A shot at the pot

A blind folded army soldier is seen smashing a pot of water as part of the traditional National New Year celebrations. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Last tribute

The funeral of the Ven. Kalutara Dhammananda Thera of the Ampara Buddangala Monastery took place at Ampara H.M. Weerasinghe grounds today. Pix by Wasantha Chandrapala

Video: Disabled war heroes celebrate New Year

A disabled war hero at the RagamaRanviruSevana taking part in the traditional ‘Kana MuttiyaBindeema’ competition today during the New Year celebrations held at the rehabilitation centre. Pix by PradeepPathirana

Video: Helping hand

The two sons of slain Police officer attached to the Anti Corruption Unit of the Matara Police were given educational needs including Rs. 1 million at the Police headquarters today.  Their father and mother were beaten to death in Kamburupitiya, Matara in November last year. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Cricket heroes in Parliament

The Sri Lankan cricket team that won the T20 world cup visited the parliament today. They were warmly welcomed by Parliamentarians of all the political parties. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Keeping alive the spicy food

The Sri Lanka Army’s Food Festival known as Hela Viru Rasa Udanaya will be held in Nuwara Eliya from April 15 to April 22. The food festival is held with the aim of promoting the traditional food of Sri Lanka. Seen here is Central Security Forces Commander Major General Ubaya Medawala briefing the media today about the food festival. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

World champs fly back home

Sri Lanka team which won the ICC World T20 tournament in Bangladesh came back home on Tuesday. How the relaxed cricketers enjoyed their flight from Dhaka to Colombo onboard Mihin Air flight MJ502 was captured by Daily Mirror Sports Editor Channaka de Silva who was returning after reporting the tournament

Allied medicos protest

Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine today staged a protest march from the Health Ministry premises to University Grant Commission (UGC) authorities over several issues including the reduction of the period of the degree programme from four to three years. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

MR meets the champions

President Mahinda Rajapaksa met the Sri Lankan Cricket team at Temple Trees yesterday evening. Pix by President’s Media & AFP

Video: At BIA...

The Sri Lanka T20 skipper Lasith Malinga and Kumar Sangakkara on their arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). ???

Matara-Colombo Expressway bus service launched

The luxury bus service on the Matara-Colombo Expressway began this morning, 24 days after opening of the Expressway. The bus service, operated jointly by the private sector and the Transport Board will run every 20 minutes. The journey from Matara to Colombo or vice versa will take only one and half hours. Pix by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk

Pakistan’s CJCSC visits SL Army Chief

Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Chairman Rashad Mahmood today visited Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff Jagath Jayasuriya at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Heading home…

This picture was captured and uploaded by Mahela Jayawardane to his twitter account just before the victorious Sri Lanka cricket team boarded the return flight to Sri Lanka at the Dhaka Airport. The flight is scheduled to arrive in the evening

World’s Best – Beyond Boundaries

Meg Lanning, Australian Captain and Lasith Malinga, captain of Sri Lanka pose with the trophies on a rickshaw after winning the 2014 Finals of the ICC Women's and Men's World Twenty20 titles in Bangladesh. (Source: icc-cricket.com)

Video: Prasanna Ranatunga assumes duties

Prasanna Ranatunga assumed duties as the Chief Minister of the Western Province at the Shrawasthi Mandiraya today. He received blessings from the Nadungamuwa Wijaya Maithree Thera upon assuming his duties in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dirukshana

Video: Udaya Gammanpila assumes duties

Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammanpila today assumed duties as the Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Minor Irrigation, Industry and Environment, Culture and Arts, at the Shrawasthi Mandiraya. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Congratulations…

Kumar Sangakkara is carried around the field after winning the World T20, India v Sri Lanka, final, World T20, Mirpur, April 6, 2014.Highlights AFP

Dream of flying

About 100 school children including 20 from Kilinochchi and Jaffna, who lost their parents during the war, realised their cherished dream of flying on an airliner last Friday. Their dreams come true when the SriLankan Airlines took the children on a fun flight over the skies of Sri Lanka last Friday. Pix by Deepa Adikari

Naval exercise in Trinco...

The first ever biggest naval exercise of the Sri Lanka Navy code-named TRINEX concluded successfully on Friday. Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage took the salute during the steam past held on the final phase of the exercise held in the seas of Trincomalee, while onboard the Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel Samudura. (Courtesy SL Navy)

PC ministers and Chief Ministers appointed

Chief Ministers and Ministers for the Western and Southern Provincial Councils were sworn in by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential secretariat today. Pix by Presidential media

Luxury cruise ship at Hambantota Port

A luxury cruise ship carrying 800 tourists arrived at the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa international harbour today. On their arrival they were welcomed by Sri Lanka’s traditional dancers. Pix by Sanath Gamage

Samsung launches new smart phone

Samsung unveiled its new flagship Galaxy S5 smart-phone armed with a fingerprint scanner and a built-in heart rate sensor to defend its place as the world's industry leader, at the official ceremony held at Hotel Kingsbury today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

University dream or nightmare!

The students of the Sri Jayawardenapura University today staged a protest march urging the authorities to release 14 University Arts Faculty students who were arrested on charges of assaulting a security officer and damaging a security post in the University on February 24.  Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Naval training exercise in Trinco

The Trincomalee Naval Exercise (TRINEX) began on April 1 with the objective of enhancing professionalism of the SLN fleet and provide training exposure to the officers under training at the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA). (Navy)

Disaster waiting to happen…

This picture was taken by an amateur photographer in Panadura this morning, where school children are compelled to sit in makeshift seats leaning on the rear windscreen of a school van.

Vets successfully remove cyst from cobra

Veterinary physicians attached to the Kuliyapitiya Veterinary office successfully removed a cyst from the head of a cobra on Wednesday, an official said.

Video: Rosewood racket busted

The Customs seized 420 metric tonnes of rosewood valued at Rs.1 billion in 28 containers at the Grayline II terminal. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja ???

Dawoodi Bohra head visits Sri Lanka

The Spiritual Head of the lnternational Dawoodi Bohra Community His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin arrived in Colombo on Monday evening for a short visit in the island.Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

IUSF demo outside UGC

Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) today staged a protest opposite the University Grant Commission (UGC) over several demands including the reduction of the period of the degree programme from four to three years. Pix by Samantha Perera

Beware – you smokers!!!

The Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) marked the April Fools’ Day with its annual poster campaign sending birthday greetings to the members of the public who are still into smoking. While the posters sent a strong message across the country they also made a fascinating backdrop when placed alongside with other posters. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana