Sathyagraha by Engi.Corp employees

A group of employees of the State Engineering Corporation held a Sathyagraha today against number of decisions taken by the authorities which include retiring employees when they reach 55 years and without extending it up to 60 years. The protesters then held a peace march towards the Presidential Secretariat to hand over a petition. Pix By Pradeep Pathirana

Socialist youth demand jobs

The Socialist Youth Union held a protest today demanding new jobs and condemned the budget. A tense situation prevailed when they attempted to enter the premises of the Ministry of Finance. The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.  Pix by Samantha Perera

Akashi in Sri Lanka

Japan's Special Peace and Reconciliation Envoy to Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi addressed the media a short while ago. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Oil pipeline leak

The pictures show the leak in the pipeline carrying crude oil from the Colombo Port to the Kollonnawa storage facility, which happened in the Grandpass-Mawatta area. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Rally to free Fonseka

UNP MPs, other opposition parties and supporters staged a rally in Colombo today in protest against former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka’s arrest, the 2012 budget and what opposition parties referred to as a government dictatorship and suppression of the people. The picture shows a supporter wearing fake handcuffs and a military cap to depict Fonseka. (Pix by Kushan Pathiraja)

VPA students Protest

A protest was held today opposite the University of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) by the students accusing the authorities of discrimination as well as the withdrawal of facilities. A large number of students assembled were seen shouting slogans and exhibiting posters condemning the actions of the authorities. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Discussing the inquiry

President's Counsel Thirantha Walaliyadda is seen talking to the daughter of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, Hirunika and her mother after the inquiry before the Colombo Chief Magistrates Court today. Pix by Nisal Baduge

100 new buses to CTB fleet

100 new buses were added to the CTB fleet today, when the second phase of an initiative under the Mahinda Chinthanaya programme which aims at increasing the number of CTB buses to 7,500, got underway at the Udahamulla bus depot. The cabinet has approved the import of 500 buses which costs Rs.3.7 million each. Seen here are Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and SLTB chairman M.D Bandusena at the handing over ceremony. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

First accident on Expressway

The pictures show the first accident which took place on the Southern Expressway this morning at Kahatuduwa. The expressway was declared open last morning, in a ceremony by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Pix by Buddika Kumarasiri

Take a ride on the Southern Expressway

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen steering his way ahead together with his family members along the southern expressway which was declared open at Karandeniya this morning to the momentous moment marking the opening of the country’s first expressway. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Opening of the country’s first expressway

President Mahinda Rajapakse and first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa walks alongside former Japan's special peace envoy to Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi following the opening of the country’s first expressway in Galle on today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Monkey Buffet Festival

A long-tailed macaque licks an ice cube with fruits encased in it during the annual Monkey Buffet Festival at the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple in Lopburi, 150km (94 miles) north of Bangkok November 27, 2011. The festival provides food and drinks to the local monkey population, which numbers more than 2,000, to thank them for drawing tourists to the town. REUTERS

Pakistan naval ship SAIF on good will visit to Sri Lanka

Pakistan Navy Ship SAIF is on her Goodwill visit to Sri Lanka from November 26 – 29. Both countries enjoy warm diplomatic and strong military ties and as part of goodwill, Pakistan Navy ships frequently pay port visits to Sri Lanka. These visits further strengthen the existing strong relationship between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Such interactions also demonstrate both navies resolve to contribute towards achieving a more secure and conduci

University crisis deepens-UNP

A media briefing was held under the patronage of Gampaha District UNP Parliamentarian and President of the National Youth Front Ruwan Wijeyawardena about the crisis taking place within universities and steps taken by authorities to pressurize students. Pix By Nisal Baduge

Protest by JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) distributed hand bills to create awareness among the public about the proposals made by the budget for next year and vowed to defeat the budget. They urged the authorities to give more assistance and facilities to the public without wasting funds. The protest was held at the Colombo Fort Railway Station. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka organised a Sticker Campaign at the Bastian Stand in Colombo today, to inaugurate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Tough luck for jaywalkers

The Colombo City Traffic Police have been taking strict action against people for jaywalking since October 1. Seen here is an individual being fined by a policeman this morning in Punchi Borella for jaywalking. Police also request the public to use pedestrian crossings to prevent road accidents and traffic congestion. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Destruction due to gale

A gale blowing at a speed of about 40km per hour has caused havoc in Matara. A number of trees in homes and on the roadside have fallen resulting in damages being caused to several homes and commercial establishments. Three persons were reported to have been injured. (Text and pix by Krishan Jeevaka Jayaruk)

Towards National Reconciliation

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L Peries and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa mingle after addressing the inaugural National Reconciliation Conference organized by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Thanksgiving meal

U.S. Army soldiers wait to have their Thanksgiving meal in Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank in Logar province, eastern Afghanistan, November 24, 2011. REUTERS

Accident causes unrest

A private bus travelling on the Somawathiya – Matara route collided with a tipper transporting sand,  this morning in Thallarama in Weligama. (Text and pix by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk)

‘Justice for life'

Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera flanked by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera and TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran speaking at the launch of the National Movement for Social Justice under the theme ‘justice for life’ at the National Library auditorium today. The movement calls for the abolition of executive presidency, relief for the high cost of living, a just solution to the national problem, release for Sarath Fonseka and a withdrawal of the

“Sisu Seriya”

The National Transport Commission and the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) in collaboration with the LISVIN Travel Card Company introduced the “Sisu Seriya” transport card to school children yesterday at Musaeus College, Colombo. Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena and Minister C.B. Rathnayake participated in the ceremony. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Occupy Wall Street moves to DC

A sign is displayed in the midst of Occupy DC protesters in McPherson Square in Washington, DC, on November 21, 2011. Occupy DC popped up spontaneously on October 1, nearly a fortnight after Occupy Wall Street began, while its near-namesake grew out of an anti-war protest that started October 6 after several months of preparation. Unlike their counterparts in New York and elsewhere, however, the movement with two locations in the US capital has l

Snowless slopes

An aerial view shows snowless slopes on the Seegrube mountain in the western Austrian city of Innsbruck November 22, 2011. REUTERS

Efforts to release SF

Anoma Fonseka, the wife of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka today called on the people to join her in her efforts to release her husband who was recently sentenced to three years in jail in the controversial white flag case and who is currently serving a 30 month prison term for the misappropriation of Army funds. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Jakarta travel

Commuters standing in the doorways of a train and sitting on its roof, are seen as they travel to work in the capital Jakarta November 10, 2011. Indonesia's economy has shown strong growth this year, but failure to improve a stifling bureaucracy, to end wasteful subsidies and to systematically curb graft, could derail a growth story that has made resource-rich Indonesia into Southeast Asian's sweet spot. REUTERS

Medical students protest

Medical students of the Sri Jayawardenapura, Ruhuna, Peradeniya and Colombo universities today staged a protest against the government’s decision to give legal recognition to the private medical institution in Malabe. The protest started from the Colombo General Hospital premises to the University Grants Commission (UGC) in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Tea time

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other parliament ministers are seen participated in a tea party following the reading of the Budget for 2012. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

UNP attacked inside parliament

Parliamentary business was relegated to rowdy levels today during the budget speech of President Mahinda Rajapaksa with some unruly government MPs trying to manhandle and rough up UNP members who held aloft placards critical of the 2012 budget. Pix By Kushan Pathiraja