Colombo, Mar, 9 : The umpires' minivan which was traveling behind the bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team, was virtually abandoned by the security personnel when bullets rained from all directions during the terror attack.

Umpires performance manager Peter Manuel, who was inside the van with Umpires Simon Toffel, Steve Davis, Nadhim Gouri, Ahsan Raza, ICC match referee Chris Broad, and liaison officer Abdul Sami, has said that they were left alone by their security officers during the attack.

Colombo  - Tamil rebels suffered heavy setbacks trying to breach army lines in north-eastern Sri Lanka, losing over 100 of their men in two days of fighting, army officials claimed on Sunday.

Rebels attacked Sri Lankan army outposts around Mullaitituv in a bid to stop the government forces reaching the last rebel-dominated areas, but were forced to withdraw, the army said.

The military released pictures of dead rebel fighters, some wearing suicide bomber jackets.

Colombo, Mar. 6 : Three Sri Lankan cricketers are still recuperating in hospital after they sustained serious injuries in the Lahore terror attack earlier this week.

According to the director general of the Sri Lankan Sports Ministry (medical unit), Geethanjana Mendis, three Lankan players namely Thilan Samaraveera, Ajantha Mendis and Tharanga Paranavitana are still under medical observation in Nawaloka hospital here.

Colombo - Scores of civilians have been killed by government artillery in north-eastern Sri Lanka, a pro-Tamil rebel website said Thursday, as shelling claimed a Red Cross worker in the war zone.

Seventy-eight civilians, including 21 children and a pregnant woman, died in government fire Wednesday in the government-declared safe zone for civilians, Tamilnet reported, citing casualty figures coming in from affected settlements.

Colombo, Mar. 4 : In an article for the Telegraph, Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara writes that in hindsight every players in the team was just to naive to think that they would not be attacked by extremists.

Recalling the incident, he said Tuesday started as just another day in Lahore: a morning report to the fitness trainer to check our hydration levels, a quick breakfast and cup of coffee and an 8.30 a. m. departure to the ground.

Colombo, Mar. 4 : The Sri Lankan cricket team arrived home from Pakistan by a special charted plane on Wednesday, a day after getting targeted by terrorists in Lahore.

On Tuesday, around a dozen heavily armed assailants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team''s bus and a police escort as they drove to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium for the ongoing second and final Test. At least six cricketers were wounded, while six policemen and a driver were killed during the ambush.