General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka is believed to have received several thousands of dollars for his campaign from an Asian country, according to sources. Criminal Investigation Department (CID) found US $ 527,000 in the bank vaults of General Fonseka’s relatives. A classified report apprently states that a former diplomat of the said country had arrived in Sri Lanka prior to the January 26th Presidential election along with an intelligence officer of the said country, and met General Fonseka.. . More >>

The recent assertion of Anoma Fonseka regarding her husband’s deteriorating health had triggered claims of inadequate medical facilities and bad ventilation, but, the army spokesman says that a special Navy doctor has been appointed for 24 hour consultation. Major General Prasad Samarasingha said that Mrs. Fonseka’s claim is not correct. He stated further, that the special Navy doctor appointed for 24 hour consultation had not reported any illness, and neither has Sarath Fonseka consulted them for any ailment. More >>

It was a strange indictment on the diminished interest in the entire general election campaign process, that the main issue of discussion last week was not even election related - - - it was the attack aimed at Sirasa/MTV (Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation) offices in Colombo, by a stone-throwing mob.
Whether anybody liked it or not, people had decided by the end of the week that this attack was carried out by a certain Kelaniya based government party politician - - and the fact that buses hired out of the Kelaniya depot figured in the incident didn't help. More >>

Last week the Maharajah Group of Companies’ head office at Braybrooke Place, Colombo came under attack over a caper apprently involving famous hip-hop star Akon who was scheduled to perform in Colombo next month.
It is said that this attack was well planned and organized allegedly by a notorious north-of-Colombo politician. The man behind the attack is a well known politico embittered with Sirasa TV ---- a character who goes into a frenzy when he sees the cameras of Sirasa TV. More >>

The decision taken by president Mahinda Rajapaksa last Friday (Mar 26) to lift the ban imposed on 18 rugby players from champions Kandy Sports Club and CH & FC, spurred on the national selectors last evening to pick a preliminary pool of 42 players for the upcoming Asian Five Nations Division 1 tourney to be held in Singapore next month. This preliminary pool is expected to go into training immediately and the selectors are due to prune it down to 25 with a squad of 22 and three reserves for the tournament set to kick off on April 14. More >>

Secretary of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Nishantha Ranatunga says that the decision to host the forthcoming ICC (International Cricket Council) Cricket World Cup 2011 Ticket and Mascot Launch on April 2 (Friday) at the Colombo Hilton Ballroom followed by a banquet which also coincides with Good Friday in the Holy Week, was decided by the Central Committee of the game’s world controlling body. He said SLC had no part in deciding the said day for the upcoming event which is to be graced by officials of the three co-hosts (India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) of the 2011 showpiece tourney. More >>

Endemic animals are biodiversity markers —- indeed, the jewels — of a country’s wildlife, since endemics are specific to one country on the map. You can see a great deal of such endemic wildlife in our zoo. This week, ZooLander follows the endemics you can see in our zoo, and their relatives in the wild...
The grey hornbill is a zoo inhabitant that puzzles visitors with its strange looking oversized beak. Always hyperactive and jumping here and there in its cage, this bulky bird is self-importantly attracting visitor attention, More >>

Easter is the chief festival of the Christian Calendar, commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which comes 40 days before Easter Sunday (not counting the Sundays). The last seven days of Lent constitute Holy Week beginning from Palm Sunday (28 March 2010). The last Thursday (1st April 2010) is called Maundy Thursday - marking the institution of the Eucharist. The following day is Good Friday (2 April 2010). It is believed that Good Friday originated from God’s Friday - the day Jesus was taken to the hill of Golgotha and crucified. More >>

ROME - Even as Pope Benedict XVI, faced with a sexual abuse scandal spreading across Europe, has called on victims to come forward and urged clerics to cooperate with civil justice, those strong words are running up against the complexities of his past.
“He is at a crossroads,” said Marco Politi, a veteran Italian Vatican journalist. “What’s extraordinary is that the scandal has reached the heart of the centre of the church. More >>

He’s known for putting his foot in it. But on this occasion it was George W Bush’s hand that landed him in a spot of bother. The former U.S. president was caught on video footage shaking hands with Haitians at a refugee camp - then apparently wiping his hand clean on his predecessor Bill Clinton’s shirt.
The incident took place earlier this week as Mr Bush More >>

After the lapse of one year, the economy has started to show signs that it is coming out of the stifling impact of war. The gradual recovery in the global economy is also set to improve the demand for local products during 2010. However, other important aspects are yet to change, and this is reflected in a survey conducted by the Research Intelligence Unit - www.riunit.com, that has taken into consideration people’s concerns in relation to attitudes, lack of vision for the future and matters relating to good governance. More >>

Employees’ Provident Fund has declared the highest ever rate of interest of 13.75 per cent to its member balances in 2009. This is an increase of 55 basis points compared to that of 13.20 per cent in the preceding year.
By end 2009, the total number of member-accounts increased to 12.7 million from 12.5 million in 2008. As at end 2009, the Fund (i.e. total liability to the members) stood at Rs. 752.2 billion recording a considerable increase of 16.6 per cent from Rs. 645 billion as at end 2008. More >>

Rhode Island’s official name- the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations- comes from the names of the colony’s two most important original settlements.
Rhode Island is the smallest of the fifty states. It is located in Southern New England on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and Narrangansett Bay. Woodlands, forests, lakes, ponds and hundreds of miles of coastline give the state a rural feeling. Yet Rhode Island is more densely populated than any other state but New Jersey. More >>

Ambuluwawa peak situated in the centre of Gampola Kingdom, established by the great Sinhala King Buvanekabahu IV. (1341-1357 AD) was hitherto not put into any use. Height of the peak trump the mean sea level is 365 feet and from the Gampola town is 1965 feet. Mayura Sandesa, the messenger poem written in the 14th Century describes this enchanting rock and the surroundings.
Modern development of Ambuluwawa has converted it to a reserve for folk museum based on a clear cut vision. More >>