Glimpse of Nish's world

Desperation ...

2008-12-03T22:55:00.000-08:00

Opportunist ..

2008-09-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

Helping Hand ... Tommorow is Better Than Today

2008-09-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Women Drivers ...

2008-09-25T00:29:00.000-07:00

Don't Ask Me How Did They Do It! ...

2008-09-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

Most Feul Efficient Cars of the World..

2008-09-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

'Mobile' Phones ..

2008-02-12T20:09:00.000-08:00

Large Statues ..

2008-02-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Ouch!!!

2008-02-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

Loosers..

2008-01-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

Daily Bread Winners

2008-01-29T20:56:00.000-08:00

Best of Photo Journalism - 2007

2008-01-28T20:38:00.000-08:00

Pictures courtesy Reporters Sans Frontiers

Famaous People in one painting

2008-01-27T20:34:00.000-08:00

Okay this is going to be a tough test for your general knowledge. Try to identify as many as famous peoples, you can recognize from the painting.

Amazing 3D Images - I Wonder How they made these Images..PART - 1

2007-11-27T02:45:00.000-08:00

Phoneys in animal kingdom

2007-11-26T05:58:00.001-08:00

Simon Gardner - May He Rot in Hell

2007-10-24T06:59:00.001-07:00

(Roiters) - Roiters Media Pimp Simon Gardner had tragically died after pimping and selling his soul for pennies for entire his media career. He was renowned boot licker of LTTE and cordially worked with several NGO's and INGOs for selling the once flourished and proud Sri Lanka.

May he rot in Hell!!!

Post-yoga volunteering in Sri Lanka

2007-09-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

Catherine Leech was a career-minded singleton – until a yoga retreat in Huzur Vadisi, Turkey, turned her life upside down

As one of 22 strangers on a week’s yoga holiday, I dreaded my turn when our teacher, Simon Low, asked us to “share with the group” why we had come to the Turkish mountains. I had no idea what to say, but when the moment came a few choked words tumbled out involuntarily: “I sense change in my life, but I have no idea what. I’m looking for some clarity.”

Four days later, I was contorted in a pigeon pose, a challenging position for any yoga novice. As the blood-red sun set over the vine-covered yoga complex every part of my body was flooded with a red-hot wave as years of pent-up, unfamiliar emotion spilt out. The experience was both terrifying and a release.

During that week in June 2004, I found clarity: the light came on for this forty-something child-free singleton with a great career, an overdeveloped sense of duty and an overcrowded diary. Here, in the label-free peace of Huzur Vadisi, nobody was judging me. I wasn’t there to impress, nurture others, or be the life and soul. It gave me the space to realise that my sense of change wasn’t about finding a new job or moving out of London; my life felt shallow, materialistic and unfulfilling, and only I could change it.

Five months later, at the age of 46 and after 23 years relishing a varied career in the travel industry, with a well-used passport, I resigned as managing director of Caribtours, the London-based luxury Caribbean tour operator. I intended to teach English in a Sri Lankan orphanage for reasons that I cannot fathom. I had never even been there. I was still working out my notice when the tsunami struck. On that terrible Boxing Day morning, my father was the first to say: “Think what you could do using your experience in tourism.”

I arrived in Sri Lanka in late April, 2005, after six weeks travelling in Thailand and Cambodia – the first ten days on another yoga holiday, followed by three days in and out of a recompression chamber after getting the bends while scuba-diving. I was armed with someone’s name and the possibility of “doing something to do with tourism” for six months with something called Sarvodaya.

Established in 1958, Sarvodaya aims to alleviate rural poverty through the sustainable development of village communities. Its work spans social, spiritual and technological empowerment, with specialist units at the headquarters supporting a network of 15,000 villages.

I was a square peg in a round hole, a commercially minded “doer” working for a grassroots movement based on Buddhist principles and without a commercial bone in its body. But somehow, especially in the posttsunami maelstrom of overstretched management and challenging donor relations, it worked – and I quickly felt part of the Sarvodaya “family”.

I volunteered for the first eight months and secured funding to stay for another year. I developed a Community Tourism Initiative with various community-managed projects now operating. Each is designed to develop sustainable livelihoods by offering tourists authentic experiences, such as Sri Lankan cookery demonstrations and cultural performances.

My role was to find out the villagers' needs, assess the tourism potential, develop project plans and funding and provide skills training and marketing assistance. I trained a Sri Lankan assistant, Jagath, who is now managing the CTI.

Living and working in Sri Lanka was not an instant transition, however. Ten days after arriving, I wrote in my diary: “My life has undergone a seismic shift. Colombo is quite unlike any city I’ve been to. It’s intense, steaming hot, chaotic, charming, ramshackle and endearing with psy-chotic driving and choking fumes. It’s a long story with fibbing estate agents, freaky old family retainers, armed security guards and nosy landladies, but I’ve found a small one-bed annexe, which is reasonably secure, clean and only ten minutes from the office by three-wheeler. London feels a million miles away.”

I quickly grew to love this beguilingly beautiful island, especially the multi-culturalism, ironic in a country racked by ethnic conflict. I looked around the table one birthday to take in the smorgasbord of Israeli, British, Australian, Canadian, Sri Lankan, American and Indian friends – Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus and an atheist.

I returned to the UK for Christmas last year with no desire to live in London again. I rented a cottage in southwest Dorset, trusting the same gut feeling that led me to Sri Lanka. By the end of April I had moved in to my new home, a thatched cottage in the picturesque village of Stoke Abbott. I feel roots spreading, possibly for the first time in my life. I am building up some part-time consultancy work that will allow me to keep the logs on the fire, write a book about my experiences in Sri Lanka, spend time with friends and my parents, go on rambling walks, get involved in the local community, pick apples from my garden – and perhaps even fall in love.

At the time, friends and colleagues variously called me brave, foolhardy, mad, inspired, lucky, virtuous or clearly depressed. To me, it always felt like the most natural thing in the world. Risk or no risk, brave or foolhardy, I felt a driving force to plunge into the unknown. My experiences in Sri Lanka were enlightening, sobering, often hilarious, challenging, never dull and filled with fascinating characters. I have regained a sense of curiosity, a hunger to learn and a happy sense of spirituality, liberation and humility. I am proud to have left a legacy in the shape of the Community Tourism Initiative. I will return to Sri Lanka from time to time – I left a piece of my heart there and found my soul.

The Tea Factory Hotel among the world's Best 100

2007-09-29T22:47:00.000-07:00

In an encouraging sign to Sri Lanka's tourism industry, The Sunday Times of UK has named Sri Lanka's first theme hotel, The Tea Factory among the "World's Best 100 Places to Stay" in its September Travel issue.

The UK's largest-selling Sunday newspaper commenting on The Tea Factory said: "Sitting on a grassy terrace at 2000m in the lush tea-planted hills of Sri Lanka, is the Tea Factory. For years that's exactly what it was, but now it's an arresting 57-room boutique hotel.

Outside it preserves its corrugated iron construction; within are still some of the old Professor Potts-style innards-machines for moving, sorting and drying tea" that whish and shirr into life each evening."

Situated 6,800 feet above the sea level, the magnificent Tea Factory is part of the Aitken Spence chain of resorts.

The Tea Factory lies, alone and unique, on the slopes of the tea plantations at Kandapola, high above the Nuwara Eliya town. Surrounded by the picturesque Hethersett Estate, the original tea factory was built in the 1930s by British planters.

There is a no more luxurious way to explore Sri Lanka's history of tea making. Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotels and the Immediate Past President of the Sri Lanka Hoteliers Association Malin Hapugoda commenting on the achievement said: "We are really excited that one of Sri Lanka's iconic hotel properties has been featured in the list of the World's Best Places to Stay by UK's leading Sunday newspaper. The Tea Factory is truly unique to the world as it is the only tea factory which has been converted to a top-class boutique hotel."

The Tea Factory showcases some of Sri Lanka's best attractions as one irresistible package, from lush tea gardens, culture, exquisite cuisine to exceptional service.

The Tea Factory conducts exciting excursions to Horton Plains, Hakgala Gardens, Kurundu Oya Waterfalls and visits to ancient Hindu religious sites, a miniature tea factory, a wildlife sanctuary and the spectacular Randenigala Dam.

The Tea Factory holds the distinction of being awarded the South Asian Architecture Award in 1995.

The hotel also received outstanding recognition and fame when it was conferred with the RICS award by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, London in October 2000 for successfully restoring an abandoned building whilst maintaining its original facade.

The Tea Factory is also the recipient of the UNESCO Asia" Pacific Heritage Merit Award" 2001 for the impressive conversion of a dilapidated tea factory into a luxury hotel complex.

Colonial magic in the hills - 'The Hemingford'

2007-09-29T22:41:00.000-07:00

Present day Colonial Bungalows with the modern touch are big attractions in the local travel industry. Many tourists like to visit these bungalows mainly to get the real local touch from the surrounding villages and to see the true eco system in village society.

‘'The Hemingford’ Eheliyagoda is the latest entrant to the luxury plantation bungalow market. 'The Hemingford', which is fully owned and managed by Pussellawa Plantations, came into operation from last August.

This is the signature property of Pussellawa Plantations, which enters into this niche plantation bungalow/small luxury boutique hotel market with their colonial bungalows' explained Prashan Bandara, the Manager of Hemingford Estate.

Situated in Eheliyagoda off Parakaduwa, Hemingford is a British era plantation bungalow, approximately 97’ years old. Amidst tea and rubber plantations of the Hemingford Estate, the bungalow is situated on a five acre hillside valley with a splendid view of Adam's Peak and miles of countryside.

‘The most unique in this place is the travelling time. The guests can reach the bungalow in less than a two hour drive from Colombo’ he added. The bungalow is surrounded by tea plantation and the lower level of the estate is covered with rubber.

'The Hemingford' boasts of having six king size rooms including two standard, two air-conditioned and two suites with attached modern bathrooms with hot and cold water open into a wrap-around verandah. The bungalow offers fine dining facility for 15 at with cozy living rooms, complete with TV, DVD collection and a library.

The freshwater swimming pool, clay tennis court, nature trails within the four acre garden and the sunset point are some of the attractions of this bungalow. ‘A variety of meal and menu options with butler service is available at the bungalow. Western and Continental menus, Sri Lankan cuisine is the top favourites’ said Marlon Saldin, who is the man behind the success story of 'The Hemingford'.

Some years back this colonial bungalow was a neglected property and was a burden for the plantation company. Soon they realized the value of the property and embarked on a project to resurrect the giant. The management of the bungalow has spent nearly 8 million Rupees in refurbishing and repositioning the place and thanks to Marlon the 'Hemingford Bungalow' is now one of the top tourist attractions of the area.

The bungalow also has five drivers' and guides' rooms, private reservoir, stand-by generator and in-house laundry service. BBQ terrace and Ayurvedic assistance are some of the other features of Hemingford. 'Step into a world of green, 5-acres of flowering plants and trees, most of which date back to over a 100 years. The sunset point, canopy lounge or wherever you wish to be in the lush tied gardens, you are surrounded by a timeless work of nature, carefully tendered by loving hands of the bungalow's gardeners' Marlon explained.

Nature lovers and photographers would be interested in the variety of birds that flock the garden as would the wild boar and hare. Streams, waterfalls and natural pools are in plentiful within the estate.‘This is also an ideal location to explore Bopath Ella and Kitulgala’ he said.

If you're the outdoor adventurous type we have mountain biking trails, from easy to extreme, canoeing, abseiling or take a walk along one of our many trails with the longest trail to Adam's Peak, being just outside our gates' he said. Apart from the discerning traveller this is also ideal for corporate outings, parties, weddings, cocktails, art, music and theme exhibitions.

'For a limited period of time, a special promotional offer ijavascript:void(0)
Publish Posts available for Sri Lankan and expatriates, where the entire property which can comfortably accommodate 15 is being offered at Rs. 15,000/- inclusive of all taxes' Marlon said. For further information and reservations, contact Pussellawa Plantations Ltd., 228, Havelock Road, Colombo 5.

Hotel defends its $14,500 dessert price tag

2007-09-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

The manager of a top Sri Lankan hotel has defended the decision to charge $14,500 (£10,269) for what it calls the world's most expensive dessert.

Axel Jarosh, general manager of The Fortress hotel in the southern town of Galle, said that the chocolate pudding was not obscene in a poor country.

He said that the desert contains a gemstone and was "especially designed for the hotel's exclusive clientele".

Aid workers say the idea is offensive when there is so much suffering.

"For many people in Sri Lanka it is a struggle of life or death, mostly because of the war but also because of the aftermath of the tsunami of 2004," one Colombo-based development worker said.

"In these circumstances such a publicity stunt is in extremely bad taste."

But Mr Jarosh insisted there was nothing excessive about his pricey puddings.

"We have had a positive reaction both locally and internationally to the dessert which we don't think is out of place, even in a country where there is considerable poverty," he told the BBC News website.

"This is not an idea imported by foreigners and imposed on Sri Lankans, nor is it a marketing gimmick.

"The idea was created by a local design team as suitable for guests staying in one of the country's most up-market hotels."

Mr Jarosh said that the dessert consists of a pedestal upon which is placed a model of a fisherman clinging to a stilt - an image for which Sri Lanka is famous. Ingredients include chocolate, champagne and caramelised sugar.

He said the reason why the pudding is so expensive is because it contains an 80 carat aquamarine stone about the same diameter as the head of a soup spoon.

"We felt that there has been so much negative news emerging from Sri Lanka in recent months in relation to the war," said Mr Jarosh, "and wanted to come up with something that was upbeat and fun."

Mr Jarosh said that one serving of the dessert had already been made.

The general manager said that while the conflict had hit tourism in the country, most European countries are no longer warning their citizens against travelling to Sri Lanka.

"We are optimistic that when the high tourism season starts in December, bookings from abroad will be significantly up."

The Fortress is one of the most expensive hotels in Sri Lanka, charging up to $1,700 per night.

Galle, some 100km (70 miles) south of the capital, Colombo, is a popular destination for tourists. It also suffered badly during the Asian tsunami.

British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka praises Sri Lankan travel industry

2007-09-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

British High Commissioner Dominic Chilcott praised the performance of the Lankan travel industry despite the difficult environment created by the conflict.

Highlighting the potential for tourism to contribute to Sri Lanka's economic development he encouraged the Government and the industry to realise the massive potential for tourism, particularly in promoting growth in rural areas.

"The variety of tourist sites, from beaches to temples to scenery to wildlife, together with the smiling Sri Lankan people, makes Sri Lanka a unique destination," he said.

Speaking at the Ceylon Hotel School Graduate's Association event in Habarana the High Commissioner highlighted three areas where change would significantly improve Sri Lanka's earnings from tourism: ending the conflict, more eco-tourism and improving the country's transport infrastructure.

The High Commissioner said strong historical and cultural links between Britain and Sri Lanka meant that British tourist arrivals had dropped only slightly compared to some other nations in recent months. British tourists remained the industries most valuable overseas customers.

On the eve of England's cricket tour he hoped the tourism industry and the country as a whole, were prepared for the arrival of England's touring fans, the "Barmy Army".

Rustic charm of Giritale Hotel

2007-09-23T18:37:00.000-07:00

BUILT on the bunds of the 12th century Giritale Tank with a magnificent view of the tranquil blue water dotted with green islands as a backdrop Giritale Hotel has what it takes to be a tourist paradise.

Built in 1974 and managed by Carsons Management Services (Pvt) Ltd., a senior company in Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry, the hotel exudes a rustic charm with the panoramic view of the Giritale Tank and the surrounding forest as an enticing backdrop.

The hotel has 42 rooms of which eight are deluxe rooms, offering star class facilities including TV, IDD telephone facilities, piped music and 24-hour room service. Resident Manager, Giritale hotel, versatile hotelier, T. Ganeshan and his ever-smiling staff treat all guests as VIPs.

This has resulted in Giritale Hotel being popular among ‘repeater’ guests, both foreign and local. The restaurant at Giritale under the guidance of Bar and Restaurant Manager Malika Edirisinghe offers the very best in Western, Eastern, Chinese and spicy Sri Lankan cuisine, prepared by a team of expert chefs. Giritale hotel is popular for family outings, conferences, workshops and for honeymooners due to its romantic setting.

The hotel is offering special discounted packages to Sri Lankans and expatriates. “This is a golden opportunity for Sri Lankan families to spend a memorable holiday in the rustic charm of the Giritale Hotel” RM, Ganeshan said.

The hotel offers Jeep Safaris to Kawdulla, Minneriya and Wasgamuwa National Parks, excursions to Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy and Anuradhapura. Elephant rides, Nature walks, Jungle Tracking, Bird watching, Village Tours and Indoors Games, Cricket, Badminton and Volleyball.

French Tourism pledged support for Sri Lanka Tourism

2007-09-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

Minister of Tourism, Milinda Moragoda on his recent visit to France met with Monsieur Luc Chaphel, the Minister (Secretaire de l’etat) of Tourism and Consumer Affairs in France and discussed several areas for corporation.

A framework for a MOU to be signed at a future date was also discussed in detail. Mr. Chaphel pledged his support in the areas of hotel classification, training of staff in hotel management and destination marketing. Mr. Chaphel further requested information on projects undertaken to combat global warming.

Minister Moragoda was accompanied by the Sri Lankan Ambassador in France Ms. Chitrangani Wagiswera, Chairman Sri Lanka Tourist Board Mr. Renton de Alwis and Additional Director General Sri Lanka Tourist Board Mr.Dileep Mudadeniya.

France has recorded an average 35,000 tourists along with 300,000 roaming in 2004 and 2005. Subsequent to the travel advisory in October 2006 arrivals dropped sharply. Sri Lanka Tourism is optimistic that the change of the advisory and the recent visit to France by the Hon. Minister, will provide a kick start for winter arrivals 2007/2008. Arrivals from France mainly patronize hotels and attractions in the Cultural Triangle.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board recently conducted an independent securing audit which resulted in the French tourism operation resuming the selling of Sri Lanka as a holiday destination. The results of the audit was presented on the 11th September at UNESCO and followed by several of promotional activities.

A separate event was organized to launch the World Tourism Day celebration by inviting leading women to the travel and tourism industry in France. 10 French students studying tourism were invited to submit the projects they have worked on the degree programmes and same was presented to the panel consist of key women professionals. This session was conducted by a welknown TV personality Alexandra Debanne.

A separate cultural show was also organized at UNESCO with more than 1000 spectators that comprised of mainly travel agents and tour operators while Sri Lanka also launched a special promotional campaign titled “Half a price for better half” to increase the numbers immediately.

Lanka to host UNWTO 2007

2007-09-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Themed 'Tourism opens doors for women', the United Nations World Tourism Day 2007 (UNWTO) will be celebrated on September 27 in the picnic area in Bentota from 5.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m. UNWTO has selected Sri Lanka to be this year's host country for this important event. Sri Lanka has been a UNWTO member for over 30 years.

International delegates, UN World Tourism Organization officials, architects, social scientists, lawyers, doctors, engineers, diplomats, librarians, writers, bankers, insurers, hoteliers, tour operators, travel agents, entrepreneurs, fashion designers, beauty consultants, sports and media personalities will be present.

In addition to the main ceremony several events have been lined up including a women tourism leaders summit, a UNWTO online Photographic Competition at the Taj Exotica Hotel, Bentota, International press conference and a special postal stamp will be issued to mark this day.

Announcing Sri Lanka as a "Green Lung Destination", the launch of UNWTO WPP world children's program and a cultural show in the evening in the Bentota Picnic Area after the Official Celebration Ceremony are also lined up. Many events have also been planned by the regional tourism authority along with stakeholders of the industry from September 26 to 28.

It includes a canoe competition, a mini marathon/fun run/a biking event, a competition on "Building Sand Castles" on the Beach, A one day cultural and sports program titled "Sinhala Aluth Avurudu", a mini marathon/fun run/a biking event and a painting competition and exhibition.

A promotional campaign themed "Men don't get it" and staging of pow wow events of professional women will be staged till October 31. Each provincial council too has planned a host of events to commemorate this year's WTO day.

Tourist Ministry Secretary P. M. Leelaratne said, World Tourism Day is commemorated on September 27 each year by appropriate events on themes selected by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the United Nations World Tourism Organisations (UNWTO) Executive Council.

Bentota Beach, Sri Lanka, Worlds Most Romantic Beach - Forbes Traveller

2007-09-22T23:56:00.000-07:00

Dangling like a dewdrop from the southern tip of India, the island nation of Sri Lanka is a topographical marvel, where rolling emerald plains gently blend into forested hills, and colorful Buddhist and Hindu temples dot the landscape like jewelry. But the beaches that fringe the perimeter of Sri Lanka are what best capture hearts, especially the sloping sands of Bentota, on the island’s southwestern ridge. Tucked between the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and a lazy blue river just behind it, Bentota Beach is a top choice among sun worshippers who know a garden paradise when they see one.

The Fortress, Galle, Sri Lanka debuts world’s most expensive desert

2007-09-18T20:43:00.001-07:00

Rocking the culinary scene with its innovative style

Located on the southern golden coast of Sri Lanka, this 49 roomed luxury resort has carved itself on the world map by creating the most expensive dessert in the world.

Priced at USD 14,500, ‘The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence’ is a combined effort by the resort’s culinary team to create a one of a kind dessert that is intrinsically linked with the destination, offering both long lasting memories and a keepsake of the experience. Available now on special request, the dessert’s inspiration comes from the resort’s logo of the ‘stilt fisherman’, a centuries old fishing practice that continues to this day and can still be seen along this spectacular coastline.

A combination of a gold leaf Italian kasata flavored with Baileys and served with a mango and pomegranate compote and a champagne sabayon enlighten, forms the mouthwatering base of this delicious desert, however, the finishing touch is the 80 carat aquamarine stone nestled on the handmade chocolate stilt fisherman. This one of a kind culinary delight has definitely got people around the world buzzing with awe.

Legend has it that an aquamarine has the power to calm, sooth and heal. Its blue colour is often reflective of the ocean and the life giving properties of water and has been used over the years by sailors and fishermen for protection and luck. It also has a soothing effect on relationships and is said to endow the owner with foresight, courage and happiness, the recipe for a long and happy marriage and the perfect gift for those looking to surprise their loved one.

This dessert is served at Wine³, The Fortress’ sensational glass wine cave which houses over 2,000 of the world’s finest vintages and is accompanied by handmade studio flared glass cutlery – the first glass cutlery of its kind in the world which has been exclusively designed for The Fortress by Glass Studio.
Website: http://www.thefortress.lk/home.html

source:http://www.dailymirror.lk

Germany, UK review travel advisories

2007-09-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

Subsequent to the successful tourism promotions in France and The Netherlands, Sri Lanka Tourism had further good news in the German and the UK markets. The travel advisory in Germany was reviewed by the authorities.

The earlier 'advice against travelling to Sri Lanka if not essential' has been deleted from the text of the German travel advisory. Director of the Tourist Board Office in Germany Channa Jayasekera said "this would definitely be most encouraging to the tour operators and travel agents selling Sri Lanka, as the earlier advisory led to confusion and was negatively interpreted by the public.

After a stakeholders meeting organised by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board Office in the UK, where our concerns were shared through the Pacific Asia Travel Association's (PATA) UK Chapter, Association of National Tourist Office Representatives (ANTOR) and Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the FCO has further softened their travel advisory to Sri Lanka.

"The advisory has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Summary and local travel section, where it now states 'we no longer advice against travel to the city of Anuradapura' Director UK and Ireland of the Tourist Board Jean-Marc Flambert said.

Hotel Flower Garden - The Paradise Garden in Unawatuna

2007-09-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

UNAWATUNA beach, in the Galle district, is classified as one of the most beautiful and fascinating beaches in the world. Unawatuna is a paradise for beach lovers, both foreign and Sri Lankan.

The beach is surrounded by a number of star class hotels, and cabanas and is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist destinations. Most of the hotels which were damaged by the tsunami, have now been completely refurbished, and Unawatuna has regained its glamor and splendor.

True to its name, Hotel Flower Garden, at Unawatuna, has been built on a marvellously landscaped one-acre garden which resembles a min-flower garden. It is located within walking distance to the world famous Unawatuna beach, in Galle district.

The hotel which began with nine cabanas in 2003, now offers 25 luxury cabanas with all modern facilities to the discerning traveller.

All cabanas are equipped with A/C, hot/cold water, mini-bar and room service. Hotel Flower Garden has a beautiful and large swimming pool and a well stocked bar.

The restaurant offers the very best in Western, Eastern and Sri Lankan cuisine, together with an ‘A-la-carte’ menu.

The restaurant specialises in French, Italian and German cuisine, the preparation of which is personally supervised by the young owner of the hotel, K. Sassi, who holds a Degree in Food and Beverage, having successfully completed a course in Hotel at Ricken, St. Gallen, Switzerland, for five years as its Food and Beverage Adviser from 1992 to 1996. The hotel offers tours to Koggala Lake, Turtle Farm, fishing in Weligama Bay Beach.

A visit to the ‘jungle beach’ is a unique feature offered by the hotel to tourists.

French to return to Sri Lanka

2007-09-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

French tourists, hopefully in droves, are poised to return to Sri Lanka after the country was cleared for travel as a tourism destination.

A Sri Lanka Day organized by its Tourist Board office in Paris was held last week with Minister of Tourism Milinda Moragoda, Chairman of the Tourist Board Renton de Alwis and the Additional Director-General Dileep Mudadeniya attending in order to introduce new products and the measures taken to re-launch the destination and renew its identity.

The Tourist Board said in a statement that the Sri Lanka Day provided an opportunity for the Board to reveal vital information for the French market.

It said fully aware of its negative image in the French market , Sri Lanka Tourism opted for transparency and requested an independent private French security firm to conduct a security audit related to tourism activities. The evaluation, conducted over a period of 12 days by Sécurité Sans Frontières (SSF), covered various tourism sites, hotel infrastructures, airport and other forms of transport as well as general conditions of security (political, social, health and weather-related issues). The findings and methodology and the fact that it was performed independently (no complicity) of the audit were revealed to the public on September 11 at UNESCO. According to Frédéric Bauer, Président of SSF, “the in-depth study of the security conditions has permitted us to make specific and detailed technical recommendations. The terrorist risk is not that greater in Sri Lanka than other countries visited by the French …. In conclusion, the security situation for us is acceptable for tourism visits to Sri Lanka and I take responsibility for recommending the destination for French Tourists.”

The Board said this positive conclusion is a welcome change to the position adopted by the travel advisory of the French Foreign Ministry which contributed to a great extent the increasing negative perception of the destination due to the security problems related to the North and East of the country.

The active re-launch of the destination will be put in place through various activities with the tourism professionals. They included a “Half Price for your Better Half” from October to December 2007 and January 2008 package; Incentive for Travel Agents; Mega fam trips; Joint Promotions by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and Tour Operators willing to participate on an equal basis in the costs; a Treasure Hunt that will take place from October 5-12 in Sri Lanka to discover exceptional tourist sites for travel agents.

Sri Lanka hopes for tourism recovery with easing of travel advisories

2007-09-16T04:20:00.000-07:00

Sept 15, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is confident of achieving its target of attracting 600,000 tourists this year following the relaxation of travel advisories in key markets, tourist board officials say.

"We are confident that this year, looking at the progress we have, we'll be able to achieve 600,000 tourists for this year," S. Kalaiselvan, director general of Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) told LBO.

Some 44,500 tourists visited the island in August, considered one of the peak seasons, with a traditional Buddhist pageant in the central hill country town of Kandy in which a phalanx of elephants parade, being a major attraction.

Although the number was lower than last year's arrivals for the month, the SLTB is confident the winter season will be better than last year's as European countries have lifted and relaxed some of the travel warnings that were in force.

"The French travel advisory has been liberalized now and is more conducive for the French tourists to visit us. The Netherlands have also lifted their travel advisory," Kalaiselvan says.

"These are good signs to say that the situation in Sri Lanka is conducive for tourists to visit."

The country got over 313,000 tourist arrivals up to August but it was nearly 92,000 lower than the number of visitors compared to the same period last year.

The travel advisories were issued last year when the conflict between the between Tamil Tigers and the government forces intensified.

The Tigers attacked key points in the capital as well as other parts of Sri Lanka during the last quarter of 2006 which led to a sharp fall in tourist arrivals.

This resulted in many hotels being virtually empty during the off-season with average occupancy dropping to around 45-50 percent.

According to statistics, Sri Lanka was unable to achieve the 600,000 visitor target last year and had to settle for 559,000 tourist arrivals.

The country's 26-billion-dollar economy earned nearly 400 million dollars from tourism last year, the fourth largest foreign currency earner behind tea, clothing and remittances from abroad.
Source : LBO

Thilanka : A Jewel in the Kandyan crown

2007-09-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

A few decades ago, Kandy was not a busy tourist destination like nowadays and there were few hotels to accomodate them. Apart from traditional names, Hotel Thilanka was one of the oldest hotels to join the new Kandyan era of the post tourism boom in the seventies.

It started as a guest house in the mid eighties, which turned out to be one of the most sought after destinations in Kandy. Even after the Esala Perehera, the hotel is fully patronised by many Sri Lankan and overseas tourists. Nestled in the foothills of popular Udawatta Kele, just on a higher elevation to the Dalada Maligawa, Hotel Thilanka reflects the typical Kandyan traditions.

Over looking the city of Kandy and the Lake, Thilanka has well appointed 87 standard and deluxe rooms. This four star hotel has gone through a massive refurbishing programme during the past few months, which gives the complete face lift to the hotel. According to Thanuj Gunawardena, the Managing Director of the hotel, Rupees 30 to 35 million was spent on up grading 30 rooms.

‘The old wing is totally refurbished and we are currently completing the rest including ten balance rooms, coffee shop and the public area' he said. 'We simply do not close the entire hotel for this project. We have maintained our occupancy rate at very healthy level during the past months and we do not want to stop this success. It was a packed month for us during the Perehera season. So we go on step by step refurbishing programme and it will be ready for the coming winter season' he explained.

Bathiya Gunasekera, the General Manager of the hotel said most of the top travel agents are working with them and they stick to them for various reasons. They always come back to us because we have some extra points such as close proximity to Maligawa, City, Udawatta Kele and of course the service' he said.

It began life as a private house, built by a wealthy Kandyan towards the end of the colonial era. It has now been enhanced by a six-storey new wing, the minimalist décor of the rooms including elegant wooden furniture, television, telephone and mini-bar with all other facilities.

Hotel's main restaurant serves menus from around the world. Traditional Kandyan dishes are favourites among Sri Lankan clientele. Continental, Chinese, Indian and Japanese food are popular with Sri Lankan and foreign travellers. Lobby Bar and Woodpecker Bar are two top attractions. Thilanka overlooking the picturesque view of the Kandy Lake, the giant Bahirawakande seated Buddha statue, is the ideal base for excursions and relaxation.

'We arrange tours to various places of tourist attraction such as Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya, Aluvihare, Lankatillake and Embekke Temples of Cultural and artistic value' GM Gunasekera said. The banquet hall is one of the biggest revenue earners of the hotel, which can accommodate 400 persons. The Board Room is air conditioned with seating capacity for 50 persons, for all conventions and banqueting . The major attraction of the hotel is its Ayurvedic Spa.

The ancient healing arts of the Himalayan Rishis are there to savour at our 'Ayurvedic Spa. Like the Nawaratna - the nine precious stones that make up one ring for protection, power and lasting health, our Spa offers the herbal secrets to fitness, wellbeing and regeneration' GM Gunasekera said. Massages, sauna and herbal baths, facial treatment, yoga sessions, medicinal oils, the wonder of floral ingredients, the help of facial packs, toning, and cleansing are some of the treatments available at the Hotel.‘We have Ayurveda treatment too’ he added.

Clunes Villa: Haven in the valley

2007-09-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Clunes is a popular name from Scotland. After Scottish planters, Sri Lanka inherited many Scottish names in the plantation sector. Like in Victoria, Australia after the European settlers in the nineteenth Centaury, Clunes came to stay in Sri Lanka not as a township but as a estate name in low country.

But our story about Clunes is a Sri Lankan holiday destination situated just one hour and fifteen minutes drive from Colombo.‘Clunes Villa’ is a Colonial estate bungalow turned to a modern holiday home specially catering for nature lovers. Situated in the middle of rich rubber plantation in Errachi Division in Talduwa Estate, Dehiowita, the Villa is nearly 87 years old.

‘It is just six kms away from Avissawella town on the main highway to Hatton and you can arrive at the Villa within two hours from the Bandaranaiake International Air Port’ said Thushara Sanjay Gunaratne, the Manager of the Villa.

Clunes Villa was originally built in 1920 for the exclusive use of the Scottish Planter John Dunlop. The bungalow maintains its past glory to fit with modern times although extensive repairs were carried out by Clunes Villa's present owner Gajaba Pitigala, the former Sri Lankan cricketer.

This colonial bungalow is exquisitely built in the centre of five acre tropical jungle with spacious halls, three large bed rooms and two roomed suite with all modern amenities.

‘After I took over this place in 2005, I have spent nearly 15 million on refurbishment to bring it to the present look’ said Gajaba Pitigala, the proprietor of this beautiful bungalow. The biggest change will be the newly constructed swimming pool. 'It will be ready for the use of holiday makers within a couple of months' Pitigala said.

All the rooms are fully air-conditioned, a private balcony with a spectacular view of the forest or lake, hot/cold water, laundry services, tarnish baths and on call doctor service, Neutral tones of brown beige and yellow comprise the brightly lit interior which is traditional yet modern which create the slick but simple picture.

The culinary experience at the Villa is one of the highlights of the holiday at Clunes. Clunes Villa allows dining in air conditioned comfort or in the more informal settings of the landscaped garden. It also has an adjacent bar and large area which is strictly for members and visitors of the villa for pre or post dinner drinks, cocktails and coffee.

‘Dining at the Villa is the most important thing. From simple village meal to five star dining experiences is on the menu at Clunes. Our experienced cook is capable of handling any kind of dish’ said Gajaba.

H. G. Karunaratne, popularly known as Karu, the main cook at the Clunes Villa has more than 40 years of culinary experience behind him.He was the chief cook at the Flight Kitchen of the former Grosvenor Caterers, the caterers for the former Air Ceylon and for all outbound flights from Katunayake.

‘At Clunes we treat all guests as Colonial Masters. From English Breakfast to Sri Lankan lunch and High Tea to candle lit dinner is possible at the Villa’ said Karu.

‘If you are a lover of Western, Eastern or Chinese food our kitchen caters for all your needs. Special BBQ nights can be arranged on request to make you feel comfortable and at home’ said Manager Thushara. Clune is also apopular place for foreign weddings.

‘We have already done about 15 weddings of European couples’ said Pitigala. The Villa is centrally located in close proximity to most of Sri Lanka's natural beauty and its world-renowned heritage. The Villa is an ideal base for excursions to Sinharaja Forest, Udawalawe Wildlife Sanctuary, Botanical Gardens, Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Horton Plains, Nuwara Eliya, Adam's Peak, Saman Devalaya, Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, Beli Lena and many more places of interest.

The Villa is surrounded by rubber and tea estates and is in close proximity to popular waterfalls.‘Clunes Villa is a place for adventure lovers. You can experience white water rafting at Kithulgala just 30 minutes away from Clunes Villa. Experience a day out with your family at Water World in Hanwella, which is just 20km from the Villa' Mr Pitigala said.

The ruins of Seethawaka Kingdom, Burundi Kovil, Dahanwela Seethawaka Oya are some of the attractions at the close range just fifteen minutes away from the Bungalow. 'The Villa is just 60km north of the world famous Sinharaja Forest and tours can be arranged for all guests on requests to visit the forest which takes just under 2 hours journey' Gajaba explained about the arrangement on excursions.

Like wise Udawalawa Wild Life Sanctuary is just under 21/2 hours journey and Udawalawe, which lies within the Ratnapura and Moneragala Districts, acts as the catchments to the Udawalawe Reservoir and is located in the Dry Zone. This Park comprises grasslands and thorn scrubs and many valuable species of trees are found within it. Large herds of Elephants and Deer species such as Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Barking Deer and Langur, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Jackal are some of the prominent wild animals found in this Park.

Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya and Haggala too are just under two and half hours drive from Clunes. Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage , Tea Garden and Water falls are around two to three hours drive from the Villa. Official web site of Clunes Villa : www.clunesvilla.com.

The parent trip

2007-09-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

Simon Hoggart embarks on a holiday in Sri Lanka with the kids — but this time they are the ones in charge

Simon Hoggart
Guardian Unlimited
Tuesday September 11 2007

Where to go ... daughter Amy's advice includes a visit to the celebrated Dambulla cave temples. Photograph: Maurizio Gambarini/dpa/Corbis

When your kids are small, you inform them where the family holiday is going to be. If they don't like it, they know what they can do — which is, come along and enjoy themselves. Or else. But when they're older — ours are 21 and 18 — and you want them to choose your trip in preference to them spending a riotous week in Spain with their friends, you have to ask them politely where they would like to go. And it's you who must like it or lump it.

Which is why we went to Sri Lanka this year. Our daughter Amy, the 21-year-old, had spent part of her gap year working in an orphanage there, up country, near Kandy. She and the other volunteers had been adventurous, using every weekend to visit historic sites, temples, national parks, the tea-growing area and, of course, the beaches. They met some delightful people, ate terrific food, and had a thoroughly exciting time. It was these places that she wanted us to enjoy. Meanwhile, she planned to spend a few days back at the orphanage, getting to know the nuns again, caring for the children.

We could not have chosen a better time. The fear of terrorism (irrelevant to tourists, so far as we could see) has kept visitor numbers down. Many of the best hotels — and Sri Lanka has some superlative ones — are desperate to fill their rooms and will offer eye-watering bargains. ("Rack rates" of hundreds of dollars a night listed on websites, and can be confidently ignored.)

What most people do is to tailor their holiday to their requirements. We went through Jetwing Travels, which also operates many of the best hotels. We told them our daughter's recommendations, and a few days later they sent back an itinerary.

The package included an air-conditioned van with driver. Don't think of driving yourself; Sri Lanka is not great on English signage, and the roads are less highways than social gathering places. Pedestrians flap a casual arm just before they cross the road in front of you, bikes and tuk-tuks (three-wheeled taxis) spring out of nowhere. It's like trying to drive between the stalls in a crowded market. You'll also want to stop and look at the roadside attractions: we saw kingfishers, peacocks, water buffalo, mongoose and hundreds of fruit bats hanging asleep from a tree, all on our first day. And the fruit stalls are more enticing than any supermarket: paw-paws, melon, pineapples and mangos, alongside the more exotic — rambutans, sour sop and the dreaded durian, famous for combining a stinking exterior with perfumed flesh.

Our driver, Mohd, was affable, spoke decent English, and knew plenty about the places we visited. So after two days recovering from jet lag at a fine beach hotel near Negombo The Beach, just north of Colombo airport, we headed up to the orphanage, pausing for lunch at the elephant orphanage (elephant numbers are down to around 2,000 in the whole country, thanks to deforestation) where we watched a herd bathing and splashing happily in the river.

There was a touching moment when we arrived at the orphanage, and the children who remembered our daughter were thrilled to see her: "Amy, auntie!" they shouted. The nuns were gentle and kind, and the children clearly well-fed, healthy and lively, though it is deeply sad to meet a three year old whose highest ambition is to be picked up and hugged.

So the rest of the family set off on the travels Amy had recommended. We started high in the hills above Kandy, at the Hunas Falls Hotel, which has stunning views down the valley and the most vertiginous golf course I have ever seen. I am no golfer, but even I know that a 40ft vertical drop is unusual at any hole. (They also have the one where you have to get the ball up 40ft.)

After exploring Kandy, with its temples and astounding trees, we headed toSigiriya, the greatest site in the country, a 660-ft high slab of rock topped with a combined fortress and pleasure palace, built 1,530 years ago by a king so evil he seized power by walling up his own father. The climb is steep but easy; you'll be passed by hundreds of schoolchildren, and teenage monks in red, orange, saffron and brown robes. Our hotel there was the remarkable new Vil Uyana, built on water gardens, every room a small house, reached by a bridge.

On Amy's advice we took in Polonnaruwa, one of the two finest archaeological sites, and the celebrated Dambulla cave temples. We picked her up at the orphanage, then set off for Nuwara Eliya and the tea country – you sip tea at the plantations, looking out on the deep, pleated, 40-shades-of-green valleys. We took a train to Ella, a journey along rickety tracks barely clinging to the mountainside, like flying at 10mph.

Our last stop was the Lighthouse Hotel near the old Dutch fort of Galle on the south coast. Here we spent a week doing little more than lazing and swimming, reading, eating and drinking. Sri Lanka offers a variety of food, but much the best is their own cuisine: fresh, zingy curries utterly different from the industrial sludge served in some UK Indian restaurants. Or you can eat in guest houses, negotiating the menu in advance with the owner, and a feast there will cost you little more than £2 a head.

Now is certainly the time to go to Sri Lanka, and it's easily arranged by letting the organiser know where you want to go, and how much you want to spend. We were very grateful to Amy for her guidance. She will make a great parent: "I tell you we're going to Sri Lanka, and you'll like it!"

Sri Lanka travel industry gears for better times

2007-09-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

Tourist arrivals in the first half of this year dipped by 24.4% but with the industry counting on the improved prospects for the upcoming season has been backed by travel advisories that have been relaxed in the run-up to the winter season just ahead.

In this respect it was pointed out recently that the government of Netherlands, which had a negative travel advisory on Sri Lanka has relaxed its advisory to enable Dutch Tour Operators to aggressively market Sri Lanka. The advisory which earlier started that it was unsafe to travel to Sri Lanka, now sates that Dutch travellers must b cautious when traveling and that they must use formal means of transport and tour operations.

In 2006, there were 19,360 numbers of tourist visitors from the Netherlands. Between January and July in 2006, the Dutch arrivals stood at 12,593 and for the same period in 2007, it was 10,083 register in a drop of 19.9%.

“We expect the arrivals from the Netherlands now progressively to get back to normalcy with the softening of the Travel Advisory. Sri Lanka Tourism will carryout strong promotions in the Dutch market in the future to regain and develop strong market share. We are also thankful to our Ambassador in the Netherlands Ms. Pamela Deen for her determined efforts made to bring this change” said Renton de Alwis, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

Minister of Tourism, Milinda Moragoda who will be leading a promotional delegation to France after the softening of the French Travel Advisory, has asked Sri Lanka Tourism officials and the private sector to also meet with the Dutch Tour Operators to discuss future plans.

Sri Lanka win Spirit of Cricket award

2007-09-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

Cricinfo staff
September 10, 2007
The Sri Lanka team was named as the recipient of the Spirit of Cricket Award at the ICC Awards celebration in Johannesburg on Monday.

The Spirit of Cricket Award was presented to the team which, in the opinion of the elite panel of umpires and referees and the captains of the ten Test teams, has best conducted themselves on the field within the spirit of the game. The award was presented to Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene by former South Africa batsman Jonty Rhodes.

Upon receiving the award on behalf of his team Jayawardene said: "I think it's important to remember the spirit of cricket. We try to enjoy what we do, playing against other countries. That was shown in the World Cup with Ireland - they really enjoyed themselves there and it was great to play against that team too.

"We are there to win a match but we are also entertainers as well. The most important thing we can do is enjoy the game. We are very lucky to do what we do and it is vital that we remember that. We play a different brand of cricket and we all enjoy playing. There is so much pride to wear the cap for our country. Spirit of cricket can be explained in many different ways."

This Spirit is described in the preamble to the Laws of Cricket: "Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself."

This is the first time Sri Lanka has won the award, after England collected the last two and New Zealand took the honour at the inaugural ICC Awards in 2004. Sri Lanka was one of several teams that demonstrated the Spirit of Cricket to great effect over the past 12 months and they narrowly defeated Ireland and New Zealand for the prize.

© Cricinfo

Lady with the Lotus - Sojourn in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

2007-09-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

“No flash! No Flash!” It was too late. I had already captured the Lady of the Lotus on film as well as many of her companions, all half nude and gorgeous. I thought the guide would rip the film from my camera. Instead he actually held my left elbow and moved me along the narrow rock trail of Sigiriya and lectured me. “Light destroys color. Picture is 479 AD.” He said the last as ‘Ayedeee’. I felt bad and said that I had moved the setting from flash to auto, but clouds and shade at the instant I took the picture brought the flash. Sorry. I like my color picture better than the black and white one in Ajit Mookerjee’s The Arts of India, 1966! But his is pretty good too. I actually missed the lotus in his picture the first time I saw it.

So where in the world is this place? Sigiriya, or Sinhagiri, or Sihagiri which means ‘lion of the rock’. It is in Sri Lanka. What a wonder it is. Ayers Rock in Australia is grand but this stone, this monolith is huge and appeared black when I first saw the massive rock with the sun behind it. It rises out of the green steaming jungle like a supine lion. It compares to Machu Picchu or the Masada. The latter comparisons are appropriate in that both were places of human settlement, on the rocks, as was Sigiriya.

Our party spent the night in the Sigiriya Village Hotel. The rooms were wonderful, though we did have to ask for bug spray. Buzzing mosquitoes in the room make for whining, irritable, unhappy campers. The next day our gang of four was deposited at the base of the big rock and we began our hike to the top. The first two hundred feet were relatively easy. That is where I got into trouble taking pictures of the naked women. The rest of the climb was up to us. The guide had been up those metal ladders a hundred times and we did not look like the type that would leave a big tip. He glanced up at the top, at the snaking, spiraling metal rungs and ladders that stuck to the face of the rock like clinging ivy. He smiled politely and left, shaking his head and muttering, perhaps some words like pagal amni.

Up, up we climbed. No big deal as long as you don’t look down. Stretches of the climb were steps carved into the rock itself which were shiny with a paten of hundreds of thousands of feet that had polished it since the 5th. Century. On top at last! At one time there was a small city at Sigiriya. There are cisterns and baths, foundations for many rooms, strolling areas, cooking areas, (slave quarters were down below, they had to commute-climb to work each day). The drop-off was something to write home about. It had claimed the lives of quite a few, we were told, including unhappy princesses and concubines left all alone, perched high above the jungle floor, their lord and masters slain in a fraternal war.

The legends of Sigiriya feature Kasyapa, who according to some was a security nut who used the rock as an impregnable palace. Our guide had mentioned that this usurper of the throne of Anuradhapura loved beautiful women. He had five hundred of them, each one more beautiful than the other. And he was really smart; he had their pictures drawn on the rock surfaces, kind of a Playboy fresco thing. Really, that is what the guide said. I think Kasyapa had read about Solomon of old who had a thousand, but had never left any pictures to prove it. Was Kasyapa an ancient historical role model for Hugh Hefner?

Solomon of old, wise old Solomon reputedly had a thousand wives, but that is just a story that emerged from the Old Testament. No pictures please. (Muslim and ancient Jewish guys didn’t like to have other men snoop around in their private zennanah or harems. Some covered up their women so only their eyes could be seen. They had strong religious inhibitions against displaying the female form.) But one of Solomon’s favorites was enshrined in history in the Song of Solomon. His words still have a pretty good ring to them. “Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor... Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins...Thy neck is a tower of ivory... How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights.” Wow!

Kasyapa left no flowery words behind, he paid artists to draw his beauties. The Lady with the Lotus is a knock-out. Let me name her Sita. When I see her there, high on the cliff above the jungle far below I say, “Tell me, female of the forest, who thou be and whence thy birth. Much I fear thou art a Raksha wearing various forms on earth.” (From Romesh C Dutt’s translation - Book 6, The Ramayana, Sita Lost). She holds a lotus flower that I had not noticed at first. Typical occidental reaction, the prurient first, the artistic second and the meaning behind it all, the religious connotations, last. “To the oriental and especially the Buddhist, the lotus flower is sacred and its blossom is filled with meaning. For the occidental this flower contains little more than satisfying beauty.” (William Ward, The Lotus Symbol: Its meaning in Buddhist Art and Philosophy, 1952, page 135.)

The historical version that is least liked in Sri Lanka is the one put forward on Remyc.com.

“Think Devil Tower with a health spa on top. “Rising 650 feet out of the ground, this Eighth Wonder of the World, long believed to be the fortress of a mad king, has been revealed for what it really was: a Tantric sex initiation. King Kasyapa had 500 wives. He was a 5th Century Hugh Hefner. Sigiriya was his Playboy Mansion.”

I found it very disappointing to read in this person’s account that he had never even been there. Terrible. Playboy themes sell.

One who did visit at a time when the pictures on the walls were fresh was John Still who in 1907 observed that; “The whole face of the hill appears to have been a gigantic picture gallery...the largest picture in the world perhaps.” The pictures covered an area, 140 meters long and 40 meters high, and there is ancient graffiti which refers to the 500 ladies in these paintings."

The story goes that later on, this glorious wall of paintings became a disturbance, a distraction. Sigirya had become a religious monastery, and the young monks kept sneaking down to take a peek and neglected their holy books and uplifting thoughts. You have it, most of the best pictures, frescos, were destroyed. That hurts philosophically. Remember the Bamiyan Buddhas that were destroyed because of religious zeal? Amazing!

The gardens at the foot of the monolith are beautifully laid out. In their hay day they must have been stunning, filled with jasmine and rat ki rani; the fair ladies must have taken excursions down from their high life to stroll and sit beside the pools and listen to the birds and watch the peacocks strut. The gardens have three aspects, Water, Cave and Boulders. The water gardens are the most sophisticated in design and water fountains work today that were designed long, long ago. A visit to them will give a grounded perspective to Sigiriya.

I took out my photograph of the Lady with the Lotus from the album yesterday. The Ektachrome colors have faded; she looks pale, washed out. There is only one way to fix it. I must visit Sri Lanka again, this time with a digital camera so I can download Sita and make her my screen saver.

Sita’s Dream
The lotus seed sinks into muck
Sleeps, then awakens from calls of ancient past
Listening, it stirs, shudders open and puts forth
Green tender leaves seeking sun and air

The lotus lies deep within black ooze
Awakens, draws life and strength from dark decay
Raises a brave and jubilant head within a day
Lifts its gold-pink face to kiss the sky

Under the Greenwood Tree

2007-09-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

hey don’t sell hats outside the Colombo zoo, those bright green and pink palm-leaf mementos which, from almirah tops or forgotten corners, keep reminding a visitor to the Calcutta zoo of dust and animal smell. There are balloons instead, and tiny pinwheels made of shiny paper that glisten in the afternoon sun. Once inside, you realize why the idea of selling hats never occurred. A thick canopy of green offers shade to swathes of the zoo that would seem minuscule in comparison to the spread in Alipore. But as you take a walk down the shaded paths, the shrub-lined alleyways and the carefully-designed moats and sprawling lawns, you realize what a success the Sri Lankans have made of their legacy. Like the Calcutta zoo, the Colombo zoo in Dehiwala grew out of the menagerie of zoologically-inclined foreigners. But unlike the former, which owes its origins to the initiative of the governor-general of Bengal, Arthur Wellesley, in the late 19th century, the Colombo zoo has a more recent and less illustrious history. Its founder, John Hargenberg, got together the collection to facilitate his brother’s trade in animals with the West. It was taken over by the government as late as 1936.

Since then, the collection has been amply diversified to include an enormous variety of animals, reptiles, birds and fish, all cramped into 23 acres of land. Fortunately, the landscaping allows the exhibits to be arranged all around in tiers. On entering, one can either take the route to the right, and go straight to the pits of growling tigers, lions, cheetahs and the lone bear. Or one can go left into a darkened cave full of acquariums stashed with amazing kinds of fish, and then emerge to meet the twin penguins and the sea lion.

Unlike Alipore, the big cats here have no luxury of space. There are several, including a black panther, in cages so alarmingly small that you sometimes marvel at their agility. But they are there, well-fed, well-toned, with not a worry in the world, dozing or just looking out with eyes narrowed to slits. One wonders if they are let out for their daily exercise at night since they are so obviously preoccupied in the day.

The road to the reptilium is a raised wooden structure which accommodates a harmless-looking small estuarian crocodile beneath. But looks can be deceptive and one has to control the urge to feel its back, only an arm’s-length away. The most fascinating thing about the reptilium, especially for someone used to the Calcutta zoo, is the discovery of creeping and crawling members behind every glass partition, and the fact that there has been an effort to make things comfortable for the inhabitants, be it the anaconda, the East African Green Mamba or the more commonly available vipers and kraits. The rare albino Sri Lankan cobra and a spitting cobra add to the thrill.

The aviary in the zoo is an experience. An artificially created waterfall plunges into a small lake with a little hut in the middle. Just above the waterfall is the road to the big cats, one of the marvels of the zoo’s landscaping. There is thick vegetation all around, and the place, cool and moist, is overrun with gaily chirping birds that even target your candyfloss for food. The bird cages are well-stocked with a variety of eagles, hornbills and owls. The cockatoos and macaws, placed strategically alongside the children’s play area, caw endlessly, adding to the happy noise. The butterfly garden, with its small yet magnificent collection of 30 different types of butterflies, is a major attraction.

The zoo accommodates a number of primates, some in larger areas than the big cats. But the most distressing sight is that of the elephants, five of them, all chained to the ground. Thankfully, Alipore zoo now has them in open spaces surrounded by moats, although it still cannot stop visitors from feeding them all kinds of rubbish. Yet the elephants are the USP of the Colombo zoo which, together with the famous elephant orphanage in Pinnawala and the farm at Gonapola, form the National Zoological Gardens. The beasts provide entertainment in the form of joy rides at fixed hours, fodder for zoo research and bring in much of the international attention the zoological garden delights in. Space again proves the obvious spoiler. But couldn’t there be some other way to exhibit these creatures?

The Colombo zoo seems to have arrived at a compromise between the principles of conservation and entertainment. Since Pinnawala takes off much of the conservationist baggage from its shoulders, the Dehiwala zoo is free to entertain its visitors with sea lion and elephant shows, animal rides and pelican-feeding without guilt. Some of it may even shock animal-rights activists, but then the zoo has no pretensions of aspiring towards the neo-modern concepts of zoo-keeping. It manages its premises well, and has even successfully sold itself as a centre of serious research, inviting students from abroad to serve as volunteers to help with projects. It may not have the parkland of France’s La Palmyra, or gardens as luxuriant as the Chester zoo, but Colombo zoo has a quaint charm of its own. If you forgive its attitude towards the big cats and the elephants, the Dehiwala zoo is one of the most pleasurable spots in the city.

Sri Lanka's sun, tea and sand

2007-09-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

Anna Murphy relishes Sri Lanka's lush plantations, tasty curries, quaint traditions, lovely beaches - and lack of fellow travellers.

Much of my life I have wanted to go to Sri Lanka. But every time I've been on the verge of booking, the Tamils have caused trouble. This year, when I finally bought a flight, things kicked off again. But I went anyway, and am glad I did. Avoid the north-east, the centre of the troubles, and you feel safe.

At times I felt that I had the island to myself - and what a superb island it is: its beaches are Bounty-advert perfection, its tea country the prettiest I've seen, its temples drip with character. The food is sublime and my accommodation was fantastic - and affordable.

You could spend a fortnight visiting Sri Lanka's sights, but in a convenient cluster near the island's centre - north of the hill town of Kandy, where I began my trip - lie three of the most remarkable.

At Sigiriya, a slab of rock rears out of the forest like a giant's thumbnail. Paintings of pneumatic women adorn the stone, with poems alongside that were engraved 2,500 years ago. A royal winter palace once sat on top of the rock.

Just to the south are the cave temples of Dambulla. In the main cave are colourful statues of Buddha, lined up like schoolchildren in front of a psychedelic backdrop of swirls and chequerboard. Locals leave offerings of lotus flowers - pink, white and lilac - or trays of intricately cut watermelon and guava.

A few miles to the east, at Polonnawura, the island's medieval capital, are the vast figures of the Gal Vihara - four Buddhas carved into the granite in various poses.

Despite the many sights that are ripe for exploring, it was tempting to relax at base. Kandy House, a 200-year-old walauwa (or manor house), is built around a cool courtyard; its rooms furnished with antiques and its garden a manicured jungle. In the evenings I sat outside, admiring birds of paradise, drinking a concoction called a ginger kick and steeling myself for the feasting ahead. Supper was a panoply of curries - beef, okra and, most deliciously, hibiscus - followed by wattalapan, Sri Lanka's answer to crème caramel.

My next stop was a surprisingly luxurious 1930s tea plantation bungalow, reached by a train that winds among the hills. We crossed slopes covered in a brilliant carpet of green tea bushes, which looked almost like the lawns of English suburbia. The illusion strengthened when we arrived at Norwood, the bungalow, with its Axminster rugs, its well-upholstered sofas and its bay windows overlooking a garden of begonias and hydrangeas. Beyond lay more plantations, the ant-like figures of Tamils - imported from southern India in the 19th century and identifiable by their dark skin and bright clothes - working away with huge baskets on their heads. In the distance rose dramatic peaks.

Visitors can cycle or walk between the four plantation bungalows, but I found it hard to drag myself away from Norwood. This was a place where, should I wander out of my room and ask for a cup of tea at around 4pm I might find myself served a full high-tea, a tottering fine-china tower of scones, ham-and-mustard sandwiches and lemon tarts. Then it was cocktail hour and the staff would press me to accept a Castlereagh Signature - I never discovered what the recipe was, but it tasted lethal. On my pillow at bed time was a bud of tea - the "first flush", picked in the morning - and between the sheets a tartan-covered hot-water bottle - it can get chilly at 3,100ft.

From the tea plantations I travelled to the fortress town of Galle on the south coast. Europeans and Americans have been buying property there for a song for years, and I suspect that if it weren't for the effects of the tsunami and terrorism it would have turned into a sort of Marrakesh-cum-Lower East Side.

Galle's Dutch-built Old Town was largely untouched by the tsunami, thanks to its beefy ramparts. Its streets are lined with charmingly named dwellings - Jasmine Cottage; Ernest House - with pitched roofs that sweep down to verandas. Small wooden gates and fences separate cottages from the street, and front doors are of stained glass. Around one crumbling square are the courthouses, where lawyers sit outside, tapping away at ancient typewriters.

The former New Oriental Hotel, renamed Amangalla and now part of the Aman chain, is right in the middle of it all. These days it is even more glamorous than in its 19th-century heyday and its vast proportions are made more elegant with an array of antiques. If you lounge long enough by the pool in the garden, you're liable to be offered a bowl of delectable home-made ice cream. The hotel has an excellent hammam, and its barber will provide the closest of shaves while you recline in the original N O H-marked chair.

It was not always so perfect, as illustrated by an entry in a guestbook from the 1970s. "This is the Fawlty Towers of Asia," wrote one unhappy customer. "If you are reading this when you have just checked in, check out now…"

Today, though, I advise the opposite for this wonderful island: check in as soon as you can, before the rest of the world discovers its charms.

KumbukRiver nominated for World Travel Awards

2007-09-08T19:18:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka’s KumbukRiver has been nominated for the Leading Eco-Lodge in the World at the World Travel Awards, the Oscars of the travel and tourism world. This is first time Sri Lanka figures among the ‘world’s leading’ classifications at the showpiece annual event which also includes awards by continent as well, the promoters of the eco-lodge said in a statement.

KumbukRiver has been voted among the world’s eight leading eco-lodges and will vie for the top slot when professionals from over 160,000 travel agents in over 200 countries vote for the first-ever Green Awards category at the 14 year-old event hailed as the most coveted awards scheme of the travel and tourism industry.

“KumbukRiver’s dramatic entry receives further significance as the other resorts nominated are all large-scale and well-established enterprises and only seven countries from the world are on the honours list.

The nomination by the WTA puts the eco-lodge from far-flung Buttala on the world tourism map, not for the first time, with KumbukRiver securing two other international accolades. KumbukRiver has currently been shortlisted for an award at the Virgin-Responsible Tourism Awards while Times-Online voted it among the world’s 50 best green places to stay, last year, making KumbukRiver the hottest Sri Lankan destination in the world of tourism,” the statement added.

Two other Sri Lankan entities are recognized this year by the WTA – Jetwing’s Ayurveda Pavilion has received two nominations, one under ‘Asia’s leading Resorts’ and the other in the category of ‘Asia’s leading Spa Resorts’ while Sri Lankan Airlines is named amongst Asia’s best airlines, completing an unexpectedly good year for Sri Lanka.

The promoters say KumbukRiver leads Sri Lanka’s resurgence on the world tourism market. The entire concept for the unique eco-lodge was a wild idea mooted by The 7th Frontier, an ad agency whose executives have had no exposure to the tourism industry previously.

Sri Lanka: A land like no other

2007-09-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

IF, as the legend goes, God created the world in six days, then it is entirely likely that he devoted the seventh day wholly to creating Sri Lanka! Paradise is a word too easily bandied around these days on the global tourism front, but in its application to this jewel of an island hanging like a teardrop in the Indian Ocean, it matches the description in every sense of the word.
Indeed, early explorers were in such bewiderment over Sri Lanka’s abundance of natural beauty—from golden beaches lapped enticingly by pristine blue waters to carpets of green foliage that make up the breathtakingly picturesque tea country nestled in the country’s highlands—that they coined the word “Serendib” (meaning a fortunate discovery by accident) to describe the island.

In fact, “serendipity” and “a land like no other” were two of the befitting names attached to the country long before it made its international mark as Ceylon (in colonial days) and later, in the years following independence, as Sri Lanka. The names alone bear witness to its richness and beauty, and the intensity of the affection it evokes in everyone who has ever visited the country.

But as chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, Renton de Alwis and his hard-working team take great pains to point out, the negative vibes created by the reign of terror inflicted in the north by the Tamil Tigers’ terrorist outfit do not in any way impact on the fantastic beach resorts of the south such as Bentota and Hikkaduwa, nor in the cool recreational climes of Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela where the colonial British created a home away from home—with these parts more redolent of Scotland than any place you associate with in the orient.

Concerns about the “business in the north” are easily displaced by an ethnicly diverse people (whether Sinhalese, Tamil or Muslim) who are the most friendly and hospitable on earth, and whose gleaming smiles are worth a thousand words of friendly greeting. And dig this—a Sri Lankan holiday luxuriating in sun and sand (along with insights into a glorious culture that is over 2000 years old) does not only provide top grade recreational quality but the prices (whether you are counting dollars, euros, pounds or yen) are probabaly the most affordable in the world.

But the Sri Lanka Tourist Board is not just sitting back on its laurels. Explains Chairman de Alwis: “Today’s consumer is conscious about the environmental and social effects of tourism. With this in mind, the Sri Lanka Tourist Board has unveiled plans for a new and exciting project designed to raise Sri Lanka’s profile as a destination, offering socially and environmentally responsible tourism”

Outlining the rationale behind the “Sri Lanka Tourism’s Social Responsibility Service Project,” he adds: “The new plan is designed to bring greater numbers of socially and environmentally aware tourists to Sri Lanka, and to enhance their holiday experience while here. Local communities are the focus of the new plan and a key objective is building community support in the development of tourism.

To this end, the plan aims to link communities with tourism activities to ensure that the benefits from tourism actually contribute toward sustainable community development. Visitors to Sri Lanka who are interested will be able to take part in a community service project in one of five broad areas—carbon off-setting, child welfare, animal welfare, peace education and facilitation for the differently abled.”

It is clear that a growing number of tourists want to “give something back” while on holiday. This plan will give visitors to Sri Lanka the chance to fulfil this wish, and in doing so contribute toward the sustainable, socially responsible development of local communities. (To get involved contact the Sri Lanka Tourist Board on 0094 112426929, or e-mail prashanthi@srilanka.travel).

Whilst we were on the island, we had the wonderful experince of journeying to the hill capital of Kandy to witness the famous annual August festival (or Esala Perahera in the local vernacular) where every night for ten days, a specacular three-hour long procession of almost a hundred elephants coupled with scores upon scores of colorfully dressed native dancers, fire eaters, acrobats and drummers take to the streets in a dramatic exposition that is part theater and part fiesta.

The ritual is to bring out the scared relic of the Lord Buddha’s tooth that is kept in the Temple of the Tooth, which is one of Kandy’s—and indeed the country’s, primary landmarks.

Incidentally, the elephant is akin to being the national animal in Sri Lanka. And a magnificent tusker is given the honor of carrying the casket bearing the scared relic. Fitting that, since elephants in Sri Lanka were once royal property, and it was forbidden to kill them. Today there are just under 3000 wild elephants left, compared with nearly 15,000 two decades ago.

In order to protect the species, the Sri Lankan government has created an elephant orphanage in Pinnawela, which is not too far away from Kandy. Here care and protection is given to the many baby elephants found in the jungles without their mothers who had either died or had been killed by poachers.

Tea is easily Sri Lanka’s best-known gift to the world. As the biggest exporter on the planet of tea—unarguably the world’s healthiest and most popular brew—the Sri Lanka Tea Board is at the forefront of spreading the good word about the drink that in a quaint touch is still branded worldwide under the colonial name of Ceylon

Says Chairman Lalith Hettiarachchi: “Tea is what comes to most people’s minds around the world when they think of Sri Lanka. The main task of the tea board is to enhance this association by highlighting the benefits of tea to the market abroad, while at the same time promoting corporate social responsibility within the home grown tea industry.”

Sri Lanka’s tea country is contained primarily in the cool climes of the hills and valleys of what is known locally in the “up country” region. We stayed in the St. Coombes Estate where the Tea Research Institute is situated. And as its name suggests, the TRI is at the very core of protecting and scientifically developing the industry literally on ground level.

The picturesque and mountainous tea country provides for a contrasting holiday experience from the sun-kissed beaches of the south coast, and the cultural gems of the interior such as the 5,000-year-old Sigiriya Rock (with its amazing frescoes) and the ancient ruins of Anuradhapura and Pollonaruwa—all treasured wonders from the past. In fact, Sri Lanka is home to seven World Heritage Sites.

All in all, Sri Lanka has something for every holiday seeker, whether discerning traveler or just backpacking tourist. Rightly can it be heralded as the “Land like no other.”

Britain's Got Talent - Connie Talbot Did it Again

2007-09-05T20:14:00.000-07:00

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Murali Manager: He Will Be Fine

2007-08-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

Muttiah Muralitharan will use negative comments from Australian crowds to spur him on to break Shane Warne's record for Test wickets, according to his manager Kushil Gunasekera.

The 35-year-old off-spinner is eight wickets short of Warne's record of 708 scalps, and looks likely to pass the mark when Sri Lanka face Australia in Tests in Brisbane and Hobart in November.

Murali has twice been called for throwing against Australia, earning him some abuse from the Aussie fans, but Gunasekera believes his man is more than capable of handling the pressure.

"He is comfortable with what Australia is like," he told the Melbourne Herald Sun.

"He understands the harassment given by spectators will only make him more inspired and motivated. It will help him bowl better.

"He is happy to be taking on that challenge because Australia is a real test. He will come to Australia."

Muralitharan was first called for throwing by umpire Darrell Hair in the Boxing Day Test match against Australia at Melbourne in 1995.

This was followed nine years later by match referee Chris Broad reporting him for a suspect action after he took 28 wickets in a three-Test series on home soil against the Australians.

From Sri Lanka to Slough

2007-08-18T06:12:00.000-07:00

We are just back from holiday in Sri Lanka, where we had a wonderful time. Tourism is sharply down this year, so it's a very good time to go; nothing is as impossible to sell as a room that's been empty all night, so you can get amazing bargains at some of the most beautiful hotels in Asia.

The reason tourism is down is because of the continuing fight between the government and the Tamil Tigers of the north, who have acquired an air force, or at least a plane, and this year bombed the airport. No doubt that was why there was an anti-aircraft gun on a tower next to our hotel in Colombo, though admittedly it is also near the presidential palace. However, the place is, for visitors, entirely safe. Avoiding it is as pointless as skipping southern Ireland because of the troubles in the north.

Luckily some of the shortfall is made up by people of Sri Lankan origin who return for holidays. Checking out of one hotel in an especially beautiful setting, a young man asked if I was from England. When I said I was, he said that he lived in England too, and had returned to marry. He and his bride, who had never left Sri Lanka - she was smiling shyly next to him - were on honeymoon. I asked where they were going to live, and he said Slough. It was difficult to find a really enthusiastic way to wish them well in their new lives.

As everyone tells you, the problems in the country are political and not religious.

In fact, the toleration is remarkable - to some extent because the main religion, Buddhism, with two-thirds of the population, is just about as unmilitant as a religion can be. Buddhism, of course, is about the search for truth, rather than telling everyone else that you have found the truth and they had better jump into line.

At the famous Dambulla temple caves they have signs from the "venerable trustee" asking you to take your shoes off before going inside, adding: "Whether any religionist, mannerly person behaves gently," which I suppose means, "whatever your religion, show some respect", though it sounds so much nicer put the other way.

Before we left, we airily told the tourism chap that we would rent a car at the airport. He looked very worried. "I really wouldn't do that. You must have a driver," he said. "You would have great difficulties." And we would. For a start, road signage is in its infancy in Sri Lanka. Many villages don't appear even on large-scale maps, so you could be lost very easily indeed. And drivers abide by quite different rules.

In the west, we work on the assumption that the car coming towards us will keep its direction, and we must adjust accordingly. In Sri Lanka, it's the opposite: you drive straight at him because he will undoubtedly swerve at the last minute. Luckily it's hard to get up to a speed above 25mph, so these heart-stopping moments occur in slow motion.

But the roadsides present a fascinating, miles-long panorama, like a strip cartoon or a tapestry. Peacocks lurk in the woods and kingfishers perch on telegraph poles; mongooses look balefully up at you, and fruit bats hang in their hundreds from the trees.

Schoolchildren are dressed in immaculate white uniforms, a relic of colonial days, I suppose. We never saw a pair of trousers or a dress that was even slightly smudged; mothers must scrub the clothes every night. A few Morris Oxfords and Austin Cambridges bump along. The stalls cluster together, so you will get a dozen fruit stands in the same spot. On the road inland to Kandy, we passed a kilometre of wooden shelving, devoted entirely to displaying inflatable toys - sharks, elephants, bears, Scooby Doos and Disney dalmatians from 101 Dalmatians.

You wondered why they were there, 30 or 40 miles from the capital. Do dads wake up at weekends and say, "hey gang, what say we all drive out for several hours and buy an inflatable giraffe? Sound fun to you?" If you want practical details, I'll be writing at much greater length on the Guardian website soon.

While I was there I bought a fascinating book, The Museum Of Hoaxes, by an American, Alex Boese (Penguin). It's an account of great hoaxes, from medieval relics to the famous fake Tourist Guy picture of the man in an anorak posing on top of the World Trade Centre as an airliner flies towards it.

Newspapers, with their short deadlines and need for sensation, are hoaxed more than anyone else, as the Cornish shark reminds us. The New York Times, the great grey lady, is a particular victim, possibly because they know that if it is in the New York Times it must be true. In 1874, its editor fell for the New York Herald's hoax about wild animals escaping from the zoo. In 1934 it lovingly reprinted hoax stories about a sea serpent which pursued the Mauretania.

In 1999 it fell for "Ron's Angels" a website that allegedly offered childless couples the chance to buy eggs from supermodels. In 1992, it published a glossary of "grunge speak" from Seattle, all carefully invented by a magazine called The Baffler. There are many other instances.

The Guardian has been caught once or twice, though nothing like as often as our own dear Times. In 1972 the Times believed that Thomas Cook was offering round the world trips at 1872 prices. Back in 1856, it reported that a train travelling from Macon to Augusta, Georgia, had been halted six times so that passengers could fight fatal duels with "Monte Christo pistols". The slaughter had left six people dead before the journey ended. The paper stuck to its story for a year, until a reporter discovered that "Monte Christo pistols" was local slang for champagne bottles, and that empty bottles were referred to as "dead men".

CA urges fans to respect Murali

2007-06-29T00:42:00.000-07:00

Melbourne, June 29 (PTI): Cricket Australia has urged home fans to treat Muttiah Muralitharan with respect when the Sri Lankan off-spinner tours Down Under in his bid to become the highest wicket-taker in the longer version of the game.

Muralitharan, who needs 25 wickets to equal Aussie legend Shane Warne's record of 708, will play two more Tests against Bangladesh before Sri Lanka's tour of Australia.

The ace offie has become a victim of sustained abuse by crowds on previous tours. But, the troubled relationship between Muralitharan and the Aussie crowd was temporarily healed when he visited the country for a tsunami appeal game in 2005.

The CA hoped that this time around Muralitharan would be appreciated by the Australian fans.

"Last year we had Monty Panesar and we were really pleased that he became a cult figure. With Murali coming back, our ambition would be to achieve the same outcome," a CA spokesman was quoted as saying by 'The Age.'

"As Ricky Ponting said, any international cricketer visiting Australia has the right to be treated with respect and in the same manner as Australian players are treated. That is the bottom line," the spokesman said, adding "our message to the public will be 'please treat all visitors with the respect they deserve. If you don't the consequences go through to the possibility of life bans from venues."

The CA has toughened the conditions of entry and security adviser Sean Carroll will lead a police team to London this month to help improve venue security around the country.

Copycat of 'sexy' Malinga ends up in hospital

2007-06-22T02:11:00.000-07:00

A man who tried to bleach his hair to look like Sri Lanka's "sexiest" cricket player, Lasith Malinga, has ended up in hospital with severe burns, the Daily Mirror said here Friday.

The 20-year-old man in the central town of Kandy was hospitalised after he used two types of acid to try to dye his hair, the report said.

The 23-year-old Malinga was named the sexiest cricketer of the World Cup by the Barbados Sunday Sun newspaper because of his "eye-catching, blonde-streaked curly hairdo, eyebrow ring and tattooed biceps."

Many Sri Lankan men have been trying to copy Malinga's unkempt style, although the stylist behind the hair said he took two days to create the distinctive bleached-blond corkscrews.

Connie Talbot Video

2007-06-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

Connie Talbot Photos

2007-06-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

Six year old Connie Talbot, the "next Charlotte Church"

2007-06-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

She's never had a formal singing lesson. Instead, she has had to hone her skills on a £39.99 karaoke machine.

But Connie Talbot, the six-year-old star of ITV1's Britain's Got Talent, is already being hailed as the "next Charlotte Church".
And after wowing both the audience and the judges - in particular Simon Cowell - she is now tipped to earn more than £1million over the coming year.

Indeed, so impressed was the 47-year-old pop mogul by Connie's performance, that he has preliminarily agreed to sign her up to a seven-figure deal with his own record label, Sony BMG.

Despite the avalanche of attention, she is keeping her feet firmly on the ground.

Indeed, after progressing to the third of the live semi-finals, Connie declined a celebratory restaurant dinner in favour of a chip supper at their three-bedroom home in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, alongside her parents, Sharon and Gavin, and 14-year-old brother Josh and sister, Mollie, 12.

She even refused to tell anyone at school about her show- stealing performance - the first her teachers knew of Connie's television debut was when they watched the programme for themselves.

While Connie is desperate to take Cowell up on his offer, her 38-year-old mother, a part-time utility worker, is rather less enthusiastic.

"I'm a big worrier," she said. "I just want my Connie to stay the way she is. I never wanted all this for her - I never took her to dance lessons or singing lessons.

"But I wouldn't be able to turn down a record deal with Simon because Connie would just be like, 'Yes!, Yes!' She'd feel like Leona Lewis from the X Factor who, along with Joss Stone, is her absolute idol."

Mrs Talbot, who bought her daughter a karaoke machine because the family could not afford singing lessons, also revealed that Connie only discovered she could sing in tragic circumstances - when her grandmother, Violet, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"When her grandma was really ill in bed, Connie used to sing the DVD to the Wizard of Oz to her, to cheer her up.

"It was her grandmother who first told me, 'She's really good, you know'"

Following her grandmother's death two years ago, at the age of 72, Connie sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow at the funeral.

"Her grandmother would have been so proud," Mrs Talbot added. "She had her fortune told years ago and was told her she was going to have a famous grandchild - maybe that's Connie."

On Monday night, seven million viewers saw

her sing Somewhere Over The Rainbow at the reality show's Birmingham auditions.

She received a standing ovation and left the programme's three judges, Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan, speechless.

On Saturday night, viewers and the trio of panellists will vote to decide if Connie makes it through to the following evening's studio final for the chance to sing in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Show and win £100,000.

"This girl is just special," Cowell told the Mail last night. "I have never felt such a powerful silence in my life as when Connie sang. It was pure magic.

"She's all over the world at the moment, this girl - she's the number one clip on YouTube, for instance - and that's a worldwide number one.

"She's got a wonderful opportunity here and I'll make a prediction that Connie will sell more records than Joss Stone this year.

"Of course a record deal with a Sony BMG is on the cards - but only if Connie wants it.

"We can't go rushing into anything. I will initially talk to her and then I'll have a word with her mum and see what she wants.

"She could easily make a million quid-plus this year, but of course none of this is guaranteed until the competition is over.

"I think a comparison with Charlotte Church is interesting - she's certainly got a shot."

Last night, Connie said: "I am really excited. Simon is my hero."

Ranatunga wants Indian job, Bayliss aims a little lower

2007-06-05T20:44:00.000-07:00

TREVOR Bayliss will fly to Colombo next week to interview for Tom Moody's recently vacated post - but the impending arrival of the NSW coach was not the biggest development in Sri Lanka yesterday.

Instead, the emergence of former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga as a leading contender for India's head coaching position had the cricketing world abuzz, particularly with India set to tour Australia next summer.

The nomination of Ranatunga, who has made an artform out of antagonising Australian players for over a decade, reflects India's willingness to adopt an unorthodox and aggressive approach ahead of a 12-month period in which they will play Australia in eight Tests and about 20 one-day internationals.

With almost no coaching experience to speak of - most of his post-playing career has been spent in Sri Lankan politics, where he has held sporting and tourism portfolios - Ranatunga's allure to the Indians lies in his headstrong leadership style, which he employed to great effect as captain throughout Sri Lanka's triumphant 1996 World Cup campaign.

At this stage Ranatunga is ranked behind former South African coach Greg Ford in the race to succeed Greg Chappell as coach of India. But with a final round of interviews scheduled for this Saturday, the BCCI could yet call on Ranatunga to drag India out of their recent cricketing malaise and transform them into an aggressive force able to compete with Australia.

Ranatunga's sudden emergence on the scene has prompted Indian officials to announce that Dav Whatmore, the former Australian batsman and coach of Bangladesh, was out of the race to succeed Chappell.

Whatmore, however, remains in contention for the Pakistan coaching position.

"I'm just deciding what the next move is," said Whatmore, who has returned home to Melbourne after completing all his coaching duties with Bangladesh.

"When I know, you'll know."

News of Ranatunga's candidacy for the Indian position coincided with confirmation that Bayliss, who has two years remaining on his contract with the Blues, will compete against Australian assistant coach Jamie Siddons and Queensland mentor Terry Oliver for the head coach's job in Sri Lanka.

The Blues coach has already turned down an offer from the Australia Centre of Excellence and an approach from Bangladesh this off-season but will likely take the Sri Lankan job if it is offered to him.

He is due to be interviewed by Sri Lankan officials in Colombo on June 14.
"It's a job with an international team, and one of the better international teams, so you'd be nuts not to hear them out," Bayliss said. "And if something was offered, you'd be silly to knock it back.

"I spoke to Tom [Moody] about a week ago just to find out what I can expect in the interview. So now it's just a case of going over and seeing what they have to say."

Bayliss's current employer, Cricket NSW, has confirmed it will not stop him taking up the coaching position in Sri Lanka if he is successful.

Chief executive Dave Gilbert added that Sri Lanka's pursuit of Bayliss had prompted Blues officials to formulate contingency plans in the event their head coach departs.

"We won't be standing in the way of Trevor," Gilbert said. "If he wants to prove himself on the international stage, we will stand aside. We don't want to lose him, but we realise he is very ambitious, and in the long term he wants to coach Australia.

"Coaching another international side would be a big step towards that goal. Just look at the way it catapulted Tom Moody to the upper echelons of world cricket."

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has contracted Chappell, Bruce Reid and John Wright as consultant coaches for next season.

Wright was CA's first choice to succeed Tim Nielsen as head coach of the Centre of Excellence, but the former New Zealand batsman was apparently reluctant to relocate his family across the Tasman.

Source:http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/ranatunga-wants-indian-job-bayliss-aims-a-little-lower/2007/06/05/1180809522847.html?page=2

Barmy Army to boost Sri Lanka tourism

2007-06-04T03:46:00.000-07:00

COLOMBO: Advance bookings for England's winter cricket tour of Sri Lanka has been rising steadily even as fighting between troops and Tamil Tiger rebels escalates, officials said on Monday.

A tour organising official at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said at least 4,000 bookings by British cricket fans have been almost finalised and more were in the pipeline. "We are very happy with the response," the SLC official said.

The cricket board is teaming up with the island's tourism authority to have special counters at London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and at Colombo airport here, to handle the 'Barmy Army', as English supporters are called.

England will tour Sri Lanka in two stages, with the one-day internationals being played in October and the three-Test series in December.

Sri Lanka's tourism officials expect the tour to lift sagging arrival figures, which have suffered from the violence with nearly 5,000 people killed in the past 18 months.

The SLC official said British fans seemed undeterred.

"You must remember that England tour in 2001-02 attracted a huge contingent of fans despite the (rebel) attack on the airport just six months before the tour," he said.

Arrivals from Britain, a major market for Sri Lanka tourism, had fallen 13.7 in April over the same month a year earlier, according to tourist board figures.

But the English tour could swell numbers if the current promotional work became a success, the SLC official said.

England will play the one-day leg mostly in the north-central town of Dambulla, which is a major cultural heritage site with the famous rock fortress of Sigiriya in the backdrop.

The Tests are to be played in Colombo, the southern sea port city of Galle and the popular hill resort of Kandy. "The Galle Test is likely to be well patronised by British tourists given the work of British charities there in the post-tsunami era," the official said.

It will be the first Test match in Galle since the town was devastated by the December 2004 tsunami.

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1101132

Moody Embarrassed by Aussies

2007-06-02T05:47:00.001-07:00

TOM MOODY has lashed out at Australian crowds, admitting he is embarrassed by the derogatory reaction and constant harassment directed towards Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralidaran.
A World Cup winner with Australia in 1999, Moody, who has resigned after a successful stint as Sri Lanka coach, claims Murali's action is more legal than some other bowlers playing international cricket.

"As an Australian through and through, when I have been with the Sri Lankan team in Australia, or playing against them in the World Cup, it's the only situation we find in the whole of the cricketing world where we have this disgraceful slant on a cricketer," Moody said this week.

"My take on it, and I hope I'm right, and I've shared this with Murali, is that it's Australia's nature to show that response in a way of respect and acknowledgement of someone who is pretty special and unique.

"It's a direct insult as it may be seen or heard or given. It's treading a very fine line of sportsmanship.

"I don't know if I'm right. I hope I'm right because at times I've found it incredibly embarrassing when you tour all around the world with a team that has a bowler who is a unique genius; that he's subjected to that type of behaviour in Australia."

Moody believes part of the reason for this is the competition between Murali and Australia's recently retired champion spinner Shane Warne, who is the world's leading wicket-taker with 708.

Murali is second with 674 but given the amount he bowls and the rate at which he takes his wickets he is likely to pass Warne within a year. When Murali tours Australia for two Tests in November, he will still be behind Warne.

"They're protecting their own. Australia has produced the greatest leg-spinner of all time and Australians are very proud of that," Moody said. "There's that constant comparison between Warne and Murali, but I just think you cannot even begin to try and compare the two."

Many Australians, including most of the national team, have harboured suspicions about Murali's ultra-flexible action, which includes a bent elbow, apparently a birth deformity.

This exploded publicly on Boxing Day 1995 when umpire Darrell Hair called Murali seven times for throwing, creating a furore. He was subsequently called during a one-day series in Australia, which almost prompted Sri Lanka to walk off midway through a one-day match in Adelaide four years later.

Murali refused to tour Australia in 2004 because of his treatment by Australians, including Prime Minister John Howard, who sparked an international incident when he claimed publicly that science had proved Murali threw.

Largely on the back of controversy surrounding Murali, the International Cricket Council set up a detailed study of bowling actions with the latest scientific equipment, and found to its horror that just about every bowler threw the ball to some extent.

It was only when a bowler's arm flexed to 15 degrees that it became detectable to the naked eye so the ICC set 15 degrees as the limit for a bowler's elbow movement.

Any bowler now reported by umpires for having a suspect action must be scientifically tested. If found to be outside the 15-degree parameter the bowler is banned and must have remedial work with experts before being allowed to play again.

When Murali was on his last tour to Australia for a one-day series two seasons ago he became so sick of crowd treatment and media claims he was never properly tested that he took himself off to the University of Western Australia to be tested again.

"We were incredibly alarmed and surprised about that because we thought if you're going to do that, at least do it through the management, but he felt an obligation to prove to himself that he wasn't bending the rules, so to speak," Moody said.

"There were articles claiming he hadn't been tested bowling at different speeds so he took himself off one morning on his day off and organised himself to get tested properly.

"He bowled the whole shooting match of doosras and toppies and offies at all different speeds and he walked away comfortably under the 15-degree parameter. There wasn't one delivery that was over.

"I've got the report that shows it all; every single delivery. So where do you go, what else can a bloke do?"

ICC panel proposes free hits to speed up one-dayers

2007-06-02T05:43:00.000-07:00

A no ball in one-day cricket for overstepping the crease could prove costly to bowlers in future after cricket officials recommended giving the batsman a free hit off the next delivery.

Copying the fast Twenty20 game which already has the rule, is among several changes to the one-day game suggested by the cricket committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

A free hit would mean the batsman could be dismissed only by being run out from that delivery, as is the case with a no ball.

The move should encourage bowlers to reduce the number of extras and help matches finish on time.

The panel also wants the ball to be changed after 35 overs, instead of when it loses its shape or whiteness and is recommending allowing a third outfield player during the last two of three “powerplay” or field restriction overs.

The recommendations made by the cricket committee will have to be approved by the ICC’s Chief Executives Committee and then ratified by its board to become law. The panels are due to meet during the ICC’s annual conference starting in London on June 24.

The committee also reviewed the ball tampering law and said the code of conduct governing fair play should be tweaked to bar the fielding side from deliberately throwing the ball into the ground to rough it up or applying any substance to it, other than saliva or sweat for polishing.

Official Google Blog: Adding more flare

2007-06-02T02:40:00.000-07:00

fboogle: Feed burner aquired by Google. Another feather to the Google's hat

Thank You Google. Going offline will not be a nightmare anymore...

2007-05-31T04:12:00.000-07:00

Official Google Reader Blog: Oh Sam I Am, can I read it on the tram?
I am not a frequent flyer. But I am sure about I can go offline in any moment, due to bad weather, telephone line fault, just a bad line condition or simply the break down of my ISP, all these reason are not common in where I live (Sri Lanka). Thats why I feel greatful to Google for introducing this service.

Gmail Keeps improving but too little too late

2007-05-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

Official Google Blog: Bigger attachments in Gmail
Recently Gmail has announced the support of larger email attachments (20MB). I think Gmail should have done that one or two years ago. Atleast limiting the number of big attachments a day. Even 20Mb is nothing much these days.
Anyways Thank you Gmail for cinsideration.

Official Google Blog: Putting users in charge

2007-05-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

Google ask for access to our privacy for better and relevan results. Can we trust Google?

Muralitharan 'better than Warne' - Kevin Pietersen

2007-04-02T22:43:00.000-07:00

ANTIGUA - England batsman Kevin Pietersen believes Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is the best bowler in the world and harder to face than Australian cricket great Shane Warne.

Pietersen, the world's top ranked one-day batsman, will face off-spinner Muralitharan on Wednesday when England clash with Sri Lanka in a World Cup Super Eights match in Antigua.

"Muralitharan is the hardest bowler in the world to face," Pietersen told reporters this morning. "Much harder (than Warne). He is a true great of the game.

"Murali spins the ball both ways whereas Warney you can sort of counteract."

Warne, who retired after Australia's 5-0 Ashes test whitewash over England in January, was known for his sledging but Pietersen said Muralitharan lets his bowling do the talking.

"Muralitharan just winds you up because he knows he is going to get you out. He just smiles and laughs. 'Silent assassin' I call him.

"He has so much talk with the cricket ball he doesn't have to say much," added Pietersen, who plays with Warne at English county side Hampshire and was good friends with him before a spat during the Ashes.

Warne holds the record for the most test wickets but Muralitharan, who has 674 victims, will easily surpass Warne's total of 708.

Pietersen said England had to win against Sri Lanka or world champions Australia on Sunday to have a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals.

They have two points following Friday's win over Ireland and move on to Barbados for the rest of the Super Eights after the Australia clash.

"We haven't reached top gear, Wednesday the World Cup starts for England," the South-African born batsman said.

"It's a huge week for us. We can't leave Antigua on Monday with just two points. It'll be a great batting line-up when it's firing."

Why we love to love Sri Lanka

2007-04-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

They have blended youth and experience, planning and flexibility, a raised eyebrow and a gentle smile. If Australia win the World Cup, the one-day game will move further into the laptop and towards power and fitness. If Sri Lanka win, it will be a triumph of spirit. The happy smile would have triumphed over the furrowed brow, writes Suresh Menon

In 1996, Sri Lanka crushed India’s dreams en route to winning the World Cup. Indian fans who tend to draw horns and provide tails and tridents to teams which beat their beloved heroes, somehow acknowledged Sri Lanka’s superiority.

It was as if they were saying, “If we can’t win, then you are our next choice.” A decade and a year later Sri Lanka throw India out of the World Cup, and except for some SMS jokes — which are more affectionate than vicious — nothing has changed.

Why do we love to love Sri Lanka?
The answer is — like Sri Lanka’s cricket — simplicity itself. A bunch of talented players come together as a team, with a heightened sense of their place in the scheme of things.

There are a couple of superstars, but they are focused on geeing up the team rather than calculating by how much a six or a wicket enhances their value in the endorsement market. As the team went out to field against the West Indies, the most animated pep talk came from Muttiah Muralitharan. He could so easily have cocooned himself, kept aloof. Yet here he was, as excited as a kid making his debut. It is a rare spirit.

The simplicity extends to their game too. There are only two types of batsmen — those who describe lovely arcs, usually over the boundary, and those whose batsmanship is made up of straight lines and high elbows. The bowlers have pace and cunning, or spin and cunning. And the wicket keeper is a weapon of mass destruction as he showed when he stumped Brian Lara off the medium pacer Chaminda Vaas or ran out batsmen by converting good throws into great ones.

Above all — and this, I think is the crux — this is a team which enjoys itself, and the players communicate that enjoyment to the spectators. There is something old-fashioned in the notion of enjoying the game. You are not supposed to in the post-modern era with its emphasis on winning and on calculating net run rates. But even Duckworth-Lewis smiles kindly on such teams as it did four years ago in South Africa.

Sri Lankans have raised their game to a level of simplicity that is startling. Coaches and laptop men have made cricket unnecessarily complicated, introducing elements that restrict the expression of personality. Luckily, batting such as Jayasuriya’s cannot be programmed in advance. Pitch the ball to him thrice in succession at the same spot and he will hit you to three different areas of the field. Like a master, he performs best when you call his form and class into question.

Likewise Muralitharan. He beat Chanderpaul every ball of a four-ball sequence with what looked like identical deliveries, but each did just enough to laugh at the batsman and skip out of range like a high-spirited child. The skill is impressive; the delight in exhibiting it even more so.

In a team of outstanding fielders — so Asian teams can field after all! — Dilshan Tillekeratne stands out, just as he stands out as a batsman. As a bowler he is a super sopper, drying up runs. It is easy to imagine that players feel someone will rise to the occasion, and therefore there are no crises. But to attribute to chance what is the result of hard work and professionalism is criminal.

For Sri Lankans are one of the most professional sides in the tournament, fully aware of what is expected of them, and fully geared to doing it with minimum fuss. But professionalism does not include being dour, or boring or pedantic. Sri Lanka have shown there is room for self-expression, for sheer enjoyment, for setting up unexpected challenges even under the umbrella of professionalism.

They have blended youth and experience, planning and flexibility, a raised eyebrow and a gentle smile. If Australia win the World Cup (they must worry they have peaked too early), the one-day game will move further into the laptop and towards power and fitness. If Sri Lanka win, it will be a triumph of spirit. The happy smile would have triumphed over the furrowed brow.

It is not difficult to love a team which tempers professionalism with spontaneity and moors high-spiritedness to effectiveness.
(source: http://www.dnaindia.com)

The secret of Lankan cricket's good health

2007-04-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

here are a variety of reasons for Sri Lankan cricket's excellent health. The players, selectors, administrators, coaches, and above all, the fans, have contributed to it. But there is an unseen factor which needs recognition, namely, Sri Lankan culture, especially the culture of the majority community, the Sinhalese.

The Sinhalese are, quintessentially, outdoor people. They not only love sports but give it a high status. Come Sunday or any holiday, rural boys would hold cross-country bicycle races. And unlike their counterparts in India, Sinhalese middle class parents do not deride their children's participation in sports as a waste of time. Job recruiters attach high value to sporting achievements. There is, thus, an incentive to play, and play hard, from an early age.

Sri Lanka may be a new comer to international cricket, but it has been an ardent cricketing nation for over a century. However, till the late 1980s, cricket was an elite game, restricted to the high class English medium schools in Colombo and Kandy – a cultural badge of a social class rather than a serious competitive sport.

Sea change

But Arjuna Ranatunga's ascendancy as captain in 1988 brought about a sea change. "Arjuna" as he is known, provided an innovative and aggressive leadership. He had a passion for promoting new talent, no matter where they came from. He boosted players' morale by standing up for those who had been treated unjustly, no matter who the tormentor was.

"Arjuna was dictating terms at that time. He did a lot for cricketers from outside Colombo. He brought in Sanath Jayasuiriya from Matara in the deep south, and gave him accommodation in his house in Colombo so that he could concentrate on the game," recalled Mahendra Ratnaweera, a senior cricket journalist.

Under the new conditions, the Sri Lankan team kept improving and grabbed the World Cup in 1996 – an event which ushered in a new epoch in Sri Lankan cricket.

"The cricket board prospered with sponsors coming in, and ad revenue increasing steeply. The game became popular in the outstations (small towns and rural areas). Money began to be spent on promoting the game in the schools, provinces and remote areas. And players were beginning to emerge from the outlying areas," Ratnaweera said.

In an innovative scheme, established players were made to play for their home districts so that the standard of cricket in the outback improved.

And outstation players helped improve cricket in their own way. "They had a hunger for the game. Playing for the country was something very big for the small town boys. They worked hard also because they had few other preoccupations, unlike the ones from Colombo's elite schools who were into studies and computers," noted Sidath Wettimuny, who scored Sri Lanka's first Test century in the series against Pakistan in 1981-82.

"In the last ten years, Sri Lankan cricket boards have not been afraid of using new talent, regardless of where they come from. That is why we have the likes of Lasith Malinga and Chamara Silva today," Wettimuny said.

Fostering professionalism

With the board getting richer, it entered into contracts with promising players to enable them to be full time players. This helped the growth of professionalism and commitment to the game.

"Under this system, the players practiced every day from 7.30 am to 12.30 pm, and in the evening they went for workouts," Ratnaweera said.

In contrast to Indian cricket, the Sri Lankan coaching and selection systems have given primary importance to fielding. "If a player is not a good fielder, he will have no place in a Sri Lankan team," said Wettimuny, a selector himself.

Sri Lanka has also had the advantage of having good Australian coaches like Dav Whatmore, John Dyson, Bruce Yardley and now, Tom Moody, who, to a man, have emphasised the importance of fielding.

The Sri Lankan team has the needed variety, and selectors routinely insist on having a "balanced" side. "Marwan Attapattu is a very good player, but he has had to stay out because he is not required in the team now. His inclusion will have upset the balance there," pointed out former ace batsman, Romesh Kaluwitharana.

Role of the board

Sri Lankan cricket boards have much to be proud of in fostering the game, but they have also been a hotbed of politics.

Board presidents have faced allegations of misappropriation. Elections have been challenged and annulled. And too many people (1400), including those from non-playing clubs, are involved in electing the President.

"But till date, board politics and conflicts have not had an adverse effect on the game," Wettimuny said.

"So long as the administrators do not interfere with the players, and players do not interfere with the administrators, it is fine," chipped in Kaluwitharana.

No demigods

Sri Lankan cricketers are well paid, but cricket is not as commercialised as it is in India. "This is probably because the market here is much smaller than it is in India," explained Wettimuny.

But above all, the players in Sri Lanka are not demigods. Perhaps due to Buddhism, which discourages the growth of cults and hero worship, the players, however successful, are not deified.

And the media here act as watchdogs, and not as advertising agencies, which manufacture demigods and raise the stakes beyond human endurance.

"The fans should look at cricket as a game and not as war. India is one of the best sides in the world, but the pressure from the fans had crippled the team. I am glad I am not an Indian cricketer," said Kaluwithrarana with relief.
(courtesy Hindustan Times)

What Is Intelligence, Anyway? - Isaac Asimov

2007-03-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

What is intelligence, anyway? When I was in the army, I received the kind of aptitude test that all soldiers took and, against a normal of 100, scored 160. No one at the base had ever seen a figure like that, and for two hours they made a big fuss over me. (It didn't mean anything. The next day I was still a buck private with KP - kitchen police - as my highest duty.)

All my life I've been registering scores like that, so that I have the complacent feeling that I'm highly intelligent, and I expect other people to think so too. Actually, though, don't such scores simply mean that I am very good at answering the type of academic questions that are considered worthy of answers by people who make up the intelligence tests - people with intellectual bents similar to mine?

For instance, I had an auto-repair man once, who, on these intelligence tests, could not possibly have scored more than 80, by my estimate. I always took it for granted that I was far more intelligent than he was. Yet, when anything went wrong with my car I hastened to him with it, watched him anxiously as he explored its vitals, and listened to his pronouncements as though they were divine oracles - and he always fixed my car.

Well, then, suppose my auto-repair man devised questions for an intelligence test. Or suppose a carpenter did, or a farmer, or, indeed, almost anyone but an academician. By every one of those tests, I'd prove myself a moron, and I'd be a moron, too. In a world where I could not use my academic training and my verbal talents but had to do something intricate or hard, working with my hands, I would do poorly. My intelligence, then, is not absolute but is a function of the society I live in and of the fact that a small subsection of that society has managed to foist itself on the rest as an arbiter of such matters.

Consider my auto-repair man, again. He had a habit of telling me jokes whenever he saw me. One time he raised his head from under the automobile hood to say: "Doc, a deaf-and-mute guy went into a hardware store to ask for some nails. He put two fingers together on the counter and made hammering motions with the other hand. The clerk brought him a hammer. He shook his head and pointed to the two fingers he was hammering. The clerk brought him nails. He picked out the sizes he wanted, and left. Well, doc, the next guy who came in was a blind man. He wanted scissors. How do you suppose he asked for them?"

Indulgently, I lifted by right hand and made scissoring motions with my first two fingers. Whereupon my auto-repair man laughed raucously and said, "Why, you dumb jerk, He used his voice and asked for them." Then he said smugly, "I've been trying that on all my customers today." "Did you catch many?" I asked. "Quite a few," he said, "but I knew for sure I'd catch you." "Why is that?" I asked. "Because you're so goddamned educated, doc, I knew you couldn't be very smart."

And I have an uneasy feeling he had something there.

Final Verdict is Finally Online :)

2007-03-16T01:23:00.000-07:00

Indika (Not Me) is trying do something from a long time..we were watching he trying to something he called it SINGING..(j/k)..Actually Indika is a good rapper, and he has gotten plenty of talents..though he is at the wrong bank of the river (He call him self a WEB DESIGNER)..I feel he has a good prospects in music if he really try hard to get some theoretical knowledge of Music. Anyways Indika and his gang finally out a Video..(the call it a Music Video ;)...

Good job men..go on.. :)

Top Ten Worst Domain Names

2007-03-16T01:07:00.000-07:00

The titles says it all. These are the least thought out, dumbest, just plain old ridiculous domain names registered to very serious websites and businesses…enjoy!

1. A site called ‘Who Represents‘ where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name… wait for it… is
www.whorepresents.com

2. Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at
www.expertsexchange.com

3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at
www.penisland.net

4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at
www.therapistfinder.com

5. Then of course, there’s the Italian Power Generator company… www.powergenitalia.com

6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales:
www.molestationnursery.com

7. If you’re looking for computer software, there’s always
www.ipanywhere.com

8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church . Their website is
www.cummingfirst.com

9. Then, of course, there’s these brainless art designers, and their whacky website:
www.speedofart.com

10. Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe ? Try their brochure website at
www.gotahoe.com

Life before the computer

2007-03-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

An application was for employment
A program was a TV show
A cursor used profanity
A keyboard was a piano!

Memory was something that you lost with age
A CD was a bank account
And if you had a 3 1/2 inch floppy
You hoped nobody found out!

Compress was something you did to garbage
Not something you did to a file
And if you unzipped anything in public
You'd be in jail for awhile!

Log on was adding wood to a fire
Hard drive was a long trip on the road
A mouse pad was where a mouse lived
And a backup happened to your commode!

Cut - you did with a pocket knife
Paste you did with glue
A web was a spider's home
And a virus was the flu!

I guess I'll stick to my pad and paper
And the memory in my head
I hear nobody's been killed in a computer crash
But when it happens they wish they were dead!

Source :http://www.pagetutor.com/jokebreak/202.html

Thunderbolt, Fireworks and a Comet - A Rare picture

2007-03-12T00:38:00.000-07:00

Judging the Judge: China Releases Report on United States

2007-03-09T00:46:00.000-08:00

Daya Gamage – US Bureau Asian Tribune

Washington, D.C. 09 March (Asiantribune.com): China on Thursday, March 8 released the Human Rights Record of the United States in 2006 closely following the release of the US State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2006 on Tuesday.

Released by the State Council Information Office, the Chinese report lists numerous incidents showing the US human rights situation in a bad light and its violation of human rights in other countries.

Asian Tribune made a commitment that it will carry all shades of opinion on human rights situation, the US assessments and counter opinion, and finally a comprehensive submission in these columns ‘Judging the Judge’, to ascertain whether the United States has adhered to internationally accepted standards of human rights practices, the standards the US administration uses as yardsticks to judge the human rights situation in other countries.

The Peoples Republic of China, in the following account, has given a glimpse of human rights situation in the United States.

"As in previous years, the State Department pointed the finger at human rights conditions in more than 190 countries and regions, including China, but avoided touching on the human rights situation in the US," the document says.

By shining a light on the US human rights record, the document aims to "help people have a better understanding of the situation in the US and promote the international cause of human rights."

Relying on its strong military power, the US has blithely trespassed on sovereignty of other countries and violated their human rights, the document says, additionally highlighting the high number of Iraqi civilians killed by the US-led war since 2003.

A survey by Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health places at over 655,000 the number of Iraqis that have died since the war started in March 2003, translating to around 500 unexpected violent deaths per day nationwide, according to a Washington Post report on October 11, 2006.

On November 19, 2005, a US marine unit searched an Iraqi community door-to-door and slaughtered 24 Iraqi civilians after a marine was killed by a roadside bomb in Haditha.

The dead included 76-year-old disabled man, a three-year-old child, and seven women, BBC News reported on November 19, 2006.

The document says the US has repeatedly violated the Geneva Convention in systematically abusing prisoners during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On February 15, 2006, Australia's SBS TV broadcast over 10 pictures and video clips taken at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison which showed among other harrowing scenes: a man's throat having been cut, the left forearm of a detainee left with burns and shrapnel wounds, a blood-stained interrogation room, and a seemingly insane man's body covered with his own feces.

The document further reveals that even in the US, people's life, property and personal security are not secure.

The document quotes a US Justice Department report dated September 10, 2006 that counted 5.2 million violent crimes in the US in 2005, up 2.5 percent from the previous year and the highest number in 15 years.

The statistics for 2006 counted 23 million crimes among people aged age 12 or above and that for every 1,000 persons age 12 or older, there occurred 1 rape or sexual assault, 1 assault with injury, and 3 robberies.

In the US, law enforcement and judiciary forces also commonly breach human rights.

Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other government agencies remanded 6,472 individuals in custody and referred them to prosecutors on terrorism-related charges.

However, the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University reveals that close to three-quarters of terrorism suspects seized by the US since 2001 have not gone to trial due to a lack of evidence against them.

In 64 percent of the cases, federal prosecutors decided against prosecution, while an additional nine percent were dismissed out of hand or the suspects were found not guilty, according to a report by the AFP on September 4, 2006.

In recent years, American citizens have suffered increasing civil rights infringements, as the US government has ramped up surveillance measures targeted at average Americans since the September 11 attacks.

According to a survey released in December 2006, two-thirds of Americans think the FBI and other federal agencies are intruding on their right to privacy, according to a Washington Post report on December 13, 2006.

The US touts itself as the "beacon of democracy," but the US brand of democracy is one relying on the power of money, the Chinese document says.

In 2004, candidates for the House of Representatives who raised less than US$1 million usually had no chance of victory, the USA Today quoted a spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics as saying in a report dated October 29, 2006.

For the Senate, a successful campaign on average cost US$7 million, the USA Today says. For all of 2006, the total amount poured into state campaigns in the US reached close to US$2.4 billion.

Confirming a lack of confidence in their government, 74 percent of respondents to a new Opinion Research poll pronounced the US Congress as being out of touch with average Americans, as CNN reported on October 18, 2006, and 79 percent of those questioned confirmed the too important impact of big business in the administration's decisions.

The Chinese document further takes the US to task for failing to guarantee its people's economic, social and cultural rights.

A report released by the US Census Bureau on August 29, 2006 numbered 37 million people living in poverty in 2005, accounting for 12.6 percent of the total population. The report also places 7.7 million families or one out of every eight Americans living in poverty as of 2005.

"Ethnic minorities are at the bottom of American society," the Chinese report says.

Statistics released by the US Census Bureau in November 2006 show income disparity among ethnic groups as according to the 2005 data, the average yearly household income was US$50,622 for whites, compared with 36,278 for Hispanics and 30,940 for blacks. This placed white people's income as 64 percent higher than for blacks and 40 percent than for Hispanics.

Racial discrimination was also found to be crippling America's law enforcement and judicial systems.

According to National Urban League, of the sentences issued in 12 criminal categories saw black males receive longer sentences than white males.

To explain this disparity, researchers blamed poverty, a lack of opportunities and institutional racism in the criminal justice system as reasons for the gap.

The document accuses the US of strutting by lecturing other countries by condemning their human rights practices while ignoring its own problems, showing double-standards by the US in terms of human rights.

By publishing the Human Rights Record of the United States in 2006, the document says it aims to "help the world people have a better understanding of the situation in the US and promote the international cause of human rights." (Source: Xinhua News Agency)

- Asian Tribune -

Nice Color Scheme Generator...

2007-03-02T22:57:00.000-08:00

Since I think I am color blinded, or else I simply cant identify colors and name them, the bigest problem I am having is naming and identifying color. when my client ask to change a web page or artworks color from blue to violet I always had to ask them to give the color in RGB format or else, sample color...anyways what I still wonder is, I am normally good with selecting harmonizing colors and my color schemes are always (errr...really not always though) gets praises.
Today I saw a really really nice online application by Adobe (This sort of applications were around for a long time, but adobe's one is the coolest and advanced one I have seen) that generates a clor pallets which will base on a primary color you will selecting..
have a look yourself..http://kuler.adobe.com/

Are you color blind??

2007-03-02T07:50:00.001-08:00

Until recently I guessed I had color blind or else I couldn't simply identify colors because I didn't know the color names. But recently I came to know that I have color blindness after following the color blindness test. You can find more on Color Blindness from Wikipedia

Web2.0 Logos...

2007-03-02T07:38:00.000-08:00

There is a trend for asking web2.0 for everything..web2.0 logo, web2 site web2 everything..but I wonder many know what web2 really means? When search four web2.0 thingies, I found nice two articles explaining about web2.0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html
You know? there are very nice articles about creating web2.0 things. I just found an article about creating web2.0 logos.
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/revealing-methods-of-drawing-web-20-logos/

“Programmers should be trusted. If your brain surgeon told you the operation you need takes five hours, would you pressure him to do it in three?”.

2007-02-22T23:45:00.000-08:00

Really nice article on the fate of the programmers. Eye opening :)
Read it from here..http://blog.saush.com/?p=157

Terrifying Storm photos

2007-02-22T21:58:00.000-08:00

©Mike Hollingshead
www.extremeinstability.com

All the Oscar nominated films are available online for download at oscartorrents.com ...

2007-02-20T21:48:00.000-08:00

I don't know whether this is a good news or bad news for everyone. But to me this is a good news, because many of the Oscar nominated films are not available in Sri Lanka at the moment, and I am not in a financially good position to buy all of them online because they are comparatively high cost to me at first place, and also the postage is very high to get it to Sri Lanka. So, I am glad at-least it is available online to Download Though it will take days to download the 4Gig+ file with my 512kbps (my ISP says so, though I never came even to close to that speed even at the "peak of the off-peak hours".
Anyways thank you piratebay for the bravery :)
link: http://www.oscartorrents.com

This is their Legal Note (Thats very creative too ;))

To those worried about downloading in case they get sued: by our calculations, your chances of getting nailed are way less than your chances of winning the lottery. Don't think twice about it.

To all intellectual property landlords: we are aware that OscarTorrents might annoy you -- but contain your righteous indignation for a while, and think: we're only linking to torrents that already exist. Face it: your membrane has burst, and it wasn't us who burst it. Your precious bodily fluids are escaping.

You haven't beaten us, so why not join us? Think of a new business model that doesn't involve overpriced pieces of plastic and skanky cinemas hawking cheap carbohydrates while relying on $6/hr projectionists who can't keep a film in focus -- not to mention insulting your audiences by (to pick a few examples) surveilling us with nightvision glasses, searching bags, 30 minutes of commercials and bombarding us with ridiculous anti-piracy propaganda. Take a look at yourselves. Is it really any wonder we're winning?

Google Patents - Its a nice feature

2007-02-19T23:42:00.000-08:00

I think the feature might be there for a while. But I saw it today. though it a nice to which deserves a bookmark. I saw many Sri Lankan have registered patents for many thing. from Boot polisher to Computer Store Mechanism. Very good work Google..and nicely done :)
link :http://www.google.com/patents

Silva and Sinhala

2007-02-19T22:55:00.000-08:00

I saw a nice blog post about Chamara Silva answering in Sinhala when commentator asked question in English at the Man of the Match awarding time. I feel Chamara deserved the appreciation. You sould never feel shy for expressing something with your native language. English is not a monster to chase away once you see it at first. English helped me to learn about latest technologies, communicate with my clients (Mostly US, UK and Canada based) and also it always help me to grasp programming languages because most of the programming languages (If not all) are use English words, so knowing the language it is easier to remind the programming language..and also some times knowing the programming language helped me to get some English words too...
Here is the link for the ful plog post by Mukul Kesavan

106th Element found existing in room temperature

2007-02-19T00:54:00.000-08:00

Offensive..but nice ads.. :)

2007-02-19T00:31:00.000-08:00

TOP 20 Replies to Clients...from programmers

2007-02-18T23:57:00.000-08:00

20. "That's weird..."
19. "It's never done that before."
18. "It worked yesterday."
17. "How is that possible?"
16. "It must be a hardware problem."
15. "What did you type in wrong to get it to crash?"
14. "There is something funky in your data."
13. "I haven't touched that module in weeks!"
12. "You must have the wrong version."
11. "It's just some unlucky coincidence."
10. "I can't test everything!"
9. "THIS can't be the source of THAT."
8. "It works, but it hasn't been tested."
7. "Somebody must have changed my code."
6. "Did you check for a virus on your system?"
5. "Even though it doesn't work, how does it feel?
4. "You can't use that version on your system."
3. "Why do you want to do it that way?"
2. "Where were you when the program blew up?"
1. "It works on my machine"

Official Google Blog: Online child safety initiatives

2007-02-17T06:54:00.000-08:00

Official Google Blog: Online child safety initiatives

How Google was Founded - the Sergey Brin Story

2007-02-15T19:14:00.001-08:00

One of the most complete write ups of Google's Co-Founder that I've ever read. "How the Moscow-Born entrepreneur co-founded and changed the way the world searches"

read more | digg story

Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Update on Public Service Search

2007-02-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Update on Public Service Search

Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Our Valentine's day gift: out of beta and adding comments

2007-02-15T08:10:00.000-08:00

Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Our Valentine's day gift: out of beta and adding comments

Google reasearch Blog: Here hear..Google sample audio processing

2007-02-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

Text isn't the only source of information on the web! We've been working on a variety of projects related to audio and visual recognition. One of the fundamental constraints that we have in designing systems at Google is the huge amounts of data that we need to process rapdily. A few of the research papers that have come out of this work are shown here.

Official Google Blog: Strawberries are red, stems are green...

2007-02-15T07:52:00.000-08:00

Official Google Blog: Is google logo hacked? No boy its the Valentine doodle :)...

IP Banning Tutorial in PHP

2007-02-15T07:38:00.001-08:00

Ban people from your website! Read this tutorial and you can easily and quickly ban people from your website.

read more | digg story

Official Google Blog: From Gmail with <3

2007-02-14T21:00:00.000-08:00

Official Google Blog: From Gmail with <3

New Ford Mondeo revealed, will debut in Geneva (Hi-res gallery included)

2007-02-14T09:55:00.001-08:00

Introducing the 2008 Ford Mondeo. The stylish Ford Europe product uses design cues inspired by the Iosis concept car and goes on sale this June as a 4-door sedan, 5-door hatch, and station wagon. This is a car Ford should find a way to import to North America as quickly as possible. It's that nice.

read more | digg story

32 Reasons Nearly All Geeks are Severely Underpaid

2007-02-13T23:19:00.001-08:00

Why are sales professionals still rewarded with the biggest pay packets? Are sales professionals better qualified or smarter than IT professionals? No, there's no such thing as a sales degree. Do they work longer or harder? Of course not. So why then is IT not the best paid profession?

read more | digg story

Custimize Your Car Horn

2007-02-13T23:04:00.001-08:00

Horntones FX-550 is a device that ties into your car's existing horn and allows you to play any audio file. When this product is released in April it will retail for $149.99 US, you can pre-order the Horntones on February 15.

read more | digg story

Nokia's E90 communicator launched!

2007-02-12T22:29:00.001-08:00

You saw the first photos right here on Engadget. Now, Nokia brings the official specs on their S60-series E90 Communicator...

read more | digg story

How To Drive Traffic to Your Blog - The Advice of a 12 Year Old

2007-02-12T22:23:00.001-08:00

Can't get traffic to your blog? A 12 year will show you how!

read more | digg story

Faster than a Porsche, hybrid and going to cost about 35k. Meet New Toyota

2007-02-12T00:20:00.001-08:00

The Toyota FT-HS is a hybrid sports car concept introduced at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. I have been drooling ever since. Auto experts are buzzing about this.

read more | digg story

Trackbacks..what are those?

2007-01-25T20:03:00.000-08:00

Trackback is used colloquially for any kind of Linkback. A Trackback is one of three types of Linkbacks, methods for Web authors to request notification when somebody links to one of their documents. This enables authors to keep track of who is linking to, or referring to their articles. Some weblog software, such as Movable Type and Community Server, support automatic pingbacks where all the links in a published article can be pinged when the article is published.

The TrackBack specification is due to Six Apart who first implemented it in its Movable Type blogging software in 2002. It has since been implemented in most other blogging tools. Six Apart started a working group in February 2006 to improve the Trackback protocol and have it potentially approved as an internet standard by the IETF. One notable blogging tool that does not support trackback yet is Blogger. (Blogger now has backlinks - very similar to the trackback feature in Movable Type.)

A Trackback is simply an acknowledgment. This acknowledgment is sent via a network signal (ping) from Site A (originator) to Site B (receptor). The receptor often publishes a link back to the originator indicating its worthiness. Trackback requires both Site A and Site B to be Trackback enabled in order to establish this communication. Trackback does not require for Site A to physically link to Site B.

Trackbacks are used primarily to facilitate communication between blogs: if a blogger writes a new entry commenting on, or referring to, an entry found at another blog, and both blogging tools support the TrackBack protocol, then the commenting blogger can notify the other blog with a "TrackBack ping"; the receiving blog will typically display summaries of, and links to, all the commenting entries below the original entry. This allows for conversations spanning several blogs that readers can easily follow.

See also: referrer

Blogging software that supports the TrackBack protocol displays a "TrackBack URL" along with every entry. This URL is used by the commenting blogger, whose software will send XML-formatted information about the new entry to this URL. Some blogging tools are able to discover these TrackBack URLs automatically, others require the commenting blogger to enter them manually.

Some individuals or companies have abused the TrackBack feature to insert spam links on some blogs (see sping). This is similar to comment spam but avoids some of the safeguards designed to stop the latter practice. As a result, TrackBack spam filters similar to those implemented against comment spam now exist in many weblog publishing systems. Many blogs have stopped using trackbacks because dealing with spam became too burdensome.

Rules for Stored Procedures

2007-01-10T23:18:00.000-08:00

The biggest mistake anyone can make in naming stored procedures is to prefix them with sp_. This generally happens with developers who come from VB or VC background, where they get used to prefixing objects with their type.

Note
You will find stored procedures within SQL Server that start with sp_ but these are reserved for system stored procedures.

So how do we name our stored procedures? There are different naming standards and methods that we can employ. However, a commonly followed one is to prefix the stored procedure with what it does. If a stored procedure inserts data, then it will be prefixed with ins_, if it's returning rows of data then we will use sel_, and so on. This naming convention is for main stored procedures that are used as part of the system. When it comes to writing procedures to be used for supporting the system, then we may prefix the procedure with util_ for utility, or sup_ for support. Note that following this convention, triggers would be prefixed with tr_, and user defined functions with fn_.
If you are using a common database for several applications, then prefix stored procedures for common functionality with the name of the database, and ones specific to a separate system with a pseudonym for that system. For example, if northwind has a procedure that accesses pubs, then we will name it as pub_sel_Authors.

Note
This naming convention is needed only when cross-database or cross-system functionality is included.

Other rules include not using spaces in the name, or any ‘specialized’ characters such as %, &, and so on. Underscores, _, are allowed, and are the preferred method of naming tables and columns rather than using spaces. If you do wish to use a space instead, then while working with the object you will need to surround the name with square brackets.
Most procedures have parameters passed to them. It is vital that every parameter is tested to ensure that its value is within a valid range, especially in stored procedures for updation, where a parameter is used as part of the WHERE row filter criteria, if an invalid value is submitted we can end up updating every row in the table. Of course, it is impossible to check for a wrong value that unfortunately fits in the range.
One of the problems with stored procedures is the lack of comments within them. Even the simplest of stored procedures should have comments. Every stored procedure should also contain a quick description of itself, at the top. A more complex code should be properly commented throughout and the comments should be up to date.
When developing a stored procedure, we should keep a record of it in some source control system, like Microsoft Visual SourceSafe. The latest version will always be within our database, but what happens if we release the latest version and there is a problem? How can we rollback quickly to a previous version of the code? You may also develop an enhancement to the system, but may have to fix a bug also. Source control can help us here, as it allows us to easily access the production version of the stored procedure, make the change, document it, and perhaps even branch the code, so that the whole process of bug fixing while developing is completed in a secure environment.

Note
If you use the source control software, ensure that it resides on a drive that is backed up nightly.
The source control system may also be capable of automatically updating comments defining the version, the date and time of the last check-in. This can prevent rogue updates to the stored procedure code, which hasn't gone through the source control system, but it is not foolproof. It is possible to create a system stored procedure capable of checking this comment value, with a value entered within a system table when the stored procedure was created.

---( Source -
SQL Server 2000 Stored Procedures Handbook
by Tony Bain, Louis Davidson, Robin Dewson and Chuck Hawkins )

Circular Transportation Facilitation Device

2006-11-23T23:45:00.000-08:00

An Australian man has registered a patent for a "circular transportation facilitation device" - more commonly known as the wheel.
Melbourne patent lawyer John Keogh said he registered the patent to show flaws in an intellectual property law that came into effect in May, the Australian newspaper The Age reported.
The new law established the "innovation patent" system, which Mr Keogh said did not require sufficient oversight from the patent office.

The new innovation patent can be prepared without professional help and only requires claimants to show "innovation", not "invention".

Mr Keogh said it represented the government caving in to claimants who said it was too expensive to obtain a standard patent.

"The government decided to find a way to issue a patent more easily," he said.
"The patent office would be required to issue a patent for anything. All they're doing is putting a rubber stamp on it."

But Commissioner of Patents Vivienne Thom said: "To obtain the patent the applicant must make a declaration that they are the inventor.

"Obtaining a patent for the wheel would require a false claim, which would certainly invalidate the patent," she added.

Computer Dealers' Mafia in Unity Plaza, Sri Lanka

2006-11-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

Recently I had a problem with my VGA card. At first I was not sure whether it was a VGA card problem or some other hardware problem. So I had to check the VGA card first. Hence I went to the dealer I bought my PC - "PC Partners" (Its an under cover for "PC House Technologies") First I went to the shop which I bought the computer, and the sales boys were simply told me to goto the repair center which is located about 500m away, which I comply. Then there is a queue for inquires, and I was able to make my request after about 30 minutes. I made my request and handed-over my VGA card just for check whether its working fine or not. then I was asked to sit and I was told it will take about 30-40 minutes. Anyway..finally it took good TWO HOURS to tell me that the card is not working and the warranty is lapsed :(. During my two hour stay I witnessed the dealer's stubbornness few times. One customer has bought his Printer for Rs. 4000.00 and he is having a problem with that, the dealer asked him to pay Rs. 3800.00 for just to replace a Data cable an amount close enough the cost of a Brand new Printer. He went cursing. The Other occasion was, one client came with defected hard drive, He was simply told that they were not providing warranty for burnt hard drives. At that moment what I felt was what do they mean by warranty and how we know it is a 'burnt' or 'some other thing' or simply the dealer evading the warranty by telling the item is burnt...NO ONE TO CARE..

The other incident is, I bought a new VGA card from NEAT (or is it CHEAT) Technologies..when I try to install the VGA card, it was apparent that the dealer has changed the driver CD, hence I couldnt install the card. I had to go again to the CHEAT TECHNOLOGIES to get changed the wrong Driver CD. When I go there they simply told me to goto Wellawatte, totally ignoring my difficulties and it was their total negligence. what they had to do is simply provide me with the Correct Driver CD. But They Simply turned down the request and told me to goto Wellawatte for any after sales requests. If this is not a mafia what it is???

This is Sri Lanka..anything is possible when you have money..

Bernard Goonetilleke - A diplomat in our time

2006-11-01T20:38:00.000-08:00

I recently read an article on asiantribune.com about the lecture conducted by Mr. Bernard Goonetilleke, The Envoy in USA, about the Sri Lanka's conflict. Frankly I was so amused with the remarks made by him. It was very factual, and straight forward. Well done Mr. Goonetilleke, Keep up the good work.

Excerpts from the lecture:

When we speak of Sri Lanka today, our minds generally go to news items and editorials that dominate the day. During the month of October there have been many such editorials and news reporting. Some editorials referred to issues concerning Sri Lanka with captions such as “Asia’s unending war” (Boston Globe of October 22), “Tiger terror”, (The Times of October 19), “Targeting the Tamil Tigers” (Washington Times of October 18) etc. These referred to issues such as the ethnic conflict, terrorism, self-determination, Tamil homeland, aspirations and grievances of Tamils, human rights violations etc.

I would like to begin by saying that these are issues, which require in-depth knowledge of the topic, and not superficial understanding of the subjects. The time available is not sufficient for me to address all the issues, but I shall focus on some major ones.

Full article you can found from http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/2938

Welldone Washington times!!!

2006-10-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Recently thre is a dendency to call the Sri Lankan Tiger terrorists as 'rebels' among many LTTE funded treacherous local mediamen who affiliated to foriengn news agencies. When the terrorists hits galle harbour with suicidal attack they call it "Suspected Rebel Attack", and when terrorists cold bloodedly killed 100+ un-armed service men, they call it "Suspected Rebel Attack" again..These media traitors always afraid to losing few dollars they are getting by betraying the motherland. I read a recent editorial published on Washington Times..in one passage they mentioned

Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, who has rightly noted that the Tigers are a "terrorist group that needs to be treated accordingly,"

and again in another place they have written

The recent arrests in Baltimore of six men accused of purchasing weapons, including Russian-made surface-to-air missiles, for the Tigers, which came only a few months after similar arrests were made in a sting operation in New York, are the first concrete actions taken since the United States classified the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist organization in 1997. These important arrests should be followed by forceful prosecution. This is precisely the kind of action that U.S. authorities need to take to disrupt the flow of money and weapons to the Sri Lankan terrorists, which is the only way to force the group into earnest negotiations.

Thank you Washington times for calling the Spade..the Spade..

The full article you can read it from here http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20061017-100244-7867r.htm

Samsung SGH-D900 mobile phone Review

2006-10-18T01:11:00.000-07:00

The Samsung D600 is one of the company's most popular phones to date and rated highly when reviewed it in October 2005. One year on, and Samsung has launched the SGH-D900 mobile phone. So does it build on the success of the previous version or is it more of the same?

A part of the company's new Ultra offering (the other two models are the X820 and D830) the D900 is both flat and thin (it measures 103.5 x 51 x 12.9mm and weighs 85 grams). Side by side to the D600 the phone is considerably thinner, however it is also considerably wider suffering from the same fate as the X820 which looks like its been run over by a steam roller from a Road Runner cartoon.

The compact model takes the similar styling to the D600 and even more so that phone's predecessor, the D500. The front features the same key layout with two select keys, an answer and hang up button and a central d-pad for navigating around the menus the rest of the unit is filled with the phones large 240 x 320 pixels TFT 256k colour screen.

Perhaps taking note of our complaint (at least we would like to think so) the camera has once again moved back inside the main frame of the phone like the D500 and when closed is hidden, rather than on show (as with the D600).

It's a welcome return and saves the 3.1-megapixel camera from getting scratched or dirt-filled when not in use. It also means that you can't turn it on in your pocket without realising it just like Sony Ericsson's K800i.

In tests, we were very impressed with the camera's performance, and although it doesn’t match up to the quality of the K800i from Sony Ericsson it certainly give it a run for its money with plenty of features like ISO and white balance settings for those who want to be a bit more adventurous.

We also found that compared to the other models in the Ultra range the camera's response time was considerably better and the extra megapixel certainly helps. As with the other D830 images can be saved either to the units 60MB embedded memory or to the phone's external micro SD card. In addition images can be sent to other devices via its Bluetooth connection and Samsung make this very easy to do from the start.

When it comes to interface and applications it's business as usual, with Samsung offering a slightly more modern looking interface available in black or white to its usual phone menu than in the past, however nothing that is going to surprise any previous Samsung mobile phone owner and the usual suspects such as web browser, alarms, voice recorder and calendar are still all present.

The D900 builds on the D600 perfectly offering a host of upgrades and new features, but in keeping with the original style.

Slight grumbles include a bottom rim to the phone, which we found impeded our comfortably pressing the bottom row of keys on the slider, but then is isn't a deal breaker.

If you are after a 2G phone that is thin but still offers good picture taking then the D900 will suit your needs, however for a slightly bulkier design you could opt for the Sony Ericsson K800i which in terms of offering is still light years ahead.

Good, but not the best out there.

Stream your home TV via LocationFree to the Sony Ericsson P990 smartphone

2006-10-18T01:06:00.000-07:00

Your entertainment system can now be enjoyed in a slightly smaller format on the Sony Ericsson P990 smartphone because of a linkup with Sony's LocationFree device.

The LocationFree connects your home entertainment system as well as your broadband internet connection to stream whatever is on at home to various mobile devices, including notebook computers and some portable media players. Now you can watch it if you have the P990 smartphone.

LocationFree Player software, which comes pre-installed on new P990s or can be downloaded from Sony's website, allows you to programme your set-top box or video recorder remotely, so you'll never miss another show.

It also shouldn't cost a fortune to watch the content on the P990, as it can connect to the Base Station via the Internet, through a wifi connection in a hotspot, or through the 3G network.

To download LocationFree Player to the P990, visit www.sonyericsson.com/support.

The World's Biggest Real Estate Deal

2006-10-18T00:58:00.000-07:00

WOW! So much money going for a piece of land!!
The record price for a real estate transaction in the U.S. was smashed on Oct. 17 when Tishman Speyer offered owner MetLife $5.4 billion for the 80 acres of Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan. The previous record was set in 2000, when Tishman Speyer bought Rockefeller Center for approximately $1.9 billion.
I bought a land about three years ago and it cost me only $450/perch. I took my calculator and did some maths to get how much he paid for a single perch of this land..It is $ 421,875.00 :O.

These people are crazy

Samsung's 10 megapixel SCH-B600 cameraphone hits for $950

2006-10-16T01:13:00.000-07:00

Man, it sure took 'em long enough but Samsung just pushed the "world's first 10 megapixel mobile phone" onto shelves in Korea. Yeah, it's just the same cameraphone we fondled back at CeBIT in March of this year but hey, our eyes can't help but well with pride at the site of our pup all growed-up and turned out for use in the mean Seoul streets. All the specs are the same -- DMB mobile TV, MP3 player, business card reader, 3x optical zoom, LED autofocus, MMCmicro expansion, TV-out, and EV-DO -- only the price is new: 900,000 won or about $950 US green. Hey, bragging rights don't come cheap.