The rise of old Maskeliya-BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE A Ganesh Kovil of the old town of Maskeliya Source:Sundayobserver After two-hour drive on the Avissawella-Hatton A-7 Road, we reached Ginigathena town early in the morning with a mist-laden mountain range visible in the distance. We drove a little further on the Hatton road, turned right and again along the picturesque Norton Bridge Road to the Central Province town of Maskeliya. The effects of the long drought could be seen and felt everywhere. Waterfalls as well as the Kelani Ganga had dropped to less than a trickle in various places. On the right side of the road to Maskeliya, we glimpsed the forest clad Seven Virgin hills (Sapthakanya) mountain range in the distance. Shrouded in many mysterious legends, the most famous and sorrowful being the 1974 crash of Martinair Flight 138, the worst aircraft disaster in Sri Lanka which killed 191 passengers and ...

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