by Nanda Pethiyagoda 

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the death of Stanley Kirinde. It is not only an irreparable loss to his family but also to us who knew and admired him, and to the entire country and the world of art. But what we should do is not mourn his death but celebrate his life. In Stanley’s case, it is a life to be truly celebrated, admired and emulated. He was a great artist and a humane and humble person, a devoted and loving family man, and a good friend. He could truly walk with kings and be easy with the lowliest.

Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe is the man responsible for putting in place arrangements to house thousands of civilians who have fled to government controlled areas from the battle scarred war zones in the north. While asserting that these welfare centers are only temporary measures, and that steps were being taken to expedite their return home, he assures that no one will be forced to return, unless it is on an informed choice of their own decision...

Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa claimed yesterday that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was planning a mass suicide involving himself and hundreds of hardcore cadres on the beaches of Mullaitivu as the security forces continued to close in from several directions.

COLOMBO (AFP) – Tamil Tiger guerrillas have prevented tens of thousands of civilians from leaving Sri Lanka's war zone and those trying to escape have been "shot and sometimes killed," the United Nations said Monday.