Malwatu Oya Archives

Kaludiya Pokuna: A secluded pool in Mihintale-BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE Source:Sundayobserver We had an opportunity on a two-day historical excursion when the country was returning to normalcy following Covid-19 and the resultant economic downturn. We wanted history to come alive for us to feel the excitement of life in a bygone era. Our journey took us to Mihintale. Mountains are fascinating, but this particular mountain was special not only because it towers 1,000 feet upwards into the skyline, but because of its fame as the place where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka by Maha Thera Mahinda. This mountain was known in early times as Missaka Mountain and the 400 acres of forest area was called Missaka Pabbata which included four mountains: the Athvehera Mountain, the Anaikutti Kanda, the Rajagirilena Mountain and Mihintale. ...

A Journey to Mannar and the ‘Dancing Islands’ – 2 – by Nimal Chandrasena Pearl Fishing Recording my recollections and reflections about what life would have been like in Mannar, centuries ago, I digressed. My attention was drawn to perhaps the most important and interesting aspect of life in Mannar and the north-central coastline for thousands of years (I learnt that later!). It is Pearl Fishing. Pearl oysters, from whom pearls are obtained, are a group of ‘bivalves’ (type of Mollusc), mainly of the Genus Pinctada (Familiy: Pinctodae); and several species, including the one common in the Gulf of Mannar: Pinctada radiata. Pearls are formed when an irritant, such as a tiny stone or bit of sand gets inside the mollusc’s shell. The bivalve secretes a lustrous substance called ‘nacre’, around the object to protect its soft internal surface. As layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant, a pearl is ...