsiders’ visiting Vanni

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities in Vanni have instructed all schools and other such public institutions and organizations in their areas to inform them in advance if any political persons, representatives of volunteer organizations and Non-government Organizations (NGOs) from outside Vanni visiting their places. On such occasions SLA being informed beforehand sends its men to watch and record the proceedings of the meetings and events conducted or attended by the above ‘outsiders’, according to complaints made by some school heads...

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LTTE senior official’s wife witnesses on SLA war crime

“I have not seen my husband Yogarathinam Jogi who was taken away by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Vadduvaakal in Mullaiththeevu on 18th May 2009 after surrendering himself expecting general amnesty as announced by SLA that day over loud speaker,” the wife of Yogaratnam Yogi, a senior member of the LTTE said bearing witness before the Lessons Learnt & Reconciliation Committee (LLRC) Thursday around 3:30 p.m in Ariyaalai Saraswathy Community Centre. In response to a question by Rajapaksa's LLRC...

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Sri Lanka: Southern fishermen occupying Vadamaraadchi accused of sexual harassment

One of the fishermen of nearly 600 Sinhala and Muslim fishermen from South brought by Sri Lanka government with the assistance of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to catch sea cucumber and conch shells in Vadamaraadchi East, was thrashed by local people when he tried to sexually harass a young woman, civil sources in the region said. Intervention by SLA soldiers to save the fisherman has triggered conflict ......

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Sri Lanka: Jaffna Public Library out of bounds to tourists

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials Friday informed the Chief Librarian of Jaffna Public Library that tourists will not be permitted to visit the library and that SLA soldiers will be posted outside it to maintain order, sources in Jaffna said. The officials who said that they had been instructed by high level government authorities did not, however, disclose who the authorities were. This ......

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SLA targets prominent Tamil businessmen in Jaffna – TamilNet

SLA targets prominent Tamil businessmen in Jaffna TamilNet Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna has cast its net wide to arrest around 163 leading Tamil traders in Jaffna on charges that they had funded Liberation Tigers ...