• January 1: Intercity goes off the rails due to a brake malfunction ending up in a paddy field near Rambukkana. Killing 15 and injuring 150, this is considered the worst train disaster ever to hit Sri Lanka.
  

Upside:

• Muttiah Muralitharan finishes with 9/51 at the end of the Second Janashakthi Cricket Test against Zimbabwe at the Asgiriya Stadium on January 5, narrowly missing the world record. Other News:
  

• Gamini Athukorale,the Transport, Highways and Aviation Minister of the newly elected UNP Government passes away peacefully on January.

• Jaffna Kandy Road reopens up to Killinochchi on the 15th of February after a lapse of nine years.
  
• The first Independence Day under a nominally cohabitation administration was held on the 4th of this month. President Chandrika Kumaratunga was the Chief Guest whilst Ranil Wickremesinghe, the newly elected Prime Minister of the UNF government was the Guest of Honour.
  
• The informal ceasefire agreed on Christmas day 2001 was formalised on February 24.
  
  Other News:
  

• The ruling UNF runs into its first internal dispute with spills in Nuwara Eliya

• Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's historic visit to the Jaffna Peninsula on the 14th of this month.
  

The upside:

• In a game of fluctuating fortunes the 123rd Battle of the Blues spread over three days ends in a draw.
  

Other news:

• As rival Tamil groups began surrendering their weapons, the LTTE has embarked on a programme to open political offices in areas under government control
  
• LTTE's Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham arrives in Wanni.

• April 7: National television is exploring the possibility of giving a live telecast of the news conference to be given in Kilinochchi by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on Wednesday. Rupavahini Director General Nimal Lakshapathiarachi said they were working on the groundwork to telecast the media conference live via satellite.
  

Upside:

• Ascot turns up at the Annual Races in Nuwara Eliya.
  

Other News:

• The LTTE is preparing a Taliban-style dress code for women in Jaffna, compelling the wearing of saris in the process of ushering in a 'cultural revolution.'
  
• Sri Lanka rugby created history when they hosted the first World Cup qualifying match in their backyard, Asian group 'C' match when they nudged out newcomers to rugby, the Republic of China by 9 points to 7, played before a big crowd, last weekend. (7/04/2002)
  
• The Viharamahadevi Park, which was re-vested with the Colombo Municipal Council on January 1 this year, reopened last Thursday with a number of renovations for the benefit of the public.
  
• The US funded demining team consisting of 26 US trained Mozambique nationals and four specially trained dogs yesterday (20/04/2002) left for Jaffna hours after they arrived in Colombo. Don Smith a retired captain of the US Marines is leading the team, which will be stationed in Jaffna for four months.
  

• LTTE wants a mediator at talks.
  
• The LTTE places a brand new demand saying it will call for 3rd party mediation for upcoming talks with the SL government in Thailand but falls short of naming the party.
  

Funny side:

• Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando has expressed interest in contesting for this prestigious post which falls vacant when the term of the present Secretary General Kofi Annan expires on January 1, 2006
  

Downside:

• LTTE uses human shield fisherman as monitors commit huge mistake. Navy's interception of two fishing trawlers carrying military hardware in the seas off Batticaloa led to Tiger guerrillas using fishermen as 'human shields'. They not only took cover behind their vessels to fire at Naval craft but also took into custody groups of fishermen
  
• In what is seen as a bid by the world body to get more involved in the Sri Lankan peace process, the UN has launched a full-scale humanitarian assistance programme for the country
  

• National Government talks again: UNP chairman meets president to discuss joint committee approach to the LTTE.
  

Other News:

• UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema during a meeting with President CBK discusses the formation of a joint committee mainly aimed at coming up with a national government style common position of the settling of the northern insurgency with the LTTE.
  

Downside:

• Nugegoda was plunged into a bloody uproar when angry people attacked more than 25 private buses after an elderly mother of 65 years was run down and killed at a pedestrian crossing in the heart of the suburban town.
  
• The LTTE has demanded the relocation of the Jaffna University Agricultural Faculty, to Kilinochchi in the LTTE controlled Wanni region in one of the first steps towards taking control of administrative activities in the north.
  
• The Government is expected to ask the Norwegian brokers of the peace process with the LTTE to limit their role to that of facilitator or moderator,
  
• On a request made by the UNF government, India has agreed to provide special combat training to special forces of the Sri Lankan Army
  

• Ranil vetoes bid to impeach CBK. According to UNF sources, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe pooh poohed the idea at a recent meeting of the Government Parliamentary Group. The UNF Government would continue to opt to work with President CBK.
  

Other News:

• Tiger buses on Colombo - Jaffna route
  
• New Air Vice Marshal Donald Perera appointed
  
• Lanka delays defense deal with US
  
• PM stops CBK from sacking Ravi
  
• Mahinda, Anura exchange heavy fire over Fowzie
  
• LTTE move to bypass Norway
  

• CBK ready to talk to Prabha. President CBK who is embroiled in a bitter dispute with PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's eight-month year old government, says she is ready to meet LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran for face-to-face peace talks.
  

Upside:

• Susanthika wins 100m gold at Asian Athletics Games in Sri Lanka.
  

Downside:

• Bus collision kills five children and injures 22
  
• Ratwatte is granted bail
  
• CBK-Ranil summit talks
  
• TNA wants Tigers for local elections
  

• After years of negotiations and anguished delays, the historic POW swap takes place in a no man's land, Omanthai. 13 LTTE cadres are released for seven prisoners. Commodore Ajith Boyagoda, after eight years of captivity is released alongside six other persons. "It is a new beginning," Commodore Boyagoda said.
  

Upside:

• 'Light Up Colombo' -a project to revive economic activity was initiated on September. Colombo, a city dazzling with lights, street hawkers crowding the pavements, selling their wares, children laughing and playing on the Municipality grounds. This could be the perfect dream metropolis on par with the likes of Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok. A vision made real by the present Mayor of Colombo, Prasanna Gunawardena and Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Ravi Karunanayake.
  

Other news-

• Ban on LTTE lifted on September 2.
  
• Sri Lanka agrees to sign controversial ICC contract.
  
• CID question ex-minister Anuruddha Ratwatte in regard to the discovery of millions of rupees of certificates of deposits in private bank vaults.
  
• Peace talks take place between the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE, in Sattahip Naval Complex on the outskirts of Pattaya Beach complex in Thailand.
  

• The sleepy, picturesque village Puwakgahawela, in Balangoda is overcome with destruction at 6:20 pm on Saturday October 5. Six lives, several homes, and hundred acres of land, paddy fields and other agricultural land are destroyed as a mountain comes tumbling down.
  

Downside:

• Hartal cripples North East
  
• SLMC crisis threatens UNF government
  
• Pramuka Bank closes down on October 26, because of the bad shape it was in, due to the high deposit lending rates, and bad transactions.
  
• 18th Amendment rejected.
  

• Ovitigala Vithanage Samantha, a 24-year-old 3rd year student of the Sri Jayawardenepura Management faculty dies following an assault within the university premises. The assault was a result of a clash between an anti-ragging and a pro-ragging group.
  

Upside:

• Bennette Ratnayake's internationally acclaimed maiden film 'Aswesuma' (The Compensation) represents Sri Lanka at the Calcutta International Film Festival. The Film won several local and international awards.
  

Other news:

• Navy ceases Tiger bomb boat
  
• Tigers have laid siege to Delft Island.
  
• Peace talks move to committee stage.
  

Downside:

• Twenty People die and scores are injured in an explosion at a firecracker shop at the Gas Work Street Junction, Pettah. Air Force and the Colombo Municipal blame each other over the ownership of the Fire Department equipment. This was in turn due to lack of equipment and staff.
  

Upside:

• Popular Film Actress Sangeetha Weeraratne weds Roshantha Kariyapperuma at a star-studded reception at the Colombo Hilton.
  

Other News:

• The Government grants approval to the LTTE to clear six tons of equipment to set up a modern Voice of Tigers Radio Broadcasting Station.
  
• With CEB planning another increase in rates due to the rising costs, the extravagant decorative lights all over the city highways have come under severe criticism due to its effect on the National Grid.
  

- The Features Desk-

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