Passing out parade

A passing out parade was held today at the Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) for 140 Officer Cadets, including 2 female cadets, who successfully completed their training. Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga was the Chief Guest. Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya also participated in the Ceremony. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Evaluating the development

President Mahinda Rajapaksa together with other senior ministers including Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa participated at a district development committee meeting held at the Matale Urban Council, today. Pix by Sudath Silva

The minor employees strike

A group of minor employees of the Vavunaiya Urban Council today staged protest demanding immediate confirmation in their posts. They said they have been employed in casual basis for more than ten years and their representations to the UC administration to make them permanent had been ignored... Pix by Romesh Madusanka

'Out you go'

Pakistan's Asad Shafiq is run out by Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan on the third day of their second cricket test match in Colombo July 2, 2012.   REUTERS

Drought in Puttalam

The prolong drought has affected a large population in the Puttlam district. Thousands of people are facing hardship for want of drinking water. Anamaduwa, Navagattegama, Mahakumbukkadawala, Wanathawiluwa, and Mundalama areas are the worst affected. Tanks, village water courses and garden wells have run dry compelling the people to go in search of water to distant areas. Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe

FR petition against website raid

UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera addresses a media conference where he announced his decision to file a fundamental rights petition against the raid on the Sri Lanka X news web sire office. Pic by Nisal Baduge

President unveils Buddha statue

President Mahinda Rajapaksa unveiled the new Buddha statue of Sri Bodhirukkaramaya in Modarawana Okewela today. Pix by Nalin Hewapathirana

President opens Dharma Shalawa

The newly built Dharma Shalawa of the Tangalle Purana Wanawasa Kuda Viharaya was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today. Pix by Nalin Hewapathirana

Two shops gutted by fire in Rajagiriya

Fire fighters from the Colombo and Kotte Fire Brigades battled for about two hours to douse a fire that broke out in Ambagaha Handiya in Rajagiriya last night. Two shops  were damaged by the fire that erupted around midnight yesterday. No injuries were reported. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

‘Gajaba’ Colours Night

In recognition of the sportsmen of the Gajaba Regiment, a Colours Night was held at the Musaeus College Auditorium, Colombo last night. Picture shows one of the officers being honoured for his outstanding performances in the field of sports. Pix Nisal Baduge

Against dengue

A dengue eradication program was carried out in Colombo schools today. Seen here are students from Devi Balika Vidyalaya scouring the school for any possible dengue breeding places. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Menon meets MR

Indian Defence advisor Shivshankar Menon met President Mahinda Rajapakse at ‘Temple Trees’ this morning. Mr. Menon arrived in Sri Lanka to discuss certain issues regarding post-war developments. (Photo courtesy President's Media)

Tell him...

UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera seen having a heated argument with CID officials at the Sri Lanka Mirror Office in Rajagiriya. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Rupees all over

Construction EXPO 2012, the islands only comprehensive exhibition related to the construction industry was declared open today by Minister Wimal Weerawansa. The exhibition will be held from the 29th June till the 1st of July at the BMICH. (Pix by Kushan Pathiraja)

Surrounded

A joint operation was launched this morning by the Police, Army and the Special Task Force in order to rescue the three jailors who are currently being held hostage by a group of LTTE suspects at the Vavuniya prison (Pix by Romesh Madushanka)

“The beauty of art”

An exhibition titled “Rajya Murthi’ was declared open by Minister of Cultural Affairs T.B. Ekanayake at the John De Silva Memorial Hall today. The exhibition will showcase various forms of art in the country including paintings and sculptors. (Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana)

What is this secret ?

MP Namal Rajapaksa and daughter of late presidential advisor Baratha Lakshman Premchandra are pictured here in conversation. The two met at a ceremony organized to lay the foundation stone for a statue commemorating the late SLFP stalwart. Pix by Krishan Ranasinghe

A common opposition?

Leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremasinghe, Wickremabahu Karunanayake, Sirithunga Jayasuriya and Mano Ganeshan held a press conference today urging the government to hold elections in the North. The leaders said that they are ready to face a democratic election. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Petition against MPMC

Members of the Alliance of Organisations and Intellectuals Against PMC today held a petition campaign to collect one million signatures, in front of the Colombo National hospital against establishing of the Malabe Private Medical College (MPMC).Pix Nisal Baduge

A statue for Baratha

A foundation stone was laid today in Kolonnawa for the erection of a statue of slain Presidential Advisor Baratha Lakshman Premachandra. Speaker Chamal Rajapakse was the chief guest of the event. Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva, MP Namal Rajapaksa, Karu Jayasuriya and a host of other dignitaries participated in the ceremony. (Pix by Shantha Senavirathne)

Two injured in trishaw-train collision

A trishaw collided with the Matara bound express train from Vavuniya at Mahagoda unprotected level crossing this afternoon. The driver and a woman on board were seriously injured and admitted to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. Inquiries revealed the woman from Bataduwa walking along the road had boarded the trishaw on its way back from Magalla to Galle. (Pix by D.G .Sugathapala)

Cotta Road building catches fire

A two-storey mobile-phone repair centre at Cotta Road in Borella was gutted this morning.  The fire that sparked off in a store room on the ground floor spread to the upper floor but the Colombo Municipal Fire Brigade personnel who rushed to the scene managed to douse the fire and thus prevent it from spreading to the adjacent buildings. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Inte'l day against Drug Abuse

A Pakistani official uses a steamroller to crush bottles of liquor during a ceremony to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, in Karachi on June 26, 2012. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) issued an annual report declaring Pakistan a poppy free country but said it is used as a route for smuggling of drugs worth 30 billion USD from Afghanistan. AFP

Winners with all smiles

Winner of the Mrs. Asia International Global 2012 beauty pageant Srimali Fonseka arrived at the BIA today along with Surakshi Siriwandana, winner of the over 50 age group ‘classic stylist’ title at the same competition. (Pix by Deepa Adikari)

Protest by Ayurvedic doctors

Ayurvedic doctors today staged a demonstration outside the Ayurvedic hospital in Rajagiriya calling on the government to resolve the union’s grievances which had not been addressed in over two years. (Pic by Samantha Perera)

For the Hunza Five

A picketing was staged in front of the Pakistan High Commission at Gregory’s road today by the New Sama Samaja Party urging the Pakistan Government to provide justice for the Hunza Five. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Fire at Mt. Lavinia

A fire broke out at a tire store killing one person and injuring three others near Hotel Road, Mount Lavinia this morning. Picture shows the aftermath of the fire. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Rescued from the depths of despair

A she elephant and a calf that fell into an abandoned well at the dead of night on Sunday (24) were saved by the Wildlife Conservation Officers in Thirappane. The Wildlife Officials rushed to the scene on information from the public paved the way for the she- elephant and the calf to come out by flattening the edge of the well. Pix by Athula Bandara

Artificial limbs for the disabled

Pictured here are scenes at the Jaipur rehabilitation centre in Jaffna. The ICRC has donated artificial limbs to victims of the conflict and all other patients with different ailments which require limbs. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

SL troops to Lebanon

A batch of 75 Sri Lankan military personnel left for Lebanon to join the UN Peace Keeping operation in Lebanon. ( Pix by Deepa Adikari)