A government statement said that police and security forces have been ordered to strictly enforce the 12-hour curfew. Officials say the curfew was prompted by fears of an escalation of violence after Muslims damaged public and private property to protest what they called violence against member of their community on Wednesday. The workers were arrested last night for attempting to block the railway lines at the Dematagoda and Maligawatte train stations, Officer in Charge of the Maradana police station, Jayantha Liyanage, said. Sri Lankan authorities have arrested five people for allegedly helping American journalist Marie Colvin illegally cross battle lines in the country's north, military officials said on Friday. Colvin was wounded in skirmish between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels when she tried to get back across government lines on April 17 after spending several days in rebel territory.
Newspaper headline sends top official on compulsory leave.
The top official of the Kanatle education office has been sent on compulsory leave for exhibiting a newspaper clipping which described politicians as fools, sources said. Political coroners to be appointed May 3, Colombo PA government is planning to appoint new coroners to replace the coroners who are described as UNP supporters . Some 170 new corners or inquirers into sudden death are to be appointed soon, sources said. There are about 400 of them now serving across the country. Five soldiers including two female soldiers were killed and seven were wounded when their Unicorn vehicle skidded off the road and toppled during heavy rains yesterday evening at Meeyankulam on the Polonnaruwa - Valachchenai road.