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Muhudu Maha Vihara: Where history and mystery still lie buried-By Yomal Senerath-Yapa Source:Sundaytimes From Pottuvil, one heads to Panama to reach the Muhudu Maha Vihara, through the East coast roads that abound with  goats, the occasional scuttling mongoose and the dry zone breeziness. The Muhudu Maha Vihara takes you unawares. After 10 kilometres you will reach this land of sand dunes –  vast, desolate white sand hills by the sea, brightened here and there by green beach growth. Muhudu Maha Vihara is said to be the ancient temple built by King Kavantissa in the 2nd Century BC to commemorate his consort Vihara Maha Devi, the heroine of the Mahavamsa and the mother of Dutugemunu, landing in this beach in Digamadulla after she was cast out into the seas to appease an ‘irate’ ocean –  a curse of the gods – from the Kelaniya kingdom (deemed to be an early tsunami). ...

Buried glory on the East Coast-by Mahil Wijesinghe Source:Sundayobserver Having passed the overgrown lush greenery along Siyabalanduwa to Lahugala on the A4 (Colombo-Batticaloa) Road, we suddenly glimpsed a strange landscape when we passed Sengamuwa. About 10 kilometres beyond Pottuvil, on the A4 Road, we saw a stretch of barren paddy field dotted with small houses and ubiquitous herds of goats and cattle lazily grazing. Most villagers plied the road on bicycle, a popular and cost-effective mode of transport, where fishing and farming are the mainstay. As we entered the crowded Pottuvil town, mostly populated by Muslims, it reminded me of the swarming dens of Colombo’s slum dwellers. However, the haven of windsurfers, world famous Arugam Bay, lies on the Eastern boundary of Pottuvil. The white sand dunes stood out like immaculate rocks scattered along the sandy coast. For thousands of years, these mighty dunes have protected the land from progressive ...