UNESCO - iEARN Sri Lanka

Birds in Sri lanka

2010-03-17T02:40:00.000-07:00

Project by Kenneth De Silva - Grade 3 of Royal College, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.

Comparative Study of River Mekong in Asia and Kalu Ganga (Kalu River) in Sri Lanka

2010-02-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

Name of Student: Amila Hettige

Class 5J Royal Primary School, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka Project

Title: Comparative Study of River Mekong in Asia and Kalu Ganga (Kalu River) in Sri Lanka

River Mekong
I saw the Mekong River while visiting the Kingdom of Cambodia. I went to the place where the Mekong meets 3 other rivers in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. One of these Rivers starts from the great lake Tonlesap in Cambodia and I learned from our guide that during 6 months of the year water flows from the lake to the Mekong and during the other 6 months water from the Mekong flows into the great lake in the middle of Cambodia. Mekong River starts in Qinghai in China and flows through 6 countries before flowing into the South China sea (i.e. China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam). Mekong is 2600 miles long and it is the 12th longest river in the world. It is being used as a path to connect these countries. I was sad to see the water being polluted at certain places by humans.

Kalu Ganga (Kalu River)
I went to on a study tour with my family to learn more about the Kalu Ganga during December holidays in 2009. Kalu Ganga starts from the Samanala Mountain range in the central hills of Sri Lanka and flows through Sabaragamuwa and Western Provinces before flowing into the Indian Ocean in Kalutara south of Colombo. It is 80 miles long and there is a beautiful delta in Kalutara at the city where it falls into the Indian Ocean. I went on a boat ride around the delta and noticed that there are 6 bridges over the Kalu Ganga via the delta. On another day I visited the city of Ratnapura and saw the Kalu Ganga near the famous Saman Devalaya (shrine of God Saman) in Ratnapura. The river is narrower in Ratnapura area but becomes wider when it reaches Kalutara. There also I sadly noticed people polluting the water. Thank you Amila Hettige

SIGIRIYA - World Herigate

2009-10-18T04:18:00.000-07:00

UNESCO World Heritage - Sri Lanka The Ancient City of Sigiriya holds the ruins of a former Sinhalese capital, including a rock fortress and palace. At the end of the 5th century, this enormous complex was constructed by Prince Kasyapa. Being in fear of an invasion, he tried to make it as impenetrable as possible. The site is also known as Lions Rock. At the level below the top, two very big lions claws give way to the final and most important stage of the complex, the palace. According to old descriptions, in the past you had to walk through the wide-open mouth of a lion to get there. Halfway on Sigiriya-rock, you can see very special mural paintings. They are non-religious representations of women, of which some have been preserved very well. Some sources even say that the whole western face of the rock used to be covered with these paintings (of 500 women).

Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings, which are reminiscent of the Ajantha Caves of India. The Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kasapa-1 (AD 477 – 495), and it is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.Sigiriya may have been inhabited through prehistoric times. It was used as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the 5th century BC, with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the Buddhist Sangha. The garden and palace were built by King Kasyapa. Following King Kasyapa's death, it was again a monastery complex up to about the 14th century, after which it was abandoned. . The Mahawansa, the ancient historical record of Sri Lanka, describes King Kasyapa as the son of King Dhatusena. Kasyapa murdered his father by walling him alive and then usurping the throne which rightfully belonged to his brother Moggallan, Dhatusena's son by the true queen. Mogallana fled to India to escape being assassinated by Kasyapa but vowed revenge. In India he raised an army with the intention of returning and retaking the throne of Sri Lanka which he considered was rightfully his. Knowing the inevitable return of Mogallana, Kasyapa is said to have built his palace on the summit of Sigiriya as a fortress and pleasure palace. Mogallana finally arrived and declared war. During the battle Kasyapa's armies abandoned him and he committed suicide by falling on his sword. Chronicles and lore say that the battle-elephant on which Kasyapa was mounted changed course to take a strategic advantage, but the army misinterpreted the movement as the King having opted to retreat, prompting the army to abandon the king altogether. Moggallana returned the capital to Anuradapura, converting Sigiriya into a monastery complex.Alternative stories have the primary builder of Sigiriya as King Dhatusena, with Kasyapa finishing the work in honour of his father. Still other stories have Kasyapa as a playboy king, with Sigiriya a pleasure palace. Even Kasyapa's eventual fate is mutable. In some versions he is assassinated by poison administered by a concubine. In others he cuts his own throat when isolated in his final battle.