Thursday, December 6, 2012

Jaffna - old lifestyle exhibition, Sri Lanka.


email sent by Susiri Weerasekara

Lifestyles of Jaffna ~ An Exhibition to Preserve Our History and Heritage

Transcurrents 15 September 2011
Lifestyles of Jaffna , a first of its kind, was held from 24th~27th September 2011 at the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna .
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLH1.jpg


Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLH2.jpg
The Department of History, University of Jaffna has organized this exhibition, towards gaining insights about our history and heritage and educating people about it.
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLS1-600x424.jpg
Traditional Foods of Jaffna
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLS2-600x424.jpg
Traditional Dress and Jewellery of Jaffna
This Exhibition is planned to showcase all possibly available ancient goods and facts, which expose and prove the historical facts about the ancient people of Jaffna Peninsula , their ancient homes and residences, style and process of their life, population and inhabitation.
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLS3-600x424.jpg
Traditional Houses in the Peninsula
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLS4-600x424.jpg
Eco Friendly Fences in Jaffna
The recent goods and their images and photos which prove the ancestry of the Jaffna Peninsula , hereditary culture etc. are exhibited according to periodical order.
Most of the exhibited goods, images, sculptures, symbols, facts, etc. are collected by the students of the Jaffna University , by visiting various parts of the Jaffna Peninsula . The ancient goods including sculptures, images etc from the University Museum are also exhibited. The ancient goods discovered in archaeological excavations are also exhibited.
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLS5-600x424.jpg
Ruins in Kantharodai
Seminars will be conducted at the Arts Faculty of the University during the days of the Exhibition. Indian Scholars ~ namely, Professors MS. Rajan, Selva Kumar, Adiyaman, and Doctor Rajagopal, More than fifteen Scholars from the universities in Southern part of the country will submit their research papers at the seminar.
Dr. Senerath Dissanayake, the Director General of Archaeological Department will be present as the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony of the Exhibition. Professor Vasanthy Arasaratnam – Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna will be the Honorary Guest. The exhibition will be held from 24th September 2011 ~ 27th September 2011 at the Faculty of Arts of University of Jaffna, from 9am ~ 4.30pm. “Lifestyles of Jaffna ” is conducted by the Faculty of Arts of University of Jaffna in collaboration with Kalaikesari Tamil magazine.
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLS6-600x424.jpg
Kingdom of Nallur
The ancient goods and items to be exhibited are:~
-The drainage and water supply systems and agricultural implements
-Systems of structures, temples, houses and sculptures, ancient fishing systems and implements
-Techniques of producing ancient implements made with iron, copper,etc
-Furniture and domestic implements
-Methods of producing palmyrah goods and food items
-Techniques of building boats, bullock carts,etc
-Traditional food items
-Educational systems in ancient Jaffna Peninsula ,etc
-Dialects in the Jaffna Peninsula
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLS71-600x424.jpg
Traditional Occupations in the Peninsula
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLS8-600x424.jpg
Bull Cart Race in the Peninsula
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLS9-600x424.jpg
Keerimalai ~ Naguleswaram is one of famous five Lord Sivan temples in Sri Lanka
Description: http://transcurrents.com/news-views/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/JLS10-600x424.jpg
Traditional Household Items of Jaffna Courtesy: PassionParade


------------------------------------------

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Kate Middleton's baby




Email sent by Susiri Weerasekara
Kate Middleton has said if she has a boy she will call him by the most popular British boys name at the moment.We look forward to the arrival of baby Mohammed.
Seems every Muslim has Mohamed to his name.
jksw

Anti-gay nations and SRI LANKA



Email from Susiri Weerasekara 
NEWS
UK aid threat to anti-gay nations

Britain has threatened countries which ban homosexuality with losing aid payments unless they reform,
David Cameron said.
Reply from SRI LANKA     

Flag_Sri_Lanka_moving

No problem. Over 75% of Sri Lankans are Gays. MudiyanselaGAY, ArachchillaGAY,
LiyanaGAY, GamaGAY, SemaGAY, KoralaGAY, GallaGay, UdiriappuwaduGay etc..etc..


Other words
MaGAY, OyaGAY, ArayaGAY, MeyaGAY etc...etc..

[]


_________

Actually. I am too. Kanakkahewagay.
jksw 


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Dream Home - Sri Lanka


email from Dr.Susiri Weerasekara

VIDEO  -  Sri Lanka  -  " My Dream Home "

Click on link
Speakers on
Takes a minute to download.
Web-link:-

www.youtube.com/embed/GBZ3gkm1Fko?feature=player

Mount Lavinia Hotel, Sri Lanka, legends


The governor's palace,Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka - email from Dr.Susiri Weerasekara.




A Love story from Ceylon: The British Governor General Sir Thomas Maitland’s mansion and the Rodi (mestizo) Dancer
Sir Thomas Maitland was assigned to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) as the British Governor General during the period of 1805–1811.
Governor Maitland was a 46 year old bachelor who decided to construct his country residence on a breathtaking beachfront property at "Galkissa" (Mount Lavinia).  He was also known as "King Tom" and described in a biography as “a great human force, controlled by an iron will".
During this time, Maitland fell in love with a native gypsy dancer named Lavinia (Lovinia) Aponsuwa who was an extraordinarily beautiful mestizo girl of mixed Portuguese and Sinhala Rodi ancestry. He saw the local mestizo dancer Lovina for the first time at the welcoming party held in his honor on his arrival in the island. Lovinia's father was the headman of the dance troupe. Sir Thomas was smitten by her smile and charms and soon found himself obsessed by her and took every measure possible to see more of her.Lavinia danced in her father's dance troupe and performed for the Governor and his guests. The Governor's parties were affairs of masked balls, top hats and flowing evening gowns.
 It is rumored that Maitland picked the scenic location on the beach-side hill about 10 km (6 miles) south of Colombo after spotting Lavinia bathing in the sea.
 The natives of Ceylon nor the British officials in England were aware of the secret love story between the British Governor and the dancer, Lavinia.
 During the construction phase of the mansion, the governor gave instructions to the builder to construct a secret tunnel to Lavinia's house which was located close to the governor's residence. One end of the tunnel opening, was inside the drinking water well of Lovina's housing compound ("Rodi Kuppayama" - Sinhala language) and the other end was in a wine cellar inside the Governor's mansion. As it was unconventional for an unmarried British Officer to be seen associating with a local dancing girl, therefore, Sir Thomas and his lover met in secret.
 Legend says that  she was smuggled into his mansion through a secret tunnel that led from her father's well into a wine cellar in the house.
After some time, the affair flew in the face of the stiff upper lip image of Britain's colonial masters who ruled their fiefdoms with a firm grip and looked down sternly on any deviation from Crown and God. Later, the British Foreign Office sent Sir Thomas Maitland on a "routine" transfer as Governor General in 1811 to the Meditaranian island of Malta where hew he lived and died as a bachelor. He  also served as governor of Corfu during the British administration of the island.
Around the year 1920, the tunnel was sealed up and the Sinhalese village that surrounded the Governor’s mansion developed into a modern city. Later, the "Gypsy village' that surrounded the mansion was developed into a modern bustling city of "Galkissa" (originated from  the Sinhala word "GalVissa" or ten boulders) was renamed "Mount Lavinia" in honor the of mestizo dancing girl named Lavinia or Lovinia.
 Little is known of Lavinia but Governor Maitland passed a law permitting lower-caste women in Ceylon such as his lover to cover the upper torso of their bodies.
 Later, the mansion was made into to a hotel and aptly named “Mount Lavinia" (in memory of  “Lavinia”). This enchanting British Colonial heritage hotel, located on a breathtaking beachfront, is a living legacy to the secret love story between the Sir Thomas Maitland, and the beautiful dancer, Lovina.
 At present, the old wine cellar is used as the main kitchen of the hotel. ( The food is quaintly local by famous Chef Pabilis)
 The railway line has cut the secret tunnel in two sections. The legendary romance has made this Colombo hotel one of the most popular venues in Sri Lanka for weddings. There are others who believe that the hotel was named after "Lavinia" – Titus's daughter in the play "Titus Andronicus" a  tragedy written by William Shakespeare.
(Addtition.    A third story of flippance is   that the name is literally true; just 'mount Lavina'.)
During World War II, the hotel was used as a military hospital by the British Army.
Following the war in 1947, the "Mount Lavinia Hotel" was re-established. Some scenes in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai were filmed at the hotel.
A blue plaque commemorates Sir Thomas Maitland, Sir Robert Brownrigg, Sir Edward Paget and Sir Edward Barnes who resided at the house when it was the Governors residence.


Sunday, December 2, 2012

'Danno Budunge' - Sinhalese hymn.


email from Daya Jayasinghe

As the current patron of St Benedicts OBU in Victoria I love to promote religious friendship among all groups.This beautiful song sung by a group of  multicultural,  girls of various religious groups and within Holy family Convent  goes a long way towards it. If you agree please  pass it to our medical batch 1960. Thanks Daya j.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edLcOSLjrho&feature=email

Additional information by Dr. Susiri Weerasekara

It might interest you to know that the Danno Budunnge tune and original misc was created as a church song  by /Richard Wagner of Liepzig Germany  about 150 years ago.

The tune is commonly sung at Christian churches in Sri Lanka.
Also the same tune is used in as the college hymn of St John’s college Jaffna (Anglican). I heard it there a few months back. St Johnss existed since around 1830.
When did they adopt it?

The Sinhalese words can be traced to the drama ‘Sirisangabo’ by John De Silva around 1915 –or so, not sure of date? I do not know if he used the same tune- possible.

The first song sung to Wagner’s tune can be traced to G.C. Rajapakse who sings it in high pitch ( G) as in the church style. This was recorded by him, with Indian musicians coming over by ship led by- I believe Lao Je. The 78 rpm record exists.
 I have a record of about 10 singers including Mohideen Baig,  and last by Amaradeva singing it in different style, but all of a lower pitch.
jksw