Preparing for a journey

International Space Station (ISS) crew members NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman, Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratiev and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Paolo Angelo Nespoli pose in front of the Soyuz TM landing capsule at the Star City space centre outside Moscow November 25, 2010. The crew is due to travel by Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station in December. REUTERS

Addressing discrepancies

Senior members of the United National Party addressed several of it’s working committee members about the discrepancies in the 2011 budget proposals. Seen here are the leaders addressing the gathering. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Celebrating a milestone

The Sri Lanka Navy, who will celebrate its Diamond Jubilee celebration on December 09, conducted a press conference today about future initiatives and responsibilities that it intends to carry out in the Indian Ocean. Seen in the picture is Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe addressing the media at a briefing held at the Navy Headquarters. Pic By Kushan Pathiraja

Waiting for the moment

Minister Susil Premajayatha officially resumed his duties as Minister of Petroleum today at the Ministry’s office in Flower Road. Seen in the picture is the Minister waiting for the auspicious to sign his letter of re-appointment. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Anniversary celebration

The 15th anniversary of the Combat Helicopter Squadron 9 of Sri Lanka Air Force was celebrated yesterday at the Hinguraggoda Air Force Base. Floral tributes were paid to the 26 Air Force officers who laid down their life during the North – East war.  Actg. Commanding Officer of the Hinguraggoda Air Force Base Wing Commander K.S.N. Perera was the chief guest at the ceremony.  The picture shows a demonstration of a group of airmen

Rain breaks away road

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Say no to charter amendments

Yellow shirt supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) gather during a rally outside the Parliament in Bangkok November 25, 2010. Thailand's pro-establishment “yellow shirt” protesters gathered outside parliament on Thursday in a symbolic rebuke against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva over reforms they say would worsen a five-year political crisis.  REUTERS

Paying their respects

Cambodians burn incense sticks as they pay their respects to the 456 people killed in a stampede on a bridge on November 22, on a national day of mourning in Phnom Penh  November 25, 2010. REUTERS

Cormorant Strike

Soldiers are seen here taking part in the Sri Lankan military exercise called Cormorant Strike in the northern town of Mannar today. Over 2500 troops drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force took part in the nine-day long exercise, which involves amphibious landings followed by operations on land under simulated combat action. Pix by Samantha Perera

Free Udul…

A protest was held by the Indigenous Medicine Students Committee today calling for the release of the IUSF Convener Udul Premarathne. The picture shows student protesters taking part in the protest this afternoon. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Fallen Jumbo

A tusker, who was being transported by the Wildlife Department to be released, died after the bottom of the lorry the elephant was being transported broke and the leg of the elephant got stuck suffocating the tusker. Several attempts made to free the elephant by the officials were unsuccessful. Pix by Hiran Priyankara  

ATP world tour finals

Switzerland's Roger Federer returns the ball to Great Britain's Andy Murray (not pictured), during their singles tennis match, on the third day of the ATP World Tour Finals, at the O2, in south-east London on November 23, 2010. Federer was in sublime form as he moved closer to a place in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Murray. AFP

“Around the World”

An artist gives the final touch to a sculpture depicting Hindu elephant god Ganesh made out of a block of ice at the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival under the theme “Around the World”,  in Bruges. The festival will be held from November 26 to January 16, 2011. REUTERS

Road race winner

Hsiao Mei Yu of Taiwan celebrates after winning the cycling women's individual road race event at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010.  Hsiao won the gold medal with Santia Tri Kusuma of Indonesia the silver and Zhao Na of China with the bronze medals.  AFP

Lioness and the cub

A lion named Stefani plays with her one-month-old lion cub in their enclosure at Sofia Zoo in Sofia November 22, 2010. Two lion cubs were born last month in the zoo.  REUTERS

After-party

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen here greeting DNA MP Sunil Handunettis at the traditional tea party that is held after the reading o the budget in Parliament today. The President presented the 2011 budget this afternoon. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Presenting the budget

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Demining tools from US

American Ambassy's Charge' d' Affaires, Valeirie Fowler donated de-mining goods to Army Commander, Jagath Jayasurirya on behalf of the U.S Government this morning at the American Embassy in Colombo. The donation includes four trucks, five land-cruiser ambulances and seven large Tata troop transport trucks. The U.S will also be donating $1 million for de-mining equipment. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Miners rescued

Rescuers eat at Batian Coal Mine in Weiyuan county, Sichuan province early morning November 22, 2010. All 29 miners trapped by an underground flood at the southwestern Chinese coal mine on Sunday are alive, state media said on Monday, as rescuers race to pump the water out and extract the survivors. REUTERS

Celebrating Loy Krathong

Buddhist monks light candles at a temple in Chiang Mai during the annual Loy Krathong festival November 21, 2010. REUTERS

The world's tallest

The world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen of Turkey, listens to a question as a photographer takes a picture during a news conference in Rio de Janeiro,Kosen, at 2 metres 46.5 cm (8 feet 1 inch) tall, also claims the record for the largest hands and largest feet. He attended an event to promote the Guinness World Records 2011 book. REUTERS

Devotees at Kelani Viharaya

Today is Ill Full Moon Poya Day. These photos depict scenes at the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya where Buddhist devotees engaged in religious activities this morning. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Smooth sailing

Gold winner Noppakao Poonpat of Thailand and silver winner Lim Min Kimberly of Singapore congratulate each other after the women's dinghy optimist race at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 20, 2010.  AFP PHOTO

New Cardinals

Pope Benedict XVI arrives for a consistory at St Peter's basilica on November 20, 2010 at The Vatican. 24 Roman Catholic prelates will join today the Vatican's College of Cardinals, the elite body that advises the pontiff and elects his successor upon his death.  AFP PHOTO

Meeting the politicians

Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi poses for a photograph with politicians during a visit to a senior politicians house in Yangon on November 20, 2010. Suu Kyi welcomed a new US engagement with Myanmar's junta, but warned against “rose-colored glasses” saying greater human rights and economic progress was still needed. AFP PHOTO

Panda photo op

Giant panda cubs are seen before a group photo is taken at the Bifengxia panda breeding centre in Ya'an, Sichuan province November 19, 2010. A total of 16 panda cubs which were born in 2010 made their first appearance in public during a photo opportunity at the breeding centre on Friday, China Daily reported. REUTERS

Blessings for Fonseka

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Waiting for the auspicious time

President’s Secretery Lalith Weeratunga looks at his watch as president Mahinda Rajapkasa waits for the auspicious time to take oaths for his second term before chief justice Asoka de Silva at the Presidential Secretariat. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Synchronised swimming stars

Elisha Mayanka Gomes and Piyumi Dehara Katipearachchi of Sri Lanka pose before their performance in the duet technical routine synchronised swimming competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, Guangdong province November 19, 2010.  REUTERS

Record breaking milk rice

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