Wild elephant and a calf rescued

A wild elephant and a baby elephant that went searching for water due to the prevailing drought had fallen into a well in Kela Bogaswewa- Ruwanmaduwa in Vavunia today. They were rescued by the wild life officials with the assistance of soldiers of 56 Brigade. By Romesh Madushanka

Puttalam running dry

More than 400,000 people in the Puttalam district are facing severe hardships with no drinking water due to the prolonged drought. They said they had not yet received any relief under the government’s relief programmes for the drought stricken areas. About 200 tanks and minor irrigation canals that provided drinking water and irrigation facilities have run dry. Meanwhile the crop failure has created a scarcity of food compelling the village

Further remanded…

Colombo Chief Magistrate today remanded the Chairman of Kalutara Pradeshiya Sabha V.P Lakshman and his office peon I.P.S. Arachchi till August 21 for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 3 million. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

No offence…

Hirunika Premachandra seen speaking to the media in front of the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court this morning after attending the court inquiry into the killing of her father Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Against 'healthy' corruption

The Health services Trade Union Alliance and the Trade Union Alliance against corruption and fraud, staged a protest in front of the Health Ministry in Town Hall today, urging authorities to take legal action against corrupt health officials and to nullify the service extension granted to the Director General of Health. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Children from Dambana visit Parliament museum

Children of the Gurukumbura Vidyalaya in Dambana today visited the parliament museum. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Rotten garlic found in Dambulla

The Consumer Affairs Authority today recovered 41,000 kilogrammes of rotten garlic which were on sale at the Dambulla Economic Centre. The Ministry of Internal Trade and Cooperatives said the consignment was completely rotten and is said to be worth Rs 3.5 million. The traders who own the consignment are to be produced before Dambulla Magistrate court.  Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

Video: Protest in front of US embassy

The activists of Movement for People’s Struggle staged a protest in front of the United States embassy in Colombo urging the NATO to immediately stop bombing in Syria. The activists who participated in the protest seen here holding placards written with anti- American slogans.  Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Rover Lands on Red Planet‎

In this image from NASA TV, shot off a video screen, one of the first images from a second batch of images sent from the Curiosity rover is pictured of its wheel after it successfully landed on Mars. REUTERS

Dalada Perahara in Vavunia

The annual Sri Dalada Perahara of the Vavunia Sri Dalada Viharaya,where the sacred tooth relic was placed for the first time, paraded the Vavunia- Horowpathana road yesterday. Pix by Romesh Madushanka.

Unseen Colours...

A little boy looking at a picture depicting the impact of domestic violence on children during a photographic exhibition titled ‘Unseen Colours’ organised by the Free Women Organisation and declared open for the public at the Public Library Auditorium today. Pix by  Kushan Pathiraja

In the father’s footsteps

Rehan Goonetilleke, the son of Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke, became an officer (Pilot Officer) of the Sri Lanka Air Force during a passing out parade held at the China Bay SLAF Academy. Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke’s father AVM Harry Goonetillake also commanded the SLAF. Pix by Amadoru Amarajeewa

4/1...

Irfan Pathan celebrates after dismissing Sri Lankan cricketer Jeevan Mendis (R) during the fifth and final one-day international (ODI) match - AFP

The celebration of joy

Sri Lanka's Thisara Perera  celebrates taking the wicket of India's Ajinkya Rahane during their final one-day international (ODI) cricket match in Pallekele  today (August 4). REUTERS

Dudley Senanayake Memorial Oration

A world renowned historian, Professor John Holt William R Kenan Jnr. delivered the fifteenth Dudley Senanayake Memorial Lecture on ‘Political Impacts on Religion in Sri Lanka’ yesterday at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies Auditorium, BMICH Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. The Dudley Senanayake Foundation in co-operation with Für Die Freiheit organized event. Px by Kushan Pathiraja

Annual Theru Festival

The annual Theru Festival of the Colombo Samankodu Shri Kathirvelauthaswamy Kovil was held today. Pictures show devotees participating in religious rituals at the ceremony. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Motorbikes for provincial managers

Assistant provincial managers of the Paddy Marketing Board were provided with motorbikes today at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute so that they could serve the people in their respective areas more efficiently. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja.

Puttalam lagoon dries out

Five hundred thousand people have faced difficulties even finding drinking water in Puttalam area due to the prevailing drought. The water level in Puttalam lagoon has drastically reduced as never happened before. Stretch of 3 km in the lagoon has dried out at Karaba area on the Puttalam road killing thousands of sea shells. Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe

Mars science laboratory

Pete Theisinger, Mars Science Laboratory project manager from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, poses with a model of the Curiousity rover and the rover's descent stage after a news conference at JPL in Pasadena, Calfiornia August 2, 2012. The Curiousity rover will descend on cables from a sky crane as it prepares to land on Mars, August 5, 2012. REUTERS

Media Freedom in South Asia

Journalists and other media activists listen to a speech delivered by Kanak Mani Dixit on Media Freedom in South Asia, at an event held yesterday at the Sri Lanka Press Institute. (Pix by Indaratna Balasuriya)

Esala Perahara comes to an end

Sri Dalada Maligawa Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela today handed over the “Sannas Pathraya” to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to formally announce the end of the Kandy Esala Perahera (the festival of the tooth). Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Give us justice

A large number of parents and students staged a protest march to the University Grants Commission (UGC) this afternoon urging the government to resolve the Z- score issue. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

40,000 acres of paddy cultivation at risk

Forty thousand acres of paddy cultivation are at the risk of being destroyed due to lack of rains during the last six months in the Northern Province, Provincial irrigation director Sivapana Sundaram Visudaram said. Of the paddy fields under threat 11000 acres are in Vavuniya, 10000 acres in Kilinochchi, 3200 acres in Mannar and 15800 acres in Mulativu. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Allocate 6% of GDP for education

The Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) at a news conference held at the library service auditorium today urged the government to allocate six per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the education sector. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Final Randoli Perahera

Donned in ceremonial attire, Nedungamuwe Raja Tusker, with the casket containing the Sacred Relic, coming out of the Sri Dalada Maligawa  for the final Randoli Perahera in Kandy, tonight. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Last day of Randoli Perahara

Tonight is the last night of the Kandy Randoli Perahera and pictures show the preparation of elephants for the final night. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Religious observances

Devotees at the Kelani Rajamaha Viharaya observing religious rituals to mark the Nikini Full moon Poya day. Pix by Indaratna Balasuriya

Awarding excellence

Four journalists from the Daily Mirror won four awards at the Journalism Awards for Excellence ceremony 2011 held at the Mt. Lavinia Hotel Tuesday evening.  Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Relocation project

Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa explains a point to a resident when he was encountered with a question. Rajapaksa was present at an event to address residents who are to be relocated under the redevelopment programme of the Kompannaweediya area. Imprerial Builders and Developers and Builders, a Karachchi-based company, are investing in the programme. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

GEU protest march

Graduate Employees' Union (GEU) staged a protest march today from Campbell Park Borella to the Ministry of Public Administrations and Home Affairs urging the authorities to resolve their problems. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja