Sri Lanka Hotels complement & supplement Sri Lanka Holidays to the hilt, no holds barred. Sri Lanka Holidays is a home of distinctive architecture.
“We have a marvelous tradition of building in this country that has got lost. It got lost because people followed outside influences over their own good instincts. They never built right “through” the landscape. You must “run” with the site; after all, you don’t want to push nature out with the building” Geoffrey Bawa (1919-2003)
Geoffrey Bawa followed up his words with deeds & built magnificent tourist hotels, splendid University of Ruhuna & Island in the sun Parliament of Sri Lanka, Simamalaka Shrine of Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo in the tradition of Sinhalese architecture. Sri Lanka Hotels designed by Bawa during his lifetime, today run an extra mile to retain Bawa Certification. Geoffrey Bawa Hotels are the pioneer eco-oriented luxury Sri Lanka Hotels of Sri Lanka Holidays.
Sri Lanka Hotels wouldn’t take a back seat to Sri Lanka Holidays.
Sri Lanka Hotels complement & supplement Sri Lanka Holidays to the hilt, no holds barred. In the backdrop of diversity & variety of tourist attractions of the ancient tropical island of Sri Lanka, the Land of Delights, Sri Lanka Holidays has something for everyone. The multitude of accommodation options in the wide spectrum of Sri Lanka Hotels rise up with great splendor to the grandeur of Sri Lanka Holidays. Sri Lanka Holidays serve expectations, interests & activities of yours to fullest extent, bringing forth the Total Holiday Experience (THE). Then again, supplementing & complementing Sri Lanka Holidays, Sri Lanka Hotels play no second fiddle.
Amidst the numerous cultural attractions of resplendent Sri Lanka are Sri Lanka Eco Master Hotels spanning across the wide spectrum of accommodation: conventional hotels, boutique hotels, rest houses & guest houses.
Amidst & on the fringe of wildlife sanctuaries are Sri Lanka Nature Master Hotels ranging from modern hotels to boutique hotels category & from villas, lodges to camps.
Bordering the pristine beaches & in the shade of vast coconut groves of Sri Lanka Holidays are Sri Lanka Beach Master Hotels, rest houses, boutique hotels, guest houses, villas & lodges.
Amidst the seamless tea plantations are Sri Lanka Colonial Master Hotels that consist of rebuilt or renovated colonial bungalows.
Then again in the Central Highlandsof salubrious climate & magnificent landscape of the ancient tropical island of Sri Lanka are Sri Lanka Highland Master Hotelsthat run across the entire gamut of accommodation: conventional hotels, boutique hotels, villas, lodges, rest houses & guest houses, all nestled high up in the hills.
Sri Lanka Hotels built in a wide array of architecture, mostly with the eco concept to the forefront, have taken a leaf from Sri Lanka Holidays to create the synthesis of the Total Holiday Experience in the ancient topical island of Sri Lanka, the Land Of Delights.
We reveal for you to revel in My Sri Lanka, Our Island, The Resplendent Island.
“Dear me, it is beautiful. And most sumptuously tropical.”
That was Mark Twain’s comment when his ship reached Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1896.
Sri Lanka, The Land of Delights Riolta Lanka Holidays (Pvt.) Ltd., Lakshapatiya, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka & Ivory Gardens, Kandana, Sri Lanka
Proudly Presents Riolta Sri Lanka Hotel Guide To The Vast Range Of Accommodation, Legendary Hospitality of The Sinhalese.
MY SRI LANKA HOLIDAYS DOT COM
My Sri Lanka, Our Island Will Prevail! Hail the Heroes of the Nation & Prince Diyasena of “Revolt in The Temple” (April 1953), the maestro of “The Turn of the Screw” at “The Turn of the Tide” from 26th July 2006 at Mother River, Our Mother Lanka, to 19th May 2009 at “The Sea of Conches”, My Sri Lanka, Our Island.
This Land is My Land; This Land is Your Land, from Point Pedro to Point Dondra
Take a leaf from the book of Sri Lanka’s heroic Defence Forces: nothing is impossible.
Sri Lanka Holidays Jetwing Vil Uyana’s Sustainable tourism (Green i.e., eco) credentials: Jetwing Youth Development Project (JYDP) 2006 This project won the PATA Grand Award 2007 for Training and Education Link to the hotel web site still to be provided.
Riolta Remarks by bunpeiris: The stupendous eco-oriented achievement of a hotel spread over 24 acres, consists of a wetland system of paddy fields, marshes & waterways reintroduced by a developer with tremendous pioneering spirit, imagination & daring. It is almost a shot at nature man made. The Vil Uyana experience encapsulates the consummate combination of the irrigation heritage & natural wonders of the island nation. The poperty in the extensive dry zone flat lands of the tropical island of Sri Lanka is immediately to the west of UNESCO World Heritage Site Lion Rock Citadel Sigiriya. “Vil Uyana” meaning “garden of ponds” in Sinhalese is envisaged as a natural extension of ancient Sinhalese Irrigation by ancient Sinhalese kings who developed the ancient island of Sri Lanka.
Location : Located 169 km from Colombo & 153 km from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Katunayake, with a view of Lion Rock Citadel Sigiriya, one of the seven UNESCO World heritage Sites of Sri Lanka Holidays.
Setting: Back to the nature to the hilt.
Luxurious Accommodation at Sri Lanka Holidays Jetwing Vil Uyana is in the form of 25 individual dwellings on stilts situated in three distinct habitats - water, paddy field and forest. These huge, luxurious dwellings, connected by wooden walkways, have timber flooring, ceilings of rattan and bamboo, and sloping roofs thatched with coconut palm. Furnished with luxurious king size beds, each dwelling has a private outdoor deck with scenic views and an outdoor dining area. Some have plunge pools on the deck and even private swimming pools. The bathrooms are spacious and elegantly designed with a large sunken bathtub and rain showers. Other facilities include a/c, IDD telephone, mini bar, 29” flat screen TV and satellite channels, coffee/tea making facilities, Bose DVD/CD Home Entertainment system, electronic safe, and even your own sarong, pair of reed slippers and umbrella.
a) Water dwellings: The three water dwellings (each 1,240 sq. ft) are built over a waterway filled with lotuses. Each has a timber decks that juts out over the water providing a picturesque view of the numerous water birds that inhabits the area. A separate dining deck over looking the water provides for dining under the stars.
b) Paddy field dwellings: These six dwellings (each 1,240 sq. ft) are built over paddy fields and have small plunge pools on the deck. The village farmers harvest the paddy fields during the season providing a special insight into paddy cultivation.
c) Marsh dwellings: Six dwellings (each 1,240 sq ft.) are situated over the marsh area. Two have plunge pools on the decks.
d) Forest dwellings: Bordering the wilderness at Sri Lanka Holidays Jetwing Vil Uyana are the ten luxurious Forestdwellings (each 2,110 sq. ft.). Each of these two story villas has a 22 ft x 10 ft. private swimming pool. The ground floor consists of an open cemented lounge area with plush floor cushions overlooking the swimming pool and the scenic views beyond, an indoor courtyard, and elegant en suite toilet with bath tub and rain water shower. A large spectacular bedroom with an attached toilet with a w/c, and private balcony, occupies the second floor.
Facilities: Jetwing Vil Uyana has several dining options including two restaurant areas: Sulang café, surrounded by water, and Apsara fine dining restaurant with magnificent views of Lion Rock Citadel Sigiriya. Other dining options include Spa dining at the Island Spa, Signature dining on the deck within the privacy of your own dwelling, Cellar dining at Vil Uyana’s excellently-stocked wine cellar, and outdoor dining at the Kamatha by the paddy fields, where a typical village rice and curry meal is offered on a banana leaf. Sinhalese rice and curries and international cuisine is on offer. A special vegetarian menu is also available. Vil Uyana’s tranquil library is filled with numerous titles including books on Sri Lanka and had the most relaxing situation, with a lotus-filled pond on one side and a waterway on the other. The Island Spa & Wellness Center consists of a fully-equipped A/C gym surrounded by water, a yoga pavilion, and a wellness center headed by an Ayurvedic Physician. Aromatherapy and Ayurveda herbal oils are used for the wide array of relaxing during your stay at Sri Lanka Holidays JetwingVil Uyana.
Sri Lanka Anaconda (Anaconda of Ceylon) Vs. Amazon Anaconda
South American name Anaconda is said to have been derived from Sinhalese name, Henakadaya. Among many other dictionaries, The American Dictionary of the English Language indicates that the name could be an alteration of Sinhalese Henakandaya.
It is interesting to noteColonol Percy Fawcett (1867- 1925), who had close encounters, the run-ins with Anaconda while on an expedition to mark the borders of Bolivia, had served in Ceylon too where he met & married his wife.
Could it be possible, in Ceylon, that the tales of Anaconda had fallen into the ears of the Englishman? The Scots magazine, in the year 1768 (99 years prior to the year of birth of Col. Fawcett, 1867), published a narration of an encounter with a 33 feet long monster with a girth as thick as a man’s waist, devouring a leopard of monstrous size, in the island of Ceylon. The narrator, an Englishman by the name E. Edwin, said to had been a resident in Ceylon for many years.
The Ceylonese seemed to know the creature well; they call it Anaconda, talked of eating its flesh when they caught it. And according to E. Edwin they did. “He was cut up; and afforded a flesh whiter than veal, & as they said that ate of it, finer tasted than any flesh whatever”
However there is no record of Sinhalese ever having taken to eat snake meat in Sri Lanka.
Could it be possible, Colonel Fawcett carried the name, Anaconda to Bolivia from Ceylon? Fawcett had a run-in with one not long after he arrived in South America. In his diary he noted: “We were drifting easily along on the sluggish current not far below the confluence of Tiger and the Rio Negro when almost under the bow of the igarit’e (boat) there appeared a triangular head and several feet of undulating body. It was a giant anaconda. I sprang for my rifle as the creature began to make its way up the bank, and hardly waiting to aim smashed a .44 soft-nosed bullet into its spine, ten feet below the wicked head. At once there was a flurry of foam, and several heavy thumps against the boat’s keel, shaking us as though we had run on a snag… ”
The Colonel made seven expeditions between 1906 & 1924. On 29th Many 1925, a message was sent from Fawcett to his wife, indicating that they were ready to enter unexplored territory. The three were sending back the assistants that had helped them to this point & were ready to go on by themselves. Fawcett told his wife “You need have no fear of failure…” It was the last anyone ever heard of the expedition. They disappeared into the Jungle never to be seen again. Despite Fawcett’s wishes, several rescue expeditions tried to find him, but without success. Occasionally there were intriguing reports that he’d been seen, but none of these were ever confirmed. So what happened to Colonel Fawcett. What danger that had eluded in the past had gotten him this time? Hostile Indians? A giant Anaconda? Piranhas? Disease? Starvation? Or was it, as one told, he’d lost his memory & lived out the rest of his life as a chief among a tribe of cannibals? Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad? Red by Somerset Maugham?
The South American anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is a semi aquatic boa that inhabits swamps. The family Boidae (boas and pythons) includes the world’s largest snakes, the South American anaconda and the Asian reticulated python, as well as the smaller boa constrictor and the tree and sand boas. Python (Molurus molurus) (Southern India and Sri Lanka), is a large (maximum length 6-7 meters) & powerful carnivorous snake with a large girth.
During the British colonial period in (1805-1948), a considerable territory of the dense jungles in the Central Highlandsof Sri Lanka was cleared for coffee plantations & then for tea plantations, following the Coffee Blight. Could it be Sri Lanka Anaconda, which ambushed upon prey ranging from leopards to deer, in trees rather than in marshy areas as its cousins in the Amazon, gradually became extinct? During Sri Lanka Holidays, you will have an opportunity to have a pet Python wrapped over your shoulders and pose for a photo shoot, if you are a lover of snakes.
Sri Lanka Holidays: Ancient Mahinda and all living beings; Modern Mahinda and all Sri Lankans. Written by bunpeiris
This earth belongs to all living beings; My Sri Lanka, Our Island belongs to all Sri Lankans.
Carbon Clean Sri Lanka: A Tourism Earth Lung; Free Sri Lanka: One nation
Sri Lanka Holidays Skanda Pandia Lanka Light and Enlightenment strive to shed light on you all. More than a couple millenniums before the modern terminology of green earth, sustainable environment, preserving ecology, eco-orientation, eco friendly environment, sustainable tourism, eco–oriented hotels etc. came into everyday vocabulary as a result of global warming caused by environmental pollution-hazardous wastes, loss of forest cover, depletion of Ozone layer-the concept of United Biology was rooted in the ancient Indian ocean island of Sri Lanka Holidays.
Mihintale, Sri Lanka Holidays
Mahinda makes the Deer Hunter to give a fair chase
As the very life begins with water, Mahinda too began with water: Arhath (supremely enlightened) Mahinda following water festival in ancient Sri Lanka; modern Mahinda, the Hero of Modern Sri Lanka, with the humanitarian operation watershed at opening the sluice gates of the reservoir at “Mother River”(Mavil Aru) closed down by the enemy of the nation.
Following a water festival in Anuradhpura, King Devanam Piya Tissa went on to enjoy royal hunting at Mihintale. Having tracked a deer and found it browsing in a thicket. The king, ever the sportsman thinking in line of gamesmanship “It is not proper to shoot an animal while it is inattentive” twanged his bow string so that the deer could be alerted for a fare chase. The deer took to flight and the king, hot in pursuit, was at the summit of the hill of Mihintale in no time. That was no less than a couple of millenniums ago during the reign of King Devanam Piya Tissa, (307-266 BC), great grandson of Princess Unmada Chithra and Prince Digagamini of Sri Lanka, the destination of Total Holiday Experience, Sri Lanka Holidays.
Mahinda poses a close encounter of the third kind to the Deer Hunter.
It was at the summit that the king found himself at a close encounter of the third kind. The king asked “How did you come?” Arhath Mahinda replied, “Neither by land nor by water” The state of supreme spiritual enlightenment of Buddhist missionary Arahat Mahinda, is believed to have enabled him to travel by air. The soothsayers foresaw the consequences of Mahinda in no time: the earth has been taken by them. They will be lords of the island.”
Mahinda preaches Sinhalese the equal rights to all living beings
Foremost of all matters, Arhath Mahinda infused upon the fledging nation of Sinhalese the value of all life. “Oh! Great King, the birds of the air & the beasts have an equal right to live & move about in any part of this land as thou. The land belongs to the peoples & all other beings & thou art only the guardian of it” said Arahat Mahinda to King Devanam Piya Tissa. That was to follow the very words of Buddha “all fear death; comparing others with oneself, one should neither kill nor cause to kill”. Following the sermons by Arhath Mahinda, Mihintale was declared a wildlife sanctuary by the king. The royal hunting grounds of Mihintale of Sri Lanka Holidays became the first ever recorded wildlife sanctuary in the world.
Mahinda instill upon the Sinhalese the doctrine of Live and let live
“The forest is a unique organism of boundless compassion and benevolence that makes no demand for its sustenance and extends generously the products of its life activity: it affords protection of all beings, offering shade and shelter even to the axe man, the lumberjack who destroys it.” Shakyamuni Gauthama Buddha’s concept of “Live and Let live” geared towards all living beings as preached by Arhath Mahinda took root in the glorious ancient Sinhalese civilization to run its due course.
Mahinda preaches the Sinhalese to arrive at conclusions only following reasoning and careful deductions.
The first ever sermon by Mahinda in Sri Lanka was Gauthama Buddha’s Chulla Hattipadopama Sutta or simile of Elephant Footprint. The simile brings to life how one must weigh all possibilities in a given situation prior to arrival at the deduction. An elephant hunter simply by seeing a large foot print wouldn’t come to the conclusion that the footprint was a tell tale sign of a large bull elephant. The footprint could well be that of specie of dwarf elephant (extinct today) with big feet. Then again scratch marks and tusk slashes high up wouldn’t allow for the conclusion either since a tall female elephant with prominent teeth & big feet could have been the cause. In the circumstance, these possibilities could call for conclusive evidence or even witnessing the elephant itself. During Sri Lanka Holidays you will enjoy elephants in national parks and reserves of Sri Lanka.
Mahinda’s arrival makes a singular watershed event in the history of Sri Lanka.
If ever a single event shaped and signalized the course of the Sinhala nation’s destiny, it was the arrival of Arhath Mahinda from India and subsequent conversion of whole populace of Sinhalese into Buddhism. The gentle sway of the doctrine was to take root in the Sinhalese civilization to last for 5000 years. Unbroken, recorded Sinhalese Buddhist Civilization has survived since 543 BC for 2553 years till today. We reveal for you to revel: Our Island, Our Nation and Our Faith will prevail for another 2547 years until the emergence of next Buddha, Maithri Buddha. Fear not, Prince Diyasena has arrived.
Mahinda, The Hero of Modern Sri Lanka
Mahinda hailing from Ruhuna rescues the nation and becomes the Hero of Modern Sri Lanka.
On 26th July 2006, having launched the unparalleled humanitarian operation liberation with “The Turn of the Screw” (opening the sluice gate of reservoir closed by the enemy of the nation) at “Mother River” (Mavil Aru) and overcoming the numerous meddle and muddle stands of western interferences and intimidations, peerless Prince Diyasena aka Don Percy Mahendra (Mahinda) Rajapakse, hailing from Buddiyagama Weeraketiya in the Ruhunu Giruwa Pattuwa, on 19th May 2009, at the ‘Sea of Conches” (Nanthikkadal) vanquished the enemy of the nation, who put the island to torch and sword, bullets and bombs for nearly three decades.
Mahinda proclaims we are one. Having united the nation under one stranded, the magnanimous victor, Mahinda proclaimed: “We no longer have any more minorities; we have patriots. And we have those who are not patriots, which is the minority”. This Land is My Land; This Land is Your Land, from Point Pedro to Dondra Head. This is My Sri Lanka, Your Island. What we see today is nothing less than the birth of Modern Sri Lanka and renaissance of the least promoted tourist destination in the world, the modern, medieval and ancient Sri Lanka Holidays.
The Stone Temple of Sri Lanka Holidays versus bunpeiris
Big Buddha & Little I at the Stone Temple (Gal Vihara) of Sri Lanka Holidays
My inspiration from Buddhism. Written by bunpeiris.
Robert Knox, escaping in 1679 from a long captivity among the Sinhalese, had brought home stories of “a world of hewn stone pillars” he had passed during his flight through Anuradhapura of Sri lanka Holidays. His narrative was printed in 1817. Nearly a century & a half after Knox’s journey, a pioneer officer, Lieutenant Mitchell Henry Fagan of the 2nd Ceylon Regiment, forcing his way through almost impenetrable undergrowth in 1820 had come face to face with a colossal statue gazing out at him from the foliage: Gal Vihara.
A colossal figure of Buddha cut from a granite wall was most serenely gazing at him from out of the foliage. “I cannot describe what I felt at that moment,” he wrote.
Neither could I when I first saw the great statues at the tender age of 8. It was like dream that you dream when just about to wake up. And you wake up with the dream & still on a cloud. But the upright Big Buddha most definitely smiled at me. Am I dreaming? No, Big Buddha smiled again.
Since then, for a decade, I had been traveling yearly with my maternal grandfather who used to take all his relations & friends numbering around 30 for pilgrimage of fortnight at his expense on yearly basis during his prosperous days. Imagine 4 a.m. Lakshpatiya, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 1970s, young & old relations & friends all in full swing, pilgrim mode, spellbinding stories of village serpent medic Grand uncle Romeal (still tall and as straight as an arrow in Clint Eastwood style), Pol mal (coconut fronds), Ebert Silva passenger bus, Buddhist Homage Gathas (Thunyam sarane), large metal cauldrons & large clay pots, stuff & goods, baskets & sacks, dhal & dry fish, spices & local Palm honey sweet. How do you begin to write, how do you end writing? I have no idea.
My father (Baminaheennadige Donald Benedict Peiris, Lakshapatiya Rd., Moratuwa read “THERE’S A KIND OF HUSH” in www.bunpeiris.com) had been warning my maternal grandfather against excessive advertisements. Headstrong & flamboyant to the boot, my maternal grand father (Prangige Silmon Peter Peiris Gunaratne, Lakshapatiya, Moratuwa) had a devil may care attitude & paid scent respect to book keeping. Somebody had been following his two page advertisements in newspapers, musical advertisement at 11 am on Radio Ceylon: Aswaya gone tik tik. (then kids hit song Come’n Let’s ride the horse) Kumara Shanthiya (meaning Blessings to the Prince in Sanskrit) sure-fire Ayurvedic medication syrup of infants, toddlers, the tender young for all stomach upsets. The high flying stalwart was destined, most unfortunately, to have his wings clipped.
Another decade later, the greatest spoil sport of all time, Department of Inland Revenue of Ceylon made Ayu. Dr. Prangige Silmon Peter Peiris Gunaratne of Sri Vijaya Oushada Shalwa (Shri Vijaya Medical Hall, next to Vijitha Cinema, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka) bankrupt. How the mighty have fallen! Like an enormous tree that gave shade to all who came. My flamboyant philanthropist grandfather who had a couple of 1 Shri licence plate British made Austin Cambridge cars & a sizeable property of lands & houses lost all.
The concept of Sri Lanka Holidays commenced forming in the hearts of hearts.
Another decade later when I remarked I would love to set up luxury tour operations to draw in foreign tourists to show off my land & name the tour packages My Sri Lanka Holidays and Peter Peiris Fortnight, my father chuckled that my maternal grandfather would turn in his grave: his was charity pilgrimage with no pretensions of comforts at all; my dreams were of luxury travel with a view to profit. Not exactly, this is Sri Lanka Holidays, the Total Holiday Experience, I protested. I went on pushing my point. All the same, it’s a fair deal, I take my country to them, or rather bring them to my land, I argued. I reveal for them to revel with Sri Lanka Holidays. The concept of Sri Lanka Holidays commenced simmering in my mind.
In time, my grandfather was to provide me the inspiration to compose 108 web page website on Sri Lanka with great emphasis on the numerous Buddhist cultural attractions of Sri Lanka Holidays.
Unlike the German tourists, the British tourists seek for touring holiday packages with cultural orientation. After all it was them who rediscovered the lost cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa & Sigiriya of Sri Lanka Holidays.
Sri Lanka Holidays: Sunken Treasure, Golden Pearl Island and Ravana’s Swaymbhu lingum by bunpeiris
If a sheer single word could bring about the most divine joy, the word “treasure” would take the pole position to race against the most precious of all words: father, mother, son, daughter and lover. Of course, you may re-order the words, for your lover would hardly approve the sequence. Of course, you may hold the sequence at your peril but nobody would twitch a muscle nor bat an eye. Keep your eyes peeled and ears open for there’s more to swing low and final thrust of the argument is still ahead. If such is the magic of the single word, the ultimate magic could perhaps be encapsulated in a pair of words: sunken treasure.
The Great Basses Lighthouse off Kirinda
In the year1958, Mike Wilson discovered a hitherto unknown spectacular underwater territory that sparked interest in snorkling, scuba diving (skin diving), wreck diving and submarine photography (underwater photography) in the southern coast of Sri Lanka Holidays. The location was the Great Basses Reef, 6 miles away (as the crow flies) from Kirinda in the mainland (island of Sri Lanka). Great Basses Ridge and Little Basses Ridge run almost parallel to the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The wave-swept line of submerged rocks of Great Basses is home to Great Basses Light house while the Little Bases Ridge houses Little Basses Light house. Both light houses were then run by Imperial Light House Service of Great Britain. Close to the location of Little Basses light house is Daedalus Rock the site where Her Majesty’s ship Daedalus had been wrecked upon.
In the year 1959, Arthur C. Clarke and Rodney Johnklass joined Mike Wilson on an expedition. Arthur narrates: around the lighthouse was a fantastic submarine fairyland of caves, grottoes, coral-encrusted valleys-and fish in numbers such as I have never seen anywhere else in the world. Sometimes they crowded round us so closely that we could see nothing but a solid wall of scales and had literarily to push our way through. They were inquisitive and completely unafraid. During our visit we met eagle rays, turtles, angelfish, jacks, tuna (up to three hundred pounds!), groupers, and sharks, especially the latter. Arthur C. Clarke: The Indian Ocean Treasure (1972)
The Great Basses Reef and The Little Basses Reef
In the year 1961 Mike Wilson was once again at the Great Basses Reef. Arthur C, Clarke and Rodney Johnklass missed him. But then Mike managed pretty well without them, for he was accompanied by a couple of first class divers, members of the official U.S. community. They were young fellows. Arthur C. Clarke had no idea how his buddy Mike had managed to persuade the parents of Boby Kriegal and Mark Smith. They were only fourteen and thirteen years of age respectively.
Travel to Kirinda from Colombo (175 miles)
Quote Arthur C. Clarke: Mark Smith’s (14) diary, March 12, 1961 “Arrived.” That one word covers a 175-mile drive down the beautiful, palm-fringed, southwest coast of Ceylon-surely one of the loveliest in the world-past dozens of fishing villages with their picturesque outrigger boats drawn up on the beaches. The journey goes through the ancient port of Galle-which, say some historians, may be the Tarshish of the Bible–and beyond that into a lonely landscape of still lagoons and patches of jungle. You may meet wild elephants here, but they seldom bother motorists. Unquote
The tricky rope trip from boat to the Lighthouse
The seaport of Galle is home to VOC Galle Dutch Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Galle is a conveniently located to make visits to Sri Lanka Holidays Wild life sanctuaries Udawalave, Ruhuna Yala as well as to Sri Lanka Holidays ancient cities of Kataragama and Tissmaharama of Ruhuna, the cradle of the heroes of then Lanka and now Sri Lanka.
Boat ride from Kirinda to Light house of Imperial Light house Service at Great Basses Ridge (10 miles, as you sail) Sri Lanka Holidays Kirinda, a small fishing village is home to the boat house built by the imperial Light house Service of the colonial ruler, Great Britain. The boat “Pharos” leaves for the Light house at the Great Basses at 4 a.m. in the morning, a god damn it hour to wake up and most of all, to get up. But that is when the sea put up its best behavior: calmest. Think of the boat ride calm instead of the blanket warm and get up and double up. Viola! Mike and the boys would take the ten mile boat ride to the Great basses Reef.
The tricky rope trip from the boat at Great Basses Ridge to the light house (height of the light house)
Having taken the 10 mile boat ride to the Great Basses Reef, with no place for landing, the boat would be anchored about fifty feet away from the rocks. The only way up to the light house is by means of a thick rope slung across and down to the boat from a crane on the light house. They were hauled up it, swinging back and forth. The equipment- Aqua Lungs, air compressor, underwater cameras, files, food too were hauled up to the light house by the same rope.
The Great Basses Reef to the sunken treasure (30 feet down in the bottom of the sea)
Boby Kriegal lifts one of the silver coin masses
Date: 17th March 1961: Mike Wilson, Boby Kriegal and Mark Smith, seabed of the Indian Ocean, around the Great Basses Light House, Great Basses Ridge, 10 miles off the Historical beach of Kirinda, Sri Lanka Holidays; skin diving with a single cylinder aqua lung.
Boby Kriegal (14) speaks to the tape recorder of Arthur C. Clarke: Mike told us, he thought he saw a cannonball. Then we saw a small cannon, about two and a half feet long. Mike dived down-no, Mile didn’t dive down to it. He showed it to me and pointed. I dived down and tried to pull it up. I couldn’t do it. So then Mike dived and lifted it free, then put it back down. Mike said that the wreck might have hit on one side of the reef and some more might be on the other side; so we swam around the edge of it. After we got to the other side, the first thing we saw a shiny cannon, about two and a half feet long, sitting on the edge of a big canyon; and it was worn smooth by the water, and shining as though someone had put it there the other day.
Arthur C. Clarke narrates: and when I weighed the big lumps that Mike and the boys had brought back, I found that each contained almost exactly one thousand silver coins. There could be no doubt they were the remains of 1000 rupee bags that had been counted and sealed-just as bags of coins are handled by banks today. When the ship had gone down, the material of the bags had lasted long enough for the outer layers of rupees to become cemented together by the action of the sea. Thus inside the lump were perfectly preserved, while the whole mass retained the shape of the original bag. The coins had been minted in the reign of the Emperor Aurangzeb, who was the last of the great Mogul rulers of India for almost half a century, from 1658 to 1701, but when he died, his empire broke up in civil wars which paved the way for the Western invaders-the Portuguese, the French, and finally the British.
The Great Basses light house to the location of the sunken treasure (more than a thousand feet, a tremendous distance to cover even for a good swimmer)
Boby Kriegal and Mark Smith
At the end of mere 2 days of diving on the wreck, without proper equipment and with no boat, the three musketeers had brought back some two hundred pounds of material, including two little swivel guns (30 pounds each). Swimming to the Great Basses light house the location of the sunken treasure often took more than an hour. In the words of Arthur C. Clarke himself it was an astonishing performance.
A wall of solid silver
Quote Boby Kriegel (14) as tape recorded: Well, the coins are in the bottom, next to the cannon-about five feet long, say up to two feet wide. Then if you went along a side of the wall, I’d say it could have got down to six feet long and still about two and a half feet wide. But this was perpendicular to the bottom of the sand, so if it is laid over flat, it would probably be three feet wide. Knocked three or four hunks off this wall; I mean by hunks about a thousand coins stuck together. Unquote
Now that’s the mother load: the hunt is on; the search is on for a boat and equipment.
One good thing leads to another: Golden Pearl Island
Arthur C. Clarke suggested his buddy Mike to rent a boat. Mike Wilson harbored another idea: their own boat. That was an ambitious one: a boat that would cost about USD10,000 (1961). The road to a seaworthy boat shook up indomitable Clarke himself. Mike Wilson was determined to make it in local movie business: a 2 and a half hour adventure movie in color on a sunken treasure.
Mike Wilson films PeterThrockmorton
A sunken treasure, the most fortunate discovery and then the Herculean recovery would make everybody call you “our captain Marvel” and greet you “what a daring darling you are!” And that’s how we would call and greet Mike Wilson the diver, cameraman, the accidental treasure hunter of cultured and sophisticated variety. As if such a rarity wouldn’t immortalize him in the history of marine treasure hunts, Mike Wilson also earned eternal glory in the general populace of Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon too by dream producing and venture directing the adventure movie, the first color film of Sri Lanka, Ran Muthu Duwa which meant Golden Pearl Island in Sinhala.
And at that point of time, it was a pretty ambitious project in view of Mike Wilson’s not so impressive experience being confined to single 25-minute, 16-millimeter Kodachrome film titled “Beneath the Seas of Ceylon”. Then again just a few years ago his time at Kitulgala of Sri Lanka Holidays helping David Lean to direct the Second World War epic “The Bridge on the River Kwai” must have done a world of good for his confidence. Mike Wilson wasted no time and at a brisk pace went about writing the script, assembling his unit, chasing bankers and film distributors, and doing all the thousand that would make everything in ship shape about the movie with underwater scenes at beautiful beaches of Trincomalee. That is what bunpeiris would call dream producing and venture directing a movie.
One good thing leads to another: Swayambhuwa Linga
While filming Golden Pearl Island, Mike went on to discover non other than Swayambhuwa Linga (self bodied regenerative organ, the symbol of Hindu God Shiva), one of the 69 authentic stone carved siva lingam artifacts whose antiquity runs into half a decade of millenniums, at the seabed of beautiful beaches of Trincomalee. Such discoveries would have made any other mortal content for the rest of his lifetime; but not indomitable Mike Wilson. Having restored Swayambhuwa Linga to where it belonged, Koneshwaram Kovil at Trincomalle, Mike Wilson settled down at the sacred city of Kataragama of Sri Lanka Holidays to become an ascetic in search of God Skanda.
Golden Pearl Island takes Ceylon by storm
In the year 1962, the first Sinhala color film Ranmuthu Doowa (RMD as Mike and the gang called it) meaning Golden Pearl Island in Sinhala produced by Shesha Palihakkara and directed by Mike Wilson with Willie Blake behind the camera was released by Serendib Productions, Sri Lanka. Let me switch you over to my hero: my father.
Baminahennedige Donald Benedict Peiris {that’s my father,1930- 2005, Lakshapatiya, Moratuwa, western coastal belt of Sri Lanka; Prince of Wales’ College of Moratuwa, Ceylon Technical College, Moratuwa, which was decades later to be upgraded to University of Moratuwa where story teller of 2001 space odyssey, Sir Arthur C. Clarke was to become Dean; Welikada Wireless Station, Ceylon; Department of Meteorology, Colombo, Ceylon and Sri Lankan counterpart to WMO expert of World Meteorological Organization Project in Sri Lanka and Maldives, then Meteorological station, Midway Islands USA Naval Base – ITT. Read There’s a Kind of Hush} narrates: The movie took the little ancient tropical island of Sri Lanka by storm; the Ceylonese were held enthralled. Such was the popularity of the movie, it was recorded that every one in ten in Ceylon viewed the movie at one of the cinema theatres of the island. Mike Wilson, Rodney Johnklass and Willie Blake became household names in then (1962) populace of 10 million in the island of Sri Lanka. The star studded cast from our western coastal belt of Sri Lanka consisted of dashing and daring Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka(Bandu) of Hatari mould, Jeevarani Kuru Kula Sooriya, an exotic beauty called “the gorgeous one” (Kumari), Joe Abeywickrama (Sena), Anthony C. Perera (Bandu’s uncle), Joe Shane Gunaratne (Rajo), Austin Abeysekera (Danapala) and Vincent De Vaas (Muttusamy) & Thilakasiri Fernanado (Swami). Maestro W. D. Ameradeva (W. D. Albert) of our legendary hometown of Moratuwa (western coastal belt) composed enchanting music. The master musicians of Sri Lanka, Ms. Nanda Malini, Narada Disasekera and Milton Perera turned out melodious Sinhala songs titled “The world testifies that the human life is a flowing river” “Blooming flowers in the wild dancing to the scintillating breeze” and “Creepers of flowery Saman embracing flagrant Sadun tree”. The catchy tunes, the toe tingling beats broadcasted by Radio Ceylon (later named Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation) were soon blaring out of every radio (then called wireless sets based on vacuum valve technology) and radio fusion (an elementary radio) of the island. If those were Sinhala hit songs then, today those are golden oldies; if it was everybody’s dream film then, today it is a vintage movie. One more round of Champaign is served for all on the house. Photographs are taken by Mike Wilson, Rodney Johnklass, Arthur C. Clarke and Royal Ceylon Air Force. Copyright by Arthur C. Clarke and Mike Wilson.
That wasn’t the end. That was only the beginning: the road to a seaworthy boat. Mike Wilson got his boat. You need to be careful what you wish for: if you work hard enough, in all probability, you would get it. Then it is all yours to ride the waves. Join Google wave. Episode 1 is presented to you by bunpeiris of Riolta Sri Lanka Holidays.
Sri Lanka Holidays is supplemented, complemented and bolstered by a wide array of accommodation options ranging from luxury Sri Lanka Hotels of international standing to budget accommodation. The top of the flight luxury accommodation options range from five star resorts to handsome colonial mansions: eco-oriented hotels, boutique hotels, villas and tea estate bungalows. The high end luxury accommodation are in such close proximity to cultural, wildlife and nature attractions of Sri Lanka Holidays, staying in these hotels itself could turn out to be an overwhelming joy indeed. You may enjoy the lavish hospitality of top of the flight 5 star accommodation or opt for Sri Lanka Hotels of lesser standing. The tourists can even go for budget accommodation at guest houses or rest houses. If you a traveler on your own, you may easily rent a room with an attached bathroom in a friendly family home. The tourists who wish to enjoy at Sri Lanka Beaches could put them up at beach side cabana style accommodation too. But then again, Sri Lanka Holidays doesn’t feature dormitory-style accommodation at all, that is available, two a penny, all over in India. That is to say Sri Lanka Holidays doesn’t cater well for pot smoking shoe-string travelers, the counter culture long-haired, scantily clad hippy-like smelly weeds. Those weird weeds could even be refused visa on arrival and deported in the very next flight. Sinhalese, the local tourists who love to tour their beautiful island, as a nation find their way into reasonable facilities of privacy, space, and room. And they would hardly dish out accommodation facilities that they themselves wouldn’t choose, to the foreign tourists. Having said that, I must hasten to stress, in comparison to other Asian destinations, hotel rates of Sri Lanka Holidays, as a convention, produce high value for your hard-earned money. With numerous accommodation options available, you are free to enjoy the best Sri Lanka has to offer for a fraction of the price that your highness would pay in the western countries. You are treated right royally at Sri Lanka Hotels. Sri Lanka Hotel rates are at a slight variance during the year: the main tourist season during November to March records the higher end of the rates of Sri Lanka Hotels throughout the island, significantly in the western and southern beach resorts. But then bargains galore in the off seasons. During the month of April Sri Lanka Hotels and guest houses are in heavy demand in Nuwara Eliya of Central Highlands. Then again the tourist season for eastern coast (April to September) also records higher rates though confined strictly to the Sri Lanka Hotels in the eastern coast.
Hotels
Pride of the parade of Sri Lanka Hotels is taken by nature-oriented hotels designed by Sri Lanka’s most famous architect Geoffrey Bawa (1919–2003). Among the numerous modern hotels, the stunning sophisticated hotels with eco-orientation stands out like beacons of Sri Lanka Holidays: they are tourist attractions of their own right. In addition to Geoffrey Bawa hotels, Sri Lanka boasts of numerous other eco-oriented luxury Hotels.
Eco-oriented Hotels & Lodges Developers of Sri Lanka Holidays have risen up to the occasion caused by modern trend towards eco tourism to reap the benefit of its outstanding ecotourism potential. Sri Lanka is one of the 34 bio-diversity hot spots of the world. The latest grand scale hotel development project is Dutch Bay Resorts of “Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Development Project”, the newly launched eco-oriented mega tourism project of Sri Lanka.
Villas & Boutique Hotels
The concept of Sri Lanka Holidays villas and boutique hotels run parallel to eco-oriented hotels and lodges of Sri Lanka. Some of these set up in reconstructed or renovated old colonial villas offer elegant and luxurious accommodation with first class service.
Tea Estate Bungalows
The recently developed concept of tea estate bungalows has become popular among the high end clientele. The accommodation is set up in the renovated colonial estate bungalows once belonged to leading tea planters of Sri Lanka then called Ceylon. Ceylon Tea Trails leads the pack.
Guest houses
Guest houses comes in all standards: some of the Sri Lanka Holidays guest houses of superior standard are similar to small hotels; some set themselves up in the mid range bracket; lower range guest houses consist of just a couple of rooms with private attached bathrooms.
Rest Houses
The concept of Sri Lanka Holidays rest houses was originally established by the colonialists Dutch (1656-1796) for the traveling Dutchmen who held sway in the costal regions of Sri Lanka. The rest houses became the entrenched feature of outstation accommodation of the traveling civil servants during colonial era of Ceylon during the British rule (1815-1948). Today, among the well maintained rest houses of the island are those operated by Ceylon Hotel Corporation. While Polonnaruwa rest house, Belihuloya rest house, Hanwella rest house, Pussellawa rest house, Ambepussa rest house, Kitulgala rest house, Dambulla rest house, Polonnaruwa rest house, Sigiriya rest house, Habarana rest house, Medawacchiya rest house are still known as rest houses, some others have been converted to fully-fledged hotels of Sri Lanka Holidays.
Sri Lanka Holidays arrival of Prince Vijaya: extract No 1. off the divine diary of God Vishnu by bunpeiris
“Sri Lanka Holidays King Sihabahu’s son, Vijaya from Lal country has reached Lanka, together with seven hundred followers. Lord of gods, my Faith will be established in Lanka. Therefore, protect him along with his followers & also Sri Lanka Holidays Lanka diligently”
My lord Sakka, the lord of the gods had no hesitation in entrusting the protection of Lanka to me for my love for the little island was no secret for him. “My lord Vishnu, the command of master rests in your hands”.
At last, here lands the Humans, the favorite tribe of all gods. The ships would carry no less than seven hundred Vangas. I had been tired of Demonic tribes in the island of Sri Lanka Holidays Lanka. The demonic brutalities of the Malyawath, Malin & Sumalin had severely tested the boundaries of divine magnanimity of mine. I failed. I was no longer able to stand aside tolerating the heinous crimes: I forced the unhuman off the kingdom of Lanka.
Then again in spite of the great splendor & magnificence of Sri Lanka Holidays King Kuwera, he was brought to an early demise by King Ravana, again of Demon tribe. King Ravana, although a non-human, was a man of principle, if I may say so. After all you might agree in view of my poetic license being divine. All good things must come to an end & the great splendor & glory of King Ravana too found its way into non existence. He broke the commandment that Moses would inscribe in time to come, in tabernacles ‘thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife’. What a price did he pay for a woman? He lost the whole kingdom, all his warriors, all his ten heads.
Human centuries later Gas Cogine would even jest, pointing to the ten heads of King Ravana Of Lanka while being taken to the execution by decapitation. He had the audacity to reap the fruits of his clandestine love affair, consummate his love with Queen Pramila. Now, he would gladly lose his head for his women. Humans would always loss their head for a women; that’s the eccentric beauty of their race. But then viewed in the backdrop of all non-divine virtues & vices, it was not much unlike of human race. Thousands ships were launched in Greece to bring back Helen of Troy; if Cleopatra’s nose could be half an inch shorter, western civilization, in time to come, would unravel in a different direction; Caesar will be bound to loss the script in Sri Lanka Holidays.
But then again all those weren’t of great importance. Timely divine intervention to prevent the epic war between Kauravas & Pandavas ought to have taken place. It is easy for now, everybody to sit back & point fingers at gods. But then did we the gods fail in that too or was it the fault of humans? Isn’t Karma ought to take its cause without divine intervention? Aren’t the humans endowed with Free Will?
Human greed was such Duryodana wouldn’t return even a bastard wreck of a village to five Pandayas. Since we have bestowed the concept of honour, would five Pandaya simply leave their motherland? Had the epic war not occurred, hadn’t put kotis of splendid young men to an early demise, the human civilization taken a much superior, almost divine course of passage. Had the epic war not occurred, the humans would be deprived of the literary masterpiece of Mahabharata, & among millions of others, blogger bunpeiris wouldn’t read Mahabharata at the age of ten in his mother tongue, Sinhala.
But then all these monologues should be put into the back burner. I rush to the ancient Island of Lanka. What a lovely name? In Sanskrit, the language of the gods, name Lanka means “The resplendent Island”. In the guise of a wandering ascetic, I resort to sit at a foot of a giant Na tree, the would be national tree of the nation. My mind’s eye peeped into the future. No fiction would ever be composed anywhere near to the history of Lanka that would begin to unravel within a few human moments. The ultimate blow to fiction would be hammered broadside by the history of Lanka. The grandeur & splendor of the epic narration of history of Lanka that would be narrated in time to come in Mahavamsa would belittle all human efforts of fiction. What a glorious nation it is bound to become?
I can see the ships anchored & men diving off the ships to the shallow waters. Prince Vijaya is the first reach the beachhead. His followers follow close at heel & rest in the copper colored beach. Having rested, they get up & wipe the sand off their palms. Some of them stare at their palms in amazement. The palm which had rested on the palm colored beach have become copper colored. Very fine coppery sand wouldn’t leave their hands. “Thambapanii’ Prince Vijaya exclaims.
Venturing into the land, they find me seated serenely at the foot of the giant Na tree. “Oh! The first one we meet is wandering ascetic. We have been wanderers too. It’s a fine omen. Now it seems we are bound to settle in the island. And we might as well pick up a leaf from his lord of serenity too.” They close in & kneel at my feet at the beach of Lanka. “May you live long, my lord” the Prince greets me in Sinhala giving birth to the traditional Sri Lanka Holidays greeting of the nation “Ayubowan”. “May you live long too” And may your progeny live long too.”
“My lord, what do you call this island?”
‘Prince, this is the land of Lanka, the resplendent island”
The prince watches me intently. My answer addressing him with his rank ruffled him to an extent, yet not much. He is a fine specimen of a human being: dashing with a touch of arrogance. I read the mind of the prince: Oh! Lanka, a lovely little name! Of course it is a resplendent island; our palms are already copper colored.
My lord, is this island inhabited?
“There are no human beings here. Fear not, there will be no danger to you”
The prince watches me closely. He wonders if there aren’t humans, whether there could there be non-humans. He also thinks of my blessings on his progeny, assurance. He has not even a faint shadow of a fear of any being. Right over his heart, he sports a huge solid mettle pendent, two human knuckles thick mini shield embossed with well sculpted majestic face of a great lion. The pendent is plated with Teflon providing it a kind of skidding surface: no great spear would pierce it. On his rippling arms and rounded wrists too are smaller versions of the same lion shield. His rear is unprotected: a sure sign he wouldn’t turn tail in the battle. Two crossed swords in leather sheaths hangs over his shoulders giving tell tale signs that he is ambidextrous. For a man, he wears a high volume of mettle. But then, without being a giant, he is exceedingly well built and doesn’t seem to be weighed down by protective metal shields. Without wearing the traditional battle armor, he is ready to give battle. A pair of designer cut brilliant blue Ceylon Sapphires of The Island Of Gems dazzle in his exceedingly long ears. His long ears say of his royal clan: he is from no less than Maha Sammatha Vansa of Gauthama Buddha. The lion like forehead, the manly moustache conjoined with a well trimmed designer beard and his commando poise is very impressive. He is ahead of his time, very stylish, chic. Cool, I like his style, by god. Welcome to Sri Lanka Holidays.
I chose to circumvent the question of the prince. Of course the island of Lanka is inhabited. And it is inhabited by no less than Demons: they can change form in a split second; appear of disappear at their whim; move rocks & rivers. Most of all, their military prowess is on par with us, the gods. The prince & his outcasts are already in the demon’s den. Now, it is time for me, to interfere. My Lord, the king of Gods, Sakra entrusted me to protect the island till the arrival of next Buddha, Maithree Buddha in another 5000 human years. Looking into the future of history of Lanka, I could see the intermittent invasions of marauding Dravidians from South India would wreak havoc upon Lanka, the resplendent island. I made a note in my digidivinetel diary to help the heroic princes who would appear mostly from south of the land, Ruhuna to regain their kingdom and reestablish glory: King Walagamba (BC103- 76), Prince Dutugamunu (BC 161-137) , Prince Kirthi (1065-1120 AD), Prince Parakrama (1164-1197 AD) and Prince Diyasena (Modern Sri Lanka). After all we, the gods could only help those who help themselves. The ultimate test of the mettle of the lion nation would come in the war against a Dravidian marauder in just over 2500 human years, halfway between the period of which the next Buddha, Maithree would appear in this planet called earth, a zillion light years far from the abode of we, the gods, the resplendent beings endowed with non earthly powers denied to other beings. A charismatic and majestic lion-hearted prince endowed with a lion like forehead and adorned with a manly moustache from Ruhuna would emerge with his sibling Gotabhaya to take the battle to the Dravidian marauder at the “The Turn Of The Screw” at “The Turn Of The Tide” and overhaul the pathetic notion of “human impossible” with the conquest at “The Sea of Conches.” The villain who would put Kalinga Maga to the shame would be vanquished by Prince Diyasena aka Don Percy Mahendra (Mahinda) Rajapakse, the hero of Modern Sri Lanka. He would show the rest of the planet, to take the world on, all you need is human courage.
Chanting my Sri Lanka Holidays blessings melodiously, I sprinkle water on all of them, one by one. They gaze in amazement; the bowl of water wouldn’t go empty. In a flash, all of the followers of the Prince are on their feet with swords drawn off their sheaths.
“Stay your hands” commands the Prince who is still seated.
All of them sheath their swords, yet alert to all possible signals from the prince & signs & sounds of the surroundings. Their eyes are peeled scanning the whole landscape in the front & the flanks; their ears are tuned to pick up all sounds from rear.
The Prince holds his stare at me. He had noted me fluttering of my eyes while chanting: the ascetic is not a demon. I look back to his past; he hasn’t encountered Sri Lanka Holidays demons.
“Nobody makes a move” commands Prince.
“Be at ease” the prince commands once again.
All of them kneel down once again in the coppery beaches of Sri Lanka.
Having sprinkled water on all seven hundred of them, I take a small ball of cotton thread & once again chanting tie pieces of thread around teach & every one of them. Once again they watch me in sheer amazement; the small ball of thread keeps unraveling yards & yards & still doesn’t diminish in size at all.
“May all Sri Lanka Holidays gods protect you my lord, May you gain great merits by way of blessing dispensed upon us” the prince declares.
“May all big & small gods protect all of you, great prince. “May you go with the ways of Sri Lanka Holidays gods.”
Location Sri Lanka Holidays Dutch Bay Island is located close to where Portugal bay meets Dutch bay of the Kalpitiya peninsula of the Puttalama lagoon in the north western coastal belt of beautiful island of Sri Lanka.
Peniinsula Sri Lanka Holidays Kalpitiya peninsula is a sandy stretch of land about 30 miles long and 4-5 miles wide with Indian ocean to the west & Puttalama lagoon to the east. Across the lagoon to the east in the mainland is Thambapanni (Puttalama) where the founder of the island nation, Prince Vijaya & his 700 followers arrived from Bengal, East India in 543 B.C.
The Dutch Bay Island
The Dutch Bay Island was so named by the Dutch colonialists (1656-1796), who captured the Portuguese Fort at Kalpitiya to engage in trade of arecanuts & salt, the products of the region.
Sri Lanka Holidays Dutch Bay Island significance Sri Lanka Holidays Kalpitiya peninsula is also a marine sanctuary: a spectrum of diverse habitats consists of bar reefs, mangrove swamps, salt marshes flat coastal plains, saltpans and vast sand dune beaches. The area has been earmarked by the government of Sri Lanka for high-end tourism of Sri Lanka Holidays.
Sri Lanka Holidays Dutch Bay Resorts Development Sri Lanka Holidays ‘Dutch Bay Resorts’ in the supremely serene coastal area of Kalpitiya peninsula will be open for the tourists on the 11. 11. 2011 at 11.11 a.m. The foundation stone of the Sri Lanka Holidays Dutch Bay Resorts, spread over1600 hectares, was laid on 9. 9. 2009 at the premises secured by the Six Senses group in the year 2008.
Sri Lanka Holidays Dutch Bay Resorts accommodation
60 luxurious mangrove boutique chalets are designed to be built within the inland water bodies while the 20 two storey Signature Villas are designed to be set up in the Lagoon itself.
Sri Lanka Holidays Dutch Bay Resorts developer
Six Senses, a renowned international hospitality chain has closed ranks with and ‘Swarna Dweep’ the hospitality developers based in Bahrain. ‘Dutch Bay Resorts’, an up-market luxury resort ( 6 star) of hideaway boutique chalets and the Signature villas will be managed by Six Senses under the commercial name ‘Six Senses Hideaway at Dutch Bay’.
Sri Lanka Holidays comments by few good men at the top
“The location is pure, untouched Sri Lankan beauty; tapping into new local destinations would create still more reasons for tourists to travel to the island.” Minister of Tourism Promotion in Sri Lanka, Faizer Mustapha
“It’s wonderful for Sri Lanka Tourism to tap into previously unexploited holiday destinations within the country” Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau
“This would also help in realizing the goal set by the President of 2.5 million tourists by 2016; especially because we only have 17,000 rooms as opposed to the 5,000 more needed to host such a capacity.” Minister of Tourism Promotion in Sri Lanka, Faizer Mustapha
“The price range of the new hotel would start at USD 350 for smaller chalets while larger villas will cost approximately USD 800-1000.” Neil de Silva, Chairman of Dutch Bay Resorts.
Sri Lanka Holidays Dutch Bay Resorts is the first development project within “Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Development Project”, the mega tourism project of Sri Lanka.
In September 2008, The Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka declared on its plans to launch an ambitious project (total investment:US$4 billion; number of islets:14; allocated length of 30 mile long peninsula: 8 miles; acerage: 4000 acres; number of rooms: 4000-5000; service: 4-6 personnel per room to guarantee luxury service) named ‘Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Development Project’, a public private partnership (PPP) to begin in 2009 & to have it developed within 5 years, to attract ‘ultra-rich’ tourists to the luxury accommodations in the Kalpitiya Dutch Bay Region with golf courses, amusement parks, observation towers and even a full-fledged international airport for which an airstrip has already been mapped out in Palavi close to the naval base. The project that could be identified with the mini city concept will have expanded infrastructure facilities: road development, electricity, hospitals and condominiums.
Sri Lanka Holidays Dreamweavers with sustainable Tourism
According to Mr. Prasad Galhena, project director of Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Development, the whole project is completely eco-friendly with sustainable power generation and consumption, green technology, green building design. The islands will feature luxury accommodations and condominiums.
“We hope to impose mandatory requirements, such as the growing of vegetables and fruits for the resort by people in the adjoining areas, which would invariably benefit and uplift living standards of local residents as well” Mr. Neil De Silva, Chairman, Dutch Bay Resorts.
Sri Lanka Holidays caution: possible loss of water layer below the soil Sri Lanka Holidays Kalpitiya peninsula is also a freak of nature. It has no rock surface underlying the soil. What it has below the soil is sea. For centuries rain has filtered through the sand forming a layer of fresh water. The development of Kalpitiya peninsula mustn’t end with loss of fresh water layer.
Swarana Dweep meaning Golden Island in Sanskrit to the front at Kalpitiya
Swarna Dweep is a Public Limited Company established by Norwich International Consultants together with a team of highly qualified Europeans and a Sri Lankan Entrepreneur currently operating in Europe and the Middle East. Swarna Dweep has been established in Sri Lanka under the Companies Act No. 7 of 2007. Swarna Dweep will focus on the development of world-class, 21st Century sustainable Tourism, Real Estate and Transportation portfolios with a target Internal Rate of Return (IRR) in excess of 21% over the 5 year term of the equity fund in the current market conditions. Swarna Dweep will operate a close ended fund denominated in US Dollars and already has approval from the Sri Lankan Government Board of Investment (BOI) to repatriate the funds with a 15 year tax holiday.
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Sustainable tourism (Green i.e., eco) credentials: to be edited
Location: Sri Lanka Holidays Fortress Hotel is located at the beach village of Koggala (of stilt fisherman)130 km from Colombo & 157 km from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), 16km south of historically living & thriving southern seaport city of Galle, home to UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sri Lanka Holidays VOC Galle Dutch Fort. Lovely Unawatuna Bay Beach is just 5km away.
Setting: Sri Lanka Holidays Fortress Hotel is of a magnificent tropical setting. It stands right next to the palm fringed pristine beach of Koggala close to the picturesque Lake of Koggala. The free flowing enormous Infinity swimming pool overlooking the Indian Ocean adds onto the oasis of peace and serenity.
Architecture: Sri Lanka Holidays Fortress Hotel, Koggala inspired by the style of Dutch Fort is another one of those numerous Sri Lanka Holidays edifices, where the modernity of interior design synthesis with the traditional Sinhalese concepts of eco-orientation. Rising by the seaside, the fortress-like resort’s wall enclose the beautifully landscaped verdant gardens giving shelter & shade to the hammocks, day bed. The massive gates befitting a fortress open up to an awesome view of Indian Ocean through the open air reception area.
International recognition: Sri Lanka Holidays Fortress hotel is Small Luxury Hotel.
Type of Lodging: Hotel.
Luxury category of the hotel: 5 star Hotel by International standings.
Hotel chain franchise: none.
Accommodation: All 49 rooms with high ceilings & multi level floors are luxuriously appointed with designer fittings & equipped with super king size beds, open plan bathrooms, & sophisticated entertainment systems with plasma TV screen.
The range of rooms: Fortress Room, Ocean Room, Ocean Loft & Fortress Residence.
Restaurants: “Pepper” for breakfast, lunch & dinner; “Heat” for wood fired seafood pizza & Mediterranean a la carte; ‘T’ Tea lounge for a range of exquisite “Ceylon Tea”
Spa: Ancient Ayurveda medical treatment to the fore at the modern spa. The resident Ayurvedic doctor is at hand to direct most suitable Ayurvedic treatment for you.
Excursions: Fishing, Turtle hatchery, Kottawa tropical rain forest, VOC Galle Dutch Fort, Ruhuna Yala National Park, Handunugoda Tea Factory are few among the regular excursions. Water sports center offers Scuba diving with PADI certified professional divers.
SRI LANKA HOLIDAYS ECO TOURIST VILLAGE AT AMPITIGALA, SRI LANKA
The very first Sri Lanka Holidays Eco tourist village was established at the hamlet of Ampitigala, Bulathsinhala area in Madurawala, Horana by Minister of Tourism Nandana Gunathilaka on 27th August 2009.
Distance from Colombo: 60km
Distance from Kalutara tourist Hotel Zone: 24 km
Cost of the project: LKR 8 million
Concept: Sri Lanka Holidays Eco tourist village is established to showcase & promote the traditional local industries of the region: Hand loom, Pottery, Rubber industry
Objectives:
(a) To educate local tourists as well as foreign tourists on traditional life style & traditions of the region.
(b) To upgrade the living status of the inhabitants of the Sri Lanka Holidays eco villages.
The road ahead: pioneering project will be followed with a chain of Sri Lanka Holidays Eco tourist villages around the island of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Holidays Aditya Sustainable tourism (Green i.e., eco) credentials: to be edited. Location : Sri Lanka Holidays Aditya boutique hotel is located at the coastal village of Rathgama midway between the Surf beach of Hikkaduwa & the VOC Galle Dutch Fort in the South Western Coastal belt of Sri Lanka. Setting: Beach front on the secluded stretch of beach. Luxurious Accommodation: Sri Lanka Holidays Aditya boutique hotel consists of 12 spacious and elegant suites. Each & every suit is stylishly decorated objects d’art and antiques & set on its own theme. Facilities: In-room facilities include large-screen TV, DVD/CD player, mini-bar, safe, hairdryer, tea / coffee making facility. Each suite consists of private plunge pool/Jacuzzi. The Amal restaurant: It cannot get any better with the guests being free to pick their own sweet timings for meals. You may have full breakfast at the midday, with no worries at all. Over & above the timings, the guests may request their custom feast and the master chef would oblige. Then again you may have your own private table set up wherever you choose- in the restaurant, by the pool, in the gardens, on the beach or in the privacy of your own suite. Sri Lanka Holidays Savitri Garden Spa at Aditya Resorts The Savitri Garden Spa at Sri Lanka Holidays Aditya Resorts open to all hotel guests, is not confined to regular massage & regular foot reflexology. The Spa goes beyond the regular therapies to infuse a deeper sense of well-being and rejuvenation to their guests with an elaborate course: Aditya Signature Massage that uses a fusion of techniques and essential oils to restore the glow to body and soul. The couples are offered floral or milk bath in the utmost in privacy in addition to the regular & Aditya Signature therapies.
Riolta Sri Lanka Hotel Guide 
Location : Sri Lanka Holidays Aditya boutique hotel is located at the coastal village of Rathgama midway between the Surf beach of 
