1.
LS ADAM'S PEAK
2 1/2 ft

2.
LS GATE TO ADAM'S PEAK
4 ft

3.
MLS DEVOTEES BATHING AT A WATERFALL NEAR THE PEAK
6 1/2 ft

4.
MS DEVOTEES CLIMBING TO THE PEAK (2 SHOTS)
12 ft

5.
MS POLICE SIGN POST
13 ft

6.
MS POLICE STATION
15 ft

7.
LS DEVOTEES CLIMBING UP HILL
17 ft

8.
MS AN OLD MAN WALKING UP THE HILL
20 1/2 ft

9.
MLS DEVOTEES REACHING SHRINE WITH OFFERING (2 SHOTS)
24 ft

10.
MS DEVOTEES PRAYING (4 SHOTS)
32 ft

11.
LS DEVOTEES AT PEAK
35 1/2 ft

12.
LS SUNRISE
37 ft

13.
MS DEVOTEES DESCENDING AFTER PRAYING AT SHRINE
41 ft

14.
LS DEVOTEES DESCENDING TO GO TO NEARBY REST HOUSE
44 ft

15.
MS OLD WOMAN SPREADING OUT THREAD
47 ft

16.
MS OLD MAN BEING HELPED TO DESCEND
49 ft

17.
LS DEVOTEES DESCENDING
51 ft



Initials CAR/S/MK/GAP/AMR



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THOUSANDS OF CEYLONESE ON APRIL 28 AND 29 CLIMBED THE ISLAND'S 7,360-FOOT ADAM'S PEAK TO PAY THEIR ANNUAL HOMAGE TO A SLAB-COVERED FOOT-PRINT, HOUSED IN A SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED SHRINE.

THE DEVOTEE, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD, CONSISTED OF BUDDHISTS, CHRISTIANS, HINDUS AND MUSLIMS, WHO CAME FROM ALL OVER THE ISLAND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CLIMB THROUGH THICK TROPICAL JUNGLE.

THEY CARRIED WITH THEM FLOWERS AND OTHER OFFERINGS.SOME OLD WOMEN BROUGHT ALONG THREAD WHICH THEY LATER UNWOUND NEAR THE SHRINE TO COMMEMORATE THE SPOT WHERE LORD BUDDHA WAS SAID TO HAVE SEWN A ROBE.MOST OF THE DEVOTEES WERE HEAVILY DRESSED TO COMBAT THE COLD.AND MIDWAY UP THE PEAK, A TEMPORARY POLICE STATION WAS ERECTED TO DEAL WITH PICKPOCKETS AND OTHER MISCREANTS.

THE CHRISTIANS BELIEVE THE IMPRINT TO BE THAT OF FATHER THOMAS, THE MUSLIMS, THAT OF ADAM, AND THE HINDUS, THAT OF SHIVA, THE WELL-KNOWN HINDU DEITY.

THE SINHALA BUDDHISTS BRUSHED ASIDE ALL THESE CLAIMS AND SAID THAT IT WAS LEFT BY KING DEVANAMPIYA TISSA, WHEN HE EMBRACED BUDDHISM.

THE SINHALA BUDDHISTS HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PEAK FROM AS FAR BACK AS B.C.236.

FROM THE VERY FIRST DAYS OF THE INTRODUCTION OF BUDDHISM TO CEYLON, ADAM'S PEAK AND ITS SURROUNDING HAVE BEEN THE MEDITATING CENTRE OF MONKS.

ON THE WAY UP TO THE PEAK, THE RESPECTIVE DEVOTEES STOPPED BY A WATERFALL TO BATH, IN AN EFFORT TO PURIFY THEMSELVES BEFORE COMMENCING THE CLIMB.

SOME OF THEM STAYED OVERNIGHT AT THE SHRINE.IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING, THEY WATCHED THE BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE.