Air pollution, Seethawaka Free Trade Zone, Sri Lanka.

They opened a 'Free Trade Zone' in Avissawella a few decades back. The people of the area were told that this was an 'environment-friendly' project. The years gone by have blackened all the roofs and the chemical contaminated water is polluting the Kelani Ganga at Weralupitiya. I took this picture a few days back. You can see the black smoke emitted by the chimneys in the 'Free Trade Zone' early in the morn ing on what should have been a beautiful dawn.
I am reminded of a song that we sang in our twenties:-

'Once there were green fields kissed by the sun,
Once there were valleys where rivers used to run..
...'
'...Green fields are gone now. parched by the sun,
Gone with the valley, where rivers used to run...'

Harmless, useless but pretty fruits, Meepe, Sri Lanka.

Hibiscus - Shoe flower, Meepe, Sri Lanka.

Picture taken at a vegetable plant nursery.

Water Buffalo, Paddy field, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

A Water Buffalo used in agriculture confronted me on a foot-path in a paddy field. He would not move and I had to detour.

Garden produce, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Looking after a coconut tree.

It is claimed by the villagers that to make a barren coconut tree bear fruit, a totally naked male adult must take an 'idhaella' - a garden broom stick made of coconut leaf strands - and beat the base of the said coconut tree beating the trun k repe4atedly. This must be done on a full moon night. I heard about this village magic a few years ago at Batticaloa, the eastern part of Sri Lanka. I heard this repeated by a village woman in Avissawella, a few days back.

'Ambaraella' fruits - sour and tasty with salt and chillie powder.

Ripening berries of 'Black Pepper'.

'Black Pepper' - Piper nigrum - climber.