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

Last goodbyes

The funeral of Anthony Fernando, the fisherman who was killed on Wednesday February 15, during a protest in Chilaw. The picture shows his grieving family saying their final goodbyes. Pix by Hiran Jayasinghe

A protest that took a turn for the worse

The Protest against the fuel price hike organised by opposition parties headed by the UNP took a turn for the worse with the Police using tear gas and water canons to disperse the protesters. The Protest held in front of the Fort railway station saw a gathering of leading opposition figures including leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickreamasinge. Pictured here are the scenes as the protest unfolded. Pix by Samantha Perera

UNP protest with fishermen in Negombo

The United National Party (UNP) organised a protest in Negombo today condemning the death of the fisherman who died during clashes and also in protest against the recent oil price hike. Fishermen joined the protest by taking boats from the Hamilton Lake in Negombi. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

JVP rises against murder and price hike

The JVP distributed leaflets today, condemning the murder of fishermen in Chilaw and urging the government to bring down fuel prices. The event was held near the Fort Railway Station today. Pictured here is the leader of the JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe and members distributing leaflets to the public. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Holy Al Quran in Sinhala

The Holy Al Quran was converted to Sinhala and was launched at the BMICH today. Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Negombo fish market deserted

Pictures show scenes of a deserted Negombo fish market today as people stayed away from the day-to-day work in the fish stalls due to the death of the fisherman who was killed in the protest in Chilaw, yesterday. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

‘Jana Aragala’ against fisherman’s death

The Movement for People’s Struggle, today staged a protest in Negombo against the government, asking for a reasoning fisherman who was killed in the protest in Chilaw and against the fuel hike. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Remembering Vijaya

The 24th death anniversary of Vijaya Kumaranathunga was held today at Town Hall in Colombo. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Body of Anthony brought home

The body of Warnakulasuriya Anthony Fernando, who was killed in the protest in Chilaw was brought to his residence today. He was killed during clashes when fishermen in the area took to the streets yesterday against the rise in fuel price hike. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

MR at Singapore Air Show

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa (L) accompanied by S. Iswaran, Singapore's Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, watch an aerial display at the Singapore Air Show in Singapore February 16, 2012. Rajapaksa is on a state visit to Singapore. REUTERS

Tear gas used on protesters

Police used tear gas to disperse JVP supporters heading to Fort from Maligawatta this evening protesting over the recent increase of oil prices, government corruption and wastage. Oil prices were increased at midnight on Saturday by the government. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

MR in Singapore

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa followed by his Singaporean counterpart Tony Tan inspects a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony in Singapore on February 15, 2012. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is in Singapore on a four day state visit.  AFP Photo

Help us

The Court of Appeal once again ordered the respondents related to the petition filed by the relatives of Lalith and Kugan to present themselves in court. Seen here are relatives of the two missing activists in front of the court today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Statues of founder of North Korea

Statues of North Korea founder Kim Il-Sung and late leader Kim Jong-Il (R) erected at Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang are seen in this picture released by the North's KCNA February 15, 2012. Reuters

Bullock carts, the way forward

The politicians of the opposition resorted to travel by bullock carts to protest against the fuel price hike. Three UNP councillors of the Southern Provincial Council Bandulal Bandarigoda, Wijepala Hettiarachchi and Krishantha Pushpakumara yesterday travelled by bullock carts to attend the council meeting. Pix by D.G. Sugathapala and Athula Bandara

Unearthing gems

A crowd of more than 5,000 people from several areas flocked to the Lunugamwehera Road near the Viharamahadevi Chaithya in Kataragama in search of gems on hearing that a woman had found a precious stone in a pile of earth lying by the roadside. Gem merchants from Ratnapura, Eheliyagoda, Kahawatta and Okkampitiya were among them. The road is now being widened and the earth has been removed during excavations however police have taken steps to pr

Lawyer’s protest against white van abductions

The lawyer’s of the Hulftdrop Courts Complex staged a protest opposite the entrance of the High Court today, against the abduction of a suspect while being escorting to the Magistrate’s Court lockup. Pix by Nisal Baduge

A sudden shower

Colombo witnessed a sudden downpour of heavy rain today with many key roads being inundated due to flooding. Pictures show a glimpse of Colombo during the shower. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Charred body found in Narahenpita

The Narahenpita Police recovered a charred body down Boteju Mawatha in Narahenpita this morning and the Narahepita police are conducting further investigations. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Free ‘Kudu Mervyn’

A protest was held in front of the Hulftsdorp courts complex demanding the immediate release of the abducted prisoner ‘Kudu Mervyn’. The Prisoner was abducted in broad daylight yesterday in front of the courts complex by an unidentified gang. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Army assists commuters

The Army and the police assisted commuters who were stranded in bus stands due to the island-wide bus strike which was launched by private bus operators. The strike was called off this evening after the government agreed to increase bus fares by 20 percent. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

The ill-fated MiG 27

Seen here are pictures of the wreckage of the ill-fated Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) MiG 27 which crashed in to the Dummalasooriya area in Puttalam today. The pilot landed safely after ejecting himself from the jet. A technical error is widely believed to have led to the crash. Pix by Jude Samantha

Let’s play cricket instead

With the Private Bus Owner’s Association launching an island-wide strike due to the rise in fuel costs, private bus drivers and conductors were seen playing cricket today at the Pettah Private Bus Depot.  Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Commuters inconvenienced

The fuel hike by the government has resulted in the Private Bus Owner’s Association conducting and island-wide strike which has resulted in commuters being severely inconvenienced. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Speed 2012

Brothers Aaron  and Jaden Gunewardena are seen taking part in the Motorcycle Group “O” Standard up to 125cc (4 stroke single cylinder) race at the Championship Round 1 of Speed 2012. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

The changing of the meter

Metres were changed corresponding the price hike in fuel with effect from midnight last night. The pictures show petrol stations changing the price tags of the fuel to depict the new prices. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Australia beat Sri Lanka

Australia's Matthew Wade appeals for an LBW of Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga during their one-day cricket match in Perth February 10, 2012. REUTERS

In support of Nasheed in Sri Lanka

A section of the Maldivian Diaspora participated in a protest opposite the Maldivian embassy in Bambalapitiya today. The protesters carried placards in support of the ousted Maldivian President Mohomed Nasheed. There was heavy Police presence guarding the  Maldivian Embassy. Pix by Pradeep Pathiarana

Illicit cigarettes seized

Illegally imported cigarettes worth around Rs.2.6 million branded as Gold Leaf were seized by the Fort Police when they were hidden inside a house in Maligawatta. They seized 121,460 cigarette sticks. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi