General Jagath Jayasuriya assumed duties as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) today. The former Army Commander succeeded Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonethileke. Senior members of the military were present at the event which was held at the CDS office in BMICH. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
Army officers are pictured here, assault rifles in hand, attempting to chase away protesting villagers who demanded for pure drinking water. One person was killed with gunshot injuries and fifteen others are currently receiving treatment in hospital
Former DIG Vaas Gunawardena who is a suspect in the killing of millionaire businessman Mohamed Shyam was being brought to the Colombo Chief Magistrates Court today for the Magisterial inquiry before Additional Magistrate A.M.Shahabdeen. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake assumed duties as the 20th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army today. With a 33 year service with the Army and known as a battle hardened officer, he was commissioned as an officer attached to the Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) Regiment. He was given a guard of honour today at a military parade held at the CH&FC grounds. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
Daily Mirror was among the winners at the Journalism Awards for Excellence 2012 held at the Mount Lavinia hotel this evening. Among the winners were Channaka de Silva, who won the Sports Journalist of the Year award and the Scoop of the Year award; Awantha Artigala, winner of the Best Cartoonist award; and Lakna Paranamanna, the Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year. Sister paper, the Sunday Times won the Best Designed Newspaper. Pix by Waru
The factory which was at the centre of a controversy over the pollution of ground water in several areas in the Gampaha district was closed yesterday after Minister of Public Relations Mervin Silva forcefully entered the premises together with a group of his supporters and ordered it to be closed. Pix by Deepa Adikari ???
The 25.8-kilometre Katunayake Expressway which links Colombo with the Bandaranaike International Airport is scheduled to be opened in September. The picture shows a new addition to Sri Lanka’s second highway. Emergency phone booths have been installed on the expressway so that road users could contact the control room in case of any emergency. Pix by Nisal Baduge
Three out of four suspects produced before the Avissawella Magistrate were today identified as being involved in the killing of Noori Tea Estate Superintendent Nihal Perera. Avissawella Chief Magistrate and District Judge D.H.A. Seneviratne ordered an identification parade when 21 suspects were produced at the magisterial inquiry in connection with the killing. Pix by Dasun Rajapaksa and Ranjani Somachandra
The Miss Earth Green Walk organized by the Western provincial Environment Ministry was held today at the Independence Square in Colombo. To grace this occasion Environmental Minister Susil Premajayantha, Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammanpila and the world Miss Earth Tereza Fajksova participated at the occasion. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshina
Galoluwa Vihara Chief Incumbent the Venerable Siridhamma Thera and several villagers staged a sathyagraha urging that clean drinking water be provided to residents of Rathupaswala where the water is said to be contaminated with acid. Pix by Deepa Adikari
IGP N. K. Illangakoon is seen talking to some Muslim ladies at a Ramazan Ifthar programme held at the auditorium of the DIG Colombo Office this evening, organized by the Police Buddhist and Religious Affairs Society, with the objective of promoting multi-religious and racial amity. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana
Gallantry Awards were presented to soldiers of Sri Lanka Army at a ceremony held at the Panagoda army camp today. The Chief Guest of the ceremony was Army Commander Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya who presented awards to soldiers disabled during the war and families of soldiers who died during the 30 year long conflict. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
There is a remarkable increase in local and foreign tourist arrivals in the Kumana National Park after it was reopened after the war. The museum located in the park is also opened for visitors. Kumana is a bird sanctuary and had been closed for years because of the war. Pix by Wasantha Chandrapala
The JVP today launched a book consisting of a method of resolving the national question. JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe, JVP parliamentarian Vijitha Herath, members and supporters of the JVP were present at the launch. ???Pix by Praddep Pathirana
LankaClear (Pvt) Ltd., the national payment infrastructure provider, launched the Common ATM Switch (CAS) under the Brand Name “LankaPay” today at a glittering launch ceremony held at Water’s Edge, Battaramulla. The first transactions of the switch were carried out by Mr Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Governor of Central Bank and Mr Ananda Silva, Deputy Governor of Central Bank on two ATMs of Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank at t
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