• Govt-Emirates fresh meeting on UL in January
• Govt. boasts of high revenue but Sri Lanka gets a beating in global tax rankings
• Land ‘goes’ cheap as Rs 83 per perch !
• UN report reaffirms Lanka’s steady progress in human development
• Mahinda pledges support to Iran’s nuclear rights
• Cost of living woes hit the sick: No more milk tea in hospitals
• Military mans hospitals while workers strike

Editorial: Blunder that belittled a beleaguered nation

Political column: The Boggles, Pakistan saga: A crisis of poor judgement

Defence Line: Ruthlessly efficient Air Force vow to clip Tigers’ claws

As I see it: The JVP and Tamil militancy

• Lanka IOC drills itself to profitability
• Phoenix Industries pioneers blow moulded plastic chairs
• Coca Cola enters juice market
• USAID partners with Microsoft to unleash Lanka’s ‘Unlimited Potential’ in IT
• Bigger benefits within Intel’s tiny 45-NM
• ICTA completes 2 years of developing capacity in ICT industry
• Singer ties up with Dialog ECM for Contact Centre Services
• Lanka Bell to represent country at global ICT competition
• SLT empowers Foreign Employment Bureau to help migrant workers
• ‘Tigo Zone’- a new experience for the young
• Gotabhaya vows to kill Prabha in special b’day message
• Air Force bombs Voice of Tigers
• UNP wants President to fire Boggles
• Media got it wrong says Bogollagama
• UNICEF unperturbed by FM’s threats
• Army calls retired soldiers
• Postal workers snub Hakeem’s plea, vows to continue strike
• Health unions plan a massive strike on Dec. 4 and 5
• Lanka suffering from fiscal indiscipline
• SriLankan Airlines scores a century in India!
• GAC Marine Services embroiled in legal battle with Customs
• Ceylon Theatres, Millers announce merger

National Billiards gets underway

The 55th Annual National Billiards Tournament got underway yesterday at the Sri Lanka Billiards & Snooker Headquarters at Reid Avenue. K.H. Sirisoma of Ports Authority will be aiming to smash the championship record at this year’s tournament.

He has equalled former world champion M.J.M. Lafir’s 16 national wins. Sirisoma defeated a former billiard champion Henry Boteju in the final last year. With Boteju not participating this year Sirisoma could break the record this year with very little competition from other professional cueists.

The tournament will be held over two weeks with 38 participants in action. They will play in 8 different groups which the organisers have drawn up on the results of last years performances and present standings.

The pre-quarter finals are scheduled to be worked out on the 5th and 6th of December, with the quarterfinals on 7th December. The two semi-finals will take place on the 8th while the final will be played on 9th December. All matches will be held at the National Billiards & Snooker Headquarters at Reid Avenue. The tournament is sponsored by The Finance & Guarantee Group.

On the first day of the tournament, defending champion K.H. Sirisoma, B.F. Siriwardena, Anil Rohana, B.R. Tillakaratne and M.J. Thasleem registered wins while Suresh Hashim and S.M.Mihular received walkovers.

Results:
K.H.Sirisoma (SLPA) beat B.R. Tilakaratne (BRC) 3/0 – 100/61, 100/60, 100/64
B.F. Siriwardena (BRC) beat M.Sethupathy (YMCA) 3/0 – 100/85, 100/60, 100/83
Anil Rohana (Carlton SC) beat P.Pushpakumara (YMBA) 3/1 – 100/43, 100/23, 28/100, 100/83
B.R.Tilakaratne (BRC) beat M.C. Naim (SLPA) 3/1 – 100/75, 100/28, 85/100, 100/65
M.J. Thasleem (MSC) beat B. Siriwardena (BRC) 3/2 – 100/92, 100/79, 92/100, 94/100, 101/99
Suresh Hashim (OAC) received a walkover from Wazeer Hashim (BPPP)
S.M. Mihular (OAC) received a walkover from A.A. Kareem (MSC)
(MNA)