January 8

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran, and his intelligence chief, Pottu Amman, are among those dead or missing after the Tsunami disaster, the Sri Lankan state radio stated.

January 9

Three people are killed and 38 others sustain injuries when a hand grenade allegedly lobbed by two LTTE cadres exploded at a funeral house in the LTTE-held Vakaneri area of Batticaloa district.

Refusing to give a time frame, United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell, stated that the US Marines who are landing in Sri Lanka soon may spend a long period in the country to carry out relief and rebuilding process.

January 14

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Sri Lankan representative, Ted Chaiban, states that it had received reports that the LTTE were recruiting children displaced by the Tsunami and warned the rebels to leave under-age survivors alone. "Recruitment... was an issue before the tsunami. It's an issue that continues to be of concern. We know of three cases of reported under-age recruitment that took place in the east," said Chaiban.

January 16

The police use tear gas to disperse a group of about 500 persons trying to hoist the LTTE flag in the Government-held town of Pesalai in the Mannar district to mark the 12^th anniversary of the death of Sathasivam Krishnakumar alias Kittu, a rebel ‘commander’ who blew up his ship when surrounded by the Indian navy in 1993.

January 17

In his first public appearance since the January 26 Tsunami, the LTTE chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran, met with his outfit’s disaster management planners in Kilinochchi.

January 19

President Chandrika Kumaratunga states in Hambantota that there would be no elections for the next five years and therefore all political forces should sink their party differences and work towards rebuilding the tsunami-devastated country.

S P Thamilselvam, head of the LTTE political wing, says that the Tamils feel "discriminated against" because India is doing tsunami relief work only in the Government-held areas of Sri Lanka, totally ignoring the "even greater" humanitarian crisis in the Tamil-speaking areas held by the LTTE.

January 23

The LTTE expresses willingness to be included in a ‘common programme’ with the Government for providing relief to the tsunami victims in the North-East, before any recommencement of peace talks.

January 26

The UNICEF says that LTTE have recruited 40 children under the age of 18 in the month since the tsunami disaster. According to Martin Dawes, UNICEF spokesperson for South Asia, "We've got 40 cases we've been able to verify… There's one 13-year-old. It goes up to 17. This is something we regret ... children have no place in the war."

January 28

The LTTE chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran, asks international donors to disburse their tsunami-related assistance to the North East of Sri Lanka through their own NGOs, circumventing the Government.

January 31

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader, ‘Colonel’ Soosai, claims that Government support was essential for the reconstruction of tsunami-affected areas in the North-East since the outfit cannot fulfill this task on its own.

February 4

A LTTE official, in charge of the outfit’s Forest Conservation Division, is shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Kiran, 28 kilometers north of Batticaloa.

The LTTE discloses they were freeing 23 children after allegations that they had recruited at least 40 child soldiers since the tsunami disaster.

February 7

LTTE’s Eastern Political wing leader, Kaushalyan, his deputy Nedimaran and three other LTTE cadres are killed during an ambush at Poonani in the Batticaloa district

February 8

Ariyanayagam Chandra Nehru, ex-Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament for the Amparai district, who was injured when unidentified gunmen shot dead senior LTTE leader, E. Kausalyan, and four other cadres in Batticaloa district on February 7, succumbs to his injuries in Colombo.

February 10

Secretary General, Kofi Annan, in the latest United Nations (UN) report on "Children and Armed Conflict" said that since 2001, the LTTE has recruited more than 4700 children.

Tamil National Force (TNF), a para-military group under the joint command of the leader of the breakaway LTTE faction, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias ‘Colonel Karuna, and the Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front, claims responsibility for the February 7-killing of LTTE leader, E. Kaushalyan, in Batticaloa district.

February 11

Cabinet spokesperson and Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, announces that the Government would hold presidential election on or before November 12, 2006, reiterating that the President had no intention of postponing the poll as alleged by the Opposition.

February 12

One civilian is killed and two persons, including a LTTE activist, are wounded when unidentified persons lobbed a grenade targeting the outfit’s office in Mannar town.

February 14

LTTE leader, Anton Balasingham, informs the Norwegian facilitators in London that the Sri Lankan Government has to take steps to restore confidence in the peace process, in particular by disarming paramilitaries working alongside its armed forces and establish a joint mechanism with the LTTE for post-tsunami aid.

February 20

Suspected LTTE cadres kill a cadre of the rival ‘Colonel’ Karuna faction and injure another near the Batticaloa-Polannaruwa district border.

February 22

Marking the third anniversary of the cease-fire, the Sri Lankan Government announced that it continues to be ready to reopen direct negotiations with the LTTE on the establishment of an interim authority. The Government Information Department said the goal of the proposed interim authority would be "to meet the urgent humanitarian and development needs of the people of the North and East and to proceed thereafter to negotiating a final settlement of the ethnic conflict."

The LTTE is reported to have shot dead a Sri Lankan Army soldier at Killali in the Jaffna district.

February 24

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) opposes resumption of peace talks with the LTTE based on an interim administration and said negotiations would have to include the outlines of a final settlement.

February 28

Head of the LTTE political division (women) for Batticaloa-Amparai, Kuveni, and two of her colleagues, Akanila and Sasimathy, are shot at and wounded in Thambattai, about six kilometers south of Akkaraipattu by gunmen suspected to be from the rival ‘Colonel’ Karuna faction.

Cadres of the LTTE ‘Wanni pistol group’ shot dead a displaced tsunami civilian, who was also an Army deserter, two hours after the incident at Akkaraipattu in which three female LTTE cadres were shot.

March 2

Two cease-fire monitors from the SLMM are attacked by the LTTE cadres in Vavuniya. They were investigating a complaint that two People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) members had been forcibly detained by the LTTE.

March 5

Six civilians are shot dead at Welikanda in the Polonnaruwa district by cadres of the LTTE. Among the dead is a suspected cadre of the ‘Colonel’ Karuna faction and four Muslims.

A person suspected to be cadre of the 'Colonel' Karuna group, identified as Mylvaganam Pulenthiran, is shot dead in Vanthaarumoolai, 18 kilometers north of Batticaloa, by the LTTE.

A LTTE cadre, ‘Major' Pushparaj, is shot dead by cadres of the Karuna faction in Batticaloa district. Two LTTE cadres were also injured in the attack.

March 6

In Eravur, 14 kilometers north of Batticaloa town, a civilian, identified as Velauthan Ilankeshwarn, is killed by the LTTE.

March 7

The World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka, Peter Harrold, says that the bank has no intention of providing funds directly to the LTTE. Harrold stated this in response to a call by the ruling coalition partner, JVP, on March 6 to withdraw a statement by the former in an interview to the Sunday Times where he is quoted as recognising the LTTE controlled area as "a kind of unofficial state".

A former PLOTE member, A. Kirubeswaran, is shot dead by LTTE cadres near the Batticaloa police station.

March 9

A civilian, allegedly abducted by the LTTE cadres on March 8 from Kadjuwatte in the Batticaloa district, is found dead. Military spokesperson, Brigadier Daya Ratnayake, said he was abducted while returning with three others in his vehicle from paddy fields on the Valachchenai-Vakarai road.

March 10

During a meeting with the Norwegian special peace envoy, Erik Solheim, the LTTE leader, Anton Balasingham, admits that the outfit has an airstrip in Kilinochchi.

March 11

Three PLOTE cadres are wounded when two unidentified men riding a motorbike lobbed a grenade on the group’s camp in Batticaloa town.

March 14

Two suspected LTTE cadres, Sinnaturai Selvanaathen and Subramanium Gunesekaram, are shot dead at Karapola.

March 21

Two LTTE cadres are killed during a clash with cadres of the rival ‘Colonel’ Karuna faction in Welikanda, 25 km east of the town of Polonnaruwa.

March 24

The Sri Lankan Army denies existence of any LTTE camp in the Government-controlled areas of Theevuchenai village in the Polonnaruwa district.

March 26

Five LTTE cadres are killed by cadres of the rival 'Colonel' Karuna faction at Tharavai in the Batticaloa district.

March 28

Suspected Karuna faction cadres threw grenades targeting a LTTE office in Vavuniya, 210 km north of Colombo, wounding at least three people.

LTTE reportedly commences a satellite TV station called National Television of Tamil Eelam (NTT), covering Europe from an undisclosed location in the Wanni area of Sri Lanka.

March 29

Civilians in the welfare center for Internally Displaced People at Mandan in the Batticaloa district prevent a LTTE group from allegedly abducting a child for conscription.

March 30

Suspected LTTE cadres attack a van carrying six EPDP activists at Aarumuhaththaan Kudiyiruppu, 12 kilometers north of Batticaloa.

April 1

LTTE cadres kill a person believed to be close to the EPDP in Kommathurai, 17 kilometers north of Batticaloa

April 4

LTTE's pistol group kills a senior Government functionary, T. Kailanandan, Director of Vocational Training Ministry at the Kattankudy Technical College, in Batticaloa.

Suspected LTTE cadres threw a grenade targeting the EPDP office in Karaithivu, 45 kilometers south of Batticaloa.

April 5

LTTE cadres shot dead a former cadre of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), John Silva Amerasingham, at Akkaraipattu in the Amparai district, 64 kilometers south of Batticaloa.

A SLMM official, Alf Stoelam, on board a Navy patrol boat in the sea off Upparu in Trincomalee is wounded as LTTE cadres fired at the boat.

A former EPDP cadre, Arumugam Ambikaipahan, is shot at and wounded at a movie theatre in the Batticaloa town.

The UNICEF has reportedly stated that the LTTE recruited 106 child soldiers since the Tsunami on December 26, 2004.

April 6

Suspected LTTE cadres kill a police constable and wounded another during an attack at Kalmunai, 40 kilometers south of Batticaloa.

April 8

Cadres of the 'Colonel' Karuna faction attack a LTTE check point at Poonagar in the Trincomalee district killing two LTTE cadres manning the check point.

April 10

LTTE frees a Sri Lankan soldier they captured a day earlier for allegedly trespassing on the former's territory, says Hagrup Haukland, head of the European cease-fire monitors.

April 11

A member of the EPDP, Vijayadas Wijendran alias Kunjan, is shot dead by the LTTE in Trincomalee.

April 13

A Muslim civilian abducted by the LTTE and held in captivity for two and a half months in the Mullaithivu jungles escapes and reaches Vavuniya.

April 14

Five cadres of a 'paramilitary group' are killed during an attack on their camp by suspected LTTE cadres at Sorivil in the Welikanda area of Polannaruwa district, 80 kilometers northwest of Batticaloa.

April 15

Divisional Secretary for Thirukkovil, A. K Thavarajah, is shot dead by an unidentified gunman in Thirukovil.

April 20

The Norwegian peace envoy, Erik Solheim, says that he will be able to establish a joint mechanism to provide post-Tsunami relief to victims in the North and East by concluding an agreement between the Sri Lankan Government and LTTE.

April 21

Citing an intercepted rebel communication, military spokesperson, Brig. Daya Ratnayake, says that five LTTE cadres were killed and seven others wounded in a pre-dawn attack by the 'Colonel' Karuna faction at Kanjikudichcha Aaru in the Amparai district, about 250 kilometers east of the capital Colombo.

Suspected LTTE cadres kill Sivagnanaselvam Kirubaharan, a suspected Karuna group cadre, in Valaichenai, 32 kilometers north of Batticaloa.

April 24

Suspected LTTE cadres attack a Hindu religious procession in the Batticaloa town injuring four persons, including two schoolgirls.

A senior police official, Inspector T. Jeyaratnam, responsible for the arrest of a large number of LTTE operatives, is reported missing from Colombo since April 20. Police said that Jeyaratnam was in the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) at the Mt. Lavinia police, one of the most active police investigation units against the LTTE. The TID Officer had received threats from the LTTE following his involvement in tracking down several LTTE cadres in Colombo.

April 25

Suspected LTTE cadres kill a cadre of the rival ‘Colonel' Karuna faction, identified as Sellathurai Kopalkumar, and also abduct one of his colleagues at Karapola village in the Polannaruwa district.

April 26

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) says it opposes the proposed joint mechanism between the Government and LTTE as the latter had neither given up its separatist agenda nor taken the path to democracy. "Without an assurance by the LTTE in word and deed" that it would end child recruitment, stop political killings, end abduction of rivals and pave the way for "free and fair elections in the north and east," the JVP "will not agree to any programme" with the Tigers, JVP leader, Somawansa Amarasinghe, stated at a press conference in Colombo.

April 27

A Police personnel, identified as Shelton Nawaratna, attached to the Counter Subversive Unit of the Eravur Police is shot dead by suspected LTTE pistol group cadres at Chenkaladi in the Batticaloa district.

April 28

An Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front member, Murgesu Wardharaja, is killed by a suspected LTTE cadre at Kalladi.

The U.S. State Department in its annual terrorism report ‘Country Reports on Terrorism 2004’ has continued its designation of the LTTE as a terrorist group.

April 29

The dead body of an abducted journalist, Dharmaretnam Sivaram, is found at Himbulala. Sivaram, a senior editorial board member of a pro- LTTE news agency, TamilNet, was abducted by unidentified persons near Bambalapitya Police Station in Colombo a day earlier.

May 3

The visiting Indian Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, says there was no conflict between India and Sri Lanka over the Sethusamudram canal project and Sri Lanka would be kept informed of any new developments on this issue. "There was no issue between Sri Lanka and India that we cannot sit down and talk," Saran stated at the India House in Colombo.

India announces a debt moratorium of three years on repayment of debt by Sri Lanka in response to the latter’s post-tsunami reconstruction needs.

May 6

Sri Lankan military recovers bodies of two LTTE cadres, believed to be intelligence operatives, killed during a clash with cadres of the rebel 'Colonel' Karuna faction. Military spokesperson, Brig. Daya Ratnayake, said the bodies were found in the Welikanda area of Polonnaruwa district.

May 9

A civilian is killed and at least 10 people sustain injuries as security forces (SFs) attempted to prevent an unruly mob from storming a checkpoint at Shanthiveli on the Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa road. Brig. Daya Ratnayake said the SFs manning the checkpoint had to fire shots in the air to control the violent protestors allegedly instigated by the LTTE.

May 12

Four police officers sustain injuries when suspected LTTE cadres attacked their vehicle near the Valachchenai town in Batticaloa district while they were traveling with a group of high level EPDP delegation.

May 14

A former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadre, Ponniah Thamilvanan, who had deserted and refused to rejoin the outfit, was shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres in the Batticaloa district.

May 16

President Chandrika Kumaratunga tells international donors that she will enter into an Tsunami aid-sharing deal with the LTTE despite threats to her life from "within and outside" her Government. She made these remarks at the opening of a two-day aid meeting attended by more than 125 participants including the World Bank, Japan and the United States. "In the decisions we are called upon to take, the lives of some of us are in extreme danger," Kumaratunga said. While disclosing that there is a threat "from within" her Government as well, the President added "Our commitment to this cause will be steadfast despite various objections from extremists, from various groups."

May 17

The Sri Lanka Development Forum ends in Kandy with the international donor community making commitments and pledges exceeding US $ 3 billion in the form of grants and moratorium on debts for the Tsunami reconstruction process and other development programmes initiated by the Government. Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama announces that: "Ninety five per cent of the assistance committed at the Forum comprises outright grants. There are no loans and there is no repayment also… There are absolutely no conditions for the disbursement of these funds to the Government."

A hand grenade lobbed by suspected LTTE cadres at Madathadi Junction in Trincomalee, where a new Buddha statue is being erected, kills one civilian and injures four others.

May 18

Suspected LTTE cadres kill an EPDP activist, A. Murugapallai, and injure two others in the Batticaloa district.

May 21

A woman, identified as Sinnathamby Annapillai, is killed when unidentified persons lobbed a grenade at the Periyakallaru LTTE political office in Batticaloa district.

May 23

A LTTE cadre, identified as Nagappa Sivaraj, is shot dead by suspected gunmen of the rival 'Colonel' Karuna faction at Manampitiya in the Polonnaruwa district.

May 25

Periyapodi Suriyamoorthy, former Chairman of the Trincomalee Urban Council, succumbs to gunshot injuries he had received on May 18 at his Trincomalee residence.

May 27

SLMM chief, Hagrup Haukland, speaking to the Foreign Correspondents' Association of Sri Lanka in Colombo, states that the LTTE possesses an airstrip in the island's north, but warned that any move by Government forces to bomb it could lead to a resumption of war.

May 28

LTTE cadres kill a Sub-Inspector attached to the Batticaloa Police, J. Felix Thiyagarajah, in Batticaloa town.

During a formal ceremony at the White House where Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Ambassador to the United States, Bernard A.B. Goonetilleke, presented his Letter of Credence, President George W. Bush reportedly stated that the LTTE "uses terrorism to achieve its political goals."

May 31

The LTTE shot dead a Commanding Officer of the Army Intelligence Unit, Major Nizam Mutalif, at Polhengoda in the capital Colombo.

June 2

The re-transmission station of an Indian television channel, Sun TV, at Vairavarpuliyankulam in the Vavuniya district which was operated by cadres of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) is attacked with hand grenades by rival LTTE cadres, causing damages to equipment.

June 3

An India-Sri Lanka Joint Statement issued in New Delhi, during the visit of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, has noted that she apprised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of her efforts to establish a Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) in the Tsunami-affected areas and that the "Prime Minister expressed understanding of and support for these ongoing efforts."

June 4

Suspected LTTE cadres kill a teenaged former cadre who had deserted the group at Mannampitiya, about 230 kilometers northeast of capital Colombo.

June 5

An EPDP cadre, Baskaran Preman Ashok, is shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres near Moothavinayagar Kovil at Anaikoddai in the Jaffna district.

Karuwathamby Packiyarajah, a 'Colonel' Karuna group cadre, is allegedly killed by the rival LTTE cadres at Aalankulam in the Batticaloa district.

June 6

A LTTE cadre, identified as V. Indrakumar, is shot dead at Wellawatta in the capital city of Colombo by unidentified persons.

The Sunday Times reports that the LTTE may be building an airfield in the Ichachalampatti forest areas of Trincomalee, close to the Sri Lankan Naval base in China Bay.

June 7

Speaking at a press conference in Kilinochchi after the meeting with Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar, LTTE 'political wing' leader S. P. Thamilselvan warned that the Government’s continuing refusal to provide travel security to its military commanders across Government-controlled areas will lead to a ‘potentially explosive situation’.

June 8

LTTE cadres, Niveharan and Sutharanjan, are killed in a claymore landmine explosion triggered by suspected cadres of the rival 'Colonel' Karuna group in a no-man zone at Sangamankandy in the Batticaloa district.

June 9

A civilian is killed and an Army soldier sustains injuries when LTTE gunmen open fire targeting an EPDP activist at Chenkaladi town in the Batticaloa district.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) threatens to withdraw from the ruling coalition by June 15 if the Government did not call off a Tsunami-aid plan with the LTTE.

June 11

A soldier of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry and an EPDP activist are killed in an improvised explosive device blast triggered by suspected LTTE cadres in front of the Vavuniya EPDP office. A police constable attached to the station at Muttur in Trincomalee is abducted by a group of LTTE cadres.

June 13

One civilian is killed and 15 sustain injuries when an unidentified person threw a hand grenade at a funeral function in Soruwila, Polonnaruwa district.

June 14

Suspected LTTE cadres fire at Navy personnel and injure one of them at Swamytottam in the Mannar district.

June 15

Ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition ally, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), withdraws support to the Government.

June 17

A police sergeant is shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Serunuwara in the Trincomalee district.

A police constable and a PLOTE cadre are injured during a grenade attack by unidentified gunmen at Kallady near Batticaloa town.

June 20

LTTE cadres shot dead a PLOTE member at Velikkulam in the Vavuniya district.

LTTE cadres stabbed to death an EPDP member at Akkaraipattu in the Batticaloa district.

A home guard at Serunuwara in Trincomalee district is abducted by a group of armed LTTE cadres.

June 21

A 'Colonel' Karuna group member, identified as Chitravelauthen Satyanathen, is shot dead in Muttur by suspected LTTE cadres.

June 22

One police personnel, Ranaweera Sisira, is shot at and wounded in Batticaloa by suspected LTTE cadres.

Three Sinhalese civilians are injured in a grenade attack by the LTTE in Trincomalee.

June 24

The Sri Lankan Government and LTTE sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing a Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS), aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of international assistance for the reconstruction of the coastline.

June 26

The Ampara district 'political head' of the LTTE, Kuylinpan, and 40 cadres escape an explosion at Welikanda in the Polonnaruwa district.

June 27

A mutilated body of a home guard, identified as Sahan Nandasiri, abducted earlier by the LTTE cadres was recovered at Serunuwara in Trincomalee district.

A soldier wounded in the June 9 LTTE attack on an EPDP vehicle at Chenkalady town succumbs to his injuries at the Colombo National Hospital.

June 29

A LTTE cadre, reportedly distributing copies of the pro-LTTE Tamil newspaper Sudar Oli and the LTTE publication Eelanadan, is shot dead by an unidentified gunman at Kalawanchikudy in the Batticaloa district.

June 30

Three soldiers are shot dead at Urani in the Batticaloa district by the LTTE.

July 2

One police personnel, Chaminda Roshan, is killed at Kalkudah, 35 km north of Batticaloa, by suspected LTTE cadres.

July 3

Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar stated in an interview to the Sunday Island newspaper that the impartiality of Norway as a peace broker is in doubt.

July 4

Two civilians are killed by the LTTE in separate incidents in the Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts.

S. P. Thamilselvan, leader of the political wing of the LTTE, states that the outfit did not accept Sri Lanka's sovereignty by signing the P-TOMS agreement.

July 5

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa presents the officially signed Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) agreement in the Parliament.

July 6

Two police officers of the National Intelligence Bureau, identified as M.O.L. Rafaideen and B.G. Kapilasiri, are shot at and wounded by the LTTE at Kalmunai in the Amparai district. Later, Rafaideen succumbs to his injuries.

LTTE kills a 'Colonel' Karuna group cadre, identified as Selvaraja, at Valaichchenai in the Batticaloa district.

Six LTTE cadres are arrested from the suburbs of Colombo along with a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

July 7

The Sri Lankan Parliament adopts the Draft Bill to give effect to the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing by a majority vote.

July 10

Four LTTE cadres, including two senior leaders identified as Dikkan and Sinnavan, are killed by the rival 'colonel' Karuna group at the Selvanayagapuram Agriculture Training Institute in Trincomalee district.

A soldier escaped with minor injuries when a suspected LTTE cadre detonated a hand grenade at Madco junction in the Trincomalee district.

July 11

A student, identified as Sangarapillai Jerrymban, is killed in a grenade attack by suspected LTTE cadres at Eravur in the Batticaloa district.

Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) spokesperson, Sharminee Serasinghe, states that the Government has decided to provide security escort to the LTTE cadres within the Government-controlled areas.

July 12

In a grenade attack carried out by suspected LTTE cadres, 13 police personnel are injured at Uppuveli in the Trincomalee district.

July 13

Nine civilians are injured when a suspected LTTE cadre threw a hand grenade at a Tsunami relief centre situated in the Muttur area of Trincomalee district.

In another grenade attack by the LTTE, 10 Army personnel, including one officer, attached to the Pansalwatte detachment are injured in Trincomalee district.

July 14

Three civilians are killed by suspected LTTE cadres at Akkaraipattu in the Amparai district

One suspected LTTE cadre is killed by the Sri Lankan navy personnel when the former fired at a navy check point in Kumurupiddi, Trincomalee district.

Suspected LTTE 'pistol gang' cadres injure a police officer in an ambush at Thampalakamam in the Trincomalee district.

Two civilians are injured in a grenade attack aimed at a military vehicle in the Anuradhapura junction area of Trincomalee district.

July 15

The Supreme Court passes a stay order to block four key provisions of the P-TOMS agreement between the Government and LTTE.

July 16

One security force personnel is shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres at Eravur in the Trincomalee district.

July 17

Seven suspected LTTE cadres, including a woman and an explosive expert, are arrested along with 18 claymore mines and several remote control circuits from the Pallimunai and Thaalpaadu areas in Mannar district.

S. P. Thamilselvan, in a news conference at Kilinochchi, says that the outfit will carry arms in Government-held areas and any effort on the part of the security forces to stop them will force them to take counter-measures which may lead to an imminent return to civil war.

July 19

Key international donors the European Union, United States, Japan and Norway in a joint statement raise concern over the deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka and demand immediate action from the Government and LTTE to prevent killings.

July 20

Suspected LTTE cadres kill a village officer, identified as Marimuttu Paskaran, at Kalmunai in the Batticaloa district.

Two civilians and one homeguard are injured in a grenade attack by unidentified assailants on a security checkpoint at Kalavaddam Junction in the Batticaloa district.

Suspected LTTE cadres lob a grenade at a security checkpoint near a Tsunami refugee camp in the Akkaraipattu area of Ampara district injuring two commandos of the Special Task Force and a police constable.

S. P. Thamilselvan, after a meeting with the Norwegian delegation says that it is the responsibility of the Government to salvage the cease-fire. He also claimed that there are no hindrances for the Government and LTTE to have direct talks.

July 21

LTTE kills one Reserve Police Constable, identified as M. Weerasinghe, near the Bank of Ceylon Building at Pottuvil in Amparai district. A civilian, identified as Kanagasabai Ranjithkumar, who is injured in the crossfire between the police and LTTE succumbs to his injuries later.

Suspected LTTE cadres lob a grenade at a security checkpoint injuring two civilians and a home guard in the Kalmunai area of Amparai district.

July 23

Suspected LTTE cadres kill a retired home guard, identified as L. H. Dayananda, at Potkerny junction in the Thambalagamuwa area of Trincomalee district.

July 25

The Sri Lankan President, while attending a meeting with the Tokyo Donor Conference Co-Chairs representatives states that the Government was willing to review the cease-fire agreement with a view to improve the security situation and build greater confidence.

The UNICEF spokesperson, Jeffrey Keys, states that the LTTE recruited 28 children into their force during July 2005 alone.

July 26

Unidentified assailants kill two civilians, identified as Kumaraswamy Pathmakaran and Subramaniyam Kovulan, in the Manipoor area of Vavuniya district.

'Pistol gang' cadres of LTTE kill an EPDP member, identified as Pankirajah George, at Puthur in the Batticaloa district.

Suspected LTTE cadre, identified as Krishnapillai Kiribarathnam, is shot dead at DAM Street, a Colombo suburb.

July 27

LTTE Political Advisor, Anton Balasingham, states that the LTTE is not interested in renegotiating the cease-fire.

July 28

'Pistol gang' cadres of the LTTE kill an EPDP activist, identified as Sooriyapillai Nixon, at Stanley road in the Jaffna district.

July 29

The Sri Lankan Government files a review petition requesting the Supreme Court to reconsider its interim injunction on the P-TOMS agreement. The Government has reportedly asked the court that it be permitted to carry on with the operational aspect of the P-TOMS as it was a "delegated power" made by the Government to the LTTE and did not amount to granting the outfit the functions of Government.

July 30

Suspected LTTE cadres shot at and injure a civilian, identified as D. Udayasiri, in the Pannalagama area of Ampara district. They also abducted two other civilians who were with him.

August 1

A civilian, identified as R. Sivakumar, is killed when suspected LTTE cadres lobbed a grenade at a market place in the Batticaloa district.

August 2

A Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 'pistol gang' cadre shot dead a former home guard, identified as Sampath Kumara, at Welikanda in the Polonnaruwa district.

August4

According to the Sri Lankan Army, the Jaffna district Superintendent of Police, W. D. Charles Wijewardene, was abducted and hacked to death by a mob allegedly instigated by the LTTE at Jaffna-KKS road in the Paalaveddi area. Wijewardene was reportedly attempting to defuse tension which had erupted after a civilian, identified as J. Shantharooban, was killed in an accidental gunfire at Innuvil junction by a soldier.

August 6

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadres fired upon three civilians killing one of them, identified as S. Handunge Chaminda, in the Ambalama area of Batticaloa district.

August 7

A civilian, identified as Pulandan Thirunavukarasu, is killed when a mine exploded accidentally in the Nunavil West area of Jaffna district

August 10

Unidentified assailants shot dead two LTTE cadres, identified as Ramesh and Sujiventhan, in the Thirrukkovil area of Ampara district. One of the victims is reported to be a senior leader of the outfit belonging to its 'intelligence wing'.

August 12

Foreign Affairs Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, is shot dead by a suspected LTTE sniper near his private residence on Bullers Lane in the heart of the capital Colombo.

Shortly after the killing of Kadirgamar, a state of emergency is declared in the country.

The 'pistol gang' cadres of LTTE kill two civilians, identified as Sinnadorai Selvarajah and his wife Welangee Selvarajah, inside their business centre at Wellawatta in the capital Colombo.

A police personnel, identified as Athukorala, is killed in an ambush by the LTTE at Dehiattakandiya in the Polonnaruwa district.

August 13

The LTTE leader S. P. Thamilchelvan denies his outfit's involvement in the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. The Government subsequently rejects this LTTE denial.

August 14

President Chandrika Kumaratunga in her address to the Nation describes the assassination of Kadirgamar as a "horrendously barbaric act of terrorism". "Initial indications of the investigation seem to reveal the clear responsibility of the LTTE in his brutal murder," she disclosed.

August 15

Suspected LTTE 'pistol gang' cadres kill a civilian, identified as Raja Piravu, in the Dalukana area of Polonnaruwa district.

Unidentified assailants reportedly kill a 'Colonel' Karuna group cadre, identified as Mahathevarajah, in the Namalpockuna area of Polonnaruwa district.

August 16

LTTE cadres kill one SF personnel, identified as Lance Corporal H. K. A. Hendeniya, in a sniper attack at Keselwatta security checkpoint in the Mutur area of Trincomalee district.

August 17

Unidentified assailants kill a former TELO member, identified as Mathy, in the Kurumankadu area of Vavuniya district.

Reports indicate that the United Kingdom Charity Commission has removed the pro-LTTE non-governmental organisation, TRO, from its registered charity list since August 10.

August 18

The Sri Lanka Parliament extends the state of emergency by one month.

August 19

The LTTE leader Anton Balasingham accepts the Norwegian proposal to hold direct talks with the Government on the "practical functioning" of the cease-fire agreement.

August 20

Suspected LTTE cadres kill an EPDP member, identified as Nadaraja Kesavavarnan, in the Vavuniya district.

Unidentified assailants lobbed grenades targeting the LTTE office at Vairavapuliyankulam injuring three female cadres of the outfit.

August 23

The LTTE puts pre-conditions prior to any peace talks with the Government. The outfit has reportedly demanded safe passage for their cadres from Wanni to the East and vise versa.

Suspected LTTE cadres kill a member of the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam, Rasarathnam Srikanth, in the Kovil Kulam area of Vavuniya district.

The Government rejects the LTTE demand to hold peace talks in Oslo. A Government spokesperson stated in Colombo, "We cannot accept the view of LTTE to having peace talks in foreign soil without any good reason. This time they [LTTE] have to discuss their problems here in Sri Lanka."

LTTE cadres kill a former member of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation, identified as S. Shivaruparasa, near Bathiya Mawatha on Saranankara road in Kalubowila in Colombo.

One LTTE cadre is killed and three others are injured in an attack by cadres of the rival 'Colonel' Karuna faction in the Vaharai area of Batticaloa district.

Two bodies with gunshot injuries are found in the Thepuwana area of Kalutara district.

The SF personnel in the Kantale area of Trincomalee district arrest six LTTE cadres, including a member of their Sea Tigers wing, identified as Jeewarathnam Srikanth. Srikanth had Rupees 578,500 in his possession when he was arrested.

A bullet-riddled body of an ex-LTTE cadre, who had gone reportedly missing from home since August 14 is recovered from the Poonani area of Batticaloa district.

September 1

The Sri Lanka Government has reportedly rejected the LTTE's demand to hold talks in Kilinochchi district and have offered for talks in 'no-man's land'. Spokesperson Nimal Siripala de Silva said: "As the government, we are against the LTTE's offer to hold the talks in their controlled Kilinochchi, which is the LTTE's political headquarters."

September 2

Suspected LTTE cadres shot dead a former member of the 'Colonel' Karuna group in the Wennappuwa area of Puttalam district. The International Committee of the Red Cross officials has reportedly found a dead body of a LTTE cadre, identified as Gajaruban alias Niruban, in the Wanni district.

September 4

The LTTE cadres fire at SF personnel posted at Kahapilima junction in the Batticaloa district, killing Private R. A. Anuruddha Kumara.

Cadres of the 'Colonel' Karuna group lob a hand grenade towards the LTTE political office at Kaluwanchikudy in the Batticaloa district and subsequently shot dead a LTTE cadre, identified as K. Arulnesan.

September 5

LTTE cadres lob a grenade targeting troops posted at the Black Bridge security check point in the Chenkalady area of Batticaloa district and subsequently shot dead a soldier, identified as Bombardier G. R. P. P. Bandara.

September 6

Dead bodies of two civilians, identified as Kirupairasa Rupanraj and Muthuvel Jegatheeswaran, abducted earlier on September 5, are recovered from the Ragama area of Gampaha district.

Three LTTE cadres are allegedly killed and five others wounded by the Karuna faction in an attack at the outfit's camp at Kattumurivu in the Vakarai area of Batticaloa district.

LTTE cadres lob a hand grenade and subsequently opened fire targeting the security forces, killing two police personnel and injuring six others in the Kattankudy area of Batticaloa district.

The police are reported to have shot dead a cadre of the 'Colonel' Karuna group in the Irudiyapuram area of Batticaloa district when he was allegedly caught firing towards a LTTE cadre.

The LTTE rejects a Norwegian proposal of holding peace talks at the Colombo international airport.

LTTE 'pistol gang' cadres shot dead a member of the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam, identified as Gopal Vilvarasa, and injured another civilian in the Vavuniya district.

'Pistol gang' cadres shot dead a Sri Lanka Military Intelligence personnel, identified as M.P.M. Mohomed, at the 2nd cross street in Vavuniya district.

The European Union has reportedly appealed to the LTTE to resume peace talks with the Government. EU Commissioner for External Affairs, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, told the media that "They have to come back to the negotiating table."

Unidentified assailants abducted a civilian, identified as Balasingham Sivanesan, from the Uduvil area of Jaffna district and subsequently killed him in the Innuvil area.

The Sri Lanka Supreme Court extends its interim injunction on the implementation of certain clauses of the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure agreement till November 22, 2005.

'Pistol gang' cadres of the LTTE shot dead a civilian, identified as Sabhananda Sharma, at Anjaneer Temple in the Marandanamadam area of Jaffna district.

A soldier of the Sri Lanka National Guard, Staff Sergeant S. Navaratne Rajah, is killed in a grenade attack by the LTTE in the Batticaloa town.

September 16

Unidentified assailants shot dead Loganathan, a member of the EPRLF, along the A-9 highway in Vavuniya district.

S.P. Thamilselvan has reportedly called for immediate talks with the Sri Lankan Government on the cease-fire. He said the LTTE was ready "even in the next minute" to begin talks with the Government.

September 19

Two 'pistol gang' cadres of the LTTE shot dead a civilian, identified as Selvathurai Yoganadanrasa, in the Ganeshapuram area of Vavuniya district.

The LTTE 'pistol gang' cadres reportedly shot dead a former cadre of the outfit, identified as Malasurin Wimaleshvaran, in the Vellaveli area of Trincomalee district.

Sri Lanka's international donors reiterated that the cease-fire agreement was facing its "most serious challenge" and wanted the LTTE to "take immediate public steps to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and their willingness to change" and called for an "immediate end to political assassinations by the LTTE and an end to LTTE recruitment of child soldiers."

September 20

The LTTE chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran, in a letter to the Norway's newly elected Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, has reportedly urged him for his Government's continued role as a facilitator in Sri Lanka's peace process.

September 21

Unidentified assailants shot dead a local Government officer, identified as Alagaratnam Jeevaratnam, in front of his residence at Vinayakapuram in the Valaichenai area of Batticaloa district.

The Sri Lankan Parliament extends the state of emergency, which was imposed after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on August 12, by one month.

September 23

Reserve Police Sergeant, T.K. Wimalawardane, who was shot at by the LTTE cadres at Mayalapu junction in the Akkaraipattu area of Batticaloa district on September 22, succumbs to his injuries.

September 24

Unidentified assailants shot dead a civilian, identified as Welu Krishokumar, in the Batticaloa district.

September 27

Suspected LTTE cadre shot dead a woman, identified as Leelawathi Subramanium alias Shanthi, in the Navanthurai area of Jaffna district.

Unidentified assailants shot dead a civilian, identified as T.M. Sunil, in the Navalady area of Batticaloa district.

A civilian, Sinnaiyah Ramalingam, is hacked to death by a group of suspected LTTE cadres in the Ilandamoddai area of Mannar district.

The European Union (EU) has barred LTTE cadres from visiting its member-states and said it is considering listing the group as a terrorist organisation.

September 28

Unidentified assailants lob grenades targeting a Tamil Rehabilitation Office located on Station Road near Batticaloa Railway station, killing a civilian, identified as Thambyappa Velauthappillai and injuring two others.

S. P. Thamilchelvan has reportedly appealed to the EU for reconsideration of its recent decision that "delegations from the LTTE will no longer be received in any of the EU Member States until further notice."

September 29

A civilian, identified as A.S. Hakeem, is shot dead by three suspected 'pistol gang' cadres of LTTE in the Palanagar area of Trincomalee district.

September 30

Unidentified assailants shot dead two civilians, identified as Thillainathan Mathivathanan and Mahadevan Umatharan, and injure another one at Pillayar Temple in the Valaichenai area of Batticaloa district.

Another civilian, Krishnapullai Yogakumar, is shot dead by two unidentified assailants.

October 1

Two suspected cadres of the LTTE shot dead a civilian, identified as R.B. Wickramarathne, in the Kalmunai area of Amparai district.

The Sri Lankan Government spokesperson, Nimal Siripala de Silva, is reported to have said that cease-fire violations by the LTTE prompted the European Union to take action against the outfit.

October 2

Suspected LTTE cadres in the Kudapokuna area of Polonnaruwa district kill a former LTTE activist, Candaiah Ponnarasa.

October 3

LTTE cadres in the Vannarapannai area of Jaffna district kill Kitnan Parameshwaram, a supporter of the Eelam People's Democratic Party.

Two 'pistol gang' cadres of the LTTE shot dead a civilian, Ponnathurai Subendran, when he reportedly refused to pay ransom to the outfit in the Chunnakam area of Jaffna district.

A 22 year-old student is killed by the LTTE in Vallipuram area, as the student had not obtained a permit from the outfit to transport sand for his house construction work.

October 4

A civilian, Rasarathinam Rajavinothan, is shot dead by unidentified assailants at Dutch road in the Uduvil area of Jaffna district.

October 5

The LTTE 'pistol gang' cadres shot dead a civilian, S. Mohammed Vahab, and injure another one at Udayar junction in the Kalumunai area of Amparai district.

The Police recover the dead body of a Home Guard, identified as N.Sarath Kumara, who had gone missing since September 21, from the Ariamankerni area.

October 6

'Pistol gang' cadres of the LTTE shot dead an activist of the EPDP, Kinsley Weeraratne, in the Pallaiyuttu area of Trincomalee district.

October 7

Two civilians, Selvarajah Selvakumar and Arumugam Paramanathan, are shot dead and eight others sustained injuries when unidentified assailants opened fire and simultaneously lob a grenade in the Valaichenai area of Batticaloa district.

Another civilian, Kandasamy Senthil Kumar, who reportedly was a sympathiser of EPDP and a Chairman of a Hindu Temple, is shot dead by 'pistol gang' cadres of the LTTE in the Karaiyur area of Jaffna district.

The Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, in a statement, rules out early direct peace talks between the Sri Lankan Government and LTTE.

October 10

Cadres of the Karuna faction launch an attack on a convoy of LTTE 'Eastern military wing' leader Bhanu with claymore mines and completely destroyed four vehicles in the LTTE-controlled Vavunativu area in Batticaloa district.

October 12

'Pistol gang' cadres of the LTTE shot dead a civilian, identified as K. Rajadurai, in front of the Weerasingham hall in Jaffna town.

A LTTE cadre, Rasalingam Pugalenthiran, Is shot dead by a group of unidentified assailants wearing military uniforms at Mayilavedduvan in the Eravur area of Batticaloa district.

October 13

A SF personnel, identified as Private D.M.Dilanga Dissanayake, is killed when LTTE cadres lob a hand grenade and subsequently open fire targeting a security checkpoint in the Santhiveli area of Batticaloa district.

Unidentified assailants shot dead a police personnel and injured another in the Nelliyadi area of Jaffna district.

Norwegian peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Trond Furuhovde, hold talks with the political wing leader of the LTTE, S.P. Thamilselvam, in Kilinochchi and stressed the need for renewed peace talks between the Sri Lanka Government and the outfit.

October 17

Unidentified assailants open fire on a SF checkpoint near the Mariamman Hindu Temple in Puttalam district, killing a police personnel.

'Colonel' Karuna, leader of the breakaway LTTE faction, has reportedly appealed to the Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Tony Blair, to take strong and firm action to proscribe the LTTE in the European Union member countries. He also urges the United Nations International Criminal Court that, "It is time that Prabhakaran was indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity."

October 18

Unidentified LTTE cadres shot dead a police personnel, identified as Kamal Indrajith, and injure another in the Kalavanchikudy area of Batticaloa district. The Sri Lanka Parliament extends the State of Emergency for another month till November 13.

This is the second extension of the Emergency, which was imposed on August 13 following the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on the night of August 12.

October 19

Two unidentified assailants shot dead a local village officer, identified as Perera Weerasingham, in the Kankankulam area of Vavuniya district.

Unidentified assailants shot dead a civilian, identified as Meeralebbe Mohammadu Hanifa Muslim, in the Akkaraipattu area of Amparai district,

October 20

The LTTE is reported to have rejected the Norwegian brokered peace talks. "We are informed that the LTTE remains unchanged and they are not ready for talks on the cease-fire agreement or the violations of human rights," stated Government spokesperson, Nimal Siripala de Silva. The spokesperson further told that the Sri Lanka Government totally denied that it had breached the cease-fire agreement by flying an Air Force unmanned aerial vehicle, which crashed in the Vavuniya district on Octoberober 19.

October 26

Two LTTE cadres are killed by the breakaway faction of Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias ‘Colonel’ Karuna in eastern Sri Lanka’s Polonnaruwa district.

October 27

Suspected LTTE cadres shot dead an activist of the North and East Sinhala Organisation, identified as A.W.P Anura, in the ORRS hill area of Trincomalee district.

October 28

The SLMM chief, Hagrup Haukland, holds discussions with the LTTE political wing leader, S.P. Thamilselvan, in Kilinochchi on upholding the cease-fire during the November 17 elections and strengthening it further in the future. He reportedly has urged the LTTE to expedite the release of three police personnel who were detained on September 9 for entering the outfit-held area to arrest a British pedophile.

October 30

According to Sri Lanka Army reports, unidentified assailants shot dead a senior Army Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant Colonel T R Meedin of the Military Intelligence Corps, in the Kiribathgoda area of Colombo district.

October 31

The LTTE cadres lob a hand grenade targeting a group of police personnel in the Jaffna district, killing a police constable, identified as G.R.Lalith Bndara, and injuring three others.

A LTTE symathiser, suspected to be an informer of the outfit, is shot dead in the Valachchenai area of Batticaloa district.

November 1

A civilian, Lyyadorai Ganeshan, is shot dead by suspected LTTE cadres in the Black Bridge area of Batticaloa district. Another civilian, identified as Rajendra Rejinikanth, is shot dead by the LTTE cadres in the Nelliady area of Jaffna district.

November 2

A former cadre of the LTTE, Sellathambi Punyamoorthi, who had deserted the outfit and was leading a normal life, is shot dead by LTTE ‘pistol gang’ cadres in the Valachchenai area of Batticaloa district.

November 3

A member of the EPDP, identified as Arumugam Pathmakanthan, is shot dead by unidentified assailants near a police post located north of Batticaloa town. A civilian and three police personnel are also injured in the incident.

November 5

A civilian, identified as Sinnathrai Muratheelan, suspected to be a former police informant, is shot dead by alleged ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE in the Trincomalee district.

November 6

Unidentified assailants shot dead a civilian, Thasaputhiran Thasakumar, in the Akkaraipattu area of Amparai district.

November 7

Suspected ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE kill a civilian, identified as Velayudan Gnanendran, in the Kannagipuram area of Amparai district.

November 9

The head of the Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process, Jayantha Dhanapala, resigns from his post.

November 11

Two civilians, Mohammed Munas and Athambava Mohammed Lebbe, are killed and four others sustain injuries when a claymore mine exploded at Kirimichchai in the Vaharai area of Batticaloa district.Suspected ‘pistol gang’ cadres of the LTTE shot dead a police personnel, Constable Senanayake, in the Thirunelveli area of Jaffna district.

November 12

Unidentified assailants shot dead an EPDP member, identified as Vellaipodi Rasanayagam, in the Wellawatte area of Colombo district.

November 14

Cadres of the ‘Colonel’ Karuna faction abduct and subsequently kill two top LTTE leaders, including Amparai district ‘military commander’ Suresh, in the Akkaraipattu area.

November 16

Unidentified assailants shot dead a civilian, Ahammad Lebbe Thaheer, in the Natpittymunai area of Amparai district on. Elsewhere, another civilian is shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Maruthamunai area.

A civilian, identified as Rajmohan Seenithamby, a former member of the TELO, is shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Valaichenai area of Batticaloa district.

LTTE kills Home Guard Susantha Pathma Kumara in the Handapanwila area of Pollonaruwa district.

Another SF personnel, Home Guard Ranjith Kumara, is shot dead by a LTTE cadre in the Kalumunai area of Amparai district.

SFs find two unidentified dead bodies of suspected LTTE cadres in the Navaldy area of Batticaloa district.

The LTTE and TNA reiterate that there is no change in its position of not supporting any presidential candidate in the Novemberember 17 Presidential polls.

The LTTE breakaway leader ‘Colonel’ Karuna calls upon the people of the Northeast not to boycott the election.

November 17

Voting for the presidential poll is held under heavy police deployment across the country. A low voter turnout is reported from the Northern Province after the LTTE announced that it would not support any presidential candidate

The LTTE cadres shot dead a Muslim religious leader in the Kalmunai area of Amparai district. Another civilian, identified as R.M. Hempala, is shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Ambuwelipuram area of Trincomalee district.

Two LTTE cadres, Niroshan and Sathyan, are killed and six persons sustain injuries in the Kalumunai area of Amparai district when a claymore mine the cadres were preparing inside a civilian’s house exploded.

Security forces discover unidentified dead bodies of two youths allegedly killed by suspected LTTE cadres in the Valaichchenai area of Batticaloa district.

November 18

Six civilians are killed and 21 others, including a child, sustain injuries when LTTE cadres lobbed hand grenades targeting a mosque in the Akkaraipattu area of Amparai district.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party wins the Presidential poll by defeating Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party.

November19

President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that he would restart the stalled peace talks soon. He invites the LTTE to participate in peace talks aimed at durable peace in the country. "I hope the LTTE will consider the peace offer seriously. Both parties can start the peace talks with an agreed timeframe once the LTTE readies for the talks," the President said while addressing the nation. He added that he would take several measures to amend the case-fire agreement with the LTTE to ensure no future hostile situations.

November 20

Unidentified assailants shot dead two civilians, Meerasaivu Ahammed Lebbe and his wife Fowziya Lebbaithamby, in the Valachchenai area of Batticaloa district.

The Norwegian Government has said that it is willing to continue its role as facilitator of the peace process if both parties - the Government and LTTE - ask for such assistance.

November 22

The Government will continue the state of emergency, which was imposed after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on August 12.

LTTE rejects President Rajapaska’s call for peace talks.

November 24

President Rajapaksa appoints Deputy Secretary General of the Government's Peace Secretariat, Dr. John Gooneratne, as its new chief. The former head of the Peace Secretariat, Jayantha Dhanapala, who had tendered his resignation to the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga on October 31, will continue as the advisor to the Sri Lankan peace process.

November 25

In his Statement of Government Policy at the opening of the new Parliamentary session in Colombo, President Mahinda Rajapaksa set out the broad parameters of his Government's new and inclusive approach for 'peace with dignity' to end the ethnic conflict. "Our method is discussion instead of war. We are aware that such discussions are not simple and easy. Yet, it is the only way to peace," he said. Rajapakse added that the current Ceasefire Agreement would be revised to ensure the protection of human rights, prevent recruitment of children for war, safeguard national security, and prevent terrorist acts.

November 26

A suspected LTTE cadre kills a civilian, identified as Marukanda Sashikara, in the Kayts area of Jaffna district.

November 27

The LTTE issues an ultimatum to the new Government to come up with a ‘reasonable' political settlement soon or risk the outfit setting up a separate state next year. LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in his annual ‘Heroes’ Day’ said their patience was wearing thin and he was making a final appeal for a political settlement that would answer their call for a separate state for the Tamils.

November 28

President Rajapaksa invites the LTTE for peace talks and promises to maintain the cease-fire agreement.

The leader of the breakaway faction of LTTE, ‘Colonel’ Karuna, said that "only Indian and the UK countries understand our problems very well" and "in particular, India is the country which should come forward to settle our problem." He also said, "The Sri Lankan government should also reconsider the role of Norway, which had facilitated the [Ceasefire] Agreement."

December 1

Unidentified assailants kill two civilians, Shivakumar and Krisnakumar, and injure another in the Neerveli area of Jaffna district.

In joint press statement released in New Delhi, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera emphasizes the continued commitment of the Government to the maintenance of the Ceasefire, and the desire for a review of its operations, so that the implementation of the Agreement can be made more effective. The Government also extends a firm invitation to the LTTE to negotiations for a political solution, the statement added.

Constitutional Affairs Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara dismisses the LTTE's ultimatum for a political settlement by next year and said no deadline could be imposed to resolve the long-standing ethnic conflict.

A civilian, Hemasiri alias Lokku Iya, is shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Anuradhapura junction area of Trincomalee district.

The Sri Lankan Government describes as "positive" the recent ‘Heroes Day’ address by LTTE chief Prabhakaran. The Government said that it would act with "responsibility" to the LTTE demand for a reasonable political framework by next year.

December 3

A soldier, identified as Lance Corporal B.G.S. Jayawardene, is killed and three others are injured when LTTE cadres ambushed an Army truck in the Chavakachcheri area.

December 4

Six soldiers are killed and four persons, including a soldier, sustained injuries when two claymore mines were detonated, reportedly by the LTTE at Kondavil on the Jaffna-Palaly main road.

At least six civilians are killed and two others sustain injuries in clashes between Muslims and Tamils in the Muttur area of Trincomalee since December 3.

Unidentified assailants have shot dead two civilians, identified as Nizwan and Rizwan, in the Maruthamunai area of Batticaloa district.