Jewel of Muscat

The Jewel of Muscat, a reconstructed replica of a ninth century Omani trading ship, made a stop at the Galle Harbor today. The ship is re-enacting the journey through old trade routes used by Arab traders, with its final port of call being Singapore. The ship was built according to the traditional design without nails and sewn together with coconut fibers. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Set for the polls

Final preparations for the re-poll of the General Election in Nawalpitiya and Trincomalee scheduled for tomorrow are now underway with ballot boxes and ballot papers being distributed to the respective polling centers. Picture shows a ballot box being transported by an election official. Pix by Amadoru Amarageeva

Remembrance Day

An illuminated Israeli flag decorates the Azrieli Tower in the coastal city of Tel Aviv in Aprilas the Jewish state marks Remembrance Day, ahead of the 62nd anniversary of its creation. Israel was founded on May 14, 1948, but independence is celebrated from sundown on April 19 to the following evening in accordance with the Hebrew lunar calendar after remembering the fallen soldiers.  AFP

Volcanic ash

Farmer Bjarni Thorvaldsson works to clean off volcanic ash that accumulated on a barn roof from an erupting volcano near Eyjafjallajokull April 18, 2010.  REUTERS

Thandikulam to Omanthai

The Northern railway line construction from Thandikulam has been extended till Omanthai. Workers can be seen here in the process of constructing the railway lines between Thandikulam and Omanthai. Pix by Romesh Madushanka  

Avurudu in Colombo

An Avurudu festival in light of the Sinhala Tamil New Year was organized by the residents of Rajagiriya today, participants of the bicycle race can be seen here cycling through Rajagiriya this afternoon. Pix by Warun Vanniarachi.

Gateway to Yalpanam

“Gateway to Yalpanam” a trade fair held at the Jaffna Central College, was opened by the Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha this morning. The Indian High Commissioner can be seen here visiting one of the trade stalls at the event. Pix by N. Parameshwaran

A new king

A king of of Ivory Coast wears ceremonial attire as he attends the crowning ceremony of Ugandan King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV in Fort Portal, Uganda in April. The young king had officially succeeded to the throne at the age of three when his father died of a heart attack in 1995, but coronation takes place only upon reaching adulthood. Despite Oyo’s apparent ambivalence regarding his official duties and the anachronism of a Jay

Flying low

Sebastien Loeb of France and Daniel Elena of Monaco compete in their Citroen C4 Total  during the first leg of the WRC Rally of Turkey on April 17, 2010 near Istanbul.  AFP

Remembrance

Photo taken on April 17, 2010 shows the photos of the victims of the Polish presidential plance crash on the Pilsudski square in Warsaw. President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria and scores of other top Polish political and military officials died on April 10 when their plane crashed near the western Russian city of Smolensk. AFP

Celebrating Avurudu in Jaffna

Sinhala and Tamil New Year was celebrated with a host of activities for children and adults at the Maradanamadam grounds in Jaffna. Chief guest at the event was Major General Mahinda Hatturusingha. Pics by Waruna Wanniarachi

Practice run

McLaren-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain is pushed back into the garage during the second free practice session of Formula One's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in April. Britain's Lewis Hamilton clocked the fastest time in opening practice.  AFP

Clouded sky

People stand in front of an information board in the departure hall of Sofia airport today as flights were cancelled due to ash from a volcano eruption in Iceland. Sofia airport cancelled most of its scheduled flights Friday due to a cloud of ash spreading from an Icelandic volcano, airport chief Plamen Stantchev said. Out of a total 91 incoming flights, nine aircraft from Bucharest, Moscow, Munich, Rome, Tel Aviv and Vienna had landed during the

Prawn dilemma

A damaged motorbike is seen here at the site of a clash last night between two groups over prawns. Several people were injured and three houses were damaged in the clash. Pix by Jude Samantha

In deep thought

Anoma Fonseka, wife of former Sri Lankan army chief and detained presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, looks on during a meeting with reporters in Colombo today. Fonseka, who won a seat in parliament while in custody on charges of dabbling in politics and corrupt procurement when he was army commander, should be allowed to address the assembly when it opens Thursday, the party said. AFP

Earthquake Victims

A view is seen of a provisional camp made by earthquake victims in Port-au-Prince April 15, 2010. Haiti's government and foreign aid agencies started an operation on Saturday to move thousands of earthquake survivors to a safer refuge to avoid the risk of mudslides and flooding during the rainy season. REUTERS

Avurudu fun by the beach

Families and large groups of youngsters are seen on the Wellawatte beach today enjoying the long Avurudu holidays. Pics by Kithsiri De Mel

Oil anointment ceremony

The elephant at the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple in Colombo is seen here being anointed with the traditional herbal oil this morning as part of the Sinhala New Year ceremonies which continued today. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Greeting the New Year

Tamil children are seen here breaking coconuts along the streets of Wellawatta this afternoon as part of a Hindu religious ritual to welcome the Tamil New Year. Both Tamils and Singhalese in Sri Lanka are celebrating the first post war New Year. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachi

Happy New Year

As the first post war Sinhala and Tamil New Year dawns in Sri Lanka we at Daily Mirror online wish you all a peaceful, prosperous and joyous Avurudu and Puthandu

A peaceful New Year

A Hindu priest is seen on the left walking past a Hindu Temple in Colombo being prepared for the New Year while on the right a woman is seen lighting the oil lamp at a Buddhist Temple near Homagama as both Singhalese and Tamils prepare to welcome the dawn of a peaceful New Year. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachi

The heat is on

With the country experiencing extreme heat these days people in their numbers are flocking to the beach to cool down. Pictured here are adults, youth and kids spending time at a Colombo beach today, on the eve of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachi

Aiming for the top

The military organized several events at the Chetikulam IDP camp in Vavuniya to mark the Singhalese and Tamil New Year. Picture shows a displaced boy attempting to reach the top of a pole to grab the Sri Lanka flag in one of the games. Pic by Romesh Madushanka

Consolation handshake

UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha visited the injured UNP Puttalam district Member of Parliament elect Palitha Range Bandara in hospital this evening. The UNP leader is seen here greeting an unidentified individual while making his way out of the Colombo National hospital after meeting the injured UNP member. Pic by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Ready for a blast

Fireworks will light up the sky as Sri Lanka celebrates its first post war Sinhalese and Tamil New Year. Picture shows a family purchasing fireworks to celebrate the New Year. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Stocking up

With the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year just around the corner people were engaged in some last minute shopping in Pettah today. Picture shows a shopper purchasing bananas from a stall in Pettah. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

“Avatar” in Blu-Ray

Canadian director James Cameron attends the launch of the movie “Avatar” in Blu-Ray Disc and DVD in Sao Paulo April 11, 2010. REUTERS

New Year treat

A Sri Lankan confectionary seller displays the traditional Sinhala Tamil New Year oil cake snack kevum and Munkevum in Colombo on April 11, 2010. Sinhala Tamil New Year celebrations will be held April 14, the first since the end of the armed conflict with the Tamil Tiger rebels  AFP PHOTO

Gearing up for Avurudu

Throngs of people are seen shopping in Colombo this weekend in preparation for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Pics by Varuna Wanniarachchi 

Post poll violence

Police investigators are seen here inspecting the house of UNP member Palitha Range Bandara after he was brutally assaulted this evening in what police said was the result of intra party rivalry. Pic by Jude Samantha