In full swing

Students of the University of Colombo practice for their Colours Night scheduled to be held on May 31. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Anniversary memories

An Israeli soldier holds his camera as he patrols the border with Lebanon in front of Kfarkila village in south Lebanon May 23, 2010. Monday marks the 10-year anniversary of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. REUTER

Vesak for everyone

With the Vesak festival being held next week, people around the country can be seen preparing and buying Vesak decorations. The picture shows residents of the Victoria Home for the disable making some Vesak lanterns for the upcoming festival. Pix by Waruna Vanniarachi  

The age-old tradition of “Pinda-pathe”

The annual “Pinda-pathe” from Ashokaramaya to Isipathnaramaya in Havelock town was held this morning by Buddhist monks. More than fifty monks took part in this age-old tradition while the public contributed. The picture shows the monks making their way to Isipathnaramaya. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Vesak around the corner

  With the Vesak festival around the corner people can be seen shopping for Vesak decorations and cards around the city  of   Colombo. Picture shows some military officers shopping for Vesak decorations in Kirulapana. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana 

Fix our road

A picketing was organized by a group of people in Puttalam after a road which was constructed for the convenience of the public in the area is in a deteriorating state three months after its completion. Seen here are the residents in the area picketing regarding the sub standard of the road which took three years to complete. Pix by Hiran Jayasinghe

Victory cry

Russia's Maria Sharapova celebrates after defeating Germany's Kristina Barrois in the final of the Strasbourg International tennis tournament on May 22.  REUTERS

Best of the best

A passing out parade for the 40th batch of Commando troops took place at the Uva-Kudaoya Commando Training School today.  A Parent of a passed out soldier can be seen here pining the Commando badge at the ceremony.  Pix courtesy Army

The not-so-lucky

Life goes on for shanty dwellers who reside along the railway lines in Kelaniya despite the monsoons rains that have left their modest homes submerged and in some cases, completely destroyed. Families gather outside and dry their clothes on train tracks during sporadic bouts of sunshine.  Pics by Varuna Wanniarachchi

Inspecting the damage

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Tissera Samarasinghe inspected some of the damage caused by the floods in the outskirts of Colombo. The Navy chief is seen here monitoring a navy team assisting some of the affected civilians. Pic courtesy Navy

Seagull nebula

This NASA image obtained May 21, 2010 shows the Seagull nebula, seen in this infrared mosaic from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, drawing its common name from it resemblance to a gull in flight. The image spans an area about seven times as wide as the full moon, and three times as high (3.55 by 1.37 degrees), straddling the border between the constellations Monoceros and Canis Major (the Big Dog). Astronomers catalog t

Voicing their protest

The Inter-University Students Federation conducted a protest this evening, voicing their displeasure over the police using force on the students when they taken to the streets. Seen here is a protester participating in the protest outside the Viharamahdevi Park. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

By his side

Anoma Fonseka, MP Tiran Alles and a daughter of General Sarath Fonseka can be seen here attending court today. The Appeal Court permitted the first Court Martial against General Fonseka to continue after it was suspended earlier this month. Pix by Waruna Vanniarachi

A feast in the rain

As the thundershowers continue islandwide, people have resorted to traveling in boats as the water level rises. Seen here are two men enjoying their lunch on a boat as they remain surrounded with flood waters. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana and Pradeep Pathirana, Hiran Jayasinghe

All ears

Military spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasingha, Media minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Director General of the Media Center for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle are seen here focused on a question being raised by a journalist at a press briefing in Colombo today. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachi

Not a dampener

With the Vesak festival at hand decorations are beginning to come up in Colombo despite the heavy rain experienced over the past few days. Picture shows Air Force personnel putting up Vesak lanterns in Colombo this morning. Pic by Nisal Baduge

Debris of a storm

Indian people clear the debris at the site of an uprooted tree and a collapsed buliding after a dust storm in Nababganj village, some 24 kms from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, on May 20, 2010. At least nine persons, including two women and a young girl, were killed in the dust storm that hit the district's trans-Ganga region, the Press Trust of India reported. AFP PHOTO  

Looking up to him

Young children who are among those affected by the floods in parts of Colombo are seen here taking a look at UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha when he visited some of the affected families today.  Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana 

In the middle

Police officers are seen here making every effort to hold back university students from entering the premises of the University Grants Commission at Ward place this evening to stage a protest. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachi

Making an entry

Member of Parliament General Sarath Fonseka is seen here greeting the media after entering a conference room at Parliament to hold a media briefing this morning. (Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana)

Remembering our heroes

A religious ceremony was held in Kilinochchi in remembrance of the soldiers who laid their lives while fighting the LTTE and also to coincide with the one year anniversary since the end of the war. Monks are seen here participating in the event. Pic by Romesh Madushanka

Central World on fire

Thai firemen try to douse the flames at Thailand's biggest shopping mall - Central World - after it was set ablaze the day before following an army assault on an anti-government protest site in downtown Bangkok on May 20, 2010.  Thailand's biggest shopping mall faces collapse after it was set ablaze by enraged protesters in the wake of an army offensive to shut down an anti-government rally, police said.   AFP PHOTO

No more a road

The heavy rain has converted roads into rivers in most parts of the country. Picture shows a stretch of road in Minuwangoda looking more like a river now with people using boats as a mode of transport.  Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

A helping hand

The Navy has come forward to assist people stranded as a result of the severe flooding experienced in most parts of the country over the last few days. Picture shows sailors helping transport people by boat. Pic courtesy Sri Lanka Navy  

Flooded

The heavy rain over the last few days continues to flood several areas around the country. Picture shows a house completely inundated in Rajagiriya today. Pics by Waruna Wanniarachi and Nisal Baduge

Mother Lanka first!

A solider looks on as two young boys sell flags despite the inclement weather conditions as Sri Lanka celebrates a year since the end of the war. Pics by Waruna Wanniarachchi  

Floods create more havoc

Flood waters created more havoc in several parts of the country today. Picture shows water gushing out of a tank in Nathandiya today damaging crops and at least 20 houses in its path. Pic by Jude Samantha  

Sydney spout

A water spout (tornado) hits the sea behind a surfer on Sydney's Bondi Beach on May 17, 2010. A rare sight in Australia, the water spout lasted around five minutes and expired before landfall.  AFP PHOTO  

A packed ride home

Crowds gather at a bus halt in Pettah this evening waiting for a ride home. Bus services were been delayed throughout the day due to heavy flooding in Colombo. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana  

The new recruits

Dozens of potential new police recruits were interviewed today at the Police Field Force Headquarters in Bambalapitiya today.  Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana