The much-awaited visit to Sri Lanka by India’s Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee may not take place after all, diplomatic sources in Colombo said.They said Indian officials were of the view that conditions were not presently conducive for such a visit. But Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona told The Sunday Times there was no official intimation whether Mr. Mukherjee was coming or not, while Indian High Commission spokesman Dinkar Asthana also said there was no confirmation of any dates for the visit. Earlier, reports said Mr. Mukherjee was due to arrive in Colombo next week for talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, following growing agitation in Tamil Nadu for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that neither chemical weapons, air attacks, suicide bombers, disastrous monsoon rains nor major floods can stop troops from going forward in the battlefield as the soldiers would never be deterred by such obstacles created by foes or by nature.President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that neither chemical weapons, air attacks, suicide bombers, disastrous monsoon rains nor major floods can stop troops from going forward in the battlefield as the soldiers would never be deterred by such obstacles created by foes or by nature. The President made these remarks at the annual ceremony held at the Sinha Regiment .....