A long-tailed macaque licks an ice cube with fruits encased in it during the annual Monkey Buffet Festival at the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple in Lopburi, 150km (94 miles) north of Bangkok November 27, 2011. The festival provides food and drinks to the local monkey population, which numbers more than 2,000, to thank them for drawing tourists to the town. REUTERS
Pakistan Navy Ship SAIF is on her Goodwill visit to Sri Lanka from November 26 – 29. Both countries enjoy warm diplomatic and strong military ties and as part of goodwill, Pakistan Navy ships frequently pay port visits to Sri Lanka. These visits further strengthen the existing strong relationship between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Such interactions also demonstrate both navies resolve to contribute towards achieving a more secure and conduci
A media briefing was held under the patronage of Gampaha District UNP Parliamentarian and President of the National Youth Front Ruwan Wijeyawardena about the crisis taking place within universities and steps taken by authorities to pressurize students. Pix By Nisal Baduge
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) distributed hand bills to create awareness among the public about the proposals made by the budget for next year and vowed to defeat the budget. They urged the authorities to give more assistance and facilities to the public without wasting funds. The protest was held at the Colombo Fort Railway Station. Pix by Pradeep Dilruckshana
The Colombo City Traffic Police have been taking strict action against people for jaywalking since October 1. Seen here is an individual being fined by a policeman this morning in Punchi Borella for jaywalking. Police also request the public to use pedestrian crossings to prevent road accidents and traffic congestion. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi
A gale blowing at a speed of about 40km per hour has caused havoc in Matara. A number of trees in homes and on the roadside have fallen resulting in damages being caused to several homes and commercial establishments. Three persons were reported to have been injured. (Text and pix by Krishan Jeevaka Jayaruk)
Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L Peries and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa mingle after addressing the inaugural National Reconciliation Conference organized by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel
Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera flanked by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera and TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran speaking at the launch of the National Movement for Social Justice under the theme ‘justice for life’ at the National Library auditorium today. The movement calls for the abolition of executive presidency, relief for the high cost of living, a just solution to the national problem, release for Sarath Fonseka and a withdrawal of the
The National Transport Commission and the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) in collaboration with the LISVIN Travel Card Company introduced the “Sisu Seriya” transport card to school children yesterday at Musaeus College, Colombo. Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena and Minister C.B. Rathnayake participated in the ceremony. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
A sign is displayed in the midst of Occupy DC protesters in McPherson Square in Washington, DC, on November 21, 2011. Occupy DC popped up spontaneously on October 1, nearly a fortnight after Occupy Wall Street began, while its near-namesake grew out of an anti-war protest that started October 6 after several months of preparation. Unlike their counterparts in New York and elsewhere, however, the movement with two locations in the US capital has l
Anoma Fonseka, the wife of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka today called on the people to join her in her efforts to release her husband who was recently sentenced to three years in jail in the controversial white flag case and who is currently serving a 30 month prison term for the misappropriation of Army funds. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi
Commuters standing in the doorways of a train and sitting on its roof, are seen as they travel to work in the capital Jakarta November 10, 2011. Indonesia's economy has shown strong growth this year, but failure to improve a stifling bureaucracy, to end wasteful subsidies and to systematically curb graft, could derail a growth story that has made resource-rich Indonesia into Southeast Asian's sweet spot. REUTERS
Medical students of the Sri Jayawardenapura, Ruhuna, Peradeniya and Colombo universities today staged a protest against the government’s decision to give legal recognition to the private medical institution in Malabe. The protest started from the Colombo General Hospital premises to the University Grants Commission (UGC) in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana
Parliamentary business was relegated to rowdy levels today during the budget speech of President Mahinda Rajapaksa with some unruly government MPs trying to manhandle and rough up UNP members who held aloft placards critical of the 2012 budget. Pix By Kushan Pathiraja
The UNP held a press conference today shortly after the conclusion of the 2012 budget speech condemning government MP’s who allegedly attacked MP's of the UNP during the speech. The picture shows Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the media while other senior UNP MP’s look on. Pix by Nisal Baduge
The Mercantile Rugby sevens was worked off over the weekend, featuring several national rugby players in action. MAS won the cup championship beating Nation Lanka Finance 20-14 in the final, to retain the title they won last year. Seen here are the champions with the trophy and action from Sunday’s play. Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya
Former Attorney General C.R. de Silva (L) hands over the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse (R) at his Temple Trees residence in the capital Colombo on November 20, 2011. Sri Lanka's probe into its battle with Tamil rebels concluded with a report to the President as media reports said it had called for fresh investigations into alleged war crimes. AFP PHOTO
People took the opportunity to walk along the southern express way on yesterday and today prior to its opening by President Mahinda Rajapakse on Nov.27. They celebrated the event in a grand way. Several civil society organizations organized national games and colourful processions with gaily decorated elephants parading along the expressway. A large crowd participated in the celebrations at the Gelanigama entrance organized by Madurawala Lion Clu
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe met with the businessmen in the Dematagoda area this morning. He criticized the steps taken by the government to demolish construction and the Acquisition Act to take over private enterprises. The UNP Leader also spoke on the judgment given to former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
A special Pindapatha programme conducted by the Vipassana Meditation Centre, at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 was held this morning under the patronage of Ven. Harispattuwe Ariyawansalankara Thera. Picture shows Buddhist monks engaged in the Pindapatha programme. Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's most prominent son, Saif al-Islam, gestures during a youth rally in Tripoli, in this file picture taken March 10, 2011. Gaddafi's son and heir apparent Saif al-Islam has been detained in Libya's southern desert, interim justice minister and other officials told Reuters on November 19, 2011. REUTERS
A demonstrator is hit by a jet of water as they clash with riot police during a protest to demand for changes to the public state education system in Santiago November 18, 2011. Chilean students have been protesting against what they say is the profiteering in the state education system, local media reported. REUTERS
U.S. President Barack Obama (3rd right, back to camera) and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono (center, back to camera) watch as traditional Balinese dancers perform during an East Asia Summit gala dinner in Nusa Dua, Bali, November 18, 2011. REUTERS
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