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1996
Around the world (SRI LANKA )
Bec2004-09-20 12:07:02
Displayed times (last time: )
COLOMBO
The old and the new. In the foreground, Cargill's, a vestige of the British Empire (it is really like a museum inside, with wooden display cabinets and all the trimmings), and in the background, the twin towers of international finance just next to the Presidential Palace!.
Personally, I was not overly impressed by Colombo. I did visit the National Museum (whose best feature is the old building that houses it), and walked around Beira Lake where I spotted this fine Buddhist island temple but that was about it... After investigating the problem of getting to the northern ancient cities I realised that renting a car with driver was the best solution, even for a backpacker, so that's what I did.
ANURADHAPURA
Anuradhapura is the odest and largest of the ancient cities. It is also the most northerly and thus the closest to the Tamil populated areas that are best avoided presently because of the ongoing civil strife. Strife between the Sinhalese and Tamil has ancient roots in the history of Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura had already been the capital of Sinhalese kings for a century before they converted to Buddhism in the third century B.C. Its northern location and extensive layout made it vulnerable to invasions from South Indian dynasties (ancestors of the Hindu Tamils imported as cheap labour by the British), and it changed hands several times. In the 10th century, the capital was moved about 80 km to the south east to the more compact and fortified Polonnaruwa. The Mirisavatiya Dagoba shown here was built over 2000 years ago by king Dutugemunu after regaining the city from a South Indian invader.
The king's role as the supreme authority over water management was as important as his military responsibility because the growth and prosperity of communities were largely dependent upon efficient irrigation in these dry northern regions. The great kings were therefore great
...
See photographs from:
Sri Lanka Gallery
