The Great Expectations...........

Today I was at Ingiriya for voting; actually three decades of my life this is the first time that experienced relatively peaceful election so far. Of couse it was peace full to the citizens, but most of politicians did not feel the same way, for most of them this election was very complicated one. Sri Lanka we have only two political parties which came to power time to time, Out of that Sri Lanka freedom party as a collation ruled most of it.But both united national party and Sri Lanka freedom party has equal responsibility for the mess we are facing.

As Sri Lankans we have a common thread. Which is during the past sixty years we did vote expecting a change? We Sri Lankans always expected to change the system; well we did change certain things, but not most important things.

In  first  10 years of our  independence  1956 the sri Lankans vote  for a change.Mr.S.W.R.D Bandaranayke  who was a former member of  United national  party started his own political party that was the Sri Lanka freedom party. He is the one who introduced White Sarong and long sleeve top with Chinese collar and the “Satakaya” to Sri Lankan politicians.

The First prime minister of Sri Lanka D.S.Senanayake and most of politicians of that time well dressed with European full suit. But Mr Bandaranayke changed it and people believed it .He  introduced what we call Sri Lankan national suit to the politicians as a  symbol of patriotism .

Mr. Bandaranayk at a dog show with his full suite.

There are stories about this Mr. Bandaranayke’s  patriotic dress. He did not stop being patriotic by changing the dress, as well he changed the language. With the colonial influence at that time most of Sri Lankans were good at least two languages, most of them were fluent in their mother tongue and English. But Mr Bandaranayke he wanted to change this, being very patriotic he made Sinhalese only the state language and ignored the Tamil and English, of couse he did not ignored English for his family, his  grandson  even can’t speak Sinhalese, but for most of Sri Lankans thanks to Mr. Bandaranatake  still cannot be work in English.

The sad part is even those who graduated from universities with Bachelor of Arts degrees can’t use English as a language, imagine in Sri  lanka you will find easily  those who do not know the golden host of daffodils  with a bachelor arts degree. Mr Bndaranayake closed the biggest gateway to knowledge by ignoring English the deadly mistake for generations of Sri Lankans to suffer.

It‘s not about the knowledge there was a compulsory examination for Tamil government workers to obtain certain marks in Sinhalese as a language. Lot of Tamil well educated people lost their government jobs, some peoples migrated ,those who could not migrated started thinking of another country .It was Dr.N.M   Perera said that” two languages one country  or one language two country. “

But Mr .Bandaranayke did not listen. Still we are suffering from that moronic decision. Somehow Mr.Bandaranayake’s was assassinated at his Rosmead Place House in 1959, ironically a Buddhist monk was accused for murder and he had the death penalty.

Now his house has turned into Boutique hotel. Even Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall stayed in the hotel during their recent visit to Sri Lanka.I think the hotel staff able to communicate in English.

Then again 1977 election, after seven years of closed economic policy of Mrs. Bandaranaike, that   Sri Lankans needed to change it again. The united national party 1977 was a landslide victory. Over 4/5 of parliament seats were filled with united national party members.

The leader of the united national party Mr.J.R Jayewardene thought this as a great opportunity of changing the Sri Lankan constitute. Well  it says he got inspired form constitute of united states of America, well he introduced executive president to Sri lanka making him as the first executive president of Sri Lanka. But not like in America Sri Lankan president has 6 years of serving period for two terms.

It says after become the executive president of Sri Lanka Mr J.R Jayawardena boasted now he can do everything except turning woman in to man and man into woman. As well he introduced the open economy reforms. Still Sri Lanka one of the main exports based on garment industry. He introduced free trade zones where investors can do business with tax benefits. And also he started privatizing governments corporations .We have lot of criticism about the open economy, but as a generation those who  were born after 1980 had certain benefits. The job opportunities were available because of private investors, At least there is a job in a some factory, and it is thousand times better than nothing at all.

While this all happening we had 1983 ethnic violence over Tamils, then  the 1988-1989 civil riots and the civil war on north. Both south and north those who died were was youth who stood against of unjustness of the society. There is no any different LTTE and JVP why they stood against the united national party government. Both LTTE and JVP were like twin brothers, they were the both sides of the same coin.

JVP, mainly Sinhalese  youth were controlled by killing thousands of youths in Sri Lanka, Most of them were brought into camps brutally murder in the end. It was the Israel Secret service Mozart was given instruction to control tithe first statics indicates killing of 40 to find out one JVP member. Then eventually reduced it for 1:1 ratio. Actually the Sri Lankan army did It.Every Street every river the dead bodies were floating; some of them were burning by road. In my village Ingiriya.we there was three houses complete burnt with the family members including seven years old little girl.

But LTTE  got supported from India s well some European countries, from the beginning  they were rebelas,But  after 2001 after attack of world trade center in  USA  they all become terrorist.

1994 again Sri Lankans wanted a change, so they selected Mrs.Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumarathunga who was late Mr.Bandaranayake’s daughter. Most of Sri Lankans had very high hopes. Actually there were some positive signs, she came to power promising that she will change the executive president post and end the civil war as well. But could not do any of them. But she ruled the country for  eleven years. There was nothing happened as she promised but it was kind of average period.

Then of course 2005 election, actually most of Sri Lankans did not expect drastically changes from ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksha.He changed the color of his “Satakaya”, He always appeared to be as a villager and always he was a good actor. But we finished the civil war during his first serving term. Like CBK he also promised to change the executive president post, after winning the war he did not try to minimized his power as executive president, with his popularity and some cross overs of the parliament he maximized his power as the executive president. 

He brought 18^th amendment to be in the power forever. But he did not succeeded and lost post as the executive president. Most of Sri Lankan were tired with cost of the war and the unbearable corruption.

But looking at past we are as a nation moving forward. This election it is the great expectations for most of us for a corruption free country. For drug free country, for good society which has moral and ethical values to everyone. We are looking forward a country which is not ethnically or religiously separated.

Those are high hopes. After this election if we expect everything, there should be a miracle. But we can have hopes for better tomorrow; if we don’t get it from this upcoming government we Sri Lankan will change it somehow. If history teaches us something that is in Sri Lanka there is no place for dictators.

   

The Over Take....

Any kind of a Break ups could be a very   unpleasant experience for most of us. It’s not  always breaking up with our partners ,There could be worst scenarios than that. I had  an uncle who did small scale of construction work. He was kind of  well off man  at the time  his daughters were getting married.He expected that he can build larger construction company by using prospective son in laws.
after all weddings formal events   there was a moments that the  business has to split among his daughters. Of course it’s not among daughters .it was among his son in laws who were interested in it.
 Uncle had higher hopes use his son in laws to draw the water from well. He needed bring his construction business into international.  After few discussions some of them decided to expansions of the business, my uncle agreed it and gave his acceptance by his heart. But he was still the chairman of this whole thing. He always very particular about his designation. He did not want to retired, what he should have done.

But things were not happened on a straight line. Few houses they did the clients refused to pay some of final payments. Uncle also interfered many things which he did not understand, and then there was a series of change reactions .The entire business collapsed like a palace of cards. My cousin sisters and their families somehow managed to migrate for other countries. Uncle couldn’t resist the whole thing; he was always started saying forty years of his life went on drain. I don t think it’s true. He certain life, he raised children well, so there were enough reasons to be satisfied at his age,

Bottom line he had handed over his business to other parties. Actually this was happened about five years ago, even now his daughters are doing well in their own ways. But still my uncle is worring.He has no peace even for his age.

Yesterday I felt my uncle also same as greedy man like previous President. Even after serving as the executive president of Sri Lanka for two years, he brought the 18^th amendment, which allowed him to be forever president. But things are not straight even with our Ex-president so had taken a u turn and ended in Madamaulana .He is the one who said when he got retired he will relaxing at Madamulana in his arm chair. But he did not do.

Instead of relaxing in his arm chair he jumped out of the window and addressed his supporters, after while he started climbing roof tops, then enters to auditoriums, then every little temples after all he started demanding Prime Minister Post.

The climax of whole thing was yesterday; He persuaded to his allied group sign a letter and demands his prime minister post by hook or by crook. The moronic secretary of the part issued this letter to the media, only two days ahead of the election. For my understanding if they wanted MR as their prime minister first they have to win the election. Then only they can demand. But none of his close adviser did not have the patience.

Somehow the current president does not use his words unnecessarily.This time he did not use a single word, even without thinking anyone else as the chairman of the party he kicked his secretaries out and replaced the positions with his supporters. The court order issued not allowing former secretaries to enter the party office. Now any letter or request that MR going to issue as not valid at all.

Former secretaries of the party

I don’t think he his allied politicians will win this election, even though they win the election he will never our prime minister. But he can still be a member of parliament from Kurunagala district which is very similar as going to kindergarten again for study after you got the graduation. Well if it is his choice we can’t say anything on it.

Unfortunately it is not his choice; he is not fighting for Prime Minister Post. He is aiming to be the executive prime minister somehow at any cost. Except for the Vladimir Putin I haven’t heard any politician who tried so much hard stay in power.

But Putin did not change the Russian constitute; He only replaced his close friend until he obliged for next term. I agreed we lost our civil war during his time. But we all sacrificed something, I have lost two cousins as solider in the front line, while  Ex-president’s son playing rugby with his navel uniform, In Sri Lanka it’s hard to find any family who did not loss at least one relation or friend .

Victory over LTTE was a collective effort of whole country.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuan_Nizam_Muthaliff)
Even Cornel Mutalif a Muslim high ranked military officer who sacrificed his life, but during the last period of MR era Muslims were ignored and organized civilians were sent to attack them at Darga town.

The breakup of the SLFP is an unpleasant experience. The indirect result is there won’t be a powerful opposition at parliament for next term. As a civilian at this moment I do have to care that matter,it s our responsibility to make a powerful opposition for next parliament session.

Letters........

Re

The first time that I wrote a letter was to my father in early 90’s .It was more writing exercise to improve on writing. Mother corrected and attached to the same letter which she wrote explaining the difficulties of being alone in Sri Lanka. Then of course my grandmother attached another piece of writing explain her difficulties living with her daughter in law who was my mother.

That was a common Sri Lankan phenomena specially those who marries in 70‘s. My family also no any different. The funny thing was my father did not read either his mother or wife, but he did reply me happily. Actually he needed me as a mediator where he found difficulties of communication. Sometimes my father was sending letters with illustrations of his long traveling in jungles, meeting different people. Sometimes he sent me photographs showing a PNG tribal woman breast feeding a piglet.

 This photo was reason make peace among my mother  and grandmother they  together wrote a letter advising this kind of pictures are not suitable for my age and it will distract me.Of course it did, but I don’t look at the same way .Now I think that woman has a big heart to do such thing. Caring a piglet equally as her own children. Most of us really don t understand that kind of care and share.

Eventually I was good at writing letters my father got really upset if I did not write him at least 3-4 letters per month .Also he was replying with lengthy letters .I wrote all the kings and cabbage and my father got very amused by reading all of them. It was a time that we never get access to Emails or even international direct dials. Writing letters were main way of communication. Actually Ingiriya where I grew up there was only few telephones to the whole area. The post office one most of the time out of order. In Sri Lanka most of us got access to telephone was in early millennium. The Sri Lanka telecom came our door step and offered telephones in different packages. Al most everyone got fixed their land phones. Even the neighbors started calling for trivial matters.

But still I did write letters to my father; In my secondary school all the class mates started collecting postal stamps. I became an esteemed member of the club,           I started all the relations who were living out of this Island, Some replies even though some of them dii not replied as the way I expected they sent me stamps. Also during this time somehow I got know a pen friend Russia, He also sent me letters with nice Russian Stamps.

Unfortunately we both lost our contacts long before the face book started. But still I have his address, I tried to contact him even through face book but not clue at all.

As a teenager I did not write my father very much. I guess I was bored with writing same thing or might as well I had other things to spend time. Then of course I wanted to become a writer, I sent letters almost every newspaper during my AL  class. I was dreaming to be a journalist, but my mother insisted me to find some other useful profession she never encouraged me to become writer or journalist. Ended up become an Architect as well failed writer I realized that we don’t get everything we want life. Now of I have not posted a letter for ages. But I do E mails. My father also converted in to very Skype person than letter reading. Actually skype my father‘s best friend in his last couple of years. Well he did not get any chance of using viber or what s up, I’m unable imagine what kind of reaction would it be.

Recently I wrote series of letter to Sri Lankan Institute of architects as a result of my assignments; actually it was a file of letter for professional correspondence. My previous letter writing experience did not valid at this time, even my mother unable to corrected any of it, She told me those are beyond he awarenss.Actually  it was some my Indian architect friends helped me.Anyway I got good marks on all.

Of course I forgot to tell experience of writing love letters. Of course I did write, but responses were terrible, any of them were not read by the appropriate person. May be I did not address to the correct person.

All this are my personal experiences but As Sri Lankan since yesterday we have a latter which has made shocked   the entire country .This letter was written by current president to the former president. It’s not anymore a personal letter or diplomatic letter. As soon as the letter was sent to the former president the copies of the letter was freely available at all the social Medias. Even before ex-president read his letter I guess so It‘s long letter, ex-president is very busy with upcoming election .I did not think this letter intended to read by Ex-president and reply by him. It was meant to be read by us before the election if we have already decided to vote for ex-president.

The most sarcastic thing is of this letter that present president has proposed series of names as prospective prime ministers considering their seniority. But my understanding it one of them will become a prime minister of next that will be the most disastrous thing I would ever imagine. They are all crooked and corrupted equally.

But Current president clearly mentioned that upcoming election will be defeated former president and he has to take his responsibility of losing the election. The president MY3 playing very smart game writing this letter at this stage where ex- president MR does not have time or capacity by replying this before the election.

But certain facts  has to agreed, after losing the presidential election MR started attending  every single temple in Sri Lanka,not that wanted to have attain Nibbahana ,Just to deliver the vengeance among people. Well it did not successful as before this time.

The other important thing in MY3 s letter is he describes the danger of highlighting SLPA as a Sinhalese Buddhist political party by MR. After the loss of presidential election MR repeatedly said   the cause is minority such as Muslims  or Tamils did not vote him which is true, but there were reasons why did not they vote. Even after election he did not try win them back, that s what he should do if he was planning to a fresh start.

As per my understanding if he had single chance to win people back that were only the time that they were selecting candidates before given the nominations. Without interfering the selection of candidates he should have let MY3 to select the list. Then MY3 had a chance to eliminate those who charged massive corruption. At least then the party had a chance to gain the trust under the leadership of MY3.

Fortunately or unfortunately SLPA unable to win trust of the majority at the moment under MR. Through his letter MY3 has assured his irresponsibly of losing the election. It’s very ex-president MR is facing the descending popularity as a politician. By using all his influences he was able to get nearly 5.8 million votes on previous election, but after seven months from that day I could hardly imagine they can reach over 4 millions. Now it’s only matter of time or unless some miracle which will turn this back.

Sheltered Life....................

Architecture, this has been defined by many people over centuries. Mother of all science, Architecture the frozen music etc. ,Out of all my favorite thing is Frank Loyd Wright’s saying “a doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vine”.In Sri Lanka of course we don’t get vine but we have  so many different verities  of  flower creepers. 

Frankly it does not matter which professional: but we all do mistakes, After all we are all human and “ to error is human to forgive is divine. ”But continuous mistakes are not   accepted by everyone.It is important that we don’t do same mistake repeatedly. Well good luck on that.

As architects our mistakes could be a functional mistake, which in a simple way we have design a building for particular purpose but that purpose is not serving. Much easier way if we design a nice looking toilet but when we are using the water closet if it’s not working it is not acceptable at all. We can blame to manufacture but it’s architect‘s fault.

But there are some extreme scenarios such as clients spending billions of money over one house. But end of the day there is an astrologer coming to the scene and saying the house is not appropriate for successful for business.

 Architects are not liable for such intangible reasons that may be the reason that Mukesh Ambani did not sue Architect of his house Alitalia, Mr. Ambani is not living in that Alitalia tower somehow. We architects are not responsible for such situations at all.

The other mistakes that we do are structural mistakes. This could be join effort with the structural engineer as well but as architects we have greater responsibility than anybody else. This includes selecting compatible materials, analyzing the weather; site climatic conditions all this architect’s work. This is not an easy job at all.

Then the maintenance of the building. It is totally irrelevant how much building look good in photographs, but the building maintenance is costs a fortune. We have to make sure the building still looking good with the time by minimum maintenance.

Most of architects today facing huge difficulty at this stage. We have clients who have extremely high hopes with the appearance of the building, but with large glass faced s,very expensive  imported fixture we can’t archive the same appearance without higher maintaining .These all 21^st century problems that all architects facing around the globe.

But there was a time people did build for themselves, their requirements were little,

Architecture without Architects this is a book which I referred in my first year of architecture education by  Bernard Rudofsky. It has Short Introduction to Non-pedigreed Architecture and also provides a demonstration of the artistic, functional, and cultural richness of vernacular architecture.

In that book I remember mobile roofs that people carrying when they are traveling to protect weather. Commonly used in some parts of the Africa and eastern Asia.

In Sri Lanka this is a tiny little island, the pearl of the Indian Ocean, we also had the similar thing which Bernard Rudofsky have missed in his book. A very long time ago that Sri Lankans even heard about Lamborghini   and Aston Martin. We  Sri Lankans walked from place to place. May be rich people had their horse carriages but majority of Sri Lankans walked. This is a small Island length and breadth approximately 450 KM and 250 KM but really beautiful. Exciting landscape with an amazing topography.

But we had is not a mobile structure. There is no owner but everyone looked after it, well maintained it.That is known as “Ambalama”.Basically Ambalama   is a place constructed for people, traders and travelers to rest, to stay overnight. Most importantly this was absolutely free.

If Jesus Christ was born in Sri Lanka definitely he will be born in “Ambalama”.This was commonly used in even early 20^th.But during the Colonial period of Sri Lanka things started changing. They introduced rest houses and hotels but those are not free. But In Sri Lanka we don’t have Motels like in USA.But in Sri Lanka we have rooms which we can rent on hourly basis. But none of these places are not free.

Ambalama is a basic structure; of course we can’t compare it with high facilitated hotel rooms. But still that’s how we lived. Even with the Ambalama user had some codes of ethics. The occupant has to clean after he used the place. Cooking and preparation of meals only done in the outside of the Ambalama. People don‘t disturb each other. Even there was a custom the people shared their food among other passengers those who did not have. It was a common place there is no any particular owner or care taker. This system worked long time ago, but not I don’t have such subtle experience. Even In Sinharaja forest I have found owners.

Gal Ambalama Kotte

There are still few Ambalama preserved considering its archaeological value. Still in Colombo Pita Kotte Gal Ambalama which belongs to the Kotte period of Sri Lanka can be seen. Some people still using it as a shelter.

But my most favorite Ambalama is located in Kurunagala  district. Which known as “Karagaha Gadara Ambalama”.It s really beautiful wooden structure. Apart from that within that area there are few other preserved wooden structure,Even though it small structure but it has answered most of thepracticle issues we are facing today.

Karagaha gedara Ambalama  details 

The wooden structure sits on the Rock face as well supported by  rocks.

Over looking the paddy fields,

Even the Panavitiya Ambalama is wooden structure,

But Karagaha Gadara Ambalama is located on a more people friendly environment. Basically its sits on a   rock with adjoining paddy fields. The farmers those who comes to the paddy fields still using it as a shelter.

Panavitiya  Ambalama,more elaborated timber column details.

Sri Lanka during the past years the road system was upgraded. The.The newly constructed road passing through Karagaha Gadara Ambalama. 

It looks like a nice contrast of modern and old. Even I have has my breakfast here when I was on my way to Anuradhapura. I was alone, people are very friendly, I feel much secured even it was with heavy rain.

Very relaxing time I had alone there, but again I have visited with some friends, In my experience it s nice place with or without friends,

Cross Roads........

In life we get  many cross roads, most  cases without any exceptions we know what is the correct road but we don t take it, In life the correct path seems to be always hard and difficult, more time consuming. So we can see many of among us taking wrong instant way knowing what is correct. Very few people have courage to follow the correct path.

 There are some occasions we are purposely misleading by directing to the wrong path by most trusted people. In the time of the Lord Buddha a teacher sent his best student on the wrong path. As per the story there are many parties involved in it, but mainly the teacher.

Teachers can direct their students  on both ways.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angulimala)

The student ended up being a murder known to be as” Angulimala”.There is a nice Bollywood move based on this  story, also we have a Sri Lankan version of it.I prefer Barath Bhushans’s performance in Bollywood movie.

Well of course even I have met teachers who really enjoy misleading students. Well I did not end as murder or even remotely close to that. Even it does not matter really because ourselves we can find the correct path by going through the wrong way. Well it might take certain time to figure out the correct path but still we can come. But those who giving the wrong direction they also have justifiable answer, likewise it’s process of learning. To figure out what is the correct path by ourselves, well I don’t really agree with that reason, but we can justify many things with nice words.

As an architect student I have experienced this many times. As well in architecture schools and offices.In Architecture practices  the big boss like to direct their juniors to  wrong path for some extent  then only the big boss can maintain the distance. It is obvious thing that we have to seek help when we in the wrong way at office work. By doing this the big boss expect to  lose the confidence  of juniors ,where they will never stand  for them self  at all.I think this is not only in  architecture practices most of the other offices as well.

I ll tell  a good story of my own experience.I did work for a well known architectural practice in Sri Lanka over three years.In the end of three years suddenly I was asked to design a gate and place to keep garbage.Based on the information which i already had,I did a  design for a gate and a place to keep the garbage.After  looking at the design the big boss was asking hundreds of question about the garbage  keeping place.

Also I got  an e mail around 12 mid night saying that garbage  keeping design is wrong.The whole idea which I understood was to inform me that I can' t  design even a garbage keeping place for a house.But I think I m not such worst architect.I may not be good as Frank Loyd Wright,But of course not  bad as such.

But I did not loose my confidence over this.But i m not telling to be over confidence as well.But of course I did resign from that office.At  the time I was resigning the it was another story.Even after the resigning I got calls and e mails which is relating to the same project.Simply I ignored without replying a single word.

Ex president with his allied friends,those who doesn't have courage or confidence to stand alone.

The former president MR   was a master of doing this. He purposely let some of his young ministers to go on the wrong path. So now they have no courage to stand by themselves. Without any condition they are hanging around Ex –President, because they don’t have confidence to face as individuals. The other thing is since they have been though on the wrong path too far and coming back to the correct path is very costly. Most cases form the previous government they might be   ends up in prison for a while if they want to come to the correct path. I don’t think they are willing to such commitment.

This all about cross roads in our life but we also meet cross roads in infrastructure. Road junctions with three or four may be more than that .In Sri Lanka I think the most famous T junction is in “Radawana”.that Mr Mahagama Sekara’s  village in Gampaha.His famous book”Thunman Handiaya” .

Mr.Mahagama Sekara

Sometimes  you might not have read this book, but still every Sri Lankan  must have  heard at least a one song written by him. He was a poet, a song writer, film script writer, a painter and many more.

The Book”Thunman Handiaya” .

 Even that book explains when Mr.  Sekara choose his own way being little stubborn to his parents.

if you are taking Kandy road avoiding traffic  form Paliyagoda junction the other convenient  road is going through  Kaduwella- Waliweriya.On that road still we can meet Mr.Mahagama Sekara’s “Thunman Handiya”(the T  joint).Thunman Handiya was film as well,Mr Sekara  directed himself. I prefer the book,but still movie was not such bad one either.

The movie "Thunman Hnadiya"

Also back to Infrastructures in Sri Lanka commonly we can see four road joints with a roundabout. IN Colombo there are few places which connect five roads together at a junction.

But in this Island there is only a one particular place where Six roads connecting. It’s the Union place Junction it’s unique place, six roads are connecting even without a roundabout.I f I am not mistaken this must be the only place where six roads are connecting in a single place in Sri Lanaka.

 Actually before I Update my blog through google maps I did a small research, based on main cities. But So far I did not find out a junction where sis roads are connecting.

The connecting six roads are Justice Akbar Mawatha, Dr.Colvin R.de Silva Mawatha,Kew road ,Sir ,James Peiris Mawatha, Kumar Ratnam road and Church street. More importantly all those roads have some land mark buildings.

Justice Akbar Mawatha ,it’s more like the historical part of the area. The road named after Justice Akbar, I’m not very sure about  which period he is belonging to .But on that road there are nice shop houses belongs colonial period and the historical  slave island. 

The Kumara Ratnam Road where Nippon hotel is located. The Hotel Nippon color now has turn into white, it was earlier reddish pink. Actually it was very noticeable.

The other road which is the Dr.Colvin R.de Silva Mawatha, of course there  we won’t find very old buildings, but  we have” Visumpaya”.It is an official residence of the government of Sri Lanka. But unfortunately the main entrance is not from the Dr.Colvin R.de Silva Mawatha. But we can still see the high boundary wall with red bricks.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colvin_R._de_Silva)

Dr.Colvin R.DE Silva was an eminent lawyer in Sri Lanka as well .There are famous court ceases that he appeared and most of them he had won even without letting to the defendant any chance for appeal.

On the other hand Sir James Peires Mawatha which has Nawaloka Hospital. If anyone interested going to see Gangarama temple of can go down Sir James Peries Mawatha.

The other two roads, Kew Road and the church street not to mention any significant land marks. I’m not what‘s the reason behind the Kew road. But this name being referred in several other places as well. On the Vauxhaoul Street there we get Kew path and there is a Kew passage Behind the hotel Nippon.

The six cross roads not like in life, here Colombo road network is not complicated. Little.Little bit traffic, but still you can find your correct path.