He said it is his belief both umpires should be foreigners rather than the current system of one local and one foreign. Jayasuriya stressed his side would not be discouraged by those controversial decisions and expressed his willingness to go fresh for the decisive third Test on Thursday. Published: Tue Mar 13 13:20:24 EST 2001

"State sector workers will be thoroughly disappointed by the proposals to cut drastically all expenditures in ministries, departments and other government organisations. This will certainly push the state sector workers to join hand with the struggle of the estate workers. Island wide general strike may be the outcome of this budget." A statement issued by a member of Presidium Dr. Vickramabahu Karunarathne states.

The government, while encouraging foreign investors, does not make any attempt to attract local investors, the NLF claims. "It is unfortunate that the parliamentary opposition including the JVP is in full support of the military repressive policies of the government. Hence the government shamelessly claim that all these cuts are necessary for the continuation of the war. An opposition, that approves the repressive militaristic policies of the government, has not got the guts to lead the toiling masses in this crisis situation." Published: Tue Mar 13 13:20:24 EST 2001

Dr. Kanagaratnam, Director for the Jaffna Teaching Hospital said that only the emergency ward would function today while the OPD and other clinical sections would remain closed to the sick. He said that it is unfair for the government to pay a risk allowance only to non resident doctors and that they too risked their lives to attend to the sick in war torn areas.

The Government agreed to pay the risk allowance to non resident doctors working in high risk areas after two doctors were killed in a Colombo bound bus bomb at Batticaloa last year. Published: Mon Mar 12 22:14:51 EST 2001

The row which reportedly broke out at around 1 a.m. today, was apparently initiated when some students attempted to rag others staying within the college. The fight has seriously wounded the nine school boys warded at the Anuradhapura Base Hospital. Published: Mon Mar 12 22:14:50 EST 2001

It is the second time that the State has appointed a commission to probe into the killings of Tamils. This time the victims, mostly suspected LTTE cadre from the eastern province, were brutally massacred by a gang of Sinhalese armed with scyths, poles and knives. The perpetrators of the crime are yet to be named by the Government or law enforcement authorities. Published: Mon Mar 12 22:14:50 EST 2001