Avoid touching debris reached ashore

Seen here the debris of containers that was washed ashore from the ship MV X-Press Pearl. The containers washed ashore off the coast of the seas of Negombo and Colombo.

Vesak without devotees...

Most of the temples seemed deserted following the strict travel restrictions imposed by the Government due to the COVID pandemic. All religious activities in temples were suspended and no devotees are allowed to visit temples. The Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya, Pillawa Bodhiraja Temples in Boralesgamuwa and Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo seems deserted this morning. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel and Pradeep Dilrukshana

Towns in Colombo, Gampaha ’take a break’

Colombo and Gampaha seem deserted due to the travel restrictions imposed by the government for several days. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

Why this step-motherly treatment?

Despite the Government yesterday announced that no vehicles would be allowed on the roads or for shopping purposes when travel restrictions are relaxed temporarily today, several people were seen still travelling in their vehicles to buy the essentials, to avail services and to fulfil other purposes. At the same time, it was also observed that some people were on foot carrying many bags of foodstuff and other essentials.

Blood save lives...

The employees of the premium chocolate producer Anods Cocoa launched a blood donation program, held at the company’s factory compound in Pugoda today under the purview of its Chairman Lakshman Weerasuriya. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Stop!

An army soldier is seen commanding to stop a vehicle in Nugegoda. Vehicular movement is prohibited today despite the relaxing of travel restrictions. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana.

Rough seas...

Bad weather and rough seas were observed in Colombo as a result of Cyclonic storm “YAAS” which is likely to move north and north-westwards and reach north Odisha and west Bengal coasts by early morning tomorrow.Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Tense situ at LRH over AstraZeneca second dose

A tense situation was reported outside the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) in Maradana where over 3, 000 people have gathered, demanding the second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccinations. They were not seen maintaining any social distancing. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Vesak pandols to light up Colombo

Sri Lanka Army personnel are seen decorating the streets of Colombo to welcome the upcoming Vesak. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Doctors’ relatives vaccinated...

Relatives of doctors were given COVID-19 vaccine at the doctors’ quarters of the Colombo National Hospital today. Here is a scene outside the doctors’ quarters. Pix Pradeep Dilrukshana

Foodstuff and essentials unloaded at Pettah wholesale Market

Porters are busy unloading lorry loads of essentials at the wholesale Market in Pettah today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

Benevolent act...

Lunch packets were distributed to displaced and caretakers living in the Colombo city area today by a Pitakotte-based businessman with the assistance of the Pettah police station. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Colombo city is deserted

Several areas in Colombo are seen deserted due to travel restrictions imposed by the government for several days. The government strictly applies this law to curb the rapid escalation of Covid-19 outbreak. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

Blood donation

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) began a blood donation camp in Kurunegala to assist in the battle against Covid Pandemic. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Stop!

Roadblocks have been set up in several places in Colombo where vehicles are checked by the officers attached to Sri Lanka Army Special Force Combat Riders unit and Police as restrictions have been tightened due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Adhering to health rules in paddy field

Several farmers were seen working in a paddy field wearing face masks. This shows how seriously people have taken the COVID-19 pandemic as it is rapidly spreading in the country. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Disinfecting public places in Colombo...

CMC workers were seen cleaning Central Bus Stand in Pettah while health workers were disinfecting public places as a precautionary measure to contain the COVID-19 virus. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Road checks...

Sri Lanka Police was seen operating road blocks to check people travelling during the island-wide travel restriction period, which came into effect from Friday (21) midnight. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Helping the helpless...

In line with the birthday celebration of the son of the OIC of the Wellaweediya Police Crimes Division, rice packets were distributed to homeless people in Pettah, Fort, Wellaweediya and to workers engaged in cleaning. Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon and Officer-in-Charge of Wellaweediya Police, Chief Inspector Ajith Peduruarachchi joined the good work. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Tamil missing from AG’S Dept. Smart Library plaque

The Smart Library of the Attorney General’s Department was declared open by Attorney General Dappula de Livera and Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong last Wednesday. Interestingly, the plaque that had been erected to mark the opening of the library was only in Sinhala, English and Mandarin, ignoring Tamil, one of the two official languages of Sri Lanka.

Vesak amidst COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions imposed by the Government, Vesak celebrations have been restricted to homes. Against this backdrop, some vendors were seen selling Vesak lanterns and decorations in and around Colombo yesterday. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Traffic congestion at Southern Expressway

A traffic jam was seen at the Kottawa Entrance at Southern Expressway this evening. People were going back to their villages due to the island-wide travel restriction to be imposed from midnight today. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Air Force drops chemicals to control fire on ‘X-PRESS PEARL’

Sri Lanka Air Force today dropped another 425 kgs of Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) on the Singapore-flag ship ‘X-PRESS PEARL’ to control the fire reported in a container.

New ICU for Mulleriyawa Hospital

The newly constructed ICU at the Mulleriyawa Hospital for the COVID patients was declared open today with the participation of Health Minister Pavithra Vanniarachchi and Army Commander General Shavendra Silva. The ICU unit was constructed by the army with funds donated by the Seylan Bank. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Preparing for ’stay indoors’

People are preparing ahead for the upcoming stay-at-home order which comes into effect from midnight today until next week. The Government has imposed an island-wide travel restrictions in view to prevent the prevalent COVID-19 outbreak in the county. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi, Nisal Baduge and Pradeep Dilrukshana

Getting immunised...

A large number of people are seen getting the Chinese Sinopharm Vaccine against COVID-19 at Campbell Park in Borella yesterday. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Welcoming Vesak...

With the Vesak festival just around the corner, people are seen busy buying Vesak decorations in the areas in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana, Nisal Baduge and Pradeep Pathirana

Postpone vote on Port City Bill

Venerable Elle Gunawansa Thero and Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, on Wednesday (19) called on the government to postpone the vote on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Dry rations to flood victims

Members of the Ja_Ela Pradeshiya Sabha today distributed dry rations to 500 families that were displaced due to the floods. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

SLAF & STF raid illegal sand mining in Mutur

A Rapid Deployment Unit of SLAF Regiment Special Force (RSF), Police Special Task Force (STF) and Intelligence Operatives raided several illegal sand mining operations which were carried out near the Sittar Bridge in Mutur yesterday.