Kirimetiyawatte, abbreviated to Kirimetiya, and even further and affectionately so to Kiri, is a remote village high in the mountains of the central province of Sri Lanka. Whilst only about an hour’s drive from the …
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Spotlight on the Jaffna Peninsula and the city itself

Centuries ago and up until the 17th century when the Portuguese conquered and killed the last king, Jaffna was a kingdom of its own. It had a rich Sangam (Tamil) literature, historically known as ‘the …
Continue readingSpotlight on Polonnaruwa: the city gobbled up by the jungle and other ancient sites

Save a Prayer If you’re getting on a bit, like me, you may remember Duran Duran’s video of their hit song ‘Save a Prayer’ (1982). It was filmed on location in Sri Lanka and notably …
Continue readingAll about Kandy – the last capital of the ancient kings

Kandy Town Overcrowded, humid, bustling, colourful and loud, with lots of tuk tuks beeping, is how I’d describe a first impression of Kandy town. It has a fabulously faded grandeur with its centre piece: a …
Continue readingA memorable trip to a gem mine in Sri Lanka – from grotty rock to sparkling gem!

Ratnapura, locally known as the city of gems, is based at the foot of Adam’s Peak, a conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It was nearing the end of our 10 day tour of …
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