Encounter with a wild elephant - Buththala, Sri Lanka.

Travelling on the road from Sella Katharagama to Buththala we saw this wild elephant on the road. I was with a group of elders from Avissawella doing a 'Vandanaa Gamana'. This elephant had a history of attacking a van in the past. The driver of the bus was very cool and stopped the bus with the engine running. The elephant first felt the 'puwak mal' tied to the front of the bus. It subsequently came on the drivers side of the bus. At this moment the driver gently moved the bus forward and picked up speed and left the surprised animal far behind.

Click on web link below to see the video taken by me.

Philip G V

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd28r79aeuw

Murikandy Pillayaar, A9 Highway, Sri Lanka.

Murikandy is a near halfway point between Jaffna and Kandy. Hence it got its Tamil name (Muri-break, Kandy-Kandy). 'Pillayaar' the God who removes obstacles. He is also called 'Vikkinarasa' in Tamil meaning 'King (supervising) over obstructions'. A temple dedicated to 'Pillayaar' is situated here. Travellers stop and pay pooja at this temple breaking a coconut to propitate 'Pillayaar' who would help to remove all obstacles to ones travel. I took this video of a 'poosai' at this temple. Please click on the following web-link below:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5n5nHuaWr0

PhilipGV

The Dagoba - Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka.

The Dagoba with a history of more than 2000 years.

Discarded flower offerings awaiting disposal.

Dinner at Nalini's

A dinner at Nalini's. See how the batch-mates have aged gracefully. Males in the picture - Daya Rodrigo, Tissa Rathnayake and Francis Pitigala.

Siri Nannayakkara - Web-site

http://www.sirinanayakkara.com/

Hi Philip

This website is a tribute to Siri

Our colleagues in the 1960 year, may be interested to look at some photographs or send a message to the family

Sankaranarayana - Wedding of the second son.

Hi Batch-mates,

I went to Ussapitiya on the Mawanella - Aranayaka road to attend the wedding of the second son of Sankaranarayana, our batch mate. Please look at the attached pictures. Sankar and his wife are in the first picture. Sankar's elder son, Sankar, the bridegroom, and the bride are in the second picture.

Philip

email received

From: kasilingam saravanamuttu <saravanamuttu@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, Jan 28, 2012 at 5:01 PM
Subject: sankar
To: Philip Veerasingam <philipv203@gmail.com>

Hello Philip,

It was good of you to have attended Sankars wedding.He looks well.I remember his eldest being delivered at GH,Batti by Sinnathamby the Gen Surgeon as the VOG was off. The foetus was in distress and Sinna delivered the baby with one incision going through the abdominal wall as well as the uterus!. It probably holds the record for the fastest CS still. Mallika was transferred from Pottuvil where sankar was the Medical Officer in charge.I met him briefly at our reunion, but he left early and I could not have a good chat with him.If you happen to have his em address or tel no:

can I have them please.

Sara

Hello Sara,

Sankar has no email address. He is computer illiterate. His Telephone No is 0332224301. He is working as Director in a private nursing home at Chilaw and comes home only on week ends. Mallika is always at home in Bandarawaththe, Gampaha.

Philip

Obituary - Dr. Siri Nannayakkara

Hi All

This is to inform you that our batch mate Siri Nanayakkara passed away following a breif illness on saturday 21/01/12 in Gisbourne New Zealand

Please circulate this information among our batch mates

Tony Preena

Dear Philip,

As I wrote to you a few days ago, Siri Nanayakkara passed away on 21^st January. Below is the notice being sent to New Zealand papers

Many will remember him for his good humoured pranks, particularly in the Block. My late wife Bella had been at the receiving end on many occasions.

I recall (though I don’t know how, through all that arrack) Siri and I had great fun doing a double-act at the Law Medical for three years

Individuals will carry different, but happy memories.

Siri was a single-handed GP in Gisborne, New Zealand and retired only an year or so ago. He was a dedicated family man

The home address is: 47 Hillview Terrace, Gisborne, New Zealand

Daughter’s emails: samvanhouts@gmail.com jeroen@vanhouts.com

Regards

Sunil

From: Samanthi van Houts [mailto:samvanhouts@gmail.com]
Sent: 23 January 2012 00:22
To: sunilpl@btconnect.com

Hi Uncle,

As discussed with Aunty here is the obituary we have sent in the NZ paper:

Nanayakkara, Kusuma Siri most loving and devoted husband of Swinitha; adored father of Dharsh, Shewanthi, Sam, Nic, Jeroen, + Jarod; much loved Seeya to Luke, Anneke, Elizabeth, Sebastian, and Mariella. Surrounded by his family peacefully walked with God & his angels as the sun rose on Saturday January 21st 2012. You will always be our darling. We are so lucky to have had you in our lives. We will always love and adore you.

Thank you for the emails and lovely poem, I havent read this yet, as I wanted to send the above to you without any further delay.

Thank you again uncle.