Scenes around Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

 A black-smith working his hearth at Avissawella. The bellows used to blow air into the hearth must be more than 100 years old. It is simple and fool-proof.

The present Railway-station at Avissawella. This was a junction in the old narrow gauge Kelani Valley Railway days. One branch went to Yatiyanthota and the other past Rathnapura to Opanaike. It served the tea and rubber estates well during its heydey. Now it is widened to broad gauge and runs only from Colombo to Avissawella. The old Government Hospital, the Rest-House and Post-Office were clustered around it. There was also a fuel depot storing Petrol and Keroscene oil.

The old Market at Puwakpitiya still active on Pola days. The old-timers say that this once served as the Magistrates courts. The old Chunnaklam market in Jaffna has a similar architectural design. Note the granite pillars in the periphery. 

Machinery used in a tea factory of the 1950s, Sri Lanka.

Large fly-wheel from which 'V' belts drove a metal shaft under the roof. From this shaft power was tapped via 'V; belts to power the various machinery.

A large diesel engine used to provide stand-by power to the factory. Normally it was powered by  electricity generated by a nearby hydro-turbine.

A tea-roller where freshly plucked leaves were rolled.

A tea-packing machine.

Various scenes, Sri Lanka.

Water for  the weary traveler, 'Pin-thaliya'- 'Thanneer Kudam', Paranthan.

A giant tea-pot, Meepe, Sri Lanka.

An old HMV Gramophone of the late1940s.

A butterfly, 'Common Crow' - Euploea core - sipping nectar.

Elephant Pass War Memorial, Sri Lanka.

View from the War Memorial at Elephant Pass.

Mural at the War Memorial, Elephant Pass.

A bull-dozer converted as a Tank used to storm the Elephant Pass Army Camp.

Murals at the Elephant Pass Memorial, Sri Lanka.