Helping the helpless...

In line with the birthday celebration of the son of the OIC of the Wellaweediya Police Crimes Division, rice packets were distributed to homeless people in Pettah, Fort, Wellaweediya and to workers engaged in cleaning. Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon and Officer-in-Charge of Wellaweediya Police, Chief Inspector Ajith Peduruarachchi joined the good work. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Tamil missing from AG’S Dept. Smart Library plaque

The Smart Library of the Attorney General’s Department was declared open by Attorney General Dappula de Livera and Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong last Wednesday. Interestingly, the plaque that had been erected to mark the opening of the library was only in Sinhala, English and Mandarin, ignoring Tamil, one of the two official languages of Sri Lanka.

Vesak amidst COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions imposed by the Government, Vesak celebrations have been restricted to homes. Against this backdrop, some vendors were seen selling Vesak lanterns and decorations in and around Colombo yesterday. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Traffic congestion at Southern Expressway

A traffic jam was seen at the Kottawa Entrance at Southern Expressway this evening. People were going back to their villages due to the island-wide travel restriction to be imposed from midnight today. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Air Force drops chemicals to control fire on ‘X-PRESS PEARL’

Sri Lanka Air Force today dropped another 425 kgs of Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) on the Singapore-flag ship ‘X-PRESS PEARL’ to control the fire reported in a container.

New ICU for Mulleriyawa Hospital

The newly constructed ICU at the Mulleriyawa Hospital for the COVID patients was declared open today with the participation of Health Minister Pavithra Vanniarachchi and Army Commander General Shavendra Silva. The ICU unit was constructed by the army with funds donated by the Seylan Bank. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Preparing for ’stay indoors’

People are preparing ahead for the upcoming stay-at-home order which comes into effect from midnight today until next week. The Government has imposed an island-wide travel restrictions in view to prevent the prevalent COVID-19 outbreak in the county. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi, Nisal Baduge and Pradeep Dilrukshana

Getting immunised...

A large number of people are seen getting the Chinese Sinopharm Vaccine against COVID-19 at Campbell Park in Borella yesterday. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Welcoming Vesak...

With the Vesak festival just around the corner, people are seen busy buying Vesak decorations in the areas in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana, Nisal Baduge and Pradeep Pathirana

Postpone vote on Port City Bill

Venerable Elle Gunawansa Thero and Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, on Wednesday (19) called on the government to postpone the vote on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Dry rations to flood victims

Members of the Ja_Ela Pradeshiya Sabha today distributed dry rations to 500 families that were displaced due to the floods. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

SLAF & STF raid illegal sand mining in Mutur

A Rapid Deployment Unit of SLAF Regiment Special Force (RSF), Police Special Task Force (STF) and Intelligence Operatives raided several illegal sand mining operations which were carried out near the Sittar Bridge in Mutur yesterday.

JVP protests against Port City Bill

A silent protest organized by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the Port City Economic Commission Bill was held today (19) near the Parliament Roundabout. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

President inspects COVID Treatment Center in Seeduwa

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (18) inspected the Seeduwa COVID Intermediate Treatment Center. The centre can accommodate about 1,200 COVID-19 patients.

Volunteers donated blood

Several volunteers donated blood to the Blood Bank yesterday. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Sinopharm vaccine for senior citizens

Picture shows people are receiving Sinopharm Vaccine as protection against Covid-19 in Colombo today. The Government earlier decided to inoculate the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines for citizens over 60-years of age. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

Police given the second jab

Police officers are being given the second dose of vaccine against Covid-19 at the Police Field Force Headquarters. Hundreds of policemen and officers received the second dose. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Random PCR tests at Welisara Economic Centre

Random PCR tests were carried out on the shop owners and the employees at the Welisara Economic Centre yesterday. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

It’s a dream come true

Miss Mexico Andrea Meza was crowned Miss Universe 2021 on Sunday a year after the 2020 pageant was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Daily Mail)

ID cards checked...

Wellaweediya Police station today carried out an operation at Gas Paha Junction to check people’s identity cards as the Government has implemented the procedure where the people are only allowed to venture outside according to the last digit of the identity card. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Vaccination drive continues

The COVID-19 vaccination drive took place at Sri Wardhanaramaya Temple in Deepangoda, Kottawa today. A large crowd was seen in long queues to receive the vaccine.Pix by Nisal Baduge

Receiving final touches...

Army soldiers are seen completing the Biggest Army-improvised COVID-19 Hospital at Seeduwa. The new hospital is receiving the final touches to be opened by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on May 18. The hospital contained about 1,300 beds to accommodate COVID patients. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Complaint against not providing health safety equipment

Venerable Uwatenne Sumana Thera and Joint Development Officers Association Secretary Dhammika Munasinghe today filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) stating that the development officers were not provided with health safety equipment in the current pandemic situation. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana.

Long queues for vaccination

The number of people standing in queues outside vaccination centres goes up day by day. There were long queues at the Vidyashekhara Maha Pirivena, Benduyamulla in Gampaha yesterday. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Less crowded...

The Fort Railway station and several other stations looked less crowded this morning due to the strike launched by the Railway Engine Drivers and Train Controllers’ Unions. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Vaccination drive in Ragama

Ragama residents received the Sinopharm vaccine at the Rathnathsri Ganarama Pothgul Temple in Batuwatta today. The jabs were given with the support of area Medical Officers of Health. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

With no hope left....

Farmers were seen at the Peliyagoda Manning Market with their stocks of vegetables and fruits piled up, as there were no wholesale vendors to give them relief. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Don’t take chance during travel restrictions....

People in the Gampaha area are subject to stringent checking during the island-wide travel restriction in force. People, who were found loitering during lockdown were sent back. Only those who were on essential services allowed to travel. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja and Waruna Wanniarachchi

Gampaha Town inundated

Gampaha Town and several adjacent villages were seen inundated due to torrential rains. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja and Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Lorry carrying oxygen cylinders wades through floodwater

A lorry carrying oxygen cylinders seen in the picture being manoeuvred through floodwater in Malwana, Biyagama, on its way to a hospital. Several areas in the country were inundated by floods due to incessant showers. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi