Discover Sri Lanka

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4 Discover Sri Lanka May - June 2011

Editor’s notE

With the first rays of the morning sun some of us are already waiting at train stations and bus stops trying to reach work on time.

Those lucky enough to have their own vehicles can sleep just a little bit longer but soon have to get up and be on their way too. Work, work and more work. We have all become so used to this day-in-day-out routine, and for the most part it seems like that we don’t have much of a choice. But we do, there is always a choice.

In this hustle and bustle of life, our minds get so occupied with making ends meet, acquiring money, power and getting ahead that we soon forget to appreciate the little things in life. We tend to shove the things that actually matter or make a difference in our lives to the back of the closet. We tend to forget what is most important to us. We are too tired to have a good time with our families, we soon forget our friends. We may not realise it now, and it may not appear to be a significant issue. Yet, if we continue to deny ourselves the pleasure of spending quality time with family and friends, in the end we would have missed out on the best bits of life. So change your routine today itself. It is never too late to amend things for the better.

We bring you “Discover Sri Lanka”, a magazine that gives you variety of choices on how you could have a grand old time with your loved ones. In life you have to make a lot of compromises, but don’t let it be the happiness of the people who means so much to you. Bring your close ones even closer. Life’s short, live it to the fullest.

Do something exciting every day, Stay somewhere new every time, Dine with someone special and Shop only from the best. Discover yourself, while discovering Sri Lanka !

Yusriyya NaseerEditor

tEam

Editor in ChiefYusriyya NaseerAssociate EditorNasiya MuhaminManaging DirectorNisreen Majeed Editorial Contributors Alexander ShamblyFreelance PhotographerMushaq MohamedGraphic Design & LayoutDevinda AmarathungaHead of Sales & MarketingAshad YasminProduction & DistributionShiraj ShanSales & PR CoordinatorsHimalaka PereraAjanthan ArumugamKalpani MicheePrinterKarunarathna Printers

For Editorial & Advertising Contact - Discover Sri Lanka

46, School Avenue,Off School LaneNawala, Rajagiriya.Tel: +94-011-2888030 [email protected] ofNew Multimedia Interactive

16 Letters from my Maldivian friend

30 Give me a Break - Movies for the whole family

32 Laugh corner

Exclusive Resorts & Day SpasThe Leading Lifestyle TV program in the world, Exclusive Resorts and Day Spas with Alexander Shambly, which features the most luxurious Resorts, Hotels and Attractions globally.

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Once UponA Time In Sri Lanka,

The story of the Rodi : The Sri Lankas

“Untouchables”

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A slice of Heaven… The Theva Residency, Hantana, Kandy

A slice of Heaven… A slice of Heaven…

Where to stay

23

Content

Refi ned Skills & Creative Imagination,The Art of Chandana Ranaweera

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Other Features...

TrincomaleeDestination of the month


Editorial for Kanbulo -Lifestyle Magazine (formerly Colombo Town)

Sri Lanka most recently played host to the Leading Lifestyle TV program in the world,

Exclusive Resorts and Day Spas with Alexander Shambly, which features the most luxurious Resorts, Hotels and Attractions globally.

The episode which will commence airing globally early next year features Resorts from the pristine white sandy beaches of the East Coast including Trincomalee down through the lush jungle region of Habarana and highlighting the Golden Belt with its tropical landscape in Bentota Beach.

Sri Lanka also had an opportunity to showcase one of the leading institutions in the world of Fashion based in Sri Lanka, Hameedia, which was Mr. Shambly’s stylist during his fi lming campaign in Sri Lanka.

Alexander Shambly’s career on camera began in the Fashion business as a Top International Model appearing in leading publications such as Vogue, Woman’s Weekly, Woman’s Day and Harper’s Bazaar to name a few.

His unique voice recognized the world over can be attributed to his many years of working in radio where he was host of his lifestyle Radio program.

Mr. Alexander Shambly the Creator and Executive Producer of “Exclusive Resorts and Day Spas” TV program has showcased some of the most lavish Resorts and Hotels in the world including leading brands such as Kempinski, Raffl es, John Keells and Taj Hotels to name a few. His stylish delivery and eloquent presentation contributes to him being considered by movers and shakers in the industry as the best in the business.

Exclusive Resorts& Day Spas

Hosted byAlexander Shambly

Lifestyle TV Productions have become a very competitive business in the last few years. We asked Mr. Shambly who also appears on some of the great Resorts and Hotels in the world websites, what has distinguished “Exclusive Resorts and Day Spas” as one of the leading TV programs globally?

“We are committed to giving our clients the best possible production in High Defi nition, in the most cost effective manner in keeping with the client’s budget. Exclusive Resorts and Day Spas have maintained an 80 percent increase in occupancy to Resorts and Hotels whom have appeared on our program and featured on our website, which has contributed to the repeat business from our clients with newly opened properties”.

We asked Alexander, with numerous destinations fi lmed by” Exclusive Resorts and Day Spas” during the 6 years of being in production, which is his favorite destination.

“Its like having children and trying to choose a favorite I love them all, I really appreciate each destination for its location and wealth of knowledge which I have acquired over the last 6 years of being in production, we seem to have quite a steady client base in the Maldives, Singapore, Dubai and our newly found treasure Sri Lanka”.

Mr. Shambly has a diverse back ground in the Fashion and Entertainment industry. He spent 2 years at Indiana University where he received a scholarship as a music

major before moving to California, where he recorded with Natalie Cole, on her hit album” Thankful” as a woodwind player.

His vast skills in journalism have distinguished him as a freelance journalist for Lifestyle and Travel magazines. Mr. Shambly has written articles in leading publications including Mode Bride, Nosatras Magazine as the (Fashion and Travel editor),Wentworth Courier (Travel article), The Bulletin and other international lifestyle and travel publications to name a few.He’s also written a Book which was accepted for publication by the leading New York publisher Vantage Press “Beauty A Special Message” which focused on Beauty and Lifestyle Enhancement.

Mr. Shambly has been a guest speaker for Prime Ministers, Heads of State and Captains of Industries in many corners of the world.

“Exclusive Resorts and Day Spas TV program” is also ecologically conscience with highlighting the importance of looking after the environment and often contributing to charities.

If you would like more information about “Exclusive Resorts and Day Spas TV program”visit the websitewww.exclusiveresortsanddayspas.com

“we seem to have quite a steady client base in the Maldives, Singapore, Dubai and our newly found treasure Sri Lanka”


ONCE UPON A TIME INSRI LANKA

The story of the Rodi : The Sri Lankas “untouchables”

No Sinhalese caste has aroused so much wonder and curiosity as the Rodi,

once the ùntouchables’ ofSri Lanka. Indeed there is something mysterious about this people who claim their descent from Sinhalese royalty but who have for centuries been despised and down trodden by society.

Theirs is a very sad story indeed and their plight a yet sadder one. It is only today th at this folk are emerging to take their due place in society after centuries of oppression.

Rodi legend holds that they are descended from Ratnavalli (also known as Navaratna Valli) the daughter of King Parakrama Bahu 1 (12th century).

About 100 years ago Hugh Nevill, a prominent British civil servant recorded the following tradition current among the Rodi as to their origins:

Àt Parakrama Bahu’s court the venison was provided by a certain Veddha archer. Who during a scarcity of game substituted the fl esh of a boy he met in the jungle and provided it as venison for the royal household.

Navaratna Valli, the beautiful daughter of the king discovered the deception and fascinated by a sudden longing for human fl esh ordered the Veddha hunter to bring this fl esh. The Veddha accordingly waylaid youths in the woods, and disposed of their fl esh to the royal kitchen. The whole country was terrifi ed by the constant disappearance of youths and maidens. It happened that a barber who came to the palace to complain of the disappearance of his only son while waiting was given by the servants of the royal scullery a leaf of rice and venison curry.

Just as he was about to eat he noticed on his leaf the deformed knuckle of the little fi nger of a boy. Recognizing it by the deformity as that of his son he fl ed from the palace and spread the alarm that the king

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was killing and eating the youths of the city.The facts then came to light and the king stripping his daughter of her ornaments and calling out a scavenger then sweeping out a neighbouring yard gave her to him as wife and drove her out to earn her living in her husband’s class.’

Somewhat different is the original legend narrated by Robert Knox in his `Historical Relation of Ceylon’ (1681).Says Knox `The predecessors of these people from whom they sprang were Dodda Veddhas which signifi es hunters: to whom it did belong to catch and bring venison for the king’s table.

But instead of venison they brought man’s fl esh. Unknown; which the king liking so well commanded to bring him more of the same sort of venison. The king’s barber chanced to know what fl esh it was and disclosed it to him. At which the king was so enraged that he accounted death too good for them; and to punish only those persons that had so offended not a suffi cient recompense for so great an affront and injury as he had sustained by them. Forthwith therefore he established a decree that both great and small that were of that rank or tribe should be expelled

from dwelling among the inhabitants of the land and not to be admitted to use or enjoy the benefi t of any means or ways or callings whatsoever to provide themselves sustenance; but what they should beg from generation to generation from door to door, through the kingdom, and to be looked upon and esteemed by all people to be so base and odious as not possibly to be more.’ Many were the restrictions placed on the Rodi during the Kandyan period.

“It’s believed that the Rodiare descended from totemistic eastern Indian aboriginal hunting tribes who came to Sri Lanka along with the sacred Bo-sapling (today the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura) about 2000 years ago.”

Says Knox: Ànd they are to this day so detestable to the people that they are not permitted to fetch water out of their wells; but do take their water out of holes or rivers. Neither will any touch them lest they should be defi led.’ Until fairly recent times till about 100 years ago this was still true of the Rodi in the Kandyan areas.

During Kandyan times both Rodi men and women were compelled to go bare-bodied and forced to reside in separate hamlets known as kuppayam. Their rajakariya (duties to the state) included the supply of rope made of animal hide for trapping wild beasts. During Knox’s time the primary occupation of the Rodi was mendicancy and hardly anyone refused them. In more recent times the folk were given to professional entertainment. The women would sing hymns in praise of their legendary ancestress Ratnavalli and spin brass plates while the men played a one-sided drum known as Bum-mendiya.


Rodi women are renowned for their extreme beauty and this may perhaps be explained by the following statement of Knox: `Many times when the king (i.e. Rajasinghe II) cuts off great and noble men against whom he is highly incensed he will deliver their daughters and wives unto this sort of people reckoning it as they also account it to be far worse a punishment than any kind of death.’

Constant intercourse with the women of the Kandyan nobility may well account for the aristocratic looks and stately carriage of Rodi women to this day though the same cannot be said of their menfolk. This may perhaps also explain the claims of the Rodi to royal status.

M.D. Raghavan (Handsome Beggars. The Rodiyas of Ceylon. 1957) believes that the Rodi are descended from totemistic eastern Indian aboriginal hunting tribes who came to Sri Lanka along with the sacred Bo-sapling (today the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura) about 2000 years ago. Raghavan connects the term Rodi to the Palli rudda (Sanskrit. rudra) meaning hunter.As for their outcaste and untouchable status Raghavan has an explanation that is worthy of consideration. He believes that the ancestors of the Rodi were worshippers of the `Black Goddess’ Kali whose cult of human sacrifice was prevalent in eastern India until fairly recent times. He is of the view that in former times the Rodi too were given to human sacrifice as may be gleaned from the invocatory hymns sung by Rodi women to their legendary ancestress.

`The name Ratna-tilaka-valli befits you; with rituals awe-inspiring I propitiate you. And you whose twentieth year has passed you shall not go without the taste of flesh.’Another verse attributed to Ratnavalli says `prosperity do I bring you with blood flowing like the river waters ‘ while yet another verse refers to Ratnavalli as one `who wears the fearsome strings of coral `which Raghavan says is `the garland of

human skulls round the neck of the awe-inspiring Kali.’ In India statues of Kali are traditionally depicted with a garland of human skulls.

“Many times when the king(i.e. Rajasinghe II) cuts off great and noble men against whom he is highly incensed he will deliver their daughters and wives unto this sort of people reckoning it as they also account it to be far worse a punishment than any kind of death.”


Another indication that the Rodi were originally a nation apart from the Sinhalese is their distinct language which savours of a tribal origin.

The language which is neither Indo-Aryan (like Sinhala) nor Dravidian (like Tamil) has been connected to the Austro Asiatic group of languages spoken by the aboriginal Munda tribes of eastern India.Raghavan believes the language to be connected to the Munda language spoken to this day by primitive tribes in Orissa and Bihar.

In the olden days, the Rodi chieftain was known as Hula-valiya (lit.torch-bearer) which Raghavan believes is à traditional institution from the days when the Rodiya was a tribe of hunters.’Unlike in the olden days, today Rodi have lost their sense of clanishness.

In former times, the Rodi in the Vanni regions were divided into 12 exogamous clans (eg: Mahappola Vapolla and Alpaga) while those in other areas also had distinct clan identities. The Rodi are found concentrated in the up-country areas (the former Kandyan kingdom) especially

in the central north western Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. Today they number a few thousands islandwide.

The last census which enumerated the Rodi as a separate community was in 1911. It returned a total of 1.572 Rodi. The traditional life-style of the Rodi is fast dwindling though some characteristics peculiar to Rodi culture still live on. Rodi women are said to have enjoyed a high social status in the past. Even to this day these enterprising and progressive minded women are said to dominate domestic life.They commonly arrange the marriages of their children and earn a considerable income from entertainment and agriculture. The allure of the charming Rodi girls have captivated the hearts of many an ùpper caste’ youth.

A modern day Sinhalese poet thus sings the charms of a Rodi girl ~Fair of face like the full blown lotusThy rosy lips match the red liliesThine eyes blue as the induvara flowerWith swelling swanlike breasts;Shine resplendent the livelong day,Rodi girl; the full moon over Ratnapura sky

Rodi women


Hi,Sri Lanka, the land of the elephants, the land of the golden sands, and the land of the coconut trees and so on I have read in many books writtenabout Sri Lanka. But being a Maldivian, my description might slightly shock you. I would call it, the land of hospitals, the land of shops with lots of cheap stuff, and the land with affordable accommodation and so on. This little island in the middle of the Indian Ocean has become a second home to a lot of us, the Maldivians.

I too visit here as often as I visit my mother, say thrice a month. I just need some excuse to get onto the flight to come back here. Sometimes I blame it on my health, sometimes to meet a family member, or other times for business purposes. My wife even suspected I was having an

Letters from my Maldivian friend...

extra- marital affair. So you can imagine the trouble my addiction to Sri Lanka brought me. The solution was, let my wife join me whenever I come here. It’s double the cost now, but totally worth it.

Around 15 years back, return tickets between our countries cost less than $200 and we got an onboard satisfying meal. I remember anticipating and waiting for the food, and being extra nice to the cabin crew just so they give me a little bit more. But times have changed, fuel prices have gone up, airlines have got greedier. Now we pay almost $350 and get one piece of bread cut into the shape of 2 triangles, and if we are lucky some cheese or tuna with it. It’s called economizing so I hear.I am proud to inform that we dominate some of the hotels in

Colombo. I wouldn’t be wrong if I called them Maldivian residencies. For those who come for shopping, it is the Pearl city hotel in kollupitya. It is in very close proximity to Durdans hospital (specially pediatric cases), Majestic city (my

personal favourite timpass), liberty plaza, roma four and other popular shopping destinations. For those who come to lanka hospital or Asiri Hospital Hotel Sansui in is the best choice. For those who come for Ninewells maternity hospital, Asiri surgical hospital, Oasis hospital and for the cheap shopping in Nugegoda , Hotel Sairas in Narahenpitya is the choice . All these are budget hotels but the service they give doesn’t make you realize it. Many of us also prefer Cinnamon Grand Hotel, especially if we are on our honeymoon or in the mood to

spend some more. I believe I have revealed enough Maldivian secrets for now. Let me keep the rest for later, so that I could continue our friendship in the next issue also. Tomorrow

I have a flight back home. My wife is busy packing and all excited to leave. But my heart feels heavy, it’s never been easy to say good bye to this land. But I know, it will be only a matter of days, when I will be on a flight back to Sri Lanka again. So subagman everyone, mama ikmanta gehilla ennam…….

yours truely,

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By Ashley HalpéChandana Ranaweera has called several 0f his current series of exhibitions Samadhi Chinthana. One imagines him as seated in Samadhi before his utterly simple materials - a sheet of paper, a pen charged with black ink. An image begins to take shape on the screen of his imagination. He focuses intensely on it.

He begins to draw on the paper and our imaginations focus in company with his. Chandana gives us three

categories of work’ One is of abstractions from the reality around us - Trees, Bats in Flight, a Boat drawn up on shore, a Flute player. All rendered with scrupulous fineness of line and shade. The shading is achieved by a multitude of fine lines. There are also boldly created shapes. Another category is the depiction of his own imaginings. A third is his adoption of a uniquely distinctive form of collage. He tears shapes from printed newspaper and also takes lengths of discarded ayurvedic prescriptions written on ola leaf and glues them on small pieces of drawing paper -approx, 10 inches by 12 or l4 inches and then draws on the surface: a standing Buddha image, monks in a vihara… There is interplay between the mostly vertical lines of the images and the horizontals of the lines of the newsprint

and the delicate lines of the Sinhala of the prescriptions.

The art of Chandana has earned perceptive and enthusiastic critical commentary from Edwin Ariyadasa, Gwen Herath and the present writer. A substantial collection of his work can be viewed at his rural home “Mallika Niwasa” in Alawwa. No believer in ‘Guru Mushtiya,’ he eagerly and generously passes on his skills and knowledge of art history and artistic understanding to generations of young students at his old school, Rathanalankara Viduhala, Alawwa, where he teaches and where I have had the opportunity of admiring what he is doing when I was able to visit an art show at the school. His students have won recognition and several awards at art competitions.

Artist Chandana Ranaweera,“Mallika Niwasa”, Naramala Rd, Alawuva.Mobile - 037 5679297

REFINED SKILLS &CREATIVE IMAGINATIONThe Art of Chandana Ranaweera

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Nestled in the Hantana Hills Theva sits overlooking Kandy town. As you drive through the windy

roads up the Hantana hills one can see the ethereal glistening of small city lights filling the night sky. An undoubtedly magical entrance to this boutique hotel. The food is divine and prepared with the utmost devotion and attention to detail. The Chef and his team have really been able to bring world-class food to this remote location.

The rooms exude luxury as they use a combination of pure cotton, silk, wood and glass – a heady mix of the traditional and modern, to create an unparalleled in-room experience. Each sensory detail has been carefully refined to ensure every detail

A slice of Heaven… The Theva Residency, Hantana – Kandy

St ay

is perfect, such as the precise positioning of your Jacuzzi in relation to the incredible terrain in front of you.

Waking up at Theva where one sees mountain peaks and dramatic skies for miles ahead of you from every room can only be something described by the heart. Slipping out of bed and being greeted by

an expanse of endless skies before you, while you walk on recovered railway logs beneath you listening to chants from the old world is therapy in itself. In her clean interiors with just enough color to remind you of Sri Lanka’s vibrant palette and the world outside Theva is the perfect weekend getaway from the grind of the mundane. For Reservations and inquiries: The Theva Residency

11/B5/10-1, 6th Lane, Off Upper Tank RoadOff Circular Road 2, Hantana, Kandy

Tel : +94 (81)-7388296-99Fax : +94 (81)- 2218515Email : [email protected] : www.theva.lk


This piece of land in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka has aroused much curiosity among locals and foreigners for years. Be it natural or man made, this magical peninsula has it all, from modern beaches to ancient temples.

Distance from Colombo : 264 km Colombo – Trincomalee duration : ????????You can choose to drive,but if you want your journey to be more adventurous, taking a train would be a great idea.

The civil war and the tsunami brought the development of this city to a premature halt. But now slowly, after years of patience and a lot of fighting, the city has got back onto its own feet.

TRINCOMALEE

“… if you haven’t seen Trincomalee, then you haven’t seen Sri Lanka”

One-Way 3rd class 2nd class 1st classAdult Fares reserved seat reserved seat sleeper berth

Colombo-Trincomalee Rs.205 (£1/$2) Rs.370 (£2/$3) Rs. 750 (£5/ $7)

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Must visit places in &

around Trincomalee

Koneswaram Temple

De S t i n a t i o n o f t h e Mo n t h

1The 7 Hot Water Springs On the way to Trincomalee, about half

a mile from the Anuradhapura Road is the7 hot water springs of Kannya. The water in

these wells are warm, but the temperature slightyly differs in each. These springs are also popular for their therapeutic affect on arthritis and rheumatism.

History has it that when Ravana was the Lord of Lanka, Vishnu wished to prevent Ravana from setting forth on some undertaking, and he appeared to Ravana as an old man bearing the false news thatKannya (his mother) was dead. Thereupon Ravana determined to put off his project and, perform the rites for the dead, asked where he could find water for the ablutions. Vishnu disappeared and the hot springs burst forth where he had stood.

2Koneswaram Temple(Temple of a Thousand Pillars)

At the Southern extremity of the peninsula, stands the Swami rock ( God’s rock) which is about 400 ft above the sea. This is where the Koneswaram temple proudly stands now, re-built after being destroyed by the Portuguese in 1622.

According to history, a Hindu Prince, having learned from the Puranas that the

rock now known as Swami Rock was a frag-ment of the holy Mount Meru hurled into the present site during a conflict of the gods, came over to Lanka and erected upon it a temple to Shiva.

3Lovers LeapNext to the Koneswaram temple is the

so called lover’s leap which has become a favorite suicide spot for the locals after a lost love. This place is 350ft from the sea and is worth a visit just for the view of the ocean

Cooling down at the Springs

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stretch. The hotel opens up to the magificent Golden sandy beaches engulfed by the reef and surrounded by a

canopy of greenery, thus creating an ambience of experiencing picture perfect sun sets,

An ideal family weekend outing indeed !!

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and the passing fish boats. From inscriptions found on the Swami

rock, the daughter of an Old Dutch General was engaged to a young Dutch officer. He broke off the engagement when the period of his foreign service was over, and he embarked for Holland. The forsaken girl watched the vessel from the promontory of Swami Rock, and as the ship was sailing away with her faithless love, she flung her-self from the precipice into the sea - a sheer drop of 400 feet.

4World War II CemeteryIt is listed under the Commonwealth

cemeteries and is also one of the biggest British cemetery in Sri Lanka. You can locate it on your way to Nilaweli beach. Be sure to stop by if you are especially inter-ested in history because you will find a lot to keep you occupied.In 1942, the Japanese air raid destroyed a British ship and killed 380 soldiers. It is the bodies of these soldiers that are buried in this cemetery. In past years, many British families have visited these graves, some to

visit their relatives while others to pay their tribute for their country’s heroes.

5Sacred TreeThere is a Bo Tree behind the

Koneswaram Temple on the cliff face. People tie pieces of cloth on this tree. Some do it as a prayer while others asking for something in return.

6Fort Frederick (The Dutch Fort)On the way to Koneswaram temple,

you come across Fort Frederick, built by the Portuguese in 1676. There are still colonial style British Army buildings present in the area and it is currently a working military base. Although going inside might not be such a good idea, having a look at the archi-tecture should not be missed.

The Sacred tree atKoneswaram Temple

Paying tributeto their war heroes

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7Buddhist Temple – Velgam ViharaBuilt in the 2nd century, 8 miles from

Trincomalee is this Buddhist temple which was not destroyed by the invading Cholas that time. Most of its structures are either hidden by grass or tree, but a tall Buddha statue standing in the middle of the ruins brings the temple alive.

8Beaches You can reach a beach easily from

anywhere in Trincomalee, but Nilaweli and Uppuveli beaches are the most spoken of. Knee deep water spreads out to hundreds of meters and so is considered one of the safest areas in Sri Lanka for a swim. The hotels in and around Trincomalee are geared to extend facilities for snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and whale watching.

9HabourBritish Admiral Horatio Nelson once

proclaimed ‘anyone who controls this ha-bour has access to the whole Indian Ocean’.

This deep natural habour is reputed as one of the finest in the world. Many battles have been fought in the past between Dutch, British, French and the Portuguese for this extraordinary piece of nature.

10Pigeon Island This is a small island near Trincoma-

lee. Hundreds of pigeon gather in the island

and there is a coral reef there which is considered a great place to go snorkeling or diving.

For those who have already visited Trincomalee, you know my words are not an exaggeration. For those who haven’t, make it your next holiday destination and you won’t regret it.

The Dutch Fort

Visiters atPigeon Island

GIVE ME A BREAK !!!With our sedentary lives slowly taking over, our vision of a perfectholiday is one spent watching good movies on our sitting room sofa. So for all of us couch potatoes, here is a collection of movies which you should not miss out on.

The Prestige, 2006 Directed by : Christopher NolanCast : Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Micheal Caineand Scarlette Johansson This story is about two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy filled with obsession, deceit and jealousy which ends up in dangerous and deadly consequences.

Despicable me, 2010Directed by : Pierre CoffinVoiced by : Steve Carell, Jason Segel and Russell BrandNo matter how evil a villain may look, this movie is proof that they too have a soft part inside them somewhere. When a criminal mastermind uses a trio of orphan girls as pawns for a grand scheme, he finds himself profoundly changed by the growing love between them.

Megamind, 2010Directed by : Tom McGrathVoiced by : Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, David Cross and Jonah HillThe super villain Megamind finally conquers his nemesis, the hero Metro Man, but finds his life pointless without a hero to fight. He then creates a hero himself to fight against him which turns out to be a disaster which helps him discover the good in him. Megamind and Despicable me are the only 2 movies in which you would absolutely fall in love with the villains and not the hero.

The Ultimate Gift, 2006Directed by : Michael O. SajbelCast : Drew Fuller, James Garner and Abigail BreslinThe gift of money, the gift of fame and the gift of power is not really as important as the actual gift we often forget to appreciate. When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens anticipates a big inheritance. Instead, his grandfather has devised a crash course on life with 12 tasks--or “gifts”--designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways, sending him on a journey of self-discovery and forcing him to determine what is most important in life: money or happiness.

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Notebook, 2004Directed by : Nick CassavetesCast : Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands, James Garner and Rachel McAdamsAn epic love story centered around an older man who reads aloud to an older, invalid woman whom he regularly visits. From a faded notebook, the old man’s words bring to life the story about a couple who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths. Though her memory has faded, his words give her the chance to relive her turbulent youth and the unforgettable love they shared

Up, 2009Directed by: Pete DocterVoiced by : Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai and John RatzenbergerThis is one movie that will burst your heart out with emotions. It’s amazing that love like the one in this movie exists anymore. The ones we love may die, but the love in our hearts for them never does. It’s about an old man who makes a journey to make his late wife’s dream a reality.

Wanted, 2008Directed by : Timur BekmambetovCast : Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan FreemanIf you are an action fan, then “Wanted” is a must watch. It’s not all about firing bullets but bending them too. A frustrated office worker learns that he is the son of a professional assassin, and that he shares his father’s superhuman killing abilities. The twists and turns in this movie will keep you all guessing and excited till the end of the movie.

The Uninvited, 2009Directed by : Charles GuardCast : Emily Browning, Arielle Kebbel and Elizabeth BanksIf you are into thrillers, then “The Uninvited” is the movie for you. Anna Rydell returns home to her sister (and best friend) Alex after a stint in a mental hospital, though her recovery is jeopardized thanks to her cruel stepmother, aloof father, and the presence of a ghost in their home.


At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities. ~Jean Houston

The Sunday School Teacher asks, “Now, Johnny, tell me frankly do you say prayers before eating?”“No sir,” Little Johnny replies, “I don’t have to, my mom is a good cook!”

The young man entered the Ice Cream Palace and asked, “What kinds of ice cream do you have?”“Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry,” the girl wheezed as she spoke, patted her chest and seemed unable to continue.“Do you have laryngitis?” the young man asked sympathetically.“Nope,” she whispered, “just vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.”

A man walks pass a beggar on the corner of the street where he works. The beggar holds out his one hand and the man drops a coin into his hand. One day the man walks pass the beggar again and notices the beggar is holding hold out both his hands. He asks: “Why are you holding out both of your hands?” The beggar replied, “You see sir, business is going so well I decided to open another branch”.

A mother mouse and a baby mouse are walking along, when all of a sudden, a cat attacks them.The mother mouse goes, “BARK!” and the cat runs away.“See?” says the mother mouse to her baby. “Now do you see why it’s important to learn a foreign language?”

A friend of mine was a frequent user of a pay telephone at a popular truck stop, and was greatly inconvenienced when the phone went out of commission.Repeated requests for repair brought only promises.After several days, the phone company was again contacted and told that there was no longer a rush.The phone was now working fine--except that all money was being returned upon completion of each call.A repairman arrived within the hour!

When a man with nine children was asked how he handled illness among his children, he said, “When the first born coughed or sneezed, I called the ambulance. When the last one swallowed a quarter, I told him that it was coming out of his allowance!”

33

Two old men in a retirement village were sitting in the reading room and one said to the other, ‘’How do you really feel? I mean, you’re 75 years old, how do you honestly feel?’’‘’Honestly, I feel like a new born baby. I’ve got no hair, no teeth, and I just peed myself.’’

When his teenage son asked to borrow twenty dollar, the man said, “Son, don’t you realize that there are more important things in life than money?”“Yes, sir,” the youth replied, “I do. But you need money to take them to the movies.”

Joan and her neighbor are talking about their daughters, Joan says, my daughter is at the university. She’s very bright, you know. Every time we get a letter from her we have to go to the dictionary.Her neighbor says you are lucky every time we hear from our daughter we have to go to the bank.

A mother says to her small son who is being mean as usual, “How do you expect to ever get into Heaven?” To this her son replies” I fi gure I’ll just run in and out the pearly gates until St. Peter says either stay in or out”!

A man was wheeling himself frantically down the hall of the hospital in his wheelchair, just before his operation. A nurse stopped him and asked, “What’s the matter?”

He said, “I heard the nurse say, ‘It’s a very simple operation, don’t worry, I’m sure it will be all right.’”“She was just trying to comfort you, what’s so frightening about that?”“She wasn’t talking to me. She was talking to the doctor!”

The boss was complaining in our staff meeting the other day that he wasn’t getting any respect. The next day, he brought a small sign that read:“I’m the Boss!”He then taped it to his offi ce door.Later that day when he returned from lunch, he found that someone had taped anote to the sign that said:“Your wife called, she wants her sign back!”My best friend ran away with my wife. It’s only been three days and I really miss him.

“Do you believe in life after death?” the boss asked one of his employees.“Yes, sir,” the clerk replied.“That’s good,” the boss said. “After you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother’s funeral, she stopped in to see you.”

The economy is so bad that:If the bank returns your check marked “Insuffi cient Funds,” you call them and ask if they meant you or them.


IMPOTANT CONTACTS

Accident Service 2691111

Ambulance Station 2422222

Airport and Aviation Service 2252861

Bomb Disposal Unit 2434251

Central Mail Exchange 2440111

Central Bus Stand 2328081

Electricity Control Center 2466660

Fire Service Department 2422222

Flight Information 197332377

Immigration and Emigration 532900

Minister of Cultural Affairs 2876586

National Zoological Garden 2712751

Police Emergency Service 2433333

Railway Enquires 2434215

Red Cross Society 2421281

Registration of Person 2583199

Sri Lanka Ports Authority 2421201

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau

2426900

Tourist Police 2421062

Water Supply Board 2638999

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS

Australia 2463200

Bangladesh 2695744

Canada 5226232

China 2694491

Cuba 2677170

Egypt 2508752

European Union 2674413

France 2639400

Germany 2580431

Holy See- The Apostolic Nunciature

2582554

India 2422788

Indonesia 2674337

Iran 2681018

Iraq 2696600

Italy 2508418

Japan 2693831

Kuwait 2597958

Libya 2697300

Malaysia 2554681

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Myanmar 2696440

Nepal 2689656

Netherlands 2596914

Norway 2469611

Pakistan 2696301

Palestine 2695991

Qatar 2690440

Romania 2683421

Russia 2573555

Saudi Arabia 2682087

South Korea 2699036

Sweden 4795400

Switzerland 2695117

Thailand 2302500

United Arab Emirates 2565052

United Kingdom 2689624

United States 2498500

AIR LINES Air Arabia 2393994

Air Asia 2485171

Air Canada 2542875

Air France 2439747

Air India 2325832

Air India Express 2422249

Air Macau 4732482

American Airlines 2348100

Asiana Airlines 2430380

Austrian Airlines 2683255

British Airways 4767767

Cathay Pacific Airways 2300295

China Southern Airlines 2304816

Condor Airlines 2306478

Continental Airlines 2683253

Czech Airlines 2381200

Edelweiss Airlines 2306478

El Al Israeli Airlines 2598184

Emirates 2300200

Etihad Airways 4766500

Eurofly 2306478

Gulf Air 2318749

Indian Airlines 2326844

Jet Airways 2318781

Jetllite 4732400

Kingfisher Airlines 2308155

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 2439747

Korean Air 2323977

Kuwait Airways 2445531

Lufthansa German Airlines

4525749

LTU International Airways 4731366

Malaysia Airlines 2342291

Martinair 2439747

Mihin Lanka 2552255

Northwest Airlines 2439747

Oman Air 2767757

Pakistan International Airlines 2576781

Qantas Airways 4767767

Qatar Airways 5570000

Royal Jordanian Airlines 2301621

Royal Nepal Airlines 2565391

Saudi Arabian Airlines 2577246

Singapore Airlines 2300750

South African Airlines 2472415

Sri Lankan Airlines 9 7335555

Swiss international Airlines 2435403

Thai Airways International 2307100

United Airlines 2346026

HOTELS

Berjaya Mount Royal 2714001

Casa Colombo 4520130

Ceylon Continental 2421221

Cinnamon Grand 2437437

Cinnamon LakeSide 2491000

Colombo Ramada 2422001

Galadari Hotel 2544544

Galle Face Hotel 2541010

Global Towers 2591000

Grand Oriental Hotel 2320391

Hilton Colombo 2544644

Hilton Colombo Residence 5344644

Hotel Clarion 2916191

Hotel Janaki 2581524

Hotel Nippon 2431887

Indra Regent Hotel 2574930

Mount Lavinia Hotel 2715221

Ranmuthu 2433986

Renuka Hotel 2573598

Sapphire Hotel 2363306

Taj Samudra 2446622

The Havelock Place Bungalow 2585191

The Park Street Hotel 2439977

Tintagel 4602060

37

RESTAURANTS

Seafood

Lagoon 2497371

Lavinia Breeze 4205183

Beach Wadiya 2588568

Golden Mile 2733997

Seafood House 2593017

Loon Tao 2722723

Seafood Cove 2715221

Chinese

88 Seafood House 2593017

168 Seafood Palace 2573456

Chinese Dragon 2502733

Flower Drum 2574216

Flower Lounge 2593032

Loon Tao 2722723

Peach Valley 2672888

Steam boat 2697572

Xilaton 2508887

Moon Shanghai 5334222

Great Wall Continental 2508555

Flag & Whistle Fusion Food 2485500

Raffles 2552837

The Sizzle 0716 888777

Urban Kitchen 7219169

Park Street Mews 2300133

The Cricket club 2501384

Dine-mor 4855855

Queens Café 2508345

The Café on the 5th 2573765

Sri Lankan

Raja Bojun 2584403

Green Cabin Terrace 2588811

Sea Fish Restaurant 2326915

Thambapani 2594496

Banana Leaf 2584403

Indian

The Mango Tree 5879790

Agra 4723333

Amaravathi 2577418

Amrith 4877888

Mathura 2556889

Curry Leaves 2593364

Shanmuga’s 2587629

Italian

Regina Margherita 7394440

The Bayleaf 2695920

Thai

Cey-Nor 2380972

Jack Tree 5747788

Siam house 2595966

Tulips 2574930

Japanese

Café Japan 777 263564-5

Nihonbashi 2300642

Sakura 2573877

Korean

Han Gook Gwan 2587961

German

The Bavarian 2307056

Sovereign German 2856554

Middle East

The Eastern Woks 772922228

Acropol 4710990

Lebanese

Habibi 0725 100000

Singaporean

Long Feng 2491000

Prima Taste 2883311

Swiss

Chesa Swiss 2573433

LOUNGES, CAFES, COFFEE HOUSES

foot Garden Café 2533075

Barista 7389201-12

Bars Café 2575157

Cravings 5549734

Cricket Club Café 2501384

Delifrance 2676860

Gonuts Donuts 7204932

Budz 7452040

Paradise Road Café 2686043

Park Street Mews 2300133

Pizzaria 2421221

Queens Café 2508345

Romaanz 2556350

The Café on the 5th 2573765

The Coffee Bean 0773-728788

The Commons 2694435

The Chill 4961906

Hotshots 2 552424

Milk & Honey 2696286

GALLERIES-ART & CULTURE

Alliance Francaise de Colombo

2694162

Arkipelago 5364362

Artists Gallery 2769433

Barefoot Gallery 2505559

BMICH 2691131

British Council 2580301

Gallery Mount Castle 2689102

Gandhara Crafts & Artifacts 2596329

Hermitage 2502196

Indian Cultural Centre 2500014

Kent 2447727

Lanka Hands Handicrafts 4512311

Lionel Wendt Memorial 2695794

National Art Gallery 2693965

Paradise Road 2582162

Russian Centre 2685440

SLECC 2343239

Suriya Home décor 4736459

Thambapani 2500615

Zam Handicraft 2502091

CINEMAS

Cinecity 5355055

Concord 5544125

Liberty Cinema 5013997

Majestic Cinema 2581759

Regal Cinema 2432936

Roxy 5554453

Samantha 5336667

Savoy Cinema 5013118

ICE CREAM PARLOURS

Baskin Robbins 2573574

Carnival 2575498

IL Gelato 2580218

Roots 2506292

Igloo 2564426/7

LIBRARIES

American Centre 2332725

Export Development Board 2300705

Indian Cultural Centre 2500014

National Library Of Sri Lanka 2685197

Public Library 2691868

The British Council 2580301

te l e p h o n e Di re c t o r y


CLOTHING BOUTIQUES

Aashkii 2699196

Anmol Design studio 4741886

An Nam 4514947

Arista 2582074

Aszai Fashions 2589284

Ayanthi 2369513

Barefoot 2589305

Beverly Street

Colombo-3 2564777

Nugegoda 2825825

Beyond Basix 4517470

Buddhi Batiks

Colombo-3 5511439

Maradana 5766122

Bismi Silk 2365597

Cotton Collection

Colombo-3 4741641

Majestic City 4517413

Dilly’s

Cresscat 2433064

Liberty Plaza 256569

Baudhaloka Mw 4528625

Fabric Gallery 2372452

Fashion Store 5546323

Gee Bees 5346400

Golden Needle 2726380

Hameedia

Chatham Street 2451616

Crescat 2395798



Wellawatte 2504487

Main Street 2388109

Nugegoda 2821036

Ethul Kotte 2884076

House of Fashion 2504639

Kanren 2718870

Kamsins 5737899

Leather Collection

Colombo-4 4514881

Colombo-7 4505580

Look Different 4541689

Mix-up 2590879

Melache` 2595405

Mondy

Dharmapala Mawatha 2382618



Navavi 2588485

Nolimit

Wellawatte 2360260

D.S.Senanayake Mw 2672689

Hill Street 2732492

Hillls Street 2726299

Nugegoda 2829955

Nolimit discount store 2734072

Nolimit Glitz

Hyde park corner 2382676

Nugegoda 2812021

Mt Lavinia 2733865

Odel

Colombo-7 4722723

Kohuwala 4542756

Pallu 2716660

Prenita Fashions 2565999

Puma 2588849

Raymond 2301880

RBK

Crescat 4942434

Baudhaloka Mw 4943160

Dharmapala Mw 4940252

Rebel

Crescat 5557275


Rithihi 2581988

Romafour 2580950

Saratha’s

Majestic city 2595942

Main street 2421740

Saree studio 2683521

Shades Fashion 2866101

Snobb 5735719

Softwave Gallery 5844111

Sona Mandir 2596355

Spell Bound

Pagoda Road 2809797

Highlevel Road 5650563

Summer 69 602082830

Thiangra 2581491

Triumph

Liberty plaza 2301845

Alfred House Garden 5833335

Crescat Boulevard 5511140


Trunk 2437372

Vaishi 2505573

Wild Flower 2505741

Y Fashion 2583848

Yoland



DRY CLEANERS

Berjaya Mount Royal 2739610

Ceylon Cleaners 2320229

Ceylon Continental 2421221

Cinnamon Grand 2437437

Creases ‘n’ Pleats

Colombo-2 2491000

Crescat 5521230

Crescent Launderers & Dry Cleaners

2307609

Galadari

Lotus road 2544544

Cargills- Colombo-2 4717162

Cargills- Nawala 2806005

Cargills- Nugegoda 2814994

Grand Oriental Hotel 2320320

Galle Face Hotel 2541010

Hotel Ramada 2422001

Indra Regent 2577405

Kwality Cleaners

Colombo-2 4717127

Havelock road 4518595

Battramulla 4979155

Mt Lavinia 4206138

Laundry Shop 2544644

Mount Lavinia Hotel 2715221

Palm Beach Hotel 2712713

Taj Laundrette 2446622

The Laundromat

Colombo-4 2592471

Mt Lavinia 2637110

Sunshine Laundry 0727225902

Uniwash 4003895

GIFT AND HOME DÉCOR

Anusha Handicrafts 2434113

Arkipelago 5364364

Barefoot 2502467

Cozy Linen 5555549

Crystals 2565999

39

De Silva Antiques 2812025

Fine Things 2492492

Gandhara 2596329

Gift Gate 2582991

Hermitage 2502196

Hermitage Gallery 2553429

Indeera Creations 2769063

K & A Antiques 2825075

Kalaya 2786886

Kent




Lakmathaka 4574582

Lakpahana 2692554

Lanka Hands 4512311

Leather Collection


Colombo-7 4505580

Meubel House

Colombo-4 2586770

Dehiwala 2730530

Odel

Colombo-7 2682712

Odel Warehouse

Dickmons Road 2590435

High Level-Colombo-6 4209140

Olu 2885600

Paradise Road 2686043

Paradise Road Gallery 2582162

Paradise Road Studio 2506844

P.D.G. Antiques 2810723

Raux Brothers 2583813

Stone ‘N’ String 2301555

Suriya 4736459

The House Of Gifts


Galle Road, Col-3 5558977

R.A.De Mel Mw 2365314

S.De.S Jayasinghe Mw 5548622

Mt Lavinia 5554410

The Lover

Nugegoda 5557543

Pita Kotte 5521908

Titus Stores

Staples Road 5748903



Main Street 2439422

Treasure Trove 2717253

Uthum Pathum 2580819

Villa Saffron 5531651

Zeppelin 2368958

GYMS

Body By Kris 2825749

Cinnamon Grand Recreation

2437437

Continental Gym 2421221

Fitness Centre

Lotus Road 2544544

Hilton Residency 2300613

Fitness Edge 5566566

Fitness First 4702655

Fitness Kingdom

Hotel Ramada 587534

Global Towers 2591000

Bookers Building 4621800

Kotte 0773-587534

Mt Lavinia 2730787

Fingara Town & Country Club 2509676

Global Fitness Centre 2505462

Glory Health & Fitness 0717-307788

Hilton Colombo Sports And Fitness Club

2492492

Ladies Only 4203614

Lifestyle Fitness Lanka 4723300

Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC)

2695293

Power Drome 2491000

Power World

Malalasekara Mw 5644619

Ward Place 4614248

Lesley Tanagala Mw 2669047

Hospital Road Dehiwala 4203815

Hill Street Dehiwela 4203615

Nugegoda 2769567

Pulse Beat Gyms

Havelock Road 2595932

Mt Lavinia 2737439

Sanhinda Leisure Centre 2768166

Singhalese Sports Club (SSC)2695362

Taj Samudra Fitness & Sports Centre

2446622

OPTICIANS

A & A International Opticians 2595414

Albert Edirisinghe Opticians 2583536

Anoma Opticians 2854826

Attanayake Opticians 2301221

Colombo Opticals 2440521

Colpetty Ray Bans 2574118

D.S.Jayasinghe Opticians 2541289

Eric Rajapakse Opticians

Dr Colvin R A De Silva Mw 2675609

Galle Road, Col -3 2575121


Galle Road. Col -4 2599990

Galle Road. Col -6 2362971

Eye Site Optics 5672020

Fashion Optic


Sir Ernest De Silva 2375189

George Gooneratne Optians

Colombo-11 2392844

Rajagriya 060-2087213

Hi Tech Opticians 2813717

H.M.S. Sririwardhana Opticians

2565889

J.A. Jayasinghe Opticians 2688211

J.M.Wickramarachchi Opticians

2824646

Kanchana Opticians 5857483

M.A.Jayasinghe Opticians 2883879

Optics Options 2507778

Samarasinghe Opticians 2338732

Techno Optics 2303919

Technovision 5668561

The 500 Boutique 5543501

The Eye Emporium

Colombo-7 4734300

Colombo-5 4542524

V & Eye Opticians 2721969

Vision 20-20 Opticians 2669172

Vision Care Optical Services 5334931

Wickramarachchi Opticians

Galle Road, Col -3 2564533


Dharmapala Mw Co l-7 2438946

te l e p h o n e Di re c t o r y

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