.
   

Governor North's Palanquin rides

by Gamini G. Punchihewa
Ceylon as (Sri Lanka was then called) became a full fledged British colony in 1815. Its first Governor Sir Frederick North. Kalutara was captured by the British from the Dutch in February 1796 under the command of General Stuart.

Sir Frederick North commenced his first palanquin tours from Colombo to Galle - Matara and beyond on the 21st June in 1800, the party comprising 160 planquin bearers, 400 coolies, 2 elephants, six horses, 45 Lascrins taking charge of four tents. The other officials in the itinerary were army officials, 60 men from the Ceylon Malaya Regiment and 20 from the Pioneer Corps. The journey by palanquin bearers starting from Colombo to Galle was in stages covering ten miles a day, covering the distance in about 6 - 7 days.

Quotes from James Cordiner
James Cordiner, a garrison chaplain who accompanied the Governor and his retinue on this tour. In this book "A Description Of Ceylon (1804) gives an eye witness account of Kalutara (mentioned as Calture).

On morning 22nd June, 1800 at day break the procession moved and proceeded ten miles to Calture. Here is a small fortification raised upon a mount commanding the banks of a beautiful river, a large house for the commandant stands at one quarter mile from the fort and adjacent to it is a neat village chiefly in one aspect, built of stone with thatched roofs inhabited by native Cingalese, and black descendants of the ancient Portuguese.

The climate is cool, the place rural, and the situation pleasant. The home of the Commandant was prepared for the reception of the Governor and the four tents were pitched in a verandah lawn for the accommodation of his retinue. Thus the day's matters were arranged for the commencement of judiciary business on the 23rd and 24th, the Court sat, it finished all that was to be done without the occurrence of any unpleasantness.

An avenue of teak trees from the highland to the house of the commanding officer and rows of and same shade - the principal aspect of the village".

The Dutch were environmental conscious rows of teak and other sheltering trees growing around its fort and town.

The massive iron griddled bridge both ever the railway and roadway were constructed in 1879. After withstanding the rigours of time of over 100 years, two new bridges were

constructed over the railway and the roadway in recent years, thus replacing those iron griddled bridges.

From many centuries Kalutara has been regarded as one of the perfect health resorts in the island. Of this aspect, Sir Emerson Tennent says in his 'Ceylon' Vol. II (1859) thus: "Calutara has always been regarded as one of the sanatoriums of Ceylon as it faced the sea-breeze from the south and west, the freshness of its position enlivened with the beauty and grader of the surrounding scenery rendered the favourite resort of the Dutch and afterwards of the British."

Kalutara's present law courts stands on the spot where the Dutch Commandant's residence stood. In British times, it was used as the Rest House and later as a Police court.

During World war II, at Uggabadda road were opened quarry put up as there were many rockoutcrops providing employment making place productive, encouraging mobility of labour and traders and merchants from far and near to do business there.

Sir Cyril de Zoysa founder Kalutara Bodhi Trust
The Urban council was formed in January 1923. It first chairman was A. de Abrew. After the status of the Assistant Government Agent of Kalutara Kachcheri was elevated to that of a Government agent, the first Government agent was Kalutara -Galle road was the huge tree tunnel in the middle of it there vehicles and passers drove through.

The residency of the Assistant Government Agent was taken over by the Kalutara Bodhi Trust in the 1950's demolished and in its place stands the hallowed colossal white dagaba overlooking the river. The old Kachcheri building was also vested with the Kalutara Bodhi Trust. Now a residency for the Buddhist monks.

The founder of this Kalutara Bodhi trust was Sir Cyril de Zoysa, Q.C. whose indefatigable services led to vast development strides that had around the Kalutara Bodhi during his life time. (More about the Kalutara Bodhi Trust would be described in the forth coming articles).

High fashion
Wines ... styles and all that spice

by Kirthi Sri Karunaratne
It is an yearly ritual, the party Charmaine Jayatilleke has for her many friends. Flying down from London at the end of every year, she gathers together a glamourous collection of both men and women not only from Sri Lanka but many Sri Lankans from all over the world.


Chris Greet and daughter		 Among her guests this time was Chris Greet who is a name familiar to all of us for his many talents, now in London creating a niche for himself in the television world and stage, who was joined by his daughter from Japan. This pretty young miss was attired in a blue and black striped wrap over styled skirt, and a simple blue top, which was high necked and short sleeved, and buttoned down the front. Somehow this outfit retained a Japanese flavor. A necklace of polished oyster shells with a central blue pendent, and pearl bracelet made her youthful ornaments. Blue was also the colour of the unusual salwar kameez inspired outfit Kem Martenstyne wore. The dupatta in blue had a print on it which were like the waves of the ocean in shades of aquamarine the edge of each wave patterned in aqua leaves and mauve roses, draped in a flowing style, like the fall of a saree in the traditional Gujarati.

 

The sleeves of the kameez was embroidered in circles of cut work. The salwar kammez Methsili Ehrich home from New York wore, was of a delicate lace like net which shaded from a steel grey into white and canary yellow in the sides of the long top, slit upto the hip. Silk thread embroidery made a border at the neckline and at the edge of the sleeves. Her dupatta was in yellow, and for an ornament she wore a pendent on a black velvet ribbon.

More western in style was the black outfit Therande Wickrematantrige wore. Over a brief fitted top and pants in black, Therande had a blouse in a mesh fabric trimmed in a border of black satin in front, fastened only at the empire waistline. The mini skirted dress with shoe string straps Ruki Wickremasinghe wore was in a opulent brocade like fabric in grey and gold patterned in a series of a striped design. Charmaine to entertain her guests wore a saree of aubergine organza with spirals of a floral design in luminous tones of olive green, peach and gold. Her blouse was sleeveless and she wore a collar necklace of gold, stud earrings and gold bangles to complete the outfit.
Therande Wickrematantrige

Wedded in Kandyan style
When Nayantara Wijewardene, the daughter of Dio and Dianne Wijewardene was married to Shan Weeraratne, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Anura Weeraratne at the Colombo Hilton, she made an elegant bride. Clad in a Kandyan saree of white organza, exquisitely embroidered in gold Zardosi work, the cloth had a double border at the hemline. The border was echoed on the fall and the 'ihe' besides at the edge of the melon sleeve.


Nayanthara 		She wore the traditional seven necklaces, and all the other jewelry associated with a Kandyan bride. Her bouquet was of araliya and ropes of jasmines mingled with gold tinted paddy. For the goingaway in a total change Nayanthara wore a saree of shot melon pink silk, bordered in gold with a wide pallu in ivory woven in gold in the Gujarati drape. Her blouse was in the ivory silk, and she wore a necklace of four strands of pearls clasped at intervals, with long pearl tassel earrings. Her bouquet was in jasmines and blossoms of pink, with strands streaming down from a pyramid of flowers. The green Kandyan saree mother Dianne wore was embroidered in green silk thread and minute silver sequins in a border design, with triangles of the design at the bottom of the 'ihe' and on the edge of the fall. A lovely attial necklace in emeralds and diamonds, was the perfect compliment to the ensemble.

Old Friends Meet
A small group of old friends going back to days at school, met for an informal lunch in the lovely home of Noeline Rohini Cooray. Casual attire was the choice of the group, and as though by arrangement they all wore.

| NEWS | PROVINCIAL | POLITICS | EDITORIAL | DEFENCE | FEATURES | SPORTS | BUSINESS | ADS |