Wednesday, February 19, 2014

'Isurumuniya', Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.


Isurumuniya temple, Anuradhapura in the 1950s.
The 'Lovers' in their original setting. Now they are inside a museum closeby..
The above photographs were taken by Mr.Jayaratne, ex Colonisation Officer in the 1950s.
Click on link below to see a description of the place:-



Click on link below to hear the famous song and read the lyrics:-

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Scenes of the North of Sri Lanka.

'Selvachchannithy', Thondamanaru, Sri Lanka/

Two old ladies - An Austin A40 Somserset towing an Austin A40 Devon at Muhamaalai.
The Austin A40s were the work horses of Jaffna from the 1950s to as late the 2005s. A high road clearance, ability to carry weight, a strong body and chassis and a very quiet and repairable engine made these cars all-time favorites in the North of Sri Lanka.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Interior of Talduwa Manor, Sri Lanka.

The 'Honeymoon suite'.

The sitting room.

Old paintings and photograph.

A type-writer of days gone by.
A planters bungalow built in the 1920s in a hill near Talduwa by a British Plantar, has been converted as a holiday home. Web: www.malwatte.lk, Hot Line 0722 21 21 69.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Scenes from villages around Thimbiripola on the Thalduwa - Karawanella road, Sri Lanka.

A wild flower.

After an intra-ocular lens implant for cataract.

A miniature statue of Lord Buddha in the hollow of a tree.

A stream running dry due to lack of rain.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Sri-Pathula at Thimbiripola, Talduwa, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The foot path leading to the site.

The carved foot-print on a granite boulder on the banks of the Seethawaka Oya.

Size of the carved foot-print.

Designs on the stylized  'Foot-print'.

A square hole to hold a parasol over the foot-print.

The Seethawaka Oya flowing close-by.
The 'Sri-Pathula' at Thimbiripola off the road to Dehiowita from Talduwa, is a stylized foot-print carved on granite, by the banks of the Seethawaka Oya. There are claims made that this depicts the foot-print of Sri Rama who's wife Seetha was held prisoner by King Ravana in this area.
There is also the legend which states that one of the wives of King Rajasinghe of Seethawaka, of the 16th Century AD, developed 'Dola Duka' - any craving desired by a female in early pregnancy. The craving was to visit 'Sri-Paadha' - Adam's Peak. The King being unable to accede to this request due to the troubled times in the country did a ruse. The Queen was taken round various by-ways of Seethawake at night on a palanquin, was brought to this rock and shown this carved foot-print. The courtiers accompanying the palanquin told the Queen that this was the sacred foot-print at Sri-Paadha - Adam's Peak. The Queen returned to her palace happy.
The name 'Thimbiri Ge' means 'labour room' in Sinhalese. This was the area where the females of the King's house-hold used to come for the birth of a child.