Sri Lanka Greetings from Sri Lanka1

1. Greetings from Sri Lanka The lighthouse inside the Dutch fort in Galle

2. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka; known as Ceylon before 1972 and as Taprobane among Greeks in ancient times, is an island country in South Asia, located about 31 kilometres (19.3 mi) off the southern coast of India. Four Guardians, or Protectors: The native tutelary gods of Sri Lanka: Saman on Adam's Peak, Kataragama (Skanda), Upulvan (Vishnu), and Vibhishana. Kataragama: The Sri Lankan version of Skanda, an important god in Lanka and one of the Four Protectors of the island. Kataragama/Skanda is the Indian god of war, a son of Shiva and Parvati. His vehicle is the peacock, and he carries numerous weapons and other attributes (bow, spear, trident, etc

3. Wasgamuwa Peacock

4. Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) – the Quintessential Peacock Yala National Park

5. Jewelry Box peacock hinestones home decoration craft table decor

6. Peacock Yala National Park Colorful resin peacock fruit tray resin desk

7. The Sri Lankan Peacock Devil mask, Mayura Raksha, brings peace, harmony and wealth, according to the superstition.

8. Colorful mask in Ambalangoda

9. Nil Mahanel aka Water Lily aka Nymphaea Stellata was declared the National Flower of Sri Lanka on 26th February 1986

10. A view of the traditional mask in Ambalangoda Ariyapala sons

11. A boy jumping off on the Galle fort ruins during twilight scenery

12. Wali-Kukula/Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii) Fairly common endemic bird found in forests and dense scrubs from low lands to higher hills A beautiful sunset landscape in southern beach of Sri Lanka

13. Wali kukula or Ceylon Jungle fowl or Gallus Lafayetti, the National Bird of Sri Lanka

14. A Gemstone cutter at a antique shop in Galle Fort

15. Sri Lanka’s gem industry has a very long and colorful history.

16. Sri Lanka was affectionately known as Ratna-Dweepa which means Gem Island. The name is a reflection of its natural wealth

17. Marco Polo wrote that the island had the best sapphires, topazes, amethysts, and other gems in the world

18. A mask maker crafting masks

19. Mr. Wimalasiri a mask maker in Ambalangoda in side a mask making place

20. A sandy beach scene in Bentota with tourist hut

21. The famous Rhumassala Temple in the headland facing the Unawatuna Beach

22. Gini Raksha (Fire Demon) subdues enemies and brings friendship and harmony. It is said amongst Sri Lankan people that having these in homes brings good luck and protection. They date back to pre-Buddhist times when Sri Lanka was an agricultural based society. This is a typical example of a Sinhalese ritual mask.

23. Through years of civil wars, and hardships like tsunami's, the people of Sri Lanka have maintained their unique happiness, friendliness, traditions, and culture.

24. A street vendor who sells cooked chickpeas around the streets of colonial Galle fort

25. Buddhist temple in Kalutara - Gangatilaka Viharaya

26. Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Dutchman's Pipe)

27. Epiphyllumoxypetalum flower This is the Kadupul - the legendary flower of the Celestial Nagas. It is believed that when these flowers bloom, the Nagas come down from their celestial abodes, to offer them to the Buddha on the Holy Mountain Sri Pada. The strange fragrance, the midnight miracle, and the fact that flowers bloom in the season when people flock to Sri Pada, seem to add authenticity to this belief. Epiphyllumoxypetalum (Dutchman's Pipe) is a species of cactus and one of the most cultivated species in the genus. It is also referred to as Night blooming Cereus

28. Kadupul flower is not a flower that you would see everyday. The rareness is due to its time of blossoming and it’s unique fragrance. The flower blooms at midnight and dies in the morning.

29. An entrance with a traditionally crafted door in an old house in Galle An entrance in the Galle fort Heritage site

30. An old English style house balcony in Galle

31. Man riding bicycle in Galle

32. Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site (1991)

33. Dambulla cave temple

34. Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site (1991)

35. Fishermen at work in Bentota

36. group of stilt fishermen are fishing in southern beach in Ski Lanka

39. Garuda, the solar bird who is the vehicle of Vishnu. It is used in a Raksha Dance (Demon Dance) to frighten away the Cobra Demon. Garuda is decorated with enemy snakes, as if they were a sort of trophy. The dance is apotropaic, its purpose being to magically avert the real danger that snakebite poses to the villagers.

40. A paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing semi aquatic rice

41. Butea monosperma (Palash, Flame of the Forest)

42. Butea monosperma (Palash, Flame of the Forest) It is said that the tree is a form of Agnidev, God of Fire. It was a punishment given to Him by Goddess Parvati for disturbing Her and Lord Shiva's privacy.

43. Tourists at the Galle fort ruins in Sri Lanka

44. People walking near a handicrafts shop in Galle colonial Town

45. People riding cycle in Galle fort - near a wall painting in the background

46. tourist walking in the streets of Galle

47. Over the past several centuries the Indonesian art of batik making has become firmly established in Sri Lanka. The Batik industry in Sri Lanka is a small scale industry which can employ individual design talent and creativity. Mr. Dudly Silva Batik artist

48. Batiks incorporate many motifs and colours, some traditional, others highly contemporary and individual. Many display a vigorousness of design related to their origin. The material created by the batik-makers is used to produce distinctive dresses, shirts, sarongs and beachwear well-suited for tropical climes Mr. Dudly Silva Batik artist

49. Batik

50. An old Dutch style bread baking fire place in Galle