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 *****

07 July, 2012

SRI LANKA - CORAL REEFS

There are two coral reef National parks in Sri Lanaka, at Hikkaduwa and Kalpitiya, these reefs serve as buffers obstructing erosion. There are over 60 species of corals and over 150 species of reef fish in these habitats. The ornamental fish add color to the coral gardens on the shallow seabed.

Pics by : Ashan

Little Adventures

29 June, 2012

SRI LANKA - DISCOVER - SRI LANKA

After 1062 days, 71 pages, 639 posts and 1278 photographs, Discover - Sri Lanka reaches 75,000 page views today.

Thank you for your time, comments and patronage.

25 June, 2012

SRI LANKA - PAINTINGS [ BY CHANNA ]

More paintings by the talented Channa Gorokgahagoda.

Pics Courtesy : Channa Gorokgahagoda

18 June, 2012

SRI LANKA - PERFORMING ARTS

Pictures from The Carnival Of Cultures, Berlin - 27th May, 2012.

Pics, courtesy : Channa

13 June, 2012

SRI LANKA - ANTIQUE FURNITURE

This exquisitely carved ebony sofa is over 100 years old and in pristine condition.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

11 June, 2012

SRI LANKA - PHILATELY [ TRADITIONAL JEWELRY ]

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC h7

Pics optimized by : Gerrit VanPommeren

Belgium

08 June, 2012

SRI LANKA - HISTORY [ THE UNSUNG HEROES ]

THE UNSUNG HEROES

When Wilhem Geiger translated The Mahavamsa and The Culavamsa , he made a statement which adequately expresses my personal sentiments regarding the complexities of Sri Lanka's recorded history. Geiger remarked "Not what is said, but what is left unsaid is the besetting difficulty of Sinhalese history...." I can well understand his frustration, and within the limited space of this article will try to deal with many unanswered questions in Sri Lanka's long and glorious civilisation. Sadly,I have spent hours gazing at the beautiful image of what must be one of the world's best examples of a carving out of living rock - The Avukana Buddha standing 42 ft. in height near the Kalavewa tank. Read more...

Written by : Bernard Vancuylenberg
Melbourne
Australia