Sri Lanka - Tamil Lady

Tamil Lady, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 

Sri Lanka - Ceylon: Snake Charmer with Cobra

Ceylon: Snake Charmer with Cobra
1950

the 'Sender' writes:

Dear Doctor,
Ceylon, land of contrast, in its remote areas lived the Veddas, a primitive folk, probably direct descendants of an ancient civilization.  But there is another Ceylon, of modern stores, fine hospitals.  In them you'll find PENTOTHAL - agent of choice in intravenous anesthesia the world over.    - Abbott

sent to a doctor at the General Hospital in Syracuse, New York

the small letters down the center of the postcard are "Pentothal (Thiopental, Abbott) - so this is a very clever advertising postcard for Pentothal!

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Sodium thiopental, better known as Sodium Pentothal (a trademark of Abbott Laboratories), is a rapid-onset short-acting general anaesthetic. It is a drug on the "Essential Drugs List", for any basic healthcare system.

It is used for: anesthesia, medically induced coma, lethal injection, psychiatry, and in some areas of the world it is used in a truth serum.

Sri Lanka - Ceylon, A Teal Plucker on a Plantation

A Tea Plucker in the plantations of Ceylon.
1958

the sender writes:
Ceylon is certainly colorful.  The people are friendly and smiling.

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Tea production in Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, is of high importance to the Sri Lankan economy and the world market. The country is the world's fourth largest producer of tea and the industry is one of the country's main sources of foreign exchange and a significant source of income for laborers, with tea accounting for 15% of the Gross Domestic Product, generating roughly $700 million annually.

In 1995 Sri Lanka was the world's leading exporter of tea, (rather than producer) with 23% of the total world export, but it has since been surpassed by Kenya. The tea sector employs, directly or indirectly over 1 million people in Sri Lanka. The humidity, cool temperatures, and rainfall in the country's central highlands provide a climate that favors the production of high quality tea.

Sri Lanka - Animals from Yala National Park

Island of Sri Lanka
Photograph by Juergen Schreiber

Yala National Park
(featuring an elephant, peacock, deer, jaguar and falcon / eagle)
2013

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Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi).

The park consists of five 'blocks', two of which are now open to the public, and also adjoining parks. The blocks have individual names such as, Ruhuna National Park (block 1) and Kumana National Park or 'Yala East' for the adjoining area.

Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is also important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants and aquatic birds.

Sri Lanka - Polonnaruwa, a Stupa: Rankot Vihara

Island of Sri Lanka
Photograph by Juergen Schreiber

Polonnaruwa
2013

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Polonnaruwa is a town in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka.

The second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I in 1070.

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A stupa (literally meaning "heap") is a mound-like or semi-hemispherical structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the ashes of Buddhist monks and used by Buddhists as a place of meditation.

Shown in the postcard above is the stupa: Rankot Vihara