Bin Laden killed

People celebrate after Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan, during a spontaneous celebration in New York's Times Square, May 2, 2011. Bin Laden was killed on Sunday in a firefight with U.S. forces in Pakistan and his body was recovered, announced President Barack Obama.  REUTERS

Sand art

Residents look at sand sculptures at the Fulung beach in New Taipei City on April 1, 2011.  There are 41 artists from eight countries take part in this one month sand sculpture exhibition. A total of 4,500-ton of sand were used for sixteen pieces of sand works. AFP

May Day rallies

Several rallies to commemorate May Day which falls today was organized by political parties’ island wide this afternoon. The pictures show rallies organized by the three main political parties the UPFA, UNP and the JVP. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana, Nisal Baduge & Romesh Silva

Remembering late President Premadasa

The 18th death anniversary of President Ranasinghe Premadasa falls today. Here, the family members of late President Premadasa including his son Sajith Premadasa are seen during the commemorative ceremony at Hultsdorf in Colombo. Pics by Kushan Pathiraja

Gadhafi house bombed

This image is on a tour organized by the Libyan government, and inspecting the damage to the Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi house in the Area of Gargour, after an air raid in Tripoli, Libya, April 30, 2011.  Sayf al-Arab Kadhafi, embattled Libyan leader Moamer Gadhafi youngest son, was killed in an airstrike on Saturday, a government spokesman said.  AFP PHOTO

No to Nuclear

A child holds a sunflower as he joins anti-nuclear power plant demonstrators in a protest in Taipei on April 30, 2011.  Thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets to protest against a new nuclear power station, as safety concerns mounted in the wake of the nuclear crisis in Japan, an organiser said.  AFP PHOTO

“Blessed”

Italian stamps edited on the occasion of Pope John Paul II's beatification are displayed on April 30, 2011 in Rome. Late pope John Paul II will be declared “blessed” -- one step from sainthood in the Catholic Church -- at a solemn mass in the Vatican on May 1 that will celebrate his extraordinary life.  AFP PHOTO

Passing out parade

A passing out parade for the first batch of navy cadets to pass out from the Trincomalee Naval and Maritime Academy of the Sri Lanka Navy was held at the Trincomalee Sampoor Navel base today. The picture shows naval cadets during the passing out ceremony. Pix by Amaradoru Amarajeeva

Commemorating the Sambuddha Jayanthi

In commemoration of the upcoming 2600th Sambuddha Jayanthi, 100 samanera monks of the Sadaham Sevena in Rajagiriya begged for alms in the Rajagiriya area this morning. Pix by Waruna Wanniarchchi

Far Eastern Brown Bear

A young male Kamchatka Brown Bear licks his mother “Mascha” in their enclosure at the animal park Hagenbeck in Hamburg, northern Germany on April 29, 2011. The brown bear was born on January 24, 2011. The Kamchatka Brown Bear, also known as the Far Eastern Brown Bear, is today's second tallest 'large bear' alive.  AFP PHOTO

Crabs and prawns

A Sri Lankan vendor holds up crabs and prawns for sale along a main road in Colombo on April 28, 2011. Street peddlers often sell food and toys along the capital's busy streets to eke a living. AFP PHOTO

Against the Panel report

The picture shows people signing a petition against the UN panel of experts’ report on Sri Lanka’s human rights violation and war crimes, in Colombo today. Pix by Nisal Baduge

A Royal Wedding

Britain's Prince William stands at the altar with his bride, Kate Middleton, and her father Michael, during their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey in central London April 29, 2011. REUTERS

Mervyn as King "Dutugemunu"

The picture shows Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva during the filming of the movie ‘Surangana Lowin’ which is a fantasy film for children in Sigiriya today. Minister Mervyn Silva plays King Dutugemunu who was the Sinhalese King of Sri Lanka from 161 BC to 137 BC. Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

Protest against the report

A Satyagraha was organized by the Sri Lanka Freedom Tamil Alliance in front of the Fort Railway station this morning against the UN Secretary Generals Advisory Panel report on Sri Lanka.  The picture shows members of the SLFTA during the Satyagraha. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

A gift from Sri Lanka

This handout picture issued by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Authority in Colombo on April 28, 2011 shows a Ceylon Sapphire hair pin, surrounded by diamonds, that was gifted to Britain's Kate Middleton as a wedding gift ahead of her marriage to Prince William. The quaint hairpin was couriered to Middleton's family home in Berkshire and accepted by her mother on April 27, in time for the April 29 wedding in Westminister Abbey. Middleton

NKorean defectors send leaflets

Former North Korean defectors and conservative protesters release balloons carrying anti-North Korea leaflets towards the north at Imjingak pavilion near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 55 km (34 miles) north of Seoul, April 29, 2011. The activists released about 200,000 anti-Pyongyang leaflets, anti-North Korea DVDs, radios and 1,000 one dollar banknotes on Friday. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is ready to hol

Goodbye

A female orangutan kisses her owner goodbye as she is seized by Natural Resource Conservation Agency officials in Aso Nangroe village, Aceh province, April 28, 2011. The orangutan has been with the owner for 3 months after she was caught by villagers, who passed her to him. REUTERS

Kamlesh, lioness at Edinburgh Zoo

Kamlesh, a lioness at Edinburgh Zoo, smells a special royal wedding cake, packed with meats, in her enclosure at the zoo in Edinburgh, Scotland April 28, 2011. Britain's Prince William will marry his fiancee Kate Middleton in Westminster Abbey on April 29. REUTERS

JHU condemn “Darusman report”

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) held a press conference today condemning the “Darusman report” saying that the report gives an extensive moral boost for terrorist organizations and its activities throughout the world.  Seen here is the Secretary General and the Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka addressing the media. Pix by Nisal Baduge  

Bomb attack in Karachi

Pakistani Navy investigators gather around a bus at the site of the bomb attack in Karachi on April 28, 2011. Three people were killed and 15 others wounded when a bomb hit a bus ferrying Pakistani naval officials to work in the port city of Karachi, the third such attack in days. AFP

CB Governor meets loan seekers

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivaad Cabraal met with women from Jaffna who have applied for the Prabodini loan scheme. The pictures show some of the women who met the Central Bank Governor. Pics by Kushan Pathiraja

Wimal insults Ban and report

Cabinet Minister Wimal Weerawansa slings insults at the UN Secretary General and the report produced by his Advisory Panel.  Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Protest against Ban

People walk past a poster ridiculing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon in Colombo. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

The Art of the Automobile

A Ferrari 250 LM, 1964, vintage sport car is seen during the press day of the exhibition 'The Art of the Automobile, Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection' at Les Arts Decoratifs Museum in Paris April 27, 2011. The exhibition, which will run from April 28 to August 28, presents a selection of the most prestigious sports cars from the 1930s to the present day and outlines the main phases of the European automobile history. RE

Report a challenge to US defense policy

The Government at a press briefing today said the appointment of an advisory council by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the release of the report not only violates the UN charter but is a challenge to the US government’s defense policy on ‘War against terror’ adopted after the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks. The picture shows several Ministers at the press briefing. Pics by Kithsiri de Mel

Forest Fire

A helicopter transports water to its drop off zone at a forest fire next to the southwestern village of Eyholz near Visp April 27, 2011.  A fire erupted in a car body repair workshop on Tuesday afternoon and later spread to the nearby forest, local police reported. REUTERS

Paying last respects

Indian police officials spread the national flag on the transparent casket containing the body of Hindu guru Sathya Sai Baba inside Prashanthi Nilayam in the village of Puttaparthi, some 200kms north of Bangalore on April 27, 2011.  Hundreds of thousands of devotees gathered for the funeral of Sathya Sai Baba, one of India's most influential spiritual leaders who enjoyed a global following. While cremation is the most common practice at

Yuri Gagarin memorial

Embassy of the Russian Federation organized a ceremony at the Galle Face Hotel yesterday to unveil a sculptural portrait of the first cosmonaut in the world; Yuri Gagarin. The sculptural portrait is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of his spaceflight and a visit to Ceylon in1961.  Hon. Prime Minister D.M. Jayarathna is seen here unveiling the sculptural portrait. Pic by Samantha Perera

Malinga explains decision

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga taking a short break from the IPL, addressed the media yesterday to speak on issues regarding his injuries and retirement from test cricket. Seen here is Malinga addressing the media. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana