Making lanterns to light Vesak

A street vendor makes lanterns from bamboo sticks in Colombo today (May 02). The lanterns will be used during festivities celebrating Vesak. Pix by Nisal Baduge

May Day highlights

Sri Lanka’s working class is celebrating May Day in different parts of the country today under the guidance of their respective political parties. Here are some of the highlights of such rallies in the country.

Seeking divine help

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and other UNP parliamentarian members visited Jaffna to attend the May Day rally this morning. Pictures show the UNP leader and MPs visiting the main priest in Nallur Kovi to obtain blessings. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

May Day

Int'l Workers' Day

Foreigners, including Sri Lankans residing in Lebanon take part in a cultural parade and festival to celebrate International Workers' Day and to call for an end to Lebanon's sponsorship system for migrant domestic workers in the Lebanese capital Beirut on April 29, 2012. AFP

Triplets twice

A 29 year old mother of Wilgamuwa, Ramya Damayanthi delivered male triplets, for the second time. She had delivered male quadruplets a few years ago as well, but one of them died. Her first child is a daughter who is ten years old now.

Preparing to celebrate Vesak

Sri Lankan artisan P. Edirisinghe works on Buddhist statues in Dompe, on the outskirts of Colombo, on April, 2012. Sri Lankan Buddhists are preparing to celebrate Vesak, which commemorates the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and his passing away on the full moon day of May which falls on May 5 this year. AFP

Narthanabimani Awards Presentation Ceremony

Narthanabimani Awards Presentation  Ceremony organized by Govt. Dancing and Ballet Sub Committee, Sri Lanka Arts Council, Cultural Affairs Dept., and Culture and Aesthete Affairs Ministry was held on 29th at the National Arts Gallery with the participation of  Culture and Aesthetic Affairs Minister T.B. Ekanayake on behalf of “World’s Dancing Day, 2012”. Pix by Kithsiri de Mell

May Day keeps them busy

JVP supporters were busy today preparing for the May Day procession. This party supporter is  busy preparing placards at the party’s office at Pasyala in the Gampaha District. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Campaigning reformists…

A group of UNP reformists were engaged in a campaign at Hulftsdorp, today calling the party members to take part in the commemoration of the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa that is to be held in Colombo on the same day. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Ranil visits Kilinochchi

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Kilinochchi over the weekend during his current tour to the North.  Here Mr. Wickremesinghe talks to the villagers in the area. UNP MP for Jaffna District Wijekala Maheswaran was also present.

SF at Nawaloka

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka waves at the crowds who were waiting for him at the Nawaloka Hospital. Pix by Pradep Dilrukshana

Protest over mosque issue

A protest organized by a group of Muslims was held in front of the Davatagaha mosque, Town Hall against the relocation of a Mosque in Dambulla. Pix Pradeep K. Pathirana

Cartoon of the day

Medical students protest

Pictures show medical students from universities around the country together with the Medical Faculty Student Action Committee (MFSAC) staging a protest march from Colombo General Hospital to the Temple Trees to hand over a memorandum against the private medical institution in Malabe. The procession was stopped by police at the Kollupitiya junction. Pix by Samantha Perera

FUTA protests again

Federation of University Teacher’s Association (FUTA) today staged a protest march from Colombo University to the Public library to express objection to the Government’s failure to grants their demands. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

For a professional police service

The Ministry of Defence and Urban Development organized a programme called ‘Siyapathwila’ in order for a professional prestigious people friendly police service. The first programme was held today at the Kularatne Hall, Ananda College under the patronage of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. CDS Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunethilake, tri services chiefs and IGP N.K Illangakoon were also present at the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Cartoon of the day

Court orders SF hospital treatment

A Colombo High Court judge today ordered the Prisons authorities to admit jailed Sarath Fonseka to the Nawaloka hospital for indoor treatments as he was suffering from asthmatic bronchitis. Pictures show the former Army Commander arriving at the court premises. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Ranil appoints organizers

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and General Secretary Tissa Attanayake addressing a gathering at Sirikotha this morning at the ceremony for the appointment of electoral and district organizers. Pic by Nisal Baduge

Where are the museum robbers?

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) staged a protest in front of the National Museum on Tuesday demanding authorities to reveal the identities of the thieves who were involved in the Museum robbery on March 15 and questioning the failure to arrest those involved. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Vows to the God

Hirunika Premachandra and her supporters are seen dashing coconuts outside the Colombo Magistrate’s court today, asking the gods to punish those who threatened her with death and to punish those who killed former presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. Pix by Samantha Perera

Before the summit

South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak (2nd R) shakes hands with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa (2nd L), as Lee's wife Kim Yoon-ok (L) and Rajapaksa's wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa look on, before their summit at the official presidential house, the Blue House, in Seoul April 24, 2012. REUTERS

‘Release our children’

Parents of youths taken into custody during a raid in the Borella area during a search operation carried out by the Police, lodged complaints against sixteen police stations at the Human Rights Commission today. They also urged the police to release them as they are innocent. Pic by Pradeep Dilruckshana

21 bailed after T20 watta arrest

A Colombo Additional Magistrate today released 21 people who were alleged to have been involved in heroin trafficking and criminal activities, on Rs 25.000 personal bail and at the same time remanding two suspects court ordered the aggrieved parties to complain to the police hierarchy on about six persons who had gone astray after arrest. (Pix by Pradeep Pathirana)

SL president in South Korea

For a four-day official visit on an invitation extended by his South Korean counterpart, President Lee Myung-Bak, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa arrived today (23) at Seoul Air Base in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sung-han welcomed President Rajapaksa on his arrival at the airport and two Sri Lankan children welcomed the First Lady. (Pix by Sudath Silva)

Boulder falls onto railway line

A massive boulder that rolled down Magalhanda hill between Beruwala and Maggona obstructed the railway line last morning. The train service on the southern coastal line was delayed for about one hour until the obstruction was cleared. (Pix by Sarath Siriwardene)

New Year Celebration in Prison

A large number of inmates of the Welikada prison today  participated in a New Year festivity which included a variety of traditional events. Picture shows, one of the inmates taking part in the fancy dress parade. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Elephant race

Elephant race is one of the several events that are included in the New Year festival held in Horana today. Pix by  Nimali Kahawala

Siyambalapitiya denies involvement in robbery

Telecommunications and Information Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya in a letter to Police Chief N.K Illangakone has denied his involvement in the recent robbery at the National Museum.