In brief
Casualties
Reports say that in the 19-year war in Sri Lanka, 17,423 security personnel and 17,648 LTTE cadre were killed. According to the ICRC, another 3,736 security personnel have been categorized as missing in action. A February letter to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister from the Jaffna humanitarian agencies says 82,000 civilians were killed.
Indictment
The Dalada Maligawa attack case began before the Kandy High Court on 20 February. Four Tamils are accused of involvement in the suicide attack on the Buddhist temple in January 1998, killing 13 civilians. The LTTE, which was suspected to be behind the bombing, was proscribed in the same month under Emergency Regulations.
Arrest
Police say they arrested 46 Sri Lankans in Tangalle in Hambantota District on 12 February as they prepared to board a vessel to travel illegally to Italy. Each of them had paid Rs 500,000 ($5,140) to an employment agent.
Compensation
On 14 February, Labour minister Mahinda Samarasinghe began distributing compensation to Sri Lankans who lost their jobs or were injured in Kuwait during the Gulf War in 1989/90. The UN Compensation Commission has provided Rs 480 million ($5 million) for 1,760 Sri Lankan applicants. Currently, more than 180,000 Sri Lankans work in Kuwait.
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