Category Archives: tourism

December 21, 2020 · 2:20 pm

Galle Fort: A Heritage Site under Threat from Gentrification?

Uditha Jinadasa   Interviewed  by Doreen van den Boogaart & Luc Bulten

In the Spring of 2020 Dr. Uditha Jinadasa defended her dissertation ‘Changes in the Cultural Landscape and their Impacts on Heritage Management: A Study of Dutch Fort at Galle, Sri Lanka’ and earned her PhD from the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University. The fortified town of Galle is a living heritage city, but this status is threated by gentrification. Dr. Jinadasa researched what has happened to the architecture, demography, economy, and city culture since the Fort has become UNESCO World Heritage in 1988. Luc Bulten and Doreen van den Boogaart, young ambassadors of the Netherlands Sri Lanka Foundation, interviewed her about her thesis and her view on heritage management in Sri Lanka.

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November 22, 2020 · 2:38 pm

Tony Blair and Family in Galle, Mid-August 2015

Michael Roberts

In August 2015 Tony Blair and family visited Sri Lanka  on a private holiday trip[1] and during their stay in Galle resided at the upmarket boutique hotel known as “Amangalla.”[2] When a Sunday dawned on 11th August 2015 they adhered to their Catholic faith and attended mass at the little low-key Catholic Chapel in Lighthouse Street around the corner from Amangalla. So, we now witness a picture of an informal gathering after the service where the Blairs are chatting with Moninna Goonewardena of Parawa Street, Fort Galle, Charmaine Fereira of Galle and Fr. Tharanga Saminathan of the Jesuit Order — a lovely moment etched in ecumenical space.

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November 21, 2020 · 4:25 am

Galle: Basic Facts ….. Historical, General and Pacha

Ruhunu Putra, in THE ISLAND, 2o  November 2020, where the title is “Historical Glance at Galle”

Galle is the capital of the Southern Province. The popular derivation of its name is from the Sinhala word Gaala – a cattle pen. The mighty king Ravana’s cattle pen had extended from the present day Mahapola premises to the Town Hall, according to legend.  Galle is also considered to be the Tarshish in the Bible. It is reputed for cottage-crafts, lace making, tortoise shell work, gem polishing, ivory carving, jewellery and ornamental ebony elephants.

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November 20, 2020 · 9:47 am

Nostalgia: Foenander & Potger compose “My Special Island”

https://www.elanka.com.au/further-down-the-road-rob-foenander-keith-potger-by-patrick-ranasinghe/Further Down The Road – Rob Foenander & Keith Potger – by Patrick Ranasingh

I am Visiting my country roots with this composition. It is the title track off of my forth coming album featuring 12 new country songs I have written over the past couple of years and currently recording .Have someone like Keith join me on this song was a very exciting concept for me, and an opportunity that doesn’t come long too often.

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October 26, 2020 · 1:29 am

Shark! Shark! … Major Danger off Australia’s Waters

News Ttem 25 October 2020 …. https://www.9news.com.au/national/shark-attack-victim-named-as-rick-bettua-britomart-reef-townsville/1e0156f2-9a15-4371-8313-9ca

A Queensland man is undergoing emergency surgery in hospital in the state’s north after being attacked by a shark while spearfishing.Paramedics and a rescue helicopter were rushed to Britomart Reef, off Lucinda and around 140km north of Townsville, at around 12pm today after a distress beacon was set off.The patient, a 59-year-old man, had been spearfishing with a friend when the shark attacked and bit his thigh.

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September 5, 2020 · 8:48 am

Treasures Big and Small around Galle Fort and Port

Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne,* in Island, 5 September 2020, where the title runs “From the tallest clock tower to smallest sand clock in Sri Lanka”

Galle is a fascinating place to work in. I was the Commander Southern Naval Area (Comsouth) from 3rd August 2008 to 10th August 2009. For me nothing was more refreshing than the early morning beach run on the world famous Unawatuna beach as well as the one-kilometer swim (before tourists invaded the beach).

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August 5, 2020 · 2:10 pm

Galle Fort: Demography, 2018

The Population of Galle Fort in 2018

Muslims                    561

Sinhalas                     432

Tamils                          14

Malays                         02

Burghers                     02

Foreigners                  60 …… Total 1071        

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July 26, 2020 · 6:25 pm

Eduard Hempel Flourishes in Galle and Lanka

SinhaRaja Tammita-Delgoda, in Sunday Island, 26 July where the title is “ A Seeker after Many Truths, The Lives of Eduard Hempel”

The canoe nudged its way through the deep brown water. It was thick and heavy, like treacle and the boat inched towards a tree trunk on the river bank. The boat sat low in the water, barely a few inches above the river. “Closer, closer,” said the voice at the stern. “I can’t really see it.”

“Well I can,” protested the voice from the bow. “Its close enough, isn’t it?”

” No, its okay. It doesn’t seem to be moving.” All of sudden the tree trunk moved. Coming suddenly to life, it slid down the river bank, crashing into the water.

“Don’t worry, they are much bigger on the Zambezi. It’s probably scared of us. That was why it was rushing into the water. Look they are all doing that.”

There was a series of splashes, each one louder than the other.

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July 23, 2020 · 10:26 am

Underwater Scenes off Ceylon from Mike Wilson and Rodney Jonklass in 1958

Beneath the Seas of Ceylon
Today’s throwback from the BSAC archives is a documentary from 1958 which, according to one source we found online, has been lost without a trace – but we have it! This 16mm film was the first underwater one to be shot in the seas around Ceylon, Sri Lanka and features some breathtaking scenes of Rodney Jonklaas taming some very large groupers, and then being chased by sharks 🦈#

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July 19, 2020 · 5:23 pm

Australians in Limbo: Morrison’s Government under Siege

Andrew Taylor & Tammy Mills, in Sydney Morning Herald, 11 July 2020, with this title

Australians living overseas have criticised the Morrison government’s decision to make it harder to return home, while forcing people to pay for two weeks in quarantine has been labelled as “almost cruel”.

Matthew Spence worked in the aviation industry in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until he was made redundant on June 30. Mr Spence said flights from Malaysia to Sydney were sparse, and he was booked on the first available flight on July 18. “I am concerned that the intake cut will result in flight cancellations, further adding to the stress of Aussies trying to return,” Mr Spence said. “If you are an Australian citizen you have the expectation that you can always return home when you need to.”

Kerryn Finnis (right) has been separated from her fiance Nick (left) by the travel restrictions Australia has imposed. 
Kerryn Finnis (right) has been separated from her fiance Nick (left) by the travel restrictions Australia has imposed. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison ordered airlines to slash the number of flights and available seats to Australia from Monday to reduce the number of international arrivals in a bid to relieve pressure on hotel quarantine.

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