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Uncovering Lanka’s archaelogical secrets since the 1970s-By Chanakya Dissanayake and Chanaka Wickramasuriya Source:Sundaytimes Takashi Okamura has been on epic explorations in Sri Lanka from the 1970s. The Hosei University Exploration Club of which he is Chairman has made several ‘discoveries’ during their 11 explorations in Sri Lanka’s jungles and among its archaeological ruins from 1973 right up to 2018.  Takashi has been the lead and member of seven of these forays. Chairman also of the NPO-Sarers (South Asia Ruins and Exploration Society), Takashi now 74 years old, is the recipient of the prestigious Naomi Uemura Adventure Award, presented annually to accomplished Japanese adventurers in memory of Naomi Uemura, the first person to reach the North Pole, solo. Takashi has donated all the proceeds from this award to NPO-Sarers. ...

Sep 4, 2022 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , ,
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Life around Panama and Okanda A shrine stands on a boulder at Okanda Devalaya Source:Sundayobserver The less beaten track from Panama to Okanda, one of my favourite places in the wilds and heritage sites of Sri Lanka, is an adventure in itself. It is an amazing place; it has not changed in many years. My first encounter with the region goes back to the 2000s, just after the Peace Accord was signed between the Government and the LTTE. Those days there were no roads, no phones and it is still in the same elemental state as it was centuries ago. But the people are so generous and are blossoming in their new life in a peaceful environment. History chronicles that they are descendants of the rebels in the Uva-Wellassa Rebellion of 1818 who took refuge in this forested land. Some of these people just return to their ancestral lands to ...

May 22, 2022 Posted by In Articles Tagged , ,
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Unearthing ancient artefacts in Yala environs Source:sundayobserver.lk A couple of years since our last visit, we were heading back to Moneragala, a drought stricken district in the Uva Province. It is always an adventure to head to Pahala Uva, especially, if you like to travel using your own transport. The 4×4 ride is a great way to get a glimpse of the culture and life of the people in the region. However, this time around, we had a specific purpose – on a previous visit to the Maligawila archaeological site, I came across an information board showing the nearby archaeological sites with illustrations. The board highlighted a lesser known ancient site called Galtemmandiya with a picture, a map and the distance. This intrigued me enough to embark on this journey. I had always wanted to see the ruins of ancient Buddhist sites hidden in the forest canopies in thick jungles, ...

Mar 20, 2022 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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Veheradiulana: paradise for treasure hunters-by Mahil Wijesinghe The vandalised archaeological remains on the top of the rocky boulder Source:Sundayobserver The historically important archaeological site of the Veheradiulana ancient monastic complex is located upon a rocky ridge above the crust of Yala’s North-East edge. You can get to Veheradiulana from Kumbukkan Oya, which takes you past Kebilitta, on the verge of the virgin forest. It is around 30 kilometres from the South of the Kotiyagala, village in the drought-affected Moneragala district. We took this route to reach the site as it was an adventurous journey. The archaeological remains of three crumbling dagabas, caves with drip-ledges and ruins of several other ancient structures have been ravaged by treasure hunters. Archaeologists believe that the bank of Kumbukkan Oya in the Yala Sanctuary had been a densely populated area in the past. ...

Aug 11, 2021 Posted by In Articles Tagged ,
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