New sticker for vehicles with different colours from today

Eleven special stickers with different colors have been introduced today for vehicles that engage in essential services during the travel restrictions are in place. This new sticker system was introduced on all vehicles on the roads leading to Colombo to ensure that people are traveling for essential services do not experience delays due to travel restrictions. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana and Waruna Wanniarachchi

Oxygen supply unit for Gampaha hospital COVID ward

Picture shows UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene handing over a cheque for the expenses incurred for a wall mount oxygen supply unit at the newly-built COVID ward at the Gampaha Hospital to Director Dr. Priyantha Illeperuma. Deputy Director Dr. Shiroman Priyantha and Gampaha Hospital Development Committee Chairman Ravindra Ganegoda were also present. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

X-Press Pearl VDR to Colombo High Court

The Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), also known as the ’’maritime black box,’’ of the MV X-Press Pearl, the ship that caught fire in the vicinity of the Colombo harbour, was brought to the Colombo High Court for legal analysis and action. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

SSP Patrick de Silva new Deputy Commandant of STF

SSP Patrick de Silva assumed duties as the Deputy Commandant of the Special Task Force of Police today at the STF headquarters. A simple ceremony was held at the STF Headquarters with the participation of a limited number of officers following COVID-19 rules and guidelines. He was appointed as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the STF following the retirement of SSP T.F Hadji.

Close view...

Yesterday, officers from the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) used a Bell 212 helicopter to inspect the MV X-Press Pearl ship, which caught fire in Sri Lankan waters. Pictures by SLAF

SLAF hands HHOT over to Gampaha Hospital

A ‘Heated Humidified Oxygen Therapy Unit’ manufactured by the Sri Lanka Air Force was officially handed over to the Gampaha District General Hospital recently. This Unit will be used in the treatment of patients who have contracted COVID-19. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Gampaha town, suburbs Inundated...

Gampaha Town and several adjacent villages are seen inundated yesterday due to torrential rains. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja and Pradeep Pathirana

A meal for the poor...

The officers attached to the Wellaweediya Police today started providing lunch and dinner for the paupers who have became extremely helpless due to travel restrictions in the Wellaweediya area. The benevolent act is carried out upon the instruction of Officer-in-Charge of Wellaweediya Police, Chief Inspector Ajith Peduruarachchi. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Beware, danger is imminent....

Picture shows pits are dug on the road in front of the Pillawa Bodhiraja Temple in Boralesgamuwa on the Colombo-Piliyandala main road. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Kelanimulla area flooded

Villages in and around Kelanimulla in Colombo flooded due to the recent torrential rain. The temple of the Ven. Kotuwe Podi Hamuduruwo is also seen flooded. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi.

SSP Hadji bids farewell

A simple ceremony was held at the Police Special Task Force Headquarters with the participation of a limited number of officers following COVID-19 rules and guidelines to bid farewell to the Deputy Commanding Officer of the STF, SSP T.F Hadji who retired from the service on yesterday after completing 37 years of invaluable service. STF Commandant DIG Waruna Jayasundara was also attended the ceremony.

12 blood donation camps by PUCSL

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the electricity sector regulator has successfully organized 12 blood transfusion camps island wide within a month, at the request of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS or Blood Bank) with the assistance of electricians, civil organizations of the respective districts and the public.

Elders get Rs 5,000 allowance

An allowance of Rs. 5000 was distributed among the senior citizens of low income families in Homagama. pix Damith Wickramasinghe

Flood victims to safe places...

Flood-affected people living in Biyagama and Bandarawatta, are moving towards safe places through flooded area after the flood water inundated their houses. The affected people have moved to Biyagama Primary School. Pix by Samantha Perera

Sluice gates opened...

One sluice gate each of Upper Kothmale and Wimalasurendra reservoirs has been opened due to heavy rains received in the Central hills. Pix by Ranjith Rajapaksa

Inspection visit...

Several Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs made an inspection tour to the coastal area in Negombo, which was damaged due to the debris of the X-Press Pearl vessel washed shore. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Wading through floodwater...

Vehicles are seen maneuvered through floodwater in Kotugoda Gampaha today. Most of the areas in the Gampaha District are under water due to the heavy rains lashed pout in the area in the last few days.Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Inundated...

The entrance to the Southern Expressway was temporarily closed at the Kaduwela Entrance after the area was inundated due to heavy rains in the last few days. Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe

People affected due to floods

People living downstream on the Kelaniya river bank have experienced minor floods due to the overflowing of the river following torrential showers. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana and Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Household essentials to the doorstep...

Several large scale and small supermarkets have initiated delivery of consumer goods to their doorsteps during the ongoing restriction period. Residents in the area place their orders online or through telephone calls along with their requirement. Payments are made to the delivery crew on receipt of goods by cash or card. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Narahenpita Economic Center back in operation

The Narahenpita Dedicated Economic Center remains open yesterday for people to buy fruits and vegetables despite island-wide travel restrictions. Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe

Fish for affected areas...

Fish caught from seas off Jaffna and several other areas were getting prepared at a centre in Negombo to be distributed to areas where fishing activities have been suspended due to the debris coming from the fire engulfed X-Press Pearl vessel. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Allowance for Senior citizens...

Senior citizens in Kosgas Handiya in Panadura are seen receiving the allowance given for the Senior citizens.The allowance was distributed at the Panadura Post Office. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Post offices in operation...

All Post offices and Sub Post offices across the country remain open from today to provide limited services such as public payments and medicine deliveries. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

’Sahana Malla’ from Sathosa

State owned retail network Lanka Sathosa will remain open across the island from today as directed by the government to ensure the masses have access to food and essential items during the ongoing restriction period.The Ministry of Trade has decided to provide a relief package to Sathosa customers and a ‘Sahana Malla’ (relief bag) containing 10 items for Rs.1000. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel and Kushan Pathiraja

Low demand for dry fish

The demand for dry fish has considerably reduced in the Negombo area due to prevailing travel restrictions and also owing to fears in people to consume fish following the fire in X-Press Pearl vessel. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Minor floods...

A minor flood situation was witnessed in Gampaha and Colombo Districts. Roads were seen inundated due to torrential showers. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana, Nimalsiri Edirisinghe, Nisal Baduge and Damith Wickramasinghe

STICKER system for vehicles

Police officers were pasting stickers on vehicles entering the Western Province from North Western Province at Thoppuwa Junction. The operation was conducted under the instructions of Kochchika. Police introduced a sticker system for the vehicles entering Colombo City to avoid repeated checking of vehicles and also to facilitate vehicle inspections. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Archbishop addresses the media....

Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith flanked by some catholic priests speaks during a press conference where he urged the authorities to investigate to determine as to who was behind the Easter Sunday attacks which the former Attorney General referred to as a conspiracy.

Inoculation of Sinopharm in Walpola

Inoculation of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine took place in Walpola of the Ragama MOH office yesterday. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe