Making an entry

Member of Parliament General Sarath Fonseka is seen here greeting the media after entering a conference room at Parliament to hold a media briefing this morning. (Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana)

Remembering our heroes

A religious ceremony was held in Kilinochchi in remembrance of the soldiers who laid their lives while fighting the LTTE and also to coincide with the one year anniversary since the end of the war. Monks are seen here participating in the event. Pic by Romesh Madushanka

Central World on fire

Thai firemen try to douse the flames at Thailand's biggest shopping mall - Central World - after it was set ablaze the day before following an army assault on an anti-government protest site in downtown Bangkok on May 20, 2010.  Thailand's biggest shopping mall faces collapse after it was set ablaze by enraged protesters in the wake of an army offensive to shut down an anti-government rally, police said.   AFP PHOTO

No more a road

The heavy rain has converted roads into rivers in most parts of the country. Picture shows a stretch of road in Minuwangoda looking more like a river now with people using boats as a mode of transport.  Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

A helping hand

The Navy has come forward to assist people stranded as a result of the severe flooding experienced in most parts of the country over the last few days. Picture shows sailors helping transport people by boat. Pic courtesy Sri Lanka Navy  

Flooded

The heavy rain over the last few days continues to flood several areas around the country. Picture shows a house completely inundated in Rajagiriya today. Pics by Waruna Wanniarachi and Nisal Baduge

Mother Lanka first!

A solider looks on as two young boys sell flags despite the inclement weather conditions as Sri Lanka celebrates a year since the end of the war. Pics by Waruna Wanniarachchi  

Floods create more havoc

Flood waters created more havoc in several parts of the country today. Picture shows water gushing out of a tank in Nathandiya today damaging crops and at least 20 houses in its path. Pic by Jude Samantha  

Sydney spout

A water spout (tornado) hits the sea behind a surfer on Sydney's Bondi Beach on May 17, 2010. A rare sight in Australia, the water spout lasted around five minutes and expired before landfall.  AFP PHOTO  

A packed ride home

Crowds gather at a bus halt in Pettah this evening waiting for a ride home. Bus services were been delayed throughout the day due to heavy flooding in Colombo. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana  

The new recruits

Dozens of potential new police recruits were interviewed today at the Police Field Force Headquarters in Bambalapitiya today.  Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Doing his bit

A police officer is seen here trying to clear a blocked drain as heavy rain continued to lash Colombo this morning. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Rain, rain go away

The heavy rain which continued to lash several parts of the country since this morning hampered education activities at most schools. Picture shows students heading home after a school in Rajagiriya went underwater. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachi

The leaders meet

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is in Iran to attend the G15 summit, had talks with the leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran this evening. The two leaders are seen here greeting each other prior to the discussion. Pic by Sudath Silva

Preparing for Vesak

A Sri Lankan street vendor makes lanterns from bamboo sticks in Colombo on May 16, 2010. The lanterns will be used during festivities celebrating Vesak Day, an annual holiday observed traditionally by practicing Buddhists in South Asia marking the birth, enlightenment, death and attaining nirvana of Lord Buddha over 2,500 years ago. AFP

Welcome to Iran

Going to the people

A mobile police unit was launched in the East to listen to complaints by the public who are unable to report to their respective police stations. Picture shows a mobile unit at a village in Trincomalee. Pic by Amadoru Amarageeva

Street circuit

McLaren Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton arrives in the pits of the Monaco street circuit during the third free practice session of the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix. AFP

Caring for our heroes

Disabled  soldiers attend a military ceremony to lay the foundation stone for a 10 million dollar hospice for quadriplegics in Anuradhapura today. Army chief Jagath Jayasuriya said the hospice will also include residential facilities for visiting family members. Nearly 30,000 government troops were injured and 6,200 killed during the last three years of Sri Lanka's 37-year war with the separatist Tamil Tigers that ended last May. Amon

Washed away

Two children can be seen here looking at the backyard of their house which has been washed away due to sea erosion in Marawila. More than 50 houses have being affected by sea erosion along the Puttalam coastline. Although the authorities have started to create a breakwater along the coast to protect the affected houses, residents complain that the process should have begun before the monsoon season to have full effect.  Pix by Hiran Jayas

Back in the limelight

Former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama was seen back in the limelight today when he together with a group of government and opposition members got together to clear Rathanapitiya which was flooded following the heavy rain yesterday. Pics by Varuna Wanniarachchi

SBC Aids Walk

An Aids walk was organized by the students of St. Bridget’s Convent earlier today at Town Hall. Pics by Varuna Wanniarachchi

Dangerous weather

The PGA Tour calls for a five hour weather delay before beginning second round of the Valero Texas Open at the TPC San Antonio in San Antonio yesterday in Texas.  AFP

"Akshaya Tritiya"

An Indian saleswoman arranges 22-carat gold necklaces at Forever Precious Jewellery and Diamonds Ltd. in Ahmedabad today. Gold traders across India are gearing up for the most auspicious day in the Hindu calendar, ‘Akshaya Tritiya’ which falls on May 16. Owing to surges in gold prices prevailing currently the demand for gold on  ‘Akshaya Tritiya’  is likely to remain low this year.  AFP

Rain takes its toll

The heavy rain which continued to lash Colombo since this morning flooded several roads and damaged property. Picture shows workers attempting to remove a massive tree near the Gangaramaya Temple which was uprooted as a result of the rain and strong winds. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Ready for another mission

Space Shuttle Atlantis sits behind the rotation service structure as NASA workers make final preparations for today's scheduled launch from Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station yesterday in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch is scheduled to be the last for Atlantis. AFP  

Losing the grip

Sri Lankan batsman Chamara Kapugedera is seen here losing a grip on his bat in the first Twenty20 world cup semi final against England. The English beat Sri Lanka to reach the final. Pic Cricinfo

The first strike

Ryan Sidebottom is seen here celebrating after he struck with his first ball to remove Sanath Jayasuriya in the 1st Semi-Final of the Twenty20 world cup at Gros Islet, in the West Indies today. crickinfo

Inspecting the goods

A consignment of Saline was brought from India by an air force plane today. Picture shows the consignment being unloaded while Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena looks on. Pic By Nisal Badhuge

Protesting in a shower

A protest was organized by the Sri Jayawardenapura University student unions today against what they called 'unfair class cancellation' of some univesrity students. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana