Bullock carts, the way forward

The politicians of the opposition resorted to travel by bullock carts to protest against the fuel price hike. Three UNP councillors of the Southern Provincial Council Bandulal Bandarigoda, Wijepala Hettiarachchi and Krishantha Pushpakumara yesterday travelled by bullock carts to attend the council meeting. Pix by D.G. Sugathapala and Athula Bandara

Unearthing gems

A crowd of more than 5,000 people from several areas flocked to the Lunugamwehera Road near the Viharamahadevi Chaithya in Kataragama in search of gems on hearing that a woman had found a precious stone in a pile of earth lying by the roadside. Gem merchants from Ratnapura, Eheliyagoda, Kahawatta and Okkampitiya were among them. The road is now being widened and the earth has been removed during excavations however police have taken steps to pr

Lawyer’s protest against white van abductions

The lawyer’s of the Hulftdrop Courts Complex staged a protest opposite the entrance of the High Court today, against the abduction of a suspect while being escorting to the Magistrate’s Court lockup. Pix by Nisal Baduge

A sudden shower

Colombo witnessed a sudden downpour of heavy rain today with many key roads being inundated due to flooding. Pictures show a glimpse of Colombo during the shower. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Charred body found in Narahenpita

The Narahenpita Police recovered a charred body down Boteju Mawatha in Narahenpita this morning and the Narahepita police are conducting further investigations. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Free ‘Kudu Mervyn’

A protest was held in front of the Hulftsdorp courts complex demanding the immediate release of the abducted prisoner ‘Kudu Mervyn’. The Prisoner was abducted in broad daylight yesterday in front of the courts complex by an unidentified gang. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Army assists commuters

The Army and the police assisted commuters who were stranded in bus stands due to the island-wide bus strike which was launched by private bus operators. The strike was called off this evening after the government agreed to increase bus fares by 20 percent. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

The ill-fated MiG 27

Seen here are pictures of the wreckage of the ill-fated Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) MiG 27 which crashed in to the Dummalasooriya area in Puttalam today. The pilot landed safely after ejecting himself from the jet. A technical error is widely believed to have led to the crash. Pix by Jude Samantha

Let’s play cricket instead

With the Private Bus Owner’s Association launching an island-wide strike due to the rise in fuel costs, private bus drivers and conductors were seen playing cricket today at the Pettah Private Bus Depot.  Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Commuters inconvenienced

The fuel hike by the government has resulted in the Private Bus Owner’s Association conducting and island-wide strike which has resulted in commuters being severely inconvenienced. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Speed 2012

Brothers Aaron  and Jaden Gunewardena are seen taking part in the Motorcycle Group “O” Standard up to 125cc (4 stroke single cylinder) race at the Championship Round 1 of Speed 2012. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

The changing of the meter

Metres were changed corresponding the price hike in fuel with effect from midnight last night. The pictures show petrol stations changing the price tags of the fuel to depict the new prices. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Australia beat Sri Lanka

Australia's Matthew Wade appeals for an LBW of Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga during their one-day cricket match in Perth February 10, 2012. REUTERS

In support of Nasheed in Sri Lanka

A section of the Maldivian Diaspora participated in a protest opposite the Maldivian embassy in Bambalapitiya today. The protesters carried placards in support of the ousted Maldivian President Mohomed Nasheed. There was heavy Police presence guarding the  Maldivian Embassy. Pix by Pradeep Pathiarana

Illicit cigarettes seized

Illegally imported cigarettes worth around Rs.2.6 million branded as Gold Leaf were seized by the Fort Police when they were hidden inside a house in Maligawatta. They seized 121,460 cigarette sticks. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Ranil meets Chinese Ambassador

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe met Chinese Ambassador Yang Xiuping at the Opposition Leader’s office today. The delegation was headed by member of the CPC Central COmmittee and Party Secretary of the CPC Shanxi Province Committee, H.E. Yuan Chunquing. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Tiger cubs

Two tiger cubs play with their mother Hanya as they explore their outdoor enclosure on February 9, 2012 in Cologne, western Germany. Three tiger babies born at the zoo on November 6, 2011 were presented to the public. AFP

Student monks protest

Student monks of the Buddhist and Pali University today staged a protest against the the University Grants Commission urging authorities to provide them with necessary facilities and stop alleged political interference in the University administration. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Spare parts worth Rs.20mn seized

Sri Lanka Customs today seized spare parts of 50 motorbikes and a Pajero worth Rs.20 million, which were imported from Japan. The products were brought into the country as two-wheel land masters tractors. The parts came into the country on December 25, 2011 on board the MOL Celebration. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Surveyor’s protest against new rule

The Government Surveyor’s Association staged a protest today in front of the Surveyor’s General Office in Narahenpita against the new rule allowing surveyors to engage in private surveying apart from engaging in official surveying activities. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Opposing 13th Amendment

Members of the Thun Hela National Movement which opposes the 13th Amendment to the Constitution were seen distributing leaflets at the Fort Railway Station this morning. The campaign was led by Ven. Omare Kassapa Thera the head of the movement. Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

After the winning runs

Indian batsmen Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin walk off the oval after scoring the winning runs at the match against Sri Lanka in the Tri Nations ODI Cricket Series at the WACA ground in Perth on February 8, 2012. AFP

SF brought to court

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka is pictured being brought into the courts complex for the Appeal of the White Flag trial. The Appeal was to be heard today in court 502, two years after the former General was taken into custody. Protesters gathered outside the courts complex demanding the immediate release of Sarath Fonseka today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Action from the WACA

Sri Lankan opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan (R) hits a shot to the boundary watched by Indian wicketkeeper, captain M.S. Dhoni (L) during the match against India in the Tri Nations ODI cricket series at the WACA ground in Perth on February 8, 2012. AFP

Nawam Perahera ends today

Some 50 elephants, mostly from the central part of the island, together with thousands of traditional drummers, dancers, and monks gathered in the Sri Lankan capital to participate in the city's biggest two-day annual Buddhist procession at the Gangarama Temple. The perahera started on February 6 and ended today, February 7. The procession was first held in 1979. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Karu visits SF

UNP Parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya visited General Sarath Fonseka at the Welikade Prison today. This was Mr. Jayasuriya's first visit since the independence celebrations on February 4. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

A day after quake

Residents carry their belongings as they cross a damaged road, part of a national highway in the village of Tuway, Guihulngan town, Negros Oriental, in central Philippines on February 7, 2012, a day after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines.  Rescuers in the Philippines dug through rubble with their bare hands and shovels after a powerful earthquake triggered landslides, collapsed homes and killed dozens of people. AF

Buddhist devotees at Kelaniya

With today being Nawam Full Moon Poya Day, devotees were seen this morning engaging in religious activities at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

MR and Ranil at the Navam Perahera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe are seen here partaking in religious observance at the Navam Perahera last night. Pictures below show the cultural activities that are a part of the heritage of the Navam Perahera. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

33rd Gangarama Navam Perehara

The 33rd Gangarama Navam Perehara began today, with the attendence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, opposition leader Ranil Wickremaesinghe, and other political and religious leaders. Pictures show President Rajapaksa and Mr. Wickremesinghe placing the tooth relic on the elephant. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja