Boy on a rock, Kosgama, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

With bare feet and plenty of room to run around this child was having the time of his life.

Jak fruits, thrown down wantonly by the monkeys, Kosgama, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Monkeys are protected animals in present Sri Lanka. Crackers might frighten them but they return in large numbers to wreak vengeance. Coconut fruits, bananas, rambuttan etc. are their targets.

Scenes on the rail track, Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

The many sides of the flowers of an Orchid, Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

Flowers in the home garden, Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

Flowers of 'Kathuru murunga' S - '
'Ahaththi' T.

Flower and fruit of 'Dambala' S, 'Avarai' T.

Beetle on a Sun-flower, Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

These flowers grow wild in Sri Lanka and add color to the countryside.

Flowers, home garden, Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

In a home garden, Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

'Yaka mala' - 'Devil flower'

Orchid flower.

'Kochchi miris' - Really hot chillie pods.

Garden scenes, Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

Ants nest on a mango tree.

"Aatha' S - 'Seetha' T, fruit, advertised for its anti-cancer properties

'Red-ants' on 'Crab-claws', Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

'Crab-claws' is a decorative plant grown in houses. I spotted these 'red-ants' invading this plant to suck the nectar early in the morning.

Dragonfly and flowers, Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

In a home garden at Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

A black colored flower, Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

Called 'Sinha mukha' S (Lion's face) or 'Yaka mala' S (Devil flower) this flower because it is black in color is considered inauspicious. I have never seen it used in household decorations. 

Railway at Kosgama.

Railway station, Kosgama.

Railway line near Kosgama.

Kosgama was a big station during the early days of the Colombo to Opanaike Kelani Valley Line. Now the line runs from Colomb Fort to Avissawella and is converted to broad gauge.

The nest of a 'Prinia', Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

Photo of a nest of a 'Prinia' on a tree close to the entrance to a house at Kosgama, Avissawella. The Crow Pheasant ('Ati kukula' S - 'Senpaham' T) raids the birds nests and eats up the chicks while the smaller made parents look on in anguish. This may be one of the reasons why the nests are built close to human habitation. 

Sri Lankan Grey Hornbill

I took this picture at Kosgama in a wooded area close to a house. There were two hornbills. One of them settled on a branch and I managed to zoom in and take this picture. In the picture you can see the hole in the Kithul tree. This is obviously the entrance to the nest of the couple as they were hovering around all the time.

Tickell's blue flycatcher

I took this picture amid heavy foliage at Kosgama. The blue flash in the greenery alerted me to this rare sighting in Kosgama.

In a flower garden, Kosgama, Sri Lanka

 

I took this photo of a fern in a home garden in Kosgama, Sri Lanka. My friend Kapila Yakandawala writes:-
"It is a popular plant in Sri Lanka & commonly known as Staghorn Fern. It
is an epiphyte belongs to the genus Platycerium. Family-
Polypodiaceae. Ferns in this genus are widely known due to their
uniquely-shaped ...fronds."

'Poya ge', Kosgama pansala, Sri Lanka.

I took this picture of the 'Poya-ge' at the Kosgama Pansala. This design seems to have been standard in Sabaragamuwa during the early 1900 onwards. Notice the total absence of 'arches' in the building

Brides-maids at a wedding, Kosgama, Sri Lanka.