eLanka Newsletter – 17th November 2024 – 5th Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter Russian Friendship Night – photos by Roy Grafix Your chance to re-write history Mr. President! A second letter to AKD……. – By Aubrey Joachim New Zealand succumb to Sri Lankan batting hurricane. Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando and Charith Asalanka crush New Zealand hopes. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor) Role of Potassium in Metabolism and Health – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Melbourne TV had the incredible privilege of recording a special musical program “ආවර්ජනා” featuring one of Sri Lanka’s finest lead guitarists and musicians (Mahinda Bandara), along with his talented wife, a gifted singer in her own right (Dammika Walpola) Kaleidoscope 236 ft lists, citizen’s duties, Banaras, corpse flowers, markets & Poppy day 14 11 24 Peace process: Some reflections – ...

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The Love Story Behind Mount Lavinia Hotel – By Bhanuka – eLanka The Mount Lavinia Hotel, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic landmarks, carries within its walls a love story as timeless as the waves that crash upon its shores. This romantic tale revolves around Sir Thomas Maitland, a British Governor of Ceylon, and a local dancer named Lovinia Aponsuwa. Their forbidden romance has become a legend, adding a touch of mystique to the grand colonial architecture of the hotel. Sir Thomas Maitland arrived in Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) in 1805 to assume the role of Governor. Tasked with administering the island during a politically turbulent era, he established his official residence on a rocky promontory overlooking the Indian Ocean. This site, known as “Mount Lavinia,” would later become the foundation for the famous hotel. During his tenure, Maitland attended a cultural performance where he first laid eyes on Lovinia ...

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Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka: Where History, Beaches, and Culture Converge – by Bhanuka – eLanka Nestled along the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, just a stone’s throw from the bustling capital city of Colombo, lies the enchanting coastal city of Mount Lavinia. This hidden gem, steeped in history and brimming with natural beauty, offers travelers a unique blend of historical grandeur, pristine beaches, and a vibrant cultural scene. Join us as we embark on a journey to explore Mount Lavinia, uncover its rich heritage, bask in the beauty of its beaches, and immerse ourselves in its lively local culture. Historical Grandeur: Mount Lavinia’s history is a tale of colonial splendor. Named after the British Governor Sir Thomas Maitland’s romantic escapades, the Mount Lavinia Hotel stands as an iconic reminder of this bygone era. Explore its elegant architecture, colonial charm, and relish the nostalgia of the past. Golden Beaches: Mount Lavinia ...

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First Impressions of COLOMBO, SRI LANKA! Travel Vlog   In this vlog, I’m exploring the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo! I’m joined on this trip to Sri Lanka by my sister Mallory, and together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Board, I’ll be taking you on a journey through Sri Lanka over the next two weeks. In this video, we check out Galle Face, Pettah Bazaar and its dried fish market, the new Lotus Tower, and more! We’ll also try some delicious Sri Lankan foods and check out the incredible and historical Mount Lavinia Hotel. ...

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Travails in Filming “The Bridge on the River Kwai” … and The Locations Source:Thuppahis SEE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJOJ8F7bxDI The Kelani River flows through Kitulgala offering the opportunity for a gamut of water sports. In 1956 the location was used to film the movie – Bridge on the Kwai. For more fascinating video’s on Sri Lanka check out channel Destination Sri Lanka @Destination SRI LANKA.  The Bridge On The River Kwai location: the military hospital: Mount Lavinia Hotel, Hotel Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Photograph: Mount Lavinia Hotel Bridge at Kitulgala ...

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Rediscovering Sri Lanka through a travel memoir Source:Asia.Nikkei Colombo’s Mount Lavinia Hotel in the 1960s. One of Asia’s legendary colonial hotels, it was managed by the author’s father through the political upheaval of the 1970s. “It was a turbulent time, much of which my father spent in remand and jail.” (Photo courtesy of Razeen Sally) Foreign visitors have for centuries rhapsodized about Sri Lanka, or Ceylon as it was called until 1972: its seashores and landscapes, its governing religion, Buddhism, and its majority ethnicity, the Sinhalese. Hermann Hesse, visiting in 1911, called it “Paradise island with its fern trees and palm-lined shores and gentle doe-eyed Sinhalese.” Two decades later, George Bernard Shaw thought Ceylon “India without the hassle.” Well over a millennium earlier, Arab traders called the island Serendib, the origin of “serendipity,” which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as “the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial ...

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