MR declares open E03

The Colombo-Katunayake Expressway, which is the second expressway in Sri Lanka, was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Luxury bus on fire

A luxury bus plying between Colombo and Jaffna was destroyed by a fire in the Madampe area last night due to a mechanical failure. 27 passengers who were onboard when the fire broke out had however managed to escape unhurt.??? Pix by Jude Samantha

SriLankan Golf Classic 2013

The 14th Annual SriLankan Golf Classic is currently underway at the Victoria Golf and Country Resort course in Digana, Kandy. Over 170 amateur golfers from 15 nations across the globe have flown into Sri Lanka to participate in the event. Pictures by Pradeep K Pathirana

Fatal accident

Three persons including an infant were killed and five others injured in a lorry- van collision at Karuwalagaswewa on the Puttalam-Anuradhapura main road early this morning. Pictured here the wreckage of the van. Pix by Jude Samantha

Perseverance

A grade-5 student of Namalanga Maha Vidyalaya at Gokarella in Ibbagamuwa, she lives in this wattle and daub house and with a score of 171 marks at the scholarship examination. she has in her own little way proved that poverty is no barrier to reach greater heights. Pix by Pushpa Weerasekara

Sri Lanka’s first public Wi-Fi zone opened

Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, MP Duminda Silva and SLFP Kotte Organizer and former Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in conversation with Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Mayor Janak Ranawaka at the opening of the public Wi-Fi zone at ‘ Siri Parakumba Sama Udyanaya  in Rajagiriya this evening. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Seminar on Post-conflict reconciliation

A joint seminar on ‘South Africa - Sri Lanka joint dialogue non post-conflict reconciliation’, held today at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Inaugural gathering of NPC

The first gathering of the Northern Provincial Council and the opening of the new building for the Provincial Council held today with the participation of Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri and Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran. Pix by Romesh Madushanka and Prasanna Pradeep

BMICH reopened after renovation

President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open the renovated Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) this evening. The BMICH was closed for more than a year for renovation, sponsored by the government of China. It was built in the mid 1970s as a gift of the government of China in memory of late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Pix by Gayan Amarasekera

Free-walk on Expressway

People are seen walking freely on the newly constructed Katunayake-Colombo expressway as it was opened for public viewing last Tuesday.  The expressway is scheduled to be declared open on October 27 for public transportation. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Elephant parade on Expressway

An Elephant parade was held today on the newly constructed Katunayake-Colombo expressway as it was opened for the public viewing on last Tuesday.  The expressway is scheduled to declare open on October 27 for the public transportation. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana ???

Recruitment of 350 WPCs

A large number of women who turned up from all parts of the country, were interviewed yesterday at Police Field Force Headquarters in Bambalapitiya for the recruitment of 350 Woman Police Constables (WPC). Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Guiding new NPC members

An orientation programme organised by the Northern Provincial Council in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils to enlighten the newly elected members of the Council was held today in Jaffna. Pix by Prasanna Pradeep

Video: Gamini’s 19th Death Anniversary

The 19th death anniversary of Gamini Dissanayaka, a former opposition leader and a presidential candidate, was commemorated at his statue at Nelum Pokuna Mawatha today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana ???

Giant LED screen on Parliamentary grounds

A giant state-of-the-art LED digital screen was unveiled today in the Parliament compound under the patronage of Parliament Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. The LED screen has been installed in the Jayanythipura visitors’ car park of the parliamentary complex which would provide an uninterrupted live coverage of the debates in the parliament. Pix by pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Depo-Provera destroyed by Customs

The 30,000 vials containing Depo-Provera birth control pills seized in April were destroyed today by Customs officials. The vials were imported illegally from Pakistan under a well- known German pharmaceutical brand name and were seized on April 28 by the Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) led by Customs Director Mali Piyasena. Pix By Kushan Pathiraja

Candidates for Police Constables

A large number of youth were interviewed today at the Police Field Force Headquarters in Bambalapitiya for 500 Police Constable (PC) posts . Youth throughout the country had applied to the post eagerly participated in the interviewing procedures for the post. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja. 

Video: ‘No to Casinos’

A demonstration organised by residents of Kompaniya Veediya (Slave Island) against Australian gambling tycoon James Packer and the proposed Crown Casinos was held today in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Once in a lifetime

A cyclist taking a ride on the Colombo-Katunayake expressway while the people are seen enjoying themselves today after it was opened to the public prior to it being opened for vehicles. Sri Lanka’s second expressway will have its official opening on October 27. Pix by Samantha Perera

Piliyandala gas leak

More than 70 people including residents were hospitalised following a gas leak from a chemical factory in Piliyandala this morning. Pix by Sirimaha Bellana, Reka Tharangani

Rains disrupt CHOGM preparations

The heavy rains and administrative issues in Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) have slowed down city beautification projects and constructions underway for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held next month. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Under control!

The Colombo-Katunayake Expressway which is scheduled to be officially opened on October 27 will be opened to the public for three days (from October 22-24) during which arrangements have been made to hold cultural, sports and other events with people’s participation. Here Minister Basil Rajapaksa is seen at the main control room of the expressway at Ja-ela, during an inspection visit.

BIA police post relocated

The old police post at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was removed and relocated in a two storey building near the airport today. Pix by Nirmala Fernandez

Health camp at Wijeya Newspapers

The Welfare Society of Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. held a health camp for the staff at the office premises today. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Timber lorries taken into custody

Six lorries transporting timber to Colombo and Akkaraipattu without valid transport licence were taken into custody at Haputale along with 12 suspects by the Haputale Special Task Force (STF) today. Pix by R. Kogulan

National Irrigation Museum

The National Irrigation Museum was declared open today at the Mahaveli Centre by the Irrigation & Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva.Pix by Nisal Baduge

A tryst with destiny

More than 20,000 candidates sat today for the Korean Language Proficiency test held at leading schools in Colombo. If qualified the candidates would be provided with job opportunities in South Korea consequent to an agreement reached by the two governments. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Visually handicapped seek equal treatment

The Sri Lanka National Federation of the Visually Handicapped held a march this morning calling for equal treatment. The march was held at Lipton Circus in Colombo. Nearly 300 visually handicapped people representing 21 districts participated in the march. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Colombo shopping festival at the BMICH

The Colombo Shopping Festivalfeaturing some of the top global brands was opened at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Cultural Hall (BMICH) today. It ends on Sunday, October 20. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Religious observances at Welikada Prisons

Welikada Prison officers and inmates marked Vap Full Moon Poya Day by participating in religious observances led by Rajakeeya Panditha Ven. Talalle Chandakitthi Thera at the Prisons Temple today. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel