In the past, there was a remarkable specific rainy season in Sri Lanka, during which the whole day was gloomy and heavy rainfalls were experienced. Huge mass of water flowing down the elevated area behind our house, ran downhill covering the entire compound opposite the house.

When the passage of paper boats thrown to water by us were blocked by any object, we jumped into rain with uncovered head and released them. In no time we were fully wet and water was dripping over the whole body.

During the month of April, there were continuous lightening and thunder one after the other, either with or even without rain. Some coconut and ariconut trees of most of the lands were dead due to attacks of lightening.

Lands adjoining paddy fields and marshy lands and roads running between them were flodded during rainy sason. We used to drive rafts made out of banana stumps on flood water.


The other “miracle” we had observed in our childhood was huge comets with long tail in the sky. Once I saw a very long comet. As a small child, I saw it as spreading from one end to other end of the sky.

The rainbow in the sky appeared before and after rains was amazing scene to us.

The revolution has overturned the nature entirely. There is no remarkable, specific rainy season or lightening and thunder as such in April now. Now no flooding as we experienced in the past. According to some rumours, the floods are now subsided due to blast of rock blocking flow of water into sea at the estuary of Kelani river at Mutwal. Prevention of flooding is good to maintain accesses clear and to provide safety to properties and lives. But, occasional sudden change of environment by nature, covering vast stretches of marshy areas is a wonderful pleasing seen which provides immense pleasure also to children.

The present day children are not lucky to see comets either with long or short tail. Rainbows also not appear in sky frequently as those days.

Will we be unfortunate to see further adverse changes in future?