Coincidentally, considering the time of year, “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding”, a mystery story by the Queen of Intrigue, Agatha Christie, popped up as we were tidying the house for the season. Appropriate reading, we thought, for the December 25th weekend.

The Maha Willachchiya Project was 22 miles west of Anuradhapura in the Wilpattu intermediate zone. I assumed duties in May 1958, on transfer from Matara after serving there from mid 1955. May 1958 ended with the Sinhala- Tamil conflict and riots that began in Batticaloa and soon spread to all parts of the island including the sacred area of Anuradhapura.