Picture Blog

Real Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Mon, 31 May 2010 21:03:56 PDT

Fire Workes

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:56:22 PST

The Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:57:55 PST

congratulations INDIA

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:27:06 PST

India Independence day

2010-01-26

Danger Ride

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:34:47 PST

Childzilla

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:59:16 PST

Father's Love

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:01:22 PST

Love

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:54:18 PST

Nice Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:48:17 PST

2010 Wallpapers

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:35:48 PST

february

January

Big Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:02:27 PST

Challange.......

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:51:25 PST

Hey Man....!

I'm ready...

I'll defeate you...

Are you ready...............?

Butterfly

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:44:53 PST

The Beauty Of Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:28:44 PST

Look at this Photos...
Beautiful flowers
artistic eye...
Right angle....
Nice.............................

Birding In Sri Lanka (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:31:36 PST

Kandy lies at the heart of the central highlands and is another important cultural centre, steeped in history. It too was a former sinhalese capital and was the last kingdom in Sri Lanka to fall in to colonial hands. The Temple of Tooth Relic is a major tourist attraction and nearby, the Udawattakele Forest Reserve provides some excellent birding within city limits.

Having reached the wet zone we started clocking up the endemics, with the help of local birder Mr. Upali Eakenayake. Four species of parakeet in one flowering tree (including the endemic Layard’s Parakeet) was ideal for comparison purposes, together with the tiny Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot. Yellow – Fronted and Crimson-Fronted Barbets were also easily found in this area.

Our stay was brief and soon we were climbing in to the hills, the road twisting and turning through endless tea plantations, to the former colonial retreat of Nuwara Eliya. Victoria Park, in the town itself, is a busy place yet in winter is a stake out for Pied ground Thrush. The birds themselves are moderately wary but seem unconcerned by the all the bustle of the town.

A little further out, Hakgala Botanical Gardens is a good place to mop up a handful of endemic species such as Dull-blue Flycatcher, Yellow – eared Bulbul and Sri Lanka White-eye.

Other highland specialties are easier to find in the picturesque Horton Planes National Park. A pre-dawn start is needed for one of the hardest species, the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, as dawn is the best time to find it. Having the renowned Deepal Warakagoda as our guide increased our chances of finding this inexplicably shy bird.

Just as light was breaking, a weak durst of song gave the bird away and it was quickly located in the half light. It hung around for a minute or two, and then disappeared for good. The early start had paid off. Other endemics such as Sri Lanka Bush Webler and Sri Lanka Woodpigeon fell in quick succession and we were back in nuwara Eliya for late breakfast.

Undoubtedly the single best birding site in Sri Lanka is Sinharaja. This magnificent piece of lowland and foothill forest is easily accessible from Rathnapura, A town famous for gemstoes. There is basic accommodation at Sinharaja, but for home comforts you’ll need an early start from Rathnapura.

Shortly after dawn, as we rumbled along the last stretch of rough track into the park, a brown lump on road side branch caught Deepal’s eye. He ordered the Land rover to stop and was rewarded with a Sri Lanka Frogmouth, a much sought after nocturnal species. It was sitting on its nest which we later established was only the fourth nest found of the species. It was an auspicious beginning.

A wide track through the forest makes birding relatively easy in Sinharaja, but there are few side trails. The leeches can be bad at times (mainly after train), but were localized. Deepal explained the birds here travel around in ‘Bird waves’- large, loose mixed flocks which pass randomly through the forest.

We saw nothing for the first two hours, but when the first bird wave came through it was a race against time to see as many of its component species as possible. Orange-billed Babblers and Ashy-headed Laughing Thrushes were the most numerous and most visible members of the flocks, with smaller numbers of various other species. Gorgeous Malabar Trogons and the spectacular Red-faced Malkoha are also found here.

With its impossibly red bill, legs and eye-ring, the Sri Lanka Magpie is one of the best looking endemics. Inside the forest, we watched a pair persistently attacking a tree trunk- eventually a huge hairy spider retreated from the tree. On the forest floor, Spot-winged Thrushes performed well, as did the local race of Scaly Thrush(possibly separate species).

During the day we are tracked down the remaining endemics of the area: Sri Lanka Spur fowl, Chestnut-backed Owlet, White faced Starling, the Sri Lanka Myna, Brown capped Babbler and Legge’s Flowerpecker and by the end of the day, had only one left to see, the rather shy Green billed Coucal.

The forest guard who came with us told about occupied nest near the headquarters. What a stroke of luck! He took us to an isolated tree in a clearing and pointed out a well hidden large ball of dead vegetation. We waited, and waited. At last, as our time was almost up, a coucal suddenly appeared and our hearts sank-it was the wrong spices! We couldn’t wait any longer, it was time to leave.

We had only scratched the surface. The beach (and Green-billed Coucal) will have to wait for another trip- and even Cheryle is looking forward to that! We had archived 25 of 26 endemics in just three days! No doubt, an extra day would have clinched the last one, but at least it’s an excuse to return one day.

This feature is based in a feature originally published in BIRD WATCHING – Britain’s top-selling wild-bird magazine.

Written By NIGEL REDMAN

Birding in Sri Lanka (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:18:44 PST

Choosing Holiday can be agonising, especially if you are birder – But what if you want to see more than birds, or you have a partner or family who are less keen than yourself? You can find the perfect solution in Sri Lanka…..

So what makes a perfect all-round holiday….? Sun, Sea, Great scenery, Comfortable Hotels, Delicious Food, Magnificent Cultural sites, a good tourist infrastructure for getting around , perhaps even shopping – and of course birds…..!

When all these are added to the equation, the choice becomes even harder. There must be somewhere that offers all these, without having to remortgage the house. Well there is Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Has Something to Offer everyone. But for Birds, the country boats an impressive range of habitats and 430 bird species, of which about 26 are endemic; a number of others are sheared only with the Western Ghats of Southern India.

Armed with the New Field guide for Sri Lanka, and with all the gen I could lay my hands on, I set off with my fanatical partner, to explore the delights of this gem of an island. My Mission was to see all the endemics as well as talking in a healthy chunk of cultural sites.

A few of the specialties can be tricky to find, but it is possible to see them all in a single trip (with luck, from just two or three sites). They occur almost exclusively in the “ Wet Zone” of Sri Lanka, in the South Western Part Of the Country and within easy reach of Colombo.

A visit to the wetland sanctuaries of Bellanwila and Muthurajawela, a short distance to the north of the capital, is a good way to start. Here you can get your first taste of some of the country’s more familiar birds: Pond Herons, various egrets, Brahminy Kites, Red wattled Lapwings, Ring-necked Parakeets, koels, Common Mynas, and holders of house and jungle crows. Rather more unusual in global terms are black Bitterns, which are surprisingly easy to see.

In the Best Tradition of saving the highlights to the end, we initially headed north in to the dry Zone, to the ancient city of Anuradhapura in The Northern Central Province. There are plenty of birds round Anuradhapura. Not surprisingly, Waterbirds around in the extensive wetlands and elegant Pheasant-Tailed jacanas are a familiar sight. Obligingly, they were all in their long-tailed breeding plumage during our visit.

We were not expecting endemics in this area, but Sri Lanka junglefowl were vocal in the mornings in the dense undergrowth…………. they are definitely shyer than chickens…..!

To be continued From Central Province ...…..

Ancient Cities in Sri Lanka

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:17:34 PST

Anuradhapura is an ancient capital of Sri Lanka and was home to long succession of Sinhalese kings- spanning 14 centuries. It’s easy to overdose to on culture here, for there are countless temples, stupas and shrines in celebration of the strong Buddhist faith on the Island. Not only was this civilization rich in the arts, but its enlightened rulers built numerous tanks (Artificial lakes) as part of an elaborate irrigation system.

Polonnaruwa succeeded Anuradhapura as the country’s capital another major cultural site, with a large number of ruined temples, stupas, sculptures and even several giant statues of Lord Buddha carved out of the rock face. All three species of Sri Lanka’s primates occur side-by-side here and elephants are common in the surrounding forests, but not easy to see.

The fortress of Sigiriya. Rising 600 feet above the plains, this giant plug of rock houses an importable place on its flat summit and some ancient cave paintings halfway up.

The climb is steep and exhausting but the sight of peregrines chasing swifts against this spectacular panoramic backdrop is breathtaking.

The Hummer

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:47:07 PST

Hummers were originally built by AM General Corporation, which was formerly AMC Jeep's General Products division,[1] in its Mishawaka, Indiana assembly plant. They were created under a contract for the United States armed forces. The first model, the Hum-Vee, was built in a variety of military-based equipment and versions. These included troop carriers, gun turrets and radar. The U.S. military, on receiving their quota, have adapted some of the vehicles, including modifications to facilitate a directional microwave crowd control beam (Active Denial System).

AM General had planned to sell a civilian version of the Hum-Vee as far back as the late 1980s. In 1990, two matching white Hum-Vees were driven from London to Beijing over the rough roads of central Soviet Union. The Hummers made the trip with ease, for they were built to drive on off-road terrain. The highlights of this journey were broadcast in the United States on ESPN. This publicity would pale in comparison to the attention that the Hum-Vee received for its service in

Operation: Desert Storm the following year. Also, a privately-owned Hum-Vee was modified into the first Snow-Vee, including the addition of caterpillar tracks, a new rear compartment and a new engine. This vehicle was designed for use in and just below the Arctic Circle, and the Antarctic.

In 1992, AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Hum-Vee) vehicle to the public under the brand name "Hummer".

In 1998, AM General sold the brand name to General Motors, but continued to manufacture the vehicles. GM is responsible for the marketing and distribution of all Hummers produced by AM General. In the next few years, GM introduced two new homegrown models, the H2 and H3, and renamed the original vehicle H1.

AM General continued to build the H1 until it was discontinued in 2006,[2] and is contracted by GM to produce the H2. The H3 is built in Shreveport, LA alongside the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups, with which it shares the GMT-355 platform (custom modified and designated GMT-345).

2006 Hummer lineup: H3, H1, and H2 (L-R)By 2006, the Hummer also began to be exported and sold through importers and distributors in 33 countries.[3] On October 10, 2006, GM began producing the

Hummer H3 at its Port Elizabeth plant in South Africa for international markets.[3] The Hummers built there at first were only left-hand drive, but right-hand drive versions were added and exported to Australia and other markets.

The H2 is also assembled in Kaliningrad, Russia, by Avtotor, starting in June 2004. The plant produces a few hundred vehicles annually, and its output is limited to local consumption (five dealers in Russia initially).

On Tuesday June 3, 2008, one day prior to GM's annual shareholder meeting, Rick Wagoner, GM's CEO at that time, said the brand is being reviewed, and has the possibility of either being sold, having the production line completely redesigned, or being discontinued.[4] This is due to the decreasing demand for large SUVs as a result of higher oil prices. Almost immediately after the announcement, a pair of Indian automakers, including Mahindra & Mahindra, expressed interest in purchasing all or part of Hummer.[5]

On February 17, 2009, GM announced that it would decide by March 31, 2009, whether to sell off or eliminate the Hummer. However, the announcement has been delayed. As of April 2009, the company has no plans to continue the nameplate after the 2010 model year.[6]

GM President Fritz Henderson stated several interested parties approached GM regarding the Hummer business.

On April 5, 2009, Société de Participation Financière Eidos Canada Inc. made an unsolicited bid for Hummer.

On June 1, 2009, as a part of the General Motors bankruptcy announcement, the company revealed that the Hummer brand would be discontinued. However, the following day GM announced that instead it had reached a deal to sell the brand to an undisclosed buyer.[7] On June 2, 2009, CNN identified the buyer of the Hummer truck unit as China-based Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd.[8] Earlier that day, GM announced the sale of Hummer to an undisclosed Chinese company[9]. The New York Times reported that day that the buyer would be the Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd., a machinery company in western China,[10][11] and later that day, Sichuan Tengzhong itself posted it on their own website[12].The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the agreement will not be disclosed at this time.[12] Credit Suisse is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Shearman & Sterling is acting as international legal counsel to Tengzhong on this transaction. Citi is acting as financial advisor to GM.[12]

Article by Wikipedia

Sri Lanka nurtures an ancient tradition

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:02:24 PST

Some 50 kilometers from Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, pinnawala Elephant Orphanage at Kegalle is a serendipitous destination for elephant lovers, nature lovers and eco-travelers. It’s the only place where an elephant can step on your foot and you still manage to walk away with a smile…..

A 10 hectare showcase of Sri Lanka’s most spectacular animal, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was established by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation in 1975 and is currently near to capacity with almost 60 elephants. The memorable experience of safely mingling with a herd of elephants at close quarters there costs less than 3 dollars, an entry fee that primarily funds the reserve.

A handful of mahouts ensure the elephants do not unintentionally endanger visitors as they, and the elephants, roam through the tree studded sanctuary. Visitors can also help hand feed the under five years olds and stroll with them as they head to frolic in the river after feeding time.

Visiting A God Sri Lanka

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:29:34 PST

The god Saman sometimes teaches life lessons by playing on pilgrims’ expectations as they climb to his abode atop Adam’s Peak……

At the 2243 meter high pinnacle of Adam’s Peak, there is a “Holy Foot Print”, For which the mountain receives its Sinhala name “Sri Pada”. But whose footprint is it? Buddhists believe it is Lord Buddha’s. Hindus say it is Shiva’s, Muslims, Adam’s; Christians, Saint Thomas’. With Hindus worshipping Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu, and both Christians and Muslims revering Adam, it is not always clear exactly who the protagonist is in the many legends that swirl around this holy peak.

Sri pada is part of The main water shed of Sri Lanka, from which her four largest rivers spring’ south and east of the peak are found the rubies, sapphires and emeralds that earned Sri Lanka the ancient name of Rathnadvpa, or Island of Gems, which has been identified as Sinbad the Sailor’s Valley of gems.

The War

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:32:46 PST

Who Is The Best...?

Mahinda Rajapaksha

Or Sarath Fonseka

Suicide Methods

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:51:38 PST

You Want To die...

Try It.

Mobile Phone Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:32:51 PST

Do you have Any Mobile Camera Pictures. Mail Me. I will Publish It..

www.pictureblog8@gmail.com

Mobile Wallpapers

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:26:06 PST

Mobile Wallpapers for any Mobile.

Buddha Images

noreply@blogger.com (Sanath Herath) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:44:35 PST

The Great Buddha...