Sri Lanka is Small Miracle

Map of Sri Lanka

View Larger Map

Flag of Sri Lanka

The Flag of Sri Lanka, also called the Lion Flag, consists of a gold lion, holding a sword in its right fore paw, in front of a crimson background with four golden bo leaves in each corner. Around the background is a yellow border, and to its left are 2 vertical stripes of equal size in saffron and green, with the saffron stripe closest to the lion. The lion represents bravery, and the four bo leaves represent meththa, karuna, muditha and upeksha. The orange stripe represents the Sri Lankan Tamils, the green stripe represents Sri Lankan Moors, the crimson background represents European Burghers and is also a reference to the rich colonial background of the country and the yellow border represents other ethnic groups such as Sri Lankan Malays etc.

Coat of arms of Sri Lanka

The Coat of arms of Sri Lanka is the official coat of arms of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. It is used by the Sri Lankan Government in connection with the administration and government of the country. The current coat of arms has being in use since 1972.

The coat of arms features a gold lion passant, holding a sword in its right fore paw (the same lion from the flag of Sri Lanka) in the centre on a maroon background surrounded by golden petals of a Blue Lotus the national flower of the country. This is placed on top of a traditional grain vase that sprouts sheaves of rice grains that circle the border reflecting prosperity.

The crest is the Dharmacakra, symbolizing the country's foremost place for Buddhism and just rule. Traditional Sinhalese heraldic symbols for the sun and the moon form the supporters.

the National flower of Sri Lanka

Nymphaea nouchali is the National flower of Sri Lanka where it is known as Nil Mānel. Since "Nil" means ‘blue’ in Sinhala, the Sinhalese name of this plant is often rendered as "blue lotus" in English.

In Sri Lanka this plant usually grows in buffalo ponds and natural wetlands. Its beautiful aquatic flower has been mentioned in Sanskrit, Pali and Sinhala literary works since ancient times under the names "Kuvalaya", "Indhīwara", "Niluppala", "Nilothpala" and "Nilupul" as a symbol of virtue, discipline and purity. Buddhist lore in Sri Lanka claims that this flower was one of the 108 auspicious signs found on Prince Siddhartha's footprint.It is said that when Buddha died, lotus flowers blossomed everywhere he had walked in his lifetime.

The star lotus might have been one of the plants eaten by the Lotophagi of Homer's Odyssey.

About Sri Lanka

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and known as Ceylon before 1972, is an island country in South Asia, located about 31 kilometres (19.3 mi) off the southern coast of India, a nation with which it shares common culture, language and religion.

As a result of its location in the path of major sea routes, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia. It has also been a center of the Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times and is one of the few remaining abodes of Buddhism in South Asia, including Ladakh, Bhutan and the Chittagong Hill Tracts, as well as being a bastion of Hinduism.[10] The Sinhalese community forms the majority of the population; Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, form the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include Moors, Burghers, Kaffirs, Malays and the indigenous Vedda people.

The country is famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, coconuts, rubber and cinnamon - which is native to the country. The natural beauty of Sri Lanka's tropical forests, beaches and landscape, as well as its rich cultural heritage, make it a world famous tourist destination. The island also boasts the first female Prime Minister in the modern world, Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

After over two thousand years of rule by local kingdoms, parts of Sri Lanka were colonized by Portugal and the Netherlands beginning in the 16th century, before control of the entire country was ceded to the British Empire in 1815. During World War II, Sri Lanka served as an important base for Allied forces in the fight against the Japanese Empire. A nationalist political movement arose in the country in the early 20th century with the aim of obtaining political independence, which was eventually granted by the British after peaceful negotiations in 1948.

Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Peradeniya, the name
Peradeniya is believed to take its exotic name from Sinhalese names Pera (guava) and Deniya (a plain). The name also reveals, although Guava is not indigenous to Sri Lanka, introduction of the fruit to the island and cultivation had occurred even prior to the era of British Colonialists in Ceylon.

Royal Botanical Gardens,
Two key Botanical Gardens exist in Sri Lanka that presents visitors the chance to glimpse some of the beautiful plant life that grows here. Both the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and the Hakgala Botanical Gardens offer beautiful greenery, a diverse selection of plants and the chance to partake in a relaxing stroll through nature.

The gardens all have a rich history and most of them were all formulated well over a century ago having being further developed under British rule.

The botanical gardens provide the perfect location for the ardent botany lover and enthusiast to take a relaxing stroll through various types of plant life. Furthermore, the gardens are also beautifully maintained and provide a charming and naturalistic experience that is sure to delight all those who pass through them.

Sri Lanka is a city that has many different sides to it, but the gardens truly showcase the natural and harmonious side of the country through its various forms of plant life.

Peradeniya Botanical Garden

Two key Botanical Gardens exist in Sri Lanka that presents visitors the chance to glimpse some of the beautiful plant life that grows here. Both the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and the Hakgala Botanical Gardens offer beautiful greenery, a diverse selection of plants and the chance to partake in a relaxing stroll through nature. The gardens all have a rich history and most of them were all formulated well over a century ago having being further developed under British rule. The botanical gardens provide the perfect location for the ardent botany lover and enthusiast to take a relaxing stroll through various types of plant life. Furthermore, the gardens are also beautifully maintained and provide a charming and naturalistic experience that is sure to delight all those who pass through them. Sri Lanka is a city that has many different sides to it, but the gardens truly showcase the natural and harmonious side of the country through its various forms of plant life.

Daha Ata Sanniya

The "Daha Ata Sanniya" is a traditional dance ritual held to exorcise 18 types of diseases from the human body. Though an extremely colourful and vibrant pageant, most Sri Lankans do not get the chance of witnessing it, due to the performance's exorbitant costs and the long duration.
The origin of this Shanthi Karmaya (blessing) took place in the times of ancient kings and was performed in the southern and western parts of the country. According to the story, while King Sankapala was at war, his wife who was pregnant had a sudden craving for a certain variety of mango. As she ate it, her maid of honour too had wanted a piece of the fruit, but had been refused by the Queen. Angry at this refusal, the maid cursed her and when the King returned after the war, told him that the Queen had conceived out of wedlock. The story was believed and the Queen was sliced in two with a sword. The baby was born and ate off his mother and so, a devil was born. As the story goes, lead by this devil, 18 other devils were created and they in turn came to towns and cities and began to spread in the form of diseases. It is to counter this type of sickness that the Daha Ata Sanniya originated.

'Daha Ata Sanniya" will be performed in two sections where the first part will consist of seven palis, while the second part will be performed as the 18 sannis.

The mask known as Dahaata Sanniya or ‘eighteen disease’ is studded with 18 diseased faces atop a pair of their gods and two spirits one the spreader of pain through disease and other the saviour is placed vertically apart. Prof. M.H. Goonatilleka explained that in folk religion this is in vogue. He explained that "Pritiatory magical and therapeutic effects of mask and attendant rituals of Sri Lanka are still not forgotten in the remote parts of the country. The dancer donning demon masks may not be aware of the significance of ritual transformation and the assumption of the role of the disease-causing demon."

Those eighteen masks are:

01. Buta Sanniya which is associated with derangement, distortion and listlesness of limbs;
02. Jala Sanniya relates with vomitting, dysentry etc;
03. Gulma sannya refers to lack of appetite, swelling of the abdomen ;
04. Kana Sanniya relates with blindness;
05. Kora Sanniya and
06. Bihiri Sanniya relate with Lameness and Deafness respectively;
07. Vata Sanniya is related with Flatulence provoked by aerial humour;
08. Slesma Sannya is associated with Phlegmatic diseases;
09. Pneumonia is represented with mask Kola Sanniya;
10. Maru Sanniya is wallowing and contortions in the eyes etc.
11. Amukku Sanniya relates with running with the head tilted to the left trembling of the limbs;
12. Golu is Dumbness;
13. Vevulum Sanniya is associated with shivering and feats;
14. Gini Jala Sanniya is about burning sensation,headache and fatigue;
15. Pissu or Kapala Sanniya is related with madness and delirium;
16. Demala Sanniya is also related with madness with distortion of the body;
17. The Naga Mask is related with swelling of the faces and peeling of skins and
18. Deva Mask is related with epidemics and infectious diseases

Sinharaja

Dense, dark, wet and mysterious - Sinharaja is a primeval forest for meditation, relaxation and for scientific exploration. This relatively undisturbed expanse of primary forest is a Sri Lankan heritage - the last patch of sizeable lowland evergreen Rain Forest still remaining more or intact or undisturbed in our island.

The forest is steeped in deep legend and mystery. The word Sinharaja means, lion (Sinha) king (Raja) and the popular belief it that the legendary origin of the Sinhala people in Sri Lanka is form the descendants of the union the lion king who once lived in the forest and a princess.

Today, the spirit of the legend remains captured in solitude in the silent forest and the rising mist of the early dawn. More than time however separates the modern explorer in the Sinharaja forest from its legendary inhabitants, man has rapidly penetrated the seemingly inaccessible wilderness of the Sri Lanka's rainforest which once covered perhaps over 100,000 ha. of the South Western hills and lowlands. The present reserve is but a glimpse of its former glory, occuphying a narrow silver of land 21 km. in length and 3.7 km. in width, covering 11187 ha. of undisturbed and logged forest, scrub and fern land. It was declared an International Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978, then a National Wilderness Area in 1988 under the National Heritage Site in 1989.

To the casual observer, the forest represents a tropical rain forest with a dense tall stand of trees, steep and rugged hills etched by numerous rocky streams and rivulets. The value of forests such as Sinharaja are well known for their functions as watersheds and store houses of great biological wealth. It is a rich treasure treasure trove of nature with a great diversity of habitats and a vast repository of Sri Lanka's endemic species found no where else in the world. Sinharaja therefore, represents an irreplaceable genepool, a refugia for all those rare and endangered forms of life, both fauna and flora.

Nuwara Eliya

The city was founded by non other than illustrious Samuel Baker,the legendary discoverer of Lake Albert and the explorer of the Nile in 1846. Such was the salubrious climate that in no time Nuwara Eliya became the prime sanctuary of the British civil servants and planters in Ceylon. Nuwara Eliya, called Little England then, was also the ideal hill country retreat where the British colonialists could immerse in their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting,elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket.

Although the town was founded in the 19th century by the British, today the whole district is visited by native travelers, specially during the month of April, the season of flowers, pony races, go cart races and auto rally.

Many of the buildings retain features from the colonial period such as the Grand Hotel, Hill Club, Town Post Office and even new hotels are often built and furnished in the colonial style such as the Alpine Hotel. Anyone who visits the city can wallow in its nostalgia of bygone days by visiting these land mark buildings. Many private homes still maintain their old English-style lawns and gardens.
Climate

Due to the high altitude, Nuwara Eliya has a much cooler climate than the lowlands of Sri Lanka, with a mean annual temperature of 16 °C. But the temperature changes and sometimes it can be as low as 3°C. In the winter months it is quite cold at night, and there can even be frost. although it rapidly warms up as the tropical sun climbs higher during the day.
Demographics

Nuwara Eliya is the only district in the country where the Indian Tamils form the majority with 50.6% of the population. The Sinhalese (40.2%), Tamils (6.5%) and the Moors come next respectively. Many tea plantation workers are whose ancestors were brought over to Sri Lanka by the British in the 19th century.
Language

Sinhala and Tamil are the two major languages spoken in Nuwara Eliya. English is also widely used by the locals.
Festivals
Nuwara Eliya Town Square

The town really comes alive in April for the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year, and it is difficult to find accommodation as Sri Lankans holiday in the region during this period. The festive season starts on April 1 annually in a ceremonial manner. The ceremony consists mainly of a band show in which all the local school bands participate.

Main attractions during April season include the numerous motor racing and horse racing events. Motor racing comes alive with the Mahagastotte and Radella Hill Climbs, the former being run since 1934. The Nuwara Eliya Road Race and the 4X4 Lake Cross on edge of Lake Gregory attract a fair share of enthusiasts. Parties are held nightly in the hotels, and the season culminates in the nine furlong (1811 m) Governor's Cup, Golf Tournerments and the flower show at the end of the month.
Attractions
Victoria Park.

The town's attractions include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on Lake Gregory. Victoria Park is an attractive and well-used oasis. It is popular with birdwatchers at quieter times because of the good opportunities it gives to see various species, particularly the Indian Blue Robin, Pied Thrush or Scaly Thrush lurking in the denser undergrowth. The Kashmir Flycatcher is another attractive bird species found in the park. Galway's Land Bird Sanctuary, close to Lake Gregory, is another wildlife site of 0.6 km².

The town is a base for visits to Horton Plains National Park. This is a key wildlife area of open grassy woodland. Species found here include the Leopard, Sambar, and the endemic Purple-faced Langur. Endemic highland birds include the Dull-blue Flycatcher, Sri Lanka White-eye, and Yellow-eared Bulbul. The plains also has a well-visited tourist attraction at World's End, a sheer precipice with a 1050 m drop. The return walk passes the scenic Baker Falls. Early morning visits are best, both to see the wildlife, and to view World's End before mists close in during the later part of the morning.

One of the distinctive features of Nuwara Eliya's countryside is the widespread growing of vegetables, fruit and flowers usually associated with temperate Europe. This "Little England" is covered with terraces growing potatoes, carrots, leeks, and roses, interspersed with tea bushes on the steeper slopes.

The slow-growing tea bushes of this highland region produce some of the world's finest Orange Pekoe tea, and several tea factories around Nuwara Eliya offer guided tours and the opportunity to sample or purchase their products.
Other interesting places
A temple to Hanuman near Nuwara Eliya

One is a grave stone of one British governor located in the very corner of the golf grounds. He was famous for elephant hunting and it says that he killed thousands of elephants. Folklore in Nuwara Eliya says that every year his gravestone is struck by lightning for the great sin that he did. At present this place is not open for the visitors.

Another place related to folklore is the Hindu Temple called "Seetha Kovil" (Hanuman Kovil). It is found on the way to Badulla from Nuwara Eliya before reaching the Hakgala Botanical Garden. The temple is located in the village called "Seetha Eliya". The area is related to the Ramayana story in Hinduism. Folklore says that the mighty king Ravana kidnapped princess Seeta who was the queen of Rama and hid her in the place where the temple now is.

There is also a Church called the Holy Trinity Church on church road, which accommodate an old graveyard and most of the grave stones have British names engraved on them.

HORTAN PLACE

Horton Place is historically significant as the residence of two families who are identified with service to their community. Dr. Alfred Robinson's dental surgery in Horton Place served the community until shortly before his death in 1896. In 1901, Charles Webster, businessman and community leader, purchased the property. The Webster family and its descendents continue to own the property to the present day, preserving the historical and architectural continuity of the site.

In 1797, the Crown granted 210 acres of land to Thomas Phillips. Thomas Hind acquired the land from Thomas Phillips by deed poll in1803. Mr. Hind sold the township lot to Jacob Hollingshead in the same year. Robert Penrose Irwin purchased 140 acres from the Hollingshead Family in 1853, and proceeded to subdivide the land.

In 1874 Dr. Alfred Robinson, a local dentist, bought 5/8 of an acre of Irwin's land on Yonge Street. Dr. Robinson was born in England in 1831. On coming to Canada he settled first in Bond Head before establishing his dental practice in Aurora in the mid1860's. He purchased the commercial property on the south-west corner of Yonge and Wellington Streets (2 Yonge Street South) for use as his surgery and moved his family into a house on Mosley. According to a notice in the Aurora Banner on August 28, 1868, Dr. Robinson was in his office in Aurora on the 1st and the 16th of each month. On other days he made his services available to other communities such as Newmarket, Stouffville, Richmond Hill and Nobleton. Dr. Robinson decided to purchase the land on Yonge Street just south of The Manor, at that time the residence and medical practice of Dr. Frederick Strange. Dr. Robinson's intention was to build a house on this land that would serve as both a residence and a dental surgery.

It is likely that the house and barn were constructed in 1875, as the Robinson family moved from their house on Mosley in February of 1876. It is interesting to note that families who were fortunate enough to have sufficient property and the proper facilities kept their own livestock. The Aurora Banner of January 8, 1886 tells us that Dr. Robinson has secured "one of the celebrated Jersey cows from the herd of Capt. Rolph, Glen Roche Farm." The family named their new home Horton Place, after the Robinson family's ancestral home in Yorkshire, England.

Dr. Robinson and his wife, Mary Martin, raised six children in Horton Place. Two of their daughters, probably Mary Henrietta and Ellen Louisa, ran a private school in the 1880's and 1890's. They also taught French and dancing. The Robinson's youngest, Roy, was sickly as a child and was schooled at home, probably by his sisters. Dr. W. John McIntyre, the current owner of Horton Place and local historian, advises that it was not uncommon for unmarried women to operate private schools at that time, often in their own homes. The blackboard used in the school is still in the house. Their daughter Annie married the manager of the Aurora branch of the Federal Bank, William H. Nelson, in 1886.

In 1884, Dr. Robinson changed the ownership of the house from his name to his wife Mary's. Dr. Robinson retained his office at Horton Place until his death after a year-long illness in 1896. He was buried in the Aurora Cemetery. Following Dr. Robinson's death, the dental facilities were leased to Dr. C. J. Rodgers. By 1897 he rented the residence as well until 1901, when the property was sold to Charles Webster.

Charles Webster was born in 1873 in Thornhill, on a farm on Yonge Street. After his father's death, the family moved to Aurora. In 1899 he married Della Petch, born in 1875 in Aurora. The Aurora Banner of February 22, 1967 tells us that when Della Webster was a little girl she "dreamed of living in the 'house on the hill', owned then by Dr. Robinson the district dentist. Her dream came true and the gingerbread decked brick house was her home for over 60 years." Charles Webster notes in his diary that on November 2, 1901 they had their first meal and spent their first night in Horton Place. Charles and Della Webster had two children: Elinor Elizabeth, born in 1909 and Mary Margaret Adele, born in 1916.

Both the Websters were civic-minded people. Charles Webster served on town council, the Library Board, the Public School Board, and the Board of Trade. Della Webster was a prominent Liberal Party organizer for many years

Charles Webster was manager of the Underhill Shoe Factory for a short time. However, his longest association was as manager of the Fleury Agricultural Implement Works on Wellington Street from the 1890's to his death in 1938. James Johnston in Aurora: Its Early Beginnings tells us that the Fleury plow works, founded in 1859, was the most important industry in early Aurora, and was responsible to a large degree for the growth of the community. At the height of its success, it employed 200 men in its buildings located on Wellington Street West. The village fathers, grateful for the contribution the company made to Aurora business and development, honoured the company by including a Fleury plow as part of the Village crest. Joseph Fleury the founder, born in King Township of French-Canadian descent, came to Aurora in 1859. Working as a blacksmith, he set up business in partnership with Thomas Pearson. Together they developed the cast-beam plow, but when the partnership broke up, Fleury built his own shop. His father, Alex Fleury sold his farm and put the proceeds into his son's business. Joseph's brother Milton also came into what would become largely a family business. By 1900, Fleury plows were competitive on a world basis. Many families moved to Aurora in order to work in the foundry. The company operated in Aurora until 1939, when it merged operations with Fleury-Bissell, and moved to Elora.

Charles Webster owned the property until his death at 65 in 1938. He was killed while crossing the street in front of his home by a car travelling northbound on Yonge Street. Mr. Webster was buried in the Aurora Cemetery. Della Webster, his widow, assumed ownership of the property.

In 1950, Mary Margaret Adele, Charles and Della Webster's daughter, married William Ogilvie McIntyre, and along with Della Webster, lived together in Horton Place. Mary Margaret and William McIntyre had two children, William John (known as John) born in 1951 and Mary Elizabeth (known as Mary Beth) born in 1956. William McIntyre died in1974 and was buried in the Aurora Cemetery. Mary Beth lived in Horton Place until her marriage in 1983.

In 1984, Mary Margaret McIntyre, finding the house too much to care for on her own, moved out of Horton Place into a condominium nearby. Her son, Dr. W. John McIntyre moved back to his family home in the same year.

The Webster family and its descendents continue to own Horton Place to the present day. Following the death of Mary Margaret McIntyre in December 2000, Margaret's son, Dr. W. John McIntyre, assumed ownership of the residence and continues to live in the house.

Dr. McIntyre continues the Webster tradition of service to his community. He has served on the Aurora heritage committee (Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee) for about 15 years. The history of Aurora has been the subject of several books written by Dr. McIntyre. He has served on the Aurora Historical Society since about 1967, including several terms as president. Since 1985 he has been the archivist for Trinity Church, Aurora. While not involved in community service Dr. McIntyre is Chair of the Department of English and General Education, Faculty of Technology, at Seneca College.On March 4 1987, Horton Place was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act for its historical and architectural significance.