Getting ready for Christmas

Fr. Ruban Leslie is seen here placing the statue of baby Jesus in the church crib before the mid night service at St Anns church Wattala today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Packed shoppers

Christmas shoppers are seen here doing their last minute shopping in a packed Main Street in Pettah today. Pix by Nisal Baduge 

Bikes for field officers

Fifteen motor bikes received from the Government of China were handed over to the Minister of Economic Development, MP Basil Rajapaksa by the Chinese Ambassador this morning. The bikes would be handed over to field officers of the Northern Province. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

A different Santa

An elephant dressed as Santa Claus distributes candy to students during Christmas celebrations at Jirasart school in Ayutthaya, 70 km (44 miles) north of Bangkok, December 24, 2010. REUTERS

Hi!!

A dog barks from a porthole on the side of a ship on the Yenisei River in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, December 23, 2010. The temperature dropped to minus 30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) in Krasnoyarsk, Russia on Thursday. REUTERS

In the Christmas rush

With Christmas around the corner, people in and around Colombo can be seen getting in the Christmas spirit. Seen here are people buying Christmas trees kept for sale along the pavement at Town Hall, Colombo. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Jumping protest

A public television employee jumps off the Romanian Parliament hall's balcony to protest at the government's austerity drive, including wage cuts and tax hikes in the recession-hit economy as Prime Minister Emil Boc addresses during a no-confidence vote over IMF-backed wage reforms in Bucharest, today in Romania.State news agency Agerpres said the man, a father of two in his forties, was seriously injured. He was wearing a shirt with the

On guard!

DIG of greater Colombo Daya Samaraweera held an inspection at the the Mirihana Police Grounds today. Pic Pradeep Dilrukshana

No illegal fishing

A picture taken on December 22 from a South Korean helicopter shows 12 Chinese fishing boats banded together with ropes to thwart an attempt by a South Korean coastguard ship firing a water cannon to stop their alleged illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea off the coast of South Korea. Illegal fishing by Chinese vessels is common in South Korean waters. The coastguard said 332 Chinese boats were caught last year. AFP

Joy to the world they all unite

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith along with members of the Government and the opposition were present, yesterday, at “Joy to the world”; a spectacular music programme with performances by leading Catholic school choirs, Revelations, Soul Sounds and Peradeniya Singers and a special guest appearance by the Alphine Harmony from Austria, Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

“Big Star Entertainment Awards”

Indian Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar performs on the stage of “Big Star Entertainment Awards” ceremony in Mumbai on December. AFP

Tanks to prevent floods

A tank is being dug up in Thalawathugoda to prevent floods in the area in the future. This project to build 10 tanks to avoid floods in and around Colombo is being carried out by the UDA. Pic By Nislal  Baduge

Ranil urges salary increase

The United National Party today handed out leaflets to the public to create awareness and foster support to push the government for a much needed salary increment. Seen here is UNP Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe distributing leaflets to passengers in a train at the Maradana Railway Station. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Sunk again

Seen here is the sink hole along the Galle Road apposite the Roxy cinema in Wellawatta which appeared today just weeks after the repairing of the earlier sink hole. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Vintage Variety

The visiting president of International Automobile Federation (FIA) Jean Todt and his wife actress Michelle Yeoh Jean  looks at vintage cars in  Colombo today. Todt is in Sri Lanka briefly to participate in the 106th anniversary celebrations of Sri Lanka's Automobile Association. Pix by Manoj Rathnayaka

Christmas caretaker

Two week old Red Lechwe calf, Astrid, stands with her keeper at Chester Zoo in Chester, northern England December 21, 2010. The calf is being hand reared by keepers at the zoo after being abandoned by it's mother, and will be spending Christmas at a keepers house. REUTERS

Year of the Rabbit

A woman tries to put a Santa hat on her pet rabbit at a photo event to celebrate Christmas and the Year of the Rabbit at a pet rabbit shop in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, December 21, 2010. The year 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit on the Chinese zodiac calendar.  REUTERS

Lunar eclipse

The Moon is engulfed in the Earth's shadow as it nears the peak of a rare winter solstice total lunar eclipse as viewed through a telescope from Palm Beach Gardens December 21, 2010. REUTERS

Waving to the Crowd

The picture shows President Mahinda Rajapaksa waving to the crowd during the ceremonial passing out parade of Cadet Officers at the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawa today.  Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

75th anniversary celebration

Soldiers stand in an armoured personnel carrier as helicopters fly past during a parade marking the 75th founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Metro Manila December 21, 2010. REUTERS

Moving ahead

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Enjoying

Abigail Rickard sledges downhill in the Chiltern Hills, northwest of London December. Britons Sunday faced little respite from the Arctic conditions that have disrupted travel and shopping plans on the last weekend before Christmas, normally one of the busiest times of the year. REUTERS

A daily visit

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange signs a form at Beccles police station in Suffolk, England December 2010. A daily visit to the police is one of the terms of his bail. REUTERS

Seasonal offers

People shopping for the Christmas season thronged to Main Street in Pettah Street today, which has been closed for vehicular use to allow vendors the opportunity to sell their merchandise. Seen in the picture is a vendor selling Christmas decoration. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Devotees at Bellanwila

Today is Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day. These photos depict scenes at the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya where Buddhist devotees engaged in religious activities this morning. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Observing Sil

A women reads a prayer book at the Ruvanvelisaya Dagoba temple in Anuradhapura, December 19, 2010. Anuradhapura is well known for its numerous temples and ruins from ancient Sri Lankan civilization. REUTERS

Waiting!

Airline passengers wait in Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport, in west London December 19, 2010. Britons Sunday faced little respite from the Arctic conditions that have disrupted travel and shopping plans on the last weekend before Christmas, normally one of the busiest times of the year. REUTERS

Convention on Universal Brotherhood

The Sree Narayana Guru Society of Sri Lanka organized a global convention on Universal Brotherhood at the BMICH today. Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha also participated at the Convention. Here Dr. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera addressing the event.Pic by Nisal Baduge

World Cup in Colombo

Sri Lankan cricket fans gathered around the Cricket World Cup as it made its way on the streets of Colombo from Maradana to Moratuwa today. Pictures by Kushan Pathiraja

Father Frost

A man dressed as Father Frost, the equivalent of Santa Claus, and a child touch an Evenki reindeer at the Christmas food fair in central Krasnoyarsk, December 18, 2010. Peasants, farmers, fishermen, hunters from all over Krasnoyarsk brought their products and goods to sell at the city's Christmas fair.  REUTERS