Vavuniya-based United Nations staff providing relief services to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) have been advised to keep away from the Vavuniya General Hospital due to an outbreak of meningitis and encephalitis, the Sunday Times learns.

A senior minister is leading a protest against the controversial auctioning of a section of the Kalu Ganga to private gem traders --- but officials concerned say the protest is orchestrated by an organised mafia with vested interests.