Generalising wildly but it is my observation that most Sinhalese Sri Lankans are blessed with amazing bone structure, fabulous smiles and perfect, clear skin.  They also love having their photograph taken, especially the kids who run after me on the lane pleading “selfie Madam!, selfie!”. That the selfie is taken on my phone and they don’t get to keep it seems of little consequence.

As a result of this, and of my blatant asking people if they mind me taking their photograph, I have a phone full of beautiful faces. Here are but a few.

Click on the photos to see the captions. 

Young boy in Maharagama, Son of the maid of a friend.

These three kids lost everything in the May 2017 floods – house, clothes, possessions. After taking their family emergency supplies of food and sanitary items, we returned a few days later with clothes, mattresses, bedding, and a small camping stove.

Two of the many, many locals who helped us organise and distribute flood relief

This young girl was having a henna tattoo in Nuwara Eliya

Nadun, our impossibly talented young chef

My friend and neighbour Gayan caught in the middle of getting dressed for a wedding. Touch of the Stanley Kowalskis in this picture I think.

The onion seller at Matara Market. Got chatting with him and it turns out he lives in our village

A little boy and his grandmother who were displaced by the floods

My dear friend and colleague Wasantha with his beautiful daughter. This photograph was taken at Dondra Perahera and she was feeling very unwell – ended up in bed for a week poor lamb.

Schoolboy lost in thought on the train

Asintha is our most trusted Tuk-tuk driver and Nihal is our groundsman. Here they are on the beach at Hiriketiya where we had a party for staff and friends.

Kadi Keeper in Colombo opening a coconut for my breakfast

The local tree climber & coconut cutter at Heenatigala

A Sri Lankan Mounted Policeman after a police parade in Matara to celebrate 150 years of the Sri Lankan Police Force

Two of the boys from the house off-duty at a staff beach party

Lottery ticket seller at the bus station in Matara

One of the grooms looking after the police horses

My friend Indika in his wedding finery. This was taken early in the morning as he and his bride came to the house to take wedding photos before the party

One of my new neighbours at the land I have recently purchased

Shantha is a dear friend and was an invaluable help during my land buying process. He loves to feed me and to dress me up but not half as much as he loves a selfie

The Chief of Police of Kambuwagamuwa who helped us organise boats to get supplies to people stranded by the May 2017 floods

Schoolboys on the train

Nihal, our groundsman looking like he should be singing the blues in the Mississippi Delta

Bus conductor on the Matara-Dikwella service

This is Krishantha’s father. Also known as “the old man”. Krishantha is restoring the house VW Beetle. Also known as “The Satsuma”.

Leaving an offering at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy

Young boys on the Mackwood Tea Plantation in Hill Country. No flies on them – they wanted Rs.20 (about 10 pence) for me to take their photograph.