Wales Island Exploration Program Underway; Kimberlite Intersected

08/16/2005

Stornoway Diamond Corporation (SWY:TSX), Strongbow Exploration Inc. (SBW:TSXV), and BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. announced today that exploration has commenced at Wales Island and kimberlite has been intersected on the first drill hole.

The drill hole targeted anomaly W2, which had been unsuccessfully drill tested as part of the 2004 exploration program during which the W1 and W3 kimberlite bodies were discovered. Drill hole 05-W2-03 was drilled at a 45 degree angle, intersecting 8.47 m of kimberlite from 43.89 m to 52.36 m down hole. With the discovery of the W2 kimberlite, and including results of the 2004 program, exploration drilling on the Wales Island project has discovered kimberlite in each of the three targets tested to date. Exploration drilling is scheduled to continue for approximately four weeks and will test a number of additional priority targets within this new kimberlite field.

The Wales Island Project comprises a 300,000 acre island located in Committee Bay just west of the Melville Peninsula. Exploration of the Wales Island Project is governed by a joint venture agreement between Stornoway, Strongbow and BHP Billiton. Each partner retains an equal one third interest in the project, and Stornoway is the project operator. The Wales Island exploration program is conducted under the direction of Robin Hopkins, P.Geol. (NT/NU), a qualified person under NI 43-101.

On behalf of the Board
STORNOWAY DIAMOND CORPORATION
/s/ "Eira Thomas"
Eira Thomas