The railway network was introduced by the British colonial government in 1864. The main reason for building a railway system in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was to transport tea and coffee from the hill country to Colombo. Initially the service began with the Main Line of 54 kilometres connecting Colombo and Ambepussa. Sir Guilford Lindsey Molesworth became the first chief engineer and later Director General of the government railways. During this time, many Sri Lankans referred to the trains as the Anguru Kaka Wathura Bibi Duwana Yakada Yaka (the coal-eating, water-drinking, sprinting, metal devils).Though the British established the railway system, the golden era of Sri Lanka Railways was during 1955–1970 under the management of B.D Rampala, the most respected chief mechanical engineer and later General Manager of CGR. Rampala worked to maintain punctuality and improve comfort. He led the upgrading of major railway stations outside Colombo, and the rebuilding of the track in the Eastern Province to facilitate heavier and faster trains. He launched express trains, many of which were given iconic names. In effect, he ensured that Sri Lanka's railway system was up-to-date in technology and offering greater comfort to its passengers. Mr Chander, Station Master at Haputale train station. Haputale, Sri Lanka, 2014

Sri Lankan children forced to become monks, endure abuse and manipulation in Buddhist monasteries. Below is an excerpt from a newspaper article debating the dedication of children to the temples. (Source: LankaNewspapers.com - Sri Lanka August 28, 2010) "The system of dedicating children to the Temples and religion goes back many centuries. These children who are given away to the Temples at an early age are too young to understand the religion, politics or child abuse. The Hindu India not only banned the practice of animal sacrifice but it also banned the dedication of children at an early age to the Temples and monasteries. I think slaughtering animals in the Temples for religious purposes is cruel and primitive and so is the dedication of young children to the Temples, monasteries and religious sects. When they can`t even decide what to eat, how can they decide whether they want to become a monk or a layman. In my view this is primitive and cruel and the Buddhist Sri Lanka`s political leader must pay attention to that, and stop this sordid practice. The child monks are torn away from their poor Sinhala Buddhist parents by radical Buddhist sects to serve as foot soldiers in their attempt to foist Sinhala chauvinism upon the country. Rampant Buddhism and violent self-seeking political monks have been the bane of Sri Lankan politics. The poor Sinhala village boys, mainly to young to understand religion or politics, are being coerced into joining these Buddhist, chauvinist movements with the lure of street power, economic betterment and a secure life. The child monks with their cherubic faces and indoctrinated minds will appeal to these masses on the emotional and fanatically religious plane. Gananath Obeyesekere, an anthropology professor at Princeton University, says the campaign targets children as young as 5 years of age even though Theravada Buddhism doctrine states that a boy must be at least 15 years of age to become a monk."

Homeless person in the streets of Kandy. Sri Lanka, 2014.