Leo writes

An eight-year-old sea lion “Leo” writes the word “Rabbit” in Chinese characters as part of a New Year's attraction at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama in Kanagawa prefecture, suburban Tokyo on January 3, 2011. February 2011 will mark the start of the Year of the Rabbit according to the lunar calender a 12-year cycle followed by China and other parts of Asia.  AFP PHOTO

Dakar Rally 2011

Volkswagen pilot Giniel De Villiers of South Africa crosses a dam during the first stage of the third South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2011 from Victoria to Cordoba January 2, 2011. REUTERS

Cricket fever

People gather in front of City Bank to buy tickets for the cricket World Cup in Dhaka January 2, 2011. People queued overnight outside  of banks in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka in a desperate  bid to buy highly-prized cricket World Cup tickets, which went  on sale on Sunday. REUTERS

Sri Jayaveera Hanuman

The picture shows the statue of Sri Jayaveera Hanuman been taken in a procession during the Jayanthi celebrations. The procession was started from the Sri Anjaneyar Kovil, in Dehiwela. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Dakar Rally 2011

Robby Gordon of the U.S. and co-pilot Andy Grider power their Hummer over the podium at the symbolic start of the third South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2011 in Buenos Aires. REUTERS

New Year celebrations

Fireworks explode behind The Big Ben clock tower during New Year celebrations in London January 1, 2011. REUTERS

A religious offering

A Buddhist devotee arrives at a temple to offer her prayers in the new year at Colombo January 1, 2011. REUTERS

Welcoming the New Year

Many Sri Lankan’s island wide celebrated the New Year by taking part in religious observances according to their faiths. The Pictures shows Hindus and Christians taking part in religious observances. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana 

A Happy and Prosperous New Year

We wish all our readers a Happy and Prosperous New Year

New Year in Sydney

Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House during a pyrotechnic show to celebrate the New Year January 1, 2011. Local authorities planned for over 1.5 million people to crowd the Sydney Harbour foreshore and welcome in the new year under the massive fireworks display. REUTERS

New pots for the New Year

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Talking about eggs

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is seen here making a remark regarding the eggs that were recently imported from India at a press briefing this morning. The Opposition leader met several Trade Union leaders today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

2011

Picture taken with a long time exposure shows a man writing “2011” with a torch into the blue evening sky on a snow covered field in Sieversdorf, eastern Germany, on December 30, 2010. AFP PHOTO

Batting against bull

A man wearing a Batman costume gestures towards a bull in an improvised bullring during the annual bullfight festival in Zapote, near San Jose December 30, 2010. More than 350 bullfighters participated in the traditional end of year bullfight. REUTERS

The spoils of Victory

MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo of Spain dives at the Barcelona Aquarium, December 30, 2010. It is a traditional for the aquarium to invite a celebrity to dive there during Christmas. REUTERS

Forgetting the tragedies

Loved ones of soldiers who died in the war were given an opportunity to enjoy themselves forgetting their tragedies thorough a special program organized by Kaduwela Ranaviru Sansadaya today. Here some widows of forces enjoy a game of passing coconuts at the program which was held at Jana Kala Centre in Battaramulla. Pix by Samantha Perera

Greetings to the President

The world’s largest greeting card designed under the purview of Chief Minister of the Uva Provincial Council Shachindra Rajapaksa was unveiled to the public today in front of the Temple Trees. The card is 93 feet high and 33 feet long and is expected to be added to the Guinness Book of World Records. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Diamond Jubilee for SLAF

Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonatilake having a closer look at a model of the Air force Anniversary Logo launched today in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Air Force in March next year. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Pyrotechnique

A performer wields flames around the stage during a press call for the Le Grand Cirque, promoting for their upcoming shows in Melbourne on December 30, 2010.  Producers of the international circus travelled far and wide to countries including Russia, China, South America, Africa, Europe and Outer Mongolia looking for talented acrobatic performers to perform in their sold out shows. AFP

Paying last respects

President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the National Art Gallery today to pay his last respects to the popular singer and song writer Gratien Ananda who passed away on Wednesday. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

No Access

Picture shows journalists who walked out after they were refused access to the Boossa detention camp this morning where the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) met with detainees. Families of detainees also visited the camp this morning. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Anyone can do it

Ring-tailed lemurs inspect the cameras of journalists during an inventory at the Tropical Aquarium Hagenbeck zoo in Hamburg, northern Germany. The Tropical Aquarium houses over 300 species of animal from around the world, some of which are endangered. AFP PHOTO

ski jumping

Norway's Anders Jacobsen soars through the air during the first event of the four-hills ski jumping tournament in Oberstdorf, December 29, 2010. REUTERS

We're watching you

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa officially commenced the operation of the much awaited CCTV surveillance camera system which will closely monitor the Colombo City. Pictures by Pradeep Pathirana

Uni students protest again

Students of the Kelaniya University staged a protest today in front of the university calling for the resolution of issues and to revoke the suspension of students. 1st and 4th year students said that were not given accommodation, whilst the 2nd and 3rd year students were protesting the universities failure to resume their classes. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Putting the fire out

The Sri Lanka Customs seized illicit cigarettes worth Rs.200 million. The Cigarettes were imported from Dubai, during the last two months, evading tax payments and resulting in a loss of Rs.170 million to the government. Pic By Kithsiri De Mel

England Wins Ashes

England's players celebrate winning after dismissing the final wicket of Australia's Ben Hilfenhaus on the fourth day of the fourth Ashes cricket test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground December 29, 2010.REUTERS

“Year of the Rabbit”

Zoo owner Manny Tangco holds up a rabbit and a tiger cub at the Malabon Zoo in Malabon, in northern Metro Manila on December 28, 2010 to illustrate the shift from the “Year of the Tiger” to the “Year of the Rabbit”.  China and many other parts of Asia will celebrate the start of the “Year of the Rabbit” at Lunar New Year in early February 2011, in accordance with the Chinese calendar that works on a 12-yea

Eggs from India

The picture shows eggs which were imported from India being inspected by health officers at the Customs today. The two million eggs which were imported are scheduled to be released to the local market tomorrow with a retail price of Rs.12. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana.

Meeting the President

Indian Defense Secretary Pradeep Kumar made a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees today.  The picture shows President Mahinda Rajapaksa greeting the Indian Defense Secretary during their meeting. Pix by Chandana Perera