President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa arrived at the Heathrow Airport in London yesterday to attend the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II. Here, President Rajapaksa being welcomed by Sri Lankan children. External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peiris,Parliamentarian Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr.Chiris Nonis were also present. Picture by Sudath Silva

A large group of Sri Lankans domiciled in UK gathered in London yesterday to greet President Mahinda Rajapaksa who arrived to attend the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II. They were seen engaged in a peaceful demonstration opposite the hotel the President was staying in to show their support. They also carried boards with congratulatory words to the Queen. Earlier in the day an attempt by a handful of pro-LTTE demonstrators to engage in a protest at the same location failed due to a lack of participants. Picture by Sudath Silva

Base laid for Northern industrial development

The government is developing infrastructure in the Northern Province to set up massive Industrial Zones within an year, which will see the creation of hundreds of thousands of employment opportunities and bring development to the region on an unprecedented scale, Northern Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri said.

Full Story

Lankans posing as domestic helps fall into Sharjah police net

The Sharjah Police arrested a four-member Sri Lankan gang and recovered a large quantity of stolen items including gold jewellery worth Dh 220,000, which were smuggled outside the country. The gang comprising two men and two women allegedly stole the jewellery, cash, electronic items, mobile phones, watches and other valuables from houses and apartments in various areas of the emirate, the police said.

Full Story

President arrives in London for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa arrived in London yesterday to attend the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth 11. President Rajapaksa and the First Lady will attend a reception and a concert at Buckingham Palace, Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, a reception at Guildhall and a lunch hosted by Commonwealth Secretary General Kamlesh Sharma in honour of the Queen.

Full Story

Reduced Iranian crude oil imports raise hopes

The government is hopeful that the US will grant Sri Lanka a concession to import crude oil from Iran as the country has succeeded in slashing Iranian oil imports by 24 percent this year. Sri Lanka has reduced the number of crude oil despatches to be delivered this year from Iran to 10 from 13 by switching to fuel from Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Full Story

ANCL lights up Mihinthale

The 50th Poson Mihinthale Aloka Pooja organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (ANCL) ends today. The three day Aloka Pooja began on Sunday. The 50th Aloka Pooja is organised under the guidance of Ven Walahahengunawewe Dhammaratana Nayake Thera and on the direction of ANCL Chairman and Managing Director Bandula Padmakumara.

Full Story