The historic Kandy Esala Perahera - Sri Lanka’s biggest cultural pageant - reaches its climax today with the fifth and final Maha Randoli perahera.
The Maha Randoli perahera will start from the Sri Dalada Maligawa at 7.38 p.m. facing North and proceed along Dalada Veediya, Yatinuwara Veediya, Kande Veediya, D.S. Senanayake Veediya, Raja Veediya and return to the Dalada Maligawa along Maligawa Chaturasraya.
The same night the Devale Peraheras will join the Dalada Maligawa perahera at 1.45 a.m. (August 17) and facing South proceed along Dalada Veediya, D.S. Senanayake Veediya to the Gedige Viharaya and after depositing the Sacred Relic Casket there, will return to devales and Maligawa.
The Devale Peraheras will, before dawn, proceed along Peradeniya Road to Getambe Thota for the water cutting ceremony (Diya Kapana Mangallaya).
Thereafter, the devale peraheras will return along the same road to Katukele Sri Selva Vinayagar Temple where the customary rituals will be performed.
During the last nine days unprecedented crowds including several thousands of foreigners witnessed the five Kumbal perheras and Randoli peraheras which paraded the streets of Kandy.
The peraheras were headed by the Peramuna Rala, the Gajanayake atop the elephant and followed by teams of flag bearers, torch bearers, drummers, dancers, singers, Kavadi dancers, bear dancers and other participants.
The Diyawadana Nilame and Basnayake Nilames attired in the garb of Kandyan chieftains walked behind the richly caparisoned Maligawa tusker and tuskers of their respective devales.
The Dalada Maligawa, the Mahamaluwa, Natha, Pathini, Kataragama and Vishnudevales in Kandy were gaily decorated with Buddhist flags and illuminated for the eleven day Esala festival.
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Saturday, August 16, 2008
Hot News
LTTE smuggling operations increase – Tamilnadu Police
The Tamil Nadu police say LTTE smuggling operations have increased this year. K P Jain, the Director General of Police in Tamil Nadu said, "We have booked some of the smugglers who were supplying goods to militants in Sri Lanka. Some of them have been booked under the NSA this year. We are maintaining vigil. But it is a fact that they have been more active this year tha last year. We are seized with a problem and will take action."
The Tamil Nadu police say LTTE smuggling operations have increased this year. K P Jain, the Director General of Police in Tamil Nadu said, "We have booked some of the smugglers who were supplying goods to militants in Sri Lanka. Some of them have been booked under the NSA this year. We are maintaining vigil. But it is a fact that they have been more active this year tha last year. We are seized with a problem and will take action."
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Sri Lankan youth commits suicide in Bangladesh
A Sri Lankan youth committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his rented house at Baridhara in Bangladesh. He was identified as Ramila De Silva, 19, an A-level student at BIT International School in Gulshan neighbourhood. His father Sudha De Silva works for a buying house in the city. Cantonment police said Ramila's family broke into his bedroom as he did not open the door after repeated knocks and found him hanging from the fan, at about 8:30am.
His father rushed him to United Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
A Sri Lankan youth committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his rented house at Baridhara in Bangladesh. He was identified as Ramila De Silva, 19, an A-level student at BIT International School in Gulshan neighbourhood. His father Sudha De Silva works for a buying house in the city. Cantonment police said Ramila's family broke into his bedroom as he did not open the door after repeated knocks and found him hanging from the fan, at about 8:30am.
His father rushed him to United Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
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Imminent LTTE Downfall & The Caution Needed For Success
In the recent past, the news that has been broadcast through the radio, TV, internet and emails we hear of the advances and the successes of Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces who are systematically moving forward towards the inroads of the LTTE terrorist territories. There is no doubt, that the combined efforts of Sri Lanka’s Combined Services are proving to be successful efforts in their mission to eliminate terrorism from Sri Lanka for which every peace loving citizen of this country is ever grateful to them.
In a war environment, needless to say that there will be casualties on both sides in the form of the wounded and the dead but unfortunately, this is the sacrifice we make for a much larger benefit for the entire country and its sovereignty.
In this same environment, the other unfortunate situation will be displaced persons who naturally will wish to leave the terrorist held areas for their own sanity and survival before they are made “human shields” for the terrorists to make fodder out of them.
In terrorism there is never true human behaviour because theirs is a regime of brutality and blood-thirsty hunger to achieve their ends by hook or by crook. We saw this same trait during the 70s-80s periods when the JVP was also on a similar path where their grievances against The State were taken out on the civilians, State Institutions & the educated rich of our society. LTTE on the other hand, has a different agenda of creating a myth about a “traditional homeland of the Tamils” in an area which archeologically has every proof to show that history speaks of “another truth”- not what the terrorists have made western countries believe for 30-40 years when they were building up support for their brutality.
Having said all this, as citizens of this country whether they be politicians or civilians, there are certain ethics, that we need to be conscious about at a crucial stage of the war against terrorism in Sri Lanka. At this juncture, our prime duty must be to offer our fullest support to the Armed Forces in their forward march. It is also our prime duty to ensure that the sacrifices being made by our Combined Armed Forces will be deemed worthwhile and ensure that we do not in anyway, do anything in word or deed which will endanger the lives or the successes of our brave soldiers who are out there, to ensure a safer world for us in the future!
Guerrilla warfare is not easy and therefore it needs a lot of concentration and determination to overthrow the enemy completely. Even though we are extremely happy about our Armed Forces and their calculated successes against Prabhakaran and his LTTE terrorist outfit, absolute caution and restraint must be practised by those of us who are not out on the battle field.
In a war environment, needless to say that there will be casualties on both sides in the form of the wounded and the dead but unfortunately, this is the sacrifice we make for a much larger benefit for the entire country and its sovereignty.
In this same environment, the other unfortunate situation will be displaced persons who naturally will wish to leave the terrorist held areas for their own sanity and survival before they are made “human shields” for the terrorists to make fodder out of them.
In terrorism there is never true human behaviour because theirs is a regime of brutality and blood-thirsty hunger to achieve their ends by hook or by crook. We saw this same trait during the 70s-80s periods when the JVP was also on a similar path where their grievances against The State were taken out on the civilians, State Institutions & the educated rich of our society. LTTE on the other hand, has a different agenda of creating a myth about a “traditional homeland of the Tamils” in an area which archeologically has every proof to show that history speaks of “another truth”- not what the terrorists have made western countries believe for 30-40 years when they were building up support for their brutality.
Having said all this, as citizens of this country whether they be politicians or civilians, there are certain ethics, that we need to be conscious about at a crucial stage of the war against terrorism in Sri Lanka. At this juncture, our prime duty must be to offer our fullest support to the Armed Forces in their forward march. It is also our prime duty to ensure that the sacrifices being made by our Combined Armed Forces will be deemed worthwhile and ensure that we do not in anyway, do anything in word or deed which will endanger the lives or the successes of our brave soldiers who are out there, to ensure a safer world for us in the future!
Guerrilla warfare is not easy and therefore it needs a lot of concentration and determination to overthrow the enemy completely. Even though we are extremely happy about our Armed Forces and their calculated successes against Prabhakaran and his LTTE terrorist outfit, absolute caution and restraint must be practised by those of us who are not out on the battle field.
DALADA PERAHERA - KANDY
The last royal capital of Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination. Famous for the Temple of the Tooth Relic and many other temples the city could be called the cultural capital of the island.Kandy Perahera, the pageant of the temple of tooth where Buddha's tooth is kept is held either in August each year to parade the golden caskets is a must see itenary if one is visiting Sri Lanka during these months. The final night procession is the most spectacular event of the country. More than 75 elephants parade the city accompanied by the drummers, dancers and chieftains.
This city established in the 15th century was the last royal capital where 2500 years of royal rule ended. This bustling market town is rich in cultural diversity has plenty of iteneries to offer to the tourists from songs dances and handy crafts to ancient temples and adventure activities. Kandy is a good transit point to the cultural triangle to the north or hill country to the south. The city is also a good source of souvenirs or to experience many cultural performances at it's various hotels in the city.
Dates of the Kandy Perahera 2008:From 07th August 2008 (Thursday) to 17th August 2008 (Sunday)
07th August to 11th August 2008 - Kumbal Perahera
12th to 16th August 2008 - Randoli Perahera
16th August 2008 - Maha Perahera
17th August 2008 - Day Perahera
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