Melani Manel Perera

During inaugural ceremony for the bridge in Arugam Bay, President Rajapaksa stresses the importance of security for development. Population backs plan for economic growth.

Last month showed a 21% increase compared to 2007, with the preponderance of visitors coming from southern Asia and the Middle East. A partial improvement in "general conditions" is stimulating growth, but fears remain over attacks by Tamil Tigers.

In Middeniya, a campaign has been underway for days against the presence of a new Protestant church. Aggression and threats culminate in a demonstration with 7,000 people, headed by radical Buddhist groups and parties.

Government is willing to sit down to a new round of talks but only if Tamil rebels lay down their weapons, but Tigers believe they can still win the war.

The country’s religious minorities hope that as an invitation to national harmony the Buddhist feast day can be an occasion for dialogue and mutual understanding among different ethnic groups and religions. A Catholic priest reiterates the desire “to live like a big family.”

Back from the "Terra Petra" forum, parallel to the FAO meeting in Rome, the activist Kumara attacks the solutions of world leaders, "the same for more than 10 years", and explains the urgency of giving small producers the possibility of choosing their activities.

After a series of attacks against civilians prelates sign a joint statement slamming the violence, urging government and Tamil Tigers to open peace negotiations.

A group of fisherwomen complain that poverty and malnutrition loom over the local population unless the government acts. Limits on when fishing can be done should be lifted and funds should be spent to help families left homeless by the 2004 tsunami.

For president Rajapaksa, in Rome for the FAO summit, the priority is to increase food production to meet domestic demand. But citizens and opposition parties complain that the government is doing nothing against inflation, and are asking for reductions in public spending.

This morning artillery shells land in villages killing and maiming Tamil civilians, damaging O.M.I. Missionary-owned buildings. Yesterday in Colombo more than a thousand people from every ethnic and religious background protested against the war.

Five media organisations write to the secretary of defence, criticising his intimidation of two journalists "guilty" of participating in a protest over the violence of the armed forces against "inconvenient" reporters.

The day following the attack on the outskirts of Colombo that killed nine, the inhabitants of the capital are demonstrating great opposition to a military solution of the civil conflict, and expressing serious concern over the future of the country.