Report and testify

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse testified before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee in Colombo today. The picture shows the Defence Secretary Rajapakse pointing out at a report during his presentation to the committee. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Getting up close

The National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala in a new initiative is letting its visitors get up close to some animals on display to increase the publics awareness on wild life. The picture shows some children visiting the zoo taking advantage of the new initiative. Pix by Samantha Perera

Cat nap

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva seems to have drifted into a dreamworld when Ministers Dullas Alahapperuma and Rohitha Abeygunawardena were speaking about the key issues in the country at a SLFP media briefing in Colombo today. Pic by Nisal Baduge

Helping for a cause

An officer of the Civil Defense Force is seen here cleaning the drain during a dengue awareness campaign in Imbulgoda today. The Civil Defense Force from Seruwila and Kantale are involved in this campaign. Pic by Indraratne Balasuriya

Plane breaks apart

The wreckage of a Colombian passenger plane that crashed in the Caribbean resort island of San Andres is seen yesterday. A Colombian passenger jet operated by local airline Aires crashed while landing on the island on Monday during a storm, injuring 114 passengers while one died of a heart attack, local authorities said. REUTERS

Celebrating victory

India's Virender Sehwag raises his bat to celebrate his team's victory in the third one-day international cricket match against Sri Lanka in the tri-series in Dambulla August 16, 2010.  REUTERS

A religious affair

The Air Force conducted its annual Hindu religious ceremony today at the Kotahena Sri Ponnampalawaneswarar Temple.  Chief of Staff of the SLAF Air Vice Marshal P B Premachandra, the Board of Management, Officers and a cross section of other ranks representing all bases, stations and all trades of SLAF attended the ceremony. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Chemical check

A fire drill display was held at the Fire Brigade training center in Wellawatte today to commemorate the passing out ceremony of a new batch of fire fighters. The picture shows a fire fighter testing chemical toxicity of the surrounding air during a “Hazmat Drill”. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Help goes a long way

Doctors of the American Airforce are conducting a medical camp at the Puttlam Municipal council today. The medical camp will be conducted till August 20. A doctor is seen here attending to a patient at the camp. Pic by Hiran Priyankara

Another hearing

MP Sarath Fonseka is seen here leaving the Chief Magistrate's Court in Hulftsdorp this morning. Fonseka was accused of providing shelder for army deserters. Pic by Nisal Baduge.

Welcome to Pakistan

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik (L) looks as Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (R) shakes hands with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (C) upon his arrival at Chaklala Airbase in Rawalpindi on August 15, 2010. Ban Ki-moon flew into Pakistan to visit areas ravaged by floods and urged the world to speed up aid for up to 20 million people hit by the country's worst humanitarian disaster. AFP

Beauty at its best..

Dancers are seen here performing at the Odissi dance performance organized by Sharmila Biswas and her ensemble at Ananda College this evening. Pic by Kithsiri De Mel

We are the Champions!

A CR and FC player is seen here tackling an Air Force player at the finals of the Inter Club Rugby Sevens held in Longden Place this evening.  CR and FC beat Air Forced 21 -17. Pic Kushan Pathiraja

Festivities have begun

Hindus are seen here gathered at the Nallur Kovil in Jaffna this morning for a festival. Today is the first day of the festival which goes on for 25 days. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Magampura harbour

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen here ceremonially releasing water to the 17 meter deep inland Hambantota harbour basin this morning. The port was named the Magampura International harbour. Pix by Indaratna Balasuriya

Having fun

Scouts taking part in “Scout Camporee 2010” are seen here rope climbing at the Vihara Mahadevi Park today. Pix by Kushan Pathirajaha

Construct 2010

The final day of the 10th Construct Exhibition is being held at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Center today. A consumer is seen here discussing about roof tiles with a sales person at the event. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Celebrating independence

Indian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha is seen here inspecting the guard of honor as a part of the 64th Independence Day celebrations being held at the Indian High commission in Colombo today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Lighting the cauldron

Sixteen-year-old Darren Choy of Singapore lights the cauldron to the Youth Olympic flame during the Youth Olympic Game (YOG) in Singapore August 14, 2010. REUTERS

Visiting the port

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen here taking a tour of the water basin of the Hambanthota port project with his son MP Namal Rajapaksa today.  The water basin is due to be filled with sea water at an auspicious time tomorrow.  Pix by Indaratna Balasuriya

"Moskva" in Colombo

The flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, missile cruiser Moskva (Moscow) is currently docked at the Colombo port. The Commander of the Cruise ship is Deputy Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Naval Surface Force, Captain 1st Rank Igor V. Smolyak and ship is commanded by Guard Captain 1st Rank Sergey I. Tronev. “Moskva” will be docked in Colombo till August 15th. Pix by Samantha Perera

Calling for the release

A protest was organized by the JVP in front of the Fort railway station today calling for the release of remanded parliamentarians Vijitha Herath and Ajith Kumara who were remanded for allegedly assaulting two police officers after the Galle march on Thursday. The picture shows JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva addressing the crowd. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Lending a hand

The Sri Lankan Air Force with the collaboration of the Army, the Police, the Colombo Municipal Council and the assistance of the public launched a dengue prevention campaign in Slave Island today. Pix courtesy Sri Lanka Air Force

Alive with colour

 The Mayurapathy Pathrakali Amman Kovil in Wellawatte held its annual chariot festival, which was alive with colour in its song and dance in Colombo today. Pics by Saman Perera  

Celebrating its first kiss

KISS FM celebrated its 1st year anniversary last night at the North Lawn, Taj Samudra with DJ Anna from the UK playing to a full house of Colombo party goers. Pics by Varuna Vaniarachchi

Up Up and away

Hot air balloons fly in the early morning at the International Balloon Fiesta in Bristol August 13, 2010. The annual event attracts up to half a million spectators over four days with six scheduled mass balloon ascents. REUTERS

Sweet victory

Sri Lanka's Upul Tharanga plays a shot as New Zealand's Scott Styris and wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins watch during the second one-day international cricket match in the tri-series in Dambulla August 13, 2010.  REUTERS

Merit award for DM

Daily Mirror staff photojournalist Pradeep Pathirana was awarded a Merit award for photojournalism at the All Island Photography Competition organized by Debug and  EPSON today. The picture shows photojournalist Pradeep Pathirana being awarded the certificate by T. Mazaar Morseth, a member of the organizing community at an event held at the Art Gallery. Pix by Nisal Baduge

What a sight!

British High Commissioner Dr. Peter Hayes and his wife are seen enjoying Sri Lanka’s wildlife at the Wilpattu National Park during a visit to the area. Pic Courtesy British High Commission

Keeping an eye

Former Deputy Highways Minister Mervyn Silva is seen here looking at the newly unveiled clock tower in Kiribathgoda this morning. Pix by Nisal Baduge