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A Wesak 'Thorana' depicts a 'Jataka' (birth) story of Lord Buddha. This is usually composed of pictures drawn and numbered in series on a bill-board like structure. This is adorned with electric lights.

A 'Moorthy Thorana' does the same thing but instead of drawings the story is depicted by figures made out of clay. This was seen by us for the first time at Avissawella, this Wesak.

Road to Wedagama, off Pugoda. 'Wedagama' was a village created by the late President Premadasa to house 25 Ayurvedic physicians of various specialities. One of them from 'Horivila' has a rollicking practice even now.

The road from Pugoda to Hanwella.

Wesak is a day celebrated as the day of Birth, Enlightenment and demise - Parinibbana - of Lord Buddha, in present Sri Lanka. This is a festival of lights where coconut oil lamps, candle lit paper lanterns of a few decades ago is replaced by electric lights now. The above pictures depict a 'Pansala'- Buddhist temple - illumined by lights on a Wesak week.

Dual cropping of coconut and pine-apples brings a tidy profit in present Sri Lanka.

The 'Head Table'

Guests

A mud track going through a paddy feld to a coconut plantation.

Once the main mode of transport now it is a rare sight in Colombo.

Bread-fruit is a staple diet in South and South-eastern Asia. Captain Bligh of 'Mutiny on the Bounty' fame was transporting these young plants on board the HMS Bounty, when the mutiny occurred. It is a fruit which could be boiled, baked or fried as slices. The South sea Islanders would put the peeled fruit with pork inside a pit n the ground, cover the pit with leaves and light a fire on top. The fire would be tended for hours. The baked product was served at their functions.

One of the earlier buildings.

A quiet tranquil area near the Bandaranayake block.

Founded in 1864 while under British Colonial rule, on a plot of land donated by Sir Alfred de Zoysa, it is the Prmary Tertiary care unit of the Island. Having nearly three thousand patient beds it is a behemoth even by international standards.

At 7am on a weekday the road to Colombo is chock a block with traffic. I took this picture opposite the Rest House. It is faster travelling by a three-wheeler or better still a motor bike, with its higher risk of accidents.

Coming back from Colombo recently I saw a row of six trailers carrying 'back-hoes' towards Avissawella. Bach-hoes are used in road works, digging foundations for houses, making trenches to plant rubber or coconut saplings, clearing drains etc. They have become quite popular in present Sri Lanka.

Having an extent of 106 Acres, this is a very amazing site to visit. It is 6Km on the Thummodara road from Puwakpitiya.

'Murthy Thorana', and traditional 'Thorana', Kudagama, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Roads to Wedagama and Hanwella, Sri Lanka.

Biological control of cockroaches by ants.

Wesak lighting at the 'Manikkawaththe Pansala', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Consultation rooms and pharmacies at Wedagama, off Pugoda, Sri Lanka.

Pine-apples grown in a coconut plantation, Wedagama, Off Pugoda, Sri Lanka.

Lunch at a wedding reception, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A view from the Southern expressway, Sri Lanka.

A 'bonsai' plant at 'Duru's, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo's skyline seen across the Beira Lake from the 'Ceynor' restaurant.

Rowers on the Beira lake, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Views from the 'Ceynor restaurant', Colombo, Sr Lanka.

A bullock cart in Colombo, Sri Lanka, a rare sight now.

Bread-fruit on a tree, Sedawaththe, Sri Lanka.

The National Hospital of Sri Lanka, former GH Colombo, Sri Lanka, celebrating 150 years of service to the nation.

Traffic jam, opposite the Rest House, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Back-hoes' - The work horses of present Sri Lanka.

Just inside the entrance, of the 'Seethawaaka Wet Zone Botanic Gardens', Illukovita, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

At the Seethawaka Botanical Gardens, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Seethawaka Botanical Gardens, Illukkovita, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.