Posts tagged Colombo

The glory of Balangoda.

June 18, 2009 · Filed under History · Tagged , , , , ,

History runs back to the period of the famous legend “Rama Ravana” . Balangoda which is situated at an attitude of 670 m (2096 ft) belongs to the Sabaragamuwa province. Its surroundings are enchanting. One can reach this city traveling 147km east of Colombo and 57 km west of Badulla. This is one of main cities that belongs to kadawatha mada korale in Rattnapura district. This area is bounded by the pettigala mountain range in the west, the steep crest of Detanagala known as the southern steep in the north and mahawalatenna plateau in the east.
The irrigation system of Balangoda mainly consists of two rivers called the walawe ganga and way ganga. Dorawela oya and Belihuloya meet the Walawe River at Balangoda. The Way ganga originates at Mawela. The average temperature of Balangoda is about 27C and the average rainfall exceeds 2000 mm. Heavy rain is experienced during the months of March,April October and November. February and August are warm and windy.
When the geographical history of Balangoda is taken into consideration it is evident that it runs to the prehistoric era. Evidence shows that lives originated from the period of plistozena in the geological era.
The geological structure of Balangoda is a result of chemical and geological evaluation that originated from the prehistoric era. There for Balangoda is famous for precious stones such as Cats eye, blue sapphire, emerald, geuda, and so on.
The majer type of soil is red and yellow Podsolic which is very fertile.
Clay and Kaolin are widely found and used in various industries such as the pottery and ceramic industries. The iron industry is also popular as a domestic industry in Hatanpola nad Hatangala. The “Maran” tree which is abundant in this area is used as fuel which is required for the above industry. The name given to the village Marangahawela implies the fact of abundances of this particular type of plant which has a high thermal power found in Kirimatitenna is used for making tiles Lanka walltiles LTD.
The population density of Balangoda is 256 per one square kilo meters, and the population consists of businessmen’s, Farmers and government officers.
Duwili Ella and Diyawini Ella waterfalls which are situated about 18 km away from Balangoda town enhance the natural beauty of this charming city.
As the very name implies the waters that cascade from the height of 92 feet forms a spray of tiny drops of water like a cloud of dust. The Ride waterfall of the Walawe river is a blessing to Balangoda today. Diyawini Ella which is also a creation of the Walawe river falls down facing a vast stretch of paddy fields.
Kuragala is yet another charming village that one should not forget to visit. It is situated between Kaltota and Rajawaka. Though it had originally been a Buddhist religious place it has how slipped in to oblivion and as a result has become a religious place of Muslims. Among the older stone pillars, the ruins of a place that is believed to be that of king Wimaladharmasuriya are also found in this area. The world famous cluster tombs of homosaphien Balangodaensis whose history runs up to 450000000000 years back are in the close vicinity of this waterfall.
The “Aluthnuwara Maha saman dewalaya” and the University of Sabaragamuwa are the landmarks of the modern development of Balangoda Mahawalathanna walawwa the birth place of the late Mrs. Sirimawo Bandaranayaka the first woman prime minister in the world and also the home of Clifford Ratwatthe, Mallika Ratwatthe and Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumarathunga contributes to creating history in Balangoda
It’s with pride mentioning the names of the most venerable Balangoda Ananda Maithreya thero and veverable Nahinne Sumanatissa thero who rendered a great service to uplift of this area.

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THE PROBLEM OF STREET CHILDREN IN SRILANKA.

August 30, 2008 · Filed under community · Tagged , ,

Reported By: Lasantha jayanath

Social problems are prevailing in every developing country. In Sri Lanka too there are several such problems. The problem of street children is one of them.
Hundreds of street children can be seen in our populous cities like Colombo, Kandy and Kurunegala. Most of them are in the age group of 5-10 years. The number of street children is increasing day by day.
Why have they become street children? This situation has been arisen due to several factors prevailing in our society. Unemployment, parental death and illness and acute poverty are some of them. These factors have paved the way for these children to leave their homes in search of jobs.
It is said that parental love and affection is essential for both mental and physical development of a child. All these children have lost their parental love and affection. There is no one to look after them. So they roam here and there in the streets. The chief means of living of most of these children is begging. Some children are engaged in odd jobs like pushing carts, washing plates and scavenging. They earn a few rupees by doing such odd jobs. Most of these children compel to engage in illegal and anti-social activities. It has been revealed that certain affluent people employ these children in their illegal businesses such as selling drugs and illicit liquor.
There children have no permanent abode. They have no beautiful clothes to wear. They have no chance of receiving education. They have no comfortable beds to sleep. They sleep in a corner of a building or under the shade of a tree or somewhere in the street. They wear ragged clothes. They eat rubbish dumped in dust bins. They have been deprived of all the privileges enjoyed by the other children.
The government has set up a separate department called “The department of Probation and Child care” for the benefit of these children. But the government alone cannot solve this problem. There should be benefactors for them. The chances of enjoying the Child’s rights depend on the generosity of the more affluent. The social services organizations and other voluntary organizations should extend their co-operation towards the government to solve this problem.

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BEGGARS PROBLEM IN SRI LANKA.

July 20, 2008 · Filed under community · Tagged , ,

Reported by: Lasantha Jayanath
Hundreds of beggars, both young and old, can be seen in our populour cities like Colombo, kandy and kurunegala. Thousands of  other beggars go from house to house in rural areas.

 They have taken to begging as they do not have homes any means of living and also as they do not have homes of their own. This situation has been arisen due to various factors prevailing in our society. Poverty, parental death and illness, loss of parental love and affection and loss of love and affection of their children are some of them. The number of beggars is increasing day by day.

 Most of the beggars are not disabled. Most of them are able bodied. They can earn money by doing some sort of work. But they beg because they are lazy. They think that begging is the easiest way of living.

 Sometimes, beggars become a nuisance to tourists. They drag after the tourists grumbling until they are given something.

 Beggars wear ragged clothes. Even children in the age group of
5 – 10 years can be seen begging. This is a very sad state of affairs. Most of these children have lost their parental love and affection. According to the Police, most of these children become criminals at the end.

 During the past few years several camps were established by the government for beggars. But they do nit like to live in these camps. So most of them have escaped from these camps.

 They walk under the scorching sun. they get wet in the rain. But these things do not affect their health.

 It is the bounden duty of the government to look into this burning problem and take steps to wipe out beggary. This can be done by setting up special homes for beggars. The government alone cannot solve this problem. All the social service associations and other voluntary organizations should extend their co – operation towards the government in this connection. Children who are engaged in begging should be schooled and taught a trade or vocation. The able bodied must be provided with some sort of employment. Laws should be passed to ban begging.

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