2012 Dakar Rally

Portugal's Carlos Sousa steers his Great Wall during the Stage 5 of the 2012 Dakar Rally between Chilecito and Fiambala, Argentina, on January 5, 2012. AFP

Getting to school despite the weather

Pictures show students of Henegama Central College in Welliweriya, Kelaniya walking to school in spite of the heavy mist in the area this morning. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Students protest in Mihintale

About 2,000 students from the Council of the Rajarata University staged a protest in the Mihintale Town this morning to denounce the proposed private university act which jeopardise free education as well as the distortion of the GCE Advanced Level results and several other issues. Pix by Rohana Chandradasa

Revise A/L results

The People’s Organisation for the protection of schools today organised a public petition  in front of the Fort Railway Station urging the government to revise the results and issue it afresh. Pix by Samantha Perera

Students stage protest

A protest consisting thousands of university students was staged today by the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) authorities for the removal of the Vice Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenapura University and against the bomb attack that damaged the student heroes statue at the university. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana, Buddika Kumarasiri

Upali takes office

Recently elected President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Upali Dharmadasa officially took over office today, at the SLC Headquarters at Maitland Place. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja 

UNP going bananas

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake serves a bananas to party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the New Year breakfast at the opposition leader’s office today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Filling with hope

Re-corrections for the GCE Advanced Level Examination are now in progress. Pictures show students filing out application forms at the Borella post office. The re-correction of results started on December 29, 2011 and will end on January 9, 2012. The results for the Advanced Level Examination held in August 2011 were released on December 25, 2011 by the Examination Department. Pix by Samantha Perera

Randenigala receding

The Randenigala Reservoir is likely to recede if the present dry weather continues to prevail despite its spilling level of water during January in 2011. Pix by Bandula Godakumbura

SLFP Vice President in action

Deputy Minister for Resettlement, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan was among those dawning 2012 at the Ramada Colombo. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Release Lalith and Kugan

The Movement for People’s Struggle (MPS) today staged a hand bill campaign in front of the Fort Railway Station over the release of two of its activists – Lalith and Kugan. Pix by Kushan Pathitraja

Luxurious bus ride on E01

Luxury buses were introduced on the Southern Expressway (E01) this morning. The cost of a ticket from Kottawa to Galle will be Rs.400 per passenger. Two private buses and two SLTB buses will operate along the route. Pix by Samantha Perera

ASEAN forum’s flag

The ASEAN forum’s official flag was raised in Colombo for the first time today. The flag hoisting ceremony was attended by Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Djafar Hussein, Malaysian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Azmi Zainuddin and Myanmar's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Myo Lwin at the Indonesian Embassy in Colombo with the presence of External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris. The ASEAN Flag should be hoisted in Embassies and High Comm

Somawansa looks on

JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe is seen taking a good look at the ground where the party held its special convention in Debarawewa, Hambantota today. In the background are other party leaders including General Secretary Tilvin Silva. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Defected members speak

JVP central committee members who defected from the party are seen addressing a news conference today. Seated from left are Chameera Koswatte, Pubudu Jayagoda, G. Kularatne and Ms. Dimuthu Attigale. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Blessings for the New Year

Picture shows devotees invoking the blessings for the New Year at the Shivam Kovil in Kochchikade today.Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Invoking blessings for the new year

Pictures show devotees visiting the Gangarama temple on new years day.( Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana)

Guinness World Record

People gather with their bicycles at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei December 31, 2011. Hundreds of thousands people participated in a bike ride around Taiwan on New Year's Eve as part of an attempt to achieve a Guinness World Record of the largest bicycle parade in the world. Various groups began from 1000 starting points around the island and cycled clock-wise towards the next starting point within one hour. REUTERS

Winning FIS World Cup cross-country skiing

Axel Teichmann of Germany competes to win the FIS World Cup cross-country skiing 15km classic pursuit race in Oberhof, December  30, 2011. REUTERS

Expats for Sri Lanka

Pictures show Telmo Languiller MP for Victoria Australia addressing the media at a press conference held in Colombo today. The visit by the Parliamentarian was organized by the “Expats of Sri Lanka”. Languiller expressed his delight to be visiting a peaceful Sri Lanka and stated that he welcomes the LLRC report. The MP further went on to add that he will be encouraging his parliamentary colleagues and the people of his country to cont

Paying a visit

UNP reformist MPs led by Karu Jayasiriya and Sajith Premadasa comes out of the Welikada Prison after visiting Former Army Commander Sarth Fonseka. MPs Dayasiri Jayasekera and Sujeewa Senasinghe are also present. Pix by Nisal Badhuge

A light moment

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva flanked by Trade Union Wing leader K. D. Lal Kantha and Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath share a light moment at the press conference held today.  Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Obtaining notice of injunction

JVP dissident member Ajita Kumara with Counsel Nuwan Bopage, is seen leaving the Colombo District Court premises after obtaining a notice of injunction against JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe against holding the JVP Convention at the Debarawewa Playground in Tissamaharama. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Donation to war heroes

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Looking into blunder

The picture shows the Examination Chief Anura Edirisinghe seen displaying a document at today’s news conference in the presence of Ministers S.B. Dissanayaka and Bandula Gunawardana. The minister said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was expected to appoint a five-member committee comprising a Supreme Court Judge, three Vice Chancellors and the Attorney General to look into the blunder by the Examinations Department when preparing the district

For a peaceful Magh Mela

Government officials pour milk into the waters of the river Ganges as part of a prayer ceremony for a peaceful Magh Mela festival in the northern Indian city of Allahabad December 29, 2011. The festival is an annual religious event held during the Hindu month of Magh, when thousands of Hindu devotees take a holy dip in the waters of the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The festival starts January 5 and runs unti

‘Sathyagraha’

A Sathyagraha was held in front of the University of Kelaniya due to the expelling of 11 students from the university. It was organised by the Student Union of the university. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana

Presentation of books

UNP Gampaha District MP Ruwan Wijeyawardene is seen presenting school books to a child at a ceremony organised by the A. J. M. Muzammil Foundation to distribute school books to needy children to mark the birthday of the first lady in the city of Colombo Ms. Feroza Muzammil. Colombo Mayor A. J. M. Muzammil UPFA Member of the Colombo Municipal Council Asath Sally were also present at the ceremony. Pix by Samantha Perera

Two buses ready to operate on E01

Basic training and instructions were given to drivers today as they will be working in two private buses plying the Southern Expressway (E01) which is to start operations from January 1. The training session was held at the entry point in Kottawa. One passenger will be charged Rs.400 for a trip to Galle from Kottawa. Pix by Buddhika Kumarasiri

Nepalese Elephant Festival

Elephants vie for a ball during a soccer match on the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 28, 2011. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan will participate in the Elephant Race, which begins on Monday and ends today, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. REUTERS