A day after quake

Residents carry their belongings as they cross a damaged road, part of a national highway in the village of Tuway, Guihulngan town, Negros Oriental, in central Philippines on February 7, 2012, a day after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines.  Rescuers in the Philippines dug through rubble with their bare hands and shovels after a powerful earthquake triggered landslides, collapsed homes and killed dozens of people. AF

Buddhist devotees at Kelaniya

With today being Nawam Full Moon Poya Day, devotees were seen this morning engaging in religious activities at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

MR and Ranil at the Navam Perahera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe are seen here partaking in religious observance at the Navam Perahera last night. Pictures below show the cultural activities that are a part of the heritage of the Navam Perahera. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

33rd Gangarama Navam Perehara

The 33rd Gangarama Navam Perehara began today, with the attendence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, opposition leader Ranil Wickremaesinghe, and other political and religious leaders. Pictures show President Rajapaksa and Mr. Wickremesinghe placing the tooth relic on the elephant. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Struggling to free their leader

Anoma Fonseka the wife of jailed former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, leaders of several political parties including New Left Front Leader Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Wijitha Herath,  Siritunga Jayasuriya from the United Socialist Party and DNA MPs Jayantha Ketagoda and Arjuna Ranatunga are seen at a media conference where they announced a street protest to be held on February 8 in Colombo. Pix by Waruna Wannia

Jumbos become centre of attraction

Elephants brought for the annual Nawama Perahera organised by the Gangarama Temple have become the centre of attraction, as those visiting Vihara Mahadevi Park flocked to see these jumbos today, on the eve of the Perahara, which is to be held tomorrow and on Tuesday. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

WNL stall at Deyata Kirula

Deyata Kirula the mega national exhibition was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last eveing. The exhibition will be held till February 10 and is considered the largest exhibition to be held in the Deyata Kirula series. The picture shows the Wijeya Newspapers stall at the exhibtion. Wijeya Newspapers Limited are the media sponsors of the exhibition. Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Deyata Kirula opens

'Deyata Kirula' was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa this evening. The exhibition is being held on a 600 acre site in Oyamaduwa in Anuradhapura  and is the largest exhibition to be held since the inception of the series with a number of stalls representing the government and the private sector. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Anoma visits SF today

Anoma Fonseka the wife of former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka visited her husband at the Welikada Prison today. Pictures show Anoma Fonseka during her visit to Welikada today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Celebrating 64 years of independence

President Mahinda Rajapaksa hoists the national flag at the 64th Independence Day celebrations held in Anurdhapura today. The ceremony was held at the Sambuddathwa Jayanthi Grounds in Anuradhapura today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Gillard poses with Mahela and Brad

Australia's prime minister Julia Gillard and her husband pose for a photo with Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and the Prime Minister’s XI skipper Brad Haddin when she hosted the two teams to dinner at The Lodge - Official Residence of the Prime Minister before the tour match which took place yesterday at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. Sri Lanka are in Australia for the Commonwealth Bank Tri Series, which features India and the hosts

Concerned family members

Family members of the involuntary disappeared human rights activists are seen in the court compound at the proceedings of the Habeas Corpus application before the Court of Appeal. Seen here are family members of disappeared human rights activists walking out from the court premises. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Rehearsing for the 64th Independence Day

The Sri Lankan security forces staged rehearsal today in Anuradhapura for the up-coming 64th Independence Day celebrations which will be held tomorrow. The celebrations will include a considerable military parade. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Buddhist monks at the ECCC

Buddhist monks line up to attend a session at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) on the outskirts of Phnom Penh February 3, 2012. The United Nations backed tribunal, which has handed down a 35-year jail term commuted to 19 years for Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, for his role in the deaths of more than 14,000 people at a S-21 torture center in Phnom Penh, is due to announce his appeal decision on Friday, February 3

Warm welcome on ‘Arcadia’

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion bureau, along with officials of the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA), welcomed the vessel ‘Arcadia’ yesterday, at a ceremony held at the Colombo harbour. Pix by Sri Lanka tourism promotion Development

Celebrating Independence

Students of the kindergarten section ofGiggles International School in Gothatuwa celebrated Independence Day by releasing pigeons today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

In discussion

Minister of Resettlement Gunaratne Weerakoon and Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan allias Karuna are seen here discussing the establishment of permanent military camps in the Northern Province.Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Stop the shift

Members of the Magistrate Court Lawyers Association are seen here staging a protest against the proposed plan to shift the Magistrate Court complex from Hulftsdorp to Battaramulla. The protest was staged in front of the Supreme Court Complex. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

The lucky ones

These were some of the few lucky commuters who managed to get into this train which the authorities managed to put into operation despite the strike by the railway employees today. This was a short distance train plying towards Veyangoda from the Fort Railway Station. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Looking for next generation

This undated handout photo released by Conservation International on January 31, 2012 shows a turtle preparing to lay eggs at a remote sanctuary of Turtle islands, Tawi-Tawi province, in the Philippines southern island of Mindanao.  Globally endangered green turtles are enjoying a baby boom on remote Philippine islands as a three-decade protection programme starts to pay off, environment group Conservation International said. AFP

Demining northern railway line

The Sri Lanka Army and Non Governmental Organisations say that more than 63 kilometres of the 138 kilometre railway line from Omanthai to Jaffna has been cleared of landmines. The demining activities were expedited in view of the ongoing re-construction of the northern railway line undertaken by an Indian company, while they are being assisted by a demining team from India. Reconstruction of the railway line is scheduled to be completed in one

For social justice

The National Movement for Social Justice held a forum today under the theme of ‘Vidwath Handa’ with the intention of reorganising the political culture and structure of state institutions. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Nurses protest

The Government Nursing Officer’s Association held a protest today in front of the Colombo National Hospital demanding authorities to give their promotions without delaying them and also protested about nine other demands that have been discussed with the Ministry during the past two years which had not brought positive results. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

In loving memory

A monument unveiling ceremony was held today at the Central Bank premises by the Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal to commemorate those who were brutally killed by a terrorist bomb attack on January 31, 1996 at 10.49am. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshsna

J’Pura students protest again

The students of the Sri Jayawardenapura University staged a protest today in front of the university premises against the dictatorial behaviour of the Vice Chancellor and in support of the three students of the University of Peradeniya who have been held in remand custody. The protestors paid floral tribute to the recently damaged monument. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Sancharaka Udawa 2012

Sancharaka Udawa 2012 conceptualised and spearheaded by Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SALITO) and organised by Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference and Exhibition Organisers(SLAPCEO) in association with Sri Lanka Tourism was declared opened today (January 31) at the Ceylon Continental Hotel. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Bihar left behind

A vendor tries to sell bananas to the passengers sitting atop a bus as they wait to cross a toll gate at Hajipur industrial park on the outskirts of the eastern Indian city of Patna, in Bihar state. When India launched reforms to open up its state-stifled economy 20 years ago, many states surged ahead, leaving behind the 3.5 percent “Hindu rate of growth”. Reuters

The Lion Flag

Sewing Lion Flags has become a cottage industry these days with the 64th anniversary of our independence around the corner. These flags are being made by Upasena Master of Dematagoda who is a small scale entrepreneur in the area. Sri Lanka gained independence on February 4, 1948. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

A closer look!

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen having a closer look at the ear of former world boxing heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield's ear, that was bitten by Mike Tyson during their heavyweight championship fight on June 28, 1997. Holyfield called on the President at Temple Trees today.

Celebrating art

Kala Pola 2012, the annual open air art fair was opened on the sidewalks of Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha today. The chief guest for the opening ceremony was the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka John Rankin. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja