* The flat boxes in which the deadly C4 high explosives were found stored.
* The specially built racks on either side of the body of the lorry.
* The seized lorry.
(Pics by Terrance Wanigasinghe)

• Police wary about long-stint lodgers in Colombo
  The Colombo Central Police Division summoned managers of 86 lodging houses in Colombo for a meeting to brief them about people remaining without an apparent legitimate business in Colombo, but only 51 managers turned up for the discussion last Friday."It’s not correct to say that the police had asked the people from North, East and upcountry areas staying in Colombo lodges to leave within 24 hours, ASP Premalal Ranagla said.
   
• B’caloa resettlement effort under UN watch
  UNHCR, protection partners agree no strong arm tactics so far
  The second stage of the government’s ambitious resettlement plan is underway in the Pattipalai (Manmunai Southwest) in the Batticaloa district.In keeping with security procedures, the military registered and photographed the returning internally displaced persons to ensure that LTTE agents would not take refuge among the civilians.

•  More News

• A society in erosion
  The dangers of Tiger terrorism and separatism are obvious. Lost amidst the not so palatable news from the undeclared Fourth Eelam War are the disturbing omens of a society beset by socio-economic erosion. As the hope of a short victorious war vanishes and economic costs of the war escalate, public disenchantment grows and, with it, a seething discontent, fuelled by that ineffable feeling of being 'let down'. If there is an electable opposition, this 'mood' would not have been a matter for concern. 

 

• JVP blows hot and cold on govt.
  When the JVP politburo met last week, Party Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe stated that the government was digging its own grave by working outside the mandate it had received in December 2005. Wimal Weerawansa said that even though the government pledged to stamp out corruption, no action had been taken as yet in this regard. He further stated that the people had been patiently putting up with the unbearable cost of living but that there was no sign of the government making corresponding sacrifices.
   

• More Politics

• How not to "fix" the GCE O-level debacle
  A toxic cure for a fatal disease
  The results of the December 2006 GCE O-level examinations are appalling but not in the least surprising. The writing has been on the wall for years. The reasons are so well known that they hardly bear repetition - a breakdown of the school system, untrained and semi-qualified teachers, political interference, abandoning English, public indifference and screw-loose Education Authorities. As though all this was not bad enough, the solutions now proposed veer between taking the statistics to the massage parlour and superficial appeals to the government, the President or whoever comes to the mind of commentary writers.

• Interview: Ajith Nivard Cabraal
  We are positioned to meet any challenges
  You have been governor for nearly a year now. What was your impression of the Central Bank when you took up the position?
  I was aware of course of the Central Bank's work, but it was quite exciting to be in the hot-seat: to be able to direct monetary policy, to be looking at the economy and looking at financial system stability. So when I look back at the first few months, they were the same as for everybody else in a new job: a learning experience of getting to know the people, getting to know their strengths and getting to know the way the central bank operates. Having been an outsider coming in, that takes a little time.

  More Features

• Hunas Falls posts a small loss, markets itself as a niche hotel
  Hunas Falls Hotels Limited, running a small niche hotel at Elkaduwa targeting the up-market leisure traveller, has posted an after-tax loss of Rs.6.3 million in the year ended March 31, 2007, down from a profit of Rs.1.1 million a year earlier.Turnover too dipped to Rs.56 million from Rs.60 million the previous year as a result of the tourism downturn of recent months, the company has told its shareholders.
   

• Namal predicts volatile stock market and rising interest rates
  National Asset Management Limited (NAMAL) which celebrated its 15th anniversary this year declared its 15th annual dividend on March 22 – something it has done continuously since inception in 1992 in March every year."We expect to see continued volatility in the stock market and an upward movement in interest rates," NAMAL said in a communication to its unit holders.
   

• More Business

• Prince William and Kate
  Middleton look at a future apart
  The royal wedding we were all looking forward to is reportedly off. News broke very recently that Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton had decided to split up, assuring friends that it was an amicable parting.Sources say 24-year-old William, a sub-lieutenant with the Blues and Royals, now on a training course in Dorset, preferred to go out drinking with his army pals rather than spend time with his girlfriend, who is based in London.
   

• My Island in the Sun
  'Oh to be in Y-england, now that spring is here"
  One of the nicest things about being as old as I am, is that I can now take time off work to travel overseas without feeling guilty.I still recall that the first time I left Sri Lanka (many decades ago) I had a kindly Italian gentleman seated next to me on the plane.After the flight attendant had served us our drinks and packets of peanuts, and we had taken the first few sips from our plastic cups (he of his red wine, me of my orange juice) he turned to me, introduced himself and asked "And where are you travelling to?"
   

• More Leisure

• Kulatunga’s death a severe blow to cricket – Warnaweera
  Jayananda Warnaweera, who heads the Southern Province Cricket Development Programme launched by Sri Lanka Cricket, while conveying his regrets over the tragic demise of cricket coach Sujith Kulatunga, expressed his concern over rumours surrounding his death and their negative impact on cricket.  

 

• Murali, Vass and Sanga likely for Bangla Tests
  Lancashire, Middlesex and Warwickshire look likely to be without their star Sri Lankans in late June and July. Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Kumar Sangakkara will all be free to play in three Test matches against Bangladesh starting on 25 June. Chairman of selectors Ashantha De Mel said: "We want to look at every angle before we decide on our squad.
   

• More Sports

  ---

  Sri Lanka’s ace paceman Chaminda Vaas became the first Sri Lankan to make Lord’s , the headquarters of cricket his home ground when he was named as Middlesex’s overseas player for the season. Lord’s is the home ground for Middlesex and Vaas, who signed to play the full season, has started off impressively. On Saturday, he took time off to pose for our London photographer Sujeeva Nivunhella at the home of cricket wearing his official One-Day kit.