Chennai, Nov 1: The South Indian Artiste's Association today observed a day-long fast to protest against the ongoing conflict in Tamil dominated area of Sri Lanka.

South Indian actors Nepolean, Satyaraj, Vijay, Arjun, Pasupathi and Manorama, led by the Association's president R Sarath Kumar, observed the fast.

Talking to reporters Sarath Kumar said, "The programme was organised to express the Association's solidarity with Tamils living in Sri Lanka and support them."

"It is good that the Central and state governments have already started taking steps to find an amicable solution on the matter," he added.

Kumar hopes that normalcy will return to Sri Lanka soon.

Colombo – The Sri Lanka Navy destroyed at least four Tamil rebel boats and killed 14 cadres off northern Sri Lanka in a fierce sea battle between the two sides on Saturday morning, a navy spokesman said.

The clash broke off Nagarkovil, 390 kilometres after a fleet of rebel boats were intercepted shortly before dawn on Saturday, Commander DKPDassanayaka said.

He also said that according to communication intercepted 16 rebels had also been injured.

Colombo - Tamil rebels used a crude light aircraft to penetrate air-defence systems and drop two bombs on a power station in the capital, killing one employee, military officials in Sri Lanka said.

Despite warnings by the military and civilians that the low-flying aircraft was heading towards the capital, it managed to drop the bombs at the Kelanitissa power plant and escape, officials said.

In an apparent diversionary tactic, rebels bombed a military base in the coastal district of Mannar, 310 kilometres north of the capital, less than one hour before the attack.

Colombo - An employee of a power station which came under a night air attack by Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka's capital died as an investigation into damages was ongoing, a spokesman for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said Wednesday.

The employee did not have external injuries, but appeared to have died of shock during Tuesday night's attack on the Kelanitissa power plant located in a high security zone within Colombo, said the spokesman.

Kolkata, Oct 28 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has ruled out military action as solution to the ethic conflict in Sri Lanka.

Talking to reporters here on Monday, Mukherjee said, "India believes military solution cannot resolve the ethnic issues of the Sri Lankan minorities. For that, the devolution as recommended by the high power committee should be implemented in letter and spirit." 

He also expressed satisfaction on his recent talks with Sri Lankan special envoy Basil Rajapaksa.

Colombo - Polling on the Maldives started Tuesday as voters choose between one of Asia's longest-serving leaders against a former political prisoner.

Voting started at 9 am (0330 GMT) to either re-elect incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, to a seventh consecutive term or to opt for Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed, a 41-year-old activist who was once imprisoned by Gayoom's government.

Gayoom, 71, received 41 per cent in the first round of elections held October 8, while Nasheed got 25 per cent - both short of the necessary 50 per cent.

About 209,000 voters registered to vote and results are expected late Tuesday night or early Wednesday.