According to the newspaper, which interviewed a number of Sri Lankan Tamils living in Britain, the problem has become so widespread that the country's High Commission here has alerted the British interior ministry and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency. More... Discuss this story Published: Sun Feb 4 22:30:27 EST 2007

Navy war ships sailed past off the coast and air force fighter jets and helicopter gunships flew overhead as 3,500 servicemen marched to military bands in a show of military might amid a new chapter in the island's two-decade civil war with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

"We are not ready to give in to the bloodthirsty demands of the LTTE," Rajapakse said in his address to the nation from the capital's historic Galle Face Green, now effectively a high security zone after a spate of rebel attacks in the capital.

"I emphatically state before you my total commitment to ensure the honour and prosperity of this blessed land, by decisively defeating separatism," Rajapakse added. More... Discuss this story Published: Sun Feb 4 09:45:07 EST 2007

Sangakkara said while the visitors boasted a variety of pacers, the arrival of sling-shot Lasith Malinga in particular had given their bowling the extra ammunition to blast out any line-up. “Malinga has brought that X-factor into the side, that bit of unpredictability,” the wicketkeeper-batsman said.

“He bowls at 150 kmph-plus regularly. He is very accurate and got a very positive attitude. More... Discuss this story Published: Sun Feb 4 22:34:28 EST 2007