DD/24/078 Pawara

The longest river in Sri Lanka is the Mahaweli River. It is 335 km in length. This river covers about one-fifth of the total land area of Sri Lanka. Although it is often said that the Mahaweli River originates from Samantakuta Mountain, its true source is the Mahaweli Polwathura area. The river flows into the sea at Kinniya in Trincomalee. The Mahaweli River makes a significant contribution to hydroelectric power generation and water supply in Sri Lanka. It flows through the districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee. Its tributaries include Kotmale Oya, Hatton Oya, Uma Oya, Badulu Oya, and Amban Ganga.

Sri Pada is located in the central highlands of the Ratnapura District in the Sabaragamuwa Province. It is approximately 2,243 meters high. Sri Pada is a sacred place for Buddhists because it is believed to bear the footprint of the Buddha’s left foot. The guardian deity of Sri Pada is God Saman. There are six routes to climb Sri Pada: Ratnapura–Palabaddala, Hatton–Nallathanniya, Kuruwita–Erathna, Murraywatte, and Maliboda. The pilgrimage season to Sri Pada begins on the Unduvap full moon day and continues until the Vesak full moon day. Pilgrims especially enjoy watching the sunrise, known as “Iru Sevaya.” The Sri Pada forest reserve receives an annual rainfall of about 5,000 mm. Animals such as elephants, leopards, and other endemic species live in this region.

Matara is the second-largest city in the Southern Province. It is a major city in Sri Lanka located along the southern coastline. Matara is an important commercial center and serves as the administrative capital and largest city of the Matara District. The main river flowing through the district is the Nilwala River. Notable personalities from Matara include Anagarika Dharmapala, Kumaratunga Munidasa, and Gajaman Nona. Matara is a very busy city, especially known for its strong tourist appeal. It is home to many historical attractions such as Paravi Duwa, Matara Fort, Weherahena Temple, Wewurukannala Temple, and St. Mary’s Church. Popular scenic beaches like Polhena and Madiha are also well known. I am proud to have been born in Matara.

The Devinuwara Uthpalavanna Vishnu Devalaya, located at the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka in Devinuwara, is one of the oldest shrines in the country. It was built in honor of the god Upulvan (Vishnu), who is believed to be the protector of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The shrine was first constructed by King Dappula I. It was later destroyed by the Portuguese, but during the Kandyan period, King Rajasinghe II restored it. Daily offerings and rituals are conducted there, and the annual Esala Perahera festival is also held as a ceremonial tribute to the deity.

The principal ritual of the Low Country dance tradition is the Devol Madu ritual. It is performed with the aims of curing illnesses, promoting prosperity, and ensuring well-being. The origin of this ritual is associated with King Seraman of India and the goddess Pattini. It is said that the ritual was conducted to cure King Seraman’s headache. Within the Low Country dance tradition, the Devol Madu ritual is performed in distinctive styles specific to the regions of Matara, Bentara, Raigama, and Siyane. In this ritual, the goddess Pattini is the principal deity, while the gods Devol, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Dedimunda are also venerated. Dances such as Yahandekma, Thelme, Pattini, Devol, Vahala, and Gara are included in this ritual.

The largest land-dwelling mammal is the elephant. There are mainly two species of elephants in the world.The two species are the African elephant and the Asian elephant. There are three subspecies of Asian elephants. In African elephants, both males and females have tusks, whereas in Asian elephants, only some males have tusks. The favorite food of elephants is grass. Elephants are highly social animals and live in groups. The leadership of the group is held by a female elephant. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, elephants are threatened with extinction.