‘Podi Hamuduruwo’ turns 69

A religious ceremony was held today at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple to mark the 69th birthday of its Chief Incumbent Ven. Galboda Gnanissara Thera (Podi Hamuduruwo). President Mahinda rajapaksa and Opposition leader Ranil Wickckremesinghe were present at the Ceremony. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Colombo Night Race traffic plan

‘Neethi Kekulu’

Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake and President's Counsel Wijedasa Rajapakse (President -BASL) seen in all smiles at the Neethi Kekulu 2012 held at Tower Hall today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Galle Dialogue

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa greeting Naval Officers during the third Galle Dialogue, organized by the Sri Lanka Navy. Some 27 countries represented in the event. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Desert challenge

Spectators watch as a car races in the Desert Challenge festival near Tabouk, 1,500 km (932 miles) from Riyadh December 12, 2012. Participants will compete in rallies in the first Desert Challenge held in Saudi Arabia from December 12 to 13. REUTERS

12.12.12.12.12

Yesteday was a once in a lifetime day for the whole world as it was the 12th day of the 12th month of the year 2012 but it was even more special for a young Sri Lankan couple whose baby girl was born at 12.12 pm. Pix by Lasantha Niroshana

Ninth death anniversary of Soma Thera

National Sangha Council Congress (Jathika Sangha Sammelanya) was held today at the Maharagama Youth Centre to mark the ninth death anniversary of Soma Thera who passed away in Russia during a visit to accept an honorary doctorate in St. Petersburg. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Health Unions protest

The all Ceylon Health Services Union today staged a protest march beginning at the Aurvedic roundabout in Colombo urging the authorities to resolve several demands including uniform allowance and proceeded to the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine where they besieged the secretary’s office. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Pay our salaries on time…

The All Island Transport Employees’ Union staged a protest outside the Colombo Fort Railway Station over several issues including the nonpayment of their salaries on the due date. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Lawyers on strike

Lawyers of Sri Lanka Bar Association led a campaign at Hulftsdorp Hills in Colombo this morning in protest of the outcome of the impeachment inquiry by the Parliamentary Select Committee against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Road blocked

The Kandy-Colombo main road was blocked last night due to an accident involving two container lorries in Kadawatha. Pix by Chathuranga C. Chandarasekara-Kadawatha

Ranil attends paint exhibition

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ms. Maithri Wickremesinghe attended a painting exhibition of H. S. Sarath at Lionel Wendt this evening. Pix By Pradeep K. Pathirana

Forged imports nabbed

Customs seized a 40feet container which was imported from Dubai by preparing forge documents containing perfumes, shoes, nutritional supplements and luxurious items worth more than Rs.12 million at the Colombo Port today. Pix By Kushan Pathiraja

Video: I missed you ...

“Cobra woman” seems jubilant on being reunited with her beloved pet today. The cobra also seems happy to be with its master. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Man on tree wants relief for wife

A disabled man who had climbed a tree opposite Police Park Thimbirigasyaya demanding the authorities provide relief to his house maid wife who is harassed by her employers in the Middle East. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Kompanna Veediya Stage two begins

The Urban Development Authority (UDA) held a ground-breaking ceremony in view of the Kompanna Veediya Development stage two. Transport Minister Kumara Welgama was the chief guest. The UDA proposes to implement a housing project in this area on the basis of a public-private partnership. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Protest for Lalith and Kugan

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) today held a protest in front of the Fort Railway Station demanding the government to release the two human rights activists Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandun who were abducted last year in Jaffna. (Pix by Kushan Pathiraja)

Audio: Search continues for Lion Air victims

For the second day in succession, detectives are continuing to exhume the bodies of Lion Air victims. It is believed that the bodies had been buried by the LTTE in the Iranathivu and Kawdarimunai beaches after the plane was shot down by the terrorists in 1998. Fifty five passengers and crew members were said to have died in the crash. Pix by Romesh Madushanka ???

Together

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and MPs from both the ruling party and the Opposition attended a dinner held at the Speaker’s official residence on Sunday. Pix by President Media

Video: Bodies of Lion Air victims being exhumed

The authorities this morning started to exhume the bodies of the victims of the Lion Air passenger plane that was shot down by the LTTE in 1998, at the Iranathivu beach. Police said that after the incident, the bodies were believed to have been buried in the Iranathivu beach by the LTTE. Pix by Romesh Madushanka-Vavuniya

Chief Justice at the launch of Law Journal

Participating in the first public function after walking out of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) yesterday, Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake is seen here participating as the Chief Guest at the launch of the Law Journal at the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL). Pix by Romesh Danushka Silva

Video: Lawyers hail CJ’s walkout decision

Several seniorlawyers addressing the media outside the Supreme Court today hailed Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake’s decision to walk out of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). They denounced the PSC members who had allegedly insulted the CJ during the proceedings. Pix by Pradeep K.Pathirana

Nurses take to the streets

Members of the Government Nursing Officers’ Association launched a protest in front of all major hospitals today. Seen here are the nurses who protested in front of the Colombo National Hospital demanding solutions for the issues prevailing in the nursing cadre. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Deserted...

Colombo Fort and the Gampaha railway stations were seen deserted due to the ongoing island wide token strike launched by eleven Trade Unions. The Railway services countrywide came to a standstill from midnight yesterday Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

One Voice, One Fight

The Socialist Youth Union staged a rally today at Hyde Park after a peace march from Campbell Park urging the government not to abuse the budget, but to provide employment to thousands of educated youth. Pix by Samantha Perera

Not short for each other

The world was not too tall for two short persons - both just about three feet in height - who met through a mutual friend and entered wedlock recently. The short couple entered the happy union of marriage at a hotel in Moratuwa with the blessings of their parents. Pix by Sunil Thanthiarachchi

Tribute to a genius

A concert and felicitation ceremony was held at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Performing Arts Theatre yesterday to coincide with the 85th birthday the Music maestro Pandit W.D. Amaradeva. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

500 Tiger lobsters nabbed at BIA

Customs officers of the Bio Diversity unit at the Bandaranaike International Airport nabbed eight boxes containing about five hundred live Tiger lobsters due to be exported to Vietnam by a lobster exporting company in Dungalalpitita – Negombo breaching the Aquatic Resources Act. Pix by Deepa Adikari

Greener pastures for Wilpattu animals

Animals in the Wilpattu National Park were seen enjoying their natural habitat with the dawn of the wet season.  A leopard and a herd of deer were captured on film last Sunday near Pannikkawila, enjoying the lush green pastures after the desert like conditions of the dry season. Pix by Minula Wickrama

Floods in Vavuniya

Several areas of the Vavuniya district have been inundated due to heavy rain experienced during the past two days. Water level in most of the irrigation tanks in the area have reached spill level. Pix by Romesh Madushanka