"We are pleasantly surprised and greatly relieved that they have done so"

"Given the LTTE inflexibility on the Interim Self - Government issue few expected the tigers to agree on a watered down version of what the organization originally demanded", Western diplomatic circles told "TamilWeek". "We are pleasantly surprised and greatly relieved that they have done so" the sources added.

"Not seen any promissed foreign government money yet.."

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, has told the BBC that his country has not yet received any of the money promised by governments - although people all over the world had been generous in their contributions: BBC

"Things don't look very good for Sri Lanka at the present moment."

"Things don't look very good for Sri Lanka at the present moment." Rohan Edrisinha, a law professor at the University of Colombo and director of the Centre of Policy Alternatives said. Bob Rae, president of the Forum of Federations, which sponsored Edrisinha's talks, said one of the barriers delaying a federal solution to the conflict was LTTE's difficulty in transforming itself from a guerrilla operation to a political party.

"Wife plays an important role in the life of fisheries workers..",

A High percentage of tsunami deaths were among children and women, leaving behind widowers such as Anthony Benedict of Mullaitivu. Photo by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai "The wife plays an important role in the life of fisheries workers...she makes all the endeavors to sell that day's catch that were brought ashore. In the meantime she takes care of all the household chores as well..Its very appalling to see so many widowers in the fishing communities," - Professor K. Sivathamby, in Thinakkural