In Brief

2,000 civilians dead in Tskhinvali

MOSCOW, Aug 9 (Reuters) - At least 2,000 civilians have died in the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali as a result of fighting between Russian and Georgian forces, Russia's ambassador to Georgia told the Interfax news agency on Saturday. Vyacheslav Kovalenko told the Russian agency that 13 Russian peacekeepers were killed and up to 70 injured in the fighting.

Private academy to train pilots

The Asian Academy of Aeronautics signed an investment contract with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka recently to set up a private training academy in Sri Lanka to train pilots.
 

BA (General) degree exam

The Bachelor of Arts (General) Degree Part 1 Examination, organised by the Centre for Open and Distance Learning of the University of Kelaniya will be held from August 11 to 29 in Colombo, Kelaniya, Gampaha, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kandy, Kalutara, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura, said University Registrar W. M. Karunaratne.

Educational tour in India

Eight handicraft artistes who won awards at the National Handicraft Exhibition in 2007 will leave the island on an educational tour of India from September 1 to 7. The National Crafts Council which organised the tour said the eight artistes will meet Indian handicraft artistes, visit production villages and get an understanding of technical methods.

9,438 students sit A/Ls in Jaffna

The Sri Lanka Army is extending its fullest cooperation to the examination authorities to conduct the ongoing GCE Advanced Level examination in the Jaffna peninsula.

According to the Examinations Department, 9,438 students are sitting the examination in 44 centers set up in the Jaffna peninsula.