Biggest flower in the world

Visitors look at the “Arum Titan”, the biggest flower in the world, as it blossoms at the Botanical Garden in Basel, on April 23, 2011. AFP PHOTO

Chick

Illustration taken on April, 2011 shows a chick sitting on a hand at the Phaeno science museum in Wolfsburg, central Germany. During Easter holidays from April 16 to May 1, 2011, the museum offers a special program for children including about 400 chicks hatching from their eggs.     AFP PHOTO

Rehabilitated

More than 483 former LTTE cadres were handed back to their family members after successfully undergoing rehabilitation in Vavuniya today. More than 12,000 cadres surrendered during the last phase of the war and 7000 of them were rehabilitated and released to society. Nearly 4100 are still undergoing special language and vocational training. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Easter egg art

Franc Grom displays one of his special Easter eggshell drilled with more than 20.000 holes in Stara Vrhnika, some 50 kilometers from Ljubljana on APril 22, 2011. Grom, a 70-year old Slovenian craftsman has drilled holes in Easter eggshells for the last 18 years to make ornaments on them. He drills an approximate number of 2500 to 3500 holes to make a single special Easter eggshell for which he spends usually one week. Grom is the only artist maki

Riding the Wave

This handout photograph provided by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) shows ten times ASP world champion Kelly Slater of the US competing during the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach in Torquay on April 23, 2011. Slater edged out CJ Hobgood of the US and Bede Durbidge of Australia in the heat, and advanced to the quarter finals.  The 2011 edition of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach marks the 50th Anniversary of the event, featuring the ASP T

Elephant calf

The picture shows the elephant calf that was rescued from the train accident in Habarana being shown to the public at the Dehiwela zoo this afternoon. A special competition to name the elephant calf will be held tomorrow with a suggestion box being made available to visitors of the Dehiwela zoo. Pix by Indrarathna Balasuriya

“Seven Seas Voyager”

The “Seven Seas Voyager” a luxury cruise ship traveling around the world called on the Trincomalee Harbor yesterday. The luxury cruise ship which boasts 700 rooms arrived in the island after visiting Chennai. Pix by Amaradoru Amarajeeva 

Wishing for a fast recovery

Sri Lankan devotees of Indian religious leader Sai Baba pray for his recovery in front of a large portrait of him, at a Sai Baba worship centre in Colombo. Sai Baba has a large following in Sri Lanka, including politicians and top businessmen. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Good Friday

More than one billion people all over the world today commemorate Christianity’s holiest day – Good Friday, the day the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified at Calvary. The picture shows Christians devotees taking part in religious observances at the Rajagiriya, Sacred Heart Church. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Holy Week in Malaga

Spanish legionnaires carry a statue of the Christ of Mena during the Holy Week in Malaga, southern Spain, April 21, 2011. Hundreds of Easter processions take place round-the-clock during the Holy Week in Spain drawing thousands of visitors. REUTERS

Celebrating 50 years

An exhibition was held to at the National Film Corporation today commemorate the 50th anniversary of the visit of the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin to Sri Lanka. Seen here is Lyakhov Vladimir Afanasiyevich, the President of the Russia – Sri Lanka Friendship Society being invited to the event. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

GL on UN report

External Affairs Minister G L Peiris addressed the media today on the UN Expert Panel’s report which was handed over the government recently. Seen here is the Minister answering a question posed at the briefing. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Felicitating Kandula

The Sri Lanka Army Light Infantry Regiment celebrated the 50th Anniversary of adopting Kandula, the elephant, as the regimental mascot at the Regimental Headquarters in Panagoda today. Since 1961, seven elephants by the name of Kandula have served as the mascot of the regiment. Here Kandula, the seventh mascot being given a guard of honor by the soldiers of the Army Infantry.  Pic by Samantha Perera

Petition against UN report

People signing a petition against the UN panel of experts’ report on Sri Lanka’s human rights violation and war crimes, in Colombo today. Pic by Pradeep k. Pathirana

Facilitating LG leaders

A conference was held for those that were elected as Local Government Representatives from the Western Province. Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa was in attendance at the event. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Protesting for citizenship

A detainee ties a cable, attached to a chimney, around his neck while protesting atop a building at Villawood detention centre in Sydney April 21, 2011. Angry asylum-seekers torched an immigration detention centre in Sydney on Thursday, burning part of it to the ground after Australian authorities denied some of their requests for refuge, local media reported. REUTERS

Underwater Easter Egg Hunt

Spencer Slate, garbed as a scuba-diving Easter bunny, places eggs on the ocean's floor in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, off Key Largo, Florida April 19, 2011. An Easter tradition in the Florida Keys, Slate's Atlantis Dive Shop stages an underwater egg hunt on Easter Sunday that serves as a fundraiser for a local children's charity. Real eggs and non toxic colorings are used to avoid negative ecological impacts. Photo t

Sacred hair Relics at Gangarama

The sacred hair Relics of the Buddha brought from Chitagong Bangladesh were handed over to the Hunupitiya Gangarama temple today. Seen here the Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratna at the event. Pics by Nisal Baduge

What?

Newly appointed Sri Lankan cricket captain T.M. Dilshan arrived in Sri Lanka today and addressed the media at a press conference at the Sri Lanka Cricket Board office. He said that the Sri Lankan cricket Team is more important than playing in the IPL and the Sri Lankan players are committed to return by May 5. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Leaving court

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka appeared at the Colombo High Court today for the latest hearing in the “White flag case”. The case was postponed for May 4. Seen here is Fonseka being escorted by Prison officials. Pics by Nisal Baduge

“The World Cup Starts Here”

An image of Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho is projected onto Brasilia's National Museum during the launch of the “Brasilia 51 Years - The World Cup Starts Here” campaign, April 19, 2011. The event campaigns for Brasilia to host the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and celebrates the capital city's 51st anniversary, which falls on April 21, 2011. REUTERS

White Tiger cubs

Zookeeper Jeanette Wurm (R) and zoo manager Susanna Stubbe try to hold four Bengali White Tiger cubs that were born two months ago on Valentine's Day in the Zoo Safari Park Stukenbrock near the western German city of Bielefeld April 19, 2011.   REUTERS

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