Video: Grandpass Shooting

Police inspect the scene of the shooting that took place at Andrew Watte in Grandpas this evening. Pic by Nisal Baduge

Opposition visits Aluthgama

Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickramasinghe together with General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, MPs Kabir Hashim, Ajith P Perera, R Yogarajan, provincial council members and members of local bodies visited Aluthgama today where they met religious leaders including monks and Islamic leaders in the area. Pic by Nisal Badhuge

Crushed to death

A seven-year-old boy had been killed and five others seriously injured in a road accident near the Puttlam Buddhist Centre on the Chilaw-Puttlam Road last morning.

Micro car plant in Hambantota

The Sri Lankan car manufacturer Micro in partnership with China’s Sino Motor Industries, is building its third car plant with the aim of exporting vehicles manufactured by the joint venture which is being built at the Mirrijawila Investment Zone in Hambantota. The foundation stone for the car plant was laid by MP Namal Rajapaksa and Sino Motors Deputy CEO LiuWei. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

President arrives in Seychelles

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa arrived in Seychelles this afternoon. Here, they are being welcomed by Seychelles President James Michel at the Seychelles International Airport. Also in the photograph are External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris and Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Seychelles Rajatha Piyatissa.

Released…

The Vice Chancellor and the lecturers of the Rajarata University who had been taken hostage since yesterday by some students were released this morning. The Vice Chancellor is seen leaving the university after being released. Pix by Athula Bandara

Video: United we stand

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in conversation with Ven. Bopitiye Dhammasara Thera and Moulavi Muzammil Cader at a meeting of religious leaders and heads of civil organizations held at the Parliamentary Complex today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Govt. Press TUs protest

A Collective of Trade Unions of the Government Press yesterday staged a protest near the Press in Borella against alleged political appointments, corruption and other issues in the institution. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Meditation Centre for Forces

A foundation stone laying ceremony for a meditation centre for the three forces was held at Kanduboda, Delgoda in Biyagama this morning with the participation of Minister of Technology and Research Patali Champika Ranawaka and Army Commander Lt. General Daya Ratnayake. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

MR arrives in Maldives

Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim are seen welcoming President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the First Lady at the Male Airport last evening. Pix by Presidential Media

Video: SL beat England in thrilling Test

Sri Lanka players celebrate winning the series after they defeated England in the second cricket test match at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, England yesterday. Reuters

Protest against seed act

The National Movement for Protection of Seed Rights (NMPSR) today staged a protest march from Battaramulla to Ministry of Agriculture to hand over a petition against the proposed seed act. Later they held a ‘satyagraha’ in front of the Ministry. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Close in on victory

Sri Lanka's Dhammika Prasad celebrates after dismissing England's Ian Bell during the second cricket test match at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, England.Reuters

His last hurrah?

Cricketer Mahela Jayawardene is seen chasing a pigeon from the wicket on the fourth day of the second Test cricket match between England and Sri Lanka at Headingley in Leeds, England today. In what could be his last Test innings in England, Jayawardene scored 79 before being caught behind by Matt Prior off the bowling of James Anderson.  AFP

Isipathana emerge unbeaten schools rugby kings

Isipathana emerged unbeaten Singer U20 inter-schools rugby league champions of 2014 when they outclassed Kingswood by a whopping 34 points to 13 in the title deciding rugby encounter played at Longdon Place this evening. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

‘World Volkswagen Day’

The Volkswagen Beetle Owners Club celebrated the ‘World Volkswagen Day’, today (22). The parade was staged from the Taj Samudra Hotel to the Mount Lavinia Hotel. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

MR at opening of new fuel supply terminal at MRIA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially opened the fuel supply terminal at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport today.

Video: Army cadets’ graduation ceremony

A graduation ceremony for some 60 army cadet officers was held today at the Diyathalawa army camp with the participation of Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivad Cabral and Army Commander Lt Gen Daya Ratnayake.Pix by pradeep pathirana.

Gallows

Bogambara Prison was officially handed over to the Government for development today and the event was attended by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. President is seen inspecting the gallows during his visit to the prison premises. Picture courtesy President’s Media

Fact-finding mission in the zoo

A group of UNP MPs visited the Dehiwela zoo today on a fact-finding mission after they were informed by experts that several issues concerning with the wellbeing of the animals in the zoo. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Stop student suppression

The students of the Sri Jayawardenapura University conducted a protest march from outside the University premises along the High Level road up to Nugegoda Junction demanding that the suppression of students be stopped. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

JVP campaigns for peace among communities

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today organised a campaign in Colombo Fort to urge people to protect national harmony and not to be misled by rabble rousers who are out to cause ethnic conflict. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel  

Protest for unity

Buddhist monks hold placards while some youth shout slogans at a protest held by the  Movement for Equal rights against the recent violence in Aluthgama and Beruwala. Pix By Pradeep Dilrusksana

MR in Beruwala

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today visited Beruwala which was shaken up by violence last Sunday. He met members of the Sinhala and Muslim communities there. Pix by Presidential media

Sugarcane harvesting

Sugarcane farmers are seen collecting their harvest at plantations spread throughout the Moneragala District. Last year Sri Lanka produced 53,000 metric tonnes of sugar and imported sugar worth around Rs.37,000 million Pix By Pradeep Pathirana

Chemical storage facility on fire

A chemical storage facility in Nawala was gutted by a fire this morning. The fire was doused by the Colombo and Kotte fire brigades. Pix by Nisal Baduge

‘Nagutakota’ captured

The wild elephant known as ‘Nagutakota’, which was posing a threat to the people in some areas in Puttalam and Karuwalagaswewa Divisional Secretariats, was captured by the Wildlife officials last Sunday. The elephant being transported to another forest reserve to be released. Pix by Jayaratne Wickramaarachchi

Cigarettes worth Rs.30 mn seized by Customs

One million cigarette sticks worth Rs.30 million from Dubai were seized by the Customs today at the Central Mail Exchange in Colombo.  The cigarettes made up in to 61 parcels had a non-existent address. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Ashoka students protest

Students of Ashoka Vidyalaya held a protest today holding placards and demanding the immediate removal of the incumbent principal of the school. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Relics of the Buddha back at Gangaramaya Temple

The relics of the Buddha taken to Anuradapura for devotees to pay homage during the Poson season were brought back to the Gangaramaya Temple today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana