Vesak celebrated in Kuwait

The Vesak festival organized for the 35th time jointly by the Sri Lankan Embassy officials in Kuwait and the Sri Lanka Cultural Association, held in a grand manner May 25 and 26 at the Embassy compound in Kuwait. Pix by T.K.G. Kapila

Complaint lodged against Pastor Jerome & Natasha

The Sinhala Ravaya lodged a complaint against Pastor Jerome Fernando and Natasha Edirisooriya who have made defamatory statements against Buddhism recently. Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thero of Sinhala Ravaya was seen leaving the CID after lodging the complaint. Pix by Pradeep Dilruskshana

Stamps, coins exhibition...

An exhibition of vintage stamps, coins, currency notes, organized by the Sri Lanka Independent Philatelic Association was held over the weekend at the Public Library in Colombo. Several stamps and other vintage articles were also exhibited and sold at this exhibition. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

GCE (O/L) exams kick off

The GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations began this morning across the country. Candidates were seen arriving at examination centres in the Colombo district.

Busy buying veggies....

People are seen busy buying vegetables at the Delkanda Sunday fair, despite the higher prices. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

81st birth anniversary of the late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero

Commemorating the Eighty-first Birth Anniversary of late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera took place on Sunday (May 28) at the Kotte Sri Naga Viharaya. The commemoration was organized by the Maduluwawe Sobhitha memorial committee. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Build SL International Expo 2023 opens in BMICH

The much looked forward to Build Sri Lanka 2023 Housing and Construction Exhibition which commenced yesterday at the BMICH (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Hall) will be held until 28 May and is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Blood donation camp by PMF Finance

A blood donation camp organized for the first time by “PMF Finance” is being held at Walukarama Viharaya in Kollupitiya. The organizers requested donors who wish to donate blood to visit the Walukarama Viharaya today. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

President meets Japanese Prime Minister

President Ranil Wickremesinghe today met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo. The Prime Minister of Japan warmly received President Wickremesinghe, and bilateral talks commenced after a friendly conversation between the two leaders.

Lankans celebrate Avurudu in Kuwait

Two New Year celebrations organized by various organizations of Sri Lankans living in Kuwait and the Sri Lankan Embassy were held at two sports grounds in the country. The Sri Lankan Funeral Aid Fund and Social Service Association held their new year festival at the ’Philip Abasia’ area playground, and the Kuwait-Sri Lanka Cultural Association held their event in the ’Abuhalifa Saheel’ grounds. Pix by T.K.G. Kapila

Watching his future unfold…

Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Rathnayake was seen watching the live Parliamentary session at his office where the motion to remove him was taken up for vote.

State workers raise grievances…

The public sector employees who submitted nominations for the local government elections handed over a petition to the Ministry of Public Administration claiming that they have received transfers to other institutions despite the approval for their reinstatements. The group of public sector employees was headed by former President Maithripala Sirisena. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

British High Commissioner visits Jaffna

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Sarah Hulton engaged in an inception tour to the Jaffna district and met with several key officials including newly appointed Northern Governor P.S.M. Charles. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Refugees urge speeding up of resettlement procedure...

Refugees detained at the UNHRC Refugee Agnecy at Rosmead Place, Colombo 7, today staged a protest in front of the agency, demanding to speed up their resettlement procedures as the centre is to be removed from the location. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

UNP Colombo East Bala mandala meeting...

UNP Colombo East ’Bala Mandala’ meeting was held in Kirulapone today (22) with the participation of Senior Presidential Advisor Sagala Ratnayake. The meeting was organized by UNP Kirulapone Organiser Titus Perera. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

New political party launched...

A new political party led by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka was launched today at the National Youth Center Auditorium. The party named the ‘United Republic Front’ was launched to coincide with Sri Lanka’s Republic Day. The chosen symbol for the new party is the ‘Pencil’. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

SLC office bearers assumed duties

Shammi Silva who was elected uncontested as the President of Sri Lanka Cricket, and the new office bearers officially assumed duties today.

Canadian PM's statement condemned

’Beyond the Struggle’ movement convenor, Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and the other members and friends and prelates staged a protest in front of the Canadian High Commission of, condemning the statement made by the Canadian Premier Minister Justin Trudeau on May 18. Premier Trudeau said May 18 is a day of the Tamil genocide, and thousands of Tamils lost their lives 14 years ago.

Final rites for late Mahanayaka Thera

The final religious rights for the late Mahanayaka of Amarapura Chapter the most Venerable Dodampahala Chandrasiri Thera was observed at Independence Square today with the participation of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene, several ministers and MPs. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Asupuni Ella Water Scheme declared open in Aranayake

President Ranil Wickremesinghe declared open the ’Asupuni Ella Water Scheme’ in Aranayake, the largest water supply project in the Sabaragamuwa Province, to provide drinking water to 52,000 families.

Travel and Tourism Fair 2023 at BMICH

The opening ceremony of the Travel and Tourism Fair 2023 organsied by Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operations (SLAITO) together with Sri Lanka Tourism was held today at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of the Prime Minister. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

“National Security Conclave” held in grand note

The National Security Conclave - 2023 organized by the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) Sri Lanka was held at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) in Ratmalana.

Waiting for their turn...

People are seen gathered at the Department of Immigration & Emigration in Battaramulla to get their passports. The department had asked the people to reserve a date and time before reaching the offices to get their needs attended to. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Demanding justice for X-Press Pearl fire

Youth for CHEANGE organization staged protest opposite the Ministry of Justice demanding the justice for the environmental damage caused to Sri Lanka due to the X-Press Pearl disaster. Pix By Nisal Baduge

In hope...

Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka (left) and his solicitor Alen Sahinovic (right) attended Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday over the case of alleged sexual assault of a woman in her home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Pic courtesy the Sydney Morning Herald

Navy brings seized heroin ashore

Navy brought ashore the seized heroin and the six suspects onboard a fishing trawler arrested with 125kg of heroin in the seas off the southern coast and brought to the Colombo Port this morning. Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera is seen inspecting the seized contraband of heroin. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Customs seize Shisha tobacco from Dubai container

Customs today seized a container arriving from Dubai carrying a large consignment of Hookah tobacco worth around Rs. 164 million. This type of tobacco is used for Shisha smoking. Senior Customs officers inspecting the contraband prior to further action. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Police avert possible clash in Borella

Police prevented a possible clash between two groups of civil society activists in Borella who were commemorating the civilians who were killed in Vellamullivaikkal during the war period. Pix Pradeep Dilrukshana

See Titanic like never before

More than a century after it sank, the first ever full-sized scans of the Titanic show the historic shipwreck in astonishing detail.

Dispersed...

The Police used water cannons to disperse a group of protesting students from the Medical Faculty Students Action Committee at Horton Place in Colombo today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi