Passing out to serve

The passing out parade of the Sri Lanka Navy was held yesterday in Trincomalee. The chief guest for the event was Prime Minister D. M. Jayarathne. Pictures show the parade in which 67 officers took honours. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

In contemplation

These pictures were taken at the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya during the ceremony held to commemorate the Binara Poya. Devotees are seen participating in religious observences. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Together as one

A batch of rehabilitated LTTE cadres are seen here on tour in the south of the country. The tour titled "Thal ruppawen Pol ruppawata" was organised by the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry under the patronage of Minister Dallas Allahapperuma. UPFA parliamentarian and former national cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya participated in a softball cricket match with the former cadres as a part of the tour.

Govt. took weapons on loan: SF

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka while being escorting to the High Court stated that the Government took weapons on loan to win the war and now they are repaying it. He said the government will not be able to redress the masses for an interminable period. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Paying last respects

People pay their respects to the victims of a Russian ice hockey team plane crash at the Old Town Square in Prague September 8, 2011. A passenger plane carrying a Russian ice hockey team to a season-opening match crashed after takeoff from a provincial airport on Wednesday, leaving 43 people feared dead. Czech Republic's Jan Marek, Karel Rachunek and Josef Vasicek, who played for Russian team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, were amongst the 43 people

Emergency drill

A Beriev Be-200ChS aircraft of the Russia Ministry for Emergency Situations (MChS Rossii) releases fire-extinguishing chemical during an air emergency drill in Heihe, Heilongjiang province September 8, 2011. The drill is held by China's Heilongjiang Bureau of Maritime Affairs and Russia's Amur Region Bureau of Emergency aiming at enhancing cooperation on dealing with emergency. REUTERS

Gem and Jewellery show

The 21st Sri Lanka International Gem and Jewellery show commenced today at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre (SBMEC) and will go on till September 11. Ministers Rishad Bathiudeen and A. H. M. Fauzi participated at the event. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

100 Day Plan

Colombo Mayoral Candidate, Milinda Moragoda presented his ‘100 Day Plan’ for Colombo to Rt. Rev. Dhiloraj Canagasabey, Bishop of Colombo. (Pix by Samantha Perera)

Friendly tour to the South

Some 500 rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres today visited the Fort Railway Station in Colombo during a trip to the south which is a part of the final phase of the rehabilitation programme at the Vavuniya rehabilitation camp. May of them said they had never been to the southern parts of the country. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Russian hockey team plane crashes

Emergency workers search the wreckage of a plane that crashed near the Russian city of Yaroslavl September 7, 2011. Forty-three people were feared dead after a plane carrying a Russian hockey team crashed on Wednesday near the city of Yaroslavl, the Emergency Situations Ministry said. REUTERS

Russian hockey team plane crash

Emergency workers search the wreckage of a plane that crashed near the Russian city of Yaroslavl September 7, 2011. Forty-three people were feared dead after a plane carrying a Russian hockey team crashed on Wednesday near the city of Yaroslavl, the Emergency Situations Ministry said. REUTERS

Medical Exhibition

The medical students of the Kelaniya University organised a medical exhibition at the Ragama medical college for the third time, to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The exhibition goes on from September 5 to 10. Pix by Samantha Perera

Incubating farm outside Hanoi

Ducklings are pictured at an incubating farm outside Hanoi September 7, 2011.  Virologists warned on Tuesday that there was no vaccine against a mutant strain of H5N1 bird flu now spreading in China and Vietnam and called for closer monitoring of the disease in poultry and wild birds to stop it spreading to people. REUTERS

Delhi bomb blast (VIDEO)

Paramedics rush a covered man, who was injured by a bomb blast outside the High Court in New Delhi, to a hospital for treatment on September 7, 2011. A powerful bomb placed in a briefcase outside the High Court in New Delhi killed at least nine people and injured 45 on Wednesday, a senior official said, prompting the Indian government to put the capital on high alert. (REUTERS)

Bus strike

Picture shows a nearly empty Gampaha-Nittambuwa bus halt due to the current private bus strike on the Gampaha-Colombo route. Only air-conditioned buses operated today due to the strike. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Pakistan Defence Day

A reception was held yesterday to celebrate the Defence Day of Pakistan, at the Galadari Hotel. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Against the land policy

A seminar themed  - “Stop land grabbing in the name of development, ensure life and livelihood” and protest rally was organised by the Praja Abhilasha Network in Borella yesterday.  People affected by development projects in Sampur, Negombo, Galle, Hambanthota, Panama and Mannar  participated in both the seminar and the rally. (Pix by Nisal Baduge)

"Final Phase"

The final phase of the SEa, Air and Land(SEAL) excercise was conducted in Trincomalee yesterday. Pictures show action during the final operation. (Pix by Pradeep Pathirana)

United again

Picture shows UNP reformists Dayasiri Jayasekara, Ranjith Maddumabandara, Palitha Range Bandara and Thalatha Athukorale sharing a light moment with the parties Mayoral candidate A.J.M. Muzammil. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Elephant tusks - seized

Malaysia's customs officials display newly-seized elephant tusks in Port Klang outside Kuala Lumpur September 5, 2011. Two containers containing 695 elephant tusks worth 3 million ringgit (US $1 million) were seized by Malaysia's customs department on Friday, as reported by Malaysia's daily The Star quoting the customs assistant director-general. REUTERS

Rock balancing performance

Environment enthusiast Leandro Mendoza performs rock balancing at a school in Tanay, Rizal province, east of Manila September 5, 2011.  Rock balancing is a performance art which involves arranging natural stones usually found on location, in gravity-defying arrangements without the need of any additional tools. Local environment enthusiasts Mendoza and Ildefonso Vista pioneered this art form in hope of creating greater awareness among peop

2nd coal power plant in Trinco

The signing of a joint venture and shareholder agreement to establish Sri Lanka’s second coal power plant was held this morning at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo. The coal power plant will have an installed capacity of 500 MWs and the agreement was signed by officials from India and Sri Lanka and was chaired by Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. Pix by Samantha Perera.

Vocational Training for Inmates

The Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms together with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development is to provide vocational training to 10,000 inmates in prisons island-wide. The agreement was signed today at the Bogambara Prison by the two ministers. (Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana)

Pensive

Colombo mayoral candidate of the UPFA Milinda Moragoda in a pensive mood at the news briefing held today at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Discussion point

UNP National Organiser Ravi Karunanayake discusses a point with party’s mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council M. J. M. Mussamil while General Secretary Tissa Attanayake looks on at the function to mark the opening of Mr. Mussamil’s campaign office at Dean’s Road, Colombo 10.  Pix by Nisal Baduge

Rotary South Asia Conference

The Rotary South Asia Conference on Development and Cooperation was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo today. The conference will come to an end on September 6. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

145th Police Day

The Police Department marked its 145th anniversary since its inspection in 1866. It was held under the patronage of Inspector General of Police (IGP) N.K Illangakoon at Police Park. (Pix by Samantha Perera) 

Kotte Dalada Perahera

The Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya held its annual 'Dalada Perahera' for the 111th year. Pictures show the Perahera parading the streets of Kotte Last night. A large number of devotees and visitors gathered along the streets to witness the event. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

Comoran Strike 2011

The Sri Lankan security forces conducted a SEa, Air and Land (SEAL) excercise by the name of 'Comoran Strike 2011' in Trincomalee which ended yesterday. The event was held from August 24th to the 3rd of September. 2500 security forces personnel participated in the excercise.The excercise was a brainchild of Army Commander Lt.General Jagath Jayasuriya. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Riding the waves

These pictures were taken at an international surfing event held in Sri Lanka's eastern coastal resort of Arugambay on September 3, 2011. The event saw surfers from the UK, USA, Australia, Netherlands, South Africa, France, Japan and Brazil. The competition aims to promote as a major tourist attraction the country's east once plagued by the war. (Pix by Kithsiri De Mel)