Avurudu shopping underway

People in large numbers were seen in Pettah seeking to buy their needs at lower prices as the country prepared to celebrate the Sinhala and Tamil New Year this week. Here a crowd has gathered around a vendor, selecting clothes. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Kids and Avurudu

Students of the Ananda Balika Vidyalaya in Kotte held their Avurudu celebrations today in light of the upcoming Sinhalese and Tamil New Year. The picture shows students gathered around Avurudu able during the celebrations. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Butterfly Pavilion

A young girl looks at a butterfly at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum on April 8, 2011 during  the opening day for members of the Butterfly Pavilion. More than 40 different butterfly and moth species and an array of plants take up residence every summer for our much-anticipated seasonal exhibit, the Pavilion of Wings.  AFP PHOTO

Road visit

The Sri Lanka Country Director of ADB Dr. Richard Wokes is seen here during an inspection visit to the Southern Highway. A section of the highway which is nearing completion scheduled to be handed over to the government in May. Pix by Samantha Perera

Don’t resign!

Enthusiastic cricket fans gathered at the Independence Square in Colombo this afternoon to urge the Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Kumar Sangakkara and his Deputy Mahela Jayawardena not to resign from their current posts. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Avurudu games

The Sri Nanda Daham School in Madinnagoda, held their New Year festival today. The picture shows a teacher explaining traditional Avurudu games to the children. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Still clearing mines

Sri Lanka army mine clearing operation in the northern town of Kokavil on April 08, 2011. The Sri Lankan military estimates more than a million landmines and other unexploded devices were planted in the last few years of the war, threatening the lives of civilians who are now returning to their villages. The army runs the largest de-mining operation, while organisations like FSD, the Mine Action Group and the Halo Trust are also working in Sri La

Sun beats down in Kili

Some students of Kilinochchi Gonavil College use their gift parcels head covers to protect them from the scorching sun on their way home after school. Gifts items have been donated to them by an organization. The schools were closed for the New Year vacation today.  Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Crackers for Avurudu

Workers at a home fireworks factory are seen here filling firework products in Kibulawala. The demand for fireworks has increased with Avurudu celebrations drawing near. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi 

Mahaweli Exhibition 2011

The “Mahaweli Exhibition 2011” was declared open today by Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva. The picture shows Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva visitng one of the stalls at the Exhibition. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Air Force Avurudu Pola

The annual Air Force Avurudu Pola organized by the Directorate of Welfare is currently under way at the Rifle Green Grounds SLAF Station Colombo. The “Pola” is organized each year with the aim of providing Air Force personnel and their families with household requirements, garments and gift items at concessionary prices during the festive season. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Nuclear problems

An aerial view shows Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant is seen at Miyagi Prefecture in this photo taken by Yomiuri Shimbun on April 8, 2011. Water leaked out of spent fuel pools at the Onagawa nuclear plant in northeast Japan after a strong aftershock rocked the region late on Thursday, but there was no change in the radiation levels outside the plant, operator Tohoku Electric Power said on Friday. REUTERS

IT center opened

Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya today visited Kokavil to declare open an IT center. The picture shows the Army Commander inspecting the IT center during his visit. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

First man in space

A  file photo taken on July 11, 1961 shows Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin saluting the crowd upon his arrival in London during an official visit to England. One half century ago, a carpenter's son named Yuri Gagarin lifted off to become the first man in space, carving an indelible mark in human history and scoring the Soviet Union's greatest Cold War success. AFP PHOTO

Army chief inspects construction site

Army Chief Jagath Jayasuriya yesterday inspected construction work to build a Wellness Resort for disable soldiers in Anuradhapura. The $10 million resort will accommodate 55 quadriplegics, and include residential facilities for visiting family members. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Launching the boats

Barramundi Boatyard Pvt Ltd. in Weligama which is approved as a BOI project of making Luxury sailboats has released the second sail boat which was made in Sri Lanka. The launch of these boats was held on 05th April at Weligama coast line. Pics by  Ranjan Jayawardena - Weligama

Health is wealth

An exhibition was held today at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo to mark the World Health day. A number of health awareness programmes were organized to educate the general public. (Pic by Kushan Pathiraja)

Ayurvedic Graduates protest

Members of the unemployed Ayurvedic Graduates’ Union stage a protest in front of the Institute of Indigenous Medicine, Rajagiriya today, urging the government to consider recruiting the unemployed Ayurvedic medical students into service. Pics by Kushan Pathiraja

Protesting for Bennet’s release

Media Rights groups organised a protest today outside the Kaduwela Magistrates Court calling for the release of Lanka e-news editor Bennet Rupasinghe. Anoma Fonseka and JVPer Vijitha Hearth show their support. Pic by Varuna Wanniarachchi

Precautions against radiation

Elementary school students hold umbrellas on their way to school as it rains in Seoul April 7, 2011. Concerns about radiation fallout from Japan's nuclear disaster prompted some schools in South Korea to shut on Thursday as rain fell over most of the country, but the nuclear safety agency played down immediate health risks. The country's nuclear safety agency said a small level of radioactive iodine and caesium particles were reported in

New Year’s here

Primary school children in year 1 & 2 of the Minuwangoda Nalanda National School held their New Year festival yesteday. The New Year festival theme was related to the tradition of the Village Headman house. Picture shows the children acting characters of the Village Headman and their family. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana

Tiger Woods at Augusta

Tiger Woods from the US during a practice round prior to the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club April 6, 2011 in Augusta, Georgia. AFP

British HC in Kataragama

British High Commissioner John Rankin on a visit to Kataragama today met Chief Incumbent of the Kiriwehera temple Ven. Dr. Aluthwewe Soratha Thera and discussed development projects including the Hambantota port, Matala airport and the Suriyawewa stadium.

Extorters Remanded

Fourteen suspects including the Deputy Mayor of the Paliyagoda Municipal Council and the Chairman of the Kelaniya Multi Purpose Corporative Society were remanded till April 18 for allegedly extorting money from the fish mongers of the newly built fish market at Paliyagoda today. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana

Refill with pure water

A U.S. military barge carrying pure water (bottom) leaves the quay near Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to refill with pure water in Fukushima Prefecture, in this photo taken April 4 and released by Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force on April 6, 2011. Japan stopped highly radioactive water leaking into the sea on Wednesday from the crippled nuclear plant and acknowledged it could have given more informa

Sanga talks

Sri Lanka Cricket Captain Kumar Sangakkara today officially announced his plan to step down as the one day and T20 captain of the Sri Lanka Cricket team in the coming months. The picture shows Kumar Sangakkara during making his announcement at the Sri Lanka Cricket press room. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Kolam Mask

Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda take a close look at a kolam mask carrying the face of Vellupillai Prabhakaran at the opening ceremony of the Sri Lanka and India handicraft Exhibition at the National Art Gallery today. Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha and Chairman of the Craft Council Buddhi Keerthisena were also present at the event. Pix by Indaratna Balasuriya

Learning Avurudu traditions

An event to teach and experience Avurudu traditions to children was held at the Ananda Sastralaya in Kotte today. The picture shows school children taking part in the event.  Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

SAARC police chiefs meet

The ninth conference of the police chiefs of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was held this morning at the Taj Samudra Hotel. The Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Pics by Samantha Perera

Repairing the power plant

Handout photo from Tokyo Electric Power Co. shows worker attempting to repair power lines at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture northeastern Japan in this March 18, 2011 file photograph. Analysts suggest power blackouts will ultimately cause the biggest economic damage to Japan, a vital player in the global manufacturing supply chain.  The Tokyo area and regions further north make up half of the