New experience for Jaffna students in Colombo

A social event and campfire organized by the 23rd Colombo Girl Guide Company of Musaeus College Colombo together with Jaffna Mirusuvil Roman Catholic Tamil Mixed School was held at Musaeus College today. Students of the Jaffna school also visited Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. to witness the operations at the press and editorial. Pix by kushan Pathiraja and Nisal Baduge

‘International Anti-Corruption Day’

A ceremony was held at the BMICH this afternoon to mark ‘International Anti-Corruption Day’ organized by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Akashi calls on MR

Senior Japanese diplomat Yasushi Akashi called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning at the President’s House. Pix courtesy President’s Media Unit

Illumination for an emancipator

A girls lights a candle during a mass commemorating late South African former president Nelson Mandela on December 8, 2013 in Soweto, near Johannesburg. South Africans crowded into churches, mosques. AFP

Inspection tour

Chief Justice Mohan Peiris engaged in an inspection tour of the Mount Lavinia Courts today to identify any shortcomings in the buildings within the court complex. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Jaguar F-type here

The Jaguar F-type was launched in Sri Lanka yesterday at the Museum Gallery Cafe. The F-type is considered a true Jaguar sports car, powerful, agile and distinctive.  Pix by Samantha Perera

Cuddling a baby

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was seen cuddling a baby at the Battaramulla ‘Good Market’ which celebrated its first birthday yesterday. A fashion show was held to celebrate the event. Pix by Samantha Perera

Nelson Mandela no more

Video: Talking on casinos

The Joint Organisations Against Casinos held a panel discussion today at the National Library with the participation of members of major political parties including UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Democratic Party leader Sarath Fonseka and other religious leaders. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

The Ghost train

A train engine, which was at the Demtagoda Railway Yard had automatically started at around 1.45 am today and preceded without a driver before it was stopped between Ratmalana and Mt. Lavinia. Pix by Rekha Tharangani

ASG appointed to Supreme Court

Additional Solicitor General, President’s Counsel Buwaneka Aluwihare was appointed as a Supreme Court judge today. Mr. Aluwihare took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees. (President’s media)

Video: A curious transformation- from Tar to Ethanol

Customs officials have discovered over 74,000 litres of Ethanol that had been imported under the guise of importing tar from Malaysia. This stock of ethanol was found when inspecting seven containers at the container yard in Orugodawatte. Pix by Kushan Pathirana ???

‘Ketayam’ Chinthaka killed

Chinthaka Wasantha alias ‘Ketayam’ Chinthaka, the main suspect in the killing of a policeman and his wife at Kamburupitiya was shot dead during a confrontation with Special Task Force personnel at Nigala last night. Pix by Krishan Jayaruk

Left in the lurch

Members of the All Ceylon Peasants’ Federation held a protest rally at Fort today. They distributed handbills accusing the Government of ignoring their plight and not fulfilling the promises it had made before the budget. The protesters are seen clad in the traditional loin cloth. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

A ‘rogue elephant’ captured

Wildlife Officials captured a rogue elephant that had been destroying crops and terrorising the Mahakumbukkan kadawala and Pallama Divisional Secretariat areas in Chilaw. The elephant was taken to a national park nearby. Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe

Curious…

A man pushing a cart with a child in it looks on at a walk held by the Health Ministry, Sri Lanka Prisons Department and several other voluntary organisations to mark World AIDS Day, today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Rising from Ashes….

Crowds thronged to BMICH today for Sahasak Nimevum exhibition despite the fire that broke out the previous day. Minister of Technology and Research Patali Champika Ranawaka is seen here in conversation with an inventor who has come up with a unique technology of making string hoppers. Pic by Nisal Baduge

Poof!

Workers are seen here picking up bits and pieces in the building that went up in flame at the BMICH yesterday, which was built to accommodate the CHOGM Media Centre. Pix by Nisal Baduge

BMICH Fire

Pictured here the temporary building which caught fire this morning at the BMICH premises. It was doused by the fire brigade and no injuries were reported. Pix by Gihan Suwaris

Video: Bull and two actors rescued

A bullock cart that was brought to the Wakanda area in Sigiriya for recording a music video fell into a nearby lake today when the bull leapt into the water. Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

Walk for quality and standards

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and former champion athlete Susanthika Jayasinghe are seen talking to each other during a walk to make people aware about quality and standards. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Freedom for Palestine

Palestinian Ambassador Anwar H. Al Agha is seen signing a poster today in support of the Freedom of Palestine. The signature campaign organised by the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) was held at the Maradana Jumma Mosque. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Looking to the future

Eurocars (Pvt) Ltd, the official Porsche importer in Sri Lanka, launched the new Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid today at The Cinnamon Grand Colombo. Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid is the world’s first plug-in hybrid in the luxury class and it is equipped with 416 hp system power. (Pix by Kithsiri de Mel)

Moratuwa carpenters protest

Carpenters of Moratuwa staged a protest at Kurusa junction on the Galle Road today against a budget proposal to remove furniture transport permit.  Pix by Siri Mahabellana

Let the games begin…

Roads in Colombo Fort and Galle Face are seen barricaded with sand bags in preparation for the Colombo Night Races, which draws thousands of spectators to Colombo. It is held for the second time on December 14 and 15. Pix by Samantha Perera

Video: Mobile phone ban violates workers’ rights: ACTWU

The All Ceylon Transport Workers Union (ACTWU) today lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission against a government circular which prohibits the use of mobile phones by SLTB bus drivers and conductors while on duty. The union said the circular violated the human rights of workers. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Hospital on strike today

Thousands of patients were stranded when several Hospitals came to a standstill after Health officers including nurses and paramedics launched a strike today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

EU Exhibition

A book exhibition and Information Day was held by the EU Delegation at the Public Library in Colombo today. Free material was distributed among the school children and those who were present at the occasion. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Chinese delegation here

A visiting Chinese delegation headed by Human Resources and Social Security Vice Minister Yang Shiqiu met Sri Lankan Senior Minister for Human Resources D.E.W. Gunasekara today at his Ministry. The delegations engaged in a discussion on Human Resource Development. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

Video: Gotabaya at Galle Dialogue

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa seen here sharing a light moment with former Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy Admiral Suresh Mehta on the sidelines of the Galle Dialogue Maritime Conference organized by the Sri Lanka Navy.Pix by Pradeep Pathirana