Botanical garden in Ambalanthota

The government is planning to open the first ever botanical garden in a dry zone in Mirijjawila, Ambalanthota at the end of this year. Minister of Botanical Gardens and Public Recreation Jayarathne Herath today visited the place to inspect the progress of construction . This will be the fourth botanical garden in Sri Lanka. Pix by Sanath Gamage

Colombo-Katunayake Highway nearing completion

Eighty per cent of the Colombo-Katunayake Highway construction has been completed and it is due to be opened in August this year. Once finished the commute between Colombo and Katunayake would be reduced to twenty minutes according to engineers. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Engaging in religious observances

Devotees engaged in religious observances at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple today coinciding with Bak Full Moon Poya day. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

1000-foot Buddhist flag for ‘Kap Ruk Puja’

A Buddhist flag 1,000 feet in length is being taken by villagers from Kadahapola at Narammala to be offered at the Sri Maha Bodhi for the 'Kap Ruk Puja' to seek blessings and peace for Sri Lanka.Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

New Year at Welikada magazine

A New Year festival organised by the Welikada magazine prison was held today. Commissioner General of Prisons Mr. C. Pallegama participated in the ceremony. The festival comprised all traditional games and activities. Pictured here two groups of inmates are engaged in tug-of-war traditional game. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

JVP campaign in Fort

Leaders of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today held a leaflet distributing campaign in front of the Fort railway station urging the government to reduce the recent increased electricity tariffs. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Chinese delegation discuss future plans

The Chinese delegation included a number of high-ranking officials from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce who were at Temple Trees this evening to take part in the joint economic and trade commission discussed the plans for the next three to five years. (President’s media)

Video: Tripping the tariff hike

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today held a petition campaign in front of the Ceylon Electricity Board headquarters in Colombo urging the government to reduce the recent increased electricity tariffs. Pix by Nisal Baduge ???

Media and conflict resolution

A SAARC media conference was held to discuss the role of media in conflict resolution and peace building, at Hotel Taj Samudra today. The discussion was held jointly by SCCRC Information Centre and the Ministry of Mass Media. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

From Bahrain with love

A delegation of the Bahrain government led by Speaker of Bahrain Parliament Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Dharani arrived in Sri Lanka last morning. The delegation was given a warm welcome at the Bandaranaike International Airport by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Chandima Weerakkody. Pix by Deepa Adikari

CDF celebrate New Year

A New Year festival organised by the Civil Defence Force was held today at the Sedawatta grounds. The festival comprised all traditional games and activities. Director General Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris participated at the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Book on Lalith

The book titled “Lalith Athulathmudali” written by Nandana Kumarapeli  was launched at the Jayawardana Centre today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

JVP against electricity tariff hike

Members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) staged a protest at the Maharagama town this evening against the increase in the electricity tariff. Picture shows protesters holding flaming torches during the protest. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja, Shantha Senevirathne

Clearing the speck in her brother’s eye

US Ambassador Michele Sison is helping to clean up a Colombo beach this morning by picking up the garbage strewn all over amid an international campaign,which has been launched to force Sri Lanka to clean up its human rights act with Ms. Sison warning recently that the island could slip back into conflict unless the government addressed ethnic reconciliation and accountability following allegations that up to 40,000 civilians were killed in the f

Green Walk for a Green Earth

The Green Building Council of Sri Lanka conducted a “Green Walk for a Green Earth” on International Mother-Earth Day. The walk wended its way along Parliament Road to the Jana Kala Kendraya. (Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana)

Dropping the crop…

Dejected farmers contemplate as they are reluctantly compelled to discard the fruit of their labour, brought to the Dambulla Economic Centre with high hopes after the New Year. The vegetables would not fetch even a rupee per kilogramme. Pic By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

23 garment girls injured after bus-van collision, 6 critical

At least 23 garment factory workers were injured when a van they were travelling collided with a passenger bus in Dambulla. According to hospital sources the condition of six girls are critical.  Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

Accident

The badly damaged bus soon after the accident near the Rockland Junction, Beruwala, where 24 people were injured.Pix by Sarath Siriwardane

Another ward complex

The 3rd Medical ward complex in the National Hospital was ceremonially opened by the President today. Health Minister Mitripala Sirisena was also present at the occasion. Pix by Gayan Amarasekara

Massive explosion at Texas

Dozens feared dead as massive explosion rips through Texas: Another 200 injured and scores of homes destroyed in fertilizer plant blast (Daily mail)

Funds cut for de-mining

Pictured here a member of the FSD an NGO engaged in de-mining process in Mullaithivu. NGOs said they were currently facing difficulties in de-mining process as countries which donate funds for the process had reduced their aid. Pix by Romesh Madushanka.

Jayantha new SLC President

Jayantha Dharmadasa was today elected, uncontested, as the new president of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for a two year period at the Annual General Meeting of the SLC held at the BMICH. Nishantha Ranatunga (also uncontested) and Nuski Mohammed were re-elected to their posts of secretary and treasurer respectively. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

New Year celebration

A Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival was held yesterday at Maligathenna, Gampaha. The festival comprised all traditional games and activities. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Boston blast

Two explosions occurred near the finish line at the Boston Marathon on Monday about four hours after the start of the race. At least three people were killed, and more than 100 were wounded. Picture shows the second explosion at the Boston Marathon. (dailymail)

Awarding a bolting horse

The traditional Nuwaraeliya horse races including the prestigious governors cup were held today at the race course in Nuwara eliya. Distinguished invitees including first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and other dignitaries, were present at the event. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

British Airways flies again

The first British Airways flight after a lapse of 13 years arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport this afternoon. British Airways suspended its services following the conflict that prevailed in the country. 19 crew members including the Chief Executive Officer of British Airways William Keith were on board in the plane captained by Sri Lankan Kiran Mediwaka. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

The dawning of a new beginning

The traditional anointing of oil ceremony in lieu of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, was held at the auspicious time of 6.41 this morning. Pictured here is the Chief Priest of the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya, anointing oil on one of the elephants who reside in the temple. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

'Little England' comes alive

Nuwara-eliya, the countries traditional holiday destination is filled with activity with many local and foreign tourists making their way to the scenic city during the April Holidays. Tourists enjoy the surroundings as much as the hive of activity the city lines up for them during the festive season. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Happy New Year!

We wish our readers a prosperous Sinhala and Tamil New Year

A walk in the park

Elephants are pictured here moving towards the Bundagala sanctuary after spending the night around Deegavapiya. The elephants do this migration at nightfall daily and go back to the sanctuary at sunrise.