“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

Year of the Rabbit

A woman tries to put a Santa hat on her pet rabbit at a photo event to celebrate Christmas and the Year of the Rabbit at a pet rabbit shop in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, December 21, 2010. The year 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit on the Chinese zodiac calendar.  REUTERS

Lunar eclipse

The Moon is engulfed in the Earth's shadow as it nears the peak of a rare winter solstice total lunar eclipse as viewed through a telescope from Palm Beach Gardens December 21, 2010. REUTERS

Waving to the Crowd

The picture shows President Mahinda Rajapaksa waving to the crowd during the ceremonial passing out parade of Cadet Officers at the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawa today.  Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

75th anniversary celebration

Soldiers stand in an armoured personnel carrier as helicopters fly past during a parade marking the 75th founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Metro Manila December 21, 2010. REUTERS

Moving ahead

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Enjoying

Abigail Rickard sledges downhill in the Chiltern Hills, northwest of London December. Britons Sunday faced little respite from the Arctic conditions that have disrupted travel and shopping plans on the last weekend before Christmas, normally one of the busiest times of the year. REUTERS

A daily visit

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange signs a form at Beccles police station in Suffolk, England December 2010. A daily visit to the police is one of the terms of his bail. REUTERS

Seasonal offers

People shopping for the Christmas season thronged to Main Street in Pettah Street today, which has been closed for vehicular use to allow vendors the opportunity to sell their merchandise. Seen in the picture is a vendor selling Christmas decoration. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Devotees at Bellanwila

Today is Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day. These photos depict scenes at the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya where Buddhist devotees engaged in religious activities this morning. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Observing Sil

A women reads a prayer book at the Ruvanvelisaya Dagoba temple in Anuradhapura, December 19, 2010. Anuradhapura is well known for its numerous temples and ruins from ancient Sri Lankan civilization. REUTERS

Waiting!

Airline passengers wait in Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport, in west London December 19, 2010. Britons Sunday faced little respite from the Arctic conditions that have disrupted travel and shopping plans on the last weekend before Christmas, normally one of the busiest times of the year. REUTERS

Convention on Universal Brotherhood

The Sree Narayana Guru Society of Sri Lanka organized a global convention on Universal Brotherhood at the BMICH today. Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha also participated at the Convention. Here Dr. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera addressing the event.Pic by Nisal Baduge

World Cup in Colombo

Sri Lankan cricket fans gathered around the Cricket World Cup as it made its way on the streets of Colombo from Maradana to Moratuwa today. Pictures by Kushan Pathiraja

Father Frost

A man dressed as Father Frost, the equivalent of Santa Claus, and a child touch an Evenki reindeer at the Christmas food fair in central Krasnoyarsk, December 18, 2010. Peasants, farmers, fishermen, hunters from all over Krasnoyarsk brought their products and goods to sell at the city's Christmas fair.  REUTERS

Downhill

Skiers compete during the women's 15km freestyle World Cup race on December 18, 2010 in La Clusaz, French Alps. Norway's skier Marit Bjoergen won the event ahead of Polish skier Justyna Kowalczyk and Norwegian Kristin Steira. AFP PHOTO

“Doctor fish”

Customers rest their feet in a tank containing “doctor fish” at a “fish spa” inside a shopping mall in Singapore December 18, 2010. The “fish spa” consists of shallow tanks of Garra Rufa fish.  The fish exfoliate feet by eating away dead skin, according to the spa company. REUTERS

Chopstick tree

A child looks at a tree made from disposable chopsticks during a public campaign held by Greenpeace outside a shopping mall in Beijing December 18, 2010. Four trees made from more than 80,000 pairs of disposable chopsticks were on display during the event aimed at awakening people's forest conservation awareness, according to the organizer. REUTERS

"Toys for Tots"

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama sorts toys as she visits the Toys for Tots distribution center at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington. Toys for Tots is a program run by the U.S. Marine Corps reserve that has distributed more than 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children over the past 62 years.  REUTERS

Checkmate

Visitors look at  the “1812” chess set, which depicts Napoleon Bonaparte  and his ''marechaux'' displayed at an exhibition in the Ethnographic museum  in St.Petersburg, in December 2010. The set chess pieces, made of white and black jade, golden and silver details decorated with 6700 diamonds, 9400 rubies and 3200 sapphires, depict prominent participants of the 1812 war including Napoleon Bonaparte, h

The last show

Larry King sits down during the final broadcast of “Larry King Live” at the Los Angeles studio December 16, 2010. Larry King, the gruff CNN personality whose non-confrontational interviews were a hit with newsmakers and viewers for 25 years, signed off at the cable news channel on Thursday with a series of reminiscences from big names, old pals and family members. REUTERS

Coconuts for Christmas

The Coconut Development Authority (CDA) today distributed coconuts for Rs. 30 for the Christmas season. The picture shows a family in Mutwal after they purchased several coconuts from the CDA. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Santa underwater

A diver dressed in Santa Claus outfit feeds fish at Siam Ocean World during the Christmas season in Bangkok, December 17, 2010. REUTERS

5,000 rupee coin

A Central Bank employee holds up a commerative 5,000 rupee (45 dollar) gold plated coin issued to mark the bank's 60th anniversary in Colombo. AFP PHOTO

Any suggestions?

Sri Lanka’s second newly- born baby Orangutan, born after a lapse of 28 years, was introduced to the public today, who had an opportunity to propose a name for him. A suggestions box for this purpose has been placed at the Dehiwela zoo. Pics by Samantha Perera