Sri Lanka opened its third international airport yesterday, paving the way for travellers to fly into the Northern Peninsula of the island.

An ATR 72-600 aircraft carrying the Air India Chairman and Alliance Air CEO amongst other staff and journalists, was welcomed at the Jaffna International Airport (JIA) with a water salute and great enthusiasm for the possibilities ahead.

The JIA was previously known as Palaly Airport and was primarily used as a military airbase and for domestic flights. Further construction is due to take place over two more phases with the next three months focusing on extending the current runway. The final phase will see the runway extended to allow JIA to handle larger aircraft.

Commercial flights from Chennai to Jaffna are due to start on the 1^st of November this year, with plans of covering Batticaloa on Sri Lanka’s East Coast as well. Air India has also been permitted to fly from Jaffna to Colombo, although it is unsure when they will start.

Almost all international flights currently operate via the Bandaranaike International Airport which is closer to Colombo, so the hope is that the JIA will be able to reduce the crowds at BIA, while also reducing road travel time for tourists.

Batticaloa Domestic Airport to be upgraded as tourist numbers start to rise again

Over the past decade, tourism has been the fastest growing industry in Sri Lanka. The island was one of travel’s best kept secrets for many years, but word slowly started to spread and the 2010s saw a huge influx of visitors to the island, driven by the likes of Lonely Planet who branded Sri Lanka as ‘the world’s hottest travel destination’ in 2017. Even with the tragic events of Easter Sunday 2019, which significantly reduced tourist numbers last year, just a few weeks ago Sri Lanka was named one of the best places to visit in 2020 by Condé Nast Traveller.

As a country largely dependent on tourism, Sri Lanka has always been conscious of attracting visitors to the island – not that they need much persuasion beyond the beautiful beaches, incredible wildlife and dynamic culture – and the government has taken multiple measures over the years to ensure that the country can cater for the needs of its tourists. These measures range from building more hotels to improving road infrastructure, with the latest development plan being the expansion of Batticaloa Airport.

Batticaloa Airport is currently only set up for internal flights, serving domestic airlines such as Cinnamon Air, but at the start of the new year the local government announced plans to upgrade Batticaloa to international standards. Arjuna Ranatunga, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, believes that this will help improve the tourism industry by reducing the crowds at Bandaranaike International Airport and reducing road travel time for tourists. Sri Lanka currently has three international airports, the most recently opened being Jaffna, which paved the way for travellers flying into the northern peninsula of the island.

Ancient Sri Lankans are celebrated for their indigenous knowledge in irrigation. Irrigation systems of ancient Sri Lanka consist of a large number of village tanks, gigantic reservoirs and an intrinsic network of water canals connecting these tanks while supplying water to farming land.

Despite the abundance of irrigation constructions in Sri Lanka, Yoda Ela or Jaya Ganga, an 87 km long water canal carrying excess water from Kala Wewa in Polonnaruwa to ThissaWewa in Anuradhapura, is a construction dependent on remarkable instrumentation precision.Its gradient of10 to 20 cm per kilometre still baffles experts today for its minute precision.

Built during the regime of King Dathusena in fifth century AD, who also sponsored the construction of Kala Wawa reservoir, Yoda ela was constructed to convey excess water from Kala Wawa in Polonnaruwa to Thissa Wawa reservoir in Anuradhapura.

However the ancient engineering methods in calculating the exact elevation of the Kala Wewa against ThissaWawa and the exact gradient of the canal to such fine precision had been lost with the fall of the civilisation.

Moreover the ingenuity of ancient engineers is also exhibited in how Yoda Ela was designed as an elongated reservoir, which passes through traps creating sixty six mini-catchments as it flows from Kala Wawa to Thissa Wawa. The canal was not designed for the quick conveying of water from Kala Wawa to Thissa Wawa but to create mass of water between the two reservoirs, which would in turn provided for agriculture and the use of humans and animals.

Another unique feature of the Yoda Ela is that the canal has only one bund to manage the canal pressure with the influx of water. Two bunds would have increased the pressure causing damage while with one bund the water spreads on the upper side and releases the pressure creating no danger to the bund. Built along the contours the canal collects and dispenses water throughout its 87 km flow length.

Many a features had been added to the canal since its construction. King Parakramabahu who governed the country nearly 700 years after the Yoda Wawa, reconstructed the canal added more feeders to the canal starting from thirty four reservoirs found between Kala Wawa and Thissa Wawa, re-naming it Jaya Ganga or the river of victory.

The extra water from these tanks would be fed to the canal which would distribute it in an area of 180 square miles feeding 11,400 acres of paddy lands and 120 small tanks.

However part of this ingenious creation was destroyed during the attempts to create a second Jaya Ganga under the Mahaweli Development Project causing dearth of water to some parts of the dry zone while measures are now been taken to reverse the damage done to an engineering marvel of ancient Sri Lanka.

The Stargate at Ranmasu Uyana – Remnants of a Lost Civilization?

Sandwiched between the Thissa Wewa reservoir and the Isurumuniya Rock Temple, RanmasuUyana of Anuradhapura, a forty acre pleasure garden of the ancient Sri Lankan royals is a unique creation.

The Ranmasu Uyana was mainly known for its rock sculpted bathing ponds with a sophisticated hydraulics mechanism. A subtle use of pressure difference enables the pumping of water from the nearby Tissa Wewa to the swimming pools of the garden. The pools themselves display a clever use of technology and craftsmanship, in constructing a flawless luxury swimming facility nearly three thousand years ago.

However the true wonder of RanmasuUyana is found among the rock boulders and caves away from the pools. Carved on a stone wall is a strange map like chart known to many as the ‘stargate’. A stargate is believed to be a gateway between the earth and the outer space, through which humans allegedly roamed the universe communicating and engaging with other intelligent beings in the universe. This chart is believed to be the secret code to accessing the stargate. Facing the stargate marking are four seats, which implies that it was a chart, which could be used or manipulated by four individuals.

The discovery of the stargate marking had created waves amidst archaeologists and pre-historic investigators, some drawing parallels between the stargate charts found in Abu Ghurab in Egypt and ‘the gate way to the gods’ in Peru. The bizarre coincidence of all the three marks been found in the vicinity of a water way, with sophisticated engineering methods, had given rise to various theories.

Stargate at Ranmasu Uyana in Sri Lanka

Stargate at Peru

Stargate at Abu Ghurab in Egypt

The most favourite is the claim that these stargates were used by extraterrestrials that were gold mining in Earth. Their theory is built up on the fact that in 2400 BC the stargate in Abu Ghurab Egypt was surrounded by water while” La Puerta de HayuMarka.” Or “The Gateway to The Gods” in Peru too is built closer Lake Titicaca, with underground water tunnels and chambers beneath the pyramids.

The advocates of the ‘processing gold from the waters of Earth’ theory believes that these water channels, chambers, reservoirs and filters found near each stargate to have been a part of a sophisticated mechanism developed by extraterrestrials thousands of years ago.

If the theory is held to be true, RanmasuUyana had once been a ‘gold processing center of extraterrestrials’, which arrived on earth through stargates.

Yet archaeologists are eager to discard these theories as pure imagination. According to the earliest archaeologists and historians the charts could have been a descriptive chart of the universe according to Buddhism or a simple map of the earth. At later stages the historians have interpreted them as descriptions of animal evolution or as the way Tantric Buddhist monks perceived the world. It is believed that they used them for meditation purposes as well.

Present day archaeologist abhor the thought of comparing Egyptian civilisation with the Sri Lankan civilisation, insisting that ours is a unique island civilisation pure of Egyptian or Babylonian influence.

Whatever their initial use may have been, the interpretations provided for these markings varies from a secret key to space travelling to the floor plan of Sigiriya, a rock garden found closer to Anuradhapura. Yet the only fact about these charts is that despite various claims and arguments, we are nowhere near to understanding them or knowing their sources.

Mirisawetiya, Ruwanweliseya and Jetavanaya- The Star Tracing Stupas of Sri Lanka

Many a megalithic structures had been built across the globe in the ancient times emulating the position of star constellations. Despite being built by various nations at different periods of time there are certain similarities between them in structure and purpose, which had baffled the modern archaeologists for centuries.

Many ancient cultures had built pyramids or pyramid-like structures.There are large pyramids in South America, Egypt, China, and some smaller ones in Greece, North America, the Canary Islands and Indonesia.

The construction of these monuments had involved very big and very heavy blocks of stones, which would have required extreme skill and energy to produce and to transport. The seamless and smooth finish of these stone made constructions including the ancient constructions in Sri Lanka would have required a precision and skill beyond mere human capability.

Many wonder as to why blocks as heavy as many tons were used if not for a specific reason. Also, in Egypt, Peru, Sri Lanka and Easter Island, there are certain walls which are consisting of very heavy interlocking stone blocks of various sizes, seamlessly pieced together like a puzzle, and without the use of composite building material.

Like the great stupas of Sri Lanka these giant constructions were also believed to be enshrining the remains of the Kings and leaders yet many had proved this theory false. While some pyramids in South Americas were use as tombs they had also served a purpose more complex than a mere a mausoleum while pyramids in Giza, Egypt were never used as tombs.

For centuries Sri Lankans too believed the ancient great Stupas to be mere objects of worship enshrining the remains of Lord Buddha and the arhants or the enlightened ones.

Likewise their alignment with the stars above is a common phenomenon shared by many of these megaliths. Pyramids in Egypt and Mexico, the three great stupas of Anuradhapura and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, seem to be coordinated to specific star constellations.

Three large pyramids at the Giza plateau of Egypt, conclusively match three specific stars from the belt of the star constellation of Orion: Alnitak, Alnilam en Mintaka. Furthermore, two of the other stars of Orion had matched with the destroyed pyramids in Abu Rawash and the pyramid in Zawjet Al Arjan

The three great stupas of Anuradhapura; Mirisavatiya, Ruvanweliya and Jetavanaya perfectly aligns with the three stars in the constellation of Orion, namely Rigel, Al Nitak and Bellatrix. The three sides of the triangle in the ground layout of the three stupas, built between 161 B.C. and A.D. 331, correlates precisely with the three sides of the triangle of three stars on the right-hand wing of the constellation of Orion creating heaven-earth duplication.

Ruwanweliseya Stupa

Mirisawetiya Stupa

Jetavana Stupa

Meanwhile Angkor Wat of Cambodia,the largest Hindu temple complex and the largest religious monument in the world, built in the 12th century, is believed to be part of a representation of the constellation Draco.

Mapping of the Great Stupas of Sri Lanka

Mapping of the Pyramids at Giza Plateau of Egypt

Orion’s Belt

These earth and celestial duplications and their advanced building techniques had intrigued researchers and archaeologists for generations but the present investigators are nowhere near to deciphering the secrets behind these mega structures.

Yet recent discoveries in Sri Lanka have revealed that Ruwanweliseya of Anuradhapura could have been a giant energy storing device, which also could have exchanged energies with the skies above.

According to a multi-disciplinary investigation conducted by Architect ShereenAmendra, the structure of the Ruwanweliseya, known as the Mahastupa, its position and the material used for the construction were instrumental in creating a giant size capacitor which exchanged electric charges with the heavens above.

According to the Mahavamsa, the great chronicles of Sri Lanka the choice of ground for the construction of MahaStupa had been done by Lord Buddha himself while the structural plan for the stupa had been done by the Arhants or the enlightened ones of the MahaVihara. The stupa, which enshrines a large amount of relics of Lord Buddha, had been constructed using precious metals like silver and gold and precious stones, known to be excellent electricity conductors.

In her book ‘Beyond the seeing eye: the Mahathupa of Lanka Ms. Amendra questions whether the mahathupa was used to transform thoughts to electric power and transmit them to the celestials while receiving messages from them.

A device designed by enlightened arhants beyond the understanding of mere mortals, yet still transmitting the thoughts and aspirations of many devotes who gather around it in prayer.

If golden beaches, rising waves, misty mountains, mighty elephants, stealthy leopards, giant whales, a majestic past, lovely tea and warm smiles could sum up a country, that would be Sri Lanka.

With many sites and scenes bottled up in to a small island, a traveller could be riding the waves in the dawn and admiring the green carpeted mountains by dusk. Travel destinations in Sri Lanka provide an array of holiday experience from sun kissed beach holidays to a marathon of wildlife watching, adrenaline pumping adventure sports and pilgrimage to some of the oldest cities in the world.

The smiles and hospitality of Sri Lanka id world famous and so are its spicy food, exotic fruits and array of sweetmeats found nowhere in the world. With so many cultures living next to each other life in Sri Lanka continues among a series of festivities throughout the year, an ideal recipe for fun and leisure.

Diversity

People

Ayurveda & Spas

Wildlife

Explore Sri Lanka to the best with the help of the listed itineraries. Sri Lankan tourism’s itineraries had been prepared with the view of enabling visitors to explore almost all the attractions in the country and could be easily adjusted to fit in the itineraries of international and local travel agents. It is best to explore the itineraries prior to planning a holiday to know of the best and the cheapest options available to every type of tourists. Each itinerary consist a series of experiences and activities surrounding one attraction, the easily accessible from one location. The time span allocated for each tour is between seven to eleven days and can be easily re-scheduled to suite each and every requirement, while visitors are welcome to mix and match few itineraries to suit their taste.

Untamed Sri Lanka – Celebrating a Wilder Sri Lanka

Despite its small size Sri Lanka boasts of one of the highest rates of biological endemism in the world. Nearly 16% of the animals and 23% of plants that are found in this small island are endemic to country.

Of the ninety-one species of mammals found in Sri Lanka Asian elephants, sloth bear, leopards, sambar and wild buffaloes engages the majority of the attention of wildlife enthusiast. Yet the rarest mammals of Sri Lanka are the red slender Loris, Toque Macaque, and Purple-faced Langur, who according to IUCN clarifications are endangered due to habitat loss.

Meanwhile the ocean around Sri Lanka is home to large families of cetaceans including the mighty blue whales, sperm whales and lively dolphins. Altogether 26 species of cetaceans rule the waters surrounding the country, making it one of the best locations for whale and dolphin watching.

Sri Lanka has one of the richest diversity of amphibians in the world, containing over 106 species of amphibians of over 90 of which are endemic. The country has long claimed to have the highest amphibian species density in the world with a85% of endemicity ratio in Amphibians, especially in the Sinharaja rainforest.

Despite the mighty elephants and rare amphibians found in the country birds are the glory of the Sri Lanka’s wildlife. Boasting nearly 433 bird species of which 233 are resident Sri Lanka holds 20 endemic species while another 80 species have developed distinct Sri Lankan races, compared to their cousins in Indian mainland.

This diversity of Lanka’s wildlife is celebrated and conserved at many wildlife sanctuaries found around the country. With a history of protection and compassion extended to all the living beings, Sri Lanka’s first animal sanctuary had been recorded as far as third century BC with the arrival of Arhant Mahinda in the country and the introduction of Buddhism.

Today there are five large national parks in the country including the Yala National Park, Kumana, Willpattu, Galoya and Udawalawa wildlife sanctuary. Among the smaller wildlife sanctuaries are the Maduru Oya, Bundala, Horton Plains and Wasgamuwa National Parks.

The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens in the central highlands of the countrycomprises a fine display of local and foreign flora of Sri Lanka including the rarest of palm and orchid varieties.

The Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala and AthAthuruSevana in Udawalawaprovide a refuge to many abandoned and injured elephants of various ages and sizes, making them one of the largest tamed elephant herds in the world.

Leopard

Toque Macaque

Red Slender Loris

Heritage Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka with its nearly 3000 years of history holds some of world’s ancient cities including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Digamadulla. Remnants of these once glorious cities, their palaces, temples, monasteries, hospitals and theaters intricately carved and modeled out of stone lay abandoned amidst the soaring mountains.

Of all the ancient sites the most famed and most exquisite is the Kingdom of Anuradhapura. Sri Lanka’s third and the longest serving capital and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world is also one of the most sacred cities of World Buddhists. It was the capital of Sri Lanka from the Fourth Century BC up to the turn of the eleventh Century and was one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. However the city itself is much older than the Kingdom of Anuradhapura and according to archeological evidence could have originated as far as tenth century BC. Anuradhapura was abandoned due to the due to repeated South Indian Invasions and was eventually forgotten with time until it was rediscovered in the early 19 th century.

Polonnaruwa, the second most ancient kingdom of the country was first made the political center of the country in the ninth century BC. Irrigation systems that are far superior to those of the Anuradhapura Age were constructed in Polonnaruwa kingdom, and still provide irrigation water to the farmers in and around Polonnaruwa. Yet the kingdom’s glory was short-lived and a South Indian invasion pushed the political centre towards the centre of the country by the eleventh century. Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country, a testimony to the discipline and greatness of the Kingdom’s first rulers.

Digamadulla, the Eastern kingdom of Sri Lanka was the agricultural and spiritual capital of the country during the Anuradhapura kingdom. Ruled by a viceroy of the Anuradhapura king Digamadulla was a prosperous province with grand palace, monasteries and temples at every juncture. Having received lesser attention of archaeologists compared to Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa many a great creations of ancient Digamadulla had been lost to time, war and plunder while many more silently awaits in the midst of the forests covering the lands of Eastern Sri Lanka.

Some of the Sri Lankan Heritage

Pristine Sri Lanka

With nearly 1600 km of of palm fringed Coastline baked to perfection surrounding the country Sri Lanka is the ideal destination for beach bums worldwide. May it be windsurfing, kayaking, yachting, water skiing, scuba diving or jut lazing around for the perfect tan, Sri Lanka offers it all. The two weather systems of the monsoon winds makes Sri Lanka’s beach holiday a year round prospect. The north east winds make the south western coast sunny and the sea calm from November to March. The South West winds make the East Coast waters quiet with the constant sun shine happily in agreement.

The best of the Southern beaches include Tangalla, Beruwala, Mirissa, Bentota and Unawatuna with varying options including chic boutique hotels, glowing coral reefs, gentle sandbar sand undiscovered corners of paradise.

Beruwala is the first of the beaches to be met when travelling from Colombo. Famed for its tranquil bay with the palm shaded beach Beruwala offers excellent water sport facilities.

Benthota, the next in line is known for golden beaches dotted with luxury resorts and gentle seas, even during the rough seas. Tangalla is the rising star among the southern beaches is known for calm blue waters bordered with palm covered beaches. It is the dividing line between the tropical coves that dominate much of the south-west coast and the long, wave-lashed beaches that are found in the south-east corner of the island.

Mirissa is the beach resort for the lethargic, designed to be indulged at a slower pace watching the world pass by. It is also the best place for an ocean safari in search of blue whales and dolphins. Nights can be longer in Unawatuna, the most popular beach town in South. Many head to Unawatuna on Fridays for nonstop partying throughout the weekend yet this had not spoilt the tranquil charm in most parts. Snorkelling at the Buena Vista Reef is a thrill of a life time while boat rides to the jungle patched islands for glimpse of bird life is ideal for bird lovers.

Although Sri Lanka’s southern beaches has been long discovered by the world traveller the east coast is yet to be fully discovered. The most known among the Eastern beaches is the Arugam Bay, the high church of surfing enthusiasts’ in the region. Wildlife parks streaming with elephants, miles of lonely wide beaches and excellent views are the options available for non-surfers. Once a mere rumour, Uppuveli beach is open to the sun seekers after a three decade long civil war. The beach is quickly gaining fame as the best swimming and snorkelling location competing with the nearby Nilaveli beach and the coral gardens of the pigeon island.

On the Western corner of the country to the north of Colombo is the Negambo lagoon. Its beaches, an old favourite with local and foreign visitors and lagoon famed for lobster harvesting. The collection of resort hotels offering options of water sports competes with the urge of just sit and watches the fishing boats disappear in the horizon. Further north from Negombo is the Kalpitiya, sandwiched between the sea and the lagoon the beach is ideal for the lazing around yet the sea off Kalpitiya is the best location in the country to watch Blue whales, sperm whales and pilot whales and spinner dolphins, other species including Risso’s Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin and Striped Dolphin.

Sri Lankan Beaches

Romantic Sri Lanka

The central highlands of Sri Lanka are filled with pictures of stirring mountains carpeted with lush green tea gardens, roaring waterfalls mingling with the clouds and landscapes shimmering in sunlight and disappearing under the rising mist.

Situated over 6000 feet above the sea level the changing faces of Sri Lanka’s great mountain ranges are best viewed at leisure and on foot. The temperature varies between 160 Celsius to 20Celsius providing an ideal climate for walking.

The most favorite and renowned hill-country location is Nuwara Eliya, The most important tea production hub of Sri Lanka, founded by Samuel Baker, the discoverer of Lake Albert and the explorer of the Nile in 1846.The city’s mild climate lent itself to become the leisure capital of the country and was the prime sanctuary of the British civil servants and planters in colonial Ceylon. 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.

Many of the buildings in the city hold architectural features from the colonial past such as the Queen’s Cottage, General’s House, Grand Hotel, Hill Club, Town Post Office and even new hotels have borrowed the colonial style. Many private homes still maintain their old English-style lawns and gardens, keeping true to the spirit of ‘Little England’.

Following closely behind is Bandarawela, a plantation town in the Badulla district. The city boasts of its fair share of waterfalls and buildings of colonial architecture including the Bandarawela Hotel, the Cargilles building, the Tennis club and Adisham Bungalow. Just eight km away fromBandarawela isElla, a sleepy village nestled in a valley gazing through Ella gap on plain nearly 1000 feet below.Ella is surrounded by hills and is perfect for walks through tea plantations to temples and waterfalls.

Another favorite hill station is Balangoda, with mountain ranges and views to beat Nuwara Eliya. Although not organized as a leisure city Balangoda and its surroundings offer one of the best views, treks and adventures in Sri Lanka. Just 15 km away from Balangoda is Belihuloyaa little hamlet with unspoiled views and opportunities for trekking, canoeing and bird watching.

Adam’s Peak or the Sri Padaya Peak, a 2,243 metres conical mountain located in the southern reaches of the Central Highlands, in the Ratnapura district is also a popular hill station especially for its religious significance. The 1.8 meter rock formation near the peak is long believed to be the sacred foot print of Lord Buddha by locals.

View from World’s End (Horton Plains)

Haputhale

Kithulgala

Northern Sri Lanka

North of Sri Lanka is a world apart from the rest of country. The region had always been closer to southern India than to Colombo and was repeatedly settled and invaded by Tamil migrants from southern India and has retained a unique character and culture, one which owes as much to Hindu India as to Buddhist Sri Lanka.

The thirty year old war, which engulfed the area, had set the clock backwards in the Northern Peninsular, where LTTE terrorists and the Sri Lankan Army were engulfed in intense fighting until the war ended in 2009. The region is gradually emerging from its long years of isolation and fighting, and the painful process of rebuilding of shattered towns and villages, de-mining fields, restoring roads and returning refugees to their former homes is likely to continue for some time to come.

For the explorer, the north is Sri Lanka’s final frontier, and offers an opportunity to explore a region emerging from over twenty years of isolation and civil war.

Reaching Jaffna is now straightforward and requires no security checks or clearance, and although it still entails either a long road journey or a short flight, those who make the effort are amply rewarded.

Foremost of the attractions is the fascinating town of Jaffna, with its absorbing mixture of colonial charm and vibrant Tamil culture, while the Jaffna Peninsula and surrounding islands offer a string of remote temples, Hindu and Buddhist alike, beaches and more off-beat attractions.

Arriving in Jaffna can come as a culture to the uninitiated, and it is difficult to miss the profound Indian influence made obvious by the gradual switch from the singsong cadences of Sinhala to the quick-fire intonations of Tamil, as well as a listof other details like the Indian pop music which blares out of shops and cafés, and the hordes of kamikaze cyclists who fill the congested streets.

Yet the town has its own unique and complex identity shaped in true Sri Lankan fashion, by a wide cross-section of influences, including Muslim, Portuguese, Dutch, British and Sinhalese, with colourful temples set next to huge churches, and streets dotted with ancient Dutch and British residences.

The rural surroundings of the Jaffna town, and the source of much of its former prosperity, is the Jaffna Peninsula, a fertile arc of land criss-crossed with small country roads lined with endless walled gardens and smallholdings, growing a wide variety of crops including chillies, onions, bananas, jackfruit and grapes.

Further south, the vast track of thinly populated countryside known as Vanni, is little visited, even by locals, although the remote church at Madhu draws a steady stream of pilgrims while the war-torn town of Kilinochchi, former capital of the LTTE, provides a stark reminder of the destructions of the war.

To the west of Jaffna, a string of islands straggle out into the waters of the Palk Strait towards India. Two of them, Kayts and Karaitivu, almostjoin up with the mainland, to which they’re connected by causeways, as is Punkudutivu further west. Punkudutivu is the starting point for ferries to Nainativu, home to two important religious shrines, and the remote island of Delft.

Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna

The Famous Jaffna Mangoes

Despite its small size Sri Lanka is a global leader in many a fields and is had been known worldwide for its choice gems, tea and cinnamon since the turn of the last century.

Sri Lankan cinnamon, ivory and gems had been the main cause for invasion of two nations, Portuguese and Dutch, who followed the Moor traders to the country in search of the world’s best spices and riches. According to the Dutch, who reorganized the cultivation and marketing of cinnamon in Sri Lanka, the ‘shores of Sri Lanka had been full of it, that you can smell it eight leagues out to sea’. Even today the country produces the world best cinnamon and one of the world’s top cinnamon exporters.

However prior to the country shot to fame for its cinnamon, the world knew Sri Lanka for its beautiful and valuable gemstones. ‘Rathnadeepa’ or the ‘land of gems’ was used as a synonym for the country and even today the Sri Lankan gems specially the Ceylon blue sapphires are celebrated worldwide for their distinctive color and luster.

Yet it is the Ceylon tea, which the world identifies the country by. Introduced to the country in the 19th century by Colonial British, Sri Lanka had held the crown for producing the world’s best tea. Although many a countries had joined the world tea market, Ceylon Tea made in Sri Lanka still continues to be the favorite of the tea lovers worldwide.

Cinnamon in Sri Lanka

Blue Sapphires

Ceylon Tea

Another introduction of the Colonial British, cricket too holds a special place in the hearts of Sri Lankans. A match is played at every street corner with improvised bats, balls and wickets while an international match played by Sri Lanka virtually brings the country to standstill. The Sri Lankan cricket team is known for their true sportsmanship and team spirit while players like Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralitharan portrays what is best in Sri Lankan cricket.

Meanwhile the country’s position as global leader in producing quality garment products for leading brands in Asia, Europe and the USA, is making the term ‘made in Sri Lanka’ a statement of quality. Sri Lankan apparels re-launched as ‘Garments without Guilt’ is guided by principles of protecting workers rights, proving quality working environments and upholding equal opportunities beyond gender and disability. Garment producers thrives to protect the environment while doing away with discrimination and the stringent labor laws and children rights Sri Lanka ensures that no children as involved in producing the garments.

The country is also in the forefront as a IT hub in the South Asian region although it is generally outshines by neighbouring India. Sri Lanka’s position as a rising Software exporter had been established by the great achievements of local companies made in the global arena. Their recent achievements include the development of world class capital market solution and development of medical invoice system, widely used in many parts of the USA and Europe.

Sri Lanka Cricket

Garment Industry in Sri Lanka

Software Industry in Sri Lanka

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Information Economy Report for 2012 listed Sri Lanka s country that has a software industry with a high export market penetration. The Sri Lankan IT industry is predicted to reach a revenue value of US$ 2 billion by the year 2020.

Despite its negative effect, Sri Lanka had been known to export ‘brain’ to the leading American and European countries for the last few decades, confirmed by the fact that there are nearly 270 Sri Lankan scientists working at NASA today. Brian Drain had been considered a major issue effecting the development of the country it had also helped to establish the name of Sri Lanka in the world.