Bandele, Batou, Naledi and Sakina

Four lion cubs sit in a basket as they are christened in Hagenbecks zoo in Hamburg, northern Germany May 19, 2011. The cubs were born on January 31 and are named Bandele, Batou, Naledi and Sakina. REUTERS

New delivery

A newly-delivered Sri Lankan Airlines Airbus A320 taxis at the Bandaranaike International airport in Colombo on May 19, 2011. The airline announced acquiring two more aircraft following the delivery of the newest plane on May 19.  AFP PHOTO

A visit by Aparna

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka’s daughter Aparna Fonseka  who arrived in Sri Lanka recently and wife Anoma Fonseka, paid a visit to Sarath Fonseka at the Welikada Prison this afternoon. The picture shows Aparna Fonseka and her mother leaving the prison after the visit. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Record dance

Students take part in an attempt to break the world record for the largest “Quadrille dance”, a dance performed by four couples in a square formation, on main street in Ljubljana, May 20, 2011. Students from 22 Slovene cities and eight different countries were organised to dance at noon for half an hour in the attempt. An estimate of 8,863 students turned up at the Ljubljana dance. REUTERS

Queen meets Irish students

Britain's Queen Elizabeth meets students from Cashel Community School at St Patrick's Rock in Cashel, County Tipperary May 20, 2011. REUTERS

Tribute to war heroes

Humanitarian Operations Medals for the North and East were presented to 200 officers and soldiers from the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps today at the Armoured Corp regiment Headquarters at Rock House, Colombo 15. The Chief Guest of the colourful ceremony was Military spokesperson and Director of Operations Major General Ubhaya Medawala. Pic by Indraratne Balasuriya

Awareness campaign for female police officers

To create awareness amongst female police officers regarding various social issues and problems faced by women, a lecture was held at the Police Finger Printing Division this morning. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and IGP’s wife Asha Balasuriya attended the event. Pic by Kitsiri De Mel

Against the pension scheme

The Joint Trade Union Alliance of the Bank of Ceylon today signed a petition against the proposed pension scheme in front of the HDFC bank Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

Milovan Mirosevic of Chile's Universidad Catolica

Milovan Mirosevic of Chile's Universidad Catolica and Andres Freitas of Uruguay's Penarol struggle for the ball during their Copa Libertadores soccer match in Santiago, May 19, 2011. REUTERS

Site-seeing in the Acropolis

A young boy runs in front of the temple of the Parthenon at the Acropolis hill in Athens, May 19 2011. In a step to boost tourism in the debt ridden country, officials announce that for the first time ever Greece's most famous tourist site, the Acropolis, will open until the evening all year round, a move that has been warmly welcomed by tourists who say they have often missed it due to its closing. REUTERS

Dansal in the North

The Army conducted a dansal for Tamils in the North, in view of the Vesak poya day that was marked on Tuesday. Seen here are people at the dansal. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Red Shirt Protests

Buddhist monks sit in front of the stage set up by anti-government ''red shirt'' protesters during a rally at Ratchaprasong intersection at Bangkok's shopping district May 19, 2011. Thousands of “red shirt” protesters staged a rally on Thursday to mark the one-year anniversary of Thailand's worst political violence that ended on May 19 last year. REUTERS

Tribute to the former commander

DNA MPs Arjuna Ranatunga, Jayantha Ketagoda and Anura Kumara Dissanayake come out from the Welikada prison after visiting former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka today.  The second anniversary of the war victory fell yesterday, and the three MPs paid tribute to the former Army Chief who led the military to a crushing defeat of the LTTE on May 19, 2009 in Nanthikadal. Pic by Nisal Baduge.

‘Pindapatha Charika’

To commemorate the 2600 Sri Sambuddhtva Jayanthiya, nearly 300 Buddhist monks today started a ‘Pindapatha’ (walk) from Gangaramaya temple to Temple trees. Pics by Kushan Pathiraja.

Freedom in the air

Two years have passed since the victorious conclusion of the war against terrorism. With the newly established peace, the Tamil community in the north is finally connected again with the outside world. Seen here, the civilians in the north enjoying the freedom. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana

Space Shuttle External Tank Falling

The space shuttle Atlantis STS-135 is hoisted to the high bay for mating to the external tank and solid rocket boosters inside the vehicle assembly building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 18, 2011. REUTERS

President in Vesak Zone

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the Gangaramaya Vesak Zone this evening at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya. The picture shows President Rajapaksa carrying the sacred relic casket in procession to be placed for display at the Sima Malakaya. Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara thera is also in the picture. (Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana)

“Sadu Nada Daham Sakmana”

To commemorate the “2600 Sri Sambuddha Jayanthiya” Buddhist devotes walked from Borella junction to Town-Hall Colombo today. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Vesak in Jaffna

Many cities around the country were decorated with lanterns and pandals due to the Vesak celebrations taking place. The pictures shows the city of Jaffna decorated due to Vesak. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Interim leader of al Qaeda

Egyptian Saif al-Adel is pictured in an undated file handout photo from the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists website. A leading specialist on al Qaeda said on May 17, 2011 that Adel, an Egyptian veteran militant, was acting as an interim operational leader pending the expected appointment of deputy chief Ayman al-Zawahri as successor to Osama bin Laden.   REUTERS

Vesak Pandals

Vesak Pandals were seen around the country drawing crowds to the streets. The pictures show Pandals setup around Colombo. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Celebrating Vesak

While the entire country commemorated the significant 2600th Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi, thousands of devotees thronged the Gangarama Temple at Hunupitiya in Colombo to take part in religious observances.  The picture shows devotees at the Gangarama Temple. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Vesak at Nagadeepa

A large number of devotees from around the country could be seen visiting the Nagadeepa in light of the 2600 Sambuddha Jayanthi. The picture shows devotees and visitors at the Nagadeepa temple. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Pardoned for Vesak

Nearly 110 inmates from the Welikada and Mahawa prisons were released under a common pardon granted on them to mark the 2600th Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthiya. 860 inmates from Prisons island wide were granted pardon. The main event was held at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya under the patronage of Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Vesak

Today is Vesak Full Moon Poya day. The picture shows devotees who have thronged the Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya taking part in religious activities. Pix by Samantha Perera

Final day of retreat

Power and Energy Minister Partali Champikla Ranawaka and 24 JHU members spent the last day at Sadaham Sewana at Rajagiriya coinciding with the 2600th Buddha Jayanthi. Seen here is the JHU group talking part in a sil program at Sadaham Sewana. Pix by Samantha Perera.

Ranil at Gangaramaya

Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe attending religious observances at the Gangaramaya temple today to mark Vesak Poya.  Pics by Kushan Pathiraja

Tour of California

The peloton starts Stage 2 of the Amgen Tour of California in Nevada City, California May 16, 2011. Stage 1 was cancelled, and Stage 2 was shortened due to inclement weather and unsafe road conditions. REUTERS

Arrest warrants for Gaddafi

Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi arrives to give television interviews at a hotel in Tripoli in this March 8, 2011 file photo. The International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said on May 16, 2011 he had requested arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and the country's spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi on charges of crimes against humanity.  REUTERS

Commemorating a historic event

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe participated in a religious ceremony at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihare where a new Stupa built at the temple was also inaugurated by the President. Chief Incumbent Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangarakkitha Thera is also present. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana