Saturday, March 30, 2013

Scenes, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Kelani Valley Railway line near Avissawella.
A spiders weave on the top of the grass catching the early dew and waiting for prey.

Friday, March 29, 2013

'Bird's nest' fern leaves unrolling, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Young leaves of the 'Bird's nest' fern unrolling in our home garden at Avissawella.


Sunday, March 24, 2013

Scenes at Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

View of an Anthurium.

Flower plant growing on a coconut husk.

St Barnabas Church - Anglican - more than 100 years old, Aviossawella.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Scenes Avissawella, Sri Lanka.




Hand-sewn door mats being sold across the railway line close to Puwakpitiya.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Our home-garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Black Pepper berries.

Purple-colored chillies.


Flowers on a thorny shrub.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Scenes, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Broad-gauge Kelani Valley line close to Puwakpitiya.
Remnant rails of the old narrow gauge KV line remaining on the newer broad gauge line.

A child with his treasures.



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Flowers in the garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Leaves and flowers of the 'Elabatu'.

Anthuriams.


Morning dew on a flower bud. 
Photos taken on a Nikon D90 with a 18-105mm Nikon lens.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Scenes around Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

 A black-smith working his hearth at Avissawella. The bellows used to blow air into the hearth must be more than 100 years old. It is simple and fool-proof.

The present Railway-station at Avissawella. This was a junction in the old narrow gauge Kelani Valley Railway days. One branch went to Yatiyanthota and the other past Rathnapura to Opanaike. It served the tea and rubber estates well during its heydey. Now it is widened to broad gauge and runs only from Colombo to Avissawella. The old Government Hospital, the Rest-House and Post-Office were clustered around it. There was also a fuel depot storing Petrol and Keroscene oil.

The old Market at Puwakpitiya still active on Pola days. The old-timers say that this once served as the Magistrates courts. The old Chunnaklam market in Jaffna has a similar architectural design. Note the granite pillars in the periphery. 


Monday, March 18, 2013

Machinery used in a tea factory of the 1950s, Sri Lanka.

Large fly-wheel from which 'V' belts drove a metal shaft under the roof. From this shaft power was tapped via 'V; belts to power the various machinery.

A large diesel engine used to provide stand-by power to the factory. Normally it was powered by  electricity generated by a nearby hydro-turbine.

A tea-roller where freshly plucked leaves were rolled.

A tea-packing machine.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Various scenes, Sri Lanka.

Water for  the weary traveler, 'Pin-thaliya'- 'Thanneer Kudam', Paranthan.

A giant tea-pot, Meepe, Sri Lanka.

An old HMV Gramophone of the late1940s.

A butterfly, 'Common Crow' - Euploea core - sipping nectar.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Elephant Pass War Memorial, Sri Lanka.

View from the War Memorial at Elephant Pass.


Mural at the War Memorial, Elephant Pass.

A bull-dozer converted as a Tank used to storm the Elephant Pass Army Camp.



Thursday, March 14, 2013

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Exhibit of captured arms, Muhamalai, Sri Lanka.

Exhibit of arms seized from the LTTE close to Muhamalai.
A mortar designed and used by the LTTE.
A rare species of large lizard on the roof of the building.
Empty artillery shell casing used to decorate the compound.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013