The joy of victory

Sri Lanka's Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera celebrate winning as Australia's Brett Lee  reacts during their one-day international cricket match at Bellerive Oval in Hobart February 24, 2012. REUTERS

Gota opens photo exhibition

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared open a photo exhibition at the Jaffna Library today. The exhibition was organised by the Jaffna Security Forces Headquarters. Pix by Kavi Sugi

Milk importers up in arms

Milk importers held a press conference today at the JAIC Hilton threatning the government with stoppage of all imports unless a price hike is granted. Pictured here are the heads of the institutions addressing the press conference. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Shangri-La begins work

Hong Kong-based leisure group Shangri-La has begun construction work on its first hotel in Sri Lanka today. Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa broke ground today for work on the 661-room Shangri La Colombo hotel. The group targets to open the property in mid 2015. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Karu participates in medical clinic

A special Medical Clinic was held today at the Dharmayathana Viharaya in Narahenpita. MP Karu Jayasuriya participated in the clinic. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

First anniversary of Japan quake and tsunami

A wave from the tsunami crashes over a seawall in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck the area March 11, 2011. This picture was taken by a Miyako City employee on the day of the tsunami and given to Reuters to form a part of a set of 'before' and 'after' images released February 23, 2012 before the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2012. Picture taken Ma

Jogging around Diyawanna Oya

The jogging and exercising area around the Diyawanna Oya area was opened for the public by the Speaker of Parliament, Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was also present at the event. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Architect 2012

The Architect 2012 exhibition organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects is being held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). The exhibition was declared open today. Pictures show Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the exhibition centre. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Elephant run over by train at Habarana

A  wild elephant was run over by the Batticaloa bound night mail from Colombo at  Habarana early this morning. Train services to Batticaloa were halted by around two hours until the carcass was removed. Wildlife Conservation Officials said the male elephant was around 30 years old. Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

Army personnel get their own cars

The Army has taken steps to provide cars to Army personnel on an easy payment basis. A loan of Rs.500,000 has been given to them by the Army Welfare to purchase the vehicles. More than 20 cars worth Rs.1.2 million each, were purchased and the vehicles were handed over to them by Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya today at the Army Engineering Corps Headquarters. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Protesting against fuel hike

Members of the United National Party including Upali Samaraweera along with members of the Uva Provincial Council today travelled in bullock carts to protest against the recent fuel hike. Pix by Palitha Aiyawansa

UNP launches website

The website of the United National Party (UNP), www.unp.lk. was launched today at the Jathika Sewaka Sangamaya Headquarters in Kotte under the patronage of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. A number of parliamentarians and members of the party attended the launch. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Donation to Cardiology Unit of LRH

The Colombo Branch of the Old Girls Association of Girls High School, Kandy donated a state-of-the-art Philips Multi Parameter Monitor to the Cardiology Unit of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital recently. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Discussing situation in the Maldives

The Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Hussain Shihab, as well as an advisor to the Maldivian President and Dr. Ananda Kumarasiri, are seen here addressing the media in Colombo today on the political situation in the Maldives. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Protect our nature…

In remembrance of Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell the Scouts staged an awareness programme urging people to protect nature under the theme ‘Environment Protection’. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

JVP signs petition against fuel hike

Member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) signed a petition today in front of the Fort Railway Station urging the government to decrease all increments which came about due to the fuel hike. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Meet our demands

The All Ceylon Health Workers Union (ACHWU) carried out a protest today demanding the government to provide the allowances due to them, to declare Saturday as a holiday and to provide a salary hike for the additional eight hours they work in addition to their usual working hours. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Fire destroys 200 acres of forest reserve

A fire erupted in the Ambuluwawa Forest Reserve destroying an area of 200 acres. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Pix by Suranga Rajanayake

UNP strikes against fuel hike

Members of the opposition including the leader of the United National Party, Ranil Wickremesinghe, staged a protest today in front of parliament against the fuel hike and the subsequent increments that followed. Pix by Samantha Perera

Students protest

The Student's Union of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka staged a protest today from the Sri Jayewardenepura University to the University Grants Commission, against student suppression and the authorities’ failure to address the crises in the university education system. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Let’s cycle

Opposition members of the Western Provincial Council today protested by riding bicycles from the Koswatte Junction to the Colombo Provincial Council, against the recent increment of the fuel bill. Pix by Samantha Perera

Ranil Abeynaike – 12.02.1955–21.02.2012

  Ranil Abeynaike a legend in his own right passed away this morning, leaving a void within the Sri Lankan cricketing circle, a void that would be hard to fill. We urge you to share your memories, condolences and anecdotes about Ranil on this page

Celebrating Maha Shivaratri

The Maha Shivaratri Day was marked today (20) by Hindu devotees in different parts of the country. Seen here are devotees marking the day by participating in religious rituals at the Sri Ponnambalavaneswarar Kovil  in Colombo.  Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Sports meet for differently abled

Seen here are pictures taken at the annual sports meet of the School of the Deaf and the Blind in Ratmalana which was held at their school grounds recently. Pix by Reka Tharangani

‘Valeriy Belenikin’

On the occasion of the 55th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relationship in Sri Lanka, the Russian Centre in Colombo together with the Sri Lanka-Russia Friendship Society staged an Art Exhibition yesterday at Galle Face Hotel. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

First foreign wedding in East coast

The first foreign wedding in the East Coast was held at Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa on February 18, 2012 at Passekudah beach. The wedding was that of Russian nationals, Olga Yurievna Gorbacheva and Vladimir Alexandroich Luchakovskiy and had a mix of Russian, Sinhalese and Hindu cultures.

JVP protest in Kiribathgoda

The Peoples Liberation Front (JVP) held a protest in the Kiribathgoda town today urging the government to reduce oil prices, stop corruption as well as unnecessary spending. Party leaders of the JVP also took part in the protest. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

First Ironman triathlon in SL

The first ever Ironman 70.3 and 5i50 Triathlon Series was held in Sri Lanka this morning. Seen here are pictures of the action that took place today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja 

Sonu Nigam performs in Colombo

Popular Indian singer Sonu Nigam performed yesterday in Colombo at the CH&FC grounds drawing a large number of Sri Lankan fans. He sang a number of his award winning songs for nearly two and a half hours entertaining the crowds which also included prominent politicians. Pix by Samantha Perera

Whitney Houston laid to rest

A hearse containing Whitney Houston's casket departs following her funeral at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey February 18, 2012. Houston, 48, died in a Beverly Hills hotel room February 11, the eve of the industry's Grammy Awards. REUTERS