In the fast lane

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain powers his car during the second practice session for Formula One's Singapore Grand Prix night race in Singapore.  Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel threw down the gauntlet ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix with a hugely impressive series of laps to top the times in the opening day's practice.  AFP

On earthly ground

U.S. astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson (L), Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov (C) and Mikhail Kornienko sit in chairs outside the Soyuz Capsule minutes after they landed near the town of Arkalyk, northern Kazakhstan September 25, 2010. A Soyuz capsule carrying Russians Alexander Skvortsov and Mikhail Korniyenko, and NASA's Tracy Caldwell  Dyson came back to Earth from the International Space Station and landed safely in Kazakhstan on S

Games in hot water

Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell speaks as Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President and Commonwealth Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi gestures during a news conference in New Delhi September 25, 2010. Fennell said on Saturday there was still a considerable amount of work to be done and there was great concern about the security and safety of athletes and officials. REUTERS

Among the monks

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen here during a visit to a Buddhist temple in New York. A religious ceremony was conducted by the monks of the temple for the visiting President. Pix by Sudath Silva

Balancing ball

Irina Risenson of Israel performs with the ball during the individual all-around competition final at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Moscow.  REUTERS

World’s shortest

Khagendra Thapa, who is expected to be the world's shortest man next month when he turns 18, flexes his muscles during a news conference in Kathmandu September 24, 2010. The Nepal Tourism Board has nominated Thapa and Miss Nepal beauty pageant winners as goodwill ambassadors to promote tourism in Nepal. Thapa will carry the message: “Shortest man in the world from the highest mountain in the world invites you to visit Nepal.  REUTE

MR meets UN Chief

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font

Luxury in death

A gold-plated casket, priced at $125,000, is on display at the Nirvana Memorial Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Demand for luxury funerals is booming in Southeast Asia, driven by the rising ranks of the wealthy in the region.  Reuters

Addressing the LLRC

Former Government Minister Ferial Ashraff addressed the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) today.  Ferial Ashraff stated that it was necessary to have an “institutional arrangement” to address ethnic tensions in the country.  Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Briefing the Mahanayaka

Anoma Fonseka wife of DNA leader Sarath Fonseka called on the Maha Nayaka of the Amarapura Maha Sangasabha the Ven. Davuldena Sri Gnanissara Maha thera today. Anoma Fonseka briefed the venerable monk on the alleged harassment inflicted on the DNA Leader especially with regard to the verdict of the second Court Martial. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja.

Little artists

The “Glucofit 2010 Art Competition” was held at the OWSC auditorium today. Seen here are students from grades 1 to 6 hard at work completing their art work during the time allocated to them. Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya

70 million ‘crime scene’

An armed gang robbed a vehicle carrying Rs. 70 million belonging to a bank when the vehicle was passing through Peliyagoda this morning. The Picture shows the vehicle being inspected by police officers. Pics by Lal S. Kumara (Kelaniya)

Armoured corps anniversary

The 19th anniversary of the Armoured Corps of the Sri Lanka army was held today at the regiment  Headquarters in Trincomalee. Pics. By Amadoru Amarajeewa

Great Wall at Badaling

People hike up a remote section of the Great Wall at Badaling, north of Beijing on September 24, 2010. AFP PHOTO

Iran-Iraq war remembered

Members of the Iranian army's land force march during a parade to commemorate the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88), in Tehran September 22, 2010. REUTERS

President Addresses UN General Assembly

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addresses the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York earlier today (Reuters)

Para games

The inter regimental disabled war heroes sports festival ‘ Army Para Games’ of the Sri Lanka Army was held at the army sports ground today with the participation of Army commander Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya. Pic by Gayan Amarasekara

Here’s the future……

President Mahinda Rajapaksa introducing parliamentarians Namal Rajapaksa, Sri Ranaga, Shantha Bandara and Tenuka Vidanagama to the Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN sessions. External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris is also in the picture. Pic by Sudath Silva

Great Barred Spiral Galaxy

The NGC 1365 galaxy, also known as the Great Barred Spiral Galaxy, is seen in an image that combines observations performed through three different filters with the 1.5-metre Danish telescope at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile, in this handout photo distributed on September 22, 2010. The ESO's website describes the galaxy, at 60 million light-years from Earth, 200,000 light-years across and about twice the size of the M

Festival for peace

A child serves ‘Ven Pongal’ to some of the devotees who participated in the Annual ‘Rata Yatra’ festival of the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple, New Chetty Street, Colombo, this morning. Pic By Indraratna Balasuriya

The right connection!

President Mahinda Rajapaksa along with Parliamentarians Namal Rajapaksa and Sri Ranga during a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the sidelines of the UN session in New York, today. Pic by Suadth Silva

From darkness to light

Buddhist devotees are seen lighting coconut-oil lamps at the Bellanwila temple observing the Binara full moon poya day. Pic by Nisal Baduge

The Ronaldo way

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo heads the ball during their Spanish First Division soccer match against Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid September 21, 2010. REUTERS

Albino monkey found

A baby albino monkey was found in the Thulsipura area in Trincomalee. The residents believe that the baby monkey has lost his way when he was with a group of monkeys that have been frequenting in the area. Pic by Amadoru Amarajeewa

Accident kills four

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New R

Shelter after Hurricane

Residents rest at a shelter after Hurricane Karl hit in Veracruz September 20, 2010. Emergency workers reported at least 15 people had been killed by Hurricane Karl in three states in Mexico. The port city of Veracruz was cut off by flooding from the rest of hard-hit coastal Veracruz state, and hundreds of people from low-lying areas in nearby villages have been evacuated to government shelters. REUTERS

Outlining their grievances

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New R

Another web for UNP

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:1

Sakvithi brought to court

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"

Up in the sky

A participant rides in a self-made flying craft during the annual Red Bull Flugtag (Flight Day) event in Bucharest September 19, 2010.