Ranil meets Chinese Ambassador

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe met Chinese Ambassador Yang Xiuping at the Opposition Leader’s office today. The delegation was headed by member of the CPC Central COmmittee and Party Secretary of the CPC Shanxi Province Committee, H.E. Yuan Chunquing. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Tiger cubs

Two tiger cubs play with their mother Hanya as they explore their outdoor enclosure on February 9, 2012 in Cologne, western Germany. Three tiger babies born at the zoo on November 6, 2011 were presented to the public. AFP

Student monks protest

Student monks of the Buddhist and Pali University today staged a protest against the the University Grants Commission urging authorities to provide them with necessary facilities and stop alleged political interference in the University administration. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Spare parts worth Rs.20mn seized

Sri Lanka Customs today seized spare parts of 50 motorbikes and a Pajero worth Rs.20 million, which were imported from Japan. The products were brought into the country as two-wheel land masters tractors. The parts came into the country on December 25, 2011 on board the MOL Celebration. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Surveyor’s protest against new rule

The Government Surveyor’s Association staged a protest today in front of the Surveyor’s General Office in Narahenpita against the new rule allowing surveyors to engage in private surveying apart from engaging in official surveying activities. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Opposing 13th Amendment

Members of the Thun Hela National Movement which opposes the 13th Amendment to the Constitution were seen distributing leaflets at the Fort Railway Station this morning. The campaign was led by Ven. Omare Kassapa Thera the head of the movement. Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

After the winning runs

Indian batsmen Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin walk off the oval after scoring the winning runs at the match against Sri Lanka in the Tri Nations ODI Cricket Series at the WACA ground in Perth on February 8, 2012. AFP

SF brought to court

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka is pictured being brought into the courts complex for the Appeal of the White Flag trial. The Appeal was to be heard today in court 502, two years after the former General was taken into custody. Protesters gathered outside the courts complex demanding the immediate release of Sarath Fonseka today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Action from the WACA

Sri Lankan opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan (R) hits a shot to the boundary watched by Indian wicketkeeper, captain M.S. Dhoni (L) during the match against India in the Tri Nations ODI cricket series at the WACA ground in Perth on February 8, 2012. AFP

Nawam Perahera ends today

Some 50 elephants, mostly from the central part of the island, together with thousands of traditional drummers, dancers, and monks gathered in the Sri Lankan capital to participate in the city's biggest two-day annual Buddhist procession at the Gangarama Temple. The perahera started on February 6 and ended today, February 7. The procession was first held in 1979. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Karu visits SF

UNP Parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya visited General Sarath Fonseka at the Welikade Prison today. This was Mr. Jayasuriya's first visit since the independence celebrations on February 4. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

A day after quake

Residents carry their belongings as they cross a damaged road, part of a national highway in the village of Tuway, Guihulngan town, Negros Oriental, in central Philippines on February 7, 2012, a day after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines.  Rescuers in the Philippines dug through rubble with their bare hands and shovels after a powerful earthquake triggered landslides, collapsed homes and killed dozens of people. AF

Buddhist devotees at Kelaniya

With today being Nawam Full Moon Poya Day, devotees were seen this morning engaging in religious activities at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

MR and Ranil at the Navam Perahera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe are seen here partaking in religious observance at the Navam Perahera last night. Pictures below show the cultural activities that are a part of the heritage of the Navam Perahera. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

33rd Gangarama Navam Perehara

The 33rd Gangarama Navam Perehara began today, with the attendence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, opposition leader Ranil Wickremaesinghe, and other political and religious leaders. Pictures show President Rajapaksa and Mr. Wickremesinghe placing the tooth relic on the elephant. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Struggling to free their leader

Anoma Fonseka the wife of jailed former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, leaders of several political parties including New Left Front Leader Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Wijitha Herath,  Siritunga Jayasuriya from the United Socialist Party and DNA MPs Jayantha Ketagoda and Arjuna Ranatunga are seen at a media conference where they announced a street protest to be held on February 8 in Colombo. Pix by Waruna Wannia

Jumbos become centre of attraction

Elephants brought for the annual Nawama Perahera organised by the Gangarama Temple have become the centre of attraction, as those visiting Vihara Mahadevi Park flocked to see these jumbos today, on the eve of the Perahara, which is to be held tomorrow and on Tuesday. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

WNL stall at Deyata Kirula

Deyata Kirula the mega national exhibition was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last eveing. The exhibition will be held till February 10 and is considered the largest exhibition to be held in the Deyata Kirula series. The picture shows the Wijeya Newspapers stall at the exhibtion. Wijeya Newspapers Limited are the media sponsors of the exhibition. Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Deyata Kirula opens

'Deyata Kirula' was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa this evening. The exhibition is being held on a 600 acre site in Oyamaduwa in Anuradhapura  and is the largest exhibition to be held since the inception of the series with a number of stalls representing the government and the private sector. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Anoma visits SF today

Anoma Fonseka the wife of former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka visited her husband at the Welikada Prison today. Pictures show Anoma Fonseka during her visit to Welikada today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Celebrating 64 years of independence

President Mahinda Rajapaksa hoists the national flag at the 64th Independence Day celebrations held in Anurdhapura today. The ceremony was held at the Sambuddathwa Jayanthi Grounds in Anuradhapura today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Gillard poses with Mahela and Brad

Australia's prime minister Julia Gillard and her husband pose for a photo with Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and the Prime Minister’s XI skipper Brad Haddin when she hosted the two teams to dinner at The Lodge - Official Residence of the Prime Minister before the tour match which took place yesterday at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. Sri Lanka are in Australia for the Commonwealth Bank Tri Series, which features India and the hosts

Concerned family members

Family members of the involuntary disappeared human rights activists are seen in the court compound at the proceedings of the Habeas Corpus application before the Court of Appeal. Seen here are family members of disappeared human rights activists walking out from the court premises. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Rehearsing for the 64th Independence Day

The Sri Lankan security forces staged rehearsal today in Anuradhapura for the up-coming 64th Independence Day celebrations which will be held tomorrow. The celebrations will include a considerable military parade. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Buddhist monks at the ECCC

Buddhist monks line up to attend a session at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) on the outskirts of Phnom Penh February 3, 2012. The United Nations backed tribunal, which has handed down a 35-year jail term commuted to 19 years for Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, for his role in the deaths of more than 14,000 people at a S-21 torture center in Phnom Penh, is due to announce his appeal decision on Friday, February 3

Warm welcome on ‘Arcadia’

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion bureau, along with officials of the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA), welcomed the vessel ‘Arcadia’ yesterday, at a ceremony held at the Colombo harbour. Pix by Sri Lanka tourism promotion Development

Celebrating Independence

Students of the kindergarten section ofGiggles International School in Gothatuwa celebrated Independence Day by releasing pigeons today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

In discussion

Minister of Resettlement Gunaratne Weerakoon and Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan allias Karuna are seen here discussing the establishment of permanent military camps in the Northern Province.Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Stop the shift

Members of the Magistrate Court Lawyers Association are seen here staging a protest against the proposed plan to shift the Magistrate Court complex from Hulftsdorp to Battaramulla. The protest was staged in front of the Supreme Court Complex. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

The lucky ones

These were some of the few lucky commuters who managed to get into this train which the authorities managed to put into operation despite the strike by the railway employees today. This was a short distance train plying towards Veyangoda from the Fort Railway Station. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja