Large crowds at Fort Railway Station…

A large number of people were waiting at the Fort Railway Station to take trains running on the coastal line. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Signal failure forces people to walk

People were seen walking to Maradana Railway Station due to the technical failure of the light signal. The technical failure occurred between Maradana and Dematagoda train stations this morning. The failure was eventually resolved, and train operations resumed normally. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Tourists from Malta visit SL

A large group of tourists from the Mediterranean island of Malta arrived in Sri Lanka for the first time this morning through Katunayake International Airport. This group consists of 50 Maltese nationals and they will spend 12 days in the country and are scheduled to visit Negombo, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kaudulla National Park, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains, Yala and Ella by train. Pix by T.K.G. Kapila

Annual prize giving at Gothami Balika Vidyalaya

Picture shows the gathering at the annual prize giving ceremony held recently at the Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Maradana. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Passenger ship with 516 tourists arrives in Trinco

A group of 516 tourists from European countries arrived to Trincomalee yesterday by passenger ship MV Silver Spirit. The ship was berthed on Ashroff Jetty in Trincomalee harbour. (Amadoru Amarajeewa)

Blessings throughout the Day

Catholic and Christian devotees visited St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade and St. Lucia’s Cathedral in Kotahena to take part in religious observance and blessings throughout the Christmas Day. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Polgolla reservoir reaches its spill level

Several sluice gates of the Polgolla Reservoir were opened due to the increase of the water capacity of Mahaveli River. Pix by Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

Kandy railway station under water

The Kandy railway station was flooded due to heavy rains during last night.

The past week - In pictures

Vegetable Christmas tree emerges from Galle Face

Group of decorators are making final arrangements to a one of a kind Christmas tree made out of about 2,000 living vegetable plants ranging from cabbage, spinach, ladies fingers, green chilies and lettuce setup close to Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

Preparing for Christmas…

People are shopping for Christmas decorations in Colombo ahead of the Christmas festival. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Petition against air pollution…

A petition was handed over to the UN office in Colombo today by a group led by Lawyer Nuwan Bopage claiming that air pollution in Sri Lanka has been caused as a result of winds coming from the direction of India. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Colombo Shopping Festival kicks off

The Colombo Shopping Festival, which is held every year targeting the seasonal holidays, kicked off today at the BMICH. The premium trade fair displays an array of products at special discounted prices. It will continue till Friday (23). Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Christmas decorations

Several places in the Colombo city were seen adorned with lights and decorations ahead of the Christmas. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

75 years of Gampaha Ratnavali Girls’ school

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Gampaha Rathnavali Girls’ school, a commemorative stamp and first-day cover were issued at the school. It was held under the patronage of the Transport and Highways Minister, Bandula Gunawardana and Principal, Ms. Hema Jayawardena. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja.

Cribs and nativity sets..

Cribs and nativity sets have become popular in Wattala, with predominantly Catholic population, showing a strong interest in these items during the Christmas season. A man is seen producing cribs at his residence in Wattala. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Tourists having fun near Nine Arch bridge

Tourists are having fun near Nine Arch bridge in Ella. These were among the tourists that have arrived giving some life to declining tourism industry in Sri Lanka. Pix Nisal Baduge

Argentina crowned champions after epic final

Argentina have won the 2022 World Cup after an extraordinary 3-3 thriller of a Final with France, as Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick to force Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria into victory on a penalty shoot-out.

Seized drug consignment brought to Colombo

Two local fishing trawlers filled with ICE and Heroin which were intercepted by the Navy along with six suspects following a special operation in coordination with the State Intelligence Service and Police Narcotic Bureau, brought to Colombo. The haul of illegal drugs included over 128kg and 327g of crystal methamphetamine (ICE) and 106kg and 474g of heroin. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Getting ready for Christmas

Christmas trees have become the centre of attraction with natural trees being stacked for sale along roadsides these days. The picture shows a customer picking out a tree to take home at Havelock Town. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Grade 5 scholarship exam

Grade five scholarship examination was held this morning countrywide examination centres. Students are seen entering in to the examination centers accompanied by their parents. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Cadet officers pass out in grand ceremony

President Ranil Wickremesinghe participated in the 97th Passing out Parade of the cadet officers of the Diyatalawa Military Academy today. Three hundred and fifty-one (351) cadet officers who completed their training at the Diyatalawa Military Academy were commissioned at the passing out ceremony. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Stamps, coins exhibition at Public Library

A three-day exhibition of vintage stamps, coins, currency notes and first-day covers was commenced on Friday at the Public Library in Colombo. the exhibition will be held till today (18). The event was organized by the Sri Lanka Independent Philatelic Association. Several stamps and other vintage articles are also exhibited and sold at this exhibition. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

500 IT scholarships to study in the Philippines

A ceremony to award 500 scholarships to study Information Technology at a Philippine State University was held today with the participation of Sports and Youth Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and Rotary International President Jennifer Jones. The event was held at the Ministry of Sports this afternoon with the participation National Youth Services Council President Dr. Thiran De Silva and several other dignitaries.

Indian Navy Chief calls on General Silva

Chief of Naval Staff of Indian Navy Admiral R Hari Kumar who is in Sri Lanka called on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Shavendra Silva.

Indian EV scooters launched in SL

While traditional combustion engines are becoming obsolete, fully electric 2-wheelers are rapidly replacing them. The OCAYA electric, in partnership with Douglas and Sons, was launched as Sri Lanka’s first-ever fully electric bike yesterday

Gangaramaya ’Podi Hamuduruwo’ turns 80

Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple’s Chief Incumbent Ven. Galboda Gnanissara Thera, better known as ’Podi Hamuduruwo’, celebrated his 80th birthday today (14). A series of events, including religious observances, have been organized at the Gangaramaya Temple to coincide with the birthday of the senior prelate. Packs of dry food were distributed among low-income families in the area. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Stop burdening schoolchildren

A protest was organized today at Maharagama against the soaring prices of school stationery and staged by Women for Freedom. A scene from the protest is shown in the picture. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Nature Photographer of the Year 2022

Majestic scenes in nature have been frozen in time courtesy of these breathtaking photographs. They have been honoured in the 2022 Nature Photographer of the Year awards, an annual contest that endeavours to ‘show the beauty of nature worldwide’.This year, the judges cherrypicked the winners from more than 20,000 entries from 96 countries around the globe. (Daily Mail)

Journalism Awards for Excellence 2021...

DailyMirror.lk was adjudged the best news/designed website of the year award at the Journalism Awards for Excellence 2021 held at the Mount Lavinia hotel tonight.Pix by Kithsiri De Mel