"Light for Rights"

Health workers and students release balloons after they staged a march through the Philippine capital to spread awareness about AIDS during the World AIDS day in Manila December 1, 2010. REUTERS

60th Anniversary of SL navy

The commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe inspecting the parade of female sailors before his formal address to the naval personnel of the Western Naval Command to mark the 60th anniversary of the Sri Lanka navy. Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya

Ranil addresses JSS

UNP affiliated Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya today said that they would begin their struggle for a salary increment this Friday at the Fort Railway Station. Seen here is Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking at the meeting. Pic By Pradeep Pathirana

Demanding action

A group of supporters of UNPer Palitha Range Bandara from Puttalam held a protest outside the UNP Headquarters “Sirikotha,” for the UNP’s lack of action against the assault on him during General Elections this year. Pics by Nisal Baduge

Wemedilla reservoir spills over

Wemedilla reservoir on the boundary of Dambulla and Naula Divisional Secretariat divisions started to spill over last morning. Police requested the people not to visit the site to watch the spill over. Pic By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

The most wonderful time of the year

The 78th annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is pictured after the lighting ceremony in New York November 30, 2010.  REUTERS

Aids Day in Sydney

A sculpture stands in front of The Sydney Opera House which is bathed in red light to signify the launch of World Aids Day November 30, 2010. U2 front man Bono was joined the Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard as some of the city's iconic landmarks were bathed in red light to signify World Aids Day which falls on 1 December. REUTERS

Calling for Fonseka’s release

A protest calling for the release of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka organized by Lawyers for Democracy and several other law groups was held in Hulfsdrop this afternoon. The picture shows several protestors during the event. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Campaigning against AIDS

A woman walks past a red ribbon, the symbol of the worldwide campaign against AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), hanging outside the World Health Organization headquarters in Manila November 30, 2010. World AIDS Day will be observed on December 1.REUTERS

About to blow

Mount Sinabung volcano spews smoke in Suka Nalu village in the district of Tanah Karo, in Indonesia's North Sumatra province August 30, 2010. The Indonesian volcano that erupted for the first time in centuries on Sunday spewed fresh plumes of smoke early on Monday morning, causing panic in nearby villages and delaying local flights, officials said on Monday. REUTERS

Military drill

Crew members of the U.S. Navy's USS George Washington aircraft carrier stand beside an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet during joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea in the West Sea November 29, 2010. The U.S. and South Korean militaries started a massive drill on Sunday. South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak said he felt responsibility for failing to protect citizens from North Korea's shelling last week and warned the North agai

Blessings for the foreign guests

Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi is seen here tying pirith threads on the arm of High Commissioner of Pakistan for Sri Lanka Her Excellency Seema Illahi Baloch during their visit to the Dharmayathanaya in Maharagama today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

A warm welcome

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari visited the Parliamentary complex this morning. Here, he was being greeted by the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and other Members of Parliament. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshan

Not guilty

Former UNP member A.R.M.A Cadar, Deputy Minster of Environment  who was remanded on the charges of disproportion of Samurdhi Funds along with two others was acquitted by the Colombo Magistrate today. pic by Nisal Baduge

“Santa Fun Run”

More than 1,000 people dressed up as Santa Claus sit together on the steps of the Sydney Opera House after finishing the annual “Santa Fun Run” for charity on November 28, 2010. More than 1,500 Santas were expected to suit up and take part in the race around Sydney Harbour to raise money for disabled and disadvantaged children. AFP

Monkey Buffet

A long-tailed macaque eats food at the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple during the annual Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi, 150km (94 miles) north of Bangkok, November 28, 2010. The festival provides food and drinks to the local monkey population, which numbers more than 2,000, to thank them for drawing tourists to the town. REUTERS

Zardari meets MR

Visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met President Mahinda Rajapaksa this afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat. Four agreements were signed between the two countries following the discussion. Pic Kushan Pathiraja

Carlton Sevens

Action at the quarter final of the Bowls trophy in the Sri Lankan Carlton Sevens rugby tournament at the Sugathadasa stadium in Colombo today between Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Elections ahead

Sri Lankan U.N. soldiers load electoral material in a truck to be distributed in the town of Leogane. Sunday's presidential and legislative elections are going ahead despite the huge challenges of holding a nationwide poll in the Western Hemisphere's poorest state. Haiti, its infrastructure already weak, is recovering from a devastating earthquake in January and battling a worsening cholera epidemic that has already killed 2,000 people. R

Halt exercise !

A protester holds a sign at a rally demanding to halt the joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea, outside a U.S. naval base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, November 28, 2010. North Korea has placed surface-to-surface missiles on launch pads in the Yellow Sea, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday, as the United States and South Korea began joint military exercises. The sign reads,'go back nuclear-powered carrier U

Away from the artillery

A stray puppy looks outside from its shelter after its owner left to escape from North Korea's artillery attacks at a village on Yeonpyeong Island November 27, 2010.  REUTERS

Tractors for the farmers

The Indian Government donated 500 tractors to the Northern Province farmers through Agrarian service centers today. The picture shows Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa on one of the tractors donated by India while Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna looks on. Pix by Chaminda Hittatiya

Our very own Cardinal

The Archbishop of Colombo to the Roman Catholic Church, His Eminence Dr. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjit is seen here being greeted by Prime Minster D.M Jayaratne after his arrival in the island this morning. Pix by Romesh Danushka

Signs of the season

A horse stands in a meadow covered in freshly-fallen snow in Phalsbourg, north eastern France, as winter weather hits the region November 26, 2010. REUTERS

President meets TPF delegation

President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with the 16 - member delegation of the TPF at Temple Trees today. Picture shows, Presidnet Rajapaksa reading the memorandum submitted by the Tamil Parties’ Forum (TPF). Also seen in the picture is Mr.Chelvanayakam Chandrahasan and Minister Douglas Devananda. Pics from Presidential Media Unit

MR meets Krishna

Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President’s House this morning, where a Credit Agreement for USD 416 million for the construction of the Northern Railway line was signed between the two nations. (Pix by Sudath Silva)

Hi Mom!

U.S. astronaut Doug Wheelock shows a “Hi Mom!” sign after landing near the town of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan November 26, 2010. The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft with commander Fyodor Yurichikhin and NASA's Wheelock and Shannon Walker landed safely in Kazakhstan on Friday.  REUTERS

“Christkindelsmarik”

A man puts the final touch on an illuminated decoration for his chalet on November 25, 2010 in front of Strasbourg cathedral, eastern France, two days before the opening of the famous Christmas market. Two million visitors are to attend the famous “Christkindelsmarik”. AFP

Q400 assembly line

A Bombardier q400 airplane is seen being assembled at the Bombardier aircraft manufacturing facility in Toronto, November 25, 2010. Bombardier Inc said on Thursday production of its new C-Series airliner is on schedule and that it is pleased with the progress that United Technologies unit Pratt and Whitney is making on the plane's engine. REUTERS

Remains of soldiers!

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