Celebrating “Monlam”

Tibetan Buddhists and tourists view a giant thangka, a Tibetan religious silk painting with embroidery, displayed on a hill near Langmu Temple in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province February 15, 2011. Local Tibetan monks and pilgrims have gathered to celebrate “Monlam”, or Great Prayer Festival, one of the most important festivals in Tibetan Buddhism. REUTERS

Home of the 777

A Boeing 777 jetliner being manufactured for customer Turkish Airlines is seen in the background, near the fuselage of two other 777s (front), on the production line at Boeing's Commercial Airplane manufacturing facility in Everett, Washington February 14, 2011. REUTERS

Nature

Monarch butterflies line a branch of a bush in the Pedro Herrada butterfly sanctuary on a mountain in the Mexican state of Michoacan February 1, 2011. Monarch butterfly colonies in Mexico more than doubled in size this winter after bad storms devastated their numbers a year ago, conservationists said on February 14, 2011 although the migrating insect remains under threat. Millions of butterflies make a 2,000-mile journey (3,200 km) each year fr

After the meeting

Several UNP MPs today met the Election Commissioner to discuss matter concerning to the forthcoming Local Government elections. The picture shows United National Party General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake, MP Ravi Karunanayake and MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena after the meeting with the Election Commissioner. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Freedom and friendship

The Sri Lanka-Pakistan Friendship Association together with The High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka celebrated the 63rd anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence at the Women’s International Hall premises, yesterday. Pics by Kithsiri de Mel

Never Say Never

Jaden Smith and Justin Bieber perform “Never Say Never” at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California February 13, 2011. REUTERS

Lantern Festival

People release sky lanterns to celebrate the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival in Pingxi, Taipei County. Believers gathered to release sky lanterns as a form of prayer for good luck and blessings. The tradition of releasing lanterns began during the Ching Dynasty when bands of outlaws frequently raided villages, forcing local residents to seek refuge in the mountains. The lanterns were signals used by the village watchmen to inform the refugee

Old is Gold

A vintage car event was organized by the Vintage Car Club of Ceylon today. The picture shows the vintage cars been driven from Moratuwa to Galle Face Green where the final event will be held. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Eye care

The Sri Lanka Optometric Association today held a free eye clinic in light of their 50th Anniversary in Pettah. The picture shows an eye specialist treating one of the patients at the free clinic this afternoon. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Reconstructing the bund

The picture shows soldiers of the Sri Lankan army with the assistance of the Department of Irrigation reconstructing the bund of the Kiwulekada tank which broke due to the recent floods and heavy rain. Agrarian Services and Wild Life Minister S M Chandrasena was present at the opening moment of the reconstructing programme .Pix by Manula Wickrama

Nawam Maha Perahera

The Nawam Maha Perahera, the annual prestigious cultural pageant held at the Gangarama Temple was held last night. The picture shows police personnel who organized last nights events talking past in the pageant. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

"Sayat"

A hunter calls his hawk to land on his arm during an annual traditional hunting competition near the village of Uzynagash outside Almaty, February 12, 2011. Kazakhstan's national sport of Sayat - or hunting with birds of prey - is popular in the Central Asian state. Hunters all over the country arrived for the annual competition.  REUTERS

Bridge work

Army personnel can bee seen here constructing the Mawadioda Bridge”or“Red Bridge as its known, which sustained heavy damage due to the recent floods in Thoppigala area in the Eastern Province. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

All downhill

Yannick Bertrand of France jumps during the men's downhill race at the Alpine Ski World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen February 12, 2011.    REUTERS

Practice match

West Indies Devon Smith is bowled out by Kenya's Thomas Odoyo during a Cricket World Cup warm-up match in Colombo February 12, 2011.  REUTERS

In protective care

Four rare white lion cubs, 10-month-old twin sisters Luna and Ilanga (top), 7-month-old Credo (C), and 10-month-old Bandhura (R) explore the fresh winter air for the first time ever at the Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen February 11, 2011. The cubs arrived in Rhenen 10 weeks ago and are descendants of the white lions, which are only found in the Timbavati nature reserve in South Africa. The white lion is a Kruger lion with a colour gene mutation. The nam

Cricket fever on the rise

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-s

A visit to Welikada

UNP senior members led by Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe made a visit to the Welikada Prison this evening to meet the jailed former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, where they had decided to continue the struggle to get Fonseka released from jail. Pix by Nisal Badhuge

Medical camp for the IDps

A medical camp was organized by the Sri Lanka Army at the Eralakulam IDP center today. The picture shows IDPs being given medical and food supplies at the medical camp. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

A token strike

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"

Rescued from the Circus

A female lion lies in a cage in eastern Santa Cruz February 10, 2011. With the help from Bolivian government officials, 25 lions were rescued from travelling circuses in Bolivia by the non-governmental organization Animal Defenders International (ADI). Bolivian law prohibits the use of wild animals in public performances. REUTERS

Glimpse in to the future

Emerald international being the first to glimpse in to the future of style and elegance in Sri Lanka celebrated entry in to a new era of men’s fashion.

Pre-game rituals

Sri Lankan cricketers selected for the upcoming World Cup visited the Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya this evening to receiving the blessing of the clergy before the start of the tournament. Seen here are some of the cricketers participating in the religious observances. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana 

Construction nearing completion

The second phase of construction of the terminals at the Colombo South Harbour is almost complete according to Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways Rohitha Abeyguwardena. Seen here is the land filling of the Colombo South Harbour and removed crude oil pipeline stacked on the stretch of land of the 6.8 km terminal of the second phase of the project. Pix By Kithsiri de Mel

SLAF fire drill at Lanka hospitals

The Sri Lanka Air force conducted a fire drill at Lanka Hospitals in Colombo today. The drill, conducted at the behest of the Hospital, is the first time a firefighting drill has been conducted in a Colombo hospital. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Troops helping flood victims

Seen here a group of army personnel helping flood victims to cross the Kiran Lagoon in Batticaloa as heavy floods have affected basic transportation in the district.  The security forces continue to assist the flood victims in providing shelter, food and medication to them. Due to floods at least 21 people died and over 1.2 million affected by heavy monsoon showers that have flooded most parts of the island's north, north central and eas

Emphasize the need for solidarity

The JVP emphasized the need for global solidarity to achieve freedom and democracy during its 6th National Congress at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium today. Seen here are JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe and JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Congress. Pics by Kushan Pathiraja 

Restore the agreed pension rights!

, Members of the Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union staged a protest today in front of the Bank of Ceylon in Matale, Kandy and Matara demanding the government to restore the agreed pension rights for the state bank employees. Pics by Shane Senevirathne, Mahesh Kirithirathne, Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk

Friendly hand in the hour of need

The High Commissioner of Pakistan  Seema Ilahi  Baloch today handed over a stock of relief goods to the Minister of Law and Justice  Rauf Hakeem at the Pakistan High Commission, Colombo, for subsequent distribution to the victim affected by the devastating floods.  Pics by Kithsiri de Mel

Jumbo walk

An elephant is seen here off a motorway near the wildlife preservation in Minneriya National Park yesterday. Asian elephants, that live to reach the age of 70, are increasingly straying into human settlements in search of food, as people encroach on their territory. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana