A pencil sketch, a painting and artifacts, at the residence of the late Bewis Bawa, Beruwala, Sri Lanka.

Artifacts at the residence of the late Bewis Bawa, Beruwala, Sri Lanka.

Wall in-cooperating empty bottles, and a Dutch period ceiling lamp.

Utensil used to distill liquor

Statuue - 'Head of an old man'

The other side of the 'wall of empty bottles and a statue

Artifacts, Jethavanaramaya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

A magical incantation drawn on stone?

Engravings on stone for dice games?

Vertical etch marks on stone for keeping accounts?

Markings on stone for a donation?

The seven-headed cobra and dancing girls.

The 'Seven-headed Cobra' is much represented in stone carvings. It is claimed by some that a single headed cobra denotes a naga, a three-headed cobra represents a Naga Queen, a five-headed cobra represented a Naga King and a seven-headed cobra a Naga God. The Nagas seem to have played a very significant part in the Buddhist and Hindu religions in South Asia. They contributed much to the culture of the region thus the words 'Nagara' ('Naagar+aham' Dwelling of the Nagas), 'Naagariika' - to live like the Nagas, came into use. Their history is truly found 'in stone'. Genetically they contributed much to the present residents of the area. Nagas were claimed to be a mongoloid race. A yellowish skin color and a flat nose were their attributes. The fashion a generation ago of applying saffron ('Kaha' S- 'Manjal' T) to the skin by Sri Lankans maybe a bid to imitate the skin color. A flat nose did not contribute much to the beauty of the face. The habit of our grand-mothers of gently massaging and 'pulling the nose' of a new-born was an attempt to correct this anatomy, as embedded in our racial memory.

Artifacts end of the second stairway, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

Carved stone pillar.

Carvings in stone.

Beginning of the foot path to the summit at the end of the second stairway..

'Nagadipa Vihara', Aandhaa-ulpatha, Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

A panoramic view of the Wewa and hills.

A 'Mal aasana' - Flower offering table .

A stone table.

A stone-rest for clay lamps ?

A stone table.

This vihara is off Aandhaa-ulpatha on the Mahiyangana - Bibile road. It is more than 2000 years old. I found these artifacts made of granite scattered all over. Surely these items are priceless and need preservation?

Artifacts inside the 'Dalada Maligawa', Kandy, Sri Lanka.

A stylized female

A mythical bird

The 'inverted lotus' design on a bell-tower.

Inside the 'Dhana Saalawa' where alms are given to the priests

Artifacts at Embekka Dewala, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Decorated wooden rafters

A painting of a stylized female