Greeting the New Year

Tamil children are seen here breaking coconuts along the streets of Wellawatta this afternoon as part of a Hindu religious ritual to welcome the Tamil New Year. Both Tamils and Singhalese in Sri Lanka are celebrating the first post war New Year. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachi

Happy New Year

As the first post war Sinhala and Tamil New Year dawns in Sri Lanka we at Daily Mirror online wish you all a peaceful, prosperous and joyous Avurudu and Puthandu

A peaceful New Year

A Hindu priest is seen on the left walking past a Hindu Temple in Colombo being prepared for the New Year while on the right a woman is seen lighting the oil lamp at a Buddhist Temple near Homagama as both Singhalese and Tamils prepare to welcome the dawn of a peaceful New Year. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachi

The heat is on

With the country experiencing extreme heat these days people in their numbers are flocking to the beach to cool down. Pictured here are adults, youth and kids spending time at a Colombo beach today, on the eve of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachi

Aiming for the top

The military organized several events at the Chetikulam IDP camp in Vavuniya to mark the Singhalese and Tamil New Year. Picture shows a displaced boy attempting to reach the top of a pole to grab the Sri Lanka flag in one of the games. Pic by Romesh Madushanka

Consolation handshake

UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha visited the injured UNP Puttalam district Member of Parliament elect Palitha Range Bandara in hospital this evening. The UNP leader is seen here greeting an unidentified individual while making his way out of the Colombo National hospital after meeting the injured UNP member. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Ready for a blast

Fireworks will light up the sky as Sri Lanka celebrates its first post war Sinhalese and Tamil New Year. Picture shows a family purchasing fireworks to celebrate the New Year. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Stocking up

With the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year just around the corner people were engaged in some last minute shopping in Pettah today. Picture shows a shopper purchasing bananas from a stall in Pettah. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

“Avatar” in Blu-Ray

Canadian director James Cameron attends the launch of the movie “Avatar” in Blu-Ray Disc and DVD in Sao Paulo April 11, 2010. REUTERS

New Year treat

A Sri Lankan confectionary seller displays the traditional Sinhala Tamil New Year oil cake snack kevum and Munkevum in Colombo on April 11, 2010. Sinhala Tamil New Year celebrations will be held April 14, the first since the end of the armed conflict with the Tamil Tiger rebels  AFP PHOTO

Gearing up for Avurudu

Throngs of people are seen shopping in Colombo this weekend in preparation for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Pics by Varuna Wanniarachchi 

Post poll violence

Police investigators are seen here inspecting the house of UNP member Palitha Range Bandara after he was brutally assaulted this evening in what police said was the result of intra party rivalry. Pic by Jude Samantha

Celebrating victory

Sri Lankan ruling party supporters fly national flags as they celebrate election victory in Colombo. Sri Lanka's ruling party cruised to victory Friday in parliamentary elections but fell short of the two-thirds majority that would have allowed President Mahinda Rajapakse to amend the constitution. Rajapakse's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) secured 117 seats in the 225-member assembly with another 45 seats left to be declared

Ranil vows to fight on

Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickramasingha adressed the media a short while ago, stating that the UNP will continue its fight for democracy and media rights. The opposition leader put the UNP's recent loss at the General Elections down to the lack of faith the general public had in the electoral system and not on his leadership, stating that he will step down when the time is right. Pics by Varuna Wanniarachchi

Heading home

Flock of cranes fly over a lake near Skoevde. Every spring, about 15000 cranes make a stopover in this area on their way back to North. AFP

A 'sign" of victory

A man walks past an election billboard of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse in Colombo on April 9, 2010. Rajapakse's ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance Party claimed victory in the parliamentary poll that was marked by a record low turnout and voter intimidation which resulted in fresh voting being ordered in two of the island's 22 electoral districts. AFP

Sanath scores

Master Blaster Sanath Jayasuriya is seen here being greeted by his supporters this afternoon after he topped the preferential votes in the Matara District and secured a place in Parlaiment. Pic by Kryshan Jeewaka and Swarna Nettikumara

Waiting and waiting

The whole of Sri Lanka is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the 2010 General Election. People in Colombo are seen here going through the daily newspapers reading election related news. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

And the counting begins

Counting of the ballots in the 2010 General Election is now underway and the final results will be out by tomorrow. Picture shows the ballot boxes being transferred to the respective counting centers. Pic by Nisal Baduge,Amadoru Amarajeewa and Romesh Madushanka

Going to the polls

Voting for the 2010 General Election is underway. Voters are seen here casting their vote at a polling booth in Vavuniya this morning. Pic by Romesh Madushanka

Voting underway

Voting in the 2010 General Elections is now underway. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and opposition leader Ranil Wickramasingha are seen here casting their vote in Colombo this morning. Pics by Pradeep K. Pathirana, Pradeep Dilrukshana, Varuna Wanniarachchi, Amadoru Amarageeva, Abdul Lathif and President's media unit

Inspecting a Lankan boat

Indian security personnel are seen here inspecting a Sri Lankan boat, which was found abandoned in Rameswaram yesterday. The discovery gave doubts that “some persons” might have landed. Photo: Hindu

Taking flight

German test pilot Markus Scherdel steers the solar-powered Solar Impulse HB-SIA prototype airplane during his first flight over Payerne April 7, 2010. The propeller plane, with a 61 metres (200 feet) wingspan, is powered by four electric motors and designed to fly day and night by saving surplus energy from its 12,000 solar cells in high-performance batteries.  Wednesday's flight follows six years' work by 50 engineers and technic

Contemplating the future

UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha and deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya are seen here at a press briefing in Colombo today seemingly contemplating their future with the elections set for tomorrow. Pic by Kithsir De Mel

All systems go

Final preparations for the General Elections scheduled for tomorrow are now underway with ballot boxes and ballot papers being distributed to the respective polling centers. Picture shows ballot boxes being transported by sea and land around the country this morning. Pic by Amadoru Amarageeva, Indraratna Balasuriya, Kryshan Jayaruk & Sumanasiri Gunatillaka

Back in the game

Tiger Woods of the U.S. casts a long shadow as he tees off on the first hole during a practice round for the 2010 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. REUTERS

Racing the corridors of Galle Face Hotel

Maldivian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ali Hussein Didi and Russian Ambassador Vladimir P. Mikhaylov take part in the traditional cannon ball run through Colombo's 146-year old Galle Face Hotel today. The run, which Didi won, is an annual event to commemorate the British army misfiring a canon ball in 1940 that struck the hotel's roof. Pics by Manoj Rathnayake

In the spotlight

A protest was held today calling for the release of General Sarath Fonseka and against the recent removal of monks who had been on a fast unto death in front of the Fort Railway Station. Anoma Fonseka is seen here showing her support of the protestors. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana 

Addressing the media

The opposition met the Election Commissioner this afternoon to discuss matters regarding the upcoming General Election.  UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya and JVP propaganda secretary Vijitha Herath can be seen here addressing the media after their meeting with the Commissioner. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Legal advice

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