A wonderland of Reefs & Wrecks

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he waters of Sri Lanka- salt water, brackish & fresh are as rich in undersea life as any in the world. Equipped with only a face mask, a person can dive in bracing clear green rivers in the wet forest. He can explore tidal lagoons where the crystal sea of the East-Coast floes up estuaries & reveals & new world of mangroves, oyster- covered rocks & large edible crabs.

But it is the blue water if the Indian Ocean that are Sri Lanka’s premier diving attraction. Coral reefs & off shore ship- wrecks harbor a new world of breathtaking clarity. There are sensational fish and sand- stone formations in the great & little basses reefs. And a foray off Negombo will bring about close encounters with sizeable & exciting game fishes.

It is important to know that the best times of the year to visit these spots, as clarity of surrounding waters changes periodically according to monsoon season & other prevailing weather conditions. A rewarding diving expedition to Sri Lanka needs careful timing, patient and understanding. Bu the end result, whether you are photographing, collecting, fishing or just experiencing, is well worth it.

A tour of the island

Starting from Negombo, the closest town to the international airport, we will travel counter clock wise along the coast, exploring diving spots en route. Negombo, from November till March, offers surprisingly good diving. Do not expect continuous clear water every day of the five months. The strong currents, heavy rainfall, and the nearby presence of a lagoon rich in silt and plankton, cause periodic turbidity. But this contributes to the fact that Negombo offers the finest seafood in the country. The young & energetic often spear barracudas, queen fish, caran x or hefty estuary perch without breathing gear. Lobster- grabbing can be done by night with a flashlight & strong gloves. Fir the camera, seek waters further out if the reefs are not clear enough. But if the preference is for close- up, there are a few hundred subjects to click on the reef itself.

A few miles down the coast near Kapungoada (about two hours away by speedboat) there are two shallow ship wrecks which are treasure troves of invertebrates, lobster & snappers. You may troll a line for that occasional hungry barracuda, to small (in this region) to be dangerous to human beings. A 25 pounder is considered a very big fish & he will hit a bait quits obligingly, especially in the evening.

Colombo was the very first dive site when face masks, snorkels and flippers came to Sri Lanka’s shores in the pre-world war two days. It is quite changed now, in every way. Good diving is now out at sea where the strong currents bring in clear water. Excellent spots for diving & hunting are a reef off south Colombo, where migrant schools of queen fish, caranx, barracuda & Spanish mackerel swim & another reef more than a mile offshore, where some exciting (and perfect harmless) gray sharks show up occasionally

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 dive off the famous Mount Lavinia beach (only on the calmest days, though) will bring you face to face with a variety of photogenic fishes, the loveliest & commonest bring the blue ring angels. Further south id Beruwala, the rocky island off the Bentota hotel complex is quite an interesting dive spot with large parrot fish, snappers & other reef dwellers.

For a dive that is different, have yourself taken inland to a place called Badureliva, then to at Weltota where you can explore a lovely jungle rock pool with clear green waters, sunken long rocks, aquatic plants & some lovely little tropical freshwater fishes. Not to mention the fine rain forest around you, gentle friendly people, and an atmosphere far removed from that of a beach hotel.

Back of the coast, further south is Ambalangoda. At most times of the year, it is not absolutely clear because of a creek mouth close by. But there are some really good calm days in January & February. You will pass a headland with fringing coral reef & sea breakers about a half mile or so sea wards at Akurala, which offers splendid rock & reef diving, two ship wrecks & an abundance of fishes.

Hikkaduwa, the famous diving center of the south west coast, has unfortunately been “over dived” the fishes are nervous & confused. Using Hikkaduwa as a base, instead dive Dodanduwa further south & the marvelous rocky reefs off Gintota, Medagala & Ralagala, perhaps the greatest diving on the west coast. Medagala is not easily found, though, as the highest point does not break in calm weather. Although much can be seen & enjoyed with a snorkel, tank diving to the Malabar ship wreck, 60 to 802 feet deep on a rock reef is a welcome adventure to those who are keen underwater photographers.

Galle harbor is the perfect take-off point to enjoy some fine diving north at Alugala, which provides a new wreck to explore. Diving off the Koggala coast is not recommended unless you are a strong swimmer. But Weligama & its surroundings can be excellent. These are several rock & coral reefs to explore, especially off Mirissa with its teeming fishermen & boats.

Matara a few miles from the southern- most tip of Sri Lanka at Dondara, Provides diving only in February and march  when drought can make the nearby Nilwala river less turbid, enabling you to see some fine fish over the reef. Tangalle, which is beautifully located, has fine diving; but too offer the sea gets over lively. One of the better spot is kupatha, a small rocky islet visible from the Tangalle rest hoose, haunted by huge schools of parrot fidh, sweetlip & snappers.

continuous clear water every day of the five months. The strong currents, heavy rainfall, and the nearby presence of a lagoon rich in silt and plankton, cause periodic turbidity. But this contributes to the fact that Negombo offers the finest seafood in the country. The young & energetic often spear barracudas, queen fish, caran x or hefty estuary perch without breathing gear. Lobster- grabbing can be done by night with a flashlight & strong gloves. Fir the camera, seek waters further out if the reefs are not clear enough. But if the preference is for close- up, there are a few hundred subjects to click on the reef itself.

A few miles down the coast near Kapungoada (about two hours away by speedboat) there are two shallow ship wrecks which are treasure troves of invertebrates, lobster & snappers. You may troll a line for that occasional hungry barracuda, to small (in this region) to be dangerous to human beings. A 25 pounder is considered a very big fish & he will hit a bait quits obligingly, especially in the evening.

Colombo was the very first dive site when face masks, snorkels and flippers came to Sri Lanka’s shores in the pre-world war two days. It is quite changed now, in every way. Good diving is now out at sea where the strong currents bring in clear water. Excellent spots for diving & hunting are a reef off south Colombo, where migrant schools of queen fish, caranx, barracuda & Spanish mackerel swim & another reef more than a mile offshore, where some exciting (and perfect harmless) gray sharks show up occasionally

Seenigama Devalaya , සීනිගම දේවාලය

The Seenigama Temple, Halle is a popular name among the Hikkaduwa Tourist Attractions. The Seenigama Temple, Hikkaduwa is known as the Seenigama Devalaya in the colloquialSinhalese. As is evident, Devalaya is the term for temple. The Seenigama Temple inHikkaduwa is situated on the coast of the sea, beyond the 96 km post on the Colombo Gallehighway. Thought to be over a millennia old, the Hikkaduwa Seenigama Temple is approximately 1300 ears old. However, there is no evidence to provide evidence to this speculation. Whatever historical records have been exhumed, structural evidence states that the Seenigama Temple is above 300 years old. 

 

The Seenigama Temple, Hikkaduwa is a testimony both of the historical as well as cultural facet of Galle in Sri Lanka. If you are keen on exploring the conventions of temple worship and knowing all about the temple traditions of Galle, the SeenigamaTemple or Seenigama Devalaya is a must visit. The sanctuary is also known as the Seenigama Devol Temple, owing to its patron deity, Devol. Devol is a god of the Buddhist pantheon. The Devol Deviyo or Devol culture is prevalent among theSinhalese and continues to be the most accepted of all forms of worship by the fisher folk in the southern and western lowlands. Devol ceremonies are prominent and often practiced along the coastal areas. Some also guarantee the success of fishing. 

 

The Seenigama Temple, Galle is extremely sacred as it is believed that the deity resolves the problems of human beings. The shrine of the god on the shore was recently constructed. The land on which the Seenigama Temple, Galle was originally located is now an island and can be approached only by boat. The island itself is small with a deep freshwater well.

Galle Light House

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alle Light house (also known as Pointe de Galle Light) located at the Galle fort is an onshore Lighthouse in Galle and one of the 14 remaining light houses of Sri Lanka operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. In fact the Galle fort is a UNESCO world heritage site.

The glorious Galle fort was firstly built by Portuguese in 1588. Remarkably it had been marked in the Ptolamy’s world map designed around 125-150 A.D. At that time this fort placed in Galle bay, was a quite busy port. The fort was fortified by Dutch in 17th century. Usually it was visited by Chinese, Greeks, Arabs and Indians for business and commercial trading purposes. The light house is erected 7 m above from the road.

The light station is within the walls of the ancient Galle Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site and well known tourist attraction. The lighthouse is strategically located at the southern end of the promontory, built approximately 6 metres (20 ft) above the road level on the ramparts, at what is known as the Point Utrecht Bastion, giving it full view of any ships entering Galle Harbour.

This is Sri Lanka's oldest light station dating back to 1848, but the original 24.5 meters (80 ft) high lighthouse built by the British was located about 100 metres (330 ft) from the current site, however it was destroyed by fire in 1934. The existing 26.5 metres (87 ft) high light house was erected here in 1939. The original light was furnished with a glass prism lens floating in a bath of mercury (to reduce friction) and was powered by a weight driven machine.

Presently it is maintained by Mr. Sarathchandra. It is known as the oldest light house in Sri Lanka. The light house was firstly built in 1848, but it was burnt in 1936. The appearing tower was built in 1940.This landmark is almost crowded with local and foreign travelers. The lights are operated through a computerized system. The foremost light at the top of the light house switches off in every morning and switches on at night.

As indicated above this round shaped construction was built in 1939 and completed in 1940. It is 26.5 m in height and 47 m in range. This offshore at Galle fort is operated by Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Fantastic view of the Indian Ocean is appeared besides with the light house. Due to Sea breeze and sea waves, your cumbersome will be vanished. Subsequently it can be known as a relaxing spot.

Local kids who are engaged with flying kites and playing cricket is a frequent view here. Locals prefer to have sea baths while playing an enjoying their weekend holidays. While walking on ancient erected ramparts you can enjoy the sunset at evenings. Remember that the Light house is not allowed to be climbed. So have fun at outside views.

Maritime Museum Galle

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aritime museum Galle, of the department of national museum in an education center visitors showing life styles of the fisherman & natural resources of southern province. This museum was first opened for the public on 9^th May 1992 in old ware house in the Dutch Fort, Galle. In 2004 this museum was completely destroyed by the Tsunami disaster. Galle maritime museum was reopened to the general public on 18^th May 2009, funded by the Netherlands. Sri Lanka cultural collaboration program under the supervision of ministry of cultural affairs & National Heritage.

The exhibition of the first gallery represents the history of Galle harbor and the cultural of fishing community in southern coastal area. Fishing is the major livelihood of the people of the southern coastal belt. They constitute a community with & distinctive language, customs, rituals beliefs and fishing equipment of their own. The aim of this gallery is to depict the life ways of this community. A variety of objects including models of fishing crafts, fishing equipment & information on fishing techniques, communal life and languages are displayed. The gallery also displays a model of a cargo ship known as “Maha Oruwa “ which belonged to a family of several generations of sailors, the Dodanduwa Galle.

The diorama of the second gallery represents botanical exhibition on mangroves, sea shore plants and marine algae. Nature of mangroves and its growth is shown here by well arranged models. Photos of plants species grown in Rekawa and Kalametiya lagoons have been displayed here. This is followed by more photos of sea shore plants & list of adaptations. Algae grown in the shallow water level of the tidal waves shown by real specimens preserved in wet media for easy identification.

Zoology gallery starts from the beautiful marine invertebrate classification panel specimens of evolutionary important animals such as Sea cucumber, Sea urchin, Brittle Star, Bivalves and leaps exhibits within this panel and all the other marine invertebrates are representing by photographs.

Attractive and highly productive coral types and their developmental stages are displayed here too. A collection of mallusca’s shells shows high more phological diversity. As well as an exhibition of common edible marine fish in Sri Lanka gives educational value with identification guide.

This gallery consists with models of marine mammals “common”in coastal zone around Sri Lanka gives facts about them. Marine mammals; such as Blue Whale ( Balaenoptera Musculus ) Brude’s Whale (Balaenoptera Edeni), Killer Whale (Orcinus Orca), Humpback Whale (Megaptera Novaengliae), Bottle Mask Dolphin (Tursi ops Truncates) Dug ong (Do gang Do Gang ), Ginkogo Toothed Beaked Whale ( Mesoplodon Ginkgodens) can be seen in this galley.

Furthermore, specimens of some marine birds are displayed here. There is a view of egg lying of green turtle among five turtle species in Sri Lanka next to the marine mammals’ gallery.

Huge and rare skeleton of brude’s Whale which runs along the gallery is unforgettable memory of the visitors. This whale records rarely in coastal zone around Sri Lanka. It was standed in the seas closer to the Colombo commercial harbor in November 2003 and buried within NARA premises by the crew of NARA. In September of 2008 Department of National Museum excavated this skeleton and prepared it for display.

Tsunami is a large ocean waves that is caused by a sudden motion on the ocean floor. This sudden motion could be an earth quake or any other reason. Tsunami can travel across the open ocean at great speed & build in to deadly waves when they encounter the land. Tsunami that affected Sri Lanka on 26^th December in 2004 was sadder motion of the ocean floor. The model that shows Tsunami’s reactions of Sri Lanka is kept for exhibition in this museum.

There will be educational programs on every Saturdays at maritime museum Galle and specially lectures will be delivered on request.

Katuwana Fort

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his fort stood on rising ground at the kandyan foothills forty kilometers inland from Matara, near the northern limits of the company’s territory. During the Matara rebellion, Katuwana fort was captured by the Kandyan forces in 1761 & partly destroyed.

Brohier writes in 1978 “ After a scramble through a barrier of prickly undergrowth we came upon a crumbling rampart wall, proceeding along its base we came to a gaping breach. It was the gate way of old. On all sides there rose the picture of crumbling ruins, of desolation. The space within the walls was occupied by a thick growth of jungle. Giant tress arose from tops of the ramparts. Their mighty roots had penetrated the crevices between the built up rocks & held the poised in iron grip but in fantastic disorder. Trace of the foundation & flooring of the buildings with the fort were all that remained & the well.

The remains of the fortress are still there behind the government hospital, writes van Diessen in 1986. The remains of two bastion, a well, and the location of the gate are recognizable, mortar in the wall has disappeared for the greater part; brick work is dislocated by roots of trees.

Heydt visited Katuwana in 1734 and describes the fort as having a rampart 5 meters high, with a walk way 4 meters wide; since it had only two bastions, he compared it to a redoubt rather than a fort. “The fort has only one gate way” facing which this view made over the gate one sees the magazine which is highly building and the guardroom to the left which occupied almost the whole of the angle. The other building cannot be seen because of their lowness.

The whole fort is built to mount twelve cannon only. It is not provided with too large a garrison, yet  if this were of forty men only, it should be able to resists a considerable number of blacks.

Heydt gives the longest diagonal length as 90 meters. Close to the gate way on the right is a dwelling of the commandant, who is always a sergeant and beside this along the curtain wall is an important warehouse. At the end of this is the powder magazine which one can enter from the ammunition store next to it. This last two storey’s high.. Next is the loading of the gunner & next to this the guardroom of the garrison.. At the end of this guardroom is the surgeon’s loading and the whole construction of the fort is so arranged, that the buildings occupy three sides of the curtain wall & leave open in the centre a fine quadrangle. To the left of the entry in to the fort is a well and on both sides stairs, leading up on to the ramparts.

About 100 meters from the fort following from north to south, is shown the “ Urabokka Oya” (River) about 10 meters wide. Not far from it there is a house, “built after the local manner” in which the “Dissawa” of Matara stayed during his visits.

Fisheries Harbor Usangoda

The glamorous lagoon at the foot of the Usangoda plain is full of fresh water fish, which enhance the natural beauty of the areas. Tasty fruits such as Himbatu, karamba, Uguressa, Eraminiya, Debara & wood apple are found in abundance in the locality supplying food for the birds and the visitors. This land of solace surrounded by coconut plantation from the east, lagoon from the west, Matara 

Katharagama main road from the north & sea shore from the south, provides a peculiar admiration & also this fascinating piece of plain has become an oasis, providing great consolation to the youth whose hearts are fomented because of lots love.

If you do not make up your mind to visit this amazing grassland “Usangoda” and enjoy the freedom to your heart’s content, by having a glance at the rolling sea waves in Indian ocean, by hearing the melodious noises of rare birds by tasting the delight of sweet fruits, by embarrassing the fragrance of wild flowers and by seeing the miracle of the earth, you will definitely by one of the unfortunates on earth. 

Historic Usangoda

The Kingdom Of Ravana And The Horton Plains Of Ruhuna

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elipatanwila, close to Ambalantota is one of the most fascinating villages in the Hambantota District. This picturesque village in enriched with fertile vegetation. The cold sea breeze which blows swiftly combing the whole environment, assuage the hearts of the villagers constantly. This historic village is full of natural beauty & resources with a tourist attraction.

Kind hearted & hospitable people of this prosperous village, lead a calm & quite life without any embarrassments, observing their customs and traditions to the letter.

River “Walawe” which is following graceful embraces the blue sea cordially at the Welipatanwila estuary. Elders of this village, whose memory is still alive strongly, say that there are so many interesting folk stories woven around the river valley. When the river overflows, villagers in & around the vicinity, are happy & joy.

Renowned intellectuals & well versed educationist, in the caliber of the most venerable Deepenkara Thero, who had been an asset to the whole country were born and bred in this historic village. They dedicated their time & energy to protect the values in this village & the yeomen service they rendered are inexplicable. As a result, their, mutual obligations were enhanced & they enjoyed the utmost pleasure, hospitality, gratefulness, humble qualities was the theme of their lives.

The sea shore on one side, and the stretch of paddy fields on the other side which provide rice & other foods to the villagers in the Welipatanwila are was the heart of the peoples. Their happiness knows no bounds when the estuary overflows. They get together & engage in clearing off the heaps of sand which is known as “Modara Kapeema” & make the way to the overflowed water to turn back to the sea without doing any threat to the fertile valley.

Whale & Dolphin Watching In Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is becoming a major spot for watching Whales and Dolphins. Dondra Point of down south in Sri Lanka is the main port of Whale Watching in Sri Lanka during December to April. Out of these months December, January and April are the peak months of sightings. During these months there is 95% chances of spotting Sperm Whales and great chances of spotting Blue Whales as their migration path is just off Dondra Point. We are able to arrange Whale Watching Trips off Dondra Point in a fully insured trawler boat which will last for 3 hours. Also there are good chances of spotting Spinner Dolphins also off Dondra. Ample of accommodation options are available as Dondra point can be reach easily from Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Weligama, Mirissa and Tangalle which are popular beach locations in Sri Lanka. Mirissa is the closest point to Dondra Point with good accommodation options.

Bundala National Park

Bundala National Park is located 251 km southeast of Colombo, close to the City of Hambanthota in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka & can be reached by A2 main motor road that runs from Colombo to Hambanthota. The general climate of Bundala National Park is hot and dry. While the average Temperature is 27 degrees Celsius, the annual rainfall varies between 900mm to 1300mm. Dry season’ falls between May and September. Best time to visit is September to March: during this period migratory birds arrive at the park.

Bundala National Park spread an area of 6216 that consists of mainly of dry thorny scrublands, marshes and four brackish lagoons. The terrain is generally flat with sand dunes bordering the coastline. Each and every species of water bird found in Sri Lanka is believed to visit Bundala National Park. Nearly 200 species of birds have been recorded within the park, out of which 58 species are migratory birds.

During September and March, hoards of migrants arrive in Bundala; among them are Marsh and Curlew Sandpiper, Curlew and Greenshank Golden and Kentish Plover, Large and Lesser Sand plovers. While the Broad-billed Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope are the rare visitors, the most famous migratory bird is greater flamingo. Hoards of flamingoes are one of the most common sights. In this period over 10,000 shore birds might be feeding at any one day.

The lagoons at the park attract a great variety of aquatic birds: among them are ibis, pelicans, painted storks, Black-necked Stork, terns, gulls, sand-pipers, snipes, teals, egrets and spoonbills. Endemic birds include the Brown-capped Babbler, Ceylon Wood shrike and Ceylon Jungle fowl.
Bundala is home to 32 species of mammals. Among them are civets, wild boars, Grey & Ruddy mongoose, porcupine, giant Indian palm squirrels, black-naped hares, Spotted Deer, Wild buffalo, the endemic, jackal and fishing & Rusty Spotted cats. While most commonly seen mammals are the hordes of grey languor and Toque Macaque.

Bundala National Park shelters a small population of elephants that varies between 25 and 60 depending on the season. Bundala is a habitat for several species of Reptiles. Bundala abounds with estuarine crocodile and mugger crocodile. The coastal area attracts Loggerhead Turtle, Green Turtle, Hawk’s bill turtle and Olive Ridley: four out of Sri Lanka’s five marine turtle species, which come ashore to lay their eggs Between October and January. Watching egg laying turtles in the night, on the beaches of Bundala is a sight that no visitor would forget in his lifetime.

Among the 383 species of plants that have been recorded in Bundala, six are endemic species. Seven are nationally threatened. The prominent species are Weera (Drypetes Sepiaria), Palu ( Manikara Hexandra), Satin (Chloroxylon Sweitenia), Kohomba (Azadirachta Indica) and Divul (Limonia acidissima). The dominant scrub is Andara.

Cinnamon

From the dawn of commercial navigation, the Romans, Arabs & Chinese sailed this islands-Galle And Jaffna being ports on the silk routes to acquire its fabulous merchandise such as ivory, ebony, tortoise-shell, pearls & gems. Furthermore the island’s spices were in demand, particularly cinnamon, obtained from an endemic species, cinnamomum zeylanicum which has historical been considered the world’s finest: a gift fit for a monarch or a god in ancient times. Pliny the elder, during the first century AD, wrote that a mere 350 grams of cinnamon was equal in value to five kilograms of silver. Trade in it was such that Michel Boyn (1652) revealed : “there were to be seen in the Persian gulf 400 Chinese vessels laden with zeilan ( Ceylon/Sri lanka) cinnamon, species & other goods.”

“Zeilan cinnamon”, such a moniker was accurate, fro even today this spice is giving the same geographic identity in the spice trade, namely “ Ceylon Cinnamon”, and its fine quality is reflected by its grade, “True Cinnamon” the bark is paper thin, brittle, yellowish brown in colour, and highly fragrant; far superior to common cinnamon varieties such as Cinnamon Cassia, known popularly as “Cassia”, which is grown throughout Southeast Asia and has provided competition for Ceylon cinnamon down the centuries due to its economical price.

Despites such advantages, the island’s cinnamon was not cultivated with commercial intent in earlier times ‘it grows wild in the woods as other trees, by them no more esteemed”, explained Robert knox (1681). “the wood which they burn is cinnamon,’ commented Ralph Fitch( 1589), although it was often extracted from the fire due to its overpowering reek.

Cinnamon-Kurundu in Sinhala, pattai in Tamil- was a royal monopoly and therefore brought no gain to the villagers. Nevertheless, it was-and is added to vegetable, fish and meat curries and also administrated in the indigenous herbal medicine hela-veda, and later in India –imported ayurveda, to relieve, as knox put it, “ Aches and pains”- more specifically in the abdomen and respiratory system. Cinnamon certainly has antibacterial and antifungal properties and act as a carminative & restorative. Moreover, recent studies suggest it may be beneficial in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, arthritis & cholesterol.

The arrival in 1505 of the Portuguese, the first European colonists, ended the non-commercial cultivation of cinnamon as they recognized the production and subsequently became the first European to trade in true cinnamon . the spice was precious enough for Portugal and Holland to engage in battle to control its trade, and in 1656 the Dutch seized the island, which was by then the world’s largest cinnamon supplier. The Dutch east Indian company substainlly increased cultivation, and cinnamon became the main purpose of the Dutch presence in the island. “ The shores of the island are full of it”. a Dutch captain enthused, “and it is the best in all the orient: downwind of the island, one can still smell cinnamon eight leagues out to sea.”

Such an incredible olfactory experience became a widely- known traveler’s  tale, although it has been suggested that it was hoax perpetrated by ships’ crew on passengers-seeker of the exotic- with the clandestine application of cinnamon oil somewhere onboard. Nevertheless, the spices was cultivated exclusively on the islands’ western & southwestern seaboard, an ideal hot & wet habitat, along which ships made their approach from the west to the ports of Galle & Colombo. Even the environs of colombo once comprised large cinnamon groves, as is evident from the name cinnamon gardens, now applied to the prime residential district. 

Ceylon cinnamon is a tropical evergreen tree of the laurel family that can grow up to seven metres in height. The ovate leaves with their five highly visible veins are the most remarkable aspect. When young they are cherry like in color, which then turns to lime green & finally dark green. They are particularly shiny, and have a thick texture that makes them rustle in seasonal winds. Blossom time I eagerly await, when the white, spicily-fragrant flowers attract myriad birds & bees. But it is only when I cut unruly branches that I experience the authentic smell of cinnamon.

When cultivated cinnamon trees are pruned two years after being planted, which produce “tillering’, an abundant growth of bark-yielding shoots. Harvesting starts when the trees are over three years old & takes place twice a year following the rainy seasons when the wetted bark is more easily stripped. Nevertheless, it is an intricate process, traditionally carried out by members of the salgama caste who have no connection with growers.

The shoots are cut, scraped with a blade to remove the rough outer bank and then rubbed with a brass block to smooth the inner bark. A curved knife called kokaththa is used to make two parallel cuts on the shoot after which the peeler man oeuvres the inner bark free in one piece. The next stage involves the pieces of bark being rolled together, a method called “telescoping”. Then they are air dried indoors & curled to resemble fine, papery quills. Finally after being sun-dried, they are trimmed precisely to 106.7cm (42 inches), the length specified by the world cinnamon market. And packed in 45kg cylindrical bales.

Sri Lanka products more than four-fifths of the worlds’ output of the true grade of the spice, other exporters being china, Indian & Vietnam. Despite such overwhelming dominance in the world market, cinnamon was considered a minor export crop in comparison to tea due to its small land coverage. But in 2011, Sri Lanka unveiled pure Ceylon cinnamon, the country’s second national brand, the first being pure Ceylon tea.

The main importer of pure Ceylon cinnamon is Mexico, where it is used extensively in the preparation of chocolate. Elsewhere, especially in Europe and America, it is employed to flavor desserts such as apple pie, doughnuts and buns, as well as tea. Cocoa and liqueurs. It is also employed in America to flavor cereals, bread-based dishes and fruits. In the middle east it is the used in savoury dishes of chicken and lamb, and cinnamon powder is used in soups, drinks & sweets.

So the next time you purchase cinnamon ensure that it is the best the world produces-pure Ceylon cinnamon, the cinnamon-and discover why humanity has prized its unsurpassed flavor and aroma from time immemorial. 

The Healing Water of Madunagala

The tiny bubbles that surfaced the dark waters shimmered in their constant up ward journey; they were little globules of air that resembled silky pearls. Over the moving ripples a misty smoke left the water, soon dispersing as it mingled with the warm southern air. Miraculously medicinal, the Madunagala hoe water wells in Mahapalassa in the south of Sri Lanka have stood the test of time, generously offering their healing waters to the throngs of people that have for years gathered to bathe.

At the entrance, we were initially greeted by a series of stalls that sell local fruits, sweets & various trinkets & knickknacks to the hundreds of people that come to the hot water spring each day, with vendors beckoning us to try a ripe mango or taste one of the many soothing medical herbal drinks on offer.

The spring stood in the form of a series of wells huddled in a group of six. In the centre stood the main but smallest, surrounded by a few larger ones resembling the petals of a flower. A few people had already gathered around with plastic buckets and cans pouring the hot water over their heads.

The high temperature of a hot spring is a result of the heat from the earth’s mantle, which is often referred to as geothermal heat. The temperature of rocks within the earth increases with depth & whenever water seeps deep enough into the earth’s crust it will be heated as it meets these rocks.

Hot springs in Sri Lanka are distributed along a narrow land belt running from Hambanthota to Trincomalee within the boundary of three main geological plates; the Wanni, Highland & Vijayan complex. The Madunagala hot spring is located in the Highland & Vijayan boundary. This hot spring is 11,582ft deep with its water running at a speed of about 645ml per second, and is of varying temperatures.

I eagerly dipped my hand in each of the wells curiously exploring the varying degrees of heat that engulfed it. The smallest well sitting in the centre was actually the highest in temperature. At 440’c the water was bubbling, releasing a thin smoke into the air. The water from the rest of the wells stood at varying temperatures of 38’C , 32’C and 26’C.

The hot water is said to consist of 22 elements such as Sulphate, Nitrate, Calcium, Sodium and chloride. The combination of these elements as well as other minerals blended in the water is said to cure skin aliments, arthritis, asthma and a number of other chronic illnesses. To gain the healing effects of this water however, one must avoid the use of soap. “ the water from these wells have very strong healing powers that can not only cure physical ailments but it also has the power to relax your mind”, said one of the visitor as he slowly poured a bucket of hot water from the smallest well on his feet. 

No one knows exactly when or by whom the hot water spring was discovered but the local folk believes that during the 5^th century BC group of 12000 Buddhist monks from a nearby temple, suffering from an incurable skin rash had been told of its miraculous healing quality through a dream. Thereafter they had cleared the jungle in search of the spring which had ultimately cured them.

Since then, it has been conserved and believed to have miraculous healing powers by the hordes of people that come from across the country each day to bathe in its powers spend a few hours cleansing body & mind with the healing waters of Madunagala leaving thereafter refreshed and happy.      

Japanese Peace Pagoda In Roomassala (ගාල්ල රූමස්සල ජපාන සාම චෛත්‍යය)

Rumassala , known to colonialists as Buona Vista, is the subject of many legends. It is featured in the Ramayana, as the home of the beautiful Queen Sita.

According to the Ramayana it is also said that Hanuman dropped a chunk of ‘Himalaya’ at Unawatuna (Onna Vetuna - ‘here it fell’) to form the present mountain, where many medicinal plants still grow. There is a major magnetic anomaly near Unawatuna, which Arthur C. Clarke attributes to a meteorite strike, and it is said that satellites lose their orbits with unusual frequency overhead. The Portuguese had a dreadful reputation in Sri Lanka as looters and pirates, are said to have given false light signals from Rumassala to lure unsuspecting Arab trading ships onto the rocks.

Mythical Legend

According to legend the Monkey-warrior Hanuman was sent back to India to fetch the four medicinal herbs, mritasanjeevani, vishalyakarani, suvarnakarani and sandhani from Himalaya in mountains to heal Lakshman who was wounded in his great battle with Ravana to save the abducted Princess Sita as he failed to identify the herbs he uprooted the mount and ferried it to the battlefield and a chunk of that “fell-down” forming the Rumassala Hillock , and the name of the village derived from Unna-watuna meaning “fell down”.

How does one reach Rumassala ? One has to pass Galle Town from Colombo towards Kataragama and in about 10 minutes a sign board to Rumassala “Rumassala Sama Ceitya” comes into view on the sea side. After five minutes from the sign board on the narrow road you reach the Sama Ceitya.  Sama Ceitya is the stupa which was built by the Japanese Nipponzan Myohoji Nikaya in 23rd February 2004. It is called “Peace Pagoda”. There are four stupas of this kind in Sri Pada, Bandarawela, Walapane and Ampara. In addition to these you can see this type of stupas in America, India, Australia, Japan, Nepal and Italy. By 2000, 80 Peace Pagodas had been built around the world in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Purpose

“We must not forget that Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country. We want to protect this country and Buddhism. It is for this purpose that five stupas were built in Sri Lanka. When we look at history it proves this country has pure Buddhism. There were many kings who built many stupas in their kingdoms. For example king Dutugemunu built Ruwanweli Maha Seya, the largest stupa in Sri Lanka. “But during the period of the Portuguese, Dutch and the British we lost our religion, culture and other good values. The stupa is a symbol of Buddhism. We want to develop our religion day by day. It is mainly for this purpose that we decided to build five Peace Pagodas in Sri Lanka,” said Venerable Asami who is the Japanese representative from Nipponzan Myohoji.

Venerable Asami has been living in Sri Lanka for 27 years and in Galle 11 years. The 59 year old Thera Reverend can speak fluent Sinhala and has a very good rapport with the people in Galle. Those on ships calling at the Galle port can see the stupa. It is a very good sign to say that Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country.

This Peace Pagoda is designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds, and to help unite them in their search for world peace. Most (though not all) have been built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii (1885-1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan - Myohoji Buddhist Order. Fuji was greatly inspired by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 and decided to devote his life to promote non-violence. In 1947, he began constructing Peace Pagodas as shrines of World Peace.

The first Peace Pagodas were built as a symbol of peace in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki where the the atomic bombs took the lives of over 150,000 people during the World War II.

Staircase

There is a staircase to the stupa and we can go around it. There are four Buddha Statues around it and they indicate the birth of prince Siddhartha, His Enlightenment and the attainment of Parinibbana. From this place we could see the magnificent view of the sea. There’s a beach track from Sama Ceitya to the sea with fully grown trees on either side. Travelling further pass the Peace Pagoda is another temple call Sri Vivekaramaya of Rumassala. The temple contains some interesting structures. One is the image of Hanuma carrying the piece of the himalaya mountain in its hand. The other is a figure of Maithree Bodhisattva

City of Galle History – ගාල්ල

Centuries ago when Lanka was ruled by the Sinhalese Kings, ‘Gaalla’ or Galle was the old world’s romantic city which owed its glory to its natural harbour. This picturesque seaside resort was the centre of trade in olden days, because of its strategic position, where sailing vessels laden with merchandize from the Western countries of Egypt, Persia, Arabia and the Eastern China, Malaysia and Singapore converged.

The traders bartered their goods with the produce of this country, which was reputed for its spices, gems and pearls. In the markets of the city there were gems comprising of Saffires, rubies, cat’s eye and semi precious gems as tourmaline, amethysts and moon stones. The people of Galle prospered with the sale of exquisite curios made of tortoise shell, ebony, porcupine quills and elephants’ tusks. Even today a semblance of this trade is found attracting tourists. Besides traders and entrepeneurs, there are records of visits by important personages, such as Ibn Batuta, the Arabic traveller from Morocco, Fa Hein from China and Marco Polo from the West. This town got its name as ‘Gaalla’ in the native tounge due to the large number of bullock carts that entered there and were stalled in one place. The locality where there were more numbers of carts and bulls stationed was called ‘Maagalla’ or Magalle.

In 1505, Lorenzo De Almeida, the son of the Viceroy of Goa set foot in Galle accidentally when his fleet of ships on the way to the Maldive islands caught in a great storm at sea was compelled to take refuge in this harbour. Thereafter he wrested the Galle harbour from the Sinhalese and were the first Europeons to set foot on the island and make extensive contact with the Sri Lankans. They constructed a barricade enclosing the projection of the land towards the sea and fortified it with a moat to avoid attack from the mainland. However by and by they conquered the whole of the sea coast border and finally established their government except in the Hill Country. They forced their religion, Catholicism on the innocent natives and ruled with an iron hand until the Dutch defeated them in 1640 and took over reigns of government. The long conquest of the island by the Portuguese and intervention between them and the Sri Lankans has left several sociocultural imprints on this country. The Portuguese stamp is particularly strong in the language, religion, education, administration, food, dress, names, music and drama. The surnames perera, Silva and Peiris and personal names peduru, Franciscu, Juvan, Singho, Don and Dona are some of them. Baila music was first introduced here by the Portuguese.

The Dutch drew away the Portuguese and persecuted them until they left these shores. The Dutch constructed huge ramparts and an enchanting Fort which forms a landmark in Galle that gives splendour to the town. They planned a township inside the fort with criss cross roads and low roofed houses with massive walls and large doors and windows. They constructed an underground system of brick paved sewers, which was flushed by the action of the tides in the sea that surrounded the walls of the fort. They built a large church, which is called The Dutch Reformed Church that stands well even upto this day. It was after 140 years of rule that the Dutch ceded the country to the British in 1876. The British inaugurated a pipe borne water service from Hiyare with a reservoir at Beke to supply the town with water. But electricity was introduced to the town only in 1926 with a power station at Talbot Town in China Garden. The Law Courts and the Kachcheri are situated within the fort while the Civil Hospital is at Mahamodera. A modern Hospital was constructed by Sri Lanka government at Karapitiya to supplement the Mahamodera Hospital as it was difficult to maintain the equipment and the Theatres in good use due to the effect of the sea opposite.

Galle is fortunate that nature has gifted it with enchanting natural features in the form of a safe harbour, the mountain of Rumassala, called Bouna Vista by the British and the promontory called Clossenberg jutting out into the sea at Magalle. Bouna Vista affords a magnificent view of the Galle harbour, the Fort and the surrounding area. According to legend Rumassala is a chunk of the Himalayan mountain brought by Hanuman, the monkey General of Rama. When Rama was at war with Rawana, the Raksha king of Lanka after the latter’s abduction of Sita Devi, wife of Rama, introduced a poisonous gas to the battle field which caused Rama to faint and fall down. When Rama fell unconscious, Hanuman remembered that on the Himalayan mountain there grew a herb which was an efficacious remedy to revive the stricken.

Thither he forthwith flew but unable to locate the herb in his impatient hurry tore off a large slice of ground from the Himalayas, which he was sure contained the herb and flew with it post haste to Lanka. After locating the herb it was quickly administered to the sufferer who was immediately revived. Thereafter the chunk of mountain was thrown away which ultimately fell off Galle harbour and this promontory is now known as Rumassala, where a variety of medicinal plant is still believed to be in extant.

Clossenberg is an area of high ground projecting into the sea at Magalle. A British sea faring officer called Captain Bailey in taking a fancy for this delightful promontory bought it from the government in 1859. He built a beautiful house there with spacious rooms and large doors and windows where the lintels are in the shape of half moon, and with low roof covered with local tiles.

 In front of this house is a large garden lined with coconut and palmyrah trees and elegantly laid out seats and resting places. Clossenberg faces the open sea and Bouna Vista on the East. From here could be seen the Galle Fort with the towering Light House and Clock Tower and the spire of the Anglican Church. The sea around affords safe sea bathing. After Captain Baily relinquished this house, a local businessman and planter, Simon Perera Abeywardena, son in law of the Moratuwa Philanthrophist C. H. de Soysa bought this residence where he lived until his demise. The present owner is his grand son who runs the place as a popular Guest House. The locals still call this place ‘Baly Kanda’