Tuesday, April 9, 2013

The 'Beetle' in Sri Lanka.




The first shipment of the Volkwagen 'Beetle' landed in Ceylon in 1953. Thia was imported by Clarence Amarasinghe of Car Mart, Colombo. The price was Rs.3900/- I hear when the Morris Minor was around two thousand Rupees. The first series number plates issued to them was EY. A later EL series is still on the roads and took part in the Rally held on 7th April 2013.

Two Volkswagens at a rally on 7th April 2013 at Colombo, Sri Lanka.




The green one parked next to the 'beetle' is with a different body used extensively by the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It is a beauty. 

Sunday, April 7, 2013

The Volkswagen 'Beetle Rally', Colombo, Sri Lanka.






The youngster came all the way from Australia with his parents to be with his Grandpa to take part in a Volkswagen 'Beetle Rally' at Colombo, Sri Lanka. The last picture shows the Ayres Estate Guest Bungalow at Bope, Padukka where the Rally terminated.This building was put up in the 1930s. There were more than 75 Beetles in the Rally this year.
Click on link below to see video:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ9LucRxxyg&list=UU1dqepitfAJwrQWLD-gZ3NA&index=3

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Lighting an oil lamp - New Year traditions, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.




 Lighting an oil lamp before the festvities is one of the traditions at the Sinhala Tamil New year Celebrations in Sri Lanka in April every year. The nursery school children had an advance celebration. I took these photos there. The pictures show the decoration on a post used in place of a brass lamp for the traditional lighting up. The lighting-up was done on wax floats with wicks inside the basin of water..

Friday, April 5, 2013