Mahinda meets Dmitry

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev  meets with his Sri Lanken counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum June 17, 2011.  REUTERS

Ranaviru Punyanumodana

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is seen here sharing a meal with a Ranaviru child at the Ranaviru Punyanumodana 2011 organized by the Karuna Samadhi Padanama on a concept by Western Provincial Agriculture Minister Udaya Gammanpila. Commander of the three armed forces also participated in the event which was held today in the Nugegoda town where scholarships were awarded to 16 Ranaviru children. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Porsche Cayenne

Martin Winterkorn, President and CEO of Porsche Automobil Holding SE poses next to a Porsche Cayenne Diesel before the annual shareholders meeting of Porsche in Stuttgart June 17, 2011.  REUTERS

In support of fellow students

Students’ Union of the Sri Jayawardenapura University today staged a protest at the university premises against the suspension of 23 university students and in support of the four students who are still in CID custody. The picture shows the protesters at the University premises. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Mass for Peace

Catholic nuns release dove-shaped balloons during a mass for peace and reunification of the Korean peninsula at Imjingak Peace Park in Paju, near the demilitarised zone separating North Korea from South Korea, June 17, 2011. About 20,000 South Korean Catholics participated in the mass on Friday. REUTERS

Nothing's Shocking

A dog and demonstrators are hit by a jet of water from a police canon during a rally in Santiago June 16, 2011. Defying police water canon and tear gas, tens of thousands of students marched in Chile's capital and main cities on Thursday, the latest in a series of protests seen obstructing the government's legislative agenda.  REUTERS

The fight against dengue

A dengue prevention project organized by the Colombo Municipal Council’s Department of Community Health, where potential mosquito breeding grounds were fumigated, was conducted at Torrington Avenue today. Seen here are members of the Dengue and Chikungunya Prevention Campaign fumigating the area. Pix by Samantha Perera

Leaving the courts

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, while leaving the Colombo High Court premises to Welikada prisons said that rulers in the past toiled to safe guard the country, culture and the people and instead the rulers today had joined hands with nefarious elements like thugs, rapists and thieves to ruin the country. He said this will go into the annals and be written in Mahawansa. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana

New al Qaeda Leader Chosen

Osama bin Laden (L) sits with his adviser Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian reputed to be second-in-command of the al Qaeda network, during an interview with Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir (not pictured) in this file photo image supplied by the Dawn newspaper on November 10, 2001. Bin Laden's long-time lieutenant, al-Zawahri, is now the leader of al Qaeda, Al Arabiya television reported on June 16, 2011. REUTERS

Lunar eclipse visible to Sri Lanka

Lunar eclipse began at 10.54 pm yesterday and ended at 4.30 am today. The total eclipse began at 12.52 am and the point of greatest eclipse occured at 1.42 am. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes behind the earth so that the earth blocks the sun's rays from striking the moon. This is how the eclipse was visible to Gampaha. Pics. by  Indaratna Balasuriya

Poson in Killinochchi

A cultral show commemorating Poson was held at the Killinochchi Public Grounds under the guidence of Kilinochchi Security Forces Commander Major General Nandana Udawatta yesterday. A replica of the Mihinthale, a horror house and a bhakthi geetha were the highlights of the show.

UNP Dansal

UNP Co- Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and National List MP Dr. Harsha De Silva are seen officiating at an ice cream Dansala that was held at its head quarters ‘Sirikotha’ yesterday. The Ice-cream Dansala had been organized by Mr. Premadasa while a chic pea dansala was also organized by other party members and was held in close proximity within the ‘Sirikotha’ premises. Pic by Pradeep

Celebrating Poson

A Poson Dansela was held today at Makola for the eleventh year by Chairman of the Karuna Group Karunadasa Kodithuwakku. The ceremony included the release of 50 heads of cattle from slaughter and a blood donation camp. (Pix by Nisal Baduge)

Buddhists observe Poson

Buddhists around the country are celebrating Poson Poya today, marking the day when Buddhism was brought to Sri Lanka by Mahinda thero. Seen here is a devotee reading a book about Lord Buddha. Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya

Hair relic on display

Exposition of scared hair relics of Buddha at the historic Tantrimale Temple, this morning. Pix by Santha Ratnayake

Athens Police Protest

A protester kicks a tear gas canister during clashes with riot police in Athens' central Syntagma (Constitution) Square June 15, 2011. Angry youths hurled petrol bombs at Greece's Finance Ministry and tens of thousands of protesters marched on parliament on Wednesday to oppose government efforts to pass new austerity laws for the debt-choked euro zone state. REUTERS

Royal ascot horse racing

Richard Hughes on Canford Cliffs beats Olivier Peslier on Goldikova to win The Queen Anne Stakes on the first day of the Royal Ascot race meeting in southern England June 14, 2011. REUTERS

'Andre Chenier'

Cast members are seen at the scenery for the opera 'Andre Chenier' by Italian musician Umberto Giordano on a giant floating stage at Lake Constance in Bregenz June 14, 2011. The opera, directed by British director Keith Warner, will have its premiere on July 20 at the annual Bregenz festival. REUTERS

‘MV Scotia Prince’

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'Digital' camouflage

Taiwanese soldiers display their new 'digital' camouflage during a press conference held in Taipei on June 14, 2011. The pattern entitled 'digicam', was devised using small micropatterns for effective disruption and aims to make soldiers harder to spot.  AFP PHOTO

Colorful chicks

A customer holds chicks dyed in colour after buying them at a roadside market in Srinagar June 13, 2011. REUTERS

St. Anthony's Church feast

Celebrations were held to mark the final day of the annual feast at St. Anthony's Church, Kochchikade today. The picture shows devotees taking part in the annual feast.  Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Dressed for migration

lose-up of a sheep decorated with a wool bobble as some 1,200 sheeps flanked by 30 shepherds are on their way to the mountain summer pasture, on June 12, 2011 in Oust, southwestern France, during the yearly migration from Salat valley to Oust valley today and later to the Pyrenean mountains. AFP PHOTO

Marking the end of the festival

A service was held today mark the final day of the annual feast at St. Anthony's Church, Kochchikade. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Head-to-head

Miami Heat power forward Chris Bosh and Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler look for a rebound in the first half during Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series in Miami, June 12, 2011. REUTERS

Audi R18 TDI

German's Timo Bernhard drives his Audi R18 TDI during the warm-up session before the Le Mans 24-hour sportscar race in Le Mans, central France in June, 2011. The Audi R18 TDI number 1 is also driven by France's Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller of Germany. REUTERS

All about tea

In this file photograph taken on June 17, 2009, a Sri Lankan labourer removes dead tea bushes from a plantation in Kotmale. Exotic and organic teas are wooing tea drinkers and challenging traditional black tea's dominance as never before, tea industry experts say, as a tea factory in Dubai bids to become the world's largest. AFP PHOTO

Celebrating Independence

The 113th Independence Day celebration of the Philippines was held at the Consulate General of the Philippines in Colombo yesterday. The picture shows the Consul General W. J. Terrence Perera hoisting the Philippines flag at the event. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Against Moamer Kadhafi

Libyan rebels fire a machine gun at positions held by forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi during fighting in Libya's western mountain region of Qalaa on June 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO

Meow- no to nuclear

A man holds his cat clad in a headband with anti-nuclear slogans during a demonstration in Tokyo on June 11, 2011. Thousands of people staged anti-nuclear rallies and demonstrations in Tokyo and elsewhere as radiation continued to leak from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, some 220 kilometres (140 miles) northeast of the capital.       AFP PHOTO