Kelany Valley train, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HKjbewFEJY

The narrow gauge train called the 'Kelany Valley Line' ran from Colombo to Opanayake. With time it was curtailed to Rathnapura and later to Avissawella only. The line was slow and running at a loss unlike the early days of absence of good road transport. The narrow gauge was converted to the standard broad gauge and now runs at a profit. There is a lot of talk about straightening the curves and making it run faster. At present one gets a good shake while travelling in it. The old label on bottles of medicine - 'To be shaken before you are taken' - holds true on this journey.

Crowds at Wesak 2012, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Everyone is on the road on the Wesak night. Pictures show a 'Dansala' and pedestrians.

'Aluth Nuwara Dewale', Mawanella, Sri Lanka.

Going past the town of Mawanella on the A1 - Colombo Kandy highway - one reaches the turn off to Aluthnuwara Dewale. In the old days this was the place for travellers to stop and drop a few coins - 'padura' S, 'kaanikkai' T - wishing for a trouble free journey in a wayside temple. It still draws a few travellers. It must have been a busy spot. This old dilapidated building more than a hundred years old must have had its hey-day. You can see the cracked mud and bamboo walls. The old type 'Sinhala tiles on the building are still servicable. Alas its days are numbered.

Drive through the Peradeniya University Campus, Sri Lanka.

Driving from Ramanathan Hall to the A1 junction at Peradeniya.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_annotate?v=qoH8OWP6WDM

Southern Expressway Guide, Sri Lanka.

Southern Expressway - Kottawa to Mathara - Sri Lanka:-
http://203.115.0.35/uwc/webmail/attach/Guide-to-Southern-expressway.pdf?sid=&mbox=INBOX&uid=17996&number=4&filename=Guide-to-Southern-expressway.pdf