Ice cream dansala

An ice cream dansala organised by the Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs Ministry’s Tourism Division’s welfare society was held outside the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation in Colombo today.

Protesters demand release of arrested writer

The Socialist Equality Party today staged a protest outside the Fort Railway Station in Colombo urging the government to immediately release the writer Shakthika Sathkumara and to build an international coalition to fight internet censorship. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Army donates two ultrasound scanners to Apeksha Hospital

The Sri Lanka Army today donated two ultrasound scanners to the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital. Each member of the Army had volunteered to donate a day’s pay to purchase the machines. Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army, participated in the ceremony which was held to hand over the scanners. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Deploying ‘Raavana 1’ into orbit

The deployment of Sri Lanka’s first satellite Raavana 1, designed and developed by two Sri Lankan research engineers, into orbit can be viewed live from 3.30 pm onwards today by logging into the ACCIMT web (http://www.accimt.ac.lk/) site or directly through following the YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/rrw3cMw10nQ).

Poson Perahera of Sri Dalada Maligawa

Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. illuminates Thanthirimale

Wijeya Newspapers Ltd illuminated the historic Thanthirimale Rajamaha Vihare Chaithya for the second day in a row. WNL illuminated historic site for the 16th consecutive time this year. Pix by Ishan Sanjeewa

Poson Illuminations

Pandals and other decorations have come up all over the country during the Poson Poya. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Mihintale Maha Seya lights up

The historic Mihintale Maha Seya after being illuminated in view of Poson Poya. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with several other ministers, participated in the illumination ceremony. Pic by Pradeep Pathirane

Dansals in Colombo

Several dansals were conducted around the Colombo city to mark the Poson Poya Day. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Poson Poya Day

Devotees are seen taking part in religious observances at the Gangarama Temple at Hunupitiya in Colombo in light of the Poson Poya Day which falls today. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Monks in ‘Pindapatha’

A Pindapatha procession attended by 75 Buddhist monks from Batepola Junction to Sri Bodhi Rukkharama Temple at Amunukumbura, was held today. The Pindapatha ceremony was organised by the Batepola ‘Siyane’ Welfare Society. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

PM at ’Dansala’

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe attended a Poson Dansala held outside the Temple Trees this morning. Pix by Nimalasiri Edirisinghe

Samurdhi officers in protest

Samurdhi officers today staged a protest outside the Sethsiripaya Battaramulla over several demands.

President calls on Tajik President

President Maithripala Sirisena called on Tajikistan President, Emomali Rahmon, in Dushanbe today. President Sirisena said he held very fruitful exchange of ideas with Tajik President Rahmon. “He has excellent views on security of small nations and confidence building measures to prevent conflicts,” he said.

Protesters demand govt. to immediately takeover NFTH

The Inter-Company Employees Union today staged a protest outside the Health Ministry in Colombo demanding the government to immediately takeover the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH).

Anti-govt. protest by JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday staged a protest march against the government from Technical Junction to Colombo Fort where they held a rally. Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith re-consecrates St. Anthony’s Church

The St. Anthony’s Church Kochikade which was one of the locations targeted by bombers on Easter Sunday, was re-consecrated by Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith after renovation, and opened to the public today. Auxiliary Bishops of Colombo Maxwell Silva and J.D. Anthony Jayakody and several politicians participated in it. Pix Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Rain, rain, go away

During the heavy rains experienced in Colombo, many people were inconvenienced. A lady was seen struggling to get hold of her umbrella which was caught in heavy wind. Pix by Nisal Baduge

PHU lodges complaints against Bathiudeen, Salley

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) today lodged two complaints with the three-member committee at the Police Headquarters against former minister Rishad Bathiudeen and former governor Azath Salley. Pix by Nisal Baduge

National Digital Roadmap for Smart launched

Sri Lanka Telecom today (11) marked a special milestone in the country’s digital journey towards SMART Sri Lanka with the launch of the National Digital Roadmap at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Going ahead with Poson pandals

Though Sri Lanka celebrated Vesak festival low-key with little or no pandals and other decorations, people were seen getting ready to celebrate the upcoming Poson Poya in a much more grand scale. Seen here are some inmates making a pandal at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress premises in Colombo for Poson.

Wild stallions battle over a mare

Rare and dramatic pictures show a wild stallion in the Shropshire hills trying to bite his male rival in the head. The dramatic fight between two wild stallions as they battled over a female.

FinMin signs Statements of Corporate Intent

Eight state-owned enterprises (SOEs) entered into Statements of Corporate Intent (SCI) with the Finance Ministry in a bid to strengthening their governance, accountability and transparency, under clearly defined medium-term performance-driven targets during the next three-year period.

PM, MR at symposium on ISIS impact on SL

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday attended an international symposium organised by the ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Centre’ which was held at Kingsbury Hotel under the theme of ‘The Global Expansion of ISIS: Impact on Sri Lanka.’ Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Under one umbrella

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon. A gun salute by the Sri Lankan Military was also accorded to the visiting Prime Minister. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Modi arrives

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who arrived in Sri Lanka on his way back to India from the Maldives, was received by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the BIA this morning. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Maha Sangha Samuluwa

Thousands of Buddhist monks converged at the BMICH on Saturday for a Maha Sangha Samuluwa to discuss the role of the Buddhist Monk in the current political context.

Keeping traditions alive

A graduation ceremony of Kandyan dancers, which is called a Ves Mangalya for male students and a Pahim Path Mangalya for female students, was held at the Minuwangoda Rajamaha Viharaya on Thursday. Similar to Arangetram in Bharata Natyam, Ves Mangalya and Pahim Path Mangalya are performances which allow Kandyan dancing students to showcase their talents to their parents, teachers, friends and all well-wishers. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Protest against move to ban wadu maduwa

A group of carpenters staged a protest outside the Moratuwa Municipal Council against President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to prohibit the import of tree cutting machines, chainsaws, mechanical saws and the carpenter workshops popularly known as ‘wadu maduwa’. Pix by Reka Tharangani

Making arrangements for Poson

A meeting was held at Temple Trees to discuss making arrangements for the Poson Festival. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Buddhist monks and several ministers took part in the meeting. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana