Newly-appointed PM engages in religious observances

Newly sworn-in Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe engages in religious observances at Walukarama Temple, Kollupitiya. Monks are seen invoking blessings on the new PM. Mr. Wickremesinghe became Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the sixth time. He was appointed following the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned from the post on May 9. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

People rush to streets after curfew lifted

People rush to streets after curfew lifted Following the lifting of the curfew for a few hours today, people were seen taking to the streets to buy goods. Some of them were seen catching a bus to go to the offices. The Fort Railway Station was seen deserted as long-distance trains were not operating today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Soldiers on high alert in the city

Picture shows soldiers standing alert at road blocks to check pedestrian and vehicular movements, as the curfew is temporarily lifted. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Endless agony continues...

People are standing in long queues to buy kerosene in Kotahena yesterday, as the nation suffers without fuel, gas, kerosene, medicine etc. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Army Chief at HRCSL

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva arrived at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Heavy security in Colombo...

Sri Lanka army was seen operating road blocks to check people travelling during the curfew in Colombo. Army motorcycle squad is also deployed to maintain security. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe and Pradeep Dilrukshana

Security tightened

Tri forces had been deployed to tighten security in the Colombo City following recent violent clashes. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

’GotaGoGama’ back to its old glory...

The GotaGoGama was rebuit this evening after the site was attacked and vandalised by pro-government goons yesterday. A protest organised by the Trade Union Alliance paraded to the GotaGoGama and provided food for the people who were staying at the site. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Colombo, Gampaha during curfew...

The Colombo City and Gampaha looks calm and the streets are deserted as island-wide curfew was clamped down yesterday until 7.00 am on Wednesday. Six people have been reported died and nearly 200 injured. The nation plunged into chaos after a group of government supporters attacked the peaceful protesters opposite Temple Trees and at Galle Face on Monday. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana and Kushan Pathiraja

Debris...

Security was tightened yesterday in Colombo as the picture shows debris were strewn everywhere as a result of violent clashes between pro and anti government supporters on Monday. Around six people died and more than 200 injured in the skirmishes. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel and Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Aftermath the clashes...

Several vehicles including buses which were used to bring goons to disrupt the peaceful protests at Galle Face Green were seen vandalised and burnt. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana, Kushana Pathiraja, Nimalsiri Edirisinghe and Pradeep Pathirana

Clashes...

A tense situation was reported at the ’GotaGoGama’ after the pro Mahinda supporters attacked the protesters at the ’GotaGoGama’. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana and Nimal Edirisinghe

’Stay on’

A group of supporters of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen gathered outside Temple Trees in Colombo to urge him not to resign from the post of PM.Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Army Chief visits Jaffna

General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army today graced an inaugural occasion as the Chief Guest to handed over Park for Sports, Recreation and Education Support to the local in Jaffna. The constructions of the park were carried out by the the 51 Division HQ of the Security Force HQ-Jaffna in line with the ’Army Way Forward Strategy-2020-2025’.

Preparing for Vesak

With the Vesak festival just around the corner, people were seen busy buying Vesak decorations in the areas in Colombo. Pix by Nisal Baduge

’By hook or by crook’

A group of people who gathered at Armour Street, Colombo today obstructed and stopped a lorry transporting gas cylinders and forcibly took some gas cylinders. It is reported that some 100 gas cylinders went missing.

Colombo Uni. student’s protest

Colombo Uni. student’s protest A group of students of the University of Colombo staged a protest outside the university urging the President and the government to resign. Pix by Nisal Baduge

PM visits Anuradhapura

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Anuradhapura this morning to pay homage to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. Protests were also reported in several areas against the Prime Minister’s visit. Pix by B.G. Chaturanga

Demanding LP gas

The residents of Nawinna area staged a protest this morning blocking the High Level Road (138 bus route) at Nawinna demanding for gas. Pix by Nisal Baduge

'Go Home Ranil’'- Protestors gather outside UNP Leader’s house

A group of protestors gathered outside UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s house in 5th Lane in Colombo today morning, with protestors calling on him to stay home. The protestors gathered after allegations by TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam in Parliament this week saying Ranil was seen persuading opposition MPs to vote for the government backed Ranjith Siyambalapitya in the Deputy Speaker election.

FTZ workers join the fray...

The employees of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Katunayake today join in a protest in view to extend their support to the countrywide hartal. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Hartal deserts Colombo...

Streets in Colombo Fort are seen deserted due to the countrywide hartal. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

GMOA, HTUC extend support to hartal

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) and the Health Trade Union Confederation (HTUC) of the Colombo General Hospital today staged a protest in support of the nationwide hartal. Pix by Pradeep Pahirana

In solidarity to nationwide hartal...

Protests were held in Colombo to extend support the countrywide hartal held today vociferously demanding the present government to quit. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi, Pradeep Dilrukshana, Nimalsiri Edirisinghe, Pradeep Pathirana, Nisal Baduge and Kushan Pathiraja

Police protect Parliament with parked buses

The police parked buses at the entrance leading to the Parliament premises as hundreds of protestors were tear gassed outside a short while ago.

Protest outside Colombo Port...

A protest was staged outside Colombo Port in support of the Hartal which was launched throughout the country today. Some protesters are pictured here holding placards. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Underwear protest...

A group of protesters hung underwear on the barricades that were put up near the Parliament roundabout. One protester was seen wearing a loin cloth and others with underwear suspended on strings tied around their loins. They chanted slogans saying ’’this is all we are left with.’’ Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Hartal hits passenger transport

Many sectors of Sri Lanka came to a standstill today due to the ongoing 24-hour hartal by a number of trade unions. Pix by Nisal Baduge

’Mala batha’ cooked to send govt. home...

The Joint Trade Union Front and several other trade unions in the government, semi-government and private sectors organised a hartal where they cooked a ‘mala batha’ while urging the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime to quit and go home. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

IUSF and Police clash at Polduwa Junction

Thousands of Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) activists, who tried to break through two steel barricades manned by hundreds of policemen at the Polduwa Junction to block entry into the Parliament Road, were tear gassed and then attacked with water cannon last evening. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana