Buduruwagala, Wellawaya, Sri Lanka.

Close to Wellawaya situated in shrub jungle is this massive rock on which there are some Mahayanist Buddhist carvings. In the center is a massive figure of the Buddha. On the Buddhas right are Avalokiteswara and two consorts. On the left of Avalokiteswara the Bodhisatwa is the bare breasted Tara in the 'three bends' pose (Thivanka). On the right of Avalokiteswara is Sudhanakumara.The identity of the figures on the left of the Buddha are thought to be of another Bodhisattwa - ?Vajrapani. There are some iconic indications here of Tibetan Buddhist influence. These images are the finest example of Mahayana culture in Sri Lanka and are estimated to be more than a thousand years old. These are the omitted chapters in our traditional Theravada chronicles.

Kosgaslanda, Gampaha, Sri Lanka

Closeup, rock formation, Kosgaslanda, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

Rock formation, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

Driving along from Radhaavana to Yakkala in the Gampaha district of Sri Lanka, I saw this beautiful rock formation rising out of a paddy field. It was in a village named Koskandhawala.

Tea bushes on a hillside, Alupola Estate, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The lush greenery on the hillside with a stream running closeby is vividly seen in this picture.

Adam's Peak as seen at Kuruwita, Sri Lanka.

It was a rainy morning and as I was entering Kuruwita on the road to Rathnapura. I got this glimpse of the 'Sacred Peak'. It was hidden in the mist in a few minutes after I took these photos and disappeared from view

Paddy fields ready for sowing, Eheliyagoda, Sri Lanka.

Paddy fields need a lot of water for the plants to grow. Small earthen bunds of mud are built in these fields from centuries past. The bunds keep the necessary water at the proper level and the excess water flows to the next field. I saw this scene at Eheliyagoda, before the sowing of paddy. The Egrets find plenty of earthworms to feed on, in the paddy fields.