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Transformation of Galle Face green  by Dr Harold Gunatillake The promenade was initially laid out in 1859 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward,  although the original Galle Face Green extended over a much larger area than is seen today.  The Galle Face Green was initially used for horse racing and as a golf course but was also  used for cricket, polo, football, tennis, and rugby.   The Dutch initially laid out the Galle Face Green to enable their cannons to a strategic line of  fire against the Portuguese. One version of how the name Galle Face is derived is that it is  from the original Dutch name for the fortifications, in that the gateway which gave access to  the Colombo Fort was called the Gal Gate, as it faced southwards to Galle and faas means  front, so it means in front of the fortification that encountered toward Galle. Another version ...

Aug 6, 2022 Posted by In Articles, Dr harold Gunatillake Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Obelisk – Battle of Randeniwela By Arundathie Abeysinghe A monument constructed at the ninth kilometer post on the *Ella – Wellawaya Road near the village of Randeniwela is a unique obelisk to commemorate the Battle of Randeniwela (Battle of Randeniya or Sinhalese – Portuguese War), a battle fought on August 25th 1630. The battle was fought between Portuguese forces commanded by the *Governor Constantinu De Saa de Noronha and King Senarath’s (1604 – 1635) youngest son Prince Maha Astana (pre coronation) who was later crowned as King Rajasinha II (1635 – 1687), the second ruler of Kandyan Kingdom and his brother Prince Vijayapala.  The battle was fought near *Wellawaya, situated in close proximity to *Badulla. The battle had taken place when Constantino de Sá launched an invasion via Badulla. The Portuguese army, despite their superior cannon power suffered a massive defeat subsequent to a mass defection by its Lascarin (local ...

Oct 28, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged , , , , , ,
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The Bridge On The River Kwai Film Location Sri Lanka By Patrick Ranasinghe   movies that financial considerations reversed the old convention, with Sinhalese The Kelani River flows through Kitulgala offering the opportunity for a gamut of water sports now. In 1956 the location was used to film the movie – Bridge on the Kwai.  Old Movie, Bridge On The River Kwai, Visit to the Bridge On The River Kwai film location Kitulgala, Sri Lanka. Old movies, Film location, train crash, greenery, William Holden, Alec Guiness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, James Donale, Geoffrey Horne. And many locals as extras POWs including Chris Greet. 425 feet long, rising 90 feet above the water and supposedly costing a phenomenal quarter of a million dollars, Lean’s bridge was built at a small community called Kitulgala on the Masleliya Oya, a tributary of the Kelani River, between the Sri Lankan capital Colombo and Kandy. The cast and crew stayed at the ...

Jul 27, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Patrick Ranasinghe Tagged , , ,
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THE PARSI’S OF SRI LANKA – By Des Kelly There is a “saying”, it’s not what you know, but WHO you know”, and this is very true. Parsi’s did not abound in Sri Lanka or the Ceylon, I knew, yet, as I remember them, Parsi girls were some of the prettiest in the Island. No names or pack-drill, as they also say, but I did know one or three of these beautiful lasses, and, for those of my readers that recall this tiny Community, the complexion of Parsi women, in my opinion, was flawless. Skin colour is irrelevant. It really does not matter what colour you end up with, you are normally born “pink”, & you are “grey” at the end of your day,  the Sinhalese are quite often, dark-skinned, Tamils sport an even darker skin-tone, Burghers are generally fair-skinned, but, the Parsi gals I knew had olive complexions that ...

May 22, 2019 Posted by In Articles, DESMOND KELLY Tagged , , , , , , , Comments 0
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