Remembering Lasantha

Today is the second death Anniversary of Lasantha Wickrematunga, the Sunday leader editor who was shot by a death squad while reporting to work. The Picture shows a remembrance service for Lasantha Wickrematunga at the Borella Cemetery. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Toppled !

Richard Gonzales of France and co drivers Gimbre and Bouey camp by their Man truck after it crashed during the night of the sixth stage of the third South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2011 from Iquique to Arica.    REUTERS

Art school

Professors of the Art and Design College grade paintings at Seoul National University of Science and Technology in Seoul. The paintings are part of the entrance examination for the college.  REUTERS

A united force

A passing out parade for 336 Tamil police personnel from the North and East was held at the Kaluthara police academy today. The picture shows police personnel during the passing out ceremony. Pix by Samantha Perera

Christmas on January 7

A priest receives the sacraments from Macedonian Archbishop Stefan during a Christmas liturgy in St. Clement Cathedral in Macedonia's capital Skopje January 7, 2011. Macedonian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7, according to the Julian calendar.  REUTERS

Vegetables from the army

The Army in an attempt to cut down the cost of living implemented a programme to sell vegetables at concessionary prices. As an initiative, a stock of 25, 000 kg of vegetables was transported to Colombo from Anuradhapura. The picture shows, Army personnel weighing vegetables at a stall established near the Maligawatte Housing Schemes today. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Books for the young ones

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen here at the opening ceremony of the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha library today. The President declared open the library this morning. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Educating the public

The Leader of JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe, and the other JVP party members held a campaign and distributed hand bills in front of the Colombo Fort railway station this morning to educate the public about the present political situation. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Lending a helping hand

A group of philanthropists in Singapore donated school requisites to the children in Vavuniya who had been displaced in the war. Pics by Romesh Madushanka

Victory celebration

The English test cricket team celebrates winning the Ashes test series after they beat Australia in the fifth Ashes cricket test at the Sydney Cricket Ground January 7, 2011. REUTERS

Tours on transit

The Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China Hui Liangyu, along with his 20 member delegation who were on transit in the island, visited the National Museum and the Independence Square today. He was welcomed by Minister of Culture and Arts T B Ekanayake. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana

Epiphany Day celebration

Bulgarian men dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha river during a celebration for Epiphany Day in the town of Kalofer, some 150 km (93 miles) east of Sofia January 6, 2011. It is believed that the ritual will bring health throughout the new year. REUTERS

Counting the seconds...

Senior Ministers Dew Gunasekara, Piyasena Gamage, A. H. M. Fawzi, P. Dayarathna assumed duties at the Senior Ministers' office complex in Colombo today. Prime Minister Hon. D.M. Jayaratne and Economic Development Minister Hon. Basil Rajapaksa were also present.

Gifts from the "Three Wise Men"

Children look at geese in central Madrid during the traditional Epiphany parade January 5, 2011. Traditionally, children in Spain receive their presents on the morning of January 6 delivered by the Three Wise Men. REUTERS

Minister testifies

Minister Champika Ranawaka giving evidence before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) today while WPC Minister Udaya Gammpanpila looks on. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Easing the economic burden

With the rising prices of vegetables in the country, the Civil Defence Authority has taken measures to sell vegetables grown and produced on property belonging to the Authority and members of the force at a concessionary rate. These vegetables are being sold at 6 locations in the Colombo area in Nugegoda, Moratuwa, Kotehena, Piliyandala, Kiribathgoda and Bambalapitiya today. Pix by Samantha Perera

Pinnacle of harmony

The unveiling ceremony of the pinnacle of the newly built Chaittya similar to India’s Sanchi Stupa was held this morning at the Mahabodhi Temple in Maligakanda, to mark the 61st birthday of Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera. Archbishop Most Rev. Dr Malcolm Ranjith was also felicitated at the event, where Premier D.M.Jayaratne was the chief guest. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Prime Minister's Prize

Participants show off their writing at a calligraphy contest to the celebrate the New Year in Tokyo January 5, 2011. About 3,000 calligraphers took part in the contest writing different characters depending on their school grade. The contest is part of a bigger competition, in which about 11,000 entrants hope to win the “Prime Minister's Prize” by being judged as the best drawing. The winner will be announced in late February. R

Beware of burglars

Vavuniya police conducted an awareness programme, advising the villagers to take preventive measures against robbers and burglars as the number of complaints received regarding robberies in Vavuniya have been on the rise in the recent past. Pics by Romesh Madushanka

Preparations begin

Workmen put finishing touches to a large snow sculpture at a traffic intersection in the northern Chinese city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province January 5, 2011. The Harbin International Ice and Snow festival will be officially launched with a fireworks display on Wednesday night. REUTERS

Ice and Snow World

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Partial solar eclipse

The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a partial solar eclipse in Moscow January 4, 2011. The partial eclipse was visible near sunrise over most of Europe and northeastern Asia on Tuesday. REUTERS

A cup of tea at the Finance Ministry

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen here having a cup of tea at the Ministry of Finance today. The President as the Finance Minister addressed the staff of the Ministry for the New Year. Pix by Sudath Silva

Road map 2011

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal is seen here speaking at the event held at the Central bank today which announced the, monetary and financial road map for year 2011. The event was titled - Road Map : Monetary and Financial Sector Policies for 2011 and beyond. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Submerged

A stop sign is seen near a house partially submerged in  floodwaters in Rockhampton, Queensland, January 4, 2011. Floodwaters eased in Australia's major coal mining region on Tuesday, allowing some mines to slowly resume production although most remained idle, as devastating floods affect some 200,000 people and force towns to be evacuated. REUTERS

Opening of first day trading

Kimono clad Tokyo Stock Exchange female employees clap their hands to celebrate the opening of the first trading of the year at the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) on January 4, 2011 after the New Year's holidays. Japanese shares opened higher on the first trading day of 2011. AFP

Cold training

Raw recruits attend training at an army recruit training center in Nonsan, south of Seoul, January 3, 2011. REUTERS

Commencing work in the New Year

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa are seen here with the staff of the Presidential Secretariat before commencing their work for the New Year this morning. Pix by Chaminda Hittatiya

Department of Buddhist affairs

The picture shows Premier D.M Jayarathna at the opening ceremony of the new premises of the Department of Buddhist affairs in Colombo today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Guinness for Dr. Jayalath

UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena has received a Guinness world record for the longest running medical advice programme on television. The television programme has been regularly broadcast for 14 years as of September 14th 2010. The picture shows Dr. Jayawardena showing the Guinness certificate to UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana