Wild-boar, Yala.

Pea cocks/hens at Yala

Pea cocks are respected as the 'Vaahana' of Lord Murugan and are not killed for flesh by the locals. The Dutch used to hunt them for their tasty flesh. The tallow from their fat has a high reputation locally as a healer of broken bones when applied to the fracture site.

Entry into Yala National Park

Four wheel drive for a 'Yala' trip.

A converted body on a Tata pickup, accomodates six in comfort and has a good height to see wild life is available at Tissamaharama for hire.

Dagoba at Tissamaharama lit up for Poson Day 2010.

I took this timed exposure with camera on tripod, from the bund of the Tiia wewa tank on Poson day 2010.

Bird by a pond, Tissa.

Shrine on a rock, Katharagama.

A wayside boutique, Katharagama.

The road to 'Vedahiti-kanda', Katharagama.

This peaceful road, surrounded by green paddy fields on either side leads to 'Vedahiti-kanda' at Katharagama. The legends tell us that when Lod Skanda married Valli, the Veddha cheiftains daughter, he made his abode on the hill called 'Vedahiti-kanda'. It was a spiritual centre for worshippers of Lord Skanda - Muruga. The symbolic 'vaahana' or vehicle of Lord Muruga, the peacock is heard and seen in plenty in these sylvan surroundings.

A Pea-cock by the road-side, Katharagama.

Pea-cocks are claimed to be the 'vahana' - vehicle, of Lord Katharagama - Lord Murugan. Thus they are left alone. Their beautiful feathers are a prized possesion.

Watcher's hut in a paddy field, Katharagama.

The lush green of a paddy field is broken up by a watcher's hut. The watcher stays here during the day to chase away parakeets and similar birds who come to eat the ripening paddy grains. In the night people keep guard to chase away marauding animals which include wild elephants. They light a firebrand and sing 'pal kavi' to keep awake.

'Veda-hiti-kanda' - 'Kathira-malai'

A view of 'Veda-hiti-kanda' - 'Kathira-malai', from 'Katharagama' - 'Kathirgaamam'. I have climbed this hill in the mid 1960s. It was steep stone steps all the way with the chin touching the kness frequently. I hear now you can get a jeep ride to the top of the hill.

Darter (Indian Darter)

I took this picture of the Indian Darter on a swampy land adjoining the highway on the Embilipitiya - Tissa road.

Purple swamp-hens.

I took this photo in the morning at a marshy area by the side of the road close to Tissa on the Embilipitiya - Tissa road. There were quite a few of these swamp-hens standing out by their differrent colour from the surrounding water lilies and lotuses.

Feeding the wild elephant, Udawalawe, Sri Lanka.

A villager in a 'cadjan' shed sells fruits to feed the elephants on the other side of an electric fence. I took these photos on the 'Udawalawe - Thanamalvila' road, bordering the 'Uda-walawe nature reserve.

Minding the buffalos.

 

I saw this herd of domestic buffalos taking a bath in a stream at Udawalawe. There was only one man in charge of the herd. The second picture shows them being guided home.

On the 'Uda-walawe' reservoir bund.

I took this picture on the highway going over the 'Uda-walawe' reservoir earth bund. You can see the electrified fence which keeps the elephants away from the road. The 'Uda-walawe' nature reserve is on the other side of the fence and has quite a few elephants.

Waiting for some fruits, Udawalawe.

An electrified fence seperating the wild elephant from the Udawalawe-Thanamalwila road, the elephant waits for fruits to be thrown across the fence by passers-by.

Hot water springs in Sooriyawewa.

When I visited this place in 1969, it was in the outback with jeep tracks leading to it from Thanamalvila. Now it has been built up and the local council earns a fair income from it.

Child with a pumpkin gourd.

The shell of a type of pumpkin which was dried over a month, after evacuating its contents was used as a 'water carrier' by the villagers of ancient Sri Lanka. This is varnished over and sold along the Tissa-Katharagama road. The picture shows a child in proud possesion of one of these water-carriers.

'Poya ge', Kosgama pansala, Sri Lanka.

I took this picture of the 'Poya-ge' at the Kosgama Pansala. This design seems to have been standard in Sabaragamuwa during the early 1900 onwards. Notice the total absence of 'arches' in the building

Just walking in the rain

Saman dewala premises, Rathnapura.

'Kiri Vehara', Katharagama, on the last Poson day.

Bull in the rain.

I took this picture in the courtyard of Saman Dewale, Rathnapura during a heavy downpour.

View over the 'Udawalawe reservoir'

The view of the distant mist shrouded hills seen from the 'Uda-walawe tank bund' is a peaceful sight. I took this picture in June 2010.