Ravana is a legendary figure who looms large in Sri Lankan and Indian folklore. It is said that the ten-headed monarch, also known as the demon king, ruled over the prehistoric kingdom of Lanka more than 4,000 years ago. While there is no archaeological evidence to show that King Ravana existed, several Puranic texts, including the Hindu epics, Ramayana and ...
Sri Lanka is a land of legends and storytellers. History and folklore are an intrinsic part of our heritage. They have survived through the centuries by constant retelling. These stories, both ancient and recent, real and fabled, add a characteristic charm to the island’s particular brand of magic. There is a wildness to our tales and a flavour to our ...
Devol madu shanthikarmaya, also known as the gammaduwa, is a tradition that invokes the blessings of the goddess Pattini—known to both Buddhists and Hindus as the goddess of fertility and health. Practiced predominantly in the low country, these rituals are performed by a kapurala (spiritual leader and healer) to ensure the well-being of the village and a plentiful harvest. The ...
If you’ve been on the internet lately, you might have seen pictures of Spiderman in Bambalapitiya waiting for a bus, or Batman at a children’s home. You might remember a lot of these characters from around this time last year at an event called Lanka Comic Con, where many fictional characters came to life right here in Sri Lanka. If ...
The Trincomalee oil tanks have been a hotly contested issue in recent days. With the Hambantota port deal completed, and the facility leased out for almost a century, fresh public concern has arisen about losing Sri Lanka’s assets to foreign powers. But the situation might not be as simplistic as the present government ‘selling out’. The Tanks One of the ...
Text by Dilina Amaruwan Sri Lanka’s colonial history is not only written in books, but also in the country’s cityscapes. Among the many colonial legacies that we inherited, architecture is one to be particularly proud of. Especially in Colombo, the architecture styles of old are a welcome respite from cookie-cutter, glass-and-steel skyscrapers. The Galle Face Hotel – Arguably the most famous ...
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Sri Lanka. Around 55,200 people die of cardiovascular diseases every year, with more men than women falling prey to them. The prevalence of these diseases has been gradually rising over the years, a phenomenon that is believed to be related to an increase in sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets. What Are ...
Traditional martial arts preserved by generations becomes a subject of pride for a nation. Angampora has been a key component of Sri Lankan culture and heritage since ancient times. The martial art form requires years to master and is a deeply spiritual form of combat that was long considered a lifestyle. Its rich history will tell you that it was ...
Traditional martial arts preserved by generations becomes a subject of pride for a nation. Angampora has been a key component of Sri Lankan culture and heritage since ancient times. The martial art form requires years to master and is a deeply spiritual form of combat that was long considered a lifestyle. Its rich history will tell you that it was ...
Traditional martial arts preserved by generations becomes a subject of pride for a nation. Angampora has been a key component of Sri Lankan culture and heritage since ancient times. The martial art form requires years to master and is a deeply spiritual form of combat that was long considered a lifestyle. Its rich history will tell you that it was ...
The Parsis of Sri Lanka are an intriguing community. They are very small; so small that you can count their families—the Billimorias, Captains, Choksys, Pestonjees, and Jillas—with your fingers. There are only around 40 Parsis in Sri Lanka at present. At no time during their residence here did their numbers exceed a couple of hundreds at most. Yet, the Parsi ...
The Parsis of Sri Lanka are an intriguing community. They are very small; so small that you can count their families—the Billimorias, Captains, Choksys, Pestonjees, and Jillas—with your fingers. There are only around 40 Parsis in Sri Lanka at present. At no time during their residence here did their numbers exceed a couple of hundreds at most. Yet, the Parsi ...
The Parsis of Sri Lanka are an intriguing community. They are very small; so small that you can count their families—the Billimorias, Captains, Choksys, Pestonjees, and Jillas—with your fingers. There are only around 40 Parsis in Sri Lanka at present. At no time during their residence here did their numbers exceed a couple of hundreds at most. Yet, the Parsi ...
