text:
Married to a pro - What's it like.
Wife, soul-mate, best friend, number one fan, unconditional supporter, confidante, gofa (or personal assistant - just to sound fancy!), business partner, motor-pacer, masseuse, cook, house-cleaner, and self-appointed removalist. My name is Carole Dean and I am all of these to Julian Dean, professional cyclist currently with Team CSC. We've been together for 9 yrs - way before pro-cycling ever entered our life's equation. We've spent the last five cycling seasons living in Spain. In the off-season we go back home to New Zealand for a period of R'n'R and pre-season training for Julz and a time of madhouse work for me which, believe it or not, regenerates me for the upcoming season.
I've been asked to describe what it's like being married to a pro-cyclist.... what a great opportunity to set the record straight...
There seems to be a common misconception people have about my life as a wife to a professional cyclist. For some strange reason, most people think it's a box of fluffies, a bed of roses, a life of luxury. For me, it isn't any of these. Although don't get me wrong.... I love my life and I wouldn't want it any other way, but it's a life that requires a lot of energy, patience, flexibility, understanding, selflessness, and adaptability. The world of professional cycling is unpredictable, at times unstable, and always 'character building'.
For as long as Julian has been a pro I've viewed his career as our 'business'. My role in this business is primarily one of giving while his is primarily one of taking. It may sound like a one-way street, but I believe that for this business - in which we are business partners - to be successful we both must dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to it. His job is to train hard, race hard and get the results that make us both happy. My job is to do everything else, or as much as possible, to help him achieve this. I make our home environment conducive to a temptation-free, healthy lifestyle (no deep-fried calamares and chips for Julz during the season!), and one where he can recover well and relax with ease. This means that when Julz comes home from training, all he needs to do is focus on stretching, recovering and relaxing - crucial ingredients to achieving a finely-tuned cycling machine.
Five years ago, when Julian turned pro, I did a sports massage course so he could get his legs massaged whenever he needed without having to leave the house. This is such an invaluable asset to our 'business'. During the season I'll massage his legs 3-4 times a week so apart from saving us loads of money, it optimises his recovery, allows us both to gauge his form and enables us to get on top of any niggles he may be feeling.
I also get the honours of motorpacing Julian behind our Vespa. This requires me riding the motorbike at a constant speed, without any abrupt braking, while Julian is riding tightly behind right up my exhaust pipe! Depending on his training, we may motorpace for as many as 100kms or as few as 30kms. Unfortunately, the weather has no role to play in determining the time spent behind the bike. Needless to say, I've done my fair share of motorpacing in the pissing-down rain. The only redeeming part of doing this in the rain is the 'never-tasted-sweeter-Kit-Kat-break' I take from Mother Nature's lashings, under the shelter of a gas station forecourt while waiting for Julz to finish his efforts before the next leg of motorpacing!
Another role I have as Julian's business partner is as his 'gofa', or more eloquently put, 'personal assistant'. I do all the administration-type stuff that comes with being a professional athlete, like taking care of all the correspondence and paperwork. Julian has a web-site which he writes diaries for so I also do the proof-reading and general spruce up of these making them personable and readable (believe me, when Julian has done a hard day's racing, it's not always that easy for him to write coherent English!). I then forward these on to our web-site designer/maintenance man who posts them up onto the site.
Doing all of the above is the easy part.....the hard part is keeping Julian's head on straight(and inevitably mine too!). Emotionally, being a pro-athlete is, more often than not, a gut-churning roller-coaster ride. In one season we'll experience almost every emotion in it's extreme at one time or another. To keep your own mind balanced, healthy, positive, rational and focused is hard enough but it's even more challenging to look after the mind of someone as close to you as a spouse. When things don't go so well for Julian, whether it's in training or racing, he can be his own worst enemy. This is where, I think, I play the most vital role in this business of ours. Take the start of the 2002 season, for example. Julian began the season in great form. He was excited to be on CSC-Tiscali and he was chomping at the bit to get out there and show his new team that he was worthy of their support... Then it all turned to custard. After starting his first race in Europe for the season, he had to pull out due to a sore knee (injured in a crash at the Tour Down Under, Australia) and that's when things started to snowball for the worse.
Julian was advised to stay off the bike for 8 weeks. This was difficult enough for Julian to deal with but just as he started back training, he had an accident in which he broke his right leg in two places. Julian was absolutely devastated and at the time I was still in New Zealand working so I was not around initially to help him deal with the injury mentally or physically. I'd have to say that this injury has proved to be the toughest experience we've ever to deal with so far, as individuals and as a couple. His leg was in a full length cast for 6 weeks and he had to keep weight off it completely for 8 weeks. By the time he started rehabilitation, his right leg had atrophied beyond our comprehension - it didn't even look like it belonged to Julian. He felt demoralised. For someone so accustomed to being in peak physical condition, it was a very frustrating time for him.....and me.
Rehabilitation was definitely 'character building' for us both. Like always when Julian is suffering from injury or low morale, there were days where he wouldn't even get out of bed. It's my job to help him out of these times by being positive and comforting yet at the same time being firm enough so he doesn't drown in his own self-pity - which I think is his most self-destructive weapon. I find it incredibly difficult finding ways to pull him out of his gloom and sometimes no matter what words I use and how much comfort and encouragement I give, it doesn't seem to make a difference. It's gut wrenching and frustrating watching someone you love, suffer like this and it can be such an isolating and helpless feeling. It's times like these that I'm most reminded how far away my family and friends are; whenever I need them to reassure me that I'm doing the best I can and everything will work out.
Then there are the times I spend days or a few weeks on my own when Julian is away racing. All of a sudden a huge chunk of my daily routine disappears. My focus on Julian is not needed and I have only myself to take care of. Most people ask, 'What's so hard about being on your own?'. Unless you've ever done it, you wouldn't understand. Of course it's easy if you have your friends and family around and more importantly, speak the language. But here in Spain, when Julian is away, I have no family, only a few Spanish friends, only the basics of the language and a lot of time to kill. I've spoken to several of the other wives about this and they agree that it's hard doing nothing in particular when the boys are away racing. In fact, it takes a lot of practise to be able to do a whole lot of nothing! I spend a lot of time riding my bike, training for no particular reason - if only just to help pass time. Of course it gets easier every year for me as my Spanish improves and my confidence in getting out and about in a foreign country by myself increases. But it's during these slow-moving hours that I miss my family and friends the most and crave having my own focus. Besides, I'm a Gemini and we Gemini's are not so good at doing nothing in particular! Athough there is always my mother's advice for dealing with this, 'Just start having children. That'll give you plenty to do!'. Yeah...Good one, Mum!
What makes it even harder to spend solitary hours on end without a focus is the fact that I have a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Arts, a deep passion for wildlife conservation and a job at home waiting for me to get stuck into. So it's not without a certain element of sacrifice that I devote myself to Julian during the cycling season. I'm fortunate enough to work during the off-seasons at a wildlife park in NZ. Here I work with our endangered national icon, the Kiwi. Part of my job includes working on the Operation Nest Egg Programme in conjunction with the Department of Conservation. We artificially incubate Kiwi eggs taken from the forests, raise the chicks until they reach a certain weight before releasing them back into the wild. This job gives me goals to achieve and problems to solve. But more importantly, it feeds, yet satisfies, my passion, and reinforces in me a sense of self-worth. It also gives me a break from our 'pro-cycling' life, allowing me to refuel and re-motivate myself for the coming season.
I have goals of my own which I'd like to pursue one day in earnest. But while there continues to be opportunities in pro-cycling for Julian, I'll continue to put my goals aside until he's satisfied he has achieved all he can. Then it'll be my turn. It'll be time for me to devote myself to what I love doing. When this time comes, I know Julian will give just as much back into my passion as I have given to his.
Well, hopefully I've cleared up the common misconception that all wives of pro-cyclists lead a life of luxury, full of shopping, facials and sunbathing - some of us work just as hard as our husbands. But after all is said and done, no matter how many 'character-building' experiences we have or how hard this life can be sometimes, it's all put behind us when Julian gets the results he works so hard for. The intense feelings of deep pride, pure elation and complete satisfaction we experience through his victories - race and personal - are what drives us both and pushes us through the tough times to the brighter side...and makes it all worth it...
So, that's what it's like being married to my pro-cyclist!


text:
This restaurant server has wheels, sensors and an unnatural appeal to customers
Eric Lindquist
EAU CLAIRE LEADER-TELEGRAM
EAU CLAIRE — Elliana Davis was celebrating her 11th birthday recently and knew just where she wanted to eat and even who she wanted for a server.
Elliana chose Shanghai Bistro in Eau Claire in part because she loves its sushi, but mostly because she adores the Asian restaurant's new "employee": Jonny 5.
The 3½-foot-tall robot server, named after a fictional robot in the 1980s "Short Circuit" films, has been delivering plates of sushi, fried rice and pad Thai to diners since the end of October, the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reported.
Jonny 5 has been a valuable addition to the staff and helped Shanghai Bistro navigate a labor shortage that has hit restaurants particularly hard, said owner Henry Chan.
"It's definitely proven itself," Chan said. "It's working out really well."
Chan's goal in leasing the robot is to improve efficiency by having Jonny 5 do a healthy portion of the running back and forth between the kitchen and the tables, so servers can focus on offering personal service, filling drink orders faster and chatting with customers.
"It's a huge benefit to us. Our efficiency just shot through the roof because of how fast food goes out," Chan said, noting that the robot has helped things go smoothly on days when the restaurant was short-staffed or someone called in sick.
While some folks worry that such robots will eliminate food-service jobs — leading to angry social media posts in some parts of the country — Chan said he doesn't see it that way, especially amid a tight labor market that has many restaurants displaying "help wanted" signs.
"It's not taking away any jobs," he said. "It's just doing jobs that are hard to fill or nobody wants."
The cost of leasing the model, called Servi by manufacturer Bear Robotics, is about the same as the cost of employing a human server in the Chippewa Valley, Chan said.
Chan emphasized that the robot can't fully replace a human because it requires a person to run it. He calls the person who primarily operates the robot an expedited robotics technician — a title he hopes makes recruitment easier.
Jonny 5, which gives a whole new meaning to meals on wheels, works by using a mix of cameras, sensors and LIDAR — sometimes called 3D scanning — to navigate around the restaurant without bumping into people or tables. If a person walks in front of it, the robot will stop and go around or say "excuse me."
'Please enjoy your food'
The process begins when a person in the kitchen sets the food on Jonny 5 and then tells the robot to bring it to a certain table or to the front counter for takeout orders. The robot then whisks the order to the programmed table, where it stops and says, "Please take your food." When a weight sensor detects the food is gone, the robot says, "Thank you. Please enjoy your food," before heading back to the kitchen.
Shanghai Bistro customized Jonny 5 with a note that reads, "Please tip the humans or they won't plug me in," and added foam reindeer antlers for the holiday season.
The robot also can be programmed to play Christmas music, as it was recently, or even sing "Happy Birthday," as it did much to the delight of Elliana on her recent visit.
"We didn't know it sang 'Happy Birthday.' That was a big surprise," said Elliana's father, Mike Davis. "When it sang, she just smiled and got all blushy. She was so happy."
Though it was the Davises' second visit to Shanghai Bistro since Jonny 5's debut, the robot hasn't lost its luster with Elliana.
"She keeps bugging me about going back because of that robot," Mike Davis said with a chuckle.
Chan has been impressed enough by the robot's performance and reliability that he has ordered a second one.
"We need more to stay efficient so we're not waiting for the robot to come back to the kitchen," he said.
Bear Robotics, the brainchild of restaurant and tech entrepreneurs, reports that the robots have traveled more than 189,000 miles and delivered to more than 16 million tables in locations around the world.
In Eau Claire, the novelty remains a strong marketing tool for Shanghai Bistro, with customers routinely pulling out their cellphones to take photos of Jonny 5 when he rolls up to their table.
While Chan isn't predicting the robots will take over the world, he is convinced robots will be seen more widely in restaurants and other businesses.
"It's all coming," Chan said. "The technology is here, and it's here to stay. It just has to be implemented in different industries."
Distributed by The Associated Press

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package org.fuwjax.oss.util.pipe;

import static java.util.Arrays.asList;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
import java.util.function.Consumer;

import org.fuwjax.oss.util.CompositeException;

public class Pipe implements PipeSource, PipeSink {
	private List<PipeSink> sinks = Collections.emptyList();
	private List<PipeSource> sources = Collections.emptyList();
	private AtomicBoolean closing = new AtomicBoolean();

	private void init() {
		if (!sources.isEmpty() && !sinks.isEmpty()) {
			readLines(this::writeLine);
		}
	}

	public Pipe teeTo(PipeSink... targets) {
		assert this.sinks.isEmpty();
		this.sinks = asList(targets);
		for(PipeSink sink: sinks) {
			if(sink instanceof Pipe) {
				((Pipe)sink).addSource(this);
			}
		}
		init();
		return this;
	}

	public Pipe to(PipeSink sink) {
		return teeTo(sink);
	}

	private void addSink(Pipe sink) {
		if(sinks.isEmpty()) {
			sinks = new ArrayList<>();
		}
		sinks.add(sink);
	}

	@Override
	public void writeLine(String line) {
		for (PipeSink sink : sinks) {
			sink.writeLine(line);
		}
	}

	private void addSource(Pipe source) {
		if(sources.isEmpty()) {
			sources = new ArrayList<>();
		}
		sources.add(source);
	}

	public Pipe from(PipeSource source) {
		return mergeFrom(source);
	}

	public Pipe mergeFrom(PipeSource... pubs) {
		assert this.sources.isEmpty();
		this.sources = Arrays.asList(pubs);
		for(PipeSource source: sources) {
			if(source instanceof Pipe) {
				((Pipe)source).addSink(this);
			}
		}
		init();
		return this;
	}

	@Override
	public void readLines(Consumer<String> handler) {
		for (PipeSource source : sources) {
			source.readLines(handler);
		}
	}

	@Override
	public void close() {
		if (closing.compareAndSet(false, true)) {
			CompositeException ex = new CompositeException("Could not close pipe");
			for (PipeSource source : sources) {
				ex.accept(AutoCloseable::close, source);
			}
			for (PipeSink sink : sinks) {
				ex.accept(AutoCloseable::close, sink);
			}
		}
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home The Q
The Q
Skyline's Expansion into New Markets
The Q The Registry - May 31, 2020 0
As Skyline Construction grows a national footprint, it takes steps to scale intelligently with a purpose Jessica Carps serves as Skyline's COO and its first female member of the Board...
Dublin's Main Street
The Q The Registry - April 13, 2020 0
By Meghan Hall Dublin takes the first step to create a new downtown The City of Dublin, California is nestled within the Tri-Valley, a trio of communities located in the East...
CSC's Legacy Gift in Lafayette
By Meghan Hall CSC formalizes plans for new 12,000 SQFT holistic treatment center in Lafayette In 2018, there were an anticipated 1.735 million new cases of cancer according to the National...
Imagining the Perfect City in the Bay Area
The Q The Registry - April 9, 2020 0
By Meghan Hall According to Point2 Homes, San Francisco and Seattle have cracked the code The modern-day, thriving city has almost completely replaced the industrial, hard-knock metropolis of the past, and...
Tech Liked Buying Bay Area Real Estate in 2019
By Meghan Hall As major companies sought room to grow, owner-user sales jumped in frequency Silicon Valley's commercial real estate market has exploded as a result of large credit tenants growing...
Introducing the ApartHotel
By Meghan Hall Hospitality brand locale opens first west coast location at The Landing in San Francisco Hospitality companies have come a long way from the standard, one-size-fits-all hotel rooms and...
Gen Z's Experiential Engagement
By Bekka Wiedenmeyer Generation Z will soon grow to be the largest generation, surpassing Millennials and accounting for approximately 32 percent of the world's population. As this generation of consumers...
Not All Amenities are Worth the Investment
By Jack Stubbs In the modern-day work environment, a number of different factors — including the provision of amenities, office configuration and design, and employee satisfaction, among others — continue...
Coworking Goes Residential
By Sasha Vasilyuk Three men are discussing business strategy at a table in the newly redesigned lobby of Nema, a high-end San Francisco apartment building across the street from Twitter's...
American Dream No More
By Bekka Wiedenmeyer The white picket fence, the pristine lawn, a close-knit neighborhood: The golden standard of the American dream used to buying and owning a home. However, based on...
Industry Contributors
Biotech, Biopharma, and Medical Device Companies Are Booming in California and Beyond, Require Specialized...
Opinion: Will the Recent Supreme Court Decision on Vaccination Requirements Impact Office Leasing?
Bay Area Real Estate in 2022: Here's What's in Store
The Time Has Come for Commercial Real Estate Companies to Embrace the Digital Future
The Registry - November 25, 2021 0
Amazon CEO Sets Flexible Return-to-Work Baseline
Mark Whiting, Drawbridge Realty: Suburban Office Outlook Bright as Tenants Provide More Flexible Workspaces...
The Registry - September 30, 2021 0
Clean, Efficient, Equitable Buildings Infrastructure


text:
Q: Repo specific ignore files in git Is it possible to have repo specific .gitignore files? Eg:
[origin]
.gitignore:

*

*foo1.*

*foo2.*

[another] .gitignore:

*

*bar1.*

*bar2.*

The purpose behind this is that we deploy using git on to a managed cloud service and we'd like to keep dev files in version control but not push them to a repo.

A: Yes, you can put per repository ignore patterns in .git/info/exclude in each repository.
(Note, this only affects what is ignored in each repository, it won't affect files that you actively place under source control and the push. I'm not completely clear on your desired use case.)

A: Yes you can, just can't have them in the same folder. If you create a new folder, day "deploy" and publish your deploy data there, it will use the .gitignore in that folder (not the root one).

A: My Situation:

Having a file named alex.todo which contains my personal notes about the project. I have two remote repo to push(origin and alex). One for sharing the code with other developers(I use .gitignore to exclude the alex.todo file), one just for backing up this project which is ok to preserve the alex.todo file.

My final solution:

Using a temp branch to push the alex.todo to the backup repo.

# Step 1
git checkout -b alex # 'alex' or whatever branch name you prefer

# Step 2
# now you can edit your .gitignore to include your 'alex.todo' file

# Step 3
git add . && git commit -m 'commit some ignore files'
git push alex alex:master # git push <remote> <local branch name>:<remote branch to push into>

# Step 4
git checkout master  # return to branch master and do any editings(commits)

# Step 5
# make sure branch alex is in sync with master whenever you want to push the project to the backup repo
git checkout alex
git merge master # .gitignore will not automatically be included for commit unless specifically added
# now you can repeat step 3 to push the project to the backup repo

A: You could probably do this using git hooks (the scripts in .git). post-checkout sounds good.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to rotate all objects of canvas at once using Fabric.js? I am working on custom product designer which uses Fabric.js. I want to rotate all objects of canvas at once by pressing one button (rotate left, rotate right).
I have achieved this using this code :
stage.forEachObject(function(obj){
    obj.setAngle(rotation).setCoords();
  });
  stage.renderAll();

But it has one bug that every element rotates with its own center point. I want that every element rotates with respect to whole canvas element.

A: Grouping and rotating the group did not work so well for me. Here is another solution based on this js fiddle.
rotateAllObjects (degrees) {

  let canvasCenter = new fabric.Point(canvas.getWidth() / 2, canvas.getHeight() / 2) // center of canvas
  let radians = fabric.util.degreesToRadians(degrees)

  canvas.getObjects().forEach((obj) => {
      let objectOrigin = new fabric.Point(obj.left, obj.top)
      let new_loc = fabric.util.rotatePoint(objectOrigin, canvasCenter, radians)
      obj.top = new_loc.y
      obj.left = new_loc.x
      obj.angle += degrees //rotate each object buy the same angle
      obj.setCoords()
  });

  canvas.renderAll()
},

A: You could add all the objects to a group an then rotate the group. This way you can also set the center for rotation.

A: This is how it could be solved
function rotate(a) {
                var group = new fabric.Group(canvas.getObjects());

                //angle is var with scope out of this function,
                //so you can use this function as rotate(90) and keep rotating
                angle = (angle + a) % 360;
                group.rotate(angle);

                canvas.centerObject(group);
                group.setCoords();
                canvas.renderAll();
}

A: FabricJS rotate everything and maintain the relative position also.

You can download the files here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UV1nBdfBk6bg9SztyVoWyLJ4eEZJgZRf/view?usp=sharing


Note: Battery installed in the remote control! Before use, please open the remote control, remove insulation piece!
1.Please kindly remind that the snake and remote control is in fully charged condition.
2.Please kindly confirm whether the light of usb cable is light on when you are charging the snake.
3.kindly confirm that the remote control is in the power (powered by 3pcs button-cell batteries) when you use it to control the snake.
5.There is the instructions for how to use on the product packaging.You can use it according to the instructions.
6.Any questions, feel free to contact us.
Perfect for kids as a prankster, a perfect way to create some laughter as soon as you come up with a really good scheme.
Super Realistic and Fast Moving Snake:Forward, left and right turn, stop, retractable tongue, tail swing.
Measures approx 17″ long with 22 segments and creeps along quite quickly when you push the forward, left or right buttons on the snake-eggish infrared remote.
Remote runs on 3 button-cell batteries (included) and the snake is rechargeable via the included USB charge cord.
Size: 43 x 3.5 x 8cm / 16.9 x 1.4 x 3.1 inch.
Remote Range is about 10M/40 inch.
1 x Realistic RC Snake.
If you're looking for the most recommended remote control toy planes, then this product is a great option. Many good reviews have already proved the quality of this product.


"Our goal is to empower women to help their home countries become self-reliant and to allow a lot of families, millions of families throughout the world to become self-reliant".
W-GDP aims to advance workforce development, promote women's entrepreneurship, and remove the legal and cultural barriers that constrain women from participating fully in the global economy.
"There's no doubting the potential of women when the playing field is leveled", said Trump.
"She's unbelievable. Ivanka's really done a wonderful job in leading this initiative, and being able to have the first ever whole-of-government approach in making sure that we can advance women's rights and women's full participation in the global economy", White House director of strategic communications Mercedes Schlapp said Thursday in an interview with Breitbart News Daily host Alex Marlow on Sirius XM Patriot Channel 125.
Both Ivanka Trump and Kushner were operating on interim security clearances until she was granted top clearance in May, the same time Kushner had his clearance restored. Past global initiatives she has studied include the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, started under President George W. Bush in 2003.
The initiative builds on previous White House efforts to help women internationally.
The White House says it's backed by the State Department, and has bipartisan support from members of Congress, as well as private sector support from several large US companies including UPS, Walmart, and Pepsico.
Aides to Scott maintain that he was not made aware at that point about an alleged sexual assault in 2004 involving Fairfax. And yet, no major Democratic presidential candidate - or other party leader - has called for Fairfax's resignation.
Stoops has been retired the last two years after resigning as the Sooners coach in June of 2017 following 18 seasons in Norman. For Stoops, " the idea of getting back into coaching without it being overly time-consuming" was what he found so appealing.


RossMod is a specialist retail model shop established in 1986. We supply the best products from the biggest brands including MCD Racing, FG Modelsport, Zenoah, Samba, Boosterpipes, Wedico, Servonaut, Tamiya, HPI Racing, Traxxas, RC4WD, Associated, Schumacher Racing, FTX, Carisma, Carrera RC, Revell and many more. We offer expert advice on all aspects of modelling and a fully equiped workshop for all repairs, builds and tune-ups. Spend over £99.00 and we will give you FREE Delivery to all Mainland UK locations.


In this article provided by HealthDay, reporters share results of the VEST Trial (Vest Prevention of Early Sudden Death Trial). According to Dr. Jeffrey Olgin, co-principal investigator of the VEST Trial, "There is a very high risk of death immediately after a heart attack that tails off after about three months." The VEST Trial was designed to test the benefit of LifeVest use for patients who recently suffered a heart attack and had reduced heart function.
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) occurs without warning. The heart's electrical system controls the heartbeat. When this system fails, it may trigger a dangerously fast heartbeat. This fast heartbeat causes the heart to quiver or shake instead of pumping blood to the body and brain. When this happens, a person can suddenly pass out. Without treatment, death occurs in minutes.
LifeVest monitors the patient's heart continuously, and if the patient goes into a life-threatening heart rhythm, the LifeVest WCD delivers a treatment shock to restore the patient's heart to normal rhythm.


Do I Need A Realtor If I Build New Construction?
New construction is plentiful in our area, and you may be considering buying a newly built home. New construction has a ton of advantages, but many buyers make the false assumption that they can save money by not using their own REALTOR when purchasing a new home. This is a huge misconception!
Many buyers believe that the builder's rep is the best person to help them with the purchase of their new home. They think that working with the internal representation will result in getting a better deal on their purchase.
However, the builder's rep is working for the builder – not for you! They're wonderful people ... but their success relies on getting the best deal for the builder, who is their employer. There legally can be no discounts passed on to you. If you don't use a Realtor, there are no savings.
But when you use a Realtor, you are the employer.
You may not know that the commission for buyer representation is legally part of the purchase price. If you are not using your own Realtor, the builder simply receives an extra 3% from your purchase. Basically, it's free for you to use a Realtor. Free.
You also may not know that the builder is not required to have a licensed agent working for them, and many do not. When you hire your own Realtor you will be hiring a licensed agent who represents you, not the builder! Your Realtor looks out for YOUR best interests. The builder's agent or rep looks out for the BUILDER'S best interests. Sometimes the best interests are the same for the buyer and builder, but just as many times they are NOT.
Experience isn't expensive, it's priceless. We understand the ins and outs of home purchasing, and can work on your behalf to negotiate a better deal, free upgrades, or simply whatever is in your best interest. Most people wouldn't consider buying an existing home without a Realtor to represent them. Therefore, why consider going through the even more stressful and complicated process of building a home without someone on your side? In many cases, you are committing to something that doesn't even exist yet.
It can be very daunting to go through the process of home-building, and dealing with the last minute changes and surprises. Buyers can avoid a lot of bad surprises with good representation by their own Realtor.
Be sure your Realtor brings you through the door of the model to establish from the beginning of the process, that you have Realtor representation. There are rules as to how you are introduced to a builder, and when a Realtor is due their fee for working for YOU. If you plan to visit a model, give your agent a call and they can call ahead for you so that the builders rep knows you will be coming and you are represented by a Realtor.
Here's a helpful list we've compiled – follow these "to dos" when working with a builder to have the best experience.
This is simply a must. We work for YOU. Many builders may only give you special "incentive" packages if you agree to use all of their representatives: lender, title company, and even insurance company! But your Realtor can walk you through this process and make sure you are protected, as well as make sure you are getting the best lot, home, floor plan & features! If you decide to use the builder's lender, your Realtor can make sure you get a good rate and fair closing costs. We have a history with all the major builders, and know the standards. By bringing in your own Realtor, you're asking your builder to be on their "best behavior." Most builders are very interested in maintaining their good reputation, and will want the potential to create a good relationship with your Realtor, who will hopefully bring buyers their way in the future if the transaction is successful.
~Don't sign anything until you've worked out every detail.
Once you've become attached to this new home, some builders may try to get you to write up the contract quickly so you don't lose it. But you absolutely must know what is in the contract, understand it and agree with it. No matter what anyone tells you, IF IT IS NOT IN WRITING IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. Everything will be done as it is written in the contract, so it's important that you understand it clearly.
Your Realtor can be a great player on your team when going through and trying to understand the builder's contract.
Your Realtor is an expert on homes in your area. This will include builders and their reputations. You want a builder that is not selling too many properties to investors – this can lead to creating a rental neighborhood and affects pride of ownership. Ideally, you also want your builder to be constructing homes of equal or greater value in your neighborhood to keep your property values high. However, this is difficult in some neighborhoods because the economy is difficult and people are affording and spending less on homes. Your Realtor can help you sort this out and advise you on these items.
In this crazy economy we are in, several builders are on the brink of shutting their doors. Just be very sure your builder is not one of them, and you know your earnest money will be returned if they close during your construction.
New neighborhoods are often in newly developing areas. You want confidence that your neighborhood is going to become a good place to live as it develops, that you are able to include an accurate amount for property taxes in your budget, and that the homes built are likely to increase in value over time.
The perfect source for this? Your Realtor, who likely already has this kind of information available. This makes the job so much easier.
So, the first thing we hope you will do is hire The Story Group to work with you and the builder. The next thing you should do is tell the builder you have a Realtor when you walk in the office door "Hi, I'm working with Kati Story, Buyer & New Construction Specialist for The Story Group."
When touring the model home, ask the builder how much the home costs as you see it! Keep in mind that the model usually contains many upgrades and special features. You will want to understand the difference between the base model and the upgraded models. We can help you understand the difference. As your Realtor, we can advise you on what upgrades make sense and which ones are not worth the cost.
Consider resale, even if you don't want to. It's strange to think about reselling your home before it is even built, but your home is a major investment. We will help you evaluate each choice you make as you build to give you the best opportunity to resell in the future and maximize your equity!
Get a copy of the blueprints of your home, along with floor plans and surveys (including room sizes). This will help you in the future if you want to make changes or sell. It's easy to get them in the beginning, and it's very important to have them!
As your home is being completed, check in! We recommend visiting every three days to daily. If you are proactive, you can catch mistakes that might happen. We can also help you with this.
Do not close on your home until ALL work is finished. This is very important, and we will be involved every step of the way with you to insure that your home is complete before you close.
As your Realtor, The Story Group is committed to guiding you step by step! The building process is so exciting if you have great representation! Call me right away and let's get started!


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Buddhism and Sri Lanka
According to Sri Lankan chronicles, Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C. by Arhant Mahinda, during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa.
Sri Lankan Inscriptions
The earliest trace of epigraphy in South Asia is said to be found in Sri Lanka. A piece of pottery, dated to circa the 4th century B.C. has been discovered from the Anuradhapura citadel.
The architecture of Sri lanka has a long history and shows diversed forms and styles, mainly infuenced by their religions and traditional beliefs.
Sri Lankan Antiquities
Inherited from the past, Sri Lanka has a large number of antiques with cultural and historical significance which reflects the glory of past era.
Visit Sri Lanka
Located in the northern waters of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is an island blessed with a large number of attractons which has made the country an ideal destination for the tourism.
Kossinna Yatawatta Raja Maha Viharaya
By Lanka Pradeepa November 30, 2019 Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, Gampaha District No comments
(Sinhala: කොස්සින්න යටවත්ත රජ මහා විහාරය)
is a Buddhist temple located in the village of Kossinna in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka.
During the reign of King Parakramabahu VIII (1490-1509 A.D.), many Buddhist temples were built around the country. Jayapala Deva Pathiraja, one of the ministers of the king also engaged in establishing Buddhist temples in several places on the island. The Kossinna Raja Maha Viharaya in Gampaha District is believed to be one such temple established by Jayapala Deva Pathiraja (Chandananda Thera, 2009).
"Kossinna" is the village where the present temple is situated. The name, Kossinna is thought to have been evolved from "Koswinna" meaning a grove of Jack trees (Gunasekara, 1887). According to popular beliefs, Jayapala Deva Pathiraja had removed a Madel forest that existed in the present temple area and grown a grove of Jack trees there (Chandananda Thera, 2009). He constructed a complete Buddhist temple (present Kossinna Viharaya) at a high ground within this grove and invited King Parakramabahu VIII to bestow it to Buddhist monks. The king who came for the bestowal ceremony ("Vihara Puja") planted a Bodhi-tree at the place where the present Kudumirissa Viharaya stands (Chandananda Thera, 2009) and established a rock inscription at the same site to declare a royal decree.
The image house of Kossinna temple is archaeologically important. It is about 273ft long, 14.8ft wide and has been built on an elevated rectangular-shaped platform (Lakmali et al., 2017).
A seated Buddha statue accompanied by two figures of Sariputta (left) and Moggallana (right), the two chief disciples of Gautama Buddha, are found inside the image house. Two standing statues of Buddha are also found facing each other at both left and right walls (Lakmali et al., 2017). The inner walls of the shrine contain no empty spaces and are filled with the paintings of various decorative motifs. A "Makara Thorana"(a dragon arch) with the images of deities and doorkeepers adorn the front of the entrance wall. The outer walls, except the entrance wall, are not decorated with any sculptures or murals. The existing paintings and sculptures, according to their artistic features, are belonging to the Kandyan period [(1469-1815 A.D.) Lakmali et al., 2017].
The ancient image house, Devalaya and the Stupa located on the premises of Kossinna Raja Maha Vihara in the Grama Niladari Division of Kossinna in the Divisional Secretary's Division of Gampaha are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government Gazette notification published on 22 November 2002.
1) Chandananda Thera, R., 2009. Siyanepuren Siyaratata Abhimanayak Vu Yatawathu Vehera Ha Kossini Sanga Parapura (In Sinhala). Abhisthava. pp.XLIII-LI.
2) Gunasekara, M. B., 1887. Three Sinhalese Inscriptions: Text, transliteration, translation and notes#Inscription at Kudumirisa. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Vol. X. No. 34. pp. 95-102.
3) Lakmali, A.S., Priyamali, A.S., Madhushani, E.P. and Chandrasiri, T.M.J., 2017. කොස්සින්න යටවත්ත රජමහ විහාරයෙහි ඇති ඉපැරණි විහාර මන්දිරය පිළිබඳව විමර්ශනයක්. 2nd Undergraduates' Research Conference 2017 (URACT). p.13.
4) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1264. 22 November 2002
This page was last updated on 30 November 2019
Archaeological Ruins at Kotte Ananda Sastralaya
By Lanka Pradeepa November 29, 2019 Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Colombo District No comments
Ruins of several ancient monuments (probably the ruins of an old Buddhist shrine) made of "Kabok" (laterite) have been unearthed from the school premises of Ananda Sastralaya in Pita Kotte village in Colombo District, Sri Lanka.
(Sinhala: කෝට්ටේ අානන්ද ශාස්ත්‍රාලය නටඹුන්)
Without certain identification. these ruins are popularly called by the locals as an ancient tunnel that belongs to the Kingdom of Kotte (1412-1597 A.D.).
Folklore says that Prince Veediya Bandara who had been held inside the fort of Colombo by Portuguese was rescued by his wife by having a tunnel dug underneath the walls of the fort (Rajapakshe et al., 2018). The tunnel entrance, according to folklore, was somewhere in Kotte and the rest was extending towards the Colombo Fort and Borella area (Manathunga, 2016). The ruined structure with a door-shape cavity exposed within the premises of Kotte Ananda Sastralaya is believed by the locals as the tunnel entrance that is mentioned in the folklore (Rajapakshe et al., 2018).
However, an excavation which was carried out at the premises by the Archaeological Department in 2014, revealed no single evidence of a tunnel but the ruins of a small Stupa and a chamber built of laterite rock (Rajapakshe et al., 2018). Also, a fragment of plaque with the carvings of miniature Buddha figures has been recovered from the site and that artifact is presently on the display at the Archaeological Museum of Kotte.
The site contains two large structures, viz; a Stupa and a tall rectangular chamber. They have been built by digging the living laterite rock and hence located about 3 m below the ground level (Rajapakshe et al., 2018). The rectangular chamber, according to the local beliefs is the tunnel entrance/exit but its true identity is yet to be found. A portico is extending outwards from this rectangular chamber and its front face has been decorated with a "Makara Thorana" (a dragon arch). The floor of the ruins can be reached through a flight of steps starting from the ground level. The steps have also been cut out of living laterite rock and end with a shape similar to a "Sandakada Pahana" [(a moonstone) Rajapakshe et al., 2018].
The ancient ruins (the gazette mentions them as the ruins of an ancient tunnel) located in the school premises of Ananda Sastralaya in the Grama Niladari Division of Pitakotte (No. 522 B) in the Divisional Secretary's Division of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government Gazette notification published on 27 June 1952.
1) A Tunnel Which Supposedly Led To Colombo Fort by Indi Samarajiva is licensed under CC BY 2.0
1) Manathunga, S. B., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Kolamba Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-39-9. pp.86-87.
2) Rajapakshe, S.; Bandara, T. M. C.; Vanninayake, R. M. B. T. A. B. (Editors), 2018. Puravidya Sthana Namavaliya: Kolamba Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Vol. I. Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 978-955-7457-19-2. p.4.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 10418. 27 June 1952.
This page was last updated on 21 December 2019
Demalamaha Seya
By Lanka Pradeepa November 23, 2019 Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa, Polonnaruwa District, Stupas in Sri Lanka No comments
Demalamaha Seya (also known as Damila Thupa)
(Sinhala: දෙමළ මහා සෑය, දමිල ස්තූපය)
is a gigantic brick-built Stupa situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka.
Demalamaha Seya, according to the description in Mahawamsa, was a Stupa with a size of approximately 1300 cubit. It is believed that this Stupa was built by King Parakramabahu I (1153–1186 A.D.) in the 12th century with a workforce of 12,000 Dravidians (Pandyan prisoners) who brought from South India.
According to scholars, this Stupa built by King Parakramabahu I was intended to surpass all other monuments of the type in the country (Ray, 1960). However, due to some reason, the king has not completed the dome of Stupa and stopped its construction at a height of about 50 feet from the ground, forming an extensive circular plateau at the top (Ray, 1960). In the middle of that plateau, a smaller Stupa with a square-shaped platform has been built.
Carbon dating
Four charcoal samples discovered from Demalamaha Seya during the conservation process were sent to Beta Analytic Institute in U.S.A. by authorities for dating and the results revealed the carbon date as 1155 A.D.
The present Stupa has a perimeter of 600 m and a height of 25.65 m. It is said to have been built enveloping an existing quartzite (Jayasuriya, 2016).
The Stupa which was remained like a small hill covered with vegetation for a long period was started to conserve several times by the authorities, but the attempts had been abandoned due to the massive expenses required for the project. However, in 2014, the excavation and the conservation works of the Stupa was started by the Central Cultural Fund under the supervision of Dr. Nimal Perera.
1) Jayasuriya, E., 2016. A guide to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. Central Cultural Fund. ISBN: 978-955-613-312-7. p.86.
2) Ray, H. C. (Editor in Chief), 1960. University of Ceylon: History of Ceylon (Vol 1, part II). Ceylon University Press. pp.594-595.
St. Andrew's Church, Haputale
By Lanka Pradeepa November 23, 2019 Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Badulla District, Churches in Sri Lanka No comments
(Sinhala: ශාන්ත අන්දෘ දේවස්ථානය, හපුතලේ)
is an old Church situated in Haputale in Badulla District, Sri Lanka.
The history of St. Andrew's Church runs back to the 19th century. The British people who migrated to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) as planters during the period of British Ceylon (1815-1948 A.D.) found their settlements at several places in the country such as Haputale, Bandarawela, Nuwara Elita, etc. (Wijesundara, 2019). Most of these settlers were Catholic devotees and therefore, churches were built near to their settlements as the places of religious activities. The St. Andrew's Church in Haputale is one such church built on 19 September 1869 (Wijesundara, 2019).
The St. Andrew's Church situated in the village of Kadurugamuwa in the Divisional Secretariat Division of Haputale is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government gazette notification published on 22 November 2002
1) Church, Sri Lanka - panoramio by Gonzo Gooner is licensed under CC BY 3.0
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: No: 1264. 22 November 2002.
2) Wijesundara, R., 2019. Nilla pirunu kandu getaye deviyange nivahana (In Sinhala). Dayada newsletter. Vol.13. July 2019. Department of Archaeology. p.19.
Devon Ella Falls
By Lanka Pradeepa November 22, 2019 Nuwara Eliya District, Waterfalls in Sri Lanka No comments
(Sinhala: ඩෙවෝන් ඇල්ල; Tamil: டெவோன் அருவி)
is a waterfall cascading in Talawakele village in Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka. A view point of this waterfall is located the Hatton-Nuwara Eliya road (A7) about 6 km distance from Talawakele town.
The waterfall is 95.4 m high and occurs 1169.23 meters above the mean sea level (Abeywardhana, 2004). Cascading in 3 segments, the waters of this fall finally enter into Kotmale Oya, a tributary of Mahaweli Ganga river (Abeywardhana, 2004).
1) DevonFalls-Srilanka-May2015 (1) by Rehman is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
1) Abeywardhana, H.A.P., 2004. Heritage of Kandurata: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.223.
Kanniya Thermal Springs and Archaeological Ruins
By Lanka Pradeepa November 17, 2019 Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Hot water springs in Sri Lanka, Trincomalee District No comments
Kanniya Thermal Springs (or Kanniya hot water wells)
(Sinhala: කන්නියා උණුදිය ලිං; Tamil: கன்னியா வெந்நீரூற்று)
are located in Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka.
Hot water springs
Commonly, thermal springs in the world are associated with volcanic terrain but the hot springs located in Sri Lanka are said to be not related to volcanic activities as the island is not in an active volcanic or tectonic region (Premasiri et al., 2006). Therefore, the waters can get heat either from subsurface heat sources such as large bodies of hot rocks or through deep percolation under the geochemical gradient of the earth (Adikaram & Dharmagunawardhane, 2013). If these waters find weak structural discontinuities leading upward they rise to the surface and emerge as naturally discharging hot water springs.
Kanniya springs
The Kanniya hot springs are located close to the boundary between Highland-Vijayan lithologic complexes (Premasiri et al., 2006). This boundary is a sub-horizontal ductile thrust zone where a number of geologic features are identified. They include major mineralization occurrences such as magnetite, serpentinite, gold, corundum and calcite as well as formations of hot water springs (Widanagamage, 2011). Seven out flowing hot water wells, each with varying temperature, are situated close to each other at the site. The average temperature of Kanniya springs is said to be 42 °C (Premasiri et al., 2006).
Archaeological significance
The Kanniya hot water wells are situated in the premises of an ancient Buddhist monastery complex functioned during the Anuradhapura Period (377 B.C.-1017 A.D.). Structural ruins of an ancient Stupa and an image house which are belonging to the 2-3 centuries A.D. have been found from the site (Jayasinghe, 2019). Also, many Buddhist ruins including "Siri Pathul Gal" (Buddha's foot prints), "Yupa Gal", broken images and pottery pieces have been discovered by exploratory excavations done at the site (Jayasinghe, 2019)
Kanniya hot water spring fragmentary inscription
A broken slab containing a later-Brahmi inscription was found by archaeologists from the Kanniya hot water wells premises.
Period: 2-3 centuries A.D.
Scripts: Later Brahmi
Transcript: "(1)...Maharaja Kujaviya...(2)...Marudaviya ha Bojiya(pathi)...(3)...Bojiyapathi ha cha pala...(4)...????...(5)...Me Ethaka Thanahi...(6)...Sagahaya Dini"
Content: The water tax received from near by tanks (such as) Kuruviya, Marudaviya, Palaweva was given to Sangha (Buddhist monks) by the king (the name is not in the preserved portion).
Reference: Jayasinghe, 2019.
Seven hot water wells located in the vicinity of Chaithya mound and other building ruins in Kanniya village situated in the Grama Niladhari Division No. 243/P, Kanniya in the Kadawath Sathara Divisional Secretary's Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette notification published on 9 September 2011.
The Kanniya hot water wells site, according to local Hindus, is a sacred Saiva site and its history is connected with King Ravana, a mythical figure found in the Indian epic Ramayana. However, the identification of this site as a Buddhist monastery complex by the Archaeological Department triggered a religious tension between the local Hindu and Buddhist devotees.
1) Sri Lankan Hot Bath by Annette 777 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
1) Adikaram, A.M.N.M., Dharmagunawardhane, H.A., 2013. Diurnal temperature variations in thermal water springs: A case study at Mahaoya thermal spring cluster, Sri Lanka.
2) Jayasinghe, P., 2019. Kanniya unuwathura lin parishraye puravidyathmaka smaraka sanrakshanayata piyawara gene (In Sinhala). Dayada newsletter. Vol.13. July 2019. Department of Archaeology. p.2.
3) Premasiri, H.M.R., Wijeyesekera, D.S., Weerawarnakula, S. and Puswewala, U.G.A., 2006. Formation of Hot Water Springs in Sri Lanka. Engineer: Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. p.7.
4) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1723. 9 September 2011. p.683.
5) Widanagamage, I.H., 2011. EMPA dating of monazite from high grade metamorphic rocks along the Highland-Vijayan boundary zone, Sri Lanka. MSc thesis, Kent State University. pp.17-18
Sri Parakramabahu Raja Maha Viharaya
By Lanka Pradeepa November 17, 2019 Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, Gampaha District, Sinhalese inscriptions No comments
Sri Parakramabahu Raja Maha Viharaya (also known as Kudumirissa Viharaya or Amunugoda Raja Maha Viharaya)
(Sinhala: ශ්‍රී පරාක්‍රමබාහු රජමහා විහාරය, කුඩුමිරිස්ස විහාරය, අමුණුගොඩ රජ මහා විහාරය)
is a Buddhist temple located in the village of Amunugoda in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka.
During the reign of King Parakramabahu VIII (1490-1509 A.D.), many Buddhist temples were built around the country. Jayapala Deva Pathiraja, one of ministers of the king also engaged in establishing Buddhist temples in several places on the island. The Kossinna Raja Maha Viharaya in Gampaha District is believed to be one such temple established by Jayapala Deva Pathiraja (Chandananda Thera, 2009).
"Kossinna" is a nearby village of the present Kudumirissa temple. The name, Kossinna is thought to have been evolved from "Koswinna" meaning a grove of Jack trees (Gunasekara, 1887). According to popular beliefs, Jayapala Deva Pathiraja had removed a Madel forest that existed in the present temple area and grown a grove of Jack trees there (Chandananda Thera, 2009). He constructed a complete Buddhist temple (present Kossinna Viharaya) at a high ground within this grove and invited King Parakramabahu VIII to bestow it to Buddhist monks. The king who came for the bestowal ceremony ("Vihara Puja") planted a Bodhi-tree at the place where the present Kudumirissa Viharaya stands (Chandananda Thera, 2009) and established a rock inscription at the same site to declare a royal decree.
Kudumirissa Inscription of Vira Parakramabahu VIII
The inscription which containing 42 lines has been inscribed on a natural rock lies near the temple image house. It records the confirmation by Siri Sangabo Sri Parakramabahu of Kotte of an endowment of certain lands granted by his royal father for the benefit of certain Brahmins (Gunasekara, 1887).
Kudumirissa Inscription
Reign : Parakramabahu VIII (1490–1509 A.D.)
Language & Script : Sinhala
Transcript : Sri Lankadhipath Parakrama-
-bhujassuryanvayalankratirya cheham
bhavato wachassrinuta mebhumiswara
bhavinah......>>
Translation : I, Parakrama Bahu, supreme
lord of the illustrious Lanka, the ornament
of the Solar race, make my request to you,
princes, who will......>>
Reference : Rohanadeera, 2007
Near to the Kudumirissa inscription is another epigraph written with modern Sinhala scripts. It records about a grant made to the temple by a lady devotee named "Kapu Upasaka Amma".
Transcript: "Me Viharayata Kapu Upasaka Amma Ru. 40k Dunna"
Translation: Rs.40 was given to this temple by Kapu Upaska Amma
3) Rohanadeera, M., 2007. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon: Inscriptions of Ceylon. Vol. VIII. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 978-955-91-59-64-3. pp.79-88.
Nelum Pokuna, Polonnaruwa
By Lanka Pradeepa November 16, 2019 Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa, Polonnaruwa District, Ponds in Sri Lanka No comments
The Nelum Pokuna (lit: the Lotus Pond/Lotus Bath)
(Sinhala: නෙළුම් පොකුණ)
is an old pond situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka.
The pond which is referred to in chronicles by the name "Paduma-nahana-kotthaka" (Ray, 1960; Wikramagamage, 2004) is located within the Jetavanarama monastery premises built by King Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186 A.D.). The chronicle Mahawamsa states that King Parakramabahu built eight ponds of stone to "cleanse the outward impurity of the monks" (Jayasuriya, 2016). Ruins of several ponds similar in structure to Nelum Pokuna (a smaller lotus-bath and the remains of a bath designated "Guha-nahana-kotthaka") have been found within the limits of Jetavanarama monastery (Ray, 1960).
The circular stepped Nelum Pokuna pond has been built in the form of a full-blown lotus flower (Wikramagamage, 2004). The tiers indicating the petals of the lotus gradually became small as they go down of the pond. The filling method of the pond is not known (Wikramagamage, 2004).
1) Lotosbad polonnaruwa 2017-10-17 (2) by Z thomas is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0
2) Ray, H. C. (Editor in Chief), 1960. University of Ceylon: History of Ceylon (Vol 1, part II). Ceylon University Press. p.600.
3) Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.225.
Eth Pokuna
By Lanka Pradeepa November 16, 2019 Abhayagiriya, Anuradhapura, Anuradhapura District, Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Ponds in Sri Lanka No comments
The Eth Pokuna (lit: the Elephant Pond)
(Sinhala: අැත් පොකුණ/Ath Pokuna; Tamil: எத் பொக்குண (யானைக் குளம்))
is an old pond situated in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Located to the south-west of the Abhayagiri Stupa in close proximity of Lankarama Viharaya, the pond is considered as one of the largest man-made ponds in the island (Jayasuriya, 2016).
The pond which is believed to be the ancient Maspotha Pokuna (1st-century B.C.-11 century A.D.) is presently called "Eth Pokuna" (the Elephant Pond) because of its gigantic size. It is said to have been built to store water for the usage of Buddhist monks who were living in the monastic complex of Abhayagiriya.
The rectangular-shaped pond is 159 m long, 53 m wide and 10 m deep. The size is said to be six times larger than the size of the Olympic swimming pool. Several flight of steps at all four sides provide access to the bottom of the pond.
The water to this pond had been supplied from nearby reservoirs through underground conduits and one of which functions even today (Jayasuriya, 2016). The Gamani Wewa (Perumiyankulam tank) located to the north supplies water to the pond through a conduit when it is over-flowing (Wikramagamage, 2004). The water which comes through conduits first flows into a cistern sluice ("Bisokotuwa") located in the southwest corner of the pond and after slowing the speed, the water then flows to the pond along a stone-made drain. The existing sluice suggests that the water of Eth Pokuna may have been distributed to other ponds in the vicinity (Jayasuriya, 2016). A channel taking the water out of the pond has also been discovered to the south of the pond at the bottom to the east (Wikramagamage, 2004).
1) Eth Pokuna in Anuradhapuraya by Kurun is licensed under CC BY SA 3.0
This page was last updated on 1 December 2019
Surathali Ella Falls
By Lanka Pradeepa November 14, 2019 Ratnapura District, Waterfalls in Sri Lanka No comments
(Sinhala: සුරතලී අැල්ල)
is a waterfall cascading in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka. The fall is situated on the roadside of the Balangoda-Beragala road (A4 road) approximately 9.5 km distance from the Belihuloya town.
The fall is about 50 m tall and mainly has two segments. It is named as "Surathali Ella" after the film that was shot in that area.
1) Walhaputenna, Sri Lanka - panoramio by sanjana.sudam is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Kirindi Ella Falls
(Sinhala: කිරිඳි අැල්ල)
is a waterfall cascading in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka. Situated in Kuttapitiya village, the fall can be reached by traveling along the Pelmadulla-Kuttapitiya road about 7.8 km distance from the Pelmadulla bus stand.
The waterfall originates from Kirindi Ela, a stream flowing from the Kuttapitiya Kanda mountain (940 m). The fall is considered to be the 7th tallest waterfalls in Sri Lanka with a drop of 116 m (Abeyawardana, 2002).
1) Kirindi Ella Water fall- Rathnapura District, Sri Lanka 08 by WMKKalhara is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
1) Abeyawardana, H.A.P., 2002. Heritage of Sabaragamuwa: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Sabaragamuwa Development Bank and The Central Bank of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 955-575-077-7. p.24.
Brahmana Ella Falls, Lankagama
By Lanka Pradeepa November 12, 2019 Galle District, Waterfalls in Sri Lanka No comments
Brahmana Ella Falls
(Sinhala: බ්‍රාහ්මණ අැල්ල, ලංකාගම)
is a waterfall situated near the border of the Sinharaja Forest in Galle District, Sri Lanka. The fall can be reached via Sinharaja Lankagama entrance.
The fall is 31 m tall and originates from Hariyawa stream (හැරියාව දොල), a tributary of Gin Ganga river. It occurs 237 meters above the sea level.
1) Brahmana Ella by Kalindu ashirwada is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Udawattakele Forest Reserve, Kandy
By Lanka Pradeepa November 12, 2019 Forests in Sri Lanka, Kandy District No comments
Udawattakele Forest Reserve (also known as Udawattakele Royal Forest Park)
(Sinhala: උඩවත්තකැලේ වනාන්තරය)
is a historic forest located behind the premises of the sacred Temple of Tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka. During the Kandyan Kingdom, the Udawattakele forest was considered as a part of the palace premises and the ruling kings and their royal families used this forest as a pleasure garden. Presently, the forest is protected under the authority of the Forest Department (Weerakoon, 2015).
During the reign of King Gajabahu I (114-136 A.D.), there was no human settlements in Kandy and was covered by thick forest. The king ordered his nephew Siriwardana Seneviratna to change a part of the existing land use in Kandy and to build a village there. More than 1000 years later, King Panditha Parakramabahu (1302-1326 A.D.) who reigned in Kurunegala took measures to settle people in the area. During the mid-14th century, King Wikramabahu III who ruled from 1357 to 1374, established his kingdom in Kandy and named it "Senkadagala" in remembrance of the Brahmin named "Senkanda" who lived in a rock cave in Udawattakele forest during the reign of King Gajabahu I at Anuradhapura.
The Kingdom of Kandy (1469-1815 A.D.) was the last independent monarchy of Sri Lanka. King Senasammata Vikramabahu (1469-1511 A.D.), the first king of the Kandy Kingdom, built his palace within this forest and named it as Uda-wasala-watta. After that, the forest was exclusively utilized by the members of the royal family for aesthetic purposes. As a result of that, the rulers declared the forest area as a restricted zone for the general public. During the royal era, the forest was the main source of firewood to the palace.
Later on, the condition of the forest became deteriorate due to the felling down of Kitul-trees and other edible foliage for the elephants of Kandy Perahera pageant. It was further intensified during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when a large amount of timber was extracted to supply firewood for the adjoining British Governor's residence (Nyanatusita & Dissanayake, 2013).
In 1856, the then government declared the Udawattakele as a forest reserve and in 1938, it was declared again as a sanctuary (Nyanatusita & Dissanayake, 2013; Weerakoon, 2015). In 1940, several valuable trees such as Jack and Mahogani were planted in this site by the Department of Forest (Weerakoon, 2015).
Udawatta Kele belongs to the mid-country wet zone and is situated about 635 m above the mean sea level (Abeysekara et al., 2018; Weerakoon, 2015). Located behind the sacred Temple of Tooth premises, the forest stretches in an area about 113 hectares [(279.229 acres) Abeysekara et al., 2018]. The forest receives an annual mean rainfall of more than 2000 mm (Abeysekara et al., 2018).
A large number of endemic flora [(about 460 plant species including 135 tree species, 11 liana species) Wedathanthri & Hitinayake, 1999] and fauna species are found in the forest reserve. Three vegetation strata namely the canopy (dominant), sub-canopy and underground layers are identified in the forest reserve.
The Udawattakele forest is surrounded by a highly urbanized area. Therefore, the forest is considered very important in controlling the pollution of Kandy city. It also acts as the catchment area for the supply of water to the Kandy city.
Important locations within the forest
The Senkanda cave
A rock cave which is said to be used by an ascetic named Senkanda is found in the Udawattakele forest. According to "Asigiri Upatha", this Brahmin was practicing asceticism in a cave in Maya rata during the reign of King Gajabahu I at Anuradhapura (Karunaratna, 1986). Besides the Senkanda cave, two rock caves (named Chitta Visuddhi Lena and Maithree Lena) used by Buddhist monks are also found in the forest.
The Senkanda cave has been designated as an archaeological protected monument by the government gazette notification no.23 on 1 October 1972.
Lady Horton street
This is the first street constructed within the forest. It was built in 1834 by Horton, the then Governor of Ceylon (1831-1837), in memory of his beloved wife (Karunaratna, 1986).
Kodimale Kanda mountain
This is the highest point (1800 feet from the mean sea level) situated within the forest. This spot is believed to be used to hoist the national flag and religious flags during ancient times. A giant endemic liana called "Pus Wela" (Entada pusaetha) which is said to be about 200-300 years old can be seen near Kodimale Kanda.
Garrison Cemetery
The dead bodies of soldiers and generals in the British army who died in Sri Lanka have been buried in this cemetery.
The Marble seat
A flat marble rock which had been used as a resting place was in the forest (Karunaratna, 1986), but today is at the Sri Dalada Sylvan as an altar for offering flowers.
The pond which is found in the forest, during the royal era, was used by the queen and other members of the royal family (Karunaratna, 1986). The earliest reference to the pond is found with regard to an expenditure incurred in August 1824 (Karunaratna, 1986). It is presently encircled by a narrow lane known as Lover's Walk.
Ironwood forest
A patch of forest consisting of Na-trees (ironwood: Mesua ferrea) is found within the Udawattakele forest. These trees are believed to be planted in 1926.
1) This image (Dalada Maligawa Sri Lanka B) has been released into the public domain by its creator, Wouterhagens.
2) Maitri Lena by Nyanatusita is licensed under CC BY SA 3.0
3) Garrison Cemetery by Nyanatusita is licensed under CC BY SA 3.0
1) Abeysekara, A.M.S.K., Yatigammana, S.K. and Premakantha, K.T., 2018. Biomass and Carbon Stock Estimation of Udawattakele Forest Reserve in Kandy District of Sri Lanka. Journal of Tropical Forestry and Environment, 8(2). pp.13-28.
2) Karunaratna N., 1986. Udavattakälē: The Forbidden Forest of the Kings of Kandy, Colombo: Department of National Archives. pp.1,91,97,103.
3) Nyanatusita, B. and Dissanayake, R., 2013. Udawattakele:"A Sanctuary Destroyed From Within". Loris, Journal of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka, 26(5), pp.39-40.
4) Wedathanthri, H.P. and Hitinayake, H.M.G.S.B., 1999. Invasive behaviour of Myroxylon balsamum at Udawattakele forest reserve. In Proceedings of International Forestry and Environment Symposium. p.14.
5) Weerakoon, W.M.B.M.B., 2015. Avifaunal diversity of Udawattakele, an urban forest reserve in the Kandy District. Sciscitator 2015 / Volume 2. pp. 19-21.
Jathika Namal Uyana
By Lanka Pradeepa November 10, 2019 Anuradhapura District, Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Bodhigharaya, Forests in Sri Lanka, Mineral Deposits in Sri Lanka, Mountains in Sri Lanka, Padhanaghara No comments
(Sinhala: ජාතික නාමල් උයන රෝස තිරිවාණ නිධිය)
is a famous ironwood forest and a large rose quartz mountain situated in the village of Ulpathgama at Galkiriyagama in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. The site which was developed under the direction of Vanavasi Rahula Thera, is presently maintained under the authority of the Central Cultural Fund.
The Jathika Namal Uyana is situated in the Highland Series of crystalline rocks close to Vijayan-Highland Boundary (Mahinda, 2002). The exposed rose quartz deposit which is estimated to be over five hundred million years old (Mahinda, 2002) is believed to be the largest one of its kind found in the South Asian region (Wickramaratne & Ranawana, 2002). The site receives the dichotomous climate conditions of dryness associated with the Dry Zone and wet weather associated with the Wet Zone. However, the area including the Jathika Namal Uyana belongs to the Tropical Lowland Seasonal Rain Forest (Mahinda, 2002).
The site is totally extending in an area about 1200 hectares (Mahinda, 2002) and a portion of about 105 hectares near its northern boundary has a lushly grown Na-tree (Mesua ferrea) grove (Wickramaratne & Ranawana, 2002). Some suggest that this Na grove could be a horticultural garden with historical value (Mahinda, 2002; Wickramaratne & Ranawana, 2002). Several ancient buildings and monuments belonging to a Buddhist monastery or a similar complex are found scattered in an area about 24 hectares located within this Na grove (Wickramaratne & Ranawana, 2002).
Archaeological monuments
A number of archaeological monuments are found at the south-west boundary of the Namal Uyana forest reserve. They include a Stupa, a Bodhighara, a Uposathagara, ruins of foundations of buildings and rock-cut steps. Besides that, an "Attani Kanu" (a pillar inscription) is located in the middle of the road near the Ranawa Devurada Ranrada Viharaya, a Buddhist temple situated in close proximity to the Jathika Namal Uyana (see the below Google Street view).
Namal Seya Stupa
The ancient Stupa which has been built on a square-shaped terrace is completely conserved. The terrace is about 4-5 feet tall from the ground level and can be accessed through four entrances. The "Sandakada Pahana" (the moonstone) is visible at each entrance.
Bodhigharaya
Although there is no any Bodhi-tree today, the Bodhighara or Bodhi-tree shrine at Jathika Namal Uyana provides evidence for the presence of a Bodhi-tree in the past. The outer parapet of the Bodhighara which makes a square-shaped terrace is built of rose quartz. From the available archaeological evidence, this ancient structure is said to be a work belonging to the 8th century A.D.
Padhanagharaya
During the latter part of the Anuradhapura period, Padhanagharas were built in several places in Sri Lanka (such as Arankele, Ritigala, Batahirarama, and Veherakanda) to accommodate the Buddhist monks who devoted themselves to meditation. A number of cubicles known as Padhanaghara are found in the Jathika Namal Uyana premises.
Gal Pathraya
A stone begging bowl type implement can be seen at the bottom of the rose quartz outcrop collecting the water flowing down from the mountain.
An area of 24.111 hectares within the Jathika Namal Uyana was designated as an archaeological reserve on 12 November 2001, by a Gazette notification No. LDB 277/40 (Mahinda, 2002).
The Ranawa mountain or Namal Uyana was declared as a protected forest on 26 April 2005, by an Extraordinary Gazette notification no. 138/137.
1) Mahinda, W., 2002. A Preliminary Archaeological Study of the Jatika Namal Uyana. Annual Research Sessions, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Vol. 7. p.45.
2) Wickramaratne, S.N. and Ranawana, K.B., 2002. A Preliminary Ecological Survey of the Jatika Namal Uyana, Galkiriyagama. Annual Research Sessions, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Vol. 7. p.44.
Badagamuwa Conservation Forest
By Lanka Pradeepa November 10, 2019 Forests in Sri Lanka, Kurunegala District No comments
(Sinhala: බඩගමුව සංරක්ෂිත වනාන්තරය; Tamil: படகமுவ பாதுகாப்பு காடு)
is a secondary forest in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. It is located on the wayside of Kurunegala-Dambulla road (A6 road) approximately 4 km distance from the Kurunegala town.
Due to the human interventions, the natural forest that existed at Badagamuwa was started to degrade during the 17th century. However, the site was declared as a "Conservation Forest" by the government on 1 June 1894, under gazette no. 5290 and a reforestation process was initiated in 1895, by the English Captain A. M .Walker. The A6 road that is running across the Badagamuwa forest today is said to be there at the time as a small cart size track.
In 1925, several valuable trees such as Jack, Mahogani, Teak, Nedun, Burutha, Ethdemata, Milla etc., were planted in this site by the Department of Forest. Before that process, the department had collected the wood harvest from the forest and given the plotted lands to villagers to cultivate several crops such as Pumpkin, Plantain, Papaya etc. After that, the cultivated lands were burnt and developed again as a forest area. In 1968, several plants such as Jack, Mahogani were re-planted at the forest.
At the beginning, several selected trees were cut-down from Badagamuwa forest as the wood harvest but it was ceased when the government decided to protect it as a conservation forest. On 13 September 2007, the forest was upgraded as a Conservation Forest under the gazette (extraordinary) no. 1514/22. Presently, the Badagamuwa Conservation Forest covers 217 hectares and 50 hectares of which has been identified as a "Man and Biosphere Reserve".
Situated in the intermediate Zone of Sri Lanka, the Badagamuwa forest has an annual rainfall of 1750-2500 mm. It is a secondary forest resulted by the forest regeneration followed by abandonment of the plantation for several decades. Presently, the forest is home for more than 130 plant species and 300 animal species.
The canopy of the forest is mainly dominated by plantation species such as Jack (Artocarpus heterophyllus) and Mahogani (Swietenia macrophylla) and the lower strata has been regenerated by typical forest species. A vegetation survey conducted by the Department of Forest has recorded more than 30 main species in the Badagamuwa forest including Jack, Milla, Pihimbia, Budediyala, Diyakirala, Heenambilla, Walwaraka etc. Native species such as Wild Coffee, Etamba, Malaboda and Nedun had been also recorded by them. Besides the vegetation survey, a fauna survey conducted by the "Young Zoologists' Association" revealed many reptiles, birds, butterflies, amphibians and mammals species who are native to Sri Lanka.
Thuruviyana habitat improvement project
Forest openings have been created in several places in the forest due to the dense cover of liana species spreading over the canopy such as Hinguru-wel (Acacia caesia) and Kanduru-ketiya-wel (Combretum albidum). Under Thuruviyana habitat improvement project, these lianas are removed in systematic manner to restore the forest openings.
1) Information from the "Badagamuwa Environmental Information Center".
Arankele Archaeological Site, Kurunegala
By Lanka Pradeepa November 09, 2019 Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, Cave temples in Sri Lanka, Kurunegala District, Padhanaghara No comments
Arankele
(Sinhala: අරංකැලේ/අරන්කැලේ පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය)
is a ruined forest monastery located in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. Presently, the site has been declared as an archaeological reserve.
The exact history of Arankele is not known yet as there are no any written sources those reveal about the establishment of this monastery. However, the origin of this monastery is thought to be belonged to the early Anuradhapura Period (Anuradhapura Period: 377 B.C.-1017 A.D.). Architecture of the remaining buildings and structures indicates that they are belonged to a period between 8-10 centuries A.D.
The history of this place, according to some, is connected with King Mahasena who reigned in Anuradhapura during the period of 275-301 A.D. The chronicle Mahawamsa states that King Mahasena who once came to see the construction works of Kimbulvana Oya, had seen a picturesque site near the Dolukanda area and had ordered his men to construct a new Buddhist monastery there (Anulawathi, 2015). Some believe that the monastery which is mentioned in the Mahawamsa could be the one presently known as Arankele (Anulawathi, 2015).
It is also believed that the monastery was probably functioning during the Gampola period (1341-1408 A.D.).
The name "Arankele" is said to be evolved from the combination of two words: "Aran" and "Kele". The word Aran is thought to be either derived from "Arahat" (meaning Arhant) or "Arama" (meaning monastery) and the word "Kele" gives the meaning as "the forest".
The site is dotted with a large number of buildings and structures including caves, Padhanagharas, Janthagharas, promenades, ponds, monks' dwellings, Bodhigharas, etc.
Several natural caves in the eastern slope of the Arankele mountain (known as Dumkanda mountain) have been utilized during the 3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D. to accommodate Buddhist monks. Among them, the cave house known as "Maliyadeva Lena" is considered special (Anulawathi, 2015).
During the latter part of the Anuradhapura period, Padhanagharas were built in several places in Sri Lanka such as Arankele, Ritigala, Batahirarama, and Veherakanda. Built-in the style of double platformed monasteries, Padhanagharas accommodated the Buddhist monks who devoted themselves to meditation.
Janthagharaya
A large Janthaghara building which was used for hot baths, saunas, and medicinal baths is found in the Arankele monastery complex (Anulawathi, 2015; Anuradha & Kumari, 2015). The hearths used for boiling water and grinding stones for the making of medicinal pastes from herbs are still visible inside the building.
Chankamanagharaya
The ruined structure which is about 16.7 m in length and 4.1 m in width is known as Chankamanagharaya and has been built sheltering a promenade (Anulawathi, 2015). A sanitary building comprising of a urinal, toilet and washroom is located in the vicinity of the building.
1) Anulawathi, K. M., 2015. Aithihasika Arankele (A leaflet in Sinhala). Divisional Archaeological office, Panduwasnuwara.
2) Anuradha, R.K.S.; Kumari, A.S., 2015. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Kurunegala Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-37-2. pp.35-38.
This page was last updated on 9 November 2019
Gurukanda Viharaya, Mullaitivu
By Lanka Pradeepa November 09, 2019 Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, Mullaitivu District No comments
Gurukanda Purana Raja Maha Viharaya (Chemmalai Archaeological Site)
(Sinhala: ගුරුකන්ද විහාරය, මුලතිවු)
is a Buddhist temple located in the village of Chemmalai in Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka.
According to archaeological evidence, this site belongs to the Period of Anuradhapura [(377 B.C.-1017 A.D.) Asanga & Nishantha, 2018].
Located near to the Nayaru lagoon, the site contains archaeological ruins of an ancient monastery of Buddhist tradition (Asanga & Nishantha, 2018). Presently, a new Buddhist temple has been built at the site. The modern building which is being used as the monks' dwelling has been constructed over an ancient Stupa mound or some other old structure (Asanga & Nishantha, 2018). Several ancient monuments including Stupas, base stones and a large number of potsherds and old bricks have been found from the site (Asanga & Nishantha, 2018).
However, improper human activities have caused severe damages to the archaeological site. A new road has been built across the ancient temple complex dividing the monuments into separate land plots. Several old artifacts those had been unearthed during the road expansion process in 2015, are currently placed in a small room built in the premises (Asanga & Nishantha, 2018).
Bulldozed Stupa
Few mounds of ancient Stupas have been identified in the Gurukanda archaeological site. Among them, one Stupa has been flattened to the ground by vandals using a bulldozer. The destroyed Stupa is believed to had a diameter of 10 m and the bricks used to construct it are vary in size (Asanga & Nishantha, 2018). Artifacts belonging to the Anuradhapura Period such as fragments of roof tiles and red color pottery pieces have been found from this vandalized Stupa site (Asanga & Nishantha, 2018).
Presently, this site is claimed by both Buddhist and Hindu people. Besides the modern Buddhist temple, a small Hindu shrine named Neeravi Pillaiyar Temple is also located on the same site. Due to the lack of knowledge regarding the true identity of this site, some disagreements have arisen between the Buddhist and Hindu devotees.
1) Asanga, M.V.G.K.; Nishantha, I.P.S., 2018. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mulathivu Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:978-955-7457-25-3. pp.120-122.
Queen Victoria Statue, Colombo
By Lanka Pradeepa November 03, 2019 Colombo District, Sculptures of Sri Lanka No comments
A marble statue of Queen Victoria is standing at the opposite side of Viharamahadevi Park and the main entrance of Laksala Museum Gallery Cafe, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.
This statue which was erected to mark the Diamond Jubilee (1897) of Britain's Queen Victoria (born: 1819; died: 1901) is said to be a creation of George Edward Wade (1853-1933 A.D.), a British sculptor who is famous for his statues of royal people and politicians. The statue had been originally placed in gardens adjoining the residence of the British Governor and the Governor-General of Ceylon. This residence which was known as the "King's House" or the "Queen's House" until Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972, is presently served as the official residence of the President of Sri Lanka and hence called as the "Presidential Palace".
However, the statue was removed from the premises of Presidential Palace amid fears of the bad luck which was thought to have come from the statue. The Queen was then standing in a new site near the back entrance to the Colombo National Museum, not facing any public thoroughfare. However, the statue was face-lifted and installed at the present site, as a part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which was held in Sri Lanka on 15-17 November 2013. Presently, the statue is gazing into the thickets of the "Viharamaha Devi Park" that was originally known as "Victoria Park" until 1958.
The inscription of the memorial can be read as follows,
"1897- DIAMOND JUBILEE MEMORIAL."


The four harriers are generally associated with reedbeds, large cereal crop fields such as corn or wheat and mature heather moorland.All four species glide and soar with wings held in a shallow upward 'V' shape, and this characteristic coupled with long wings and tail (notice the long tails in all of these illustrations) seperates them from all other similar sized raptors.Possible confusion similar sized raptors are the buzzards, but they are much more compact with broad wings showing a much shorter and 'fan' spread tail in flight.
Male birds are fairly easy to identify with a good view and diagnostic points are given for each species in their relevant pages. Female and immature Hen, Montagu's and Pallid harriers are far more difficult and are often refered to as 'ringtails'.
43 - 47 CM which includes long tail (16 - 18 CM). WS 98-110cm. Often described as having a 'scruffy' or 'dirty' appearance. Is distinctly smaller and slimmer in both body and wings when compared with Hen Harrier.Adult male easily seperated from Hen harrier by one black wing bar above and two below ( 1 -2 - Montagu ! ) and faint rust-coloured streaking on belly and underwing-coverts.
Raptors of the World is the definitive handbook to this most popular group of birds. This field guide uses all of the plates from Raptors of the World, with a concise, revised text on facing pages, to create a conveniently-sized, lightweight field reference covering all 320 raptor species. The book also has an updated colour distribution map for each species. Much of the extensive introductory material has been retained in this guide, with the addition of a complete species list containing all subspecies and brief details of their ranges. Armed with this guide, birders will be able to identify with confidence any raptor encountered anywhere in the world.
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This publication, including a CD-ROM containing raptor calls, sets out to promote best practice for the survey and monitoring of raptors. It is hoped that it will provide a starting point for anyone wanting to begin a raptor study, and indeed to encourage a new generation of raptor ecologists.
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The identification of the diurnal birds of prey is especially difficult. There is a wide variation in plumage among some species, especially the Eagles and Buzzards, and in all species general outlines and wing positions are much affected by wind and light, and by the birds behaviour at the time. Often, too, the birds are only sighted at long range, and the authors believe that when travelling extensively in Europe even the expert cannot hope to identify more than seventy per cent of the raptors seen.
In this book, the 38 European species have been grouped into seven sections. Each section brings together those species with similar field characters between which confusion can so often, and so easily, arise. The text, succinct and detailed as it is, is greatly enhanced by Ian Willis's fine drawings, and there are 248 photographs especially chosen to illustrate aspects of identification.