Dates in Kaththankudi

Dates planted along the Kaththankudi Main Road have borne fruit for the first time. Women and Children Affairs Deputy Minister M. L. A. M. Hisbullah and Kaththankudi Jamiathul Balauh Arabic College Principal Abdullah Rahmani Kasrath are seen here picking fruit from a ripe bunch of dates. Pix by M. Sukri

Aiming a tear gas launcher

An Israeli border policeman aims his rifle, modified to fire rubber bullets, at protesters during clashes that erupted between Israeli troops and Palestinian stone-throwers at Qalandiya checkpoint September 21, 2011. The clashes erupted after a rally in the nearby West Bank city of Ramallah in support of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' bid for statehood recognition in the United Nations. REUTERS

Medical students protest

Medical students staged an island-wide protest today against the government’s decision to give legal recognition to the private medical institution in Malabe, stating it would cripple the medical faculties of local universities in the country. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

President meets Bill Clinton

President Mahinda Rajapakse who is currently in New York to  attend the 66th United Nations General Assembly meeting, met former US president Bill Clinton in New York City today, the SL President’s Media Unit Said.  President Rajapaksa is to address the UN General Assembly on Friday.

"Hall of Knights"

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands arrives at the Hall of Knights for the presentation of the Dutch 2012 Budget Memorandum and the opening of the Dutch Parliamentary Year in the Hague September 20, 2011. REUTERS

‘False rape charge’

Activities at the OPD of the Colombo National Hospital (CNH) were partly disrupted this morning as nearly 300 attendants launched a lightning strike to protest the arrest of their head, the Controller of Minor Staff, on what they called a ‘false rape charge’, levelled by one of their fellow attendants. Pictures show relatives taking patients to the wards by themselves following the lightening token strike this morning at the OPD of

Donation

The Army Security Force Headquarters in collaboration of the Gunajaya Sathuta Foundation in Kilinochchi donated musical instruments worth Rs. 200,000, to Mankulam Vidyalaya and 210 bicycles to families in the Kilinochchi area. Pictures courtesy Security Forces Headquarters, Kilinochchi

Blount's last-minute

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount leaps over Minnesota Vikings Husain Abdullah and Cedric Griffin in the third quarter during their NFL game at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September. REUTERS

Muzammil challenges Moragoda for a public debate

UNP  Mayoral Candidate for Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) who was campaigning in Colombo distributes leaflets to public. He challenged his rival candidate for a public debate yesterday. Pix by Samantha Perera

Workers protest

Workers protest in front of Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte September 15, 2011. Local media said construction workers refurbishing the Mineirao stadium for the 2014 World Cup went on strike, citing the lack of basic sanitation conditions like appropriate toilets, and demanded better conditions and improvements in their work environment. REUTERS

Immigrants

A truck transporting immigrants, who are fleeing the unrest in Libya, and their belongings, arrives in Agadez, northern Niger September 15, 2011. REUTERS

Untying and uniting the entangled UNP?

UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesighe and UNP Mayoral candidate for Colombo Muncipal Council A. J. M. Muzammil at Dharamakeerthiramaya in Polwatte Colombo 3 performing religious observances yesterday. Pix by Nisal Badhuge

Top three in scholarship

The results of the 2011 Grade Scholarship exam were released today and based on the ranking Ududumbara Oshadhi Rashiprabah Fonseka of Kalutara Balika M.V. Kalutara, Vihangi Nethmi Ranaweera of Miriswatta M.V. Dodangoda and Mohammadu Naleem Zaky Ahamed of Muslim M.V. Kekirawa were ranked first. The pictures show the candidates.

Nurses protest

The Government Nursing Officers Association staged a protest today outside the National Hospital in Colombo. The protest took place to oppose the recruitment of students who have got through the Arts and Commerce streams for their Advanced Level Examination in the North and East as it would erode the quality of the profession. (Pix by Kithsiri De Mel)

‘Udarata Menike’ derails

The Udarata Menike train bound to Badulla from the Fort Railway Station derailed this morning in Maradana. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Mervyn to the rescue

Pictures show, Mervyn Silva, Minister of Public Relations and Public Affairs, preventing the scheduled sacrifice of hundreds of animals at the Sri Bhadra Kali Amman Kovil in Munneswaram in Chillaw today. Minister Silva handed over the animals to the Chillaw Police. (Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe)

Miss Universe 2011: Miss Angola

Miss Angola Leila Lopes is crowned by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011. REUTERS

SL’s first woman AG

Sri Lanka’s first woman Attorney General Eva Wanasundera assumed duties today at the Attorney General’s Department in Hulftsdorp. The staff is seen welcoming her. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

A tiring moment

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay wipes her eye during the 18th session of the Human Rights Council at the U.N. European headquarters in Geneva on September 12, 2011. REUTERS

‘Navy Institute’

A restaurant was opened in Trincomalee by the Sri Lanka Navy. The restaurant titled 'Navy Institute' is set to be opened on September 23, 2011. The restaurant was made out of wood that was brought to Sri Lanka during the time of the British ruled the island. The Naval Institute will cater to all Naval personnel and their families. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

United the U.S. Stand

A statue of a surfer in the small surf town of Cardiff, California is dressed  by locals the uniform of a New York firefighter in remembrance of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, September 10, 2011 . REUTERS

Remembering this day ten years ago

The Tribute in Lights is illuminated on the skyline of Lower Manhattan during events marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, September 10, 2011. REUTERS

Lonely Street becomes cricket pitch

With today being a holiday the pictures show how these children brought lonely Armour’s street alive with a game of cricket. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Passing out to serve

The passing out parade of the Sri Lanka Navy was held yesterday in Trincomalee. The chief guest for the event was Prime Minister D. M. Jayarathne. Pictures show the parade in which 67 officers took honours. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

In contemplation

These pictures were taken at the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya during the ceremony held to commemorate the Binara Poya. Devotees are seen participating in religious observences. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Together as one

A batch of rehabilitated LTTE cadres are seen here on tour in the south of the country. The tour titled "Thal ruppawen Pol ruppawata" was organised by the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry under the patronage of Minister Dallas Allahapperuma. UPFA parliamentarian and former national cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya participated in a softball cricket match with the former cadres as a part of the tour.

Govt. took weapons on loan: SF

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka while being escorting to the High Court stated that the Government took weapons on loan to win the war and now they are repaying it. He said the government will not be able to redress the masses for an interminable period. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Paying last respects

People pay their respects to the victims of a Russian ice hockey team plane crash at the Old Town Square in Prague September 8, 2011. A passenger plane carrying a Russian ice hockey team to a season-opening match crashed after takeoff from a provincial airport on Wednesday, leaving 43 people feared dead. Czech Republic's Jan Marek, Karel Rachunek and Josef Vasicek, who played for Russian team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, were amongst the 43 people

Emergency drill

A Beriev Be-200ChS aircraft of the Russia Ministry for Emergency Situations (MChS Rossii) releases fire-extinguishing chemical during an air emergency drill in Heihe, Heilongjiang province September 8, 2011. The drill is held by China's Heilongjiang Bureau of Maritime Affairs and Russia's Amur Region Bureau of Emergency aiming at enhancing cooperation on dealing with emergency. REUTERS

Gem and Jewellery show

The 21st Sri Lanka International Gem and Jewellery show commenced today at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre (SBMEC) and will go on till September 11. Ministers Rishad Bathiudeen and A. H. M. Fauzi participated at the event. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana