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 *****

28 December, 2011

SRI LANKA - SAY ' NO ' TO LAND MINES

A few more years of walking with a limp, with the enormous weight of the body heaving on the left right foot, will bring about total immobilization. The arched back is a deformity resulting from unbalanced walking.

Remnants of terrorism.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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27 December, 2011

SRI LANKA - PERFORMING ARTS [ BALLET ]

On the 15 th of December, 2011 a magnificent theater, Nelum Pokuna [ Lotus Pond ] was declared open by the President of Sri Lanka; an outright gift from the Peoples' Republic of China, many critics opined that this theater ranked among the best three theaters of the world.

The inaugural performance ' Fa-hsien ' , a ballet directed by Jayantha Chandrasiri and choreographed by the talented Channa Wijewardene, adorned the stage of this ultra modern theater.

Pics, courtesy : Channa Wijewardene

25 December, 2011

SRI LANKA - HISTORICAL BOOKS

Rambles in Ceylon by [Augustus] De ButtsPublished in 1841 by W.H. Allen and co. • 324 pages • snippets in situRead

Ceylon was, in the olden time, known by the name of Serendib. In the enchanting " Arabian Nights," frequent mention is made of the Island, as the theater of many of the gorgeous scenes that are splendidly depicted in those Eastern tales. Serendib has ever been a terra incognita, and, therefore, a land of story and romance.

11 December, 2011

SRI LANKA - TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE [ 10 -12 - 2011 ]

Handheld pictures, taken at 8.00 P.M. on December 10 th 2011, of the last total lunar eclipse of 2011.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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08 December, 2011

SRI LANKA - ANTIQUES [ EBONY FURNITURE ]

Pics, courtesy : Asoka

02 December, 2011

SRI LANKA - PHILATELY [ CHRISTMAS ]

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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First Day Cover : By courtesy, Ana

Pics optimized by : Gerrit van Pommeren [ Belgium ]

29 November, 2011

SRI LANKA - ANTIQUES [ ANCIENT FANS ]

The overhead fan made of thick cloth fitted to a plank, which has to be moved to and fro, by an aide, to send cool air to the diners at the table. Photographed at a house of an aristocrat of the 1920s.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka
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Photoshoot co-ordinated by : Udumbara Mapitigama

25 November, 2011

SRI LANKA - FLOWERS

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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23 November, 2011

SRI LANKA - HISTORICAL BOOKS

Spolia zeylanica.
by unknown authorPublished in 1903 by s.n.] • 362 pages • snippets in situRead

Ceylon was, in the olden time, known by the name of Serendib. In the enchanting " Arabian Nights," frequent mention is made of the Island, as the theater of many of the gorgeous scenes that are splendidly depicted in those Eastern tales. Serendib has ever been a terra incognita, and, therefore, a land of story and romance.