Army Celebrates 65th Anniversary

Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake participated at a religious ceremony at the Jayasiri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura to mark Sri Lanka Army’s 65th Anniversary today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Rescued…

Five wild elephants including three baby elephants which fell into an abandoned agricultural well in Kekirawa this morning were saved and released into a forest reserve by the wildlife conservation officers and the police with the help of the villagers. Pix by Kanchana Kumara and Kushan Jayawardene

Let it be free and fair

UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya, General Secretary Tissa Attanayaka, Assistant President Ravi Karunanayake and MP Joseph Michael Perera today met the Commissioner of Elections and urged him to make provisions for the upcoming Presidential election to be free and fair. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Children show colours

An art competition was held at the Viharamaha Devi Park this morning in view of the World Children’s Day organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Department of Buddhist Affairs. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Shashindra takes oaths

UPFA Chief Ministerial candidate Shashindra Rajapaksa is seen taking oaths as the Uva Provincial Council Chief Minister before President Mahinda Rajapaksa.  (Pix by Presidential Media)

Students protest

The Medical Faculty Students’ Action Committee today staged a protest in front of the Hultsdorf Court Complex against the alleged privatisation of education. They urged the authorities that education is not for sale. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Protest at Government Press

The National Trade Union Centre today staged a protest in front of the Government Press in Borella against the Government Printer Lalith de Silva. They charged that the Printer had used his henchmen to assault employees of the Press and urged the police to arrest the assaulters. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: BBS holds conference

The Maha Sanga Samuluwa of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) was held today at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo with a large number of Buddhist monks attending.  Secretary General of the BBS is seen here conducting Ven. Ashin Wirathu of Myanmar who was one of the foreign representatives attended the Sanga Samuluwa to the conference hall. Pic by Nisal Baduge

MR meets Modi and Ban Ki-moon in NY

President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for talks in New York City. Pix by President’s media

Donating blood

A blood donation campaign and a health camp organized by the Wijeyaba welfare society was held today at Kalapaluwawa Sri Siddhartha Vidyalaya. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike remembered

The 55th death anniversary of former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was held at the Bandaranaike Samadhi in Horagolla this morning. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Hand-in-hand

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are seen arriving at the venue of bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 69th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York yesterday. Pix by Presidential Media

MR meets Obama at US reception

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa attended a reception hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama  this evening in New York City.

Yal Devi express derailed

Train service on the Northern line came to a standstill this evening when the Colombo bound Yal Devi express train derailed between Randenigama and Maho Railaway Stations causing extensive damage to the railway line. Pix by Sanjeewani Ariyaratne

Red light on E-01 route permits

Members of the Inter Provincial Private Bus Association (IPPBA) today held a protest outside the National Transport Commission over several concerns including frauds in issuing route permits for buses operating on the Southern Expressway. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

SLTB workers protest

Several workers of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) claimed to be politically victimized in 1977 and 1980 staged a protest near the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo this morning urging the President to look into their grievances. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Sajith UNP deputy leader

UNP MP Sajith Premadasa was appointed deputy leader of the United National Party by the party’s Working Committee today and MP Ravi Karunanayake was appointed assistant leader. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Ruwan resigns from NYF

UNP MP Ruwan Wijewardene is seen addressing the news conference held at his residence on his decision to resign from the post of National Youth Front Chairman. MPs Harsha De Silva, Ajith P. Perera, Eran Wickremaratne and Niroshan Perera were also present. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Bank Union voices woes

The Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union (CBEU) today staged a protest in front of the People's Bank head office in Colombo, demanding the authorities to address some of their key professional grievances including promotions, salary hikes and preferential treatment of certain employees. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Harin breaks record

We won but....

General Secretary of the UPFA explains a point to the media at news briefing flanked by Wayamba Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara and Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Mahipala Herath. Pix by Pradeeep Dilrukshana

ICAPP delegates visit tourist hot-spot

The delegates who attended the eighth general assembly sessions of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) that concluded yesterday, visited the picturesque city of Galle on a recreational trip. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Mayor assaulted

Bandarawela Mayor Chaminda Wijesiri, who was reportedly assaulted by a UPFA parliamentarian at the Bandarawela police station, is seen at the Diyathalawa hospital before transferring to the Badulla Hospital. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Preparing for the poll

Ballot boxes for the Uva Provincial Council election which is to be held tomorrow were issued to senior presiding officers at polling stations in Badulla and Moneragala districts under strict police security. Pix by Prasanna Padmasiri Bandara

Visual and Performing Arts students’ protest

Students of the Visual and Performing Arts University yesterday staged a protest in front of the University premises demanding the authorities to solve their educational issues including the increment of their Mahapola scholarship fee to Rs.5,000. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Bandarawela accident

The footage taken yesterday from a surveillance security camera of a nearby building shows the Hummer vehicle being driven killing one and injuring more than 25 people in Bandarawela, where UPFA Provincial Council Candidate Senthil Thondaman was also injured. ???

Golden Key Investors demand justice

Golden Key Investors today staged a protest outside the Hulftsdorp Court Complex demanding justice to be served to them. They complained Golden Key administration was enjoying privileges while depositors were suffering. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

J.R.’s 118th birth anniversary

The 118th birth anniversary of the late President J.R. Jayewardene was held at the J.R. Jayewardene Centre Auditorium this evening. The official website of J.R Jayewardene and his Century Reminiscence were launched at the event. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

150th birth anniversary of Anagarika Dharmapala

The 150th birth anniversary commemoration of Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala was held today at the Independence Hall with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.  He is seen paying homage to the statue of Anagarika Dharmapala at the Independence Hall. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja.

Final UNP rally at Bandarawela

United National Party (UNP) final election rally was held at Bandarawela last night with the participation of several UNP parliamentarians. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana