Highway near Miriswaththe, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Winged beans, Plantain flowers, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Winged beans.

Plantain tree, flowering.

An adolescent Iguana, sun bathing, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

After hatching from eggs buried under the sand, these young  ones emerge and start foraging. Quite a few are savaged by the dogs and die. The meat of the adults are relished by some. For those practicing the Buddhist religion eating the flesh of these animals is taboo. The adults can deliver a vicious kick with their powerful tails.

On the road to Thalawakelle, Sri Lanka.

Highway

The railway bridge and tea factory

A 'gem pit', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The pit is dug vertically down till a layer named 'illam' is reached. Water has to be pumped out all the time using petrol or kerosene powered pumps. Once the layer of 'illam' is reached. tunneling has to be done sideways. The extracted soil is brought out and washed to pick out the heavier gem stones.