Fmr. CB Deputy Governor, PTL Chairman, 3 directors behind bars

Former Central Bank Deputy Governor P. Samarasiri (right), Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) Chairman Geoffrey Aloysius (third from left) and three directors of PTL, who were remanded till April 5 by Colombo Chief Magistrate being escorted to the prison yesterday. Pix by Romesh Danushka Silva

Celebrating 79th National Day of Pakistan

Handle with care

’’We may have to handle this big investment with care,’’ is what UNP Deputy Leader cum Minister Sajith Premadasa is reminding of his leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the presence of Omani Minister for Oil and Gas Muhammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy at yesterday’s launch of the mega project of oil refinery plant worth close to USD 4 billion, being the largest FDI in Sri Lanka presently.

PM turns 70

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe celebrated his 70th birthday yesterday at the Temple Trees, where a programme has been organised to grant accessories to children with special needs. Pix by Jayamal Chandrasiri

Proposal to declare ‘Theravada Tripitaka’ as a World Heritage handed over

President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday handed over the proposal to declare the Theravada Tripitaka, the sacred scripture of Buddhists, as a World Heritage as a Memory of the World officially to the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Ms. Hanaa Singer, at the Maha Maluwa of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy.

PM at NISD Convocation

National Institute of Social Development (NISD) Convocation and Diploma award ceremony was held at BMICH under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe today. Minister of Primary Industries and Social Empowerment Daya Gamage and several others participated in the event.

Housing & Construction Expo 2019

Housing & Construction Expo 2019 was launched yesterday at the BMICH under the patronage of Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa, Megapolis & Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama.

67th death anniversary of Father of Nation

A ceremony was held at the Independence Square to commemorate the 67th death anniversary of Late Prime Minister D.S Senanayake, the Father of the Nation under the aegis of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today.

Artificial rains around Maussakele successful

The artificial rain triggered by the Air Force today by using the Y12 aircraft around the Maussakele reservoir, has become successful. Air Force triggered rain around 11.00 am today morning and there was showers for forty five minutes between 1.00 pm- 1.45.pm today afternoon. This was done because of the prevailing dry weather conditions.

Striking images

Striking new images offer a glimpse of what is to be expected from Sir David Attenborough’s stunning new wildlife documentary series on Netflix. The series, filmed in 50 countries on all continents across four years using the latest in 4K camera technology, will premiere on the streaming service on April 5 in more than 190 countries.

Italy school bus set ablaze with 51 children

A Senegalese man abducted 51 children when he hijacked an Italian school bus and set the vehicle alight in a protest over migrant deaths in the Mediterranean.

Medin Full Moon Poya

Today is Medin Full Moon Poya day. The pictures show devotees who have thronged to the Kelaniya temple to perform religious activities.

Washed away

Police fired teargas and used water cannons to disperse university students who carried out a protest outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) today.

PM unveils ‘Ran Weta’

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today unveiled the golden fence at the Sri Devathissa Rajamaha Viharaya in Kekirawa after he laid the foundation stone for the new building. Viharadhikari, Ven. Senadiriyagama Wimalajothi Thera, Parliamentarians Chandrani Bandara and Chandima Gamage were present at the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Pindapatha programme under Thripitakabhivandana week

Pindapatha programmes were held in various parts of the country on Saturday in view of the Thripitakabhivandana week which is a part of a campaign to declare the Theravada Thripitakaya a world heritage.

PM in Mawanella

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that the government will bring in a complete road development project to all parts of the country at the opening of the Hemmathagama- Gampola Road in Mawanella.

Katchatheevu Island’s feast

The St. Anthony’s Church Feast of Kachchathivu island was held yesterday with the participation of a large number of Catholics from Sri Lanka and South India. This year’s feast marked the third of its kind conducted upon the completion of the new church by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Ceylon Motor Show 2019

Sri Lanka Insurance Motor Plus – Ceylon Motor Show was launched yesterday at the BMICH. The exhibition would be held until tomorrow.

Explosives weighing 250 kg found

Christchurch mosque terror attack

A 28-year-old Australian terrorist has opened fire at a mosque in New Zealand, shooting at children and killing at least 40 people.

Colombo Digital Library launched

The Colombo Digital Library was launched at the Colombo Public Library premises by Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology Minister Ajith P. Perera and Colombo Mayor, Rosy Senanayake, today. The main objective of the project is to address the rapid changes in the reading habits of “modern-day” readers by providing easy and quick access to global reading materials efficiently and effectively. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

IUSF protest teargassed

Teargas and water cannons were used to disperse the protesting Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) students near the parliament roundabout this evening. During the protest, its convener Maheel Dehideniya was arrested over unruly behaviour. Pix by Ishan Sanjeewa

Railways employees demand to make them permanent

Several contract employees of the Railways Department today staged a protest outside the Railways Head Quarters in Maradana demanding the authorities to absorb them into the permanent carder. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Teachers and principals demand salary increment

Teachers and principals who were on 24-hour countrywide token strike today staged a protest in front of the Fort Railway station demanding a salary increase, rectification of salary anomalies, and to release teachers and principals from paperwork. They also demanded six per cent of the GDP be allocated to education. Protests and rallies were held in every district this morning. Pix by Nisal Baduge

​ETI depositors urge immediate solutions

Members of the Independent Organisation to Protect ETI Depositors (guarantee) Limited today staged a protest outside the Fort Railway Station urging the authorities to settle their payments immediately. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Very holy water

Hundreds of people traveled to the small northern Michigan town of Petoskey for the chance of catching a glimpse of a rare sight - a life-sized statue of Jesus Christ on the cross submerged in Lake Michigan.

Madush’s safe house raided

About 177 kgs of heroin worth over Rs.1,800 million, several firearms and a large stock of ammunition were seized from an alleged safe house of Makandure Madush at Rawathawatta in Moratuwa yesterday.

Scholarships for children of migrant workers

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is seen speaking to a beneficiary of the government’s new scheme of awarding scholarships to children of migrant workers. Foreign Employment Minister Harin Fernando and MPs Manusha Nanayakkara and Hector Appuhamy were present at the ceremony held today at Temple Trees. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

JVP-TNA discuss 20A

K. P. Silva passes away