Met department warns

Department of Meteorology warned of strong winds in the South of the country during the coming days. A spokesman from the department said speed of the winds could be as high as 80 miles per hour. By Yohan Perera

WT20 trophies arrive in Sri Lanka

Emirates, the official carrier for the ICC WT2O Sri Lanka 2012, delivered the trophies to the host country at the completion of their global tour. The trophies were paraded in true Twenty2O flamboyance and spirit with elephants, dancers and drummers in ‘Perahera’ style through the streets of Colombo to Independence Square where they were formally received by Sri Lanka Sports Minister Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Sri Lanka Crick

Protest by Ayagama villagers

A group of villages from Ayagama Ratnapura staged a protest outside office of the Buddhist Affairs Commissioner General urging the authorities to resolve the Dumbara land dispute. Pix Waruna Wanniarachchi

Uni students protest in Fort

University students today staged a protest in front of the Fort Railway station urging the authorities to resolve the university crises. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. Pix by Gayan Amarasekera

T-20 trophy arrives

The trophy for the T-20 world cup which is to be held next month in Sri Lanka was brought this morning from Dubai. Pix by Deepa Adikari

JVP Unions protest

The National Trade Union Collective protested today urging the government to take necessary measures to address prevalent issues within the education sector including the demands put forward by the FUTA. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Petition against animal sacrifice

A group of Buddhist monks who were petitioners in a case filed against the rituals of animal sacrifice at the Sri Bhadra Kali Amman Kovil at Munneshwaram is talking with a lawyer near the Supreme Court complex. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Drought in North

More than 34 300 families have been affected due to the prevailing drought in the Northern Province.  Pictures show the dried up wells in the area. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Relatives visit illegal emigres

Parents and loved ones of the people who were arrested while allegedly attempting to illegally travel to Australia by boat visited them at the Negombo Prison on Monday. Here the visitors wait outside the prison gates.Pic by Suminda Sudharshana

Bathiudeen appears before court

Minister of Industries Rishard Bathiudeen who had allegedly threatened the Mannar Magistrate over the phone appeared before courts a short while ago. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Blessings

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today visited the Embilipitiya town and made observations about the development activities in the area. Picture shows students sitting the Grade 5 scholarship examination worshipping the President whom they met on the way.

Final Randoli Perehera of Bellanvila

The final Randoli Perehera of the Bellanvila Rajamaha Viharaya's Esala Festival was held last night on a grand scale for the 62nd year. The casket comprising sacred relics of the Buddha was placed on the gaily decorated Nedungamuwa tusker “Raja” by Viharadhikari Prof. Ven. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera. Pix by H.M. Dharmapala and M.S.Perera

Food for thought

The grade five scholarship examinations began at 9 am today. Picture shows a candidate from a Vavuniya school having breakfast with his father just before the exam started. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

'Visi Vara Jaya Nada'

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday kicked off a campaign, 'Visi Vara Jaya Nada', to build support for the national cricket team at the upcoming ICCT20 World Championship played in Sri Lanka.  The President inaugurated the campaign by signing the stumps first and gave his blessings to the campaign. (President's Media)

Maldivian President addresses media

Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed speaking during a news conference in Colombo today. The  President who is in Sri Lanka on a three-day official visit is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for talks.Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Exposition of Sacred Relics in A’pura

The Sacred Kapilawasthu Relics of the Buddha were flown to Anuradhapura this afternoon for exposition at the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Vihara. The exposition will end on Sunday. Thousands of people have queued up to pay homage to the Sacred Relics. Pix by Athula Bandara

Machinery exhibition

SME 2012, the machinery, technology and services exhibition was inaugurated yesterday by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen. The exhibition will be held on August 24, 25 and 26 at the BMICH. Pix Nisal Baduge

450th anniversary of the Battle of Mulleriyawa

Angampora, the traditional martial art form of Sri Lanka and known to be one of the oldest fighting disciplines in the world was staged last night on the banks of Mulleriyawa lake to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the victory at the battle of Mulleriyawa. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Cartoon of the day

FUTA protest

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) and other organisations today held a massive protest rally in Colombo to express their solidarity with the strike by university academics. They urged the government to resolve the education sector crisis. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Colombo Camporee

The 49th Colombo Camporee organized under the theme “Passion for the environment” will be held from tomorrow till Monday at the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo.More than 2,000 scouts from 40 scout troops are participating in this annual event. Pix by Waruna Wanniarchchi

Maldivian president here

Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Waheed and a group of delegates arrived in the island this afternoon on a three-day official visit. They were warmly welcomed by External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris and Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie.  Pix by Prdeep Pathirana

Bear rescued

A bear that went searching for water had fallen into an abandoned well in Vavunia and was rescued by wild life officers. Wild animals have faced great difficulty finding water due to the prevailing drought in Vavunia district. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Joint opposition protest over Z-score fiasco

Joint opposition led by the UNP held protest outside the Fort Railway Stationover the GCE A/L Z-score fiasco. Some of the protesters burn effigies of Higher Education Minster S. B. Dissanayake and Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Yasushi meets Hakeem

Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi today met Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem at his residence in Colombo. They are reported to have discussed the issues faced by the government in resettling the displaced people.  Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

University students’ protest

Students’ union of the Open University of Sri Lanka and other university Students staged a protest opposite the Open University of Sri Lanka urging the authorities to resolve the university dispute and strengthen the education sector in the country. Pix by Nisal Baduge

SLMC candidate’s vehicle torched

The vehicle of a SLMC candidate contesting to the Eastern Provincial Council was set on fire by an unidentified gang last night in front of her house. She said her opponents who did not tolerate a Sinhala candidate contesting under the SLMC banner and might have set fire to the vehicle. Trincomalee police are conducting further investigations. Pix by Amadoru Amarajeeva

Lankan talent in Japanese cinema

Featuring a young Sri Lankan actress Umali Tillakaratne in a leading role, one of the latest Japanese movies ‘Final Judgment’ is to be released in Sri Lanka on August 30. The film is to be released at Liberty cinema Colombo while two other copies subtitled in Sinhala and Tamil are to be released in Colombo and Jaffna. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Please release him

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) today launched an online petition-signing campaign to urge the government to release the two human rights activists Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganadan who they allege are being held in military custody. Lalith Weeraraj’s father is seen signing the petition. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Medical students protest

Students of the medical faculty of Rajarata University staged a protest today over the grenade attack at the residence of Dr. Lalantha Ranasinghe, opposite the Anuradhapura Teaching hospital (Palitha Ariwayansha)