Ceylon, Physical, Historical and Topographical
Encyclopedia
Ceylon. An Account of the Island, Physical, Historical, and Topographical with Notices of its Natural History, Antiquities and Productions is a two-volume book by James Emerson Tennent
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"There is no island in the world, Great Britain itself not excepted, that has attracted the attention of authors in so many distant ages and so many different countries as Ceylon. There is no nation in ancient or modern times possessed of a language and a literature, the writers of which have not at some time made it their theme. Its aspect, its religion, its antiquities, and productions, have been described as well by the classic Greeks, as by those of the Lower Empire; by the Romans; by the writers of China, Burmah, India, and Kashmir; by the geographers of Arabia and Persia; by the mediæval voyagers of Italy and France; by the annalists of Portugal and Spain; by the merchant adventurers of Holland, and by the travellers and topographers of Great Britain."- Introduction
First published in 1859, by Spottiswoode & Co. for Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts at London Ceylon proved very popular and five editions, variously revised were in published in eight months, the last in 1860.
The work is an account of many aspects of the island of Ceylon
with chapters on the geology, climate, flora and fauna, history, religion and Buddhism, farming, commerce, the arts, science, Portuguese, Dutch and English influence followed by accounts of elephants, the forest, and ruined cities.
"Ceylon" is an encyclopaedic work collating the research of many people. In the Introduction to "Ceylon" Tennent writes "Respecting the Physical Geography and Natural History of the colony, I found an equal want of reliable information; and every work that even touched on the subject was pervaded by the misapprehension which I have collected evidence to correct; that Ceylon is but a fragment of the great Indian continent dissevered by some local convulsion; and that the zoology and botany of the island are identical with those of the mainland.Thus for almost every particular and fact, whether physical or historical, I have been to a great extent thrown on my own researches; and obliged to seek for information in original sources, and in French and English versions of Oriental authorities. The results of my investigations are embodied in the following pages; and it only remains for me to express, in terms however inadequate, my obligations to the literary and scientific friends by whose aid I have been enabled to pursue my inquiries". Collaborators resident in Ceylon include, especially the Belfast born naturalist Robert Templeton
and like Tennent a fellow Member of the Belfast Natural History Society
who is thanked thus for his cordial assistance in numerous departments; but above all in relation to the physical geography and natural history of the island. Here his scientific knowledge, successfully cultivated during a residence of nearly twelve years in Ceylon, and his intimate familiarity with its zoology and productions, rendered his co-operation invaluable. Others were Dr. Cameron , of the Army Medical Staff (as was Templeton),Dr. Davy "when connected with the medical staff of the army from 1816 to 1820", William Ferguson, Esq., employed by the Survey Department of the Civil Service in Ceylon and a botanist, George Gardner
and George Henry Kendrick Thwaites
of the Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya, Edward Frederick Kelaart
Edgar Leopold Layard
as well as from officers of the Ceylon Civil Service; the Hon. Gerald C. Talbot, Mr. C.E. Buller, Mr. Mercer, Mr. Morris, Mr. Whiting, Major Skinner, and Mr. Mitford and Members of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
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Outside Ceylon Tennent thanks Roderick Murchison
"without committing himself as to the controversial portions of the chapter on the Geology and Mineralogy of Ceylon) has done me the favour to offer some valuable suggestions, and to express his opinion as to the general accuracy of the whole", Joseph Dalton Hooker
"And I have been permitted to submit the portion of my work which refers to this subject to the revision of the highest living authority on Indian botany", Thomas Henry Huxley , Frederic Moore
of the East India House Museum, Robert Patterson
also from Belfast and author of an Introduction to Zoology Adam White
British Museum, John Edward Gray
British Museum, Edward Blyth
for the zealous and untiring energy with which he has devoted his attention and leisure to the identification of the various interesting species forwarded from Ceylon, and to their description in the Calcutta Journal. Michael Faraday
"for some notes on the nature and qualities of the "Serpent Stone", Robert FitzRoy
"for his most ingenious theory in elucidation of the phenomena of the Tides around Ceylon.
In the historical sections Tennent remarks on contributions made by Julius von Mohl
the literary executor of Eugène Burnouf
, George Turnour
"for access to his unpublished manuscripts; and to those portions of his correspondence with James Prinsep
which relate to the researches of these two distinguished scholars regarding the Pali annals
of Ceylon",Ernest de Saram Wijeyesekerev Karoonaratne, "the Maha-Moodliar and First Interpreter to the Governor", James De Alwis "translator of the Sidath Sangara", the Rev. Mr. Gogerly "of the Wesleyan Mission, " Rev. R. Spence Hardy "archæology of Buddhism" Mr. Cooley "author of the History of Maritime and Inland Discovery", Mr. Wylie of Shanghae, Mr. Lockhart of Shanghae and Stanislas Julien
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VOLUME 1
Volume 2
James Emerson Tennent
Sir James Emerson Tennent, 1st Baronet FRS , born James Emerson, was an Irish politician and traveller. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 5 June 1862....
.
"There is no island in the world, Great Britain itself not excepted, that has attracted the attention of authors in so many distant ages and so many different countries as Ceylon. There is no nation in ancient or modern times possessed of a language and a literature, the writers of which have not at some time made it their theme. Its aspect, its religion, its antiquities, and productions, have been described as well by the classic Greeks, as by those of the Lower Empire; by the Romans; by the writers of China, Burmah, India, and Kashmir; by the geographers of Arabia and Persia; by the mediæval voyagers of Italy and France; by the annalists of Portugal and Spain; by the merchant adventurers of Holland, and by the travellers and topographers of Great Britain."- Introduction
First published in 1859, by Spottiswoode & Co. for Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts at London Ceylon proved very popular and five editions, variously revised were in published in eight months, the last in 1860.
The work is an account of many aspects of the island of Ceylon
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
with chapters on the geology, climate, flora and fauna, history, religion and Buddhism, farming, commerce, the arts, science, Portuguese, Dutch and English influence followed by accounts of elephants, the forest, and ruined cities.
"Ceylon" is an encyclopaedic work collating the research of many people. In the Introduction to "Ceylon" Tennent writes "Respecting the Physical Geography and Natural History of the colony, I found an equal want of reliable information; and every work that even touched on the subject was pervaded by the misapprehension which I have collected evidence to correct; that Ceylon is but a fragment of the great Indian continent dissevered by some local convulsion; and that the zoology and botany of the island are identical with those of the mainland.Thus for almost every particular and fact, whether physical or historical, I have been to a great extent thrown on my own researches; and obliged to seek for information in original sources, and in French and English versions of Oriental authorities. The results of my investigations are embodied in the following pages; and it only remains for me to express, in terms however inadequate, my obligations to the literary and scientific friends by whose aid I have been enabled to pursue my inquiries". Collaborators resident in Ceylon include, especially the Belfast born naturalist Robert Templeton
Robert Templeton
Robert Templeton was a Naturalist, artist, and entomologist, and was born at Cranmore House, Belfast, Ireland.-Life and work:...
and like Tennent a fellow Member of the Belfast Natural History Society
Belfast Natural History Society
The Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society was founded in 1821 to promote the scientific study of animals, plants, fossils, rocks and minerals....
who is thanked thus for his cordial assistance in numerous departments; but above all in relation to the physical geography and natural history of the island. Here his scientific knowledge, successfully cultivated during a residence of nearly twelve years in Ceylon, and his intimate familiarity with its zoology and productions, rendered his co-operation invaluable. Others were Dr. Cameron , of the Army Medical Staff (as was Templeton),Dr. Davy "when connected with the medical staff of the army from 1816 to 1820", William Ferguson, Esq., employed by the Survey Department of the Civil Service in Ceylon and a botanist, George Gardner
George Gardner (botanist)
George Gardner was a Scottish naturalist mainly interested in botany.Gardner's father was a gardener first to to the Earl of Dunmore in Ardentinny, then from 1816 to the Earl of Eglinton at Ardrossan. In 1822, his parents moved to Glasgow where he attended the grammar-school and acquired a...
and George Henry Kendrick Thwaites
George Henry Kendrick Thwaites
George Henry Kendrick Thwaites was an English botanist and entomologist.Thwaites was initially an accountant and studied botany during his spare time. He was interested particularly in the lower plants such as the algae and the cryptogams...
of the Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya, Edward Frederick Kelaart
Edward Frederick Kelaart
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Frederick Kelaart was a Ceylonese-born physician and naturalist.Kelaart was of Dutch and German heritage, and served in the Ceylon Medical Service. He was a staff assistant surgeon in Gibraltar from 1843 to 1845, later transferred to Ceylon. He was an active member of the...
Edgar Leopold Layard
Edgar Leopold Layard
Edgar Leopold Layard CMG, FZS, MBOU was a British naturalist mainly interested in ornithology. Born in Florence, Italy, to a family of Huguenot descent, he was the sixth son of Henry Peter John Layard of the Ceylon Civil Service with his wife Marianne,...
as well as from officers of the Ceylon Civil Service; the Hon. Gerald C. Talbot, Mr. C.E. Buller, Mr. Mercer, Mr. Morris, Mr. Whiting, Major Skinner, and Mr. Mitford and Members of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
.
Outside Ceylon Tennent thanks Roderick Murchison
Roderick Murchison
Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, 1st Baronet KCB DCL FRS FRSE FLS PRGS PBA MRIA was a Scottish geologist who first described and investigated the Silurian system.-Early life and work:...
"without committing himself as to the controversial portions of the chapter on the Geology and Mineralogy of Ceylon) has done me the favour to offer some valuable suggestions, and to express his opinion as to the general accuracy of the whole", Joseph Dalton Hooker
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker OM, GCSI, CB, MD, FRS was one of the greatest British botanists and explorers of the 19th century. Hooker was a founder of geographical botany, and Charles Darwin's closest friend...
"And I have been permitted to submit the portion of my work which refers to this subject to the revision of the highest living authority on Indian botany", Thomas Henry Huxley , Frederic Moore
Frederic Moore
Frederic Moore FZS was a British entomologist. It has been said that Moore was born at 33 Bruton Street but may be incorrect given that this was the address of the menagerie and office of the Zoological Society of London from 1826 to 1836.Moore was appointed an assistant in the East India Company...
of the East India House Museum, Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson (Belfast)
Robert Patterson, FRS was an Irish businessman and naturalist born in Belfast, Ireland.-Biography:The eldest son of Robert Patterson , owner of a mill-furnishing business in Belfast established in 1786, Robert Patterson was born into a wealthy family. He was educated first at the Belfast Academy...
also from Belfast and author of an Introduction to Zoology Adam White
Adam White (zoologist)
-Biography:White was born in Edinburgh. He became acquainted with John Edward Gray, Keeper of Zoology at the British Museum. At the age of eighteen, White obtained a post in the Museum in the Zoology Department....
British Museum, John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
British Museum, Edward Blyth
Edward Blyth
Edward Blyth was an English zoologist and pharmacist. He was one of the founders of zoology in India....
for the zealous and untiring energy with which he has devoted his attention and leisure to the identification of the various interesting species forwarded from Ceylon, and to their description in the Calcutta Journal. Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday, FRS was an English chemist and physicist who contributed to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry....
"for some notes on the nature and qualities of the "Serpent Stone", Robert FitzRoy
Robert FitzRoy
Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy RN achieved lasting fame as the captain of HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin's famous voyage, and as a pioneering meteorologist who made accurate weather forecasting a reality...
"for his most ingenious theory in elucidation of the phenomena of the Tides around Ceylon.
In the historical sections Tennent remarks on contributions made by Julius von Mohl
Julius von Mohl
Julius von Mohl , German Orientalist, brother of Hugo von Mohl and Robert von Mohl was born at Stuttgart.He abandoned the idea of entering the Lutheran ministry, and in 1823 went to Paris, at that time, under Silvestre de Sacy, the great European school of Eastern letters...
the literary executor of Eugène Burnouf
Eugène Burnouf
Eugène Burnouf was an eminent French scholar and orientalist who made significant contributions to the deciphering of Old Persian cuneiform....
, George Turnour
George Turnour
Honorable George Turnour, CCS was a British civil servant, scholar and a historian. He was member of the Ceylon Civil Service. He is known for his translation of the Mahavamsa, the Great Chronicle of Sri Lankan history which was published in 1837. Along with James Prinsep and Captain Edward Smith,...
"for access to his unpublished manuscripts; and to those portions of his correspondence with James Prinsep
James Prinsep
James Prinsep was an Anglo-Indian scholar and antiquary. He was the seventh son of John Prinsep, a wealthy East India merchant and Member of Parliament....
which relate to the researches of these two distinguished scholars regarding the Pali annals
Mahavamsa
The Mahavamsa is a historical poem written in the Pali language, of the kings of Sri Lanka...
of Ceylon",Ernest de Saram Wijeyesekerev Karoonaratne, "the Maha-Moodliar and First Interpreter to the Governor", James De Alwis "translator of the Sidath Sangara", the Rev. Mr. Gogerly "of the Wesleyan Mission, " Rev. R. Spence Hardy "archæology of Buddhism" Mr. Cooley "author of the History of Maritime and Inland Discovery", Mr. Wylie of Shanghae, Mr. Lockhart of Shanghae and Stanislas Julien
Stanislas Julien
Stanislas Aignan Julien was a French sinologist.-Biography:Born at Orléans, he studied the classics at the Collège de France, and in 1821 was appointed assistant professor of Greek. In the same year he published an edition of The Rape of Helen of Coluthus, with versions in French, Latin, English,...
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VOLUME 1
- PART I.PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.
- CHAPTER 1 Geology—Mineralogy—Gems
- CHAPTER 2 Climate—Health and Disease
- CHAPTER 3 Vegetation—Trees and plants
- PART II ZOOLOGY.
- CHAPTER I Mammalia
- CHAPTER 2 Birds
- CHAPTER 3 Reptiles
- CHAPTER 4 Fishes
- CHAPTER 5 Mollusca, Radiata and Acephalae
- CHAPTER 6 Insects
- CHAPTER 7 Arachnidae, Myriopoda, Crustacea, etc.
- PART III THE SINGHALESE CHRONICLES.
- CHAPTER 1 Sources of Singhalese history – the MahawansoMahavamsaThe Mahavamsa is a historical poem written in the Pali language, of the kings of Sri Lanka...
- CHAPTER 2 The Aborigines
- CHAPTER 3 Conquest of Wijayo, B.C. 543. – Establishment of BuddhismBuddhismBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
B.C. 307. - CHAPTER 4 The Buddhist Monuments.
- CHAPTER 1 Sources of Singhalese history – the Mahawanso
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- CHAPTER 5 Singhalese Chivalry - Elala and Dutugaimunu
- CHAPTER 6 The Influences of Buddhism on Civilisation
- CHAPTER 7 Fate of the Aborigines (Naga people and Yaksha peopleYakshaYaksha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology. The feminine form of the word is ' or Yakshini .In Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist mythology,...
) - CHAPTER 8 Extinction of the Great Dynasty ( Vijaya B.C. 505 – MahasenaMahasena of Sri LankaMahasen, also known in some records as Mahasena, was a king of Sri Lanka who ruled the country from 275 to 301 AD. He started the construction of large tanks or reservoirs in Sri Lanka, and built sixteen such tanks...
A.D. 302) - CHAPTER 9 Kings of the Lower Dynasty (Maha-Sen, A.D. 301, to the accession of Prakrama Bahu, A.D. 1153)
- CHAPTER 10 Domination of the MalabarsMalabarsMalabars is an appellation originating from the colonial era that was used by Westerners to refer to all the people of South India...
- CHAPTER 11 The Reign of Prakrama Baku
- CHAPTER 12 Fate of the Singhalese Monarchy – Arrival of the Portuguese A.D. 1505
- PART IV SCIENCES AND SOCIAL ARTS.
- CHAPTER 1 Population, caste, slavery and Raja-KariyaGovigamaGovi, Govigama, Goigama, Goygama, Goyigama, Goviyo is the most influential and the dominant Caste in Sri Lanka and certainly comes as the leading cast in the hierarchy of cast system in Sri Lanka.The term Govi denotes farmer.From time immemorial the Govigama have been the landlords and have been...
- CHAPTER 2 Agriculture, irrigation, cattle and crops
- CHAPTER 3 Early commerce, shipping and productions
- CHAPTER 4 Manufactures
- CHAPTER 5 Working in metals
- CHAPTER 6 Engineering
- CHAPTER 1 Population, caste, slavery and Raja-Kariya
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- CHAPTER 7 The Fine Arts
- CHAPTER 8 Social life
- CHAPTER 9 Sciences
- CHAPTER 10 Singhalese literature
- PART V MEDIEVAL HISTORY
- CHAPTER 1 Ceylon as known to the Greeks and Romans
- CHAPTER 2 Indian, Arabian , and Persian authorities
- CHAPTER 3 Ceylon as known to the Chinese
- CHAPTER 4 Ceylon as known to the Moors, Genoese and Venetians
Volume 2
- PART VI MODERN HISTORY.
- CHAPTER 1 The Portuguese in Ceylon
- CHAPTER 2 The Dutch in Ceylon
- CHAPTER 3 The English period
- PART VII SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PROVINCES
- CHAPTER 1 Point de GalleGalleGalle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
- CHAPTER 2 Galle To ColomboColomboColombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
- CHAPTER 3 Colombo
- CHAPTER 4 The Ceylon Government, Revenue and Establishments - The country from Colombo to KandyKandyKandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
- CHAPTER 5 Kandy to ParadeniaPeradeniyaPeradeniya is a town of about 50,000 inhabitants on the outskirts of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It is situated on the A1 main road connecting Kandy and Colombo, just a few kilometres west of Kandy....
- CHAPTER 6 GampolaGampolaGampola is a town located near Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Gampola was made the capital city of the island by King Buwanekabahu IV, who ruled for four years in the mid fourteenth century. The last king of Gampola was King Buwanekabahu V. He ruled the island for 29 years. A separate...
and the Coffee Districts - CHAPTER 7 Pusilawa and Neuera-ElliaNuwara EliyaNuwara Eliya , meaning "city on the plain " or "city of light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka...
- CHAPTER 1 Point de Galle
- PART VIII THE ELEPHANTSri Lankan ElephantThe Sri Lankan Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian Elephant, and native to Sri Lanka. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
- CHAPTER 1 Structure
- CHAPTER 2 Habits
- CHAPTER 3 Elephant shooting
- CHAPTER 4 An Elephant corral
- CHAPTER 5 The captives
- CHAPTER 6 Conduct in captivity
- PART IX THE NORTHERN FORESTS.
- CHAPTER 1 Forest travelling in Ceylon
- CHAPTER 2 BintenneMahiyanganaMahiyangana is a town in Badulla District, Uva Province of Sri Lanka. Some orthodox Sri Lankan Buddhists believe that Lord Gautam Buddha himself traveled from India to visit Sri Lanka and arrived at Mahiyangana to stop a war between the race of Yakshas and the race of Nagas...
— The Mahawelli–Ganga - The Ancient TanksIrrigation tankFor etymology, see Storage tank#Etymology.In India, an irrigation tank or tank is an artificial reservoir of any size. . It can also have a natural or man-made spring included as part of a structure... - CHAPTER 3 The Veddhas
- CHAPTER 4 BatticaloaBatticaloaBatticaloa is a city in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. It is the seat of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. It is on the east coast, south by south east of Trincomalee, and is situated on an island.-Etymology:...
— "The Musical Fish " — The Salt Country - CHAPTER 5 TrincomaleeTrincomaleeTrincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
— The Ebony Forests — The Salt Formations — The Great Tank of Padivil - CHAPTER 6 The Peninsula of JaffnaJaffnaJaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
- The Palmyra PalmBorassus flabelliferBorassus flabellifer, the Asian Palmyra palm, Toddy palm, Sugar palm, or Cambodian palm, is native to South and Southeast Asia, in the Indomalaya ecozone...
- The Tamils - CHAPTER 7 Adam's bridge and the islands — The Pearl FisheryGulf of MannarThe Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. It lies between the southeastern tip of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka. A chain of low islands and reefs known as Adam's Bridge, also called Ramsethu, which includes Mannar Island, separates the...
- PART X THE RUINED CITIES.
- CHAPTER 1 SigiriSigiriyaSigiriya is a large stone and ancient rock fortress and palace ruin in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures...
and PollanarruaPolonnaruwaThe second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 AD to reunite the country once more under a local leader.-History:While Vijayabahu's victory and shifting of Kingdoms to the more strategic Polonnaruwa... - CHAPTER 2 The Tank of MineryMinneriya National ParkMinneriya National Park is a national park in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The area was designated as a national park on 12 August 1997, having been originally declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. The reason for declaring the area as protected is to protect the catchment of Minneriya...
— AnarajapooraAnuradhapuraAnuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
and the West Coast
- CHAPTER 1 Sigiri