'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.

The Kelany Ganga at Aswaththe, Puwakpitiya, Sri Lanka.

The peace and serenity of the gently flowing waters of the Kelany Ganga is seen in this photo. This river can become a raging muddy torrent after rains in the central hills of Sri Lanka.

The Kelani Ganga at Aswaththe near Puwakpitiya, Sri Lanka.

People bathing in the river at Aswaththe, Sri Lanka.