Tsunami Memorial, Yala, Sri Lanka.

When a Tsunami hit Sri Lanka in 2004 on the 26th December it caused severe devastation. A group of Japanese tourists who were camped at this place - Patinagala in Yala were swept away. The photo shows 'Patinagala' - the stony outcrop on the sea-shore. The vertical sail like structures near the foundations of the devastated building, is the memorial erected in memory of the dead. Photo by Queenie V

Pine logs from a plantation near Beragala, Sri Lanka.

Pinus trees were planted on a l;arge area close to the Badulla Highway from Belihul oya. These logs are harvested and transported to Colombo. You see the felled trunks by the roadside on this picture.

Waterbirds, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Inside the fenced off area of the Sithawaka Free Trade Zone at Avissawella is a pond, where swamp birds come to feed and build their nests, uninterrupted by humans. I took this picture there. You can see egrets, stilts, bitterns  lapwings, whistling ducks etc. Try and spot some of them in the two pictures.

Offering to 'Sani Bhagawan'

I took this picture on the perimeter road of 'Saman Dewale', Rathnapura, Sri Lanka. The crow is said to be the 'vaahana' of 'Sani Bhagawan' in the Hindu Pantheon of Gods. When 'Sani' or 'Senasuru' is said to be 'Neechcha' - inauspicious, in the horoscope of an individual at a period in his life all sorts of calamities could occur to him, according to the astrologers. They advice propitation of 'Sani' by offering food to his 'Vaahana' the crow. This is such an offering of balls of milk rice served on seventeen leaves left to eaten by the crows.

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Kosgama, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

I took this picture in heavy vegetation close to a house at Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

Seasons Greetings

'I'd like to see the world for once,
All standing hand in hand,
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace throughout the land'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlR0KElxxVg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a8F28WVXlk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGt7JLuSQcM


We wish you a Merry Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOe1RVuDJDk&feature=related

That's not enough - I want some more....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM31sVP8NMA

Please click on each of the web-links above and keep your loudspeakers on.

Songs for Christmas

The joy of Christmas in music and lyrics - Click on each web-link and accompany the song.
Do not miss the last one in the spirit of Christmas - I am sure it will bring a tear to your eyes.

Christmas carols - Instrument and Lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmNAm4UFscM&feature=related

We Three Kings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8mjRxkMBkE&feature=related

Away in a Manger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnVorT14i4I&feature=related

When a Child is Born
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mnIHMOmZ8U&feature=related

Whispering Hope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8S6Z8_DHnA&feature=related

Long time ago in Bethlehem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iRzz3YrukY&feature=related

Joy to the world
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpgaWm2pnNs&feature=related

Little drummer boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfK8l0QnUXg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJHmvrkOSqU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFYcd6zmlFs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sKmHiGOv70&feature=related

Homeless boy in a talent contest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ46Ot4_lLo&feature=related

St.Clair's waterfalls, Pathana, Hatton, Sri Lanka.

St. Clair's waterfalls is situated about two Kilometers away from Devon waterfalls, on the Hatton - Thalawakele road.I took thiese pictures before the completion of the Upper Kothmale Dam which impounded its waters upstream.
Click on the web-link below to see a video-clip of it:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b9srzpodlM

Devon falls, Pathana, Hatton, Sri Lanka.

This is on the Hatton to Thalawakele road in Sri Lanka.
Click on the web link below to watch a video-clip of above:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AzP47p0ROg

Feeding the orphan elephants at Udawalawe, Sri Lanka.

Elephants orphaned in the jungles of Sri Lanka are brought to this orphanage run by the Department of Wild Life. They are looked after and released into the Udawalawe wild life sanctuary bordering the orphanage. They come back from the jungle twice a day to get their quota of milk.

Click on each of the web-links below to watch video-clips of the feeding. Keep your loudspeakers on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM31sVP8NMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtNwPei39xY

Tea fields and road past Haputhale on the road to Bandarawela, Sri Lanka.

 

A tea-factory and a planter's bungalow - remnants of British Colonial rule, Haputhale, Sri Lanka.

The valley towards Bandarawela as seen from Haputhale, Sri Lanka.

The main train to Badulla from Colombo and estate roads in a tea estate and a tea factory are seen in this photo.

Click on the web-link below to watch a video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e-jGUpDlj0

The climb from Beragala to Haputhale - mid stage.

In the 1960s the rains would bring torrents of water coursing down the road on this stretch and cause damage to the highway and initiating landslides. Now well constructed concrete conduits and drains carry the water away. This was a project done by 'Keangnam' a South Korean firm. The Koreans inherited their modern engineering skills from their French Colonial masters. Thus we see the French approach to road construction in Sri Lanka improving on the British legacy that we had from our British Colonial masters.

Click on the web-link below to watch a video of this area:-
 http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_annotate?ns=1&v=2pN36Yg2vUU

The view of the Uva valley from past Beragala, on the climb to Haputhale, Sri Lanka.

The stretches of glistening water near the horizon are the Udawalawe, Hambegamuwa and Chandrikawewa reservoirs.

The view of the Uva valley from Beragala, Sri Lanka.

A panoramic view of the distant hills from Beragala.
Click on the web-link below to see a video-clip of the road from Haldumulla to Beragala:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYg6WZnRqZY&feature=related

Belihuloya to Beragala scenic wonder, Sri Lanka

Scene after scene of nature in its abundance greets the eyes on this road. If you stop to pause at nature around you you are in for a treat.
Click on the web-link below to see a video part of the road:-
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G11xOjEyUZo

Scenes at the entrance to the Rest-house, Belihul Oya, Sri Lanka

I picked out these scenes looking straight ahead, looking to the left and looking to the right coming out of the Belihuloya Rest-house. You can see the variety at every turn.

Scenes from Belihuloya Rest House, Sri Lanka.

The front entrance and the bridge spanning the Belihul-Oya as seen from the courtyard of the Rest-house.

Inside the Belihul Oya Rest-house, Sri Lanka.

Rest Houses were strategically placed throughout Ceylon of the British Colonial times. This was to provide rest and nourishment to the Colonial authorities. These have evolved into the present day Rest-houses. The Belihuloya Rest House must be at least a hundred years old and is very famous in present Sri Lanka. It provides a charming retreat in very pleasant surroundings and is by the side of a stream where one can take a river bath. The lush greenery around abounds in bird life.

View from Belihuloya Rest House, Sri Lanka.

Views of the river up and downstream from a shaded retreat in the Rest-House, are shown in this photograph.
Click on the web-link below to see a video of the river flowing by the side of the Rest-house:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L39p4Dsgr40

Entering Balangoda on the Colombo - Badulla road, Sri Lanka.

The entrance to Balangoda a town famous in the gem-trade is by a gentle slope on the highway. A large statue of Lord Buddha from the top of a hill greets the visitor.
Click on the web-link below to see scenes from part of the road from Balangoda to Belihul Oya:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkCSBRAmaio

Tea factory on a hill, Lellopitiya - Pelmadulla road, Sri Lanka.

Tea factories run independently, buy plucked tea leaves for about Rs60/- a Kg and turn out processed tea leaves for the auctions in Colombo. This is a tea factory situated at a hill top in Lellopitiya, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Black-headed Ibis, Angunukolapalessa, Sri Lanka.

A totally black head and beaks, sitting on an egret like white body makes this bird very striking as it wanders over swamp or paddy land.
 Click on the link below to watch a video of it:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnKJoZgEPLM

On the Bandarawela - Haputhale road, Sri Lanka.

The distant hills are seen in the background of a tea factory in the morning hours.

Bandarawela valley, Sri Lanka

The site of the valley below Bandarawela where the town of Diyathalawa is situated is seen early in the morning in this picture. The distant hills are shrouded in mist. Click on the web link below to watch a video of above.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrnajFWeWLE

Statue at Dowa - Badulla - Sri Lanka.

Reputed to have been made in one day by a 'Yodhaya' this statue is found in a temple by a stream on the Badulla - Bandarawela road.

A view of Unawatunna, Unawatunne, Sri Lanka.

Unawatunne beach and glass-bottomed boats, Galle, Sri Lanka.

'Wee-bissa' - Paddy store, Koggala, Sri Lanka.

The paddy store of ancient times is made of clay and wicker netting. It preserved the paddy in a dry state for almost an year. This is seen before the museum building at the ancestral land of the famous author, Mr. Martin Wickremasinghe. His famous novels 'Madol Duwa', 'Gam Peraliya', 'Yugaanthay', 'Kaliyugaya', and a compilation of short stories 'Magul Gedara' are famous.

Racing cart next to a horse drawn carriage

Temple 'Triacle', exhibit at the house of Mr. Martin Wickremasinghe, Koggala, Sri Lanka.

Kerosene cart - before 1960s - Exhibit at Mr.Martin Wickremasinghe's house.

The cart was drawn by a bull and would arrive on the streets of a village. The carter had a long metal blow-horn to announce his presence. The villagers would arrive with empty bottles or tin cans to buy their supply of kerosene oil measured in 'bottles' or 'gallons'. The carter would open the tap fixed at the rear lower part of the metal drum mounted on the cart, into measuring cans, carried suspended in a net below the cart. It was a weekly event in the village where the urchins had a good laugh at the antics of the carter. 

Boats - Exhibits at the Martin Wickremasinghe ancestral property.

Wooden boat and wooden anchor - Exhibit at the house of Mr.Martin Wickremasinghe