Historic Images Of Old Ceylon - Automotive And Otherwise

[Komisiripala]

Will they start that train to Dhanushkodi even after it is completed?

No idea men...

[Sampath Gunasekera]

What a collection I found from FB(Mst Silva)?

I was seeking for first two advertisements.

[Jaliya48]

I'd love a Corona RT40 Deluxe! Thanks for sharing, Sampath!

[Sylvi]

Mr. Sampath Gunasekara,

Your post 227. Picture of UPALI FIAT, is just like the SUZUKI cars made in early 1980.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[Sampath Gunasekera]

Hi Sampath,

Any updates on the book project by Mr. Hettiarachchi?

Thanks.

Received an e-mail form Mr.Hettiarachchi today. He has been completed final revisions and it is on checking. Keep you all updated.

[Sampath Gunasekera]

From FB - Old Ceylon

Edited February 10, 2014 by Sampath Gunasekera

[Sampath Gunasekera]

Cover of a Gramophone Record - A great song - An interesting story behind the song (1973)

These were the members of Super Golden Chimes Music Group at that time (1973).

The person holding "Kaawadi" (Corrected) The person in the far left Mr. Sri Kantha Dassanayake (ex. drummer Super Golden Chimes) once met with an accident and got injured.

His father promised a "Bhara" to "Kataragama Devalaya" that if his son gets recover , he will being Clarence Wjewardene to Kataragama Devalaya and arrange to sing a devotional song there.

However his son well recovered and he brought Clarence and the group to Kataragam Devalaya at his own expense and Clarence walked there singing the "Kanda Surinduni" song specially composed for this purpose.

I have this Gramophone record cover for years with me , but I newer knew the interesting story behind, until it published in a newspaper recently.

Guys,

I have done a correction on above post.

The person who met with nasty accident was Mr. Sri Kantha Dassanayake (ex. drummer Super Golden Chimes) far left in the photo.

Thanks to Ms.Erandathie Salgado, younger sister of Mr. Sri Kantha Dassanayake for correcting the point & informing me.

Late Mr. Sri Kantha Dassanayake was the drummer of Super Golden Chimes

Edited February 15, 2014 by Sampath Gunasekera

[Sylvi]

Colombo of Those Days

Photograph illustrating the lower right section of a blueprint for the fortification of a fort at Colombo. Held in the Colombo Archives, inventory number COL55TL. Photo by C.F. Reimer, June 1787.

City and castle at Colombo (1733-1734)

Map of the fort and the city of Colombo - 1672

Photograph of a print showing a bird's eye view map of Colombo and environs, 17th century.

Sometime, in the latter part of the 1800's, Colombo was a green city. Life, then, was simple and leisurely, calm and quiet and peaceful in many ways. There were one horse carriages and rickshaws, drawn by scrawny brown men, plying along the Galle Road in the midst of the Fort that skirted the harbor which opened out to the Indian Ocean on the west.

The name is supposed to be derived from the Sinhalese kola & amba meaning 'leafy mango tree', a tree with leave only and no fruit. Thus giving kolamba which has evolved into Colombo. Another conjecture is that the name may have been derived from the fact that the Moor traders used to bring their boats in down the Kelani river through the Kelanitota (Kelani Port), which evolved into Kolontota and thereafterKalambo. The Portuguese contribution is that the name has links to Columbus.

Streets and edifices have been a significant feature of Colombo from its very early days. One of the most striking buildings, even visible from the sea as reported by the Portuguese was the Colombo Grand Mosque, supposed to have been built by the Arab traders in 1505, located at New Moor Street. All old maps from the Portuguese era show this Mosque very significantly.

Chatham Street, intersected byQueens Street on the west and York Street further east were the main streets that housed both businesses and homes.Prince Street, parallel to Chatham Street ran straight down joining up with Main Street which flowed into the Pettah. TheGrand Oriental Hotel, commonly referred to as the GOH, stood magnificent and tall by the port. Today it has been converted to the Hotel Taprobane with all its fineries and modern trappings. Bristol Street stood on York Street with its polished wooden stairway. The Globe Hotel and British India were noted for their watering services to the thirsty and weary. Trees lined all the streets in beautiful cascades of brown and green enveloping the area in splendor.

York Street bordered the eastern wall and moat of the old Dutch Fort. This stretch gave way to the Registrar General's office, the Bristol Hotel, the National Bank of India, and Victoria Arcade. Later, they too gave way to the more modern structures of concrete that have surfaced today.

Baillie Street, now Mudalige Mawatha, was wedged in between Chatham Street and Prince Street, parallel to both, and serviced the tourists with their needs of trinkets, souvenir's, tea, jewellery and gems.

Queen's House, now referred to as President's House, stood on Queen Street, bringing back memories of so many memorable days of Portuguese, Dutch and British political rule, power and fisticuffs.

The lighthouse clock tower stood gallantly at the intersection of Chatham Street and Queen Street where it still stands tall to this day in 2005. It was first built in 1857 and its conception and planning was carried out as far back as 1815.

Royal College stood in its old green location past the Fort Railway Station by the lush green plains of that area called Captains Gardens. The Galle Face Green stretched out from the Fort towards the Galle Face Hotel that clung to the western coastline where the land extended towards the south of the island.

The Beira Lake boasted of an opulence of inland water that stood right in the center of the city of Colombo running its rivulets to various parts of the city in streams and canals. The lake was named "Beira" to commemorate the name of the Dutch Engineer Johann de Beira in AD 1700, who constructed the mouth and water defences of the Dutch Fort. The lake, a long established part of Colombo, was originally an extensive "reach of flood water" from the Kelani River. It was originally called Lagoon by the Portuguese and was filled with alligators and crocodiles, thus giving the name Kayman's Gate for a nearby street.

The military barracks, referred to as Echelon Square now, stood towards the Galle Face. St. Josephs College, the premier Roman Catholic educational institution in the city, lay more eastwards from the lake, amidst tall palms and beautiful flowering trees.

The Victoria Park, referred to now as the Vihara Maha Devi Park, stood sprawling in its lush green and vegetaion in Cinnamon Gardens.

The main towns of Colombo where people mingled and action permeated daily life were, the Fort, Pettah, Hultsdorf, and Mutuwal in the north.

It was on the 3rd of Sep 1802 that the last Dutch Governor of Colombo, van Angelbeck, killed himself for having capitulated to the British. He was buried next to his wife, Vrouw Angelbeck's coffin in the crumbling Chapel that was used to bury eminent Dutch persons. Others who were buried there were Hertenberg, Vreeland, Van Eck, & Falk.

Angelbecks niece, Jacomina Gertrude, daughter of Van der Graaf and wife of Hon George Melville Leslie (an English Civil Servant), was his only heir. She inherited the massive mansion, Queens House (named after Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne) then and is called President House now, and the largest and most opulent in the Fort at that time. However, she was compelled to sell the house to the Government for 35,000 Rix Dollars on account of monies owed to the state by her husband who was the Paymaster General and was subject to the shortage of a sum of over 10,000 Pounds to his utter embarrassment. The deed of transfer was confirmed and completed on January 17 1804. The street on which it is located was originally referred to as KingsStreet, then changed to Queen Street and now has now been renamed to Presidents (Janadhipathi Mawatha) Avenue.

The British Raj, who took over colonial power from the Dutch in 1796, appointed John MacDowall of the Madras Service as the administrator of the city of Colombo. He was also the Collector. At that time it was estimated that the city had around 50,000 inhabitants. The Dutch and Portuguese continued to live in their occupied residences in the Pettah while the Sinhalese, Tamils and Moors preferred to live in the suburbs. The Brits too preferred the Fort and divided it into quarters based on its principal roads.

It was towards the end of 1798 that Frederik North arrived and was appointed the fist Civil Governor of Ceylon by the Brits. He brought a handpicked band of civil servants along with him to run the islands administrative affairs. Among them were Eudelin de Jonville and Antony Bertolacci, a Frenchman.

One of the most noted of North's many duties was 'Christianization', and towards that end an academy was established where the sons of rich Sinhalese, Indians and Europeans studied together. By 1801 there were 170 parish schools in the island and 342,000 native Protestants in addition to greater number of Roman Catholics, a legacy of the Portuguese era of colonialism.

Governor North was succeeded by Sir Thomas Maitland. He preferred to live by the sea at Mount Lavinia, a few kilometers south of the city of Colombo. He was responsible for moving the tombs of the Dutch interred at the Chapel in the Fort to be re-buried at the premises of the Wolfendhaal Church in the Pettah. However, when the coffins were finally moved, under a very impressive military guard and parade of fife and drums, it was General Sir Robert Brownrigg Bart, who was Governor. He was flanked by the Chief Justice, Hon Sir Alexander Johnston and the Puisne Justice, the Hon Mr William Coke.

Colombo even had its first circulating library in 1801, run by Michael Loghlin, a merchant who had sailed in from Madras. He also ran an auction house. Many other European houses and businesses soon sprang up in the Fort. Many of those who managed these businesses were retired sea captains who found that this was a lucrative opportunity to further their careers. Amongst them were L.D. Bussch, George Steuart, George Boyd, James Steuart, F. B. Montcur, John Pierre Jummeaux, W. C. Gibson and George Winter. There was also an English watchmaker.

The Sinhalese referred to the Pettah as Pita Kotuwa meaning "outside the Fort" which was what it really was and is to this day. The Pettah still houses the many wholesale and retail businesses and vendors as it used to before. Although most of the business in Colombo has now been decentralized to the many smaller towns within the Pettah still stands tall as the hub of key business activity.

The Central Bus Station is located in the Pettah and the Fort Railway Station also lies within its perimeter. It is from these two hallowed echelons of public transportation that the thousands of daily workers, tradesmen and ordinary people commute to and from the city. Many famous men of that era used to live in the Pettah. One was Sir Richard Morgan, Queens Advocate, who was born in Prince Street in 1821. Gradually the resident population moved to other localities like Hultsdorp, San Sebastian, Messenger Street, and Dias Place.

The Mudaliyars lived around the Wolfendaal and many of them were housed on Silversmith Street. Udugaha Mudaliya, grandfather of SWRD Bandaranaike, Sir Thomas de Sampayo, and a member of the Legislative Council, James D'Alwis who was also a well known oriental scholar lived down this street.

The Nattukottai Chettiars, who were descendants of those who had migrated from South India, were mostly involved as money changers, pawn brokers, and Jewellery manufacturers, distributors and retailers. They lived and conducted their businesses in and around New Chetty Street, which was named after them, and further at Grandpass. Queen's Advocate Selby lived in a mansion called Selby House which latyer went on to become the premises of M/S Heptulabhoy & Co, a flourishing export oriented business run by a Borah merchant who renamd it to Selby Stores.

Mutuwal too became a very fashionable suburb for residency. The Brit Collector of Customs had his home there adjoining the salt lake. The Auditor General, H A Marshall built three large residences, Rock House, Whist Bungalow and Modera House. Rock House was occupied by Sir William Coke, the Chief Justice. The Armitages occupied Modera House and Whist Bungalow was the residence of an English gentleman. Later, Sir Richard Morgan purchased Whist Bungalow on which he spent large sums of money re-decorating and refurbishing it in very lavish fineries. It is said that this extravagance almost reduced him to near bankruptcy at the time of his death and that his ghost does haunt the place ever since.

Other Mutuwal people were C A Lorensz, who later moved to Karlshrue in Borella, near the present Welikada Prison. Also four eminent personnel of the Tamil community, Sir Ponnabmbalam Arunachalam, Sir Muttu Coomaraswamy, and Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan lived in Mutuwal. Arunachalam later moved to Cinnamon Gardens, which eventually became the most fashionable and rich neighborhood within the city of Colombo.

The other towns that sprouted and bloomed and provided decent living for the rich and the famous were Kollupitiya (Colombo 3),Bambalapitiya (Colombo 4), Havelock Town (Colombo 5), and Wellawatte (Colombo 6).

One of the most famous of residence in Colombo 3 was Alfred House owned by Charles de Soysa. Its extensive grounds stretch from the plush residential areas of Bagatelle to School Lane and from Galle Road to Thurstan Road.

The Brits also set up the first botanical garden in Colombo at Kew Road in Slave Island (Colombo-2), after Kew Gardens in England. Slave Island later became to be known as Company Street or Kompanna Vidiya on account of the Rifle Regiment that was atationed there down Rifle Street.

Maradana (Colombo 10), the "Sandy Plains", grew the best cinnamon of all in Colombo. Today it is one of the most congested parts of the whole city of Colombo.

In 1824, the population of Colombo was 31,188, of which 734 were in the Fort, 4,979 in the Pettah, and 25,475 were located beyond the Pettah. In 1871 the population of Colombo rose to 98,843 and in 1936 to 511,639. Today the city is almost 90 times as dense as it was in 1936 and its area has also expanded from 9.45 square miles in 1881 to 14.32 square miles in 1963. The Greater Colombo area today encompasses almost 38 square miles.

In Rosemead Place, in the Cinnamon Gardens locality, a palatial home called "Tintagel" was bought by the late Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike who lived in it until he was assassinated in 1958. His family continue to live there to date.

The official residence of the Prime Minsiter, "Temple Trees", down Galle Road at Kollupitiya (Colombo 3), was originally occupied by the Lieutenant Governor, and thereafter, the Colonial Secretary. Other notable structures were the Sravasti in Edinburgh Crescent, Mackinnon House which is now the Central Hospital, Torrington House, property of W H Figg of Whittal & Co which was then occupied by the Governor Sir Herbert Stanley when Queens House was under maintenance.

Sylvi wijesinghe.

[Sampath Gunasekera]

(1) Central Workshop of Ceylon Transport Board, Werahara

http://sltbbus.blogspot.com/2014/03/central-workshop-of-ceylon-transport.html

(2)Werahara Workshop built "Lanka 1" Bus

http://sltbbus.blogspot.com/2013/12/1.html

Edited March 17, 2014 by Sampath Gunasekera

[Jaliya48]

Just look at all those massive trees lining up the streets!

[Sampath Gunasekera]

Advertisements in 1980s (Published in 'Sirikatha' news paper)

(Special thank to my Mother-in-Law Mrs.Ashoka Rathnayake whom did collect all dress making pages & made books. )

(1) In 1987

(2) 30 August 1985

(3) 02 November 1984

(4) 09 October 1987

(5)

(6) 12 June 1987

(7) 20 September 1985 (This is for Supra. )

(8) 06 May 1988

(9)

(10) 19 June 1987

Edited April 15, 2014 by Sampath Gunasekera

[Jaliya48]

the good ol' days when toothpaste tubes were made of tin and not tacky plastic!

[Sampath Gunasekera]

Gramophone Records (Small size)

(Thanks for my classmate Daminda Perera original owner of them.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramophone_record

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3 (Yaman Bando )

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6

Photo 7

Photo 8

Photo 9

Edited April 27, 2014 by Sampath Gunasekera

[Sampath Gunasekera]

From Facebook

[Jaliya48]

the beginning of the end, eh?

[Schiffer]

had to share this

[Sampath Gunasekera]

Driving License of Mr.Kumaratunga Munidasa - 1935

'Kalpana' Magazine - 1987 July

Edited June 19, 2014 by Sampath Gunasekera

[Sampath Gunasekera]

Private Pilot's License in 1953 - Mr. Paulis Appuhamy

Photo: (Original Link)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=797846123580321&set=o.112421478481&type=1&theater

Interesting Story :(Original Link)

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050306/plus/1.html

When a non-English speaking, sarong-clad, konde-wearing rustic dared to reach for his dreams
All in a knot
By Roger Thiedeman
One morning in August 1952, a shy, nervous man arrived at the Ceylon Air Academy at Ratmalana Airport for his first flying lesson. Aged in his mid-forties, he was considerably older than most other would-be flyers. But that was not the only thing unusual about this man. Speaking Sinhala only, he was attired in the traditional garb of the unsophisticated village mudalali: shirt, coat and sarong, with hair tied at the back of his head in a konde (knot).

Almost without exception, the world of private flying was then populated by more 'refined' folk from wealthy aristocratic families, educated at so-called 'good' schools. So, not surprisingly, this aspiring aviator and his 'country bumpkin' demeanour attracted disbelieving stares and derisory comments from sundry onlookers. Who, some sniggered, did this sarong-clad gamarala with a konde think he was by climbing into the cockpit of a trainer aircraft, the hallowed preserve of only the rich and well-bred?

But even if Attanagalley Wickramarachchi Millawalage Don John Paulis Appuhamy understood such comments, he pretended not to hear. He was, after all, made of sterner stuff. One day not long before that August morning, Paulis Appuhamy (also nicknamed 'Ukku Mahathmaya') went to Ratmalana Airport with his eldest son Vijitha Kumara, who wanted to watch the aeroplanes taking off and landing. Soon, Paulis became fascinated by the thought of flying those machines, and diffidently approached one of the flying school instructors. Speaking in Sinhala he said, "Sir, I would love to fly a 'plane. Can you teach me?"

The instructor turned to him in surprise and replied, "But how can you fly with your hair in a konde?" In those days, instructors and student pilots wore close-fitting leather helmets with built-in headphones for communicating with each other in open-cockpit aircraft like the de Havilland D.H.82 Tiger Moth. Obviously, such headgear would be difficult, if not impossible, to fit over someone's head with a tonsorial protruberance at the rear. However, Paulis was not dissuaded. Proudly caressing his konde he insisted, "I have no problem with my konde, sir, so I would still love to fly."

But the instructor had further concerns. Apart from the added discomfort-not to mention safety hazards-that someone might encounter in a cockpit whilst wearing a loose, flowing sarong (instead of 'streamlined' flying overalls), it would be difficult, if not impossible, for a trainee who spoke no English to absorb instruction both in the air and in the classroom; not to mention reading the theory material that all pupil pilots had to study.

After taking the man on a brief joyflight, it soon became apparent to the instructor that this man of simple, 'rural' appearance was an enthusiastic individual who was determined to learn how to fly an aeroplane. Moreover, he seemed to have an intimate knowledge of technical matters. So, he was introduced to the flying school's Chief Flying Instructor, Captain C.H.S. Amarasekera, and another instructor, Susantha ('Sus') Jayasekera. Unlike the other scoffers and 'doubting Thomases' at Ratmalana, Amarasekera and Jayasekera saw the potential in this callow villager and to their credit-decided to take a chance on teaching him to fly.

What they did not realize at the time was that Paulis Appuhamy, despite his 'native' bearing and inability to speak English, had a proud family heritage and was a talented and respected person in his own right. Born on December 21, 1905, in the Attanagalla area, as a young boy Paulis discovered an aptitude for all things mechanical. Despite his village upbringing, he was fortunate to attend Ananda College, Colombo, thanks to the support of a family friend, Mr. D.C. Senanayake.

Later, Paulis inherited his father's bus transport business. At its prime, the modestly successful private company boasted a fleet of 36 buses operating to such destinations as Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala and Hanwella.

Sometime around 1940, the prosperous 'bus mudalali' married a 17-year-old girl, many years his junior. Today, Paulis Appuhamy's widow-who is alternatively known by her maiden name of Annette de Saram or Mrs. Wickramarachchi-remains in residence at the family's Attanagalla walauwa 'Siri Medura', not far from the Colombo-Kandy Road. A formidable, intelligent lady with sharp memory recall, this matriarchal figure has her finger firmly on the pulse of all matters concerning the family's estate and fibre-milling business.

Annette de Saram blushingly recalls the early days of her marriage: "Though we were well-developed physically I was only a child. Because of that, even after marriage, my father wanted me to stay with my parents for another two years." In time, her union with Paulis Appuhamy was blessed with two sons and two daughters.

As his public transport business prospered, Paulis continued applying his mechanical talents to the operation of his buses, the family's motor cars, as well as to the fibre-milling machinery. He also acquired a keen interest in, and talent for, photography, while building up an impressive collection of rare and expensive cameras.

With his mastery of mechanical matters, it was hardly surprising that when the time came for Paulis to learn flying, he took to it with ease. 'Sus' Jayasekera was impressed by the fact that this non-English speaking pilot wearing a sarong (attire hitherto unheard of in an aircraft cockpit!) with his hair in a konde proved to be a keen and competent pupil. For his part, Paulis Appuhamy is reported to have said: "Guwan yana padhaveemeydi mata kondaya bhadavak vuney nehe." ("While flying a 'plane, my konde was not a hindrance.")

Returning to 'Siri Medura' after his first flying lesson, he told his wife, "Menike, I'm not afraid to fly. I will somehow get my licence." And indeed he did. After the usual course of instruction, during which he sometimes flew with bare feet on the rudder bar (pedals)-another unconventional practice, A.W.M.D.J. Paulis Appuhamy was issued with Private Pilot Licence No. 139, on October 5, 1953. Faithful to Sinhalese custom, he presented his instructor with a bulath atha (betel leaf sheaf) as a mark of gratitude and respect on that momentous occasion.

After gaining more experience, Paulis progressed from the Tiger Moth biplane to the Academy's newly-acquired and more advanced de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk monoplane. Now qualified to carry passengers, he would often take his son Vijitha Kumara on joyflights. One day, he lost his way but had the good sense to make a precautionary landing at the Puttalam (Palavi) airstrip. Just as the people at Ratmalana Airport were preparing to send a search aircraft, Paulis and his son returned in the Chipmunk, much to the relief of everybody, not least his wife Annette.

But Mrs. Wickramarachchi continued to worry about her husband's new love affair with airplanes. Her concern was not eased when she witnessed the fiery, fatal crash of a Tiger Moth one day when she had accompanied Paulis to Ratmalana for his lesson. Yet, she remained supportive of his aviating activities, and in 1953, at a special function for Academy pilots who had made their first solo flights, Annette de Saram was chosen to greet the chief guest, Sir John Kotelawala (then Minister of Transport & Works; later Prime Minister of Ceylon), with a bulath atha.

Although Paulis Appuhamy enjoyed his freedom as a private pilot, he did not neglect the running of his bus company. But later, he gradually scaled down his aeronautical pursuits and, around 1954/55, eventually stopped flying altogether.

On January 1, 1958, all private bus companies in Ceylon were nationalised by the Bandaranaike government, to form the Ceylon Transport Board (C.T.B.). Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, whose ancestral estate in Horagolla is also in the vicinity of Attanagalla, had been friendly with Paulis Appuhamy since their younger days. But the sudden loss of his family bus transport business-for which he received no compensation-was a bitter pill for Paulis to swallow, and his relationship with the Prime Minister was soured as a result.

Around 1963 Paulis Appuhamy suffered a stroke, and continued to battle its debilitating effects for another ten years. He passed away on February 23, 1973. Today, even in death Paulis is revered with affection and pride by his widow and their children-not least for creating Sri Lankan aviation history by successfully rising above prejudice and discouragement to become the nation's first (and probably to this day the only) non-English speaking, sarong-clad, konde-wearing private pilot.

(With acknowledgements to Mrs. Annette de Saram-Wickramarachchi, Capt. G.A. Fernando, Mrs. Ivy Fernando and Capt 'Sus' Jayasekera for their invaluable assistance in the preparation of this article.)

Edited July 21, 2014 by Sampath Gunasekera

[Jaliya48]

I came across this photo today-

It's David Peiris Motor Co (as per the original website). Check out that white Capri! I wonder if the Cortina closest to the camera is still roadworthy?

[chan5]

the very same tree is still there as i remember.

and they still maintain a rudimentary service facility there for cars.though they lost Ford agency.

building is mainly occupied by Bajaj service facility.

Remember the exact place as i went to service my bike at university days back in 3-4 years back.

[Sampath Gunasekera]

Guys, I got back my magazine collection in 1980s.

A lady bus driver (Private bus) in 1988

Peramaga - 1988 March

That era which Journeys and Rosas were dominating...

Desathiya - 1990 January 30

(Jaliya, that KE74 is little bit younger to yours )

Some feedback on "Carpet Roads" in 1988

Peramaga - 1988 January

Edited July 29, 2014 by Sampath Gunasekera

[Jaliya48]

Guys, I got back my magazine collection in 1980s.

A lady bus driver (Private bus) in 1988

Peramaga - 1988 March

That era which Journeys and Rosas were dominating...

Desathiya - 1990 January 30

(Jaliya, that KE74 is little bit younger to yours )

Some feedback on "Carpet Roads" in 1988

Peramaga - 1988 January

Lovely photo! I'm saving this!

[Sampath Gunasekera]

An advertisement on a souvenir - 1969

(Special thank to owner Mr.Sarath Silva)

[Crosswind]

That era which Journeys and Rosas were dominating...

Desathiya - 1990 January 30

(Jaliya, that KE74 is little bit younger to yours )

This is taken from Maradana overhead bridge before widening that stretch of road and removing the bus stops

[Sampath Gunasekera]

Purchasing a single engine airplane to fly back home from UK - Mr. James Peter Obeysekere in 1946

Guys, what a book came to my hands today. Before return to the owner, I could scan few pages.

About Mr.J.P. Obeysekera

Edited August 19, 2014 by Sampath Gunasekera