A prelude to a feast

Shoppers are pictured eagerly purchasing traditional sweets used during the Sinhala Hindu New Year. Households across the country relish and serve the sweets that are traditionally used only during the New Year. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Country roads, take me home

Is the calling by many of those who gathered at the country’s main bus station this morning to leave to their homes. Many migrant workers who are employed in Colombo leave for their homes during the New Year holidays virtually deserting the countries capital city. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Getting ready for the New Year

Crowds of people are seen shopping for pots, at wayside pottery Stalls in Kirulapone. They will be used for the traditional ‘Kiri Ithiraweema’ in the New Year. Pix by Kushan Pathiraj

‘Adhisthana Pooja’ by artists

Sri Lankan artists today held an ‘Adisthana Pooja’ outside Independence square against the protest held in Tami Nadu by the Indian artists urging them to come to Sri Lanka and witness the real situation here. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

A New Year Salute

The annual army Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival was held today at the Malay Grounds in Colombo under the patronage of Army Commander Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya. The festival comprised all traditional games and activities. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

St. Sebastian wins Kotmale Chox tournament

St. Sebastian’s emerged the champions of the Kotmale Chox under 19 Twenty20 cricket tournament defeating Wesley by 42 runs in the finals at Reid Avenue. The champion team St. Sebastian posing for a picture after receiving the trophy. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Raid to catch shop owners who cheat

Measurement Units, Standards & Services Department today conducted a raid in Colombo Fort to catch shop owners who use inaccurate weighing scales to cheat their customers. Pix by Samantha Perera

Army CoI report handed over to Defence Secretary

The Army Commander today handed over to the Defence Secretary the Army Court of Inquiry report (CoI) on channel 4 allegations. The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed by the President had made some observations on the Army and in addition allegations were also made by Channel 4. Picture courtesy of  Army Media

UNP complains to human rights commission

UNP MPs Jayalath Jayawardena and Ravi Karunanayake made a complain to the Human Rights Commission today urging the authorities to reveal details of the tests carried out on renal disease in the North-Central Province.Nisal Baduge

Video: Satyagraha over bus service fee increase

The All Island Private Bus Owners Federation General Secretary Anjana Priyanjith held a Satyagraha outside the Road Passenger Transport Authority at Battaramulla today urging the authorities to cancel the bus service fee increase.Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Garbage protestors thrown out

The police removed the protesters who were staging a satyagraha campaign and blocking access to the garbage dump site since Saturday demanding the immediate removal of the massive garbage dump situated in the area. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Video: Boycott Tamil movies: Ravana Balaya

The ‘Ravana Balaya’ organisation handed over a Sandeshaya to the Sri Lanka Public performance board (SLPPB) Chairman Gamini Sumanasekera this morning with regard to the banning of Tamil movies of the actors who were on a fast in support of Sri Lankan Tamils. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Iron Lady dies at 87

Bridging the divide

The ‘Rajadhani road’ connecting the North and South, was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today. The road was constructed at a cost of 7000 million rupees.

A fiesta in the offing

Eager shoppers are pictured here in Pettah making their purchases, a week before the traditional Sinhalese and Hindu New Year. Pettah is considered a hub for low priced goods and many around the country flock to the commercial capital for their purchases. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

A near miss

A seven storey building in Maliban Street Pettah collapsed this morning with two floors entirely crumbling. The rest of the building rested on an adjoining complex. No injuries have been reported thus far.Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video:The garbage that is all over!

Residents of the Meethotamulla area continued their ‘Sathyagraha’ for the second consecutive day demanding the immediate removal of the massive garbage dump situated in the area. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Beetles galore

The annual Volkswagen beetle rally was held this morning for the 14th consecutive year, with vintage car owners parading their vehicles around Colombo. (Pix by Kushan Pathiaraja)

A holy gift

The Gyalwang Drupka, spiritual head of the Drupka Order of Tibetan Buddhism, presented to President Mahinda Rajapaksa a bone relic of the Buddha as a gift to Sri Lanka. Courtesy President's media

National Rowing Championship starts

The 28th Sri Lankan Rowing National Championship for 2013 began today at the newly developed 2000 m Diyawanna Oya rowing course and it will continue till April 6. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

'Annual Avurudu Pola'

The 4th annual Avurudu Pola organised by the Seva Vanitha Unit of the Civil Defence Force was held today at Bambalapitiya. Funds from this event will be used for the construction of 450 houses for Defence Force soldiers. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Workshop on Oral Complaints Regarding Electricity Tariffs

A program on Public Consultation on Electricity Tariffs Revision 2013 was held today at the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) to consider oral complaints from the people regarding the electricity tariff revision. Written complaints were called for on an earlier occasion. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Customs seize Cigarettes and Sprats

The Customs Special Operations and Investigations unit today seized Rs.120 million worth of contraband cigarettes and some 14,000 kilos of sprats imported from Dubai. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Heavy rains in Colombo

Heavy rains were experienced in Colombo this morning. The Department of Meteorology said showers could be expected in the southwestern coastal areas during the morning and thundershowers would develop at a few places in the Sabaragamuwa, Western, Southern and Central provinces during the afternoon or evening. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

‘Common difference’

‘Common difference’ a documentary on the three-decade Sri Lankan conflict was screened for the first time today at the Lakshman Kadirgamar institute. Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was chief guest at the occasion. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Braving the heat

The Government Nursing Officers Association held a protest today, opposite the Health Ministry this afternoon urging the authorities to immediately address their grievances. Pix by Samantha Perera

Ravana Balaya protest against IPL

‘Ravana Balaya’ held a protest outside the Sri Lanka Cricket office today. Secretary of the organisation Iththakande Saddathissa Thera met Nishantha Ranathunga of the cricket board and expressed his displeasure about the participation of Sri Lankan cricketers in the IPL. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Video: ‘We are free as we have always been’

Malaka Silva son of controversial Minister Mervyn Silva is pictured in a jubilant mood leaving court. Malaka, Rehan and four others were acquitted in the case of alleged assault and theft on an Army Major.  Pix by Nisal Baduge

Kilinochchi ‘Uthayan’ office attacked

The Regional office of the Uthayan newspaper in Kilinochchi was attacked this morning. Pictured here the damages caused to the office. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Protest against anti Sri Lanka campaigns

‘Organisation to safeguard sovereignty’ held a protest today outside the Ports Authority against anti Sri Lanka campaigns launched in Chennai and Tamil Nadu. Pix by Nisal Baduge