Hambanthota beach next to the new harbour.

 Hambanthota might easily become the next capital of Sri Lanka. With the Chinese constructed harbour, the international airport, a brand new conferance hall and enough room to expand unlike Colombo this will become a reality. These pictures taken by me show the sandy beach of Hambanthota with its rolling waves might easily become a massive tourist complex. Land values there are now about Rs.3 lakhs an acre but will zoom up in next to no time.

Foot-path leading to the beach at Hambanthota.

A sandy footpath leading to the Hambanthota beach is seen in this picture I took in February 2010. You can see the cactus and casuarina trees lining the foot path.

Storage tank to harvest rain water, Sooriyawewa.

 

Drinking water is a commodity much in demand in the arid southern regions of the Uva Province in Sri Lanka.
Rain water harvesting is being promoted in a big way. A cement tank as shown in the picture collects water from the roof of the house during rain. It holds about 4500 litres. The chief occupant of the house told me that it cost them Rs.25,000/- to construct this tank. It supplies drinking water for about a month if there is no rain after the tank gets full.

Road on the 'Uda Walawe Reservoir' bund, Sri Lanka.

There is a short-cut from Embilipitiya to Thanamalwila on the road to Katharagama from Rathnapura. You pass the elephant orphanage on the Embilipitiya side, then you cross this dam and further on you would always see wild elephants on the other side of an electric fence. This road borders the 'Uda Walawe Nature reserve'.

Pompadour Green Pigeon, Katharagama, Sri Lanka.

I was staying in a guest house at Katharagama road on 28/2/2010. I took this picture in the compound of the guest house.