The dependents of Policemen killed in the line of duty held a protest march today demanding the payment of their full entitlement. They said the government was only paying half of the entitlement. The government had earlier stopped making any payments in full saying Policemen killed in action do not fall within the ambit of “Ranaviru”. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana ???
The India International Fabric Expo (IIFE) for 2013 was commenced at the Galadari Hotel today. Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapakse was the Chief Guest at the event. The exhibition will end on the 10th Of September. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana
107 rehabilitated former LTTE cadres were released from their respective rehabilitation centres at a ceremony held today.75 former carders who were rehabilitated at the Welikanda rehabilitation camp, and 35 former carders rehabilitated at the Puththotam camp in Vavuniya were among those who were released after completion of their programmes. Pix by Wanni Romesh Madusanka
Colombo Motor Show 2013 which kicked off on September 6 is to be concluded today at the Srimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre. The show was organized by Asia Exhibition & Conventions (Pvt) Ltd for the 6th consecutive year. Not only a wide range of new and vintage vehicles, but also motor spare parts were also exhibited during the event. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel
Customs officers today seized a haul of foreign cigarettes, believed to be worth around Rs. 9.2 million, illegally imported to the country as ceramic tiles. The container, which held the cigarettes was registered under the names of several Sri Lankan migrant workers and was opened on a suspicion by the Central Disposal Unit in Orugodawatta this morning. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
The Annual Ther (Chariot) Festival of Nallur Sri Kandaswamy Temple was celebrated today in grand style. Following the Vasantha Mandapa Poojas conducted at 5 a.m. the deities of Sri Murugan with His consorts Valli and Deivayanai were paraded. Thousands of devotees, from all over the Island, as well as from foreign countries took part in the festival this year. Pix by S.K. Prasath
The third defence seminar began today at the Galadari Hotel under the patronage of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. More than 170 military personnel and foreign dignitaries from 53 countries are attending the seminar. It will end on Thursday. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana
Logos Hope- World’s largets floating Book ship arrived Colombo harbour. It will be open for public from 30th August-22nd September. The ship has a staff around 400 people from around 45 different Nationalities. It has over 5000 publications under many titles. Pic by Nisal Buduge
A group of villagers in Rathupaswala, Weliweriya this evening held a protest once again after surrounding the controversial factory demanding that it be moved out of the area. Ven. Theripehe Siridhamma Thera who led the protest told the protesters that he would start a fast-unto-death campaign from 6 pm today. Pix by Deepa Adikari
The Dead and Missing Persons’ Parents Front today held a demonstration outside the UN Office in Colombo to urge UN High Human Rights Chief Navi Pillai to inquire into the 50,000 Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims including soldiers who died or went missing during the war. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana
A group of 48 asylum seekers who illegally migrated to Australia and were deported, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport in a special charter flight today. They are to be produced at the Negombo Magistrate Courts. Pix by Nirmala Ferdinandus-Airport ???
South Korean Prime Minister Jung Hong-won today visited the Colombo Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) which is being constructed by the Korean Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company Ltd. It is scheduled to be completed in 2016. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
Two shops were completely destroyed in a fire that occurred at a shopping complex near Puttalam town early this morning. The floor-room of a shop selling push cycles on an upper storey of the building and its store room at the basement were completely destroyed in the fire. Pix by Jude Samantha
A meeting was held in Weliweriya today with the participation of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe over the recent Weliweriya incidents. Many UNP parliamentarians, including Karu Jayasuriya, Tissa Attanayake and Ruwan Wijewardene were also present at the meeting. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
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