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ANCIENT SRI LANKAN ENGINEERS AND ARTISANS – By Dr Tilak . S Fernando Ceylon Today on 29 December 2022 This article is based on our forefathers, excellent engineers and artisans with exceptional skills. How many of our present generation is conversant with Sri Lanka engineers’ activities in the bygone years who have amazed the whole world? During the remarkable Parakramabahu reign, the construction of the tallest buildings commenced. King Mahasen also did the most significant structures. The world’s first hospital was constructed during BC 367- 437 during King Pandukabhaya’s reign. No wonder foreigners became dumbstruck when these were built between the second and fourth centuries using metal veins. Sri Lankan ancestors created Palaces following the ancient masterpieces of Ramayana during the Ravana epoch. During the Gampola era, Sri Lankan forefathers produced the world’s first pair of spectacles, a unique design known as ‘ Diyatrippu.’ Wood carving craft came up during ...

Dec 30, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Tilak S Fernando Tagged "SRI-LANKANS", Anuradhapura, artisans, Bisokotuwa, King Dutugamunu, King Mahasen, King Parakramabahu, Lowamahapaya, Maduru Oya, Maha Parakramabahu Samudra’, Medagiriya., Mihintale, SIGIRIYA, Sri Lankan ancestors, with Sri Lanka engineers, Yoda Wewa

Beautiful Sigiriya full of mysteries – By Nadeeka – eLanka Sigiriya is one of the best places to see many people who come to Sri Lanka every year. In 1980, UNESCO named Sigiriya a national world heritage, and Sigiriya is also known as the 8th wonder of the world. Even today, there are many things that could not be solved about the technology of Sigiriya. There are historical stories about Sigiriya. According to grant history, the Sigiriya kingdom is more than 1500 years old. But archaeological evidence suggests that it may have been alive more than 5000 years ago. The height of Sigiri rock is only 180 meters. Due to this height, the kingdom of Sigiri gained great advantages. The point of this grant is the difficulty for enemy irregulars to attack this kingdom. The other thing is the ability to easily inspect the entire environment. It was easier to ...

Dec 13, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Nadeeka Kumari Tagged Anuradhapuraya, Kandy, Katapathpawra, King Dhatusena, King Kashyapa, Sigiri Bitusituwam, SIGIRIYA

Sri Lankan born Prashan’s dream comes true with painting of Queen Elizabeth II-by Ananda Kannangara Prashan’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Source:Dailynews Sri Lankan born, Prashan Deeptha Kumara who has been domiciled in London, UK for the past 14 years had got a rare opportunity to do a colourful portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with the approval given by the Queen’s official staff. Prashan Deeptha kumara Speaking to the Daily News from London, Deeptha Kumara said although the portrait was viewed by the late Queen Elizabeth II, he was unable to meet Her Majesty due to her busy schedule. “Although the Queen conveyed her gratitude to me through her official staff for doing this historic painting, I was anxiously awaiting her invitation to visit the world renowned Buckingham Palace and meet her until the day we heard about her sudden demise,” he said. ...

Sep 18, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Dalada Maligawa, Deeptha Kumara, Prashan Deeptha Kumara, SIGIRIYA

Stories Behind Names of Places in Sri Lanka: GALEWELA – By Dr. Nimal Sedera Source : Sri Lankan Group of Radio 4EB is pleased to present its Newsletter “Dæhæna” for August 2022. I trust you are enjoying the article series I am writing to Dehena continuously for the last four year or more. I enjoy writing this series as it is so much fun to know the history of our country. Galewela is in the Central province, in the Matale District, and the Trincomalee A6 road cuts across Galewela. It is 141 Km away from Colombo. It is a well developed area with a population of over 70,000 people as per the last census of the country. Mostly Sinhala Budddhist people live here with a growing Muslim community of over 10,000. King Kashyapa not only built Sigiriya he developed the land around the rock palace. His supervision would have been ...

Aug 1, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Central Province, King Kashyapa, SIGIRIYA, Sinhala Budddhist people

Stories Behind Names of Places in Sri Lanka DAMBULLA – by Dr. Nimal Sedera Source:Brisbane Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – May 2022 Ninety percent of the names of places of our country are linked to stories of Kings of our history. The name DAMBULLA too has this similar effect. The unique King’s Palace used by only one single King in our history is Sigiriya. It was built and used exclusively by King Kashyapa. This palace built on a beautiful huge rock has been hailed as a masterpiece of art in the world and has been declared as a man made wonder of the world. King Kashyapa was a son of King Dhathusena who was famous as a pious, religious King who worked for the betterment of the people and made the country prosperous . The Kala Wewa he built stands as a monument to his contribution to agriculture of ...

May 1, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Dambulla, Kala Wewa, King Dhathusena, SIGIRIYA, y King Kashyapa.

Pre-historic cave murals in Kotiyagala By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located approximately 45 kilometers from *Monaragala in close proximity to *Lahugala and *Yala National Parks, Mailla (also known as Miyella) in Kotiyagala, (the area is famous for wild elephants and bears), the ancient Temple can be accessed through an arduous journey of six kilometers in a jungle area. The location is well-known for the Mailla cave. According to sources, this site had been discovered by a group of surveyors in 1966. In 1967, an Italian Archaeologist who arrived in Sri Lanka to restore *Sigiriya Frescoes had visited these caves and restored some murals. Yet, there is no evidence of any local authority intervening in to restore these cave murals, according to locals. Encompassing an area of several hectares from the slopes of Mailla Mountain, there are several caves in the locality including drip ledge caves, a reclining Buddha Statue 27 feet ...

Mar 31, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Kotiyagala, Lahugala, Mailla Mountain, Monaragala, SIGIRIYA, Sri Lanka

When to visit Sri Lanka: the best times to go for the beach, the festivals, and to beat the crowds by LONELY PLANET From finding the sweet spot between the monsoons, to experiencing the liveliest cultural festivals, here are the best times to visit Sri Lanka © Cavan Images / Getty Images Source:.lonelyplanet.com If anywhere deserves the title of a true year-round destination then it’s Sri Lanka. Like neighboring Maldives, its proximity to the equator ensures pleasantly warm, stable temperatures whatever the season, while its annual dual monsoons means that while one side of the country is taking a soaking, the other is primed for afternoons on the beach. On top of this is a calendar chock-full of festivals and holidays, offering a unique cultural highlight for visitors almost every month. So whether you’re looking for the best time to hit the beach, spot wild elephants in a national park, hike to the summit of ...

Mar 14, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged ADAMS PEAK, Arugam Bay, Hill Country, Minneriya National Park, SIGIRIYA, Sri Lanka

Sigiriya: Sri Lanka’s ancient water gardens-by Katie Lockhart Source:Dailynews A complex masterpiece of irrigation engineering design, Sigiriya’s artfully designed water gardens required structural planning way ahead of its time. Orange sand particles twinkled in the sun as a lone motorbike kicked up dust in its wake. It was 09:30 on a bright Monday morning and the temperature was already creeping past 30C. A family of toque macaque monkeys swung from verdant tree branches and rolled playfully in the hot sand in front of us. But we barely took notice; we couldn’t take our eyes off the 200m-high monolith in the distance. Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress and former royal palace, is one of Sri Lanka’s most visited and best-known sights, attracting just more than one million visitors in 2019. But on this sunny day in May 2021, my partner and I were the only two people there. Dating back to ...

Jan 3, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Jagath Weerasinghe, Senake Bandaranayake, SIGIRIYA

Obeyesekere links Kasyapa with Sinhabahu-by Rajitha Weerakoon Source:Dailymirror “With the prime place in Sigiriya given to the lion, Mahavamsa states: Kasyapa, in fear of his brother, fled to the great rock Sigiriya. He cleared the land roundabout, surrounded it with a wall and built a staircase in the form of a lion” Mysteries of Sigiriya, continue to inspire scholars to unravel its hidden stories. Examining the psychology of its architect and presenting a startling interpretation of his edifice is anthropologist Professor Gananath Obeyesekere in his “The Buddha in Sri Lanka, Histories and Stories.” Expounding his theory under the chapter “Sigiriya narratives: tellers of stories, writers of histories,” he writes: the significance of Sigiriya is in relation to the psychology of the father-killer in which he (Kasyapa) commemorates the arche-typal father-killer of Sinhala myth Sinhabahu (lion limb) who after killing his father, the lion, constructed a new city named “Sinhapura” – the ...

Nov 30, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Gananath Obeyesekere, SIGIRIYA

Pidurangala Rock – steeped in history and legend By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located at a height of approximately 200 meters and situated to the north of popular Sigirya Rock Fortress, Pidurangala Rock was not a popular tourist site until recently. Pidurangala Rock has a long history believed to date back to the 2nd century BC. According to ancient chronicles, *King Kashyapa (477 to 495 AD) had built a monastery at Pidurangala (for pious Buddhust monks who previously resided at Sigiriya Rock) and donated it to the monks before the King resided at Sigiriya Rock. The King had enlarged the Temple and monastery before relocating the monks to the Temple. The caves and flat terrain spread across a large area had provided solitude and seclusion for monks. The surface of the rock has been carved to form grooves to prevent rain water seeping into the caves. There had been five buildings at ...

Sep 23, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arhat, Arundathie Abeysinghe, Bodhi tree, C. P. Bell, Dambulla cave temple, King Kashyapa, Professor Senarath Paranavitana, SIGIRIYA