Melani Manel Perera

Fr. Reid Shelton Fernando, archdiocesan chaplain of the Young Christian Workers (YCW) and the Christian Workers Movement (CWM): "Sharing spiritual experiences, to challenge the culture of this secularist".

This is the first heavy defeat for President Rajapaksa’s party of, which still takes home 45 out of 65 local authorities across the country. The Northern and Eastern provinces were most affected by the thirty-year ethnic conflict. Suspected irregularities in some polling stations an investigation into the district of Kilinochchi to annul the results is opened.

Some 2.6 million voters go to the polls tomorrow in 2,226 polling stations to select 875 candidates. Monitoring institutes report violations during the election campaign in Jaffna and Kilinochchi. Apparently, the ruling party used soldiers to intimidate opposition candidates and supporters.

The president spoke at a campaign rally in the northern province. Dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding are the weapons that the government will use to solve the country's problems. Tamil young people imprisoned for terrorist activities: "We will use compassionate justice with them."

The restrictions remain for individuals or groups who are visiting areas or meeting military officers. Human rights activists: a "positive" sign, but urgent need to "demilitarize the area." The Northern Province is the most marked by the thirty-year ethnic conflict between Tamil and Sinhalese.

Junior lecturers make only 20,700 rupees (about US$ 190) whilst senior professors take home 57,000 rupees (US$ 520). The government only spends 2.6 per cent of its budget in education, 0.32 in higher education, far less than Ethiopia (4.5 per cent). Meanwhile, fishermen are harmed by government policy.

Someone threw pieces of dead dog into Tamil campaign offices. Intimidation of opposition candidates also, who have interrupted their campaigns. The Women's Political Academy demands investigation.

The bishops appeal to parents of infant who died, for whose alleged murder the Muslim maid is on death row, after a sham trial. Rizana Nafeek has been in prison since 2005. She was only 17 years old.

The United National Party (UNP) will participate in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), ordered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The people: "The parties must walk together." But the Marxist party, also in opposition, will not participate because it's just "a waste of time."

The muslim maid was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for allegedly killing an infant in 2005. Q protest rally is held outside the Saudi Embassy. Activists say that the child’s death was an accident and blame both countries for the situation.

A meeting on the occasion of World Day for Social Communications. The use of new technologies must be integrated with love for each other, or the world will be destroyed. Theme of the event: "Truth, proclamation and authenticity of life in the digital age."

Mass to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Pope’s priesthood of the pope. In addition to the liturgy, the Archdiocese of Colombo and the Apostolic Nunciature organized an art competition and a small concert. More than 800 Tamil and Sinhalese children participated, from all over the country.