The Sunday Times News | Sunday, June 10, 2007

News

CID grills Gajanayake
The government yesterday took a dramatic step in the probe on the spate of abductions, ransom demands and killings when the CID questioned a former Air Force officer who is alleged to have been involved in these crimes. Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told The Sunday Times last night former Air Force Squadron Leader Nishantha Gajanayaka was being questioned and his statement recorded.

Bank loan interest rates soar
Borrowers of housing loans will be paying more as interest from this month onwards. The interest rates of all loans including housing loans, personal and business loans have increased drastically over the past month. Any individual who would be obtaining a housing loan from a commercial bank would be paying interest at a rate between 17 and 18 percent.

Battle for Thoppigala erupts again
Fresh fighting erupted between government troops and the LTTE in the east as troops backed by air cover yesterday moved further into the Thoppigala jungles, overrunning four LTTE camps and killing at least 30 guerrillas, sources said. The LTTE used at least three of its suicide cadres to thwart the offensive on Friday and yesterday. Two soldiers were killed and 24 injured by last afternoon.

Double trouble for SriLankan
A SriLankan Airlines seaplane carrying US Ambassador Robert O Blake had to make a belly landing at the Ratmalana airport after the pilot reportedly forgot to switch on the landing wheels of the plane. The sea plane hired by the US Embassy had been returning with the Ambassador to Colombo from the East when the incident took place last week. No one was hurt.

	How an explosives - laden lorry was stopped and stripped

	Chucked out and brought back

	Today’s prices gone tomorrow

	KACPAW : Dogs taken for adoption, subjected to unethical surgery

	To be or not to be: CMC’s fate in the balance

	Telecom deal not finalised – Minister

	Japanese aid to continue: Akashi

	Czechs assist pre-school development

	Short Leela hopes to walk tall

	Borella bomb detector defused

	Cultural Fund out of cash

	Madhu shrine intact-fact-finding mission

	Latest massacre: Six bodies identifiable

	Abduction threats drive more Lankans to Malaysia

	Odds & Ends

	Eviction of Tamils mars rally

	Unions back SLT-NTT deal, Sripathi goes to court

	Trade agreements with India and Pakistan

	Home at last!

	Hotels to be graded on their hygiene

	China-Lanka deals on slow gear