Shrines and Offerings
Effigies of evil spirits and shrines by the roadside are just two of the many indications of how vital a role belief plays in srilankan's everyday lifeThe evidence of the invisible can be seen everywhere in Sri Lanka. No matter which religion , occupies their minds, Sri Lankans express their devotion through objects, sometimes valuable, sometimes less so,. but always colourful. Shrines sprout up almost anywhere, literally in the case of a Bo tree, which will be revered by Buddhists no matter where it grows. The most popular Hindu deities on the island include Skanda, venerated at Kataragama; Pattini, bringing health; and Ganesh, the remover of obstacles. There are also Hindu deities to be found in Buddhist temples, and Hindus recipro- cate by declaring Buddha to be an avatar or incarnation of Vishnu. Catholic saints are easily accepted as further additions to the accumulated clutter of religious images. 

Many of these religious images are brightly painted, which, for the visitor, adds to their charm. They are everyday objects expressing the spiritual side of daily life. The offerings presented are frequently modest a few petals or some small coins. The belief in demons or evil spirits is another source of inspiration for Sri Lankans.The supernatural is part of the daily routine, and plays an important part in the great ceremonies of birth, marriage and death. 

Alms - Giving and Buddha Pujas
Buddhist monks and nuns are forbidden to prepare their own food, and they are not supposed to eat after midday, a form of fasting that is a daily discipline. But there's no danger of going hungry thanks to the practice of dana or alms-giving. Providing food for monks is a religious duty for lay Buddhists by which they earn merit. lIs ancient origins are shown by the vast "rice boats" found in the ruins of Mihintale, which were filled with donated food. Today a monk is likely to have a regular lunch appointment with a devout family who are honoured to lay an extra place attable. Others go from door to door to beg for their morning meal. The meritorious act of giving assures the donor of a more advanced rebirth on the spiritual ladder. Food is also offered in temples- usually a tray of rice and curry placed before an image of the Buddha.