The Hiyare, conservation center was once the site of the Galle Water Works. The man made lake was the reservoir used to store water for distribution. Engraved at the sluice are the names of the engineers who lead the project. The name Wimalasurendra continues to be a household name in Sri Lanka more than 50 years after his death. Not because of his involvement with the Galle water works but because of his poineering efforts in power generation.

I always get confused with Kingfishers mostly because the ‘Common Kingfisher’ isn’t all that common at all in Sri Lanka, in fact it’s a bit rare. So it’s pretty easy to go downhill from there.

This one here is a Stork Billed Kingfisher (as far as I know). The photo I posted some months ago is of a White Throated Kingfisher (or at least that’s what I think)

Huge monster back hoe loader? Is that background a huge rock cliff? nah it’s a toy. Well you can use it for earth moving but not 30 tons at a time as the label shows. More like 30 grams at a time. The background is latterite bricks.in my study.

I would have a magnificient view, if my neighbour’s Calicut clay tiled roof didn’t get in the way….

This photo was taken by my six year old daughter.