Celebrating victory

Sri Lankan ruling party supporters fly national flags as they celebrate election victory in Colombo. Sri Lanka's ruling party cruised to victory Friday in parliamentary elections but fell short of the two-thirds majority that would have allowed President Mahinda Rajapakse to amend the constitution. Rajapakse's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) secured 117 seats in the 225-member assembly with another 45 seats left to be declared

Ranil vows to fight on

Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickramasingha adressed the media a short while ago, stating that the UNP will continue its fight for democracy and media rights. The opposition leader put the UNP's recent loss at the General Elections down to the lack of faith the general public had in the electoral system and not on his leadership, stating that he will step down when the time is right. Pics by Varuna Wanniarachchi

Heading home

Flock of cranes fly over a lake near Skoevde. Every spring, about 15000 cranes make a stopover in this area on their way back to North. AFP

A 'sign" of victory

A man walks past an election billboard of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse in Colombo on April 9, 2010. Rajapakse's ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance Party claimed victory in the parliamentary poll that was marked by a record low turnout and voter intimidation which resulted in fresh voting being ordered in two of the island's 22 electoral districts. AFP

Sanath scores

Master Blaster Sanath Jayasuriya is seen here being greeted by his supporters this afternoon after he topped the preferential votes in the Matara District and secured a place in Parlaiment. Pic by Kryshan Jeewaka and Swarna Nettikumara

Waiting and waiting

The whole of Sri Lanka is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the 2010 General Election. People in Colombo are seen here going through the daily newspapers reading election related news. Pic by Pradeep K. Pathirana

And the counting begins

Counting of the ballots in the 2010 General Election is now underway and the final results will be out by tomorrow. Picture shows the ballot boxes being transferred to the respective counting centers. Pic by Nisal Baduge,Amadoru Amarajeewa and Romesh Madushanka

Going to the polls

Voting for the 2010 General Election is underway. Voters are seen here casting their vote at a polling booth in Vavuniya this morning. Pic by Romesh Madushanka

Voting underway

Voting in the 2010 General Elections is now underway. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and opposition leader Ranil Wickramasingha are seen here casting their vote in Colombo this morning. Pics by Pradeep K. Pathirana, Pradeep Dilrukshana, Varuna Wanniarachchi, Amadoru Amarageeva, Abdul Lathif and President's media unit

Inspecting a Lankan boat

Indian security personnel are seen here inspecting a Sri Lankan boat, which was found abandoned in Rameswaram yesterday. The discovery gave doubts that “some persons” might have landed. Photo: Hindu

Taking flight

German test pilot Markus Scherdel steers the solar-powered Solar Impulse HB-SIA prototype airplane during his first flight over Payerne April 7, 2010. The propeller plane, with a 61 metres (200 feet) wingspan, is powered by four electric motors and designed to fly day and night by saving surplus energy from its 12,000 solar cells in high-performance batteries.  Wednesday's flight follows six years' work by 50 engineers and technic

Contemplating the future

UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha and deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya are seen here at a press briefing in Colombo today seemingly contemplating their future with the elections set for tomorrow. Pic by Kithsir De Mel

All systems go

Final preparations for the General Elections scheduled for tomorrow are now underway with ballot boxes and ballot papers being distributed to the respective polling centers. Picture shows ballot boxes being transported by sea and land around the country this morning. Pic by Amadoru Amarageeva, Indraratna Balasuriya, Kryshan Jayaruk & Sumanasiri Gunatillaka

Back in the game

Tiger Woods of the U.S. casts a long shadow as he tees off on the first hole during a practice round for the 2010 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. REUTERS

Racing the corridors of Galle Face Hotel

Maldivian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ali Hussein Didi and Russian Ambassador Vladimir P. Mikhaylov take part in the traditional cannon ball run through Colombo's 146-year old Galle Face Hotel today. The run, which Didi won, is an annual event to commemorate the British army misfiring a canon ball in 1940 that struck the hotel's roof. Pics by Manoj Rathnayake

In the spotlight

A protest was held today calling for the release of General Sarath Fonseka and against the recent removal of monks who had been on a fast unto death in front of the Fort Railway Station. Anoma Fonseka is seen here showing her support of the protestors. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana 

Addressing the media

The opposition met the Election Commissioner this afternoon to discuss matters regarding the upcoming General Election.  UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya and JVP propaganda secretary Vijitha Herath can be seen here addressing the media after their meeting with the Commissioner. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Legal advice

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Obama's egg rollin'

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) points to an egg as he watches a race during the 2010 Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, April 5, 2010.  REUTERS

Lift off!

The space shuttle Discovery STS-131 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida today. REUTERS

Handing over the report

Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal handed over a copy of the Central Bank Report for the year 2009 to President Mahinda Rajapaksa today.  Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana 

The shutter “bugged”

A photographer attached to an international news agency is seen here being man handled by police who forcefully removed a group of monks who staged a hunger strike in Fort today. Pic by Nisal Baduge

Blessings from the sky

Adding a new feature to the election campaign a hot air balloon was released this morning from Homagama by Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka bearing his preferential number. Two JHU supporters on board the balloon had sprinkled pirith pan (blessed water) from the skies of Colombo. Pix by Nisal Baduge

"petty gossip"

Pope Benedict XVI embraces Italian cardinal Angelo Sodano as he leads the Easter mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican April 4, 2010. REUTERS

In full flow

Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardena is seen here in full flow during his 110 not out for the Kings XI against the Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL match today which the Kings won by 8 wickets. (Image IPL)

Under renovation

The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) is currently under renovation. Seen here workers at the site engaged in renovating the BMICH entrance area. Pic by Varuna Wanniarachchi

Commemorating Sir Kotelawala

A ceremony to commemorate the 113th birth anniversary of General Sir John Kotelawala was held in Rathmalana this morning. The Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya can be seen here laying a wreath of flowers at Sir Kotelawala’s memorial at the event.  Pix by Nisal Baduge

Easter mass

Pope Shenouda III, the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Egypt, attends the Easter midnight mass at the main Coptic Cathedral of Saint Marcos in Cairo April 3, 2010.  REUTERS

Bohra celebrations

The Bohra community in Sri Lanka took part in a colorful procession along the Galle Road in Colombo today (Saturday) to celebrate the 99th birthday of their international spiritual leader Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. Picture shows some of the community members at the procession. Pic by Waruna Vanniarachchi

Paying tribute to Mother Mary

Thousands of Roman Catholic worshippers follow a procession of the movement of the Tuan Ma (Mother Mary) statue in Larantuka town, Indonesia's Flores island.  They believe the statue, which was founded in Flores in 1510, formed the basis of the religion that has replaced animism on the island. Government data in 2008 showed that more than 80 percent of residents on Flores Island are Roman Catholic in a predominantly Muslim country. RE