Some UPFA members are planning legal action requesting a recount of their preferential votes as they entertain doubts over the preferential votes tally against their names .
Azath Salley who contested from the Colombo district is contemplating going to court, sources close to him said. His brother Reyyaz Salley confirmed that his bother wanted to file legal action. “We are waiting until he returns to the country from Mecca,” he said. More >>

The government now faces the challenge of forming an efficient new cabinet. Speculation is rife as to who will be appointed to the new cabinet --- and how many posts would be available!
Inside sources however said that since President Mahinda Rajapksa has decided to reduce the jumbo size cabinet, many Mps will be appointed as deputy ministers or junior minister --- and the number including ministers and deputies -- is expected to surpass 50. More >>

In its extreme form, right-wing ideology consummates in the fascist lust for violence as the means to acquire power over weaker and hapless human beings
Dr Dayan Jayatilleka, Sri Lanka’s former ambassador and permanent representative to the UN, and earlier an underground revolutionary and academic, witnessed his island nation bleed and groan for long years because of the ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority. More >>

Although the 2010 General Election could have gone down in history as a relatively peaceful one, the violence at Nawalapitiya made the difference and also brought disgrace on the government.
Commissioner of Elections Dayanada Dissanayake has decided to cancel all the votes of 36 polling stations in Nawalapitiya and to go for a re-poll. Moreover, the elections commissioner also decided to cancel the votes of Kumburupiddi polling station in the Trincomalee polling division and the re-poll is set to take place on Tuesday (April 20). More >>

Sri Lanka came up with a stupendous performance in the loose to outplay hosts Singapore and post an emphatic 23-16 win in their rousing HSBC Asian Five Nations quadrangular Division 1 rugby final worked off at the national stadium in Singapore last evening. The island-nation who saw scores tied up at 6-all at the interval, collected their tally from two converted tries, More >>

Sri Lanka will bid for the hosting rights of the 2012 U-19 World Cup as Canada pulled out as hosts last week due to logistical issues.
Following Canada’s decision Sri Lanka has informed the ICC of its interest to bid for the hosting rights where the ICC board who will meet on Monday in Dubai will decide on the alternative venue.
“Soon after we heard that Canada has pulled out, we made our intention clear to the ICC and we are optimistic of our chances,” said Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga. More >>

Bishop Duleep de Chickera, of Colombo, Sri Lanka, said in his sermon that the church must be “an inclusive communion for anyone and everyone, regardless of colour, gender, ability or sexual orientation,” but he also called for “discipline and self-scrutiny” since “Christ calls us to be hard on ourselves.” With the late-morning sun streaming through three stories of clear and stained-glass windows, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams led the service at the enormous cathedral’s high altar, More >>

A fortnight or so ago, on March 31st, the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) hosted a reading session to which I was invited. Among the readers that evening was Ashok Ferrey, who read from his novel “Serendipity”. Ashok, of course, is the writer of “Colpetty People” and “Good Little Ceylonese Girl”: collections of shorter fiction that have appealed much to both readers and booksellers. To my knowledge “Serendipity”, which came out in December 2009, is Ashok’s first work of longer fiction/novel. More >>

By Friday morning, most of Europe's major airports - key hubs for international travelers - were closed. Thousands of flights had been canceled since the massive disruption began on Thursday, stranding or delaying millions of passengers from North America to Asia. "I've never seen such chaos," said Erich Klug, 35 , a buyer for an auto parts company who spoke to a reporter at Frankfurt airport after it closed down on Friday and hundreds of people stood in line to buy train tickets for onward travel. More >>

Pakistan’s government Friday welcomed a report by a United Nations commission on the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto that blamed the government of former President Pervez Musharraf for failing to protect her and destroying evidence after the attack. Pakistani policemen stand guard at the assassination site of former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto. The 65-page report backed up claims made by the government of President Asif Ali Zardari, who was married to Ms. Bhutto, More >>

The holiday shortened week saw the first trading day of the week start strongly with the conclusion of the election for the 14th parliament of Sri Lanka. With the emergence of what looks like a close to two thirds majority in parliament for the party of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the market moved up with confidence. Though there were many incidents of poll-related violence and also breakdown in law, the mandate given to the government is expected to have a positive effect on the management of the country’s economy. More >>

Rajat Gupta told Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in March he wouldn’t stand for re-election as a director, after receiving notice from prosecutors that they were reviewing recorded conversations between him and Galleon Group founder Raj Rajaratnam, people close to the matter say.
Gupta, a Goldman director since 2006, said through a spokesman that his decision to step down was because of “other commitments.” More >>

The Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijin was one of the greatest artists of the European baroque period. His paintings, drawings, and etchings cover a wide range of subjects including portraits, landscapes, religious stories, and scenes of everyday life. His work displays a sympathetic understanding of human nature that continues to be admired today.
Childhood
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijin, one of seven children, was born in Leiden, Holland, on July 15, 1606. More >>

Rekawa where sea turtle watching is popular, is one of the eco-friendly destinations.
The beach at Rekawa village, 10km east of Tangalle Bay beach, is home to one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the world. At Rekawa, five of the seven species of sea turtle come to nest, with most popular being the green turtle. These species of sea lay their eggs in the sand here every night throughout the year.
The best time to see turtles is between January and April; periods when there’s a full moon. Full moons too are good throughout the year, More >>