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Moon Plains – aura of magical splendor in Central Highlands By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated about nine kilometers from Nuwara Eliya town, Sandatenna (translated as Moon Plains) is an epitome of pristine beauty in the Central Highlands. Pidurutalagala, Horton Plains National Park and Hakgala Botanical Gardens are the most visited sites in Nuwara Eliya, whereas Moon Plains is a site rarely visited by the majority of tourists. Yet, it is an ideal site for those who like to admire spectacular vistas and capture the aura of magical splendor. This is an ideal place for nature enthusiasts as well as average tourists as the view from the summit of Moon Plains is similar to an epic scene, a place described in fairy tales. A magnificent platform has been constructed at the summit. Hence, visitors can see breathtaking vistas of the surroundings as well as the valley below. According to some foreign tourists, ...

Jul 2, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Badulla, Moon Plains, Nuwara Eliya, Uva Province

Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve – a habitat island in Kandy City By Arundathie Abeysinghe Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve also known as Wakara-watta (known by locals for decades) or Walker Estate (its former estate name) is a forest cover overlooking Kandy City (part of the forest reserve is within Kandy City) located at a height of approximately 548- 875 meters (1800 -3200 feet) above sea level. Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve is a semi-isolated, hill country wet-zone forest reserve situated in Kandy City. There are 13 endemic bird species, 29 endemic subspecies and 10 restricted range bird species in the forest reserve. As there are endemic as well as restricted species, Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve is considered as a habitat island in the midst of a city. As such, environmentalists are of the view that the forest reserve should be conserved due to its biological significance and unique features. The forest reserve has an area of approximately ...

Jun 25, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve, Kandy City, Knuckles Mountain Range

Kanniya hot water springs – mythical miracle in Trincomalee By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated in Trincomalee, Kanniya hot water springs also known as Kanniya hot wells is a popular tourist site visited by a large number of tourists daily. According to visitors and locals, water of these hot wells is renowned for their therapeutic healing powers. Due to the mineral composition of the water, there is a belief that the water cures skin ailments as well as arthritis. Locals believe that these healing properties are due to the ever present gods in the surroundings of these wells. According to archaeologists, the hot water springs had belonged to the Buddhist Monastery Complex of Velgam Vehera (Temple) Monastery also known as Vilgam Vihara (Temple) Monastery which spans over a large area. During archeological excavations, the foundation of the Buddha Statue, an old dagoba (stupa) and ruins of the Temple Complex had been ...

Jun 18, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Kanniya hot water springs, Ramayana, Rawana

18 hairpin bend road with spectacular vistas By Arundathie Abeysinghe Mist-clad mountain ranges, spectacular vistas, hamlets, waterfalls, scenic valleys, endemic fauna and flora…Viewing platforms with vistas of rivers, lakes, valleys as far as the eye can see…18 hairpin bends snaking through the mountains rendering a picture postcard effect… Popularly known as “Daha Ata Wanguwa” in Sinhala, the 18 hairpin bend road is the famous asphalted Kandy- Mahiyangana Road, a six kilometer drive set amidst a breathtaking landscape in the *Central Province of Sri Lanka, the road that links Kandy and *Mahiyangana. The beginning of the road starts approximately after 60 kilometers from Kandy City. In the past, this road was considered as the most dangerous road in Sri Lanka. A few years ago, the road was renovated and widened and the last bend of the road was removed, yet travelers as well as locals living in the vicinity call ...

Jun 11, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged 18 hairpin bend road, Arundathie Abeysinghe, Mahiyangana, Uwa Province

Kayman’s Gate – historic bell tower in Colombo City By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located at the intersection of Main Street and Fourth Cross Street in Pettah, the commercial hub of Colombo City, Kayman’s Gate (in Sinhala, Kaiman Dorakada) is a historic solitary grey bell tower which was an entrance to former Colombo Fort. St. John’s River, a canal that connected to Beira Lake was located outside the Gate. Waste from Colombo Fort had been dumped to this river. An integral symbol of Old *Ceylon, “Kayman’s Gate” is derived from the Dutch word “Kaaiman” meaning crocodile as a large number of mugger crocodiles (who flocked in large numbers to eat leftover meat and bones thrown out by Colombo City dwellers who lived inside the fortified bastion) swarmed the moat of Beira Lake. Colombo Fort was built and consolidated by the Portuguese during the Portuguese Colonial Era in 1554 as a defensive ...

Jun 3, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, historic bell, Kayman’s Gate, Kingdom of Kotte

New Colombo Plan: a pillar of Australia’s Public Diplomacy By Arundathie Abeysinghe The New Colombo Plan (NCP), a signature initiative of the Australian Government is a scholarship program offered to undergraduates in Australian Universities studying diverse disciplines in approximately 40 locations in the Indo-Pacific region. Scholars undertake study, internship or mentorship as well as language training during a 12 month period. The Australian Government has reinforced its public diplomacy endeavors in the Indo-Pacific region to persuade foreign public opinion. As such, the NCP is advocated as a pillar of the Australian Government’s Public Diplomacy Strategy emphasizing its accomplishments to foster a secure future for Australia in the Indo-Pacific region. NCP is a flexible mobility grants program for short and long term study, workshops, *practicum as well as research programs. The scholarship program is granted to scholars in partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), host ...

May 28, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Australian Government, Australian Universities, Practicum, The New Colombo Plan, Tony Abbot

Australia and Sri Lanka Naval Cooperation in the Indian Ocean: prospective extensive collaboration By Arundathie Abeysinghe Australia and Sri Lanka have a robust and enduring bilateral relationship of 74 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in May 1947. The Asia Pacific Nation and South Asian Island have close foreign relations from May 1947 to date. Australia’s expanding naval footprint in the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well as naval engagement between Canberra and Colombo indicates the expansion of maritime relationships across the Indo-Pacific which has transpired as a new geopolitical theatre. Australia’s defense cooperation with Sri Lanka since March 2019 indicates the stable development of intra-regional security collaboration in IOR. As such, on March 11, 2019, a Joint Task Force of four Royal Australian Navy ships, the Royal Australian Air Force as well as 1,000 military personnel arrived in Sri ...

May 21, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Australia and Sri Lanka Naval Cooperation, Australia and Sri Lanka Naval Cooperation in the Indian Ocean, SLOC, Trincomalee

Significance of the Indian Ocean Region for Australia By Arundathie Abeysinghe At present, oceans play a significant role in trade as well as commerce. The Indian Ocean is the world’s third largest body of water with approximately 50% of trade traversing the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Approximately, 50% of the world’s container traffic passes through the IOR, two thirds of the world’s maritime oil shipment, approximately one-third of bulk cargo transport and about 30% of world trade is also handled in the ports of this region. IOR comprises 38 littoral states, 24 ocean territories and 17 landlocked countries, including the hinterland and landlocked states of East Africa that utilize the Indian Ocean for trading and commercial purposes. The Indian Ocean is a vital conduit for global trade as well as it is home to many fast developing economies of the world. The Indian Ocean has strategic, political and economic ...

May 15, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Significance of the Indian Ocean, Sunda Strait, UNCLOS

Khan Clock Tower – popular landmark in Pettah By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated at the border of Colombo Fort, about a kilometer from the busy City Center and guarding the entrance to the market in *Pettah, Khan Clock Tower is a memorial to a father from his sons. Built in early 20th century by the family of Framjee Bhikhajee Khan, the clock tower is in good condition and well-maintained to date. Although, there is a fountain which is still in the premises of the clock tower, it is not functioning at present. The Clock Tower is approximately four storeyed and stands above the other buildings in the vicinity. Well-landscaped popular landmark built by Bhikhajee and Munchersaw Framjee Khan, the sons of Framjee Bhikhajee Khan was a token of ‘affectionate gratitude’ to their father. The clock tower was dedicated to residents of Colombo through Colombo Municipal Council on January 4th, 1923, ...

May 9, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Bombay, Colombo Fort, Deccan Plateau, Framjee Bhikhajee Khan

Reinforcing 74 years of Australia and Sri Lanka diplomacy By Arundathie Abeysinghe Australia and Sri Lanka have a robust and enduring bilateral relationship of 74 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in May 1947. The Asia Pacific Nation and South Asian Island have close foreign relations from May 1947 to date. In 1946, the Federal Minister for External Affairs, Commerce and Agriculture recommended to the Australian Parliament that Australia should be represented by a Commissioner in *Ceylon, as there was a likelihood of Ceylon being granted independence after India. Thus, in 1947, Mr. Charles William Frost, a Tasmanian ex-Labor Member of Parliament was posted as Australia’s first Commissioner to Ceylon. Sri Lanka also set up a High Commission in Canberra, Australia and Mr. J.A. Martensz, an appointed Member of the First Parliament of Ceylon assumed duties as the first High Commissioner of Ceylon in Canberra, Australia. With the ...

May 8, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Ceylon, South Asian Island, The Asia Pacific Nation