London, Sept 24 : By triggering Saturday’s bomb blast with the help of a truck-load of explosives, Al Qaeda has shown that it was following LTTE’s modus operandi, as far as spreading terror was concerned, a Sri Lankan defence spokesman said.

He said that there was a constant sharing of technology between terrorist groups, and that terrorism experts had previously indicated that the use of suicide jackets by Al Qaeda was also pioneered by the LTTE.

The LTTE had first carried out a similar suicide attack in 1996 on Colombo''s Central Bank using a truck bomb.

Colombo – Thousands of minority Tamils Sunday turned up in police stations in the capital keeping with a directive by the government, which says the move will help to prevent infiltration of Tamil rebels to the city.

All citizens originally from northern Sri Lanka who have arrived during the past five years in the western province which includes the capital Colombo were told to register with police.

Colombo : –Sri Lanka Sunday condemned the bomb attack at Hotel Marriot in Islamabad and said it supports all measures being taken by Pakistan to combat terrorism.

In a significant move on Friday, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to lift the ban on players contracted with the ‘rebel’ India Cricket League (ICL) to play domestic cricket. Among those who will be benefited by this decision are Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Avishka Gunawardene and Saman Jayantha.

Colombo  - The Sri Lanka Navy on Thursday destroyed a Tamil rebel boat and at least 40 guerillas were killed in a series of fierce clashes in the military's offensive to retake rebel-held areas in the north by the end of the year, military officials said.

A battle erupted between the navy and the separatist rebels off the north-western city of Nachchikudha, 380 kilometres north of Colombo, officials said.

Colombo - Sri Lanka's air force said Wednesday it bombed a hideout frequented by elusive Tamil rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in northern Sri Lanka.

The hideout, located at Vattakachchi, 310 kilometres north-east of the capital, was bombed Wednesday morning, air force spokesman Janaka Nanayakkara said.

Residents in the area confirmed the rebels considered the area a high security zone out of bounds for civilians.

The air force spokesman said heavy traffic in enemy communication was experienced immediately after the attack, but subsequently communication had died down and silence was maintained.