Mid air

Austria's Stefan Thurnbichler soars through the air during the practice session of  the FIS World Cup Ski Jumping in Sapporo, northern Japan, January 15, 2011.  REUTERS

Relief for the distressed

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa is seen here distributing flood relief items among the flood affected people in Batticaloa during his visit today

New Navy Chief

The New Navy Commander Vice Admiral D. W. A. S. Dissanayake today assumed duties at the Navy Headquarters. The picture shows the newly appointed Navy chief assuming duties.  Pix by Gayan Amarasekara

Thai Pongal in Hatton

The picture shows a special pooja being held to celebrate the Thai Pongal harvest festival at the Hatton Sri Manikapillayar Kovil in Hatton. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Celebrating Thai Pongal

A Tamil devotee prays during the Thai Pongal harvest festival at a temple in Colombo January 15, 2011.  REUTERS

Rally splash

A biker crosses a river during the Dakar 2011 Rally stage 11 between Chilecito and San Juan, Argentina. AFP

Aspiring to contest

The SLFP started selecting prospective candidates to contest the local government polls on the district level. Party members aspiring to contest the polls from the Kalpitiya Pradeshiya Saba in the Puttalam District were seen appearing before the nomination board at the party headquarters at Maradana. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Flood aid from India

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera are seen here accepting the flood donations from Indian Envoy Ashok K Kantha at the Bandaranaike International Airport. Pix by Chaminda Hittatiya

Council of Religions for Peace

Members of the Sri Lanka Council of Religions for Peace Ven. Madoluwawe Sobhita Nayaka Thero, Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Anunayaka Thero, Moulavi S.H Athambawa, Rt. Rev. Viyanne Fernando and Ramachandra Kurukkal Babusharma addressing a press conference today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Preparing for Thai Pongal

The Hindus turned out in their numbers this evening to buy goods from Pettah to celebrate the Thai Pongal festival which falls tomorrow. Picture shows people buying goods for the festival from sellers. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana

Guard of honour for Admiral

Navy Commander Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe who was promoted to the rank of Admiral recently by the President called on the Chief of Defence Staff and Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshall Roshan Gunathilaka this morning at the Air Force Headquarters. He was given a guard of honour by the airmen. Pics By Pradeep Pathirana

Cyclone Vania 2011

Tropical cyclone Vania is pictured near New Caledonia in an enhanced color water vapor satellite image released by the U.S. Navy January 14, 2011. REUTERS

Highway Accidents

Drivers stand next to their vehicles following a large car accident on a highway on the outskirts of Saltillo, in the Mexican state of Coahuila January 13, 2011. Icy roads were blamed for a 30 car pile-up on a motorway near Saltillo on Thursday in which ten people were injured, according to local media. REUTERS

A helping hand for flood victims

Minister of Trade Johnston Fernando is seen handing over food items for relief packs that will be distributed to the flood victims. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Baby elephant killed in floods

A three-year-old elephant that was washed away in the recent floods was found dead in a 15 ft tree in Habarana today. It is reported that the elephant was stuck on the tree for three days before its body was found. The level of water in the area was estimated to be 18 ft high. Pic by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa

Will be back next time…

Former Army commander Sarath Fonseka being taken away after attending the hearing of the White Flag case at the Colombo High Courts today. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Sri Pada visible to Colombo

With the change of the weather patterns, peak of the Sri Pada Mountain could be seen from Colombo this morning. Pics by Kushan Pathiraja

Taking his best shot

Liverpool's Lucas is challenged by Blackpool's Charlie Adam during their English Premier League soccer match at Bloomfield Road in Blackpool, northern England, January 12, 2011. REUTERS

Snowcat riding

Ducati Moto GP rider Valentino Rossi and his teammate Nicky Hayden ride the snowmobiles during the “Wrooom, F1 and MotoGP Press Ski Meeting”, Ducati and Ferrari's annual media gathering, in Madonna di Campiglio January 12, 2011. REUTERS

A people’s President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today visited Polonnaruwa to inspect the flood affected people in those areas. The picture shows the President listening to a person affect by the recent heavy rain and floods. Pix by Sudath Silva 

On a rescue mission

260 soldiers trapped after flooding in the Thanthrimallai, Bogoda camp in the Western part of Wilapattu were rescued today. The soldiers have been trapped in the camp since yesterday and are being temporarily sheltered at the Thanthrimallai Rajamaha Vihara. Picture shows some of the soldiers involved in the rescue mission. Pic by Atula Bandara

Fight to avoid extradition

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (L) stands with his lawyer Jennifer Robinson as he makes a statement to the media in front of Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court in London January 11, 2011. Assange appeared in the London court on Tuesday as lawyers draw the battle lines in his fight to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sex crimes.  REUTERS

Battle on Facebook continues

Cameron Winklevoss (L) and brother Tyler Winklevoss leave the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals after a hearing on a settlement dispute with Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg in San Francisco, California January 11, 2011. The Winklevoss twins, who claimed to have created the idea of Facebook, are disputing on an earlier $65 million settlement after accusing Facebook of misrepresentation of its stock values. REUTERS

Broooom !

Competitors take position at the start of the ninth stage of the third South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2011 from Copiapo to Copiapo January 11, 2011. REUTERS

Successful separation

The first successful operation to separate conjoined twins had been conducted at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital premises last night. The twins who were adjoined at the abdomen were transferred to the surgical ICU where they are now recovering. Pics by Romesh Danushka Silva

Chinese stealth

An aircraft that is reported to be a Chinese stealth fighter is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in this picture taken January 7, 2011, and released by Kyodo news agency January 8, 2011. China staged a first test-flight of a new stealth fighter jet that could narrow the nation's military gap with the United States on January 11, 2011, while the U.S. defence chief was in Beijing, Chinese Internet accounts said. The U.S. military believes the

No bus strike

The private bus strike scheduled to be launched in the Western Province last midnight has been cancelled. Seen here are the buses in the Colombo Fort operating in the usual way. Pics by Kithsiri de Mel

Flash flood

A flash flood sweeps vehicles down a street in Toowoomba, 105 km (65 miles) west of Brisbane January 10, 2011. Australian police  have launched a major search and rescue operation after  devastating flash floods killed eight people, left scores  missing and threatened on Tuesday to swamp the country's  third-largest city Brisbane. Picture taken January 10, 2011. REUTERS

Unity through cricket

Religious leaders are seen wrapping a cricket ball with pirith-nool, in commemoration of the upcoming cricket world. As a sign of unity, a campaign has been organized to wrap a cricket ball with string by members of the public, before being put on display at the at the Sooriyawewa stadium on February 19th. The campaign will start in Jaffna and end in Colombo, and is being organized by several leading private companies. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Assuming duties

Senior Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake is seen here preparing to sign an official document symbolizing his assuming of duties while Ministers Nimal Siripala De Silva and Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana look on. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel