anushka wijesinha

employed in tourism | Maalu Maalu Resort, Passekudah, August 2011

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cuttlefish catch | Passekudah Beach, August 2011

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small catch | Passekudah Beach, August 2011

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hermit crab? | Passekudah, August 2011

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walking among giants | Minneriya, August 2011

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new born calf | Minneriya, August 2011

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man, this being an elephant thing is tiring work....

play fighting | Minneriya, August 2011

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the gathering | Minneriya, August 2011

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rock tusker | Yala, Dec 2011

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spotted the tusker Gemunu on the rocks at Jamburagala New Road, on the way back out of the park early, around 5.15pm

painted stork | yala, Dec 2011

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itchy itchy!

ele's at Rukvila | Yala, Dec 2011

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late evening snack | Yala, Dec 2011

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elephants at Rukvila, Yala

open-billed stork | Yala, Dec 2011

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malabar pied hornbill | Yala, Dec 2011

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one of my most favourite birds...

peacock glory | Yala, Dec 2011

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wilde hare | Yala, Dec 2011

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Articles on 'Talking Economics'

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Recent articles authored, or co-authored with IPS colleagues, for the 'Talking Economics' blog of the Institute of Policy Studies where I work.

Realizing the Post-war Miracle: Challenges, Opportunities and Private Sector Leadership

Economic Freedom: Involving Stakeholders in Improving the Business Regulatory Environment in Sri Lanka

2010: ‘Phenomenal Year’ for Corporates, but Shared Growth across Sri Lanka Remains a Challenge

Role of the State in Socio-Economic Development: Some Issues to Consider for Sri Lanka

As Global Economic Power Shifts, Where Will Sri Lanka Place Herself?

Making Public Servants Liable for PAYE Tax: Ending the Exclusive Exemption, but what Implications for Revenue?

SME Development Strategies for Sri Lanka: Learning Lessons from Neighbouring Countries

WORLD ECONOMY HEALTH CHECK: Prospects and Challenges in 2011, and Implications for Sri Lanka

Danu | Pride 2011 Kite Festival

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Aarthi, Damitha and Danu | Pride 2011 Kite Festival

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Lahiru | at Pride 2011, the Kite Festival on the last day...

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Access to Credit is a Critical Issue for Conflict-Affected Enterprises in Sri Lanka

2010-10-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

This post was published originally on the IPS Blog, 'Talking Economics' - (www.ipslk.blogspot.com) and a version of it appears in The Asia Foundation global blog - 'InAsia' (http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2010/10/13/post-conflict-sri-lankas-enterprises-struggle-to-grow/)

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After being shackled by the conflict for decades, enterprises in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri have had little chance to grow, and are left with little in terms of ploughed back profits available for new investment. Promoting local entrepreneurs and industrialists to undertake new
projects and expansionary investments in the North and East will be a tough task. Critical to this is the issue of access to credit.

At a recent Private-Public Dialogue (PPD) convened by The Asia Foundation in Polonnaruwa in North Eastern Sri Lanka, we were able to discuss this issue with many local business leaders from the Eastern Province. They continue to voice their frustration about the difficulties in accessing adequate capital for their enterprises. On the need for better access to loans, a leading entrepreneur from the Trincomalee district remarked, “Eastern Province entrepreneurs la
ck capital due to years of conflict. For us to grow, we need to import capital [….] funds need to come from outside to bridge the gap”.
Following the end of the conflict in May 2009, many of the country’s top commercial and development banks have aggressively expanded to the North and East, opening up an array of new branches in the past year. However, their lending to private enterprises has been slim and slow. Most bank branches are largely engaging in deposit-taking and pawning activities. They appear to be extremely risk averse, despite borrowers having requisite collateral and title deeds. Many entrepreneurs noted that even when loans are approved, they are often as low as LKR 100,000 (around USD 900) – grossly insufficient for local business wishing to expand or
undertake new ventures, and even for small-scale rice farmers looking to invest in agro-machinery like combine harvesters and mechanised threshing equipment.

Many farmers in the Eastern Province are now keen to utilise hi
gher technology techniques in their paddy fields. However, this equipment is expensive and requires easier access to capital. (image copyright Anushka Wijesinha 2009)

Based on information received end of last year, several banks are counterparts to concessionary lending lines provided by foreign donor agencies, for example loans for SME development refinanced by Germany’s KfW Bank. However, it is contended that due to the inherent need to sell their own loan products, these banks placed limited emphasis on marketing these concessionary credit lines. Even with regard to special small enterprise loan schemes advertised by the Central Bank in the East last year, the entrepreneurs we spoke to remarked that these are taking time to get off the ground, at the grass-roots level.

In terms of interest rates applicable on loans, however, the developments are positive. Following a request made by the H.E. President Mahinda Rajapakse late last year, and policy rates being revised downward by the Central Bank, the cost of borrowing has dramatically reduced. This has also been supported by low inflation rates, seen recently.

However, local borrowers in the East remark that despite the 8-10 percent rates advertised, the applicable rates when they actually apply for loans can be as high as 14-15 percent. They attribute this to what they termed “hidden interest rates”, where various add-ons are applied to the basic rate – the computations of which is not easily understood by local borrowers.

This brings us to a further important constraint in access to credit in conflict-affected areas – the low level of financial literacy among borrowers. We observed that they are often unable to wade through the complicated formulas and calculations for loan products, find it difficult to understand the nuanced “small print”, and as a result often get a raw deal. Many recorded their frustration at the “lack of transparency” of the banks’ lending practices, insisting that more awareness needs to be created, and rules need to be simplified.

The financial literacy issue extends also to the limited capacity of business owners to produce bookkeeping records and accounting requirements of a standard acceptable to managers of local bank branches. Additionally, many businesses looking to venture into new projects or expand existing ones find it challenging to produce business plans to convince bank managers of their borrowing needs. Solving this problem must be addressed in several ways – 1. improving the capacity of local business owners to produce credible and attractive businesses plans; 2. expanding the provision of business development service (BDS) to assist local entrepreneurs in this exercise; and 2. educating local branch managers on evaluating SME business plans in conflict-affected areas with a different mindset to regular loan applications.

A participant at an Asia Foundation-led PPD discusses strengths and challenges of post-conflict economic development in the Eastern Province. One of the clear issues that emerged was that of insufficient access to financing for entrepreneurs. (image copyright Anushka Wijesinha 2010).

Growing indigenous businesses and mobilising their unique strengths ought to be a key focus in a post-war economic recovery strategy. For this, enabling better access to the credit financing they require is crucial. We need to analyse more carefully the demand and supply constraints that exist in this area, and find durable solutions collaboratively. The Polonnaruwa PPD did make strong headway towards this, with participants agreeing on a mechanism to approach the local bank branches and regional banking heads to engage in a much-needed dialogue on how to ease up the credit access for their local enterprises to grow.

New York City....

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....with the Sate Department's IVLP group, and a bit of sightseeing in monochrome....

Pike Place Market, Seattle

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Starbucks' first home

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The Pike Place Market in Seattle is where Starbucks first began. From a single humble store that started here in 1971, Starbucks is now a hallmark of globalisation with 17,133 stores in 49 countries

Chilli protection

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Keeping the evil spirits away?

Fresh fish

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With its proximity to Alaska, Seattle in the USA's Pacific Northwest is reknown for the variety, quality and freshness of its seafood

Flower Choice

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Pike Place houses hundreds of independent flower retailers like this one

Spice Invasion

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'Market Spices' in Pike Place is probably the most wonderfully fragrant shop I have ever walked in to. Tea, cinnamon, licorice, lemongrass, coffee, saffron, hibiscus,...the list is endless....from literally EVERY part of the world.

Lavender!

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A small vendor who has dedicated her market store entirely to the cause of Lavender!

Outside Jazz

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Standard live jazz? Maybe inside. Outside, you get a package deal - crazy guitar man with hoola hoop 'n harmonica!

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A late relative of Paul the Octopus doesn't appreciate being unceremoniously poked by random passers by.

(Pike Place Market, Seattle, 2010)

Transforming Sri Lanka's Rural Potential With The Power of ICTs

2010-02-08T02:27:00.000-08:00

Back in 2007 I was on a World Bank field visit to several of the Nenasalas, or rural ‘ICT Knowledge Centres’ across the Central part of Sri Lanka, along with a visiting World Bank mission from Washington, D.C. It was a fantastic experience, and it served to renew my hope for

Sri Lanka

's potential. Young people, who, despite being somewhat detached from the big city opportunities, were equipping themselves with skills for the future. A photo-narrative of some of the most impacting stops on my visit has been long overdue. So, here is the first.

Big Ideas, Small Village

The Hingurukaduwa self-declared ‘e-village’ is a model answer to all those pondering the seemingly redundant question – “what came first, electricity or the computer?”.

Hingurukaduwa is an extremely remote village in the deep interior of the Central Province of Sri Lanka, and is a two-hour detour from the main road. To get to it, we travelled through what appeared like a thick forest, with few inhabitants, and down narrow rugged rural roads which hugged the sides of our van. There to greet us as we arrived were a bunch of sprightly-looking children with flowers and thambili (king coconut water). They had a certain sparkle in their eyes, inconsistent with the seemingly uninteresting and difficult surroundings they lived in.

We spent the next couple of hours in complete awe of these kids, the oldest 16 years and the youngest just 8. From graphic design and animation to PowerPoint and web development, kid after kid wowed us with their mastery of IT skills. Much to my mix of surprise, delight and embarrassment, most of them were quicker on the keyboard than I could ever be. They whizzed along with keyboard shortcuts I didn’t even know existed!

Nearly all the kids in this rural village would attend this Nenasala, or rural ‘ICT Knowledge Centre’, every day straight after school, where they would sit through classes on basic productivity tools as well as advanced IT skills. Their IT trainer is also from the same village but was trained in the city and is well qualified. His commitment to the cause of taking the next generation to the next level of development is truly admirable.

Their computers, laptops and other basic IT equipment had been donated by the private sector, facilitated by the World Bank’s e-Sri Lanka programme and the government’s ICT Agency (ICTA). Through this tri-partite partnership also came an unexpected benefit – actual, paying, clients! Major local IT players saw the budding talent in these kids and decided to engage them in some commercial outsourced work. Some of the kids have already completed website designs for big city clients including a well-known blue chip conglomerate, and reproduced graphic designs for popular consumer brands.

An unintended consequence of this village Nenasala has been the strong interest generated among the parents of the kids. Sometimes they would come and simply watch their kids show off, but more significantly, the kid’s attendance at this centre has drawn a few of them into some of the classes too!

All this with just four computers, a modem and a CDMA wireless phone line. And of course, electricity. But remarkably, this IT centre is the only building in the entire village to have electricity!

These field visits made me truly realise the transformational power of ICTs in Sri Lanka. Our education system may be flawed in its relevance to labour market needs, and may often fail in providing equitable quality access - 'Colombo-calibre' education vs. a remote village school. But with ICTs employed in education, we can take every Sri Lankan child to a higher level of learning. We can give them exposure to the world like never before, and help them leapfrog from their humble straw hut, on to the information superhighway, and confidently into the new Knowledge Economy unfolding before us.

Curious Sambhur

2010-02-04T06:53:00.000-08:00

We spotted this Sambhur stag as we were driving through Horton Plains to the Ginihiriya Bungalow. He took a cautious break from his grazing to watch us drive slowly by. Horton Plains is full of Sambhur, and the furrier, bigger kind than the ones you might see in Yala, down south. Photograph (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2010

national pride

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Sri Lanka's national bird, the endemic Ceylon Jungle Fowl, seen here at Horton Plains. Photograph (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2010

Ambewala in the early morning sun

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The early morning rays burst through the thick forest en-route to Ambewela, the lucious hilly greenlands which are home to Sri Lanka's dairy industry. Photograph (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2010

The mist begins to clear on the surface of a pond en-route to Ambewela. Photograph (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2010

a misty school day

2010-02-04T06:07:00.000-08:00

A girl walks to school in the hill country town of Pattipola, as the morning mist begins to clear. The railway station at Pattipola is famous for being the highest train elevation in Sri Lanka. Photograph (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2010

hill temple

2010-02-04T05:59:00.000-08:00

This temple atop a hill, amidst the mountainous trees, looked pristine and pure in the early morning sunlight and the fading mist. Photograph (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2010

A dreamy drive

2010-02-04T05:46:00.001-08:00

The only respite from the terribly bumpy ride on the neglected A7 Colombo-N'Eliya main road were these magnificent views of the misty hills on the approach to Nuwara Eliya. It was nearing 6 o'clock in the morning, and Deshal and I had been up since 4, but these breathtaking views certainly kept us refreshed. Photograph (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2010

Cheers to Deshal for patiently stopping whenever I saw a good photo-op!

The Dolphins off the Kalpitiya coast, Western Sri Lanka

2010-02-04T02:57:00.001-08:00

Take an hours boat ride off the coast of the sleepy fishing town of Kalpitiya, and you can witness one of the most captivating creatures on earth - the Dolphin.

We woke up at about 5.45am, and took a short drive from the Ruwala resort where we were staying at, to Dolphin Beach where we were to catch our boat ride. Despite the initial calm during the first 20 minutes, the sea proved to be quite a formidable force that morning and the water became rather choppy. Amidst trying to stay IN the boat, keep my bum ON the seat, and protect my camera from getting SOAKING WET as we crashed through the waves, we had quite an exciting boat ride. Our boat master certainly sensed our enjoyment, and didn't hesitate to add some extra speed on the choppiest of bits, nearly knocking us right overboard!

We were afraid that the choppy water and the overcast sky weren't prime conditions for dolphin sightings, and the boat master seemed to be pretty skeptical too. But by about 9am we spotted our first dolphin! And then another, and another, and another. All Bottle-Nosed Dolphins. Multiple pods of about 30-50. And then a couple of magnificent Spinner Dolphins leapt out of the water and into the air, as if putting on a performance for us! A thrilling sight indeed!

Dolphins swimming right by the sides of our boat, fearlessly and curiously.

By 9.30, the sun had slowly crept out from behind the clouds and we began to see more and more of these wonderful creatures. Some swam close to the sides of our boat. Curious even. Within the span of one hour, we had seen over 800 dolphins, mostly Bottle-Nosed Dolphins, but quite a few Spinner Dolphins too.

The Spinners were a rare delight, but also a tough bunch to photograph! Managed to capture this one rare shot

The number of boats out that morning was quite alarming and some of them were irresponsible in the way they drove their boats, which I'm sure stressed most of the dolphins out and so kept their numbers low. If the number of boats isn't regulated, as time goes on, as tourism picks up fast in the coming months and years, Kalpitiya may soon have to say adios to these wonderful animals. The seas off Kalpitiya will no longer be appealing to them, and they may venture off in search of less crowded, less stressful feeding grounds. We need to pledge to preserve this natural spectacle.

Anyway, that's enough preaching. Enjoy the rest of the photos! And go to the bottom of the post for more info on Kalpitiya and also on Ruwala resort.

Dolphins and whales are visible off the Western coast of Kalpitiya and the Southern coast of Mirissa mainly due to Sri Lanka's warm tropical waters, shallow continental shelf, and ample feeding grounds with small fish.

KALPITIYA

Kalpitiya town is about 3.5hrs drive north of Colombo. You need to drive past Negombo and Chilaw and just before Puttalam, turn left at the Palavi junction. Then you drive past Norochcholai, and then after a few smaller towns, you get to Kalpitiya. Ruwala resort is about 10-15 mins from the Palavi turn off, and about 20 mins before the main Kalpitiya town.

Once you're there, in addition to dolphin watching, I'd also reccommend you visit Kandakuliya which has a superb beach and sea bathing spot. From here you can also take a boat ride out to Bar Reef where I hear there's some super snorkelling. And you never know, you might get lucky and even see some whales on your way there, as some of my friends did. They left to go snorkelling, but ended up following 2 Killer Whales for about 1.5 hrs out at sea! Amazing.

RUWALA

Ruwala resort is a great place to stay if you're thinking of going Kalpitiya way. It's owned and managed by the lovely couple, Maithree and Anu Liyanage. They have some lovely rooms and two lovely chalets. Great facilities, including adventure gear - we did some kayaking at dusk around the nearby mangroves. They serve some superb food - expect LOTS of super crab curry and if you're lucky, a hot hot hopper night! And try go there on a full moon poya - there's nothing like some devilled cuttle fish and cold Lion lager on the rooftop, overlooking the lagoon.

The cosy cabanas built on stilts, and with semi-open roofs, that let the natural lagoon breeze engulf every inch of you

The posher chalets, with a picteresque view of the lagoon, and an ever-present breeze that is certain to rock you to sleep!

Kayaking to the mangroves nearby, at dusk

A fantastic view of the January full moon, viewed from across the Kalpitiya lagoon at around 7 in the evening

All photographs (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2010

Click for a thrilling dolphin video by the Ruwala folks

Longest in a Millenium | the January 15th Annular Solar Eclipse (Colombo Sri Lanka)

2010-01-15T02:46:00.000-08:00

I wasn't able to get to the two ideal viewing spots in Sri Lanka - Chilaw (around 2.5 hrs drive North along the coast from the capital Colombo) and the former war-town Northern-most town of Jaffna (around 11 hrs by road). But the view from our office rooftop in Kollupitiya in central Colombo somewhat sufficed. The full 'annular' was only visible to the Jaffna watchers.

The images were taken at intervals between 1200 h and 1300 h. Please excuse the image quality. They were taken with a NikonD50 body and a 300mm Nikkor consumer lens, sans a tripod, and with an improvised filter (basically a tinted glass from a welder's mask cello-taped to a cardboard file cover!)

1200 h

1228 h

1230 h
1231 h

1237 h

1259 h

all images copyright Anushka Wijesinha 2010

How better technology is helping rural farmers prosper

2009-10-12T11:28:00.001-07:00

Micro irrigation schemes have been implemented in many places across Sri Lanka, but Mr. Visvalingam’s vegetable farm in Kaluwanchikudy, Batticaloa, is one of the first in the Eastern Province to experience the benefits. Visvalingam, a rural Tamil farmer affected both by the conflict and the 2004 tsunami, participated in a UNIDO funded project to improve agricultural productivity in the region. Often low-yielding, small plot vegetable cultivation in Sri Lanka has been dominated by the use of unsophisticated farming methods, and the eastern province has been particularly backward in this regard, owing to the years of conflict.

Visvalingam, a small-plot vegetable farmer in rural Batticaloa, benefited from a UNIDO funded micro-irrigation pilot project. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

The micro irrigation scheme was installed at Visvalingam’s farm amidst much pessimism, as many farmers believed that it would not work on the sandy soils of the area. However, new technology gave significant cost savings and enhanced income. The benefits are now clearly visible and interest is growing as other farmers are learning about his successes.

With an initial cost of Rs. 55,520 on the sprinkler kit, this farm made an additional profit of Rs. 210,000. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

Visvalingam saw success in shifting to higher productivity farming methods, and is now the best ambassador to engage other farmers in this too. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

Despite his optimism for the future, however, Visvalingam echoes the gripes of other farmers in the area, remarking that getting micro loans from local banks is nearly impossible. This is despite him having land to provide as collateral and the apparent introduction of special micro loan schemes for farmers. He also asks that the fertiliser subsidy be extended to vegetable cultivators too, as presently a bag of fertiliser is available at Rs. 300 for paddy farmers, but the same bag costs Rs. 2,500 for vegetable farmers.

Along with improving access to markets, these are concerns that need to be addressed soon, if farmers like Visvalingam are to see the full benefits of higher productivity vegetable farming.

Policy implications

There is immense potential for agriculture in the East, which has seen little or no growth in the past 10 years. . If the kind of increases in revenue seen in Visvalingam’s vegetable farm could be replicated throughout the eastern province, over Rs. 5 billion in new income could be earned. This would raise its GDP by nearly 4.4%. This in turn would raise Eastern GDP growth rates from 10.2% to nearly 15.7%.

Moreover, if Visvalingam’s success in increasing yield on his quarter acre of onion could be matched, the eastern province would supply an additional 3,200 MT. Similarly, with increased production of other crops like chillie, brinjal, potatoes, groundnut etc. on the 89,000 acres of vegetable lands and home gardens some headway would be made towards reducing the Rs. 61 billion spent on vegetable imports every year.

A sack of chillies on Visvalingam's farm increased in weight from 48-50 kg to 55-58 kg after installing the micro-irrigation system, translating into Rs. 16,000 in additional income per month. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

But the feasibility in this, lies in good marketing and higher productivity. It is only if those vegetable products are cheaper than imports, or at the least, the same price as produce of the rest of Sri Lanka, and of the same quality, will agriculture growth in the East stand a chance of succeeding.

For this, farmers in the East must embrace higher productivity investments like micro-irrigation to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Equally, they need the help of the private sector and government agencies to link up with lucrative markets at home and abroad.

sans trtipod

2009-10-11T09:28:00.001-07:00

An attempt at a long-exposure shot of the traffic shooting under the Champs de Mars at Tour Effiel. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

Mixing business and pleasure isn't easy, especially when you have just a few hours for sightseeing and you didn't pack a tripod. Lucky for me, Tour Effiel was a fifteen minute walk from my hotel, and even closer to UNESCO hq.

200 million have come and gone

2009-10-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Despite getting bumped into while taking this long-exposure shot, the flurry of head lights couldn't fully distract from the illuminated outline of the Eiffel Tower. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

Tour Effiel is the most visited paid mounument in the world, and had over 6 million visitors in just 2006 alone; 200 million since construction was completed in 1889.

Iron lattice

2009-10-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

Three hundred workers joined together 18,038 pieces of iron using two and a half million rivets to create this iron lattice tower. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

Standing at an impressive 324m above Paris, about the height of an 81-story building,
Gustave Eiffel built the Tour Eiffel for the 1889 Universal Exposition.

Global youth diplomacy in action

2009-10-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

Voting underway at the UNESCO youth forum in Paris, where the world's youth are seeking new solutions to the worlds problems and making themselves heard. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

The 6th UNESCO World Youth Forum brought together delegates from 106 countries, from Armenia and Hungary to Argentina and the Holy See (Vatican). Delegates submitted a resolution to the UNESCO General Conference, urging member states to place priority on a global youth agenda

Satan's pyramid?

2009-10-11T08:44:00.001-07:00

Dusk at the Palais du Louvre is best viewed through the glass of the Louvre Pyramid. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

The pyramid serves as the entrance to the main Louvre museum. The construction of the pyramid triggered considerable controversy because many people felt that the futuristic edifice looked quite out of place in front of the Louvre Museum with its classical architecture. It is further linked to controversy of the 666 glass panes. Apparently the pyramid was constructed with 666 panes, at the request of then French President, Mitterrand. And '666' is considered the number of Satan. Dan Brown reinvigorated this conspiracy in his book, the Da Vinci Code.

the Delhi buzz

2009-10-09T04:13:00.000-07:00

Growing and still growing, Old Delhi, India. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

Old Delhi is a mad place to visit. A hectic mix of chowks, markets, temples and mosques; and an ecclectic nasal journey past spicy masala huts and urinated walls. The streets are clogged with pedestrians, cyclists, exhausted rickshaw pullers; and of course the mandatory white bull in the middle of a busy street, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around him. This scene, captured with my 300mm zoom from across at the Jama Masjid mosque, shows that 'health and safety hazards' aren't really a factor considered by Delhi's urban planners. But then again, this grew of out necessity rather than choice, with millions of rural Indians moving to the cities in search of a better life.

Mouth-watering street fair, Delhi, India. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

Delhi's street food has always been something I'd been dying to try - particularly chaat masala. You can blame the Travel and Living channel for that. But travelling with a super-hygiene conscious father as your travel buddy doesn't help. I was forbidden from sampling these delicious-looking laddoos for fear of contracting 'Delhi-belly', and had to settle for a fresh watermelon drink instead.

The fort city of Jaipur

2009-10-09T04:11:00.000-07:00

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is a city of palaces and forts. Forts like the one at Nahargar, are ample testimony to the powerful Rajasthani empire that ruled for centuries.

Whether on the sari's of the sharp-featured Rajasthani women, or on the inside walls of the forts, Jaipur is a collage of colour.

These colourful Rajasthani ladies were employed for renovation work at Jaigar fort, and despite gesturing not to take their photo, they smiled and looked my way nevertheless! (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

The peeling yellow-ochre walls of Jaigar Fort were a must to capture. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

The formidable doors leading to the royal quarters at the City Palace. (c) Anushka Wijesinha 2009

where Mumtaz Mahal rests

2009-09-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

The Taj Mahal in Agra truly is an imposing structure, and apart from being the greatest tribute to love, it is also the greatest ode to Moghul architecture - a tasetful mix of Persian, Indian and Islamic. From its intricate marble inlays, to the perfect symmetry of its columns, every part of Emperor Shah Jahan's creation delights the visitor.

Every part of it is photogenic, and as you walk around it, among the well-groomed gardens and ponds, it delights your camera with a different view, a different perspective everytime.

The view of the Taj from a red mosque right opposite the Eastern side of the Taj. It took 20,000 labourers over 20 years to build this masterpiece. All of them paid dearly for the fortune of being part of this team - the emperor had the hands of all of them cut off, so that they would never be able to build another Taj.

The columns holding up one of the many peripheral buildings around the Taj threw up these fantastic shadows at mid-day.

Leaving the Taj, the grand Moghul buildings are an architectural delight till the very end.

Our Taj tour guide, a young local chap, snuck us in through a short cut from a side gate of the premises. On the way back, he took what he called a short cut, which turned out to be much longer, but yet much more rewarding in terms of photo opportunities. We weaved down narrow alley ways, behind the home's of Agra's residents. One of them is seen here, taking a break from her daily chores.

INCREDIBLE INDIA | a photo montage of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra

2009-07-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

ABSOLUTE DEVOTION | Adipuram Vel Festival, Mayura Temple, Colombo

2009-07-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

The people of the 3rd UAYF | a photo montage

2009-07-12T21:24:00.000-07:00

The streetlife on Myeongdong, Seoul

2009-07-11T22:46:00.000-07:00

Street cafes on Myeongdong

Korean BBQ Bulgogi on a Teppan plate

BizPAct 'Invest in Sri Lanka' Symposium: first post-war investor confab engaging the Diaspora

2009-06-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

The BizPAct Invest in Sri Lanka Symposium, the country's first post-war investor confab, kicked off on Thursday with strong participation by local and expatriate investors. Over 50 SME projects are up for investment, ranging from Rs. 0.7 million to Rs. 300 million and more. The projects are from across the country, from Jaffna to Hambantota and show the keen interest among SME investors in getting involved in the post-war economic boom that is set to take root across the island. Over 30 Sri Lankans living overseas have flown in expecially for BizPAct, and will also be participating in field visits to the Southern, Northern and Eastern Provinces.

www.bizpact.org

http://newsrilanka.com/2009/06/1st-post-war-investor-confab-kicks-off-today/

http://www.peaceinsrilanka.org/press-releases-details/press-releases-details/2295

Below are a series of photos taken by me during the evaluation visits to the prospective SME businesses carried out in May/June by the Business for Peace Alliance and the Economics Units of the Government Peace Secretariat.

BizPAct site visits - Handlooms

Mr. Balanathan runs a successful silk and cotton handlooms factory in the Kundasale Industrial Estate in Kandy. His army of handloom weavers produce quality garments using handloom machines. Wearing a sarong or silk shirt will never be the same again, after seeing first hand the tedious and skillful process that it takes to produce it.

Balanathan is now looking to expand his business to foreign markets, and hopes to set up a new factory in the Eastern Province. He already has an outlet in Colombo, cheekily located next door to Barefoot, on Galle road.

BizPAct site visits - Brass ware

2009-06-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

A specialist brass ware manufacturer from Getambe, Kandy who used to even supply expatriate Sri Lankan homes in Toronto, London, Melbourne, Sydney and California. Getambe has long been famous for its skilled brass ware artisans.

BizPAct site visits - Furniture

2009-06-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

A traditional furniture manufacturer near the Lankathilaka Vihara in Kandy. He's had this business in his family for generations since the era of Kandyan kings, and is now looking to expand to the rest of the country.

BizPAct site visits - Jewellery

2009-06-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

A costume jewelery manufacturer in Nugawela, which is on the Kandy-Kurunegala road, is now looking to expand its business to Colombo and Lankans overseas.

BiizPAct site visits - Pottery

2009-06-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

A pottery craftsman at Sampath Pottery in Kegalle. The proprietor of the business supplies pots of all kinds to all ministries, government offices and even the President's House. Now he's looking to export markets.

'The peak' ¦ Cousimbert mountains, pre-Alps, Fribourg, Switzerland

2008-10-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

'young explorer' ¦ pre-Alps, Fribourg, Switzerland

2008-10-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

'The lone rider' ¦ pre-Alps, Fribourg, Switzerland

2008-10-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

the magic of a slow pass

2008-08-02T03:56:00.000-07:00

nose cone

2008-08-02T03:55:00.001-07:00

wing span! | the new Airbus A380

2008-08-02T03:54:00.000-07:00

Boeing Apache Longbow

2008-08-02T03:53:00.000-07:00

the Red Arrows

2008-08-02T03:51:00.000-07:00

Red Devils air stunt team

2008-08-02T03:50:00.000-07:00

Nishali

2008-06-15T09:00:00.001-07:00

a quick lunch and off to the terminals | St. Pancras International

2008-06-15T07:11:00.000-07:00

The British Library, Marble Arch and Angel

2008-06-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

London on a gloomy day

2008-06-10T00:37:00.000-07:00

a splash of sand and colour | Tibetan Monks visit Leeds

2008-05-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

Leeds University Parkinson Court played host to six Tibetan Buddhist monks, who made a beautiful ''sand mandala''. It is an important ritual in Tibetan Buddhism, where the monks use a variety of tools to lay the sand in the intricate design of a mandala. The monks themselves are Tibetan exiles, from Drepung Gomang monastery in south India. Drepung Gomang monastery was built following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1949. Ten years later, Tibet's spiritual and temporal leader, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet following a failed uprising by lay Tibetans in the capital, Lhasa. Depung Gomang is named after a monks school in Drepung, near Lhasa, which was for a long time the world's largest monastery.

The Dalai | Tibet monks visit leeds

2008-05-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

Tibetan nick-nacks | Tibetan Monks at Leeds

2008-05-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

Tibetan nick-nacks | Tibetan Monks at Leeds

2008-05-23T12:24:00.001-07:00

Kaushi | Kirkstall Abbey park

2008-03-26T12:33:00.001-07:00

2008-03-26T12:28:00.001-07:00

2008-03-26T12:24:00.001-07:00

2008-03-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

Kaushi at Kirkstall Abbey

2008-03-26T12:20:00.001-07:00

Kaushi at Kirkstall Abbey

2008-03-26T12:17:00.001-07:00

Kaushi, Chams and Sabu do Leeds

2008-03-24T18:49:00.001-07:00

Sabrina

2008-03-24T18:47:00.001-07:00

Chameli

2008-03-24T18:44:00.001-07:00

Chameli

2008-03-24T18:43:00.001-07:00

2008-03-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

Candid! | Chams and Sabu

2008-03-24T18:40:00.001-07:00

Kaushi, Chams and Sabu do Leeds

2008-03-24T18:38:00.001-07:00

shake it!

2008-03-01T06:17:00.001-08:00

just for my lens :)

2008-03-01T06:15:00.001-08:00

FTV models | Taj, Colombo

2008-03-01T05:59:00.001-08:00

just for me...

2008-03-01T05:51:00.001-08:00

Hedkandi/FTV models | Taj, Colombo

2008-03-01T05:43:00.001-08:00

Delon's guest spot | Party31

2008-03-01T05:40:00.001-08:00

Delon...direct from the USA | Party31

2008-03-01T05:31:00.000-08:00

Hedkandi/FTV models | Taj, Colombo

2008-03-01T05:28:00.001-08:00

Hedkandi/FTV Party31 | Taj, Colombo

2008-03-01T05:25:00.001-08:00

Party31 | Taj, Colombo

2008-03-01T05:18:00.001-08:00

HedKandi/FTV dancers | Party31

2008-03-01T05:16:00.001-08:00

CNY Party31 | Taj, Colombo

2008-03-01T05:12:00.000-08:00