Protests for and against Electricity tariff

Two protest marches were held heading towards the Fort railway station this afternoon – one protest march against the increased electricity tariffs while the other was held to support the increase. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana and Waruna Wanniarachchi

Custom busts another racket

Four vehicles worth Rs. 15 million imported from Japan having declared them to be machinery and bicycles were seized by the Customs Revenue Monitoring Unit today.The vehicles were concealed in a container that had arrived from Japan. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

MR gives keynote address

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday delivered the keynote address at the Commonwealth Local Government Conference (CLGC) held in Kampala, Uganda, under the theme “Developmental Local Government: Putting Local Government at the Heart of Development.” Pix by: President’s Media

Revamped Medawachchiya-Madu railway line opened

The newly reconstructed Medawachchiya – Madu railway service was reopened for the first time today after thirty years by the Transport Ministry. The 43km railway track was  officially declared open by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa,Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and other officials. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Storm causes difficulties

Several houses and cultivations in the Pannala Town area had been destroyed due to a storm which passed through the town this morning. Transport difficulties had arisen in the Kuliyapitiya – Kurunegala area as a result. Pix by Shana Pushpani Weerasinghe

Fallen tree caused road block

Pictured here are a policeman and people removing parts of a fallen tree in Longdon place Colombo 07 this evening. The tree had caused damage to a vehicle parked nearby. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Heavy rains in Colombo

Due to the prevailing weather conditions many roads in Colombo were affected and it caused heavy traffic in the suburbs as well. Meanwhile a storm affected the eastern part of the country and it also had an impact on the weather in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

A break

Picture shows Sri Lankan Army personnel rest on their infantry fighting vehicles as they take a break from a rehearsal in Colombo today. The parade is scheduled for May 18 at the Galle Face under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Remembering the Nightingale

International Nurses Day was commemorated at the National Transfusion Services Auditorium in Colombo with the participation of Health Ministry officials and trade union representatives. The event was organised by the Government Nursing Officers Association. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: MR arrives at Entebbe International Airport

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Kampala, Uganda yesterday on a four-day official visit to the East-Central African country. He was received by Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs (Regional Affairs) Asuman Kiyingi at the Entebbe International Airport. Pix by President’s Media

Living home alone

Two brothers who were found to be living all by themselves in a house in Badulla are seen preparing their meal when the officers from the Badulla Police Women and Children’s Bureau took them into their custody. Inset: Brothers were going for School. Pix by Prasad Rukmal

Ex-CJ comes to Bribery Commission

Impeached Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake accompanied by her lawyers appeared before the Commission Investigating Allegations of Bribery or Corruption today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Salley at Nawaloka

Colombo’s former Deputy Mayor Azath Salley was again admitted to the Nawaloka Hospital after President Mahinda Rajapaksa revoked the detention order against him. (Pix by Pradeep Pathirana)

Training programme for Health Sector Technicians

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today between the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry and the Health Ministry to set up a University College of Health Studies to train technicians for the health sector at the Sri Jayewardenepura University. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Protest over electricity-tariff hike

The People's Movement Against the Increased Electricity Bill (PMAIEB) staged a protest march from Borella junction to Fort Railway Station today demanding the government to decrease the electricity tariff hike. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: IUSF protest in Kelaniya

Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) today held a protest in front of the Kelaniya University against the proposed private universities and urged the authorities to look into the low facilities at universities and urged to improve them. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Blood donation campaign held

A blood donation campaign organised by the Colombo Divisional Unit of the Sri Lanka Saukyadana Movement was held today at the Sri Lanka Saukyadana head quarters in Colombo. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Graded food establishment award ceremony in Taj

The award ceremony programme for graded food establishments in Colombo was held last evening at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo. The event was organized by the Public Health Department. The chief guest of the event was Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapakse. Pictured here are Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) mayor AJM Muzammil and Economic Minister are in conversation. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Tagore day celebrated at Indian Cultural Centre

The Tagore Day organized by the Indian Cultural Centre was celebrated today at the Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies in Colombo. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Customs to destroy 22 varieties of drugs

The Customs today took action to destroy some 22 varieties of drugs imported to Sri Lanka on different occasions without the approval of the Drugs Monitoring Authority These were seized by the Custom officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport.Pix by Deepa Adikari

Salvage process concluded

The four day long operation to salvage the wreckage of Lion Air Antenov 24 Air craft off Iranativ Sea was concluded today.  All the recovered parts would be submitted to the Air Force base camp in Palali, officers of Terrorist Investigation Unit said. However the black box of the aircraft was yet to be found.  Pix by Romesh Madushanka

A rare signal

Motorists were thoroughly confused when they noticed all the three signal lights on the post opposite the Viharamahadevi Park on Dharmapala Mawatha being lit up at once. This confusion resulted in huge traffic congestion. Pix by Romesh Danushka Silva

Beach is no place for lovers

A Traffic police officer is seen here chasing away the couples who were on the Matara Beach, which was renovated by the Matara Urban Development Authority (UDA) at a cost of some two million rupees. Pix by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk

UNP provincial councillors on protest march

Western Province Council (WPC) UNP members carrying flaming torches staged a protest march from the Central Environmental Authority to the WPC office urging the government to remove the electricity tariff hike. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Parakrama Samudra spills over

The sluice gates of the Parakrama Samudra reservoir in Polonnaruwa have been opened because of the heavy rains in various parts of the country. Pix by Karunarathne Gamage

Colombo flooded due to rains

Several areas in and around the Colombo city were flooded today due to heavy rains that persisted for most of the day. Pictures show roads in the Fort area inundated due to floods. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Protest against electricity tariff hike

‘The Coordinating Committee for Trade Union Alliance’ today staged a leaflet distributing campaign in front of the Fort Railway station against the electricity tariff hike. At the protest the committee sets fire to a mock electricity bill. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Swiss watch directors meet Ambassador

The directors of the Swiss brands watch company met the Ambassador of Switzerland in Sri Lanka at Swiss embassy Colombo this evening. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Video: Duminda in Magistrate’s Court today

Parliamentarian Duminda Silva appeared before the Colombo Magistrate today sequent to a motion filed by his lawyers. Mr. Silva is a suspect in the killing of presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. Pix by: Pradeep Dilrukshana

Salvage operation

A part of the Lion Air aircraft that crashed into the Northern seas off Iranatheevu in 1998 was being salvaged by special divers from the SL Navy. Part of a jaw along with a golden tooth was found among the recoveries. Pix by Romesh Madhusanka