Punchihewa’s historical vignettes continue
View(s):The tenth in a series of books on vignettes of Sri Lankan life by veteran author late Gamini de S.G. Punchihewa was launched in Embilipitiya 
yesterday amidst a gathering of family and friends. The occasion also marked the third month commemoration of the author who passed away on April 11.
“History Flows along the Walawe River: Travels and Terrains”, is based on the author’s sojourns in the wilderness lands in transition in the regions of Balangoda, Kaltota and Uda Walawa in the 1990s. It records his interaction with the pioneer villagers who toil for survival yet embrace and nurture their environment.
Punchihewa does not forget, as in his previous publications, to immerse the reader in history and legend to do with the Walawa basin; tanks and temples, giants and monks, rare architectural feats of yesteryear – all this is placed before the reader within a lucid narrative.
This work is also an attempt to record for posterity some vignettes of significance of the agricultural civilization of the Walawa region, as seen during the rule of ancient kings, colonisers and post-independence rulers.
The eleven episodes recounted in this work are accompanied by images captured by Lalith Seneviratne.