Pirith is the ceremonious chanting of a set of suttra’s by buddhist monks and sometimes even by laymen. Some people believe it drives away evil, some people believe it clears the listeners mind and brings about a sense of relief and calmness. Pirith chanting may take place at the temple or at home. When the ceremony is held in a house, a special podium known as the ‘Pirith Mandapaya’ is built (usually out of the young coconut leaves). The monks take up position inside this podium and chant from late evening to dawn The word pirith is derived from the pali word Paritta

This is where Ceylon tea is grown. You can see the hills of Diagama/Agra at the left. The panorama passes through Hatton and Maskeliya. You can see the prominent triangular Adam’s peak. It doesn’t look much taller than the other mountains but it appears small because it’s much further away. The right hand side pans towards the Ginigathena area At the bottom you can just barely see a section of a tea factory.

Prof S.W Kotagama. at the entrance to #13/13, his eco friendly house in Battaramulla

A moonscape of the Dyagama and Agrapathna regions. Dyagama (sometimes written as Diagama) is probably the only place name in Sri Lanka that starts with the ‘d’ sound. The solitary light at the top of the mountain is a telecommunication relay center known as the Dell Tower.

Brown Headed Barbet is a bird with a very distinct voice. Can be seen all over Sri Lanka and in parts of India. Lives in tree holes. This one has chosen a coconut tree for it’s nest. Barbets, Parrots and Myna birds often eye the same tree hole