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DATE=5/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA/ SECURITY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262651
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  More than 150-Tamil rebels have been killed in 
Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna region in the latest round 
of fighting.  Vandana Chopra reports from Colombo, a 
high-level Norwegian diplomatic mission arrived in Sri 
Lanka in an effort to mediate peace between the two 
warring sides.
TEXT:  Military officials say Tamil rebels assaulted 
army defenses in Tennamarachchi division in northern 
Jaffna.  The government says its troops forced the 
guerillas to withdraw.
The government statement says arrangements have been 
made to hand over the dead bodies of rebel guerillas 
to the Red Cross representative in Jaffna.
The government also banned the publication of the 
independent Sunday Leader, newspaper.  The director of 
the Information Department says the newspaper 
intentionally published news of security operations in 
violation of emergency regulations. 
The government has introduced censorship on all media 
and invoked the Public Security Act that gives 
sweeping powers to the military, police, and 
government.
Government statements about the war are impossible to 
confirm since no reporters are allowed in the war 
areas and news from Sri Lanka is subject to government 
censors.
Meanwhile, Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Raymond 
Johansen and Special Envoy Erik Solheim began three-
days of talks with the Sri Lankan government to 
explore ways to end the island's 17-year ethnic 
conflict.
Norway has offered to mediate between the warring 
sides, but last week Special Envoy Solheim said peace 
was still far off.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar says 
Sri Lanka is exploring diplomatic means to invite 
India to join Norway in finding negotiated political 
settlement to the crisis.  Despite growing 
international pressure, India's foreign minister has 
ruled out military intervention. 
Sri Lanka's minority Tamil parties also want India to 
participate in finding a solution and not to restrict 
itself to providing humanitarian assistance.
Government forces took control of Jaffna, the former 
rebel headquarters, in 1996 and the rebels are trying 
to win it back.  The Tamil rebels have been fighting 
for a separate homeland since 1983.   (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/RAE
22-May-2000 14:34 PM EDT (22-May-2000 1834 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.