Faith

Hindu devotees transport an idol of Hindu elephant god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, from a workshop to a place of worship in Mumbai August 28, 2010. Idols of Ganesh are made two to three months before the day of “Ganesh Chaturthi”, a popular religious festival in India. The idols are taken through the streets in a procession accompanied by dancing and singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of

Checking up

Foreign Employment Bureau Chairman Kingsly Ranawaka is seen here checking up on the maid who recently underwent surgery to remove 24 nails inserted in her body by her Saudi employer. Pix by Krishan Jeewaka

Flower power

A float decorated with flowers is paraded through town during the “Batalla de las Flores” (Battle of Flowers) in Laredo, near Santander in northern Spain. The Battle of Flowers is a tradition dating back 100 years and is celebrated on the final Friday of August. Participants build floats and parade through town and are finally judged on aesthetic merit.   REUTERS

Hosing it down

The annual fire evacuation drill was carried out at the World Trade Center (WTC) today.  The drill was demonstrated by the CMC Fire Brigade and the Emergency Response Team of the WTC. Pix Kushan Pathiraja

Graduated !

The induction and graduation ceremony of the “Institution of Engineers” was held at the Waters Edge this evening. The picture shows chief guest of the event External Affairs Minister G. L Peiris awarding a student her degree at the graduation ceremony. Pix by Waruna Vanniarachi

Standing at attention

The 28th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service was held at the BMICH today. The picture shows President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Deputy Minister Dilan Perera who had dislocated his shoulder and other officials standing for the national anthem during the event. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Pressure check

The Kotahena police organized a free medical camp for the public today. The picture shows a police officer undergoing a pressure check during the medical camp. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel 

Relief from pain

A surgeon holds up one nail out of the 24 which was inhumanely inserted in a housemaid’s body by her Saudi employers. A three hour operation was conducted today to remove the nails inserted in her body. Pics by Krishan Jeevaka Jayaruk

Down to rubble

A view of Wednesday's bomb attack site in Baghdad. A suicide car bomber killed 15 people and wounded at least 56 others in the attack on a police station in the northern Qahira district of Baghdad, Interior Ministry and police sources said.  REUTERS

Remembering the fallen

 People pay their respects at a memorial built in Aranthalawa, Ampara in memory of the Buddhist monks who were killed by the LTTE. Pics by Samantha Perera

Anger on slaughter

A group of Buddhist monks are seen here expressing their anger and outrage at the slaughter of animals during a religious festival in Chilaw yesterday. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Remembering Mother Teresa

Nuns belonging to the Missionaries of Charity order follow the service to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa (pictured in banner) at her tomb in the Missionaries of Charity house in Kolkata August 26, 2010. Teresa, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who died in 1997, was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003 at the Vatican. Teresa's birth centenary was marked on Thursday. REUTERS

Ice drill

French engineers are set to drain a lake that has formed under a glacier on Mont Blanc Alpine mountain and threatens to flood the Saint Gervais valley on French Alps. The lake, which contains some 65,000 cubic metres (2.3m cubic feet) of water, was discovered last month during routine checks. The engineers plan to dig a hole into the ice and pump the water out.  REUTERS

Boost to hydro power

An engineer points at the Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project after the completion of the excavation of a 13 kilometer long tunnel, the longest in the country, which takes water to the hydro power plant at Niyamgamdora from Talawakele. Pics by Kushan Pathiraja    

Curious mind

A child looks on curiously at a chicken prior to the traditional sacrificial ceremony held at the Munneswaram Kali Amman Hindu Temple in Chilaw today. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Dengue awareness campaign

Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe is seen here addressing a media briefing on a dengue awareness campaign this morning. The UNP plans to distribute handbills regaring dengue awarness to the public. Deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya and Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene are also seen here. Pic by Kithsiri de Mel

Cricket vs dengue

While cricketers prepared to take to the field today at Dambulla for a tri-series match, officials took no chances with the mosquitoes. A worker is seen here fumigating the cricket ground as a precautionary measure. Pic by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

A shutterbug cop

A police officer is seen here taking photographs of a group of protestors who made attempts to obstruct the slaughtering of animals at the Munneswaram Kali Amman Hindu Temple in Chilaw this morning. Pic by Jude Samantha

Shocking !

Shown here are images which shocked the country. The x-ray image shows steel nails driven into the hands of a Sri Lankan maid while she was working in Saudi Arabia. The victim is now being treated at a hospital in Matara. Pic by Krishan Jayaruk

Regal entrance

The Kandy Esala Maha Randoli Perahera was held late this evening. The picture shows the tusker Nedungamuwa Raja bearing the Sacred Tooth Relic Casket being escorted during the Esala pageant. Pix by Waruna Wanniarchi 

A jumbo wash

An elephant taking part in the Esala pageant at the Sri Dalada Maligawa is seen here being washed by its mahout in preparation of the final Randoli Perahera which will take place this evening. Pix by Waruna Wanniacrachi  

Pilfering electricity

Officers of the Special Investigation unit of the CEB rounded up around 400 people involved in electricity piracy in a two day operation in Vavuniya. Pic by Romesh Madusanka

Offerings for poya

A group of foreigners are seen here buying flowers in order to take part in religious ceremonies at the Gangarama temple to mark Nikini full moon poya day today. Pic by Kithsiri de Mel

The crown goes to...

Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete, of Guadalajara, stands after being crowned Miss Universe 2010 during the Miss Universe pageant at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada August 23, 2010.  REUTERS

Free at last

Albert Vilalta (L) and Roque Pascual (C), Spanish aid workers who were held hostage for nearly nine months, gesture after being released as they arrive in Barcelona, early August 24, 2010. The two aid workers held by al Qaeda's North African wing were freed on Monday, ending a kidnapping ordeal in the Sahara Desert that lasted nearly nine months. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) seized Vilalta and Pascual while they were travelling th

Ramadan feast

An employee prepares sweets during Ramadan in a shop in Geneva August 23, 2010. Some 310,807 Muslims (4,3 % of the population) were listed in the last national census in 2000 in Switzerland. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS

Inspecting the damage

President Mahinda Rajapakse visited the Sigiriya rock today to inspect the discolored frescos and discuss the remedial measures that could be taken to protect the heritage site. Seen here is the president examining the frescos during his visit. Pix by Kanchana Ariyadasa

Hiding cannabis

More than two acres of cannabis cultivation in the heart of the Kanabendiara forest reserve, on the bank of the Chandrikawewa tank in Embilipitiya was destroyed by the police. The cannabis bushes which had grown up to a height of six feet had been covered with vegetable plants and coconut saplings. Pix by Ajithlal Shanthaudaya

Underwater fashion

Promoters wearing a traditional hanbok perform in a water tank at the “Underwater Hanbok Fashion Show” during a photo call in Seoul August 22, 2010. The event was held to mark the launch of a shopping mall. REUTERS

Honey to the Lord Buddha

The Veddah chief Vanniala Attho is seen here offering bee honey and bee combs to the Sacred tooth relic. The Veddah community traditionally offer bee honey and combs on the first day of the Kandy historic Esala Perahera to the Sacred tooth relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Pic by L.B.Senaratne