Colombo - UNICEF officials on Tuesday expressed serious concern about children caught up in the conflict in the northern part of Sri Lanka and urged both sides - the government and Tamil rebels - to provide protection to civilians.

"UNICEF reiterates the call it has made time and again to the government and the LTTE (Tamil rebels) that civilians, especially children, must be given every protection from the fighting," the UN agency said in a statement.

Colombo - The United Nations Monday expressed concern about the welfare of civilians and its staff members caught in fighting in northern Sri Lanka between government troops and Tamil rebels.

The UN said that, though a designated safe zone - a 12 kilometre stretch on the coastal line in the north east - had provided some respite to tens of thousands of civilians caught up in the conflict, reports received on Sunday indicate that fighting was reported inside the zone.

Colombo - The United Nations Monday expressed concern about the welfare of civilians and its staff members caught in fighting in northern Sri Lanka between government troops and Tamil rebels.

The UN said that, though a designated safe zone - a 12 kilometre stretch on the coastal line in the north east - had provided some respite to tens of thousands of civilians caught up in the conflict, reports received on Sunday indicate that fighting was reported inside the zone.

The UN office in Colombo said the fighting had led to the deaths and injury of more civilians, but did not specify the number killed or injured.

Karachi, Feb. 16 : Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawerdene has described the Indian cricket team better than his because of its team spirit and cohesiveness.

"India won the ODI series because it was a better team. For the last couple of years, India has improved a lot and is playing well. They played really well against the host in recent ODI series in the Island," The Nation quoted Jayawardene, as saying.

Jayawardene, who arrived here for a two Test match series beginning February 21, said his teammates were looking forward to the series.

Colombo  - President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) recorded convincing victories in two of the nine provinces where local elections were held on Saturday, officials said.

The victories in the Central and North Western Provinces were widely seen as an endorsement of the military campaign against Tamil rebels in the northern part of the country.

Colombo  - President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) recorded convincing victories in two of the nine provinces where local elections were held on Saturday, officials said.

The victories in the Central and North Western Provinces were widely seen as an endorsement of the military campaign against Tamil rebels in the northern part of the country.