People languish in Long queues to buy milk powder…

A long queue was seen outside the Pelwatte Dairy Industries Outlet in Nugegoda to buy milk powder where each customer was given a maximum of five packets of milk powder due to limited stock. Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe

Welikada prisoner murder case postponed

A three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court has adjourned the verdict in the Welikada prisoner murder case until January 12. The verdict was to be pronounced today (6) by a three-Judge bench comprising Gihan Kulatunga, Pradeep Hettiarachchi and Manjula Tilakaratne. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Reopen all universities....

The University of Kelaniya Students’ Union held a protest yesterday demanding the reopening of all universities that have been closed. Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe

Torch light protest by SJB

A torch light protest was held by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) near the Dematagoda Railway station last night against the scarcity of kerosene and other essential commodities. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Queen’s Baton Relay at Independence Square

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay which arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday was carried to Ceylon School for the deaf and blind and the Independence Square yesterday. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Dev. Officers’ Service Union protest

The members of the Development Officers Service Union (DOSU) today staged a protest in front of the Education Ministry over several demands, including absorbing the development service officers attached to national schools into the teaching profession. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Construction of Technology Science building of Malambe Boys’ College launched

Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa today participated in a ceremony held for the construction of the three-storey Technology Science building, the Malambe Boys’ College.

Unemployed graduates protest...

A group of unemployed graduates staged a protest in front of the Fort Railway Station and the Public Administration Ministry today, urging the authorities to expedite the recruitment of unemployed university graduates. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana and Waruna wanniarachchi

Dengue eradication campaign at Gothatuwa

Gothatuwa Mulleriyawa Community Police Units recently conducted a Dengue Eradication Campaign at the Gothatuwa MOH Office. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Demo by Kelaniya uni. undergrads....

The University of Kelaniya Students’ Union today organized a protest rally in Colombo against the abolition of the scholarship of student leaders who spoke out for the independence of the university and the installation of CCTV systems that paves the way for unjust compensation, repression and militarization. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Dehiwala beach gets a facelift....

A beach cleanup program was conducted at the Dehiwala beach today by the Civil Defence Force officers. Plastic trash were seen strewn along the beach with the debris washed ashore from the ill-fated X-Press Pearl vessel which caught fire near the Colombo Harbour last year. Pix by Nisal Baduge

A helping hand...

Around 200 children who were dropped out of school due to various reasons were admitted to school again by providing them with necessary stationery at Gangarama Temple in Hunupitiya today. Minister Sarath Weerasekara, Police Chief C. D. Wickramaratne and Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon were present at the event.Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

Queen’s Baton arrives in Sri Lanka

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay arrived in Sri Lanka this afternoon, reaching the 25th destination out of the 72 Commonwealth nations. President of Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) in Sri Lanka, Suresh Subramaniam, and other dignitaries from the Ministry of Sports and British High Commission officially welcomed the Baton at the Bandaranaike International Airport. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel and Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Army HQ commences duties for the New Year

The first working day in the New Year-2022 at the Army Headquarters in Sri Jayewardenepura was ceremonially commenced this morning under the patronage of Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Sapugaskanda in operation

The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery which was to be temporarily closed from today was seen in operations as of this afternoon. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Beginning of a long journey

A grade one student whose term is to commence today was seen getting a moment’s chance to go through a book that he desired, whilst his parents were busy buying books for the first year in school, from a stall at the People’s Park shopping complex yesterday. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Prior to opening schools...

School children are busy cleaning their School premises ahead of reopening schools after a long closure owing Covid-19 pandemic. Pix Nisal Baduge

Religious observances...

Large crowds are seen in Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara engaging in religious observances during the New Year, despite pandemic threat. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

School children get stationery...

Distributing exercise books and stationery items to school children in the Ragama area, was held at the Lourdes Sewa Piyasa yesterday under the patronage of Ihalagama Sri Sugatharamaya Chief Incumbent Ven. Maradanmaduwa Chandawimala Thero. The initiative is a concept of Tewatta Grama Niladhari Purnika Navaratne. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe 

Worthy cause...

As the first community police deed for the year 2022, some 600 helpless people in Colombo were brought to 24 police stations, cleaned them and provided them with new dresses and milk rice this morning. The event was held under the patronage of in-charge of the Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon and the instructions of OIC Maradana Police Chief Inspector Nalin Jayasundara. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe and Pradeep Dilruckshana

Welcome 2022...

People with their families are seen in Colombo enjoying on New Year’s Eve to embrace the 2022. Besides, the magnificent sight of the Lotus Tower at the background adds glamour to the city’s beauty. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Rs. 1,000 gift voucher for senior citizens...

A gift voucher of Rs 1,000 was distributed to senior citizens in the Ragama area in line with the New Year. This event was organised by the Ja-ela Divisional Secretariat and held at Sasanodaramaya Temple today under the direction of acting Grama Niladhari of Tewatta and Narangoda Paluwa 214 Purnika Nawaratne. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Getting ready to welcome 2022?

People are seen buying goods in preparation to welcome and celebrate the New Year tomorrow. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Firewood bundles get to supermarket shelves

Due to the acute shortage of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), consumers have now opted for ‘firewood’ and the soaring demand has now led it to supermarket shelves. Several leading supermarkets are seen now selling bundles of firewood and clay pots. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Preparing for New Year...

People in Colombo are seen today purchasing fireworks in preparation for the New Year celebrations.However, firework sellers complained of low sales this year.Pix by Pradeep Dilruskshana

Buying expensive veggies...

People were seen purchasing vegetables at Bodhiraja Mawatha in Colombo Fort today despite exorbitant prices. Pix byPradeep Dilrukshana

CTSU at Bribery Commission

Members of the Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) today arrived at the Bribery Commission over a complaint lodged by them over an incident where some 54 officials of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service were offered scholarships in the UK without due procedure.Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Mobile vaccination program for disabled elderly in Gothatuwa

A mobile vaccination program was held today for the disabled elderly personnel in the Gothatuwa Police Division. The Gothatuwa Community Police Unit organised the vaccination program. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

UNMISS Bound First Army Group Leaves for South Sudan

The first group of the eighth Army contingent of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps (SLAMC), bound for the United Nations Peace-Keeping Mission in South Sudan’s Level-2 Hospital (UNMISS) to serve the SRIMED Hospital left for South Sudan during early morning hours on Wednesday (29) amidst greetings of the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Against selling state assets...

Members of the Samagi Sevaka Sangamaya (SSS) today staged a protest in front of the Foreign Ministry over the government’s move to sell state assets. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana