Vsit Srilanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka from the Sanskrit “Venerable Island”, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka pronounced known as Ceylon before 1972 and as Taprobane in ancient times, is an island country in South Asia, located about 31 kilometres 19.3 mi off the southern coast of India. It is home to around twenty million people. Because of its location in the path of major sea routes, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia.[citation needed It has been a center of Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times. The Sinhalese community forms the majority of the population; Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, form the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include Moors, Burghers, Kaffirs and the Malays. 

Arugam Bay 

Arugam Bay  is one of the major manufacturer of Beachwear in Sri Lanka on a range of Arugam Bay branded beachwear with the accompanying colourful flip flops, beach sandals, beach towels, caps, beach bags, T-shirts, swim wear, beach wraps, skirts etc, a complete range of beachwear to suit international trends which has a potential market. Arugam Bay is the brainchild of Ajaiy Virr Singh, the mastermind behind the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week.

 

 BOLGODALAKE

During theDutch Period (1657-1796AD)BolgodaLakewas extensivelyused by the
Dutch to ferry people and goods from the upper stream of Kalu Ganga,particularly, from Rathnapura District. The lake was utilized as a very popularmode of transport for timber from sinharaja forest areas, by log crafts. Thereare several islands on the lake which were the resting places for these log craftsmenfloated from the upper reaches of the river leading for many timber mills ofMoratuwa.

                     Duringthe British Period, Bolgoda lake was a famous hunting ground and place ofrecreation for the British adventurists who were stationed in theColombocity.

                     It issituated in western province. It is belong toColomboandkalutara districts.

                     TheBolgodLakeopens in tothe sea via the panadura estuary, which is situated in the southwest coast ofSri Lanka.

                     Thedistance to theBolgodaLakefromColombois 35 Kmapproximately. By car it takes 45 minutes from theColombocity.Extent of theBolgodaLakeis 400sq.Km

                     Veryinteresting reptiles are found inBolgodaLake. There is afair number of endemic reptiles (7) are found inBolgodaLake.

          Thearea offers a bewildering array of microhabitats for amphibians. Approximately1/3 of the total known species of the Sri Lankan Amphibians can be found inBolgodaLake.

Thehigh numbers of migrants and water birds are the major factors the enhance therichness of the avifauna. The three endemic birds can be found inBolgodaLake. There forethis area can be easily called a haven for water-loving avians.

 Bolgoda lake area is also developinginto tourists (Local and Foreign) recreational site, mainly for boating, waterskinning and wind surfing. Over the past decade, many new hotels, guest housesand restaurants have been established. Many of the lager guest houses andhotels trying to improve their water sports facilities, witch they see as agood revenue – generation source.

 BolgodaLakeis atraditional fishing ground for centuries. there are so many popular varietiesof fish can be found inBolgodaLake. There isno prohibition for fishing inBolgodaLake.

Mainly,fishing is done by angling. Also fisherman inBolgodaLakestill usevery primitive fishing technique called “ja-kotuwa” for fishing. “ja-kotuwa”was made with bamboo bamboo dividers erected in the moddle of the lake, is akind of trap , which is illuminated with kerosene oil bottle lamps in thenight.

Colomboyacht clubis located at the bunds ofBolgodaLake. The aim ofthe yatch club is to promote water sports inBolgodaLake. Alsohotels around theBolgodaLakeoffer watersports facilities. They are boating, wind-surfing, water skiing, sailing, speedboating and rowing. The resorts have paddle boats, and pontoons with cad Janroofs. There are also boats with outboard motors. But most of the visitors thatcome ask for paddle boats or the pontoons. These crafts appear to mix ideallywith the surroundings. Visitors may also like in a river bath in thetraditional Sri Lankan way bathing at “pokuna” which is found to be safe.

 

Pinnawala

The pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, half way between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka wildlife department in a 25acre coconut property near the maha Oya River. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As of 2003, there were 65 elephants.

In 1978 the orphanage was taken over by the National Zoological Gardens from the Department of wildlife and captive breeding program was launched in 1982. Since then over twenty elephants have been born. The aim of the orphanage is to simulate the natural world. However, there are some exceptions: the elephants are taken to the river twice daily for a bath, and all the babies under three years of age still bottle fed by the mahouts and volunteers. Each animal is also given around 76kg of green matter a day and around 2kg from the river, which they are, munch fond of.

The orphanage is very popular and visited daily by many Sri Lanka and foreign tourists.

The main attraction is clearly to observe the bathing elephants from the tall river bank as it allows visitors to observe the herd interaction socially, bathing and playing.

This 24 acre elephant orphanage is also a breeding place for elephants. Twenty elephants have been born since 1984,and the orphanage has the largest heard of captive elephants in the world. While most of the elephants are healthy, one is blind and one, named Sami, has lost her front left leg due to a landmine.

KANDY

A CITY OF IMAGINATION

The city of Kandy is significant not only for its historical importance but also for its magnificent narrative city-layout which radiates the complex sociopolitical discourse prevailed during the 17^th and 18^th centuries CE in Sri Lanka. The history of development of the city of Kandy as a settlement could be traced back to the 13^th century.  

                                                                        Sounded by densely forested mountains, natural water ways are a common sight in senkadagalapura or Kandy. Its desirability does not confine to its strategic viability of natural barricades: mountains, forests and water due to which it was chosen as the capital of kandyan Kingdom.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Peradeniya Srilanka

The royal Botanic gardens peradeniya was established by British 1821. It is responsible for almost major plants introductions for economic and environmental development in this country. Activities that followed resulted in the development of economic and plantation corps, emergence of important state departments such as Department of Agriculture and institutions for the development of plantation Crops such as Tea and Rubber.

          Royal Botanic Gardens, peradeniya occupy a horse-shoe-shaped peninsula round witch flows the chief river of Sri Lanka, the Mahawaqweli. The main entrance is from the Colombo road, about 4 miles from Kandy. The total area is 147 acres containing about 4,500 species. The main elevation above sea level is about 1,600 feet.

         

          The main functions of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya at present are:

1.                 Planning and implementing ex-situ conservation of Sri Lankan  plant diversity

2.                 Carrying out activities to disseminate authentic information and technical expertise on plants and plant-related industries of Sri Lanka using educational and communication strategies.

3.                 Conducting diverse research and implement technologies to develop floriculture industry in Sri Lanka.

4.                 Management and development of Royal Botanic Gardens at high standards.

5.                 Preparing development plans for the establishment of new botanic gardens in appropriate places.

6.                 Planning and implementing research and technical programmes needed to popularize Amenity Horticulture in Sri Lanka.

7.                 Providing technical advice to conserve Sri Lankan plants of historic importance

     This internationally acclaimed botanic garden has a yearly turn out of 1.4 million visitors. Of this more than 200,000 are from overseas and about 200,000 are school children.