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“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 In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged , , , , , , ,
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History atop a hillock-TEXT & PIX BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE The Kiripokuna waterhole, a perennial source of water Source:Sundayobserver Kiripokunahela, another magnificent archaeological site in the Southeast, was the next port off call on the Kumana tour. Near inaccessible because of the jungle overgrowth, Kiripokunahela lies on a flat-topped rocky boulder, nearly 260 feet above the Kumana jungle. The site is located about three kilometres East of Bambaragastalawa and eight kilometres from the main park office at Okanda. The jungle terrain and its location within the Kumana National Park make it one of the least visited archaeological sites. Not surprisingly, it is not included in any of the safari itineraries of the Park. Official rarely give permission to visit the site, since there is no motorable access way. It is too risky to walk the half kilometre in the thick jungle. Initially, we too were denied permission. However, our persuasive ways ...

Oct 5, 2021 Posted by In Articles Tagged , ,
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Through the wilds of Kumana- BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE Source:Sundayobserver A visit to the East is not complete without a trip to Kumana. Enter the solitude of the wilderness where the untamed reign, remember that you are only a guest on a brief visit. Before we left Okanda, we visited the famed Ukanthamalai Murugan Kovil also called Okanda Devalaya, dedicated to God Murugan and Valli Amma, and lying on a massive rock boulder just outside the main entrance of the Kumana National Park, which we featured in the Sunday Observer last week. Nestled in the South-East coast of the Eastern Province, 12km from Arugam Bay and spanning an area of 18,149 hectares, the Kumana National Park is well known as an important bird nesting and breeding ground in the country. Our regular trip to Kumana occurs every year not really during the ‘season’. This time, however, the visit was not only ...

Sep 21, 2021 Posted by In Articles Tagged ,
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Kudumbigala forest hermitage, a solitary landmark of Panam Pattuwa-BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE Source:Sundayobserver We spotted the isolated Kudumbigala rock in the distance, before we entered the gravel road which led to the Kumana National Park. Kudumbigala lies majestically on top of a rocky outcrop in the Yala East National Park better known as Kumana, 11 kilometres away from Panama. Today, it is known as Kumana-Kudumbigala Sanctuary. There is a shrub jungle covering thousands of acres. No proper road runs through it. Kudumbigala is a sacred Buddhist hermitage frequented by elephants, leopards and bears, but none of these fearsome animals trouble the monastic bhikkhus who meditate in the natural rock caves in the forest. When you climb the top of the rock, you can see a wonderful scenery such as the Kumana National Park, the Bagura lagoon and the east coast that is a sight to behold. Drip-ledged caves Perhaps, this may ...

Sep 5, 2021 Posted by In Articles Tagged ,
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