Alupola waterfalls, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The series of three separate waterfalls forms the Alupola falls. You see a picture showing all three falls.

At Horton Plains, Sri Lanka.

On the first few metres of the walk to Baker's falls at Horton plains, you come across this beautiful sight. I took this picture in 1998.

Rathgange vihara, Galaboda, Rathnapura.

The Rathganga vihara nestles in the Adam's peak wilderness. It is engulfed in mist most of the year. There is a road leading from Rathnapura via Galaboda Estate to Rathganga. Quite a lot of pilgrims visit this site. I took this photograph a few years back.

Looking back

When a child is past one year of age and starts to walk there are some additional antics which it can do. The photo shows one of these antics. There is a superstition in Sri Lanka that this act by the child means that it will soon get a younger brother or sister. Apparently the child is looking back between its thighs to see the new arrival.

Protection against evil spirits, Sri Lanka.

When a site is cleared to construct a house in Sri Lanka, the four corners of the compound, has structures like this put up and oil lamps lighted. This is done to protect the building site from evil spirits. The covering for the coconut oil lamp is made of woven young coconut leaves.

'Surathalee' falls, on the Haputhale road from Balangoda, Sri Lanka.

There are many waterfalls by the wayside on the Balangoda - Haputhale road. These dry up in the dry season and become raging torrents during the rains. This one is called the 'Surathalee' in Sinhalese meaning in English - Darling.

Abheyagiriya Dagoba, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

The Abheyagiri Dagoba built around 88BC housed a well known school of Buddhism in its monastic complex. It had its adherents labelled as heretics - Vaithulya vaadins, and lost state patronage.

Wesak lantern, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Every Wesak there is a group of people who try to outdo each other in preparing Wesak lanterns in Sri Lanka. This is a picture of one of those in Avissawella.

Wesak decorations made out of young coconut leaves, Kudagama, Sri Lanka.

I saw these wesak lights made of young coconut leaves to hold lighted oil lamps, on the bank of the Sithawaka Oya, Sri Lanka. I took this picture at sunset when the lamps were not lit.

Hand tractor and egrets, Atale, Sri Lanka.

A paddy field is being ploughed using a diesel powered, two wheeled, hand tractor. Egrets are around, to pick up any earhworms found in the upturned soil. This photo was taken by me at Atale, Sri Lanka..

Wesak decorations, Avissawella, Sri Lanka

Rock and pool, past Kithulgala, Sri Lanka.

Among the many streams one passes on the road to Ginigathena, I came across this rock and pool. It is a favourite spot for the village youngsters who come to laze on the rock and dip in the pool at midday. It is a lazy life with no cares or worries.

The Haputhale valley, Sri Lanka.

Wesak decoration, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Ice-cream 'Dansala' during Wesak, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Wesak lantern, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Wesak 'pandal', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Wesak 'pandal', Thalduwa, Sri Lanka.

Wesak lanterns, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Wesak in Sri Lanka is traditionally celebrated for the day of the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbana of Lord Buddha. A lot of illuminations come up in Buddhist households. Here is a picture of Wesak lanterns in Avissawella, Sri Lanka. Picture taken on 8/5/2009.

'Play house;, Sellam gey'-S, 'Vilayattu veedu'-T in the garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

This 6 year old wanted a 'play-house' built in the garden of the house. Once it was built by an obliging father, he took his book, to draw inside the play house. The materials for building the play house has changed over the years. In our young days it was coconut fronds. Now it is plastic sheeting.

Orchids in the garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

An orchid in the garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A mansion in one of the provinces of Sri Lanka.

I came across this house designed by an architect, in one of the provinces of Sri Lanka. There was a nice garden and drive-way leading to the house.

Storm cloud with a silver lining, Nawalapitya, Sri Lanka.

Every cloud they say, 'has a silver lining'. I took this picture at Nawalapitiya, Sri Lanka, when a mild drizzle of rain was present. In Tamil they have a saying that when you see the sun during a rain, it portends a wedding for a fox. Click on the picture to see the full beauty of the scene..

Mother and child, Galboda, Sri Lanka.

I saw this mother and child in a group of monkeys, foraging for food by the roadside. This was on the Rathnapura - Wewalwaththe road in Sri Lanka. These young monkeys are caught by jugglers and clothed and trained, to do various antics like riding small bicycles. They thus bring a good collection to the jugglers, who travel from place to place.