GALLE The Southern Delight in Sri Lanka – By Leelananda Ihalagamage Galle is best known among tourists as well as local travelers as a paradise of sea and sun, with plenty of enjoyment available in the gleeful nature in the city and surroundings. The city of Galle is a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka.  The Dutch Fort of Galle is arguably the most interesting among both local and foreign travelers. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sri Lanka, it has a long and colourful history.  Lorenzo de Almeida led the Portuguese who captured Galle in the early 1500s and later built the Galle Fort in 1588.  Foreign traders such as Greeks, Arabs and Chinese have been visiting Galle Fort trading from 125 – 150 AD and downwards through centuries. Galle combines colonial era history with the tropical feeling and climate.  Most of the embracing colonial buildings here including ...

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Book Review: Return to Sri Lanka – Travels in a Paradoxical Island by Razeen Sally – By Kumudu Weerasinghe Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – April 2025   I came across this book accidentally. During one of my regular visits to our library, I caught a glimpse of this book on a shelf. Just because I noticed the name Sri Lanka, I took it off the shelf, turned a few pages and found it to be interesting. Borrowed it and read it. This is a gem of a book. It touched my heart unlike any other book that I have read about Sri Lanka. Most of us spent our childhood in Sri Lanka. We still remember it as a peaceful, beautiful country. The sad truth is, that country changed tremendously at a fast pace, for the worse, so much so that most of us decided to leave Sri ...

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 Discover the Hidden Treasures of Sri Lanka with The Ceylon Journal II Looking for a captivating read that takes you on a journey through Sri Lanka’s rich culture, art, history, legends, politics, law, and even paleontology? The Ceylon Journal II is a must-have for anyone who loves the island’s heritage! Packed with fascinating stories, untold legends, and insights into the illustrious past of Ceylon, this journal is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the charm of Sri Lanka. Whether you’re a history buff, art lover, or simply proud to be Lankan, this journal has something for everyone.   It also makes an ideal gift for any true Lankan, adding a personal touch to any occasion.  Call 072 583 0728 to reserve your copy today and experience Sri Lanka like never before!   Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox!   ...

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Sri Lanka revealed to be the world’s most family-friendly country for 2025 Source : .adaderana There are endless things to consider when moving to another country. What is the culture like? How easy is it to find work? How are the transport links? How happy are the locals? And for families hoping to move abroad, there are even more questions – think safety, healthcare, or education systems, for example. Remitly, an American remittance company helping users send money worldwide, has launched a new immigration index designed to help inform those considering relocating. The report, released in March 2025, ranks 82 countries across 24 factors, from healthcare quality and economic strength to safety metrics and digital connectivity, assigning each with a total score of 100. One such factor considers how family-friendly a country is, looking at data points such as the quality and accessibility of education in each nation. The company used ...

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Pelwehera Holiday resort – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Website: www.Doctorharold.com Beyond the bustling cities, escape to Oak Ray Pelwehera Village Resort in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. “Beyond the bustling cities, a village resort in Sri Lanka invites with the promise of serenity, where the pace of life eases and the beauty of nature reveals itself.” “Escape the ordinary and immerse yourself in the heart of Sri Lanka, where a village resort offers a gateway to a world of tranquillity, culture, and natural wonders.” Hello Viewers, Today, I’m excited to share my experience at a charming village holiday resort I visited recently in the beautiful Dambulla District of Sri Lanka. Many tourists stay in 5-star hotels, enjoying the luxury and ambiance of these concrete havens. However, a holiday’s absolute joy and tranquility can be found in the village resorts, where you can bask in Sri Lanka’s stunning natural surroundings. Welcome to Oak ...

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Tribute to Ranil Abeynaike on his 70th Birth Anniversary – By Ravi Rudra   Ranil Gemunu Abeynaike (12 February 1955 – 21 February 2012) “Ranil had ‘cricket commentator’ written all over him. He had a very pleasant, charming, attractive voice and deep dulcet tones and was one of the best commentators Sri Lanka produced.” College Prefect & College Colours in Cricket, Hockey and Tennis. STC 1st XI Cricket Colours – 1971, 72 & 73. STC 1st XI Cricket Captain 1973 – Winners of The Life Buoy Shield for The Best School Team & The Vaseline Trophy for The 50-Overs Champions. Schoolboy Cricketer of The Year & Best Bowler 1973. Captain Colombo South Zone U18 Cricket Team (1972) – Winners of the ‘Observer’ Shield. Represented Ceylon Schools Cricket Team (1972) against the Australian Schools Team. STC – U12 (1965) & U14 Cricket Captain (1968); U16 Vice-captain (1970). STC – 1st XI Hockey 1971-73. ...

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Nationwide power outage in Sri Lanka blamed on a monkey Source : news.sky Millions were left without power during the blackout, which began around 11am local time on Sunday. A monkey has been blamed for causing a nationwide blackout in Sri Lanka. The island nation’s 22 million residents were mostly left without power during the outage, which began around 11am local time (5.30am GMT) on Sunday. The country’s energy minister, Kumara Jayakody, told reporters that the blackout was caused when a monkey came into contact with a grid transformer near the island’s executive and judicial capital, Colombo. “A monkey has come in contact with our grid transformer, causing an imbalance in the system,” Mr Jayakody said following the blackout. “Engineers are attending to it to try and restore the service as soon as possible,” he added. Power was returned to some areas within hours, but many households were without electricity until ...

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A rare Owl has been spotted in Sri Lanka Source:Dailynews A rare migratory bird has been spotted in Sri Lanka recently. Birdwatcher Moditha Kodikara Arachchi says he spotted the bird one evening in the Attidiya area of ​​Dehiwala, where he lives. During his daily observations, Kodikara Arachchi saw the silhouette of a large owl across the sky. The bird circled the sky several times and Kodikara Arachchi managed to take several photos of the bird before it flew towards the shore. He later identified the bird as a short-eared owl (Asio flammeus sandwichensis), a migratory bird species rarely recorded in Sri Lanka. He suspects that his photos are the first photographic evidence of a short-eared owl captured in the country. The short-eared owl has yellow eyes, mottled brown feathers and two distinctive short ears. The bird is a medium-sized owl that is known to hunt during the day. It is ...

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Sri Lanka batters find form and the bowlers complete demolition job on New Zealand. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports Editor). Sri Lanka’s batters fired at long last and the bowlers backed them, to annihilate New Zealand in the dead rubber third game in Auckland. Pathum Nissanka powered his way to 66 off 42 balls with 5 sixers and 6 fours, before hobbling off with a groin strain. He sustained the injury soon after completing another spectacular knock and being forced to retire hurt. He returned, but was in evident discomfort and fell soon after due to his inability to move freely.  Aided by good support from Kusal Mendis, 54 off 48 balls, and Janith Liyanage, 53 off 52 balls, who were in scintillating form, Sri Lanka motored to a challenging 290 for 8 wickets giving their bowlers a sizable total to defend.   Defend it the did, ...

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Kaleidoscope 245 ft Harsha Purasinghe, Gayani de Alwis, Asela Abeywardene, Mattu Pongal, spherical Happy Thai Pongal & celebrate mattu – or the bulls! Check out the economy in numbers, digitalized Sri Lanka, women in 2025, a baby gorilla rescue, emotive ceramics & more! Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox! ...

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