Randoli Perehera

The First Randoli Perahera of the Kandy Esala Festival, paraded the streets of Kandy last night. The annual Kandy Esala  Perehera is the largest  Buddhist festival and the most colourful cultural pageant in Sri Lanka. The Perehera is held in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha enshrined in the temple of the tooth relic. The picture shows a tusker carrying the casket of tooth relic, chaperoned by two other tuskers. Pix by Prad

2018 Commonwealth Games in Hambantota?

Sri Lankan traditional Kandyan dancers perform last evening, before a delegation of African countries from the Commonwealth Group of nations. The African delegation were visiting Sri Lanka to evaluate the island's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the southern town of Hambantota.  Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Building the expressway

Journalists and members of the media were given a tour of the Southern Highway that is currently under construction yesterday. Pix by Samamtha Perera

Rewards for vigilant citizens and policeman

Awards and cash prizes were given to police officers and civilians who helped track down suspects and conduct raids of illegal activities and also valuable information to the police. The team which conducted the investigations over the Kahawatta killings were also felicitated by Inspector General of Police (IGP) N.K Illangakoon at a ceremony held at the Police Headquarters yesterday. Pix By Pradeep Pathirana

TU protest for leaders

A protest was held by more than 21 Sri Lanka Telecom Trade Unions (TU) today following the action taken by Sri Lanka Telecom officials against some of their TU leaders. The picture shows protesters in front of the Fort Railway Station shouting slogans during the protest. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Preparing for the one-day series

Seen here are the visiting Australian cricketers who had a practice session ahead of the first one-day international to be played tomorrow at the Pallekelle Cricket Stadium, Kandy. Sri Lanka won the 2-match T20 series 2-0. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Honey to the Lord Buddha

The Veddah chief Vanniala Attho is seen here offering bee honey and bee combs to the sacred tooth relic. The Veddah community traditionally offers bee honey and combs during the Kandy historic Esala Perahera to the Sacred tooth relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

London riots

A police dog handler stands behind officers in riot gear blocking a road near a burning car on a street in Hackney, east London August 8, 2011. Youths hurled missiles at police in northeast London on Monday as violence broke out in the British capital for a third night. REUTERS

Sealing the series win

Sri Lanka beat Australia by 8 runs in the second T20 played at Pallekele today. Batting first Sri Lanka scored 157 for 9 in their 20 overs, Mahela Jayawardena top-scoring with 86 runs. In reply Australia scored 149 in their 20 overs, with Ajantha Mendis capturing 6 for 16 – The best bowling figures in T20 cricket. Pic by Pradeep Dilruckshana

Protest to release SF

A protest was organized by the Democratic National Alliance today against the arrest of Sarath Fonseka. The protestors said they would not end the protest till the former army commander was released.  Pic By Samantha Perera

The grandeur of Kandy Perahera

An elephant walks past the Temple of the Tooth in ancient hill capital of Kandy today. The festival features a nightly procession of Kandyan dancers, fire twirlers, traditional musicians, acrobatic fire performers and elephants and draws thousands of tourists and spectators from around the island. AFP Photo

A/Level exams begin

The G.C.E Advanced Level examination for the year 2011 began today. The exams are to be conducted at over 2,400 centres island-wide. Pictures show students of Royal College walking in for the examination. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Job applications for Korea cause tension

Pictured show a tense situation at Police grounds in Havelock Road when issuing application for jobs in Korea. Heavy traffic was also reported in the area. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

All eyes on Woods

TIger Woods watches his shot during the final round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational on the South Course at Firestone Country Club on August 7, 2011 in Akron, Ohio. AFP

US open of surfing

Kelly Slater of the US competes in the final of the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on August 7, 2011 in southern California where the ten-time world surfing champion defeated Australia's Yadin Nicol for the title. AFP

Searching for a good read

Visitors watch books displayed on August 7, 2011 at the 23th edition of the Annual Deventer Book Fair, the largest in Europe with 878 stalls and six kilometres in length. AFP PHOTO

Prayer for good health

Indian members of the Youth Congress Party perform a prayer for the good health of Indian congress President Sonia Gandhi at a temple in Amritsar on August 7, 2011. Congress President Sonia Gandhi is recovering in the intensive care unit of a US hospital where she underwent successful surgery for an undisclosed ailment. AFP PHOTO

Ramadan in Pakistan

A young Pakistani Muslim arranges bowls of food before Iftar, the breaking of the fast, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Lahore, on August 6, 2011. Ramadan in Pakistan, the world's second most populous Muslim country, started one day after Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest shrines Mecca and Medina, because local authorities did not confirm sighting the new moon.  AFP PHOTO

Mud bath

An Indian rhinoceros cub takes a bath in a mud hole with its mother Betty at the Tierpark Zoo in August 5, 2011 in Berlin.  AFP PHOTO

Toppled

More than 30 passengers who were travelling in a SLTB bus from Muthugekanda to Badulla were hospitalised at the Badulla hospital after the bus they were travelling toppled due to break failure. The picture shows police personnel conducting investigations at the accident site. Pix by Pralitha Ariyawansha

“Vampire Woman”

Mexican Maria Jose Cristerna, known as “Vampire Woman”, poses for a picture during the opening ceremony of an exhibition of her paints in Guadalajara, on August 5, 2011. Cristerna recently showed off a new set of titanium horn implants, along with dental fangs and multiple facial piercings.  AFP PHOTO

Gherkin harvest

A crop of more than 2500 Kgs of gherkins which were grown in a twenty acre field by twenty families in the Killinochi area is seen here after being harvested. The fields which were prepared by the army were earlier handed over to the families for gherkins cultivation. Pix courtesy Sri Lanka Army

Leader behind the leader

Beleaguered UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesighe seen looking at Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya who was seated at the head table during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected local councillors at Sirikotha today. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

KP looks to the future

Former Chief Arm’s procurer of the LTTE Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP is seen here reading to a group of children at an orphanage run by the North East Rehabilitation and Development Organisation (NERDO). KP who heads NERDO called on the Tamil Diaspora to stop their campaign that provoked anger and hatred towards Sri Lanka. Pix by Manoj Rathnayaka

Remembering the victims

Dancers perform in traditional Korean costume as part of a the memorial service for Korean victims of a 1945 atomic bombing, at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima on August 5, 2011. People gathered at the memorial on the eve of the annual service to be held on August 6. AFP

Making the trip to space

This NASA handout image released August 3, 2011 shows three LEGO figurines flying aboard the Juno spacecraft are the Roman god Jupiter(R), his wife Juno and Galileo Galilei(L). Juno is set to launch toward Jupiter aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on August 5, 20115. AFP PHOTO

JHU candidates take oaths

Eight JHU candidates who were elected from the recent local government bodies took oaths today in front of the JHU leaders. They were elected to the local bodies of, Welikanda, Embilipitiya, Harispattuwa, Kantale, Balangoda and Yatinuwara. Pix by Samantha Perera

Creating awareness

The Patriotic National Movement distributed leaflets to the public to raise awareness on the steps taken by international powers to tarnish the image of the country and the security forces. They also urged the government to spread democracy to all parts of the country and give full authority to provincial councils and local bodies. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Inter university trade union protests

The Inter University Trade Union Federation (IUTUF) today staged a protest in front of the University Grants Commission (UGC) demanding the government to increase the salary of all the university employees and to stop the privatisation of the universities. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Falling form the skies

The Biggest Parachute Passing Out in the history of 60 years of the Sri Lanka Air Force was held today at the Katunayake SLAF base. 95 personnel including four airwomen passed out by completing the 22nd and 23rd Basic Airborne Course as well as the No.4 Basic Rigger Course. The passing out parade was held under the patronage of Air Force Commander Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana