Amazing Sri Lanka Volume - IX by Tourist Board - W.P.

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BLUE OCEAN GROUP OF COMPANIES Strengthen Diversity Assuring Unity, Quality and Affordability

S. Thumilan Group Chairman ACA, ACMA(UK), ACCA, CGMA(UK), MCSI(UK), CPA(AUS), FMAAT(SL), ACS

We, the Blue Ocean Group of Companies, are a dynamic and reputable international conglomerate in Real Estate, Construction, Engineering, Trading, Education, Corporate Consultancy and many other fields. We focuses on reaching potential markets through our international networks while enhancing and expanding our existing markets. Our present key markets are the Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and East Asia. We have understood through our long experience that harmonious diversification does not create conflicts but friendships. Instead it eases development and quality management. Great leaderships diversify anything they need harmoniously. Through diversification they build long-lasting friendships and achieve grand developments helping every one concerned live in harmony. We have set examples of harmonious diversification by merging effectively without creating disharmony among everyone concerned. Our sheer success is exclusively the result of our ability to provide unique services under one roof for our clients, based on our principles. Our group comprises about 30 companies that operate in various fields in Sri Lanka and abroad. Our main business fields are Construction and Real Estate, in which we possess global experience by finishing and undertaking groundbreaking constructions. We operate under the leadership of the Group’s Founder and Chairman Mr. Thumilan. He is one of the most successful visionary entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka who holds the prestigious membership of the CA Sri Lanka, CIMA (UK), ACCA (UK) and CPA (AUS). While holding the Chairmanship of the Blue Ocean Group, he also serves as a consultant to several well-known establishments in Sri Lanka and overseas.

The Group’s fully owned subsidiary Link Engineering (Pvt) Limited, which has gained great reputation locally and internationally, has already cemented the position of the Blue Ocean Group in construction as its leader. It has over 34 years of experience of the construction field through which it has gained many accolades for the excellence. In addition, The Group very recently extended its portfolios and services further by acquiring yet another landmark construction, civil and electrical engineering company - Sisira Builders (Pvt) Limited. This highly reputable company was established in 1982 and completed many a public and private civil engineering and electrical project throughout the Island within the past three decades. The latest ownership of the Group is also well-known for successfully carrying out Building Construction, Water Supply and Tank Projects as well as Road and Highway Projects. Blue Ocean Group says ‘what it can do and does properly what it says’. Our real estate division has proven this fact many a time. We completed our newest residential projects in Mount Lavinia in time, and handed over the deeds to the apartment purchasers within days after the completion. In addition, the Group has already commenced and is developing new luxury apartments in prime locations such as Mount Lavinia, Nugegoda, Wellawatte, Bambalapitiya and Kollupitiya. Our assets grew in the past few months recording a turnover of more than billions via both public and private projects. We now engage in building private and public mixed project-portfolio which smoothens and stabilizes our financial flow and profitability. With this growth, we will further strengthen our position and approach high revenue projects thereby assuring our brand an enviable position not only in Sri Lanka but also in the international market as well. We reached this far at a time when the task of construction developers have become a great challenge due to the steep rise in prices of construction materials caused by direct and indirect taxes. Especially, the prices of imported materials have gone up very much, even BOI approved companies feel the heat. Shortage of skilled manpower, delays in approvals from authorities and frequent changes of rules and regulation make the task very much enduring. However, with the supports of related parties, we control effectively most of the chronic external factors that delay construction projects. We are almost immune to policy changes, internal administrative disagreements, mass objection towards building expansions, and to environmental legislative changes. With the pre-stocks of materials needed for constructions and prior recruitment of labour that we achieve effectively and unabated through our diverse companies, we control increase in interest rates and delays in design at initial levels successfully. We attribute our success in this regard to the qualified and experienced corporate planners who provide us with solid and strategic direction. Like they have done in the past, our Strategic Corporate Planners have already projected the targets of the Group for the next three years. The Group members have scaled up the prepared projected targets by now and have formulated the vision for the future. Starting from small and medium scale architectures in Mount Lavinia, we now construct skyscrapers in the main cities. Just like our achievement to derive high profits, our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is par excellence. The Group education arm KBBS Campus which produces the highest qualified students in accountancy extend a high number of scholarships to its students every year. The students who receive high marks as well as the ones who cannot afford to bear high expenditure on their higher education benefit from our scholarships every year. In this way, the group certifies the corporate sustainability for many generations to come. “As our customer base expands daily - locally and globally - we at Blue Ocean Group stand straight with a strong vision that will lead us to be the most respected, ethically sound and socially responsible company. I trust this vision will flourish through our achievements, whilst we continue to focus on acquisitions and mergers as well as strategic partnerships as parts of our overall business practice,” - the Group Chairman, Thumilan.

T.P: +94 777 546 546 E-Mail: ceo@blueocean.lk

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Ayubowan!

MODELS Sajana & Sayuni

May You be Blessed with Long Life... The Sri Lankan traditional gesture of welcome with fingers of both hands touching each other & both palms claspe d together the age-old gre eting of us Sri Lankans!

CONTENTS VOLUME 09

36 22

GANGARAMAYA: MORE THAN A TEMPLE

THE POPE CREATES SRI LANKA’S FIRST SAINT

A GARDEN OF SECRETS

COLOMBO NIGHTBEAT

MIRISSA FOR WHALE WATCHING

WESTERN PROVINCE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

NEGOMBO WATER PARK - A NEW TOURIST ATTRACTION

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CONTENTS VOLUME 09

THE FABULOUS FOREST

SUNKEN SHIPS IN SRI LANKA

IN SEARCH OF PEESSA: THE CHARM OF LITTLE KNOWN SRI LANKA

Published by the Western Province Tourist Board.

No. 89, 5th Floor, Ranmagapaya, Kaduwela Road, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka. General: +94 (0) 11 4062580 | E-mail: sales@wptb.lk Advertising:

+94 (0) 11 3094440-1 | Web:

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The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. Volume III

Volume IV

Volume V

Volume IX

General Operations & Administration: Claude Thomasz, I.G.I.T. Ratnayake & Kithma De Silva Sales & Marketing: Ralston Gerreyn & Sadeep Deshan

Volume VI

Volume VII

Volume VIII

Distribution / Support Service: Prasadi Sarojani & Sajith Maduranga

Photography, Layout & Designing: Thilina Maduranga, Nadun Egodage & Jude De Soysa

Coordination: Navodi Ranasinghe, Chamara Samarasinghe, Chandika Dias, Palitha Abeysekara & Thanuja Raigama

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WELCOME TO

SRI LANKA

are in the Western Province, but also to help both foreign and domestic tourists know more about amazing Sri Lanka.

Claude Thomasz

Chairman, Western Province Tourist Board.

To help achieve this aim, we are have arranged for copies of Amazing Sri Lanka to be available at a modest price in the island’s major supermarkets, so visitors and Sri Lankans can easily obtain a copy while they tour around the island. It is also available for Business Class passengers on SriLankan Airlines as well as by subscription, and in the establishments of our advertisers.

In addition, we have taken the bold step of arranging to have a special edition of Amazing Sri Lanka published in the German language. There are details elsewhere in this issue. elcome to Sri Lanka, and We hope this will be the first of several foreign language editions of this magazine to Amazing Sri Lanka published for the convenience of non-English speaking visitors. magazine. This is the ninth edition of this magazine, Although this is only the ninth edition, the magazine is becoming so popular because which is published by the Western Prov- of its informative and evocative features, that we are hoping to increase its frequency ince Tourist Board. I hope you will enjoy on a regular publishing schedule to meet demand. its contents as much as we have enjoyed This expansion would not be possible without the excellent support and encourageproducing it. ment by the Minister of Tourism for the Western Province, the Hon W A Nimal LanMy aim, as Chairman of the Western Prov- za. The enthusiastic cooperation of all stakeholders involved in the tourism industry, ince Tourist Board, is to promote tourism especially our loyal advertisers, has been vital for the magazine’s success. not just to the Western Province, which I also thank the dedicated staff attached to the Western Province Tourist Board for the is where most tourists visit since the work they do, not just in producing the magazine but also in gaining the support of our Bandaranaike International Airport as enterprising advertisers. Of course, to you the reader, thanks for your support, and I well as the country’s commercial capital, look forward to hearing from you about your experience of amazing Sri Lanka. Colombo, and some of the best beaches

ENCHANTING

ISLAND Royston Ellis

Editorial Consultant

ith this, the first issue of Amazing Sri Lanka for 2015, we are delighted to welcome you, whether you are travelling alone or with friends or family, to discover this incredible country.

ing new acquaintances and enjoying new experiences every day. Sri Lanka is never boring, and neither is it a typical ‘bucket and spade’ vacation destination.

Sri Lanka has a niche for everyone, whether you’re keen on underwater exploration (see this month’s article on Sunken Ships), nature (we have If you are on a pre-arranged holiday at a beach hotel, articles on Sinharaja Forest and a little known botanical garden), temples, or seeing the island on an organised tour, do not hes- beaches or nightlife, you’ll find something to fascinate you in these pages, itate to stop and speak to Sri Lankans. You will find as well as in the country. people are happy to talk and to be helpful and that the smile of welcome that greets you is genuine. You will only find in this magazine original articles written by knowledgeable writers based on personal experience, not re-written, promotional press Even though I have lived in Sri Lanka for more than releases. We hope you enjoy this issue, as well as your holiday, in this en35 years, I am still astonished - and thrilled - by mak- chanting island.

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR

TOURISM Nimal Lanza Hon. Minister of

Transport, Sports, Youth Affairs, Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Affairs, Food Supplies and Distribution, Co-operative Dev., Household Economic Dev., Fisheries, Rural Dev., Tourism, Investment Promotion Coordination and Animal Production & Development

extend a warm welcome to all readers of this magazine and to all visitors to Sri Lanka as we start a bright and prosperous New Year. The year began with the election of a new President, His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, followed rapidly by the visit here of His Holiness Pope Francis.

We regard both of these events as auspicious for Sri Lanka and we at the Western Province Tourism Ministry are looking forward to working with Central Government in the furtherance of the vision of President Sirisena. The Tourism Ministry of the Western Province and the Tourist Board under the capable and energetic leadership of the Chairman, Claude A Thomasz, pledge to dedicate our efforts to improving the tourist product for all visitors, in line with the policies of President Sirisena and his government. Our aim entails not just developing the tourist infrastructure in the Western Province, but also in enabling everyone involved in the tourism industry, even on the periphery and in the informal sector, to benefit from proper training. While hotels and restaurants look after the training of their staff to their standards, we will implement further training programmes for those who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the support of tourist establishments. We are confident of a bright future for the tourism industry in the Western Province and throughout Sri Lanka and greatly look forward to welcoming an ever increasing number of satisfied visitors to our shores during the coming year.

General Facts OFFICIAL NAME: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka AREA: 65,525 sq km LOCATION: The island of Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean, to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal. It is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.

A traveller’s guide to

POPULATION: 21,128,773 (Estimated) ETHNIC GROUPS: Sinhalese 74.5%, Sri Lankan Tamils 11.9%, Indian Tamils 4.6%, Moors 7.2%, other 1.8% LITERACY RATE: 92% TIME ZONE: GMT+5 ½. Daylight saving times not observed. CLIMATE: Sri Lanka has no marked seasons. There are two monsoons. The Northeast Monsoon occurs from December to March and the Southwest Monsoon from June to October. A tropical climate exists throughout the country. The hill country is cooler and more temperate. LANGUAGES: Sinhala, Tamil and English are widely spoken throughout Sri Lanka. COASTLINE: 1,340km CAPITAL: Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte COMMERCIAL CAPITAL: Colombo ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: Nine Provinces: Central, North Central, North, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western and Eastern Province. RELIGIONS: Predominantly Buddhism. Hinduism, Christianity and Islam are also practised. INDEPENDENCE DAY: February 4 GENERAL HOLIDAYS: Saturdays and Sundays are usually non–working days. The day of the full moon, Poya Day, is a religious holiday in the Buddhist calendar. It is a public, bank and mercantile holiday and most independent places are also closed. The selling of alcohol, even to tourists, is banned on a Poya Day. 20 | AMAZING SRI LANKA

MAJOR EXPORTS: Tea, textiles, gems, rubber and coconut products. HIGHEST PEAK: Pidurutalagala (Mount Pedro) at 2,524m NATIONAL BIRD: Jungle Fowl NATIONAL TREE: Ironwood: the Na Tree (Mesua nagassarium) NATIONAL FLOWER: Blue Water Lilly (Nymphaea stellata) VOLTAGE REQUIREMENTS: 230/240 volts AC, 50 Hz ( Round three pin plugs are common, with bayonet lamp fittings). INTERNATIONAL DIALLING: ++ 94 (followed by the area code, without 0, and the number). AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS: Rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber and coconut.

CREDIT CARDS: Accepted in major establishments islandwide ATM: Available throughout the country where there are banks and commercial areas. MONEY: The exchange of foreign currency should only be done at reputable outlets such as banks or licensed money changers. A receipt should be obtained so re-exchange of rupees to foreign currency can be done at airport banks on departure . MEDICIAL FACILITIES: The medical standards are excellent. Qualified doctors and surgeons are available in government and private hospitals for emergencies. TIPPING: A service change of 10% is included in restaurant and hotel bills. A tip above this (say half of the service charge in cash to the server) is appreciated. There will also be an additional percentage (up to 17%) added to restaurant and hotel bills for government and provincial taxes. It’s not compulsory to tip drivers but customary.

INDUSTRIES: Processing of rubber, tea, coconut, tobacco, and other agricultural commodities; tourism, telecommunications, insurance, banking, garment manufacturing, textiles, cement, petroleum refining.

SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS: Shops and restaurants are open daily.

CURRENCY: Sri Lanka Rupee (Rs)

STAY UP-TO-DATE: For tourist information: Call 1912

KEEP IN MIND TRAVELLER’S CHEQUES: Widely accepted at banks and money exchangers. A 1% stamp duty plus a small commission is charged. www.wptb.lk

PETTAH CENTRAL BUS STATION: 011 232 9604

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GANGARAMAYA

more than a temple

COLOMBO IS UNIQUE IN THE WORLD FOR HAVING A BUDDHIST TEMPLE NOT ONLY DEDICATED TO THE FAITH OF THE NATION, BUT ALSO CONTAINING UNUSUAL MEMENTOES OF THE COUNTRY’S HERITAGE. ITS ECLECTIC MUSEUM IS SO UNUSUAL, REPORTS GEORGE RYALL, THAT EVEN THOSE WHO ARE NOT BUDDHISTS WILL BE INSPIRED BY A VISIT THERE. 22 | AMAZING SRI LANKA

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Having been coming to Sri Lanka on business for many years, I had heard about the famous temple in Colombo and the good deeds of the Chief Incumbent monk, Galboda Gnanissara Thero, respectfully known and admired as Podi Hamuduruwo. He has been there since being ordained as a boy in 1954 and is the driving force behind the Navam Maha Perahera, a spectacular procession of elephants, drummers and dancers held annually on the occasion of the Navam Full Moon.

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he 2015 Perahera is being held on 2 & 3 February beginning at 7.00pm and follows roads around the temple, which is located close to Beira Lake. As a pageant for all, regardless of caste, race or religion, it has grown over the years since being initiated by Podi Hamuduruwo. If you’re in Colombo in February, this is fascinating to watch. Even though it doesn’t have the long historical association of the famous Kandy Perahera, it is rich in the religious and cultural traditions of Sri Lanka. Hundreds of monks clad in robes of varied saffron hues accompanied by youths dressed in white, carrying Buddhist flags, herald a procession of dancers and drummers and scores of elephants, one of which carries sacred relics in a casket. That is a once a year event but the Gamgaramaya Temple, where it originates, is open daily year round. I popped in there when I was between meetings as it is very conveniently located, close to the Navam Mawatha commercial complex and behind the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, beside the now clean and spectacular Beira Lake. The sidewalks at the beginning of Sri Jinaratana Road where it links with the major thoroughfare of Sir James Peiris Mawatha announce the location of an exceptional place because of the presence of such odd items as an old steam roller and oriental statues shaded by awnings on the pavement. The broad

entrance gates lead to a courtyard where all visitors to the temple and museum are required to leave their shoes in a reception lobby at the side. I had some airline socks with me that I slipped on over my bare feet. I was surprised that there was no official entry fee but I was asked, as a foreigner, to donate Rs200 (for which I was given a receipt) and to place the money in a huge urn in the centre of the courtyard. Locals are not charged. However, there are ample opportunities to slip currency notes into one of the many donation boxes in the museum. There is a notice asking people to donate items of any description to help support the work of the temple’s various vocational training programmes. Such items seem to be the foundation of the thousands of unlikely objects on display that in actual fact reflect the evolving lifestyle of Sri Lankans over the recent past. For instance, in a display case containing old artefacts there is a very modern, garishly coloured suitcase on wheels. Before delving deeply into the museum I peeped into the temple’s main shrine room. This has some enormous, bright statues of Lord Buddha as well as of Hindu gods, and an exquisitely painted wooden ceiling. The atmosphere of reverence is palpable and in this, the heart of the complex, is an inspiring calm that I found very soothing.

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Strangely, the contents of the museum too seemed good for the soul. The conformist might wonder at the presence of old motorcars, and the display cases full of old fob watches, spectacles, bells and other ordinary items donated by the faithful. But every item in the museum (and there seem to be dozens of chambers displaying these curiosities) reflects manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s achievements, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an old camera or an intricate stone carving. There are photos of Buddhist monks and Sri Lankan politicians and, of course, dozens of Buddha statues, some laughing, some in repose, and whole rows of them as though seated in a stadium. Look up to see ancient lamps and wooden beams carved with such detail they are worthy of long study. The museum premises are much larger than they seem from the outside and there are more artefacts to ponder in upstairs chambers. There is also a recently opened art gallery displaying reproductions of paintings found in Sri Lankan temples from ancient times to the present. This contains over 300 paintings reflecting the evolution of Buddhist art through the centuries and is a convenient introduction to such art, without having to visit every temple in the country. The Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple is behind many initiatives supporting practical vocational training. Over 50 technical courses in disciplines such as electronics, motor mechanic, tinkering, painting, blacksmith work, welding and electric wiring, as well as secretarial and English language courses, are all held free of charge. Some 7,000 students attend classes sponsored by the temple every day. Donations by visitors to the museum help to fund this work. While the museum may seem to be an anachronism as part of a temple, it is a way to support the templeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charity work. The temple itself is some 120 years old and was established by a scholar monk who founded an institute of oriental learning for monks that grew into the Sri Jayawardenapura State University. The work for the advancement

of people continues while the museum, which seems to have grown almost by accident, captures aspects of Sri Lankan life that can no longer be seen. I certainly recommend a visit and look forward to being able to spend a whole afternoon there again, discovering more of the fascinating objects on display and learning more about Sri Lanka, on my next visit to this country. Gangaramaya Temple & Museum, Sri Jinaratana Road, Colombo 2; tel: 011 243 5169; www.gangaramaya.com; open daily from 6am to 10pm;admission for foreigners, Rs. 200 donation.

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SRI LANKAN SPICE HISTORY AND THE FAIR TRADE

here is an interwoven connection between the history of Sri Lanka and the spice trade. It is not certain the prominence of Sri Lanka was due to the trade of spices. Whatever the answer, we have to accept the fact the cinnamon trade was started in Sri Lanka in the past. It is considered the native country of cinnamon is Sri Lanka. A renowned historian and an editor John Keay has stated, because of the aroma of Sri Lanka’s spices the Silk Road was paved. In the early days, Galle was an attractive trade Centre for cinnamon. The Arabian traders were experts in spice trade. So they knew about Sri Lanka long before the Western explorers. The Arabians were very successful in spice trade, ivory and gems. The Arabian traders who visited Galle, invaded to Jaffna and they put up a port in Kankasanthurai, which was much easier for their trade. They had a lot of business dealings with Arabian & European traders. It is said that all of the Moorish Muslims who live in Sri Lanka today are descendents of those early spice traders. Cinnamon and spice trade has been going on since seventh century. Crushed Spices have been used for embalming dead bodies for years. A lot of proofs have been found from Egyptian archaeological digs. A fleet of consisting 317 ships, with 27,000 sailors reached Sri Lanka via Indonesia, Java and Vietnam. Cheng Ho led the fleet so many times during the period from 1409 to 1419. According to the John Keay, Cheng Ho had bartered porcelain items and silk materials with spices, ivory and gems. From many centuries Sri Lankan spices are available in European markets. The Arabian and North African traders intervened in this trade. A pound of spices cost more than a pound of Gold. In 1400 the European mariners informed their Royal Masters that transporting spices on Camels is expensive and it is cheaper to transport spices in ships, and intervention of Arabian Trade Authority can be superseded. Hence in 1498, when Vasco de Gama discovered the new route through India, the Europeans were able to use the new route in spice trade. When speaking about Fair Trade, it has a history of sixty years. But the trade has a history of long duration which runs to the man’s civilisation. During the ancient days the people exchanged goods, which is known as ‘bartering’. Later it switched on to pay the value in money. As time went

on, everything based on money, for personal benefit. Then some who understood this trade is unfair, and it has to be changed. As a result “FAIR TRADE” concept introduced to the world. The producer was able to gain a reasonable price for the products and at the same time the customer received quality goods under this concept. This transaction system was easier, and prevented the soaring up of the prices unnecessarily. Also this system helps to eliminate the many middlemen intervention too. To succeed the “FAIR TRADE” - the alternative trading organisations (ATOs) - were introduced in the North and South.

People’s Organisation for Development Import and Export (PODIE) is a southern organisation exporting Spices since 1974, the farmers were made stakeholders of this organisation. By exporting agricultural items the PODIE earns foreign exchange for the country. Growing spices has spread in many parts of the island. The type of spices cultivated vary according to the environment. The PODIE has extended its services in six provinces out of nine. The producers in the North Central Province, the Central Province, the Western Province, the Uva Province, the Sabaragamuwa Province and North Western Province coordinate with PODIE and give their produce for export. The main cultivation of these farmers are Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Ginger, Turmeric (Curcuma), Vanilla, Sesame (Gingerly), Mustard, Chili (Cayenne Pepper) and Curry leaves. Mainly women who are employed at PODIE give value addition for these items. All producers who are linked with PODIE produce their items according to the Organic system. PODIE has taken main initiate to certify all these lands as “certified organic fields” by the Control Union of the Netherlands. Hence all produce of PODIE are Certified Organic. By Mr. Tyrell Delukshan Fernando Director/CEO. (PODIE)

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The Visit of

His Holiness

POPE FRANCIS

SRI LANKA 2015

HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL MALCOLM RANJITH Archbishop of Colombo

COURTESY : Western Province Tourist Board 32 | AMAZING SRI LANKA

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THE POPE CREATES

SRI LANKA’S FIRST SAINT

is Holiness Pope Francis visited Sri Lanka from 13 to 15 January 2015, the first visit by a Pope to Sri Lanka in 20 years. Sri Lanka, with a multi-religious population, is predominantly Buddhist with Hindu, Christian and Muslim minorities.

after hearing about the persecution of Roman Catholics by the Dutch. He worked for years under the protection of a Buddhist king.

During his visit, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at Galle Face Green for more than half a million people and declared the 17th Century Roman Catholic missionary, Joseph Vaz, as Sri Lanka’s first saint The Pope said in his homily: “Saint Joseph shows us the importance of transcending religious divisions in the service of peace.”

The Pope visited Sri Lanka on his way to the Philippines as part of a week-long tour, his second trip to Asia, to shore up the Roman Catholic Church’s presence in developing nations.

Pope Francis, speaking slowly in English, said Christians should follow the example of Saint Jospeh Vaz to build peace, justice and reconciliation. Catholics make up about seven percent of Sri Lanka’s 20 million population, while 10 times as many people follow Buddhism. To commemorate the Pope’s visit, 612 prisoners who were minor offenders or over the age of 75 were released from Colombo’s Welikada Prison.

Vaz, who was captured as a suspected spy after he travelled to the island at the age of 36 disguised as a beggar, was born in 1651 in Goa, then a Portuguese colony in India. He was motivated to visit Sri Lanka

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A GARDEN

A GARDEN OF SECRETS

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY Feather Pan Visual Studios & Nadun Egodage

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WITHIN AN HOUR’S DRIVE FROM COLOMBO LIES A BOTANICAL GARDENS WHERE THE FIRST SEEDS THAT GREW INTO ASIA’S DYNAMIC RUBBER INDUSTRY WERE PLANTED. CARTMELL HENRICUS VISITS THE ‘SECRET’ GARDEN FEW TOURISTS KNOW ABOUT. 38 | AMAZING SRI LANKA

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he Henarathagoda Botanical Garden is not really a secret but is little known when compared with the more popular Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, near Kandy, and the lush Hakgala Botanical Gardens near Nuwara Eliya. However, it originated as a garden for secret trial planting in the 19th Century. This Garden, just 11m above sea level and close to Gampaha, only 29km from Colombo, is where Asia’s rubber industry began. The secret development there of rubber trees was so successful it had a huge influence on the development of economic and plantation crops and heralded the emergence of important state departments such as the Department of Agriculture. We knew we were getting close to the Garden when, having turned into the lane that leads there from the junction at Yakkala along the A33 from Gampaha, we noticed several couples walking along the road, deep in conversation. That’s because the Garden has become a popular place for young people to sit together in the shade of huge trees, enjoying the well-manicured natural surroundings as well as the pleasure of each other’s company.

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Providing a park for young people in love as well as lovers of nature was not the original intention when the Garden was begun in 1876 by the British colonial agricultural authorities. The aim was to try to grow rubber trees in secret so that a rubber industry could be developed in the colonies. Rubber seedlings had earlier been smuggled out from Para, Brazil, by the British explorer, Sir Henry Alexander Wickham, and planted at Kew Gardens in London. Ceylon was chosen as a place to try to raise rubber plants after an earlier attempt in India had failed.

plantations not only throughout the island but also in Malaysia, South India and Burma. Thus, rubber, like tea before it, became an important revenue crop under British influence. The part played in this clandestine development of rubber was recognised by the authorities and several different species of plants were added. This was the beginning of the study and raising of plants, that continues today, as the area of some 37 acres by the river surrounded by paddy fields and forest, was developed as a fully fledged Botanical Garden.

security guards are posted at places where vehicles might stop and they direct drivers to a central paved parking area where sightseers alight to stroll amongst the trees.

With its fertile soil and proximity to the swift flowing waters of the Attanagalu Oya (river), the site for the garden was chosen because of its similarity to tropical conditions in the Amazon region of Brazil. Under the guise of general garden experiments, 1,919 rubber seedlings from Kew were planted in secret and nurtured carefully under the watchful eye of Muhandiram A de Zoysa who was appointed the first Curator of the Garden.

It now consists of 43 acres with an extensive collection of palm, orchids and trees endemic to Sri Lanka. Trees attract birds and there are reputed to be nearly 80 bird species including ten endemic species as well as 18 species of mammals including the Sri Lankan Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis), as well as 12 species of butterflies and ten species of dragon flies.

There is a map of the Garden by the entrance gate and a notice board with some information about the Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, but no leaflet or guide book on sale. There are several signboards throughout the Garden indicating the various attractions, such as the Orchid House and the Herbarium. And even on the hottest day there is plenty of shade from the huge trees.

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At first sight, the Garden seems more like a vast park since it has well maintained roads running through it and visitors are allowed to remain in their vehicles while touring the Garden. However, www.wptb.lk

A driveway from the main gate lined with tall palm trees leads to the star attraction, the rubber trees. Unfortunately, the only trace of the original plants are roots since the oldest rubber tree collapsed in a cyclone 112 years after it was planted as a seedling. The venerable rubber trees around it are descendants.

Benches surround the grassy heart of the Garden which has, not surprisingly as this is Sri Lanka, a cricket pitch and a pavilion. The toilets are there too, nestled

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among tall trees and the Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fernery. There is a Japanese Garden where plants are miniatures and low hedges have been trimmed to resemble chairs, and even a temple lamp. The only colour to relieve the various shades of verdure comes from bougainvillea bushes. The fascination of this Garden is the magnificence of its trees, most of which have labels identifying them and many of which were planted in the 19th Century. One tree I saw, perhaps influenced by the Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambience of gentle romance, is curled in an embrace with another. It seems even plants have things to hide in this tranquil, inspiring garden of secrets.

The Henarathagoda Botanical Garden is at Asgiriya, Gampaha. It is open daily from 8.30am to 5pm, admission Rs1,100 for foreigners, Rs50 for locals and Rs150 for a vehicle.

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AYURVEDA HERBAL MEDICINE WHO WANT TO CURE CANCER AND OTHER VARIOUS DISEASES THROUGH

Cancer, Pilles, Heamoroids, Fishures, Fistiulas, Minor Surgeries, Wounds (Diabetic) And Varicose Veins, Paralysis, Arthritis, Gynecology And Sulofertihity, Dermatology (Skin Diseases), Pediatrics, Renal Diseases, Psyculrics, Sexual Diseases, Orthopedic, Ayurveda Beauty Centre, Panchakarma Treatments, Diabetics, Cholesterol.

% 100 al b Her

Dr. Nimal Jayathilake

Consultant Physician Former Assistant Commissioner For the Department of Ayurveda

THE LOTUS AYURVEDA HOME, No. 5D 1/1, Kirimandala Mawatha, Narahenpita, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka. Tel: 0714-446323, 0113-443784

www.thelotusayurvedic.com

info@thelotusayurvedic.com

Serviced Apartments for Short Let rsproyal@gmail.com

CIT Y SQUARE SERVICE APPARTMENT

# 01, Fonseka Terrace, Havelock Road, Colombo 06, Sri Lanka. reservation@citysquare.lk Hotline : +94 777 340 931 Fax : +94 112 508 255

COLOMBO NIGHTBEAT

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AS THE TRAFFIC THINS, COMMUTERS HEAD FOR HOME, SHOPS CLOSE, AND NIGHT FALLS, COLOMBO UNDERGOES A METAMORPHOSIS, TRANSFORMING FROM THE HEAT OF A HECTIC CITY TO A NIGHTSPOT THAT’S COOL. SASINDU BALAGE DISCOVERS COLOMBO’S NIGHTBEAT CAN BE PUMPED-UP FOR ACTION OR LAIDBACK FOR STARRY CONTEMPLATION.

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unset in Colombo comes quickly, around 6pm, and the best place to watch the sun set is Galle Face Green, that former race course now a public park that stretches along the shore of Colombo from in front of the Presidential Secretariat to the entrance of the venerable Galle Face Hotel.

If you go there to watch the sun set, watch carefully. It doesn’t take long for it to disappear beyond the horizon and sometimes, if the sky is cloudless and conditions are right, as the golden red orb seems to sink into the sea, there is a pinprick of green light, a phenomenon of nature known as the Green Flash.

An inscribed stone at the sea’s edge (the original is on display at the Old Town Hall Municipal Museum in Pettah) proclaims that Galle Face Walk was commenced by Governor Sir Henry Ward in 1856, completed in 1859, and ‘recommended to his successor in the interest of the Ladies and Children of Colombo.’ Children, and their parents, still enjoy the pleasure of strolling along the path between the Green and the sea, 156 years after it was opened. The old pastime of kite flying is also popular at the Green and visitors can buy kites to try their hand at it too.

Dusk descends quickly, accompanied by the clatter and chatter of vendors setting up stalls on Galle Face Green in preparation for people arriving, as night falls, to stroll the length of the Green in the cool night air, refreshing themselves with snacks and chilled drinks at the stalls. Mobile generators are cranked into life, bulbs strung up on temporary lines, and by the time darkness arrives, Galle Face Green is transformed into a twinkling array of colourful lights. It costs nothing, unless you buy trinkets

Arcade Independence Square

or delicious fried snacks, to stroll the length of Green as it has always been, since it opened, a public area. The only trees are on the periphery, that is why – without shade – it seems deserted during the day, but come back at night and you will see Colombo’s denizens (as well as visitors from out of town) taking advantage to chill out there with friends. Although the city’s museums close in the evening, there is one unusual place to visit that remains open until 10pm. Attached to the Gangaramaya Temple close to the Beira Lake, is a temple-run museum packed with curiosities that are bound to stir interest in a visitor. It’s more peaceful than people-watching on Galle Face Green and more inspirational too. Train spotters could buy a platform ticket to enter Colombo Fort railway station and watch trains departing to take weary commuters back to their homes but there are only a couple of main trains arriving in the evening (one from the south at 18.05 and one from the hill country at 20.25). For upmarket people-spotting, the lobbies of the city’s five-star hotels provide comfortable seats for lounging, and are useful for their clean washroom facilities. Close to the railway station (turn right as you exit the main entrance and walk for about 10 minutes) is Colombo’s very own “Floating Market.” A walkway leads to shops lining a pier beside an extension of the Beira Lake and there are also shops seemingly floating on the water beside a wooden jetty. This is the place to sit and watch the action, or shop for souvenirs. While Colombo has occasional theatre performances and musical concerts (both classical and pop) as well as art galleries, some of which are open in the evening, there are also a few cinemas that show films in English but these generally open in the evenings only on Fridays and Saturdays.

Independence Square

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Colombo’s shopping malls are popular places for the young and old to window shop at night. A new addition to the conventional centres is the Arcade at Independence Square with a huge piazza with

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Galle Face Green

Restaurant

a glass covered pond glittering with tropical fish, and benches for relaxing. At the other side of the piazza there is a smaller renovated colonial building with long corridors rambling past upmarket boutique shops. More shops and recreation spaces can be enjoyed at the restored Race Course Stadium, which provides another place to sit and relax. Back to watching the night sky. Colombo has at least three high-rise hotels that have bars open to the public (as well as to hotel residents) on their top floors while another hotel has a roof top restaurant with superb views of the Galle Face Green. There is also a hotel close to the old port gates where the bar and restaurant yield amazing views of ships docked in the harbour. A popular place for socialising with friends, and for making friends, is the piazza in front of the Old Dutch Hospital, opposite the twin towers of the World Trade Centre. Enter the old hospital portals and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find a cobbled courtyard with benches and tables made of cement where you can sit and enjoy the music from the surrounding eateries and bars, and have a drink too.

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When it’s time to eat, Colombo has an amazing choice of food from rock bottom prices to gourmet indulgence. Local cafés patronised by commuters tend to close in the evenings as the nightlife shifts to local drinking dens. However, all the international fast food chains are represented in the city from burger bars and pizza parlours to chicken joints. Fine dining is best enjoyed in the major five-star hotels that have the facilities to cater for the gourmet palate. There are also some fine upmarket cafés, many set in surroundings infused with local influence, as is the food. Sri Lankan cuisine is available at outlets ranging from top notch to a reproduction village atmosphere.

There are restaurants devoted to crab, prawns and fish, while others cater for the carnivore diner or the vegetarian. Many cuisines of the world are available in charming, small independent restaurants in Colombo, including Arabian, Chinese, French, German, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Malaysian, Mexican, Mongolian, Persian, Singaporean, Swiss and Thai.

How to get around to shimmer and shake to the city’s night beat? Chauffeur driven cars and taxis can be hired through hotels, or by telephone, for the evening. Only tuks tuks (three-wheeler taxis) can be hailed on the street, but make sure you are happy with the proposed fare before heading back…after your cool, hot night out on the town.

After a good meal, it’s time to hit the clubs. Some hotels have nightclubs and there is a lot of action in the city’s karaoke bars. There are places specialising in wine and liqueurs, while the city’s five casinos are glittering dens of entertainment, music, slot machines, roulette, black jack and baccarat tables. Food and drinks are complimentary for players.

Old Dutch Hospital

Beira Lake

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We have in total 20 double rooms, out of which 17 A/C & 03 are non A/C.. All 17 rooms are overlooking the sea & ten rooms are with private balconies. Out of 17 rooms, 12 rooms could be converted in to triple rooms with adding extra bed.

“ OUR SERVICE WITH A SMILE”

Beach Road, Pamunugama, Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka. Hot Line: +94 11-2236619, +94 11-3064156, +94 11-2051138/39 Fax: +94 11-2236629 | E-mail: villapalma@sltnet.lk Web: villapalmaresortsrilanka.com 79 | ASL

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY Mirissa Water Sports

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MIRISSA

FOR WHALE WATCHING SRI LANKA IS BLESSED WITH SO MANY DIVINE BEACHES, IT’S DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM, BUT NOW MIRISSA HAS BECOME POPULAR WITH

TOURISTS BECAUSE OF ITS WHALE WATCHING OPPORTUNITIES. www.wptb.lk

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here are two kinds of beach resorts in Sri Lanka. One kind is those, such as the National Tourist Resort at Bentota in the west and the development of Passikudah in the east, that have been created because of the enthusiasm of the government and brand name entrepreneurs. The other kind of resort is those that have sprung up independently in response to visitors’ demands, like the original hippy resort of Hikkaduwa on the west coast, and the surfers’ hang out of Arugam Bay in the east. Now there’s a new beach on the block, the beach of the moment, that seems to have happened without anyone noticing, except those travellers who discovered it and kept the secret to themselves. It’s a beautiful curve of sandy beach with calm, clear waters that, according to one guidebook, “are a delight to swim in or lie in front of.”

Its neighbouring bay to the west is Weligama, where a massive new mainstream hotel is under construction, a contrast to the family run guesthouses and small hotels that provide accommodation for visitors in Mirissa. It seems that Mirissa is catering for visitors who find Hikkaduwa too old-fashioned and Unawatuna a little too lively. Mirissa, however, has a magnificent beach to stroll along, which those other two independent resorts don’t have. As in Unawatuna, the popularity of the beach has resulted in development along its periphery. There are many makeshift shackstyle beach cafés purveying fresh seafood and snacks, and places offering beach massages, boat trips and surfboards, and even surfing lessons.

Mirissa is on the south coast of Sri Lanka, reached by a road turning seawards close to the 149km marker on the A2 highway that hugs the coast from Colombo to Hambantota. Although it has its own railway station, Mirissa is tucked away, out of sight of the trains and traffic on the main road. Perhaps that’s why it remained unnoticed for so long, and why it has become so popular.

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At the western end of the beach, under the headland separating Mirissa form Weligama, there is a neat cove with rolling waves ideal for surfing beginners. The beach folk are laidback but helpful. When I was caught in a rain shower there recently while walking along the beach, a lad ran over with an umbrella to escort me to his restaurant to shelter. He didn’t try to persuade me to be a customer; that’s not the style in Mirissa. However, while Mirissa has a holiday beach with low budget accommodation, there are two other attractions that draw visitors there. The main one is the latest spectator sport, whale and dolphin watching. There seem to be dozens of boats especially designed for passengers, offering trips out to sea in the early morning to

areas that whales frequent and dolphins leap. Prices vary according to the season and demand. You’ll see the freelance guides stationed at the turn off point to the boatyard, ready to offer their services. One wall on the approach to the boat harbour is painted with the rules of whale watching, the object being not to disturb the marine animals. Just as the South’s wild life parks can get crowded with visitors on land safaris, so can the ocean when a pod of whales is spotted. As well as blue whales, the largest animal on the planet, killer and other whales can be seen, and also flying fish, manta rays, whale sharks and even turtles. Whale watching has been growing steadily in popularity as an organised business for more than five years. The boat operators understand the need for an eco-friendly approach, and cut off the engines when whales or dolphins are close to the boat. The whale season is on now, from November until April, and the operators are so confident of giving every visitor the thrill of seeing whales that, if for some reason no whales are spotted, guests can have a free trip another day. The other attraction is Mirissa’s fishing harbour. It is flourishing, clean and well organised. It costs Rs25 to visit and rewards visitors with some spectacular sights of fish being landed, nets being cleaned, and rows of colourful fishing boats bobbing at the harbour side, their green, orange and blue pennants fluttering in the breeze. There’s a harbour canteen though you’ll probably prefer to taste your fish dishes in the more salubrious surroundings of a beach restaurant or family guesthouse. Mirissa was once a small beachside village whose residents thrived on the sea, going to fish every day. The sea still provides a livelihood for the villagers but now it’s also through the income earned from independent tourists. That’s why the village atmosphere is changing as more people turn their homes into guesthouses and more Sri Lankans come to work there. It makes Mirissa not just the beach of the moment, but a pleasant place to while away the carefree days of a holiday.

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WESTERN PROVINCE TOURIST

ATTRACTIONS The Western Province has so many tourist attractions, in addition to the beaches of the West Coast and the sophisticated restaurants, bars and hotels of Colombo. We plan to feature more in subsequent ssues of Amazing Sri Lanka.

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BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF

LANKA

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he Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka is a Roman Catholic church of basilica design with double colonnades and a semi-circular apse located in Thewatte, near Ragama. Although it is in the Gampaha District of the Western Province and some 10km from Colombo it comes under the purview of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo. Groundbreaking for the Basilica was begun in 1950 but it was not completed and consecrated until 1974. It is a National Shrine and a pilgrimage venue for Sri Lankan Catholics, being home to the venerated statue of Our Lady of Lanka.

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uilt nearly 2,400 years ago during the regime of King Devanampiyatissa, Pillikuttuwa Rajamaha Viharaya was a monastic meditation complex with 99 caves spread over 200 acres. The majestic history of Sri Lankan Buddhist tradition is visible at every step in its structure and in the flora around it.

PILIKUTTAWA

RAJAMAHA VIHARAYA

Situated along the Colombo-Kandy road just a short turn off Miriswatte junction, the cave complex was initially built to house meditating arhats in a serene environment. The temple was frequently renovated following its establishment, with King Walagamba adding more facilities to the complex nearly 1,100 years ago. The Brahmin inscriptions on the top of the rock stand witness to the donation of Pilikuttawa to the Buddhist monkhood. It states that the temple was donated to the Sangha (order of Buddhist monks) of all persuasions and of all periods.

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PAHIYANGALA

PREHISTORIC CAVE

he massive Pahiyangala Cave, said to be the largest natural rock in Asia, is at Yatagampitiya, a remote village some five kilometres from Bulathsinhala, itself 40km along the Piliyandala-Horana Road, in the Western Province District of Kalutara. There is evidence from five skulls found there that it was inhabited by prehistoric cave people some 37,000 years ago, making it the oldest ancient prehistoric human settlement in Asia. The cave is 121m above sea level, 53m high and over 60m long and is reputed to have been able to accommodate 3,000 people. The natural tunnels running inside the cave are now blocked and are inaccessible. Historical documents indicate that the Chinese monk, Fa-Hsien, stayed in the cave during his long pilgrimage to Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peak in the 5th century. More recently the cave was converted to a Buddhist temple with a reclining Buddha statue.

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MAKELIYA ELLA WATERFALL

he Makeliya Ella waterfall is 10m in height and bears a resemblance to a brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s veil from a distance. Round weather-eroded granite stones pepper the surrounding landscape. At is base is a large natural pool, and a few metres downstream a charming islet acting as a watershed and known as Thumodara. Further downstream the waters fuse and flow to the Kuda River, and via the Kalu Ganga (river) to the sea. The waterfall is situated in the Kalutara District and access is via the Matugama â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Agalawatte road to Lathpandura and then along the Molkava road. Although this was a popular bathing place before the Kukuleganga Project, and a viewing platform has been built upon the river, bathing there is probibited. The fall can be reached on the route to Kukuleganga Holiday Resort.

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NEGOMBO FORT

ll thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left of the once formidable Fort at Negombo is a mound and part of the Fortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eastern wall with the main gate that gives access to a tunnel that leads to what was once the courtyard. The original Fort was built by the Portugese on a narrow strip of land between a lagoon and an inlet of the sea. It was mostly destroyed by cannon during a siege and conquest by the Dutch in 1644. The Dutch then built on the ruins to create a pentagonal fort although it had only four bulwarks as the fifth one was never built. It was surrounded by a moat and the gate was reached by a traditional drawbridge. The walls were topped up in 1720 and new watch towers were built on the bastions, a bell tower was added above the gate and a wooden palisade created, as can be seen from contemporary paintings. The Fort was demolished in the late 19th century by the British who used its stones to build a prison.

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NEGOMBO

WATER PARK A NEW TOURIST

ATTRACTION A n amazing new feature for domestic and foreign tourists has opened in Negombo, a water park dedicated exclusively to families with children.

The Negombo Water Park is located on the beach, alongside the existing public beach park. It is designed to enable children to enjoy water activities in a safe environment. It is walled off from the beach, to prevent children straying to the sea, and is staffed by qualified lifesavers and childcare minders. Children, however, have to be accompanied by parents. Entrance to the water park is through a simulated rock grotto that leads up steps, past an aquarium, to the ticket counter. Beyond a tall rock shielding the view, the magic of the water park is revealed, with dancing, brightly lit fountains, waterslides, underwater lights and playground equipment actually in the water. There are three separate pools for children of all ages, and a separate pool for adults. Buildings around the pools have been constructed as changing rooms and toilets, as well as sales kiosks and with special shaded areas for relaxation.

The Water Park, which will be open until 7pm every day, is designed for children, with lots of bright colours, pretty fish painted on the walls, and plenty of play areas. It is a project initiated by the Minister of Tourism of the Western Province, the Hon Nimal Lanza, in response to a need for both local and visiting children to be able to enjoy themselves in a secure and dedicated, fun-filled, family atmosphere while on holiday in Negombo. The entry fee for a child is Rs200, with Rs400 for each accompanying adult.

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Goldi Sands Hotel offers a host of amenities, facilities and levels of comfort and maintains the meticulous standards required by the discerning guest. Accommodation at Goldi Sands Hotel comprises a stunning array of seventy air-conditioned double rooms.

Goldi Sands Hotel

At Goldi Sands Hotel, the combination of Sun, beach and the ever attentive staff is guaranteed to rejuvenate your body, mind and soul. Take a stroll down the sandy beach and enjoy the invigorating sea breeze or simply relax in rooms which benchmark elegance and luxuryâ&#x20AC;Ś truly an abode of serendipityâ&#x20AC;Ś

Goldi Sands Hotel, Ethukala, Negombo, Sri Lanka. T: +94 31 22 79227 | F: +94 31 22 78019 | W: www.goldisands.com | E: goldi@eureka.lk 76 | AMAZING SRI LANKA

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umbini tea was established in 1984 with the objective of producing high quality teas for global tea connoisseurs. Our commitment to quality has been at the forefront of our business operations throughout the past years and will continue to be the same in the years to follow. We have relentlessly worked towards upgrading our production facility to enable us provide the best combination of flavour, aroma and appearance to our teas. Handmade teas, Specialty teas, Black teas and White teas including Goldentips are among the core tea lines we produce at present for tea lovers.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;MAKE YOUR OWN TEAâ&#x20AC;? PROGRAMME The programme provides an opportunity for participants to acquire first hand experience on the manufacture of Orthodox black tea from the picking of Green Leaf in the field up to the packing of their own manufactured tea. they will be engage on selective picking of suitable green leaf for making of black tea, spreading in the trough for the next step(Withering) of tea manufacture, involved on Rolling of the withered leaf, breaking of rolled leaf and do the fermenting, Drying of the wet Dhool(wet rolled tea leaf), Sieving of dried tea leaf to make the grade. They will taste their own manufactured tea and learn how to do a testing of a tea sample in a scientific manner. All participants will be presented with their own pack of tea under their name to proudly enjoy with the family, friends & colleagues in their country. By visiting our garden you can enjoy guided tea processing tours and enjoy a free cup of Lumbini tea at Lumbini Tea centre. and you can buy factory fresh Lumbini tea.

ADVENTURE KITESURFING TOURS

SRI LANKA A

dventure Kitesurfing: the sport of riding on a modified surfboard while holding onto a specially designed kite using the wind for speed and propulsion

with smaller more agile kites as certain parts of the Kalpitiya lagoon is gusty in the afternoons. To ride the best winds in Kalpitiya I start at 9am. Towards September to December the rains may be a glitch in your plans, however, it will not be a wash out. If you are willing to try out foils I vouch to give you an excellent kitesurfing experience any time of the year in Sri Lanka. The rest of the year the winds seem to move to the other side of the Island – the eastern beaches - which is yet to be discovered for kitesurfing and are known for surfing and if you are keen to try it out check out locations such as Parsikuda and Arugambay.

Sri Lanka is an Island yet to be discovered by those who travel around the world looking for an unique experience. This Island which is strategically placed in the Indian Ocean for reasons yet to be discovered by ‘you’, have tourists with specific dreams travelling to it and are assuredly discovering the little treasures that would give them that unique experience relating to their own interests. I am travelling with a small group of enthusiasts around this Island finding locations that are just perfect for our special interest—kitesurfing. This is not to say that kitesurfers had not yet discovered that Sri Lanka provided an excellent venue before our arrival. Kalpitiya is a peninsula where many enthusiasts (local and foreign) have since 2011 worked tirelessly towards making the lagoon a kitesurfing paradise. It is by visiting them at the onset that I developed a taste for the sport. Kalpitiya is now a great location equipped with the necessary ingredients to make it a perfect location for kite sports. There are five or six kitesurfing lodges that provide accommodation on a bank of the lagoon. There is also a smaller lagoon further down the peninsula which has three more upmarket hotels, all providing equipment for hire. As we kitesurfers know we may not have the right length of line or the right size of kite for all speeds and varying gusts. Kalpitiya is now renowned for Kitesurfing all over the world. It is an exceptional location for the novice as well as the proficient kitesurfer. Once you have tried out the lagoon and exhausted its maximum potential, there is an Island further up the peninsula which provides one with an alternative setting. Most tourist lodges will provide you transport by boat to the Island. This Island is an excellent location,

however, be sure to plan ahead and start early as the trip itself is forty five minutes from your lodge and there is no turning back for an extra length of line or a different board. We are on a quest to find several more kitesurfing attractions around the Island. Up North is Mannar which has the same potential as Kalpitiya and will no doubt be an alternative attraction in time to come. On our travels we have also discovered other locations in which the winds have been just perfect; and for the expert who understands how to handle them, this is a sweet treat indeed. There is also the open land on which kiteboarding has been tried out. As a result we have broken away from the traditional culture of using inflatable kites thereby finding new heights in adventure kite sporting with foils and kiteboarding. In doing so we seem to be discovering an extension to the sport which is to indulge in a sport in exceptionally beautiful natural surroundings that is on offer on this beautiful Island.

Alex Sanz: “I love to kite and I have been kitesurfing all over the world ever since kites became an adventure surfing sport. Join me and my friends on a kitesurfing tour in and around Sri Lanka. I will not only help you find excellent locations to kitesurf but will help you experience the scenic beauty of this beautiful Island.” Whether you are new to the sport and want to experience adventure kitesurfing, an intermediate or advanced rider we can cater for you. We will take you to the best local kiting locations for the wind and wave conditions encountered. Contact us to plan your personalised tour to adventure kitesurfing in Sri Lanka. Alex Sanz, IKO e-mail: kite_mad@hotmail.com Tel: +94777746654 Sallelanka (Pvt) Ltd.

The best time to try out kitesurfing in Sri Lanka is in July when the winds are low and is perfect for the larger kites like the Spleen X19 or a similar sized inflatable. During August, the winds increase and I would advise you to be prepared www.wptb.lk

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY

The Rain Forest Ecolodge Sri lanka

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It is one of Sri Lanka’s major natural attractions, but few visitors ever find their way to Sinharaja Rainforest. Here’s our guide. 82 | AMAZING SRI LANKA

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he Sinharaja Rainforest Nature Reserve, officially known as the Sinharaja Man and Biosphere Reserve, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988. It is arguably the most important ecological site in Sri Lanka, and is internationally renowned for its biodiversity. The Reserve encompasses some of the few remaining sizeable tracts of undisturbed, primary lowland rainforest in Sri Lanka. In spite of this, much of the area now favoured by birdwatchers was subjected to selective logging in the 1970s, until this was halted in 1978 when the forest was saved for the future by being designated as a World Biosphere Reserve. The hilly virgin rainforest is part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests eco-region. The Reserve’s name is historical and translates as Kingdom of the Lion. Sinharaja is also special as it is the only significant rainforest in the country that is promoted for nature watchers, trekkers and the public in general. It has been protected from over-visitation by the diffculty of access and the lack of accommodation at anything but the bottom end. The reserve is only 21km from east to west, and a maximum of 7km from north to south, but it is a treasure trove of endemic species, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals Sinharaja is situated in the southwest

lowland wet zone and consists of 7,648.2ha (18,899 acres) and ranges in altitude from 300m to 1,170m. It has an average annual rainfall of 3,614mm to 5,006mm (that’s nearly 200 inches) and temperatures ranging from 19°C to 34°C. Its vegetation consists of 830 of Sri Lanka’s endemic species. About 65 per cent of the trees are endemic, being native to Sri Lanka and there are 21 endemic bird species and a number of rare insects, reptiles and amphibians.

The total vegetation density, including trees, shrubs, herbs and seedlings has been estimated to be around 240,000 individuals per hectare, of which 95 per cent comprise individuals of the ground layer below 1m in height. The density of trees, lianas above 30 cm girth at breast height, ranges between 600 – 700 individuals per hectare while the number of merchantable individuals of trees of girth greater than 150 cm ranges between 45-55 individuals per hectare.

The flora in Sinharaja is a relict of the Deccan-Gondwana flora, belonging to the Indo-Malayan realm. It comprises lowland and sub-montane wet, evergreen forests. On the east there are sub-montane Patana grasslands. The lower slopes and valleys have remnants of dipterocarpous forest, with the middle and higher slopes characterised by Mesue-Doona (Shorea) forest. Disturbed areas have secondary and scrub forest.

Several endemic and commercially useful plants are found as well. There are some villages in the forest and many villagers harvest the wewal (a kind of rattan) and the kitul (palm) for income.

The vegetation of Sinharaja is that of humid wet evergreen forest type with a high degree of endemism. It may be described either as a tropical lowland rain forest or tropical wet evergreen forest. Some striking characteristics of the forest are the loftiness of the dominant trees, the straightness of their bole, the abundance of regeneration and the diversity of species. Average height of the trees varies between 35m – 40m. Some trees even rise up to 50m.

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The year-round warm, wet climate together with thousands of years of isolation from the former mainland of India have resulted in the evolution of numerous plants and animal species that can only be found in Sinharaja. In open areas that have been subject to nutrient leaching, orchids and pitcher plants are common. Pitcher plants thrive on nutrient-poor soils as they can obtain their nitrogen from the insects they trap and therefore compete with other plants that cannot obtain necessary nutrients from the soil. Look for the pitcher plants next to the visitor centre.

AMAZING SRI LANKA | 83

Cherry barb

Monkey Cups

84 | AMAZING SRI LANKA

Blue Magpie Urocissa ornata

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In addition, Sinharaja is a paradise for birdwatchers, with an incredible line-up of endemics. Half of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies inhabit the forest. Endemic lizards include the endangered rough-nosed horned lizard. Threatened freshwater fish include combtail, smooth-breasted snakehead, black ruby carp, cherry barb and red-tail goby. Sinharaja Forest being a Reserve follows an ancient tradition in Sri Lanka. The world’s first fauna and flora sanctuary was established in Sri Lanka at Mihintale in the 3rd century BC by King Devanampiya Tissa (250–210BC). This rainforest is one of the few remaining in south Asia, and perhaps the finest. It is also a primeval sanctuary for over 170 varieties of exotic orchid. Nature reserves are primarily for wild life with human activity restricted, which is one reason why Sinharaja is little visited. In addition, despite it being a vast storehouse of genetic diversity, visitors may be disappointed at the approach. Turning off from Veddagala one travels through paddy fields and tea estates.

Even at Kudawa, where the Forest Department office is located, there is little evidence of the rainforest, unless you wade across the river. Upon leaving the office, you have to walk past noisy village children and paddy fields to reach the Reserve boundary. Even there, paddy fields on your right don’t quite make for a rainforest atmosphere. The wide roads built to extract timber have been colonised by light-seeking, fast-growing vegetation that is dense and does not permit good views of the interior. Many casual visitors leave disappointed. It’s best to move away from the timber roads and walk along one of the trails for the magic of the rainforest to unfold. Getting caught in the inevitable rain shower may be inconvenient, but does help visitors form a lasting impression of this fabulous forest. Access is by road from Ratnapura (30km to the north) or from the west coast towns of Kalutara or Alutgama. The objective is to get to Kudawa village where the Forestry Department has offices. This can be achieved by taking the road from Ratnapura to Kalawana, or by cutting in

from the west coast via Matugama and Agalawatta. From Kalawana there is a road via Veddagala to Kudawa. It is also possible to trek on a short cut from Veddagala to Kudawa, about 4km. This short cut is on the left about 100m after you cross a large bridge on the turn-off road from Veddagala to Kudawa. Walking along the main road will also get you there. To drive in the forest, a vehicle with a high chassis is recommended. Visitors must register at the Forest Department office at Kudawa where it is compulsory to hire a guide. The rates vary according to whether you are taking one of the trails which climb a hill, or simply staying on the main road. Entry for foreigners is Rs500; to climb Singhagala, Rs.300.

PHOTO COURTESY

Veddagala

Kudawa www.wptb.lk

AMAZING SRI LANKA | 85

STANLEY BATIK & HANDICRAFTS

stanlybatik@yahoo.com

CHINESE GIFT PALACE

Chilaw Road Marawila Tel: 032 2254354

For Sri Lankan and Chinese Arts & Crafts, Feng Shui symbols, Gift Items and More No. 78, Galle Road, Colombo 06, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 11 2594931 E-mail: cgpalace@hotmail.com

KALAWANA

WEDDAGALA

KUDAWA

(3 HOURS DRIVE FROM COLOMBO - 120Km)

DAY OUT & WEEKEND PACKAGES CAMPING & TREKKING IN SINHARAJA. PERFACT LOCATION FOR BIRDWATCHERS & NATURE LOVERS BORDERING SINHARAJA RAINFOREST Jungle Trekking With Expert Trekkers, Bird Watching, River Trekking & Hiking Village Exploration, Natural Swimming Phool, B.B.Q. Night With Bonfire, Traditional Sri Lankan Meals.

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY

Central Cultural Fund - Sri Lanka

SITUATED ALONG THE SEA LANES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, SRI LANKA WAS NOT ONLY A PORT OF CALL FOR VESSELS, IT WAS ALSO THE LAST RESTING PLACE FOR MANY OF THEM. OUR ARCHAEOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENT PEERS AT HISTORY BELOW THE WAVES.

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CCF | 89 AMAZING SRI LANKA

t is estimated that there are some 200 shipwrecks off the shores of Sri Lanka. Many of them have never been explored, while others are popular tourist attractions for experienced divers. That there are so many sunken ships is due, not just to whatever calamity that befell them, but also because there were so many ships attempting to sail in the island’s sometimes treacherous waters. The volume of vessels increased with the arrival of the Portuguese as traders and then increased exponentially over nearly 450 years of Portuguese, Dutch and British colonisation. While there are several modern shipwrecks, including some as casualties during the First and Second World Wars, the most fascinating wrecks are those dating from the 17th century. Many are to be found on the seabed in

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Galle Harbour. Just five minutes boat ride from the Galle shore, at a depth of 5m, is the Avondster which sank in 1659. According to the comprehensive listing of wrecks on www.divesrilanka.com this was owned by the Dutch East India (VOC) company although it was originally an English vessel. It was partly loaded with areca nuts when it sank after slipping anchor and hitting the shore. There are at least two other 17th century wrecks in Galle Harbour. The Dolphin was another VOC vessel that sank there in 1663. It is said she sank because of neglect and poor maintenance when she took in water and the crew was too exhausted to operate the pumps. The Hercules went down in the harbour in 1661 and stayed undiscovered until 1993 when a heavily encrusted bronze bell with the inscription AMOR VINCIT

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OMNIA ANNO 1625 was found. A search through the Dutch archives and a 17th century map of Galle placed the bell at the same location of the wreck. About 30 large cannons were later located from the site which is south of the harbour’s notorious Gibbet Island. There is another ship lying at 24m deep on the sandy bottom of Galle Harbour which hasn’t been identified, although divers know it affectionately as “Bottle wreck.” Perhaps that’s a clue about where the old bottles sometimes turning up in Galle antique shops are found? Galle Harbour was the major port for the island in early colonial days and its approach was very difficult. The Dutch pilots who were based in Galle to guide ships into the harbour, were confined to the Fort in case they divulged the secrets of its access to enemy vessels.

More ancient sailing vessels foundered off the Great and Little Basses reefs, 13km south from Yala National park. The Flute Overness sank there in 1704, the Alette Adriana in 1760, while the 40-gun frigate Daedelus went down in 1813. Trincomalee Harbour has several wrecks, including modern wartime ones. At 32m off shore lying at a depth of 42m is the wreck of HMS Diomede, 44 guns and built in Bristol in 1781 for action in the American War of Independence. She sank after running aground on a rock during the British campaign to capture Trincomalee from its Dutch occupiers.

The Cypriot owned Thermopylae Sierra was moored at the Colombo outer anchorage for more than three years as a result of a wage dispute between the owners and crew. Neglect took its toll until the ship finally succumbed to a watery berth in August 2012. A relic of the steam age is the barge to be seen at a depth of 32m some 45 minutes away from Colombo, with its toilet still in tact.

Hikkaduwa boasts a few shipwrecks, including the Norsa, a British steamer built in 1889 and now lying at a depth of 15m about 35 minutes from the beach. A favourite with divers is the Conch, some 45 minutes from Hikkaduwa at a depth of 20m, reputed to be one of the best and most easily accessible wreck dives in Sri Lanka. Built in 1892 the 3,555 ton Conch was carrying oil from Madras to Novorossiysk when she struck a rock off the If Colombo Port seems devoid of ancient wrecks (as coast of Hikkaduwa. The attraction for divers is the variety of marine life it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see so much shipping as Galle) it makes up that has made the wreck its home. for it by hosting one of the most recent shipwrecks.

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AMAZING SRI LANKA | 91

Underwater archaeologists have begun to investigate Sri Lanka’s oldest known shipwreck whose timber fragments suggest it is over 2,000 years old; it has been tentatively dated to at least the 1st century BC. It was found about ten years ago following the discovery by a fisherman of ancient artefacts, including a grinding stone shaped like a small bench or footed table on the ocean bed. The cargo has been widely scattered around the original wreck over the millennia and is reported to include Buddhist era grinding stones, metal and glass ingots, and pottery.

the way to Roman-controlled ports in Egypt and Arabian territories on the north-eastern coast of the Red Sea. Scholars believe trade between the East and West intensified after Rome annexed Egypt in the 1st century BC, gaining access to the Red Sea, a gateway to the Indian Ocean. Investigating the wreck will throw light on ancient Sri Lanka’s importance to shipping as a key transit point on the Silk Route. There are surely more unrecorded sunken ships awaiting discovery, yielding – if not treasure – at least an intriguing underwater view of the past.

The sunken ship lies 33m below the ocean’s surface off the fishing village of Godavaya, at the mouth of the Walawe River near Ambalantota on the south coast. Records suggest the area has been inhabited for over 7,000 years and used to be an important port along the maritime Silk Route. This began in what is now Vietnam and extended, via ports on the coasts of India and Sri Lanka, all 92 | AMAZING SRI LANKA

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AMAZING SRI LANKA | 95

In search of Peessa

THE CHARM OF LITTLE KNOWN

SRI LANKA Clusters of shops bordering the A5 road at Lunugala on the road from Badulla in Uva Province to Eravur in the East, mark a rarely visited area rich in wilderness, rivers, scenic splendour, and a falls called Peessa, writes Royston Ellis.

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lthough it’s only about 70km northeast by road from the cool tourist hotspot of the backpackers’ favourite hill country town of Ella, Lulugala remains undiscovered by the independent traveller. Yet it’s on the A5 road from Gampola via Nuwara Eliya and Badulla to the beaches of the East at Passikudah. True, the road at times resembles a narrow lane winding through woodlands and hills rather than a first class highway, but that’s part of the area’s essential charm. I sensed being in an older, more rural Sri Lanka than in the rest of the hill country. Clues come first from the unadorned rolling countryside, not clad in close cropped tea bushes with vast expanses of open sky and broad, rambling mountains stretching into the distance. From Passara for the 25km northwards to Lunugala, the scenery closes in on the road; there are rubber trees obscuring the view, and when the view does come, it is of valleys ringed with rugged mountains, not sunny vistas. The hillsides haven’t been uniformly shorn to be planted with tea but, where there are tea plantations, they blend in with the vegetation and wild, yellow blossoming trees predominate, creating a colourful but shaggy landscape. The villages are small and quaint, the roadside tea boutiques like makeshift huts depending on villagers, not tourists, for trade. I was drawn to Lunugala because I had heard of a perfect river pool for bathing, a jungle waterfall that never runs dry, and a heavenly view from a place dubbed as a Mini World’s End. What I had not heard about was the genuine, unspoilt quality of Lunugala itself, where residents are courteous to obvious strangers. One sidled up to our driver and asked if we were interested in buying gems, since raw, uncut gemstones are what bring strangers to the town.

Basanwela Bathing Place

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We based ourselves for the night at the Lunugala Government Rest House now the responsibility of the Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority. It has three rooms and, luckily, they were vacant. We seemed to have stepped further back into

AMAZING SRI LANKA | 97

the past as we were greeted at the entrance by the Rest House Keeper, a courteous gentleman of the old school wearing a white tunic and white sarong, matching his white hair and moustache, Mr V M Walter Harrison, age 74.

inland for 2km to reach the “Basanwela Safe Bathing Place.” We turned into the road and then at a fork (there was no sign) took the lane winding upwards past the Yapame Bungalow and a small tea factory. Luckily, it was the right road.

Mr Harrison, who proudly claimed to be of British descent, seemed to run the rest house by himself, although there was a cook in the kitchen and a man behind the bar in the adjoining building. He assured us the rest house was very old but the closing in of the veranda with patterned concrete blocks painted purple disguised its date of origin. Narrow corridors rambled around the main building with its porch for better class drinkers, its dining parlour, and spacious bed chambers with attached bathrooms, one with an old bathtub cemented to the floor.

A flight of crumbling, stone steps led into the forest from a parking place by a bridge over a stream. It wasn’t a long climb to reach the boulders on the river bank. There were three small rock pools there with water gushing down into them from above. In the pool further up, beyond more rocks to clamber over, a group of boys were bathing and doing their laundry. It seems a popular place for picnickers but you would have to be agile to reach it.

After the long drive of over 250km from Colombo, we were ready to rest but not before taking a look at the town. This was another reminder of the past when we discovered how much lower in price both food and clothes were, compared with towns that have become tourist traps. There was an easy friendliness too, although the traffic ploughing through the town obliged conversing pedestrians to be ever watchful. The next day, after bed tea brought in the morning by Mr Harrison and the signing of the huge “Visitor Attendance Register” and paying the modest accommodation bill, we set out to explore. A couple of kilometres to the north on the road to Bibile, by the town’s police station, a sign announced the way to Mini World’s End, a drive of 16km into the woodlands. For the enthusiast it is worth a visit but for me, the dramatic falling away of the main road at Haputale revealing hillsides rolling to the south coast peeping from clouds, or the view from Lipton’s Seat, are more stunning. We returned to the south of the town, passing a playing field on the right and a lotus pond brimming with flowers on the left as we went in search of the Basanwela river pool. We found another sign board, courtesy of the Uva Provincial Ministry of Tourism, indicating the direction

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We heard tales in Lunugala of a village in the jungle surrounded by mountains where the sun doesn’t shine until after nine in the morning, and disappears around four in the afternoon. We couldn’t experience that phenomenon because of the overcast sky. The attraction I was keen to see was the Peessa Falls, so named in old Sinhala as referring to a place where people assembled. Legend has it that King Dutugemunu (161-137BC) assembled workmen there to construct temples and shrines. The waterfall is the only one in the area that flows vigorously year round, regardless of droughts, even surpassing the better known Dunhinda and Diyaluma Falls. When it rains the volume of water cascades so heavily it sprouts a sibling and the waterfall becomes two instead of one. A sign between the 166 & 167km posts marked the well-made road to the falls and we drove along it for the stipulated five kilometres, passing a muster shed and hundreds of rubber trees, but saw neither sign nor falls because of the heavy vegetation. After six kilometres we turned back to be rewarded with a glimpse of water plunging from the mountainside deep in the forest. Then we saw a well-constructed flight of steps leading down the valley side. To me it seemed a trek of at least two kilometres into the wilderness to reach the base of Peessa Falls, so we contented ourselves with marvelling at its beauty

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from a landing, twenty steps down the hillside. It was an adventure out of our comfort zone but an experience of rural Sri Lanka that was both stimulating and rewarding. I have a couple of scars from eager leeches as souvenirs to prove to friends that I really did see a falls called Peessa.

Peessa Falls

Lunugala Government Resthouse

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Tea boutique on the road to Lunugala

AMAZING SRI LANKA | 99

SRI LANKA INTERNATIONAL

BUDDHIST ACADEMY

(SIBA)

(SIBA) is a Higher Educational Institute of the Sri Dalada Maligawa established in year 2009 at Kundasale, Pallekele on the advice of the Mahanayaka Mahatheros of Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters. PhD, MA, BA, BSc, BIT Degrees Higher Diploma/Diploma and Advance Certificates SIBA offers Ph.D. degree, M.A degree, and B.A Special Degree in Buddhist Studies. BSc in IT, BIT degrees from University of Colombo and Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Higher Diplomas in Buddhist Studies, Buddhist Counselling, IT and English leading to Bachelor’s Degrees. SIBA offers Diploma progammes in IT, English, Pali, Sanskrit, Buddhist Counseling etc. leading to Higher Diploma and Bachelor’s Degrees. You can enter the Foundation Courses/Advance Certificates Courses with GCE O/L leading to a Bachelor’s Degree. Those with GCE A/L can directly enter Bachelor’s Degree Programs.

Buddhist Studies : Foreign Students and Local Students SIBA is a Regional Centre for Buddhist studies and SIBA has foreign students from 12 countries following BA, MA and PhD programs in Buddhist Studies. All are provided with on Campus Hostel Accommodation. Everyone at SIBA is provided with English Language and IT Skills. Beside there are 30 Scholarships offered to Sri Lankan students to follow BA Special Degree in Buddhist Studies. Fully-on-line courses in Buddhist Counseling and Buddhism & Ecology- You can follow the Diplomas fully on-line. IT, English and Management Studies For IT and English Teaching SIBA has the best reputation. All foreign students achieve mastery in English at SIBA. Our English and IT Diploma Graduates get ready employment. IT is taught totally in IT Labs. Highly competent Teaching Staff. All facilities in a 27 Acre Campus. SIBA has the largest Auditorium in Kandy. VISIT : WWW.SIBACAMPUS.COM HOTLINE: +94 (0) 72 7 844 844 OR 94 (0) 81 242 1693

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AMAZING SRI LANKA | 101

Claude Thomasz

Karunatilaka Amunugama

Chairman, Western Province Tourist Board.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Germany

AMAZING

SRI LANKA THE GERMAN VERSION

LAUNCHED IN GERMANY

special edition in German of Amazing Sri Lanka was launched in October 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany, and is currently on sale in the open market in four German-speaking countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg. The magazine was launched by the Chairman of the Western Province Tourist Board,

Claude Thomasz, at a special event attended by some 400 guests in Germany and Sri Lanka. The Chief Guest was the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Germany, His Excellency Mr Karunatilaka Amunugama. This German edition retains the name of the founding English publication and has a shelf validity from November 2014 to October 2015. It has been edited by Professor Manfred Domroes, who has visited Sri Lanka 90 times since 1967. The magazine features an introduction by the The Hon Nimal Lanza, Minister of Tourism for the Western Province, without whose support the project would not have been possible, and by The Chairman of the Tourist Board of the Western Province, Claude Thomasz. www.wptb.lk

AMAZING SRI LANKA | 105

The magazine contains articles by Professor Domroes from a selection of fascinating features that appeared in past editions of Amazing Sri Lanka, and some original articles in German. It also contains a map of Sri Lanka, a weather calendar, a page of detachable postcards, a book mark, guest comments, and a spectacular double fold-over cover. The excellence of production is matched by superb photography and complemented by advertisements in German from renowned tourist establishments.

In his address at the launching ceremony, Western Province Tourist Board Chairman, Claude Thomasz, expressed his thanks to the Sri Lankan and German advertisers and industry stakeholders who supported this venture into magazine publishing in Germany. He stated that with the encouragement of the Minister of Tourism of the Western Province, the Hon Nimal Lanza, he is being pro-active in the promotion of tourism for German-speaking readers by making it possible for potential visitors to Sri Lanka to read all about this amazing country in their own language. He hoped they would then decide to visit and discover amazing Sri Lanka for themselves.

Bodo Kruege, Andreas Dripke, Claude Thomasz, H.E the Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Dhammi Kandage

Bodo Krueger, Claude Thomasz, Karunathilaka Amunugama & Dhammi Kandage

Two sisters from Jaffna - living in Germany Sheromi & Priyanka Yogarajah

Claude Thomasz & Prof Manfred Domroes

Pradip Jayawardena, Nihal Samarasinha, Claude Thomasz, Dhammi Kandage, Neeliya Neumann, Chanda Wickramaratne, Laura Nicli

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Chairman of the Tourist Board - W.P. Presenting a copy of the magazine to Dr. J端rgen Morhard - The Ambassador of Germany in Sri Lanka & Ralston Gerreyn

Klaus Fischer - President GSLBC, Claude Thomasz, Dhammi Kandage, Sabine Geib - Product Manager of Willy Scharnow-Foundation

Owinrose is a newly constructed hotel located in a very calm and peaceful area overlooking a paddy field. The property is on an edge of the paddy field front with rooms having perfect view of paddy field and greenery.

Owin Rose Hotel Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka. Tel: + 94 (0) 47 2239433 Mob: + 94 (0) 77 5077400 | + 94 (0) 77 5319924 E-mail: owinrosehotel@sltnet.lk Web: www.owinrosehoteltissa.com

TIPS FOR TOURISTS PEOPLE Someone once described Sri Lankans as being like “tropical Italians.” Sri Lankans are generous with their smiles and their eyes express genuine emotion. The majority of Sri Lankans are Buddhist with Tamils (mostly Hindu), Muslims and Burghers (descendants of Sri Lankans and Portuguese or Dutch colonisers; mostly Christian) making up the rest. Sri Lankans welcome strangers and are keen to see that visitors are happy to be here.

obtaining cash with credit or debit cards in every town; look for the sign equivalent to the one on your card. Some ATMs do not return the card until after the transaction is completed, so don’t pocket the cash and leave without collecting your card.

CUSTOMS DUTY-FREE ALLOWANCES Import on arrival: visitors to Sri Lanka are officially required to declare all currencies, valuable equipment, jewellery and gems etc., so they can be taken back on departure. Visitors are not allowed to bring in goods in commercial quantities, or prohibited/ MONEY restricted goods such as dangerous drugs, weapons, explosive The Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs) is made up of 100 cents but you’ll rarely see devices or gold. Drug trafficking or possession leads to severe cents as most coins are of Rs10, 5, 2 and 1 in value. Currency notes in punishments up to the death penalty. circulation are in denominations of Rs5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 100, 50 and 20. As new notes are being phased in replacing two older versions, you will find some notes of the same denomination come in three different colours. Watch carefully when you are handling currency to see that you don’t mistake a high denomination note for a lower one. Even Sri Lankans make that mistake. Visitors bringing into Sri Lanka an excess of $10,000 in any foreign currency should declare the amount to customs on arrival, to allow that much to be taken out again. Keep exchange receipts so you can easily exchange excess rupees back into foreign currency on departure. Banking Hours: All banks in the country open for the public from 0900hrs to 1300hrs from Monday to Friday, but some banks have extended their opening hours until 15.00hrs and are also open on Saturday. There are ATMs for 108 | AMAZING SRI LANKA

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A tourist is allowed to bring in duty free: 1.5 litres of spirits, 2 bottles of wine, a small quantity of perfume and 250ml of toilet water. The duty free importation of cigarettes, cigars or tobacco is not permitted. However, locally manufactured brands of international cigarettes are readily available. Tourists are allowed to export without paying export tax up to 10kg of tea grown and packed in Sri Lanka. The export of Sri Lankan antiques (defined as an item over 100 years old) is not allowed.

CONDUCT Cleanliness and modesty are appreciated even in informal situations. Nudity and topless bathing are prohibited and subject to heavy fines. Display of intimacy is not suitable in public and will probably draw unwanted attention.

HANDS AND EATING Use your right hand for giving, taking, eating or shaking hands as the left hand is considered to be unclean. Do not shake hands with a Buddhist Monk or a Hindu Swami. Greet them with your hands clasped together as if in prayer and raising them to your forehead bending slightly forward. When handing objects to another person, using right hand or both hands would be appreciated by the receiver.

VISITING PLACES OF WORSHIP Visitors to Buddhist and Hindu temples are welcome though the shrines of Hindu temples are sometime closed to non-Hindus. Visitors to temples are expected to be respectably clad, bare footed and with heads uncovered.

IN CONVERSATION

Do not attempt to shake hands or be photographed with Buddhist monks or to pose for photos with statues of the Buddha or other deities and paintings.

In conversation Sri Lankans may ask questions that a foreigner would regard as being too personal. This simply reflects the emphasis Sri Lankans place on family life.

WOMEN

PHOTOGRAPHY

To avoid causing offence or inviting harassment, there are simple precautions that women should take, since what a woman might wear in her home country could be regarded as provocative in Sri Lanka. Thus looseâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;fitting, non-see-through clothes covering the shoulders, and skirts, dresses or shorts that are at least knee length should be worn, and are sensible for protection from the sun too.

Sri Lankans are happy to pose for photographs but it is polite to ask for permission first. Street entertainers like snake charmers would expect a fee for posing.

SMOKING Smoking is prohibited in public places. Please observe non-smoking rules. Smoking is permitted in some enclosed spaces (like bars) but if in doubt, ask before lighting up.

SAFETY As in any country, theft can occur, especially when travelling by train or in a crowded bus. It is sensible to secure valuables, passport and credit cards out of sight, such as in a money belt or buttoned pockets, and not to leave bags, computers, cameras, etc., unattended when travelling. Keep a record of vital documents, including your passport number, credit card numbers etc., separate from those documents in case they www.wptb.lk

AMAZING SRI LANKA | 109

do get stolen. If items are stolen, report the theft to the nearest police station and, if you need proof for an insurance claim, obtain a copy of your report. The paper work involved in reporting losses can be time consuming and irritating. Tourists should not assume that if procedures move slowly they are expected to offer a bribe. If you face really serious problems, e.g. in case of a driving accident, you should contact your consular office as quickly as possible.

UNWRITTEN THE ROAD

RULES

The rule of ‘might is right’ applies. Flashing headlights mean ‘get out of the way, I’m not stopping’. In these circumstances it is advisable to give the oncoming vehicle adequate space, since they usually approach at high speed. Roundabouts are generally a free-for-all, so take your chance cautiously.

compatible appliances. There may be pronounced variations in the voltage and occasional power cuts. As socket types vary, it is advisable to carry a universal adapter.

BUSINESS HOURS Government Offices: Open 09.30-1700, Monday-Friday. Restaurants and Bars: Permitted hours for alcohol service are 11.00-14.00 and 17.00-2300; however some restaurants/bars have different licences and do not close in the afternoon. No alcohol is served on Poya (Full Moon) Days.

DRIVING PERMIT Foreigners intending to drive in Sri Lanka are required to obtain a ‘recognition permit’ that is issued up to the expiry date of your International Driving Permit. This is a simple process. Just call at the Automobile Association of Sri Lanka at 40, Sir M.M. Markar Mawatha, Galle Face, Colombo 3, open 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday except on public holidays. If you do not have an International Driving Permit but have your national licence, you must apply for a temporary Sri Lankan Driving Licence from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, Department of Motor Traffic at 341, Elvitigala Mawatha, Colombo5. Tel:0112694331. Temporary driving licences are issued on payment of Rs 2500+VAT per month up to a maximum period of one year. (Rates are subject to change)

MAINS ELECTRICITY Mains power in Sri Lanka is 230 V @ 50 Hz AC. Some hotels have transformers/ converters enabling visitors to use non110 | AMAZING SRI LANKA

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A specialist inbound tour operator, Airwing Tours is your gateway to the paradise island of Sri Lanka. Our services range from Special Interest Tours, Sports Tours, Nature Based Tours, Eco Holidays, Adventure Tours, Study Tours, Cultural Tours, Beach Holidays, Wellness Holidays, Incentive Tours, to Tailor Made Holidays for Luxury to Standard clientele. Established 20 years ago, we possess years of experience in organizing comprehensive travel packages for groups, individuals as well as families, bringing you the best tour packages in the island. All our tour guides are experienced as well as multilingual. We possess a fleet of vehicles inclusive of cars, vans, mini coaches and large coaches. We hold travel and tour Contracts with more than 80% of the hotels in the island. We possess the ability to customize a holiday to meet with customer preferences. Our main office is situated 15 minutes from the Airport in Negombo while a travel counter at the arrival lobby of the Bandaranaike International Airport assists our customers 24/7. Head Office: No: 68, Colombo Road, Negombo, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94(0)31 2236620, +94(0)31 2238376 , +94(0)31 2238377, +94(0) 31 3338116 Fax: +94(0)31 2238155 E-mail: sales@airwingtours.com, info@airwingtours.com Web: www.airwingtours.com

Sub Office: At the Bandaranayaike International Airport Arrival Lobby.

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The National Emblem

he national emblem of Sri Lanka is used by the Sri Lankan government in connection with the administration and government of the country. The current emblem has been in use since 1972.

The emblem features a gold lion passant, holding a sword in its right fore paw (the same lion from the flag of Sri Lanka) in the centre on a maroon background surrounded by golden petals of a Blue Lotus the national flower of the country. This is placed on top of a traditional grain vase that sprouts sheaves of rice grains that circle the border reflecting prosperity. The crest is the Dharmacakra, symbolising the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foremost place for Buddhism and just rule. Traditional Sinhalese heraldic symbols for the sun and the moon form the supporters.

The National Flag

he flag of Sri Lanka, also called the Lion Flag, consists of a gold lion, holding a kastane sword in its right fore paw, in front of a dark red background with four golden Bo leaves, one in each corner. Around the background is a yellow border, and to its left are two vertical stripes of equal size in green and saffron, with the saffron stripe closest to the lion. The lion represents the Sinhalese ethnicity and the bravery of the Sri Lankan nation while the four Bo leaves represent Metta, Karuna, Mudita and Upekkha. The orange stripe represents the Sri Lankan Tamils, the green stripe represents Sri Lankan Moors, and the maroon background represents the majority of Sinhalese, like the lion, this is the colour used in early flags of Sri Lanka by kings. It was adopted in 1950 following the recommendations of a committee appointed by the 1st Prime Minister of Ceylon, The Rt Hon D.S. Senanayake.

The National Butterfly

he Sri Lankan Birdwing (Troides darsius) is a species of birdwing butterfly found in Sri Lanka. It is the largest Sri Lankan butterfly with a wingspan spreading 165â&#x20AC;&#x201C;180 mm. The declaration of a national butterfly is aimed at raising public concern on butterfly conservation.

Sri Lankan Birdwing is the great black and yellow butterfly (Ornithoptera darsius, Gray); the upper wings, which measure six inches across, are of deep velvet black, the lower, ornamented by large particles of satiny yellow, through which the sunlight passes, and few insects can compare with it in beauty, as it hovers over the flowers of the heliotrope, which furnish the favourite food of the perfect fly, although the caterpillar feeds on the aristolochia and the betel leaf and suspends its chrysalis from its drooping tendrils.

The National Bird

he Sri Lankan Junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii), known during the colonial era as the Ceylon Junglefowl, is a member of the Galliformes bird order which is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is the national bird. It is closely related to the Red Junglefowl (G. gallus), the wild junglefowl from which the chicken was domesticated. The specific name of the Sri Lankan Junglefowl commemorates the French aristocrat Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette. In Sinhala it is known Wali Kukula. The Sri Lankan Junglefowl is most closely related to the Grey Junglefowl, though physically the male resembles the Red Junglefowl. Female Sri Lanka Junglefowl are very similar to those of the Grey Junglefowl.

The National Tree

eylon ironwood (Mesua ferrea) was declared the National Tree on 26 February 1986. It was chosen as the National Tree for the reasons of tree origin in Sri Lanka, utility, historic & cultural importance, exterior posture, wide distribution, colour & nature and ability to draw & sketch it easily. Ceylon ironwood is a species in the family Calophyllaceae. This slow-growing tree is named after the heaviness and hardness of its timber. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental due to its graceful shape, greyish-green foliage with a beautiful pink to red flush of drooping young leaves, and large, fragrant white flowers. Its flower is also used in herbal medicine and preparation of perfumes, cosmetics and soaps.

The National Flower

he Nil Manel (Nymphaea stellata) Blue Water Lily was chosen as the national flower of Sri Lanka in February 1986. The Blue Water Lily of exquisite beauty are a common sight throughout the island. Growing in shallow fresh waters with no season for blooming, the Blue Water Lily thrives wherever lakes, ponds or marsh land is found. This flower is considered a symbol of Purity and Truth due to the fact that it grows in muddy water yet emerges above it so clean and fragrant. The Blue Water Lily has been offered as tribute to the Buddha for many centuries and even the Sigiriya Fresco ladies are seen holding this remarkable blossom in their hands.

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