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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Rowers on the Beira lake, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

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

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

A view from the Southern expressway, Sri Lanka.

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

Lunch at a wedding reception, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The 'Head Table'

Guests

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

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

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

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

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.

Biological control of cockroaches by ants.

Roads to Wedagama and Hanwella, Sri Lanka.

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.

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

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.

Scenes on the Southern Expressway, Sri Lanka.

'Puhul pahan' and 'Wesak lantern', Thithapaththara, off Hanwella, Sri Lanka.

Outdoor decor, Hotel, Bope, Sri Lanka.

Thevini Hotel, Bope, Sri Lanka.

Swimming pool

Entrance to a reception hall.

Fresh Jasmine flowers floating in fresh water.

Flowers on an arecanut tree, Bope, Sri Lanka.

Out-door decor, Bope, Sri Lanka.

Water dish with lilies.

Rock garden, Bope, Sri Lanka.

Outdoor swimming pool, Thevini Hotel, Bope, Sr Lanka.

Under the 'Benjamina' tree,Thevini Hotel, Bope, Sri Lanka.

A tall tree with small leaves, providing plenty of shade, it is a real beauty.

Indoor decor, Thevini Hotel, Bope, Sri Lanka.

Decorated dried sea-weed.

'A pair of swans - 'Hansa pootuwa', wood carving on the top part of a door frame.

Well of a stairway with flowers, Hotel, Bope, Sri Lanka.

Doors made of Mahogany wood paneling and walls of rough-cut granite make a pleasing appearance.