New Sri Lankan minister dies

The Sri Lankan Transport and Aviation Minister, Gamini Athukorale, has died of an apparent heart attack. He was 50.

A spokesman for the ruling United National Party, of which he was also the deputy leader, said Mr Athukorale was found dead by his bodyguards at his home in Ratnapura, 100 kilometres south-east of Colombo.

He was appointed after the UNP won a parliamentary election on 5 December.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service