Ian Botham on his charity walk

Former England cricket player Ian Botham smiles during a news conference about his charity walk in Sri Lanka this evening. Ian Botham is in Colombo to announce details of his epic walk for charity across Sri Lanka, from Mankulum in the north to Seenigama in the south. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

National Crafts Festival in Colombo

The National Handicrafts Festival “SHILPA 2013” organised by the National Crafts Council, was declared opened by Economics Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa this evening at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre. This National Crafts Festival will be held till August 19 from 10 am to 9 pm daily. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Assumes duties

Major General A.K.S. Perera assumed duties as the Commander of the Security Forces Headquarters (Western) today at Panagoda Army cantonment. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Jermaine Jackson visits MR

Jermaine Jackson, member of The Jackson 5 and brother of pop icon Michal Jackson met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President’s House last evening. Mr. Jackson was visiting Sri Lanka on the invitation of MP Namal Rajapaksa. President’s media

Video: Protest in Fort

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe walks through a sea of protestors gathered to demand justice over the murders in Weliveriya and the alleged law breakers in Grandpass. The protest held opposite the Fort railway station caused heavy traffic around the countrys economic hub Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Father and son further remanded

Former DIG Vaas Gunawardana and his son Ravindu who were further remanded today by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court are seen escorted out from the Court premises a while ago. (Pix by Pradeep Pathirana)

Video: Gearing for outcry over Weliweriya

UNP members including MP Harsha De Silva distributing leaflets to the general public in Colombo, seeking their  participation and support for the protest to be held outside the Fort Railway Station tomorrow, against the Weliweriya incident. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Ranil attends Dompe UNP Bala Mandala

The Dompe UNP Bala Mandala seminar was held today at Kirindewela the participation with Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, MP Harin Fernando, MP Ruwan Wijewardene. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Remembering Kadirgamar

The unveiling of the statue of the late Minister of External Affairs, Lakshman Kadirgamar at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies in Colombo was held today on his eighth death anniversary. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Train reaches Kilinochchi after 23 years

Two trains reached the Kilinochchi railway station after 23 years on Sunday August 11. The train service to Kilinochchi came to an end in July 1990. This achievement of resumption of train service was made possible because of Indian financial aid and reconstruction efforts. Pix by S.K.Prasath

In his memory

Former Fereign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamer’s widow Sugandi is seen performing religious rituals to mark her husband’s 8th death anniversary. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Milk Kavadi

A milk kavadi organised by the Sri Devi Karumari Amman Temple in Colombo 10 was held today with devotees coming in procession from the Tamil School at Maha Vidyala Mawatha. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Sports festival in Puttalam

The annual sports festival organised by the Puttalam Muslim Community to mark the Ramazan Festival was held yesterday at the Ijeethma Grounds in Puttalam (Jude Samantha)

Roads to be closed for Vel festival

Roads (as shown in graphic) will be closed on tomorrow and on Sunday due to the Annual Mayoora Temple Vel festival.

Video: Ranil visits Weliweriya victims in hospital

Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the Gampaha Hospital to check on the well-being of those patients who were injured in the Weliweriya attack. Mr. Wickremesinghe is seen speaking to a boy who was injured in the attack. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Video: Terminal opened for public viewing

The first terminal built under the Colombo South Port Expansion Project was opened last Thursday for public viewing. A large number of visitors were seen at the terminal.   Pix by Nisal Baduge

Eid Mubarak !

The annual Eid-Ul-Fitr prayers conducted by the Haji Hafeez Eshan Patel Under the auspicious of the Memon Association of Sri Lanka was held today at the Galle Face Green in view if the Ramazan Festival. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Ready for Ramazan

Muslims in Sri Lanka were today seen enthusiastically preparing for tomorrow’s Ramazan Festival.Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Video: Against the brutalities

The Socialist Youth Union held an awareness programme and a distributing of leaflets campaign condemning the ‘brutal attack on unarmed civilians by Security Forces’.  The campaign and the awareness programme were held at the Fort railway station today. Pix by  Nisal Baduge

Video: To be questioned for 24 hours

The Colombo Additional Magistrate today granted permission to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to question Ravindu Vaas Gunawardena for 24 hours. Ravindu was arrested in connection with the killing of businessman Shyam in Bambalapitiya. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel ???

Against Weliwerya killigs

The joint opposition held a protest today outside the Fort Railway Station over last week’s killings in Weliweriya. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Final kiss to her beloved

The weeping mother of 19 year old Ravishan kisses her son one final time before she bids farewell to her beloved. Ravishan was killed during the unrest in Weliveriya after he sustained gunshot injuries on the head.(Pix by Deepa Adikari) ???

Video: Diploma for a fee?

The Government Nursing Officers Association staged a protest near the National Hospital Colombo today against the issuing nursing diploma certificates without proper training for a fee. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana.

Ranil at Weliweriya

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe this evening visited the funeral house of Ravishan Perera, who died due to the injuries sustained in the clash in Weliweriya. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Protest over Weliweriya killings

The People’s Movement for Democracy today staged a protest in front of the Fort Railway station condemning the Weliweriya killings. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja ???

Video: Exams begin…

2013-Advanced Level Examination began today in 2,164 examination centres. 292,706 students are facing for the examination this year. Pictures show several students leaving examination centres after the conclusion of the first day of the examination.  Pix by Nisal Baduge.

The President seen on board the tugboat Suranimala

The first terminal under the Colombo South Port Expansion Project funded and constructed by the Colombo International Container Terminals PVT Limited was declared open today by President MahindaRajapaksa. It was funded by China and built at an estimated cost of some US$500 million. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

‘Give me my child’

The wailing mother of Akila, who was killed during the unrest in Weliweriya, weeps insisting that her only son be brought back to life. Akila was buried today at the Weliweriya cemetery amidst a large gathering of residents, friends and colleagues. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Tight security for funeral

Security has been tightened in Rathupaswela Weliweriya ahead of the funeral of 17-year-old Akila Dinesh, who was shot dead on Thursday night during a protest against contaminated water. Three persons were killed and several others including journalists, were injured during the clash with the army. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Thalawila St. Anne’s Church Festival

The annual Thalawila St. Anne's Church Festival was held this morning under the patronage of Bishop of Chilaw Rt. Rev. Dr. Valens Mendis. More than 150,000 devotees have reached the church in view of the festival which is one of the major church festivals in Sri Lanka. Pix by Jude Samantha