The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attacked the bus at Puliyankulam in the island's north while it headed to the government-held town of Vavuniya, the ministry said.

It said four women and two girls were among those shot by the gunmen in the pre-dawn attack. More...Discuss this story Published: Fri Feb 13 23:42:10 EST 2009

The island state's president described the appointment of former cabinet minister Des Browne as disrespectful and unhelpful.

The rejection is hugely embarrassing for the Prime Minister and Mr Browne, who was handed the role as consolation for being removed from his job as Defence Secretary in the last reshuffle. More...Discuss this story Published: Fri Feb 13 21:18:54 EST 2009

In a reaction to Indian President Pratibha Patil’s address to the joint session of the two Houses of Parliament on Thursday, the pro-LTTE Tamilnet website said that India had accepted that the LTTE was a partner in any future negotiations to resolve the Tamil question in Sri Lanka, and that the LTTE need not lay down arms before beginning talks. India had asked the LTTE only to “declare its willingness’ to lay down arms ahead of the talks. This would allow room for both the parties to actually end the war only after reaching a mutually accepted position in the negotiations, Tamilnet said. More...Discuss this story Published: Fri Feb 13 21:16:49 EST 2009