Colombo- Hundreds of civilians fleeing the fighting between Tamil separatist rebels and the government attempted to enter government-controlled areas in northern Sri Lanka but were driven by guerillas back into rebel-held territory, military officials said Wednesday.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said civilians who were heading toward the military's forward defence lines were beaten by the rebels and sent deeper into rebel-held areas.

Colombo, Feb. 11 : Sri Lanka's cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene resigned from the post on Wednesday.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board sources said Jayawardene decided to quit the captaincy from both forms of cricket after the Test series against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka was handed a 4-1 drubbing by India in the recently concluded One-day series during which Jayawardene's lacklusture performance was criticised by top cricket officials, The Colombo Times reports.

Colombo- At least 17 people were killed and 69 wounded Tuesday when Tamil rebels fired at a group of civilians fleeing the shrinking area still under rebel control in northern Sri Lanka, the military said.

The civilians were trying to cross the battle lines in the area of Pudukudirippu, 385 kilometres north-east of Colombo, when they were fired upon, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

He said they were among a group of 970 civilians who were entering the government-controlled area.

Lahore, Feb. 10: The Sri Lankan cricket team will return to Pakistan on February 14 to participate in the two match Test series starting February 21.

The islanders would be playing a two-day practice game from February 17 before taking on the home side in Karachi.

The second Test match scheduled to start on March 1 will be played in Lahore, the Nation reported.

Colombo  - The BBC World Service on Tuesday stopped providing radio news to Sri Lanka's state broadcaster because of what it calls "deliberate interference" by government censors.

A statement from the BBC said that its FM broadcasts to the Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation have been suspended with effect from Tuesday.

Bangalore, Feb 9 : Bangalore is hosting an international film festival on wildlife and environment. The five-day long festival kicked off on Monday.

The festival aims to encourage films on nature world and to increase public awareness on nature conservation.

Hary Marshall, an organiser of the festival said some of the best films on nature were being screened at the festival.