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Tag: sri lanka
The Modern Spirit of Sri Lanka: A Culture Rooted in Tradition, Evolving with Time
Sri Lanka, an island often celebrated for its ancient heritage and deep-seated traditions, is also a place where modernity thrives in ways both subtle and profound. Beyond its historical temples and time-honored customs, the country pulses with a contemporary energy—an ever-evolving culture that seamlessly blends the old with the new.
At first glance, Sri Lanka may appear deeply traditional, with its vibrant religious festivals, respect for ancestry, and enduring rural lifestyles. But beneath this surface lies a dynamic, modernistic essence. Walk through the streets of Colombo, and you’ll see high-rise buildings standing shoulder to shoulder with colonial-era structures. Young Sri Lankans sip artisanal coffee while engaging in spirited discussions on technology, art, and global politics. Innovation weaves itself into the very fabric of the nation, from eco-friendly agricultural practices to emerging digital start-ups that bridge Sri Lanka with the rest of the world.
What makes Sri Lanka’s modernity unique is its refusal to sever ties with its roots. Unlike some nations where progress often comes at the cost of heritage, Sri Lanka carries both forward—redefining itself without erasing its past. The island’s music scene reflects this beautifully; traditional béra drums echo through the air just as frequently as electronic beats from modern fusion artists. The fashion industry, too, embraces this duality, with designers incorporating traditional batik and handloom textiles into contemporary styles.
Even in the realm of social values, Sri Lanka walks a delicate balance between modern aspirations and cultural grounding. While the younger generation increasingly challenges outdated norms, there is a collective effort to ensure that progress remains inclusive, considerate of the nation’s deeply communal ethos. This is not a country that rushes blindly into the future, but one that carefully selects which aspects of modernity to embrace, ensuring that evolution does not come at the cost of identity.
Sri Lanka’s modern spirit is not about Westernization or abandoning what once was. It is about adaptation, reinvention, and the ability to carry history into the future without letting it become a burden. It is proof that a culture can be both ancient and new, deeply rooted yet open to change. And in this harmony of past and present, Sri Lanka offers a rare and beautiful lesson to the world: that true modernity is not about discarding tradition, but about knowing how to evolve without forgetting where you came from.
Arugam Bay: A Surfer’s Paradise with an Unseen Challenge
“The waves rise high, a crest of white foam,
In this rhythm of nature, I’ve found my home.”Arugam Bay, nestled along Sri Lanka’s eastern coastline, is renowned for its world-class waves, stunning sunrises, and welcoming community. The bay itself remains remarkably clean, a testament to the care taken by locals and visitors alike. However, just beyond the immediate coastline, an environmental issue looms—a landfill in nearby Pallakkadu, somewhat 30km away.
The presence of plastic waste in this area poses a growing concern, not just for the surrounding ecosystem but also for the region’s wildlife. Among the most affected are Sri Lanka’s majestic elephants, which often wander into these dumps in search of food. Tragically, many end up consuming plastic waste, leading to severe health issues and, in some cases, fatalities.
Despite awareness of the problem, large-scale cleanup efforts have yet to take shape. Elrequisitium recognizes the urgency of this issue and seeks to bring attention to the need for immediate action. The goal is to initiate sustainable waste management solutions that protect both the environment and the wildlife that call this region home.
Arugam Bay is more than just a surfing destination; it’s part of a delicate ecosystem that deserves preservation. While the beach remains pristine, the hidden impact of plastic waste just beyond its borders is a challenge that cannot be ignored. Addressing this issue will require cooperation, awareness, and a commitment to sustainable change.
A cleaner, safer environment for both people and wildlife is possible. The question remains: how soon will we act?
Sites of the treasure island that you must visit
Sri Lanka well known all over the world for its majestic mountain ranges and the scenic beauty that comes with it. These mountains are dressed in green standing sentry to the bluest of waters giving home to so much life with blue above and below, ever lightening under the suns light.
Adams peak
Tall, conical sacred mountain located in the center of the islands hill country also known as Sripada.
Widely known for the foot shaped indentation at the summit of the pyramid shaped mountain called the sri pada
This is the first Breath- taking- must-see sites on your visit to Sri Lanka that we have chosen for you.
Especially you must not miss the picture-perfect sunrise which is simply awe-inspiring which is worth the toil and trouble it takes to climb the summit.
Knuckles mountain range
Lying in the central highlands comprising of series of recumbent folds and peaks giving resemblance to a clenched fist.
This mist-laden mountain range, also called the Dumbara Kaduvatiya , is robed with thick layers of mist.
Giving home of counties significant proportion of the country’s rich biodiversity.
Hotspot among the nature and adventure enthusiasts.
The trails leading to the mountain offers splendid awe-inspiring vistas which includes cascading waterfalls, cloud forests offering shelter to a diverse range of flora and fauna. We’ve put some photos of our trip to this trail here.
Pidurutalagala mountain
Locally called the mount pedro tallest mountain in the country, peak of which is seen from most areas of the hill country.
The lap of the mountain blesses one with the chance to view the beautiful country of srilanka and is a perfect scenic view. Although the peak is of a security risk area which means off limits for the commoners, nevertheless it is a sight to behold.
The peak of this mountain is on every traveller’s wish list.
The panoramic views from the mountain are simply spectacular, which words fail to describe the beauty.
This mountain consists of forests which gives shelter to large variety of rare and endemic species of both flora and fauna.
Sigiriya
This site, which is only a few centuries younger than the country itself , can’t be ignored by any traveller.
Lying in central srilanka consisting of ancient ruins of a picturesque stronghold built in the late 5th century on a monolithic rock.
Now for a small history lesson… this iconic beauty was built by a non-royal person for King Kashyapa. The latter brutally murdered his father and stole the throne from the rightful heir and his half brother Moggallana. Kashyapa feared that his brother might try to take revenge from him, and escaped Anuradhapura to take shelter in Sigiriya. He built his fortress on top of a giant impenetrable rock.
Visitors begin the ascent to the top through the open paws of the lion, there is something in this iconic beauty which presents something that suits every type of traveller.
Moon plains
It is located in the midst of a valley named Ranhawadigama which is a few couple of kilometres away from Nuwara Eliya.
From keeping your eyes peeled looking out for the spotted predator for whom you are a likely prey is something quite adventurous …
The picturesque green slopes where the deer roams are something straight out from a portrait.
Providing the visitors with the panoramic views of countryside and the chilly misty weather where you must watch your step is simply fabulous.
The prime attraction here is the peak with a sharp drop a ‘mini world’s end’.
Midgets of Adam’s peak
Ever been fascinated by the dwarves of the lonely mountain?
With their crafty ways. And their skill at crafting…
Dwarves have been associated with mining since the most ancient of times. But we never expected to come across remnants of this ancient tale in Sri Lanka.
There we were sitting around tea, at a local shop, when the topic of holes drilled into gemstones turning up at the river bed came up. I was intrigued. Modern technology achieves this feat with great pride. Then how did they do it back then?
At first the story was unintelligible and it just went past me. Upon repeatedly inquiring of the tale, I grasped its gist.
The story centers around Adam’s peak, a site still famous to this day for attracting the pious and adventurers alike.
Under the influence of a local divinity named Saman, gemstones were spread around the mountain. Literally sprinkled around the mountain!
A Midget race, wandering the face of the earth at the time, caught wind of these gemstones and arrived at Ceylon, to try their luck. They offered their services to the king at the time, and he agreed.
And their work was phenomenal. They diverted the flow of the rivers to mine for gemstones underneath at the rock bed. They had the skills of gem cutting, polishing, & faceting.
They were probably craftsmen as well.
They brought prosperity upon the nation and themselves. And so the days passed by. They intermarried with the folks of Ceylon and passed down their knowledge to them. And so the days passed by. To bring about the end of their stay in Ceylon.
A new king who had had enough of their crafty ways and cunning, banished them from the Land. and they left, taking away most of their precious knowledge.
The little knowledge they left behind, was instrumental in giving Ceylon a reputable name in the ancient world for its gemstones and craftsmanship.
Where did they leave to? Are they still wandering about? Did they even exist, or were they just a creation of the mind? That does keep me wondering….
Would that keep you wondering as well?
What are Gemstones?
Silent in the glance.. yet empowering…
Providing the wielder, that desired touch of magic….
“You are your own unique brand indeed…
risk taking… overcoming the fear of failure….
To dive into the deep unknown…”
The words above are a glance of some of the feelings which a gem in your possession can inspire…
“ dumb jeans in their silent kind, more than quick words do move a woman’s mind”
William ShakespeareSymbolified as tokens of love, royalty, wealth from Tutenkhamen to Queen Victoria, the history of gemstones extends to the Neanderthals who used hematite to decorate their shells. All ancient cultures had some references to gemstones in their society.
So do you ever wonder, of the journey undertaken by a gemstone to end up in jewelry?
It all begins in the dirt, where a miner has identified the presence of a previously untouched entity, in the midst of all the mud and other stones. And you would not recognize the stone in this initial state.
^ this is a licensable photo. We should sell our own somewhere. Good looking miners can be posed.
Some stones do appear colorful and as shiny as they look in jewelry… but this is rare…
A majority appear darker with multiple inclusions in them. If you are lost at inclusions then don’t worry. We’ve written an article discussing this.
Here are examples of rough stones found in Kalu ganga, a river in Sri Lanka, famous since ancient Times for its sapphires.
The rough stones are then cut to form the basic shape, such as square, oval, round…
This depends on the original shape of the gemstone. Some stones can be cut into two, to make perfect pairs for earrings. It is cut in such a manner, so as to preserve weight, color and to slough off the inclusions.
It is definitively a topic of its own to discuss the procedure which help you get the best possible cut for a gemstone.
Once the basic shapes are formed, the stone is then faceted and polished. This is the sparkly stone in your jewelry.
In the midst of this process since stones undergo treatment, in order to improve color or clarity.
As gemstones exchange hands, they maybe recut, to adjust shape as the owner sees fit.
Finally the gemstone ends up in the hands of a jeweler who has seen it to be the perfect match for an accessory they had in mind.
And with the stone set up in the jewelry item, and held firmly it is put up for sale awaiting its rightful owner…. To claim it for their own.And there you have it! This was just a brief overview in gemstones.
We are hoping to expand on this, so it can prove as a valuable resource for those interested in purchasing jewelry, those running jewelry stores, gem businessmen hobbyists out there.
Engineering your Cut & Polishing for Rough Gemstones
A pink sapphire. All those indents at the surface must be sloughed off. Notice how the outline shape is irregular. We’ve got to even it out and aim for a rectangle
Notice how small it has become.This depends on how much meat there is to the stone. That is how much base, you can obtain without making the stone go flat.
I wish I could have taken a picture of this before heating it. Imagine a very pale blue stone.
This rough stone weighed about 3 carats. And notice the white inclusions protruding inwards from the lower end. The goal is to slough these off, and make them less noticeable in the faceted gemstone.
Here is the same stone, after cutting. Its now got a lighter shade of blue compared to the rough stone. Why is this?
The parts of the stone responsible for the darker shade of blue were superficially located and were thus sloughed off.
Now here’s the final product. It wasn’t perfect. Not the shade of blue we wanted. And much smaller than expected.
Beautiful, nevertheless.Another pink sapphire. As the size of this rough stone is already small, we had to go for the shape most closest to its outline. That is a pear/ drop shape. Sadly this shape isn’t common and the market for it is less.
This is an example of a stone in which we didn’t succeed. We opted to heat it, resulting in it being blasted to smithereens. That happens, occasionally.
Some of the key pointers we have to consider are
The basic shape of the rough stone
The types of inclusions in them
Size…
Possible changes in color
