Fire-free week

The Colombo Municipal Council marked fire-free week, which begins today with the Fire Brigade carrying out a Fire Drill at Gasworks Street. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Korea Corner at the Public Library

The opening ceremony of the Korea Corner at the Colombo Public Library was held today in the presence of Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil and the Korean Ambassador Jongmoon Choi. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Alms giving to mark Muruttetuwe Ananda Thera’s b’day

An alms giving ceremony was held today at the Narahenpita Abhayarama Temple to mark the 71th birthday of Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero. On the occasion, alms were offered to 100 Buddhist monks. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

2014 Kala Pola

The Kala Pola 2014 - Sri Lanka’s annual open air art fair took place along Nelum Pokuna Mawatha today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Justice Sriskandarajah’s funeral

The funeral of President of the Court of Appeal Justice Sundaram Sriskandarajah was held this morning at the General Cemetery, Borella. He passed away on Thursday (23) at a private hospital in Colombo after a brief illness. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Sama Viharaya opened

The ‘Sama Viharaya’ on Havelock Road was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today. Pix by presidential media unit

Mervyn’s good deed

Minister Mervyn Silva is seen having a light moment at an event held in Kelaniya Upulvan Vishnu Deyalaya where he gave away donations to 1,500 school children and temples. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Teachers and Principals protest

A police officer on a motorbike with a child passes a group of protestors of the Joint Committee of Teachers and Principals TU today at Borella urging education authorities to resolve their salary anomalies and to allocate 6 per cent from the budget to education sector. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana  

Teacher kneeling case taken at

The case against former North Western Provincial Councillor Ananda Sarath Kumara who had allegedly assaulted a female teacher of Navagaththegama Isuru Maha Vidyalaya was taken up at the Puttalum Magistrate Court today. Pix by Hiran Priyankara 

A confiscated stock of cigarettes

Customs officers are seen unloading the consignment of four million cigarettes worth Rs.112 million from a container at the Orugodawatte Rank Container Terminal today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Maldives President here

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom speaks during a news conference in the Hilton hotel Colombo today. The Maldives President arrived on a three-day official visit to the island. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: UNP Buddhadi Wandana begins

'De Aruna Buddhadi Wandana' programme organised to invoke blessings to the UNP, the country and people began from UNP head quarters Sirikotha today with the participation of UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and National organiser Daya Gamage. The vehicle parade will reach Anuradhapura on Saturday 25. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Teachers Union Complains to HR Commission

The Ceylon Teachers Union yesterday lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission citing the rights of the students and parents had been affected when the students were admitted to the Grade 1 in schools. Pix by Nisal baduge  

Video: Remanded...

Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandra Pushpa Vidanapathirana, who was arrested last night, was produced in the Colombo High Court and remanded until the trial into the killing of a Britisher was completed. Pix by Samantha Perera

Bauddha Punarjeewa Commission report given to UNP

UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake are seen paying respect to Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thera and Ven. Induragare Dharma Rathana Thera when the monks handed over the Baudda Punarjeewa Commission report at Sirikotha yesterday. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: New Organisers appointed

New Organisers were appointed to the Western and southern province by the UNP National leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Parliamentary complex today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Lining up for UPFA nominations

With elections fever hotting up and speculations rife as to who would be in the fray for the upcoming polls to the Western and Southern Provincial Councils, these female hopefuls yesterday faced the UPFA nominations board for interviews at the SLFP Headquarters in Colombo.

Video: Aliya Resort and Spa opens in Sigiriya

The ‘Aliya Resort and Spa’ in Sigiriya was ceremonially opened by Economic Development Minister on Saturday. It has been built on a 22-acre land providing 220 job opportunities to the youth in the area. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Agricultural Research officers protest

The Union of Agricultural Research and Production Assistants of Sri Lanka held a protest near the Economic Development Ministry yesterday, against the curtailment their basic rights. Pix by Kithsiri de Mell

It’s all for the people!

Newly-appointed, radiant SLFP Colombo Central Organiser Hirunka Premachandra being escorted to her first SLFP Bala Mandala meeting in Kolonnawa today. On the left is her mother, wife of the slain SLFP stalwart Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Derailed...

The Matara-bound express train from Vavuniya derailed at Poonewa between Vavuniya and Medawachchiya this morning. Pix by Romesh Madusanka

Video: Welcoming new visitors

The officers in the Dehiwala zoo received the albino turtles that were bred at a hatchery in Kosgoda a while ago. A veterinary surgeon at the Zoo is seen checking the newcomers upon receiving them. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Farewell to turtles

Wildlife officials are seen preparing to take the albino turtles that were bred at a hatchery in Kosgoda to the Dehiwala Zoo. An employee of the hatchery is seen bidding good bye to an albino turtle at the hatchery. Pix by Hemantha de Silva

Fishermen exchanged…

Sri Lanka Navy today assisted in the exchange of Indian and Sri Lanka fishermen released in accordance with the discussions between the two governments.Pix by Navy.lk

Protect our industry

The Sri Lankan Film Directors Association and the Film Artistes' Association today held a protest march from Shalika Road, Narahenpita to the Ministry of Mass Media & Information and handed over a petition urging the authorities to revise the National Film Corporation Act and to save the industry from ruin by improving digital film screening. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

First day at school

A ceremony was held to welcome students admitted to grade one in the Kirillawala Medi Maha Vidyalaya today. The children were taken to the school by a double-decker bus from Kirillawala to Kiribathgoda.

Midwives protest

Government Midwifery Service Association members today held a protest march from the Health Ministry at Dean’s Road, Colombo to the President’s Secretariat urging the authorities to safeguard their profession from moves to allow nurses to be trained in midwifery. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Road flooded in Anuradhapura

The road Malwathu Oya lane leading to the Anuradhapura Sacred city is seen inundated due to the over flowing Malwathu Oya in Anuradhapura after the heavy rains in the area. Pix by Athula Bandara

Video: Religious rituals at the Kelani Viharaya

Devotees are seen performing religious rituals at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya on the Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day which falls today. It was on a Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day that Gautama Buddha for the first time set foot on Sri Lanka nine months after he attained enlightenment. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Against casinos

Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera seen addressing the campaign against casinos at the Maharama Vipashyarama Temple today. UNP National leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Karu Jayasuriya, Daya Gamage, Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa and several other politicians and civil society organisations participated at the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana