Gampaha District was the worst affected by the recent floods. The Disaster Management Ministry, has pinpointed the unauthorized constructions on canal banks as themain cause for flooding. Several house owners have encroached on canals to build kitchens and toilets. Yesterday’s picture of unauthorized constructions being demolished in Kelaniya.
(Photo- Jude Denzil Pathiraja).

• LTTE seeking  re-opening of A9 for its own benefit - EPDP
  
  The EPDP yesterday said that the pre-condition laid down by the LTTE, at the failed Geneva talks, that the A-9 Highway should be opened had an ulterior motive to rake in funds for their own use rather than for the welfare of the people using the highway.
  
  
• Gunmen miss target, kill 3 others
   An underworld gang yesterday hit the wrong target, when they opened fire on another underworld character but killed three innocent bystanders instead.
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• Galle attack, BBC and national security– I
  
  One cannot be pleased with all that BBC says about Sri Lanka. As I wrote recently, the problem here is that we are too open a society unlike our neighbouring lands where the BBC, or for that matter any foreign journalists, cannot enter some parts to report on what is happening there. It is not fair that the BBC and the Western media should exaggerate or come to instant conclusions as they did on the Air Force bombing of the LTTE-run training facility for school children forced to participate in war exercises just because this country is open and accessible to them including areas under terrorist control.
  
• The grievances  of the Tamils

  Tamils usually talk of the many grievances and the discrimination they suffer in our society without specifying them and labelling such inequities suffered to be due solely to the fact that they happen to be Tamils.
  

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• Turnover hits billion rupee mark for  second time this week
  
  Turnover on the Colombo bourse topped the billion rupee mark for the second time this week with a Rs.1.73 billion turnover yesterday, up from Rs.0.7 billion the previous day, achieved mainly on telecom stock.
   
• Ceylinco Homes signs agreement with BOI

  Ceylinco Homes Ltd (a fully owned subsidiary of Ceylinco Homes International Ltd)`A0 is the developer of yet another premier housing project in Attidiya, one of the most picturesque and cosmopolitan areas in the capital.

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• Sri Lanka Schools Colours Awards 2005
  Kapugedera, Wijeratne best of the best
  
  Chamara Kapugedara of Dharmaraja College, Kandy and W.P.C. Dilhani Wijeratne of Jinaraja Girls’ School, Gampola won the awards for the Most Outstanding Performance for the year 2005, at the Sri Lanka Schools Colours Awards ceremony held at Ananda College Auditorium, yesterday.
  
• Asif and Shoaib to appeal

  Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar are likely to appeal against the bans handed to them by the Pakistan board-appointed drug tribunal.

Words of wisdom Cricket heavyweight Arjuna Ranatunga, who was the chief guest at the Sri Lanka Schools Colours Awards ceremony, in conversation with potential heavyweight Chamara Kapugedera, who was adjudged the Most Outstanding Sportsman for the year 2005. Also in the picture are Norman Kannangara, Marketing Manager Nestle Lanka Ltd (C) and Chamara’s father who is a cricket umpire. Pic by Nishan S. Priyantha.