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Monday, July 27, 2009

Rubber


Rubber's grown n Sri Lanka where the climate is modereate, and the specially selected areas.In Kalutara and the Sabaragamuwa districts areas Rubber cultivation take the first place in Sri Lanka.Total area under rubber in Sri Lanka is approximately 559,257 acres. Rubber is grown mainly I he central part of the wet Zone.
e.g. Ratnapura, Agalawatta, Kegalle, Kandy

Rubber latex is exported either as sheet rubber or crepe rubber. The local demand for raw rubber has increased with the development of industries such as manufacture and retreading of motor tyres, cycle tyres and tubes, rubber goods such as cushions, mats, toys and surgical gloves…etc.
The principle markets for Sri Lanka rubber are China, U.S.S.R., USA, German, Italy, and Poland.

Coconuts ( cocos nucifera)


A long long time ago a little brown nut sailed the seas to make it’s a home on Sri Lankan shores…The eastern Archipelago near Sumatra and Jawa was the original inhabitant of the lovely coconut palm. Ancients marines may well have propagated the first palms in the tropics. Historical writers however surmise that these nuts were tossed along tumultuous seas to be cast unceremoniously on to Sri Lankan soil.

Millions of Sri Lankan depends on this life-sustaining tree known as “ Pol” (coconut) or “Pol Gaha” (Coconut tree). It’s simply impossible to mention the value of this tree. There is not a single part in the coconut that is not used.


The nuts provide 22% of Sri Lanka’s calorie intake. It’s sterile water has been used as a Glucose drip. The husks provide fiber for roap,mats and clothes and many other products. The palm leaves serve as roofing to poor homes and an exquisite art form. The coconut flower forms the base for many medicines and for the National alcoholic beverage “Arrack”. The palm leaf serves both as a festive decoration and as a sacred offering to the gods. The trunk is used as a fuel and roots as a cure for a variety of ailments.

The Mahawansa: the primary historical chronical of the island, written in the 6th century AD refers to the existence of coconuts during the reign of king Dutugemunu (101~77BC). This book rightly acknowledges the coconut palm as the “Maharuk” or the great tree, so called on account of it’s variety of uses.

In fact ancient Sri Lankan compared it to the mythical “kapruk” the celestial tree that granted their every wish.

The Chulavansa: which proceed the Mahavansa tells of King Aggabodhi (545 AD) establishing a coconut plantation of three ‘yojanayas’ (36 miles), along the South coast of Sri Lanka.

The origin and history of the coconut is interspersed with myths and mystical stories. How ever one fact remains; the tree then and now is the lifeblood of this resplendent isle.

Gems of Sri Lanka


The gems of Sri Lanka are woven in to his history. The Mahavansa, the ancient chronicle of Sri Lanka too mentioned about gems and jewellery. Indeed, the lord Buddha himself is sad to have had to come to Sri Lanka from India to settle a dispute between two kings, Chulodara and Mahodara, over a throne of gems.

King Solomon is reported to have had gems brought from this island to win the heart of beautiful Queens. The great traveler, Marco Polo, Was said to have been so awe struck by a priceless ruby in the possession of the king of Sri Lanka that he recorded it as been “ span in length, with out a flaw, brilliant beyond compare.
Sri Lanka became known as Ratna Deepa(The Island of Gems). Some of the rarest precious stones in the world are found in abundance in the reach earth under our feet and the hills above us. Among the Several world famous gems Sri Lanka’s blue sapphire Weighing 466 carats.the largest known sapphire in the world. Weighing in at 19kg was also discovered here. Other famous gems include the Blue giant of the Orient, Weighing nearly 500 carats and the bluebell of Asia, which weighs in at 400 carats. The renowned Sri Lankan Star sapphire is on permanent display at the Museum of Natural History in New York, but due to an oversight, the stone has been called the star of India.


Throughout history Sri Lanka’s gems and jewellery have adorned the crown jewels of many a royal family. A gem- a 105 carat cat’s eye- discovered in a paddy field in Sri Lanka, gained fame among the royalty of Britain and was Successively Admired by Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII and Queen Elizabeth.The process of mining for gems is begun at an auspicious time with a short religious ritual. The most common methods of mining are in pits and by tunneling. Surface gemming and dredging depends on the location and the type of deposits stones are normally found in a layer of coarse, pebbly material, which contains traces of clay and fine sand. This gravel containing gems is referred to as “illam” and is found just below the alluvial deposits.

The rarest gem in the world Alexandrite, is found in Sri Lanka.Gem pits are of two kinds.the shallow ones are well shaped and circular, whereas deep pits are rectangular. To prevent the walls of the pits from caving-in scaffoldings are made and the spaces filled with leaves. The water is then pumped out of the pit. If the “illam” vein runs horizontally, tunneling has to be resorted to.Another method of collecting illam is to place wooden poles across the river bed and standing on a pole with a long stick, a person drags the gravelly sand to wards him. This is then collected in buckets. Either way the gravel is then washed in large circular wicker buckets by immersing them in water and rotating them. This enables the light, ordinary pebbles and sediment to escape, leaving the heavier pebbles behind. Then the basket are held against the sunlight and the sorting is carried out.

Each illam brings forth a variety of stones. The principal source of Alexandeite, the rarest gem in the world is Sri Lanka it was first pound in the Urals in 1830 and is named after czar Alexander II who come of age on the day it was found. This stone shines green in natural light but turns raspberry red in artificial light.The cat’s eye is another stone which is considered valuable and rare. It derives its name from fact that a silvery line runs across its greenish-gray surface, giving it a remarkable resemblance to the eye of a cat. The rarest type is the black cat’s eye.

Sri Lanka can boast of having 17 varieties of precious and semiprecious stone. The most notable are:- Blue Sapphire:A blue stone with a silvery streak, said to protect its Wearer.



Alexandrite: the rarest and possibly the most beautiful of stones.

Stur Ruby: its colour ranges from pale pink to red with a sulky streak.

Yellow Sapphire:poetically known as the “pollen of flowers” because of its soft yellow colouring.

Star Sapphire: a rich blue star stone with snowy streaks, said to bring good luck.

Amethyst: a rich purple stone.

Garnet: A deep purplish-red stone, unique for its richness of colour.

Moonstone: a pale blue stone with silvery light only found in Sri Lanka and said to possess the power of tranquilizing its wearer.

The State Gem Corporation

The State Gem Corporation plays a vital role in the development of the gem industry of the island. It annually holds courses in gem identification and lapidary training.
Among the basic operations of the corporations are the testing of gems for genuineness, Certification and assaying of jewelry to determine the gold content or cartage of the items. The spectrum of activity of this institution ranges from the mining stage, through cutting and polishing to selling the finished product, which of course includes exports.
It is situated in Colombo, the exchange provides all facilities related to the gem industry, under one roof. It is the 21st Exchange of its kind in the world and houses stalls for retail and wholesale business customs office, and a museum…

Tea


Tea was firstly introduced in Ceylon (Sri Lanka known as Ceylon then) in 1824 at the botanical gardens at Peradeniya in Kandy.they were brought from China and later more were introduced from Assam in 1839.A Scottish planter call James Taylor planted tea seedlings on eight hectares of forest land which had been actually cleared for coffee plantation. Two years later blight destroyed the whole coffee corp. and the all planters had to turn to tea as a result of James Taylor’s encouragement.

The first sale of Looll kandara tea was held in Kandy in 1872, and exporting of Tea started with 23 pounds (approximately 10 kg) being shipped to London in 1873.


The first public Tea auction was held in Ceylon in 1880 and The Ceylon Tea Traders Association was formed in 1884.To extend the facility of research work and to improve the industry The Tea Research Institute was established at Talawakelle in 1925.
Growing of tea is classified by elevation in to three main Groups,

1) Low grown teas those grown bellow 550m
2) Medium grown teas those grown from 550 to 1220m
3) The high grown teas those grown from 1220m up to about 2500m

Quality tea should meet all the criteria a tea drinker would look for: such as Flavor, an attractive bright coppery or orange color, good liquoring properties, which give body or strength to the tea, and fragrance. All the type of Tea produced in Sri Lanka is flavored by different drinkers of worldwide.
The high grown verities, with their light taste, weak color and strong aroma are proffered by German and Japan.Medium grown teas with their good mix of liquor, color are popular in Australia, Europe and North America.Low grown teas with their thick taste and strong color are popular in Middle East.
Present day marketers have introduced verity of flavored teas in to the domestic and export markets.

Herbal Medicines


It's amazing just how many herbal treatments and cures there are in Sri Lanka. Almost every herb, vegetable and fruit has a wide variety of medicinal properties. In short, there's a cure for every ailment if you know herbs well enough. Herbal medications are also becoming popular exports in Sri Lanka.

One of the commonest herbs with an array of medicinal uses is 'Welpenela'. Its botanical term is Cardiospermum halicacabum and some of its other names are heart seed, black liquorice and balloon vine. It is found aplenty in markets and growing in many a home garden. This small and delicate wiry climber can be used to treat piles, rheumatism, nervous disorders and chronic bronchitis. Its power lies mostly in its leaves which can also be used as a poultice for skin diseases. A paste of the leaves is a dressing for sores and wounds. Crushed leaves can also be inhaled to relieve headaches and the seeds used to relieve fever and body aches.

Jak

The intriguing jak fruit is extremely nutritious and medicinal. Jak (Artocarpus reterophyllus) comes in two varieties in Sri Lanka. They are soft or 'vala' and hard or 'waraka'. The latter is more popular than the soft. The bark of the jak tree is used mainly for medicinal purposes including sprains and fractures.
Tender jak which is known as 'polos', can be made into a delicious curry and, in the diet of ancient Lankan royalty this was a dish that was rarely absent. Nursing mothers are given 'polos' and boiled jak to increase milk. 'Polos' curry also helps those recovering from diarrhoea, because 'vala' or the soft ripe jak is a laxative which can be eaten as it is. It helps clear the bowels and assists in digestion. It also helps relieve bronchitis when kept in bees honey and given to the patient each morning. 'Waraka' or the hard jak variety is beneficial to diabetic patients.

The leaves are dried, powdered and made into a coffee-like drink to be given to diabetics. According to an ancient recipe the ripe jak leaves are pounded and fried in gingili (sesame) oil and given to the diabetic patient each day. It is hard to imagine that such a simple recipe can be a cure for diabetes but the fact that it has been mentioned often in ancient books is proof of its efficacy.



Mango

The delicious mango (Mangitera indica) too has its share of medicinal properties. All parts of the tree can be used medicinally. Tender leaves dried and powdered are given for diarrhoea and diabetes. The smoke from the burning leaves can be inhaled for the relief of throat disorders and hiccups. The ash is an effective remedy for burns. And to remove warts on eyelids, the midrib of the mango leaves is burnt and the ash applied on the wart.
The juice of the mango tree bark has a remarkable effect on the mucus membrane. It can be given as a medicine to stop the discharge of mucus from the uterus, bowels and intestines. Bleeding piles and dysentery can be cured by the juice in addition to the white of an egg and a pinch of opium. The green skin of the raw fruit is dried and powdered and two teaspoons of this powder in half a cup of cow's milk with a teaspoonful of bees honey is another tonic for dysentery and piles. Meanwhile, the white juice that oozes near the stem when unripe mangoes are plucked, can be mixed with lime and applied as a remedy for skin infections or diseases.


Nelli

Another important fruit-medicine is the 'nelli'. This is a small, green sour fruit with a very high quantity of vitamin C.z There is hardly any disease for which the 'nelli' is not used either singly or in combination with other herbs.
The 'nelli' is given to strengthen the retina and improves weak and defective vision. If dried 'nelli' is soaked overnight and the juice extracted and drunk each morning, it makes a good laxative. Leaves boiled and applied on skin eruptions is said to be beneficial. The ground leaves are said to cure eczema. Two tablespoons of 'nelli' mixed with a tablespoon of bees honey, taken regularly each morning helps reduce bleeding piles, while raw 'nelli', sour as it may be, improves complexion. Half a cup of 'nelli' juice twice a week helps keep bowel movements in order.

Herbal


Bittergourd ( Karawila)

The leaves of the Bittergourd plant or 'karavila' can be crushed and the juice massaged into the scalp for a good growth of hair and to help prevent hair loss. The 'karavila' fruit, bitter as it is, increases the flow of milk in nursing mothers, when eaten in sufficient quantities.
Juice extract from karawila is drunk by diabetics and get immedite result.






Cucumber

Cucumber, popular in salads, is a herb which is known to keep the kidneys healthy. Cucumber seeds when roasted, powdered and made into a coffee-like drink have been known to relieve colic. Thin slices of cucumber placed on tired eyes is supposed to have a soothing effect.





Pomegranate

For sore eyes, the flowers of the pomegranate (Punica granatum) tree known as 'delun' can give great relief. The buds of the tree are boiled and the infusion given to stop chronic diarrhoea especially in children. The same infusion also relieves bronchitis. Bleeding from the nose can be checked by powdering the flowers of the pomegranate tree and applying it on the bleeding area.

Kandy Perahera


For two weeks at the end of July and in to the first few day’s of August, The hill town of kandy is transformed to the way it was before it fell to the British in 1815. Elephants parade the streets at night, officials and chieftains wear traditional costume and dancers leap to the timeless rhythm of the drums.
It is the time of the Kandy Esala is people give thanks in songs, Dance and pageantry for a bountiful harvest. Esala also signifies man’s strength and valour in having conquered and tamed the wild elephant.
The significance of this perahera (Procession of Procession) dates to 310 A.D. when the tooth relic was brought from India. Before then there was an annual procession to pay tribute for the harvest and to ask the gods for sufficient water for the next crop.
Asking for water is still the main reason for the Esala perahera and is way the chief incumbent of the Temple of the tooth is called the Diyawadana Nilame for "diya" is the Sinhala ward for water. The last ritual of the perahera is the water cutting ceremony.

Navam Perahera


Most Colorful and Prestigious Buddhist Cultural Pageant held in Sri Lanka Annually the Colombo Nawam Maha Perahera,held in February

The Colombo Nawam Maha Perahera a Grand Pageant of Elephants, Dancers and Entertainment held to celebrate a Religious Event takes place on the Full Moon Day of February, every year.
The Colombo Nawam Maha Perahera is one of the most important religious and cultural events in Shri Lanka. Mi1lions of people view this spectacle every year including an estimated 10,000 Tourists. Seating accommodation for 1,000,000 persons is provided without charge on both days. The Perehara revives the ancient forms drawing dancing troupes from all parts of the country and providing an occasion to display their prowess.
The beneficiaries of events such as these are the traditional Dance Troupes, who now enjoy a revival of interest in their dance and forms of entertainment. The Perehera thus has a direct relevance to the preservation of our ancient Cultural Heritage. The entire organization of the Perahera is handled by the young people associated with the "Gangaramaya' Temple. The Perahera was first started in the year 1979
In Sri Lanka the Colombo Nawam Maha Perahera takes pride of place. In the Buddhist World no country can claim to have held such a Colorful, Cultural Pageant. Gangaramaya of Colombo.2, attends to the organizing work. The Flags, Banners and Decorations used for this Event are available for use for similar events in other parts of the island.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Sir Arthur C. Clarke


Sir Arthur C. Clarke was born in Minehead, Somerset in England in 1917. He is a graduate of King's College, London (where he obtained a First Class Honors in Physics and Mathematics), a past Chairman of the British Interplanetary Society, and a member of the Academy of Astronautics, the Royal Astronomical Society and many other scientific organizations.

He served with the RAF during the Second World War and was in charge of the first radar talk-down equipment during its experimental trials.



He wrote a monograph for Wireless World in 1945 predicting satellite communications, and did it so well that when the first few commercial satellites were launched twenty years later they could not be patented. He has written over sixty books, among them the science fiction classics , Childhood's, The City and the stars and Rendezvous with Rama (which was unique in winning all three major science fiction trophies, the Hugo, Nebula and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards).

In 1968 he shared an Oscar nomination with Stanley Kubrick for the screenplay of 2001 A Space Odyssey. He became widely known for his non-fiction work with the television series Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World. Sir Arthur C. Clarke has for many years made his home in Sri Lanka. He is the chancellor of the University of Moratuwa and Patron of the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies.

He was awarded the CBE by the Queen of England in 1989. A knighthood was awarded to him by the Queen of England in 1998.

Ayurveda


As the 21st Century came near to a start, We find an increasingly health conscious western searching for effective alternatives to the rising cost and unhealthy side effect of modern medicine. In Sri Lanka ,on the other hand, we have had for the last couple of millennia a “user-friendly”form of traditional medicine called “AYURVEDA” that is still practiced throughout the country. over 75% of island’s population depends on it. It is and ancient system of medicine which developed in the Indian sub Continent centuries before the so-called “farther of medicine”,Hippocrates, was born in Europe. The name comes from two Sanskrit word ayuh (life) and veda (science or knowledge).It is basically a science of healthy living and has two aims.



1) To preserve health
2) To cure the body when afflicted by disease

One of the fundamental belief of Ayurveda is the doctrine of Tri Dosha or the Three vital Forceces. These three , vayu, pitha and kapha have been inaccurately translated in to English as Wind. Bile and Phlegm there by being confused with the bodily “Humorous” of the Greek philosophers.
A more correct interpretation of vayu is the phenomenon of energy transmission within the body; in modern medical terms, nerve impulses, muscle contraction and hormonal activity. Pitta does not refer simply to bile or even the “chollericke humor” mentioned by Shakespeare; rather , it signifies the whole scope of metabolism and internal heat production. Kapha means mucus, often described as “Protective fluid”. The relatively modern concept of mucus as an antibody containing liquid which coats and protects internal linings of the body, seems to fit in with Ayurvadic thinking.
When the three doshas are in normal equilibrium, the body is in good health. When this equilibrium is disturbed ,when some derangement occurs in the balance of these complimentary forces, then illness is the results.

As far as it’s preventive aspects are concentrated, ayurveda recommends coeds for healthy living including dietary and socio-cultural norms. Certain foods are considered good, while the partaking of others (such as red meat) is discouraged .Vagitarianism and consumption of dairy products such as milk and curd are advocated. Drinking alcohol and smoking are frowned upon. Basic practices of hygiene such as drinking boiled water and washing one’s hands before touching foods are fundamental.

Ayurvadic practitioners have their own method of diagnosing disease , by relying on the five senses .interrogation of the patient and his family, inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion and observation of smells form the basis of clinical examination; supplementary laboratory test and X-rays play no parts in Ayurvadic diagnosis.

Ayurvedists maintain that they study the patient as a whole with the object of restoring normality, while western medicine specializing merrily attacking the desease. There is a saying that western medicine classifies germs and attempts to destroy them. Ayurvadic medicine claimed to be non toxic, and is geared top restoring the body’s natural resistance and immunity.

The first line of treatment for many diseases is pancha karma or five –pronged evacuative therapy.This is design to rid the body of toxins and is achieved by special diets and herbal decoctions.
The preparation of ayurvadic medication is usually a cumbersome and tedious process. Metals, for example , are subjected to high temperatures before being ground with herbal juices in a pestle for a prescribed period of time.Herbal extracts are made by boiling parts of plants and then allowing the resulting liquid to simmer until it is reduced to a fraction of it’s original volume.Ghee forms the basis for many preparations. Besides decoctions, wines,pills and powders for internal use, ayurveda also uses poultices, pastes, ointments and oils for external application.

The potential of ayurveda in today’s world is underlined by a multi-million dollar joint venture undertaken by scientist from Sri Jayawardanepura university of Sri Lanka and the un8iversity of Utrecht in the Netherlands. The project has as it’s objective the collecting of information and scientific study of ayurvadic remedies in Sri Lanka. Already over 150 species of local herbs and plants used in the preparation of aurvadic medicine have been studied.

Researchers are collecting data from ayurvadic practitioners throughout the country, some of whose knowledge has been acquired by oral transmission from farther to son over the centuries. Information is also being obtained by pursuing ancient hand written ola leaf manuscript and yellow tomes. long hidden in private libraries.Other researchers are analyzing pharmacological actions of these remedies in a modern fully equipped laboratory which has been donated by the Dutch government to the Chemistry department at Sri Jayawardenapura University.

Sri Lankan Air Line


Sri Lankan Air Line


The National Carrier of Sri Lanka, operates a fleet of 4 Lockheed Tri-Star L1011, 3 Airbus A340 and 2 Airbus A320 aircraft. Its route network stretches from London to Tokyo. Sri Lankan Air Line now flies to most major destinations in Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, South Asia and the Far East, spanning 29 destinations in 21 countries.

Our network comprises:

Europe - Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Zurich, Frankfurt, London
Middle East - Bahrain, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran
South East Asia - Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Fukuoka, Narita
India & Pakistan - Tiruchirapally, Trivandrum, Madras, Mumbai, Delhi, Karachi
Maldives - Male



In recognition of the fact that Sri Lanka is fast becoming a preferred venue for internationally renowned conferences, exhibitions and special events, the country's National Airline Sri Lankan Air Line, has geared itself to providing the requirements of an "Official Carrier" to such events. To date Sri Lankan Air Line has served as Official Carrier to many international conferences held in Sri Lanka and has been appointed as Official Carrier to many future events as well. Being the National Carrier, Sri Lankan Air Line is able to extend comprehensive service in Colombo to convention organizers and delegates. Our overseas network is competent in handling all aspects of such events. Enumerated below are some of the facilities extended to conference/exhibition convenos.

* Special airfares to delegates and accompanying persons travelling from Sri Lankan Air Line on-line points except South India.
* Rebated tickets to keynote speakers and to the conference organizers for promotional purposes.
* Upgrading facility from Economy Class to Business Class for VIPs on space availability basis.
* Promotion of conferences through Sri Lankan Air Line offices overseas.
* Carriage of promotional material to Sri Lankan Air Line on-line sections.
* Meet and assist facilities to delegates and accompanying persons at the airport.
* Speedy baggage clearance utilizing special baggage tags prepared for convention traffic.
* Re-confirmation desk at conference venue to assist delegates with their travel formalities.
* Special group check-in and separate check-in counters for large numbers travelling together.
* Special welcome announcement in-flight by Captain for groups travelling together.

The quantum of facilities offered will depend on the magnitude of the event.

Sri Lankan Air Line LTD
Passenger Sales Development Department
Head Office
37, York Street, Colombo 1

E-Mail : ulweb@sri.lanka.net
Web Site : http://www.airlanka.com

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Galadari Hotel Colombo


The Galadari Hotel is a deluxe five star conference hotel located in the heart of the business area of the city. Its 446 spacious rooms overlook the ocean harbour. The conference hall situated on lobby level seat a 1000 theatre style and 600 for banquets. A separate entrance for the ballroom greatly enhances its space value. The ballroom can be sectioned off to three sections and five mini conference rooms are located adjacent to the ballroom with the business centre situated right next to it.

Galadari Hotel, 64, Lotus Road, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
E-Mail: galadari@sri.lanka.net

Ceylon Intercontinental Colombo


The Hotel Ceylon Inter-Continental has the rare and unique distinction of being Colombo's first 5 star hotel. 250 guest rooms, 04 Executive Suites, 4 Suites and 27 normal suites, command a panoramic view of the sea. Convention facilities for up to 1000 delegates theatre style/ 450 classroom style. Banquet facilities for 550 guests. Dinning facilities include Palms Supper Club for exclusive dining, Pearl Seafood for specialised seafood, Café Emerald for Eastern & Western food and the Pizzeria for Italian food.

Hotel Ceylon Inter-Continental, 48, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka
E-Mail: colombo@interconti.com
Ceylon Intercontinental

The Galle Face Hotel


39 Doubles/Triples & 21 Suites with a Total Bed Capacity of 130. Colour TV in some rooms, radio, mini bar, refrigerator, air conditioning, IDD, floor Butler service, Laundry etc. Convention Facililties: Maximum 400 Theatre Style, 300 Class Room style and 600 Cocktail/Reception. Exhibition facilties include 3 halls with areas of 4800 sq.ft (A/C), 2000 sq.ft. (A/C - with clearance of 30 feet) and 5000 sq.ft. (non-A/C). Dining includes Verandah Restaurant - Eastern/Western Cuisine and Lounge - light meals and snacks.

Galle Face Hotel, 2, Kollupitiya Road,
Colombo 03, Sri Lanka
E-Mail : slcbhq@lanka.ccom.lk
contact person: Mr. Lalith Rodrigo - Director

Mahaweli Reach Hotel - Kandy


115 elegantly furnished deluxe air-conditioned rooms, including 02 Suites, all with River/ Garden or Pool view. The 02 magnificent Suites and all rooms are equipped with telephone with IDD facilities, TV, piped music, mini bar, and wall to wall carpeting. Other facilities and features include a 250 cover Restaurant, superbly relaxed bar lounge overlooking the free forming swimming pool, with a stunning view of the Mahaweli river and its own pool-side bar, squash and tennis court, billiard room, a banquet hall for 300 guests, in-house entertainment, romantic river cruises, exciting boat picnics, fishing, gardens with tropical flora and attentive service.

Mahaweli Reach Hotel,
35, P B A Weerakoon Mawatha, Kandy
E-Mail: mareach@slt.lk
contact person: Mr. Jayantha A Panabokke - Managing Director

Holiday Inn Colombo


Located in the heart of the City Centre. 88 standard twin rooms, 02 Suites and 06 King Leisure deluxe rooms, centrally air conditioned with individual controls, mini bar, colour TV in-house movies, private bath with shower, IDD facilities, 4 channelled music with radio, 18 hour room service and wake-up call service. Convention facilities: Liberty Ball Room - Maximum 1000 Theatre Style, 650 Class Room Style and 1000 Reception/Cocktail. Dining facilities include Alhambra Mogul Speciality Restaurant, Gardenia Tea & Coffee Shop, Oasis Lounge Bar and Mahogany Bar.

Holiday Inn Colombo, 30, Sir Mohammed Macan Marker Mawatha, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka
E-mail: holiday@sri.lanka.net

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Hilton International Colombo


Situated on a seven-acre site overlooking the Beira Lake and the Indian Ocean, the Colombo Hilton is within walking distance of the business and shopping district, 32 km from the Airport and just 5 minutes from the local railway station, bus station and harbour. Total bed capacity is 387 including 42 Suites. All rooms with ocean, harbour or lake view. Special amenities for lady business travellers and specially designed floors for Japanese guests. Convention facilities for up to 1000 delegates theatre style/500 classroom style. 650 guests for Banquets and 850 for Cocktails. Up to date audio-visual equipment. Business Centre with full secretarial facilities.

Colombo Hilton, Echelon Square, Lotus Road,
Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
E-Mail : slcbhq@lanka.ccom.lk

Hunnas Fals Hotel - Kandy


28 Standard Guest Rooms, 1 mini suite, 2 luxury suites/apartments fully air conditioned, piped music, telephone, hot and cold water, mini bar, IDD, TV. Conference facilities for 60 -100 pax with technical facilities which include lectern microphone, screen, video 3 head jumbo screen, laser highlighter, slides/overhead projector with remote control cassette deck, video deck, TV monitors, magi boards, flip charts, sound podium. Recreation include swimming pool, tennis, billiards, badminton, boat rides, trekking, mini golf course and mountain walks.

Hunas Fals Hotel, Elkaduwa, Kandy, Sri Lanka,
Reservations: Jetwing Hotels Ltd., Jetwing House, 46/26, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 2, Sri Lanka
Web site: http://www.lanka.net/jetwing/
E-Mail: jethot@sri.lanka.net
Contact Person: Mr. Hiran Cooray - Director

Amaaya Hills Kandy


Situated on the central hills of Kandy, with a breathtaking view. 100 rooms and 4 suites with balcony, telephone, piped music, hot and cold water and 24 hour Room service. Pillar-less Convention Hall with seating capacity up to 350, and 5 Committee Rooms. Te - "Tea Shop", Dumbara Bar, Pool Bar and Karaoke/Jazz Bar. Herbal treatment and herbal baths available at the Ayurvedic Centre. Short distance to Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and Dalada Maligawa, where the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is housed. Recreational facilities include swimming, squash, tennis, Billiards, water polo, indoor games and hiking.

Le Kandyan Resort, Heerassagala, Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
E-Mail: cdctrv@slt.lk
Reservations: Connaissance De Ceylan Ltd,
58, Dudley Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka
cdctrv@slt.lk
contact person: Mr. Chandra Wickremasinghe - Chairman/Managing Director

Hotel Lanka Oberoi Colombo


Located in the heart of the metropolis and set in beautifully landscaped gardens, the Lanka Oberoi holds the centre stage in Sri Lanka's hospitality industry, with beautiful and elegant interiors and discreet personalised service. Number of Guest Rooms includes 45 Suites, 34 Executive Suites, 9 Deluxe Suites, 2 Presidential Suites and a Penthouse Suite. Convention facilities include a maximum of 850 Theatre Style and 400 Class Room Style with Banqueting facilities of up to 600. Its modern Business Centre is equipped with latest secretarial and communication facilities.

Hotel Lanka Oberoi, 77 Steuart Place,
Colombo 03, Sri Lanka
E-Mail ; lankaobe1@eureka.lk
contact person: Mr. Stefan Pfeiffer - General Manager

St. Andrews Hotel Nuwara Eliya


40 standard guest rooms, 7 family rooms, 4 luxury suites and 1 executive suite, hot and cold water, bath tub, heaters on request, telephone, alarm clock. Banquet and convention facilities for maximum 60 pax. Technical facilities include microphones, photocopy machines, speakers. Dining in main restaurant with a wide variety of western and eastern cuisine. Recreational facilities include indoor games, badminton, TV lounge, and golf.

St. Andrew's Hotel, 10, St. Andrew's Drive, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka,
Reservations: Jetwing Hotels Ltd., Jetwing House, 46/26, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 2
Web site: http://www.lanka.net/jetwing/
E-Mail: jethot@sri.lanka.net
Contact Person: Mr. Hiran Cooray - Director

Taj Samudra Hotel Colombo


The Taj Samudra, Colombo blends the quiet charm of an earlier era with the comfort and efficiency of an international grand deluxe hotel. Located close to the Business hub, it nestles opposite Galle Face Green, with commanding ocean views. All 400 guest rooms, including 18 Executive Suites, 3 Deluxe Suites and 7 Presidential Suites, are decorated with every modern indulgence and comfort. The historic Colombo Club, within the hotel grounds, houses superb conferencing facilities up to 400 Theatre Style and 120 Class room style. In all, the hotel offers a choice of 6 Banquet Rooms with a maximum capacity of 800. It has extensive sports and recreation facilities including a large swimming pool and flood-lit tennis courts, squash courts and a well equipped gymnasium.

Taj Samudra Hotel, 25, Galle Face Centre Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka
Tlx: 21729 TAJLAN CE
E-Mail: taj@sri.lanka.net
contact person: Mr. Ajoy K Misra - General Manager

Triton Hotel - Ahungalla


160 standard guest rooms, 09 mini suites, 09 luxury suites and 04 deluxe rooms, fully air conditioned, piped music, telephone, hot and cold water, mini bar and international TV channels. Convention facilities : maximum 180-200 theatre style with 40 seats in the balcony, 70 class room style and 150 reception/cocktail. Dining facilities at the Main Restaurant with Hawaiian cuisine and a wide variety of Western and Eastern cuisine , Coffee Shop and Supper Club. Recreational facilities include swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, health club, fitness centre, tennis court, indoor games, badminton, volley ball and TV lounge. Special evening barbecues, magic shows, dancing, fire limbo, available.

Triton Hotel, Ahungalle, Sri Lanka,
Reservations: Aitken Spence Hotels,
315, Vauxhall Street, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka


E-Mail: ashmpvtl@slt.lk
Website : www.aitkenspence.com/triton
contact person: Mrs. Wathsala Wijesekera - Manager / Sales

Trans Asia Hotel


Located in the heart of Colombo on 7 acres of landscaped gardens, the only resort style hotel with lake frontage. This pyramid style deluxe 5 star hotel with 7 floors, comprising of 25 suites with private terraced balconies, features 3 speciality restaurants, a 24 hour coffee shop with international cuisine, the "Library" - an unmatched combination of a lounge bar and discotheque, the largest outdoor swimming pool, and extensive recreation facilities. The hotel's conference and banqueting facilities, which can accommodate from 10 to 550 pax, boasts of the most modern audio and visual equipment.

Trans Asia Hotel, 115, Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 2, Sri Lanka
E-Mail: tah_asia@sri.lanka.net
contact person: Mr. Rufus Pereira - General Manager

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Elephants in Sri Lanka


Elephant is the star of Sri Lanka’s wild life and the largest land animal in the island. among the two verities of African elephants (elephas coxenda) and Indian elephants (elephas maximize maximize), in Sri Lanka you find Indian elephants and considered to be intelligent than their African counterparts hence domesticated.

Although there have been about 36000 elephants with the start of this century it has reduced up to about 2000 due to pouching. according to the recent records about 2000 of them scattered all over the country in small pockets and about 500 of them are domesticated.
“Pinnawala Elephant orphanage” is dedicated to help these endangered species and has sofa become a success. Also few National parks like “Udawalawe”, “Lahugala” are mainly reserved for wild elephants. Major attraction of Yala national park is wild elephants. any given time you can see large number of baby elephants and female elephants. In a herd you always find female elephants and sometimes herds of male elephants too could be seen. in case babies are looked after by mother, aunt or another female elephants and male elephants are loners and never live in a group and are attracted in to a group during the mating season (from September to October ) only and most of the parks are closed for visitors during this period.

Their average height (height is measured to the shoulder)goes to about 8 feet (2.5m) and 1800 Kg in weight and consume about 200 kg of foliage and grass per day and plenty of water for drinking and bathing. Female elephants give a birth once in 4 years and 2-3 babies in their life span. get 4 sets of teeth and every 10 years a new set of teeth is coming to get the last set when they are about 40 years old. walk about 20 miles per day and young female elephants are reedy for mating when they are 13 years old.

very active in the night and most of them sleep under large trees in the day time. only a few tuskers can be seen in Sri Lanka due to bruthal killings to get their tusks due to high value. However new laws has introduced to protect them and let tomorrow's people too see them.
Some people believe that they have grave yards and come near to a water resource when they are about to die…some do not believe it and say ..when they are old their teeth are wasted and difficulty of consuming heavy branches of trees made them come to a place where there is grass and water.

Friday, July 10, 2009


Horton Plains


Discovered by Thompson Farr during the British colonial era of the island and named after the one of her governers. The plains offer her visitors many a wonderful vista and many experiences that few other places could give. According to the name given there are a series of vast open plains called “Patanas” rolling along as far as the eye could sea, dipping now and then I to misty valleys and mossy, muddy, marshes often rising up again in to pointed peaks and running in to deeply wooded areas of moss covered mountain forest s.Vast jungles cover cliffs of awesome height hang from her sides while the ice cold crystal clear streams, pools and waterfalls mark her verdant face. Black eagles, Blue magpies and other rare birds are found there also occasional leopards deer and jackels.before 1930`s even the elephants have been recorded at Horton place.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Major City's In Sri Lanka


Colombo

Sri Lanka's capital upto recent times, Colombo, is a fascinating city,
not only for a comfortable blend of east and west, but also for a cosy mixture of the
past and present. It is still the commercial centre of the country. Situated 34 km.
from the International Airport, Colombo has been a flourishing seaport for centuries.
Today the bustle of the harbour mingles with the activity of its busy commercial, banking and shopping areas.
The original trading settlers - the Portuguese, Dutch and the British have all left in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions,
costumes and food and smatterings of their languages which have been absorbed into the speech of the Sri Lankans. Colombo, with its population of over half a million is divided into fifteen zones.

Kandy

The laid-back `capital' of the hill country and the historical bastion of Buddhist power is built around a peaceful lake and set in a picturesque bowl of hills.
It has a distinctive architectural character thanks to its gently sloping tiled roofs and the town center is a delightful compendium of old shops, noise, buses, markets and hotels.
Its standout attraction is the octagonal Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), a temple which houses Sri Lanka's most important religious relic - the sacred tooth of Buddha.
There are daily ceremonies of homage to the Tooth Relic, each attracting white-clad pilgrims carrying lotus blossoms and frangipani.

Galle

The port of Galle, thought by some to be the Biblical city of Tarshish, splendidly illustrates the solidity of the Dutch presence in Sri Lanka.
The 36-hectare (89 acre) Dutch Fort, built in 1663, has withstood the ravages of time.
Its massive ramparts surround the promontory that forms the older part of Galle, and shelters within its walls sturdy Dutch houses, museums and churches.
This area has a quiet, relaxed atmosphere that seems almost detached from the flow of history. The New Oriental Hotel, built for Dutch governors in 1684, is a colonial gem with a wonderfully atmospheric bar.
Nearby is a tiny sliver of a beach suitable for a dip, though most travellers prefer to head along the coast to the fine beaches at Unuwatuna, Weligama and Tangalla. Plenty of public and private buses run up and down the 107km (66mi) stretch between Colombo and Galle,
as well as any number of daily express trains.

Sigiriya

The spectacular rock fortress of Sigiriya is an impregnable fortress, a monastic retreat, and a rock art gallery.
Built in the 5th century AD to fend of a feared invasion, it is situated atop a 200m (656ft) high rock, and at the height of its glory must have been akin to a European chateau plonked on top of Ayers Rock.
There are water gardens, 5th century rock paintings of well endowed damsels, a 1000-year-old graffiti wall recording visitors impressions of the pin-ups, a couple of enormous stone lion paws and tremendous views.
To get to Sigiriya from Colombo, get in to a bus that stops at Dambulla, and from there catch any of the hourly buses going to the rock fortress, a total of 191km (118m).

Trincomalee

Trincomalee is a natural deep-water harbor, on the north-east coast of Sri Lanka.
On the east side of the town of Trincomalee, on a cliff known as Swami Rock stands one of the oldest Kovils (Hindu temple) in Sri Lanka.
The present day Tirukonesvaram Kovil was rebuilt on the site of the Dakshana Kailayam (temple of 100 pillars) - that was destroyed by the Portugese in the 17th century.
The restoration work was completed in the 1960's, and it is a "must see" site, for the visitors to Trincomalee. Friday evening Puja (offerings) services are specially colorful.

Nuwara Eliya

Once the favourite hill station of the British, Nuwara Eliya still retains the vestiges of Empire: a blend of Tudor and Georgian architecture, gabled roofs, immaculate lawns with rose bushes and moss-covered gravestones. Soak up the quaint atmosphere by visiting the Hill Club - by jove, there's a golf course, tennis courts, even copies of Country Life here - or visit the botanic gardens and tea plantations in the surrounding hills.
Buses going to Nuwara Eliya leave Colombo almost hourly, and from Kandy with regular frequency. You can catch a train although you'll need to get off at Nanu Oya and catch a connecting bus, or taxi, to Nuwara Eliya itself as it does not have a train station of its own.

Turtles of Sri Lanka


Turtles are reptiles, which, together With tortoises and Terrapins, are included in the order Chelonia (or Testudines). This order Comprises about 210 species; including the seven marine turtles. The ‘Chelonians’ were probably well established about 200 to 185 million years ago and had acquired the present day form and aquatic characteristics by some 90 million years back.



They are thus the most ancient living reptiles, Their Predecessors having co-existed with dinosaurs. These predecessors included Archelon, a marine turtle with a 3.36 meter Carapace and a close resemblance to species of today. P.E.P. Deraniyagala described in 1937 a Fossil of a Sri Lankan marine turtle of the Miocene (geological) era which belonged to a species he later named as Miocaretta lankae.

The seven species of marine turtle which remain in existence to day are

1- Loggerhead (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus, 1785)

2- Flatback (Chelonia depressa, garman, 1880)

3- Green turtle.Two forms (Chelonia mydas mydas, Linnaeus,1758 and Chelonia mydas agassizi,Boncourt,1868)

4- Hawksbill. Two forms (Eretimochelys imbricata, Linnaeus, 1766 and Eretmochelys imbricata bissa

5- Kemp's (Or Atlantic) Ridley (Lepidochelys kempi, Garman 1880)

6- Olive (Or Pacific) Ridley or olive loggerhead (Lepidochelys olivacea, Eschscholtz, 1829),
Commonest sea turtle in Sri lankan waters

7- Leathery turtle Leatherback, trunkback or Luthe (Dermochelys coriacea, Linnaeus, 1766)


This species is placed in a different family from the other marine turtle. This species and the kemp's Ridley are probably the closest of the marine turtle ton extinction.

Some experts recognize Chelonia agassizi as a species in its own right and not as a subspecies. The Flatback is also called natator depressus. Other then the kemp's Ridley, each of the above of the species nest in at least one of the countries bordering the Indian Ocean. Of these six species, five nest in Sri Lanka. The sixth, the Flatback, may (infrequently) be carried here by unusual hydrographic conditions after breeding in tropical Australia.

The breeding habits of marine turtles are one of their most interesting features. Mating takes place in the sea and the females may approach land singly or in numbers in an arribada. For instance, in an arribada of Kemp's Ridley turtles in Mexico in 1947 over 40’000 individuals were recorded emerging to nest on one mile of beach in one day. Large arribadas of olive Ridleys have been reported from Orissa. A minor arribada of around one hundred olive Ridleys was observed in Sri Lanka be fore the cyclone of December 1978.Stormy weather may help the survival of eggs by smoothing over the disturbance to the beach sand caused by turtle tracks and nest making. Concealment is further aided by nesting taking place at high tide at night in the case of the Indian Ocean turtle. (The kemp's Ridley of the Atlantic Ocean lays its eggs in the daytime possibly as a protection against a nocturnal coyote). High tide conditions are preferred in order to assist the ponderous female further up the beach and the prevent the nest of eggs getting inundated during incubation.

The overage time required for incubation varies according to the species of turtle as does the number of eggs per nest and the frequency of nesting per year clutch of eggs of Hawksbill turtle may overage 50. Different species may nest every year (e.g. Green turtles). Several clutches may be laid in a season or nesting year. The temperature at the center of small or large clutches of eggs is higher then the edges due to the heat generated due to metabolism.

The temperature at which incubation of turtle eggs takes place has two effects, which are not observed on incubation of birds eggs. One is that the incubation period may be significantly shorter at higher temperatures. Thus when green turtle eggs are incubated at 32c 48 days may be required before hatching Commences; as against around 55 days at 30c or some 80 days at 27c.

Sinharaja (Vergin rain forest of Sri Lanka)


Sinharaja forest reserve is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rain forest in Sri lanka. This forest covers an extent of about 11187 hectares from east to west .The length of the forest is about 21km and width from North to South is about 3.7km.It was declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 1978,as representative of tropical humid evergreen forest Eco system in Sri Lanka and has been recognized by UNESCO as part of it’s International Network of Biosphere reserves.

It was declared a National wilderness area in 1988 and lately a world heritage site in 1989.It is situated in the southwest lowland wet zone of the country in the districts of Ratnapura, Galle and Matara. The average annual temperature of Sinharaja is 23.6 C. Annual rainfall is more than 2500mm.The rain fall is well distributed during two monsoons, May to July and October to December.

Flora of Sinharaja


The vegetation of Sinharaja may be described either as a tropical lowland rain forest or tropical wet evergreen forest.some striking characteristics of the forest are the loftiness of the dominant trees, the straightness of their bole, the abundance of regeneration and the diversity of species. Average height of the trees varies between 35m – 40m.some individuals rise even upto 50m.The vegetation of Sinharaja is that of humid wet evergreen forest type with a high degree of endemism. In fact some families such as Dipterocarpaceae show an endemism more than 90%. The untapped genetic potential of Sinharaja flora is enormous.

Out of the 211 woody trees and lianas so far identified within the reserve 139 (66%) are endemic. Similarly, high levels of endemism are perhaps true for the lower plants like ferns, epiphyts as well.out of 25 general endemic to Sri Lanka 13 are represent in Sinharaja. The Total vegetation density, including trees, shrubs, herbs and seedlings has been estimated to be around 240,000 individuals per hectare, of which 95% comprise individuals of the ground layer bellow 1m in height.The density of trees, lianas above 30 cm girth at breast height, ranges between 600 – 700 individuals per hectare while the number of merchantable individuals of trees of girth grater than 150cm ranges between 45-55 individuals per hectare

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Wild Parks in Sri Lanka


Wild parks in Sri lanka

Sri Lanka has a rich and exotic variety of wildlife and a
long tradition of conservation rooted in its 2,230 year old
Buddhist civilization. The following are the most important
sanctuaries in terms of attractions, accessibility and
availability of facilities.





Animal Sanctuaries

The animals to be seen in Sri Lanka's national parks
include elephant, leopard, sloth bear, sambhur, deer and monkeys, wild buffalo, wild boar (pig), porcupine, ant-eater, civet cat, jackal, mongoose,
loris (unique to sri Lanka) several varieties of lizards, squirrels, reptiles and amphibians.
Each park however has its own specialties.


Yala (Ruhuna) National Park

Situated 309 km. south of Colombo,
Yala is approximately 1,259 sq.km. in extent and is located in the southeastern corner of the island. Its northern boundaries border on the Lahugala Elephant Sanctuary and
it has the added bonus of a scenic ocean frontage. The terrain is varied flat plains alternating with rocky outcrops. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle.
Water holes, small lakes, lagoons and streams provide water for the animals and birds. The specialty here is the large numbers of elephants.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

National Flower (Nil Manel or blue water lily or Nymphaea stellata)


In February 1986 blue water lily was chosen as the National flower.
Found all the part of Sri Lanka and grows in the shallow water. Petals arranged like a star and the flat round waterproof leaves are bright green. It`s a symbol of purity and truth. It has a sweet fragrance and used for offering at Buddhist Temples and rituals for god Vishnu.Sigiriya frescoes of women holds these flowers in their hands.

Seeds and the tubes used as a vegetable by villagers and also leaves, stem and flowers used in herbal medicine and dried flowers used to make pillows and says It produces happy dreams…