11.  Ratwatte, who is also the junior defence minister, said the president had agreed to pay compensation to those not adequately covered by insurance.

12.  Previous Omani delegations to India have consisted of junior defence and foreign ministers.

13.  Quoting Noregian junior defence minister Sigve Brekke, the paper said the talks between the defence and industry ministries of the two countries would be wide-ranging.

14.  Ratwatte, who is also the junior defence minister, said security forces were now gearing for jungle warfare.

15.  Ratwatte, who is also the junior defence minister, said the Colombo fire service will now come under the fire fighting units of the air force.

16.  The drive was widely expected and junior defence minister Anuruddha Ratwatte had hinted on Friday that a weekend operation was imminent.

17.  The latest developments came barely three weeks after junior defence minister Anuruddha Ratwatte warned that Kumaratunga and at least five other key politicians were targets of suicide bombers.