Blessings from Buddha

Today is Esala full moon Poya day, which is celebrated by Buddhists Island wide. Esala Poya is significant to Buddhists as the day Buddha preached his first dhamma sermon, the ’Dhamma Chakka Pavattana Sutta’. The picture shows devotees at the Gangarama temple and Sri Devram Maha Vehera in Pannipitiya taking part in religious observances. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel and Nisal Baduge

Gas distribution...

A truckload of domestic LITRO gas cylinders were brought today and distributed among consumers at the Pepiliyana grounds. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel and Nisal Baduge

Getting back to normal...

The streets of Colombo are starting to get crowded again as a result of the recent public protests. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Air tickets for workers flying to Japan

Air tickets were symbolically awarded handed over to young workers through the IRO College of Education technical intern recruits Sri Lankan workers in Japan. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Sri Lanka draw Test series 1-1

Sri Lanka beat Australia by an innings and 39 runs in the second Test in Galle on Monday. Australia, with a first innings deficit of 190, were bowled out for 151 with Prabath Jayasuriya taking 6 for 59, the best figures for a Sri Lankan on debut. He took 12 for 177 for the match, the best match bag for a Sri Lankan in their first Test. Earlier Dinesh Chandimal scored his first double century for Sri Lanka.

Stop suppressing protesters...

Trade unions and civil organization today staged a protest near the Police headquarters calling the authorities to stop suppressing the protesters who took over some key state buildings on Saturday. Pix Pradeep Dilrukshana

Overcrowded trains

Overcrowded passenger trains were seen this morning in several areas as limited buses were operated due to shortage of fuel. Pix by Kithsir de Mel

Sri Lanka take control of second Test

Sri Lanka took a 67-run lead in the second Test against Australia, thanks to a century from former captain Dinesh Chandimal and fifties from Kamindu Mendis and Angelo Mathews. Sri Lanka ended day three of the Test on 431 for 6, with Chandimal unbeaten on 118. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Public galore in Presidential Secretariat, House and Temple Trees

People continue to flock to the Presidential Secretariat, President’s House and Temple Trees which was taken over by protestors yesterday. Pix byKithsiri de Mel

Ruwan visits PM’s damaged house

Former Minister Ruwan Wijewardene today inspected the Prime Minister’s private residence in Colombo that was set on fire last night.Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Deserted...

Roads in Colombo City and suburbs were seen deserted today even though it was congested with protesters yesterday.Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Muslims gather for Eid al-Adha

Devotees gathered at the Galle Fort Meera Mosque in Galle to celebrate Eid al-Adha on Sunday. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Aragalaya takes over!

Protesters took control of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s official residence, Presidential Secretariat following the protest held this morning. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Sri Lanka reach 184 for 2

Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne scored half centuries for Sri Lanka in reply to Australia’s first innings score of 364 in the first Test in Galle. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Protestors tear gassed in Fort

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters gathered at the Chatham Street in Colombo this morning. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi, Pradeep Dilrukshana and Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Colombo security conclave concludes

The Member States of the Colombo Security Conclave comprising India, Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, successfully concluded the 6th Deputy National Security Adviser level meeting held on 7 July 2022 hosted by the National Security Council Secretariat of India in Kochi. Delegations from Bangladesh and Seychelles participated as observers.

Centuries for Labuschagne, Smith

Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith scored centuries as Australia ended day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka on 298 for 5, in Galle on Friday. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Living life...not easy

Picture shows porters are using their carts to handle gunny bags full of dry foods along a street in Colombo. The World Food Programme (WFP) in its latest report said that 6.26 million people in Sri Lanka are food insecure and it targets three million people to receive emergency food, nutrition and meals for schoolchildren sitting until December this year. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Journos protest against Rajapaksas

Several journalist groups including YouTubers and social media activists led by Sri Lanka Young Journalists’ Association held a demonstration today at the Lipton Circus condemning the killings related to media personalities and other activists that took place during the past Rajapaksa regime. The demonstrators demanded justice for all these killings. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Implement proposals forwarded by Maha Sangha

A large number of Buddhist monks marched towards Colombo city and began a continuous Satyagraha at Fort today, urging the government to implement the proposals put forward by the Maha Sangha. Pix by Pradeep Dilruskhana

Its Rambutan season

Vendors are seen selling Rambutan, Dragon fruit (Pitaya fruit) and Mangosteen along several streets of Colombo announcing the return of Rambutan season. People are also seen making a stop near the stalls to purchase the fruits. Pix By Pradeep Pathirana

Guarantee uninterrupted education for students

The Principals and Teachers’ unions today held a protest at Slave Island, Colombo 2, demanding the government to open schools to continue studies and guarantee uninterrupted education for schoolchildren. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

FUTA invites people for July 9 gathering

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) today conducted a protest march from Nugegoda Junction to the Colombo public library. The feature of this protest parade was the participation of university professors riding in bicycles. They invited the public to gather in Colombo this Saturday (9) to end this anarchical rule. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Heavy traffic due to fuel queues

Heavy traffic was reported at Kirulapona and suburbs due to long fuel queues. Pictures show long queues on both sides of the road. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe and Pradeep Pathirana

Tear gas to disperse SJB protesters

The police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters, led by the Samagi Jana Bala (SJB) parliamentarians at Chatham Street, Colombo, soon after the arrest of former parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra, who led a protest near the President’s House in Fort. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Mahinda Samarasinghe meets Antony Blinken

Sri Lankan Ambassador for US Mahinda Samarasinghe met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife Evan Maureen Ryan, who is a senior US public servant and currently White House Cabinet Secretary, at the Franklin Room at the US State Department when Secretary Blinken hosted Ambassadors in US recently.

Want en end to this economic crisis

The Fort Joint Trade Union Alliance (FJTUA) today staged a protest in front of the Ports Authority premises, demanding the rulers to end the present economic crisis. Pix by Samantha Perera

Commuters stranded at Fort station due to protest

People are seen stranded at the Fort Railways station this evening due to a sudden trade union action launched by the railway workers. They began their trade union action pointing out the unavailability of fuel for them to report for duty. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Action Plan of the Citizens Struggle

The Action Plan of the Citizens’ Struggle was launched during a meeting called ’’The Struggle’’ held at the ’GotaGoGama’ in Galle Face Green last evening. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Unending queues at petrol sheds

A large number of motorcycles are seen queued up at filling stations even today in Colombo. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe