30th January to 5th February, 2026

Well, it has been quite a busy week (relatively speaking, I grant you), starting actually the week before, as mentioned in the last post.

Val came up with the nice idea, before we left home, to buy some crayons and activity books that we might distribute to local children or a local school. Luggage allowances rather restricted the amount we could bring, but armed with about 160 colouring pencils and about 48 books we looked around for possible recipients. Unfortunately, the local area is not really suitable for Val to walk or to push the wheelchair around looking for likely candidates, so we asked the hotel if there was a potential school nearby that might benefit. And there is.

The Siviraja School is for blind, deaf, mute and other children suffering from mental or physical difficulties and was founded in 1958. It has about 100 pupils and is supported as a sort of joint venture between the government and a Buddhist association. The government pays the salaries and supplies the books and uniforms and the rest has to be taken care of by the school through donations and money from the Buddhist group.

Our point of contact is the wonderful Roshan, who has been at the hotel almost since it was opened in the late 1990s and is a sort of head porter and general helper of effectively everyone. Small in stature but big in everything else!

We took a taxi to the school which is not far away as the crow flies (and we have quite a few of those), but you have to negotiate a labyrinth of small roads to get there. We were met by Roshan and the principal and another teacher, whose name escapes me, but who spoke very passable English. OK, time for some photos…

It was a real insight into a world we may not always be aware of. The children all looked happy and there are quite a lot of staff, it seems. We asked to look at the library and computer room, but unfortunately the teacher who operates those two functions was either ill or on leave, but either way, he had the only key!

As a follow-up, we arranged to meet the General Manager, whose name is Group Captain I. A. H. Wijegunawardane, luckily shortened to Vijay! He is retired from the Air Force and is CEO of a company that provides growing medium (largely coconut husk etc, I believe) and who has volunteered to help the school as a sort of manager. He must be a very busy man!! He was nearby last Tuesday visiting a factory and dropped by the hotel and could not have been more charming and interesting. Long story short (?!), we are due for another visit to the school with him next week when we believe a discussion will ensue as to other ways we might be able to help. The principal pointed out what poor shape some of the desks are in, so we might have a hand in some new ones!! More soon.

Roshan very kindly invited us to back to his house after our visit where we met his wife and niece. We inevitably had tea, biscuits and fruit and had a look a round his garden.

The hotel has been very busy preparing for various events including St Valentine’s Day. They have gone to great trouble decking out the catamaran with a sort of roof and curtains so that romantic couples can enjoy a candlelit dinner on the lagoon. It was an interesting process which we were able to witness from the comfort of our verandah. First up 3 guys from maintenance came and gave the catamaran a bit of paint. Then a day or two later about 5 or 6 management types with notebooks came and stood around looking at the boat. Then the frame for the canopy arrived followed by about 3 or 4 more management, more discussion and several members of maintenance to fix it all together. More discussion and the curtains were put up. Eventually all was ready (and I probably have missed several more discussions) for the launch and photo shoot, which we happened upon. It was not going too well as the drone was stuck in the tree.

1st February was a full moon here (as it was with you, presumably), which is a public holiday called Navam Poya Day. My sources tell me…

“This full moon has special significance for Buddhists in Sri Lanka as it marks two important events. The first commemorates the appointment of Sariputta (Sariyuth) and Moggallana (Mugalan) as the first two chief disciples (Aggasavakes) of Gautama Buddha. Navam Poya also commemorates the first-ever Buddhist Council, held three months after the death of the Buddha. It was here where the Vinaya (the code of fundamental ethics for Buddhist monks) was proclaimed based on the teachings that the Buddha had passed onto his disciples.

In 1979, the first Navam Perahera (parade) took place at the Gangaramaya temple in Colombo. This perahera has grown to become one of the most popular and important pageants in Sri Lanka. The parade features hundreds of beautifully decorated elephants accompanied by whip crackers, fire dancers, flag bearers, traditional dancers and musicians.”

Not a lot happened here except that no alcohol was served all day, which possibly upset our French friends. However!!!! There WAS a sunset worthy of some note AND a full moon!! Contain your enthusiasm, here they come, ranking alongside hotel rooms and local birdlife in what the readers of this blog cannot get enough of….

Val, as is to be expected, has been enjoying the dancing, especially at the parties hosted by the French Animation Team..

OK, a couple of extra photos and then a publishing…

OK, next post will have a lot on the Independence Day celebrations….