'Thookku' and 'chedil' 'kaavady', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The 'Kaavady' derived from the Tamil words 'Kaavu+thady' (carrying+stick) is a ritual performed by Saivite Hindus in Sri Lanka. It is to fulfil a vow made to a God or Goddess. The video shows a 'kaavady' procession wending its way from the 'Muththu Mari Amman' temple at Avissawella to another 'Muthu Mari Amman temple at Puwakpitiya about 4 Km away. You can see a devotee suspended on a horizontal pole by fish hooks inseted to the skin on the back of the chest. Another devotee is seen dancing on the road. Click on the video link below to see the action:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qRCxi_L9Os

The nest of a 'Prinia', Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

Photo of a nest of a 'Prinia' on a tree close to the entrance to a house at Kosgama, Avissawella. The Crow Pheasant ('Ati kukula' S - 'Senpaham' T) raids the birds nests and eats up the chicks while the smaller made parents look on in anguish. This may be one of the reasons why the nests are built close to human habitation. 

Batticaloa sunset hours, late 1980s, Sri Lanka

 I had a Yashica camera in the late 1980s with a preselected aperture size and a variable shutter speed determined by the light input. This was a revolutionary concept at that time. I took these pictures with that camera. The lens quality on this camera was not very good. I subsequently sold this and got a better quality SLR.

A house in Puwakpitiya, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

This house was built in the early part of the twentieth century for a 'Gammuladaeniya' - Village Head-man - Mr.Rupasinghe, during the British Colonial Period in Ceylon. I was informed that an engineer who took part in the construction of the 'Kelany Valley' narrow gauge railway designed this house for the Headman.

Elephant in front of Dehena Ella - waterfall.

An elephant with its 'Mahout' on the way to work passing the Dehena Ella. This is on the Rathnapura - Wewalwaththe road. Please watch the following video of the waterfall posted by me on Youtube. Click on the following web-address:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW4CgR7bFBc

Pond on a rock, Rambodagalla, Sri Lanka.

An artificial pond on a rock at Rambodagalla, near Rideevihare, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.

Preparing the 'betel tray'.

A 'betel tray' is an offering to any visitor to a house in the villages of Sri Lanka. Arecanut has to be cut into munchable sizes. This is where the 'giraya' S - 'paakkuvetty' T , is used. You can see an arecanut cutter being used in this picture. Picture taken at Bollathaava, Kosgama. Note the betel leaves, tobacco, and lime on the tray.

Golden Buddha statue inside a room with walls of mirrors.

Namalanga Raja Maha Vihara, situated past Ibbagamuwa, on the Kurunegala - Dambulla road is a very ancient temple. It has a room with mirrors on its walls. I took this picture there.