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 February, 2018

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - CAMEOS - BY SAM WAIDYASEKERA

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - CAMEOS - BY SAM WAIDYASEKERA: THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED FROM THE BOOK 'CAMEOS '- BY THE LATE SAM WAIDYASEKERA (1936-1972), WITH THE APPROVAL OF HARRY WAI...

27 February, 2018

SRI LANKA - SMALL MIRACLE [ COLLAGE ]

" 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 BELEIVE 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

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Gerrit,Netty,Hans and Hanneke [ Belgium ]

26 February, 2018

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - WAYSIDE FRUIT STALLS

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - WAYSIDE FRUIT STALLS: Wayside fruit stalls stock a good selection of local fruit, these outlets are patronized by travelers on a daily basis. Pics ...

25 February, 2018

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - VICTORIA RESERVOIR [ DROUGHT STRICKEN ...

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - VICTORIA RESERVOIR [ DROUGHT STRICKEN ...: The prevailing severe drought in the Central province has dried up the Victoria reservoir and the remnants of the submerged Theldeniya to...

19 February, 2018

SRI LANKA - PLOWING FIELDS WITH WATER BUFFALO

The traditional way of plowing rice fields is shown in the three photographs taken in a village in Sri Lanka.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

18 February, 2018

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - DUTCH -CEYLON COINS

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - DUTCH -CEYLON COINS: Dutch rule in Ceylon existed from 1640 to 1796, it was a governorate, established by the Dutch East India Company. VOC coins from the min...

17 February, 2018

SRI LANKA - PHOTOGRAPHY [FLYCATCHER COLLAGE]

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

16 February, 2018

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - SOROBORA WEWA [ 102 B.C. ]

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - SOROBORA WEWA [ 102 B.C. ]: Sorabora wewa [ tank ], built in 102 B.C., is not a very large tank but the location is breathtaking, the many species of birds that inh...

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - SOROBORA WEWA [ 102 B.C. ]

Discover-SriLanka: SRI LANKA - SOROBORA WEWA [ 102 B.C. ]: Sorabora wewa [ tank ], built in 102 B.C., is not a very large tank but the location is breathtaking, the many species of birds that inh...