21.   The defense ministry said four rebel suicide bombers were killed before they could detonate explosives strapped to their bodies at the air base.

22.   The first round of peace talks in five years ended without result in October after the assassination of the top opposition presidential candidate by a suspected rebel suicide bomber.

23.   The first round of talks in five years was suspended in October after the assassination of the top opposition presidential candidate by a suspected rebel suicide bomber.

24.   The peace talks, the first in five years, were suspended in October when a suspected rebel suicide bomber assassinated the main opposition presidential candidate in Colombo.

25.   The talks, the first in nearly five years, were suspended after the assassination of the top opposition presidential candidate by a suspected rebel suicide bomber.

26.   The talks, the first in five years, were suspended in October after the assassination of the top opposition presidential candidate by a suspected rebel suicide bomber.

27.   They were suspended in October after the assassination of the top opposition presidential candidate by a suspected rebel suicide bomber.

28.   Two years ago, President Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated by a rebel suicide bomber while leading a May Day procession in Colombo.