The lovers - two perceptions.

Paintings by Mr. Kingsley Perera, Kudagama road, Avissawella, Sri Lanka

Paintings, Art Exhibition, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Sunset'

'Jealousy'

Paintings by Mr. Kingsley Perera, Kudagama road, Avissawella, Sri Lanka

Two paintings, art exhibition, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

I took these photos of two paintings done by Mr.Kingsley Perera of Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Video stills of the paintings at the exhibition:-

http://youtu.be/dRt1UYUoKjY

Traffic, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

An empty railway station.

Shielding a cell-phone from the noise of the evening road traffic near the railway station above.

Vital statistics, Sri Lanka 2006.

Size - 65,610 Sq. Km.
Capital - Sri Jayawardenapura.
Commercial Capital - Colombo.
Population - 19.8 million.
Population density - 317 persons per Sq. Km. Human Development Index - (2004) 0.755. Rank among 177 countries 93.
Life expectancy at birth - Male 71.7 years. Female 77.0 years.
Literacy rate - (overall) 92.5%.
Languages - Sinhala, Tamil, English. English is widely spoken throughout Sri Lanka with the exception of remote villages.
Ethnic mix - Sinhalese, 74%, Tamils 18%, Muslims 7%, Burghers and others1%.
Religions - Buddhism 70%, Hinduism 16&, Christianity 7&, Islam 7%.
Climate - Lowlands tropical, Average 27OC.
Major exports - Textiles and garments, petroleum products, tea, rubber, rubber products, gems, jewellery and spices.

Source: Annual report 2006, Central Bank of Sri Lanka & Relevant Institutions.
Excerpt from 'Gem Talk', Oct-Dec 2007.

A boat-ride on the Sithawaka Oya near Thimbiripola, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

An Oriental music school band, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Statue of the Bodhisatthwa at Maligawila near Buththala, Sri Lanka.

The Mahayana inspired monument of a Bodhisatthwa depicted above was not seen in the mid 1960s when I visited the fallen down statue of Lord Buddha nearby. The statue of Lord Buddha was restored to its erect posture and the statue of a Bodhisatthwa has been renovated during the time of the Premiership of Mr. Premadasa.

The statue of Lord Buddha at Maligawila.

Toys of childhood - 1950s, Sri Lanka.

Toys turned out of wood.

An old bicycle rim was an excellent roll-along negotiating difficult train.

What a lovely childhood it was in the 1940s to 1960s. Plastic toys were unheard of. Tin, pewter and wood were used as raw materials for toys.

'Isurumuniya', Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Isurumuniya temple, Anuradhapura in the 1950s.

The 'Lovers' in their original setting. Now they are inside a museum closeby..

The above photographs were taken by Mr.Jayaratne, ex Colonisation Officer in the 1950s.
Click on link below to see a description of the place:-

http://amazinglanka.com/wp/isurumuniya/

Click on link below to hear the famous song and read the lyrics:-

http://sinhala-lyrics.com/lyric/377/chithra-somapala-isurumuniyehi-pathali-galaga-hida-alaya-leelaya-paa-lyrics.html#sthash.nA3tf68I.dpbs

Scenes of the North of Sri Lanka.

'Selvachchannithy', Thondamanaru, Sri Lanka/

Two old ladies - An Austin A40 Somserset towing an Austin A40 Devon at Muhamaalai.

The Austin A40s were the work horses of Jaffna from the 1950s to as late the 2005s. A high road clearance, ability to carry weight, a strong body and chassis and a very quiet and repairable engine made these cars all-time favorites in the North of Sri Lanka.

Interior of Talduwa Manor, Sri Lanka.

The 'Honeymoon suite'.

The sitting room.

Old paintings and photograph.

A type-writer of days gone by.

A planters bungalow built in the 1920s in a hill near Talduwa by a British Plantar, has been converted as a holiday home. Web: www.malwatte.lk, Hot Line 0722 21 21 69.

Scenes from villages around Thimbiripola on the Thalduwa - Karawanella road, Sri Lanka.

A wild flower.

After an intra-ocular lens implant for cataract.

A miniature statue of Lord Buddha in the hollow of a tree.

A stream running dry due to lack of rain.

Sri-Pathula at Thimbiripola, Talduwa, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The foot path leading to the site.

The carved foot-print on a granite boulder on the banks of the Seethawaka Oya.

Size of the carved foot-print.

Designs on the stylized  'Foot-print'.

A square hole to hold a parasol over the foot-print.

The Seethawaka Oya flowing close-by.

The 'Sri-Pathula' at Thimbiripola off the road to Dehiowita from Talduwa, is a stylized foot-print carved on granite, by the banks of the Seethawaka Oya. There are claims made that this depicts the foot-print of Sri Rama who's wife Seetha was held prisoner by King Ravana in this area.
There is also the legend which states that one of the wives of King Rajasinghe of Seethawaka, of the 16th Century AD, developed 'Dola Duka' - any craving desired by a female in early pregnancy. The craving was to visit 'Sri-Paadha' - Adam's Peak. The King being unable to accede to this request due to the troubled times in the country did a ruse. The Queen was taken round various by-ways of Seethawake at night on a palanquin, was brought to this rock and shown this carved foot-print. The courtiers accompanying the palanquin told the Queen that this was the sacred foot-print at Sri-Paadha - Adam's Peak. The Queen returned to her palace happy.
The name 'Thimbiri Ge' means 'labour room' in Sinhalese. This was the area where the females of the King's house-hold used to come for the birth of a child.

Roses, 'Blue Waters', Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Scenes from Mannar, Sri Lanka.

Under an 'Umbrella tree'.

On the bund of a water reservoir.

Madhu Church'.

A 'Hoopoe Bird'

Foundation laying for a house, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A small platform built out of young coconut leaves where offerings to the Gods are made.

A bunch of coconut flowers laid on the site.

Cutting the earth to lay the foundation of a proposed house entails a ceremony. The Gods of the Buddhist Pantheon are appeased, a Pirith chanting is done while the first sod of earth is cut at an auspicious hour. It is a joyful occasion and short eats and drinks are served to the guests.

Ceramic holder for dip-pen and ink pots, and the various types of nibs.

Do you remember these old items we used as a routine as late as the 1960s.