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THE SECRET OF THE SANDS – by Bernard VanCuylenburg

AN ODYSSEY – THE SEARCH FOR HERITAGE (Part 2) – by Bernard VanCuylenburg

THE SECRET OF THE SANDS – by Bernard VanCuylenburg

THE SECRET OF THE SANDS – by Bernard VanCuylenburg Epilogue. Pursuant

THE SECRET OF THE SANDS. – By Bernard VanCuylenburg.

THE SECRET OF THE SANDS. – By Bernard VanCuylenburg. Epilogue.

From Little Things Big Things Grow – Antonians Who Excelled Beyond Excellence – By Bernard VanCuylenburg and SisiraWeragoda

From Little Things Big Things Grow – Antonians Who Excelled

AN ODYSSEY – THE SEARCH FOR HERITAGE (Part 2) – by Bernard VanCuylenburg

AN ODYSSEY – THE SEARCH FOR HERITAGE (Part 2) –

THE SECRET OF THE SANDS – by Bernard VanCuylenburg Epilogue. Pursuant to the articles which I wrote last year, “An Odyssey – A Search for Heritage, parts 1 and 2 “) following a foray into the cornucopia of ruins buried in deep jungle well off the beaten track, I embarked on a similar venture in March this year. I am passionately moved by the treasure trove of what could be the best in ancient Sinhala civilization, possibly the life force of Sinhala culture which remains buried in the sands still awaiting the archaeologists spade, and I wish to share my experience with a wider circle of lovers of history. Parting the veil of time, an unknown sculptor, architect, engineer, master craftsman, even a poet, reached out to me and held my hand leading me across the centuries in my quest. I read somewhere that “Quotations are thefts of other peoples wisdom.” ...

Apr 10, 2024 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged ancient ruins, ancient Sinhala civilization, ancient Sri Lankan architecture, archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Bernard VanCuylenburg, Buduruwayaya, Cultural heritage, Degaldoruwa Temple, Dr. Senerat Paranavitana, Embekka Dewalaya, Historical sites in Sri Lanka, Kimbulagala, King Dutugemunu, King Kasyappa, Lankathilaka Vihara, Mapagala, Panduwasnuwara, Ridi Vihara, SIGIRIYA, Sri Lankan archaeology, Sri Lankan folklore, Sri Lankan giants, Sri Lankan history, Sri Lankan landmarks, THE SECRET OF THE SANDS, Tourism in Sri Lanka, treasure hunting in Sri Lanka

THE SECRET OF THE SANDS. – By Bernard VanCuylenburg. Epilogue. Pursuant to the articles which I wrote last year, “An Odyssey – A Search for Heritage, parts 1 and 2 “) following a foray into the cornucopia of ruins buried in deep jungle well off the beaten track, I embarked on a similar venture in March this year. I am passionately moved by the treasure trove of what could be the best in ancient Sinhala civilization, possibly the life force of Sinhala culture which remains buried in the sands still awaiting the archaeologists spade, and I wish to share my experience with a wider circle of lovers of history. Parting the veil of time, an unknown sculptor, architect, engineer, master craftsman, even a poet, reached out to me and held my hand leading me across the centuries in my quest. I read somewhere that “Quotations are thefts of other peoples ...

Apr 10, 2024 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged Epilogue

From Little Things Big Things Grow – Antonians Who Excelled Beyond Excellence – By Bernard VanCuylenburg and SisiraWeragoda Prologue As an introduction to the subject of this article I had to choose a title which nails it all in just one line. It is the story of an academic miracle which emanated from a simple school in its infancy, St. Anthony’s College Katugastota, by a group of students who raised the bar of achievement and excellence in the prestigious London Matriculation Examination in 1934, with a 100% pass rate THUS OBTAINING THE BEST RESULTS IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE. It was a path breaking year for the College and a validation of the school’s excellence. Twelve students sat the examination that year of whom six obtained first division passes, and six obtained second division passes. Their names which should be emblazoned in letters of gold in the field of education will ...

Oct 24, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged Bernard VanCuylenburg, Rubeih Murray James, SisiraWeragoda, St.Anthony’s College-Katugastota

AN ODYSSEY – THE SEARCH FOR HERITAGE (Part 2) – by Bernard VanCuylenburg PROLOGUE. Saying “Goodbye” is never easy. The “Goodbyes” I bid to the Staff at Nilaveli Beach Hotel after a relaxed idyllic holiday following the first leg of my tour was hard. This was where I cut my teeth on life’s road and the ties that bind me to this Hotel were, and remain very strong. But there was a long road ahead, a road I never travelled before. Travice Ondaatjie, whose late Dad Mr.George Ondaatjie was my Boss when I worked for Nilaveli Beach Hotels Limited drove up to Nilaveli on Friday the 24th and told me that on Sunday the 26th March we would leave for Passekudah, Arugam Bay and travel down the Eastern seaboard right down to the Lahuggala National Park in Amparai to visit the archaeological sites there, and then head for Wellawaya and ...

May 3, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged An ancient Buddhist monastery, Arugam Bay, Galabedda Ancient Pond, Heritage of sri lanka, King Kavan Tissa, King Kelani Tissa, King Princess Suddha Devi, Kitulana National Park, l Neelagiri Maha Seya, Magul Maha Vihara, Muhudu Maha Vihara, Passekudah, Sri Lankan elephant

AN ODYSSEY – AND A SEARCH FOR HERITAGE. (PART 1) – by Bernard VanCuylenburg. PROLOGUE. Travel is an apt metaphor for life. There is a mystical side to any journey, specially to lesser known archaeological sites which one has never visited before. While travelling we realize that life cannot be wholly planned and controlled however much we prepare in advance for our own futures. Having visited the more famous historical treasures of ancient Ceylon some more than others, many of which are today World Heritage Sites, I surmised long ago from what I had seen, the limited research that I undertook, and the books I read, that Sri Lanka virtually groans under the weight of its cultural cachet, and there is much more to be revealed by the archaeologist’s spade which promises to be a cultural cornucopia. Illustrating this point, let me quote from the book “Essaying into Serendipity” ...

Apr 26, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged ANCIENT TEMPLES, Anuradhapura, BUDUGALA RAJA MAHA VIHARA., Kuragala Budhist Monastery Complex, THE DAMBADENIYA KINGDOM, THE KINGDOM OF YAPAHUWA., VESSAGIRI VIHARA IN ANURADHAPURA

FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG THINGS GROW – THE ANTHONIANS WHO EXCELLED BEYOND EXCELLENCE – by Bernard VanCuylenburg PROLOGUE. As an introduction to the subject of this article I had to choose a title which nails it all in just one line. It is the story of an academic miracle which emanated from a simple school in its infancy, St.Anthony’s College Katugastota, by a group of students who raised the bar of achievement and excellence in the prestigious London Matriculation Examination in 1934, with a 100% pass rate THUS OBTAINING THE BEST RESULTS IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE. It was a path breaking year for the College and a validation of the school’s excellence. Twelve students sat the examination that year of whom six obtained first division passes, and six obtained second division passes. Their names which should be emblazoned in letters of gold in the field of education, will be mentioned in this article. Paraphrasing ...

Oct 4, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged British Empire, Ceylon, College, school

AN ENDURING LEGACY – THE LIFE OF JUSTICE RANJIT AMERASINGHE – by Bernard VanCuylenburg PROLOGUE. “A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you”. This quotation by Shannon Alder the inspirational and oft quoted Author, goes a long way in describing Justice Ranjit Amerasinghe who had a passion for the Law, and in the words of Alder, carved his name not on tombstones but on hearts. A Supreme Court Justice in the USA the late Ruth Ginsburg, once told law students that they should use their degree – quote – “to make things better for other people. Lawyers committed to representing and helping their clients will find meaning and success in their professional life”. Ranjit went more than the extra mile in achieving, even surpassing this lofty ideal. A historical note is necessary to set the scene for the genesis of Ranjit’s academic career ...

Aug 31, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged George Denlow, Justice Ranjit Amerasinghe, Law, Lawyers, Saint Anthony's College Kandy, Supreme Court Justice, University in law

LIAM DODDRELL – ONWARDS AND UPWARDS – IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS FAMOUS GRAND DAD – LIAM DODDRELL MESMERIZES WITH BAT AND BALL – by Bernard VanCuylenburg EPILOGUE. The Grand Son of Anthonian Cricket great Charlie Joseph continues to weave a web of magic with bat and ball cutting a swathe of glory on the green turf ever since he began his cricket career as a junior, playing for his local club the St.Clair Hawks. Having advanced to grade cricket with the Penrith Cricket Club, Liam Doddrell has added another feather to his cap by winning the prestigious Basil Sellers Scholarship which will give him the opportunity to further his cricket career, not to mention the boost to his confidence ! I received an email from Liam’s Mum giving me the good news, together with an article in the local suburban journal which delighted cricket lovers everywhere. It is sure ...

Nov 13, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged "CRICKET, Bernard VanCuylenburg, Charlie Joseph, NSW Cricket, Penrith Cricket Club

THE GOOD THE BAD THE BITTER AND THE SWEET – by Bernard VanCuylenburg Life in the Boarding taught us from an early age to take the good and the bad, taste the bitter and the sweet, and face life squarely and stand our ground. When we left College, we were well rounded human beings (hopefully !) equipped to give life our best shot, no matter where the road of life took us. Sadly, that road took us in different directions and on leaving College, little did we realize that we would never see some of our childhood friends again. True to the script, destiny took us to lands far away, and most may have lost touch with our fellow boarders and schoolmates as the years passed. This email I’m afraid is not all peaches and cream, because I have detailed below a list of Antonians, I knew who have departed this life. ...

Jul 20, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged Bernard VanCuylenburg, Mr.Miller., THE GOOD THE BAD, Tissaweerasinghe

NIGHT OF TERROR DAWN OF HOPE. – By Bernard VanCuylenburg PROLOGUE Please note that the names of the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent in this story are pseudonymns used for reasons of journalistic propriety. The officer in Charge of the Maskeliya Police Station at the time Mr.Ivan Boteju, a star athlete and an old boy of St.Anthony’s College Kandy, passed away about fifteen years ago. The name of the plantation too has been substituted by a pseudonym. The shades of night began to fall when the sun said ‘goodbye’ to the mountains. Then the mists began rolling in, embracing the landscape of green tea in its mantle, and another busy day on this large tea plantation was ensconced in the bosom of the nights stygian darkness. In his large estate bungalow a young Assistant Superintendent Tony Richards then a bachelor, settled down to his usual routine. Pouring himself a stiff ...

Aug 4, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged Bernard VanCuylenburg, Ivan Boteju, Mr.Dunsmore, St.Anthony’s College, Tony Richards Comments 0