Seen here are pictures of the wreckage of the ill-fated Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) MiG 27 which crashed in to the Dummalasooriya area in Puttalam today. The pilot landed safely after ejecting himself from the jet. A technical error is widely believed to have led to the crash. Pix by Jude Samantha
A section of the Maldivian Diaspora participated in a protest opposite the Maldivian embassy in Bambalapitiya today. The protesters carried placards in support of the ousted Maldivian President Mohomed Nasheed. There was heavy Police presence guarding the Maldivian Embassy. Pix by Pradeep Pathiarana
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe met Chinese Ambassador Yang Xiuping at the Opposition Leader’s office today. The delegation was headed by member of the CPC Central COmmittee and Party Secretary of the CPC Shanxi Province Committee, H.E. Yuan Chunquing. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi
Student monks of the Buddhist and Pali University today staged a protest against the the University Grants Commission urging authorities to provide them with necessary facilities and stop alleged political interference in the University administration. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana
Sri Lanka Customs today seized spare parts of 50 motorbikes and a Pajero worth Rs.20 million, which were imported from Japan. The products were brought into the country as two-wheel land masters tractors. The parts came into the country on December 25, 2011 on board the MOL Celebration. Pix by Nisal Baduge
The Government Surveyor’s Association staged a protest today in front of the Surveyor’s General Office in Narahenpita against the new rule allowing surveyors to engage in private surveying apart from engaging in official surveying activities. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
Members of the Thun Hela National Movement which opposes the 13th Amendment to the Constitution were seen distributing leaflets at the Fort Railway Station this morning. The campaign was led by Ven. Omare Kassapa Thera the head of the movement. Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana
Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka is pictured being brought into the courts complex for the Appeal of the White Flag trial. The Appeal was to be heard today in court 502, two years after the former General was taken into custody. Protesters gathered outside the courts complex demanding the immediate release of Sarath Fonseka today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
Some 50 elephants, mostly from the central part of the island, together with thousands of traditional drummers, dancers, and monks gathered in the Sri Lankan capital to participate in the city's biggest two-day annual Buddhist procession at the Gangarama Temple. The perahera started on February 6 and ended today, February 7. The procession was first held in 1979. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
Residents carry their belongings as they cross a damaged road, part of a national highway in the village of Tuway, Guihulngan town, Negros Oriental, in central Philippines on February 7, 2012, a day after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines. Rescuers in the Philippines dug through rubble with their bare hands and shovels after a powerful earthquake triggered landslides, collapsed homes and killed dozens of people. AF
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe are seen here partaking in religious observance at the Navam Perahera last night. Pictures below show the cultural activities that are a part of the heritage of the Navam Perahera. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
The 33rd Gangarama Navam Perehara began today, with the attendence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, opposition leader Ranil Wickremaesinghe, and other political and religious leaders. Pictures show President Rajapaksa and Mr. Wickremesinghe placing the tooth relic on the elephant. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
Anoma Fonseka the wife of jailed former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, leaders of several political parties including New Left Front Leader Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Wijitha Herath, Siritunga Jayasuriya from the United Socialist Party and DNA MPs Jayantha Ketagoda and Arjuna Ranatunga are seen at a media conference where they announced a street protest to be held on February 8 in Colombo. Pix by Waruna Wannia
Elephants brought for the annual Nawama Perahera organised by the Gangarama Temple have become the centre of attraction, as those visiting Vihara Mahadevi Park flocked to see these jumbos today, on the eve of the Perahara, which is to be held tomorrow and on Tuesday. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
Deyata Kirula the mega national exhibition was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last eveing. The exhibition will be held till February 10 and is considered the largest exhibition to be held in the Deyata Kirula series. The picture shows the Wijeya Newspapers stall at the exhibtion. Wijeya Newspapers Limited are the media sponsors of the exhibition. Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana
'Deyata Kirula' was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa this evening. The exhibition is being held on a 600 acre site in Oyamaduwa in Anuradhapura and is the largest exhibition to be held since the inception of the series with a number of stalls representing the government and the private sector. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
Australia's prime minister Julia Gillard and her husband pose for a photo with Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and the Prime Minister’s XI skipper Brad Haddin when she hosted the two teams to dinner at The Lodge - Official Residence of the Prime Minister before the tour match which took place yesterday at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. Sri Lanka are in Australia for the Commonwealth Bank Tri Series, which features India and the hosts
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