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Sri Lanka

SRI LANKA

 That is an account of my favourite sites admired on my trip to Sri Lanka (2018), after the first one in 1971.

The SINHALESE are the native inhabitants in Sri Lanka.

CEYLON (became Sri Lanka in 1972) Capital: KOTTE COLOMBO being the Administrative capital.   Approximately 16,000 years ago the VEDDA were the first occupiers of Sri Lanka. They arrived by the isthmus connecting the island with the Indian subcontinent. Nowadays they are 000. However only 200 have kept their culture.

A few very brief Sri Lanka's historical landmarks are essential before telling and sharing  my favourite sites  with you.

RELIGIONS

Sri Lanka has a multiple ethnic population and multiple religious beliefs.

BUDDHISM: Was introduced in the second century by MAHINDA, SHOKA's son . 70 percent of the population follow this religion in most of the regions apart from the northern one.

HINDUHISM: The second religion. Most of the Indians are Tamil people.They came in the 2nd century and the nineteenth century from southern India to work on tea plantations. They are established in the North, in the East, the Central Highlands and in Colombo.

ISLAM: was transmitted by the Arabic merchants. Eight percent of the population practise islam.

CHRISTIANITY: The European colons introduced Christianity in the 16th century (Western coastal region).

BURGHERS; The descendants of the white colonists live in Colombo (they are in the minority).

COLONISATION-INDEPENDENCE-CIVIL WAR

The country was colonized by the PORTUGUESE from 1505 to 1656) (151 years),chased away by the DUTCH (1656-1796) (140 years), evicted by the BRITISH (1802-1948) (146 years).

The INDEPENDENcE was proclaimed in 1948.

The civil war between the Sinhalese and the Tamil lasted from 1959 to 2002 (43 years).

MY FAVOURITE SITES

- My first enthusiastic feeling was for GALLE, the town with two faces: the new modern town and the old one,  with its fort and ramparts built 300 years ago by the DUTCH. It withstood cannons for centuries and the Tsunami (2004) (38,000 killed).

My first real great emotion was for the BUDURUWAGALA's archaeological site located in ELLA

On the left, three Buddha's divinities and two disciples.

A sixteen-meter Buddha draws itself up to his full height in the sculptured cliff.

On the right, according to certain reliable sources: A Tibetan Bodhisattva and Vishnu (Hinduism divinity).

My second great emotion was for this HINDU temple called: Buddha's TOOTH TEMPLE located in Kandy palace.

A lot of people come in close order to pay a tribute to Buddha carrying their offerings, in front of a Small DAGOBA = A dome-shaped SHRINE :   SHRINE: Holy place, of pilgrimage containing  Buddha's relics.

 I felt a great emotion for the Buddhist MIHINTALE's site

It attracts a crowd of Pilgrims who don't hesitate to climb a steep spiral slippery staircase above an empty space.  However they help one another to reach the summit successfully. On the narrow platform, the sight is breathtaking.

Then,  the first "Must" :SIGIRAYA's site built by KASSAPA (477/495), a very restless sovereign who built his palace at the top of a gigantic narrow rock face, in order to defend himself against all his enemies including his own family.

The entrance is located between the lion's paws and his sharpened claws.	Our climbing is rewarded by the presence  of magnificent rock paintings named : Les DEMOISELLES.

Then, the amazing: GAL VIHARA's site located in POLONNASUWA

The delicacy and the serenity which emanate from this masterpiece has never been equalled up to this day.

A fourteen- meter RECUMBENT Buddha sculpted in a granite cliff. RECUMBENT: An art term meaning: Buddha lying on his side and dead because : The foot below is slightly forward than the foot on top.

and another standing up Buddha  (his arms folded on his chest).

Buddh

Another site that left me stunned: DAMBULLA (which is a part of the cultural triangle).

 This site consists in 5 Buddhist-sculpted caves in the rock, memorable by the quantity of Buddhas in different postures and rock paintings.

Pillars and Buddhas

Circular temple

Three Buddhas

Thank you for answering the questions.

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1. Which is the most widespread religion in Sri Lanka?HinduhismChristianityBuddhismI don't know

2. In Ella's site what is the name of the divinity who is not a Buddha?VishnuShukraSuryaI don't know

3. Approximately, how long did the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonisations last?350years437years400yearsI don't know

4. Which is the year of Independence?192019481947I don't know

5. Who took part in the civil war?the Singalese- Christianthe Singhalese- Muslimthe Singhalese- TamilI don't know

6. Who are the VEDDA in Sri Lanka ?Indian foreignersthe first inhabitantsthe first colonsI don't know

7. Who built Galle’s fort?the Dutchthe Portuguesethe BritishI don't know

8. What does the word RECUMBENT mean?Buddha in meditationdead Buddhasleeping BuddhaI don't know

9. What did the Tamils come to Sri Lanka in the nineteenth century for ?to flee Indiafor the tea plantationsto join their familiesI don't know

10. What does the word DAGOBA mean?an empty precious domea huge pagodaa dome with Buddha's relicsI don't know

11. What does the word VATADA mean?a sculpted porcha circular templea square templeI don't know