Serendib Magazine - January 2011

In this issue

Beyond Tangalle, Ussangoda beckons you southward to a windswept coastal plateau that is scattered with patches of scrub forests and exposed vibrant red earth.
If it is history that fascinates you, Sri Lanka’s own spans 2,500 years. Some unique works of architecture built hundreds of years ago stand tall to the present day. Built in stone, brick and wood, three distinctive works that belong to the Gampola era that lasted from the mid 14th to the early 15th Century bear testimony to the abounding history of Sri Lanka and its rich heritage.
Coveted by all, Sri Lanka’s blue sapphires are part of a precious bounty that nature has bestowed on this island nation.
Since antiquity, lamps have played a significant social, cultural and religious role in the lives of Sri Lankans. Lamps are still used in rural areas for household illumination, they perform an important function at ceremonies and festivals, and as light is traditionally associated with the spirit, they are an essential part of sacred ritual.
Residing within the jungle forests of Ritigala kanda (mountain) are hidden tales of folklore and legends that withhold veracity of the imaginable.
The delicious taste of the cold, sour-sweet juice trickling down your throat on a hot day, the tang of the jam on toast or the pungent bite of the pickle – these are but some of the derivatives of this versatile fruit. Quaintly named the ‘Wood Apple’ due to its hard wooden shell, the fruit is known as Divul in Sinhala or Vilam Palam in Tamil and is a unique local favourite that may be relished in many forms.
Wood-carving is an ancient craft in Sri Lanka that is still being practised in certain areas in the country. Moratuwa, a suburb of Colombo, is famous for wood-work of all kinds, including wood-carving where dexterous fingers produce art from an unassuming block of wood.