Tea time

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other parliament ministers are seen participated in a tea party following the reading of the Budget for 2012. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

UNP attacked inside parliament

Parliamentary business was relegated to rowdy levels today during the budget speech of President Mahinda Rajapaksa with some unruly government MPs trying to manhandle and rough up UNP members who held aloft placards critical of the 2012 budget. Pix By Kushan Pathiraja

UNP condemns govt. MP's for today's attack

The UNP held a press conference today shortly after the conclusion of the 2012 budget speech condemning government MP’s who allegedly attacked MP's of the UNP during the speech. The picture shows Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the media while other senior UNP MP’s look on. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Budget 2012 – Day One

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is being greeted as he arrives in parliament for the reading of the Budget for 2012. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

Sri Lanka Design Festival

Large number of creations was presented at the ‘Sri Lanka Design Festival’ fashion show in Mount Lavinia today. Clothing alone accounts for over half of Sri Lanka's export earnings which is USD 7.5 billion. Pix By Pradeep Dilruckshana

Action from the Mercantile Rugby sevens

The Mercantile Rugby sevens was worked off over the weekend, featuring several national rugby players in action. MAS won the cup championship beating Nation Lanka Finance 20-14 in the final, to retain the title they won last year. Seen here are the champions with the trophy and action from Sunday’s play. Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya

Handing in the Lessons Learnt report

 Former Attorney General C.R. de Silva (L) hands over the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse (R) at his Temple Trees residence in the capital Colombo on November 20, 2011. Sri Lanka's probe into its battle with Tamil rebels concluded with a report to the President as media reports said it had called for fresh investigations into alleged war crimes. AFP PHOTO

Celebrations to mark the opening of Expressway

People took the opportunity to walk along the southern express way on yesterday and today prior to its opening by President Mahinda Rajapakse on Nov.27. They celebrated the event in a grand way. Several civil society organizations organized national games and colourful processions with gaily decorated elephants parading along the expressway. A large crowd participated in the celebrations at the Gelanigama entrance organized by Madurawala Lion Clu

Ranil meets with businessmen in Dematagoda

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe met with the businessmen in the Dematagoda area this morning. He criticized the steps taken by the government to demolish construction and the Acquisition Act to take over private enterprises. The UNP Leader also spoke on the judgment given to former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Pindapatha programme

A special Pindapatha programme conducted by the Vipassana Meditation Centre, at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 was held this morning under the patronage of Ven. Harispattuwe Ariyawansalankara Thera. Picture shows Buddhist monks engaged in the Pindapatha programme. Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya

Saif al-Islam detained

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's most prominent son, Saif al-Islam, gestures during a youth rally in Tripoli, in this file picture taken March 10, 2011. Gaddafi's son and heir apparent Saif al-Islam has been detained in Libya's southern desert, interim justice minister and other officials told Reuters on November 19, 2011. REUTERS

Protesting for reforms in education

A demonstrator is hit by a jet of water as they clash with riot police during a protest to demand for changes to the public state education system in Santiago November 18, 2011. Chilean students have been protesting against what they say is the profiteering in the state education system, local media reported. REUTERS

East Asia Summit in Bali

U.S. President Barack Obama (3rd right, back to camera) and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono (center, back to camera) watch as traditional Balinese dancers perform during an East Asia Summit gala dinner in Nusa Dua, Bali, November 18, 2011. REUTERS

"Wijeya Braille" launched

Wijeya Newspapers Ltd launched ‘Wijeya Braille’ the first braille newspaper in Sri Lanka at the Ratmalana Deaf and blind school today. The newspaper which will be out every Friday will carry local news, sports news, international news, leisure and other news.  Picture shows a blind boy reading the first edition of the braille newspaper. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Judgment on the White Flag case

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was sentenced by the Colombo High Court to three years in prison today. A number of supporters and politicians gathered around the High Court premises amid tight security. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

India and Sri Lanka and the Asian Resurgence

The India-Sri Lanka Foundation and the Bandaranaike Center for International Studies (BCIS) organized a lecture on the topic, “India and Sri Lanka and the Asian Resurgence.” The lecture was delivered by Former Foreign Secretary Ambassador Shyam Saran. Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L Peries, Senior Minister Sarath Amunugama and Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok Kantha were present at the lecture. Pix by Kushan Pathiraj

Ranil back from London

Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe coming out of the Bandaranaike International Airport after his tour of London where he was elected as the Asia Pacific Region Chairman of International Democratic Union. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Roof of a building collapses in Town Hall

An old two-storyed building opposite the Salaka building in Town Hall collapsed this morning causing heavy traffic in the Town Hall area. The police and the fire brigade are now clearing up the debris. Pix By Waruna Wanniarachchi

Calls for a salary increase

The National Trade Union Center (NTUC) affiliated to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today staged a protest in front of the Fort Railway station urging the government to increase the salary of public and private sector employees. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshsna

Protest in Colombo-Fort

All Island Provincial Revenue Services Unity staged a protest in the Colombo-Fort today urging the government to take steps towards protecting provincial revenue employees in the upcoming budget this year and to provide the solutions to their employment difficulties. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

NCAA men's basketball

Duke's Mason Plumlee drives for lay up past Michigan State's Draymond Green in the first half of their NCAA men's basketball game in New York November 15, 2011. REUTERS

Suspect remand

The first suspect in the Mulleriyawa murder case, the bodyguard of MP Duminda Silva being taken to remand prison after producing him in court today. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Green mission

Arafat M.A. Khalaf, the Mayor of Beitunia in Palestine, planted an olive sapling brought from Palestine at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo today. The pictures show Palestinian Ambassador Anwar Agha and a delegation from Palestine which was on a five-day visit to Sri Lanka and also met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Monday. Pic by Kithsiri de Mel

Assessing benefits

Central Bank today held a press conference to talk about the ‘tangible and intangible’ advantages Sri Lanka received by bidding for Commonwealth Games 2018, although the country lost the bid to Australia’s Gold Coast. The pictures show Central Bank Governor and Bid Committee Chairman Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Whale watching safaris by Navy

The Sri Lanka Navy organised a whale watching safari programme on Saturday (12) from the Galle Naval Base. The safari will be from Galle to Mirissa on board the naval ship A543, every Wednesday and Saturday till April 2012. A fee of US$ 100 will be charged from foreigners, Rs.3,500 from local tourists and Rs.2,000 from children between 6 and 12 years of age. The Naval passenger ship A543 that had been used earlier to transport military personnel

Death fast

Farmers attached to the Sevanagala Sugar Industries and the Buddhist monks from temples in the vicinity decided to stage a death fast to urge the government to review its decision to acquire this business venture under the Revival of Underperforming Enterprises and Underutilised Assets Bill. The picture shows JSCFA President Justin Jayasekera speaking to the media while Sri Dharamapala Viveka Senasana Chief Incumbent Ven. Thanamalwilla Sumangala

Strike demanding removal of Postmaster General

The Postal Trade Union launched a hunger strike today demanding the immediate removal of the current Postmaster General. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Protesting for permanency

The All Island Acting Principles Union today staged a protest in front of the Education Ministry, Isurupaya, urging the government on prior information with regard to trade union action demanding permanency for Acting Principals’ and Principals covering up duties. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Dissidents commemorate JVP Founder

JVP Dissidents held a separate function to commemorate the founder leader Rohana Wijeweera and other dead comrades at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

22nd Annual El Maha Samaruwa

The JVP held the 22nd Annual El Maha Samaruwa to commemorate its late founder leader Rohana Wijeweera and other dead comrades at the Vihara Mahadevi Open Air Theatre today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana