DMC searching for body

The Matara District Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has launched a search operation to recover the body of a man reported to have jumped into in the Nilwala River from the Mahanama Bridge at Matara. Pix by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk

Petition against website ban

A petition was handed over by the Professional Web Journalists Association in the presence of media rights groups and Opposition parliamentarians to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) today against some websites being unofficially banned by the Government. Pix by Nasal Baduge

Seeking justice

Undergraduates of Allied Health Sciences who protested against curtailing of the period of their studies today handed over a complaint to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, urging action against the Police officers who they alleged “mercilessly” assaulted them while protesting. Pix by Samantha Perera

Video: Court orders…

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Parliamentarian Athureliya Rathana Thera is seen at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today when a case against Sri Lanka Thawheed  Jamaad was taken up. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Ex-CJ leaves after court hearing

Former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake is seen getting into her vehicle after attending a hearing at the Chief Magistrate’s Court this morning. Lawyer Gunaratne Wanninayake is also in the picture. Pix by Nisal Baduge ???

War Heroes memorial

The National War Heroes Ceremony was conducted today under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the War Heroes Memorial at Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Here a mother is seen looking for the name of her son engraved on the memorial.Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

'Minimum force'

A university student seen with the black eye from the police assault was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate today. Police informed the Magistrate they only used ‘minimum force’ to control the situation that prevailed outside the Slave Island police station. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Video: NFF presents ‘12 proposals’ to the Cardinal

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa today presented the party’s 12 proposals to the Most Reverend Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Lankan war heroes honoured in Sydney

Consulate General of Sri Lanka and the Society for Peace, Unity and Reconciliation (SPUR) together with Sri Lankan- Australians in Sydney honoured the Sri Lanka security forces for liberating Sri Lanka from the clutches of terror.

Video: Handover the LTTE cadres

JHU supporters carry placards while marching towards the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo to hand over a letter petition calling Norway to handover the LTTE cadres who are domiciled in Oslo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Celebrating victory

President Mahinda Rajapaksa riding in a jeep during the 5th victory day parade held in Matara today.Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Keeping Sripada clean

A campaign to clean the access ways to Sripada after the end of the Sripada season was conducted by the All Island Guides and Senior Guides in collaboration with the Wild Life Conservation Department with the participation of more than 150 students, yesterday. Pix by Harshi Alwis

IUSF protest

The members of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) and students studying for the Allied Health Science (AHS) Degree are seen holding placards at a protest over the reduction of the course duration from four years to three years.  Pix by Nisal Baduge

Vesak Ice Cream Dhansala

The Excise Department gave an ice cream ‘Dhansala’ for the fourth consecutive year to mark Vesak. It was held in front of the main office of the department situated at W.A.D Ramanayake Mawatha, Colombo 2. A large number people came to the ‘Dhansala’. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Indian poll results

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the Indian General Elections with 331 seats. The Indian National Congress was only able to secure 67 seats. (NDTV)

Giving the Green light

The “Buddha Rashmi” Vesak zone organised by the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe this evening. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Thirst quencher…

The economics’ students of the Sipsaura Institute in Nugegoda organised a water melon dansala for the second time today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Rice Dansala by Ranweli Hotel

The management of Ranweli Hotel in Waikala organised a rice dansala last night. Large numbers of people are seen having meals at the Dansala. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Pandals adorn the night

Vesak pandals lit up most parts of the city in Colombo tonight as people celebrated the Vesak festival. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Lighting up for Vesak

Some organisers and crew of Gangarama Vesak Zone are seen setting up ‘water lilies’ as Vesak decorations on the Beira Lake. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: A giant Buddhist flag

100 feet long and 50 feet wide -- designed by K. Hemapala was displayed for the 6th consecutive year along Baseline Road in Dematagoda. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Vesak Poya

Devotees are seen engaging in religious observance at the Kelaniya Temple to mark the Vesak Poya Day, today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Wesak at Gangaramaya

Some organizers and crew of Gangaramaya Wesak Zone are seen setting up water lilies as wesak decorations in the Beira Lake in Gangarama today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Pandals

Several Pandals have been erected in Colombo as the city gets ready to mark Vesak which falls tomorrow. Pix by Nisal Baduge

WNL Hokandara Press bags silver award

The Hokandara Press complex of Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. was among the Silver award winners for 2012 at the National Green Awards ceremony held at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

TATA breaks ground at Slave Island

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa unveils the model for Phase l of the USD 400 million TATA funded Slave Island Mixed Development Project at the ground breaking ceremony held today. The commercial complex will consist of approximately 500 housing units, 96 shops, community centres and a gymnasium. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Midwives against nurses

The Government Midwifery Service Association (GMSA) today staged a protest near the Health Ministry urging the authorities not to let nurses to carry out their duties. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Mercedes-Benz Pageant 2014

The Mercedes-Benz Pageant is an annual event where Mercedes-Benz owners and their families’ drive-in, in their Mercedes-Benz vehicles to enjoy fellowship and witness more than 500 three-pointed stars under one roof. This year the Pageant is being held at the BMICH today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Shining Dhamma

Video: World Youth Conference concludes

Participants at the closing ceremony of the World Conference on Youth (WCY) 2014, held at the Sri Lanka Youth Premises Maharagama today. WCY 2014 kicked off last Tuesday in Sri Lanka under the theme of ‘Mainstreaming Youth in the Post 2015 Development Agenda.’Pix by Pradeep Pathirana