An appeal ?

The masses gathered at the funeral of slain Kelaniya PS member Hasitha Madawala urged the President to take swift action against those responsible for the murder. Pix by Lal S. Kumara

UNP declare 2013 a year for regrouping

The UNP has inaugurated a membership drive today at its HQ Sirikotha. Organisers, representatives of various umbrella orgniastions and MPs were present at the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Dakar Rally

France's Stephane Peterhansel and his navigator Jean-Paul Cottret compete with their Mini during the second stage of the Dakar Rally 2013 from Pisco to Pisco, January 6, 2013. REUTERS

Unfit for consumption

Eateries which served potatoes that were deemed to be unfit for human consumption were raided in Dambulla this morning. The Mayor of Dambulla said that action would be taken against ten eateries which served food consisting of the potatoes. Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

Silenced

Police teams are pictured carrying out initial investigations at the scene of the murder of Hasitha Madawala in Kelaniya. The murdered Pradeshiya Sabha member was a vociferous critic of Minister Mervyn Silva who is the organiser of the Kelaniya electorate of the UPFA. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Aus beat SL...

Rangana Herath looked threatening on the fourth day, Australia v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Sydney, 4th day, January 6, 2013. (Getty Images)

SL vs Australia

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardena plays a shot on day three of the third cricket Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Reuters

Customs seize goods worth more than Rs.15 Mn

The Customs Special Operations and Investigations Unit has seized a stock of feeding bottles, cardamom and perfumes worth more than Rs.15 million imported under different names. The detection was made when the lorry transporting the goods was inspected at the Orugodawatta Customs warehouse. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Garbage disposal in M’mulla sparks protest

Residents of Potuvilkumbura staged a protest today against the garbage disposal project and the closing of the Meetotumulla Sri Rahula Vidayalaya as a result. Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

“Parliament is supreme”

An organization by the name of “Joint Trade Unionist Alliance” held a demonstration opposite the Fort Railway station stating the parliament is supreme and urging those in the judiciary charged with corruption to leave. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Victory ?

PSC member Vijitha Herath is all smiles when he left the Supreme Court complex this morning after the Court of Appeal delivered the Supreme Court determination which said that the Parliament Select Committee prima facie void and the law creating it was not constitutional. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Sri Lanka all out for 294

Sri Lanka were all out for 294 at the close after being sent in to bat on the opening day of the third and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Lahiru Thirimanne top scored with 91, while Jackson Bird took four wickets for 41. (AFP)

CMC raid Pettah markets

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) yesterday discovered a large stock of rotten potatoes, apples and oranges during a raid conducted in Pettah. CMC officials are seen here destroying the stock using kerosene oil. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Big onions seized from Sathosa warehouse

The remaining stock of the forty-five tonnes of big onions, which was seized by the Consumer Affairs Authority last week, was removed from the Sathosa warehouse on D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha today to be destroyed at the Meetotamulla dump next Monday. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

“Road Map 2013 and Beyond”

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal today said the country has passed a sharp bend and recovered from the global economic meltdown in its journey to the progress and predicted the future of Sri Lanka would be bright. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Video: Hakka Patas kills a Jumbo

An elephant was killed by an exploding illegal hunting device called Hakka Patas in the Potana area in Ampara. Wildlife officials had arrived at the scene five days after the incident, following a complaint made by villagers. Pix by Wasantha Chandrapala

Leaflet campaign

Students of the Sri Lankan National Students Movement held a leaflet distribution campaign outside the Fort Railway Station today against military presence in the Jaffna University. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Resettled

Many of those displaced during the war are now gradually being resettled at their original residences by the Vanni  security forces headquarters. Residents are pictured acclimatizing themselves to their old abodes and environment after a lapse of several years. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Blessings for a prosperous New Year

A priest of the Mayurapathy Kovil in Wellawaththa blesses an infant, during a religious ceremony held to invoke blessings on devotees for the dawn of a new year.  Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

HAPPY NEW YEAR

WE WISH ALL OUR READERS A PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

Namal, Yoshitha climb Sri Pada

President's sons - Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and Yoshitha Rajapaksa - climbed the Sri Pada today. Pictured here are the two sons together with those who accompanied them on their pilgrimage  to Sri Pada. Pix Sudath Malaweera

A meteorite…

A man displaying a meteorite that was found from the KudaWewaarea in Manampitiya. Pix K.G.Karunaratne

Tony Greig dead aged 66

This file photo taken on September 12, 2003 shows former England cricket captain Tony Greig holding a cricket ball used by Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh when he became the first Indian to make a hat-trick in Test cricket, at an auction of cricket memorabilia in Bangalore. Former England captain and television commentator Tony Greig has died at the age of 66 after being diagnosed with lung cancer, Australia's Nine Network said on December 29,

Chilaw facing flood threat again?

The Chilaw town is facing the threat of being flooded again after spill gates of major reservoirs around the district were opened. Almost all lakes in the area have reached spill level causing a mini flood situation on roads in the Chilaw town. Pix by Jude Samantha

Fog descends on Lunugala-Badulla Rd.

A thick fog was seen on the Lunugala- Badulla A5 highway this morning and drivers have been warned by police to be cautious of possible danger. Pix by Prasana Padmasiri

Mano holds Pooja

A special Pooja was organized by the Democratic People’s Front led by Mano Ganesan at Kathiresan Kovil Bambalapitiya to invoke blessing on those who are affected by floods. Deputy Leader Dr. A. N. Kumaarguruparan also participated in the ceremony. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

In contemplation…

Unduvap Poya also known as Sanghamittha Day commemorates the arrival of a bodhi tree sapling to Sri Lanka and its subsequent planting. The transmission of the sapling is attributed to a nun named Sanghamittha. Devotees are seen observing religious rituals to mark the day. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

In memory of Tsunami victims

The main Tsunami commemoration ceremony was held this morning in Peraliya, with the participation of political leaders and residents of the area. The solemn ceremony was in memoriam of the many lives that were lost during that fateful day eight years ago and two minutes of silence was observed as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives.Pix by Indraratne Balasooriya

Boy saves a helpless deer

An eleven year-old boy managed to rescue a defenseless deer that was entangled in a trap set by a poacher in Avissawella, Udahamulla today. Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

Christmas Cheer

This mother and daughter appear to be enchanted by a colourfully lit-up Christmas Tree at Braybrooke Place in Colombo last night. The area was brightened up by Christmas decorations. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja.