Making arrangements for Poson

A meeting was held at Temple Trees to discuss making arrangements for the Poson Festival. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Buddhist monks and several ministers took part in the meeting. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Onella arrives at CID

Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s daughter Onella Karunanayake, today appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to give a statement over allegedly providing false evidence before the presidential commission of inquiry into the bond scam. Pix by Lahiru Harshana

Pujith, Hemasiri at PSC

Former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando gave evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into the select committee appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks today.

World Environment Day celebrations at BMICH

Army celebrates Iftar

An ’Iftar’ ceremony was held in Nachchikuda under the patronage of the Security Forces Commander in Kilinochchi, Major General Vijitha Ravipriya and Major General Wasantha Kumarapperuma at the Mohideen Jummah Mosque on June 1. During the Iftar ceremony, dry rations were given for 50 families in the area.

Eid Mubarak

A Muslim devotee seen praying inside the Minuwangoda Jumma Mosque which was attacked and damaged during anti-Muslim riots recently. Muslims ended the Ramadan fasting and then went into celebrating Ramadan festival today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

PM at BMICH

Postgraduate degree award ceremony of the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration was held at the BMICH under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday.

Nalaka De Silva appears before PSC

Former DIG of Terrorist Investigation Division (TID), Nalaka De Silva today appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into Easter Sunday attacks

JVP unveils proposals to defeat extremism, communalism

IUSF protest over Batticaloa Campus

Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) yesterday carried out a protest march from Technical junction to the Fort Railway Station urging the authorities to provide solutions over several demands including the government to take actions to abolish the ‘Batticaloa Campus’. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana and Kushan Pathiraja

PM distributes Samurdi certificates

Samurdi certificates were distributed to recipients in Jaffna by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Mangala Samaraweera and Daya Gamage and State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, TNA MPs Mawai Senathirajah and Dharamalimgam Sidharthan also participated in the event.

Muslim ministers decide to resign

During a news briefing held at Temple Trees in Colombo today, Minister Rauff Hakeem announced that all Muslim ministers including cabinet, state and deputy ministers have decided to resign from their portfolios. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Protest to remove Bathiudeen, Hizbullah and Salley

A protest was launched outside the Fort Railway Station this afternoon urging the government to remove Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah and Western Province Governor Azath Salley from their posts. The road in front of the railway station was seen blocked during the protest. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

MR meets Ranil at Temple Trees

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and several MPs held discussions with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Temple Trees this morning on the economy of the country which was badly hit by the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

IDPs get new houses

Five houses constructed for the IDPs were handed over to occupants in Nedunkulum Jaffna yesterday by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Mangala Samaraweera and Daya Gamage and state Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, TNA MPs Mawai Senathirajah and Dharamalimgam Sidharthan also participated in the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Cardinal visits Rathana Thera

Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith today visited Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, who is engaged in a hunger strike in front of Sri Dalada Maligawa calling for the removal of Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah and Western Province Governor Azath Salley from their posts.

PM in Matale

A ceremony to distribute Samurdhi was held in Matale with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Chief Guest on Saturday. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Buddhist, Catholic leaders make plea

Chief prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters and Colombo’s Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith called on the government to refrain from entering into any agreement with any foreign country in a manner foreign armed forces could enter Sri Lanka and set up camps in the country jeopardizing the people’s sovereignty upheld by the Constitution

Tourists at Dalada Maligawa

Tourists were seen at the Historic Dalada Maligawa in Kandy today. Tourist arrival had declined in the country in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terror attack. However, now the situation has returned to normalcy.

Rathana Thera on hunger strike

Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera launched a hunger strike in front of Sri Dalada Maligawa this morning calling for the removal of Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah and Western Province Governor Azath Salley from their posts. Pix by Chamil, Rupasinghe

Samurdhi for people in Ampara

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe participated in the first phase of a programme held to award Samurdhi grants to people in Ampara today. At the event, he said that new laws were needed to prevent the emergence of terror groups in the future. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

New Air Force commander assumes duties

The sixteenth Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Kapila Jayampathy ceremonially handed over command of the Sri Lanka Air Force to Air Marshal Sumangala Dias, this morning at Air Force Head Quarters. Pix by Samantha Perera

Walk of Warriors

Sri Lanka Army’s Air Mobile Brigade of the 53 Division which boasts a life span of 25 years of excellence undertaking its milestone anniversary spectacle, the 310 km - long ‘Walk of Warriors’ (Ranakaminge Pagamana) after a brief inaugural ceremony commenced its expedition this morning (29) from Medawachchiya town to reach Colombo in 11 days. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Roads in Galle under water

Most of the roads in Galle are seen under water due to heavy rains lashed out in Galle today. Several places on Galle-Baddegama and Galle-Wakwella roads were seen inundated. Pix by Ravi Liyanage

Air Force Commander Jayampathy bids adieu

Outgoing Air Force Commander, Air Chief Marshal Kapila Jayampathy retired today. He was given a guard of honour at the Air Force Headquarters. The outgoing Air Force Commander officially handed over the duties to the incoming Commander of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal D.L. Sumangala Dias at the function.Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

Protest by Ayurvedic doctors

All Island Ayurveda Health Services Association staged a protest outside the Health Ministry today against the transfer of 650 doctors who received appointment letters on January 13, 2018.

Protest against move to transfer Kurunegala Hospital Director

A group of people including several Buddhist monks staged a protest against Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s move to transfer Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Director Dr Sarath Weera Bandara, who handles the probe against Dr Siyabdeen Mohamed Safi, who is alleged to have performed coerced sterilization surgeries on many women.

Gnanasara Thera addresses media

A news briefing organised by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Organisation was held at its headquarters in Rajagiriya today. BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera addressed the media at the briefing which was his first news briefing after being released from the Welikada Prison. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Remembering Lions

These stunning photographs showcase the work of the ten winners of a competition for places in an upcoming charity book called Remembering Lions.

Iftar gathering at CMC

The Sri Lanka Muslim Civil Society organised an iftar gathering which was held on the lawns of the Colombo Town Hall. Iftar or the traditional breaking of fast during the month of Ramadhan is usually a meal that brings together families and neighbourhood.