“Ape Gama” declared open

“Ape Gama” and the Laksala showroom complex which were constructed under the Divineguma programme were declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at Battaramulla. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Tense situation in Sirikotha

A tense situation was reported outside the UNP headquarters at Sirikotha today where a Human Rights Summit was scheduled to be held with the participation of relatives of those who have gone missing, when a group of people staged a protest outside the building. Pix by Nisal Baduge ???

Packer packs punch

Australian tycoon James Packer addressed the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) sessions today at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. External Affairs Minister G.L. Pieris and Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva were also present at the event. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

MR invites me for tea

Jonathan Miller is seen pointing to an article published in today’s Daily Mirror. Protesters blocked the Vavuniya-bound train at Anuradhapura Railway Station to prevent him from going to the North this morning. Pix by Athula Bandara

Roads closed today

G.L., Sharma at a media conference

External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris and Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma spoke to journalists following the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States held this afternoon. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will begin on Friday.  The meeting on Small States was a held in the run-up to the main event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: James packer attends Business Forum

Australian business tycoon James Packer, who is currently in the spotlight in connection with an up-market casino he intends setting up in Colombo, was among the business leaders, heads of states and other dignitaries who participated at the Commonwealth Business Forum sessions today at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Road closures in Colombo during CHOGM

Video: Demo against Callum Macrae

Channel-4 journalist Callum Macrae is seen addressing the media at the Bandaranaike International Airport today following a group calling itself the “Movement to Promote National Harmony” staging a protest over his presence in Sri Lanka. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Complaint against Packer

A group of UNP MPs including Ruwan Wijewardene, Harsha de Silva and Ajith P. Perera today lodged a complaint with Police Headquarters against the Australian Business tycoon James Packer who is currently in Sri Lanka, to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Business Forum.  Pix by Nisal Baduge

Fascinated

A foreign delegate who attended the Commonwealth (CHOGM) Youth Forum in Hambantota today tries to imitate the Kandyan dancers of the troupe that performed the welcome dance at the forum. Pic by Santha Ratnayake

Dengue eradication campaign

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) today conducted a dengue eradication campaign at Vihara Maha Devi Park. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Remembrance Day

Commemoration and Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) was organised by the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association held at the War Memorial at the Vihara Maha Devi Park today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

World's biggest wedding

Sri Lankan couple Nisansala and Nalin take a group photo during their wedding ceremony as they break the Guinness record for a wedding with the most bridesmaids for a bride in Negombo

City decoration

The bus halt outside the Fort railway station is seen removed to put up a new bus halt in line with the city decorations for the CHOGM. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Don’t privatise universities: IUSF protest

The Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) held a protest outsidethe Fort Railway Station today over the privatisation of universities and the violation of students’ rights. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

CHOGM rehearsals at Nelum Pokuna

Students were seen at rehearsals outside the Nelum Pokuna Theatre preparing for the welcoming ceremony of the Heads of Government who will attend the CHOGM to be held in Colombo next week. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Beautifying Town Hall ahead of CHOGM

The Civil Security Department (CSD) today added the finishing touches in beautifying Colombo City by planting bougainvillea along the roads leading to Town Hall ahead of the Commonwealth Week that is to begin next week. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Video: UNP protest Packer’s venture

United National Party (UNP) held a demonstration at the Fort Railway station this evening against the impending casino business venture in Colombo. The opposition by Buddhist religious leaders and some political parties led the government to announce on October 23 that it will alter tax concessions granted to Australian gambling tycoon James Packer's Crown Ltd for a $400 million hotel resort that will include a casino. Pix by Pradeep Pathir

Local Express Post System launched

A Local Express Post System commenced at the Postal Headquarters at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo today. The Secretary to the Ministry of Postal Services Hemasiri Fernando hands over the first mail to the Postmaster General D.L.P. Rohana Abeyaratne to inaugurate occasion. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Kadirgamar Memorial Oration 2013

Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Oration 2013 organised by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies was held today at the Foundation Institute. It was delivered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation Director General Dr. Francis Gurry. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Protest against casinos

National collective against casinos organised a protest today at the New Town hall against establishment of casinos in the country. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Feast for the eyes

This wondrous and rare sight of Nelu trees in bloom attracts thousands of local and foreign tourists to the Horton Plains. Nelu flowers bloomed this year, for the first time since 2001. Pix by R. Kogulan

Kassippu confiscated

Welikada police officers confiscated 67,500 liters of illicit liquor (kassippu) and 10 goda barrels in Madinnagoda today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Demanding relief

A collective of Trade Unions organised a demonstration in front of the Fort Railway Station this morning demanding relief in the Budget that is to be presented on November 21. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Resume external degrees

A student union to protect external degrees held a protest march from the Colombo Fort to the University Grants Commission (UGC) today, urging the authorities to stop curtailing external degrees and to recommence student registrations. They handed over a petition to the UGC. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

CHOGM cars

A Sri Lankan soldier walks past a fleet of new Mercedes–Benz S400 hybrid cars parked at a performing arts centre in Colombo on November 5, 2013, to be used by heads of government attending the 53-member Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka from November 15–17. AFP photo / Pradeep Dilrukshana

UNP Leadership Council speaks

Six out of nine members of the newly-appointed Leadership Council of the UNP held a news conference at Sirikotha. The Council was headed by MP Karu Jayasuriya. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Video: Finishing touches

Colombo is in full facelift mode due to the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in the city next week. A worker puts the finishing touches to a lamp post that carries a banner of the event. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Beefy, Waugh continue the ‘Big Walk’

Picture shows former England test captain Sir Ian Botham embarking on the second leg of ‘Beefy’s Big Walk’, a charity walk from Kilinochchi to Seenigama. Botham is seen here flanked by legendary Australian test captain Steve Waugh, Minister Dallas Alahapperuma and a host of other cricketers and dignitaries at the start point of the second leg, at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana