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Easter celebrated around the world, in pictures

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Tens of thousands of worshipers have gathered in St Peter's square to hear Pope Francis lead Easter Sunday Mass. (BBC)

Ceremonies have been taking place across the world to mark the most important festival in the Christian calendar – Easter.

 

Reuters Tens of thousands of worshippers have gathered in St Peter's square in Rome to hear Pope Francis lead Easter Sunday Mass

Jesus was resurrected on Easter Sunday, the Bible says, days after dying on the cross on Good Friday. It is traditional for many to attend services on Saturday evening as well as on Sunday.

A day after pulling out of a ceremony at short notice, Pope Francis took part in a two-hour vigil at the Vatican on Saturday.

There had been renewed concern about his health when he did not participate in a Good Friday procession.

Reuters The Pope looks at a candle during the Easter Vigil

But, the 87-year-old pontiff read a lengthy homily and carried out a number of baptisms.

Around the world, people celebrated Easter including in the Philippines where worshippers crowded to get a glimpse of the traditional procession.

Reuters Crowds gather on stairs for a traditional procession in the Philippines
Crowds gather on stairs for a traditional procession in the Philippines
Reuters Children dressed as angels pray ahead of the procession
In the capital Manila, children dressed as angels and prayed.
Reuters In Fort Jesus, Kenya worshippers young and old joined together to light candles

Elsewhere, in Nairobi’s Kiberia district in Kenya, worshipers young and old joined together to light candles.

EPA Priests led the service in Nairobi next to a fire outside the church
Priests led the service in Nairobi next to a fire outside the church
Reuters A woman attends the Easter Sunday service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church of Pakistan, in Karachi
A woman attends the Easter Sunday service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church of Pakistan, in Karachi
Getty Images A Catholic priest gives the Holy communion to a Christian devotee during an Easter Sunday service commemorating the resurrection of Jesus as part of the Holy Week celebrations and to mark the fifth anniversary of the Easter Sunday attack, at St. Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya.

Easter Sunday marks a major part of the Catholic calendar and is followed by 1.3 billion people around the globe. At the St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, Sri Lanka, a Catholic priest gave Holy communions to Christian devotees.

Services have also been held across many European capitals, cities and towns.

Reuters Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, leads Easter Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City
Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, leads Easter Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City
Reuters A worshipper kisses a cross during an Easter vigil service at the Grand Immaculate Church in Al-Hamdaniya, Iraq
A worshiper kisses a cross during an Easter vigil service at the Grand Immaculate Church in Al-Hamdaniya, Iraq
(BBC)


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Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended

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The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the  Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.

Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.

LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been  issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been  issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

 

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Russia gifts 35 tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka

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The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at  Katunayake today (10th December)

The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation  Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).

Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”

The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station,  Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and  Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)

The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.

 

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Sri Lanka squad named for ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup

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Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has named a 15-member squad to participate in the upcoming ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup (50 Over).

The team will depart for the United Arab Emirates today [0 December 2025] and has been placed in Group B, alongside Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

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