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Lead story
President mum on Anura's return
President Chandrika Kumaratunga Friday responded with a terse "no comment'' to a question whether Mr. Anura Bandaranaike was coming back to the SLFP.
The president was chatting informally with members of the Foreign Correspondents' Association of Sri Lanka at a dinner she hosted for the FCA at President's House on Friday night.
The questioner was persistent. He said that there were stories that Anura had been dropped from some UNP committees. "I don't know about that,'' responded the president.
"But would you like to have him back in the cabinet?'' asked the reporter. "No comment,'' said the president. "I don't want to say anything.''

Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin meets yet another newly wedded couple in Sanath Jayasuriya and wife Sumudu at the marriage of a member of the local cricketing fraternity Kumara Dharmasena with Dushanthi, at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi on Thursday.
(Pic by Mangala Weerasekera)

Battle against LTTE at decisive stage
- Maj. Gen. Sarath Munasinghe

Military Spokesman Major General Sarath Munasinghe declaring that the battle against the LTTE was at a decisive stage told journalists on Thursday that the area under government control since August 1994 has increased from 171 square kilometers to 5,343 square kilometers.

Sigiriya - the breathless wonder
The Sigiriya rock fortress is a breathless wonder today as it is sure to have been then. Studies of the ruins indicate a mastery of archaeological skill and minute planning that some local experts today liken to those employed in the construction of the Pyramids. And many today are pushing towards having it declared the eighth wonder of the world.
A machine that could pluck coconuts
While still a student of the University of Jayawardenapura, Niranjan had experienced climbing a coconut tree one day and realized the dangers could be faced while climbing such a tall tree. It is as a result of this experience that Niranjan had thought of inventing a machine to pluck coconuts which would make life much more easier for coconut pluckers.
Bridging the gender gap
Dr. Sarus Bharati of the Indian Chapter of SAARCFUW said that the literacy rate of women in India is about 48%. Poverty and traditional beliefs are contributing factors although the traditional stereotype model of the Indian women is evolving towards greater equality, she said. However the ratio of Indian women pursuing professional studies in the institutions of higher studies races up to 60%, she said.

Bribery Commissioners and Judges
The law, in seeking to provide for the independence of the Bribery Commissioners, provides that they may only be removed for misconduct or incapacity. The procedure to be followed shall be the same as that for removal of a Judge of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal. On the face of it, this is an excellent provision. Unfortunately, however, the removal procedure for judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal is, in the view of CRM, gravely defective, and its very constitutionality is in doubt. It is in urgent need of remedy as CRM has pointed out to Select Committees on Constitutional Reform set up by both the present and the previous governments.
L E G A L W A T C H
Will tough marine pollution law be implemented?
The Marine Pollution Prevention Authority headed by its Chairman Dhanapala Weerasasekera is the body in charge of implementing the law which includes measures for prevention, damage control and punishment. However once pollution occurs, the concurrence of the Authority is not required for affected members of the public to avail themselves of the provisions relating to civil liability, i.e. claims for damages.

Galle-Colombo Intercity bus service suspended
The operation of the private intercity express bus service between Galle and Colombo has been suspended by the Private Intercity Bus Owners' Association from Friday morning. They are demanding, among other things, 10 percent fare increase.
Cops remanded for robbing fags
Negombo: A sergeant and a constable, attached to the Katu-nayake Police were produced on Friday before Negombo Acting Magistrate Alfred Silva on a Police complaint of grabbing a carton of cigarettes from a gem trader. They were remanded till July 6.

Shopping in style for the select
In an ambience of elegance and comfort
Open to the public since March 3, the JAIC Hilton Shopping Mall’s warm lighting and unhurried atmosphere promote shopping in comfort. The options the mall offers its clients are varied but carefully selected. There are no large scale clothing outlets or rambling corridors tightly packed with shops. The shops are spacy and with interiors laid out in style. Everything conforms to the format of an expensive and exclusive mall with a carefully target clientele.