Blessings for the President

An event was organized at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium this morning to invoke blessings for President Mahinda Rajapakse’s victory at the upcoming presidential election. The President is seen here at the event. Pix Chandana Perera

Awaiting aid

Haitians wait in line for food and water distribution as a U.S. Navy helicopter lands in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  REUTERS

Supportive displays..

Supporters of the common opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka are seen on the streets of Nawala this afternoon. Campaigning for the presidential election will end at midnight today. pics by Waruna Wanniarachchi.

IPL to get attractive...

Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Kumar Modi (C) and  Bollywood actress and 'Kings XI Punjab' cricket team co-owner Priety Zinta (L) and fellow actress and 'Rajasthan Royals' co-owner Shilpa Shetty (R) attend a press conference in Mumbai where new entertainment initiatives were planned to attract more fans into the IPL fold.  AFP

Demanding access

A group of opposition members of parliament staged a protest in Vavuniya today after they were denied access to the IDP camps in the area. Picture shows parliamentarian Mano Ganeshan gesturing after he was denied access. Pic by Romesh Madushanka  

New use for a jetliner

The Tourism Ministry together with the Sri Lanka Navy launched the opening of a jetliner at the Colombo port which will now be available for weddings and other public functions. The jetliner was used by the navy during the war. Pics by Pradeep Pathirana 

Burnt to the ground

General Secretary Tiran Alles came under grenade attack this morning. Seen in the picture is former President Chandrika Bandaranayke surveying the damaged area. Pics by Kithsiri De Mel

Demining

 “DOK-ING” demining vehicles are seen here hard at work demining vast areas in the North making them suitable for resettlement. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana 

Watching closely

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Violence shows its face

The residence of the General Secretary of the SLFP Mahajana wing Tiran Allas came under a grenade attack this morning, damaging both the house and a vehicle. The carnage can be seen here following the attack. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana.

Internet Freedom

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gives a speech on internet freedom at the Newseum on January 21, 2010 in Washington, DC. Five United States senators are publicly urging Clinton to move faster to support organizations that are helping people in countries with restrictive internet policies circumvent those policies.

In the hot seat..

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Right to information

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The right to vote

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Awaiting relief

Four-year-old Haitian boy Pierre-Stephane drinks some water as he waits for his treatment from B-FAST (Belgian First Aid and Support Team) at a makeshift hospital in a suburb of Port-au-Prince January 20, 2010. A new earthquake shook the devastated Haitian capital on Wednesday morning, creating panic among survivors of last week's devastating quake camped out in the streets but apparently causing no new destruction. The powerful 6.1 magnit

Pledge against crimes

Silvia Fernandez De Gurmendi of Argentina takes the oath during a swearing-in ceremony as a new judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the seat of the Court in The Hague January, 20, 2010. REUTERS

Supporting the Swan

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Rallying around..

The Tamil National Alliance, lead by MP R. Sampanthan, began propaganda activities in support of the common opposition candidate General sarath Fonseka in theNorth and East. Pics by Amarodu Amarasekara.

In the run up...

MP Mangala Samaraweera, joint-spokesman for the common opposition candidate General (Retd) Sarath Fonseka, at a press briefing held today  touched on topics of concern to such as the violence leading upto the elections, vote rigging and the threat to the life of the General. Pics by Nisal Badhuge.

Doing our part

Sri Lankan UN peace keepers are seen here in earthquake-hit Port-au-Prince in Haiti playing a humanitarian role. The Sri Lankan soldiers’ are involved in emergency relief activities and distributing food among the earthquake victims of the country. Pix courtesy: Army.lk

Offerings for the temple

Opposition Common candidate General Sarath Fonseka visited Katharagama today. The General is seen here offering flowers to the Kirivehera temple while his supporters look on. Pix courtesy General Sarath Fonseka Media Unit

Against National T.V misuse

  A banner condemning the illegal use of National T.V for election purposes is seen here in front of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (S.L.R.C). The banner was put up by the Trade Union Alliance of the S.L.R.C. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel 

No way, Norway!

A protest was held outside the Royal-Norwegian Embassy this afternoon, over allegations that they had funded National Freedom Front (NFF) parliamentarian Mohamad Muzamil's attempted cross-over. Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Prince Charming..

Britains's Prince William visited patients at a Wellington hospital on the last day of a three day visit today.  William, who is on his first official trip overseas on behalf of his grandmother the Queen, was praised for his performance in British newspapers, that dubbed him “Prince Charming.”     AFP

Life goes on...

Life goes on in the Jaffna peninsula where the absence of war now allows for greater civilian freedom. A soldier is seen here having a religious band tied around his arm near the famous Jaffna Hindu Temple. Pics by Samantha Perera  

Bribe in question

Lawyers representing Opposition common presidential candidate General (Ret.) Sarath Fonseka are seen here leaving the Bribery Commission after filling a complaint against M.P Mohamad Muzamil for accepting bribes. Late last night Mohamad Muzamil filed bribery charges against opposition member Mohamed Mustafa.

Our hero….

A group of school girls are seen here all smiles and unable to bear their excitement at meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa face to face when the President inspected the new overhead bridge at Gampha this morning. Pic by Sudath Silva

Searching for life…

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All as one

A passing out parade for 229 cadets of the Army was held at the Diyathalawa Army camp today. Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya also attended the passing out ceremony. The cadets are seen here marching in formation at the event.  Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana   

Sri Lankan assistance…

Haitian earthquake survivors queue for food distributed by UN staff and Sri Lankan soldiers amidst the rubble of toppled homes in downtown Leogane, near Port au Prince, Haiti, on Saturday. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake has caused widespread devastation and the loss of at least 50,000 lives in the Caribbean country. (AFP)