Anuradhapura. The Ancient Buddhist City The first thing that struck me in Anuradhapura - Sri Lanka’s ancient capital (4th century BCE–11th century CE) - was the lotus-covered ponds flanking the roads. Lilies and lotuses bobbed gently in the still waters, their delicate petals a vivid contrast to the earthy surroundings. In Theravada Buddhism, the lotus... Continue Reading →
What The Birds of Trincomalee Taught Me About Life
We just returned from Trincomalee yesterday. A short 45-minute flight south over Tamil countries and the Palk Strait takes one to Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport. Trincomalee is located on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The road from Colombo to Trincomalee starts off winding through lush green squares of paddy, tall evergreen trees, and red-tiled,... Continue Reading →
Tales from a Fractured Island: A Review of Samanth Subramanian’s Masterpiece
This Divided Island by Samanth explores the human toll of Sri Lanka's civil war, weaving personal stories and cultural reflection. The author’s nuanced narrative journalism avoids simplistic moralizing, capturing the complexities of ethnic conflict. While episodic, it’s a vital read that humanizes the impacts of war, though some political aspects remain underexplored.
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