Wayside boutique, road on the right bank, Randenigala.

 At a wayside tea boutique the female owner had a pet squirrel runner all over her body and hiding under the tresses on her scalp. The owner said that the squirrel had fallen from its nest and she had fed it milk and was now her constant companion.

Road to Mahiyangana

The road to Mahiyangana on the right bank of the Mahawely from Kandy is well maintained except in the early stages. It runs for quite a distance on the side of a hill overlooking the Mahawely downstream. It is sparsely populated and has a sense of peace and serenity. I took this picture of the road.

The Batticaloa Lagoon, Sri Lanka

 Batticaloa in Sri Lanka is known as the land of 'milk and honey'. It has buffalo curd and bee honey, it has cadju nuts and very tasty rice, sea food like crabs, prawns, lobsters and crayfish from the lagoon and fresh sea fish. It has the beautiful lagoon which at sunrise and sunset are paradise itself. Its people are very hospitable and they love their leisure. I took these photos of the lagoon during a recent visit.

Pied Kingfishers

Photo taken from the ramparts of the Dutch Fort, Batticaloa.

Indian Pond Heron

Photo taken at Rekawa near Tangalle, Sri Lanka.

Buddha statue being constructed at Rambodagala Moneragala Vihara

 

 Turn to the right from the Kurunegala - Dambulla road near the 51st mile post to go to Ridivihara. Go past Ridivihara and you will come to Rambadagalla Moneragala Viharaya. A stupendous Buddha statue is being carved out of solid rock by some artisans from Thamilnadu. The Chief of them is Padmashree Muthaiah M Stapathy. Work started in 2002 and has already cost I am told 350 lakhs of rupees. It would be 'in the round' and would be double the size of the Aukana statue. I went to see it being made. The above is a picture I took. Do go and see it being constructed.

On the approaches to Mahiyangana from Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The Mahaweli Ganga flows from Kandy to Mahiyangana in Sri Lanka. It reaches the Indian ocean at Trincomallee on the Eastern coast. There was a hilly road passing along the left bank of the Mahaweli in the past. This had eighteen hairpin bends close to Hasalaka and passed through Teldeniya, Hunnasgiriya and the old Madugoda. The Mahaweli was crossed at Tennekumbara close to Kandy and again at Mahiyangana. With the developement of the Victoria and Randenigala Projects a new roadway was constructed on the Right bank of the Mahaweli. This route is longer but gives a view of these new projects. I took this picture from the latter route.