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Quaint By-Ways and Nature’s Ways in Colombo in the 1940s-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Hugh Karunanayake, courtesy of THE CEYLANKAN, vol XXI/1, January 2018 where the title is “A Naturalist’s Paradise–Colombo in the 1940s” Padda boats along the Negombo Canal Growing up in mid twentieth century Colombo was a fascinating experience to any young person.  That was the era when urban growth was taking place  at a pace that afforded local fauna to thrive at will without any restrictions.  Colombo South  with its tree lined avenues  and  homes with spacious gardens  provided sanctuary to a wide range of fauna ranging from avi fauna to reptiles. As a five year old  just admitted to Royal Preparatory School  I was mesmerised  by the “golden beetles” that lived in the Andara trees that stood on the perimeter of the school grounds on Racecourse Avenue. Many of us five year olds fascinated by the shiny green gold sheen of the ...