In brief
Crash
Ten people were killed when a plane from Hong Kong crashed at Kadirana near Negombo on 24 March. Another plane from Jaffna’s Palaly airport crashed on 30 March at Talawa in Anuradhapura killing 26 security force personnel and four Ukrainian crew.
Peace
Over 4,000 residents marched in Jaffna on 25 March demanding peace talks between the government and the LTTE with foreign mediation. A day earlier, visiting British High Commissioner Linda Duffield, told students at Jaffna Hindu College that Britain will encourage the Norwegian initiative and assist towards lasting peace in the island.
Abroad
According to Sri Lankan press reports, following Defence Ministry instructions , the Army in Batticaloa ordered Grama Sevakas (Village Headmen) to compile details of all persons who had gone abroad from the district.
Assault
Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) has protested to Media minister Mangala Samaraweera against the assault on BBC correspondent Elmo Fernando on 6 April during Colombo demonstrations of the National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT). Sinhalese organisations have carried out a number of protests before the BBC World Service in London, accusing the Sinhala service Sandesaya of supporting the LTTE.
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