It was in the year 1964 when I first received my appointment in a government institution in Mahiyangana. I proceeded by car passing the hair-pin bends and Hasalaka. I crossed the Weragantota bridge the entrance to Mahiyangana from Kandy. It was well after dusk and apart from the headlights of the car there was darkness around interspersed with the lights of glow worms and an occasional light from a bottle lamp that illuminated a hut.

I paused at the first hut and asked a house holder when the electricity would come on. It was a foolish question that I had asked. The response was "Mahaththaya, we have not had electricity since the day I was born 30 years ago." My face fell with disappointment. I had obviously not done my homework regarding amenities available in Mahiyangana. The next question was whether I could find a place to stay the night. There was a rest house about 1 1/2 miles away and I was given directions. After a tedious journey I reached the rest house. It had a vacant room. I was thankful for small mercies.

I lived most of the time in Colombo and its suburbs where we had the benefit of electricity throughout the day and night with an occasional power failure. This was a new experience which I had to live with and one which I value to this day - living with darkness and minimal comfort.

The institution I worked in did not have electricity nor was there any in this hamlet. After dusk it was the Petromax lamp, Aladin lamp, hurricane lantern, bottle lamp and torch were our constant companions. In 2002 I drove into Mahiyangana. As I crossed the Weragantota bridge and entered Mahiyangana ironically there was darkness. Mahiyangana was experiencing the routine power cuts - so was it throughout the island. I recalled this same scenario 38 years’ ego. A few emergency lamps were seen now, candles a common sight, a few bottle lamps and no glow worms. I recalled with nostalgia the simple folk I remember then, satisfied with the bare essentials a lesson I will carry to my grave.

I wondered whether we were moving backwards, sideways or at a tangent. Oh no! I think we have moved forward but only just.
Aravinda Gautamadasa
Nawala