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Hooked on Jaffna Source : sundaytimes In her travel series Juliet Coombe enjoys the generous spirit of hospitality and jaggery sweet love of life of the north of Sri Lanka Jaffna sizzles with spicy food, sparkling sarees in an area surrounded by a dry and arid landscape with floating dunes and palmyrah trees. Solid cast irons with flat plates are still being employed in the back streets of Jaffna’s old town, with hot coconut coals hissing as they are heated for the day’s ironing in tiny wooden cleaning shops, walking distance from the Jaffna Library and Fort. Vintage cars buzz by, as visitors explore the many fascinating heritage buildings, past meandering cows, schoolkids riding sidesaddle on Singer bikes and colourful three-wheelers. Here amidst the buzz of daily life, the temples remain unchanged for centuries, acting as the central hub of inner contemplation, with a never ending flow of pilgrims returning from ...