The vendors in Colombo were also seen selling national flags for the Independence Day celebration. Tailors were also seen making National Flags at a small shop in Colombo. Sri Lanka will celebrate its 74th Independence Day on February 4. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
The Passing out Parade of the 13th Force Protection Company (FPC), bound for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), together with women soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps (SLAWC) presented the customary salute to the Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva during a formal arrangement, held at the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regimental Headquarters at Panagoda. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel
A large stock of beetroot worth over Rs.3.2 million, which had been smuggled into the country concealed inside a shipment of potatoes against the import laws, was seized by Sri Lanka Customs today. The stock which weighed 16,000 metric tons of beetroot was hidden inside a 40-foot reefer container filled with another 44,000 metric tons of potatoes. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana
Venerable Palatuwe Jinaratana Thera, a resident monk of Colombo Gangarama Vihare, and the Principal of Jinaratana Technical Institute was decreed the honorary title “Pravachana Keerthi Shri Chandraratana.’’ The priests of Malwattu Chapter and UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene handed over the documents in connection with the title and the appointment. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
Following instructions from the Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday, the Road Development Authority (RDA) has initiated the completion and upgrading of the access road to the Ratmalana airport today. Yesterday, the Minister instructed the RDA to complete repairs to the access road within 20 days. Pix by Samantha Perera
All Ceylon Zoological Gardens Employees Union and Zoolical Gardens Podu Sevaka Sangamaya and the Veterinarian Association of Dehiwala zoo staged a protest calling for reinstating National Zoological Gardens Director General Shermila Rajapaksa who stepped away from duties recently. Some trade unions at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and Ridigama Safari Park also joined their colleagues and staged simultaneous protests placing similar demand.
People are seen gathered in front of the Rajya Osu Sala (SPC) near Town Hall for their medicine requirements. The patients who were channeled by the general hospital doctors are sent to the Osu Sala to buy the required medicines. Today, a group of health workers, including 16 health unions, held a one-day strike based on several demands. The six-hour strike began at 7.00 am. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe
The United National Party (UNP) yesterday held a protest in the Galle Town with the partipation of Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara and Chairman Vajira Abeywardene. The protesters marched towards the Galle bus stand and held a rally. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
Colombo District parliamentarian Madura Vithanage to construct and donate 100 iSmart classrooms for 100 schools. The first phase of the project is to provide classrooms to three schools in the Kolonnawa electorate yesterday with smart TV and SLT Wi-Fi connectivity. The donation was made possible by his decentralized budget allocation. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi
A boat carrying 300 kg of heroin was seized yesterday during a joint operation conducted by the State Intelligence and the Sri Lanka Navy in the southern seas. The arrests were made following a tip-off received by the Police Narcotics Bureau. Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenna inspected the contraband of the seized narcotics. Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe
Devotees seen at the Ruwanweli Maha Seya (stupa) in Anuradhapura engaged in religious and spiritual observance. The Ruwanweli Maha Seya is one of the most sacred Buddhist religious places in Sri Lanka. Two quarts or one dona of the Buddha’s relics are enshrined in the stupa, making it the largest collection of his relics anywhere. Pix by Nisal Baduge
The All Ceylon Consumers Union recently presented its report on the recent LPG explosions to the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa The report also had the details of the victims of the recent gas explosions. Pix Damith Wickramasinghe
The senior citizens in the age group of 60 -70 who are still working in the Textile Industry Department, today staged a protest march from Colombo Fort to the Department demanding their monthly allowance to be paid on the 10th of every month. The payment of allowance has been approved by the cabinet of ministers to be paid for them for lifetime. However, the officers concerned are not bothered to look into their plight.
The first-ever drone light show in Sri Lanka illuminated the Colombo night sky with over 150 drones over the weekend, at Galle Face Green. The drone show was launched by Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa, and attended by State Minister of Aviation and Export Zones Development D.V. Chanaka. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel
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