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“Arisi Malai” – beach with unique sand – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon is an island country in South Asia situated in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar as well as the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka is rapidly gaining global recognition as one of the most beautiful beach destinations in the world. The island nation offers diverse landscapes from spectacular mountains, rolling carpets of tea, cascading waterfalls, rainforests to endless kilometers of white sandy beaches. *Trincomalee, popularly referred to as “Trinco” by many Sri Lankans, is home to an uninterrupted stretch of spectacular coastline with crystal clear white sandy beaches and clear blue waters that stretch for almost 30 kilometers. Trincomalee is home to some of the most breathtaking beaches in Sri Lanka including Nilaveli Beach, Uppuveli, ...

Oct 6, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged beach, Kuchchaveli, Marble Beach, Mountain of Rice, Nilaveli Beach, Sri Lanka, sri lankan beach, Trinco, Trincomalee, Uppuveli

Isinbassagala Ruwangiri Rajamaha Viharaya – temple with historical significance – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated on the summit of a rock plateau, Isinbassagala Ruwangiri Rajamaha Viharaya (“Isinbassagala” meaning “the rock that the sage came from”) is a temple with historical significance. The stupa of the Temple is situated on a rock plateau approximately 160 meters (530 feet) high. Yet, it is not difficult to climb this rocky plateau. The Temple can be seen at a distance, the greatest attraction of the location. According to scholars, the Temple Complex has been constructed by King Devanampiyathissa (250-210 BC), immediately after the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by *Arhat Mahinda. The second stupa constructed in Sri Lanka after the arrival of Arhat Mahinda is also located in the Temple. Hence, this temple is a historical site. Located in *Medawachchiya in the *Anuradhapura District, for thousands of years, sages and Arhats had lived in ...

Sep 30, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Anuradhapura District, Arhat Mahinda, Bo Tree, Buddha Statues, Isinbassagala Ruwangiri Rajamaha Viharaya, King Devanampiyathissa, Mahawamsa, Medawachchiya, Sri Lanka, Sri Pathul Gala, The Temple

Teldeniya – location of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” – By Arundathie Abeysinghe From thick jungles to spectacular mountains, cascading waterfalls, central hills carpeted with tea, endemic flora and fauna to idealistic beaches, spectacular surfing beaches on the east, kite surfing adventures by the lagoon in the west, the island nation also offers an abundance of paddy fields dotted with farmers, a showcase of Sri Lankan village life. Sri Lanka meaning “a resplendent isle” (in Sinhala) and the country living up to its name has everything a film producer would need to make a film, yet, set within 65,610 kilometers (25,332 miles) with a total coastline of 1,340 kilometers (832.6 miles), accessible within a short time. Released on May 23, 1984, in the USA with a record-breaking $45.7 million in its first week, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”, the second installment in the Indiana Jones franchise ...

Sep 22, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged American action-adventure film, J.R. Jayewardene, Mahaweli River, Queen Elizabeth II, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan village, Steven Spielberg, Teldeniya, The Bridge, victoria Dam

“Kurule Kele” – haven for avifauna aficionados – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Sri Lanka is a resplendent island abundant in amazing and exciting locations in every corner due to its tropical richness and natural surroundings. Sri Lanka is also blessed with a wide variety of flora and fauna and one of the significant locations for ornithology due to the abundance of bird life and a popular destination for avifauna aficionados. Of the 427 recorded feathered species in the country, 250 are residents and 23 are endemic with a variety of ecological areas such as the hill country to jungles and forests, wet to dry zones as well as low lands. Hence, avifauna aficionados observe and research about these colorful feathered species while basking in the glory of the spectacular vistas… Apart from popular Bird Sanctuaries such as Kumana National Park (Sri Lanka’s foremost Bird Sanctuary) Attidiya Bird Sanctuary, Bundala Bird Sanctuary, ...

Sep 15, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Attidiya Bird Sanctuary, Dedigama Kota Vehera, jungles and forests, Kegalle town, Kumana National Park, lowland wet zone, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl

“Damila Maha Seya” – incomplete archaeological site By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located in the ancient city complex of *Polonnaruwa covering an area of approximately 1.6 hectares (four acres), “Damila Maha Seya” also known as “Damila Thupa” or “Demala Maha Seya” is an incomplete stupa constructed during the reign of King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186) utilizing labor of Tamil prisoners brought from India when he attacked the *Chola Kingdom of South India. Due to some unknown reason, the King had been unable to complete the Stupa. This stupa is similar to *Kota Vehera in Dedigama and *Yudaganawa Stupa (considered as the location of King Parakramabahu’s mother’s cremation). This gigantic incomplete stupa is located between *Gal Viharaya and *Thivanka Pilimage and is at present, a protected archaeological site. Scholars are of the view that, although, King Parakramabahu I has planned this 12th century stupa of 186 meters (570 feet) height as the world’s largest ...

Sep 8, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Anuradhapura, Damila thupa, Demala Maha Seya, Gal Viharaya, Jethawanarama Complex, King Parakramabahu, Mahawamsa, plonnaruwa ancient places, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, Thivanka Pilimage, Unagala Vehera, UNESCO

Mahakanadarawa Stone Bridge – skilled craftsmanship of yesteryear – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Centuries ago, Sri Lankans had well-planned infrastructure, irrigation systems including well-constructed tanks supplying water for agricultural purposes, architectural marvels such as cave temples, dagobas (stupas), well-designed palaces, meditation houses, audience halls and a superior road network as well as bridges… During the early period of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, the main administrative centers were *Anuradhapura and Magama in *Ruhuna with a highway linking these two cities. A road network also connected Anuradhapura with Jambukolapattana (Dambakola Patuna) in the Jaffna Peninsula, Mathota or Mahatitta (also known as Manthai) near Mannar and *Trincomalee (known as Gokanna). These three ports served as the most significant trade centers. Anuradhapura-Dambakolapatuna Road was via the villages of Rambeva, Omanthai, Pavatkulam and Vavunikulam. There were several stone bridges including those in close proximity to Anuradhapura over the Malwathu Oya (“Oya” meaning stream in Sinhala) and another ...

Aug 31, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged agricultural purposes, ancient Sri Lankans, Anuradhapura, architectural marvels, Bridge at Mahakanadarawa, Galpalama, Mahakanadarawa Stone Bridge, Mahakanadarawa Wewa, Malwathu Oya, meditation houses, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, tanks supplying water, Tiriyaya, Trincomalee

Thonigala Rock Inscriptions – steeped in legend – By Arundathie Abeysinghe There are many places in Sri Lanka known as “Thonigala” and two locations have the same historical as well as archeological significance. One location is situated at the 6th Mile Post in *Vavuniya-*Horowpathana Road. This location is well-known due to the rock inscriptions engraved on a low flat hummock of gneiss rock, approximately two meters (eight feet) towards south of the ruins of a small rubble-built stupa (dagoba) that describes a banking system that existed in the 4th Century. Also known as Toṇigala (Thonigala) or Nagaragala, the location is situated in the jungle approximately 9.5 kilometers (6 miles) from Vavuniya, in close proximity to the border between Northern Province and North-Central Province of Sri Lanka These inscriptions were recorded by Henry Parker in 1886 and they were listed in the Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of Ceylon of ...

Aug 24, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Anamaduwa, Horowpathana Elephant Holding Ground, King Wattagamini Abaya, Mahawamsa, North-Central Province, Professor Senarath Paranavitana, Sri Lanka

Adam’s Bridge – indicating a primordial bond – By Arundathie Abeysinghe A chain of pale gold limestone shoals that stretch between *Mannar Island, off the Northwestern coast of Sri Lanka and Rameswaram, off the Southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu indicate an ancient connection between Sri Lanka and India by land. According to chronicles, during the British Colonial Era, the British had named this chain of limestone shoals as “Adam’s Bridge” after the theistic legend regarding *Adam, the first man on the Earth. The British were of the view that Adam had used this bridge to reach *Adam’s Peak. The Bridge is also known as “Rama’s Bridge” or “Ram Setu”. The Indian epic *Ramayana has also described a bridge over the ocean connecting India with Sri Lanka. According to the epic the credit of constructing the Bridge is attributed to the ape army that was assisting *Rama in his war ...

Aug 17, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Adams Bridge, British Colonial, Central Province, Ram Setu, Sri Lanka

Belumgala – defense fortress of Kandyan hills – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located in *Kadugannawa Gap approximately 10 kilometers from *Pilimathalawa, Belumgala Rock offers spectacular vistas of the environs as far as the eye can see including surreal vistas of Kadugannawa valley. Many visitors hike the adjacent small rock, believing it to be Belumgala, mistakenly. Belumgala is visible from *Pahala Kadugannawa viewpoint too. Also spelt as “Balumgala”, the mountain was thus named due to its strategic location as a place of defense. Considered as a silent defender of Kandyan hills, Colombo-Kandy Road can be seen clearly for many kilometers from the summit of Belumgala. As the location was a great boon for Sinhalese soldiers tracking enemy invasions, the mountain was known as “Belumgala” (meaning viewing mountain in Sinhala) for centuries. During the *Kandyan Kingdom, Sinhalese soldiers had been dispatched to this location and it had served as a major checkpoint when ...

Aug 10, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Belumgala Mountain, Belumgala Rock, Gampola, Kadugannawa, Kandyan hills, Kandyan Kingdom, Pilimathalawa, Sri Lanka

“Kota Vehera” – commemoration of a royal birth – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated approximately 15 kilometers from *Kegalle, Dedigama “Kota Vehera” also known as “Suthigara Seya” or “Suthigara Dagoba” (“suthikagaraya” meaning place of birth) is a dome-shaped shrine comprising relics of the Buddha or an *Arhat. According to *Mahawamsa, King Manabharana, a sub-king of *Ruhuna lived in exile in Dedigama. He has used “Punkhagama” (present Dedigama) as his capital city during his reign. The Suthigara dagoba (or stupa is a shrine that contains sacred relics) gets its name from the word “suthikagaraya” (meaning place of birth). Queen Rathnavali gave birth to a baby boy (who later reigned as King Parakramabahu I also known as King Parakramabahu the Great – 1153-1186) in the place where the stupa is located. This stupa has been constructed by King Parakramabahu as a memorial for the location, he was born. According to typical architectural style ...

Aug 4, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Damila thupa, Dedigama Museum, King Manabharana, Mahawamsa, Sri Lanka, Suthigara Dagoba, Suthigara Seya