Scarlet Minivet, Male, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A beautiful bird but quick to take flight and hide among the branches high up.
See a video of the above:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSdLePIrTqI

Washing linen and bathing, Kelany Ganga.

The daily ritual of washing up and bathing in the Kelany Ganga is a time-old pastime of the villagers in this area. This river was navigable. The Portuguese, Dutch and British conquerors would travel up to Kosgamam by boat from Colombo. This was the first part of the journey to the Kingdom of Kandy. 

'Pirith' ceremony, Eheliyagoda, Sri Lanka.

 Invoking the blessings of the Gods, the drumming and flute playing, the participants and preparing for the offering of betel leaves to the Buddhist priests, to initiate the 'Pirith' ceremony

Pirith ceremony, Eheliyagoda, Sri Lanka.

Lighting oil lamps to get the blessings of the Gods and seated before the Pirith Mandapaya at the home of the Balawardenas at Eheliyagoda, Sri Lanka.
Please click on each of the web-links below to video snips of its beginning:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XuFP-TEuuw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RXyr6HCJQY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEVc59A7-Ls

'Brown Shrike', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

We saw this 'Brown Shrike' - Lanius cristatus - also called the 'Philippine Shrike' at the edge of the Sithawake free trade zone, Avissawella, Sri Lanka. I used a Fujifilm HS20 EXR with a 30X zoom to capture these pictures.