Batticaloa in Sri Lanka

Contact ;- Email;- lasantha777@hotmail.com
 Mobile;- +94 777 856 771

 

Batticaloa is a city in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. It is the seat of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. It is on the east coast, 69 miles (111 km) south by south east of Trincomalee, and is situated on an island.

Batticaloa is a Portuguese derivation. The original name of the region being the Sinhalese "Madda Kalapuwa" (translation: Mud Lagoon). This is assumed to have been adapted by the later Tamil settlers.According to Mattakallappu Manmiyam the word Mattakkallpu consists Tamil words "Mattu" means honey or Matta-derived from "Mattam" means (Flat) and geographical name KaLappu. Mukkuwa named this place as KaLappu-Mattam or boundary of lagoon later it became Matta-Kallappu or Flat Lagoon. Similarly the Mattu-Kallppu or "Confluence of Honey River" became Mattakkallappu.

Batticaloa is in the eastern coast of Sri Lanka on a flat coastal plain boarded by the Indian Ocean in the east occupies the central part of the eastern Sri Lanka. Its average elevation is around 5 meters. Scenic beauty of the Batticaloa is the Lagoons. Batticaloa district has three lagoons such as Batticaloa Lagoon, Valaichchenai Lagoon, and Vakari (Panichch ankerni) Lagoon. Among these lagoon, Batticaloa Lagoon is the largest lagoon and has 56 km long 162 square km area, extending from Pankudaweli in North and Kalmunai in South.

The earliest historical artifacts are a dagaba and Chatra from the Ruhuna kingdom of King Kavantissa (1st century BC), found in the Dutch fort built in the seventeenth century CE. Many archeological sites dating to pre-Christian times have been found in this region. Thus Lankavihara, Roththei (Roththa) temple, Kinnaragala, Rahathgala (Shanthamalai), Veheragalkanda (Pulukunai), eluvamulla (Pullumuilai), and Taaththon Kovil, are some sites identified and listed by the Government archaeological survey. Many towns of the area show toponymic evidence, as well as evidence from stone inscriptions, of ancient sites related to 'Seruvavila' and other Buddhist shrines of the area. Although a large number of ancient historical sites have been identified, archaeological excavations and detailed studies have been very limited. A map of the Buddhist sites in the eastern coastal belt near Batticaloa and extending towards Trincomalee has been given in a "Buddhist Times" publication.

Contact ;- Email;- lasantha777@hotmail.com
 Mobile;- +94 777 856 771

Arugam Bay Beach

 

Arugam Bay Beach

Arugam Bay is a bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka's southeast coast. The bay is located 320 km due east of Colombo. "Ullai" as Arugam Bay is locally known is a popular surfing and tourist destination. Many of the buildings were destroyed in the 2004 tsunami. The Government's Min. of Defense CCD (Coastal Conservation Dept.) created what is now described as Arugam's second "Tsunami" end September 2011, when all beach side structures where demolished by bulldozers. Due to its popularity among tourists, the area has managed a slow recovery by private initiatives only. As late as 2011 no help has been received from any official source or international organizations. An exception is uncoordinated support for fishing folk as well as many school rebuilding programs, resulting in a continuation to provide only separatist schools for each community. Although there is a huge demand for an international school, one huge new building donated by the people of Japan remains largely unoccupied since the grand 'opening' ceremony in 2007.

The bay hosts a large fleet of fishing boats which operates off the beach. Many organizations donated boats after the tsunami and as a result there are far more fishing boats than ever before.Nearby beaches are more esthetically pleasing and also have excellent waves. Arugam Surf Point has a very long, consistent, sectiony right hand break. In mid 2010 ASP hosted its first international surf contest in the Bay. The winner of such was Australian Julian Wilson. ASP repeated their contest tour in 2011 added a women's competition to the men's long board championship at Arugam Bay.Many organizations claim to have done extensive work in the area. No notable progress can be observed locally and on close inspection, as late as New Year's Day, 2010. The main road, shown below in 2004 still looked the very same at the end of 2009. Despite calls for a walking street contractors have recently (September, 2010)completed construction of a fast trunk road through the hamlet. Repeating the mistakes made in other seaside tourist resorts such as Negombo and Hikkaduwa. US 'Mercy Corps' has been the most active of any organization. Funded by Oprah Winfrey's 'Angel Network', following a huge fund-raising TV series in the United States. Sadly, none of their projects survived the first year of operation. A new bridge has been constructed by USAID. It was opened for traffic in 2008. It replaced the 1960s, original landmark box girder construction linking Arugam Bay with Pottuvil. At km 312 on the main A4 (the famous Colombo High Level Rd. - PottuVille), an excellent shortcut side road exists, which ends up in the very middle of Arugam Bay itself. This picturesque drive avoids the dusty town of Pottu Ville. Also no bridges need to be crossed. Raising questions regarding the wisdom for the need of the so-called 'high tech' USAID bridge construction. There is excellent elephant viewing nearby, incl. on this mentioned jungle road and the surrounding lagoon, as well as two types of monkeys wandering around the area.

The nearby (4 km) Muslim village of Pottuvil is the center of commerce and transportation while tourist accommodations lie along the beach to the south of Pottuvil Arugam Bay (4 km) is also the gateway and the only road access to the Yala East National Park. This area is known as Kumana (44 km), to be reached via the Sinhalese settlement of Panama (17 km) and the shires at Okanda (32 km). Sources of further, up-to-date local information: Arugam Bay has its own insiders, veteran and fan club with just 777 members end 2008. History was made on election day, 26 January 2010. The Community page Facebook page "Arugam Surf" managed to attract more than 10,000 fans. Making it the fasted growing non political Facebook page in Sri Lanka. By November 2011, Sri Lanka's first and oldest FB fan page attracted more than 60,000 loyal members. Remarkable how much global interest this small, remote hamlet of just 2,500 residents seems to generate.

 

Contact ;- Email;- lasantha777@hotmail.com
 Mobile;- +94 777 856 771

About Sri Lanka

 

What may stick you most about Sri Lanka is amazing diversity of scenery. It is possible to pass brilliant green paddy field, sun-bronzed beaches, ruined cities, small lively villages, near desert regions, sanctuaries for wildlife in tropical jungles, and hill country tea plantation literally within hours of each other.

Ancient Sanskrit literature refers to Sri Lanka as “Sinhaladvipa” – Island of the Sinhalease. The people called by that name have inhabited this island from earliest historical times. Traditions recorded in the historical chronicals of Sri Lanka trace the origin of the Sinhalease to an exiled North Indian prince, Vijaya, and his retinue, who settled down in the island and established the Sinhalease kingdom in the 6th c. B. C. However, the earliest recorded viviliation dates back to 380 BS, when Anuradhapura (205Km from Colombo) was established as the first Capital City. Following the advent of Buddhism in the 3rd Century BS, a civilization rich in Indo-Aryan culture took root. It produced the great cities with their “dagabas” which compare, and even exceed in size, t

he pyramids of Egypt, palaces and pleasure gardens, rich art and architecture and the gigantic irrigation works, many of which are still in use today