Sri Lanka is seeking help from the United States in its efforts to formulate procedures to cope with more than 10,000 Tiger guerrilla suspects now in custody. The aim is to study how the US handled terrorist suspects, particularly thousands from the outlawed al-Qaeda, after the 9/11 attacks in New York.

The Health Ministry is to seek Cabinet approval to use Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to control the dengue epidemic – a plan which is estimated to cost Rs. 2,000 milliion annually. A Health Ministry spokesman said the money would be required for ground spraying and aerial fogging. This would include fuel and flying charges.