National Sports Festival

The 36th National Sports Festival is currently being held at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy.  The winner of the opening event of the festival was Ajith Bandarad who won the10, 000 meters marathon

Covered in ash

Women cross an ash-covered street after the eruption of Mount Merapi volcano, in the ancient city of Yogyakarta, October 30, 2010. Indonesia's Mount Merapi erupted again on Saturday morning, spewing ash into the sky, and prompting authorities to extend the danger radius by two kilometers (1.24 miles). REUTERS

'Harapan'

Orangutan 'Harapan' plays with a pumpkin during a 'Halloween-breakfast' in its enclosure at the Hagenbeck Zoo in the northern German city of Hamburg October 29, 2010. REUTERS

Meeting the new Cardinal

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP MPs John Amaratunga and Joseph Michael Perera met the newly appointed Cardinal Rt. Rev. Malcolm Ranjith today. The picture shows Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulating Cardinal Rt. Rev. Malcolm Ranjith him on his appointment at the Bishop’s House. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Moments before

The picture shows Convener of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Udul Premarathne answering a call moments before he was arrested by the police. The convener and several other members of the IUSF met UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya and several UNP MP before he was arrested. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Mount Merapi erupts

Indonesia's Mount Merapi erupted for the second time in a week, blasting vast plumes of ash into the sky, as the death toll from the initial eruption and a tsunami that hit remote western islands reached 377. REUTERS

SLAF inspection

The Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Air Force Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke conducted the Annual Commanders Inspection of SLAF Station Colombo on 28th and 29th October 2010.

Save our students

A group called the federation of self-employees today held a demonstration in front of the Fort Railway Station to protest against unscrupulous elements who use university students for their political activities. Pics. By Pradeep Dilrukshana

Week-Long celebrations

The SLFP today announced that there will be a week long celebration from November 15- 22 for the second oath taking ceremony of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Seen here is Former Premier Rathnasiri Wickremanayake and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva exchanging seats during the press conference. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

‘Provocative’ or Not

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Online information for consumers

The Internal Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry launched an online information centre today at the Consumer Affairs Authority premises. Pic by waruna Wanniarachchi

Before and after

Checkpoints in the Colombo city were removed this morning and will be replaced by advanced survillance camera systems. Pix by Samantha Perera and Nisal Baduge

Remembering lost loved ones

'Families of the Disappeared', an organization formed in 1991 comprising of families whose loved ones have disappeared, commemorated its 20th Anniversary today. The picture show a woman remembering a loved one, at a monument erected in Seeduwa. Pics by Indraratna Balasuriya

IUSF on Kelaniya incident

The Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) conducted a press briefing today with the students who was allegedly assualted by a group of people in Kelaniya. The victim of the assualt elaborated on the incident at this briefing. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

‘Kelaniya people’ attack students

A group of people in Kelaniya who staged a protest against Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) in front of Kelaniya University attacked a student who walked in to the university premises this morning. Pics by Lal S. Kumara VIDEO

Finalists of Miss Venezuela

Finalists of the Miss Venezuela beauty pageant take part in a practice session before the finals on Thursday in Maracaibo October 26, 2010. REUTERS

Neglected by mother

A baby Bengal tiger that was born at the Dehiwala Zoo on October 22 is being taken care of by the National Zoological Gardens officials. According to them, the mother tiger was refusing to feed the cub as a result of which the officials had to provide it with special conditions and food formulas to boost immune system. Pix By-Indraratne Balasuriya

Merapi spews smoke

Merapi volcano spews smoke, taken from Umbul Harjo village in Sleman, Yogyakarta on early October 26, 2010. Indonesia ordered thousands of people to evacuate from around Mount Merapi on October 25 as it raised the alert for its most active volcano to red, warning of a possible imminent eruption. AFP

The capital of Kung Fu

Shaolin martial arts students pose for a photo during the Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival at Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, Henan province, October. Some 1,200 martial arts athletes from all over the world are taking part in the festival which began on Friday, local media reported. REUTERS

Memorial for “Fran”

Participants of the 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup and friends of American swimmer Francis “Fran” Crippen throw flowers into the sea during a memorial for Crippen in Fujairah October 24, 2010. Crippen, a world championship bronze medallist, died during the last leg of the World Cup event in Fujairah on Saturday, world governing body FINA said. REUTERS

Pioneering Management Authority

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya is seen here accompanied by his predecessors Victor Perera and Jayantha Wickramaratne today at the activation of the Pioneering Management Authority which has similar functions to that of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board.Pic By Pradeep Pathirana

A clergy concern

Student Monks from Sri Jayewardenepura University protest against what they called the alleged disrespectful behavior of University officials towards monks. Pics by Indraratne Balasuriya

Sarath for Sarath

The picture shows former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva signing the petition calling for the release of DNA leader Sarath Fonseka today. The former Chief Justice alleged that the former Army Commander had been denied of his human rights guaranteed in the Constitution. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Nurses' strike

Several protests were organized by the government nursing staff today in hospitals island wide. The picture shows nursing staff at the National Hospital during the protest. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana 

Tennis beauties

Tennis players Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, Vera Zvonareva of Russia, Kim Clijsters of Belgium, Francesca Schiavone of Italy, Samantha Stosur of Australia, Jelena Jankovic of Serbia and Elena Dementieva of Russia (L-R) pose for a picture during the draw for the WTA Tour Championships in Doha October 24, 2010. The tournament will take place in Doha from October 26 to November 31. REUTERS

Colorful skies

A kite competition organized by the Tourism Board and the Lions Club was held at the Galle face this afternoon. The picture shows participants taking part in the kite flying competition. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Peace walk against tobacco

Several organizations led by Buddhist monks handed over a hand written request to Presidents Secretary Lalith Weeratunga at the Independence Square today calling to reactivate the National authority for tobacco and alcohol. Pic By Kushan Pathiraja

Gearing for another protest

The JVP said today they would launch a campaign against the rising cost of living in November ahead of the 2011 budget. The picture shows JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti addressing the media. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Hyrax launch

“Hyrax” a new vehicle lubricant product of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation was launched today with the participation of Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha this morning. The picture shows Minister Premajayantha handing over some promotional material during the launch. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Two Chow Chows

Two Chow Chows dressed in clown costumes, Fat Choi and Fat Chai, are seen during the “Scaredy Cats and Dogs” Halloween fund-raising event at a mall in Quezon City October 23, 2010. Some 70 pets participated to raise funds for the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)'s Animal Rehabilitation Center, a temporary shelter for more than 100 dogs and cats which were either abandoned or rescued from cruelty or neglect. REUTERS