Colombo Shopping Festival at BMICH

The Colombo Shopping Festival kicks off yesterday at the BMICH focusing on the festive season. The shopping festival will be held for five days. Backward Rural Areas Development and Promotion of Domestic Animal Husbandary & Minor Economic Crop Cultivation State Minister S. Viyalanderan and Deputy Director General Medical Service Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva have inaugurated the event. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Floating Market to reopen tonight

The refurbished ’Floating Market’ in Pettah, Colombo will be opened to the public from this evening. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Plant distribution ceremony at WNL

The welfare Association of the Wijeya Newspapers Limited (WNL) today held a plant distribution ceremony in view of the ‘Husma Dena Thuru’ (Trees Giving Life) tree planting programme, aimed at planting 2 million saplings within the next 5 years. Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe inaugurated the event and distributed plants among the staffers. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Avurudu shopping gets hot...

As the Sinhala and Tamil New Year is drawing closer, people are seen shopping in Colombo city. Pictures show vendors have put up stalls in Pettah and the shoppers are gathered to do their purchase for the New Year. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Pushpika re-crowned

Pushpika de Silva who was stripped off her crown of Mrs. Sri Lanka 2020, by reigning Mrs. World Caroline Jurie, at a beauty pageant held on Sunday, was re-crowned following a media briefing today. Pix by Kihsiri de Mel

Crude coconut oil containers re-freighted

Sri Lanka customs had re-freighted six containers of crude coconut oil imported by Katana Mills. The containers were kept under customs security until they were transferred to the SLPA Terminal this evening prior to re-freighting. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Mrs World Caroline at Police to give statement

Reigning Mrs World Caroline Jurie and National Director of Mrs Sri Lanka for Mrs World pageant, Chandimal Jayasinghe arrived at the Cinnamon Gardens Police a while ago to record a statement after dethroned Mrs Sri Lanka-elect Pushpika De Silva lodged a complaint with the Police yesterday over the incident on Sunday. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

UNP protest against forest destruction

The United National Party (UNP) members, including Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, held a protest in front of the United Nations Head office, Colombo against the Government for not taking actions for the destruction of forest in the country. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Bhikku Federation protest

Inter-University Bhikku Federation (IUBF) today staged a protest opposite the Presidential Secretariate over several demands including drawing the attention of the authorities on recruitment and enrol more students. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Mrs. Sri Lanka 2021 turns ugly

A public spectacle was created at the Mrs. Sri Lanka 2021 pageant last evening when the winner Pushpika De Silva was stripped off her crown by reigning Mrs. World Caroline Jurie who claimed Pushpika was a divorcee hence she was ineligible for the crown. Pushpika however has denied the claim and organizers will return the crown back to her tomorrow. Pix by Manoj Rathnayake

Sinhale visits SLSI

The Sinhale Organisation today visited Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) Chairman Nushad Perera to request a list of food manufacturing institutions in order to check the products which they manufacture bear the stamp of standard and quality. The SLSI Chairman assured to furnish the requested list tomorrow. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Urban beautification program

An urban beautification program was conducted in Gothatuwa by the Gothatuwa Police Environmental Unit with the participation of residents on the instructions of Nugegoda Division SSP Nuwan Asanka. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Convert SLIATE to degree offering institute

The Inter Higher National Accounting Diploma Course Protective Students’ Committee today staged a signature campaign opposite the Fort Railway Station urging the authorities to convert the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE) to a degree offering institute, Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Printers’ Trade Union Collective’s protest over demands

The Government Printers’ Trade Union Collective is to initiate a protest campaign opposite the Department of Government Printing from noon today, based on several issues, including illegal recruitment. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Yathiwara Pranama Praja Abhinandana Festival

The Yathiwara Pranama Praja Abhinandana Festival and the awarding of Honorary title for the laity organized by the Mahara Viharadhipathi Association held at the Sri Jayasumanarama Temples in Kadawatha, Mahara Nugegoda under the patronage of the Chief Prelates of the Temples. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Blessing Easter Sunday victims...

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith blesses the monument erected at Katuwapitiya Church Negombo to remember those who died at Easter Sunday attacks. Cardinal visited the church just after the Easter Sunday service which was conducted amidst heavy security. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

’’Aluth Sahal Mangalya’’

The national ’’Aluth Sahal Mangalya’’ (new rice festival) was held at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today.Pix by Presidential Media Unit

’’Gama Samaga Pilisandara’’ in Vavuniya

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today participated in the ’’Gama Samaga Pilisandara’’ programme in Bogaswewa Maha Vidyalaya in Vavunia District today. Pix by Presidential Media Unit

Good Friday...

Catholics devotees in Sri Lanka are taking part in religious observances today in view of Good Friday, the day the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified at Calvary. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Public awareness campaign by Aluth Piyapath

A public awareness campaign organised by the ‘Aluth Piyapath’ Organisation was held outside the Fort Railway Station today regarding the Central Bank bonds scam and alleged sugar tax fraud. The organizers delivered the message through platforms such as music and drama. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Hotel Employees protest

Members of the Hotel Employees’ Center staged a protest near the Colombo Fort Railway Station today over several demands, including an interim allowance of Rs. 15,000 for all hotel employees and the provision of the Chovid19 vaccine. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Granted bail...

Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake who was released on bail by two Colombo High Court Trials-at-Bar was seen with his family members at the court complex. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Security beefed up

Security has been beefed up in catholic churches across the county ahead of Easter services. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Special operation to minimise accidents

A special four-day operation was held aiming to minimise accidents caused by motorcycles. The police launched the operation from the Gothatuwa police area and continue as a countrywide programme as per the instructions of the Police Headquarters. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Underwater museum in progress

The underwater museum project carried out by the Sri Lanka Naval Force is underway at Nilwella close to the Hiriketiya beach. The project will boost the diving, snorkelling, tourism and fisheries sector.

Postal strike

People are seen waiting to obtain services from post offices. Sri Lanka Post and Telecommunication Services Union today launched a countrywide ‘sick leave’ trade union action against the Government’s decision to recruit officers, which is against the standard recruitment procedures. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Dengue Prevention programme...

A Dengue Prevention programme attended by the Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) was held in Angoda this morning. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Massive stock of flemingia seeds seized

The Customs Department today seized a massive stock of flemingia seeds valued around Rs. 40.6 million, which had imported along with sacks of wheat.

Random PCR tests in Kirulapana

th team of Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) carried out random PCR tests on residents of Kirulapana as a precautionary measure to make sure that COVID-19 virus is fully contained in the country.

Uncorking the Suez

The first of hundreds of trapped ships snaked their way through a newly unblocked Suez Canal on Monday as the saga over the waterway seems to be coming to an end.