Octopus named Iker

An octopus named Iker is seen before it predicts Real Madrid's victory against Barcelona in their Spanish King's Cup final match, to be played on Wednesday, by choosing a sardine, from a glass cylinder decorated with Real Madrid's badge instead of the glass cylinder with Barcelona's badge, at the Sea Life Aquarium in the southern Spanish city of Benalmadena, near Malaga April 19, 2011. REUTERS

Army celebrates New Year

A New Year festival was held at the Moors ground near Gangarama Colombo by the Sri Lanka army force today.  Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya was present at the New Year festival. Pics by Samantha Perera

Stop building nuclear plants

Mothers wearing yellow scarves swear to conserve energy during an anti-nuclear power plant rally in central Seoul April 19, 2011. The mothers gathered to promise to conserve energy at home and to demand a stop to the building of additional nuclear plants in their country after serious radiation leakages at the earthquake and tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan. REUTERS

'Criolla'

A gaucho rides an untamed or unbroken horse during the celebration of “Criolla” (Creole) Week in Montevideo April 18, 2011. Gauchos from all over the country come to Montevideo during Creole Week to compete for the award of best rider. REUTERS

'Karapan sapi'

A young Indonesian jockey races at the traditional “karapan sapi” or bull race in the farming town of Lumajang in East Java province on April 18, 2011. The race was said to have originated from the nearby island of Madura where ethnic tribes compete with their specially trained farm animal. AFP

Hiding identities

Seven suspects including the Deputy Mayor of Peliyagoda Municipal Council were produced for identification on the orders of the Acting Additional Magistrate of Colombo today. The picture shows the suspects being escorted to the Court premises by the police. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana 

Getting your tires dirty

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'La Paz' brotherhood

Penitents walks to church at the start of the 'La Paz' brotherhood procession during the Holy Week in Sevilla, on April 17, 2011. Christian believers around the world mark the Holy Week of Easter in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The clothes and hats worn depict the people from Nazareth. AFP PHOTO

Feeding the elephants

A wildlife keeper feeds milk to an elephant calf at the elephant transit home at Udawalawe National Park, some 210 kilometers (130 miles) south of Colombo, on April 17, 2011. The Sri Lankan government is planning an elephant census this August in a conservation drive to protect the animals. AFP PHOTO

Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament

Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with his trophy after winning the final of the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Monaco April 17, 2011. REUTERS

Bakmaha Ulela

This little child erupts in joy as she wins a race at Saturday’s Bakmaha Ulela celebrations at Maligathenna, Gampaha organized by the Maligathenna Tharuna Sanvidanaya. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Snapshot !

Today is Bak Full Moon Poya day. The picture shows a foreign tourist who visited the Gangarama temple taking a photograph of statues at the temple. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Governor's Cup

Ms. Nishara Jayaratne’s stable lifted the prestigious Governor's Cup in a highly contested nine furlong race at the Nuwara Eliya horse racing track yesterday. The eight horse event saw some brilliant riding by the local and Indian jockeys. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Puppy play

Eight week-old Saint Bernard puppies play in an enclosure of the St. Bernard Dog Museum in the south western Swiss town of Martigny, April 16, 2011.  In 2005 the non-profit Barry Foundation took over the breeding kennel from the Hospice at the Great Saint Bernard mountain pass (2473 metres/8114 ft. altitude) to continue the 300-year-old tradition of breeding the famous dogs, which return to their origin on the mountain pass during the summer

Traditional games

The picture shows foreign tourist holidaying in Sri Lanka taking part in traditional Avurudu games in Trincomalee today. The Avurudu celebrations which were organized by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau were held to share Sri Lankas rich culture and traditions with visitors to the country. Pix by Amaradoru Amarajeeva

Rescued

Eleven Myanmar fishermen who were stranded in international waters after their fishing vessel was damage were rescued by Sri Lankan fishermen and handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy today. The picture shows the Navy handing the fishermen over to the police to make arrangements for their safe journey back to Myanmar. Pix by Amaradoru Amarajeeva

Taking part in Avurudu traditions

The picture shows people lined up to take part in one of the last Avurudu traditions of applying  anointment to the head with Nanu (medicated shampoo) and oil at the Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya this morning . Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Chernobyl

The sarcophagus covering the damaged fourth reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is seen behind a radiation sign and a device used for measuring radiation levels April 15, 2011. Belarus, Ukraine and Russia will mark the 25th anniversary of the nuclear reactor explosion in Chernobyl, the place where the world's worst civil nuclear accident took place, on April 26.  REUTERS

Moon Ring 'Sandamadala'

The moon can produce interesting optical effects when conditions are right, the most common of which are moon rings. The pictures show the moon ring "Sandamadala" which was visible last night. Pics by Kushan Pathiraja

Fully loaded

A Libyan rebel poses with weapons after fierce fighting erupted afresh around the battleground Libyan crossroads town of Ajdabiya. AFP

Porto lead Iberian

FC Porto's Ruben Micael and Alvaro Pereira celebrate their fifth goal against Spartak Moscow during their UEFA Europa legaue quarter final second leg football match in Moscow. Porto won 5-2 and 10-3 on aggregate. AFP

Prosperous Sinhala and Tamil New Year

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Before the dawn of New Year

Buddhist devotees are seen engaging in religious activities at the Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara this morning, hours before the dawn of the Sinhala-Tamil New Year. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Novice Thai nuns

A Buddhist nun walks in line with novice Thai nuns to receive food from people during the Songkran Festival at the Sathira-Dhammasathan Buddhist meditation centre in Bangkok April 13, 2011. The Songkran festival, also known as the water festival, marks the start of Thailand's traditional New Year and is believed to wash away bad luck. REUTERS

Stolen and found

A hand out picture released by Egyptian state Minister of antiquities on April 12, 2011, shows a golden statuette of King Tutankhamun which had been stolen along with three other Pharaonic artefacts from the Egyptian Museum in January 2011 during the first days of the revolution that toppled president Hosni Mubarak. The relics were found in a bag at a Metro station in the Egyptian capital. AFP PHOTO

Keeping time

A watch and clock shop employee is seen here setting the correct time on a clock this afternoon. The government yesterday announced that the standard time of Sri Lanka was to be announced at midnight yesterday (11) by the government, making it mandatory to display it as the official time of the country. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Vegetables for Avurudu

The picture shows a vegetable vendor selling egg plants to an Avurudu shopper in Fort. Avurudu shoppers could be seen buying vegetables and other essential items in preparation of the upcoming Avurudu festival. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Repatriation of fishermen

Sri Lanka Navy assisted in the repatriation of eight Sri Lankan fishermen, who were released from the Indian custody. The fishermen and five (05) fishing boats were handed over to SL Navy officials by the Indian Coast Guard Ship, at the Indo-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the seas north of Kankasanthurei. (Courtesy-Sri Lanka Navy)

Water Splash

Elephants spray water at children during Songkran festival in Ayutthaya province on April 11, 2011. Songkran is the Thai New Year which starts on April 13, during which people celebrate by splashing water at each other. AFP

A new pot for Avurudu

A little girl is seen here pointing out a pot to her father during Avurudu shopping this afternoon. Cities around the island are jam packed with last minute Avurudu shoppers. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja