From raw cotton to thread

'The Ransalu National Handloom Machinery exhibition 2010' organized by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce will be held from December 28 to 30 from 10 am to 10 pm at the BMICH Colombo. The exhibition was organized by the Ministry to promote the indigenous Handloom industry. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Paying tribute to IPKF heroes

The Indian Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar is seen here laying a wreath of flowers at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) memorial in Bataramulla this morning. He was accompanied by senior Indian officers representing the Army, Air Force and Navy. He is in the island on a three day official visit. Pic By Nisal Baduge

Snow Removal Jobs

A museum employee removes snow besides a snow-covered M4A3E8 “Sherman” tank at the Korean War Memorial Museum in Seoul, December 28, 2010, as heavy snow pounded the nation's central part including the capital area. REUTERS

Day of the Barber

People get their hair cut at the Plaza Vieja (Old Square) in Havana December 27, 2010. Scissors in hand, 300 hair stylists celebrated the Day of the Barber in Cuba with a marathon haircutting event in the old Colonial district of Havana, at a time when the Caribbean island's government is opening up space for more small business and private initiative. REUTERS

Attention!

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Sink hole still persists

Reconstruction work to fill the sink hole which caved in at Wellawatte and lay the new sewerage line that was damaged was carried out today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Guilty!

Police officers detain a protester during a rally to support jailed Russian former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky in front of the court building in Moscow December 27, 2010. A Russian judge said on Monday that Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev were guilty of embezzling property, the main charge in the second trial against the jailed former oil tycoon. REUTERS

Taping the muzzle

A police officer wraps tape around the muzzle of firearms during a ceremony at a police headquarters in Manila December 27, 2010. Police have been taping the muzzles of their guns to monitor who discharges their firearms during revelry as New Year's Day celebrations approach and stray bullets are often the cause of a number of deaths. REUTERS

Natural Christmas decorations

Icicles are seen hanging down from a Christmas tree as a girl passes by in central Moscow, December 26, 2010. Moscow's Domodedovo airport was closed and thousands of Muscovites were left without power on Sunday after a heavy overnight snowfall, the RIA Novosti news agency said.  REUTERS

Remembering loved ones

Religious services were held island wide in memory of the victims of the 2004 Tsunami today. The picture shows family members and relatives laying flowers at a Tsunami memorial in Peraliya. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Meeting the Cardinal

Hambantota District UNP MP Sajith Premadasa made a courtesy call to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith at the Bishops House today. The picture shows MP Premadasa having a discussion during his visit.  Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Ice check one !

Tourists look at ice sculptures during a light testing prior to the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, Heilongjiang province December 25, 2010. The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival will kick off on January 5, 2011, according to local media. Picture taken December 25, 2010. REUTERS

Meeting Fonseka

UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jaywardena is seen here leaving the Welikada prison this afternoon after meeting imprisoned former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Merry Christmas

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is seen here during the Christmas mass at the St. Sebastian's Church, Moratuwa this morning. Sri Lankans around the country celebrated Christmas today. Pix by Samantha Perera

Getting ready for Christmas

Fr. Ruban Leslie is seen here placing the statue of baby Jesus in the church crib before the mid night service at St Anns church Wattala today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Packed shoppers

Christmas shoppers are seen here doing their last minute shopping in a packed Main Street in Pettah today. Pix by Nisal Baduge 

Bikes for field officers

Fifteen motor bikes received from the Government of China were handed over to the Minister of Economic Development, MP Basil Rajapaksa by the Chinese Ambassador this morning. The bikes would be handed over to field officers of the Northern Province. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

A different Santa

An elephant dressed as Santa Claus distributes candy to students during Christmas celebrations at Jirasart school in Ayutthaya, 70 km (44 miles) north of Bangkok, December 24, 2010. REUTERS

Hi!!

A dog barks from a porthole on the side of a ship on the Yenisei River in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, December 23, 2010. The temperature dropped to minus 30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) in Krasnoyarsk, Russia on Thursday. REUTERS

In the Christmas rush

With Christmas around the corner, people in and around Colombo can be seen getting in the Christmas spirit. Seen here are people buying Christmas trees kept for sale along the pavement at Town Hall, Colombo. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Jumping protest

A public television employee jumps off the Romanian Parliament hall's balcony to protest at the government's austerity drive, including wage cuts and tax hikes in the recession-hit economy as Prime Minister Emil Boc addresses during a no-confidence vote over IMF-backed wage reforms in Bucharest, today in Romania.State news agency Agerpres said the man, a father of two in his forties, was seriously injured. He was wearing a shirt with the

On guard!

DIG of greater Colombo Daya Samaraweera held an inspection at the the Mirihana Police Grounds today. Pic Pradeep Dilrukshana

No illegal fishing

A picture taken on December 22 from a South Korean helicopter shows 12 Chinese fishing boats banded together with ropes to thwart an attempt by a South Korean coastguard ship firing a water cannon to stop their alleged illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea off the coast of South Korea. Illegal fishing by Chinese vessels is common in South Korean waters. The coastguard said 332 Chinese boats were caught last year. AFP

Joy to the world they all unite

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith along with members of the Government and the opposition were present, yesterday, at “Joy to the world”; a spectacular music programme with performances by leading Catholic school choirs, Revelations, Soul Sounds and Peradeniya Singers and a special guest appearance by the Alphine Harmony from Austria, Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

“Big Star Entertainment Awards”

Indian Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar performs on the stage of “Big Star Entertainment Awards” ceremony in Mumbai on December. AFP

Tanks to prevent floods

A tank is being dug up in Thalawathugoda to prevent floods in the area in the future. This project to build 10 tanks to avoid floods in and around Colombo is being carried out by the UDA. Pic By Nislal  Baduge

Ranil urges salary increase

The United National Party today handed out leaflets to the public to create awareness and foster support to push the government for a much needed salary increment. Seen here is UNP Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe distributing leaflets to passengers in a train at the Maradana Railway Station. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Sunk again

Seen here is the sink hole along the Galle Road apposite the Roxy cinema in Wellawatta which appeared today just weeks after the repairing of the earlier sink hole. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Vintage Variety

The visiting president of International Automobile Federation (FIA) Jean Todt and his wife actress Michelle Yeoh Jean  looks at vintage cars in  Colombo today. Todt is in Sri Lanka briefly to participate in the 106th anniversary celebrations of Sri Lanka's Automobile Association. Pix by Manoj Rathnayaka

Christmas caretaker

Two week old Red Lechwe calf, Astrid, stands with her keeper at Chester Zoo in Chester, northern England December 21, 2010. The calf is being hand reared by keepers at the zoo after being abandoned by it's mother, and will be spending Christmas at a keepers house. REUTERS