Video: Final journey

The coffin of the late OIC Prasad Siriwardhana was carried by his colleagues to the funeral pyre. A large number of mourners gathered at the Borella Cemetery to pay their last respects to deceased OIC. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Students protest at Fort

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesting university students who had reached Fort on a protest march organised by the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF). Pix by Nisal Baduge

Walla Patta men out on bail

Four men, who were arrested with a stock of medicinal Walla Patta (Wrightia Zeylanica) or a substitute, were released on bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday. Pix by Nisal Baduge

JVP holds awareness campaign

In an awareness campaign the members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) distributed hand bills detailing the regulations of the Provincial Council elections, in front of the Fort Railway Station today. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

MR in Hakmana

President Mahinda Rajapaksa seen cuddling a child amidst the warm welcome given by the residents after he declared open several development projects in Hakmana and Deniyaya today. Pix by Presidential Media

Memories of beauty

The water level of the Maussakele Reservoir has decreased significantly and the ruins of the old town which was submerged when the reservoir was built, has become visible. Pix by Rathnam Kogulan

Video: TN fishermen repatriates from SL

The Sri Lanka Navy assisted in the repatriation of 116 Indian fishermen at Kankesanthurai Harbor today, who were held in Sri Lankan prisons and released a couple of days ago for illegally crossing the border. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Hailing St. Anthony in Kachchathhewu

Sri Lankan Roman Catholic devotees join the annual pilgrimage at the Saint Anthony's Church of Sri Lanka's northern waters of Katchchativu in Jaffna today. More than thousand  of Indians joined thousands of Sri Lankan pilgrims for the annual festivities, which were held after a decade. Pix by pradeep pathirana

Another ‘rubber factory’ unrest

An elderly woman seems to be reasoning with Police personnel after a protest was quelled following unrest due to a factory situated in the Hanwella area. A Police officer was killed after a tree was allegedly felled by the protsters while he was walking in the area, according to the Police. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Polling card distribution programme

A special polling card distribution programme was conducted by the Central Postal Exchange today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Medin Poya today

Devotees gathered today at the Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo and engaged in religious observances to mark the Medin Poya Day. Pix by Nisal Baduge

A sight to behold

A chariot containing images of gods moves through the large crowd that had gathered to witness the Kochchikade Sri Ponnambalavaneswara Devasthanam Festival this morning. This could be considered one of the most colourful and attractive Hindu rituals to be witnessed in the City of Colombo. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Going on the extension

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was seen greeting to the people as MP Namal Rajapaksa drives the vehicle on the stretch of Galle -Matara on the Southern Expressway at its opening yesterday. Pix by Presidential Media

Engine derailed at Maradana

The engine of an express train arriving from Kandy to Colombo Fort derailed this morning while arriving at the Maradana Railway Station. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Femina’s Miss Active

The ‘Miss Active’, which is part of Femina Miss India 2014 contest, was held today at the Beruwela Cinnamon Bay Hotel. Pics by Deepa Adikari

Battle of the Blues

The first day of the 135th Battle of the Blues got underway at the SSC grounds today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Hirunika campaigning

A public rally supporting Western Provincial Council UPFA candidate Hirunika Premachandra was held this evening in the Kettarama area. Many senior UPFA politicians and a large number of her supporters were present. Pix. by Samantha Perera

UNP at the EC’s office

UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya together with other leadership council members Tissa Attanayake, Wijedasa Rajapaksa, Mangala Samarawera and Lakshman Kiriella comes out of the Election Commissioner’s office after meeting him today. Pix by Samantha Perera

Surf Challenges

The tournaments for the second day at the Mirissa Beach were held today to select ten volunteers for the upcoming ‘Mayhem International Surf Challenge’ which will be held in Malaysia. The first session for selection was held yesterday. The third selection will be held at the Arugam Bay. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukahsana

Video: World Glaucoma Day walk

The World Glaucoma Day walk was held from the National Eye Hospital to Lipton Circle this morning. The participants handed over leaflets to the public to create awareness about Glaucoma. The walk was organised by the National Eye Hospital. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Indian beauties in Galle

These Indian beauties, the finalists of ‘Femina Miss India 2014’ fondle a python taken from a snake charmer at the Galle Fort. These Indian beauties, who arrived in the country on Tuesday, toured Galle today. In addition to the historic Dutch Fort, they also visited the lighthouse. Pix. by Manoj Ratnayake

Teachers protest

The Training College and Institute of Education’s teachers today staged a protest opposite ‘Isurupaya’ in Battaramulla against their salary anomalies and alleged irregularities in the proposed New Constitution of Teachers Service. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Law entrance protest abandoned

Ravana Balaya leader Ven. Iththekande Saddhatissa Thera is seen sharing a light moment with SSP Ranagala near the Colombo Public Library today where Ravana Balaya had scheduled to organise a protest march against the alleged admission irregularities at the Law College in 2014 intake with the Law Entrance Students Collective. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Royal-Thomian Parade before the Big Match

Prior to the 135th Battle of the Blues cricket encounter between S.Thomas’College Mount Lavinia and Royal College, Colombo which is scheduled to start today. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

UNP flashes Green Light

The United National Party (UNP) today launched its manifesto ‘Bala Peraliyata Kola Eliya’ (Green Light for Regime Change) for the Provincial Council elections at its headquarters Sirikotha. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

CBK meets Ranil

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga today met UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo.Pix by Samantha Perera

Video: Femina girls here

The 20 finalists of the Femina-Miss India Contest arrived in Sri Lanka today. They are to visit historically important sites in their weeklong holiday in the country. The tour was organised by the Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts and the SriLankan Airlines. Pix. by Deepa Adikari

Promoting Malaysian tourism in Colombo

Artistes representing different ethnic groups in Malaysia participated in a Malaysian Tourism promotion campaign organized by the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board in Colombo today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Down with the US resolution

Eastern Tamils are seen carrying lion flags and placards at a protest over the US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka. It wasorganised by the Eastern Province Tamil Civil Society Federation in Colombo this morning. Pix by Pradeep Dilruskshana ???

Beach rugby sans liquor

The Youth Zone of the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) yesterday held a beach rugby tournament at the Mount Lavinia beach under the banner ‘Who says Alcohol is Fun?. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja