Lioness and the cub

A lion named Stefani plays with her one-month-old lion cub in their enclosure at Sofia Zoo in Sofia November 22, 2010. Two lion cubs were born last month in the zoo.  REUTERS

After-party

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen here greeting DNA MP Sunil Handunettis at the traditional tea party that is held after the reading o the budget in Parliament today. The President presented the 2011 budget this afternoon. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Presenting the budget

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Demining tools from US

American Ambassy's Charge' d' Affaires, Valeirie Fowler donated de-mining goods to Army Commander, Jagath Jayasurirya on behalf of the U.S Government this morning at the American Embassy in Colombo. The donation includes four trucks, five land-cruiser ambulances and seven large Tata troop transport trucks. The U.S will also be donating $1 million for de-mining equipment. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Miners rescued

Rescuers eat at Batian Coal Mine in Weiyuan county, Sichuan province early morning November 22, 2010. All 29 miners trapped by an underground flood at the southwestern Chinese coal mine on Sunday are alive, state media said on Monday, as rescuers race to pump the water out and extract the survivors. REUTERS

Celebrating Loy Krathong

Buddhist monks light candles at a temple in Chiang Mai during the annual Loy Krathong festival November 21, 2010. REUTERS

The world's tallest

The world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen of Turkey, listens to a question as a photographer takes a picture during a news conference in Rio de Janeiro,Kosen, at 2 metres 46.5 cm (8 feet 1 inch) tall, also claims the record for the largest hands and largest feet. He attended an event to promote the Guinness World Records 2011 book. REUTERS

Devotees at Kelani Viharaya

Today is Ill Full Moon Poya Day. These photos depict scenes at the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya where Buddhist devotees engaged in religious activities this morning. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Smooth sailing

Gold winner Noppakao Poonpat of Thailand and silver winner Lim Min Kimberly of Singapore congratulate each other after the women's dinghy optimist race at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 20, 2010.  AFP PHOTO

New Cardinals

Pope Benedict XVI arrives for a consistory at St Peter's basilica on November 20, 2010 at The Vatican. 24 Roman Catholic prelates will join today the Vatican's College of Cardinals, the elite body that advises the pontiff and elects his successor upon his death.  AFP PHOTO

Meeting the politicians

Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi poses for a photograph with politicians during a visit to a senior politicians house in Yangon on November 20, 2010. Suu Kyi welcomed a new US engagement with Myanmar's junta, but warned against “rose-colored glasses” saying greater human rights and economic progress was still needed. AFP PHOTO

Panda photo op

Giant panda cubs are seen before a group photo is taken at the Bifengxia panda breeding centre in Ya'an, Sichuan province November 19, 2010. A total of 16 panda cubs which were born in 2010 made their first appearance in public during a photo opportunity at the breeding centre on Friday, China Daily reported. REUTERS

Blessings for Fonseka

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Waiting for the auspicious time

President’s Secretery Lalith Weeratunga looks at his watch as president Mahinda Rajapkasa waits for the auspicious time to take oaths for his second term before chief justice Asoka de Silva at the Presidential Secretariat. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Synchronised swimming stars

Elisha Mayanka Gomes and Piyumi Dehara Katipearachchi of Sri Lanka pose before their performance in the duet technical routine synchronised swimming competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, Guangdong province November 19, 2010.  REUTERS

Record breaking milk rice

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Against rising of CoL

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The correct shot!

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen firing a shot to mark the arrival of the first ship to the newly built ‘Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port’, this morning. Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Eye clinic for clerics

A special eye clinic programme was held for clerics of all religions at the Colombo National Eye Hospital today to mark the President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s 65th birthday. Pix by Romesh Danushka Silva

A soothing drink from Pubilis

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There the celebration!

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A Happy Eid Al Adha

Muslims gather at Galle Face green for Eid-Ul-Azha prayers to celebrate the end of the Hajj. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachchi 

A supernova

A supernova within the galaxy M100, that may contain the youngest known black hole in our cosmic neighborhood, is seen in this composite image released to Reuters.Chandra's X-rays are colored gold, while optical data from ESO's Very Large Telescope are shown in yellow-white and blue, and infrared data from Spitzer are red. Earth's newest neighbor, a supernova spotted 30 years ago, appears to be a newborn black hole, astronomers report

A fine dismissal

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Bankers take to the street

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For Rizana’s release

 A protest calling for the release of Sri Lankan house maid Rizana Nafeek who’s on death row in Saudi Arabia was held in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy this afternoon. The picture shows protesters in front of the KSA embassy. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Santa Claus in town

Penguins wear Santa Claus costumes at an event promoting an amusement park in Yongin, south of Seoul November 16, 2010. REUTERS

Target identified

A protester throws a garbage can towards policemen during a rally against austerity in Athens November 15, 2010. Greece promised on Monday to stick to its deficit cutting plan while its prime minister said Germany's tough stance may push debt-laden European nations such as Portugal and Ireland to bankruptcy. REUTERS

Faster than the fastest

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt poses next to a Ferrari “458 Italia” (R) and a “599 GTB” during a visit to the Ferrari private track in Fiorano, northern Italy, November 15, 2010. Bolt tested models of the “458 Italia” and the “599 GTB” models. REUTERS

Emotional !

An emotionally moved JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti is seen to be speechless when two elderly women in Jaffna wept in his presence after telling him about the loss of their loved ones