July 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa received the colourful Hindu religious festival Adi Vel 2010 procession when it reached the Temple Trees gate on Galle Road today.

This was the first time since 1994 that the 160-year-old Adi Vel Hindu religious procession could travel in front of the Temple Trees on Galle Road as for the last 16 years it could not travel through that section of the road due to security restrictions. After the defeat of terrorism, President has instructed that the Hindu Adi Vel procession should be allowed to take its normal route.

(Pictures by Sudath Silva)