Adisham, Sri Lanka

Another view of 'Adisham'.

'Thirukkaley' - Sinhalese; 'Thirukkal' - Tamil, A bullock drawn cart for the family.

This was the equivalent of the family car in Sri Lanka, in common use about 100 years ago. Entrance was by a door at the rear. The seats were arranged facing each other and the driver of the cart sat in front. The wheels were wooden with an iron rim. The accelerator was a gentle tap on the bull's testicles by the driver. In extreme cases a bite on the bulls tail created a rapid response. It was usually a leisurely journey with time to enjoy the scenery.

Cactus plants, Hambanthota beech, Sri Lanka.

A beech with thorny cactus plants among the casuarina plants at the Hambanthota beech in sight of the newly built harbour, Sri Lanka.

'Adisham', Haputhale, Sri Lanka.

'Adisham' was built by a Scotsman in the hills of Haputhale in the 1930s, the heyday of British Empire. He came to Ceylon from the village of Adisham in Scotland, with ten sterling pounds in his pocket. He ended up owning several tea estates and being elected to the State Council. He got masons and materials from England and built this beautiful home patterned on an English Manor house. The stones and wood were imported from England. He saw the writing on the wall in the 1950's and sold this to Mrs.Wimala Wijewardena of SWRD fame. This house was said to have been used in plotting Mr.SWRD Bandaranayake, the then Prime Minister's, downfall. This house changed hands and is now maintained by the Catholic Church in its original condition. I took this picture about two years back. The place is reached by the road going past the Haputhale Police station, just before entering Haputhale town, approaching from Colombo,

On the road to Haputhale, Sri Lanka.

I saw this 'wattle and daub' hut, acting as a sales point for garden produce by the main road to Haputhale, past Belihul Oya. It formed a contrast for the beautiful background of the distant hills. Note the heavy sticks placed over the roof to withstand the high winds in this area.

Bird Island, Tissa wewa, Tissa, Sri Lanka.

There is an island on Tissa Wewa in Tissa, Sr5i Lanka, where birds build their nests. The island can be seen from the main road. A boat ride close to the island could be arranged. I took this picture from the road on the bund of the Tissa wewa.

View from the bridge at Karawanella, Sri Lanka.

This is a view from the bridge at Karawanella on a rainy day. The distant Adam's peak is covered by clouds. The river is the Kelany.