It was recently confirmed by Sri Lanka that they are all set up to will play three one-day internationals and two Tests against Pakistan. It has been learnt that the tour will be split over two legs, thus giving chance to Sri Lanka to host India for a one-day series.

On 19th January, Mahela Jayawardene's men would arrive in Karachi ahead of the first ODI on 21st January. Three days later, the second one-dayer will also be held, before the final clash on January 27, after which Sri Lanka will go home.

Colombo- Government troops have taken control of a one- time military garrison and a strategic road in northern Sri Lanka after weeks of fighting against Tamil rebels in the area, President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced Friday.

"Our troops have taken control of the Elephant Pass area," Rajapaksa said, referring to the former military complex located 390 kilometres north of the capital.

With the capture of the area troops now have control of the strategic highway which runs from the southern part of the country to the northern Jaffna peninsula which is popularly known as the A-9 road.

Colombo - Journalists, civic rights organisations and opposition politicians Friday staged a strong protest in Sri Lanka's capital against the slaying of an anti-government newspaper editor.

The protestors demanded that the government expedite inquiries into the killing Thursday of the Sunday Leader editor, Lasantha Wickrematunga, and warned that failure to investigate the case would lead to the conclusion that the government was responsible for the attack.

Wickramatunga, 51, was on his way to his office in Attidiya, Mt Lavinia, 12 kilometres south of the capital, when two men following him on a motorcycle opened fire at close range. He succumbed to his injuries few hours later in hospital.

Colombo - Seven people, including four civilians and three air force personnel, were killed in a roadside claymore mine explosion in north-eastern Sri Lanka on Friday morning, police said.

A vehicle carrying a group of construction workers and airmen was targeted in the Morawewa area of the Trincomalee district, 230 kilometres north-east of the capital Colombo.

In addition to the seven dead, another civilian was injured in the blast.

The incident occurred in a government-controlled area where civil administration has been functioning.

Further north, government troops are battling to recapture rebel- held areas and have made steady advances into rebel controlled areas, according to the military.

Colombo, Jan. 8 : Unidentified gunmen, riding on a motorcycle, on Thursday killed Lasantha Wickramatunga, the editor of the Sri Lankan daily, Sunday Leader, while he was en route to his office here.

Reports quoted the police as saying that Wickramatunga had died of head wounds received in the shootout. Doctors said they spent three hours trying to save his life.

Local media reports said that Wickramatunga was known for his criticism of the government.

Colombo, Jan. 8 : A spokesman of the Sri Lanka military said on Thursday that government troops have taken more territory from Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told a press conference here that the army has seized the town of Pallai and hopes to recapture the entire northern part of the country soon.

Pallai is south of Muhamalai, the northernmost defensive line of the rebels in Jaffna, which the troops captured on Tuesday. The Tigers have not yet commented on the latest fighting in Jaffna.