Sri Lanka – By Dr Harold Gunatillake   Website: www.Doctorharold.com Uncover the Splendour of This Unparalleled Island Paradise!” The Resplendent Island Awaits You Skift TakeThrough targeted promotions, improved airline services, and strategic visa policies, Sri Lanka is inching closer to its goal of attracting 2.5 million tourists this year. Peden Doma Bhutia Have you ever been to a tropical island like Sri Lanka? It’s a land of diverse natural environments, from white-sand beaches and clear waters to hilly tea plantations and rugged mountain ranges. But what truly sets Sri Lanka apart is its rich variety of habitats and wildlife. It’s home to hundreds of wild animal species, including the majestic Asian elephants, the elusive Sri Lankan leopards, and the vibrant birdwing butterflies. The island also boasts a stunning array https://youtu.be/kuleujY8krk Website: www.Doctorharold.com of gardens, orchids, and many native and endemic species in lowland rainforests and high-mountain cloud forests. These habitats ...

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THE SIGIRIYA SAGA  –   THE AFTERMATH – by Bernard VanCuylenburg A poet, writing in the glory days of the Moghul empire in India referred to the Taj Mahal as “..a teardrop on the face of India…” I would go a step further and say that Sigiriya is more than a teardrop. Long after the tears have been shed, it remains a lingering heartache in the psyche and spirit of Sri Lanka and an archaeological treasure where the full gamut of human emotions   – anger, hatred, revenge, greed, murder, and  lust for power, have been played out to the maximum. The events that unfolded on  that fateful day over 1600 years ago still resonate today, which is why Sigiriya is perhaps the most visited historic site in the island. The protagonists in this drama, King Dhatusena, Prince Kasyappa, Prince Moggallana, and the commander of the army Migara ,who was King Dhatusena’s son-in-law are names ...

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                   THE SECRET OF THE SANDS – by Bernard VanCuylenburg Epilogue. Pursuant to the articles which I wrote last year, “An Odyssey – A Search for Heritage, parts 1 and 2 “) following a foray into the cornucopia of ruins buried in deep jungle well off the beaten track, I embarked on a similar venture in March this year. I am passionately moved by the treasure trove of what could be the best in ancient Sinhala civilization, possibly the life force of Sinhala culture which remains buried in the sands still awaiting the archaeologists spade, and I wish to share my experience with a wider circle of lovers of history. Parting the veil of time, an unknown sculptor, architect, engineer, master craftsman, even a poet, reached out to me and held my hand leading me across the centuries in my quest. I read somewhere that “Quotations are thefts of other peoples wisdom.”  ...

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Discovering Sigiriya: Jonathan Forbes’ Enterprise-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Avishka Mario Senewiratne, whose chosen title is “Jonathan Forbes and the Discovery of Sigiriya,” where it was presented in The Ceylankan, vol 26/3, August 2023 “Sigiri is the only example in Ceylon of those solitary activities, which form so remarkable a feature in the table-land of the dakka…” – Sir James Emerson Tennent Surrounded by the glorious forestry, guarded by majestic ramparts, nourished by enchanting tanks and ponds, and illuminated by those picturesque frescoes, the Lion Rock: Sigiriya is certainly a grand delight in this palm-fringed isle. Its histories and mysteries are vast. For nearly 700 years this one-time Capital of ancient Ceylon, which housed the fortress of the infamous King Kasyapa I, was lost and forgotten by those in this country. What lingered of Sigiriya were tales from the ancient chronicle Cūḷavaṃsa (sequel of the Mahāvaṃsa) and other contemporary documents. It is most likely that Kings from Nissankamalla to Sri ...

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Why you should visit this undersold, teardrop-shaped island right now – By Lee Tulloch Source : smh If there’s a country that could do with a lot of love right now, it’s Sri Lanka. Over the past three decades, the island nation has been ravaged by conflict and disaster, beginning with the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which claimed 30,000 lives, and the 26-year-long civil war, which ended in 2009. It had just re-emerged as a popular tourist destination when, on Easter Sunday 2019, an Islamic group, in retaliation for the Christchurch attacks thousands of kilometres away, bombed three churches and three luxury hotels in Colombo, unnerving the tourists who had returned in record numbers. And then in 2020 there was COVID-19. Even though Sri Lanka managed it well, the world shut down. Shopkeepers in Galle Fort, the beautiful, fortified 17th-century village on the south-west coast, say they closed their stalls ...

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My Nation – My Pride – by Anurasiri Kottegoda (sent by Shenali D Waduge to eLanka) We have a proud history. We had great kings They made magnificent structures. These amazing achievements are in awe even today. Tourists flock to see these cultural heritage because they do not have such in their own nations. They come to visit Ruwanweli Maha Seya, 60,000,000 tons of bricks used to make Jetawanaramaya, Lova Maha Paya, Sigiriya, Parakrama Samudraya, Giritale, Kantale, Minneriya where massive lakes & man-made irrigation works. The technology used by our ancient kings cannot be matched even with modern technology. Our ancestors have built ancient marvels that we must be proud of. Unfortunately, these ancient marvels crafted by our great  kings are not included into school text books for our children to feel proud of their ancestors. Is this being intentionally done? Who removed our history from school syllabus? Why is a diluted ...

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The economy During Sigiriya was the Capital of Ceylon. – By Dr Tilak S. Fernando Although I managed (the author of the book) to systematically detail different epochs of economic development in ancient Ceylon, it is impossible to forecast, in detail, during the Sigiriya reign. It is because it is impossible to categorise Sigiriya’s economy into various sections. The King murdered his father and all his subjects, and the Buddhist clergy despised the King, thereby the King had become a political problem.    According to the chronicles, King Kasyapa collected wealth. He kept it in protected custody, but later, out of that fortune, he constructed a beautiful chamber out of gold and lived there as emperor Wesamuni. His wealth was considered by all the kings from the Anuradhapura era. According to folk stories, once he (Kasyapa 1) ordered the killing of all cooks and horse keepers to be killed as ...

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The economy During Sigiriya was the Capital of Ceylon. – By Dr Tilak S. Fernando Although I managed (the author of the book) to systematically detail different epochs of economic development in ancient Ceylon, it is impossible to forecast, in detail, during the Sigiriya reign. It is because it is impossible to categorise Sigiriya’s economy into various sections. Because the King murdered his father and all his subjects and the Buddhist clergy despising the King had become a political problem.    According to old folk stories, King Kasyapa collected wealth. He kept it in protected custody, but later, out of that fortune, he constructed a beautiful chamber out of gold and lived there as emperor Wesamuni. His wealth was considered by all the kings from the Anuradhapura era. According to folk stories, once he (Kasyapa 1) ordered the killing of all cooks and horse keepers to be killed as his ...

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SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS – by Des Kelly Indeed, a ‘MUST SEE’ spot in Sri Lanka that I think should be one of the wonders of the World, if it already isn’t. The story of this Fortress is in our history books, and I have already published it at least twice, so do not intend to do so again. Personally, I climbed to the top of this mind-boggling ROCK twice. It certainly wasn’t easy, on the first occasion, but they did their best to make Sigiriya an easier ascent for the thousands of tourists still wanting to reach the “Roof-Garden” of King Kasyappa’s temporary home, so when I climbed it the second time, together with Maureen Hingert & family, we did find it much easier. With our thanks to Charles Schokman, let me present this fascinating video to/you, my friends. Desmond Kelly. (Mr.Music) (Editor-in-Chief). e’Lanka..  ...

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