Texas chemical plant blast

Officials have ordered that residents in Port Neches, Groves and Nederland evacuate their homes after a second explosion at the TPC Group petrochemical plant. Residents living in a four-mile radius from the plant have also been ordered to evacuate the area. The blast rocked TPC Group petrochemical plant in Port Neches, Texas, around 1 am. Two workers and one other person were hurt in the explosion, but no fatalities. (Daily Mail)

Justice for Yvonne

A candlelight vigil was held at the Woman’s International Hall in Colombo to remember Swedish-Sri Lankan Yvonne Johnson who was the victim of a murder at the Royal Park residencies. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Yal Devi derailed

The train services on the Nothern Railway Line were temporarily halted due to the derailment of the Colombo-bound Yal Devi express train from Kankesanthurai (KKS) / Jaffna this afternoon.

First-ever transatlantic drug-smuggling sub captured

Spanish authorities have captured what is believed to be the first-ever narco submarine to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

The new Crest Gem unveiled

The new Crest Gem placed atop the historic Ruwanweli Maha Seya was unveiled at the auspicious time of 10.00 a.m yesterday attended by the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Maha Nayake Thera. 

Cleaning coastal belt…

Workers attached to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) are seen engaged in cleaning the coastal belt along Marine Drive. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Bandula assumes duties

Minister Bandula Gunawardane assumed duties as the Minister of Information and Communications Technology and Technology and Innovations today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Prasanna, Dinesh assume Ministry duties

Parliamentarians Prasanna Ranatunga and Dinesh Gunawardane today assumed duties according to the interim cabinet of the caretaker government. Pix by Damith Wickremesinghe and Nisal Baduge

His master’s voice

General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Dayasiri Jayasekera who backed the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) towards its recent victory was seen giving a very close ear to what SLPP Leader cum newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had to say during the funeral of ex-PM D. M. Jayaratna in Doluwa, Gampola on Saturday.

PM visits Kandy

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Kandy yesterday morning to obtain blessings from Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.

Rajitha...

Those who criticized each other and locked horns at the presidential election platforms were among the politicians who had come to Parliament yesterday to pay their last respects to former Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratna whose remains lie-in-state. Here former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne who was a vociferous critic of the Rajapaksas greeting the new President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the event.

New Cabinet…

The New Cabinet of ministers was sworn in before President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa this morning at the Presidential Secretariat. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Sajith’s supporters go emotional

A supporter of defeated New Democratic Front ( NDF) candidate Sajith Premadasa goes emotional as he requests Mr. Premadasa not to quit politics. Thousands of his supporters were at the Vauxhall Street campaign headquarters of Mr. Premadasa to meet him. Pics by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

MR assumes duties

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties at the Prime Minister’s Flower Road office in Colombo for the third time at the auspicious time of 4.16 p.m. today amidst chanting of Seth Pirith by the Maha Sangha. Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe

New Prime Minister…

Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn-in as the new Prime Minister before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this morning. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Leaving...

Outgoing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is leaving Temple Trees after handing over his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

State Emblem displayed at Boralesgamuwa UC

As per the instructions given by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to display only the State Emblem at state institutions, the Boralesgamuwa Urban Council displayed the State Emblem instead of the President’s photo at its premises today. Pix by Rekha Tharangani Fonseka

Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne assumes Office

Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne today assumed duties as the new Secretary Defence in the Ministry of Defence amid military honours and greetings. Chief of Defence Staff, the three armed Service Commanders, acting Inspector General of Police, Director General Civil Defence Force and a representative gathering of all MOD establishments were present at the ceremony. Pictures courtesy Ministry of Defence

President visits Dalada Maligawa

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic this morning.

New appointments

Following the assumption of office yesterday, the new President made the following appointments

Ruwanweliseya Maha Chaithyaya gets new Pinnacle

The new pinnacle (Chuda Manikyaya) to be affixed in place of the old pinnacle of the Ruwanweliseya Maha Chaithya was exposed to the public for the paying of homage, at the BMICH yesterday and it would be displayed till November 20. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Maithri welcomes Gota

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was welcomed by former president Maithripala Sirisena to the Presidential Secretariat where the President assumed duties this morning.

Swearing in…

President Rajapaksa was sworn in as the 7th Executive President of Sri Lanka at the Maha Maluwa of the Ruwanweliseya in Anuradhapura this morning. Pix by Dayaratne Ambogama

President elect...

Newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is seen leaving the Election Commission premises after he was officially declared as the president of Sri Lanka by EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya this afternoon. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Celebrating victory

People are seen celebrating the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) victory at the presidential election today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Greetings…

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is greeting his supporters who had gathered outside his residence in Mirihana.

Ballot boxes to counting centers

Pictured here ballot boxes are being brought to the counting centers established in Royal College Colombo. Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe

Cast their votes...

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa and National Peoples’ Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake casted their votes this morning. Pix by Chamila Karunarathne, Pradeep DIlrukshana and Damith Wickramasinghe

Casting their votes…

Peoples’ representatives including the President, the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader casted their votes at their respective polling stations this morning. The President casted his vote at Sri Vidyaloka Vihara in New Town in Polonnaruwa, the Prime Minister at the College House of the University of Colombo and the Opposition Leader casted his vote in Weeraketiya. Pix by Presidents Media, Pradeep Pathirana, K.G. Karunarathne

Long queues…

People are lined up at polling centres to cast their votes for the presidential election. Voting for the presidential election commenced at 7 a.m today and will continue till 5.00 pm. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana, Pradeep Pathirana and Damith Wickramasinghe