SL troops to Lebanon

A batch of 75 Sri Lankan military personnel left for Lebanon to join the UN Peace Keeping operation in Lebanon. ( Pix by Deepa Adikari)

Against privatisation

Employees of the Pulmodai Mineral Sands factory are pictured here participating in trade union action in protest of the alleged, proposed privatisation of the factory. (Pix Amadoru Amarajeewa)

Hand separated, restored

A hand severed from the shoulder in an assault with a kitchen knife was restored through plastic surgery  by a team of surgeons of the Colombo National Hospital on last Thursday (21) the operation lasted 10 ½ hours.

Gotcha...

Sri Lankan cricketer Suraj Randiv (L) celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan cricketer Abdur Rehman during the third day of the opening Test Match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Galle International Stadium in Galle today.AFP PHOTO

199 runs..

Pakistan lost all its top-order wickets, barring the out-of-form Younis Khan, and was tottering at 48-5 on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday. Sri Lanka were dismissed for 472 shortly after tea with Sangakkara stranded on 199 not out. He became the quickest batsman to reach 2000 Test runs against a single team, but he also became only the second player in Test history to be stranded on 199. Pic/AFP

‘Roo Rata’ art exhibition

‘Roo rata’ an art exhibition by the students of Asian Grammar School, Gotatuwa was declared open by actress and Parliamentarian Malini Fonseka today at the National Art Gallery, Colombo. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

I can still lend a helping hand

A soldier employed at the “Ranaviru Apparel” garment factory in Alawwa, which produces more than 50% of the uniforms required by the Army. Seen here is soldier talking to Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya who visited the factory today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Dengue eradication in Fort

The officials of the Colombo Fort police and the army today conducted a dengue eradication programme in Colombo Fort area. Pic Waruna Wanniarachchi

It does not pay to smuggle

Custom officers at the Colombo Port are seen inspecting perfumes, shoes and other luxury items worth Rs.15 million imported by a BOI registered poultry farm. They are alleged to have smuggled 23 container-loads of such luxury items out of the Port this year. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

“Future Minds” at BMICH

“Future Minds”, a higher education and vocational exhibition, began today and will go on till June 24 at the BMICH. Pictures show the opening ceremony of the exhibition. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Hi…

President MahindaRajapaksa met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilon the sidelines of the Rio+20 environmental Summit. Picture courtesy of President's Media Division

Celebrating his half-century

Tillakaratne Dilshan signals his half-century, Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1st Test, Galle, 1st day, June 22, 2012 (AFP)

JVP dissidents protest

The JVP dissident group yesterday staged a protest at the Lipton Circle urging the government to release political activists Lalith Kumara Weeraju and Kugan Muruganandan who went missing since December last year and other missing people. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Against political interference...

A group of unemployed graduates today staged a protest against political inferences in the appointment of graduates to the public service. They say that the selected graduates were through political favouration. (Pix by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk)

Preventing dengue

Female employees of the Agrarian Services Ministry are engaged in clearing up the premises to mark the dengue eradication programme today. Earlier Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena expressed his displeasure over the non-participation of Ministers in the programme. (Pix by Pradeep Pathirana)

K’yake expressway gets final touches

The construction of the Katunayake - Colombo highway is scheduled to end by November this year. Picture shows the carpet layout of the highway being carried out. (Pix by Pradeep Pathirana)

‘Navam Raja’ memories will live on

The remains of ‘Navam Raja’, the main elephant the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya temple was exhumed today in order to preserve the skeletal remains of the animal. (Pix by Pradeep Pathirana)

Speaking behalf of Developing nations

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is pictured here addressing the Rio +20 conference on sustainable development at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The President spoke on wide ranging issues faced by developing nations. The full text of the speech is featured in our breaking news section. Picture courtesy of President's Media Division

Why kill stray dogs?

A peaceful demonstration by Animal Welfare Organizations was held at Lipton Circus, Colombo, against the alleged killing of stray dogs. Seen here are demonstrators holding signs questioning the act. (Pix by Kithsiri De Mel)

SF meets Cardinal

Former army commander Sarath Fonseka yesterday met Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith at the Bishop's House Borella. Anoma Fonseka, parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga, and the MP Tiran Allus participated at the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Give us more

Non academic staffs of island wide universities today staged a protest walk from the Colombo University to the University Grants Commission (UGC) urging the government to increase salaries and other related demands Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Leopard climbs out

A fully grown male wild leopard climbs a net after it fell into a water reservoir tank at a tea estate in Haskhowa, some 45 kms from Siliguri, on June 20, 2012. The animal was rescued by the Sukna Forest rescue team from the Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary by lowering a ladder and a net into the tank. AFP

All smiles…

Gayesha Perera, the ‘best personality’ at the  Miss Asia Pacific World beauty pageant 2012 held in Seoul, Korea is pictured here  arriving at the Bandaranayke International Airport (BIA) this morning. Pix by Deepa Adikari

Gota opens Sangawasaya for monks

Defence and Urban Development Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa opened a newly built two storied ‘Sangawasaya’ at the Iyamporuwa Raja Maha Viharaya in Madiwela, Kotte today. Alms were given to 100 monks and spectacles were given to residents at the ceremony. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Against the killing…

The JVP today held a protest in front of the Fort Railway Station, against the shooting incident in Katuwana, demanding the authorities to apprehend the ‘underworld gang’ responsible for the shooting, which claimed the lives of two persons. Pix by Pradeep K Pathirana

Surrenders...

'Julampitiye Amare' the main accused in the Katuwana shooting being taken away to prison escorted by prison guards after he surrendered in Court. Pix by Krishan Jayaruk

Another day at court...

Former presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra’s daughter Hirunika seen at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court this morning, when the Mulleriyawa shooting incident was taken for hearing. Pix by Samantha Perera

Sri Lanka wrap up series with win

Angelo Mathews secured victory with two balls to spare Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 5th ODI, Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, June 18, 2012. AFP

A flock of ducks

A driver looks out from his car as a flock of ducks are herded by farmers along a street towards a pond as vehicles drive past in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, June 17, 2012. There were about 5000 ducks, local media reported. Picture taken June 17, 2012. REUTERS

Case on the Sirikotha Attack

Members of the Movement to Protect the United Nations Party arrived at the Gangodawila magistrate court today for the court hearing on the Sirikotha attack. The case was postponed to September 24th. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana.