Tragic flight

Two Kfir Aircraft rehearsing a fly pass for the Air Force Anniversary celebrations have collided near Warana in the Gampaha district in the morning. President Mahinda Rakapaksa visited the place and observed the damage. The picture shows the wreckage of the crashed aircraft. Pix by Pushpakumara Mallawarachchi & Kushan Pathirajah

Incredible military skills

Kuwaiti troops show their skills during a military show in Kuwait City on February 28, 2011 as the Gulf state marks its 50th Independence Day and 20th anniversary of the end of the Gulf war with the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. AFP

Safely back home

The picture shows a group of Sri Lankans who were in Libya on their arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport this morning. More than 40 Lankans have arrived from Libya up to now, after Sri Lanka started to evacuate its nationals due to the prevailing violence in Tripoli, Libya. Pix Courtesy- FEB

Harsha takes over Air Force

Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama assumed duties as the 13th Air Force Commander this morning at the Air Force Headquarters. He vowed to give priority to research and development activities and also to develop welfare activities carried out on airmen. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Celebration dance

Brazil's Flamengo's Ronaldinho (R) celebrates after scoring against Boavista during their Guanabara Cup final soccer match in Rio de Janeiro February 27, 2011. REUTERS

Nordic World Ski Championships

Philip Boit of Kenya competes during the men's cross country 30 km pursuit at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo February, 2011. REUTERS

Roshan bids adieu to Air Force

Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonathileke retired from the Air Force today after a 33 year service to the nation and will continue as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He was given a guard of honour at the Air Force Headquarters. Seen here the out going Air Chief handing over the Command baton to the newly appointed Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama. Pic By Pradeep Dilruckshana

48th Big Match

The 48th edition of the Isipathana-Thurstan big match was played for the Blackham Wijewardena trophy at the SSC grounds during the weekend. The picture shows a fielder of the Isipathana team saving a run during the last few overs of the match. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

11 inch Seahorse

A seahorse 11 inches in length was recovered from the sea off Kalpitiya by local fishermen. Seahorses which have been recovered from Sri Lankan waters are usually 2 inches in length but this specimen which is 11 inches is believed to be the longest seahorse recovered from the area. Pix by Hiran Priyankara

Flowery dress

A girl participates in the Red Cross Children's Carnival competition at Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain, Trinidad February 26, 201. Reuters

Celebrating 11-run victory

Pakistan celebrate their 11-run victory, Sri Lanka v Pakistan, World Cup, Group A, Colombo, February 26, 2011. AFP

Pakistan 277

Misbah-ul-Haq helped propel Pakistan to 277, Sri Lanka v Pakistan, World Cup, Group A, Colombo, February 26, 2011. AFP

In support of Sri Lanka

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Cricket Fever heats-up

Cricket fans flocked to the P.D Sirisena Grounds in Maligawatta this morning to buy Rs.50 tickets for the Sri Lanka- Australia World Cup encounter which is to be played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on March 5. Seen here policemen watching a group of fans jumping to the grounds to buy tickets by evading the queue. Pix By Varuna Wanniarachchi

Cricket fever

With World Cup fever gripping the island, people can be seen expressing their excitement in their own way all over the country. Seen here are children enjoying a game of street cricket outside the R Premadasa Stadium, where Sri Lanka and Pakistan will are due to meet today. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

Beefing up security

With large crowds expected for tomorrow’s cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, organizers have taken adequate security measures for crowd safety. Seen here are police and STF officers the security taking last minute security measures at the venue at the R Premadasa stadium. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Fighting a better battle

Members of the Civil Defence Force (CDF), who were earlier protecting their respective villages, are now engaged in farming activities. Here CDF members with their crops in Mahaoya in Ampara. Pic by Jayaratne Wickremearachchi-Karuwalagaswewa

MJ goes airborne

Australia's Mitchell Johnson celebrates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Jesse Ryder during their ICC Cricket World Cup group A match in Nagpur February 25, 2011. REUTERS

Congratulations

South Africa's Imran Tahir is congratulated by his teammates after taking the wicket of West Indies' Devon Smith during their ICC Cricket World Cup group B match in New Delhi February 24, 2011.  REUTERS

Anti-Government Protests

Anti-government protesters take part in a demonstration outside Sanaa University February 24, 2011. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has ordered his security forces to protect demonstrators trying to end his 32-year rule,a statement said.  REUTERS

Chock-a-block

The picture shows a bird’s eye view of the traffic block in Pettah during the protest organized by medical students of the Rajarata University this afternoon. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Showing support

Several independent groups today expressed their support to the United National Party after certain UNP nomination lists were rejected for the upcoming Local Government elections. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

World Cup arrangements

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya briefed the media on the arrangements and traffic plans to be implemented for the upcoming matches due to be played at the R.Premadasa international cricket stadium. Seen here is SLC World Cup Tournament Director Suraj Dandeniya speaking to the media about the arrangements for the World Cup. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

No matter what

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Bring the prices down!

The Employees Collective Against Increasing Price of Goods today staged a protest in front of the National Railway head quarters in Colombo urging the government to curb the rising cost of living. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana

Bangladesh Army Chief in SL

Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff General Mohammed Abdul Mubeen who came for four- day visit to Sri Lanka today met Sri Lankan counterpart Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya at the Army headquarters. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana

Christchurch earthquake - day 3

Rescue workers search for signs of life in the rubble of CTV building in Christchurch February 24, 2011. International rescuers intensified their search for earthquake survivors in New Zealand on Thursday, despite fading hopes of finding any more people alive and fears that a damaged 26-storey tower could collapse nearby at any time. REUTERS

10,000 scholarships received

Higher Education Ministry had received 10,000 scholarships worth of US$ 100,000 for undergraduates to learn English. Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayke and the United States Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis signed the MoU for the schools at Cinnamon Lakeside today. (Pix by Pradeep Pathirana)

Masks

Competitors Austria's Christina Staudinger, Sweden's Anja Paerson, Italy's Francesca Marsaglia, Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. (top, L-R), Austria's Margret Altacher, Austria's Nicole Hosp, Switzerland's Fraenzi Aufdenblatten and Switzerland's Lara Gut (bottom, L-R) wear protective masks as temperatures drop to -28 degrees Celsius (-18 degrees Fahrenheit) before a practice run for the women's downhill World Cup ski ra

Running between the wickets

Pakistan's Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal run between the wickets during their ICC Cricket World Cup group A match against Kenya in Hambantota, south of Colombo, February 23, 2011. REUTERS