Srilanka

The number of persons affected by the floods has now reached 80,007 in 61 divisions in eight districts, Disaster Management Centre Director Chaminda Pathiraja told yesterday evening. A total of 14 998 flood victims are currently housed in 42 relief camps. The ministry has released Rs 6.3 million to the relevant districts to provide cooked meals and sanitary facilities to the in these camps, he said.

Sri Lankadepleted national cricket squad arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday, expressing confidence in security promises by the hosts despite reports militants could target the team.The Sri Lanka team were attacked in Lahore in 2009 and since then most international teams have refused to tour the South Asian country, leaving Pakistan to play nearly all their &home& games in the United Arab Emirates.

The Fundamental Rights petition filed by three voters seeking an interim order suspending the operation of the Gazette notification to hold the election for the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha on October 11 was yesterday dismissed by Supreme Court. A Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Preethi Padman Surasena and Gamini Amarasekara, dismissed the petition without cost citing that there was no legal basis to proceed with the petition.

KUMAGAYA, Tuesday: Marauding winger Ed Fidow bagged a quickfire double as Samoa beat Russia 34-9 in a bruising Rugby World Cup encounter marked by three yellow cards on Tuesday.Fidow provided the spark in a tempestuous Pool A clash after the Pacific islanders were reduced to 13 men in the first half for two reckless tackles in steamy Kumagaya. RussiaKirill Gotovtsev was sin-binned later in the game.

&To lose two players, go down to 13 men and we didn&t lose on the score really proud of the effort,& said Samoa coach Steve Jackson.&We knew we would come out after half-time and the boys were still fresh -- we had plenty left in the tank. I&m just glad we got over the line.& Russia coach Lyn Jones bemoaned his teamshort, four-day turnaround following their 30-10 defeat by hosts Japan in the tournament-opener last Friday.&It affected us tactically and mentally,& said the Welshman.

&We played a World Cup final for our boys on Friday night and itmore the mental thing thathurt us,& added Jones.&We just weren&t there tonight and lacked the motivation compared to what we had against Japan.& Samoa, World Cup quarter-finalists in 1991 and 1995, began the game pumped up after a passionate performance of their ‘siva tau& war dance.And they went ahead after 15 minutes when a superb pass from Tim Nanai-Williams -- cousin of All Black star Sonny Bill -- found Alapati Leiua to crash over for the first of his brace.

But Russia fly-half Yury Kushnarev, making a record-extending 111th appearance for the Bears, kicked a pair of penalties to give the Bears a 6-5 half-time lead which should have been more after Samoa played almost 10 minutes with 13 men.Centre Rey Lee-Lo was lucky to escape with a yellow card for a high tackle on Russia captain Vasily Artemyev before hooker Motu Matu&u followed him to the sin bin after another dangerous challenge on Artemyev. Russia let Samoa failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage, but Jones refused to criticise French referee Romain Poite.

&We were expecting more severe penalties than what were given,& he admitted.&Of course it would have changed the game. Two red cards in two minutes and the worlda different place.& Refereeing was in the spotlight after World Rugby issued an unusual rebuke earlier on Tuesday about officiating standards at the tournament, following several controversies in the opening days. Pisi, who at 37 became the oldest player to represent Samoa at a World Cup, had a kicking game to forget, missing four of six attempts with the boot.

However Samoa, playing their first game of the tournament, ultimately had too much firepower for the exhausted Russians.Scrum-half Dwayne Polataivao failed to come out for the second half after taking a blow to the head, but the Samoans hit back when Afaesetiti Amosa bulldozed over five minutes after the restart.Gotovtsev was yellow-carded for a high tackle attempting to block Amosa, who was stretchered off after twisting his knee.A superb drop goal from Kushnarev pulled Russia back to within a point before Fidow grabbed Samoasecond try in the 49th minute, bursting through after a clever pass from replacement hooker Ray Niuia.

Fidow extended Samoalead shortly afterwards with the bonus-point try as the Russian began to wilt to make it 10 tries in nine appearances for his country.Fortunate perhaps to still be involved in the game, Lee-Lo made up for his yellow by adding Samoafifth try before Leiua added the icing just before the buzzer to give the score a slightly flattering hue.Samoa move on to face Scotland in their next game while Russia, still searching for their first-ever World Cup win, take on Ireland. AFP