www.tamilarangam.net Fortnightly ISSUE NO. 12 A TIRU Publication 1 June 1986

SITUATION REPORT

EDITOR S. Sivanayagam

Published by the Tamil Information & Research Unit (TIRU), Besant Nagar, Madras, India, on behalf of Tamil Information Centre, 3rdjkpo;j; Floor, 24-2 Njrpa8 Clapham HigMtzr;h St. Londo nRtbfs; SW4 7UR. U JC. www.tamilarangam.net

SITUATION REPORT events surrounding the blast" said the sources crew, according to security sources. The A selection of recent reports from Sri Lan- who refused to elaborate. But Police said the injuries to the crew were reported not serious kan newspapers, without comment, Read- CID believes he was an informant for the ter- said the source. (The island-23.5.86). ers are requested to form their own conclu- rorists". (The lsland-26.5.86). Army-civilian clash in C'bo 160 Tamils sent on leave Tamil Doctor held Three people including a soldier were killed "Over 160 Tamil employees of the and at least 15 others injured in a clash which "Police took in for questioning a Tamil doctor Broadcasting Corporation are to be sent on police said was between Army personnel and in connection with the alleged video taping of special leave for an indefinite period from to- a group of Civilians at last night. the Dockyard and the Kochchikade morrow according to SLBC Chairman Mr. Livy An elderly woman was also among the dead. Rangalla Naval facility by a group of foreigners. Wijemanne. Mr. Wijemanne said that letters Police and Army closed all entrances to Slave informing them of such leave specifically Island last night, as the injured were rushed A Tamil woman resident in Colombo was states that it is not compulsory leave. He said to the General Hospital. Two soldiers were also taken in for questioning in this connection. that the employees are being directed to go among the injured, police said... The Military Meanwhile the foreigners involved in the inci- on leave in their own interests, as they could police had to be called in to quell unrest at the dent were released on a request made by the be forced to act against the institution..." (The hospital after the victims of the clash were Ambassadors of their respective countries in lsland-18.5.86). brought in. Later, the Fire Brigade was called Sri Lanka. These foreigners, however will not to douse a burning lorry and a car near the be permitted to leave the country. Police will Slave Island roundabout. (Sun-21.5.86.) > keep a strict check on those foreigners. Police Tamils moved out of yesterday questioned the doctor to establish airport duty whether he had any connections with North- Colombo under security ern Tamil terrorists. (The lsland-13.5.86). All Tamil Customs officers have been trans- Blanket ferred out of the Colombo International Airport, Tamil, Clerk held , with effect from today. They will The city of Colombo has come under a tight be posted to other branches of the Depart- security blanket following reports of possible ment, a senior Custom official told "Sun". The attempts to bomb vital locations, police "The Criminal investigations Department move followed the alleged involvement of sources said. Police have intensified vehicle (CID) yesterday took into custody a Tamil wharf three Customs officers in the bomb explosion checks and more road blocks have been placed clerk attached to the Customs Department for aboard the Air Lanka Tristar on May 3. Mean- while deploying more officers to strenghten questioning in connection with the Air Lanka while, at least 80 punchers used by Customs security in and around the city, they said... Tristar bomb explosion which occured on May officials to seal export goods after being Meanwhile, motorists and pedestrians were 3rd and claimed the lives of 17 persons, of checked, have disappeared from the Depart; puJ to severe inconvenience yesterday as whom many were foreigners. Sources said ment, sources said. (Sun-20.5.86). traffic clogged the highways in the city... that suspect from Kayts was closely as- (Sun-22.5.86) sociated with the two Customs officers who were now considered prime suspects in con- Helicopter shot at nection with the blast..." (The lsland-14.5.86). Bomb scare at Royal College "The helicopter in which the Joint Opera- 8 Tamils held in Colombo tions Command (JOC) Chief, Lieutinent Gen- Confusion and panic reigned in the heart of eral Cyril Ranatunge was travelling in. to meet the city last morning, as police personnel from members of the Jaffna Citizen Committee, four stations were rushed to investigate a "The CID yesterday took into custody at a was yesterday shot at by terrorists Palaly on bomb scare at Royal College and about 8,000 house in Bullers Road, ^Colombo 7 eight Tamils two occasions, security sources said. Although students were evacuated from the school. A suspected to have terrorist links. Sources said there was no injury inflicted on the JOC Chief massive search was launched by about 100 they were Tamils from Jaffna and kayts and the helicopter received minor damages, sec- policemen in the sprawling 30-acre school were involved in printing Eelam literature at urity sources added. Mr. Ranatunge was to after Principal C.T.M. Fernando got an anonym- the time they were nabbed. The literature and meet the Jaffna Citizens' Committee mem- ous telephone call that a bomb had been the machinery, were taken into custody, CID bers to discuss the present conflict in the placed in the premises... Traffic ground to a sources said. Sources said the house in which North, sources said. However, his helicopter halt in the immediate vicinity and the college the literature was printed was that of an ex- was shot at when it took off from Palaly, on was placed under police guard on the orders Corporation Executive. (The lslahd-17.5.86). the first instance at 11.30 a.m. and on the of National Security Minister Lalith second instance at 2.00 a.m. Security sources Athulathmudali after the bomb call was found Tamil Policeman held said that several terrorists have been reported to be a hoax. School officials said the college dead in Kayts, following battles with the Sec- would re-open on Monday. (Sun-22.5.86) urity forces. (The lsland-21.5.86). "A Tamil Police Constable attached to the Jaffna police is reported to have been taken School bags banned into custody over the Airlanka bomb explosion. Helicopter crashes Police sources said yesterday that the CID act- Bomb scares have compelled certain Princi- ing an intelligence reports arrested the PC at "A security force helicopter at the Elephant pals of schools to ban the use of school bags the Pannai Police Quarters last week. He is Pass camp crashed to the ground yesterday by students. However a Ministry of Education reported to have come to Colombo a day be- morning after rising a few feet on take-off, spokesman said the act on the part of Princi- fore the blast and was involved "in certain injuring its seven persons in it including its pals was improper and unjust. The Ministry {Continued on Page 7} jkpo;j; Njrpa Mtzr; Rtbfs;Sri Lanka Situation Report June 1, 1986 www.tamilarangam.net DIARY OF EVENTS and Human Rights Violations & Ceasefire Violations Events from March 27 — April 10 were carried in Issue No. 11 of Situation Report

APRIL 11 comalee, one Tamil youth Subramaniam Trincomalee Citizens Committee. Rajaratnam was killed and another, Velu Selliah injured. Incidents occured on April 10. A gang of about 30 armed, masked men rob Keeping a steady volley of fire in all direc- the house and business premises of trader tions, more than hundred soldiers from Palaly Timekeeper at Batticaloa railway station, T.A. Apputhurai at Kankesanturai, and get army camp march up to Harbour View Hotel Johnpulle, father of 5 children, shot dead at away with jewellery and items worth several camp at Kankesanturai, while helicopters fly his home by an unknown youth. lakhs. Apputhurai who was a victim of the anti- low providing aerial cover. There was no re- Tamil riots in Colombo in July '83, had thereaf- sponse from Tamil militants. Lt.Gen.Cyril Ranatunge, General Officer ter set up business in Jaffna. commanding the Joint Operations Command, In the East, 2 soldiers killed and 6 injured in tells Colombo newspaper "SUN" that because an LTTE attack on an army foot patrol at Kat- of the daily offensives by separatist guerrillas taipanchchan in Mutur district. pounding government military camps in the north, his men were now awaiting orders to APRIL 14 7 Buddhist priests abducted while fasting in engage the guerrillas in battle. He says he had Colombo yesterday found dropped at different been "pulling in the reins on his troops due to Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The day passes places outside the city. the ongoing political process and what he re- without any major incidents being reported ferred to as "good people of Jaffna." Residents living near temporary army camp barring a half-hour helicopter strafing in Myliddy Palaly areas. at Omanthai vacate homes in fear. In an island-wide test held for selection as Police Sergeants, only three Tamils are 2 small ships with predominant blue and yel- In , suburb of Colombo, Officer-in- selected as against 262 non-Tamils. The low colours seen for 3rd day off the northern charge of Police Station, Inspector Earl Peiris selected Tamils are NT. Namasivayam, V. Kankesanturai coast. is shot dead by a Sergeant working under him. Pakianathan and Kulathilakarajah. (Ealamurasu) In Colombo, Sinhala newspaper "Divayina" carries report quoting "official" sources that Jaffna's Palaly airport will be made an interna- APRIL 15 tional airport with U.S. and British aid, and that APRIL 13 the runways will be extended to the Myliddy coast to facilitate movement of all three forces Farmer Sinniah Nandakumar (32) who went -Air Force, Navy and Army. The eventual objec- Men of the armed forces in civils surround to Nilayeli from his home village Kumburupitiya tive, according to the report, is to carve out a house yesterday at Thiruvaiyaru 2nd culvert to buy fertiliser on the 13th and reportedly "ar- the northern fringe of the peninsula into a "sec- in Kilinochchi district and take away nearly rested" by armed forces on that day, found urity operations zone" hundred bags of paddy to the army camp. dead with gunshot injuries. His body was brought to Trincomalee hospital. Shops at Nelliady close - in memory of TELO If the govt. was honest enough to arm the commander Dhars and other TELO militants proposed Provincial Councils with sufficient Decomposed body discovered in jungle area gunned down at Jaffna hospital premises on powers, he was prepared to persuade Tamil at Mankulam identified as that of this day last month. leaders to accept them, says a former SLFP Mathiaparanam Jegan (22), an employee of an Education Minister Dr. Badiudin Mahmud, at eating house, who had been missing for the a meeting of Muslim leaders in Colombo. past three days following a "search" operation by army personnel. APRIL 12 Abandoned houses of residents in Valalai, Thampalai close to Thondamanaru army camp Three soldiers killed and four others injured are set on fire by black uniformed armed Administrator of the Sankilian refugee in a landmine explosion at Niyankulam in Bat- forces; at Palaly, where also residents had centre in Jaffna Dr. Sasitharan reported to be ticaloa near the Polonnaruwa district border. been forced to flee and abandon their homes, arrested by Naval personnel while going on a Killed soldiers were Lance Corporal Anwer- houses are destroyed and in some places pro- boat with refugees, and produced at Trin- deen. Lance Corporal Sahabandu and Pvt J.L. duce-bearing trees are cut down to make way comalee Police station. Panditharatne. for temporary roads to facilitate movements Hindu temple at Punanai on the Batticaloa- of armoured cars and army vehicles. Y.P. Arumainayagam of Poonakari "exe- Polonnaruwa road near the army camp is now cuted" as an army informer and his body tied A young Tamil woman Vanaja Var- used by STF as a check post. to a lamp post. nakulanathan(21) of Mutur, who was allegedly In search operations by armed forces now tortured by men of the armed forces is sent Residents of Thunnalai form Vigilance Com- camping at govt. school in Triyai, north of Trin- to Jaffna hospital for emergency treatment by mittee to prevent robberies and decide to set

5ri Lanka Situation Report June 1, 1986 jkpo;j; Njrpa Mtzr; Rtbfs; www.tamilarangam.net Diary of Events and Human Rights Violations & Ceasefire Violations road blocks between 10 p.m. and 4. a.m. The killed are, a 4-year old child and a youth, and beaten repeatedly with rifle butts and Arudpiragasam (23) both killed by army shells kicked with booted feet. After some time Army men who had set up camp at Nainativu in their homes, at .Navatkuli, 2 soldiers, when he seemed unconscious, they were engage local civilian going on a boat to Kurikad- Karunaratne (30) of Kurunegala and Abhayasiri seen sprinkling water on him and feeling his duvan to buy food and provisions for them. At (28) of Mirigama, and two LITE militants, Lt. pulse. He was seen being untied and dragged Kurikadduvan the money was robbed at gun- Gerry (S. Yogarasa) and Murali (N. inside the camp. point, and on reporting back the civilians and Kamalanathan) both of Chavakachcheri, who the boat are detained by army personnel. were killed in action at Navatkuli. Three other 4 Tamil youths, Rasa, Maharasa, soldiers, Cyril Perera (31) of Negombo, Pertajhamby and Amalan, all of Chel- Weerasinghe (35) of and Gamini Ap- vanayakapuram in Trinco district, taken away puhamy of Polgahawela believed critically in- by armed forces. APRIL 16 jured. Armed gang of 15 hold up 8 passing vehicles Earlier in the day Muslim Tamils Of Jaffna including a govt. bus, at Miyankulam in Bat- For 27 days now - since March 21 - no poojas stage a mass protest march condemning U.S. ticaloa district and rob all passengers. or religious rites held at the Sellasannathy bombing of Libya and burn the American flag Govt. claims that a "terrorist" identified as Hindu temple. Smell of rotting corpses in tem- opposite the government secretariat. All shops Thevaranjan of TELO was captured in Col- ple vicinity. Temple priests. Citizens Commit- close in sympathy. tee complain to Jaffna G.A. and ask for shifting ombo. of army camp away from the temple. An apparently drunken man, a Sinhalese, SLFP retains the Akmeemana seat in Parlia Wijeyaratne Douglas who walked with a gun ment defeating the ruling UNP. Helicopter strafing again, in the north. Vil- into the Mudalikulam Tamil refugee camp in lages affected: Mallakam, Tellipallai, Kadduvan Trinco district, shouting that all Tamils should and Kurumbacitty. Several persons injured, a be killed and began firing at random and who leading school, Union College and several was overpowered by his own wife who had houses damaged. rushed behind him, is produced before Tinco APRIL 19 Additional magistrate M.K. Sellarajah. He is re- S. Ravindrarajah (23) of Point Pedro an LTTE manded until April 28. fighter killed, hit by a shell from the Point Pedro The government's home Guards scheme in- army camp. Helicopter strafing of Kadduvan, Myliddy troduced into Tamil-majority areas is reported and Kurumbacitty areas, continue. to be collapsing slowly. Unemployed Homes of Selliah Balasubramaniam and Nal- Sinhalese, and in some areas Muslims, were lathamby Ratnasabapathy at Kachcheri-Nallur Unknown persons set fire to Poonakari given a brief training, a shot gun each and or- Road, Jaffna, robbed by armed gang, and over Maha Vidyalayam. School records and part of dered to keep a vigil for "terrorist activities", Rs. 4 lakhs worth jewellery and cash taken the buildings destroyed. on a payment of Rs. 40/- per day. These away. "Home Guards" are now being found not only to be ineffective, but an additional menace to In Trincomalee district, 60 Tamil families liv- the civilian population. In many cases the guns ing near the 3rd Mile army check post at have been taken back and payments stopped. Nilaveli forced to abandon their homes. With APRIL 18 refugee camps full, they are now become vag- Three women and a man were killed and rants. Another 1,000 families, residents of 7 Air Force personnel and 2 civilians killed their bodies displayed opposite the Senaiyur Chelvanayakapuram Colony are under army in landmine explosion on the Trincomalee- refugee camp at Kaddaipanchchan in Mutur orders to leave. Anuradhapura road, and another two airmen district. A placard near the bodies read: This is the fate that awaits those who give informa- Jungle at Omanthai in the mainland north seriously injured. The party was travelling in a tion about freedom fighters to the armed are being set on fire, and trees and vegetation truck and a jeep from the Morawewa Air Force forces. destroyed by army men who have set up camp camp to Anuradhapura for supplies. The dead were 4 leading aircraftsmen and 3 Corporals. in the area. A Tamil militant group is believed to be re- The LTTE which set off the explosion esti- sponsible for the spiriting away of 400 Com- Following a drunken brawl among army per- mates the death toll as 23, Elsewhere in the mando uniforms from a laundry at Arasady sonnel at Abeyapura in Trincomalee district, East, Sub Inspector of Police Kurunbalapitiya Junction, Batticaloa. four army men admitted to Trinco hospital was killed at Pottuvil, when a hand grenade with stab injuries. was'flung at the jeep in which he was travel- A Tamil fisherman, A. Joseph who was en- ling. gaged in fishing near the Senthankulam coast J in the north was caught by navy men, who Was a Tamil youth beaten to death by army deprived him of his catch and his net and re- personnel opposite the army camp at Navat- leased him after a severe beating. APRIL 17 kuli? Eyewitnesses say a youth estimated to be around 22 years old who was cycling from Kandiah Rasadurai of Chettiar Madam, Araly, Six persons killed in Jaffna following army the direction of Kaithady towards Jaffna, wear- complains in a newspaper advertisement offensives from two army camps - the Dutch ing a blue shirt and white sarong, was stopped (Eelanadu) that an armsd gang of youths had and Navatkuli, and over a dozen injured. by army men, tied to a tree opposite the camp robbed his home and had taken away not only

Sri Lanka Situation Report June 1, 1986 jkpo;j; Njrpa Mtzr; Rtbfs; www.tamilarangam.net Diary of Events and Human Rights Violations & Ceasefire Violations cash, jewellery and TV, but also air tickets, diers killed and several others injured, the tem- the armed forces and also accuse the militants passports, Identity cards of his four grown-up ple chariot and temple buildings destroyed by of having set fire to the chariot! A lone helicop- daughters whom he had planned to send to aerial fire, an officiating Brahmin priest and his ter flies low in the area today, and thereafter Malaysia. He appeals to the "good" militant assistant stripped by army men and killed, and strafes every moving, vehicle in the nearby vil- groups to help him recover at least his several civilians feared dead or injured. The lages. Meanwhile concern was expressed by daughters' documents, without which his day of tragedy began at dawn around 5 a.m. military authorities in Colombo that the body daughters would face a bleak future. when LITE guerillas spotted an army unit from of one soldier who was killed was not reco- the Thondamanaru camp moving stealthily in vered. Hotel Ashok in Jaffna and a restaurant in the the direction of the temple. LTTE guerillas bazaar area Amuthasurabi hotel, were both mounted an offensive at the moving column, Bodies of two Sinhalese civilians among the damaged partially by shelling from the Dutch encircling them in 3 directions, killing at least four who were kidnapped at Kinniya near Fort army camp. Over Rs. 1 lakh damage was 8, injuring several more and forcing them back Trinco, discovered with gunshot injuries. caused to these two buildings as well as into the army camp. A day-long reprisal fol- others. lowed. While a plane flew low over the area, The unknown youth who was beaten up by army men opposite the army camp at Navatkuli Another Air Force man injured in the and was challenged by rocket fire, a black on the 18th has now been identified as 23-year Morawewa landmine explosion succumbs to helicopter from Palaly began strafing the tem- old Vadivelu Sinnathurai of Madduvil. But the his injuries at the General Hospital, Colombo. ple vicinity, while the army men from the camp kept shelling continuously. In the evening Navatkuli authorities deny knowledge of the It is estimated that there are 55,000 Tamil around 6 p.m. 14 bombs were dropped in the youth. refugee in the Jaffna peninsula, comprising temple area, destroying the chariot built re- 16,000 families, 5,000 of whom are in camps cently at great expense with public donations. and others outside camps. Other temple buildings also damaged. Elsewhere in nearby areas helicopters began Govt. claims that two "terrorists" belonging strafing at all moving vehicles. A team of high- APRIL 23 to the EPRLF were killed in Thikkodi in Bat- ranking army officials reported to have flown ticaloa by "security forces" who also reco- from Colombo late in the evening to investi- vered two grenades and EPRLF literature. gate the day's happenings. Colombo and Anuradhapura, 120 miles apart, rocked by two bombs. 9 persons killed In the Kantalai bund burst disaster, it is now in Anuradhapura, and in Colombo nine escape feared that those who lost their lives might be with injuries. A bomb suspected to have been in the region of a few hundreds concealed in a petrol bowser from Jaffna rips APRIL 20 through the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation's At Kilinochchi, a large army convoy in 15 oil storage facility at Anuradhapura and sets Kantalai reservoir in the Eastern province armoured cars and trucks move in a show of off a major fire, blowing up two more petrol burst its bund at dawn this morning, leaving strength firing in the air, causing panic in sev- bowsers and causing extensive damage to the at least 25 dead and rendering at least 30,000 eral villages. complex. The bomb in Colombo was in an un- persons homeless. Waters inundate vast areas claimed travelling bag in a private bus and including some 35 villages and 21,500 acres About 15 police commandos admitted to exploded when a hasty policeman meddles of paddy and sugarcane. Both road and rail Valaichchenai hospital in the East, with minor with it at the police station. links between Trinco and Colombo cut off. injuries following a surprise attack on them by Minister of National Security Lalith Tamil militants in a place called "Pulipain- Following the Anuradhapura expolosion, Athulathmudali rules out sabotage. thakal". One Commando who sustained seri- thugs set upon several lorries and buses plying Emergency refugee camps set up. ous injuries was flown to Colombo. between Jaffna and Colombo, causing a com- plete stoppage of road transport between At Point Pedro, four soldiers and 2 LTTE Batticaloa-Amparai Citizens Committee to north and south. militants killed in an encounter. Heavy shelling submit the names and details of 341 persons from the sea follows, making people flee in- known to have "disappeared" after being ar- In the north. Brigadier Rupasinghe is per- wards. rested by armed forces, to the military Co-or- suaded to see for himself the massive destruc- dinating officer. tion suffered by the venerated Hindu shrine of " In Vavuniya, shops close in protest against Sellasannathy. The Brigadier who came by repeated robberies. helicopter to the army camp opposite, is met by G.A., Jaffna who had motored there with In Matale, in the plantation area, a former Citizens Committee members. Brigadier sees Mayor, a Tamil, S. Thambirajah is killed and the temple's 40-foot wooden decorative his wife critically injured when hand grenades APRIL 22 chariot built with the help of Indian sculptors were flung at their home by unknown persons. at a cost of Rs.45 lakhs now a large mound of ash; in the temple outer courtyard he sees Following the day-long incidents at Thon- two human skeletons; the large temple prayer APRIL 21 damanaru yesterday, the entire area seems bell fallen from the belfry and lying scattered denuded of human population. In Colombo in pieces. The temple area which used to throb A day of unmitigated terror and tragedy at government authorities accuse Tamil militants with human activity is now a picture of desol- northern coastal town of Thondamanaru. 8 sol of having used the temple as a cover to attack ation. Temple trustees and Citizens Commit

Sri Lanka Situation Report June 1, 1986 jkpo;j; Njrpa Mtzr; Rtbfs; www.tamilarangam.net Diary of Events and Human Rights Violations & Ceasefire Violations tee members hold the view that there was no Rajadurai. Colombo newspaper "SUN"says 14 "ter- point discussing re-opening the temple for rorists" were killed in raids by armed forces public worship as long as the army was A Hindu monitoring group, set up in Nallur, in jungle hideouts in Batticaloa district. camped opposite it. Jaffna, is now engaged in collecting all data relating to destruction of Hindu temples, rob- In yesterday's "search operation" at Vis- bing of temples and acts of sacrilege both by vamadu, armed forces kill Narayanasamy Sinhala mobs during the 77 riots as well as Ravindran (21) and Joseph Gunaseelan (20). by armed forces since then. APRIL 26 both employed at a dairy outlet at Visvamadu junction, bomb and destroy a building on the main road near Chundikulam junction. A helicopter and plane provide aerial cover. Thondamanaru areas again sybject to APRIL 25 helicopter attacks. In a "search operation" involving over a thousand soldiers and over five villages in Am- Prof. K.Sivathamby of the Valvettiturai Citi- In Batticaloa, one of the main road bridges, parai district. 58 Tamils were taken away on zens Committee takes strong objection to a the Paddiruppu road bridge, is blasted by a a "head nodding signal" by a masked person. maior subversion of truth in the Govt.T.V. -the bomb. Explosion heard for 20 miles around, Rupavahini, involving the incidents at Sellasan- say reports. About 125 villages in Paddiruppu nathy Temple. In a strongly worded statement cut off from direct access as a result. made to the G.A. Jaffna, in whose presence Brigadier Rupasinghe had inspected the dam- APRIL 24 Kaththankudy Multi-purpose co-operative age to temple property, Prof. Sivathamby ex- store robbed of Rs. 2V2 lakhs worth goods by presses shock how the burnt chariot, the splin- armed gang. Kaththankudy is a Muslim major- Eelam Revolutionary Organisation (EROS) tered, temple bell, the burnt roof had all been ity area and it was only recently 75 Home through its spokesman V.Balakumar claims re- suppressed in the film. Instead, an impression Guards were appointed for this area from local sponsibility for the blast at the State-owned was sought to be created that the temple residents. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation storage facility priest was not killed by showing Balendra Iyer at Anuradhapura yesterday, and warns that when in fact it was the senior priest Sinniah many more such operations would be underta- Kurukkal and his assistant who were killed. The presence of soldiers at Maviddapuram ken to cripple the Sri Lanka economy, unless The Rupavahini feature was a deliberate falsifi- junction causes stir among the public. They the govt. stops its acts of terrorism against cation of the truth, Mr. Sivathamby says. Many had apparently come to hire a lorry to offload Tamils. The damage to the Corporation is esti- other TV viewers also express anger. goods from a ship at the KKS harbour, but had mated at Rs. 3.5 million. quickly gone back. Enraged by the Rupavahini programme on It is now known that apart from two petrol the Sellasannathy temple on the 24th, Continuous shelling from morning till noon bowsers from the north which caught fire in Seenikutty Kathirgamanathar (48) of Pannalai, from the Pt.Pedro army camp. No casualties. yesterday's explosion, five other bowsers Jaffna, takes a home axe and breaks up his The objective appears to have been to destroy from Tamil areas parked in the yard outside own TV set. Kathirgamanathan is reported to buildings in the neighbourhood. had been deliberately set on fire by miscreants. be a life-long devotee of the Sellasannathy A Tamil lawyer Thamu Kanagasingam and temple. another Tamil who had come to board a train Tamil constable Thurairajah attached to Alut- at Anuradhapura station were set upon by 16 Tamils and 4 Sinhalese have been taken gama police station dies of gunshot injuries at thugs in the station premises and were admit- into custody in connection with the bomb exp- Alutgama. No details available. ted to hospital in an unconscious state. losion at Anuradhapura. Tellipallai residents angry over night robbery Protest procession in Jaffna against the kid- Several fishing boats beached off Mathagal napping 20 days earlier and holding to ransom at the home of Cement Factory engineer and Senthankulam on the northern coast are S.Thevaratnam who lives next to the Post Of- of Mascons Director Ganeshan by unidentified damaged by helicopter fire. militant group. fice. Gang of about 20 armed youths force their way into house, assault the engineer, Four armed unknown persons rob the Bank In the course of a "search operation" in Man- abuse his wife and engage in brutal behaviour of Ceylon, Vavuniya of Rs.1 lakh and nine before taking away cash and jewellery. Resi- dur in Batticaloa district, armed forces rob two thousand. Despite resistance offered by bank Hindu temples, one of them the ancient and dents put up road blocks and stage a protest. security and other staff, the robbers get away Mr. Thevaratnam's neighbour's house also celebrated Mandur Kandasamy Temple. with the loot. Booted soldiers break open into the sanctum robbed at the same time. sanctorum into which even the Hindu worship- Thousands of rotting carcasses of animals pers are not admitted, rob several lakhs worth in Kantalai are causing an unbearable stench and Jaffna Municipal employees who went to gold ornaments break open the temple till, as- a health hazard. Medical trains rushed from investigate unauthorised tapping of electricity sault the temple priests and terrorise the local Colombo to prevent outbreak of epidemics. at Arasady Road. Nallur, set upon by unknown population. Urgent protest telegrams sent to Inter- national Red Cross survey says 2,500 persons. Commissioner appeals to the youths Minister of Hindu Affairs in the govt. Chelliah persons are still missing. and Citizens Committee to identify the offen- ders.

Sri Lanka Situation Report June 1. 198ft jkpo;j; Njrpa Mtzr; Rtbfs; www.tamilarangam.net

SITUATION REPORT

'^(Continued from page 2) ping complex and led to the evacuation of a stock of poonac. Galle police also obtained has laid down certain rules to ensure the safety people on the first floor, while the army bomb information regarding the vehicle in which the of students and schools but it has never told disposal unit conducted investigations. The said merchants had come and other occupants school authorities to ban school bags. All that parcel contained a few empty bottles, Police of the vehicle. A stock of diesel worth Rs. the Ministry wanted was to check the bags at said. But the hoax is not being taken lightly in 40,000 and a stock of petrol worth Rs. 34,000 the entrance to the schools he added. Several view of an incident reported on Tuesday night. had been collected from two fuel stations parents have reported the action of the princi- In this incident, a parking warden who gave a Police sources said. (Sun-17.5.86) pals to the Ministry which is to investigate the driver a ticket had been threatened by the car's complaints shortly. Some school principals occupants that a bomb would be placed at the More bomb scares confiscated bags brought in by students in a complex, police said. The parking warden has bid to discourage the practice of bringing bags then taken down the car number and reported Bomb hoaxes at two business establish- to school. (Sun-22.5.86) the matter. Investigations are underway. ments caused panic among employees yester- Police assured. (Sun-15.5.86) day. The army bomb disposal squad was called Fire at Garments factory yesterday morning when employees of the 'Rag' bags cause panic City Bank at found an unclaimed A major fire at a garment factory at Ekala brief case on a counter. The squad which ar- on Friday night destroyed machinery, finished Two travelling bags in a private coach rived a few minutes later cleared the office. garments and a store house of dress material caused panic at the Pettah bus stand yesterday But found that the brief case contained docu- causing an estimated Rs. 5 million in damages. and the army's bomb disposal experts were ments. A telephone call warning employees ^Jhe fire was finally brought under control by summoned to investigate. Traffic was halted of Airlanka's office at the Mercantile building he Colombo Fire Brigade with the assistance and the area evacuated while the two unat- in Fort that a bomb was placed in the office ' of air force personnel stationed in Ekalaand tended bags were checked Both bags were also caused panic. They were evacuated from the Ja-Ela Police. According to Police the fire filled with rags and police believe it was a de- the office and the army bomb disposal squad which started around 2.30 a.m. destroyed liberate attempt to cause a bomb scare. Mean- searched the office, but no bomb was found. nearly 500 sewing machines and a large stock while, Police called the army bomb dis- (Sun-20.5.86.) of finished garments... (Sun-26.5.86) posal unit when the crew of a provate coach reported the presence of an unaccompanied Escape of Key suspect Another detention camp parcel. Police closed the road to the Borella junction and the area was cleared. But what A key suspect in a terrorist cum southern Government is to set up another detention they found in the parcel was not a bom but Marxist plot to set off bomb explosions in Col- camp to accommodate suspects arrested the rain coat of a police officer. The incident ombo has escaped from a southern police sta- under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The occurred around 7 p.m. yesterday. (Sun- tion. Police Headquarters yesterday ordered a existing camp in Boosa is overcrowded, a De- 28.5.86) found probe on the escape as a massive fence Ministry source said, explaining the search was launched for the southern youth who is said to have undergone guerrilla training need for another camp. The new camp is likely Job agencies fraud to be located at a site in Pelawatte in the Kalut- in a terrorist base in Tamil Nadu. The five main ara district where land and buildings are avail- Some fraudulent job agencies earn as much targets this group sought to attack were, the able. They had earlier been used on an agricul- as half a million rupees daily Labour Minister Rupavahini Corporation, Sri Lanka Broadcast- tural project which has been wound up. The P.C. Imbulana revealed yesterday. They ing Corporation, Bank of Ceylon, Headquar- official said the camp at Boosa which at pre- charge each client Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 ters, Registration of Persons Department and sent houses terrorist suspects is crowded. and deceive them with false promises the Airlanka office in Fort. According to police Hence the Ministry feels more suspects Minister said. He said the Ministry had inten- since his escape several anonymous tele- ^should not be sent there since it would cause sified its efforts to nab these agencies and phone calls have been received by police sta- congestion and administrative prob- appealed for public co-operation. The Ministry, tions in the south demanding the release of ' lems...(Sun-28.5.86) he said would shortly formulate scheme to the other four members of the radical group ensure the compulsory registration of all per- who were trained in Tamil Nadu. Police have launched a massive search in the south to lo^ Motorcycle bandits sons seeking employment abroad at the Foreign Employment abroad at the Foreign cate his hideout officials said. Meanwhile, Two helmeted motorcyclists snatched a bag Employment Bureau Mr. Imbulana said. The police investigators have questioned a woman containing Rs. 130,000 from two employees Minister was speaking at a meeting of Foreign in connection with the explosives haul for of a car sales company outside the People's Employment Bureau officials. (Sun-28.5.86) which the son of a former Sri Lankan Tamil Bank foreign branch at Bristol Street, Fort last diplomat is being held. The woman, police said, was the mother of the person who had afternoon. According to Police, the employees Cigar merchants suspected from the company in , who were been occupying the premises at which the travelling in a jeep, had earlier withdrawn the Galle Police have launched an investigation gelignite was found. The man has disap- money from the People's Bank Kollupitiya and to ascertain whether a consignment of petrol peared. The Avissawella police have also had gone to Fort to deposit the money. They and diesel obtained in Galle by traders from launched a search for eight more members of were walking towards the Bank when the Jaffna were meant for terrorists. A group of this group. This includes the leader of the rad- motorcyclists, on one motorbike had snatched one traders had come to Galle recently from ical group, police said. The group had allegedly the bag and ridden off, police said... (Sun- Jaffna with a lorry load of cigars and tobacco. been responsible for two robberies last year 30.5.86). They had delivered these items and filled bar Rs. 165,000 from a bank in Deraniyagala and Rs. 400,000 from an estate in Udabage. The group had also planned to set up an under- Bottle parcel creates panic rels of petrol and diesel from two filling sta- tions in Galle, SP Galle, W.A. Weeraratne told ground arms and ammunitions dump at Wen: A parcel in a toilet at the Liberty Plaza last 'SUN'. Police have received information that nappuwa and to send another 15 youths for morning caused panic in this crowded shop- the fuel bafrrels had been transported under training in South India. (Sun-30.5.86) Sri Lanka Situation Report Junjkpo;j;e 1. 1986 Njrpa Mtzr; Rtbfs; www.tamilarangam.net SITUATION REPORT

Obituaries In a land where Death by Violence is a common occurrence and the names of the victims rarely get obituary notices, here are some "fortunate" few who passed away into the void, duly noticed by Sri Lankan newspapers :-

MUTTETUWEGAMA - Sarath. Com Sivapragasam, Matale, mother of. Ruk- Sons, husband of Lucy, father of Navachan- munist Party M.P. for Kalawana, Sri Lanka Par- manidevi, Kamaladevi, Kathirgamanathan drabala (Air Lanka), Dr. Thiruchelvam (USA), liament, husband of Manouri, father of Ramani (Saudi), Sivaloganathan (UK), Senthilnathan Jessiva (USA), Funeral 20th May-27/3, Peter- and Maithri, son-in-law of Dr. Colvin R.de Silva, (Qatar), Jayanathan, Indradevi, Anjalidevi. son Lane, Wellawatte. Rajanathan. Funeral 22nd May. Vairava died under tragic circumstances. Cremation at NITHIANANDA - Sarojini, wife of Dr. K. Ratnapura Municipal Grounds on 22nd May. Kovilady, Kokuvil. Nithiananda, mother of Shivanthi, Shivakumar. Shankari, and Shivaharan. Cremation 29th SIVAPRAGASAM - Danaluxmi, wife of Dr. THAMBIRATNAM - M. late of Samuel & May. 127, Reid Avenue, Colombo 4.

Sri Lanka Situation Report June 1, 1986. jkpo;j; Njrpa Mtzr; Rtbfs;