Doing his bit

A police officer is seen here trying to clear a blocked drain as heavy rain continued to lash Colombo this morning. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Rain, rain go away

The heavy rain which continued to lash several parts of the country since this morning hampered education activities at most schools. Picture shows students heading home after a school in Rajagiriya went underwater. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachi

The leaders meet

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is in Iran to attend the G15 summit, had talks with the leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran this evening. The two leaders are seen here greeting each other prior to the discussion. Pic by Sudath Silva

Preparing for Vesak

A Sri Lankan street vendor makes lanterns from bamboo sticks in Colombo on May 16, 2010. The lanterns will be used during festivities celebrating Vesak Day, an annual holiday observed traditionally by practicing Buddhists in South Asia marking the birth, enlightenment, death and attaining nirvana of Lord Buddha over 2,500 years ago. AFP

Welcome to Iran

Going to the people

A mobile police unit was launched in the East to listen to complaints by the public who are unable to report to their respective police stations. Picture shows a mobile unit at a village in Trincomalee. Pic by Amadoru Amarageeva

Street circuit

McLaren Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton arrives in the pits of the Monaco street circuit during the third free practice session of the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix. AFP

Caring for our heroes

Disabled  soldiers attend a military ceremony to lay the foundation stone for a 10 million dollar hospice for quadriplegics in Anuradhapura today. Army chief Jagath Jayasuriya said the hospice will also include residential facilities for visiting family members. Nearly 30,000 government troops were injured and 6,200 killed during the last three years of Sri Lanka's 37-year war with the separatist Tamil Tigers that ended last May. Amon

Washed away

Two children can be seen here looking at the backyard of their house which has been washed away due to sea erosion in Marawila. More than 50 houses have being affected by sea erosion along the Puttalam coastline. Although the authorities have started to create a breakwater along the coast to protect the affected houses, residents complain that the process should have begun before the monsoon season to have full effect.  Pix by Hiran Jayas

Back in the limelight

Former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama was seen back in the limelight today when he together with a group of government and opposition members got together to clear Rathanapitiya which was flooded following the heavy rain yesterday. Pics by Varuna Wanniarachchi

SBC Aids Walk

An Aids walk was organized by the students of St. Bridget’s Convent earlier today at Town Hall. Pics by Varuna Wanniarachchi

Dangerous weather

The PGA Tour calls for a five hour weather delay before beginning second round of the Valero Texas Open at the TPC San Antonio in San Antonio yesterday in Texas.  AFP

"Akshaya Tritiya"

An Indian saleswoman arranges 22-carat gold necklaces at Forever Precious Jewellery and Diamonds Ltd. in Ahmedabad today. Gold traders across India are gearing up for the most auspicious day in the Hindu calendar, ‘Akshaya Tritiya’ which falls on May 16. Owing to surges in gold prices prevailing currently the demand for gold on  ‘Akshaya Tritiya’  is likely to remain low this year.  AFP

Rain takes its toll

The heavy rain which continued to lash Colombo since this morning flooded several roads and damaged property. Picture shows workers attempting to remove a massive tree near the Gangaramaya Temple which was uprooted as a result of the rain and strong winds. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Ready for another mission

Space Shuttle Atlantis sits behind the rotation service structure as NASA workers make final preparations for today's scheduled launch from Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station yesterday in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch is scheduled to be the last for Atlantis. AFP  

Losing the grip

Sri Lankan batsman Chamara Kapugedera is seen here losing a grip on his bat in the first Twenty20 world cup semi final against England. The English beat Sri Lanka to reach the final. Pic Cricinfo

The first strike

Ryan Sidebottom is seen here celebrating after he struck with his first ball to remove Sanath Jayasuriya in the 1st Semi-Final of the Twenty20 world cup at Gros Islet, in the West Indies today. crickinfo

Inspecting the goods

A consignment of Saline was brought from India by an air force plane today. Picture shows the consignment being unloaded while Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena looks on. Pic By Nisal Badhuge

Protesting in a shower

A protest was organized by the Sri Jayawardenapura University student unions today against what they called 'unfair class cancellation' of some univesrity students. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana

From defence to cabinet

Former Defence Spokesperson and newly sworn in Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella is seen here speaking to reporters in Colombo today at his maiden press briefing as the new cabinet spokesman. Pics by Kithsiri De Mel

Down came the rain

The busy streets of Colombo were in disarray as heavy rain began to come down since early this morning. Picture shows workers repairing the streets for the upcoming Indian movie awards going ahead with their work despite the downpour. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Gearing up for IIFA

Indian Bollywood actors Salman Khan, Ritesh Deshmukh Lara Datta and Boman Irani pose with Deputy Minister of Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena during a news conference to promote The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Mumbai today. Sri Lanka will host top Indian movie stars for the annual “Bollywood Oscars” weekend that showcases one of the world's most ambitious and prolific film industry. The th

Despair

A young child who was among the people at Slave Island whose homes were destroyed on the basis they were unauthorized structures is seen here in tears while speaking to the media today. Pic by Kithsiri de Mel  

Praba's ailing mom

Parvathi Pillai, the ailing mother of slain LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabakaran is seen here in this Daily Mirror online exclusive photograph at a lodge in Colombo after arriving from Malaysia. Pillai was due to travel to her hometown in Jaffna this morning. Pic by Nisal Baduge

Amongst the people

DNA Leader Gen. Sarath Fonseka is seen hear leaving the Magistrate’s Court premises today while waving at the crowd which had gathered outside the premises after the Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate ordered the army to provide protection to him after he was placed under their custody Pic by Indraratna Balasuriya

The winning shot

Sri Lanka's Chamara Kapugedera celebrates after hitting a six off the final ball to win the match against India during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup cricket tournament in Gros Islet May 11, 2010. REUTERS

Sharing the limelight

IGP Mahinda Balasuriya holds two and a half year old Senuthi Maapalagama at a press conference where the police and Senuthi’s parents thanked everyone involved in finding the little girl who went missing on Sunday from the Kelaniya Temple. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana

Reunited

Rescued two and a half year old Senuthi Maapalagama is seen here cuddled by her parents after she was found today by the police. Her parents breathed a sigh of relief when little Senuthi was rescued after nearly two days. Pics by Jude Samantha  

Nature’s fury

Several residents living along the shores of Angulana felt the wrath of nature’s fury over the last two days as water levels in the sea rose resulting in the waves crashing into some of the houses. Picture shows residents inspecting what’s left of the damage. Pic by Kithsisri de Mel

Mystic powers

People gather at the Tuhala Witch Well in Estonia on May 6, 2010. Legend has it that when the witches of Tuhala bathe underground they bring alive the famed Witch's Well, a local spring which has become the focus of a dispute between nature lovers and mine companies. AFP PHOTO