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The Current State of Sri Lanka Portuguese | Sebastian Nordhoff … Photo source ( https://www.elanka.com.au/portuguese-sri-lankan-surnames-and-their-meanings/ ) Sebastian Nordhoff is from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. I met Sebastian in Batticaloa during his research of this subject. He joined us on a visit to the Burgher community in Panichiadya (Dutch Bar community relocation after tsunami). A few of the Burgher people present at the meeting spoke the Portuguese dialect fluently. A few lively songs were also sung in the language. It was a very enjoyable visit. I note that there are some interesting observations in Sebastian’s article [below] regarding the Portuguese and Dutch era’s. Mignon The Current State of Sri Lanka Portuguese | Sebastian Nordhoff … The current state of Sri Lanka Portuguese Introduction 1 This paper gives an overview of the state of Sri Lanka Portuguese after the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009). Sri Lanka Portuguese is a Portuguese-based Creole spoken by the Portuguese Burgher population on the East Coast of the island, and by the Ceylon Kaffir population ...

Oct 22, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Panichiadya, Sebastian Nordhoff, Sri Lanka Portuguese, Trincomalee

Strategic significance of Trincomalee Harbor By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located on the East Coast of Sri Lanka, in *Trincomalee, approximately 350 kilometers north of the key East-West shipping lanes of the Indian Ocean, Trincomalee Port is formed by a large natural deep-water harbor, the fifth largest natural harbor as well as one of the finest natural harbors in the world. It is the most valuable asset of Sri Lanka. According to historical data in *Mahawamsa, the great Chronicle, Trincomalee Port had been first occupied in the 5th century and was known as “Gokanna”. Trincomalee Harbor has been a sea port from the period of ancient Sri Lankan Kings and has attracted sea farers such as Marco Polo and Ptolemy as well as Sea Traders from China and East Asia. As such, during early and medieval period, sailing ships had found a haven in Trincomalee Port. Situated on a peninsula in ...

Jul 15, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Ceylon, Indian Ocean, Mahawamsa, Trincomalee

Australia and Sri Lanka Naval Cooperation in the Indian Ocean: prospective extensive collaboration By Arundathie Abeysinghe Australia and Sri Lanka have a robust and enduring bilateral relationship of 74 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in May 1947. The Asia Pacific Nation and South Asian Island have close foreign relations from May 1947 to date. Australia’s expanding naval footprint in the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well as naval engagement between Canberra and Colombo indicates the expansion of maritime relationships across the Indo-Pacific which has transpired as a new geopolitical theatre. Australia’s defense cooperation with Sri Lanka since March 2019 indicates the stable development of intra-regional security collaboration in IOR. As such, on March 11, 2019, a Joint Task Force of four Royal Australian Navy ships, the Royal Australian Air Force as well as 1,000 military personnel arrived in Sri ...

May 21, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Australia and Sri Lanka Naval Cooperation, Australia and Sri Lanka Naval Cooperation in the Indian Ocean, SLOC, Trincomalee

Pigeon Island – unique natural marvel By Arundathie Abeysinghe Renowned as a snorkelers’ and divers’ paradise, Pigeon Island National Park with its powdery white sands and magnificent coral gardens is one of the two maritime national parks in Sri Lanka named after the endemic Blue Rock Pigeons (Columba livia also known as rock dove, rock pigeon or common pigeon) which breed there. Visitors can see hundreds of Blue Rock Pigeons which inhabit Pigeon Island National Park nesting as well as breeding amongst the rocks, a mesmerizing sight. The Island has rock pools and paths that run through thickets. But the underwater landscape is its centerpiece. Home to exotic species of fish, magnificent coral reefs and abundant tropical marine species, reef fish including black tip reef sharks as well as turtles, this spectacular island is situated about a kilometer off the shore of *Nilaveli Beach in *Trincomalee. Pigeon Island can ...

May 2, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Blue Rock Pigeons, Nilaveli Beach, Pigeon Island National Park, Trincomalee

Strategic geopolitical relevance of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean Region By Arundathie Abeysinghe Sri Lanka, a small island state in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is strategically located at the crossroads of major shipping routes to South Asia, the Far East as well as the continents of Europe and America. Sri Lanka is also strategically located among the most significant sea lines of communication (SLOC). Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean Region has been geopolitically significant for major powers for centuries. As such, Sri Lanka was colonized by Portuguese, Dutch and the British who used it as a transit hub to trade goods, a port to dock as well as refuel ships which navigated their massive empires. Enclosed on three sides by landmasses and several countries, Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world which has a water area of approximately 73 million square ...

Apr 28, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Africa, Indian Ocean, Indian Ocean Region, Silk Route, Trincomalee

Fort Frederick in Trincomalee – emblazoned with colonial insignia By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated about four kilometers from Trincomalee town center, Fort Frederic also known as Trincomalee Fort or Fort Triquillimale is a fort built by the Portuguese. The Fort was built in 1624 CE on Swami Rock Konamamali from the debris of world renowned ancient Hindu Temple, Koneswaram Temple (Temple of Thousand Pillars). The Temple was destroyed by *Constantino de Sá de Noronha under Phillip II. Fort Triquillimale was dismantled and rebuilt by the Dutch in 1665 and renamed it as Fort Frederick. Later, the Temple was rebuilt. Originally, Fort Triquillimale has been a triangular shape. The triangular fort had been outfitted with artillery bastions with the objective defending against British invaders. In 1795, during the British Colonial Era, the British took over Fort Frederick and added artillery to the Fort. The gateway of the Fort which pierces the ...

Jan 20, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Ceylon, King Philip II of Spain, Mahavamsa, Philip II, Ramayana, Trincomalee

Salute to a popular sportsman – Benjamin Vere La’Brooy Benjamin Vere La’Brooy, sad to say, passed away into the Lord’s Realm on 16th.October 2020 and was cremated at the Mt. Lavinia Crematorium two days later. It was most disappoiinting that there was hardly a soul to farewell Benji due to the restrictions of the pandemic. Benji, as he was popularly known, enjoyed a most illustrious and colourful sports career whilst serving in the Sri Lanka Navy for 22 long years. His work, which he thoroughly revelled in, was in the sports and physical fitness sectors involving organising, management, training and the implementation of sports programmes. Prior to retirement he was a senior Physical Training Instructor and served in many ships and shore establishments around the island.. His recruitment to the Navy was at a time when the armed services were bristling with sportsmen and colourful personalities of various skills..The ...

Dec 6, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Obituaries Tagged Benjamin Vere La'Brooy, Lavinia Crematorium, Trincomalee

“BOMBS AWAY” – By Des Kelly I am not sure how this “order” was made in Japanese, but this did not really matter in 1942, and especially in Trincomalee, Ceylon, where the Japanese AirForce went on a bombing spree, under orders to destroy as many British ships, nestling closely in the biggest natural harbour in the World, at the time. This particular attack wasn’t entirely successful because of the superior strength of the British Navy who were “on guard” for the tiny Island which boasted the fact that it was possibly the most strategic point in the huge Indian Ocean, during the 2nd World War. Though now possibly forgotten by many, these true stories are part & parcel of why Ceylon never did come under Japanese rule. Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in-Chief) eLanka. The1942 Japanese bombardment Source: Sunday Observer Since 1672 the strategic value of the ...

Feb 24, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, DESMOND KELLY Tagged natural harbour in the World, Ratmalana Air Port, The Sri Lanka Navy, Trincomalee, Trincomalee harbour Comments 0

ANCIENT TREASURES OF THE EASTERN SEABOARD – By Bernard VanCuylenburg There is a treasure trove of archaeological wonders in the Eastern seaboard of Sri Lanka and one specific location is the Kuchchaveli, Pulmoddai and Tiriyaya district of Trincomalee. And that brief introductory line is the genesis of this article. I walked through the desolate track through patches of thick shrub and dense forest, my curiosity aroused by some stone slabs and granite pillars which lay scattered in disarray on the forest floor. Ocassionally I came across ancient brickwork which I surmised may have once been part of a wall. The villagers in the area told me that further on, in deep jungle there were statues of the Buddha badly damaged. This did not surprise me because there is an inscription that this whole area was occupied by members of the Buddhist clergy since the 3rd century B.C. It was late in ...

May 21, 2018 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard VanCuylenburg Tagged ANCIENT TREASURES OF THE EASTERN SEABOARD - By Bernard VanCuylenburg, Kuchchaveli, Pulmoddai, Tiriyaya, Trincomalee Comments 0