President Gotabaya Rajapaksa celebrated his 71st birthday today giving prominence to religious observances. During religious observances held at Anuradhapura early today, President Rajapaksa received warm wishes and blessings from his elder brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Hindu devotees took part in religious observances at the Shri Ponnambalawaneswaram Kovil in Kochchikade. People were seen visiting the temple wearing masks according to the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.
State Intelligence Services (SIS) Director Major General Suresh Sallay complained to the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) today against International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) and its Executive Director Yasmin Sooka for alleged defamation. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe
Former Ministers Patali Champika Ranawaka, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department SSP Shani Abeysekera today appeared before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into incidents of political victimization during the 2015-2018 period. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana
The mortal remains of Most Reverend Father Ernest Poruthota, who passed away last morning is lying at the Sacred Heart Chapel of Archbishop House. Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Bishops and priests are seen paying last respect to Father Poruthota.
A movement calling itself ‘The Trade Unions and Mass Organisations Against State Repression’ staged a protest at Lipton’s Circus in Colombo 7 yesterday to condemn the police attack on Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) members who carried out a protest at this venue last week. The protesters urged the authorities not to use quarantine laws as an excuse to violate people’s democratic rights
The Kanapathy Hindu Ladies Maha Vidyalaya in Colombo 12 was disinfected by the Keselwatte Police with the support of the parents of the students. The area was under lockdown after several residents from Bandaranaike Mawatha tested positive for COVID-19.
Devotees who gathered at the St Anthony’s shrine in Kochchikade on the eve of St. Anthony’s feast were seen carrying out their religious observances keeping to the health guidelines. The festive services will be telecast on several TV channels. The annual procession which is a grand feature every year will not be held this year because the need to maintain prescribed health guidelines.
Mosque prayers islandwide will resume next week though the government allowed places of worship to open for public from Friday 12. An official at the Dawatagaha Mosque said they were still in the process of making arrangements in line with COVID-19 regulations to conduct prayers, and that the process would be completed by next week. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
Colombo became a busy city once again with the easing of lockdown which was imposed since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March this year. Transport services are functioning as normal while shops and offices are also operating in line with health guidelines. The photos show Colombo is gradually returning to normalcy. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
The Public Library, Colombo was reopened for the public this week after putting in place several measures to protect both the staff, as well as the readers. Instead of handing over books to the library staff directly, the readers are now expected to place their books in two separate boxes. Once the boxes are full, books will be splayed on tables for three days before being placed in shelves to ensure that the books have not become COVID-19 carrie
Work on Chinese funded Colombo Port City recommenced after a prolonged pause since the outbreak of COVID-19. A media visit was organized to the artificially filled land yesterday, where media personnel were shown how the work is progressing. Workers at the construction site are made to follow health guidelines. Accordingly, each worker is subjected to two PCR tests before they enter into the premises. They are kept in hostels and are taken in
CBSL maintains policy interest rates at their current levels
Fitch affirms Sri Lanka at ’Restricted Default’
Tourist arrivals below expectation: SLTDA
Sri Lanka economy slows ahead of presidential elections
Will bring change, says new Western Province Governor
Advisers to the former President deny using new vehicles
Guidelines formulated to prevent ragging in state universities