When you visit Tissamaharama (Tissa) – By Harold Gunatillake Website:www.Doctorharold.com Yala is home to majestic creatures— playful elephants, elusive leopards, and a symphony of bird calls. Each sighting is a heart-pounding moment, a pure and profound connection with nature.” “Welcome back, adventurers! Today, we’re embarking on a thrilling journey to the wild heart of Sri Lanka—Yala National Park, a sanctuary where the jungle meets the ocean, and Tissamaharama, a town steeped in history and the gateway to Yala’s wilderness.” Our journey from Kandy to Ella, via the Victoria Dam Road through Badulla, was pleasant. We found solace in the comfortable embrace of the Oak Ray Gap Hotel, where we spent a restful night. Our adventure begins with a scenic drive to Tissamaharama, affectionately known as Tissa. While some may overlook this town, it’s the perfect staging ground for our safari, offering a glimpse into the local life and culture.” As ...

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A Man-Created Warming of Mother Earth. – By Noor R. Rahim The devastating ecological changes that humans encounter today Are just the result of the humans’ avaricious and ambitious weighs Always throwing caution to the wind and putting it off for another day Comfort foremost being the mindset without thought to what may lay   In his/her greed for material gains there’s nothing withheld in the foray The whole World appears to follow this disastrous concept, so to say In boosting the National Wealth do they indulge and encourage The exploitation of Mother Natures’ assets to fulfil the National usage   It was in “Nature Studies” we were taught The results of the ravages on the ecology of the land Would bring to the humans untold distraught Summing it: “Man will destroy Nature & Nature will destroy Man”   Does one really think for a moment the felling of these ...

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World Environment Day – By Malsha – eLanka World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5th. It is an international observance established by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage global action to protect the planet. World Environment Day serves as a platform for individuals, communities, governments, and organizations to come together and take positive steps towards sustainable development. Each year, World Environment Day has a specific theme that focuses on a pressing environmental concern. The theme is chosen to generate public attention and mobilize efforts to address the issue. Some past themes have included biodiversity, climate change, plastic pollution, sustainable consumption, and wildlife conservation. The day is marked by various activities and events around the world, such as tree planting campaigns, clean-up drives, educational programs, seminars, and policy discussions. Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), schools, businesses, and individuals participate in these initiatives to promote ...

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One of the Days; in a Retiree’s Daily Routine.- By Noor Rahim   It is the onset of a cold day in Autumn And the sun has still not arisen My wake-up call by Mother Nature comes later But as regimented I wake up in the dark; no matter   I drag my feet to the washroom looking glum but solemn Peering through the blind it looks dark, dreary and forlorn But thank God the washroom has an electric heater That makes the situation bearable and better   After the normal routine and motions I’m ready for my cup of tea and toasted muffin Plans for the day are part of the daily reckoner Which shopping Mall do we go to is the poser?   We set off to the Mall in our small sedan To soon confront the traffic; the rush; and the aggression There’s so much indiscipline and ...

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Lessons from the Bees, Butterflies, Insects & Birds. – Noor Rahim   The Meteorological Department forecast indicated that the weather was going to be a gorgeous one. So I ventured out with much anticipation and elation; only to be greeted with a blast of extremely hot air. So, my first reaction, was to beat a hasty retreat into the cool environment of my Home. Arming myself with a large thirst quenching cooled drink I decided to sit on the porch in my favorite armchair; surrounded by the cool shade of the trees that abound my Home. Seated did I see the periodic ruffling of the leaves and swaying of the branches of the trees. This heralds the onset of a gentle breeze and more so the cooling of the hot air in its aftermath. The pleasure of the cooled breeze extends so much of relief. Very soon the beads of ...

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The World at the Brink – by Noor Rahim   As one looks around the World; one, no doubt, cannot but avoid seeing the Natural catastrophes that abound the World today, in continuance and without any let – Be it Natural or Man-Made (induced or attributed). Sure makes for headline news and sensational visual and television news doesn’t it?  Yet how much attention do we give such news of tragedies; except, perhaps, to shrug our shoulders with an emphatic/empathetic expression of – “Poor folks”. Doesn’t it remind one of the extremely old saying which has been bantered about since the very early 1940s – “Mankind will kill Nature and Nature will kill Mankind”. Yet all we do is sweep these catastrophes under the carpet with another shrug and lament – “Que Sera Sera or What will be will be”; or further utter – “Thank God it is has not happened ...

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“MUSIC HATH CHARMS” – by Des Kelly This comes to us happily, from Keith Bennett via Charmaine, who has a collection of videos that help us forget the unhappy World around us, if just for a while. On behalf of e’Lanka, I would like to thank both Charmaine and Keith, and advise all our readers out there to spend a few minutes watching what Mother Nature has provided us ordinary humans, to the beautiful back-up Music of the Blue Danube by Johanne Strauss jnr., proving indeed that MUSIC HATH CHARMS. Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in-Chief) eLanka. ...

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 “GOD’S CREATIONS, ALL” – By Des Kelly           I’ve heard it said, take a tiny seed, barely visible to the eye, toss it into your garden and watch it grow. Need I say more ?.  God’s Creations all, every living thing, beautiful in HIS eyes, wonderful to visualize, and anyone who cannot enjoy the following would need his/her eyes tested, or be 6 feet under, as another saying goes. Please enjoy.  Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in Chief)  eLanka. ...

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