Discover-SriLanka

DISCOVER - SRI LANKA: PROLOGUE

IN PRAISE OF MY BEAUTIFUL ISLAND,

INFORMATION, PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO.

THE 13th CENTURY VENETIAN TRAVELER MARCO POLO DESCRIBED THE ISLAND AS 'THE JADE PENDANT IN THE INDIAN OCEAN'. THE ABUNDANCE OF GEMSTONES, SPICES, RAIN FORESTS AND WILDLIFE; THE MAGNIFICENT BEACHES, ANCIENT RUINS AND A WRITTEN HISTORY OF OVER 2500 YEARS MAKE THIS ISLAND A TOURISTS' PARADISE.

THE RUINED CITIES OF ANURADHAPURA AND POLONNARUWA ILLUSTRATE THE GLORY OF THE ANCIENT KINGDOMS. THE GIGANTIC STUPAS AND BUDDHA STATUES ARE AMONG THE BIGGEST MAN MADE STRUCTURES OF THE WORLD. THE MASSIVE RESERVOIRS, BUILT BY ANCIENT KINGS TO IRRIGATE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND, ARE MARVELS OF HYDRO ENGINEERING. THERE ARE EIGHT UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN SRI LANKA

THE ISLAND WAS KNOWN TO THE GREEKS AS 'TAPROBANE' AND TO THE ARABS AS 'SERENDIB'. EARLY MERCHANTS VISITED THE ISLAND IN SEARCH OF GEMSTONES AND SPICES, MAINLY CINNAMON AND PEPPER. COFFEE AND TEA PLANTATIONS WERE STARTED BY THE BRITISH COLONIAL RULERS. CEYLON TEA IS FAMOUS THE WORLD OVER.

TOURISM INDUSTRY IS A MAJOR MONEY SPINNER FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND. THE VAST EXPANSE OF BEACHES, RAIN FORESTS AND NATIONAL PARKS WITH HERDS OF WILD ELEPHANTS, THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WITH LITHE WATER FALLS, BRING IN THE TOURISTS. THE ISLAND IS DOTTED WITH HUNDREDS OF HOTELS TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAVELER. AN ISLAND OF 25,000 SQ; MILES HAS 103 RIVERS AND 25000 RESERVOIRS, MOSTLY MAN MADE. WITH VARYING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS THIS IS TRULY A 'SMALL MIRACLE'.

" THE ISLAND OF SRI LANKA IS A SMALL UNIVERSE, IT CONTAINS AS MANY VARIATIONS OF CULTURE, SCENERY AND CLIMATE AS SOME COUNTRIES A DOZEN TIMES ITS SIZE........I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY COUNTRY WHICH SCORES SO HIGHLY IN ALL DEPARTMENTS - WHICH HAVE SO MANY ADVANTAGES AND SO FEW DISADVANTAGES. LOVELY BEACHES, BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES, IMPRESSIVE RUINS, A VIBRANT CULTURE AND CHARMING PEOPLE- NO WONDER SRI LANKA IS A SMALL MIRACLE ".***** Arthur C. Clark *****

06 November, 2011

SRI LANKA - HISTORICAL BOOKS

Eleven years in Ceylon.
by Jonathan ForbesPublished in 1841 by R. Bentley • 482 pages • snippets in situRead

Great importance of the Island.-- Its population numerous and comparatively civilized at an early Period.-- Possesses a continuous History for Twenty-three Centuries.-- Liberal Policy of Great Britain to the Cingalese; consequent Prosperity of the Island.-- Compared with the Continent of India,-- Prospects of Christianity.-- My first acquaintance with Cingalese History, and Determination to examine the Antiquities of the Island.

05 November, 2011

SRI LANKA - HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS

A document signed on 7 th March, 1916 by the Officer Administering the Government of the Island of Ceylon, [ of the British Empire ], His Excellency Reginald Edward Stubbs. Signed on the day Mr.K.W.M.M.B.Mapitigama was appointed as the ' Ratemahathmaya ' [ Provincial Chieftain ] of Paranakuru Korale.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Photoshoot coordinated by : Udumbara Mapitigama

04 November, 2011

SRI LANKA - THAMBAPANNI

The Kingdom of Tambapanni was the first Sinhala kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka. It existed between 543 BC, with the first Sinhalese king of modern day Sri Lanka to 505 BC. Tambapanni only had one king, Vijaya, a prince who was banished from North India to Sri Lanka.

Tambapanni is a name derived from Tāmraparṇī or Tāmravarṇī (in Sanskrit). This means the color of copper or bronze, because on landing Vijaya's and his followers' hands and feet which touched the ground became red with the dust of the red-earth, and the city founded on that spot was therefore named, Tambapanni.

A derivative of this name is Taprobane (Greek). Tambapanni is the Pali version of the name Tamira Varni.

Wikipedia the free encyclopedia.

Pics from the West Coast of Sri Lanaka off Kalpitiya

Pics courtesy : Ajithsen

31 October, 2011

SRI LANKA - FLOWERS

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

28 October, 2011

SRI LANKA - SAFARI [ YALA NATIONAL PARK ]

Designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1938, Yala covers 979 square kilometers and is best known for its elephants,leopards and aquatic birds. Yala has 215 bird and 44 mammal species and it has one of the highest leopard densities of the world.

Close encounter

Across the river

Pics, courtesy : Ajithsen [ Tour of Yala, 1994 ]

27 October, 2011

SRI LANKA - POETRY [ BY THE LATE SAM WAIDYASEKERA ]

Daphne

Soft and silky hair abound

Her skin is fair and clear

With milky freshness,

And eager as Babblers trills

Her melodious cadences fill

The air with fine refrain.

And I the Hermit, if you permit

Gaze with wonder and with love

At the sweetest flower beyond

The bubbling ocean, faltery and uncertain,

While gaily hued moths and words

Flit about her shapely mouth and tone,

And her proud mien, light and limn

The lines of classic grace,

And her pace is fine, and her eyes are mine

They have splendour Divine.

Published from the book ' Cameos '

By the late Sam Waidyasekera.

SRI LANKA - ANTIQUES [ EBONY FURNITURE ]

Well over 100 years old, these exquisitely carved antique furniture have been turned out by carpenters with dexterous hands. These fine works of art are made entirely of wood from the once abundant Ebony tree.

Pics, courtesy : Asoka

26 October, 2011

SRI LANKA - FRUITS [ BANANA - CAVENDISH ]

Banana is the most common and most popular fruit in Sri Lanka and grows equally well in the dry zone as well as the wet zone, there are over fifteen different varieties of different size, taste and color.