Demanding LP gas

The residents of Nawinna area staged a protest this morning blocking the High Level Road (138 bus route) at Nawinna demanding for gas. Pix by Nisal Baduge

'Go Home Ranil’'- Protestors gather outside UNP Leader’s house

A group of protestors gathered outside UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s house in 5th Lane in Colombo today morning, with protestors calling on him to stay home. The protestors gathered after allegations by TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam in Parliament this week saying Ranil was seen persuading opposition MPs to vote for the government backed Ranjith Siyambalapitya in the Deputy Speaker election.

FTZ workers join the fray...

The employees of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Katunayake today join in a protest in view to extend their support to the countrywide hartal. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Hartal deserts Colombo...

Streets in Colombo Fort are seen deserted due to the countrywide hartal. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

GMOA, HTUC extend support to hartal

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) and the Health Trade Union Confederation (HTUC) of the Colombo General Hospital today staged a protest in support of the nationwide hartal. Pix by Pradeep Pahirana

In solidarity to nationwide hartal...

Protests were held in Colombo to extend support the countrywide hartal held today vociferously demanding the present government to quit. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi, Pradeep Dilrukshana, Nimalsiri Edirisinghe, Pradeep Pathirana, Nisal Baduge and Kushan Pathiraja

Police protect Parliament with parked buses

The police parked buses at the entrance leading to the Parliament premises as hundreds of protestors were tear gassed outside a short while ago.

Protest outside Colombo Port...

A protest was staged outside Colombo Port in support of the Hartal which was launched throughout the country today. Some protesters are pictured here holding placards. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Underwear protest...

A group of protesters hung underwear on the barricades that were put up near the Parliament roundabout. One protester was seen wearing a loin cloth and others with underwear suspended on strings tied around their loins. They chanted slogans saying ’’this is all we are left with.’’ Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Hartal hits passenger transport

Many sectors of Sri Lanka came to a standstill today due to the ongoing 24-hour hartal by a number of trade unions. Pix by Nisal Baduge

’Mala batha’ cooked to send govt. home...

The Joint Trade Union Front and several other trade unions in the government, semi-government and private sectors organised a hartal where they cooked a ‘mala batha’ while urging the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime to quit and go home. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

IUSF and Police clash at Polduwa Junction

Thousands of Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) activists, who tried to break through two steel barricades manned by hundreds of policemen at the Polduwa Junction to block entry into the Parliament Road, were tear gassed and then attacked with water cannon last evening. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Longing for fuel ....

Motorists were seen queued up patiently at filling stations today with the rare hope of filling their tanks. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

IUSF protest march to Parliament

Members of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) from Moratuwa and Colombo Universities staged a protest march from Rajagiriya to Parliament today. However, the police prevented them from approaching Parliament. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Journalism under Digital Siege

The South Asian Celebration of World Press Freedom Day 2022 was held at the Bandaranaike International Memorial Conferance Hall (BMICH) under the theme ’’Journalism under Digital Siege’’ today. The key note address was held by Ms. Namini Wijedasa - Deputy Editor (Investigations) of SundayTimes. The program was organised by UNESCO and the European Union. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Another convoy contingent ready to departure for Mali

Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva participated as the Chief Guest at a ceremony held at the Gemunu Watch (GW) Regimental Headquarters at Kuruwita, Ratnapura to receive the formal salute of the 4th contingent of 243 Army personnel, set to leave to serve in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

Grama Niladharis join protest at Galle Face Green

The Grama Niladhari Trade Union Confederation today staged a protest at the Galle Face Green in support of the ongoing protests against the government. The Union held their protest walk from the Colombo Fort Railway station to the Galle Face Green. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Agony continues....

Motorists are seen queued up patiently at petrol sheds today with the dream of filling their tanks. Pix by Pradeep Pahirana

Torn down but not forgotten

To mark the World Press Freedom Day (May 3rd) media personnel lead by Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) yesterday gathered outside the Presidential Secretariat to reinstall the posters of dozens of killed or assaulted journalists during the previous Rajapaksa regime, which were torn down by the premises security personnel last week. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Exposure...

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayke today revealed documents exposing corruption involving Rajapaksas, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several others. He is seen with the heap of files to be revealed. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Purchase fuel from Russia !

Peoples’ Responsibility Center, a civil organization staged a protest near the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka calling for the Sri Lankan government to purchase fuel from Russia. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Queues at fuel stations

Vehicles were seen queueing up at fuel stations this morning in several areas across the country. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Eid-ul-Fitr festival at Galle Face Green

Muslims gathered at Galle Face Green in Colombo this morning to attend Eid prayers as the holy fasting month of Ramadan came to an end. It was organized by the Memon Association of Sri Lanka. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

SF visits protesting farmers

SJB MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka today met the members of the National Peasants Collective, who are performing a Sathyagraha at Parliament Junction. They handed him a document on the issues faced by the Farmers and General public to be tabled in Parliament. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Long fuel queues again

Long queues could be seen in front of several fuel stations across the country due to the shortage of fuel and lack of fuel supply. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Mayday! Mayday!

SJB MPs Harin Fernando and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka were seen engaged in a verbal clash at the SJB May Day Rally held in Colombo yesterday. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

May Day demonstrations

May Day rallies organized by the National People’s Power (NPP), the Frontline Socialist Party and Lanka Sama Samaja Party were held in Colombo to commemorate May Day. Pix by Nisal Baduge, Kushan Pathiraja.

SJB May Day rally

The Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) May Day rally was held at Independence square in Colombo. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja.

SLFP May Day Rally...

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) organised a May Day Rally at its Head Quarters in Darley Road, Colombo attended by SLFP Chairman Maithripala Sirisena and other leaders. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

On way to join Galle Face Green protest

Groups of protesters including professionals were seen marching towards Galle Face Green in Colombo to join the protest against the President and the government. Pix by Damith Wickremesinghe