Nil Manel - National Flower of Sri Lanka

In February 1986 Nil Manel or blue water lily (Nymphaea stellata, though it has been recently renamed as Nymphaea nouchali) was chosen as the National flower. Nil Manel is found all the part of Sri Lanka and grows in the shallow water.

The manel is most popular among the local variety for its color and because it blooms from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. - almost the whole day.

It is with the first rays of the sun that the closed bud of the Manel opens and shows the world the beautiful pink blush that touches its petals. Blooming in shades of pink, blue and white on magenta with yellow in the middle, and also this plant has its roots deep in muddy waters.

One of several flowering plants which show striking adaptations to life in water, this flower is highly valued in aquatic horticulture in Sri Lanka. It has several local varieties which differ in size and color.

The flower blooms on a long stalk and floats on the surface. Each is 7-20 cm in diameter, has four sepals and numerous petals which vary in size and color. The petals are usually pale whitish violet or less commonly light blue and occasionally pinkish purple.

The botanical name of the flower is Nymphaea stellata Wild. The first part of the name has been derived from the Greek word "nymphaia" which means water lily and the second part from the Latin word "stellatus" meaning star. This is because in a lake having an abundance of this plant, the leaves and flowers give the appearance of a star studded sky.

We find the Apsaravas in Sigiriya frescoes holding these flowers in their hands. Seeds and the tubes are used as a vegetable by villagers while leaves stem and flowers are used in herbal medicine.

The plant grows in streams, tanks and ponds throughout Sri Lanka’s low country and flowers almost all year round.

Udawalawe National Park

There are many parks and gardens in Sri Lanka where you will get a detailed idea of the island country’s flora and fauna. Uda Walawe National Park is among the premier parks of Sri Lanka where you will be able to see wild elephants. The park is located besides the vast Uda Walawe reservoir and is only a short drive from the South Coast. The park has an area of over 30,000 hectares. Uda Walawe National Park is a mixture of scrubland and rich teak forest. Uda Walawe became Sri Lanka’s fifth National Park in 1972.

If you are an elephant lover then this is the place for you. There are around five hundred elephants and it is common to see herds of over 50 elephants together. However the debarking of the trees by the elephants poses serious problems at times. The elephant fence not only helps to keep the elephants away from neighboring farm lands but keeps domestic cattle out and protects the parks other resident mammals. If you are very lucky then you will be able to spot a leopard. There are five good locations from where one can sight a leopard, they consist of rocky outcrops where the leopards rest to enjoy the warmth of the first rays of early morning sunshine.

Uda Walawe National Park has many other animals like the sambar, barking deer, water buffalo, jackals, sloth bears and three varieties of mongoose. Approximately 30 species of reptiles and water monitor lizards, the last mentioned can be of six feet in length. Here you will be able to see Crested Serpent Eagle and the Grey Headed Fishing Eagle, the Malabar Pied Hornbill and Blue-faced Malkoha.

This natural park has droughts each year from May and August, this park lies in a dry zone. You can remain in the park until dusk, taking a packed lunch, however during the middle of the day much of the wildlife will seek shade from the blistering sun, therefore it may not be possible for you to spot animals

Dunhinda Falls

 

Duhinda Falls, Sri Lanka is located 5 km north of Badulla on the Badulla - Taldena Road

 
The falls are the highest on the Badulu Oya River that flows on the mountain border of the Uva highlands and eventually surrenders itself to the Mahaweli Ganga. It is said to be the most awesome waterfall of the country. Dunhinda undoubtedly is considered a plume is Badulla and Sri Lanka’s crown because of its spectacular down pour. Its water smashes on the bouldered surface with high velocity and falls down into a large pool. This gives a look of a vapor waterfall from where the name Duhinda has been derived and the amazing beauty of this 210 feet high fall lies in this very fact.

To reach the Duhinda Falls one has to travel 5 Kilometer from Badulla by the Mahiyangana stretch, and trek another 2 kilometer from the main road while he enjoys the beauty of the Badulu Oya valley. The Dunhinda Falls is a paid admission spot. Very near to the fall there is a presence of an old cave which once was haven of Veddas from Bintenne.

A fable is linked to the Badulu Oya. It is said that there was a time when the whole region was covered with water because of the river being barred by a wild creeper which had grown at the point from where Dunhinda’s drop now originates. The king had then sent an order to remove the creeper and relieve the valley. This project took three months for completion eventually giving birth to this exquisite waterfall.

Another popular belief attached to this waterfall is that in the depths of the water of Dunhinda dwells a fish with a golden earring.

we guide you to the Duhinda Falls in Sri Lanka. Go and discover the beauty and such other interesting stories related to this famous place in person

Sri Lanka Batiks

"Titik" or "Tik" means a bit or a drop in Indonesian language. The melted wax covers the area of the cloth that dose not get a particular colour. This is a tedious process, depending on the colour scheme the already prepared cloth has to go into the colour bath several times.

The patterns are generally drawn on the white cloth with the help of a template, but an Artist who is talented has the ability comes from china not only cotton but pure silk as well used in this from of art.

The lime drawing is the initial step. Then waxing begins and depending on the pattern and the zise of the Artwork several waxing and boiling sessions take place between the dyeing session.
The "Tie & Dye" method was popular sometime ago with this method the drawing is not necessary but there is only a uniform round patterns with multi colours available.

Cloth should be washed Thoroughly to remove the starch. To was the cloth should be pined to a Frame. A drawing pen with a heap with molten wax is used to trace the pattern with wax and all areas that do not take the first dye is waxed. The Temperature of wax 17 c. When wax is cooled the cloth is submerged in a Bowl of cold water and then placed in the dye bath added with soda & salt, for 30-60 minutes. Then the cloth is removed and paged to drip. Then to remove wax the cloth should be boiled in a container for 5 minutes with detergents. Then the cloth is Rinsed and dried. This is the process for each colour until the Final design is completed.



Sri Lanka Gems & Jewellery

Gems & Jewellery and Diamond Products

Introduction

Sri Lanka , the ‘Paradise Island’ of the Indian Ocean is blessed with a range of geo-physical zones, rich precious mineral deposits and an intelligent and educated workforce.

Coloured gemstones mined in Sri Lanka vary from precious gemstones - to semi precious gemstones.

The “Blue Sapphire” has been declared as the “National Stone of Sri Lanka”.

Products

CORUNDUM - Blue, Yellow, Pink, White, Orange & Golden sapphires, star sapphires, rubies, star rubies, padparadcha.

CHRYSOBERYL - Cat’s eye, alexandrite, alenandrite cat’s eye, chrysoberyl

SPINEL - Blue spinel, red spinel, purple spinel

TOPAZ - White topaz (which can be treated to make London Blue)

ZIRCON - Green zircon, yellow zircon, brown zircon, colourless zircon (Matara diamond)

GARNET - Rhodolite, hessonite, pyrope, almandine

BERYL - Aquamarine, heliodor

QUARTZ - Smoky quartz, white quartz, amethyst, quartz cat’s eye

TOURMALINE - Brown tourmaline, yellow tourmaline (green tourmaline, blue tourmaline)

FELDSPAR - Moonstone

Rare stones - Andalusite, kornerupine and a variety of agstes, sinhalite, lolite, indicolite, fibrolite, taaffelte, ekanite, star spinel

Availability of young talented jewellery designers, modern manufacturing facilities and well trained jewellery manufacturers.

Design development in all aspects is a continuous process in the Sri Lankan Jewellery Industry today and specialists conduct annual workshops and training sessions in order to improve and enhance the quality of jewellery.

The prestigious Sri Lanka Jewellery Design Award (organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board) affords professionals as well as young talented amateurs the opportunity to enter the international jewellery market.

The Government policy on the jewellery industry is sound & encouraging. A liberalized policy has been introduced on the import of raw materials, consumables, machinery and tools. Importing of rough gemstones is free of duty in order to encourage more rough stones to come into Sri Lanka for the lapidary industry.

A Gem and Jewellery Exchange offers potential jewellery buyers a wide range of services under one roof, including trading, a gem testing laboratory, gem certification, export services, freight and forwarding facilities, banking and insurance facilities, assaying & hallmarking facilities.

An Import Export Gem Office at the Cargo Village at the International Airport in Katunayake expedites the clearance of rough gemstones and export of cut & polished gems, jewellery and diamonds.

Sri Lanka’s membership of the ATA Carnet makes it easier to transfer jewellery to countries which are its members and allows dealers from member countries to bring samples and attend trade exhibitions.

Gems

Free size and investment gemstones

Calibrated gemstones

Rare gemstones

Gem cutting services

Jewellery

Both men’s and women’s jewellery are available. The selection includes tie pins, tie clips, cuff links, earrings, rings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces and brooches.

Jewellery are manufactured in 9 K, 14 K, 18 K gold, Platinum Sterling Silver or combination of 2 or more metals.

Supply Base

Abundance of gemstones mined in Sri Lanka or imported freely into the country.

Solitaire free size investment stones to calibrated gemstones available.

Trained and skilled cutters equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Quality Standards

Availability of gem testing and certificating facilities.

Availability of assaying and hallmarking facilities.

Certification for Export

For export & import procedures related to gem & jewellery

Related Institutions/Associations

• National Gem & Jewellery Authority
• Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association
• Sri Lanka Diamond Manufacturers Association
• The Gem & Jewellery Dealers Association of Gem & Jewellery Exchange
• Gem Industry, Trade Exports & Services Association
• Sri Lanka Gem Mining & Gem Dealers Association
• Sri Lanka Jewellery Association
• Gemmologists Association of Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Diamond Manufacturers Association

Ceylon Sapphire Branding

Strategic initiatives are being taken to reposition the industry to cater to the high end of the Jewellery market.

The Ceylon Sapphire Brand Strategy has been designed to use Ceylon Sapphire and its worldwide reputation as a tool to move into the production for more high end sales with corresponding higher value addition. The main objective of this strategy is to develop the image of Sri Lanka as the foremost production center for Sapphire jewellery in terms of design, product quality and service, targeting the high end of the market. The branded line of Sapphire jewellery is designed by a world renowned jewellery designer and manufactured in Sri Lanka.

Diamond Cutting and Polishing

Skilled labour at competitive rates combined with a global reputation as a country with a friendly and forward looking investment climate has created an attractive base for cutting and polishing diamonds in Sri Lanka.

The country’s highly literate and trainable work force is the engine of its success as a cutting centre. Adaptability to new technology has helped the industry produce polished diamonds with a high quality make that is increasingly recognized internationally.

Sri Lanka’s specialty is small diamonds of exceptionally high quality, which are imported sawn or cleaved rough. In addition to the traditional brilliant cut, many cutting companies handle other specialized shapes and cuts, particularly tapers, baguettes and princes etc.

There are 14 large established factories and over 15 small workshops employing more than 5,000 workers.

The industry in Sri Lanka is highly organized and the factories are equipped with modern bruting machines and polished wheels mainly from Belgium, Israel and India.

Sri Lanka is a member of the International Diamond Manufacturing Association and a signatory to the Kimberly Process Agreement.