A forest pool, Sithawaka, Sri Lanka.

'Little egret' resting on a coconut palm, Avissawella,Sri Lanka

Latex collection from a rubber tree - before and after, Kudagama, Sri Lanka

Note the half shell of the coconut used to collect the latex. It is turned down after the latex is collected. Latex is a sweet liquid and hungry dogs or cattle occasionally drink it. The swallowed latex is coagulated by the action of the acid in the stomach. It becomes solid and fills the stomach cavity preventing the animals from being unable to partake of a full meal. The affected animals have a lingering death due to starvation.

Mining for gems in the Sithawaka Oya, Kudagama, Sri Lanka.

The river bed contain s gems in the Sithawaka Oya at Avissawella. Bamboo barriers are erected across the flowing water and the gravel is taken out and searched for gems. Saphires, rubies etc are found and make many a villager rich overnight.

'Kurundhu gala' a bathing spot on the Sithawaka Oya, Sri Lanka.

This could have been a trans-shipment point for cinnamon, on the Sithawaka Oya, in ancient times. It is now a bathing spot for the villagers of Kudagama, Avissawella.

Valley adjoining Kalatuweva, Sri Lanka.

The valley adjoining Kalatuweva, seen from a chalet at the 'Serenity Village', Wevila, Sri Lanka. I used a 12X zoom on my Fuji S1500 to take this picture. The valley was about half a mile away.

Shadows during the solar eclipse of 28th December 2009.

Wevila, Sri Lanka.

Wevila, Sri Lanka

Summer house, Wevila, Sri Lanka

A pond with lotuses, Wevila, Sri Lanka

Song written and composed by a 13 year old - Declan.wmv.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBmLzgcLu0w


Beautiful song.
Enjoy.

'Chalet' at 'Serenity Village', Wevila, Kalatuwawe, Sri Lanka.

Situated in a 30 acre land of tea and wild vegetation, with a stream running through and a lotus pond, this is an ideal place to enjoy nature. Photo taken on 14/1/2010 with a Fuji Finepix S 1500.

Tree-house at Serenity Village, Wevila, Kalatuwawe, Sri Lanka.

We went to a nice retreat at Wevila, Kalatuwerwa yesterday. It is a nice hotel with chalets and a common dining room. This is a picture of a tree-house in the premises.

'Spotted dove', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The 'spotted dove' with its beautiful checker -board plumage is endemic to Sri Lanka. They are usually seen in pairs. I took this photo in my garden at Avissawella. I used a Fuji S1500 digital camera. The doves mate was in the immediate vicinity..

The beauty of a 'yellow-billed babbler', (Seven sisters), Sri Lanka

'A boat on the river', Meethirigala, Sri Lanka.

This boat on the river is 'not sailing away'. It has no sails and is tied up for the day. It is used daily for 'sand harvesting' from the river bed. The sand in the bottom of the river, is a result of soil erosion upstream. The harvested sand is used for building purposes.

Old bridge on the Ulapane to Pussellawa road, Sri Lanka.

One mile from Ulapane on the Pussellawa road, this bridge built to replace the 'Upside down' bridge, is in its last legs and is being replaced by a new concrete bridge by its sidewhich still under construction. This bridge bridges the Mahawely Ganga in its upper reaches.

Yellow billed Babbler, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

These are seen in a group babbling away and are also called 'The seven sisters'.

'Amman' Temple - Nawalapitiya, Sri Lanka

Harvested sand from the river bed, Meethirigala, Sri Lanka.

Sand used for building is harvested from the beds of rivers in Sri Lanka. This is controlled by licences to prevent soil erosion. A lorry load of sand delivered in Colombo costs about Rs.5000/-.

The hoverring Dragonfly, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

On one of my morning walks I saw this dragonfly hovering like a helicopter at one spot. This was very unusual for a dragonfly which  flits and darts. I took this picture of it. A few minutes later I saw its mate rise up from below and both quickly flew out of sight.

Road to Ginigathena, Sri Lanka.

The lush green growth fringing the ascent to the central highlands o

Cardamom left to dry in the morning sun, Ginigathena, Sri Lanka.

Driving along the road to Ginigathena from Karawanella, one is assailed by the sweet tantalizing aroma of cardamoms. Then one sees the cardamom left out to dry in the morning sun, by the roadside. In this picture you can see the freshly plucked green cardamoms lying next to the partially dried brown ones. I took this picture on the 31st Dec. 2000.

The Mahawely Ganga at Ulapane, Sri Lanka.

The four major rivers of Sri Lanka take their origin from the Adam's peak wilderness. The waters which go to form these rivers flow in different directions from the central highland. It is a fact that the Police Station situated at Ginigathena is so situated that the water flowing downhill on one side goes to join the Kelany Ganga and the water flowing on the other side of the hill goes to join the Mahawely Ganga. This picture taken by me on the 31st of December 2010, shows the Mahawely waters at Ulapane, on the way to Gampola from Ginigathena.

The upside-down bridge, Ulapane, Sri Lanka.

On the road from Ulapane (on the Gampola - Nawalapitiya road) to Pussellawa about one Kilometre from Ulapane, you have to cross an old iron bridge. Looking upstream there is another bridge in sight as shown in the photo above. This was constructed by a British engineer during colonial times. The site engineer had mis interpreted the plans, constructing it upside down, and it was found out as a mistake only after the construction was complete. The authorities let it remain to be used for light traffic. They say that the site engineer subsequently committed suicide.

The beautiful Kelani Ganga at Mithirigala, Sri Lanka.

A very Happy New Year to all of you.

May the happy times of last year remain with you.

May the sad times of yesteryear be a forgotten dream.

May there be sunshine and laughter in 2010.