18th Amendment on May 21
Major constitutional amendments stripping the President of her absolute powers to dissolve or prorogue parliament and allowing MPs to cross over or cast a conscience vote will be presented in parliament on May 21, government sources said yesterday.

LTTE to impose dress code for Jaffna women
The LTTE is preparing a Taliban-style dress-code for women in Jaffna, compelling the wearing of sarees in the process of ushering in a 'cultural revolution.'
The compulsory wearing of sarees is yet to be implemented for fear that there may be some resistance from the ladies, many of whom dress in more casual western skirts as well.

CBK returns early to attend funeral
President Chandrika Kumaratunga returned to the island early yesterday after visiting India to deliver the Madav Rao Scindia memorial lecture on "Democracy and Conflict" and meet Indian leaders. President Kumaratunga cut short her visit by two days to attend the funeral of PSD Chief Nihal Karunaratne's mother who died suddenly earlier this week.

Premier gives assurances to prelates
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met the Mahanayakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters and rejected the theory of a separate minority Tamil homeland in the north and east in what appeared to be a move to diffuse growing opposition by the majority Sinhalese to his efforts to strike a bargain with the LTTE in return for peace.

NEWS

• Interim council a move to achieve separate state: EPDP
• Indian ire at Queen Mother's funeral
• Govt. invites all parties for national rally
• Sinhala rights group to intensify campaign
• Peace push from South Asian group
• Udal:vintage veteran
• Cross talk over mobile phones
• Operation Jayewardenepura
• Peace drive in a three-wheeler
• Jaffna: a boom with a difference
• Dentist on gum tree
• PA split over Hyde Park rally
• Second runway at Katunayake
• Special Reports
• News in brief

TV TIMES

• Mcleod's Daughters
• Mano stands with Silvermoon
• Dayan to launch his debut CD
• Fan Club on ITN
• 'Pitaah' portrays a feudal society
• 'Kadupul Mal': Parental role in marriage
• 'Rushmi TV' from JVP
• April commemoration for Sunil Santha

PLUS

• Block-buster
• Appreciations
• Dangerous crossings
• Shedding light on Waikkal's wild beauty
• Visual power gives way to subtle allegory
• Groundbreaking dramatic rendering
• Kala Korner   by Dee Cee
• Stories my grandfather told me
• Great escape
• Bolt from the blue
• Lightning: common myths and truths
• Making babies
• Yet another chance to live
• Overcoming oral odour
• Answering some questions, raising some more
• Netting the migrants
• Jungle junk and jumbos
• From boiled beans to Bangalore
• In harmony with his twin harmonica
• Creating with a fighting spirit

• Letters to the Editor

SPORTS

• Lanka too good for England
• England - thsports.htmle ultimate tour
• Woman smarter, that's right
• Junior Tennis from April 30
• Priyantha from able sports to disabled
• Fitness, a must in rugby - Matt Lee
• More sports

• CPC mulls selling oil complex
• Prospecting for black gold !
• SMILES OF VENDORS WORK WONDERS
• TRC crisis delays cellphone rate hike
• John Keells plans hotel in Goa
• Investors cautious despite truce
• Unilever's tactics bother Tea Board
• Tread carefully on dollar tea auction
• The effectiveness of advertising strategies
• Agromart opens markets for rural women farmers
• News

MIRROR MAGAZINE

• Music of a golden era
• Music on the Net
• Youthful creations
• Miniature masterpieces
• Soul searching words
• Celebrating Sri Lankan splendour
• Dreaded dry skin
• Robbie Williams in £40m talks
• Dance the night away!