Category: the bay

Posted on

Polluted Lagoon

Arugam.info has been informed that the beauty spot known as Metformin how much dosage Arugam Bay Lagoon has been polluted by Thousands ofA?A? nasty Nylon, non-degradable bags.

Pollution of Arugam Bay Lagoon

The well published ‘Environmental Impact Study’ by USAID Buy motrin platinum muscle and body totally ignored the fact that Hundreds of Thousands of these damaging bags would be introduced into the water as sand bags by defense contractors CH2MHILL.
The cheap bags were used in construction of the new bridge, as shown above.
Hessian or coconut (degradable) bags were suggested by our Arugam.info representative at the time, but the request was totally ignored.
Following recent floods, many bags were dislodged and some have been found washed up on the beaches as far away as Crocodile rock.

Fishing people fear that the unraveled bag strands could be mistaken to glass type worms and swallowed by fish or prawns. This would cause a further environmental disaster.

It is certain that Thousands of bags will never be recovered!
They will pollute the area for many years to come.

Also, one wonders, if such environmental damaging practices would have been allowed to take place in the USA.

USAID and their PVC waste disposal system

Dislodged bags hastily covered up, as shown above.
Photos Copy right: www.sri-lanka-board.de

Posted on

Arugam Bay Master Plan

Rebuilding Sri Lanka for Tourists:
A Report on the Latest Situation
Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR), Sri Lanka

After the December 2004 tsunami struck, devastating the countries of South and Southeast Asia, the Sri Lankan government moved quickly to announce the launch of a grand plan not just to rehabilitate the affected areas but to rebuild the whole country. They have since gathered commitments of over $3 billion from the international financial institutions and foreign governments to carry this out.

Within days of the disaster, the government had announced that people should not rebuild their houses on the coast. Within weeks, an exclusion zone of up to 200 metres inland from the coast had been announced, displacing fisherfolk and other coastal communities from their land and effectively severing them from their livelihoods. Shortly afterwards, exceptions were announced for tourist businesses, and the government has been talking about the need to promote tourism. In the meantime, non-governmental agencies have been carrying out almost all of the work in cleaning up the destroyed areas, building temporary shelters, regenerating livelihoods and so on.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board website says, A?a??A?In a cruel twist of fate, nature has presented Sri Lanka with a unique opportunity, and out of this great tragedy will come a world class tourism destination.A?a??A? However, this A?a??A?unique opportunityA?a??A? seems to be reserved solely for developers and those who can afford a A?a??A?world-class tourist destination,A?a??A? but for the majority of tsunami survivors, the opportunity for rebuilding their lives with dignity and sustainability will be lost. For them, the A?a??A?cruel twist of fateA?a??A? was not in the tsunami, but lies in the governmentA?a??a??s tourist- and business-oriented rebuilding plan.

The Master Plans: Arugam Bay, a Blueprint for Sri Lanka

Plans are now being developed to transform 15 coastal towns all around the island into tourist resorts as part of the post- tsunami rebuilding process. The 15 towns under discussion, Wadduwa, Beruwala, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Koggala, Matara, Hambantota, Tangalla, Yala, Arugam Bay, Passikuddah, Nilaweli and Kalpitiya, have been singled out for redevelopment according to different themes.

The first plan to emerge was that for the redevelopment of Arugam Bay, a small town nestled on the edge of a 300 hectare lagoon on the east coast of Sri Lanka, which just happens to be one of the best surfing spots in the world with beautiful beaches. There are indications that this will serve as a model for all the other areas.

Redevelopment Plans A?a??A? Grandiose and InappropriateA?a??A?

The Arugam Bay Resource Development Plan covers a stretch of land 17km by 5km between Komari and Panama, including Pottuvil Town. It envisages the total reorientation of the area away from the current fishing and agricultural communities, supplemented by seasonal guesthouses, into a large development of hotels (A?a??A?low cost budget windsurfer to 5-star touristA?a??A?), a commercial centre (A?a??A?shoppersA?a??a?? paradiseA?a??A?), a yachting marina, floating plane pier and helipad. According to the plan, while only 9 out of 25,000 hectares are currently being used for tourism, this figure is set to increase exponentially through the redevelopment.

Consultants contracted to work on the redevelopment admit that they, A?a??A?have drawn heavily upon past plans (esp. the Tourism Master Plan)A?a??A?which was widely recognised as being A?a??E? grandioseA?a??a?? and A?a??E?inappropriateA?a??a??,A?a??A? referring to a report of the Asian Development Bank. The disconnect between the planned development and the interests of the people is illustrated in the following quote, A?a??E?the location of the helicopter pad near the new pedestrianised road will bring a new vibrant life in to Arugam Bay town centreA?a??a??.

Government Coercion Forces Out Coastal Communities

In the name of A?a??A? redevelopment,A?a??A? the Sri Lanka Tourist Board is ready to acquire not only all the land within the buffer zone declared by the Taskforce for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN) of 200 metres from the high tide line, but also a stretch up to a kilometre wide running along 3 kilometres of the coast beyond the buffer zone, as well as a belt of land over 600 metres wide in places around the edge of the lagoon. In addition, an area of sea next to the lagoon entrance will be appropriated for the yachting marina and a strip across the middle of the lagoon for the floating plane landing pier.

Order geriforte side

This proprietary sentiment was reflected in statements made by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board Chairman at a meeting organised by Sewalanka Foundation between the community and the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. Saying, A?a??A?The land belongs to the government. Maybe your forefathers lived in that area, but the 860 acres belongs to the government. It will be developed as a tourist zone. We will put up buildings and develop the area and we will ask you to come and work thereA?a??A? After I became the Chairman I captured 5,000 acres of land for the Tourist Board. My target is 15,000 acres,A?a??A? the Chairman left no room for doubt about the true nature of the plans for reconstruction.

There are plans for new housing for the estimated 5,000 displaced families in 5 separate inland locations, in all cases behind areas zoned off for tourism. These resettlements are located well over 1km from both the sea and the lagoon, which are rendered practically inaccessible by the new tourist infrastructure. The plan proposes to allocate houses in the resettlement districts by drawing lots, and there is blatant coercion to move from the government, saying through the Tourist Board that A?a??A?these houses will be given to people who support our program.A?a??A? Further threats from the Tourist Board hint at state oppression of non- compliants, threatening communities that A?a??A?if you built any illegal structures in Arugam Bay, the army and the police will have to come and remove them.A?a??A?
The document also says that the over 70 existing guesthouses and numerous other small enterprises that will have to be relocated would, if they were already registered businesses, be given the option of leasing land within the zones for a period of up to 30 years, while unregistered businesses would have no such rights. None of the businesses will receive compensation.

$80 Million of Tsunami Funds Spent on Creating a A?a??A?Tourist ParadiseA?a??A?

Where can i buy xeloda

The initial investment in the planned development is estimated at $80 million. Of that, $50 million is earmarked for a bridge over Arugam Lagoon, which according to the plan A?a??A?will stand as an inspirational symbol that shows progress towards the achievement of prosperity for Arugam BayA?a??A? as A?a??A?the gateway to a tourist paradise.A?a??A?

Another $5 million is allocated for a new road around Arugam Lagoon, and $20 million is proposed for the construction of the new inland townships of 2,500 houses each. The remaining $5 million is slated for water supply and sanitation systems in the new townships and the tourist zone. The cost of the other proposed infrastructure, such as the floating plane pier and helipad, is not yet included in the overall plan, although it is stated in the document that such amenities will have to be funded either by investment by the government or from NGOs.

================================

What else could $80 million do?

The government has decided to stop the weekly food grant of 200 rupees in cash and 175 rupees in rations for the 881,000 people affected by the disaster. $80 million would be sufficient to extend this relief for all for another 6 months.

The government has only started to build 1,659 permanent houses to replace the 41,393 that were completely destroyed, a mere fraction of the housing desperately needed by tsunami victims. $80 million would be enough for 32,000 families to build houses.

================================

Redevelopment Plan Conceived in Isolation

The plan was apparently initiated independently by the Rebuild Sri Lanka Trust, which was set up in the aftermath of the tsunami by 4 individuals and started working in the Arugam Bay area as a A?a??A?non- political private sector initiative.A?a??A? The Trustees include the managing director of Maxim Ltd., a garment manufacturing company; a senior partner in a Colombo law firm, specialising in foreign investment, infrastructure development advisory services and real estate; the Managing Director of Expolanka Freight Ltd, a transport services company; and a retired doctor.

The Rebuild Sri Lanka Trust had within a month of the tsunami contracted a series of consultants to work on the plan. These are Dutch engineering consultants Arcadis; ECOPLAN-Z Limited from New Zealand; and EML Consultants from Sri Lanka. All of these consultants are involved in or are directly linked to work on large Asian Development Bank or World Bank infrastructure projects. The local company, EML Consultants, according to their website, normally works in facilitating US investment in water and environmental services, in carbon trading and in the promotion of plantation agriculture and floriculture.

The plan was finalised in late April of this year, and states that at the time of writing the President had already given approval, and was A?a??A?keen to see the action projects proposed in the report are implemented without delay.A?a??A? In fact, USAID had already published a presolicitation notice for a contract to construct the bridge, road, water supply scheme and wastewater system in Arugam Bay by 8th April 2005, and hosted a pre-bid conference for potential contractors in Colombo on 10th May 2005.

The first the residents of Arugam Bay heard of the plan was at a meeting organised by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and Sewalanka Foundation in Colombo on 17th May 2005, nearly a month after the plan had been approved and finalized by the government, and more than a month after the USAID presoliciation notice was issued.

An assessment of the plan carried out by Arcadis said A?a??A?the most important shortcoming is that it has largely been produced in isolation in Colombo, with little or no stakeholder involvement. It is evident that the team spent only two days in Pottuvil – Arugam Bay, and apart from the GA officer in Ampara and the DS in Pottuvil, they met only with INGO staff.A?a??A?

================================

Business Interests at the Top

The plan falls under the remit of the Taskforce for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN), an extra-governmental body functioning under the authority of the President. TAFREN is headed by 10 business leaders, at least 5 of whom own or manage companies that operate beach hotels.

================================

For Tsunami Victims, Another A?a??A?Cruel Twist of FateA?a??A? In Store

The picture that is becoming clearer by the day shows that the direction being taken in the post-tsunami rebuilding is completely counter to the interests of those people who have suffered in the disaster. They are being driven off their land and out of their livelihoods in the name of a grand plan for the A?a??E?modernisationA?a??a?? of the country.

This process started long before tsunami, but it is now being pushed with the weight of the $3 billion the government has gathered in the name of the tsunami victims. If all of the 15 tourist townships require an investment of $80 million, the cost will be $1.2 billion, or a massive 40% of the total amount committed. If all of the 15 tourist township plans follow the model of Arugam Bay, the number of families pushed out to make way for hotels, yachting marinas, helipads and floating plane landing strips could be well over 75,000.

source:
http://www.50years.org/cms/ejn/story/274
published September, 2005 – but only found on the net now, January, 2008

Posted on

Sport sans Frontieres Blog

Salut,

Le petit billet du jour aura pour thA?A?me mon boulot au Sri Lanka.

JA?a??a??ai A?A?tA?A? recrutA?A? comme responsable de programme par Sport Sans FrontiA?A?res (SSF) (www.sportsansfrontieres.org) pour une durA?A?e dA?a??a??un an. La mission existe depuis maintenant 3 ans (mission post tsunami).

A?A?

Pendant un an je vais habiter avec Valentine (enfin dA?A?jA?A? surnommA?A?e violette pour des raisons dont je suis innocent), chef de mission, et Guillaume, responsable de programme (il sA?a??a??occupe de 22 A?A?coles de la ville de Pottuvil, et coordonne et forme les animateurs de lA?a??a??A?A?quipe et des instituteurs locaux). La premiA?A?re est de Aix en Provence, le second palois.

A?A?

Mes missions sont multiples car je suis responsable de 3 programmes diffA?A?rents.

A?E?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A? Le premier, appelA?A? A?A?A?A?Youth ClubA?A?A?A?. Ce sont en fait des centres sportifs crA?A?A?A?s par SSF, et encadrA?A?s par des animateurs locaux que nous encadrons et formons. Ils sont au nombre de 6. Ces centres sportifs sont ouverts 4 jours par semaine. Mon rA?A?le est donc dA?a??a??en faire le tour, dA?a??a??A?A?valuer les sA?A?ances des animateurs, et de faire une rA?A?union une fois par semaine afin de continuer leur formation et de rebondir sur ce qui a A?A?tA?A? fait (en bien ou en mal). Notre but sur ce projet est la pA?A?rennitA?A? des youth club pour 2009, mais A?A?galement leur autonomie, tout comme celle des animateurs.

A?E?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A? Le second, appelA?A? formation A?A?A?A?AkkarapatuA?A?A?A? (du nom de la ville oA?A? se passe la formation, A?A? 1h30 de route dA?a??a??ici). Il sA?a??a??agit pour moi de former des instituteurs dA?A?jA?A? en poste, et cela une aprA?A?s-midi par semaine pendant toute lA?a??a??annA?A?e. Mon but est de leur faire intA?A?grer le sport comme outil A?A?ducatif. La tache nA?a??a??est pas aisA?A?e dans un pays oA?A? le sport nA?a??a??existe que par le cricket et la compA?A?tition de haut niveau. Point de sport A?A? lA?a??a??A?A?cole ici.

Ce programme concerne 40 personnes que je dois en plus suivre sur le terrain une fois par semaine (ils sont rA?A?partis par groupes de 2). Au final, il y a un examen thA?A?orique ainsi quA?a??a??une note concernant la pratique.

A?E?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A? Le troisiA?A?me, appelA?A? formation A?A?A?A?AddelachchenaiA?A?A?A? (du nom de la ville oA?A? se passe la formation, A?A? 2h de route dA?a??a??ici). Elle est plus ou moins la mA?A?me que la prA?A?cA?A?dente, mais lA?A? ce sont es professeurs et instituteurs en formations. Je lA?a??a??ai aurais une aprA?A?s-midi par semaine (3h) en thA?A?orie, et 1h30 en pratique par semaine, et cela pendant 6 mois. Puis les 6 derniers mois, ils seront en stage dans des A?A?coles, avec obligations de faire pratiquer le sport une fois par semaine A?A? leurs A?A?lA?A?ves.

Ils sont au nombre de 20 et sont rA?A?partis sur une surface qui va mA?a??a??amener A?A? faire beaucoup de route (vraiment beaucoup car 4h de route pour A?A?valuer des A?A?lA?A?ves, cA?a??a??a fait vraiment beaucoup). Buy astelin online

La encore je dois crA?A?er lA?a??a??ensemble des contenus de cours, et les A?A?valuer.

A?A?

Voila un petit peu de quoi va A?A?tre composA?A? mon quotidien. Pas de tout repos. Mais ne vous en faites pas, il y a plein de choses que je vais faire en dehors du boulot. A commencer par surfer. Mais aussi visiter ce beau pays quA?a??a??A?A? lA?a??a??air dA?a??a??A?A?tre le Sri Lanka (malgrA?A? le fait quA?a??a??en ce moment, pour raisons de sA?A?curitA?A?, nos dA?A?placements dans le pays soient trA?A?s limitA?A?s).

Sport Sans Frontieres (Nicolas DASSIE)
Central Road

Cheap bestina reviews

Pottuvil 08 (Sri Lanka)

tel portable:

source:
http://nicosrilanka.spaces.live.com/default.aspx

Posted on

Virtual Globe Trotting: Sri Lanka

January 22nd, 2008

One of my greatest wishes and goals in life is to travel around the world and explore. I would like to have what I call little mini adventures. I love the sense of freedom you get when you travel. Like you can leave all the other stuff in your life at home and just enjoy the pleasures and sites of someplace new, try new things, eat new foods and just explore.

Since I canA?a??a??t just pick up and leave for these great adventures whenever I want, I do still want to learn about new places and cultures and sites. My not so very original idea instead is to read travel guides or watch videos about the places I would like to visit.

Recently while surfing channels on the TV, I found a series called Globe Trekker on PBS. I watched a program last night on Sri Lanka and the Maldives. One of the places the host visited was the Buy accutane 5 mg Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage in Kegalle, Hill Country, Sri Lanka. Apparently when the farmers started taking over more and more land to tea plantations, the elephants were driven out. The orphanage is home to these displaced elephants and also home to many injured elephants due to land mines. You can visit and observe them feeding the elephants as well as watch them go in the water for bath time, which was totally adorable and really tugs the heart strings.

I also found her visit to Arugam Bay in Ampara, Southeast Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia Bupron purchase to really interesting. Because of an ongoing civil war with the Tamil Tigers, the region has its share of terrorist activities occasionally. But apparently both sides of this war, donA?a??a??t have a problem with tourists visiting the area. Some of the most beautiful beaches are there and hard core surfers from around the world go there to surf. I thought their travel advice was pretty practical. ItA?a??a??s like anywhere else in the world, there are good areas and bad, just stay in the areas that are good and donA?a??a??t just wander around, because youA?a??a??ll run into problems. They used NYC has an analogy for this.

As for the Maldives Islands, there are 1190 of them. Tourists can only stay on a fraction of them. I learned they are very careful about conservation on those islands and the sea surrounding them. The host was saying that the islands are a divers paradise and I can believe it. The sea life was really quite amazing.

One of the cool things about learning in general to me is making connections. For example this morning when checking Google news I came across an article about Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers. I can honestly say that normally I would probably have passed over that article and never read it. But now that IA?a??a??ve watched that program and understand a bit more about the conflict goin on and seeing the people who live there, its a connection.

Anyway, just thought I would share my little virtual journey. Check out the program and links. Enjoy!!

source:
http://gottahavemoxie.org/blogs/2008/01/22/virtual-globe-trotting-sri-lanka-and-the-
maldives/

Posted on

Ghost Town Arugam

Well presently i sit in a nice and breezy mountain towncalled ella. It is about 1000 meters above sea level and the views are amazing. I can werar jeans here because its a little cooler. that excites me. We are staying at a wicked place with amazing food… and at the price of 3$ a night you cant go wrong..

I dont remeber the last time i wrote but i guess ill tell you what weve been doing the last few days. We went to a national park on a jeep safariand saw some crazy cool animals.

We then proceded to the east o fthe island to a place called Glucotrol xl cost arugam bay Prilosec for infants cost . It was a ghost town since its not peek tourist season. There were no waves for surfing and there was like 1 store open. But we found a sweet place to stay and met 2 girls . one from cali, and the other from the UK. We have been travelling with them the last 4 days. We left there to come here to ella. It was only like 200 kms but we had to take 3 bus’s , 2 tuk-tuks and a train and it took all day. Transport sucks in Sri Lanka.

But ive enjoying being mellow in sri lanka. Ive been able to read and write alot.
The tea is so good here.
The people are very kind.(although they stare alot)
Pray for the people of Sri lanka during the time of this civil war. 2008 will be a bad year for Sri lanka if something doesnt change.

Pray for health and for safe travel. We leave on the 27th.
Miss you all.

reuben
God Bless

source:
http://reubenwurtz.blogspot.com/2008/01/ella-ella-eh.html

Posted on

Mosque Prayer Times

Pottuville, Sri Lanka Prayer Times
also valid for Arugam Bay Mosque

Prayer Schedule January / 2008
Day Date Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha
17 Thu 5:06 6:19 12:13 3:34 6:06 7:15
18 Fri 5:07 6:19 12:13 3:35 6:07 7:16
19 Sat 5:07 6:19 12:14 3:36 6:07 7:16
20 Sun 5:07 6:20 12:14 3:36 6:07 7:17
21 Mon 5:07 6:20 12:14 3:36 6:08 7:17
22 Tue 5:08 6:20 12:15 3:36 6:08 7:17
23 Wed 5:08 6:20 12:15 3:37 6:09 7:17
Monthly/Annual Schedule
Floxin ear drops price




Latitude: 6.8667 Longitude: 81.8333
Timezone: GMT +5.50 Juristic Method: Shatavari kalpa price Standard
Calculation Method: Muslim World League
Click Here To Change

Allah says: “Men whom neither trade nor sale diverts them from the remembrance of Allah and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of poor-rate.” 24/37

Posted on

#68 Mambo’s Surf Cafe

2013 update:

Our local correspondents regret that they are unable to provide any further photos, comments or news from this #68 establishment.
Aygestin generic name This is due to the fact that “Mambo’s” management (or their manager) have banned them Order bentyl 10mg from their premises. Even a young child wasA?threatenedA?by him (a Mr. “Ranga”) and a group of A?”Mambo” supporters. We deeply regret this weirdA?behaviourA?and sad incident. And will no longer support or mention this particularA?establishmentA?in future.

However, anyone else isA?herebyA?invited to contribute to this page and post.
Below is an extract from our earlier post.

Arugam.info has not left the boys from Hikkaduwa out for any other reason, but for the fact that their brilliant place is not situated on the main road as such.
In fact, #68 Mambo’s can’t be accessed by road at all: The well developed complex is actually located on the sandy beach, near famous surf point itself. Only a 4×4 can be driven there, across the beach front.

A bit of history:}
Mambo is a house hold name in Hikkaduwa, on the South Coast.
The two resorts are Sri Lanka’s main surfing destinations.
But they have opposing seasons.
About 2003 clever business man Mr. “Mambo” decided to offer all year round facilities to his mainly Japanese guests. When a local offered an ‘inaccessible’ place for sale at Arugam Bay it was time to act and the place was swiftly purchased.
Some nice bungalows were build, a restaurant constructed and best of all:
A good, new PARTY PLACE was born.

Some locals, Arugam Bay – or mostly distant PottuVille people – did not see the benefit such a new, western orientated approach would bring to the area and there has been some predictable opposition.
It has much to do with different life styles – and nothing religious or political of course.

The boys from the South do know how to attract tourists, how to make them happy, how to have a good party and how to deal with western girls:
East Coast guys may have some learning and catching up to do.
Of late, Arugam.info has been informed that Mambo may develop a branch at nearby Peanut Farm – half way between Arugam Bay and Panama.
Another brilliant choice, if so!
Because, away from all this local jealousy, in the middle of an undeveloped, peaceful and beautiful area any visitor and tourist can and will really be able to enjoy a true party in unspoiled nature settings. Without unwanted local interferences.
Arugam.info certainly welcomes #68 Mambo as a valuable contribution to the services the Bay can offer.

Posted on

Magul Maha Viharaya – Lahugala

Sri Lanka : Magul Maha Viharaya – Lahugala

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka – Geneva – Switzerland

04th January 2008

by Florence WickramageA?A?

The day was bright and the sea a glittering turquoise blue with a strong wind sweeping over it. Some people standing on a beach saw an object shining with the rays of the sun being tossed to and fro by the ocean waves. They waited till the object advanced towards the shore and was surprised to see that it was a gold-gilded canoe carrying a beautiful damsel in it.

Order fincar They ran towards the palace and informed the King that a golden-canoe was coming ashore with a beautiful princess in it. The King hastened towards the beach but found the boat gone. “Ko Kumari” inquired the King? The boat had been swept away by strong winds towards the village Komarigama (coined with the words Ko kumari) in Arugam Bay. (The canoe had not been able to anchor at Kirinde due to its rocky environment). On inquiries made King Kavantissa was informed that the damsel in the canoe was Princess Devi, daughter of King Kelanitissa of Maya Rata, who was offered as a sacrifice to appease the wrath of the sea-gods as the sea waters threatened to drown villages.

King Kavantissa then hastened to meet the Princess and married her in keeping with traditional customs, and she became Queen Vihara Maha Devi. ” The Magul Poruwa” said to be of the Royal couple could be seen amongst ancient ruins in a temple called “Magul Maha Viharaya” in Lahugala. Princess Devi’s canoe had been washed ashore at Arugam Bay ( coined from the words “ara -gama”) and not Kirinde. This is folklore — as related to us by the Chief Priest of the ancient Lahugala Temple Ven. Hulanduwe Ratanasara Thera.

Hydrochlorothiazide cost cvs

Driving along the Wellawaya-Moneragala road after passing Siyambalanduwa for another seven miles one could reach Lahugala where Magul Maha Vihara or Ruhunu Maha Vihara lies.

We visited Magul Maha Viharaya which is in ruins today. Ven. Hulanduwe Ratanasara Thera the 5th generation descendent of the Uva-Wellassa lineage which administered the Magul Maha Vihare is the present Chief Priest. Lahugala belonged to the Ruhunu Kingdom of ancient Lanka. The entire Vihara complex had covered an extent of around 10,000 acres where ruins of a palace, moonstone, monastery, bo-maluwa, stupas, ponds etc. were found scattered all over. A headless white marble Buddha statue was seen lying horizontally in one part of the ruins, which sometimes people step on, Ven. Ratanasara said, taking us round the complex.

The history of this temple goes back to the time of King Dathusena who ruled Anuradhapura from 516 AD to 526 AD. The pillar inscription testifies the founder of the Vihara as King Dathusena. The language and the script can be dated to the 14th century.

There is also a stone wall three to four feet in height. This reminds of a fortress which was erected to protect from outside attack. There is also an entrance to the fortress. The moonstone found on the left side has unique features with a row of elephants and creepers followed by a row of lotus petals. The Chief Priest explained that among other unusual features, the row of elephants in the moonstone with their mahouts was exceptional. In this moonstone with three to four in height and five to six feet wide, the row of elephants has a man following an elephant with his goad clinging on to the animals. This moonstone is said to be the only one of its kind in the country.

There are rock pillars similar to Lovamaha Prasada in Anura-dhapura. There is also ruins of a Dagaba about 30 feet in height. There are three rows of steps leading to the Dagoba on three sides and on the lift side is Bodhighara and also rock inscription protected by an iron railing.

The Ven. Thera showing us round the ruins of the vihara complex observed that there were several villages round the temple and people had fled due to unrest. With the ongoing peace process many were returning to their original places. A perahera has been planned along with other religious ceremonies to be observed during Poson the Ven. Thera said.

We then visited Muhudu Maha Viharaya at Arugam Bay. The wide white beach was endless, stretching for miles and miles. There were excavated ruins and stone pillars which provided evidence of an ancient kingdom which had flourished. The Chief Priest of Muhudu Maha Viharaya, Ven. Kataragama Siriratana Thera supporting Queen Vihara Maha Devi’s story as related to us by the Lahugala Viharaya Chief Priest, showed us partly ruined stone statues two of which were believed to be of King Kavantissa and Viharamahadevi. The moonstone which had been in existence near a ruined “Buduge” had been removed by treasure hunters and the “Mura-gal”had been replaced awkwardly.

Ven. Siriratana Thera showed us ruins and stone pillars of an ancient structure excavated on the vast stretch of the beach, where, he said, a stupa had been erected to mark the spot where Princess Devi had landed. The monk living by himself protecting the ruined temple,is supported by about 12 families living in the vicinity who provide him with the “dana”.

There were sand dunes forming part of the endless beach bordering a tranquil turquoise sea and at one end was the Arugam Bay and the “Ula” with a natural harbour. Several fishing huts were seen dotting the area. Both Chief Priests at Lahugala and Arugam Bay said that the ruins found in these places supported the existence of a royal kingdom of ancient Ruhunu Rata, and believed if chronicled had not sufficiently surfaced. The Ven. Theras said that these places were historically and culturally important and their conservation was of utmost importance to preserve the country’s rich heritage.

(Courtesy: Lanka LibraryA?A?)

Published : Friday, January 04, 2008 12:35:11 PM (Geneva time)
source:
http://www.lankamission.org/other%20pages/News/2008/January/2008-01-04lh.htm

Posted on

Return to Arugambay

By Dr Kavan RatnatungaThe consequences of Great Tsunami of 26th December still influence events in Lanka. I had visited the east coast of Lanka 5 days after the Tsunami and it was just over 5 months, when I got the opportunity to return to Arugambay to see how the population directly affected by the Tsunami have recovered. They have little time to ponder the larger issues of sovereignty which is currently dominating the media and tearing apart the government and it’s politicians bickering on how to safeguard Lanka and divide the billion$ of Foreign Aid promised for Tsunami relief.

As on the previous trip I joined Lt. Col. Anil Amerasekara. Wing Cmdr. Ranjit Ratnapala was also traveling with us to continue his quest to help the region in the name of his son Chinthaka, who had in June 1997 made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of Lanka. We were joined in Kandy by Nisanka and Ira Madiwaka who had collected funds in UK to rebuild Tsunami affected houses in the east coast.

On Friday we visited three small computer centers near Ampara organized by the Thawalama organization and housed in Buddhist Temples. A computer technician Manjula came with us to fix problems and maintain the 5 computers in each center. A local teacher is hired to educate 5 batches of about 10 students each in English and Computer literacy. After the 6 months course they sit for an exam. We held such an exam on Sunday in one of the centers before returning to Colombo. The exam is set and marked in collaboration with Where to buy tamoxifen online IDM who awards certificates to those that pass (about 30%) and scholarships to those that do very well (about 1%). This program had been active now for about 2 years in eight centers in the North-East provinces of Lanka.

The Potuvil to Arugambay bridge, part of which had washed away in the Tsunami had reopened with the aid of the Engineering regiments of the Indian Army Task Force. An Indian Flag was hung on the side in gratitude, I wonder how long this temporary repair which allowed a single vehicle to be on the bridge at one time, will need to serve the community.


The entrance to temporarily reconstructed Arugambay Bridge
It was about 10 O’clock when we drove into Arugambay on our way to stay overnight at the Guest House in Kudakalli 2 km further south. A ghost town after the Tsunami just five months previously, Arugambay was alive at this late hour. Many Tourists had returned to this surfing paradise and were on the streets walking from their hotels to patronize the Cybercafe and many Bars and restaurants which had reopened. A street performance was entertaining a large audience near a newly constructed Buddhist shrine in the town center.


The infamous Tsunami Hotel sign, repainted with URL
The Tsunami Beach hotel sign had been revised and put back up proudly stating that they had open since 1999. The owners cashing in on on all the media publicity after the Tsunami had even registered in March 2005 an Internet domain tsunamihotel.com. It like the Hotel had still not activated.

Arriving at Daya Fernando’s guest house we surprised the caretakers since they had not got the message of our arrival. However dinner was soon ready and the mosquito nets put up for us to retire to sleep from a long drive. Since I had not slept overnight near the east coast for almost 30 years, I got up an hour before sunrise and walked out with disturbing the others. Daya’s 3 dogs were ready to protect me and show me the way. The surf was up but fairly calm. Starlight and a crescent moon illuminated the many shells that had washed ashore on to the beach. A couple were beach combing a rich bounty. I too picked up some beautiful large shells and coral. I was amazed to see the many striations of black sand on the beach. Considering that region of the beach needs to have been rebuilt after the Tsunami, black sand probably settles only at particular tide characteristics. I was disappointed by the clouds which covered the horizon at sunrise. The others were up and ready for breakfast by the time I walked back to the guest house.

Our next visit was to Panama. A small Sinhala community 10 km south of Arugambay. We went to the residence of Chandrasena who was the secretary to the local Pradesh Saba (community council). He is I was told a (s)pot-less politician. It was he who had compiled the list of 17 houses which had been badly damaged in Panama by the Tsunami and had sent out the appeal with photographs for funding. He told us that all off them had already been rebuilt by Thawalama using funding from Sri Lanka Tsunami Appeal Committee of Western Australia. I also witnessed the handing over of ten carts with pneumatic tires to cultivators affected by the Tsunami from this same committee.

The cultivators of Panama also lost over 350 acres of paddy land, when areas such as Halawa, close to the sea was flooded by Tsunami water. These Paddy fields will remain barren for many years till the salt washes away. Though they have been promised alternate land under the Meeyangoda tank, which is to be restored with funding from the Rotary Club of Kandy, the cultivators now fear that this too is another promise that will never materialize. Most NGO’s who have visited the village of Panama have requested the villagers to fill application forms, but have failed to provide the promised assistance.

In the reality that some promises of help for reasons beyond the control of the well-wishers get delayed or unfulfilled, construction starts when the first group comes with the hard cash. There have been some reported cases when more than one group have known to have paid for the same reconstruction.

That was clearly not going to happen here. The UK funding would need to be used for other housing project in Panama or elsewhere on the East coast. We visited some homes which although had only been slightly damaged by tsunami, the residents who had lost their livelihood to the Tsunami and their ability to complete a partial house construction. The decisions were hard to make with so many valid requests for help.

Nearly all of the help to reconstruct and revitalize the community has come from private organizations which have raised the required funds in Lanka and abroad. The government represented by the Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN) had still not made any positive impact on reconstruction the community. All that the residents have seen are the numerous reports and advertisements in the media of what is being planned, Those affected were wondering where all the claimed foreign aid had got tied up.

Just south of Arugambay, the village of Ulla, within the 200 meter buffer zone was totally destroyed by the tsunami. TAFREN has thus far failed to provide the affected families with alternate property outside the buffer zone, for them to commence rebuilding their houses. The NGO’s who want to help these unfortunate people to rebuild their houses are being discouraged as a result.

TAFREN unlike most NGOs allocates the task signs a MoU and waits. For example the Sinhapura Sinhala Vidyalaya in Ulla near Arugambay was totally destroyed by the tsunami, even though it is beyond the 200 meter buffer zone. The Italian Civil Protection Mission has signed a MoU to complete construction work in six months. It is now six months since the tsunami and they have yet to commence work on reconstruction. The Thawalama Development Foundation that wrote to the President in this connection, requesting her to reallocate this school to them, as they are in a position to find the necessary funds for the purpose, have been informed by TAFREN that this is not possible.

Unlike state aid, private aid has in many cases been made on racial and religious divisions. A Tamil resident from Jaffna I spoke to said that although many who didn’t have any fishing boats have received a one, but he who had lost seven boats in the Tsunami has still to get any replacement.

That evening we visited the “Mudu Maha Vihara”. We were surprised to find that the archaeological dept. sign that pointed the way for pilgrims and tourists had been removed and replaced with a large Mosque sign which at bottom mentioned an unnamed archaeological site. An interesting report that circulated soon after the Tsunami was that a reclining Buddha statue had been seen few hundred meters from the coast when the sea receded near the Vihara. The Monk who was in residence on the fateful day, said that no such statue had been seen. The story had been made up to say that the 34 acres of land allocated in the 1960’s to the Vihara as an archaeological reserve is from the sea, and not the 30 acres of archaeological land illegally encroached by the local Muslim community.


Buddhist Monk explains the history of MuduMahaVihara next to statue identified as that of King KavanTissa.
This great Buddhist temple near the sea dates back to the 2nd century B.C. and has ruins and many sculpture from that era. It is stated in the ancient chronicle the “Rajavaliya” that in the second century BC after Kelaniya was submerged by the sea (Tsunami), Devi daughter of King was cast to sea in a Golden Vessel to appease the gods, and washed ashore near a Vihara to became queen to king KavanTissa under the name Viharamahadevi. Kirinda which is a lot further south and this site each claim to be the “true” landing site. Local folklore relate place names Komari to “Ko Kumari” (where is Princess) and Arugambay to reply “Ara gamme” (In that village)

Early next morning observing that the sky was still too cloudy to see sunrise, I went on a bicycle to photograph Arugambay and the reconstructed Bridge at dawn. The village was as empty as when we had walked that way five months previously. All of the rubble had been cleared. However various Political forces with wildly different agendas were preventing the start of the urgent Reconstruction.

After breakfast, packed and on our way out of Arugambay, we distributed baby T-shirts sent by the Senahasa Trust of UK. Although we had sent a message the day before through a local contact that we would be distributing free T-shirts to Tsunami affected families, no one had come when we arrived a bit early. I guess they had probably been disappointed before. A reasonable crowed of mothers with babies gathered after we arrived when word spread in village. We were glad we realized before trying to distribute them that the sealed T-shirts marked 6-12 was months not years as we had first assumed. Although all of the T-shirts were for babies under 2 years, we found some small built 9-years olds who fitted into them comfortably. To ensure that the T-shirts went to kids and not the local store, we insisted that the babies be present despite some legitimate comments from some mothers who didn’t want to bring their babies in the hot sun just to get a T-shirt.


Has the charm Arugambay Hillton to be demolished for the 5* Original
Talking with the villages at that time I was told that TAFREN with the Ceylon Tourist Board is trying to acquire a 17-mile long strip of the best sea coast on the pretext of a Tsunami 200 meter buffer zone, for development of a upscale resort of with five-star hotels, displacing the residents and small business who have occupied this land for generations. This amazing outrage is in detail by John Lancaster in a Washington post Proventil inhaler over the counter article of 6th June. The people of Arugambay must surely be feeling like they say in Sinhala “Like a man fallen from a tree, getting butted by a bull”

An edited version of this article Slow relief but surfers are back By Kavan Ratnatunga appeared in the SundayTimes of Sri Lanka on 2005 June 26th. The printed copy of Newspaper included Photographs shown above and not included in online edition. Access to the Online edition of the SundayTimes of Sri Lanka requires a paid annual subscription.source:
http://lakdiva.org/tsunami/arugambay/

Posted on

2007 Capture Competition

The grand Arugam Bay Order zenegra photo Competition price of 2007 remains unclaimed!
Even a regular visitor to the Bay, having won 2 weeks Free B&B for two in an a/c suite, did not visit the Bay this year. It has never been as quiet as this before!
Order lisinopril hydrochlorothiazide AbHa has decided to extent the offer to redeem for one further year, hoping to welcome brilliant photographer Mr. Philip sometime in 2008.

How about a capture contest?
Below are a few amateur shots, all taken around the same location.
During the past 3 years.

AbHa, trying hard to attract tourists thinks the few photos sum up the “progress” of the past three years rather well, without many words. And show the conflict of interests in the Bay these days.
The winner of the most apt, funny or fitting capture will win a chance to run up and down Arugam Bay beach (just 2km) and try to match the amount of vessels with the slogans painted upon them.
At our expense.
Simply click “Comments” and let us hear your suggestion.

2004 View to Beach

December 2004; a Natural Event

Clean Arugam Bay April 2005

April, 2005. A fine balance is still in place

Outlook 2005

2005: Is this what tourists come to the Bay for?

Outlook Dec. 2007: After NGO

YOUR Suggestions Please!

Posted on

Sami and Mere at Arugam Bay

Landing in Lanka

They say Sri Lanka is a jewel of an island, filled with smiling people and breath taking nature. From our experiences of the past few days, we are pleased to report that they are not wrong.After arriving at the ungodly hour of 5am, and, eventually, amongst a mountain of luggage, seeing our backpacks sheepishly appear on the luggage belt, we made the hour long journey into Colombo. Once there, we went to our friend Dixie’s house, one highly neat dood. Brilliant photographer. UN worker. Inspiring conversationalist. At Casa de Dixie we caught up on old times as well as much needed sleep. We also met some other super nice UN and NGO people, whom we played water polo with at one of the snazziest hotels in the country, The Blue Water.

Then, in the bumpy backseat of a genuine white UN 4×4, we had a thrilling ride across the entire breadth of the country, along some tear jerking vistas and sheer drops on the winding highland roads. After some 10 hours we ended up at the secluded Surf gem of Arugam Bay. There, in our hammocks, we chilled for a few days at a fantastic beach front surf place, the Galaxy Lounge, complete with delicious food and plentiful beers.

As a whole, Sri Lanka is full of vibrant, happy, polite people, who are keen to introduce themselves and to learn more about other cultures. Without fail, this has been the case for everyone – whether Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim or other.

Despite a sad collapse of the cease fire and a tragic return to what can only be described as full out civil war, the country feels strangely safe for foreign travellers. In fact, from what we’ve been told so far, the biggest threat are the many super duper poisonous snakes. Eeek. They are presumably waiting for Sami to wander into the tall grass for a drunken late night piss. So far we’ve only seen one King Cobra, but it was far scarier that any high security zone, military checkpoint or Kalashnikov wielding camouflage soldier.

Tomorrow we’re accompanying our buddies on a second UN mission, this time a trip to document a much needed road project that connects remote villages in the dense East Sri Lankan jungle.

In the next few days we’ll probably be back on the South Western Coast, the epicentre of unashamed decadence and worryfree holiday drinking. No doubt, having had this unusual priviledge of seeing the hidden eastern areas of Sri Lanka will certainly make our relaxing even nicer. We can only hope that one day this country will see peace again and that this gem of an island will get what it deserves.

Posted by S&M

source:
http://samiandmere.blogspot.com/2007/12/landing-in-lanka.html Cheap prinivil lisinopril Price of levitra at costco

Posted on

Sinking Ship

Don’t worry! This is nothing political, military or New!
The first part of this story relates to the greatest attraction the East Coast has to offer, to any diver.
HMS Hermes Airphoto by japanese pilot

Just North of Generic diovan hct availability Arugam Bay Is there a generic for lamictal the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes lies in fairly shallow waters. Sunk by Japanese Aircraft at the end of WW2. The carrier was on its way from Trincomalle harbour to Male, Maldives.
A full dive report has already been published on this site; use the search function if you are interested in details.

HMS Hermes sinking off Sri Lanka Coast

The Hermes was once a fine ship.

Hermes Aircraft Carrier in Action

Very much like some good Hotels and Restaurants on the East Coast once were.

Whatever sealed the fate of HMS Hermes 65 years ago has a certain resemblance to the slow death of the entire Hotel industry. Their boats started to sink when a big wave hit them, in 2004. Plenty of help was promised, from all sides – but nothing substantial ever came along to rescue them.
A combination of civil unrest in other parts of the Nation, incompetence by visiting NGO’s and a total lack of finances have resulted in closure of most establishments which managed to stay afloat.

One leading hotelier describes the situation as such:

Ever since 2004 we feel like sitting in a boat, full of holes.
We kept ourselves busy plugging them by whatever means we have – but scooping out the water to stay afloat has been a hard job, left on our own devices.

….to be continued

Posted on

Arugam on Wikipedia

Purchase midamor meat Pamelor order

Posted on

Arugam Bay Impressions

Arugam als Erlebnis
Here is an article received from our good friends and strong AbaY supporters in Germany.
www.sri-lanka-board.de

Ich mA?A?chte hier die MA?A?glichkeit nutzen, Euch die wunderschA?A?ne OstkA?A?ste ein wenig nA?A?her zu bringen.

Der vom Tourismus weitgehend erschlossene Westen des Landes ist sicher vielen Lesern bekannt, jedoch landschaftlich ebenso anders , wie auch in der Tierwelt.

Man findet endlose , saubere StrA?A?nde, die zum Baden und Surfen einladen.


Begegnungen ? NatA?A?rlich, wenn man denn mag. 😉

Oft sieht man Fischer, die ihre Netze einholen oder diese reparieren.


Kinder von Fischern, die es den Alten nach machen und selbst schon handeln wollen, sind ebenfalls A?A?ber Kontakte erfreut.

Niemand stA?A?rt sich an einem netten Plausch und man ist herzlich willkommen. Nach erledigter Arbeit wird dann gemeinsam der Fang bewundert und eine Zigarette rundet den Tag ab.

Am Strand entlang findet man ungeahnte SehenswA?A?rdigkeiten, Purchase generic valtrex online die oftmals nur den Locals bekannt sind, wie z.B. der Elefantenfelsen oder der Crocodilsrock….

In der HA?A?hle des Crocodilrocks (unteres Bild) lebte z.B. monatelang ein tamilischer FlA?A?chtling auf der Flucht. A?A?ber diese Geschichte schrieb die Autorin Claudia Ackermann das Buch “Der Krokodilfelsen”.

Aber, es gibt nicht nur Strand und Meer………

Eine wundervolle Flora und Fauna begrA?A?sst GA?A?ste mit offnenen Armen und wer sich ein wenig Zeit nimmt, diese Ruhe und den Augenblick zu geniessen, wird es nicht bereuen.

Man kann sich A?A?ber wilde Elefanten, die in Ruhe auf einer Lichtung grasen,

…wilde Pfauen, die teilweise den Wegesrand sA?A?umen und die Ruhe selbst sind……..

…und Begegnungen zu Menschen aller Art freuen.

Mag jemand die Kultur des Landes abseits des Tourismus erleben ? Auch Dieses ist natA?A?rlich machbar und wir selbst waren erstaunt, wie wunderschA?A?n verborgen einige Dinge im Dschungel sind.
Ein Beispiel dafA?A?r ist eine der A?A?ltesten Tempelruinen Asiens in Lahugalla selbst.






Weiter Abseits der StrA?A?nde und der normalen Strassen kann man bei Interesse eine wunderschA?A?ne Felsenformation besuchen, auf dem vor vielen Jahrhunderten eine Tempelanlage geschaffen Amantadine price us wurde. Dort leben heute noch MA?A?nche, die in Meditation und Gebete versunken den Tag in aller Abgeschiedenheit verbringen. Eine EindrA?A?cke sollen Euch untere Bilder davon geben.


Auf folgendem Bild sieht man, wie A?A?ber das Dach oben aus der normalen Felsenformation entstanden ist. Die Unterkunft des MA?A?nches ist somit auch von der Natur vorgegeben.

In diese Gegend verlaufen sich sehr selten Toristen und so war der MA?A?nch doch ein dankbar fA?A?r ein wenig Abwechslung im Alltag und gerne zu einem GesprA?A?ch bereit.

Die eigentliche Tempelanlage jedoch ist so gross, dass man dort Stunden verbringen kA?A?nnte. Wir zogen es vor, den MA?A?nchen ihre Ruhe zu lassen und verabschiedeten uns dankbar.

An dieser Stelle mA?A?chte ich fA?A?r Interessenten auf folgendes Buch hinweisen:

” Wie ein Fremder im Paradies” von Florian Palzinsky. Florian lebte in diesem Tempel lange Zeit als buddhistischer MA?A?nch und seine ErzA?A?hlungen in diesem Buch, seine Erfahrungen mit dem Land Sri Lanka sind wirklich eindrucksvoll.

Aber, man findet entlang der OstkA?A?ste an vielen Stellen diverse Felsformationen, auf denen kleinere Tempel errichtet wurden………


Ich denke, Ihr habt nun zumindest einen kleinen Eindruck von dieser wundervollen Gegend bekommen und mein Beitrag langweilte Euch nicht zu sehr. Es wA?A?rde mich freuen, ein wenig Begeisterung und Neugier in Euch geweckt zu haben und verbleibe mit lieben GrA?A?ssen,

HA?A?nschen.

P.S.: Wer Interesse an mehr Infos dazu haben mA?A?chte, kann gerne folgenden Link dazu nutzen.

www.sri-lanka-board.de
https://www.arugam.info/

Posted on

Rasta Hut at Arugambay

Rastha hutA?A?Arugambay!!!

The RasthaA?A?hut

Ask me what was the most awesome thing about my trip to Arugambay this time;

  1. the bus ride – which was truly an experiance!!!
  2. The company :-) excelent!!
  3. MambosA?a??a?? rastha hut!!

As weA?A?trudged all across the bay with all our bagage heavy from the 12 hour ride across the country ..looking for the perfect place to stay was tiring the price needed to be right as there was no way we could go back for cash as the closest ATM was 3 hours away!!

so we walked & walked until right at the end a familiar voice holloredA?a??A? Mambo!! & the gang such a supprise to see them so far away but hell guess he was as shocked to & happy to see us that he gave us the most awesome room in the house the Rastha hut complete with a well & your own peice of the beach (Where we did most of the skinny dipping by moonlight he he)A?a??A?

Anyways I have much more to write on Arugambay but I have no clue where to start the place is simply a trip & as I always say A?a??A? One day .. One day I will come back to Arugambay & never leave :-)

~ by beachbumm on November 30, 2007.

One Response to A?a??A?Rastha hutA?A?Arugambay!!!A?a??A?

Purchase benemid on empty

  1. i want to go

    What is the price of tricor Dilsiri said this on November 30, 2007 at 10:13 am
    source:

    Rastha hut Arugambay!!!