Protest by Colombo Municipality employees

Employees of the Colombo Municipality today took to the streets in protest over the cadre report that calls for a reduction in the number of Municipal employees and a reduction in their salary scales. The employees are seen at the protest rally. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Queen Mary 2 in Colombo

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau welcomed the vessel “MV Queen Mary 2" today at a brief ceremony held at the Colombo harbour. The luxury carrier, owned by a UK based company, had more than 2300 tourists from the USA, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.

65th Independence Day...

Sri Lanka today celebrated its 65th Independence Day in Trincomalee. Picture shows President Mahinda Rajapaksa hoisting the national flag. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Navy accords 25-gun salute

The Navy today accorded a 25-gun salute at the Lighthouse in Colombo to mark Sri Lanka’s 65th Independence Day. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Forgiven on Independence Day

Some 1,200 prisoners in remand over minor offences were released today from prisons countrywide on account of the 65th Independence Day celebrations. One hundred and fifty prisoners including 13 females and 137 males were among those released from the Welikada prisons. Pix by Nisal Baduge.

Video: Rescued

The Sri Lanka Navy has rescued a total of 138 Burmese and Bangladesh nationals from a sinking ship off the eastern sea and brought to the Oluvil fishing harbor this morning. Pix by Wasantha Chandrapala

Japan donates Rs.90 mn for NE returnees

Japan donated Rs.90 Million to an NGO today to develop livelihood of returnees in the Northern and Eastern provinces. The donation was handed over at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence in Colombo. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Cartoon of the day

Minister Ranawaka assumes duties

Minister Champika Patali Ranawaka assumed duties of his new portfolio as Minister of Technology and Innovation today.  Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Namal visits hospitalised law student

Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa today visited the final-year law student Achala Priyadharashini, who lost an arm due to medical negligence at the Colombo National Hospital. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: ‘On the top of the world!’

Samali Udara Liyanage, Shehani Gunathilake and Upeksha Sewwandi who topped the list in the Information Technology, Arts and Commerce streams at the 2012 GCE A/L examination seen happy over their achievement. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

In memoriam

The 17th commemoration in memory of the employees and citizens, who lost their lives in the bomb blast at the Central Bank, was held today at the monument erected in the bank. 41 people died in a dastardly attack by the LTTE on January 31, 1996. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Cartoon of the day

Pajeros for spare parts

Customs Investigations and Crime Prevention Unit today took into custody two luxury Mitsubishi Pajeros (Montero and Shogun), illegally imported from the UK. The vehicles were imported through a person with an address in Dehiwela area in the guise of importing motor spare parts. The value of the two vehicles was estimated to be Rs.20 million. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Ranil visits Achala

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today visited the final-year law student Achala Priyadharashini who is being treated at the Colombo National Hospital due to amputation of her arm. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

From air strip to airport

Air Force Personnel are pictured engaged in the transformation of the former LTTE airstrip in Iranamadu in to a domestic airport. The Army captured the entire area during the final phases of the battle in 2009. Pix by Samantha Perera

Non Academics clamour for permanency

Sri Lanka Education Non Academic Employees Trade Union staged a protest outside the Education Ministry urging the authorities to make their service permanent. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Protest over removal of railway crossing

A protest by Balapitiya Villagers over the removal of the Balapitiya-Pathamulla Railway crossing obstructed the railway line for several hours. Pix by Yasas P. Mendis and Hemantha De Silva

SF on comeback

Democratic National Alliance Leader (DNA) Sarath Fonseka is seen here speaking to media today after meeting the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya regarding the 500 ballot papers found discarded near Kalagedihena. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Against media suppression

An Alliance of Media Organisations today staged a protest at Lipton’s circus against the suppression of the media. Pix by Waruna wanniarachchi. 

Police goes 5S

Police Department is planning to go ahead with productivity improvement plans to lift the efficiency of services provided for public. Productivity Improvement Manuals were handed over to the police at an event held at the Crime Records Division at Torrington, Colombo 7. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Turtle watching tourists

A number of tourists were seen at the Hikkaduwa beach over the weekend who had come to catch a glimpse of large turtles in the area. Seen here is group photographing the reptiles. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Pettah vendors plead as shops destroyed

Shops along Bastian Mawatha in Pettah were demolished earlier today, following orders to this effect by the Urban Development Authority with the intention of beautifying the area. Vendors were given a notice of only a few hours to clear their belongings before the shops were demolished. Seen here is one such vendor lamenting her case to a Policeman sent to overlook the demolition. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Video: UDA orders shop removals

The Urban Development Authority (UDA) ordered the removal of shops located in Pettah, in order to make better use of the canal located in the environs of Pettah, amidst protest by shop owners. Pix by Nisal Baduge ? ? ?

Alms giving at Abhayaramaya

An alms giving for one hundred monks was held at the seventieth birthday celebration of Ven. Murutththettuwe Ananda Thero at Abhayaramaya Narahenpita today. Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe also participated to the event. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Passing the buck or the shuttlecock

The indoor badminton court of the Badulla Old Duthians Sports Club was declared open by Minister Dilan Perera. It was built at a cost of Rs.1.5 million. Several distinguished invitees including Divisional Secretary Gamini Mahindapala Jorpius

MR meets Bodu Bala Sena

A discussion was held between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and representatives of Bodu a Sena at Temple Trees today to discuss the prevailing condition in the country affecting the religious harmony. Pic courtesy President’s House

Rescued...

Villagers and wildlife officials were able to rescue a three and half year old baby elephant, which was stuck in a field of mud after it had been washed away due to the increase of water level of the Amban Ganga following heavy rains in Kalahagala in Polonnaruwa. Steps were taken to treat the baby elephant and hand it over to the Ritigala Elephant Orphanage. Pic by K.G.Karunaratne-Polonnaruwa 

Victory...

Thisara Perara and Angelo Mathews saw Sri Lanka to a five-wicket win, Australia v Sri Lanka, 1st T20, Sydney, January 26, 2013.(Getty Images)

Second phase of oil drilling in Mannar basin

The second phase of the Exploratory Drilling Campaign for oil in the Mannar Basin will be starting from next week onwards and Helitours, the Commercial Arm of the Air Force has been selected as the official Air Logistic Operations provider for the entire operation. Picture courtesy Sri Lanka Air Force.