A storm in Havana

A man crosses the street near the Capitol building during thunderstorms in Havana. A weakening Tropical Storm Paula moved ashore in Cuba on Thursday and neared the Cuban capital, where thunderstorms raked the city with winds and driving rain. REUTERS

Pandemonium

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Officially the shortest

Khagendra Thapa poses with the certificate for the shortest man in the world, at a function in Pokhara, west of Kathmandu October 14, 2010. Thapa is now the shortest man in the world after turning 18 today, as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. He has officially been measured as being 67 cm (26.4 inches) tall, according to Frigatti.  REUTERS

Artistic expressions

An art exhibition organized by the A/L arts batch of the Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte was held at the school premises today. The picture shows students of the school during the art exhibition. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

“Uththama Pooja”

“Uththama Pooja” a special medal awarding ceremony for fallen army personnel during the war was held at the Panagoda army camp this morning. The picture shows the wife of Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa being awarded the medal by Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Jobless in United States

People fill up job application forms at a job fair in Los Angeles, California, October 13, 2010. American voters unhappy at high unemployment are set to oust President Barack Obama's Democrats from control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2 elections, a Reuters-Ipsos poll projected on Wednesday. REUTERS

A Lankan son

Sri Lanka's Manju Wanniarachchi kisses his gold medal in the men's Bantam weight 56kg final boxing match during the medal ceremony at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi October 13, 2010. REUTERS

English Day

The annual “English Day” programme of the Sri Lanka Air Force was held at the Ekala, Air force base today. Deputy Chief of staff Air Vice Marshal Harsha Abeywickrema was the chief guest at the event. The picture shows Air Force personnel taking part in the drama competition. By Pradeep Pathirana

Running to safety

The Disaster Management Centre conducted a tsunami drill today in coastal areas vulnerable to tsunamis. The picture shows residents of the Lunawa area running to higher ground during the tsunami drill. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

New way to complaint IGP

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya addresses the media at his headquarters about the new online system for the public to lodge complaints directly with him. Pics by kithsiri de Mel

Yes we did it

A frame grab shows Florencio Avalos (L), the first of 33 workers trapped for more than two months in a Chilean mine, being met by an emergency worker (R) upon ascending to surface at San Jose mine in Copiapo today. The first of 33 workers trapped for more than two months in a Chilean mine reached the surface early Wednesday morning in a specially-made rescue capsule. REUTERS

Cricket fashion

Sri Lankan cricketers took to ramp at the ‘light of change’ charity fashion show organized by MAS Holdings.  Pic by Manoj Ratnayake

Seeking the release

A joint protest march of several opposition political parties calling for the release of jailed former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka proceeded from Hyde Park to the Welikada prison today. Pix by Kushnan Pathiraja

SF will not bow

Former Army commander Sarath Fonseka appeared in courts today for the hearing of the ‘White flag’ incident. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Let’s dance

The Dance Sports Championships 2010 Sri Lanka organized by Footwork International, was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Colombo. The Chief Guest for the event was former President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaranatunga. Pics by Kithsiri de Mel  

A close shave

A book thrown onto the stage narrowly misses U.S. President Barack Obama at a rally at Vernon Park in Philadelphia, October 10, 2010.   REUTERS

Happily ever after

Some 200 ethnic Chinese Malaysian newly-wed couples pose for photos during a mass wedding ceremony organized by the Hokkien Association at a temple in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur on 10 October, 2010.  The couples chose to get married on 10/10/2010 as ten in Chinese culture, when related to a particualar Chinese idiom means perfection. AFP

AIDEX 2010

“AIDEX 2010” a sports festival for Jaipur limb users was held today at the CMC sports ground. The picture shows Jaipur limb users taking part in a running event at the festival. Pix by Nisal Baduge 

Mental health awareness

An awareness walk regarding psychological health was held today in light of the “World Mental Health Day”. Psychological health professionals from around the country took part in the awareness  walk. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Fonseka matters

The JVP claimed today that the Fonseka family will not request a pardon for MP Sarath Fonseka and bow down to the demands of the current regime. The picture shows General Secretary of the JVP, Tilvin Silva addressing the press briefing. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Breakfast on the Bridge

People picnic and have breakfast on the main deck of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Breakfast on the Bridge event in central Sydney October 10, 2010 REUTERS

Pole position

Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo of Fiat Yamaha does a wheelie to celebrate his pole position at the end of the qualifying round of the Malaysian Grand Prix MotoGP race at Sepang on October 9, 2010. Overall leader Jorge Lorenzo of Spain powered his Yamaha to secure pole position in the Malaysian MotoGP, timing 2 minutes 1.537seconds.  AFP

For the children

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Dr Peter Hayes hosted a gathering of 100 orphaned and disabled children to mark International Children’s day. The picture shows High Commissioner Dr Hayes presenting a gift to a child guest during the event. Pix by Samantha Perera 

In Lankan waters

Four Indian naval vessels arrived in Sri Lanka today. Indian Naval Ship "Tharangani" arrived at the Colombo port while, INS- "Shardul", ICGS "Varuna" and INS "Tir" arrived in Trincomalee. The 160 Indian cadet officers onboard the ships will stay until the 15th of October in Sri Lanka. By Amadoru Amarageewa

The perfect cup of tea

The Guinness World Record for the largest cup of tea was taken by “Viva” a consumer product of GlaxoSmithKline with a tea cup constructed to hold 4000 liters of tea. Sri Lankan now holds the Guinness World Record which was previously held by a Health Centre in Fort Scott, Kansas, USA with a tea cup which held 3000 liters of tea.  Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Army parade

An army parade and ceremony was held today to celebrate the 61st Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army. The picture shows army personnel taking part in the guard of honor during the ceremony. Pix by Waruna Vanniarachi 

Contamination

This handout picture received from Greenpeace on October 8, 2010 shows an aerial view of a break in the wall of sludge reservoir at an alumina plant in Ajka on October 7, 2010. Fears that Hungary's toxic spill could destroy the ecosystem of the Danube, Europe's second longest river, eased, as contamination levels appeared to fall, an expert told AFP.  AFP PHOTO

Panda face

One of the newly born twins panda cubs grimaces in their incubator at the Madrid Zoo in Madrid. AFP

Safety dance

Cebu Pacific airlines cabin crew dance during a safety demonstration routine with the tune of 'Safety Dance' on a domestic flight to Davao city, southern Philippines October 8, 2010. Cebu Air received some well-timed publicity this week when a video of its flight attendants dancing a safety demonstration routine racked up more than 6 million hits in five days after it was posted on the Internet. Airline representatives said they want to

Agri storage

The United Nations’ World Food Programme donated a storage facility to the Ministry of Agriculture today. The picture shows Australian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Kathy Kay Klugman shaking hands with the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeyewardana at the handing over ceremony. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja