Mirissa for Whale & Dolphin Watching

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Mirissa for Whale & Dolphin Watching Dear Guest, We thank you for giving us the opportunity to let us customize your upcoming holidays. Our single motto is to provide a great travel experience to all our travellers, as we know that holidays are dreams and we are the ‘Dream Makers’ Sri Lankan Delight(10 Nights /11 Days) 2 N Kandy | 2 N Bentota | 2 N Galle | 2 N Yala | 2 N Colombo Travel Date: Departure: Package Highlights 1. Package Inclusions 9. Customization In Package 2. Package Exclusions 10. Key Features 3. Package Itinerary 11. Customer speaks 4. Hotel Details 12. Customer Experience 5. Hotel Gallery 13. Terms & Conditions 6. Flight Details 14. Booking Policy 7. Pricing Details 15. Cancellation Policy 8. Booking Procedure 16. Contact Details WWW.V IBRANT .HOLIDAY C A L L T O L L F R E E : 18003134262 1. Package Inclusions International Airfare Accommodation In Mentioned Hotels Daily Breakfast All Tours & Transfers on pvt basis Sightseeing as per itinerary 2. Package Exclusions Any Specific item not mentioned in inclusions Lunch & Dinners unless mentioned in inclusions Any other expenses not mentioned above Expense of Personal Nature 3. Package Itinerary Day 1: Arrival in Colombo –Kandy Welcome to Sri Lanka on arrival to Colombo airport transfer to Kandy Hotel. Overnight stay in Hotel. Day 2: Kandy city tour- Temple of Tooth, Royal Botanical Garden After breakfast, proceed for city tour. The hill capital is another “World Heritage Site”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace (“Maha Wasala”), “Palle Wasala”- where the Queens stayed-now used for the National Museum, “Meda Wasala” where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, Natha Devala and Vishnu Devala are situated close by. The Bathing Pavilion (“Ulpenge”) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse. Today it is the center of WWW.V IBRANT .HOLIDAY C A L L T O L L F R E E : 18003134262 Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture. GEMS OF SRI LANKA The world’s best gems are available in Sri Lanka such as Blue and Yellow Sapphire, Star Ruby and Star Sapphire, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye, Alexandrite, Topaz, Amethyst, Quartz, Garnet, Aquamarine, Moonstone, Tourmaline When comparing with other countries you will be lucky to buy pure and valuable gems at Sri Lanka for a competitive price. You can get the education about gems, making jewelries and other requests with them. You can buy gold, white gold and silver jewelry at your choice. You can even get them Tailor Made as per your preference. Evening witness the Cultural Dance Show featuring various dancing types of Sri Lanka… ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS (The excursion will take approx: 2 hrs) 147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 4,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue (Royal Palm Avenue) was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world is one such avenue. Day 3: Kandy to Bentota After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Bentota hotel. Overnight stay in Hotel. Day 4: Bentota City Tour Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, Maadu River Ride After breakfast, proceed for city tour. The Madu River Lagoon is popularly known as the Madu Ganga. The town of Balapitiya which lies about 80km from Colombo is the waters-meet for the Madu Ganga. It is located in southwest Sri Lanka. The ‘Amarapura Nikaya’ a Buddhist sect, held its first higher ordination ceremony balanced on a fleet of boats that were anchored, in 1803. The Madu Ganga wetland with its estuary and mangrove islets makes up a coastal wet-land ecosystem. It is home to about 303 species of plants and 248 species of vertebrate animals. It is considered one of the last expanses of immaculate mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. WWW.V IBRANT .HOLIDAY C A L L T O L L F R E E : 18003134262 The boat weaves through the dense mangrove forest and surrounding islets, and you can witness the varying species of Mangrove, about 10 of which are endemic to Sri Lanka. On your way, you will also be treated to a view of a wide variety of flora and fauna, such as monitor lizards and a number of beautiful birds. The Mangrove Forest is a vital part of the ecosystem, nourishing and sustaining the environment. The island citizens of these islets produce peeled cinnamon and cinnamon oil and you are sure to have the opportunity to experience this indigenous production. KOSGODA TURTLE HATCHERY (The excursion will take approx: 1/2hr) Where you can see five species of turtles-Green Turtles (Cheloniamydas), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelysimbricata), Loggerhead Turtle (Carettacaretta), Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelyscoriacea) and Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelysolivacea). The eggs collected by the Villagers and Fishermen are purchased by the Kosgoda Hatchery and kept in sandy pens until they are hatched. The newly hatched ones are kept in seawater tanks and released to the sea in the night. This Hatchery alone has released more than 1,750,000 young turtles to the sea. An endowment by the Hasselblad Estate was responsible for the establishment of this hatchery. Day 5: Bentota to Galle After breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to Galle hotel. Overnight stay in Galle hotel. Day 6: Mirissa For Whale & Dolphin Watching After a hearty breakfast, proceed to visit one of the best places in the world to see one of the only recorded resident blue whale colonies in their natural habitat. Dolphins are regularly spotted on whale watching trips organized from Mirissa and Dondra head on the south coast. The BBC documentary titled “Ocean Giants” featuring the mesmeric world of Whales and Dolphins, and the scientist’s effort to shed light on their habits and why they grow so large were filmed around Sri Lanka and according to them 30 Blue Whales were sighted in a single day! There is a 95% chance of spotting Sperm Whales (not sure of Sperm Whales, just do some readings on the web and see) and great chances of spotting Blue Whales as their migration path from Africa to Australia is WWW.V IBRANT .HOLIDAY C A L L T O L L F R E E : 18003134262 just off Dondra Point. We are able to arrange Whale Watching Trips off Dondra Point and Mirissa Fisheries Harbour in a fully insured purpose built Whale Watchig boat which will last for 3 to 5 hours. Also there is a good chance of spotting Spinner Dolphins off Dondra head. WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING Whale and Dolphin watching is an easy sport that you can take up during the months of December to April. All you need to take is a boat, few kilometers from the shore, which we can help you arrange. Experienced local guides can show you a good time in watching whales and dolphins off the coast of Mirissa. Pods of Dolphins can be seen accompanying boats frequently during the said months. Blue and Sperm Whales in large numbers frequent the coastline of Sri Lanka during this period and can be viewed near Mirissa beach, and just close proximity to the hotel. Day 7: Galle to Yala After breakfast and check from the hotel and transfer to Yala Hotel. Overnight stay in Yala Hotel Day 8: Kataragama After a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel, proceed to visit Kataragama. Kataragama is the name of the God and his hometown as well. Kataragama is the Sinhalese form of Skanda, also known as Subhramaniya. He usually is called Murugan or Karthikeya by Tamils. His local consort Valli and his Indian consort Teyvanai (Devasena) and his brother Ganesha are worshipped in their respective own shrines in the holy city of Kataragama, too. Sinhalese worship Skanda-Kataragama as one of their four or five national Gods, especially as protector of the island's south. For Buddhists, Kataragama is a place additionally sanctified by a visit of the Buddha. Even Wedda Tribals and Muslim Sufis regard Kataragama as a prominent place of worshipping God. Kataragama deiyo furthermore is linked to the Ramayana Trail legend. Lord Indra is said to have given him orders to join the battle at the last day of the war to protect Lord Rama from the powerful wrath of Lanka's demon king Ravana. Day 9: Yala to Colombo After breakfast Check out from the Hotel and Transfer to Colombo Hotel. WWW.V IBRANT .HOLIDAY C A L L T O L L F R E E : 18003134262 Overnight stay in Colombo hotel. Day 10: City tour After breakfast Proceed for Colombo city tour. COLOMBO (The city tour will take approx: 2-3 hrs) Colombo is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, only a few miles away. Colombo was only a small seaport, which came into prominence in the 16th Century with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 and the development of it as a major Harbor took place during the British period.
Recommended publications
  • Colombo Final Plot Final
    U.S. Department of State Overseas Building Office Makayla Bellamy University of Virginia School of Architecture Juwan Palmer Felix Yizhou Li Systems, Sites and Building, Fall 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka is the largest urban city on the island just off of the southern coast of India. The island has a history of immigration, trade, and colonial invasion, providing the city with a diverse variety of ethnic groups, languages, and religions. While the largest religion on the island is Buddhism, there is a large collections of Tamils and Muslims. The topography of Sri Lanka is classified into two regions; the dry-zone that stretches from north to southeast, and the wet-zone that stretches from west to south. The dry highlands consist of a variety of temples and man-made lakes, while the dry lowlands are preferred farmland. The wetlands consist of sites preferable for fishing, and tourist attracting beaches. This is where Colombo is located. The construction of Sri Lanka was based off of a hierarchical system, in which only buildings of high elite were designed to maintain permanence. This left many ruins throughout the island that are representative of this elite system. The architecture current- ly is mainly religious, and because of the high religious diversity, there is a diverse architectural landscape. Around the island, there is a large percentage of the poor that live in mud and thatched roof houses using designs that date back to ancient times. In Colombo however, there is a high percentage of lower middle class, most of which prefer white washed cements houses with polished cement floors.
    [Show full text]
  • Art and Tradition of Sri Lanka Vol 11 Dance of Sri Lanka
    ART AND TRADITION OF SRI LANKA VOL 11 DANCE OF SRI LANKA . ART AND TRADITION OF SRI LANKA VOL 11 DANCE OF SRI LANKA Dr. Priyanka Virajini Medagedara Karunaratne S. Godage & Brothers (Pvt) Ltd. Dedication First Edition : 2017 For my loving mother ART AND TRADITION OF SRI LANKA - VOL 11 Eminent agriculturist, creative idealist, who induced © Dr. Priyanka Virajini Medagedara Karunaratne creativity in my soul ISBN 978-955-30- Cover Design by: S. Godage & Brothers (Pvt) Ltd Page setting by: Nisha Weerasuriya Published by: S. Godage & Brothers (Pvt) Ltd. 661/665/675, P. de S. Kularatne Mawatha, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka. Printed by: Chathura Printers 69, Kumaradasa Place, Wellampitiya, Sri Lanka. Preface The Art Tradition of Sri Lanka volume II Dance of Sri Lanka is a unique piece of work. The page by page coverage is of the development of dance forms through Sri Lankan history sumptuous imagery and experts’ accessible guide to the dance tradition of the country. This will serve as a great text book for University students who involve in the appreciation of art traditions of Sri Lanka as well as academia. The use of forms of dance permeates every culture and tradition from the earliest times to the modern day. Combining aesthetic impact with cultural significance, the dance form adorns all types of surfaces from stone, wood and ivory and also covers some of areas of Buddhist and Hindu architectural sites. The Art Tradition of Sri Lanka Volume II dance of Sri Lanka reflects this ubiquity by presenting a biography of dance forms in a variety of forms – painted, architectural and carved dance forms are displayed in more forms.
    [Show full text]
  • Print This Article
    Journal of Global Buddhism 2020, Vol.21 205–222 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4031015 www.globalbuddhism.org ISSN: 1527-6457 (online) © The author(s) Special Focus: Bad Buddhism This article illustrates how conversations on “good” and “bad” forms of Buddhism have taken place in Bangladesh since the 19th-century Theravāda reformation. First, in the process of purging prior Hindu and Tantric influences, second, with the introduction of Mahāyāna Buddhism through Risshō-Kōsei-kai; and, third, in responding to recent Buddhist extremism in Myanmar. The article also shows how “bad Buddhism”—for instance, Buddhist extremism in Myanmar—impacts Buddhists in other countries. For Bangladeshi Buddhists, claiming their identity and practices involves a process of both connecting with the “good” and distancing from the “bad.” Keywords: Bangladesh; Rissho-Kōshei Kai; Rohingya; global religion he Buddhist community forms a very small minority in Bangladesh, only approximately one percent of the total population of 160 million. Bangladeshi Buddhists mainly have been following Theravāda Buddhism, after a reformation initiated by the Arakanese Buddhist Tmonk Sāramedha Mahāthera and Buddhist priests of Chittagong, when Bangladesh was still a region of British India (Chakma 2011; Khan 2003; Chaudhuri 1982). Since the reformation movement began in 1856, the culture and practices of Bangladeshi Buddhists have been reshaped by many transnational influences. I argue in this paper that transnational connections have played a significant role in the formation of Bangladeshi Buddhist identity and practices, in the way they came to define “good” and “bad” forms of Buddhism. Bangladeshi Buddhists’ connections with Buddhists of other countries required them to be receptive to cultures and texts from outside which were then fused into the existing literary, geographical, economic, and political conditions of Bangladesh.
    [Show full text]
  • BIMSTEC Newsletters Feb 2013
    Page 1 BIMSTEC Newsletter Volume 63 February 2013 KING AND QUEEN OF BHUTAN PAID A GOODWILL VISIT TO BANGLADESH His Majesty the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Queen Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck paid a goodwill visit to Bangladesh on 14-19 February 2013. His Majesty the King and the Queen were accorded a warm and hearty welcome by the people of Bangladesh. The King of Bhutan met the Hon’ble President Md. Zillur Rahman at Bangabhaban on 18 February 2013. Welcoming the King and Queen at Bangabhaban, the Hon’ble President said that an excellent bilateral relation was prevailing between the two countries. The President also said that the visit would further strengthen the existing relations between the two countries. The President expressed his gratitude to Bhutanese people recalling that Bhutan was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as an independent nation. The Bhutanese King invited the Bangladesh President to visit Bhutan in his convenient time. After the meeting, His Majesty the King and Queen joined a dinner at the Bangabhaban hosted by Hon’ble President Md. Zillur Rahman, which was attended by, among others, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 15 February 2013 hosted a dinner in honour of the Bhutanese King and Queen at her official residence Ganobhaban. Welcoming the Bhutanese Royal guests to Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the visit would further strengthen the existing relations between the two countries. Terming the Bangladesh-Bhutan relation as historical, the Hon’ble Prime Minister recalled Bhutan’s support to our war of independence and being the first country to accord diplomatic recognition to the independent state of Bangladesh, Bangladesh with Bhutan historical.
    [Show full text]
  • Sri Lanka: Elephants, Temples, Spices & Forts 2023
    Sri Lanka: Elephants, Temples, Spices & Forts 2023 26 JAN – 14 FEB 2023 Code: 22302 Tour Leaders Em. Prof. Bernard Hoffert Physical Ratings Combining UNESCO World Heritage sites of Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Galle with a number of Sri Lanka's best wildlife sanctuaries including Wilpattu & Yala National Park. Overview Professor Bernard Hoffert, former World President of the International Association of Art-UNESCO (1992-95), leads this cultural tour of Sri Lanka. Visit 6 Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Sacred City of Anuradhapura – established around a cutting from the 'tree of enlightenment', the Buddha's fig tree, this was the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka. Golden Dambulla Cave Temple – containing magnificent wall paintings and over 150 statues. Ancient City of Sigiriya – a spectacular rock fortress featuring the ancient remains of King Kassapa’s palace from the 5th century AD. The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa – the grand, second capital of Sri Lanka established after the destruction of Anuradhapura in the 1st century. Sacred City of Kandy – capital of Sri Lanka’s hill country and home to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Old Town of Galle – this 16th-century Dutch fortified town has ramparts built to protect goods stored by the Dutch East India Company. Visit 4 of Sri Lanka's best Wildlife National Parks: Wilpattu National Park – comprising a series of lakes – or willus – the park is considered the best for viewing the elusive sloth bear and for its population of leopards. Hurulu Eco Park – designated a biosphere reserve in 1977, the area is representative of Sri Lanka's dry-zone dry evergreen forests and is an important habitat for the Sri Lankan elephant.
    [Show full text]
  • 1987 January
    MAY - 1987 june - 1987 julY - 1987 August - 1987 septeMber - 1987 october - 1987 A Buddhist temple at A Buddhist monk climbs the View of the skyline of the The Maligawa Tusker, the Fishing boats, like this are part A beach of your own on the Wewurukannala – visited daily rock hewn steps at Mihintale, Colombo Fort, showing the ceremonial elephant of the of the daily scene on the beach South Coast by pilgrims and especially during the cradle of Buddhism in new high rises in the area, Temple of the Tooth Relic, at Negombo, and in many other Vesak Sri Lanka which include the Hilton carries the relics casket amidst places where communities of International, Colombo, at left all the pageantry of the Kandy fishermen live along Sri Lanka’s and the cylindrical tower of the Esala Perahera West and South Coast Bank of Ceylon, near centre noveMber - 1987 deceMber - 1987 jAnuArY - 1988 FebruArY - 1988 MArch - 1988 April - 1988 An elephant in the wild at the A batik wall hanging Colourful display of pottery An aerial view of the Lions Buddha figures painted on the Sailing with the wind at Bolgoda Ruhunu National Park, Yala and earthenware, typical of a Paw entrance to the palace of ceiling of the cave temples at Lake near Colombo wayside stall in South Sri Lanka Kasyapa, midway on the ascent Dambulla to Sigiriya MAY - 1988 june - 1988 julY - 1988 August - 1988 septeMber - 1988 october - 1988 A Vesak pandol in Colombo Fort Buddhist monks descending from Coral formations and marine life Duty Free bargains available in Temple Fresco at Mulkirigala Spotted
    [Show full text]
  • Buddha Rashmi: the Light of Vesak
    Buddha Rashmi: The Light of Vesak (The elaborately decorated Beira Lake and the Seema Malakaya of Buddha Rashmi Vesak) The teachings of the Buddha are observed and illustrated on Vesak, which signifies the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbāna of the Great Teacher. Buddha Rashmi Vesak, which is the national festival organised by the Gangaramaya Temple and Prime Minister’s Office, will this year too lighten up the city of Colombo in vibrant and spiritual illuminations. Vesak is the most significant full moon Poya day for Buddhists around the world. However, in Sri Lanka, Vesak has a unique identity that can be only witnessed in the island. It is a very special day for Sri Lankan Buddhists where they engage in Prathipaththi and Amisa Pooja. Thus it is a time of great spirituality where people go to the temple to worship and offer flowers to the Buddha, it is a time of compassion and kindness, where devotees strive to live according to the teachings of the Buddha. During this time, Sri Lankans stay away from Lobha (greed), Dvesha (hate) and Moha (ignorance), and discipline their minds to be Alobha, Advesha and Amoha. Vesak is a time of veneration and religious observances where the mind attains a sense of peace and tranquility. Buddha Rashmi Vesak, which is an extensive zone near the resplendent Beira Lake and Nawam Mawatha is dedicated to showcasing the importance of Vesak to Sri Lanka, both in terms of spirituality and culturally. An initiative by Venerable Galboda Gnanissara Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Gangaramaya Temple, it is the first and only one of its kind in the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Buddhist Delegation to Sri Lanka
    A Report from a Norwegian Buddhist Delegation to Sri Lanka in 2003 The Dalada Maligawa, the most sacred shrine of Buddhism in Sri Lanka hit by a suicide bomber 25 January 1998 1 1. INTRODUCTION In July 2003 a delegation of seven Buddhists, representing the Buddhist Federation of Norway, visited Sri Lanka. The main part of this report consists of their accounts of their encounters with Sinhala Buddhists during a twelve-day journey through various parts of the country. The report is a string of snapshots of holy sites of Buddhism, of encounters with ordinary people, of meetings with Buddhist leaders, both monastic and lay, as well with people in the field of economics, politics, and social work from the Sinhala Buddhist community. As a fact-finding mission our goal was to engage in dialogue with our fellow Buddhists in Sri Lanka. We wanted to explore their views on how the Dhamma relates to society and particularly how it relates to the issues of violence and peace. A number of events, both religious and political, since July 2003, have already made for a changed scene in Sri Lanka. However, we have adhered to the principle of presenting to our readers the words of the people we met, with a minimum of comments from our side. Undoubtedly many of our readers will be in a better position than we were, to interpret the wider significance of the words spoken by the persons we met. To grasp the full significance of those statements, however, one needs a considerable knowledge of Sri Lankan history and politics, as well as of Theravada Buddhism and Sinhala culture.
    [Show full text]
  • CONTENTS on the COVER Editor's Note
    Being a non-profit publication without any affiliation to any organisation, For You Information continues to rely Editor’s Note on support from contributors and benefactors for our publication needs. Thus, we hope that we can continue The month of October continues to be filled with many sacred to receive support in propagating the Dharma. Founder: Venerable Guang Chao and meaningful Buddhist events such the Avalokitesvara Bo- dhisattva birthday celebrations as well as Dharma assemblies CONTENTS in many temples. We would also like to extend our hearti- 53-55 Buddhist Activities est congratulations to The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and 56-57 Finding Inner Peace In The Midst Of Chaos Museum for the appointment of their 2nd Abbot and Kwan 58 What Are You Practising Mindfulness For? Yin Chan Lin Zen Meditation Centre Singapore on their 26th 59 Living Mindfully Anniversary and annual KYCL Zen Conference. 60-63 Khuddaka Nikya (Part 3i) 64 Dialogue With Rebecca On Hope In this November issue, we continue revisit the fundamen- 65 Dhammapada tal teachings of how to live mindfully, peacefully and hap- 66 Selected Buddhist Poems pily not according to secular concepts but according to the Buddha’s teachings for guidance in living life as a Buddhist. ON THE COVER We feature the insightful sharing from the talks by Buddhist Cover Photography: Courtesy of Ms Ruiwu teachers and scholars such as Venerable Ajahn Brahm and Venerable Kanugolle Rathanasara, and Budhhist works by On the cover is the beautiful and in- Thanissaro Bhikku and Benjamin F C Teng. As Buddhists, tricate statue of the Samantabhadra (Pu Xian) Bodhisattva, one of the it is also important for us to ask ourselves why we practise eight Zodiac Protectors in first level mindfulness from Shen Shi’an’s article, ‘What Are You Prac- hall of the Buddha Tooth Relic Tem- tising Mindfulness For?’ and how to live life with hope from ple and Museum (BTRTM).
    [Show full text]
  • Buddhist Tour 06 Nights / 07 Days `
    Buddhist Tour 06 Nights / 07 Days ` Welcome at Airport by Helanka Vacations Guide and transfer to Anuradhapura en route visit Avukana. The Avukana statue is a standing statue of the Buddha near Kekirawa in North Central Sri Lanka. The statue, which has a height of more than 40 feet (12 m), was carved out of a large granite rock face during the 5th century. It depicts a variation of the Abhaya mudra, and the closely worn robe is elaborately carved. Constructed during the reign of Dhatusena, it may have been made as a result of a competition between a master and a pupil. The Avukana statue is one of the best examples of a standing statue constructed in ancient Sri Lanka. It is now a popular tourist attraction. Arrive and check in to Hotel in Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura, the first capital of Sri Lanka and was named a world heritage site by UNESCO. Anuradhapura is now a picturesque city, filled with mystery and rich in Sinhalese culture. Start sightseeing Anuradhapura by visiting the Atamasthana or the ‘eight sacred places’, Mirisawetiya and Samadhi Buddha statue are located within the ancient kingdom, Anuradhapura. These eight places were built to carry the memory of the Lord Buddha having walked on the ground of that area. The eight sacred places are named Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, Ruwanweliseya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanaramaya, Mirisaweti stupa and Lankaramaya. The Sri Maha Bodhi, is a sapling of the ancient tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago, brought here from India. Thuparamaya is said to be the oldest stupa while the Jetavanaramaya stupa (a towering brick mound that seems to touch the sky) was one of the tallest brick structures of ancient times.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sangha and Its Relation to the Peace Process in Sri Lanka
    PRIO REPORT 2/2005 THE SANGHA AND ITS RELATION TO THE PEACE PROCESS IN SRI LANKA A Report for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Iselin Frydenlund International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO) January 2005 © International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO), 2005 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). ISBN 82-7288-222-1 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1: THE SANGHA IN SRI LANKA................................................................................................................ 3 CHAPTER 2: BUDDHISM, NATIONALISM AND THE SRI LANKAN STATE....................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 3: BUDDHIST MONKS IN POLITICS ........................................................................................................ 13 CHAPTER 4: ‘WE ALL WANT PEACE!’ .................................................................................................................. 17 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................................... 33 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Amarapura Nikaya (Sect) of Ceylon
    THE AMARAPURA NIKAYA (SECT) OF CEYLON By Ven. Pandit K. Chandrakirti Sri Piyaratana Nayaka Thero (B.A. Lond.) As a result of the vandalistic actions against Buddhism of King Rajasinghe I who reigned in Ceylon in the 16th century no trace was left at all even of one monk who had received the Higher Ordination. The religion had reached its lowest depths, and was almost disappearing when during the reigns of King Vimaladharma Suriya I and King Vimaladharma Suriya II, monks who had received the Higher Ordination were brought to Ceylon from the Rakkangha district in Burma. Although by this act both the Higher Ordination and the Sasana were restored, on both occasions signs of progress were not evident and the Sasana began to decline. During the 18th century King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe sent a mission to Siam. Having got down a retinue of monks including Upali Thera, he re-established the Higher Ordination and the Sasana both. The Siamese Sect (Nikaya) came to be known by this name because of the fact that the Higher Ordination had been brought from Siam. This Sect is the premier sect of the several sects in Ceylon. The second sect that came into existence in Ceylon was the Amarapura Sect. In referring to this sect as the second sect, it must be emphasised that the term second denotes only a point of time and does not imply any inferiority in ecclesiastical dignity. The question may be raised as to the necessity of establishing a second sect in Ceylon at a time when the Siamese Sect was fast spreading its influence over the length and breadth of Ceylon, with the zealous and enthusiastic support of a Buddhist king.
    [Show full text]