A 'Pirith Mandapaya', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

When 'pirith' is chanted all night, by priests in Buddhist households in Sri Lanka, a special place is set apart inside the house for the priests to sit, while chanting the 'pirith'. This 'mandapaya' has a a representative tree called a 'Raja Gaha' inside it and seats arranged for the monks. The 'mandapaya' is decorated. I saw this 'mandapaya' constructed of young coconut leaves weaved into various designs. The trunks of plantain trees were also used in the decoration.

Daya Jayasinghe to me

show details 7:20 AM (3 hours ago)

I have seen visitors going into a frenzy and dancing when this starts. Also in good old days people with guns or swords guard the premises when ATANATIYA is being chanted. In some areas ginger soaked in brandy is consumed by monks while chanting although i have not seen. Daya j.

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Fruit stall selling 'Pooja vattiyas' at Saman Dewala, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The flowers and fruits arranged on a tray to be given as offerings to God Saman, were being sold at this stall. There was a brisk business going on.

Egret near a pond, Sithawaka, Sri Lanka.

Egrets seem to have increased in numbers in Sri Lanka. They are now seen in villages and towns in Sri Lanka, close to rubbish dumps. When they rest for the night on trees any small disturbance below the tree makes them empty their bowels on the persons below. If the tree is over a highway, the road is covered with white bird shit accompanied by an unpleasant smell. Very often residents chase them away by firing sky rocket fireworks at trees, during sun-down when they come to roost.

Gloriosa superba: 'Niyangala' - Sinhalese: 'Kandal' - Tamil, flower, Wewalwaththe,

The flower of the 'Niyangala' or 'Kandal' is very beautiful. Its yam is poisonous and can cause death. I saw this in full bloom, in a wet humid environment, close to Rathnapura.

The Green Imperial pigeon, Malwala, Sri Lanka

On the opposite bank of the Kaluganga at Malwala, where I saw the Brahminy kite, I saw a largish bird, slightly smaller than the Brahminy kite. I took this photo of it. My son in law Charaka identified it as the Green Imperial pigeon - Ducula aenea.

A Brahminy kite on the banks of the Kalu-ganga, Malwala, Sri Lanka

The Brahminy kite is found all over Sri Lanka. It flies very high, riding the thermal air currents and has a piercing cry- something like 'weeeeee........we....we'. It preys on chicks of all species of birds. I saw this perched on a tree on the banks of the Kalu-ganga at Malwala. The camera used by me for this was photo was a Fuji Finepix 5.1Megpix - S5200 - at 10 zoom and anti blur, high ISO setting.

Ferry boat, upper reaches of Kalu Ganga, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

An old type ferry boat, built of bamboo trunks. Bamboo grows abundantly on the banks of rivers in Sri Lanka and help to prevent soil erosion on the banks of the rivers..

Old planters bungalow, Alupola, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka

The British planters built very spacious bungalows during colonial times (Pre 1948), in Sri Lanka. They were self sufficient in many ways. They had Jersey cows, rabbits, a chicken run, a well cultivated vegetable and flower garden etc. This is one of the bungalows facing the Alupola waterfall, on a hill side.

Dehena waterfalls on the road to Wewalwaththe from Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The Dehena waterfall is by the side of the main road from Rathnapura to Wewalwaththe. During heavy downpours it occassionally makes the road impassable. There is a pool built at the base of the waterfall for bathers. The water from the Adam's Peak wilderness, feeds this waterfall.

Beruwaththe waterfalls and the Bambarabotuwa valley, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

This view of the Bambarabotuwa valley and the Beruwaththe water falls is seen from the Alupola - Bambarabotuwa road. It is one of the scenic wonders of Sabaragamuwa.

Flowers from Home garden, Alupola, Sri Lanka.

Orchids, Alupola Hospital, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Trifoliate of trifoliate leaves - Home garden plants (4) - Alupola, Rathnapura,

A decorative type of colored leaf with a trifoliate pattern. It makes a nice change in a flower filled garden.

Home garden flowers (3) Alupola, Sri Lanka.

Flowers in the home gardens- 2 - Alupola, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Flowers in the home gardens - Alupola, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Quite a lot of varieties of flowers, bloom in the home gardens of Alupola. The British planters brought these for their home gardens here. Now these are found all over, as the climate is favorable for their growth in Alupola. Here you see a rose in full bloom.

.The Bambarabotuwa valley (one view), Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

A view of the Bambarabotuwa valley from the Alupola end. You can see the Wewalwaththe tea factory in the distance. The 'Paandi Oya' after forming the Alupola water-falls, is threading its way along the bottom of the valley.

A mountain stream, Alupola, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Third waterfall in the Alupola waterfalls complex.

Alupola falls - first - Another view

Top of Alupola waterfall seen from the road to the hospital

Former Estate present Government Hospital, Alupola Estate, Sri Lanka.

Hospitals in the tea plantations, were set up in picturesque settings. This was the former Estate Hospital at Alupola Estate, Rathnapura. Now it is a Government run hospital, with an RMP in charge.

Orchid at Peradeniya Gardens, Sri Lanka.

'Ruk-Aththana' - S, 'Mukampelai' -T, Alstonia scolaris flower, Sri Lanka.

The yellow 'Ruk Aththana' flower is used in Budhhist and Hindu temples to do pooja. It has yellow fleshy petals and adorns a lot of gardens in Sri Lanka. I took this photo in my garden at Avissawella.

Hunnasgiriya peak seen from Kandy.

The town of Kandy is surrounded by mountain peaks. The peak of Hunnasgiriya, on the old road to Mahiyangana through Teldeniya, is one of them. I took this picture of the peak from Kandy.

Peradeniya Botanical gardens, Sri Lanka.

There are many lovely sights, in the Botanical gardens at Peradeniya. This is one view I took a picture of, in the 1980s.