'Puhul pahans' at Ranwela Dewala, Meethirigala, Sri Lanka.

In the old days there was a ferry crossing of the Kelany Ganga at Meethirigala. The crossing took one from 'Siyana Korale' in the Gampaha District to the 'Hewagam Korale' in Avissawella district at this point. In ancient days they would core out a few 'puhul gedis' fill them with oil, insert a wick and light it. They would send these floating in the Kelany Ganga on a special day, as an offering to Ranwela Deviyo. At present they use a banana stem and the ola leaves are decorated to look like a 'puhul gediya'. You can see these lamps in the picture

A paddy-field in Meethirigala, Sri Lanka.

The beauty and serenity of a paddy field can be seen in this picture. I took this picture close to the retreat of a Buddhist forest hermitage. Buddhist monks live here in isolation and practice meditation. It is a famous place in Sri Lanka. The forest monks belong to the Aranya Nikaya.

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A tree overlooking Nuwara Wewa, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Children playing by the side of the Kelani Ganga, Meethirigala, Sri Lanka.

The bank of the Kelani Ganga provides an ideal spot for children to play at Meethirigala in the District of Gampaha, Sri Lanka. At full spate the water level on the river can rise about 6 feet submerging these banks.

The Balakotunna valley, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

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Building in the Kadugannawa valley, Sri Lanka.

A building in the Kandyan Period architectural style, in the Kadugannawa valley. Picture taken on a Fuji S- 1500 with a 12 zoom.

Waterfall in Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka.

'Doovili Ella', Balangoda, Sri Lanka. Photo on a Sony Mavica by Charaka Wickremasinghe.

The valley below Kadugannawa, Sri Lanka.

This would have been the view presented to the warriors of the Kandyan Kingdom in late 15th to the early 17th century. The soldiers advancing against the Kingdom would have been spotted miles off before they attempted scaling the Balana rock fortress. At present there are lush green paddy fields and an air of peace and serenity prevails.

Inflatable toys for sale, Galgamuwa, Sri Lanka.

Sacred 'Naa" tree, Bodhimaluwa, Parakaduwa, Sri Lanka.

On the road from Avissawella to Rathnapura, at Bodhimaluwa before Parakaduwa is found a tall 'Naa' tree. This has a dangerof falling but is supported by iron supports. During the troubled times of the Seethawaka Kingdom, the sacred Tooth Relic was taken from Kotte to Kuruwita for safekeeping from the Portuguese. The Tooth Relic was kept under this 'Naa' tree, while the accompanying priests took their mid day 'Daana.' This tree is venerated upto today. When it was in danger of falling this support was erected.

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An old road roller usually pulled by bullock or even an elephant, Sri Lanka.

A steam road roller, Sri Lanka.

Water carrier used by the Public Works Department (PWD), Sri Lanka

Steam road-roller with road plough.

Steam road roller with water carrier and caravan, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

A sunny day on Kandy lake, Sri Lanka.

'Ambalama' - 'Ambalam', Kadugannawa, Sri Lanka.

On the climb to Kadugannawa from Mawanalla, there was an old building. This was labelled as 'Ambalama'. An 'Ambalam' is a very old word much used in Tamil to refer to a resting place. The exhausted travellers on bullock drawn carts climbing the steep road to Kadugannawa, were provided with a resting place here, in olden times. The old building has been renovated recently. Somehow the charm of the old building is now gone. I took this picture on 29/11/2009.

Waterfall - bathing spot, Kadugannawa, Sri Lanka.

Upto the 1980s the climb to Kadugannawa had only one tea-shop and a waterfall as a bathing spot. I have stopped there in my Fiat Millicento in the late 1960s, to have a cold bath from the cascade after a long drive. Now the activity is shifted further up with a lot of fruit stalls. These were introduced by our late Mr.Premadasa. This place has no stop-over travelers now. I took these photos in November 2009.

Couroupita guianensia - 'Sal' tre - near Malwaththe temple, Kandy, Ari lAnka.

Monkeys raiding houses, around the Lake of Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The houses around the Kandy lake are visited by hoards of monkeys. They damage TV antennae and raid the kitchen and dining rooms of houses, carrying away food items. The photo taken by me shows a monkey seated on a telegraph wire at the entrance to a house in the area.