The Splendor of Kandy Esala Perahera: Sri Lanka’s Magnificent Festival of Light-eLanka-by Kalani   Immerse yourself in the cultural extravaganza of Sri Lanka’s grandest festival, the Kandy Esala Perahera. Held annually in the city of Kandy, this enchanting procession is a celebration of tradition, spirituality, and history. Lasting for several nights, the Kandy Esala Perahera is a vibrant display of elaborate costumes, mesmerizing dances, resplendent elephants, and the flickering glow of countless oil lamps. With a history that spans centuries, this festival holds deep significance for Sri Lankan Buddhists and captivates visitors from all around the world.  The origins of the Kandy Esala Perahera can be traced back to the reign of Sri Lanka’s ancient kings, with its roots firmly embedded in Buddhism. The procession was initially performed to request blessings from the gods for bountiful rain during the dry season. Over time, the procession evolved into a grand religious ...

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New luxury train between Colombo Fort and Kandy on weekends Source:Sundayobserver The Department of Railways launched a new luxury train between Colombo Fort and Kandy during the weekend from yesterday, October 1. The inaugural train to Kandy commenced from Colombo Fort yesterday under the patronage of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardane. Dr. Gunawardane told a media briefing at the Government Information Department on Thursday that the luxury train will leave Colombo Fort at 6.30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and arrive at Kandy at 9.18 a.m. ...

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ADB grants US$ 50 mn for import of chemical fertilizers-by Indika Polkotuwa Minister Roshan Ranasinghe visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa and met the Malwatta and Asgiriya Anunayaka Theras recently. Source:Dailynews Irrigation, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a grant of US$ 50 million for the importation of chemical fertilizers for the forthcoming Maha season. The necessary Cabinet approval will be obtained this week, the Minister said. Minister Ranasinghe was speaking after visiting the Sri Dalada Maligawa and meeting the Malwatta and Asgiriya Anunayaka Theras recently. The Minister said that with the introduction of chemical fertilizers required for the Maha season, it will be possible to increase the production and provide the required amount of rice to the people in the future. ...

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Tourism…are we on the right track? Source:Island I’m told that Asian countries have now become the prime destinations for high-spending travellers. Most of these high-end tourists venture out seeking unique travel experiences and that is the reason why they opt for exotic and unexplored destinations. Yes, Sri Lanka can be highlighted as one of those exotic and unique destinations. And, that is where our ‘think tanks,’ at Sri Lanka Tourism, come into action. However, we can’t be obsessed with just volumes, where tourist arrivals are concerned. We have also got to look at the spending power of the tourists we look to attract. ...

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Sri Lanka: Back on the Tourism Map-by Emma Thomson Source:Dailynews The Sacred City of Kandy is teeming with life. Monkeys tightrope along telephone cables, the trees around Kandy Lake are feathered with hordes of egrets, and the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)— said to house the Buddha’s left canine — thrums with the sound of drums pounded every evening for pooja (worship). A few streets over, our group and a handful of independent travellers enter a village hall for a performance of regional dances. Such things can feel contrived, but not this time. One dancer drops his spinning plates, another forgets his tambourine, and the drummers bump into each other as they exit backwards into the wings. After an uncertain couple of years, they are a little out of practice — just like us, as we get into the swing of tourism again. ...

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eLanka Newsletter – 3rd October 2021 – 1st Edition – Sri Lankans In Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter “FROM THE HART OF GINA” – By Des Kelly PHOTO GALLERY of SPORT in Sri Lanka – by Dr Gamini Goonetilleke Rapper Shan Vincent de Paul is fighting to claim space in Toronto’s music scene Lankan crowned ‘Miss Teen International Botswana 2021’ The Pot Story to boost garden decor LSUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19 – Sri Lanka Association Survey​ BARCLAY GORDON ‘BUDDY’ REID Elmo Rodrigopulle​ One Mediator​ Vaccines that protect us to survive-by Dr Harold Gunatillake Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo 73 01 10 2021​ Tangamale Bird sanctuary – haven for avifauna aficionados by Arundathie Abeysinghe Decentralized Web: Consumer protector over oligarchy By Aditya Abeysinghe T20 World Cup Winners List Year Wise A Literary appreciation of the “Commando Regiment” – by Capt Elmo Jayawardena ...

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‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’ ranked Number One in International Tourism-by Dr Harold Gunatillake   Something to be proud of as Sri Lankans at a most depressing time globally due to the COVID pandemic, and the inability for tourists travel to Sri Lankan at this very juncture, but not for very long. Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela said that the Maligawa, or as internationally known as Temple of the Tooth has earned the first position which was ranked 150 in International Tourism, a jump that will bring in more tourists for sight-seeing and worshiping this holy place in Kandy, known as the ancient Hill Capital of Sri Lanka.   The Nilame said that this promotion is due to utilization of modern information technology. Travellers and tourists across the globe ranked India’s Taj Mahal among the first three landmarks in the world, including Eiffel Tower and Great Wall of China. ...

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The saga of the ‘Water Cutting Ceremony’-By L.B Senartne Source:Dailymirror Robert Knox, who was a prisoner for 9 years in Sri Lanka, speaks of this water cutting ceremony An acolyte with a golden sword in hand awaits the arrival of the Devale processions and then goes up the river The sacred tooth relic was shifted to Delgamuwa Vihare in Kuruwita in the Sabaragamuwa Province and kept inside a grindstone; this was because there were fears that the  Portuguese may capture this sacred object. It was only brought back following victory over the Portuguese  By the time you read the Daily Mirror today the ‘Water Cutting Ceremony’ of the Kandy Esala Perahara would have concluded.    Adahana Maluwa or the cremation grounds of the ancient Kings is opposite the gates of Trinity College. There is a paved cement path there which earlier had a flight of steps leading to the ancient ...

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We need more than bridges to attract tourists… Source:Island I was intrigued reading the views of an MP where she seems to believe that the old iron bridges, built by the British throughout Sri Lanka, could be developed and made into very attractive tourist destinations. And, what’s more, she even drew comparison between the bridges in Sri Lanka (Demodara Nine Arch Bridge) and London Bridge, in the UK. London Bridge is probably the most famously named bridge in the entire world, and there is no way that we can draw comparison between any of our British built bridges and this world famous bridge. ...

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How nine siblings were steeled to bear excruciating pain-By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne Madduma Bandara as a source of inspiration: Source:Island Inspired by my friend Captain Elmo Jayawardena’s story in The Island about the grave and headstone of late Ehelepola Adigaram in Mauritius, I thought of writing about the late Adigarm’s younger son, Sri Lanka’s child hero, Madduma Bandara, and how stories about him can be used to inspire the younger generation of Sri Lanka to be brave and patriotic. Captain Elmo’s much-researched book, The Last Kingdom of Sinhalay”, won the State Literacy Award in 2005. I have read it several times to understand what went wrong with our nation. When asked by a reporter on 27th October 2015, when he received the highest honour, “Sahitya Ratna”, at the State Literary Festival in 2015, he said, “I simply write for the love of it and it gives me a voice to reach the people”. ...

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