The Gamaraala's Pittu Disaster

 Note: "Gamaraala" is a Sinhala term often used to refer to a village headman or a landowner. "Pittu" is a traditional Sri Lankan steamed rice cake.

 The Gamaraala's Pittu Disaster

Once upon a time, there was a Gamaraala who owned a large farmland. He had built a fence around it and planted various crops such as mung beans, sesame, kurakkan, pumpkins, bitter gourd, manioc, eggplant, and corn. The Gamaraala worked very hard on his farm, and his crops grew well.

As the harvest season approached, the Gamaraala realized he needed to guard his farm more closely, especially at night, as wild animals like deer and wild boars would often come and destroy his crops. So, he decided to stay at the farm overnight.

After a long day of work, the Gamaraala returned home and told his wife, "I can't let this continue. The wild boars are attacking my farm in large numbers. I'm going to stay at the farm tonight. Please prepare some food for me."

That evening, the Gamaraala took his supplies and set off for the farm.

On his way, he met a jackal. "Where are you going with all those things?" the jackal asked. "I'm going to stay at the farm to protect my crops. If you like, you can come with me too," the Gamaraala replied.

The jackal agreed and accompanied the Gamaraala. They built a bonfire and started guarding the farm.

After a few days, the wild animals stopped attacking the farm. One day, the Gamaraala suggested they make pittu for dinner. The jackal agreed, but they realized they didn't have the right equipment.

The Gamaraala decided to make pittu anyway. He grated coconut, ground the flour, and mixed them together. To steam the mixture, he needed a cloth to tie over the pot. Not finding any suitable cloth, he decided to use his sarong.

He tied the sarong over the pot, filled it with the batter, and placed it on the fire. As the pot heated up, the sarong caught fire. The Gamaraala was badly burned.

The jackal, seeing the Gamaraala in pain, laughed and ran away, saying, "What a foolish way to make pittu!"

Key Points in the Story:

• The Gamaraala's Dilemma: Protecting his farm from wild animals.
• The Jackal's Involvement: The jackal accompanies the Gamaraala but proves to be more of a hindrance than a help.
• The Pittu Disaster: The Gamaraala's attempt to make pittu ends in a comical mishap.