Blue-tailed bee eater, Saman Dewale, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The Balakotunna valley, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

A 'white-eye's' nest, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Photo taken on a Sony Mavica by Charaka Wickremasinghe.

Kirindi-ella, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The photographers - Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The digital camera has reached every part of this Island of Sri Lanka. Starting with the cell phone cameras to the more sophisticated models, the camera is very popular now. Print outs cost money, but access to a computer has made photography dirt cheap, after the initial expenditure for the camera. Storage of about 500 pictures on a CD costs, only SL Rs15/-.

Mother and child, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

It is said that in the caring of its offspring, the cat carries the kitten by holding the infants neck in its mouth. The responsibility here is with the mother. The monkey on the other hand expects its infant to hold on tight to its mother's body and leaves the responsibility to the infant. Here you see a monkey-mother cuddling and protecting its baby.

An arch bridge built of granite stones, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka

Bridges built of stones were an innovation, pre-dating the Roman times. The arch with the 'key-stone', supported the load over a waterway. When railways with their heavy steam engines appeared in the latter part of the nineteenth century, cheaper alternatives to the stone bridges had to be found. It was the French engineer Eiffel, who pioneered the building of railway bridges with steel girders. In Sri Lanka we have quite a few old stone bridges with arches, built by the British. The above is one of them seen in the Rathnapura district.

Trinkets for sale, Saman Dewale, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

A lot of pilgrim buses come from places all over the Island, to Saman Dewale, Rathnapura. The vendors have a rollicking time, selling trinkets to these pilgrims. This is a picture of one such shop.

Fruit stall selling 'Pooja vattiyas' at Saman Dewala, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The flowers and fruits arranged on a tray to be given as offerings to God Saman, were being sold at this stall. There was a brisk business going on.

Ferry boat, upper reaches of Kalu Ganga, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

An old type ferry boat, built of bamboo trunks. Bamboo grows abundantly on the banks of rivers in Sri Lanka and help to prevent soil erosion on the banks of the rivers..

Old planters bungalow, Alupola, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka

The British planters built very spacious bungalows during colonial times (Pre 1948), in Sri Lanka. They were self sufficient in many ways. They had Jersey cows, rabbits, a chicken run, a well cultivated vegetable and flower garden etc. This is one of the bungalows facing the Alupola waterfall, on a hill side.

Dehena waterfalls on the road to Wewalwaththe from Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The Dehena waterfall is by the side of the main road from Rathnapura to Wewalwaththe. During heavy downpours it occassionally makes the road impassable. There is a pool built at the base of the waterfall for bathers. The water from the Adam's Peak wilderness, feeds this waterfall.

Trifoliate of trifoliate leaves - Home garden plants (4) - Alupola, Rathnapura,

A decorative type of colored leaf with a trifoliate pattern. It makes a nice change in a flower filled garden.

.The Bambarabotuwa valley (one view), Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

A view of the Bambarabotuwa valley from the Alupola end. You can see the Wewalwaththe tea factory in the distance. The 'Paandi Oya' after forming the Alupola water-falls, is threading its way along the bottom of the valley.

A mountain stream, Alupola, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Third waterfall in the Alupola waterfalls complex.

Alupola falls - first - Another view

Top of Alupola waterfall seen from the road to the hospital

Former Estate present Government Hospital, Alupola Estate, Sri Lanka.

Hospitals in the tea plantations, were set up in picturesque settings. This was the former Estate Hospital at Alupola Estate, Rathnapura. Now it is a Government run hospital, with an RMP in charge.

The old railway bridge, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The narrow gauge Kelani Valley railway started from Colombo Fort and terminated at Opanayake. It passed through the lush rubber and tea growing Kelani Valley region. The picture shows the abandoned railway bridge, at Rathnapura.Old railway lines form excellent bicycle tracts because of the gentle gradients. In Sri Lanka when the rail track from Avissawella to Opanayake was closed in stages, there was a massive land-grab of the property along the railway line, to dig for gems and to put up houses. Quite a lot of houses are now built illegally on this stretch.