’Sahana Malla’ from Sathosa

State owned retail network Lanka Sathosa will remain open across the island from today as directed by the government to ensure the masses have access to food and essential items during the ongoing restriction period.The Ministry of Trade has decided to provide a relief package to Sathosa customers and a ‘Sahana Malla’ (relief bag) containing 10 items for Rs.1000. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel and Kushan Pathiraja

Low demand for dry fish

The demand for dry fish has considerably reduced in the Negombo area due to prevailing travel restrictions and also owing to fears in people to consume fish following the fire in X-Press Pearl vessel. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Minor floods...

A minor flood situation was witnessed in Gampaha and Colombo Districts. Roads were seen inundated due to torrential showers. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana, Nimalsiri Edirisinghe, Nisal Baduge and Damith Wickramasinghe

STICKER system for vehicles

Police officers were pasting stickers on vehicles entering the Western Province from North Western Province at Thoppuwa Junction. The operation was conducted under the instructions of Kochchika. Police introduced a sticker system for the vehicles entering Colombo City to avoid repeated checking of vehicles and also to facilitate vehicle inspections. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Archbishop addresses the media....

Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith flanked by some catholic priests speaks during a press conference where he urged the authorities to investigate to determine as to who was behind the Easter Sunday attacks which the former Attorney General referred to as a conspiracy.

Inoculation of Sinopharm in Walpola

Inoculation of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine took place in Walpola of the Ragama MOH office yesterday. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Goods to the door...

Goods including vegetables, fruits and other essential items are being delivered to the houses considering the island-wide travel restrictions imposed due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the county. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Sent for quarantine

Fifteen attendees including event organiser Chandimal Jayasinghe and model Piyumi Hansamali who were arrested earlier for organising a birthday party at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo on Sunday night violating quarantine regulations, have been sent to serve quarantine. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Beach gets fresh air....

The officers of Coast Conservation Authority are seen supervising the coastal cleaning activity carried out by Sri Lanka Army in Wellawatte yesterday. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Rs. 5,000 allowance given to affected

The government today handed granted an allowance of Rs. 5,000 to people who lost their livelihood due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Picture shows people are receiving the allowance in Rajagiriya and Gampaha. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja and Pradeep Pathirana.

Sinking...

The MV X-Press Pearl ship that caught fire in Sri Lankan waters has started to sink this morning,

Heavy traffic at entry points to Colombo

Heavy traffic was reported at many entry points to Colombo city despite the travel restrictions. Vehicles were seen in long queues at Peliyagoda junction from the Colombo-Kandy main road, Polduwa junction on parliament road and Mount Lavinia. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana, Kithsiri de Mel and Wanuna Wanniarachchi

Pettah wears deserted look...

Pettah and Peliyagoda Manning Market, which are busy areas on normal days were seen deserted yesterday due to the island-wide travel restrictions. However, it was noticed that some wholesale shops remain open in Pettah. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Testing measuring accessories...

A raid was carried out by the Measurement Standard Unit of the Gampaha District Secretariat, to test and stamp measuring accessories of traders in the Welisara Economic Centre. A total of 22 shops were checked and legal actions were taken against four shops for not renewing the measuring accessories. The raid was carried under the instructions of Gampaha District Secretary Sunil Jayalath. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Monitoring quarantine violators...

Mulleriyawa Police officers deployed drones to monitor activities of people and to see whether they violate quarantine regulations. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Large dried turmeric stock seized

The officers attached to the Investigation Unit of the Customs Prevention Division today seized 15,251 kilograms of dried turmeric stock worth more than five million rupees while attempting to smuggle it into the country. The turmeric stock was declared as 16, 000 kilograms of Refined Naphthalene packed in 507 boxes. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Disinfecting...

Health officers were seen fumigating the Abayarama Temple today as a precautionary measure to contain the COVID-19. The program was initiated by DIG Deshabandu Tennekoon. Pix By Pradeep Dilrukshana

Making hospital beds...

Employees at a factory in Kotahena were seen making beds for government hospitals and quarantine centers in the country. The demand for beds has immensely gone up due to the shortage of beds to treat COVID-19 patients. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

First COVID treatment centre for Buddhist monks in Kandy

The first COVID-19 treatment centre for Buddhist monks donated by a leading personality in Kandy was handed over to the Ministry of Health today with the distinguished participation of the Anunayake Theras of the Malwatte Chapter. Pix by Chamil Rupasinghe

Searching for hideout under debris....

A small crab is crawling on the sun-bathed sandy beach looks for a dwelling place among the strewn debris washed ashore from the burnt MV X-Press Pearl freighter. These small creatures make a fragile pile around them with sea sand and dwell inside. Also in the picture, security personnel work round the clock in the Pamunugama beach to remove heaps of debris. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Inoculation drive at Welisara Economic Centre

Vendors and the staff at the Economic Centre in Welisara were administered with the second dose of the Covishield vaccine today. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Giving beach a facelift...

Navy personnel are engaged in cleaning the Galle Face Green beach area which was polluted by the debris from burnt Singaporean freighter MV X-Press Pearl. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Veggies are back...

Vendors gather at Pettah Market soon after the arrival of vegetables even during the restriction period. The Daily Mirror learns the vegetables were sold at higher prices than usual. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Performing duty to the letter

Amidst Police Chief C. D. Wickramaratne’s recent instruction to all police officers carrying out the COVID-19 duties to refrain from harassing the public whilst doing so, scores of policemen were seen even yesterday deployed in numerous road blocks in and out of the city checking the movements of commuters during the lockdown, including this one at Colombo and Welisara on the Colombo – Negombo Main Road.

Helping the helpless...

The officers attached to the Vavuniya Army Defence Headquarters provided food for the paupers who became helpless due to travel restrictions. They began their benevolent act today upon the instruction of Wanni Security Forces Head Maj. Gen. D.M.H.D. Bandara. All paupers in Vavuniya were given food rations. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Vaccination drive continues...

People were vaccinated yesterday at the P.D Sirisena Playground with the assistance of Army Officers. People were seen in long queues to get vaccinated. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Validity of permissions come under thorough check

Security personnel are seen checking the validity of permission granted to travel during travel restrictions. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Lockdown doesn't deprive their 'breakfast'

Picture shows a man is feeding pigeons in the Kottawa town. He said that he used to feed the flock every morning as a habit for a long time and the pigeons too would expect him to serve their ’breakfast’. Pix by Nisal Baduge

’’Buddha Purnima 2021’’

’’Buddha Purnima 2021’’ to commemorate the birth, the enlightenment and the mahaparinirvana of the Buddha was organised by New Delhi based International Buddhist Confederation and the Ministry of Culture India.

Fire under control...

The fire erupted at the Singapore-flag ship ‘X-PRESS PEARL’ is currently under control. SLAF has dropped 425kgs of Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) on the vessel to contain the fire.