The Consumer Affairs Authority today recovered 41,000 kilogrammes of rotten garlic which were on sale at the Dambulla Economic Centre. The Ministry of Internal Trade and Cooperatives said the consignment was completely rotten and is said to be worth Rs 3.5 million. The traders who own the consignment are to be produced before Dambulla Magistrate court. Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
The activists of Movement for People’s Struggle staged a protest in front of the United States embassy in Colombo urging the NATO to immediately stop bombing in Syria. The activists who participated in the protest seen here holding placards written with anti- American slogans. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
A little boy looking at a picture depicting the impact of domestic violence on children during a photographic exhibition titled ‘Unseen Colours’ organised by the Free Women Organisation and declared open for the public at the Public Library Auditorium today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
Rehan Goonetilleke, the son of Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke, became an officer (Pilot Officer) of the Sri Lanka Air Force during a passing out parade held at the China Bay SLAF Academy. Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke’s father AVM Harry Goonetillake also commanded the SLAF. Pix by Amadoru Amarajeewa
A world renowned historian, Professor John Holt William R Kenan Jnr. delivered the fifteenth Dudley Senanayake Memorial Lecture on ‘Political Impacts on Religion in Sri Lanka’ yesterday at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies Auditorium, BMICH Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. The Dudley Senanayake Foundation in co-operation with Für Die Freiheit organized event. Px by Kushan Pathiraja
Five hundred thousand people have faced difficulties even finding drinking water in Puttalam area due to the prevailing drought. The water level in Puttalam lagoon has drastically reduced as never happened before. Stretch of 3 km in the lagoon has dried out at Karaba area on the Puttalam road killing thousands of sea shells. Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
Pete Theisinger, Mars Science Laboratory project manager from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, poses with a model of the Curiousity rover and the rover's descent stage after a news conference at JPL in Pasadena, Calfiornia August 2, 2012. The Curiousity rover will descend on cables from a sky crane as it prepares to land on Mars, August 5, 2012. REUTERS
Forty thousand acres of paddy cultivation are at the risk of being destroyed due to lack of rains during the last six months in the Northern Province, Provincial irrigation director Sivapana Sundaram Visudaram said. Of the paddy fields under threat 11000 acres are in Vavuniya, 10000 acres in Kilinochchi, 3200 acres in Mannar and 15800 acres in Mulativu. Pix by Romesh Madushanka
The Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) at a news conference held at the library service auditorium today urged the government to allocate six per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the education sector. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana
Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa explains a point to a resident when he was encountered with a question. Rajapaksa was present at an event to address residents who are to be relocated under the redevelopment programme of the Kompannaweediya area. Imprerial Builders and Developers and Builders, a Karachchi-based company, are investing in the programme. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
Ninety Three out of hundred irrigation tanks are at the risk of drying out due to the prevailing drought experienced in the Vavuniya District. Irrigation department officials forecast that if the drought continues, tanks will go completely dry within few days. Pix by Romesh Madushanka
High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha today met the Indian cricket team at the Indian house, Colombo and hosted them to a dinner. The High Commissioner wished the team success for the remainder of the series. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
New Board of Directors appointed for SriLankan Airlines
Hareendra Dissabandara appointed Chairman of Sri Lanka SEC
UN hosts rare special emergency session to address crisis on Coral Reefs
WB inks additional US$200 Mn to support economic reforms in SL
USD selling rate drops below Rs. 300 after 15 months
High-intensity rain pounds Sri Lanka, flood threat looms