EPOCH OF POLONNARUWA – By Dr Tilak S. Fernando During this period of Kingdom, Ceylon was divided into three regions: Rohana (Matara), Southern and Raja Rata (Up county). In the early part of this kingdom, disputes, conspiracies or threats of fear of war existed. Therefore, it caused many problems towards the progress of the country. At times all three regions’ economy was spent on war compulsions. When considering how those Kings of the Polonnaruwa era took care of Ceylon’s interest by making a liberal nation towards the early part of the kingdom, especially King Parakramabahu did not allow any foreign invasion to occur. He built several fortresses at strategic locations in his kingdom. King Parakramabahu was keen on increasing agricultural production by growing much land for paddy cultivation and promoting several irrigation channels. It revealed the King’s ambition and popular saying: ‘Do not allow a single drop of water go ...
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A Resume of Des Kelly ( as supplied by his son) KELLY, Desmond Anthony Carl (Des), born July 2, 1936, Colombo, Ceylon. Early education 1941, at Convent of Our Lady of Victories, Moratuwa, Secondary education at St Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, Colombo. At the age of 5 he sang his first solo on-stage for the Convent’s Annual Concert. At 10 years of age he met Wally Bastiensz, who taught him the art of singing baila. He won his first professional baila competition on-stage, although he hadn’t a clue as to what he was actually singing about. At St Peter’s College, he joined the Music, Art & Drama Society under Fr Noel Crusz, OMI. . He continued with both singing and acting in various roles and taught himself to play the ukulele. He started his own Christmas-Carol Party at Lorensz Road, Bambalapitiya. In 1950, an English circus troupe came to Ceylon under contract ...
Apr 30, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, DESMOND KELLY
Tagged baila, Ceylon, Colombo, Desmond Kelly, Sri Lanka
My memories of the BURGHER RECREATION CLUB – The Number 1 Hockey Club from 1932 to Date – By Dennis de Rosayro Perhaps inspired by the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, the 1st Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. The very same year on 26th December 1896 in tiny Ceylon, the Bambalapitiya Hockey & Football Club was founded by the Burgher community from Bambalapitiya, Colombo South, at a meeting held at the residence of Mr. F.J. Foenander, who was elected as Patron. Mr. A.W. Raffel and Mr. O.H. Poppenbeck were elected as President and Hony Secretary, respectively. On 31st May 1915, the Club changed its name to Burgher Recreation Club and its colours changed from “Black-red-Gold” to “Black-Red-Champagne”. Thus, the B.R.C. completed 125 years on 26 December 2021. My visit to my beloved club on that evening, with my wife and extended family gave me immense joy and ...
Apr 26, 2023
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Articles
Tagged Bambalapitiya Hockey & Football Club, Burgher Recreation Club, Ceylon, Hockey Club
A night out at Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya. – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Website: www.Doctorharold.com My wife and I thought that Nuwara Eliya would be the best place to be during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive seasons. We started the trip, along with my nephew’s family on the 15th of April, the day after the auspicious New Year’s Day, and drove through the curvy uphill roads, viewing the most spectacular sites, the wavy lofty hills. Our first stopover was in Ramboda at the Tea Bush Hotel, a spot where every passerby stops to view the beautiful scenery, including the Kotmale Dam in the distance. It is a wonderfully comfortable hotel to stay in or for a quick cup of tea on your way. Good food, kind service with courtesy, and comfortable rooms. The next morning we were on our way to Nuwara Eliya. We passed through the Ramboda ...
Apr 20, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Dr harold Gunatillake
Tagged Ceylon, Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Kotmale Dam, Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya town, Ramboda, Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Sri Lanka, Summer Hill Breeze, Tea Bush Hotel, tourists
Did Birchall really save Ceylon? – Capt Elmo Jayawardena Or was it another story like charge of the Light Brigade? I wrote few days back about the Japanese bombing of Ceylon in 1942. Many who read emailed me asking for more details. Some expressed nostalgic sentiments, remembering what their parents conveyed to them about the Easter Sunday bombing. Some gave additional information, such as the rare photo that is published here. All these made me write somewhat a sequel to the story, perhaps little bit more information for those who are interested in the bygone days and what may have taken place. There was a Japanese young man who came to learn to fly in Ratmalana as a ‘fun flier” in the late 1930s. It was said among the instructors and fellow ‘fun fliers’ that the said Japanese knew to fly and may have pretended he came to learn. It ...
Apr 6, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena
Tagged Ceylon, Colombo, Mr Graham De Jong, Ratmalana, Saviour of Ceylon
Fort Macdowall – outpost during Kandyan Wars – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Constructed by British Colonials in 1803 as a garrison during battles against Kandy and located en route to one of the most significant roads, Kandy to *Trincomalee, Fort Macdowall was an outpost during Kandyan Wars. Named after General Macdowall (Lieutenant General Hay MacDowall who led the missions against Kandy), 6th Commander of British Troops in *Ceylon, the Fort came under siege during the *Matale Rebellion as it is located in Matale. On 28 July 1848, during the Matale rebellion, Fort Macdowall came under siege by approximately 400 rebels led by Weera Puran Appu and Gongalegoda Banda (renowned as national heroes, at present). Rebels had set fire to a coffee storehouse in the vicinity and ransacked Matale *Kachcheri. Hence, on July 29, Lord Torrington, Governor of Ceylon has declared martial law to bring the situation under control and the British ...
Mar 30, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe
Tagged Ceylon, Fort MacDowall Cemetery, Gongalegoda Banda, Kandyan Wars, Kingdom of Kandy, Matale, Matale Rebellion, Weera Puran Appu
The Dutch Burgher Union, (DBU) Colombo, Sri Lanka – by Joe Paiva The DBU has undergone significant renovation, since I last visited a decade or more ago. In other words, a renaissance. May I say, a not so elegant duckling has evolved into a beautiful graceful swan. The present architecture and the ambiance truely reflects the period reminscent of the colonial Dutch period in Ceylon. The local architect and the project manager deserve to be applauded for their outstanding work. From my observations of the DBU it is a thriving, well patronised boutique hospitality venue in Colombo and growing in popularity. Lunch times are particularly busy. The complex consists of two floors. The ground floor where a small a cafe serves love, chocolate, jaggery cakes, and typical Burgher short eats. Customary beverages are available. My pièce de résistance is the tall, glass of cold, home made Ginger Beer and the authentic Dutch ...
Mar 29, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles
Tagged architecture, Ceylon, colonial Dutch, Dutch Burgher Union
Remembering DS Senanayake on Sri Lanka’s Independence Day – By Michael Roberts Source : thuppahis The first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) D.S. Senanayake entered the National Legislature in 1924. He was relatively unknown in the country and was pushed into prominence by his elder brother F.R. Senanayake, who was a very popular and active figure in the social and political arena. Many were surprised and taken aback to see D.S. entering the political field, as they were expecting his brother F.R. to fit the role. Perhaps the only person who had faith in D.S’s capability at that time was none other but F.R. Senanayake himself. Ceylon (Sri Lanka) as it was then known was under foreign domination from 1505 to 1948. Three Colonial Powers namely the Portuguese, Dutch and the British ruled parts of the island till 1815 when the entire country was subjugated to the British Government. ...
Feb 5, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged C.W.W. Kannagara, Ceylon, D.S. Senanayake, F.R. Senanayake, first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Lanka’s Independence, Sri Lankan leaders
Sri Lanka– What have they done? It is a paradise misplaced – By Captain Elmo Jayawardena Our island was called Lanka in pre-King Vijaya times. Valmiki’s immortal Ramayanaya had King Ravana ruling the land from the city of Lankapura. That was almost four thousand years ago. The Arab traders termed it Jaziratul-Yaqut, island of rubies. Some called it Serendib, some Ceilan, from which the Portuguese picked Ceilao and the European mapmakers coined Ceylon. Many were the names from the many that came. Bar none, everyone agreed and noted in their chronicles that this Island was indeed the complete Paradise. We never created it. Let’s be honest about that part. We simply inherited. The gods from their celestial dome, in their infinite kindness, gifted this Paradise to us, the beautiful island of Lanka, to the people of Sri Lanka. The privilege of being born to such a serendipitous place can only be ...
Jan 25, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena
Tagged Ceylon, Diyawanna Oya, King Vijaya, Sri Lanka
AN ANNIVERSARY TO REMEMBER” – by Des Kelly Any Anniversary is akin to my title of introduction. As we humans grow older, with each passing day, we tend to sometimes forget various Anniversaries, often to the annoyance of Partners and friends. Mostly, these important Anniversaries are those of Birthdays & Weddings which have ‘come & gone’ sadly, as the years pass by. NOT SO, IS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF A LITTLE ISLAND, FORMERLY CALLED CEYLON, NOW, SRI LANKA. Not only is this one unforgettable because of it’s past colourful history, but NOW, because of a really BRILLIANT piece of WRITING by 103 year old D.L.SIRIMANNE from KOHUWALA, a little Suburb of Sri Lanka. To think of ANYONE who is OVER a Century in age, who can even remember to get out of bed each morning, is most difficult, then along comes Mr.Sirimanne, who not only arises, he sits down to ...
Jan 22, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, DESMOND KELLY
Tagged Anuradhapura, Britain colonised, Ceylon, D.L Sirimanne, King Dutugemunu, North-Central Province, Polonnaruwa, Portuguese, Ruwanweli Maha Seya
