Vesak pandals lit up most parts of the city in Colombo tonight as people celebrated the Vesak festival. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Some organisers and crew of Gangarama Vesak Zone are seen setting up ‘water lilies’ as Vesak decorations on the Beira Lake. Pix by Nisal Baduge

General Xu Qiliang-the third most powerful military figure in China is currently on a three day visit to the island leading a 25 member military delegation from China.

The food served at 67 Dansals countrywide had to be thrown away after health inspectors found that it was unhygienic and not suitable for human consumption, Public Health Inspectors’ Association Secretary Senarath Bandara said.

About 50 people were hospitalised for suspected food poisoning after having meals at alms giving at Sri Sambuddathwa Jayanthi Viharaya at Diyadawa in Deniyaya, hospital sources said

100 feet long and 50 feet wide -- designed by K. Hemapala was displayed for the 6th consecutive year along Baseline Road in Dematagoda. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Iran plans to take part in the South Asia Network of Ozone Officers meeting which is scheduled to be held from May 27-30 at the Grand Oriental Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Devotees are seen engaging in religious observance at the Kelaniya Temple to mark the Vesak Poya Day, today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Torture is a fact of life in countries across Asia, including in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and China, human rights body Amnesty International (AI) said adding action should be taken against the issue

The Army has begun the process of recruiting youth from Mullaitivu at the Mullaitivu Maritime Divisional Secretariat, the Army said.

Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Vice-Admiral Anurag G. Thapliyal has refused to be drawn into the controversy over India’s stand on Katchatheevu and said India's stand on the issue is quite clear

The ban on 16 Tamil Diaspora organisations and 425 individuals deemed to be pro-Tamil Tiger, which was imposed by the Sri Lankan government in March

One of the former prominent LTTE cadres, said to have been tortured and killed by the Sri Lankan security forces in 2009 as claimed by many local and international NGOs, was among the arrested person by the Tamil Nadu police in Dhanushkodi in India

A fire caused by a transformer explosion in a coal mine in western Turkey has left 166 people dead, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Wednesday

The JMO of the Karapitiya Hospital, Dr L.H. Dhammi Gunasekera, giving evidence before the Colombo High Court in the Khuram Sheik’ murder trial on Monday, said that his examination of Victoria Alexandria

Some organizers and crew of Gangaramaya Wesak Zone are seen setting up water lilies as wesak decorations in the Beira Lake in Gangarama today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

While condeming the mass abduction of girls in Nigeria, Sri Lanka today said that the abduction demonstrated the urgent need for decisive and concerted efforts by the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations

A man who was stuck between the walls of the Maradana Captain Gardens Pillaiyar Kovil and Totem Vidyalaya was rescued by the police today.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) seized a stock of medicine valued at Rs. 60 million past the day of expiry from a warehouse at Grandpass in Colombo yesterday, the Internal Trade Ministry said.

Parliamentarian Duminda Silva, who is to be indicted in the High Court in the Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra murder case, was allowed by the court to go to Singapore for six weeks, to obtain treatment for the injuries sustained during the shootout.

A body had been recovered burnt at the Meegahathenna Cemetery this morning, the Police said

Four leading environmental associations today charged that Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had illegally cleared 18,000 acres of forest land belonging to leading wildlife parks in three districts.Pictures

Several Pandals have been erected in Colombo as the city gets ready to mark Vesak which falls tomorrow. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Two teachers attached to the Vavinna Kanishta Vidayalaya in Wattegama were yesterday arrested on charges of having forcibly cut the hair of a girl studying in Grade-6.

Pakistan Naval Ships PNS SHAMSHEER will be arriving at Colombo Port for a 3-day visit from Tuesday.

Major General Prasad Samarasinghe has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from May 17

A 50 year-old police constable was killed and his son was badly injured after an unidentified group attacked the father and son with sharp object while they were returning from a party held in Meegama, Welipenna last night, the Police said.

The Hokandara Press complex of Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. was among the Silver award winners for 2012 at the National Green Awards ceremony held at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake today declined to plead guilty or not guilty when the case filed by the Bribery Commission was heard in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on the grounds that her lawyers were not allowed full access

A bus driver, arrested on the charge of spitting betel-chewing out of a bus at a public place in Colombo Fort was fined Rs.1,500 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate