THE DARKEST HOUR – by Bernard VanCuylenburg Nuwaraeliya in the hill country is a masterpiece of mother nature, its geography offering extraordinary natural diversity  –  lush woods, winding mountain roads, carpets of green tea, and in the evenings the mists roll down to merge with the landscape in a fleecy embrace. It is one of the finest tea growing districts in the island. Some of the best tea estates are found in the area, one of which is Oliphant estate. When I was twelve years old, my younger brother and I spent a holiday in the home of a cousin who was then the Assistant Superintendent on Oliphant. His bungalow nestled high in the hills. To get there one passed the factory, the Superintendent’s bungalow, and from there the road wound uphill all the way to his bungalow. The scenery was therapeutic  with fresh mountain air, flowing mountain streams, and ...

Read More →