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Japanese “Peace Pagoda” in Sri Lanka. By Dr.Gamini Kariyawasam. Rumassala, known to colonialists as Buona Vista, is the subject of many legends. It is featured in the Ramayana, as the home of the beautiful Queen Sita. According to the Ramayana, it is also said that Hanuman dropped a chunk of ‘Himalaya’ at Unawatuna (Onna Vetuna – ‘here it fell’) to form the present mountain, where many medicinal plants still grow. There is a major magnetic anomaly near Unawatuna, which Arthur C. Clarke attributes to a meteorite strike, and it is said that satellites lose their orbits with unusual frequency overhead. The Portuguese had a dreadful reputation in Sri Lanka as looters and pirates, are said to have given false light signals from Rumassala to lure unsuspecting Arab trading ships onto the rocks. Mythical Legend According to legend, the Monkey-warrior Hanuman was sent back to India to fetch the four medicinal ...

Aug 26, 2023 Posted by In Articles, Dr. Gamini Kariyawasam Tagged , , , , , ,
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Nuwaragala Mountain – geographically significant remnant mountain – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Significant as a remnant mountain belonging to *Gal Oya Mountain Range, Nuwaragala Mountain is 658 meters high. Located in Pollebedda village (s well-known village of *Vedda community) in Mahaoya Divisional Secretariat Division in the*Ampara District, currently, the location is under the purview of the Department of Forest Conservation. Several decades ago, the location was inhabited by Vedda community. There are large numbers of ancient tank walls, ponds, stone steps and ruins of several temples including cave temples that have not been formally researched, yet. There is a large cave with dripstones with inscriptions. There are also large numbers of stone pillars on the ground. Hence, the surrounding area is archeologically significant. Situated along *Mahiyangane-*Dimbulagala-Dalukkane Road, a paved pathway constructed out of stone leads to the summit of the mountain and to a large cave that can house approximately 150 ...

Apr 6, 2023 Posted by In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged , , , ,
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Lesser-known Forest Dwellers of Rathugala – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Inhabiting in the distant village Rathugala, (situated in close proximity to *Gal Oya National Park, approximately 30 kilometers from *Ampara), amidst a diverse woodland, these forest dwellers known as “Rathugala *Veddas” are lesser-known indigenous people of Sri Lanka. They live in the diminishing forests of Sri Lanka. Rathugala is a small hamlet of 110 families living adjacent to the forest. These indigenous people had originally lived in caves in *Danigala Rock area. During the early 1950s, some people of the indigenous community in Danigala Rock area were relocated due to the construction of the *Senanayake Samudhraya to irrigate the arid farmlands of the East and South East of Sri Lanka. Several years later, due to a ban on hunting imposed by the Government, the other inhabitants had also moved to Rathugala. According to scholars, the bloodline of Rathugala indigenous people traces ...

Feb 2, 2023 Posted by In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged , , , , ,
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Danigala Circular Rock – miraculous inselberg By Arundathie Abeysinghe Popularly known as Danigala “Alien Mountain” by locals due to its extraordinary geological formation and located in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka in close proximity to Aralaganwila in *Polonnaruwa, this rock is situated in an amazing landscape. Danigala Rock is situated in the land belonging to Kandegama Raja Maha Viharaya (Buddhist Temple), a contemporary Cave Temple. Hence, permission from the Head Priest is necessary to enter this site. According to locals, Danigala Rock is a “UFO sighting hotspot” and secrets of aliens are hidden in the Rock. Hence, the Rock is also known as “Alien Mountain”. Local as well as foreign tourists are of the view that Danigala Rock is similar to a roundabout. The aerial view of the Danigala Rock indicates a unique semi-circular shape, affected by geological activities as well as climatic conditions. Hence, the location of Danigala ...

Nov 3, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged , , , , , , ,
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