My Hobby

 Everyone needs to occupy themselves when they have a free time.  People engage in various activities during their free time. 
My hobby is gardening. I do it after school. I have grown flowers and vegetables around my house. My family members too help me to work in my garden. We get enough vegetables for our family from my vegetable plants . We don’t go to the market to buy vegetables but when we go, I  buy what I need for my garden. Gardening is an interesting   hobby.
Written by Dilani lasika.
My email adders -dl.mawela@gmail.com
dilani.nikalanda@yahoo.com

Sripada

                                             

Sripada” other vise known as Adams Peak is a sacred place of the Buddhists, Hindus and Christians. They visit and worship on this mountain. The Buddhists believe that there is the foot print of Lord Buddha. The Hindus and Christians believe that the there is the footprint of Adam. The sacred Sripada Mountain is situated in the Rathnapura district in the Sabaragamuva province of Sri Lanka. This is higher than. Other mountain in Rathnapura district.
On top of the mountain is a large rock where there is a shrine on four pillars with titled Groups of pilgrims organize themselves into groups and visit the mountain during the “Sripada” season which is from December to May.
They wear white cloths when visiting the mountain. Not only people, but beautiful butterflies too visit the mountain. Sripada is a interesting place of the people.
written by- dilani lasika nikalanda
my email adders-dl.mawela@gmail.com
1.                  dilani.nikalanda@yahoo.com

The gems of the Rathnapura

                                                       

                                                                

                                                      

                                                        

 Rathnapura,which means the city of gems is as  famous as the gems it is named after. The main source of income in Rathnapura is mining. Mining is not as graceful as a gem, it is very complicated and  miners have to face many difficulties.

Before starting to mine, miners have to choose a suitable land, which must be in a slope and consist of gravel soil. The gems are abounded in the solid layer called the “illama” (gem vein or the gravel bearing gems).
 

Before the mining, the miners perform their religious rites, by lighting four lamps for lord Buddha and the gods. Then the dead souls are also remembered. It is believed that by doing these rituals the miners will be protected from invisible demons and it will help them to find the gems easily.

It is considered that the most suitable days to conduct these rituals are the days called “kemmura” (Wednesdays and Saturdays). Seven types of flowers of seven different colours, seven types of fish, joss tricks, coconut oil and “dummala” are used for these rituals. In addition, the exorcist uses a cock bird as a sacrifice.

Then on an auspicious time, the chief of the miners removes a chunk of soil from the ground. Twelve members are needed to begin mining. The scantlings that are twelve feet in length and six feet in width are used and installed under the earth until the “illama” is found. There must be a gap of about four feet between two scantlings.

Written by- Dilani  lasika
My email adders             dl.mawela@gmail.com