Page 22 - 42 SAYURUSARA
P. 22
20 Sayurusara 2020 December
The Map depicts the good old days of railway and ferry
service to Ramaswaram, India from Thalaimannar.
Thalaimannar was the last stop before boarding the
ferry to India. In the past British Ceylon Vision were
not required to cross over to Ramaswaram India.
People could purchase a train ticket from Ceylon to
India as simply as purchasing a ticket from Maradana
to Ragama.
Kunchikulam Bridge
Just before entering Mannar before the Giant Tank there are
two British Constructions.
The first is an irrigation system that was constructed
to distribute water from Giant Tank to the nearby villages. The
abandoned construction is now being renovated by the government
to provide water during the period of drought.
Hanging Bridge
The other is a hanging bridge, made entirely
of steel. The bridge to date is used by the villagers to
cross. However, I did not want to test the Creaking
Structure by walking cross.
Further inward, is an ancient irrigation
system, developed during the time of the Kings, that
served the same purpose as the British irrigation
system. However, to reach this location require a
4WD vehicle.
Mannar Fort
When Entering Mannar Island, the Portuguese and
Dutch constructed fort, sits imposingly on the edge
of water. The fort is sadly in a bad condition. Where
walking through the archways. We can see an old
plaque with engravings in Portuguese /Dutch.
From the fort, the remains of the old bridge that
reconnected Mannar Island to the mainland that was
destroyed by the LTTE, can be seen parallel to the newly
constructed bridge. The bridge and the lagoon provide
for beautiful picture at Sunset.
Baobab Tree
The famous Baobab tree is known to everyone who visits
Mannar. It says that the tree was bought to Sri Lanka over 700
years by Arab traders through modern day Pakistan. The tree
however originates in Africa. Of the 40 Baobabs that are found
in Sri Lanka, 34 are found in Mannar. This particular tree is the
biggest tree in Sri Lanka.
A predominant catholic region, the tree is also called
the ‘Judas Bag’ owing to the fact that the fruit contains 30 seeds,
similar to the 30 pieces, of silver Judas betrayed Jesus for.
The Map depicts the good old days of railway and ferry
service to Ramaswaram, India from Thalaimannar.
Thalaimannar was the last stop before boarding the
ferry to India. In the past British Ceylon Vision were
not required to cross over to Ramaswaram India.
People could purchase a train ticket from Ceylon to
India as simply as purchasing a ticket from Maradana
to Ragama.
Kunchikulam Bridge
Just before entering Mannar before the Giant Tank there are
two British Constructions.
The first is an irrigation system that was constructed
to distribute water from Giant Tank to the nearby villages. The
abandoned construction is now being renovated by the government
to provide water during the period of drought.
Hanging Bridge
The other is a hanging bridge, made entirely
of steel. The bridge to date is used by the villagers to
cross. However, I did not want to test the Creaking
Structure by walking cross.
Further inward, is an ancient irrigation
system, developed during the time of the Kings, that
served the same purpose as the British irrigation
system. However, to reach this location require a
4WD vehicle.
Mannar Fort
When Entering Mannar Island, the Portuguese and
Dutch constructed fort, sits imposingly on the edge
of water. The fort is sadly in a bad condition. Where
walking through the archways. We can see an old
plaque with engravings in Portuguese /Dutch.
From the fort, the remains of the old bridge that
reconnected Mannar Island to the mainland that was
destroyed by the LTTE, can be seen parallel to the newly
constructed bridge. The bridge and the lagoon provide
for beautiful picture at Sunset.
Baobab Tree
The famous Baobab tree is known to everyone who visits
Mannar. It says that the tree was bought to Sri Lanka over 700
years by Arab traders through modern day Pakistan. The tree
however originates in Africa. Of the 40 Baobabs that are found
in Sri Lanka, 34 are found in Mannar. This particular tree is the
biggest tree in Sri Lanka.
A predominant catholic region, the tree is also called
the ‘Judas Bag’ owing to the fact that the fruit contains 30 seeds,
similar to the 30 pieces, of silver Judas betrayed Jesus for.
