Observing final rites

The funeral of the 21 year-old boy who died yesterday after being admitted to the Ragama hospital, following the attack which took place at the Free Trade Zone in  Katunayaka was held at his residence in Minuwangoda today. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Leader meets the future

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe met some students who are members of the UNP’s National Youth Front branch of the Law College, at the party headquarters in Sirikotha today. Pic by Nisal Badhuge

Heading towards the protest

A group of people were seen heading towards the protesters who are protesting at the Lipton Circus. Pix by Waruna Wanniarchchi.

Condemning the death of FTZ worker

The General Students’ Council of Sri Jayewardenepura University today staged a protest in front of the university premises condemning the death of the Free Trade Zone worker after the police attack. Pics by Kushan Pathiraja

Ceremony on Navy Day

Sailors watch a military parade of Mexican Navy combat ships and helicopters during a ceremony on Navy Day to commemorate the Mexican Navy's anniversary, at the port of Guaymas, Sonora June 1, 2011. REUTERS

Humanoid two arm system

Alexander Dietrich of the German air and space agency, Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft und Raumfahrt (DLR), works at humanoid two arm system robot Justin during a presentation in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich June 1, 2011. The mobile robotic system Justin with its compliant controlled light weight arms and its two four finger hands allows the long range autonomous operation of the system. Sensors and cameras allow the 3D reconstruction of the robot&

'To hang the politicians'

Protesters bring symbolic gallows 'to hang the politicians' in front of the Greek Parliament on May 30, 2011 during their gathering for the sixth continuous day, responding to calls on social networking sites to protest austerity measures and demand “real democracy”. A critical audit of Greek finances to enable the debt-hit eurozone country to access a badly-needed slice of EU-IMF funds will conclude this week, the Greek finan

Protests against the FTZ attack

A protest was staged today against Monday’s Police attack on the Free Trade Zone workers and the private pension scheme in Fort today. They said they would continue with protests unless the government scrapped the proposed pension scheme altogether. Pics by  Nisal Baduge

After the final mission

Space shuttle Endeavour lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida June 1, 2011. REUTERS

Addressing the UN issue

Israel Ambassador to Sri Lanka and India, Mark Sofer addressed the media toy expressing his views on the UN Secretary General’s advisory panel report on war crimes in Sri Lanka.Israel and Sri Lanka’s growing relationship and the country’s interest in investing in the Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector and construction industry. Pic by Kithsiri de Mel

A Long trip...

Space shuttle Atlantis rolls out of the Vehicle Assembly Building for launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2011. REUTERS

Sharing the Experience

The three-day seminar ‘Defeating Terrorism: the Sri Lankan Experience’, organized by the Sri Lanka Army commenced today. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris and Prof. Rohan Gunaratne attended the inaugural session. More than 300 delegates from 41 countries are participating in the seminar. Pix by Samantha Perera

Mother's Love

Asiatic elephant Johti, 44, walks with her month and half old baby girl in Ostrava Zoo, May 31, 2011. REUTERS

ICEU Protest against pension and attack

The Inter Company Employees Union (ICEU) today staged a protest in front of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Biyagama against the pension scheme and the attack in Katunayake yesterday. Pics by Kushan Pathiraja

Victory for private sector workers

The JVP today said that suspension of the Private Sector Pension Scheme bill was in a way a victory for the private sector workers. The picture JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressing the media regarding the suspension of the Private Sector Pension Scheme. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Shuan Shuan

Shuan Shuan, a 25-year-old female Giant Panda, chews bamboo shoots at her enclosure at the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City May 30, 2011. Marta Delgado, Mexico's minister of environment, announced today in a news conference that Chinese reproduction specialists will travel to Mexico to inseminate Shuan Shuan and Xin Xin with semen obtained from panda bears in China.  REUTERS

The people have spoken

An illustration of Muammar Gaddafi is seen on a wall in Benghazi May 30, 2011. The characters read, “The people have spoken”.   REUTERS

Upgrade our school

A tense atmosphere emerged today at Kella town on Embilipitiya –Suriyakanda road due to a protest staged by the student of Kella Maha Viyalaya. Students and parents of the school protested against the decision to revoke the upgrading of  Kella Maha Vidyalaya under the proposed 1000 National School Programme. Pix by Ajith Lal Shantha Udaya

Clash in Katunayake

Nine police officers including DIG Ravi Wijeyagunawardena, two ASPs and an OIC were injured during the clash which took place in the FTZ in Katunayake this afternoon. The picture shows the police monitoring the area after the clash. Pix by W. Hubert Fernando

Against removing posters

The JVP held a protest against the alleged removal of its posters by the defense and local authorities in Fort Railway station today. Some members of the party led by MP Sunil Handunnetti participated in the protest hanging the posters on their necks. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Elitloppet trotting

Swedish driver Joakim Lovgren with German horse Brioni crosses the finish line to win the Elitloppet trotting race at Solvalla trotting track outside Stockholm, Sweden May 29, 2011.   REUTERS

Bolt

Jamaican athlet Usain Bolt gestures during the opening ceremony of the  UEFA Champions League final football match FC Barcelona vs. Manchester United, on May 28, 2011 at Wembley stadium in London. AFP PHOTO

Benz galore

The picture shows the unveiling of a Mercedez Benz SLS at the 125th commemorative exhibition held at the BMICH today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

New Sanganayake

Most Ven. Kihimbiye Vijitha Thera of the Amaparapura Saddammayukthika Maha Nikaya was honoured with the title ‘Chief Sanganayake of Southern Lanka by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe this   evening at the Isipathanarama Maha Viharasthanaya in Havelock town Colombo.Here, Mr. Wickremesinghe hands over the letter of appointment (Akkapatra) to the Thera.  Pic By Kithsiri De Mel

Reborn babies

Plastic heads and limbs of 'reborn babies', dolls which are made to look just like real babies, are displayed at the reborn babies fair in Brentwood, east of London, on February 27, 2011. Weighing five kilos, with perfectly combed hair and her eyes closed in sleep, Abby looks like a baby girl. But she is a doll, adopted by a grieving mother to help come to terms with the loss of a child.  AFP PHOTO

21 times

In this file handout photograph released on May 18, 2011, Nepalese climber Apa Sherpa - who holds the record for the number of times Mount Everest has been climbed - unfurls a Nepalese national flag on the summit of Mount Everest on May 11, 2011.  Apa Sherpa, the Nepalese climber who has conquered Mount Everest a record 21 times, said May 28, 2011 that his latest ascent of the world's highest peak would be his last. The 51-year-old fathe

Cuban Blue

A Cuban Blue cat is pictured in Havana May 25, 2011. Cuban cat lovers believe there is a newly identified breed of short-hair cat they call the Cuban blue. Uriarte Rubio, president of the Cuban Association of Cat Enthusiasts, is spearheading the effort to identify the Cuban blue as a new breed and hopes it will one day take its place alongside the world's five other cat breeds known as “blues.” Picture taken May 25, 2011. REUTERS

Monsoon conditions

Southwestern monsoon conditions are gradually establishing over the island and showery weather can be expected in the Southwest quarters in the coming few days. The picture shows weather conditions over Sri Lanka. Pix courtesy “The Weather Channel”

Pigeon Island National Park

The Pigeon Island National Park was declared open today by Economic Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Minister S. M. Chandraseana and Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena. The picture shows Minister Basil Rajapaksa getting off the boat after arriving at the Pigeon Island National Park. Pix by Amaradoru Amarajeeva

Let’s ride

The Sri Lanka Army inter-regiment cycle championship is currently underway. The picture shows Sri Lankan Army cyclist during the race. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi