Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) delivered the first ever modern cable laying vessel built for Kokusai Cable Ship Co. Ltd (KCS) of Japan on Friday. Ministers Sagala Ratnayake, Patali Champika Ranawaka and officials of the CDPLC and KCS attended the event. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi
Former Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya, who was appointed Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) yesterday, assumed duties at the Authority today after observing religious observances. Several UPFA MP including Mahinda Amaraweera, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Western Province Governor A.J.M Muzammil were present at the event.
A tense situation erupted at the Fort Railway Station following the cancellation of several train services from 7.00 pm, hours before the 48-hour train strike was launched from midnight today. Inconvenienced people were seen stranded at the Fort Railway Station while the police officers were seen trying to control the situation. Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe and Nimalsiri Edirisinghe
Samurdhi was given to new recipients in the Colombo District at a ceremony held in Homagama yesterday under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Ministers like Ravi Karunanayake, Daya Gamage, Non Cabinet Minister Harsha De Silva and State Minister Eran Wickramaratne were present at the ceremony.
The Socialist Equality Party today staged a protest outside the Fort Railway Station in Colombo urging the government to immediately release the writer Shakthika Sathkumara and to build an international coalition to fight internet censorship. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi
The Sri Lanka Army today donated two ultrasound scanners to the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital. Each member of the Army had volunteered to donate a day’s pay to purchase the machines. Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army, participated in the ceremony which was held to hand over the scanners. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana
The deployment of Sri Lanka’s first satellite Raavana 1, designed and developed by two Sri Lankan research engineers, into orbit can be viewed live from 3.30 pm onwards today by logging into the ACCIMT web (http://www.accimt.ac.lk/) site or directly through following the YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/rrw3cMw10nQ).
President Maithripala Sirisena called on Tajikistan President, Emomali Rahmon, in Dushanbe today. President Sirisena said he held very fruitful exchange of ideas with Tajik President Rahmon. “He has excellent views on security of small nations and confidence building measures to prevent conflicts,” he said.
The St. Anthony’s Church Kochikade which was one of the locations targeted by bombers on Easter Sunday, was re-consecrated by Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith after renovation, and opened to the public today. Auxiliary Bishops of Colombo Maxwell Silva and J.D. Anthony Jayakody and several politicians participated in it. Pix Nimalsiri Edirisinghe
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
Planned cuts to former presidents’ perks face legal hurdles
Govt. to conduct probe into e-visa fraud: Vijitha Herath
African leaders pour in congratulatory messages to President
Police security assigned for former MPs withdrawn