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Dutch Hospital – aura of Colonial Era Architecture By Arundathie Abeysinghe Nestled among skyscrapers and situated within the hustle and bustle of Colombo Fort, Old Colombo Dutch Hospital, popularly known as “Dutch Hospital” dates to Dutch Colonial Era of *Ceylon. The Dutch Hospital had been constructed in 1600s as a hospital to treat Dutch Soldiers, Dutch Sailors as well as officers of the Dutch East India Company due to the close proximity of the Building to Colombo Harbor. Dutch Hospital is considered as one of the oldest buildings in Colombo. Considered as a heritage building, the Building is a well-maintained shopping and dining precinct at present. The Building, although constructed during the Dutch Colonial Era has been influenced by tropical requirements as well as local building style of Ceylon during that period, and is different from Colonial Era Structures in Ceylon. With red clay roof tiles, boxy pillars, a ...

Feb 9, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Ceylon, Dutch Hospital, Paul Herman, Verandah

Arthur’s Seat Viewing Deck – lookout point in Kandy City By Arundathie Abeysinghe Arthur’s Seat or Kandy View Point is a mesmerizing lookout point situated in Kandy City. Arthur’s Seat is ranked fifth out of 105 tourist attractions in Kandy. It is situated about 550 meters above sea level, southwest of Kandy Lake, a few meters past Royal Palace Park (Wales Park or Wace Park) at Rajapihilla Mawatha. According to folklore Mr. Arthur, a British Tea Planter lived in a bungalow during the British Colonial Era above the viewpoint. Planter Arthur had viewed Kandy City seated on a stone seat under a tree and it was his popular viewpoint. He had used this place to view Kandy City and its surroundings seated on a stone seat under a tree in front of his bungalow. The view from this point is superb during the day and night, a bird’s eye view. This is ...

Feb 6, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arthur's Seat Viewing, Arundathie Abeysinghe, Kandy, Kandy Municipal Council, lookout point in Kandy City

Baobab Tree – iconic landmark in Mannar By Arundathie Abeysinghe Baobab Tree (Adansonia), an indigenous tree in Africa is a landmark in Pallimunai in*Mannar located on the northeastern tip of Mannar Island about 1.5 kilometers away from Mannar town. A popular tourist attraction in the town, Baobab Tree in Mannar is about 700 – 800 years old (according to a study conducted in 2003). There are about 40 Baobab Trees in Sri Lanka, but this is the oldest as well as the largest tree in the country. The other trees in Sri Lanka are about 300 – 400 years old. A strange looking tree with a short stubby trunk of enormous girth, trees attain heights of around 5 – 30 meters and the trunk measures about 7 – 10 meters. It is estimated that these trees live up to 2000 – 6000 years. The outsized trunk of a Baobab ...

Jan 31, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Baobab Tree, Baobab Trees in Sri Lanka

Raja Museum – tribute to an honored elephant in Asia By Arundathie Abeysinghe Raja the Maligawa tusker or Maligawa Raja (meaning Raja of Dalada Maligawa – Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy) was the sacred casket bearer of Kandy *Esala Perahera (procession) for over 50 years as well as the sacred casket bearer in the *Randoli Perahera for 37 years. Raja was the most honored and dignified elephant in Asia during his lifetime. Raja (1913 – 1988) was globally renowned for his dignified manners during the procession. Former President J.R. Jayewardene declared Raja as a national treasure in 1986 for his valuable services to the religion (Buddhism) and culture of Sri Lanka, two years before his death at the age of 75. Raja was respected by the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic during his lifetime as well as after his death. Taxidermy experts preserved the dead animal’s ...

Jan 31, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Basnayake Nilame, Devale, Esala Perahera, honored elephant in Asia, Raja, Waluwwa

Ranmasu Uyana – paradigm of garden architecture By Arundathie Abeysinghe Parks were a prominent feature of city planning during Ancient Kingdoms even before Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka during the era of King Devanampiyatissa (247 BC – 207 BC). According to chronicles, after the arrival of *Arhat Mahinda, King Devanampiyatissa had donated these parks to Buddhist monks to be used as Buddhist hermitages. According to chronicles, Ranmasu Uyana (meaning Gold Fish Park) had been used as a pleasure garden (Magul Uyana in Sinhala) for the sensual enjoyment by royals, an alternative to those donated to Buddhist monks. The Park has beautiful, plants, trees, vines as well as flowering shrubs as described in literary texts of Sinhala Literature, beauty and elegance of yesteryear. According to Professor Senake Bandaranayake, former Professor of Archaeology: “Sri Lanka is perhaps the only country in South Asia where we still have substantial archaeological remains ...

Jan 25, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Anuradhapura, Arhat Mahinda, Arundathie Abeysinghe, Bawa Chakra, Isurumuniya Monastery, Mahawamsa, Ranmasu Uyana, Sakwala Chakraya, Vessagiri

Audience Hall Kandy – location of a historic event By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located between Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) and Royal Palace of Kandy, the Audience Hall also known as Magul Maduwa (in Sinhala) or Assembly Hall, the place where the Kandyan Kings had held courts during the Kandyan Kingdom (where Kandyan Kings met their ministers). The Audience Hall had also been used for cultural as well as religious purposes during the Kandyan Kingdom. The Hall was also known as “Maha Naduwa” or Royal Court by locals as the building was used by the King as the courts. During the Kandyan Kingdom, the King had met Ambassadors from different countries in this hall for official purposes, exchanged official documents (between *Ceylon and foreign countries), gifts as well as discussions had been held between the King, his Senior Officers and Ambassadors. Many key events had taken place at this ...

Jan 25, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Ceylon, D. M. Waidyasekera, Kandyan Convention, Kandyan Kingdom, Keppetipola Disawe, Madugalle Disawe, Sri Wickramrajasinghe, Temple of the Sacred Tooth, Uva Province, Uva Rebellion

Fort Frederick in Trincomalee – emblazoned with colonial insignia By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated about four kilometers from Trincomalee town center, Fort Frederic also known as Trincomalee Fort or Fort Triquillimale is a fort built by the Portuguese. The Fort was built in 1624 CE on Swami Rock Konamamali from the debris of world renowned ancient Hindu Temple, Koneswaram Temple (Temple of Thousand Pillars). The Temple was destroyed by *Constantino de Sá de Noronha under Phillip II. Fort Triquillimale was dismantled and rebuilt by the Dutch in 1665 and renamed it as Fort Frederick. Later, the Temple was rebuilt. Originally, Fort Triquillimale has been a triangular shape. The triangular fort had been outfitted with artillery bastions with the objective defending against British invaders. In 1795, during the British Colonial Era, the British took over Fort Frederick and added artillery to the Fort. The gateway of the Fort which pierces the ...

Jan 20, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Ceylon, King Philip II of Spain, Mahavamsa, Philip II, Ramayana, Trincomalee

Sarachchandra Open Air Theatre – spectacular amphitheatre By Arundathie Abeysinghe Sarachchandra Open Air Theatre is located at the center of *University of Peradeniya. It is named in memory of *Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra. Built according to the architectural style of ancient Greek Theatres, it is a spectacular theatre and is popularly known as “Wala” (meaning pit in Sinhala due to its shape) among undergraduates at the University and drama enthusiasts. According to drama enthusiasts, the Theatre is also called “watching place” as spectators sit on the stone steps created on a slope. Built in 1950s, the space where the theatrical performances take place is semi-circular with stone steps for spectators. A large number of spectators can be accommodated in this space. This is the venue for the majority of dramas which take place at the University. Acoustics have played a vital role in the construction of this theatre as spectators seated ...

Jan 17, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Maname, Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Sinhabahu, University of Peradeniya

Galway’s Land National Park – montane ecosystem in Nuwara Eliya By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated about two kilometers from Nuwara Eliya on the outskirts of the town, Galway’s Land National Park is one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka with an extent of 29 hectares. Located towards east of Nuwara Eliya town, the Park is popular among people of all walks of life, yet not an overcrowded place ideal for a leisurely stroll while admiring the breathtaking scenery of the surroundings. Galway’s Land National Park was initially declared as a wildlife sanctuary on May 27, 1938 and was declared as a national park on May 18, 2006 to conserve the montane ecosystem within the Park. Galway’s Land National Park is named after Colonel Galway, a British Army Officer who arrived in *Ceylon in the 19th century. He was presented with the land of the Park by the British ...

Jan 16, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Ceylon, Galway’s Land, Nuwara Eliya

Batadombalena Cave – journey into the past By Arundathie Abeysinghe Verdant vistas of spectacular mountains… Silver streams with crystal clear water…Cascading waterfalls…Huge trees towering into the green gloom of the surrounding…Icy cold streams flowing down the slopes… Tall trees covered with wild creepers creating weird shapes in the thick jungle similar to prehistoric monsters…Pools of water among the rocks home to diverse small fish, crabs and frogs… Biodiversity rich forests with endemic fauna and flora… Situated in close proximity to *Kuruwita about 90 kilometers from Colombo, Batadombalena Cave is the home of the prehistoric *‘Balangoda Man’ (Homo sapiens balangodensis) where the Caves reveal a significant landmark in human paleontology, the remains of prehistoric man. Situated below the rainforests of *Adam’s Peak, Batadombalena Cave is an archeological treasure trove. The Caves are located behind a gently cascading waterfall, a mesmerizing site. From the summit of the rock, a thin sheet ...

Jan 12, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged ADAMS PEAK, Balangoda, Balangoda man, Embilipitiya, Kalutara, Kelani River, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province