Splash !

In an underwater picture France's Marion Farissier competes in the women's 3-metre synchro springboard preliminary round diving event at the FINA World Championships at the outdoor diving pool of the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, on July 16, 2011.   AFP PHOTO

Sinha Regiment colours night

The annual colours night of the Sinha Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army was held under the patronage of Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya today at the Bishop’s College Auditorium. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Artwork

A child lies on a piece of 3D pavement artwork featuring a shark as she poses for a photograph for her family inside a shopping mall in Fuzhou, Fujian province July 17, 2011. Picture taken July 17, 2011. REUTERS

Calgary Stampede

Straws Milan of Cochrane, Alberta wrestles a steer in the first round of the steer wrestling event during the Calgary Stampede rodeo finals in Calgary, Alberta, July 17, 2011. Milan went on to win the event. REUTERS

“Abdul Jabar” trophy

Isipathana College and Thurstan College took part in the 43rd annual clash for the “Abdul Jabar” rugby trophy at Longdon place in Colombo this evening. At the end of play Isipathana College scored 70 while Thurstan College scored 6. Pix by Kushan Pathirajah 

Lending a helping hand

The picture shows Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne lending a had to prepare a field for cultivation at a ceremony held in Ranmulkaduwa fields in Gampola. The Prime Minister stated during the event that the country’s youth should be reintroduced to paddy cultivation so as to develop the agricultural sector in the country. Prime Minister’s Media Unit

“Bee-attracting”

Beekeeper Wang Dalin, 42, stands with bees covering his body on a weighing scale during a “bee-attracting” competition against fellow beekeeper Lv Kongjiang in Shaoyang, Hunan province July 16, 2011. Wang and Lv competed by standing on a scale wearing only a pair of shorts and using queen bees they reared to attract other bees onto their bodies. Wang won the competition after attracting 26 kg (57 lbs) of bees on his body in 60 minutes

Water sports

A man falls as he participates in a recreational sporting competition at an entertainment centre near the village of Pleshchenitsy, 70km (44 miles) northeast of Minsk, July 16, 2011. An estimated 200 participants from neighbouring countries took part in the weekend event, which featured biking and water sporting activities.  REUTERS

A Russian Troika

Russian Troikas, carts drawn by three horses, compete during the 11th regional rural amateur horse race in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, July 16, 2011. Nonprofessional equestrians from the local agricultural population compete in the annual event for the main prize of a tractor. REUTERS

“Zero carbon Britain before we drown”

Environmental activists hold a banner which reads “Zero carbon Britain before we drown” on the bank of the Thames across from the Houses of Parliament in London July 16, 2011. Campaigners have organised events around the country today to promote the goal of a zero carbon Britain by 2030. REUTERS

Raise $2mn to build a cancer unit

Former Sri Lankan cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene carrying a charity till lends a hand to a young boy climbing down a staircase to greet him during a charity walk in the central town of Thambuttegama today. The 27-day walk is organized by local charity, the Colours of Trust, to raise $2 million to build a cancer unit in the former northern war-hit Jaffna hospital. Jayawardene, is an active member of the Trust, that raises funds for cancer pa

Mass wedding ceremony

Brides and grooms pose during a mass wedding ceremony in Amman July 15, 2011. A Jordanian Islamic charity organized a mass wedding for 72 couples unable to afford expensive ceremonies. REUTERS

Hindu festival begins

Slave Island Sivasubramaniya Hindu Temple festival starts from today till 25th of July. Seen here a priest conducting rites at the festival. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Oil Rig Explosion

Fire boats battle the blazing remnants of the off shore oil rig Deepwater Horizon, off Louisiana, in this April 21, 2010 handout file photo. BP Plc promised improved drilling practices on July 15, 2011 as the company balances twin aims of rebuilding investor and public confidence after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill while not admitting flaws in its own procedures. REUTERS

In reverence

Buddhists carry candles while encircling a large Buddha statue during Asanha Puja Day, the eve of the Buddhist Lent, at a temple in Nakhon Pathom province on the outskirts of Bangkok July 15, 2011.  REUTERS

Worth a million bucks

Colin Weir and his wife Chris pose for photographers during a news conference in a hotel near Falkirk, Scotland July 15, 2011. The couple scooped 161 million pounds ($259 million) in Tuesday's Euromillions jackpot. REUTERS

“Ayurveda-Expo 2011”

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Miss World Hungary

Linda Szunai (R) is crowned 2011 Miss World Hungary by 2010 Miss World Hungary in Budapest July 14, 2011. REUTERS

Royal guard of honour

Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah salutes the royal guard of honour during his 65th birthday celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan July 15, 2011. Bolkiah was born on July 15, 1946 and ascended the throne to become the 29th Sultan of Brunei in 1967. REUTERS

Mount Lokon spews hot lava

Mount Lokon spews hot lava and volcanic ash during an eruption in Tomohon in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province July 14, 2011. Indonesia's Mount Lokon erupted to spew hot lava and volcanic ash as high as 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) in the north of Sulawesi island, prompting panicked residents to flee the agricultural area, a government official said on Friday. Picture taken July 14, 2011. REUTERS

Whale shark festival begins

A whale shark (Rhincodon typus) swims in the Caribbean Sea in Isla Mujeres July 14, 2011.The Whale Shark Annual Festival has been taking place in Isla Mujeres since 2008 to promote eco-tourism, and the conservation of this species considered vulnerable under the the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. REUTERS

Cooling off

A dog runs into the water at Lake Balaton near Tihany 150 km (93 miles) west of Budapest on July 14, 2011. Temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) in Hungary on Thursday. REUTERS

Masterpiece on display

Indonesian artist Eddi Prabandono poses next to his clay statue at Taman Budaya Yogyakarta in Yogyakarta July 14, 2011. Prabandono and his 15 workers made a 4-metre-by-4-metre statue modelled REUTERS

Protest against the IMF

An anti-International Monetary Fund (IMF) poster is stuck to a window outside the Dawson Street offices where the European Commission, ECB and IMF held a joint news conference outlining Ireland's progress in meeting it's targets as part of the EU/IMF bailout, Dublin July 14, 2011. Rating agencies may be overestimating the risks associated with the current euro zone debt crisis and were it not for the contagion risk, Irish bond spreads wou

Religious observances on Esala Poya

A Pahan Pooja was organized today the Viharamahadevi Park to invoke blessing on people, in soldiers who sacrificed themselves in the war. Seen here are two women participating at the pooja. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Remembering “Nawam Raja”

An alms giving was held today at Hunupitiya Gangarama temple in remembrance of the tusker “Nawam Raja” who served the Gangarama Temple for the last 25 years. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Blessings from Buddha

Today is Esala full moon Poya day, which is celebrated by Buddhists Island wide. Esala Poya is significant to Buddhists as the day Lord Buddha preached his first dhamma sermon, the 'Dhamma Chakka Pavattana Sutta'. The picture shows devotees at the Kelaniya temple taking part in religious observances. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Great Harvest

Farmers harvest wheat at a field near Mezokovesd, 130 km (80.8 miles) east of Budapest, July 13, 2011. Hungary's Agriculture Ministry estimated the 2011 wheat crop at 3.93 million tonnes, slightly above 3.76 million tonnes harvested last year but still 10 percent below the average of the 2006-2010 period. On top of domestic needs, the ministry has said some of the wheat harvested would be available for export. REUTERS

Developing North

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Badiuddin, Minister of National Integration Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan and MP Hunais Farook at a press briefing today at the Government Information Department centre to describe the development works and resettlement activities in North. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Mumbai bomb explosion

A car is seen damaged at the site of a bomb explosion in the Dadar area of Mumbai July 13, 2011. Three explosions rocked crowded districts of India's financial capital of Mumbai during rush hour on Wednesday, killing at least eight people, media said, in the biggest attack on the city since 2008 assaults blamed on Pakistan-based militants. REUTERS