Food for thought

The grade five scholarship examinations began at 9 am today. Picture shows a candidate from a Vavuniya school having breakfast with his father just before the exam started. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

'Visi Vara Jaya Nada'

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday kicked off a campaign, 'Visi Vara Jaya Nada', to build support for the national cricket team at the upcoming ICCT20 World Championship played in Sri Lanka.  The President inaugurated the campaign by signing the stumps first and gave his blessings to the campaign. (President's Media)

Maldivian President addresses media

Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed speaking during a news conference in Colombo today. The  President who is in Sri Lanka on a three-day official visit is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for talks.Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Exposition of Sacred Relics in A’pura

The Sacred Kapilawasthu Relics of the Buddha were flown to Anuradhapura this afternoon for exposition at the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Vihara. The exposition will end on Sunday. Thousands of people have queued up to pay homage to the Sacred Relics. Pix by Athula Bandara

Machinery exhibition

SME 2012, the machinery, technology and services exhibition was inaugurated yesterday by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen. The exhibition will be held on August 24, 25 and 26 at the BMICH. Pix Nisal Baduge

450th anniversary of the Battle of Mulleriyawa

Angampora, the traditional martial art form of Sri Lanka and known to be one of the oldest fighting disciplines in the world was staged last night on the banks of Mulleriyawa lake to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the victory at the battle of Mulleriyawa. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Cartoon of the day

FUTA protest

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) and other organisations today held a massive protest rally in Colombo to express their solidarity with the strike by university academics. They urged the government to resolve the education sector crisis. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Colombo Camporee

The 49th Colombo Camporee organized under the theme “Passion for the environment” will be held from tomorrow till Monday at the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo.More than 2,000 scouts from 40 scout troops are participating in this annual event. Pix by Waruna Wanniarchchi

Maldivian president here

Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Waheed and a group of delegates arrived in the island this afternoon on a three-day official visit. They were warmly welcomed by External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris and Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie.  Pix by Prdeep Pathirana

Bear rescued

A bear that went searching for water had fallen into an abandoned well in Vavunia and was rescued by wild life officers. Wild animals have faced great difficulty finding water due to the prevailing drought in Vavunia district. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Joint opposition protest over Z-score fiasco

Joint opposition led by the UNP held protest outside the Fort Railway Stationover the GCE A/L Z-score fiasco. Some of the protesters burn effigies of Higher Education Minster S. B. Dissanayake and Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Yasushi meets Hakeem

Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi today met Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem at his residence in Colombo. They are reported to have discussed the issues faced by the government in resettling the displaced people.  Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

University students’ protest

Students’ union of the Open University of Sri Lanka and other university Students staged a protest opposite the Open University of Sri Lanka urging the authorities to resolve the university dispute and strengthen the education sector in the country. Pix by Nisal Baduge

SLMC candidate’s vehicle torched

The vehicle of a SLMC candidate contesting to the Eastern Provincial Council was set on fire by an unidentified gang last night in front of her house. She said her opponents who did not tolerate a Sinhala candidate contesting under the SLMC banner and might have set fire to the vehicle. Trincomalee police are conducting further investigations. Pix by Amadoru Amarajeeva

Lankan talent in Japanese cinema

Featuring a young Sri Lankan actress Umali Tillakaratne in a leading role, one of the latest Japanese movies ‘Final Judgment’ is to be released in Sri Lanka on August 30. The film is to be released at Liberty cinema Colombo while two other copies subtitled in Sinhala and Tamil are to be released in Colombo and Jaffna. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Please release him

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) today launched an online petition-signing campaign to urge the government to release the two human rights activists Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganadan who they allege are being held in military custody. Lalith Weeraraj’s father is seen signing the petition. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Medical students protest

Students of the medical faculty of Rajarata University staged a protest today over the grenade attack at the residence of Dr. Lalantha Ranasinghe, opposite the Anuradhapura Teaching hospital (Palitha Ariwayansha)

Police officers rewarded

The police officers and the general public who had helped the police in apprehending suspects were rewarded today at police crime records division. . Pix by Kithsiri de Mel.

Seychelles president arrives today

The President of Seychelles Republic James Alex Mitchell and a group of delegates arrived at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport early this morning on a three day official visit.  . They were warmly welcomed by External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris and the Cabinet Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dr Rajitha Senaratne. Pix by Deepa Adikari

Aptitude applications released

Applications for the aptitude test for those seeking employment in Korea were issued in 30 centres in several districts yesterday by the Sri Lanka Bureau for Foreign Employments. Pictures show the issuing of applications in Homagama, Chillaw and Badulla areas. Pix by Augustin Fernando, Palitha Ariyawansa and Buddika Kumarasiri

Samurdhi officers protest

Samurdhi Officers today staged a protest outside of the Samurdhi Authority, Battaramulla urging the government to take action against the people who opposed the development bill and establishment of the Divineguma Development Department . Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Eco-revolution conference concludes

The two-day Eco Revolution 2012 - the International Conference on Environment and Humanity was concluded today at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Indian Minister of Employment Guarantee Scheme and Water Conservation Dr. Nitin Raut declared opened the conference on Sunday. Seen here are Ven. Athuraliye Ratana thera speaking at the closing day ceremony. Pix by Varuna Wanniarachchi

New stalls for plant vendors

Vendors selling flower plants who had stalls at the Viharamahadevi Park earlier had been shifted to Jayawardenapura Parliament road where they are to be given permanent stalls by the Urban Development Authority. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Japan signs Agricultural assistance deal

Ambassador of Japan Nabuhito Hobo and Director of the People’s Livelihood Development Foundation Priyantha Kumara sign a grant contract for Rs. 11.7 million in Agricultural assistance to the Vavuniya District to carryout a balanced development programme that focuses on both rural and urban development. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Drought in Vanni

More than 6000 families in Vavunia District have been affected as more than 75 irrigation tanks and most wells have gone dry due to the prevailing drought. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Forest fire at Lunugala

More than ten acres of forest land have been destroyed due to a fire erupted at the Lunugala Suriyagoda mountain last night. The fire had spread due to the prevailing drought and the strong winds in the area. Pix by Prasanna Pathmasiri

Eco Revolution- the International Conference

Eco Revolution- the International Conference on Environment and Humanity was declared open by Indian Minister of Employment Guarantee Scheme and Water Conservation Dr. Nitin Raut at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute today. Pic by  Kushan Pathiraja

Kapilawasthu relics

President Mahinda Rajapaksa carrying the Kapilawasthu relics from the tarmac to the VIP lounge, after the relics were handed over by the Indian delegation during the ceremony held at the Bandaranaike airport today. The sacred relics were brought to Sri Lanka today, after three decades since their first exposition in 1978. Pix by President Media Unit

Opposition to help farmers

UNP Chairman and Member of Parliament Gamini Jayawickrama Perera having a conversation with New Left Front Leader Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne at the joint opposition press conference today. Pic by Nisal Baduge