Combating dengue in Eastern Colombo

The Eastern Colombo area today, came under the dengue eradication week carried out by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). Seen here is a house situated down Purwarama Road in Kirulapona being sprayed with chemicals to destroy the breeding grounds of the dengue mosquito. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

Leaving on a jet plane

The Sri Lankan cricket team is seen here partaking in religious observences prior to leaving for Australia. AFP

Burnt files

The records room of the Magazine remand was set on fire by rioting prisoners on Tuesday morning. The Prison Department suffered a loss of Rs.10 million due to the damages. Seen here is a prison officer looking at the burnt files of the prisoners when a visit was paid by Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera.  Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Rescue mission drill

Airforce personnel conducted a drill this morning at the Mount Lavinia beach. The drill consisted of exercises for emergency rescue missions. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana 

Picket banned

The university non-academic staff today gathered at Vihara Mahadevi Park in Colombo after their planned picket was banned by police who obtained an enjoining order said they would go for a discussion with the Salaries and Carder Commission on February 2. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Two Man United legends in SL

Two legends of the Manchester United Football team Dwight York and  Bryan Robson are currently in the island for a tie up between Bharti Airtel and the Manchester United Football Club to bring a variety of benefits for Aritel’s soccer loving customers in Sri Lanka. The former players are seen at a press conference held earlier in the day. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

How did the van catch fire?

Four persons were killed including two children, while seven others were injured when a van caught fire on the Elamodhara Bridge on the Kalutara-Horana road this morning. Pictures show the van which sustained extensive damages due to the fire. The reason for the fire is yet to be determined but the police say a petrol can was inside the van at the time of the incident. Pix by Sarath Siriwardena

63rd Republic Day of India

A ceremony to celebrate India’s 63rd Republic Day was held at the High Commission of India in Colombo. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India is seen here, raising the national flag at the ceremony. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Celebrating Republic Day of India

An evening of dance was held yesterday at the Bishop’s College Auditorium Colombo organised by the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) to mark the 63rd Republic Day of India with the participation of Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Lunar New Year

Folk artists perform a fire dragon dance amid molten iron at 1,300 degrees Celsius (2,372 degrees Fahrenheit) during a Spring Festival Temple Fair celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing January 25, 2012. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, began on January 23 and marks the start of the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese zodiac. REUTERS

Black January

Media freedom activists and journalists marked Black January in a protest organised by several media associations against the continuing suppression of the freedom of expression at Lipton Circus today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

A way forward

UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa and former Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya held a press conference today at the Bodhi Ranasinghe Foundation, on the new regulations with regard the party’s policy on speaking to the media. They also discussed a way forward for the party and the country. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Looking for those who disappeared

The Committee for Investigating Disappearances held a protest in front of the Fort Railway station today.  The Protesters urged the government to investigate the disappearance of Journalist Prageeth Ekanilogoda who has been missing since January 24, 2010. Members of religious groups, political parties and civil society, together with those who have disappeared in the North and East participated at the protest. Pix by Pradeep Path

Fracas at the Magazine prison

Inmates at the Magazine prison today set fire to the prisons record room this afternoon. The Police fired tear gas to bring the situation under control. Twenty prisoners and four Jailors were injured during the ensuing fracas. (Pix by Kithsiri De Mel & Pradeep Dilrukshana)

Career Development Centre for Army Officers opens

Sri Lanka's Army Chief Jagath Jayasuriya talks to Lalith Weeratunga, the secretary to President Mahinda Rajapakse in Buttala yesterday where Weeratunga was the chief guest at the opening of a Career Development Centre for Army officers. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana.

SF denies all charges

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was produced before the Colombo High Court for charges of harboring army deserter’s during his election campaign. The former Army Commander and the countries only four star General denied all charges brought against him by the state. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Against a dictatorial Post Master General

Trade unions employed at the Postal department staged a protest in front of its headquarters in D.R Wijeyawardena Mawatha today. The protest was held against the Post Master General who the unions accuse of being dictatorial. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Calling for efficiency

The All Ceylon Health Services Union staged a protest today in front of the General Hospital in Colombo urging the authourities to expedite implementing measure that would give relief to those employed within the health sector. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

GLF ends

The last day of the four day Galle Literary Festival was today. Both local and foreign authors participated in this much awaited programme which started on Thursday January 19. Seen are some pictures taken before the programme ended today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Abdul Kalam's visit

Former Indian President Abdul Kalam who is in Sri Lanka on a five day official visit met the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress delegation led by Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem in Colombo today. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Smart Metre launched

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkodi launched the pioneering project of Smart Metre with pre-payment capability in the parliamentary complex, while Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva look on. Pix by Kushan Patiraja

Foundation laid for Lotus Tower

The foundation stone for the 350 metre Lotus Tower to be constructed on D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha was laid today by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga. The tower is to be constructed within 30 months at a cost of US$104.3 million by the China National Electronic Import and Export Corporation. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Accident in Meerigama

A van that skidded off the road this morning at the Napewatta Junction crashed into a wayside boulder causing serious injuries to the driver. Residents of the area gathered at the scene, evacuated the driver who was trapped in the wreckage and rushed him to Watupitiwala hospital. Pic by Pushpakumara Mallawarachchi

Baptism ceremony

A child is baptized during a mass baptism ceremony in Tbilisi, January 19, 2012. More than 500 children were baptized by the Georgian Orthodox church during the 21st mass baptism ceremony at the country's main cathedral Holy Trinity. REUTERS

Rescuers set up

Rescuers set up a floating barrier on January 18, 2012 as the cruise liner Costa Concordia is aground in front of the harbour of the Isola del Giglio (Giglio island) after hitting underwater rocks on January 13. Rescuers looking for the 20 people still missing from the stricken cruise liner Costa Concordia the same day suspended their search as the vessel shifted. AFP

CEB to get new head office

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is to get a new head office in year 2013 at a cost of Rs.1600 million. The new head office, ‘Vidulakpaya’ is to be constructed in the E.D Dabare Road in Narahenpita. The foundation stone for a 10 storey building was laid by Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Stop harassment of women

The Lak Wanitha movement which is an association affiliated to Sri Lankan’s main opposition party UNP today called on the Sri Lanklan Authorities to probe the recent killing of a tourists in the southern town of Tangalle and to take effective steps to stop the harassment of women. A woman is seen holding up a placard at a protest organised by the movement in front of the office of Women and Child Affairs Ministry. (Pix by Pradeep Pathiran

Accident in Mt. Lavinia

Nine persons were injured this morning when a school van collided with a bus in Mt. Lavinia. Pix by H.M. Dharmapala and Rekha Tharangani

The youth for renovation

The National Youth Front has come forward to provide financial assistance to renovate the UNP Headquarters, ‘Sirikotha’ which was damaged by a commotion at the election of officer bearers in December last year. Here UNP Gampaha District MP and National Youth Front President Ruwan Wijeyawardene (right) hands over a cheque to UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at his office today. UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake is also present. P

A call for recruitment

The combined ‘Professions supplementary to Medicine’ staged a protest in front of the Health Ministry at Deans Road Maradana yesterday. The Protestors which included all supplementary professional’s unions called for the government to recruit all Supplementary Medical Graduates for permanent employment