Southern express way of Sri Lanka

Old Images of Sri Lanka

 Banyan Tree- Colpetty

 

 

Boats in canal- Negambo

 

Bristol Hotel- Colombo

 

Colombo Kandy Rail

 

Dimbula Bungalow

 

Galle face Hotel - Colombo

 

Galle face Hotel – Colombo (1860)

 

Grand Oriental Hotel

House Boat – Wellawatta Stream

Matara- Polwatta Rail Bridge

Matara Station - 1895

Mt lavinia Hotel

 

 

 

Mt Lavinia Hotel -1865

Mt Lavinia Hotel – 1865

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colombo Museum

 

Ohiya Station – 1893

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peradeniya Garden Entrance

Royal Hotel – 1860

 

 

 

 

 

Talpe Station - 1895

 

Kandy Temple

 

 

 

 

 

Ruwanwelisaya - Anuradhapura

 

 

Samadhi Statue- Anuradhapura

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sri Maha Bodhi- Anuradhapura

Sri Pada

 

Sri Pada

Temple at Slave Island

Planning Your Big-Day

Wedding is one of the most important occasions in a person’s life. Not only have the couple, but also all the family members and the relatives from both the sides get together to plan this grand event. Usually preparations begin at least a year before the big day.

Booking the hotel, the florist, the photographer and the beautician needs to be done way before the big day. When it comes to these things, everyone has their favourites and ideas. Obviously, the couple has their own dreams about their wedding and their parents have another set of dreams. If all these dreams match together, all of you are lucky, however, most of the times it is something very unlikely to occur.

Then begins the conflict; the bride and the groom and the parents, conflicts go on. Sometimes it is said, that the bride will be able to understand the real personality of the groom only during this wedding planning period.

Now not only the groom, parents and in-laws can also put a certain amount of pressure when planning this event.They are the ones who do the spending most of the time. Therefore, they expect to run the show according to their wishes to a certain extent especially since they are the ones who know family traditions.

Sometimes objections can arise when the couple wants to do something out of the ordinary. The tragedy of this is that these conflicts, which arise at this point, can prevail throughout. Therefore, the best thing is to avoid conflicts as much as possible. However, it is easier said than done.

The first step in your wedding planning is deciding on the type of the wedding you want. Express those ideas among everybody. Communicate with the fiance, family, in-laws and anyone else who is involved in the planning. This is essential. When you have open discussions about planning, it helps avoid conflicts and all will have an enjoyable time.

Let everyone express his or her ideas. Then choose the best and the most suitable idea out of all. Be patient with everybody. Have some flexibility. Be open to different ideas. If an idea brought by a family member, does not tally with the theme you have selected, politely say so. If the idea is extremely good, try if you can modify it according to the theme. Show that you are making an effort to listen to their ideas. Respect everyone’s views. Make them feel welcomed for the planning sessions.

It is very important fact to take note of your budget. No one wants financial problems as soon as they start a new life. Therefore, spending a fortune on your big day is not a wise thing to do. When deciding on the budget, be practical and realistic. Communicate this budget among everyone who is involved. Then before coming up with an idea they themselves have something to think and something to restrict them.

Another conflict arising point is when it comes to choosing the bridesmaid, the bestman, the flower girls, and the page boys. Many of the relations and close friends will want to take part in the wedding. However, choosing the best people is in your hands. Rejecting others who are willing to take part should be done with care.

Organising a wedding cannot be done single handedly. There should be friends and relatives around the couple for their help. Therefore, make them understand your requirements and get their cooperation. Lastly, through your communication abilities and flexibility you can avoid conflicts and have a smooth and a conflict free wedding. Plan ahead and let everyone follow the plan through discussions.

What does independence means to you?

On February 4, 2011, we celebrated our 63rd Independence Day. For the first time in 63 years, the celebrations were held outside the Colombo City, in Kataragama. In 2009, after the conflict which ruined our country for more than three decades, the country gained true Independence. After 30 years, people travelled around the country without any fear. People from the South toured the North and the Northerners paid visits to the Southerners. In an environment like this, we are an independent nation.

Once Gandhi said, “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.”


Independence is the freedom of our soul, sensitivity of the mind and a feeling understood only by the heart. When this sensitivity, patriotism, self- dependence, and the freedom put together there is a big responsibility for today’s youth to create a better Sri Lanka.


“I’m proud to be a Sri Lankan.” How often have you heard that expression? How often have you heard that expression and felt the emotion coming through, like a quiver of arrows? Maybe once, maybe twice or maybe you never thought about it. Now that is freedom of thought.



However, is it of any good? With the budding face of the youth of today, the insight levels of the Sri Lankan youth is increasing, for the better. Reviving those rare instances of pride being linked to our nationality, as part of our identity, we begin to wonder why each one of us does not feel that way when every single time our nation is being criticised, or being harassed by powerful nations.



Sometimes Sri Lankans themselves go against the motherland for the sake of money. Why is it only on Independence Day, we feel ‘Sri Lankan’? We queried from a few Sri Lankan youngsters about the way they define independence, what actually it means to them.


Hishan Melanga, an IT undergraduate gives us an idea of a thinking man’s perception of freedom, “Independence is the happiness we have. Happiness is something we should earn. Therefore, the person who is happy enjoys independence at its best.”


Eranda Angunuwela, a software engineer, on the other hand, preferred to cut it short by saying, “Independence to me is responsible freedom.”



Eranda Senanayake, a university graduate, defines Independence as the ability to live peacefully without causing harm to anybody and without quandary from others.


Chinthaka Maduranga, an engineering student, quotes a philosopher saying, “The right to swing my stick ends where the other man’s nose begins. People should know this simple rule when dealing with the society. I live by this and that is what Independence means to me.”



“Independence is not an easy topic to describe. I think that is relative from person to person. For example, a person freed from prison might feel a lot of freedom than a person who is still inside. However, if the person is going to a house where poverty governs, will they feel the real independence? Therefore, what I feel is as freedom is not a matter, it is just a status of each individual’s mind,” said Kasun.

Amali Perera, who has just completed her A/L examination gives an entirely dissimilar outlook to Independence. “How often do we actually think about the sacrifice, the struggle that has gone into obtaining this freedom that we’re enjoying today, except while studying about it in history lesson? To be honest, I never do. Independence does not mean anything to me. It has become a habit now, to be proud of my country on Independence Day every year. The day is just a holiday for me. However, this needs to be changed soon.”



With so much brainstorming over Independence and its importance in our lives, it is not difficult to believe that youth are concerned about their independence as well as the nation’s. Their voice needs to be heard. Their ideas should not be restricted, but should be used for the betterment of the country. They are the future leaders of our country.

Money - Desperately In Need Of Love And Respect

"Hello Anisha"
"Hey, how are you? It's been a while since I met you last!"
"Of course Gayathri, I think this is the first time we are meeting after we left university."
"Yes it is. I do not even have your mobile number. Can I have the number please?"
"Why not, I will tell you. Will you write this down?" said Anisha. Gayathri searched every corner of her bag for a paper.
"Looks like I don't have a piece of paper."
"Me neither." Anisha was embarrassed.
"Don't worry! I'll write it down in this currency note!" and then Gayathri took a Rs. 10 note out of her wallet.

Does this conversation sound familiar to you? Have you ever used a currency note for purposes other than paying for a service or a product? Haven't you ever used a coin to open a tin of biscuit? I am sure you are guilty of at least one of these. We consider these also as crimes.

Although people, who do these, are not practically penalised at any point but just like other criminals, they can also be considered wrongdoers.

Out of all these little crimes, scribbling on currency notes is very common. When a paper is not available, currency notes come in handy to take down notes. Our bus conductors fold all the notes in a nice manner and hold it between their fingers. It looks neat, but it speeds up the tearing of the note. However, nobody seems to understand the gravity of what these people do.



Money is not something we hold on to. It circulates among different kinds of people at different levels of the society. The hundred-rupee note I have today, may have been with a beggar yesterday.
Tomorrow it may be with the President. You never know. During circulation, notes lose their crispness, while coins lose their colour and shine.
We could easily find certain notes, which are taped, and torn on the edges.
Everyone likes to have new notes and shiny coins, else why would they try so hard to get rid of the damaged ones?
Money buys us everything we need for our perfect life; it can give us all the luxuries in life, and it helps us to bring smiles on to our loved ones' faces.
If money plays an important role in our life, why shouldn't we give some respect to our currency notes and coins?

Keeping this in mind, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CB) has launched a program to create awareness among people of the correct way to handle money. It is not about how to spend wisely. It is about 'how to take care of the notes and coins'.
They have started a series of newspaper advertisements highlighting the importance of 'loving your currency'.

In one of their recent advertisements, CB raised some important questions for the society, giving us something to think. "Have you considered loving your currency notes and the coins we use every single day?"

"We all love to have crisp notes and sparkling coins what would you feel if you get damaged, folded notes with drawings and giving out a bad smell?," inquired the bank. They also open our eyes on a situation we rarely tend to think about - that is how a foreigner will react when they see our dirty notes. This is how it was worded in the advertisement.

"The first thing a foreigner would use in our beautiful paradise will be our currency. What would be his first impression on us? Will that be admiration or detestation?" Then the advertisement queried, "Don't you want your homeland to be inviting, clean and hygienic?"

According to CB Deputy Governor Dr. Dharma Dheerasinghe, hundreds of currency notes are soiled and have writings on them making them useless for legal tender, under the law.

The tendency to mutilate the currency notes have increased in recent years. The distressing part of the story is when banks take money to the CB; the CB's highly sensitive machines detect and reject these notes, unlike the less-sophisticated machines used by commercial banks.

We all need money to live. Therefore, why do we damage and ruin those notes? Let us use currency notes with care, without folding, and scribbling on them.
If someone has written notes like addresses and messages on these; these are identified as intentional defacement and will be charged under the Monetary Law Act No.58 of 1949. Therefore, if you deface them or accept defaced currency like that, the least penalty is it could be yours for a lifetime.

Somawathie Chethiya

The Somawathie Chetiya, which is situated about 40 kilometres from Polonnaruwa, is once again attracting pilgrims from throughout the island. This venerated Buddhist site is said to enshrine the right canine Tooth Relic of the Buddha.

Ancient chronicles of Sri Lanka state that the very first Arahat of this country, Aritta Thera, visited the residence of Gods and brought back to Sri Lanka the Sacred Right Tooth of the Buddha.

It is believed to have been built long before the time of Dutugemunu and as such, is much older than the Ruwanweliseya, Mirisawetiya or Jetawanaramaya. It is believed to have been built during the reign of King Kavantissa - Dutugemunu's father who ruled Magama.

Legend has it that Kavantissa's sister Somawathie Devi, married to a prince named Abhaya, built a dragomanfor her husband in her name, in the second century BC. According to the Mahawamsa, the royal couple left Ruhuna and sought refuge in Raja Rata over a disagreement with King Dutugemunu who was also the nephew of Somawathie.

Queen Somawathie had a yearning to construct a stupa in honour of the Buddha. The King himself agreed to this idea with much enthusiasm.

Giri Abhaya had explored a possible site to construct this stupa. In the course of his survey, he came upon an area where Bhikkhus led by Arahat Mahinda resided. When the King suggested his idea to Arahat Mahinda, he gave his consent to the stupa-building project.

This location was known as Somapura. There were companion stupas named Kumbanacchaduwa (identified as the place where the Kadol elephant had died), Gal Amuna, Sangabodhigama and Vihara Surangala.

The pilgrim to this holy shrine today can see on one side of the dagoba, a trench-like opening revealing some five feet inside the present dagoba, wherein is the ancient brick masonry of the earlier dagoba.

As such, the present freshly painted white dagoba is an enlargement of an earlier one. Two kings have renovated the chetiya and visitors can view the section of the chetiya which reveals the three layers illustrating the three periods during which renovations were undertaken.

According to scholars, some Brahmin characters found at this site have been identified with the second century. Seven stone inscriptions detailing the history of the dagoba have been found in the area.

Some ancient pillars that have been destroyed

Separate inscriptions found here refer to the Rebavehera and Pajini Naka Araba Vihara, which are presumed to be the ancient names of this monument. According to the latter, it is believed that this vihara was constructed by Naka, the son of King Mahallaka Naga in the second century.

Like the road to Seruwila Dagoba, here too, the journey itself offers you a variety of thick jungle and swamp as well as their inhabitants, big and small. In fact, the dagoba is often visited at night by elephants. Sungawila is the last little town and border village from where you cross the Mahaveli to travel on some 13 kilometres of unsealed road that cuts through the Somawathie's strict natural reserve and wildlife sanctuary, and takes you through the jungle and marshy land to the great dagoba.

Because elephants encroach into the temple premises, an electric fence has been installed there. This fence is powered by solar electricity. Electricity is switched on in the evening from six onwards. The Somawathie Chetiya is very famous in recent history due to the miracles which took place in the temple. Some of the valuable ancient ruins found from this place have been kept at the Polonnaruwa Museum.

Pix: Janani

Vavuniya to Jaffna Railway Stations

Ticket counters for 1-2 classes




Chavakachcheri Railway Station

Chunnakam Railway Station

Alimankada Railway Station

Elumathival Railway Station.

Inuwil Railway Station

Kankasanthurai Railway Station


Turn Table of the Kankasanthurai Railway Station


Kilinochchi Railway Station

Kodikaman Railway Station

Kokuwil Railway Station

Kondawil Railway Station

Mallakam Railway Station

Mankulam Railway Station

Maviththapuram Railway Station

Meesalai Railway Station

Myrasawil Railway Station

Murukkadi Railway Station

Murukkandi Railway Station

Navakkuli Bridge

Navakkuli Railway Station

Omanthai Railway Station

Pallai Railway Station

Paranthan Railway Station

Puliyankulam Railway Station

Punkulam Railway Station

Sankanthanai Sub Railway Station

Thellipalai Railway Station

Kachchathivu Railway Station