E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?

[amritpal pathak]

when i try to install any software by terminal ,it says:
 E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (2: No such file or
directory)
 E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you
root?

 Tried to unlock as: sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock .
 It asked for password and then says:
       rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/dpkg/lock': No such file or
       directory i.e there is no suck a file/directory..but the  error shows
it.
   i am admin of my system(of cource) then why it  is asking for "are you
root" and m unable to open synaptic package manager too..

 pls somebody help!!!
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