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Israeli tourism groups have commended the gastronomic offerings of Sri Lanka. – By Dr harold Gunatillake Website: www.Doctorharold.com The people who give you their food give you their heart. – Cesar Chavez A majestic island boasting eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, herds of roaming elephants, pristine tea plantations and idyllic sun-kissed beaches, Sri Lanka or As it was once known, Ceylon has so much to offer the discerning traveler. It is the perfect destination to take in the rich historical sites, go on game drives and combine with some relaxation on the glorious beaches. This is an extract from OASIS the Travel. Experiences. Sri Lanka welcomed over 120,000 tourists for the first 27 days of July, surpassing the 100,000-arrival milestone for the sixth time in the first seven months of the year. SLTDA data showed that from 1 to 27 July, One hundred twenty-three thousand five hundred-eight international visitors entered ...

Aug 22, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Dr harold Gunatillake Tagged Ceylon, Dr. Harold Gunatillake, elephants, historical sites, pristine tea plantations, Sri Lanka, World Heritage sites

Memories of a most respected personality of the last century, General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa Remembering him on his 83rd birth anniversary, 27th July 2023 – by Sunil Keppetipola Lt. General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa. RWP RSP VSV USP psc rcds Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa was born in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) on the 27th of July 1940. It is appropriate at this moment of time to write a few words about this legend on his 83rd Birth Anniversary. He was a legendary sportsman, a great military officer who was able to command the respect of all Sri Lankans, and a person with humane qualities loved and respected by his followers locally and internationally. Denzil had his nursery education at Hillwood College Kandy and followed his primary and secondary education at Trinity College Kandy. During his tenure at Trinity College, it was clearly identified that he was a personality ...

Jul 28, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Ceylon, Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Desha Putra Sammanaya, General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa, Hillwood College Kandy, Puurna Bhumi Padakkama., Rana Sura, Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lankan Tri Forces, STF, Sunil Keppetipola, Trinity College Kandy, Uttama Seva, Vadamarachchi operation Medal, Vishista Seva

SRI WICKRAMA RAJASINGHE ERA ECONOMY DURING THE COLONIAL ERA FROM 1815- 1832 – By Dr Tilak S. Fernando Since Sri Wickremara Ranasinghe became King of Senkadagala (Kandy), many conflicts existed between the elite and society. When it became so aggressive to take revenge in April 1802, there was an incident in British-occupied Puttalam, where a Muslim group was battered, and their belongings were seized with the help of Pilimathala Chief Adikam using Ceylonese lots. During the 18th Century, the British Indian Trading Company owned many parts of India. Meantime, The United States of America had a battle with the British. Simultaneously, the Dutch were fighting for their independence against the British. On January 05, 1782, Under Admiral Sir Edmond Fuse of the Navy sent a contingent and a walking platoon, to the up-county, with the help of Commander Lord Hector Senadipathy (Admiral), who held the position of the Governor of ...

Jul 18, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Tilak S Fernando Tagged British Indian Trading Company, Ceylon, Dr. Tilak S.Fernando, economy, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe

BRITISH GOVERNANCE FROM 1815-1832 – By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando In 1815, the locals consented to hand over the Governance to the British to govern Ceylon. The social standards maintained during the 16, 17 and 18th centuries were challenged mainly by foreigners such as Solis, Portuguese and the Dutch. Some of the social norms were deep-seated in Sinhala traditions. However, from 1815 to 1918 British exerted much pressure so that Sinhalese could not counterattack or think of quashing it, and emotions died down. When Ceylon was at the peak of being an independent sovereign with the highest culture, the British did a tremendous skilful act in taking over an independent ruler. The question remained unresolved as to why the Sinhalese tolerated and remained quiet. However, collecting various economies and producing history is the central theme in compiling this book (author’s comment). Up to 1832, economic progress in Ceylon was the ...

Jun 16, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Tilak S Fernando Tagged Ceylon, Dutch, Governance to the British

Charles Dickens in Ceylon: Talk by Dr Raja Bandaranayake MBBS, PhD, MSED, FRACS at the Ceylon Society of Australia (CSA) Meeting held in Sydney on 28 May 2023: a short summary. The second meeting of the Ceylon Society of Australia (CSA) for 2023 was held on the 28th of May at the Pennant Hills Community Centre. It was well attended, considering it was a cold Sunday evening! The speaker was Dr Raja Bandaranayake. Raja graduated in Medicine from the University of Ceylon, obtained his PhD from the University of London Guy’s Hospital Medical School and a master’s in education from the University of Southern California. He is a highly respected surgeon and medical educator who has advised the United Nations, WHO and World Bank. Raja also is an avid collector of books on Ceylon covering the British colonial period. The attendees were treated to a fascinating talk on whether or ...

Jun 5, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Ceylon, Charles Dickens in Ceylon, Dr Raja Bandaranayake, Sydney

Era Polonnaruwa. Part II – By Dr Tilak S. Fernando When ancient Ceylonese trade, industries and technology were discussed, the irrigation network was the first thing that came to mind—the old technology and self-determination. During the Polonnaruwa era, irrigation networks were prominent and considered a meritorious deed according to the Sinhala culture and tradition. When a massive lake was to be constructed, Sri Lankans always sought foreigners’ assistance (in the present circumstances), including modern equipment and their knowledge. But our forefathers constructed huge lakes with slopes up to one inch to a mile gradient with their expertise and technology in society. It meant that local industries should have existed. It is also recorded that technology to build bridges existed in the Polonnaruwa era. Our forefathers’ ability and determination make us really proud. Old Ceylonese considered the Lake building and construction of stupas (Dagabas) as a meritorious right according to the ...

May 9, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Tilak S Fernando Tagged Ceylon, Polonnaruwa, Sinhala culture, Watadageya

EPOCH OF POLONNARUWA – By Dr Tilak S. Fernando During this period of Kingdom, Ceylon was divided into three regions: Rohana (Matara), Southern and Raja Rata (Up county). In the early part of this kingdom, disputes, conspiracies or threats of fear of war existed. Therefore, it caused many problems towards the progress of the country. At times all three regions’ economy was spent on war compulsions. When considering how those Kings of the Polonnaruwa era took care of Ceylon’s interest by making a liberal nation towards the early part of the kingdom, especially King Parakramabahu did not allow any foreign invasion to occur. He built several fortresses at strategic locations in his kingdom. King Parakramabahu was keen on increasing agricultural production by growing much land for paddy cultivation and promoting several irrigation channels. It revealed the King’s ambition and popular saying: ‘Do not allow a single drop of water go ...

May 8, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Tilak S Fernando Tagged Buddhist viharas, Ceylon, King Parakramabahu

A Resume of Des Kelly ( as supplied by his son) KELLY, Desmond Anthony Carl (Des), born July 2, 1936, Colombo, Ceylon. Early education 1941, at Convent of Our Lady of Victories, Moratuwa, Secondary education at St Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, Colombo. At the age of 5 he sang his first solo on-stage for the Convent’s Annual Concert. At 10 years of age he met Wally Bastiensz, who taught him the art of singing baila. He won his first professional baila competition on-stage, although he hadn’t a clue as to what he was actually singing about. At St Peter’s College, he joined the Music, Art & Drama Society under Fr Noel Crusz, OMI. . He continued with both singing and acting in various roles and taught himself to play the ukulele. He started his own Christmas-Carol Party at Lorensz Road, Bambalapitiya. In 1950, an English circus troupe came to Ceylon under contract ...

Apr 30, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, DESMOND KELLY Tagged baila, Ceylon, Colombo, Desmond Kelly, Sri Lanka

My memories of the BURGHER RECREATION CLUB – The Number 1 Hockey Club from 1932 to Date – By Dennis de Rosayro Perhaps inspired by the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, the 1st Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. The very same year on 26th December 1896 in tiny Ceylon, the Bambalapitiya Hockey & Football Club was founded by the Burgher community from Bambalapitiya, Colombo South, at a meeting held at the residence of Mr. F.J. Foenander, who was elected as Patron. Mr. A.W. Raffel and Mr. O.H. Poppenbeck were elected as President and Hony Secretary, respectively. On 31st May 1915, the Club changed its name to Burgher Recreation Club and its colours changed from “Black-red-Gold” to “Black-Red-Champagne”. Thus, the B.R.C. completed 125 years on 26 December 2021. My visit to my beloved club on that evening, with my wife and extended family gave me immense joy and ...

Apr 26, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Bambalapitiya Hockey & Football Club, Burgher Recreation Club, Ceylon, Hockey Club

A night out at Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya. – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Website: www.Doctorharold.com My wife and I thought that Nuwara Eliya would be the best place to be during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive seasons. We started the trip, along with my nephew’s family on the 15th of April, the day after the auspicious New Year’s Day, and drove through the curvy uphill roads, viewing the most spectacular sites, the wavy lofty hills. Our first stopover was in Ramboda at the Tea Bush Hotel, a spot where every passerby stops to view the beautiful scenery, including the Kotmale Dam in the distance. It is a wonderfully comfortable hotel to stay in or for a quick cup of tea on your way. Good food, kind service with courtesy, and comfortable rooms. The next morning we were on our way to Nuwara Eliya. We passed through the Ramboda ...

Apr 20, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Dr harold Gunatillake Tagged Ceylon, Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Kotmale Dam, Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya town, Ramboda, Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Sri Lanka, Summer Hill Breeze, Tea Bush Hotel, tourists