This is an update to some of the questions on Colombo Garbage to Wilpattu. The previous post pointed out that Colombo Garbage dumped in Gangewadiya would seriously degrade the beautiful Kala-Oya, kill pristine Mangroves in Wilpattu National Park and kill breeding and fish stocks in Puttalam Lagoon.Now to answer some of questions I was asked. Who wants this DoneThe Ministry ...
Found out a couple of months ago from a visitor here that Mexican Sunflower (වල් සුරියකාන්ත) Tithonia Diversifoliais a very good fertilizer. Thanks Anil Ratnayake.Mexican Sunflower is fast growing, not fast enough here because we would like to use it extensively as soil conditioner and fertilizer. It is a weed and invasive species that originated from Central America.High in Pottasium ...
Savandara (සැවැන්දරා) Tamil: Vettver, Kuruver Vetiveria zizanioides, or Chrysopogon zizanioides closely related to Sorghum but shares many morphological characteristics with other fragrant grasses, such as lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), citronella (Cymbopogon nardus, C. winterianus), and palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii).bring down body heat and are packed with natural antioxidants that reduce inflammation in the body. As for the roots, the essential oil extracted ...
Glyphosate, labeled a “probable human carcinogen” by the World Health Organization’s cancer agency IARC in 2015, has now been revealed to be ubiquitous in the first ever comprehensive and validated LC/MS/MS testing project to be carried out across America.In a unique public testing project carried out by a laboratory at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), glyphosate was discovered ...
Kala-Oya/Lunu-Ela 200m away from proposed Garbage siteThe old Quarry and proposed garbage site Wilpattu National Park is the latest location proposed to dump 470,000 cubic meters of garbage every year. That is the equivalent of a building 3 story high 33 feet x 33 feet of garbage every day. That garbage will grow to a mountain 250 feet high every ...
Many Sri Lankans may remember from school geography the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka is from North West (Puttalam) to East (Batticoloa) and South East (Hambanthota). In this area rain is received only from the North East (NE) monsoon, i.e. mid-late October to January. May to November is dry with hardly any rain.Has this changed. Last year (2015) there ...
Asanga Ambanpola and family. Their first dolphin watch tour was not that successful. The second time they went out were able to see a pod of whales.Barr on a Rock in Bar Reef.Swim in the Lunu Ela
A very interesting theory from an article in 2002. American Prairie and Amazon forest have been shaped by humans over thousands of years, and are not pristine environments as previously thought. The Native Americans burned the Prairie Grasses to create a habitat ideal for bison, elk and deer; i.e. a gigantic farm for meat. In the Amazon Forest, Amazonians created ...
Kala-Oya/Lunu-Ela 200m away from proposed Garbage siteThe Garbage in Colombo is becoming a political nightmare and is standing in the way of the Colombo Megalopolis project. Is Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe advocating the move of the Colombo Garbage to the Holcim Aruwakkalu Old Quarry 200m from the Wilpattu National Park border.The surrounding area of the proposed garbage site is pristine ...
Genghis Khan and his empire, which lasted nearly two centuries, actually cooled the Earth. told in one word: reforestation. When the Mongol hordes invaded Asia, the Middle East, and Europe they left behind a massive body count, depopulating many regions. With less people, large swathes of cultivated fields eventually returned to forests, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. the conquest ...
Clitoria ternatea, Butterfly Flea, (Sinhala: Katarolu, කටරොළු) two types blue or white flowers. The blue flower variety is very common and grows wild and considered a weed in rural areas. Uses:Southeast Asia, the flower is used as a natural food colouring Thai cuisine the flowers are dipped in batter and fried. Tea from the flower Flower tea and dried lemongrass ...
The Gathering (of elephants) in Minneriya or Kaudulla National park are considered one of the great wild life spectacles of the world, comparable to the Great migration in Serengeti. The gathering of over 300 elephants in Minneriya occurs during the dry season of May-Sep.The gathering is however a result of environmental engineering two thousand years ago. The 87 km (54 ...
There is some confusion regarding Olu (ඕලු), Nelum (නෙලුම්), and Manel (මානෙල්) flowers and its English names. To be honest I am not sure I have got it 100% right, so open to correction.The confusion is because Sinhala and English do not match one to one. A very good example is Honey and Pani (පැණි) is considered equivalent.Pani පැණි is ...
The genus name Ocimum is derived from the Greek word meaning "to smell. Ocimum is appropriate for most members of the plant family Lamiaceae, also known as the mint family. With over 40 cultivars of basil, this abundance of flavors, aromas, and colors leads to confusion when identifying specific cultivars. In Indian languages many of the cultivars are called something ...
Hoopoe bird. Sinhala; පොරුව කුරුල්ලා Poruwa kurulla Tamil: Chaval kuruviI got to see a Hoopoe Bird in the garden. I have never seen one despite umpteen safari trips to the nearby Wilpattu National Park. Normally, I make my coffee and sit in front of computer reading news and other bullshit This was in June 2022 with many power cuts. ...
Some of the Photos sent by Samuel & Isabelle Metaux taken on their Dolphin watch Boat ride and Wilpattu Safari. It was a wet Jannuary, but Samuel and Isabelle we smiling all the way.
Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 is not transmitted just by droplets but also by aerosols. (eg Twang et al, 2021 and Samet et 2021. Aerosols can disperse as far as 10m (33 feet). Thats about the size of a small waiting room or small office.Also see article at bottom, re WHO dragging its foot about accepting aerosol transmission of ...
Mustard PlantsThere is nasty debate going on about the use of a Indian developed Genetically Modified (GM) mustard plant to be commercially cultivated. Mustard DMH-11, has been developed by Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants at Delhi University. It is a cautionary tale for Sri Lanka. The ProsPurported to be 20%-30% more productive than most mustard varieties. Is resistant ...
The last time I visited Jaffna was in late 2004. Thats not the absolute truth, because I did go to Jaffna in December 2010. That was with two classmates and their families and I was in a perpetual haze and trying to be (I dont think I needed to try hard) to be a nuisance. Into the bargain the camera ...
See here for 2004 Trip to Jaffna thru then LTTE territory: Part 1 Day 3: Invitation to LTTE exhibition. Locate place to stay in JaffnaHotel Jaffna TownDay 4: Kayts to Pungutivu: Nagadipa (Nainathivu), Kobbekaduwa Memorial. Beer Dinner, Day 5: Dry Fish at Check Point: LTTE exhibition. A9 Restaurant. Day 3:We get the invitation to the LTTE exhibition Say we will ...
