Another round of fighting between security forces and Tiger guerrillas has forced over three thousand, mostly Sinhala civilians, to flee their homes from a number of villages in the Trincomalee district.

The Sunday Times exclusive revelation last week about serious questions over Sri Lanka's latest and largest military deal worth several billions of rupees — the procurement of four MiG-27 ground attack aircraft and overhaul to seven others now with the Air Force — has had its sequel.

The British Government has relaxed the procedure for thousands of Sri Lankan asylum seekers with immediate effect because of what it sees as a deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka.

Former National Identity Card Commissioner Vijaya Ranasinghe has been arrested for alleged involvement in preparing a forged National Identity Card for the LTTE suicide bomber who tried to kill Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa last week.