56th ASEAN Day celebrated

The 56th ASEAN Day was celebrated by the Heads of Missions of the ASEAN Member States in Sri Lanka, (Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam). The ASEAN flag raising ceremony and a reception were held at the Indonesian Embassy premises in Colombo yesterday, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the chief guest. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

Old Maskeliya town emerges

Several buildings including temples and kovils in the old Maskeliya town that had been submerged by the reservoir have emerged due to the prevailing drought in the central hills. The engineers in charge said the water level in the reservoir stands at 49 ft below spill level. Pix by Gamini Bandara Ilangatilleka

Against forcibly entering CB

A group of members attached to the Lease and Loan Payers’ Association had forcibly entered the premises of the Central Bank this morning, and hence a heated situation had arisen. Later, eight individuals were arrested by the Fort Police. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Kurundi Vihara Wansa launched...

Kurundi Vihara Wansa, a compilation of essays on Kurundi Viharaya by academics of five Sri Lankan universities, was launched at the Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Mandiraya at Thummulla today. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Trainer aircraft crashes

A training aircraft of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF crashed inside the SLAF Academy in China Bay this morning after the take-off this morning, killing the pilot and an officer.

Royal retain Bradby Shield

Royal College retained the Bradby Shield after recording 27-17 over Trinity College in the second leg of the 77th encounter at Reid Avenue. President Ranil Wickremesinghe also watched the match.

Tourists climb Mihintale with flaming torches

A group of foreign tourists, including French nationals who came to worship the Mihintale sacred city without knowing that electricity had been cut off in the premises were seen climbing Mihintale mountain by torch light. The electricity supply to Mihintale sacred city was disconnected on Tuesday morning due to non payment of due arrears. Pix by B.G Chathuranga

Profood Propack 2023 at BMICH

The recently announced and highly anticipated Sri Lanka Food Processors’ Association (SLFPA) and Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services Pvt Ltd (LECS) 20th edition of the Profood Propack & Agbiz Exhibition opened today at the BMICH Exhibition Center. The exhibition will close on August 6. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Cheers!

Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara hosted a dinner at ’The Avenue’ in Colombo for Minister of State Fujimaru Satoshi in the Cabinet Office of Japan and Yamamoto Kozo, former Minister of State for Regional Revitalization, during their official visit to Sri Lanka. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Women MPs meet former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda

Sri Lankan Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Sri Lanka who are on a study visit to New Zealand, met the former Prime Ministers of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and Helen Clark recently, a statement from the parliamentary media division said.

Demand to solve survey issues... 

The Government Surveyors’ Association held a protest in front of the Tourism Ministry in Colombo over several demands, including not to hand over the surveying section to the private sector. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Annual Upasampada Ceremony

The Upasampada Vinaya Karma ceremony of the Mulawanshika Chapter of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Sect was held on 23 Esala month 2023 at Ven. Mahakarawe Siri Gnanawimala Tissa Mahanayake Thera Memorial Uposthagara with the participation of the Vinsath Wargika Karaka Sangha Sabha and venerable Theras including Maha Nayake Maha Mahopagya Most Venerable Ahungalle Wimaladamma Thissa Thera.

Seeking blessings on Esala Poya day

Hands off funds, future of workforce...

Members of the Jathika Jana Balawegaya staged a protest in front of the Fort Railway Station, demanding the authorities protect the funds (EPF, ETF) of the country’s workforce and to stop grabbing the future of the working masses. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

High-level discussion among diplomats

A discussion was held among Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, Japan State Minister Fujimaru Satoshi and former Japan State Minister Kozo Yamamoto, Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mishu Koshi, related to expanding and strengthening vocational education cooperation between Sri Lanka and Japan.

Indo-Lanka Edu Net launched

Indo-Lanka Edu Net, a platform aimed at connecting alumni from educational institutions in India and Sri Lanka launched its organization as well as its website during an event at the Mandarina Hotel in Colombo.

Essential items for pregnant women

Several donors distributed complete sets of baby equipment including clothes, to 28 pregnant women at an event at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

UNP holds Dompe ’Bala Mandala’ meeting

UNP Gampaha District Dompe ’Bala Mandala’ meeting was held in Pugoda yesterday with the participation of UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene. The meeting was organized by UNP Dompe Organiser Amal Rodrigo. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Warmly welcomed...

French President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived in the island for a short visit, meets President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Book on Easter Sunday carnage launched

’Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday Massacre: Lessons for the International Community,’ penned by Dr. Rohan Gunaratna was launched today at the BMICH with the presence of distinguished guests, including Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

10th National Scout Jamboree unveiled

The Sri Lankan Scouts participating in the 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea met President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat today (28). During the gathering, the official logo for the upcoming 10th National Scout Jamboree, scheduled for 2024, was unveiled, adding to the sense of excitement and anticipation among the scouts.

Tear-gassed…

Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse a group of protesters from the Joint Trade Unions and Civil Organizations at Borella. Pix by Nisal Baduge

France’s finest bread maker reads Daily Mirror after arrival

Darshan Selvaraj, who has been awarded the contract to supply his bakery products to the French President’s House for a period of one year after being elected as the best ’’Baguette’’ bread producer in France in 2023, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport this morning.

Sri Lanka’s worst ever home Test defeat

Sri Lanka suffered their worst Test defeat at home when they lost to Pakistan by an innings and 222 runs at the SSC grounds. Pakistan also won the first Test last week, sweeping the two Test series. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Allow implementation of regulations passed by legislature

A protest was held in front of the Labour Ministry demanding that the authorities allow the independent implementation of regulations passed by the legislature. The protest was held by the officials of the Labour Ministry, Labor Department and other government institutions.

SLAF holds annual Hindu religious ceremony

The Annual SLAF Hindu Religious Ceremony was held at the Captains Garden Sri Kailasanathar Swamy Devasthanam, Colombo with the participation of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa and Chairperson of SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Enoka Rajapaksa.

Let us continue with our performances...

Several artists and musicians held a media briefing yesterday and urged the government and relevant authorities not to stop the music festival which is currently being held in Track 18 at Rajangana. They claimed that they were unaware why the musical event organized by Aura Lanka Entertainment (Pvt.) Ltd is being stopped. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Semi-annual police inspection

The semi-annual police inspection was held by the Dam Street and Aduruppu Veediya Police Stations at the Gunasinghapura Stadium. The parade was reviwed by Colombo (Central) SSP Lalith Liyanage, commanded by Dam Street OIC Chief Inspector Ajith Peduruarachchi. OIC of the Aduruppu Veediya Police Station, IP Ajith Meththananada also participated. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Release remanded undergrads…

A group from the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) staged a protest in Town Hall demanding the release of the undergraduates who are under remand custody. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Rushing for imported eggs...

People were seen buying imported eggs at a supermarket in Colombo yesterday. Imported eggs are sold at Rs. 35 each and packed eggs at Rs. 40 each. The Ministry of Trade & Commerce decided to release imported eggs to the local market due to the continuing high prices by local producers. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana