Sri Lanka has more than a quarter of a million archaeological sites, sacred places of four faiths and some of Asia’s finest museums. If we connect them, the whole island becomes a journey worth taking. By Jeevan Thiagarajah Few countries carry as much history to the square kilometre as Sri Lanka. More than 250,000 archaeological sites have been identified. Eight …
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It was exactly 50 years ago today that I held my daughter Indira in my arms for the first time. As I write these few words for her, I cannot put into words the pain I feel in my heart at this moment. I do not know if there can be a more painful experience for a father than having …
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I did not see myself as an avid supplement taker, but then I took a good look in my cupboard. Without realising it, I had accumulated several pouches of creatine, vitamin D, magnesium, collagen, an all-in-one green supplement, and some tablets designed to help with the ups and downs of perimenopause. I had thought I was immune to the constant …
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Trust in the news has fallen to an all-time low globally – the lowest since annual reports by the Reuters Institute began more than a decade ago (2015). The research published on Tuesday suggests that public trust worldwide is at 37%, three points down on this time last year. In the UK, it has fallen by five points to 30% – 20 points …
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To some, it’s a symbol of purity and enlightenment, and to others a reminder of exclusion, persecution and violence The nil manel, or blue waterlily, is the national flower of Sri Lanka: a pale-blue bloom whose Latin names are Nymphaea stellata and Nymphaea nouchali. Its natural habitat is the many lagoons that dot this island-nation, where it grows together with numerous other nymphaeas, in …
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As Sumitra Peries’ landmark 1978 debut “Gehenu Lamai” (The Girls) prepares for its restored world premiere at Cannes Classics, India’s Film Heritage Foundation has revealed the extraordinary technical challenges overcome during the film’s painstaking restoration process. The black and white classic returns to screens 47 years after its original release, following a complex reconstruction effort. Set in rural Sri Lanka, the film, honored …
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With a single tusk that made him stand out, the majestic bull elephant Unicorn was a true king among the wild herds of Minneriya, a biodiversity hotspot in the island’s north-central region, globally known as the home of the world’s largest gathering of elephants. At dusk, Unicorn would often be seen alongside female elephants — a breathtaking sight that left an …
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By Bernard Fernando It is well known that the silent majority of the sovereign voters across the country elected the new President and his team as the only political party fully committed to creating a new political, public and media culture through a series of crucial ‘Political and Electoral System Changes’ via a New Constitution ‘by the People and for …
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In the heart of Sri Lanka, far away from the bustle of the beaches or the calm of the cultural sites, is a region where the fragrance of tea wafts gently in the air. This is the Hill Country, where a new hiking trail connects visitors with locals, and showcases the story of Ceylon tea to the world. The Pekoe Trail runs for over …
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The recently opened Pekoe Trail, which runs for more than 300km through tea plantations, villages and forests, tells the story of Sri Lanka’s complex and chequered tea history. The sun is bright and harsh on my face when I stop to admire the view – okay, to catch my breath – at the top of the steep path. How is …
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