IUSF against A/L results

Students of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) today staged a protest in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station urging the government to re-assess the Z-score and the Island and District Rankings of the GCE Advanced Level results. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Protest against A/L results

Members of the Peoples Movement for the Protection of Schools staged a protest in front of Isurupaya –Education Ministry, today demanding the resignation of the Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene and Commissioner of Examination Anura Edirisinghe and also to re-assess the Z-score and Island and District rankings of the 2011 GCE Advanced Level results. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

“dear leader,” Kim Jong-il

A limousine carrying a portrait of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il leads his funeral procession past crowds on a street in Pyongyang in this still image taken from video December 28, 2011. North Korea's military staged a huge funeral procession on Wednesday in the snowy streets of the capital Pyongyang for its deceased “dear leader,” Kim Jong-il, readying a transition to his son, Kim Jong-un. REUTERS VIDEO

Exposition of sacred hair relics of the Buddha

The Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya chapter is seen addressing a press conference. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Most dangerous traffic problem

Carpenters work while sitting on the railway track in downtown Hanoi December 27, 2011. The Kham Thien railway hamlet, a 200-meter (656-ft) stretch of residences along the railway track in center Hanoi, is one of most dangerous traffic problems in the country. Despite the many accidents and deaths every year and warnings from authorities, people continue to live and make their livelihoods near the track. REUTERS

Passing out Parade

The Passing Out Parade of the Sri Lanka Military Academy at Diyatalawa was held today under the patronage of Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed who arrived today to witness the year-end Commissioning Parade. A total of 189 Cadet Officers, including one Maldivian passed out.  Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Fire at the Russian Embassy

Seen here the fire fighters of the Colombo Fire Brigade are trying to extinguish the fire which erupted at the Russian Embassy this evening. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

The errors unfolded

A press briefing was held today by Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayake on the Advanced Level results which had significant errors. Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, Commissioner in charge of school examinations, Amith Jayasundara and UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayaka were also present at the briefing. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Remembering the lives lost

People look at photographs of the 2004 tsunami, at the Ulee Lheue mass grave near Banda Aceh, Aceh province December 26, 2011. Survivors gathered in neighbourhood mosques and homes to remember those killed by the tsunami triggered by an undersea earthquake off the island of Sumatra seven years ago.  REUTERS

In memory of those who perished in Peraliya

A commemoration ceremony in memory of those who perished in the Tsunami at Peraliya was held today for the seventh consecutive year. The ceremony was held at the site where an ill fated train was washed away by the tidal waves. Pix by Pradeep Dilsrukshana

Blood donation campaign

A blood donation campaign was organized by the Sri Sudarshanaramastha Sumangala Sunday School and the Rahula Pirivena in Kalapaluwawa, Rajagiriya for the eighth consecutive year. A large number of residents living in the vicinity participated in it. Pic by Waruna Wanniarchchi

Dashing through the snow

A visitor sleighs down a snow slope near ice sculptures during the lights testing period of the 13th Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival will be officially launched on January 5, 2012. REUTERS

Christmas Midnight Mass

Midnight Mass was held in churches around the island today December 25 to celebrate the birth of Christ. Pictures show some of the moments captured at St. Mary's Tudella where Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Ranjith conducted the service. Pix by Samantha Perera

“Jingle Bells”

Children dressed in Santa Claus costumes wave while singing “Jingle Bells” during Christmas celebrations at their school in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh December, 2011. REUTERS

Ranil visits SF

United National Party Leader and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the Welikada Prison today to meet former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. He was seen speaking to someone at the entrance of the prison, over his mobile phone after the meeting. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Sink hole causes sewage to spread following earthquake

Sewage spreads past a car trapped in a sink hole caused by liquefaction in the Christchurch suburb of Parklands after an earthquake struck December 23, 2011. An earthquake of 5.8 magnitude struck near the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday, New Zealand's civil defence said, prompting the evacuation of some public buildings and sending goods toppling from shelves.  REUTERS

Last minute shopping

With Christmas being just two days away, people around Colombo were seen getting caught in the Christmas Rush. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Elephant Santa

An elephant dressed as Santa Claus distributes a stuffed toy to students during Christmas celebrations at Jirasart school in Ayutthaya, 70 km (44 miles) north of Bangkok, December 23, 2011. REUTERS

Syracuse Vs. Tulane

Tulane Green Wave guard Kendall Timmons drives to the basket against Syracuse Orange forward Kris Joseph during the first half of their NCAA men's basketball game in Syracuse, New York, December 22, 2011. REUTERS

CAA raided tons of half rotten food

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) today raided a warehouse at Bloemendhal Road and took into custody 56 tons of potatoes, 50 tons of dhal and seven tons of sprats, which were not fit for human consumption. CAA officials said those who operated the warehouse were involved in cleaning and re-sorting the half rotten food and reissuing them for sale in Pettah. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Against the “cancer stick”

An exhibition and a seminar jointly organised by the Nation Cancer Institute, Cancer Care Association and Jeewaka Foundation was held today at the National Cancer Hospital premises in Maharagama. The main theme of the event was “The importance of introducing effective health warning labels on tobacco packaging to communicate the risk of tobacco use.” Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

“Mahaweli Aruna”

The Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management today conducted a fair --“Mahaweli Aruna” at Hyde Park Grounds, Colombo Cabinet Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management Nimal Siripala de Silva participated at the event. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Protest over disappearance

Several political parties and civil society groups led by the Movement for People’s Struggle (MPS) today staged a protest marched from Campbell Park in Borella to Town Hall over the disappearance of two of its activists - Kumar Weeraraj and Kuhan Muruganathan. Pic by Pradeep Patirana

Increase our salaries

The All Island Teachers Assistance Union staged a protest today in front of the Education Ministry, Isurupaya urging authorities to increase their salaries and to consider giving them an allowance to be added to their salaries or to give them the minimum salary given to a teacher. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Anti-N'Korea Leaflets

North Korean defectors who live in South Korea prepare to fly balloons carrying anti-North Korea leaflets at the Imjinkak pavilion, near the demilitarized zone which separates the two Koreas in Paju, about 50 km (32 miles) north of Seoul, December 21, 2011. The defector groups who released 200,000 anti-North Korea leaflets, celebrated the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and protested against condolences to the dictator's death on W

Choosing the perfect Christmas Tree

The Christmas Season brings Christmas Tree vendors to Colombo where they sell their trees opposite Town Hall. The picture shows a potential customer picking out a tree to take home for the holidays. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Post reform' mortem'

The UNP reformist group led by Karu Jayasuriya and Sajith Premadasa together with a host of other parliamentarians are seen here at the Nugegoda Magistrate's Court. Suspects including three provincial councillors were produced before the courts today and were ordered to be held in remand until January 2, 2012. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

The stone that was thrown

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is seen here giving the media a huge stone that was thrown to the party headquarters, at the conclusion of yesterdays election of the parties office bearers. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Smelling of euros and dollars

An officer from the AFIP tax agency and his sniffer dog checks a car at the Buenos Aires Buquebus terminal December 19, 2011. Specially trained sniffer dogs to identify the smell of euros and dollars have been deployed at several border-crossing customs control around the country in order to search out foreign currency hidden in luggage. REUTERS

Calling for calm

UNP stalwart Karu Jayasuriya along with other members of the party are seen calling for calm after the violence outside Sirikotha today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana