Video: Vesak Poya

Devotees are seen engaging in religious observance at the Kelaniya Temple to mark the Vesak Poya Day, today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Wesak at Gangaramaya

Some organizers and crew of Gangaramaya Wesak Zone are seen setting up water lilies as wesak decorations in the Beira Lake in Gangarama today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Pandals

Several Pandals have been erected in Colombo as the city gets ready to mark Vesak which falls tomorrow. Pix by Nisal Baduge

WNL Hokandara Press bags silver award

The Hokandara Press complex of Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. was among the Silver award winners for 2012 at the National Green Awards ceremony held at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

TATA breaks ground at Slave Island

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa unveils the model for Phase l of the USD 400 million TATA funded Slave Island Mixed Development Project at the ground breaking ceremony held today. The commercial complex will consist of approximately 500 housing units, 96 shops, community centres and a gymnasium. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Midwives against nurses

The Government Midwifery Service Association (GMSA) today staged a protest near the Health Ministry urging the authorities not to let nurses to carry out their duties. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Mercedes-Benz Pageant 2014

The Mercedes-Benz Pageant is an annual event where Mercedes-Benz owners and their families’ drive-in, in their Mercedes-Benz vehicles to enjoy fellowship and witness more than 500 three-pointed stars under one roof. This year the Pageant is being held at the BMICH today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Shining Dhamma

Video: World Youth Conference concludes

Participants at the closing ceremony of the World Conference on Youth (WCY) 2014, held at the Sri Lanka Youth Premises Maharagama today. WCY 2014 kicked off last Tuesday in Sri Lanka under the theme of ‘Mainstreaming Youth in the Post 2015 Development Agenda.’Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Hit and run driver surrenders to police

The hit and run driver Lalin Priyaratne is seen at the Colombo Traffic Court.  Pics by Kushan Pathiraja

Video: BRING BACK OUR GIRLS

Several delegates including a Nigerian girl staged a protest during the ongoing World Youth Conference at the BMICH in Colombo over the abduction of more than 200 girls in Nigeria by the extremist militants Boko Haram. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Site visit

The United States Ambassador in Sri Lanka Michele J. Sison visited the Rajagalathenna sacred site in Ampara today. The Embassy has provided US$ 100,000 to develop the site. Pix by Wasantha Chandrapala & C. Liyanaarachchi

Getting ready for Vesak

A woman is seen sewing Buddhist flags at a shop in Dematagoda in preparation to celebrate Vesak next week. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Anti-smoking march

An anti-smoking march organised by the Kotte Municipal Council was held today from Anagarika Dharmapala Statue in Rajagiriya to Siri Parakum gardens, Kotte. Health Minister Mitripala Sirisena and Parliamentarian Duminda Silva participated in the march. Pix by Pradeep pathirana

Wishes from the Acting AG

Acting Attorney General and Senior Additional Solicitor General, Mrs. Bimba Tillekeratne PC wishes newly appointed President’s Counsel Additional Solicitor General Mr Navaratne Bandara and Additional Solicitor General, Mrs Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe after they took oaths in the Supreme Court today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Uni. students protest at Temple Trees

The Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) and the Undergraduates of the Allied Health Sciences (AHS) Degree Programme students staged a protest march this evening in front of the Temple Trees on the Galle Road. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Ravana Balaya wants “religious police” out

The Ven. Ittekande Saddhatissa Thera, who is the convener of the Ravana Balaya organisation today handed over a letter to Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardana requesting that the “religious police” be removed before Vesak Poya Day. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Another train collision in Aluthgama

A train from Kosgoda collided with another train that was parked at the Aluthgama station, causing minor injuries to two persons in the early hours today. The Railway Control room said that the train service along the coastal railway line could be distrupted. Pix by Sarath Siriwardena and Pinsiri Perera

Falling boulder kills lorry driver

A huge boulder that rolled down a steep hill fell on a lorry parked below to load metal at a quarry in Welipenna today. Pix by Ratnasiri Premalal

Video: World Conference on Youth 2014

The World Conference on Youth 2014 commenced today at the Magam Ruhunupura International Convention Center this morning. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the chief guest at the ceremony. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Who is above President?

With six days to the crucial court ruling on 80% pictorial warning on cigarette packets, Colombo walls were splattered with posters today questioning as to who is stopping the implementation of 80% pictorial warning which has been strongly endorsed by the President, the Cabinet of Ministers including Minister of Health, all Parliament members, religious dignitaries and the general public. Pix by Samantha Perera

Video: Road awareness programme

A road safety programme organised by the Rajagiriya President’s College held today to make people aware of road signs. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi 

We want to know

UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya and JVP frontliner K.D. Lalkantha seen signing a public petition calling for the introduction of the Right to Information Act at a campaign held outside the Fort Railway Station today. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Vesak message on Three-wheelers

Police Chief N.K. Illangakoon is seen pasting stickers on a three-wheeler which carries religious messages in view of Wesak at a function held at Battaramulla today. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Final rehearsal of WYS

The final rehearsal for the 15th World Youth Summit was conducted at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Conference Hall in Hambantota today. Here, Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Dulles Alahapperuma at the event. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Lighting up for Vesak

With Vesak not many days away, an electrician is seen fixing bulbs to a Vesak Pandal at Maharagama. The 52-feet tall pandal will be lit with more than 45,000 coloured bulbs.  Pic by Nisal Baduge

Blessings on the country

Invoking blessings on the country, President, Government and all, a record four-digit number of Buddhist monks who assembled at the BMICH premises on yesterday evening chanted the  'Jaya Pirith' and appealed celestial powers to help the country's forward march, dispelling all challenges and setbacks posed to the Nation

Video: Demanding justice

The UNP today staged a protest outside the Hambanthota police station urging the immediate arrest of the Hambantota Mayor Eraj Ravindra Fernando who was behind the attack on UNP MPs who visited the Hambantota Port and the Mattala Airport last month. Pix by Pradeep pathirana

Musaeus Triathlon 2014

The past and present pupils and teachers of Musaeus College, Colombo 7 took to streets this morning with Musaeus Triathlon 2014 that started near Nelum Pokuna. It was culminated with a mini fair held at Bloomfield cricket grounds. Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya

Rivals in Court

Parliamentarian Duminda Silva and Western provincial councilor Hirunika Premachandra are seen leaving the Colombo Magistrate’s court at the conclusion of the case into the killing of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja