informations of sri lanka

The world will end December 21, 2012 - Astronomy Magazine

2012-10-24T08:05:00.001+05:30

The world will end December 21, 2012 - Astronomy Magazine

Buddhism and science

2012-05-02T18:03:00.000+05:30

Buddhism and science

Creation... and The End of the World

I did a little research on the question raised yesterday in a comment by Mark, a student at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where I curated an exhibition and lectured last fall. His question (read it in full in yesterday's "Comments" section) was about the creation. If there were no deity to perform the act, he asked, how was it done--and why?

I was interested in Mark's question because, in fact, I had given little thought to the matter and was ill-informed about Buddhist thinking about the origins of the universe. As it turned out, this was no great surprise, since the Buddha clearly discouraged speculation on the subject, as he appears to have done most frequently with the great unknowables. One answer I came up, however, was in an essay by one A.L. DeSilva in an essay on the website,Buddhism Today:

"Buddhism says little on this subject," writes DeSilva, "and for a very good reason. The aim of Buddhism is to develop wisdom and compassion and thereby attain Nirvana. Knowing how the universe began can contribute nothing to this task." DeSilva continues with this story from the Buddhist texts:

Once a man demanded that the Buddha tell him how the universe began. The Buddha said to him "You are like a man who has been shot with a poison arrow and who, when the doctor comes to remove it, says 'Wait! Before the arrow is removed I want to know the name of the man who shot it, what clan he comes from, which village he was born in. I want to know what type of wood his bow is made from, what feathers are on the end of the arrow, how long the arrows are, etc etc etc.' That man would die before all these questions could be answered. My job is to help you to remove the arrow of suffering from yourself." (Majjhima Nikaya Sutta No. 63)

A good story. One of the appealing things about the Buddha is that he told a good story--at least to judge from the reports of those who carried them in memory and those who eventually wrote them down. It bothers me that Evangelicals spend so much time and effort agonizing over the beginning and the end of the world. I suppose it's because their concern is with what they believe to be the eternal soul, and what will happen to it after death. In this light, the Buddhist concept of rebirth seems infinitely more expansive and humane. Do-overs, to me, are definitely preferable to eternal damnation--a fate which Evangelicals tell me I must expect if I'm not "reborn in Christ."

In any event, to believe in the literal word of the Bible on the subject of creation despite centuries of empirical scientific evidence seems to me willfully obtuse. The Buddha would surely shrug off that kind of ignorance. As for the end of the world, the Armageddon that Evangelical Christians like to wave like a warning cudgel--and which they appear to embrace in the belief that they alone will be spared... well, I like the incisive, playful irony of Robert Frost:

SOME say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Wise words written in 1920. And of course, there's always the anticlimax T.S.Eliot offers in The Hollow Men:

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

(My thanks to Michael Davis at Michael's Scribblings for reminding me of these two visions!)

So what would the Buddha say? I think he'd say simply, don't bother your head about the things you can never know. Take heed of the present moment, and put your efforts into developing that wisdom and compassion. As for the origin of the world, as DeSilva nicely puts it at the end of his short essay: "Buddhism concentrates on helping us solve the practical problems of living - it does not encourage useless speculation. And if a Buddhist did wish to know how and when the universe began he would ask a scientist."

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Buddhism and Modern Science
by Dr. Granville Dharmawardena, University of Colombo"Buddha is the greatest scientist in the history of mankind."

I have often heard this at bana sermons. This is completely wrong. Scientists are people who are constrained to work solely within and accept only, the knowledge generated by the scientific method. They generally reject knowledge generated by the other method. The Buddha did not use the scientific method and therefore he is not a scientist.

Of the two methods of acquiring knowledge available to the human being the Buddha used the right brain centered intuition method, where as the western approach to acquiring knowledge used the left brain method. The Buddha trained his mind to an extreme high state of enlightenment (Buddhahood) from where he could understand the true reality of nature in its totality. It is based on such knowledge that he propounded a philosophy which is most conducive to balanced and happy living which leads to living in harmony with others, living in harmony with nature, meaningful living devoid of stress, anxiety, jealousy and empty pride, ultimately ending up in a meaningful state full of bliss. That was over 2500 years ago. Science began much later.

Science is often explained as systematic formulated knowledge. It is knowledge needed to understand the phenomena that we observe and those that influence our lives. For the early man science represented a cumulative process of increasing knowledge and ability to understand what is around him. It also meant a sequence of victories over ignorance and superstition. During the time of the Buddha, science was still speculative explanation of common sense observations by intellectuals who devoted much of their time for thinking and understanding natural phenomena. Science helped to develop technology essential for producing things needed to make life more comfortable.

During the seventeenth century the French Mathematician Rene Des Cartes restricted the scope of science to only what is material by bifurcating the universe as matter (res extensa) and mind (res cogitans) and limiting science to the study of the former. The science that evolved on the basis of Cartesian bifurcation was confined to material objects within the limits of perception of human sensory organs which are unable to perceive anything that extended beyond three spatial dimensions.

The above constraints on science stood on the way of achieving its desired objective of understanding the true reality of nature, because nature and natural phenomena are neither confined to matter nor to three spatial dimensions. Many of the important phenomena of nature therefore happened to be outside the scope of science. Science, nevertheless, has provided enormous material benefits to mankind. Therefore people all over the world have very high confidence in science and accept anything explained to them in terms of science. The ultimate aim of science is understanding the true reality of nature, minimizing human suffering and making human beings happy by way of providing material comforts.The Buddha's way of acquiring knowledge by intuition was not subject to the limitations that stifled science and therefore unlike science the knowledge that the Buddha acquired is complete and represents the true reality of nature. This is confirmed by over 2500 years of experience. For this reason the Buddha did not have any grey areas that need to be hidden under a cloud of imaginary superhuman force.

Just as in science Buddhism does not require its followers to have dogmatic belief in anything that the Buddha taught. The Buddha advised people not to blindly accept what he taught, but research on them for themselves before accepting. For this reason his teachings have remained unaltered and valid for all times and under all circumstances.

While the knowledge the Buddha acquired represents the true reality of nature, what scientists aspire to understand as the ultimate destination of the scientific method, is also the same true reality of nature. While the goal of the teachings of the Buddha is elimination of human suffering and making human beings happy and contented by way of training their minds and creating self discipline in them, the goal of science is providing mankind with material comforts.

In 1905 Albert Einstein broke through the three dimensional barrier in science and took the scope of science beyond three spatial dimensions and Des Cartes restrictions. This enabled man to aspire for a more realistic view of nature and natural phenomena through the scientific method. Modern twentieth century science that developed after transcending the dimensional barrier by twentieth century scientists such as Albert Einstein, Erwin Schrodinger, Louis de Broglie, Paul Dirac, Werner Heisenberg, Richard Feynman, Murray Gellman, Sir Arthur Eddington and Stephen Hawkin is based on the theory of relativity, quantum mechanics and uncertainty principle. These have annihilated the artificial Cartesian bifurcation and extreme materialism in science. By the mid twentieth century the process of gathering scientific knowledge constituted of well organized laboratory and field experimentation, observation, development of theory, prediction, verification of the predictions and general acceptance.

Transcending the three dimensional barrier and taking science beyond the capabilities of human sensory organs eliminated the need to present perceptible mechanisms of observed phenomena as an acceptance criterion. The advent of computers has greatly enhanced the capability of the human brain to tackle complex phenomena that are too formidable to be tackled by the unaided and unenlightened human brain. Computer can never aspire to acquire the capabilities of the human brain because the human brain is driven by consciousness which operates at a speed much faster than the speed of light.The main achievement of the success of the twentieth century scientists in transcending the three dimensional barrier is acquiring a more realistic understanding of nature and natural phenomena. Twentieth century transcended science enables us to scientifically confirm that such concepts as impermanence, rebirth, telepathy and selflessness taught by the Buddha are true phenomena of nature which are beyond three spatial dimentions and therefore beyond classical science.

Derek Parfit of Oxford University (probably the world's most important living philosopher) accepts the Buddhist view of life and selflessness. He believes that his acceptance of selflessness which was inspired by split brain research, has liberated him from the prison of self. He says,
"When I believed that my existence was such a further fact, I seemed imprisoned in myself. My life seemed like a glass tunnel, through which I was moving faster every year, and at the end of which there was darkness. When I changed my view, the walls of my glass tunnel disappeared. I now live in the open air."
Derek Parfit, Fritj of Capra (the well known Nuclear Physicist) and Gary Zukav accept the Buddhist view of matter and believes in the need to liberate ourselves from the prison of material particles.

The process of human reproduction is explained in Buddha's teachings as parental union when mother is fertile and the arrival of consciousness. The former supplies the full complement of chromosomes needed to create a Zygote which by normal cell division creates the physical body. The arrival of consciousness into the physical body makes it an individual. Stating with the creation of test tube babies in 1968 by Dr. Robert Edwards's team of scientists at Cambridge University, incredible advances, culminating in cloning in 1996, have taken place in reproductive biology. Yet all these advances have only shifted the site and altered the mechanism of creation of the zygote. The maturing of the zygote to a foetus, making it an individual by the arrival of consciousness and birth remains as per Buddha's teachings.
It is now increasingly becoming clear to those who reach the front lines of modern science that what science has been discovering a new had been known to the Buddha over 2500 years ago. This is confirmed by the following statements made by topmost scientists of the twentieth century.

Albert Einstein regarded as the father of the theory of relativity says,

"Individual existence impresses him as a sort of prison and he wants to experience the universe as a single cosmic whole. The beginnings of cosmic religious feeling already appear at an early stage of development, as an example in the Psalms of David and in some of the Prophets. Buddhism, as we have learned especially from the wonderful writings of Schopenhaur, contains a much stronger element of this."
Niels Bohr who developed the presently accepted model of the atom together with Earnest Rutherford says,

"For a parallel to the lesson of atomic theory….. (we must turn) to those kind of epistemological problems with which already thinkers like the Buddha and Lao Tzu have been confronted, when trying to harmonize our position as spectators and actors in the drama of existence."

The most eminent Nuclear Physicist, Robert Oppenheimer, who produced the first atom bomb says,

"The general notions about human understanding … which are illustrated by discoveries in atomic physics are not in the nature of things wholly unfamiliar, wholly unheard of, or new. Even in our own culture they have a history, and in Buddhist and Hindu thought a more considerable and central place. What we shall find is an exemplification, an encouragement and a refinement of old wisdom." - Robert Oppenheimer.

The main teaching of the Buddha is the Noble Eight Fold Path. D. T. Suzuki writes about the first item of this Path, right seeing as,

"The seeing plays the most important role in Buddhist epistemology, for seeing is at the basis of knowing. Knowing is impossible without seeing; all knowledge has its origin in seeing are thus found generally united in Buddha's teachings. Buddhist philosophy therefore ultimately points to seeing reality as it is. Seeing is experiencing enlightment".The teachings of the Buddha, founded on the basis of the true reality of nature, have been recognized to be valid at all times and under all conditions. Buddhism is the only Doctrine based on the true reality of nature in its totality available to mankind. It is now becoming increasingly clear that solutions to most human problems that arise as a result of over indulgence, excessive competition and exploding greed leading to acquiring and amassing unlimited wealth, increasing violence, terrorism, drug addiction and self destruction lie in the teachings of the Buddha. It is clear that Buddhism is getting accepted, the world over, as the way of life of intelligent people in the third millenium.

2012-04-25T23:23:00.000+05:30

Kalpitiya joins Lanka’s whale spots

As I walked to the beach an Indian Nightjar churred. I was sensing the world through my ears. I was in a world of darkness, like the one inhabited by the Sperm Whales. In their world, in the murky depths where no light penetrates, they will 'see' with sound, using echo-location.

Waves gently lapped the shoreline in front of the boat house at the Alankuda Beach Resort. The silent murmur of the sea was abruptly broken by the scream of a powerful out-board engine as we thundered out, hurtling across the reef at 30 kmph to where the continental shelf plunged away into a deep abyss. I was heading in the darkness before day break, in search of the creatures of the darkness of the deep. I had instructed the boatman Susantha to head west, in search of whales and answers to another theory put forward by British marine scientist Dr. Charles Anderson.

Sperm Whale.

An orange fireball lurked below the Eastern horizon, still waiting to be uncovered by the Earth's rotation. I was on my way for one more of my dedicated whale watching trips in Kalpitiya. Amazing as it may seem, it seems that this was the first serious, dedicated effort to look for whales off Kalpitiya and to ascertain whether whale watching could work as an eco-tourism product. It is not that others had not seen whales before.

But almost all of them had been chance encounters of people watching dolphins in-shore of the reef. No one it seems had so far made a serious effort to go in search of whales beyond the reef which lies around 6 km out, roughly parallel to the peninsula. Any references to the reef in this article is not to Barr Reef which is off Kandakuliya.

Trincomalee has been known for its whales since the 1980s. But it is yet to be assessed for its whale watching strike rate in the post-war environment. I had already led the publicity campaign for Dondra. I was back in Kalpitiya to research another story - that Kalpitiya could be the next whale watching hot spot in Sri Lanka.

My last effort on April 19, 2009 to look for whales off Kalpitiya was thwarted by bad weather. With the boat buffeted by strong waves, and the chances of spotting a blow almost nil, I called off the search and decided to bide my time for the next season after the current south-west monsoon had spent its energy.
My next dedicated whale watching session off Kalpitiya had been the day before, on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Two boats had set out. One had Sandie Dawe, the chief executive of Visit Britain, with her husband Jock. They would follow the 'Dolphin Line', broadly an area which ran north-south parallel to the Kalpitiya peninsula, in-shore of the reef.

The other boat, prepared with three tanks of fuel and food and water for a long sea faring session carried Dallas Martenstyn, English photographer Georgina Viney and myself with boatman Susantha for a deep sea mission. None of what I have done in Kalpitiya would have been possible without the help of Dallas and his team who put together all the logistics for my whale watching trips. It is thanks to Dallas and his fellow investors at Alankuda that the world learnt about the dolphin watching at Kalpitiya. As we headed out, we paused a few times to gauge the depth using a fish finder.

The whale watching effort this time got off to a fairytale start. We had left at 7 a.m. and at 7.55 a.m., Georgina spotted the first blow whilst Dallas and I were fiddling with our two GPS units. We were at N 08 03 583 E 79 35 300 approximately seven nautical miles out from the shore (Alankuda Beach Resort is at N 08 03 121 E 79 42 560). We had encountered a group of five Sperm Whales. I explained to Susantha he should never make a direct bearing to the whale and the importance of keeping a distance from the whale where it would be comfortable with the boat.

We spent about 15 minutes with the school that were travelling on a south to north trajectory parallel to the peninsula.

I was elated that the search for whales had been so successful. Determined to find more whales, the third consecutive whale watching session had begun before day break. I was joined once again by Nikki Connolly and Linda Fennell who had been excited by the images I had taken the previous morning. These are probably the first images of Sperm Whales taken off Kalpitiya of a publishable standard.
We headed out due west and then travelled on a south to north axis past the previous day's sighting which I had marked on Jonathan Martenstyn's GPS unit.

We continued north keeping out at sea at a distance of around seven nautical miles, with the shoreline no longer in sight. Three hours of searching yielded nothing when on the way back, I saw a burst of spray dancing over the waves. We had found Sperm Whales. There was a group of three and another pair. They were travelling south, on a south-north trajectory, at a pace of around 10 kmph. Susantha knew how to handle them this time and we spent over an hour with the group keeping a comfortable distance and trying out the arc-forward a few times.

Susantha said that he had come out just once before beyond the reef to look for whales. It had been with some of the staff. With clients they always stayed in-shore of the reef to look for dolphins and encountered a stray whale about once every three weeks.

That evening I spoke to Jonathan Martenstyn who runs the boats from Dolphin Beach. He confirmed that they stay in-shore of the reef and had never gone looking for whales. He said their rate of encounter with whales was less than Alankuda who ran more dolphin trips.

Chitral Jayathilake of John Keells who runs the whale watching from Mirissa and dolphin watching from Kalpitiya also confirmed that they stayed in-shore of the reef. Chitral had never gone out to look for whales off Kalpitiya and had never seen one here, in-shore or off-shore of the reef. Even Dallas Martenstyn had told me that the only time he went out beyond the reef to look for whales was when he had gone out with Georgina and me the previous morning.

It seems quite astonishing that with Kalpitiya becoming publicly known two years earlier for its dolphin watching no one had made a dedicated effort to whale watch and evaluate whale watching as an eco-tourism product from Kalpitiya.

It was not that people had not reported whales from Kalpitiya before. There had been a trickle of reports from people who had gone dolphin watching. Initially, I had dismissed them as chance events. I was a sceptic until March 2009. No one had offered a concrete reason why Kalpitiya should be good for whales.

My earlier doubts about Kalpitiya being good for whales had to do with the location of the continental shelf. I knew the continental shelf held the key to an area of sea being good for whale watching. It had to be close to land. I had looked for whales off Negombo and Kirinda for example and failed because one had to travel out over 30 nautical miles to reach the edge of the shelf.

In May 2008, I had taken the story to the world that the seas south of Mirissa was beyond doubt the best place in the world for seeing Blue Whales. My conviction was based on field results of a theory by Dr Charles Anderson. In addition to a theory of a migratory movement, a key to the ease and proximity of sightings was the fact that the continental shelf pinched in very close to Dondra Head.

My interpretation of Admiralty Chart No 828 Cochin to Vishakhapatnam was that the continental shelf was just too far out from Kalpitiya. But I wondered whether there was a submarine canyon which in conjunction with a movement of currents or tides somehow created a channel rich in nutrients which created an unusual and exceptionally rich concentration of marine life. The Spinner Dolphins would be a top predator of this unusually focussed food chain off Kalpitiya.

A more likely answer came on March 24, 2009 as I listened to Charles explaining to Dallas Martenstyn that the latter's observations of dolphins and the occasional stray whale could be explained by the continental shelf being closer than was previously believed. He also thought that there could be whales to be seen beyond the reef. I had been circulating a graphic we had done based on British Admiralty Chart No 828 which showed that the continental shelf was far out from Kalpitiya, not close to it. Charles disagreed with my interpretation and we pulled out a bundle of admiralty charts that Dallas had in the office. I saw that the 1,000m depth contour which is my personal benchmark is not actually shown on any of the admiralty charts I had carelessly interpolated. It was easier to interpolate smoothly along where the depth was available and draw the 1,000m isocline far out from Kalpitiya than to imagine that somehow it pinched in close to the Kalpitiya Peninsula like it did at Dondra.

I studied the charts more intently and with Charles teaching me to read them, the realisation swept over me, that what I had misinterpreted as hard evidence for a wide shallow basin was no evidence at all. In fact the location of the edge of the continental shelf was wide open. There was absolutely no data available at that time to us or anyone to know conclusively where the continental shelf lay. I instinctively knew that Charles with his deep experience was onto something. I was astonished by the idea that the continental shelf could be pinching into the Kalpitiya Peninsula as it does at Dondra.

That night, long after the others had turned in, I waited in the 'ambalama' thumbing through the charts. Occasionally I stared out to sea, immersed in thought, a shiver of excitement running through me. I knew that Charles had led me onto another big stoy.

The next day, on March 25, 2009, Charles, Dallas and I went dolphin watching from Alankuda and saw around 600 Spinner Dolphins. I returned to office as there was a business to run. But I knew I had to come back to nail the story with evidence. I needed to get the whales and get the depths.

On March 24, 2009 I had realised I needed to get the whales and the depths to confirm Charles 's insight that the continental shelf was close and that explained the presence of whales straying to the dolphin line. I was elated that on February 24, 2010 I had finally found the whales.

But I decided not call or text anyone yet with the news that there was conclusive evidence that Kalpitiya could be a whale watching hotspot. In my heart, I knew I did not have all the pieces together. The depth soundings I had taken with Dallas with a fish finder effective up to 700 feet was Mickey Mouse data. It did not prove anything. Driving back, that Wednesday, I knew that the only chance for any meaningful data lay with the National Aquatic Research Agency (NARA). What followed was a remarkable series of fortuitous meetings.

The next day, on Thursday, February 25, I attended a meeting at the World Bank convened by Sumith Pilapitiya. I looked around for people who could help me in the search for the missing data. I homed in on Dr Malik Fernando, a marine biologist and asked him if there was any data available on depths off Kalpitiya and where the continental shelf may lie. Malik told me how he had swum with Arjan Rajasuriya from NARA in the area where they had thought the continental shelf plunged into a deep abyss. Dallas had also told me on the last visit that with his experience as an angler, sailor and diver, that the continental shelf was close. But visibility in water does not go beyond a hundred feet. No one can peer down to a few hundred metres and see the edge of the shelf plunging a kilometer or two deep.

So although there were clearly others who shared the Anderson theory, I only had gut feelings to go by.
I desperately needed hard data. As if reading my mind, S.A.M. Azmy, Head of the Environmental Studies Division of NARA joined us and introduced himself. I asked him whether there were any data, any recent data at all of depth soundings off the Kalpitiya Peninsula. He explained that the search for oil had resulted in the sea floor being mapped. I asked him whether it would show the 1,000m and 2,000m isoclines. He confirmed it would and in fact said that they would have that for all around the island.

On February 26, Azmy pulled out a chart which showed in remarkable detail the depth contours off the Kalpitiya Peninsula mapped for exploration of oil. There in front of me were the depth contours which showed that the continental shelf was indeed very close and that the edge of the shelf, where it rapidly plunged to 1,000 and 2,000m was parallel to the peninsula. It was the north-south axis at E 79 35 the Sperm Whales had hunted on and for which I had taken GPS readings. I could not believe how well it all fitted together. Wow!

Technically speaking the continental shelf is defined as the 200m isocline and here that was as close as 4 nautical miles. The 1,000m depth isocline which I use as a benchmark for whale watching was 9 nautical miles away. I was probably the first person from the general public to see this chart which had been published internally in October 2009. The data simply had not been available when Charles had first convinced me to re-consider my view. The data had come out seven months later and I suspected that few in marine biological circles were aware of it.

M.A. Ariyawansa, the Head of the National Hydrographic Office (NHO) introduced me to his team and to their amusement I rushed over to a pile of maps on a table and began thumbing through feverishly. Out came an untitled map simply which showed the 200, 1,000 and 2,000m depth isoclines around Sri Lanka and the outer limits of the exclusive economic zone. It showed the continental shelf pinching in three places.

Trincomalee with a submarine canyon which has been known for some time and shown in the Admiralty charts. Dondra, again shown on the Admiralty charts but its significance for whale watching unknown until Charles had explained it to me in August 2003 and only one other place - the Kalpitiya Peninsula. Sri Lanka therefore has only three places which in terms of the location of the continental shelf are positioned ideally to be whale watching hot spots because the whale and oceanic dolphins need deep water to come close in.

I had now found the conclusive evidence which connected the dots to show that Kalpitiya was one and in fact the last of the three whale watching hot spots to be recognized as such. My role once again had been to listen to scientists and to go out and do the field work and connect the dots to make a big story to bridge science with commerce.

The NHO team were helpful, courteous and genuinely interested in their work. They gave me a print-out of the Mannar depths and a custom print-out of the chart showing the continental shelf. I came out of NARA clutching the remaining evidence why Kalpitiya can be a whale watching hot spot. The chart with the continental shelf was dated January 2010. My timing had been perfect. A few weeks earlier and the chart may not have existed.

Of the three records of Orca sightings since 2008, two have been at Kalpitiya, photographed in March 2008 by Senaka Abeyratne and on January 31, 2010 by Maithri Liyanage. It is likely that Kalpitiya could rival Mirissa for the diversity of species of marine mammals. However, Mirissa may remain the top spot for watching Blue Whales because the migratory movement postulated by Charles takes them past Dondra twice. I saw no Blue Whales on the two days I was whale watching at Kalpitiya. In contrast on Wednesday February 24, Anoma Alagiyawadu, the Jetwing Lighthouse naturalist observed what he believed to be seven different Blue Whales from Mirissa.

It is too early to conclude where Trincomalee, Mirissa and Kalpitiya will rank in terms of overall species diversity, the likelihood of seeing Blue Whales and Sperm Whales, etc. But what is very clear is that we have a scientific basis for concluding that Sri Lanka has three key sites for whale watching because of the proximity of the continental shelf, the marine mammal species diversity and logistics. The three sites could result in Sri Lanka emerging as the leading whale watching destination in the world.

The appetite to go after whales from Kalpitiya and not to dally with just the dolphins will grow. Serious whale watching will now start from Kalpitiya. A trail has been blazed.

In Kalpitiya as elsewhere, legislation or guidelines will need to come in for the safety of the whales as well as the whale watchers. But legislation must be intelligent, practical and simple, to allow the whale watching industry to grow and create livelihoods. Whale watching in Sri Lanka can easily grow to be worth several billion rupees of revenue each year. Wildlife can pay its way.

2012-04-14T11:25:00.000+05:30

Animal World (sri lanka)

Elephant watching..................................................................

Elephant watching made easy

Sri Lanka is renowned for Elephants and rightly so since there is a huge Elephant population in Sri Lanka for a relatively small country. It is no secret that Elephant watching and Elephant back safaris are one of the main attractions for tourists. With the end of the civil war there is a huge increase in the number of the tourists the wildlife and tourism ministries are smoothing the way for eager tourists who are looking to get a glimpse of the Elephants. There are many places where you can see the Elephants in Sri Lanka and while some places are fun and entertaining some places could be a little dangerous. One sure things is you will definitely see an Elephant in the below mentioned places but they are a bit hard to spot in some national parks.

Elephant Back Riding is very popular among tourists

National Zoological Gardens - Easiest and the nearest place

Since most of the tourists prefer to stay in Colombo the easiest and the nearest place you can watch Elephants is in the National Zoological gardens in Dehiwela. Its about a half an hour drive from Colombo and there are 10-20 Elephants in the Zoo. There are Elephant back rides available if you are interested at that. One of the most popular items with the tourists is the Elephant show at around 4PM where the Elephants perform some acts to entertain the crowds. The trip to the zoological garden itself is a great experience because you can view lots of tropical animals especially if you are coming from European countries

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - watch and study Elephants in semi-wild conditions

Pinnawela is an Elephant orphanage which is situated near Kegalla town which is about a two hour drive from Colombo. This is a breeding place for Elephants as well as a place to take care of injured Elephants because of various human activities. There is also a research center where you can study Elephants. Bottle feeding baby elephants and watching them take a bath in the river in semi-wild conditions are two of the main attractions. Check out Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka.

Udawalawe National Park

Of all the national parks or reserves in Sri Lanka this is the best national park to see Elephants. Even during the mid day when Elephant usually go into the bush you can see plenty of Elephants. Another great thing about Udawalawe National park is that Elephants are somewhat used to people so you have a very good chance of getting pretty close to the Elephants. Although I really couldn't see much of a difference other than the size according to the guide that went with us there are three types of Elephants in Udawalawe and you have a very good chance of seeing all of them in one visit.

Wasgamuwa National Park

Home of the notorious "Kane Hila" Wasgamuwa national park if famous for Elephants that charge and hit safari jeeps. Most of these charges are mock charges but some do actually get hit while visiting there. One main reason for this is somewhat adventurous drivers who gets very close to Elephants and provokes them. This is another national park full of elephants so you must be very very unlucky if you didn't see and elephant over here. If you are the adventurous type and want's something a bit more thrilling than just watching elephants then Wasgamuwa is the place to be.

Its hard not to see an Elephant in Sri Lanka

Almost all national parks in Sri Lanka have elephants so it is almost impossible not to see an Elephant if you go in the right time. The best times to see elephants are from 6AM to 8AM in the morning and after 5PM in the evenings. In places like Udawalawe and Wasgamuwa you can see them almost any time of the day. Although the most famous national park in Sri Lanka its a bit difficult to see elephants in Yala national park but you should be good in any other national park

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Elephant Back Safari in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

Elephant Back Safari in Sri Lanka brings in multifaceted joys. The majestic beast, the locations in close proximity to the cultural attractions and the terrain rich with bird life all add up to bring in memorable experiences to the tourists holidaying in Sri Lanka. Elephant Back Safaris are one of the newest and most thrilling safari experiences in Sri Lanka. These Elephant Back Safari not only make it possible to view wildlife from the back of an elephant, but perhaps more importantly, provide the unique opportunity to share a day in the life of the elephant.

Elephant Back Safaris not only make it possible to view wildlife while riding an elephant, but also to view the wildlife enthusiasts chances to be familiar with the nature and behavior of tamed Elephants. The holiday makers may opt to share a day with the majestic beast by picnicking in the bush in the shadow of the elephant or by swimming, grooming, feeding the elephant too. The most popular locations of Elephant Back Safaris are Habarana, Sigiriya and Kaudulla.

Carriage of guests in Elephant Back Safari

All Elephant Back Safaris are accompanied by the mahout. A wooden saddle, a basket like enclosure upon a wooden platform is large enough to carry four passengers. Riders needs to be on alerts to stoop down on and off to being knocked by the overhanging branches of trees along the path.

Habarana, the most popular area for Elephant Back Safari

Habarana located 210km north east from Colombo is the transit point of the large herds of wild elephants at the National Parks of Minneriya and Kaudulla. Habarana is a popular location among the wildlife enthusiasts and nature tourists. Moreover, Habarana being the central location of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, the culture tourists touring therein too grab the opportunity to enjoy an Elephant back safari in Habarana. The irrigation reservoirs and waterways of the area bring in a riverine terrain where the elephants would wade through, or swim to reach the banks in the farther end. The ride would also takes place over the main road, the pathways, villages, jungles, swamp and river.

The best period for Elephant Back Safaris at Habarana is during March to July when the water level of the river is high enough to ride the elephant, with a good part of it submerged. From August to November the level of water of the river is low. December to February being the rainy season at Habarana, river would in full flow.

Elephant Back Safaris at Minneriya National Park and Kaudulla National Park

A ten minute drive east of Habarana is Minneriya National Park famous for large herds of elephants. A fifteen minute drive north east is Kaudulla National Park, another regular tourist attraction in view of its large herds of elephants. Elephant back safariin these National parks afford opportunities to enjoy the sight of wild elephants as well as the birdlife.

The Elephant, the riders and the mahout

The tamed elephants are accompanied by mahouts carrying a lightweight spear-like bull hooks. Elephant Back Safaris afford the opportunity to riders to be familiar with behavior of the elephants.

Elephant Back Safaris at Yala National Park

Elephant Back Safaris at Yala National Park brings in the chance to enjoy the sights of wildlife and birdlife that abound in the wilderness. Yala National Park is one of the popular National Parks in Sri Lanka.

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Hotels related to Elephant Back Safari in Sri Lanka

-	Cinnamon Lodge (0km from Habarana)	-	Chaaya Village (0km from Habarana)
-	Citrus Hikkaduwa (1km from Hikkaduwa)	-	Insight (0km from Ahangama)
-	Yala Village (0km from Yala)	-	Kabalana Boutique Hotel (0km from Ahangama)
-	South Beach Resort (3km from Ahangama)	-	Ahangama Easy Beach (0km from Ahangama)
-	Aranya Resort (0km from Yala)	-	Tree Tops Jungle Lodge (0km from Yala)

photo gallery

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Bird Watching

This is an excellent bird watchng tour for a bird lover with a partner who would like a relaxing tour with a cultural taste of Sri Lanka.

For a small island Sri Lanka has a rich bird fauna, and many passionate bird lovers rank Sri Lanka among their favorite destinations. 426 bird species have been seen in Sri Lanka, and 23 of these are endemic to Sri Lanka, that is, found nowhere else (this number may soon be revised upwards based on a new taxonomic study). Between October and April, many migrants visit the isle, traveling as far away as Siberia . Another noteworthy feature of Sri Lanka 's avifauna is the presence of mixed-species flocks, which makes watching birds both easy and interesting, since one can study carefully the interactions between different species.

Butterfly watching likewise attracts great passion among Sri Lanka nature lovers. As they say where there are flowers there are butterflies and most of the butterflies in the world lives in tropical countries. 242 species have been recorded in Sri Lanka , of which 42 are endemic. Walking along a forest trail, one is sure to see colorful species circling, feeding on flower nectar and also on salt licks on the damp forest floor.

A full study of Sri Lanka 's history would last a lifetime, but a visit to some of our most important sites will whit your appetite and provide some appreciation of one of Asia 's great cultures. Sri Lanka 's first inhabitants arrived more than 10, 000 years ago and one known to have engaged in trade in gems, metals and spices with people as distant as China . Recovered history begins in the 3 rd century B.C. with the arrival of Buddhism to the island. It is a history full of colorful characters, such as King Kassapa, who after killing his father to take his throne built a castle on top of the rock plateau now known as the World Heritage Site Sigiriya. In this trip we will visit sites ranging in age from 2 nd centaury A.D., an early Buddhist shrine to the 18th centaury A.D. in Kandy , which houses the most sacred Buddhist relic in the country, and was built by during the Kandy Kingdom , which was ended by the British in the 19th centaury.

Bird Watching Tour Plan:

This is a suggested bird watching tour plan, including 20 days, 19 nights and it is for bird lovers who like to see some cultural sites in Sri Lanka. This bird watching tour is personally organized/led by Prasanjith Caldera.

Day	Birding Site	No. on map	Highlights
01	Arrival / Restful	-	-
02	Muthurajawela Marshes	1	Wetland birds
03	Bodhinagala, Ingiriya Forest Reserve	2	Endemics
04	Kithulgala, Kelani Valley Forest Reserve	3	Endemics
05	Sinharaja old growth rain forest	4	Endemics and mixed species bird flocks
06	Sinharaja old growth rain forest	4	Endemics and mixed species birds flocks
07	Udawalawa National Park	5	Elephants, dry zone forest birds including Storks & Raptors
08	Kalametiya, Hambanthota Saltants, Bundala National Park	6, 7	Shore birds, dry forest birds & some mammals
09	Yala National Park, Palatupana Saltant	8	Mammals, Strokes, Raptors & shorebirds
10	Hakgala Botanical Gardens, Victoria Park & Nuwara Eliya	9, 10	Endemic & montane birds
11	Horton Plains	11	Endemic & Montane birds
12	Kandy: Temple of The Tooth	12	Rest, Cultural sites
13	Kandy: Udawattakale or Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens	12	Endemics
14	Dambulla Cave Temple	13	Cultural sites
15	Sigiriya Rock Palace and Sigiriya sanctuary	14	Cultural sites, dry zone birds & Raptors
16	Polonnaruwa archaeological sites	15	Cultural sites & dry zone birds
17	Anuradhapura archaeological sites	16	Cultural sites & dry zone birds
18	Negombo	17	At leisure on the Beach
19	Negombo	17	At leisure on the Beach
20	Departure	-	-

Accommodation - for this bird watching tour:

Location	Hotel / Lodge	Available Web Sites
Muthurajawela Marshes, Anavilundawa Wetlands & Negambo coast	Ranweli Nature Resort, Waikkala	ranweli.com
Kithulgala	Rest House, Kithulgala	ceylonhotels.lk dailymirror.lk
Sinharaja	Martin's Lodge, Sinharaja	-
Udawalawa	Centuria Hotel, Embilipitiya	-
Bundala / Yala	Elephant Reach Hotel, Yala Rest House, Tissamaharama	elephantreach.com ceylonhotels.lk
Nuwara-eliya	Grand Hotel, Nuwara-eliya St. Andrew's, Nuwara-eliya Galway Forest Lodge, Nuwara-Eliya	www.tangerinehotels.com/ thegrandhotel/index.htm- -
Kandy	Hotel Topaz, Kandy Hotel Tree of Life, Kandy Amaya Hills Hotel, Kandy	- hoteltreeoflife.com
Sigiriya	Sigiriya Village, Sigiriya	sigiriyavillage.lk
Polonnaruwa	Rest House, Polonnaruwa (Specially we try to book the queens suite, which was graced by her majesty the queen Elizabeth II) The Deer Park Hotel, Polonnaruwa Girithale hotel, Girithale	ceylonhotels.lk coloursofangsana.com carsoncumberbatch.com
Anuradhapura	Nuwara Wewa Rest, Anuradhapura Palm Garden Village Hotel, Anuradhapura	quickshaws.com palmgardenvillagehotel.com
Wasgomuwa	Kijou Safari Village, Wasgamuwa	kijou.com

**Optional**
Location	Lodge	Web Sites, available
Buttala	Tree Tops jungle lodge, Buttala	treetopsjunglelodge.com
Wasgamuwa National Park and Udawalawa National Park	camping or Forest Bungalows, inside the National Park	-
Sigiriya	Center for Eco Cultural Studies - Nature Lodge	cessrilanka.org
Kandy	Friendly home staying with a local family	-
Sinharaja	Home staying with a friendly local family	-

in Sri Lanka, covered in our tour plan

Muthurajawela Marshes - This is a unique wetland, located between Colombo and Negambo and an extensive area of wetland which is under threat of development. Both nature lovers and serious birders will enjoy half a day at visitors center including a boat ride to provide a view of unique tropical wetland, with its flora and fauna of marshes, waters and mangrove forest.

Highlights - Basically species composition is similar to the other marshy areas in Colombo . Purple Heron, King Fishes (Common, Stork-billed, Pied, White breasted, Black capped), Little and Intermediate Egrets, Common Moorhen, Purple Coot, Little Grebe, Lesser whistling Duck, Common Caucal, Shikra, Serpent Eagle, Brahming kite, Grey and Purple Heron and migrant waders, specially terns etc.
Ingiriya Forest Reserve (Bodhinagala) - This is only a small secondary lowland rain forest patch in the area of Ingiriya. It is one of the best sites for the endemic Green - Billed Coucal.

Highlights - Some endemics birds such as Hanging Parrot, Green Billed Coucal, Spur Fowl, Yellow Fronted Barbet, Layard's Parakeet, Grey Hornbill, with Malabar Trogon, Emerald Dove, Greater crested Drongo, Dark fronted Babbler, Black napped Monarch, Tickells Blue fly catcher etc.
Kelani Valley Forest Reserve (Kithulgala) - Kithulgala forest is secondary lowland rain forest reserve to protect the water shed of the Kelani River . The forest area extending up to the higher elevations, continuous with the Peak wilderness forest area, one of the best places to see Sri Lanka 's endemic birds.

Highlights - Green billed Coucal, Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Yellow fronted Barbet, Red faced Malkoha, Spot winged Thrush, Rofous Babbler, Ashey headed Laughingthrush, with lesser Yellow napped, Pygmy and Crimson backed wood peckers, Black Bulbul, Black napped Monarch and Ceylon frog mouth etc.
Sinharaja Old Growth Rain forest - One of the best and easy sites. To see many of the endemics and mixed species birds feeding flocks. A UNESCO world heritage site since 1988 and home for the most endemic flora and fauna species in Sri Lanka.

Interestingly, a few endemic and other species thought to be confined to the hill zone, such as Sri Lanka White Eye (E), Scaly Thrush, Wood Pigeon (E), Duskey Blue Fly Catcher (Morning side area), Yellow eared Bulbul (morning side area) have also been sighted at Sinharaja.

Mixed species of bird flocks are one of the most interesting experience of the forest. As per very recent observations, this flocks reveal that over 40 individuals and 11 varieties of bird species averagely.

Highlights - Endemic birds such as Sri Lanka Magpie including Serendib Scops Owl who discovered very recently to the world.
Uda Walawa National Park - This park is situated in the Dry Zone and renowned for its out standing scenic beauty and wealth of faunal species, particularly mammals and birds. The possibility to view the elephants at close range has become another main attraction.

Highlights - Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Grey Horn Bill (E), Malabar pied Horn Bill, Woolly - necked Stork, Black headed Ibies, Black shouldered Kite, Crested Serpent Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Shikra, Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue faced Malkoha etc.
Kalametiya - A wet land with two brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps and open areas with pockets of scrub jungle. A very important site for migrant shore birds.

Highlights- Asian Open Bill, Purple Coot, Black winged Stilt, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black headed Ibies, Migrants includes Greater and Lesser Sand Plover, Curlew and Marsh Sand Pipers, Green Shank, Red Shank, Little Stint, Kentish Plover, Yellow Wagtail, Rosy Starling etc.
Bundala National Park - This is the First Ramsor site in Sri Lanka and it is the most important wetland for birds outside the Northern Province . The lagoons and saltants of the park are among the most important wintering areas for migratory shore birds in the Country.

Highlights - Greater Flamingo, Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl (E), Great Egret, Asian Open Bill, Black winged Stilt, Yellow wattled Lapwings, Painted Storks and Large numbers of migrants including Plovers, Sand Pipers, Turnes and Ducks, Rosy Starling, Bharahuramy Myna etc.
Ruhunu National Park (Yala) - The best park in Sri Lanka for viewing mammals but rich with birds too. Yala characteristic of dry zone tropical thorn forest, Scrub jungles, brackish lagoons and riverine habitats. Raptors could be oftenly seen. During the North- East monsoon the lagoons are visited by thousands of migrating waders, turns and water birds.

Highlights - Crested serpent Eagle, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Tank Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Black necked Storkes, Painted Storke, Lesser Adjutant, Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue Faced Malkoha, Green and Eurasian Bee eater, Brahmany Myna, Rosy Starting, Hoopoo Pee Fowl, Pigeons and Doves, Parakeets and many more waders, Turns, Water birds etc.
Horton Plains National Park - Horton plains, its surroundings mountain forests and grasslands constitute Sri Lanka 's most important catchment area of most all major rivers. The plains are also of outstanding scenic beauty. It is of conservation importance, containing most of the habitats and endemics plants and animals representatives of the country's wet and montane zones.

Highlights - A reliable site for the crepuscular Sri Lanka whistling Thrush (E), Endemic endangered bird. SL Blue Magpie (E), Mountain Hawk Eagle, Black Eagle, SL Hill Munia, Dull Blue flycatcher (E), Yellow eared Bulbul (E), Pied Bush Chat, Grey Tit, Black Bird, Sri Lanka Bush Wabler (E), Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (E) etc.
Around Nuwara Eliya -Nuwara Eliya is a popular hill resort providing cool and pleasant base for a number of Montane sites which include Victoria Park and Hakgala Botanical Garden . The spreading hills and vales are covered with the world's best high grown tea bushes like a green carpet. The fragrance of fresh tea leaves from the tea factories infuse the mild air.

Highlights - Sri Lanka white Eye (E), Sri Lanka Bush Wabler (E), Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (E), Dull Blue Flycatcher (E), Indian Blue Robin, Canary Flycatcher, Black Bird etc. (Hakgala)
Black bird, Yellow earned Bulbul (E), Pied Thrush, Canary Fly catcher, Indian Pitta, Green Sandpiper etc. (Victoria Park)
Around Kandy - Kandy an ancient town, nestling among the hills, is a major tourist center with the famous temple of the Tooth over looking a lake which usually holds a few water birds like Cormorants, Eagrets, King Fishers etc. Kandy is the kingdom of the last King of Sri Lanka before the country came under British colonialism.

Udawattekale Sanctuary, Dunumadalawa Forest reserve and Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya are good places for birds including a few endemics such as Layard's Parakeets, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Yellow fronted Barbet, Brown capped Babbler, White rumped Sharma, Tickels Blue Flycatcher etc.

Anuradhapura - Flourished more than Two Thousand years ago. Greatest of the islands three most famous ruined cities, birth place of Sinhala royalty and national capital from the third century B.C. to the 10 th Century A.D. Countless fascinating ruins including Sri Maha Bodhi Bo tree - The oldest historical recorded tree in the world. Anuradhapura is in the heart of the tank country in which was developed distinctive Sinhala irrigation system and hence the distinctive Sinhala economy and culture.

Polonnaruwa- The medieval capital of Sri Lanka , more than one thousand years old. Polonnaruwa peaked during the reign of king Parakramabahu the great, when Sri Lanka had an empire extending into India . See its places and Public Hall, Shrines and temple, the massive but exquisite Gal Vihare sculptures, carved in living granite and the mammoth Sea of Parakrama.

Sigiriya- This is the rock fortress, which was the pleasure palace of the a single King called Kashyapa in the 5 th century A.D. In a pocket of the giant rock are the famous frescoes of the heavenly maidens of Sigiriya.

Dambulla Cave Temple - A vast isolated rock mass like Sigiriya was one of the retreats chosen by a Sinhala King, when he was driven by South Indian King in the 1 st Century B.C. On re-gaining his throne, he turned caves which had sheltered him into a rock temple.

Kandy - This is the capital of the Hill Country and is a World Heritage City. Home to the famous Temple of The Tooth, remains the Sinhalese cultural and spiritual Centrex, one of the top attractions in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka to be expected in this bird watching tour

Endemic Birds to Sri Lanka:

Sibly and Monroe, Who revised the recent modern Bird Taxonomy in 1990, have mentioned that there are 23 numbers of birds species, are endemic to Sri Lanka. Later in 1994 Priyantha Wijesinghe in his Bird Checklist of Sri Lanka has increased the number to 26. Then, in 2004 Pamela C. Rasmussen, in her book on Birds of South Asia (Rasmussen and Anderton) further increased the number to 33.

Ceylon Spurfowl
Galloperdix bicalcarata
Ceylon Jungle Fowl
Gallus lafayetii
Ceylon Wood Pigeon
Columba torringtonii
Ceylon Hanging Parrot
Loriculus beryllinus
Layard's Parakeet
Psittacula calthropae
Red-faced Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
Green-billed Coucal
Centropu chlororhynchos
Chestnut-backed Owlet
Glaucidium castanonotum
Ceylon Grey Hombill
Ocyceros gingalensis
Yellow- fronted Barbet
Megalaima flavifrons
Yellow-eared Bulbul
Pycnonotus penicillatus
Ceylon Whistling- Thrush
Myophonus blighi
Spot-winged Ground- Thrush
Zoothera spiloptera
Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler
Elaphrornis palliseri
Dusky-blue Flycatcher
Eumyias sordidus
Brown-capped Babbler
Pellorneum fuscocapillus
Ceylon Rufous Babbler
Turdoides rufescens
Ashy-headed Laughingthrush
Garrulax cinereifrons
Legge's Flowerpecker
Dicaeum vincens
Ceylon White-eye
Zosterops ceylonensis
Ceylon Blue Magpie
Urocissa ornata
White-faced Starling
Sturnia albofrontata
Sri Lanka Myna
Gracula ptilogenys

Ceylon Small Barbet
Megalaima rubricapillus
Black-capped Bulbul
Pycnonotus melanicterus
Black-throated Munia
Lonchura kelaarti

Pompadour Green Pigeon
Treron pompadora
Serendib Scops-Owl
Otus hoffmaninii
Crimson-backed Flameback
Chrysocolaptes stricklandi
Ceylon Swallow
Hirundo hyperythra
Ceylon Woodshrike
Tephrodornis affinis
Ceylon Scaly Thrush
Zoothera imbricata
Ceylon Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus {schisticeps} melanurus
Ceylon Crested Drongo
Dicrurus lophorinus

Birds found only in Sri Lanka and India

Blue-faced Malkoha
Rhopodyres viridirostris
Dark-fronted Babbler
Rhopocichla atriceps
Indian Swiflet
Aerodramus unicolor
Jerdon's Nightjar
Caprimulgus atripennis
Jungle Bush-Quail
Perdicula asiatica
Long-billed Sunbird
Nectarinia litenia lotenia
Malabar Pied-Hornbill
Anthracoceros coronatus
Malabar Trogon
Harpactes faciatus
Painted Francolin
Francolinus pictus watsoni
Sri Lanka Fronmouth
Batrachostomus moniliger
White Browed Bulbul
Pycnonotus luteolus insulae
Yellowbrowed Bulbul
Hypsipetes indicus

Globally threatened birds found in Sri Lanka

Critical - none

Endangered

Spotted Greenshank
Triuga guttfer
Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (Endemic)
Myophonus blighi

Vulnerable

Spot-billed Pelican
Pelecanus philippensis
Lesser Adjutant
Leptoptilos javanicus
Lesser Kestrel
Falco maumanni
Sociable Lapwing
Vanellus gregarius
Wood Snipe
Gallinago nemoricola
Spoon-billed Sandpiper
Eurynorhynches pygmeus
Kashmir Flycatcher
Ficeduja subrubra
Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (Endemic)
Columba torringtonii
Red Faced Malkoha (Endemic)
Phaenicophaeus pyrr
Green-billed Coucal (Endemic)
Centropus chlororynchus
ashy-headed Laughingthrush (Endemic)
Garrulax cinereifrons
White-faced Starling (Endemic)
Sturnus senex
Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (Endemic)
Urocissa ornata

Near Threatened

Oriental Dater
Anhinga melanogaster
Painted Stork
Mycteria leucocephala
Black-necked Stork
Ephiporhynchus asiaricus
Black-headed Ibis
Threskiornis melanocephalus
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Fchthyophaga ichthyaetus
Pallid Harrier
Circus macrourus
Great Snipe
Gallinago media
Asian Dowitcher
Limnodromus semipalmatus
Malabar Pied Hornbill
Anthracoceros coronatus
Chesnut-backed Owlet (Endemic)
Glaucidium castanonotum
Yellow-eared Bulbul (Endemic)
Pycnonotus penicillatus
Spot-winged Thrush (Endemic)
Soothera spiloptera
Orange-billed Babbler (Endemic)
Turdoides rufescens
Sri Lanka Bush-warbler (Endemic)
Bradypterus pallisexi
Dull-blue Flycatcher (Endemic)
Eumyias sordida
White-throated Flowerpecker (Endemic)
Dicaeum vincens
Sri Lanka Mynah (Endemic)
Gracula ptilogenys

Links for more information

Migration routes of birds to and from Sri Lanka

According to the geographical location in the Indian Continent, the land of Sri Lanka is situated at the extreme southern point beyond the south of India. The stretch of ocean from here to the south pole contains no other land. Hence, for the migrant birds that travel south from India, Sri Lanka is the final destination.

There are 3 flying routes across India along which immigrant birds come to Sri Lanka. These are – the western route, the eastern route and the Andaman Island route.

THE WESTERN ROUTE

From the northern and northwestern parts of the world along the western coastal line of India, then towards the extreme south of India, which is commarin point. Then they fly across this coast and arrive in Sri Lanaka mostly across this coastal line between Mannar and Kaluthara.

The migrant birds take this route initially from Europe, West Asia including western Siberia, & from the western regions of Himalaya including Kashimir.

THE EASTERN ROUTE

From the northern and northeastern parts of the world, along the Eastern coast line of India, towards the south. Passing the coastline between Kalmier point and Ramesvaran, which is further south these migratory birds arrive in Sri Lanka from India, from East Asia which includes eastern Sibiria and Mongolia, from the Eastern regions of Himalaya including Tibet, these migratory birds fly along this route initially.

ANDAMAN ISLANDS ROUTE

Apart from the above-mentioned two routes there is still another route to the North Eastern coast of Sri Lnaka, which is the Andaman Islands flying route. This route falls across the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. It is believed that these migratory birds arrive in Sri Lanka along this route from south East Asia and the East each year.

Each year the migratory season commences in October and ends in April – May in the following year. Very often, the birds take the same route they arrived. However, some birds return along different routes.

The departure of these birds flying across Kalpitiya in large flocks is a fascinating sight. The beauty of thousands of birds departing at the same time from dew-drop shaped Jaffna as they leave the country is an unforgettable memory, etched in the minds of those who experience this splendid sight.

Hotels related to Bird Watching in Sri Lanka

-	Galway Forest Lodge (0km from Nuwara Eliya)	-	Heritance Tea Factory (0km from Nuwara Eliya)
-	Windsor Hotel (0km from Nuwara Eliya)	-	Jetwing St. Andrews (0km from Nuwara Eliya)
-	Amaya Lake (8km from Dambulla)	-	Grand Hotel (0km from Nuwara Eliya)
-	Citrus Hikkaduwa (1km from Hikkaduwa)	-	Insight (0km from Ahangama)
-	Kabalana Boutique Hotel (0km from Ahangama)	-	Heritance Kandalama (7km from Dambulla)

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2012-04-12T16:55:00.001+05:30

Sinhala and hindu new year festival: Traditions and customs

Sinhala Aluth Avurudda was celebrated in the Kandyan Kingdom as a national festival under the patronage of the kings. This was done in keeping with the rituals. The astrologers worked out Nekath (auspicious times) to perform the rituals in order to bring about prosperity and happiness to the people and country.

Sinhala Avurudda dawns when the Sun moves from Meena Rashiya to Mesha Rashiya completing a cycle of a twelve-month period. The transition time know as "Sanskranthi" takes place on April 13 or 14. It is during this period that some of the rituals are performed to mark this important event of the year.

The dawn of Aluth Avurudda signifies social customs and good behaviour of the Sinhala people. The majority of the people being farmers, after their major harvest "Maha" of the year is over, celebrate the occasion in the form of giving thanks. The customs and rituals portray the beliefs and thinking of the people whose life is centred around agriculture.

Rituals connected with Aluth Avurudda commence with bathing on the last day of the old year (Parana Avurudda) and viewing the moon on the same night. In the village temple, the pealing of the bell accompanied with the beating of drums (Hewisi) make the people aware of the times to perform different rituals.

The custom of offering betel to parents and elders demonstrate the act of paying gratitude. The children in turn receive blessings from parents moulded according to Buddhist thought. The sense of goodwill and friendship among relations and friends is also seen during the festival time.

Most of the rituals are linked with the village temple. People visit the temple during the time of "Sanskranthi" the transitional period when they believe that there are no auspicious times (Nekath) to engage themselves in different tasks.

This time is called "Nonagathe" during which people devote their time in performing religious practices. It is for this reason it is also called "Punniya Kale" when people stop all their activities, and visit the temple to accrue merit and get their blessings from the monks.

The belief in the arrival of Avurudu Kumaraya attired in princely clothes gives the idea of the dawn of the New Year. The prince comes in a horse-drawn carriage travelling in a fixed direction. The dress he wears varies in colour from year to year in keeping with the colour meant for the particular year.

The time is opportune for the women folk to commence their work at their respective homes. They begin by facing the correct direction and light the hearth to prepare the traditional Kiribath. Prior to this, milk is boiled in a newly earthen pot symbolising prosperity when the milk spills over from all sides of the pot.

Another meal is cooked along with a curry "Hath Maluwa" that has seven different flavours which is considered as a delicacy prepared during New Year time. Other sweetmeats specially prepared for the festive season are made in advance to serve the visitors who drop in.

During the days of the Kandyan Kingdom, the anointing of oils and Nanu (Herbal mixture) was done before taking the ceremonial bath. This was a feature during the new year, showing the patronage of the Kings.

It was their special interest taken by them to look after the health of the people. The anointing ceremony was planned as a religious ceremony by the royal Nekath Mohottala, who would directly supervise it in accordance with his instructions. The royal physician prepares the oils as well as Nanu (herbal mixture) for applying on the head before taking a bath in the new year.

The applying of Nanu is done only on Wednesday because it is on that day "Nanumuraya" is performed at Sri Dalada Maligawa and also at four devales in Kandy. Nanumuraya is meant for bathing the deities in the far off devales. This is performed in the form of a symbolic manner to bathe the four guardian deities of Lanka.

The preparation of oils and the herbal mixture are done by extracting the juices from herbal leaves, flowers and fruits (seeds). The oils and juices are poured into 1000 small clay pots and then taken on the day before the New Year to Nath Devale Hewisi Maduwa.

The officials from Sri Dalada Maligawa, three other devales, outstation devales, Raja Maha Viharas, and 65 royal listed places assemble at Natha Devala.

The Kariyakorala of Sri Dalada Maligawa then distributes the oils and Nanu among those gathered who in turn take them in procession to their respective places of worship. These preparations are distributed among the people who use them on the day of the application of oil and Nanu anointing before bathing.

This practice continues to this day. The reason for the selection of Natha Devala was because of the belief that God Natha had curative power and hence Natha Devala was selected as the venue for the distribution of oils and Nanu.

Sinhala Aluth Avurudda cannot be classified as a religious festival. However customs and rituals associated with Aluth Avurudda have been fashioned according to Buddhist beliefs.

New Year could be the national festival of Sri Lanka

Sinhala and Tamil New Year is an annual event that stimulates society, enlivens the nation and fosters national consciousness in Sri Lanka. Earlier, this festival was celebrated mainly by the Buddhists and the Hindus. Now Christians too participate in New Year celebrations and it has become almost a nation-wide festival.

Both Easter and New Year come in the same time of the year. The Sinhalese have celebrated New Year from time immemorial. Robert Knox writes that during his time New Year was a major festival of the Sinhalese and it was celebrated in March. It could be that the Nayakka Kings who gave royal patronage to New Year during the latter part of the Kandyan rule shifted the festival to April to fall in line with the Tamil New Year called Pudu Varsham.

Festivals similar to our New Year in this season are found in India, Iran, Mynamar (Burma), Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, China and in some other societies in Asia. In the ancient world, two great civilisations arose from river basins. One was at Babylon, the other was in Egypt. The lands between these two rivers were called Bible Lands as they figured in the stories of the Bible.

The Hebrews or Jews were originally wandering people in this region with their flocks and heards. Abraham himself was a Hebrew chief who knew both the Babylon and Egyptian languages and travelled round the 'fertile crescent' from Cannan in to Egypt and back to Cannan.

The land of Cannan was called Palestine. During the time of Christ it was called Judea. Today it is known as Israel. The people of Palestine were called "Israelists" meaning chosen people.

The people of Palestine, the Jews were slaves of Egypt for over 400 years. At last they freed themselves under Moses and crossed over to Palestine called "The Promised Land". The Jews annually celebrate this event called "The Passover" or the feast of the unleavened bread.

The Passover celebrations had features similar to our New Year observances. In the New Year at Nonagathe people rest from work, fast and go to temple for religious observances. When New Year dawns, they lit the hearth.

They eat the first meal at the auspicious time wearing the lucky colour for the New Year. There are auspicious times fixed for the anointing of oil ceremony, to go for work in the New Year and to watch the new Moon.

At the Passover too they rested and fasted before they lit the fire and sacrifice a lamb. Christ himself assembled with his disciples in a house to eat the Passover on the day he was taken a prisoner. At the feast of the Passover a woman anointed feet of Christ with oil and this reminds of our anointing of oil ceremony.

There were ancient tribes in Asia who worshipped Sun and nature. They believed that when everything awakened with the arrival of spring, a new deity took charge of nature. All the festivals during the New Year season could be traced to this concept.

The worship of Osiris by the Egyptians, the ideal of renewal found in the Passover, Easter and New Year seem to have germinated from the belief that the changes in nature were effected by the passing away of one deity and arrival of another.

As the features of the worship of Sun God and Satutnils festival have been introduced to Christians celebrations by the Romans, features of the worship of. Osiris by the Egyptians have influenced the Passover customs, as Jews have been under Egyptians for over 400 years. There is a belief both in India and in Sri Lanka that at the New Year a new deity called "Avurudu Kumaraya" took charge of nature. In some parts of Sri Lanka, they make an altar with tender coconut palms for this deity.

In other areas specially in the South a lamp is lit for the Avurudu Kumaraya. In some countries worship of the new deity and New Year is associated with harvesting ceremonies. Whatever the origins, New Year is not a Buddhist festival though the Buddhists go to temple at Nonagathe time.

Strictly speaking there is no place for auspicious times in Buddhism. The main Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka are Vesak, Poson and Esala. Besides Buddhist festivals are held on poya days based on lunar observances. New Year is a solar festival commencing with the entry of Sun to zodiac of Aries.

New Year cannot be categorized as a Hindu festival as well. It is a national festival of Tamils and some others in South India. The Andhras, Kannadigas and Malayalis in South India, though Hindus do not observe it.

The Hindus in North India and the Himalayan region have their own dates for the New Year. According to Dr. P. Poolagasingham it is a misnomer to call Tamil New Year is Hindu New Year.

There is now a general consensus in Sri Lanka to treat New Year as a national festival, though it is intermingled with Buddhist and Hindu religious practices.Since New Year is not a religious festival confined exclusively to a particular faith, it could be celebrated by all the religious and ethnic groups in Sri Lanka as a common national festival. Its unique features could be made use of to promote friendship and mutual understanding among people.

It is heartening to see in recent times Christians joining New Year celebrations and taking part in traditional' games and sport.New Year comes at a time ideal for a national festival in our country. Rains come after a period of hot and dry weather.

Fresh leaves appear on trees and there is greenery everywhere. Flowers bloom, vegetables and fruits are in plenty and birds sing on the air. Harvesting is over, bounties are full and people have the time to celebrate. It is during this time of the year that many marriages take place in villages.

New year is a festival where people of all ethnic and religious groups in Sri Lanka could and should celebrate as a common national festival to foster national unity in Sri Lanka.

Blue Whale Watching in Sri lanka

2012-04-12T14:55:00.000+05:30

Blue Heaven (Blue Whale Watching in Sri Lanka)

Asha de Vos

And there it was…..my first and most memorable blue whale….I’d just crossed into Sri Lankan waters from the high seas and there it lay, blowing, as if to say ‘welcome’.

From that first moment, I was hooked. A few days later, off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, six blue whales surrounded the research vessel on which I worked. Their characteristic tall, vertical blows gave them away wherever they were. My mind was racing, six whales in a small space? Why? The ocean makes up 70% of the planet but these whales each of which are the size of 2000 adult humans were aggregating in a small area. What were they doing?

Over the years, I spent time on boats, looking for blue whales – where they were, what they were doing. I noticed big red patches of whale poo floating on the surface in the ‘footprint’ of a whale that had just dived. It was a regular observation, and evidence for feeding. Unlike blue whale populations in other parts of the world, those in the Northern Indian Ocean don’t appear to migrate beyond this single ocean basin. But traditionally, we think of tropical waters as being nutrient poor and unproductive, so why would these whales spend time here in such great numbers in such a small area? How can it support their immense energetic demands? What processes within this ocean give rise to large blooms of krill – their favourite food? How do the environment and human activities influence the ecology of the whale?

This is what I want to find out.

The southern coast of Sri Lanka supports one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Unfortunately, this area also overlaps with my study site, a hotspot of whale activity. Recent strandings in this region suggest that collisions with ships are a major conservation concern. It is therefore absolutely necessary to understand the importance of such habitat to the blue whale populations and the role it plays in their survival.

Following the end of the 30-year civil war in Sri Lanka, development within the country is occurring at a fast pace. The whale watching industry, one such initiative, has great potential if conducted in a sustainable manner. People come from all over the world to catch a glimpse of the largest animal that has ever roamed the planet and all the other amazing sights, sounds and flavours of Sri Lanka. Good management and long term sustainability is wholly dependent on regulation, participation of local researchers and the gathering of good quality science. The time is now.

My journey begins from a somewhat clean slate. Every observation brings new knowledge, yet new questions. Each, a valuable piece of an infinite jigsaw. And so, our understanding of the conservation and management needs of these endangered animals begins to grow. Sri Lanka faces a number of challenges in this new era of peace and prosperity. The blue whales are our ambassadors and it is our greatest challenge and responsibility to protect these great leviathans for our future generations.

(written by asha di vos.)

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blogged by thanura hashantha

2012-04-01T16:53:00.001+05:30

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...............A LAND LIKE NO OTHER............................

::::::::::Attractions of sri Lanka::::::::::

Beaches

The island's superb beaches lie along its coastline to the south and southwest, with sandy coves and estuaries, and long palm-fringed stretches. Beaches vary in character and facilities and thus allowing to have a wider choice. Negombo, Mount Lavinia and Hikkaduwa are some of the famous (and often crowded with tourists) beaches. There are upmarket resorts on the southwest coast of the island around Bentota and Ahungalla, which offer water-sports in a sheltered lagoon. Moreover, Unawatuna, Weligama, Mirissa and Tangalle are quieter beaches. Nilaveli, near Trincomalee, a white sandy beach offers clear waters on the quieter and less developed east coast. Below, you will find short descriptions about some of the most visited and famous beaches in Sri Lanka, including the Arugam Bay.

Mount Lavinia

The name of Mount Lavinia is built up around the original residence of Sir. Thomas Maitland who was the Governor General of, then Ceylon from 1805 to 1811. Mount Lavinia is a residential suburb and famous for its 'Golden Mile" of beaches. It has been a great place for tourism and lovely night-life.

Bentota

A tropical lagoon, facing the Indian ocean, Bentota offers some of the very exciting water sport facilities, which could be found nowhere else. From simple swimming to diving in the sea and jet skiing to wind surf, body surfing and para-sailing to romantic river safaris on the river and lagoon can be enjoyed here.

Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is a beautiful small town situated on the way from Colombo to Galle on the famous Galle road. Hikkaduwa is very famous for its sandy beaches and superb waves for surfing. You may have a fantastic relaxation at the beach. Moreover, We, at Rejoice Holidays may provide you with the options of coral viewing by a glass bottom boat, surfing, snorkeling or scuba diving.

Unawatuna

Unawatuna is the most famous tourist destination in the West coast of Sri Lanka. Particularly, Unawatuna is famous for breeding ground of turtles. It is a very beautiful and a calm place to relax your mind and an excellent location to enjoy the tropical beauty. Off the coast of Unawatuna, beneath the Indian Ocean lies a number of coral reefs, shipwrecks and a great variety of fish and turtles. The turtles wade onto the shore to lay their nests and eggs at times.

Negombo

Negombo first flourished as a center for cinnamon production in Sri Lanka, pioneered by Portuguese and subsequently attended to, by the Moors (Muslims). Negombo is a quickly accessible town from the international airport in Katunayake and the beach here is an excellent one. Negombo offers some of the better beaches on the west coast of Sri Lanka. Water-sports and diving are also popular among visitors, with a few well-preserved coral reefs and a 50-year-old shipwreck (Kudapaduwa) that serves as an artificial reef for many varieties of fish. There are also local handicraft sales on the beaches and the shops near the town.

Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay (aru - gam - beh) is a lovely and the most traveler friendly location in the east coast of Sri Lanka. Arugam bay is world famous for water surfing with the name "Arugam SurfPoint". From April to October, it has some of the world's best waves for surfing. It is also famous for unwind and delicious sea food.

Nilaveli - Trincomalee

Nilaveli (as its meaning, Open-land of the moon-shine) is in Trincomalee - a port city on the east coast of Sri Lanka, about 110 miles northeast of Kandy. The city is situated in a peninsula and is one of the main centers of Tamil speaking culture in the island. Trincomalee is one of the world's finest rated natural harbors. The beaches are used for surfing, scuba diving, fishing and whale watching. The city also has the largest Dutch fort in Sri Lanka and is well known for the sacred hill of three ancient temples.

Wild Life

Mirissa and Kalpitiya: Whales & Dolphin Watching

Sri Lanka may be one of the world’s best locations (amongst the top two, if not, three) for watching Blue Whales and Sperm Whales. Mirissa Water Sports is based in Mirissa harbour, a beautiful and quiet fishing village in the South of Sri Lanka. Mirissa is reported to have the prettiest beach on the South coast, with clean sand, calm water and safe swimming. Kalpitiya is situated approximately 150 kilometres North of Colombo is skirted by sea on one side and lagoon on the other. There are several small and relatively large sized islands formed within, both the sea and the lagoon. These islands are a treat to see, as most of these, especially the ones by the lagoon, are covered with green mangroves. Kalpitiya is one of best places to see and enjoy ever smiling and singing chirpy dolphins. Rejoice Holidays is capable to bring you at the right time, to the right place, where you can watch the spinner dolphins give a show in their hundreds or perhaps even in their thousands. If you would like to have a trip around here, we advice you to visit November to April season. So that you may enjoy watching whales and dolphins with Rejoice Holidays.

White Water Rafting

For tourists who would like an action-packed adventure on the water, White water rafting is the ideal sport for them. The sport is full of great fun for first timers as well as experts alike, with a wide range and grading of rapids on some of the island’s more turbulent waters such as the Kelani River. You may also visit Kitulgala, up in the hill country. The small Kitulgala river made its mark on the map, when it became the site of filming for the famous 1957 Oscar-winning film ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’.

Pinnawala

Pinnawala is a beautiful village on par with nature, situated about 90 km from the capital city of Colombo. Pinnawala is famous for its Elephant orphanage. You can enjoy watching the baby jumbos wondering around their cramped foster home or bottle fed and bathed by their human foster fathers at the orphanage. The elephant orphanage is a place you will really enjoy and remember forever in your life time. Most orphans are accustomed to the visitors and are harmless.

Horton Plains National Park

Horton plains is the first and the only mountain National Park in Sri Lanka with a height of more than 2000 meters. Moreover, this is the only park in which visitors are permitted to tour on foot. Sri Lanka's second and third highest mountains namely "Kirigalpotta" and "Thotupola" respectively, are found within the borders of this park. Sri Lankan Sambar Deer, wild boar and leopard are the most common large mammals found in Horton Plains. Fishing cats, Endemic Bear Monkey, Otter, Giant Squirrel and Black napped hare are among other mammals. Many species of endemic & threatened rats & shrews are also could be found within the park. The Horton Plains is spectacularly beautiful park to enjoy and relax.

Yala

Yala National Park is the most visited and the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Basically it consists of five blocks, two of which are widely visited; and also adjoining parks. The blocks have individual names such as the Ruhuna National Park for the block 1 (which is the best known) and Kumana National Park or 'Yala East' for the adjoining area. There are six national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries within the Yala national park. Rain is received mainly during the north-east monsoon. Yala hosts a variety of eco-systems ranging from moist monsoon forests to freshwater and marine wetlands. It is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBA's) in the island. Yala harbours 215 bird species including six endemic species of Sri Lanka. The number of mammals that has been recorded from the park is 44, and it has one of the highest leopard densities in the world.

Wilpattu

Wilpattu is located in the North-west coast lowland, dry zone of Sri Lanka. Willu-pattu (Land of Lakes) is the name of the park and its unique feature is the existence of "Willus" (Natural lakes) - Natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. This is one of the oldest national parks in the island. There are many types of vegetation to be found in Wilpattu. i.e: Littoral vegetation, including Salt grass and low scrub monsoon forests with tall emergents, such as Palu (Manilkara hexandra), and Satin (Chloroxylon swietenia), Milla (Vitex altissima), Weera (Drypetes sepiaria), Ebony (Disopyros ebenum) and Wewarna (Alseodaphne semecapriflolia). Fauna side includes some 31 species of mammals in Wilpattu, such as, elephant, Sloth bear, leopard and water Buffalo. Sambhur, spotted deer, mongoose, mouse and shrew are more of Wilpattu's residents. There are different kinds of birds and reptiles could also be found here.

Wasgamuwa National Park

Wasgamuwa, which was originally designated as a nature reserve in 1938; later in the 1984, it was declared as a "Natural park" and as a "Protected area" to make a refuge for the displaced wild animals. Currently, Wasgamuwa National Park exhibits one of the highest biodiversity among the protected areas in Sri Lanka. More than 150 floral species have recorded from the park. Moreover, the park is home to 23 species of mammals and there are around 150 Sri Lankan elephants within the park. The number of bird species recorded from the park is 143, including 8 endemic species. This is a very nice place to visit for all the tourists, specially for whom with wild life interest.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Singharaja (Lion King) forest reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot of the island. It is of international significance and has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. This is the major undisturbed area of rain-forest in Sri Lanka and it occupies a broad ridge at the heart of the island’s wet zone. The forest play a major part in conjuring rain-clouds (and therefore rainfall) to the south-western side of the island. The forest comprises of 18,899 hectares of natural and modified forest, measuring about 21km (13 Mi) east to west and 7km (4.3Mi) north to south. It was once a royal reserve, and some colonial records refer to it as "Rajasinghe Forest". It may have been the last redoubt of the Sri Lankan lion. This is a treasure trove of endemic species, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Uda-Walawe National Park

Uda-Walawe lies South of the central hills of Sri Lanka, and it surrounds the man made reservoir of Uda-Walawe, which is part of the park. The habitat surrounding, the reservoir includes marshes, the Walawe river & its tributaries, forests and grasslands. There is a teak plantation also within the national park. The dry season is the most suitable time to visit the park as visitors can watch the many herds of elephants that roam the park, which is usually between May and September of the year. Uda-Walawe is an excellent bird watching site too, with rare birds.

Royal Botanical Gardens - Peradeniya

Royal Botanical Gardens, falling into the "must see" category, is located in close proximity to the city of Kandy, in Peradeniya in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. The garden is a finest of its kind in Asia and the largest of the botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. The Garden was made more independent and expanded under Mr George Gardner, as its superintendent in 1844. It has been also used during the Second World War by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the supreme commander of the allied forces in the South Asia as the headquarters of the South East Asia Command. The gardens came under the administration of the Department of Agriculture when it was established in 1912. The Royal Botanical Gardens is renowned for the collection of variety of Orchids with more than 300 varieties of Orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees and they make the National Herbarium. Moreover, The Classical Avenue of Palms is located in this Garden. One tree with a significant history is the Cannon ball Tree planted by the King George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary in 1901. The tree is bent with its fruits which look like Cannon Ball, which is how it came to be named.

Hill Country

Kandy

The Royal city of Kandy lies in the midst of the hills of the island. Known as the "Hill capital of Sri Lanka", the city is situated about 500 meters above the sea level. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka. It is both an administrative as well as a religious city. Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa), considered as one of the most sacred places for the Buddhist community in Sri Lanka and all over the world. It was declared by the UNESCO as a world heritage city in 1988. The Esala Perahara, a cultural pageant venerating the tooth relic of Buddha, is a spectacular parade which goes on for ten nights in the months of July /August.

Bandarawela

Bandarawela is the second largest town in Badulla District, which is 28 km away from the Badulla city. Due to a higher altitude, Bandarawela has a cooler climate throughout the year. Bandarawela town, tinted with a colonial past resting among lush forestation has a remarkable rating among tourists all around the world. The main heritage sites in and around Bandarawela are, the ancient Dhowa Buddhist rock temple, the Roman Catholic Church - St. Anthony's Church and Methodist Church. It is said that, the Ancient dhowa rock temple was founded by the King Walagamba in the first century BC which is located about approx. 6 km away from the city if Bandarawela. It has a 38 ft Buddha image sculptured from a rock and some paintings belonging to the Kandyan era, depicting various Jataka (Budhist ancient) stories. Bandarawela was once hailed as possessing one of the healthiest climates in the world, and nothing much has happened here to change that. Therein this was the most favorable climate in the island. Geographically, the Bandarawela area is hilly and surrounded by a large number of mountains.

Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya (The city on the plain table land ) or the "City of Light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and a temperate climate. The city is absolutely fantastic with salubrious climate, breathtaking views of valleys, meadows, mountains and full of greenery surrounding. The town is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka. The city was founded by Samuel Baker, the discoverer of Lake Albert and the explorer of the Nile in 1846. Nuwara Eliya, called "Little England" then, was also a hill country retreat where the British colonialists could immerse in their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket. The town really comes alive in April for the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year, where numerous motor racing and horse racing events are conducted. The town's attractions include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on Lake Gregory. Victoria Park is an attractive and well-used oasis. It is popular with birdwatchers at quieter times because of the good opportunities it gives to watch various species, notably the Indian Blue Robin, Pied Thrush or Scaly Thrush lurking in the denser undergrowth. The slow-growing tea bushes of this highland region produce some of the world's finest Orange Pekoe tea. We, at Rejoice Holidays, will be guiding you to have the opportunity to sample or purchase such finest products.

Historical cities (Cultural Triangle)

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. For over 1000 years, Sinhalese kings as well as occasional South Indian interlopers ruled from various places of Anuradhapura. The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the capital city, Colombo. This is the most extensive and important of the Sri Lankan ancient royal capitals, buy its size and the length of its history as well as the length of the time since its downfall. With the introduction of Buddhism, the city gained more prominence and the great building era began. A lots of then - high tech buildings, lakes, hospitals and similar things were built in Anuradhapura, by the kings who ruled the island, time to time. The city had some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world; situated in the dry zone of the country, the administration built many tanks to irrigate the land. There are a lots of ancient remaining in the city for the tourists to see. According to carbon dating, the ruins excavated were from the 10th century B.C.

Dambulla

Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, the city of Dambulla is situated 148 km north-east of Colombo. Major attractions of the city include the largest and the best preserved cave temple complex of Sri Lanka, and the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, famous for being built in just 167 days. The city also boasts to have the largest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia, and the Iron wood forest, known as the "Namal Uyana". The cave temple complex is the spectacular place to visit in Dambulla. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains.There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. This paintings and statues are related to Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues and 3 statues of the Sri Lankan kings.

Kandy: Dalada Maligawa

Dalada Maligawa or the "Temple of the Tooth Relic" is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site, partly due to this temple. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it was believed that whoever holds the relic, would hold the governance of the country. The architecture and the structure of the buildings such as of the Royal Palace, are of superior quality and famous among the visitors. The grand "Kandy Esala Perahara" - a Buddhist religious festival is held based on the "Tooth Relic" of this temple here. The Perahara consists with lovely fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandian dances and various other cultural dances. The elephants used for the Perahara are usually adorned with lavish garments. This event has gained a great popularity among the tourists and is, of course a "must see" event, if you are visiting here in July or August - the season the festival is held.

Keleniya Temple (Raja Maha Vihara)

Keleniya Temple, known as the "Keleniya Raja Maha Vihara" is situated in the city of Keleniya, close proximity to the capital city of Colombo. The history of the temple goes back to before 500 BCE. The temple is famous for its image of the reclining Buddha and paintings which depict important events in the life of the Buddha, in the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, also incidents from the Jataka tales. It is the venue for the Duruthu Maha Perehera (a buddhist festival) procession each January. An 18-foot stone statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara has been erected at the temple. Kelani Raja Maha Viharaya was one of the largest and one of the most beautiful temples in Sri Lanka.

Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is the second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, which lies 216 km north-east of Colombo. This is the island's medieval capital (11th - 12th Century AD) and a well-preserved city of ancient dagobas, moonstones, beautiful parks, massive buildings and stunningly beautiful statues. Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains as one of the best planned archeological relic sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the Kingdom's first rulers. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Known as one of the cleaner and most beautiful cities in the country, Polonnaruwa has an splendid green environment, amazing ancient constructions, Parakrama Samudraya (a huge lake built in 1200 A.D.), attractive tourist hotels and most importantly, nice people with hospitality, always attract local and foreign tourists.

Sigiriya

Sigiriya (the Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in the island, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. Being a popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescos). Sri Lankan architectural tradition is well portrayed at Sigiriya, the best preserved city center in Asia from the first millennium, with its combination of buildings and gardens with their trees, pathways, water gardens, the fusion of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements, use of varying levels and of axial and radial planning. The Complex consists of the central rock, rising approximately 200 meters above the surrounding plain, and the two rectangular precincts on the east - 90 hectares, and the west - 40 hectares, surrounded by two moats and three ramparts. Climbing the Sigiriya rock and watching the remains of the palace of King Kashyapa, who built the rock as his palace, has become a "must do" activity for tourists visiting the island. It is such a wonderful experience and you would never forget this in your life time.

Sports & Adventure

Water Sports

Sri Lanka is the secret garden of surf holiday making and is one of the most reliable surf destination in the Indian Ocean. The island encompasses beautiful tropical beaches, verdant vegetation, ancient monuments and a thousand delights clubbed with ample opportunities to undertake a spine tingling water sport activity. Sri Lanka is the finest island of its size in all the world and you are likely to agree to the fact, Sri Lanka is the ultimate paradise for all water sport adventures. May to September is the best period for surfing, as the winds are strongest during this period. Arugam bay on the east coast is the best beach for surfing. Other renowned beaches for surfing are Hikkaduwa on the south-western coast and Bentota on the western coast. Surfing gears such as surfboards, boogie boards and wet-suites could be hired in the shops beside the beaches. There are several dive sites along island's coastline where you can have the opportunity to see some of the greatest marine lives such as corals, ship wrecks, myriad tropical fish, coral fish, angle fish and puffer fish. Hikkaduwa and Tangalla on the west coast, Unawatuna on the south coast and Nilaveli on the east coast are some of the excellent and renowned locations for scuba diving and snorkeling. The best time for diving and snorkeling on the west coast is from November to April and on the east coast is from April to September as the sea is calmest during this period. Sri Lanka has dozens of rivers and small streams that originate from hills, which offer fantastic water sport facilities. Some of the rivers such as Kelani River in Kitulgala, in the south-west of Kandy, are very popular among tourists for rafting purposes. Popular sites for canoeing are the Kalu Ganga (i.e: Black River) and the Kelani Ganga.

Hot Air ballooning

Ballooning trips are so much popular among the tourists visiting here and Rejoice Holidays can arrange you to have this magical experience, floating with the wind over Sri Lanka’s fascinating cultural heritage. Fascinating ballooning trips can now be enjoyed daily throughout the season from November to April.

Elephant Back Safari

An elephant back safari is not just a ride on the back of the largest animal in the island, but, it is a wonderful experience which you would never forget in your life time. Moreover, you also get the opportunity to interact with the elephants as well as enjoy the ride through wilderness areas and beautiful riverine scenery. These safaris not only just make it possible for you to view wildlife from the back of an elephant, but also, provide you with the unique opportunity to share a day in the life of the elephant. No matter if it is a game viewing from their backs, picnicking with them in the bush, feeding or swimming with them, or experiencing the pleasure of being close to such a magnificent animal, the encounter is truly unforgettable.

Hiking & Trekking

The fabulous country of Sri Lanka offers some of the most awesome hiking & trekking opportunities anywhere. All across, from north to south and from east to west, are a series of breathtaking trekking trails, ranging from even-kiddies-can-manage to the hardcore professional. If you are looking for adventure, you could make tracks through the several valleys, discovering cascading waterfalls and the countryside for easier treks which will take you through stunning landscapes and beautiful villages. You may go hiking through North western Province of the island to the clearest of lakes and the up country greenery area. Or may trek further south, where lie rolling hills, craggy peaks and cool valleys, just waiting to be explored. There are plenty of other treks to try and to enjoy, the hills around Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela. The Valley of the famous Ella gap, and so much more. There's actually no end to the paths you can find, the trails you can follow or blaze. For trekking, try walking across the strange silent plateau of the Horton Plains near Nuwara Eliya to see the 700m (2296ft) drop at the World's End. For the keen hiker, there is a plethora of opportunities awaiting in the island's diverse and luscious hill country. The beautiful area of Belihuloya, located in the hill country of Sri Lanka, provides a superb base from which to try out a wide variety of hiking and trekking tours through jungle, across paddy fields and up mountains.

Adam's Peak

Adam's Peak also known as Adam's Mount and 'Butterfly Mountain') is a 2,243 metres (7,359 ft) tall conical mountain located in the central part of Sri Lanka. This offers a wonderful opportunity for trekking & hiking lovers. It is well-known for the point, "Sri Pada (Translation: Sacred Footprint)" - a 1.8 m rock formation near the summit, which is in Buddhist tradition held to be the footprint of the Buddha, in Hindu tradition that of Shiva and in Muslim and Christian tradition that of Adam. Irrespective of its religious significance, this famous landmark offers some breathtaking views of the hill country. Most majority of climbers begin their ascent at night, in order to arrive at the top in time for a magical view of the sunrise, when the mystical shadow of the peak is perfectly cast across clouds. This would be a nice experience for you. The path from Dalhousie (a town situated en-route to Adam's Peak) to Adam's Peak contains around 4800 steps in its 1000-meter or so ascent, which is a great gift for adventure lovers, although aged pilgrims too still manage to climb the mountain. There are plenty of teahouses on the way up for refreshments as well. The surrounding region is largely forested hills, with no mountain of comparable size nearby. The region along the mountain is a wildlife reserve housing many species varying from elephants to leopards, and including many endemic species.

Ayurveda, Yoga & Meditation

Ayurveda

Sri Lanka is world renowned for ayurveda, yoga and for natural medicine. Sri Lanka has a unique system which has been practiced for many centuries in the island nation. The Sri Lankan Ayurvedic tradition is a mixture of the Sinhala traditional medicine, Ayurveda and Siddha systems of India, Unani medicine of Greece through the Arabs, and most importantly, the indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka, known as the "Desheeya Chikitsa". With a 3000 year history, The ancient kings, who were also prominent physicians, sustained its survival and longevity. King Buddhadasa (398 AD), the most influential of these physicians, wrote the Sarartha Sangrahaya, a comprehensive manuscript of ayurvedic medicine, which Sri Lankan ayuvedic physicians still use today for reference. Yoga is also now widely practiced here for healing not only the body, but also the mind and soul.

Spice Gardens

Almost everywhere in the island, from mountains to coasts, city to village, you can find various types of spices. Sri Lanka is famous for spice gardens. During the ancient times, the Greeks, Romans and the Arabs maintained their links with Sri Lanka through the spice trade. The spice Garden in Matale, 25 km away from the hill capital, Kandy, and the Hingula Lucky-land Spice Garden in Mawanella are two of the most visited spice gardens in the island.

Village Life

Village life in the country side is always a fascinating and sociable experience in Sri Lanka. The houses are provincial and each village tends to be inhabited by the entire family generations. One can pass some relaxing days in the island's countryside to have some time off your hectic schedule. The time you pass there would be highly productive for you. In this time you can recollect your abilities, re-energize yourself and return to your work routine completely rejuvenated. Village folks are always curious about foreign visitors. Countryside families would be so keen to chat with tourists. It is rare to walk for 10-20 minutes time, without an invitation for a tea or dinner. If you so wish, you may have your breakfast, lunch or dinner with any village household. Eating simple village food in rustic surrounds has its own taste and you would surely enjoy it. During your countryside trips, you may enjoy various aspects of village life. You can see their lifestyle in close quarters. You can feel their joy. You can feel their sorrow. You would see several works associated with day-to-day works of village life such as fishing, wood carving, bakery, farming, coconut tree climbing etc.

Gem Mines & Stones

Sri Lanka’s gem industry has a very long and colorful history. Sri Lanka was affectionately known as the "Ratna-Dweepa" which means "Gem Island". Marco Polo wrote that the island had the best sapphires, topazes, amethysts, and other gems in the world. A visit to a gem mine would be a memorable experience in your life.

by THANURA HASHANTHA (writer & photographer)

THE BEAST PLACE TO TRAVAIL IN THE WORLD!

2012-03-31T11:03:00.000+05:30

THE BEAST PLACE TO TRAVAIL IN THE WORLD! sri lanka is the most beautiful country in the south Asia as well as Asia.So if you want to success your journey you should come to sri lanka . sri lankan's have a proud history! when you came to this land you should go to Anuradapuraya,Pollonnaruwa, that are the some important historical places in this land.so if you came to this places large ruins mentions there history!

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most beautiful places in sri lanka!

2012-03-25T02:41:00.000+05:30

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2012-03-25T01:11:00.001+05:30

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2012-03-23T22:19:00.000+05:30

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2012-03-23T22:06:00.000+05:30

Sigiriya Rock Fortress Sri Lank

Sigiriya, the spectacular ‘Lion rock’ fortress, stands majestically overlooking the luscious green jungle surroundings, and is one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions.

This was built by King Kasyapa, a son of King Dhatusena, by a palace consort. As legend goes, King Dhatusena was overthrown and walled in, alive by Kasyapa in 473 AD. Mogallana, Dhatusena’s son by the true queen fled to India, vowing revenge.

Kasyapa fearing an invasion built this impregnable fortress at Sigiriya.

When the invasion finally came in 491, Kasyapa rode out to battle in his war elephant.In an attempt to out-flank his half-brother, Kasyapa took a wrong turn, where his elephant got stuck in the mud. His soldiers, thinking Kasyapa was retreating fled abandoning him, and he took his own life.

Sigiriya later became a monastic refuge, but eventually fell into disrepair.

Water Gardens

The beautifully and elaborately landscaped water gardens, contain a complex network of underground water distribution system, which provides water to the Royal baths, the many little moated islands & fountains, some fountains still work during the rainy season! A superb view of the Gardens could be had from halfway up the rock.

Frescoes – The Sigiriya Damsels

About halfway up the rock is a sheltered gallery of frescoes painted on the sheer rock face. The ‘Heavenly Maidens’ are similar in style to the paintings of Ajantha in India. Some of them are still in remarkably good condition. Only 22 out of an estimated 500 pictures now remain. Flash photography is not allowed at this site.

The Mirror Wall with Graffiti

Beyond the fresco gallery, the pathway circles the the sheer face of the rock, and is protected by a 3m high wall. This wall was coated with a mirror-smooth glaze, in which visitors over 1000 years ago noted their impressions of the women in the gallery above. The graffiti was mostly inscribed between the 7th and 11th Century AD. 685 of them have been deciphered and published. The graffiti are a great source for the scholars to study the development of the Sinhala language and script.

Lion Platform

The Northern end of the rock the pathway emerges to a platform, from which the rock derives its name Sigiriya (the Lion Rock). At one time a gigantic brick lion sat at the end of the rock, and the final ascent to the summit was between the lions paws and into it’s mouth! Today the lion has disappeared, only the paws and the first steps are visible.

The Summit

Covering an area of around 1.6 hectares, the remains of the foundations show that the summit would have been completely covered with buildings. The design, layout and magnificent views that it still enjoys to this day, suggest Sigiriya would have been more of a royal palace of pleasure than a fortress. A pond scooped out of solid rock measuring 27m x 21m, looks like a modern rooftop pool. A smooth slab of flat stone, often referred to as the kings stone throne, faces the rising sun.

world heritage sigiriya

2012-03-04T01:51:00.001+05:30

≈≈≈සීගිරියේ සඟවා දැමූ අභිරහස් ≈≈≈

සිගිරිය කියල කියන්නේ අභිරහස්වලින් අඩුවක් නැති බොහෝම අපූරු විශ්මිත නිර්මාණයක්. මේ කියන්න යන කතාව එහි අපි වැඩිය අහපු නැති පැත්තක් ගැන. සූරිය ගුණසේකර කියන්නේ සිගිරිය, රාවණ රජු ඇතුළුව ලංකාවේ සැඟවුණු ඉතිහාසය ගැන පරීක්ෂණ කරන කෙනෙක්. ඒ සම්බන්ධව පොත් ගණනාවකුත් රචනා කරල තියෙනවා. ඒ මහත්මය තරුණ කාලේ, ඒ කියන්නේ එකදාස් නවසිය හැට ගණන්වල සීගිරියට ගිහිල්ලා තියෙනවා තව තරුණ කණ්ඩායමක් එක්ක විශේෂ ගවේෂණයකට. එහිදී එයාලා දවල්ට කන්න ගිහිල්ලා තියෙනවා සිගිරිය පේන මානේ තියෙන පුංචි කටු මැටි ගෙදරකට. ඔය ගෙදර මිදුලේ හිටියලු වයසක සීයා කෙනෙක්.

කෑම කාලා කට්ටිය එලියට ආපු වෙලේ මෙයාලා ඔය සීයා එක්ක කතාවට වැටිලා. එයා දැනගත්තම මේ කට්ටිය ඇවිල්ලා තියෙන්නේ සිගිරිය ගැන හොයන්න කියලා. ඒ පාර තමයි මේ කතාව කියල තියෙන්නේ.

''මහත්තයල දන්නවද, මම ඉස්සර අන්ධ කෙනෙක් නෙවේ. මට මෙහෙම උනේ මට මහ විශාල පවකට සම්මාදන් වෙන්න උනු නිසා''

මෙහෙම කිව්වම කට්ටිය අන්දුන්කුන්දුන්...

"මොකද්ද සීයේ උනේ...?"

මහත්තයලට කියන්න, මම H.C.P. Bell මහත්තයගෙ කාලේ මෙතන සීගිරියේ එයා යටතේ කැණීම වලට අත් උදව් දීපු සේවකයෙක්. ඒ කාලේ හිටපු අයගෙන් දැන් මම විතරයි ඉතුරු.
(H.C.P. Bell කියන්නේ ලංකාවේ මුල්ම පුරාවිද්‍යා කොමසාරිස්වරයා. ඔහු බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය ජාතිකයෙක්. ලංකාවේ පුරාවස්තු බොහොමයක් හොර රහසේම බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය කෞතුකාගාරය වෙත ගෙනගිය බවට මොහුට චෝදනා එල්ල වෙනවා)

ඉතින් ඒ කතාව සීයා ඒ පාර කිව්වලු.

අපි සීගිරියේ කැණීම කර කර ගල මුදුනටම ගියා. ගල මුදුනේ නොයෙක් පුදුම හිතෙන නිර්මාණ අපිට හම්බුනා. එතන කට්ටිය කැණීම කරනකොට අපිට හොයාගන්න පුළුවන් වුණා පඩිපෙලක්. මේ පඩිපෙළ සිගිරිය ගල මුදුනේ ඉඳං ගල පාමුල වෙනකන්ම යනවා ගල ඇතුලෙන්. ඒ ගැන හාන්කවිසියක් පිටට පේන්නේ නෑ. පඩිපෙලේ තැනින් තැන ගිමන් නිවන්න කාමර තියනවා. ඒ කාමර වල තිබිල අපිට බොහොම වටිනා පුරාවස්තු හුගක් හම්බුනා. බෙල් මහත්තයා ඒ ඔක්කොම එකතු කරගෙන එලියට ගෙනාවා. පස්සෙ අපිට කිව්වා ඒ පඩිපෙලේ ගල මුදුනේ දොරකඩ කොන්ක්‍රීට් දාලා සම්පුර්ණයෙන් වහන්න කියල.. අපිට පුදුම හිතුනා, ඒත් අපි කිව් විදියට කරා.

එදායින් පස්සෙ ඒ වැඩේට ගිය අපි කාටවත් හොඳක් උනේ නෑ. සමහරු ලෙඩ උනා. සතා සීපාවා ගහල මැරුණා. ගහක් ගලක් වගේ හිටපු මම දවසක් උදේ නැගිට්ටේ මෙහෙම අන්ධ වෙලා.

මෙහෙම කියපු ඒ සීයා අඬන්න ගත්තලු.

මේ කතාවේ ඇත්ත නැත්ත ඔයාලම තීරණය කරන්න.

හැබැයි ඇත්තටම කියනවනම්. සිගිරිය ඉහලට රජ කෙනෙකු, අද අපි යන්න වගේ දාඩිය පෙරාගෙන ගිනිකුට අව්වේ අර වගේ පටු පඩිපෙලක් දිගේ ගියා කියලනම් හිතන්න බෑ. රජුට ඉක්මනින් පහසුවෙන් සහ රජ කෙනෙක් විදියට යන්න විශේෂිත ගමන් මාර්ගයක් තිබිය යුතුමයි.

මේ ගැන පරීක්ෂණ කරපු මොරටුව විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයේ ඉංජිනේරු සුසිර උඩලමත්ත මහතානම් කියන්නෙ, ඒ කාලේ රජුට ඉහලට ගමන් කිරීමට විශේෂ සෝපානයක් තිබුන කියලා. මේක හඳුන්වන්නේ කර්කටක යන්ත්‍රය කියලා. මොකද මේක කකුළුවෙක් වගේ හැඩයක් සහ යාන්ත්‍රණයක් තියෙන නිසා. සිගිරිය ගලේ එක අන්තයක කෙලින්ම සිරස්ව ඉහලට යන සහ තිරස්ව යන ඉනිමගක් වැනි කුඩා track පද්ධතියක් ගලේම කොටලා තියෙනවා දැකගන්න පුළුවන්. මේක තියෙන්නෙ කර්කටක යන්ත්‍රයේ දැති රෝද වලට ගමන් කරන්න කියල තමයි කියන්නේ.

සිගිරිය ජල උද්‍යානය ගත්තත් ඒක සුවිශේෂයි. එහි ප්‍රධාන දොරටු හදල තියෙන්නෙ කෙලින්ම ඉහළට ඔසවන විදියට. මේ සඳහා යොදාගත්තු විශාල ගල් උලුවහු අදත් දැකගන්න පිළිවන්. මේ විශාල ලී ද්වාර එසවීමට යොදාගෙන තියෙන්නෙ අලි ඇතුන්.

ඒ වගේම සිගිරිය ජල උද්‍යානය ගත්තත්, ඒක හදල තියෙන්නේ ඒකට ඇතුල් වෙන කෙනෙක්ව එක්වරම මුලා වෙන විදියට. හොඳින් නිරීක්ෂණය කරොත් පේනවා ප්‍රධාන දොරටුවෙන් ඇතුල් වෙලා යනකොට එක හරියකදී එකපාරටම සිගිරිය ගල නොපෙනී යන බව. ඒ විදියටයි ඒ ගමන් මාර්ගය හදල තියෙන්නේ. ඒ වගේම සිගිරිය ජල උද්‍යානයේ තියෙන වතුරමල් අදටත් වැඩ කරනවා. ඒත් වතුර එන්නෙ බොහොම අඩුවෙන්. මේකට හේතුව තමයි සිගිරිය වැවේ ජල මට්ටම ඉතාමත් අඩු වීම.

අතීතයේදී සිගිරිය වතුරමල් සහ ජල උද්‍යානයට ඉහළින් තමයි සිගිරිය වැවේ ජල මට්ටම පිහිටලා තියෙන්නේ. ඒකෙන් ඒ කාලේ සීගිරියට සතුරන්ගෙන් ආරක්ෂාවත් ලැබුණා. මේ නිසා ඉතා විශාල ජල පීඩනයක් යටතේ මේ වතුර මල් බොහොම උජාරුවෙන් ඉහළට වතුර විදින්න ඇති. ඒත් පසුකාලීනව සිගිරිය අවට ප්‍රදේශය සංචාරක කලාපයක් විදියට සංවර්ධනය කරන්න ගත්තම සිගිරිය වැව ගොඩ වුණා. Sigiriya Village වගේ සුපිරි හෝටල් අද තියෙන්නෙ සිගිරිය වැව තිබුන හරියේ. අද සිගිරිය වැව දිය හිඳුනු නිකං නමට වැවක්. සීගිරිය ගල මුදුනට වතුර ගෙනගිය ආකාරයද අභිරහසක්. මේ සඳහා ජල පොම්ප කිරීමේ තාක්ෂණයක් යොදාගෙන තියෙන බවයි සමහරු කියන්නේ. ඒත් වර්තමානයේ පරීක්ෂකයන්ගේ මතය වෙලා තියෙන්නේ මේ සඳහා ඊට වඩා බොහොම සරල ක්‍රමයක් භාවිතා කර ඇති බවයි. එනම් සංසක්ති බල.

විද්‍යාව කරපු අය දන්නවා සංසක්ති බල කියන්නේ මොනවද කියලා. ඒ කියන්නේ එකම වර්ගයේ අංශු අතර ඇති වන ආකර්ෂණ බල (මට මතක විදියට වැන්ඩවාල් බල)

ඒ අය කියන විදියට සිගිරිය ගල මුදුනේ නිර්මාණය කර තිබෙන ජල පොකුණු වලට නිරන්තරයෙන් වැහි වලාකුළු ආකර්ෂණය වෙනවා. හේතුව සිගිරිය මුදුනේ තියෙන පොකුණු වල ජලයේ ජල අංශු සහ වැහි වලාකුළු වල ජල අංශු එකිනෙක ආකර්ෂණය වීම. මේ සංසිද්ධිය වෙනත් උස් කඳු මුදුන් සහ උස ගල් පර්වත මුදුනේ ඇති ජලය රැස්වෙන ස්ථාන වල දැකගන්න පුළුවන්. එමගින් ලැබෙන වර්ෂාවෙන් නිරන්තරයෙන් සිගිරිය ගල මුදුන ජලයෙන් ස්වයංපෝෂිත වෙනවා.

මෙවැනි ක්‍රමයක් මේ සඳහා යොදාගැනීමට තවත් හේතුවක් තියෙනවා. එනම් හදිසියෙවත් සතුරු හමුදාවක් සිගිරිය ආක්‍රමණය කරා කියල හිතමු. සීගිරියට ජලය ගෙනියන්නේ විශාල පොම්පයකින් නම් හතුරන්ට මේ පොම්පය විනාශ කරල හරි පහල තියෙන ජල මුලාශ්‍ර වලට වස මිශ්‍ර කරල හරි ගල මුදුනේ ඉන්න පිරිසව අසරණ කරන්න පුළුවන්. ඒත් මම මුලින් විස්තර කරපු සංසක්ති බල ක්‍රමය නිසා ගල මුදුනේ ඇති වගාවන් හෝ ඔවුන්ගේ පානිය ජල අවශ්‍යතා එතැනින්ම සුරක්ෂිතයි. ස්වයන්පොෂිතයි.

සිගිරිය ගැන කතා කරන්න පුළුවන් දේවල් එමටයි. එහෙනම් ඔයාලත් දන්න දේවල් බෙදාගන්න.