A powerful explosion tore through a bus at Dambulla in north-central Sri Lanka, killing at least 18 people and injuring 51 others.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, on Saturday February 2, a blast inside the private bus that was heading to north-central Anuradhapura city from Kandy occurred at 7.05 a.m. local time at a bus stand in Dambulla town, 148 kms from Colombo.

There has been an increase in the levels of violence experienced by civilians in the east, following the Sri Lankan government’s decision to go ahead with polls in the volatile region, despite cautions and warnings against the plans by local politicians and political groups and boycotts by the major opposition groups.

Under heavy pressure from the international community to put forward a credible political solution to the long-drawn ethnic conflict in the island, the Sri Lankan government finally unveiled its proposal to devolve power – a recommendation to go back 20 years.

Violence against Tamil civilians continues to escalate in the Sri Lanka military controlled Jaffna peninsula with 10 people killed and 15 injured in the last week alone.

Most of the killings were carried out in southern Jaffna peninsula, Thenmaraadchi, close to the Forward Defence Lines at Muhamaalai. In each case unidentified armed men who carried out the attacks escaped through Sri Lanka Army’s (SLA’s) High Security Zones and checkpoints without being challenged.

The safety of journalists in Sri Lanka is in serious jeopardy as several serious attacks and anti-media statements by government officials demonstrate a lack of respect for the value of media freedom in the country and international media watchdog said this week.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (JPJ) said it is alarmed by Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s brazen public call Sunday to censor the media and reintroduce criminal defamation laws.

Sri Lankan journalists are going through a trying period. Government leaders are taking a hard line on media freedom, with even senior media persons facing death threats and murderous assaults.

Media watchdogs, both national and international, have publicised serious incidents of intimidation by the state and other agencies directed against media organisations. But President Mahinda Rajapaksa denies any repression.

The second of a three-part series looking at this Tamil treasure.

Based on field trip between 10 and 14 December 2007, the author queries the much heralded liberation of the East in this the first of a three part series.

The plight of our people has been steadily reaching newer levels. And, after being an observer with a hands-off approach, I decided to do something about it. I became proactive - in small ways. As a mother of two young children living in Sydney, Australia and having many commitments, it was not easy to change my inaction - but I did. I firmly believe now, that if we all do our little part and started working towards a common vision, that vision will and must materialize.

Sri Lankan military’s Deep Penetration Unit targeted a bus ferrying children from a sports event in Vanni killing 20 people including 11 children.

Sri Lanka has received six tenders from three foreign companies for oil exploration in its northwestern offshore Mannar basin, the country’s petroleum resource minister said on Thursday.

The blocks being put up for bids are estimated to contain 1 billion barrels of oil and would significantly alter the country’s energy sector and economy.

Whatever suffering the Sinhala state and its international allies inflict on us, we are not going to give up now.

The Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation released a statement condemning the claymore attack on a civilian bus in Madu and listing the history of attacks against civilian vehicles carried out by the Sri Lankan Army. The full statement follows: