Ruhunu Uni students protest

Students of the University of Ruhuna, today started a protest comming to Matara town from Nadugala, Nupe and Wellamadama against the government’s decision to give legal recognition to the private medical institution in Malabe. Pictures show the University students who came out from Wellamadama to Matara have been stopped by the police. Pix by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk

Protesting against removal of principal

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Gota on National Security challenges

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa spoke about the national security challenges that will be faced by Sri Lanka in the future. He said that the threat posed by the LTTE still exists even though they were defeated militarily two years ago. The Defence Secretary also noted the importance of maintaining a strong military in the post conflict period. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

UNP launches website

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today launched the party’s website, www.srilankaxnews.com at the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya headquarters. Pix by Samantha Perera

Smashed by a heavy swell

A heavy swell smashes the Panamanian-registered Tycoon into a cliff on Christmas Island, 2,800km (1,740 miles) west of Darwin, January 9, 2012. The cargo ship, which local media reports is leaking oil and fuel, was loading phosphate when heavy swells caused it to break from its moorings. Picture taken January 9, 2012.   REUTERS

"Release Lalith and Kugan"

A protest march was conducted by ‘Youth for Change' an organisation affiliated to the JVP dissident group today, calling for the release of their members Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Maruganathan who have allegedly been abducted. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Donations to re-build statue

Three Buddhist monks namely Ven. Marapana Hemananda Thera, Ven. Ambanwala Gnanaloka and Lawyer Nimal Wijenayake gave cash donations to re-build the Buddha statute which damaged by the commotion that took place during the election of office bearers. Pix by Nisal Badhuge

Closed

The police handed over an evacuation order issued by the Gangodawila Magistrate to authorities of the Sri Jayawardenapura University. It was issued to evacuate students from the premises of the university. The picture shows students outside the university which is now closed. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

PMPS against Piyasena Gamage

The Peoples Movement to Protect Schools (PMPS) handed over a complaint to the bribery commission against Senior Minister Piyasena Gamage. Gamage had told a weekend newspaper that he paid a bribe of Rs.150,000 to a principal in Galle in order to gain admission for a relative’s son. The PMPS allege that both accepting and giving a bribe are criminal offences and therefore need to be dealt with by law. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

The annual Perahera festival

An elephant sprays itself water from a fountain ahead of the annual Perahera festival of the historic Kelaniya Buddhist Temple in Kelaniya on January 8, 2012. AFP

Kelaniya PS members on Mervyn

Members of the Kelaniya Pradheshiya Sabha accused Minister Mervyn Silva of extortion and requested the President to appoint a commission to probe the actions of the controversial Minister. At a press conference held today at the PS premises the Chairman of the PS requested businessman not to pay any ransom to any individual.Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

JVP against proposed election system

The JVP today criticized the proposed bill for the introduction of new election system for local the bodies at a press briefing today which was held at the JVP party headquarters. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

2012 Dakar Rally

Portugal's Carlos Sousa steers his Great Wall during the Stage 5 of the 2012 Dakar Rally between Chilecito and Fiambala, Argentina, on January 5, 2012. AFP

Getting to school despite the weather

Pictures show students of Henegama Central College in Welliweriya, Kelaniya walking to school in spite of the heavy mist in the area this morning. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Students protest in Mihintale

About 2,000 students from the Council of the Rajarata University staged a protest in the Mihintale Town this morning to denounce the proposed private university act which jeopardise free education as well as the distortion of the GCE Advanced Level results and several other issues. Pix by Rohana Chandradasa

Revise A/L results

The People’s Organisation for the protection of schools today organised a public petition  in front of the Fort Railway Station urging the government to revise the results and issue it afresh. Pix by Samantha Perera

Students stage protest

A protest consisting thousands of university students was staged today by the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) authorities for the removal of the Vice Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenapura University and against the bomb attack that damaged the student heroes statue at the university. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana, Buddika Kumarasiri

Upali takes office

Recently elected President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Upali Dharmadasa officially took over office today, at the SLC Headquarters at Maitland Place. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja 

UNP going bananas

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake serves a bananas to party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the New Year breakfast at the opposition leader’s office today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Filling with hope

Re-corrections for the GCE Advanced Level Examination are now in progress. Pictures show students filing out application forms at the Borella post office. The re-correction of results started on December 29, 2011 and will end on January 9, 2012. The results for the Advanced Level Examination held in August 2011 were released on December 25, 2011 by the Examination Department. Pix by Samantha Perera

Randenigala receding

The Randenigala Reservoir is likely to recede if the present dry weather continues to prevail despite its spilling level of water during January in 2011. Pix by Bandula Godakumbura

SLFP Vice President in action

Deputy Minister for Resettlement, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan was among those dawning 2012 at the Ramada Colombo. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Release Lalith and Kugan

The Movement for People’s Struggle (MPS) today staged a hand bill campaign in front of the Fort Railway Station over the release of two of its activists – Lalith and Kugan. Pix by Kushan Pathitraja

Luxurious bus ride on E01

Luxury buses were introduced on the Southern Expressway (E01) this morning. The cost of a ticket from Kottawa to Galle will be Rs.400 per passenger. Two private buses and two SLTB buses will operate along the route. Pix by Samantha Perera

ASEAN forum’s flag

The ASEAN forum’s official flag was raised in Colombo for the first time today. The flag hoisting ceremony was attended by Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Djafar Hussein, Malaysian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Azmi Zainuddin and Myanmar's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Myo Lwin at the Indonesian Embassy in Colombo with the presence of External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris. The ASEAN Flag should be hoisted in Embassies and High Comm

Somawansa looks on

JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe is seen taking a good look at the ground where the party held its special convention in Debarawewa, Hambantota today. In the background are other party leaders including General Secretary Tilvin Silva. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Defected members speak

JVP central committee members who defected from the party are seen addressing a news conference today. Seated from left are Chameera Koswatte, Pubudu Jayagoda, G. Kularatne and Ms. Dimuthu Attigale. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Blessings for the New Year

Picture shows devotees invoking the blessings for the New Year at the Shivam Kovil in Kochchikade today.Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Invoking blessings for the new year

Pictures show devotees visiting the Gangarama temple on new years day.( Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana)

Guinness World Record

People gather with their bicycles at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei December 31, 2011. Hundreds of thousands people participated in a bike ride around Taiwan on New Year's Eve as part of an attempt to achieve a Guinness World Record of the largest bicycle parade in the world. Various groups began from 1000 starting points around the island and cycled clock-wise towards the next starting point within one hour. REUTERS