Wild elephants on the road to Somawathy Chaithya, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka.

We were on the road to Somawathy Chaitya when we spotted these wild elephants by the side of the road. I am attaching a report from the Sunday Times of Sri Lanka, of the 4th September 2011, on an the results of an elephant count done in SL recently.

The Dutch Fort and the Rest-House, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

 The Star shaped Dutch Fort is next door to the Rest House in Puliyanthivu, Batticaloa. It is an idyllic spot where the breeze from the lagoon takes away all the stresses of a day.

Kathankudy, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

 Kathankudy has boomed economically in the past decade. It is largely populated by Muslims. There are date-palm trees planted in the center isle of the highway passing through it. I took the picture of a bullock cart having rubber tired wheels. The palm trees have 'drip feeding' of water and some trees are already bearing fruit.The town certainly seems to have an Arabic look.

Dead elephant, Manampity, Sri Lanka

Driving along the road paralleling the railway track at Manampitiya we saw this elephant's dead body. It had been struck by a train and had fallen down and died.
'The count conducted last month in forests and wildlife parks found 5,879 wild elephants, of which 122 are tuskers and 1,107 calves'.

Fishermens huts, old and new, Kallady, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

 An abandoned fishermens' hut near collapse and totally bio-degradable was seen by me close to a new hut at Kallady Beach. They have one built of cement bricks and tiled roof but that does not look so simple as these two.

Bath for a baby Elephant - Ridivihare, Sri Lanka

Click on link below to watch the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb7aQnAap98

Branched Palmyra trees, GA's Residence, Batticaloa.