SJB MPs in protest...

The Samagi Jana Balawebaya (SJB) today staged a protest near Parliament prior to the debate on the No Faith Motion (NFM) against Minister Udaya Gammnpila. Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa is seen among the protestors. The protesters marched towards Jayanthipura junction from Polduwa junction. Pix by Pradeep Dilrusksana

Preparing for Hajj festival

Muslims were seen preparing themselves for the upcoming Hajj festival (Eid Al-Adha) by engaging in shopping in Colombo. The festival is to be celebrated on Wednesday (21). Pix by Samantha Perera

Resolve our salary anomalies...

The Teachers and Principals Trade Union Collective staged a protest outside the Education Ministry urging the authorities to resolve their salary anomalies. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Sinopharm first dose rollout at Diyatha Uyana

The first dose of Sinopharm vaccine was seen administered today at Diyatha Uyana in Battaramulla today. The medical teams of the the Army has established new ‘walk in’ Community Vaccination Centres and commenced administering the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine to citizens from July 5. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Blood Donation Campaign...

A Blood Donation Campaign organised by Sri Bodhirukkarama Maha Viharaya in Amunukumbura, Gampaha was held at the Temple premises yesterday. The blood samples obtained at the campaign were directed to the Blood Bank. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja 

Church services begin...

The Sunday services in churches commenced yesterday after a long period of time. The prayer services at places of worship were suspended due to the pandemic situation in the country. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Leisure for pleasure...

Parents with their kids were seen enjoying themselves at the Vihara Maha Devi Park yesterday. The park, which remained closed for a long period of time due to the COVID-19 situation was opened for public on Friday. Pix by Samantha Perera

Construction of new Kelani Bridge underway...

The construction of the new Kelani Bridge in Peliyagoda is currently underway. Despite the COVID-19 situation in the country, the project is nearing completion and is expected to be declared open by September. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Vaccination drive at Vihara Maha Devi Park

Administering the first dose of the Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine was carried out by Army at the Vihara Maha Devi Park open theatre in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

President waves & rolls past protestors

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa waves as his vehicle moves past protestors from multiple trade unions gathered opposite the Presidential Secretariat.

Elephants enjoy natural river bathing

Elephants were seen bathing in the Menik Ganga in Kataragama with the conclusion of the annual Perahera of the Kataragama Maha Devalaya. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Moderna vaccines reach SL

A consignment of 1.5 million vaccines manufactured by Moderna Inc. in the United States were brought to the country this morning. The vaccines were freighted by a Qatar Airways aircraft landed at 9.00 am today. Pix by T.K.G Kapila

Flooding in Germany

Strong rains caused rivers to burst their banks and wash away buildings in Belgium and Germany, where at least 1,300 remained missing. Homes and streets in the Netherlands and Switzerland also flooded. (NY Times)

Stop hunting union leaders...

The Teachers’ and Principals’ Trade Unions staged a protest in Kiribathgoda yesterday urging the authorities to stop hunting union leaders.

Athupandalama ritual at Kataragama Temple

The ritual known as ‘Athupandalama’ took place at the Kataragama Temple in view of the Esala Perehara. The ceremony marks the thatching of the hut in front of the main Temple and its branches are called Athupandalama. The ritual takes place every year. The main tusker ’Wasana’ of the Temple performs the ritual in the presence of the Basnayaka Nilame. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Packing organic & chemical fertilizer

Workers were seen loading chemical and organic fertilizer at Ceylon Fertilizers and commercial Fertilizers Company warehouses in Hunupitiya, Wattala. Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who visited the Fertilizers companies in Hunupitiya instructed the officials to issue all the fertilizers required by the people within three days.

School children in protest...

A group of school children in Batuwatte, Ragama staged a protest today insisting the authorities to find solutions for the issues faced by them in accessing the online education. They also urged the Government to reopen schools and universities under health guidelines. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

People in WP receive Sinopharm 1st dose at Vihara Maha Devi Park

The general public above 30 years of age in the Western Province (WP) were given the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine at the Vihara Maha Devi Park open theatre in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Festival of Kataragama Maha Devalaya

The annual Perahera of the Kataragama Maha Devalaya staged for the fifth day last night. However, people were not allowed to participate at the procession. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Receiving first dose of Sinopharm

Large number of people are seen getting their first dose of Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine at an Army Vaccination centre in Colombo today. Sri Lanka ramped up the COVID-19 inoculation drive on July 13, recording the highest number of vaccinations rolled out in a single day. Some 337,445 people have received their vaccines. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

Vehicle protest rally

A vehicle parade along with a protest rally held in Colombo against the forcible quarantining of trade union leaders. The protest was organized by the Trade union collective against forcible quarantining. Pic by Pradeep Dilrusksana and Kithsiri de Mel

Make us permanent...

Members of the All-Island Dengue Prevention Assistants’ Union today staged a protest outside the Regional Director General of Health Services office in Maradana urging the authorities to absorb them into the permanent cadre of the Health Ministry. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Kataragama and Kiri Vehera deserted due to absence of devotees

Due to travel restrictions imposed in the country, the compounds of Kataragama temple and Kiri Vehera are seen deserted. Devotees were allowed to enter the temple or the Kiri Vehera compound before 2.00pm prior to the annual Kataragama Perahera. Pix by Nisal Baduge

SJB protest at Kadawatha

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and a group of SJB MPs are seen at a protest march held at Kadawatha town yesterday. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

In search of debris...

Officers of the Sri Lanka Maritime Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) and the Coast Conservation Authority (CCA) carried out operations in search of debris that washed shore due to the MVX-Express Pearl fire in Sri Lankan waters. The operation was launched from the Kapungoda beach in Negombo. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

SJB complains to HRC

Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya, the youth wing of SJB lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) yesterday against the assault of a lawyer in Galle. MP Mayantha Dissanayake lodged the complaint on behalf of the youth wing. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Time to taste seasonal fruits...

Street vendors in Colombo were seen selling some seasonal fruits like Durian, Rambutan, Mangosteen which are available in the months of July to September. Pix by Nisal Baduge

SLT opens first 4G tower in Panana

Extending its support towards bridging the digital divide, SLT-MOBITEL, the National ICT, Telecommunications and Mobile Services Provider, facilitated the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka’s (TRCSL) ‘Gamata Sanniwedanaya’ Project by commissioning the first 4G tower in Panana, Weligepola recently.

Hunger is common to every being....

A person was seen feeding stray dogs and other animals in the Pelawatte, Koswatta and Bataramulla areas. He used to feed the animals once a day for nearly twenty years. He said he collects 10 kg of rice and 20 kg of chicken to feed the animals every day through donations and through his personal funds. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Protests demanding the release of trade union activists

Several trade unions staged a protest in Colombo today demanding the release of detained trade union activists, and several other demands including the cancellation of the Kotelawala Defense University Bill. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana