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Rami Villa, Meetiyagoda, Ambalangoda, Meetiyagoda (2026)

07/04/2023

Yala - a glorious past and
a spectacular present

It’s home to Panthera pardus kotiya, a majestic leopard endemic to Sri Lanka. But among the glorious spectacle of wildlife, you’d also witness the tell-tale signs of a lost civilization. The Monastic settlement of Sithulpawwa, an important pilgrim site, is said to have housed 12,000 inhabitants seeking solace, some 2000 years ago. The restored rock Temple, among a series of well-preserved ancient temples offers a glimpse into a glittering past.

07/04/2023

Sigiriya, Eighth Wonder of the World
Sigiriya is one of the most valuable historical monuments of Sri Lanka. Referred by locals as the Eighth Wonder of the World, this ancient palace and fortress complex has significant archaeological importance and attracts thousands of tourists every year. It is probably the most visited tourist destination in Sri Lanka.

The palace is located in the heart of the island between the towns of Dambulla and Habarane on a massive rocky plateau 370 meters above sea level.

Sigiriya rock plateau, formed from the magma of an extinct volcano, is 200 meters higher than the surrounding jungles. Its view astonishes the visitors with the unique harmony between nature and human imagination.

The fortress complex includes remnants of a ruined palace, surrounded by an extensive network of fortifications, vast gardens, ponds, canals, alleys, and fountains.

The surrounding territories of Sigiriya were inhibited for several thousand years. Since the 3rd century BC, the rocky plateau of Sigiriya has served as a monastery. In the second half of the 5th-century king, Kasyapa decided to construct a royal residence here.

After his death, Sigiriya again became a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century, when it was abandoned.

The main entrance is located on the northern side of the rock. It was designed as a huge stone lion whose feet have survived until today, but the upper parts of the body were destroyed.

Thanks to this lion, the palace was named Sigiriya. The term Sigiriya originates from the word Sihagri, i.e., Lion Rock.
The western wall of Sigiriya was almost entirely covered by frescoes created during the reign of Kasyapa. Eighteen frescoes have survived to this day.

The frescoes depict n**e females and are considered to be either portraits of Kadapa’s wives and concubines or priestesses performing religious rituals. Despite the unknown identity of the females depicted in the frescoes, these unique ancient paintings celebrate the female beauty and have incredible historical significance.

One of the most striking features of Sigiriya is its Mirror wall. In the old days, it was polished so thoroughly that the king could see his reflection. The Mirror wall is painted with inscriptions and poems written by the visitors of Sigiriya.

The most ancient inscriptions are dated from the 8th century. These inscriptions prove that Sigiriya was a tourist destination more than a thousand years ago. Today, painting on the wall is strictly prohibited.

27/03/2023

Meetiyagoda Moonstone Mine in Sri Lanka

Meetiyagoda, also spelt „Mitiyagoda“, is situated near a Rami Villa and only 4 km distance from the ocean, 10 km north of Hikkaduwa. Meetiyagoda is famous for its moonstone mines. Although sales of jewellery are the main purpose of it, a guided tour at the main mine in the adjacent village of Domanwila can be recommended, as you will not only be invited to the exhibition rooms. First of all, you will see the pitch of the mine and the filtering out of the precious stones and the workshops of the lapidaries. The guides do not push you to give a tip.

Meetiyagoda is an illustrious name in the world of moonstone mining. It‘s Sri Lanka‘s largest moonstone mine and Sri Lankan moonstones are renowned for their blue shine that makes a difference to Indian moonstones. The finest and rarest moonstones have an almost transparent colourless body with a strong blue shine. Actually, Sri Lankan moonstones are those of highest value due to their dark blue reflections, although Mogok in Myanmar (Birma) has been the world‘s best primary source of highly esteemed blue-shining moonstones. Finds of valuable moonstones have become rarer in recent decades. On average, 50 to 100 rough moonstones of diverse qualites are mined per day in Meetiyagoda, they are from deposits in a depth of about 10 to 40 metres. Some decades ago, they could be found close to surface.

In contrast to gem mining in Ratnapura District, moonstone mining has not a millennia old tradition. Muslim merchants from Galle collecting kaolin from the Meetiyagoda area in 1906 were surprised to find moonstones in abundance. They cut and polished the raw moonstones and kept them in their show rooms along with traditional Sri Lankan gems. Moonstones later on became very popular with European travellers. Indeed it was the tourism sector that boosted the moonstone mining in Sri Lanka.

Moonstones in Meetiyagoda, like other gems in other areas of Sri Lanka, are extracted by shaft mining. Such mines onsist of narrow rectangular shafts lined with a strong frame of coconut wood beams are known as „yati illama“ in Sinhala.

27/03/2023

Ambalangoda – Sri Lanka’s village of mask manifacturers

The coastal town of Ambalangoda, belonging to Galle District, is situated at the southwestern seashores of Sri Lanka, 25 km south of Bentota and 15 km north of Hikkaduwa, which are the main resorts at the west coast of the Southern Province.
Ambalangoda has several beaches to the north and south of its small fishing port. Most accommodations at Ambalangoda are of the guesthouse category or small hotels. There are no luxury hotels in this area. The high end is the Beach Hotel Oasis Bridge. The cheaper Lunar Light River Face Hotel is further inland at a lagoon called Lake Madampe.

Rewarding destinations fro day trips are World Heritage Site Galle, Meetiyagoda Moonstone Mine, Lunuganga Gardens, and several turtle hatcheries.

MASK MANIFACTURING AND MASK MUSEUM
Most tourists come to Ambalangoda not for the sandy beaches but for the masks. Ambalangoda is the number one destination for the Sri Lanka’s manufacture of wooden masks and puppets, which are used in dancing rituals and dramas. The three main types of masks are Sanni, Raksha and Kolam. The puppets are Ruada.

Sanni devil masks are used in exorcistic rituals. Devil dances to drive out spirits causing illness still occur in rural areas of Sri Lanka, though these practices are on the decrease. Each of the 18 Sanni masks represents a particular disease.

Similarly daunting Raksha demon masks with bulging eyes and protruding tongues are more common in processions. The colourful masks that can be seen on several front covers of guidebooks are of this type, Naga Raksha (Cobra Mask), Maru Raksha (Demon of Death) and Gurulu Raksha (Bird Mask) being the most famous designs, often imitated in cheap materials for sell in souvenir shops all pver the country.

Kolam masks are used in entertaining dramas of a more humorous type. Kolam dances were peaceful satirical criticism of social issues of the colonial period.

Ruada, which is a form of puppetry, does not originate from Ambalangoda, but it became also part of its popular culture and handicraft.

Genuine Ambalangoda masks are carved out of the light Kaduru wood, which has to be smoke-dried for a week after the basic form has been chiselled out. For the finishing touch, there are ancient scriptures with strict guidelines for the designs. The painters of the finally seemingly lacquered masks copy the design from a page illustrating the formatted patterns. Actually, the colours are mixed with a special oil to make them durable.

There are several mask manifacturers and handicraft shops in Ambalangoda. Visitors who are interested in folk art should take their time to see more than one of them. For those in a hurry: For instance Lanka Masks in the city centre is well-known. However, the most renowned manifacturer is Ariyapala and Sons of the Wijesuriya family (Wijesooriya) further north. The company is named after their ancestors Ariyapala Wijesuriya Gurunnanse. The company’s website http://www.masksariyapalasl.com/index.htm provides plenty of valuable information, particularly about the different types of masks at http://www.masksariyapalasl.com/about_masks.htm. If you are interested in buying this kind of genuine Sri Lankan handicraft, as a souvenir that will not turn out to be made in Hongkong, it is highly recommendable to visit their page in preparation of your visit to Ambalangoda, to get a first impression of the variety of traditional designs to choose from.

In 1987, Ariyapala and Sons opened the small but famous Ambalangoda Mask Museum. The project was inspired by a German tour guide, Dr. Wolfgang Mey, who had studied ethnology in Berlin and Zurich, specialized on the culture of hill tribes in eastern India and Southeast Asia and worked for various ethnological museums. When Dr. Mey was studying the Kolam tradition, he came to meet Mr. Wijesuriya, who was one of the last specialists in this field. A dancing school was also established in order to sustain the museum. Though it definitely serves as an exhibition hall for PR purposes, too, visiting the delightful mask museum is both entertaining and informative. Not ot all of the 120 traditional types masks can be displayed, but two entire collections of a specific Sanni ritual and a typical Kolam Dance are showcased in the rooms. In the adjacent workshop of Ariyapala & Sons you can see the entire process of mask making.

27/03/2023

Cinnamon oil production in sri lanka

Obtained from the barks and leaves of trees that are scientifically known as Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamon oil is known for its numerous uses and health benefits.

Cinnamon oil of the highest quality is manufactured in Sri Lanka, using Ceylon Cinnamon the finest of the cinnamon in the world. Ceylon Cinnamon oil is admired for its unique fragrance when compared to other essential oils.

Cinnamon oil is made from the leaves or the bark of the plant. Cinnamon leaf oil carries a musky and spicy aroma along with a light-yellow tinge that differentiates it from the red-brown colour of the cinnamon bark oil. Extracted from the outer bark of the tree, cinnamon bark oil is considered to be expensive for day to day use since they are extremely refined.

BENEFITS OF CINNAMON OIL
Cinnamon leaf and bark oil provide a multitude of benefits across many industries mainly due to its strong antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, and antioxidant properties (1)

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CINNAMON OIL
The antibacterial qualities of cinnamon oil help to control some of the drug-resistant bacteria that affects plants, people, and other animals. (2) It’s antibacterial and antifungal properties also makes it a potent medication against microbial agents that cause tooth decay and cavity.(3)

In addition, Cinnamon bark oil has been proven to be a safe, effective, and non-chemical additive alternative that can be used to preserve products and increase their shelf life.(4)

Antioxidants in cinnamon help in reducing the risks of cancer, diabetes, and many other conditions as it lowers oxidative stress.(5)

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF CINNAMON OIL
The major compounds present in the cinnamon essential oil are cinnamaldehyde, camphor, cinnamyl-acetate, caryophyllene, trans-α-bergamotene, caryophyllene oxide, linalool, geraniol, bornyl acetate, α-cubebene, γ-elemene, α-copaene, guaiol, and eugenol, among others.(6)

The nutrients get to play a small role in a regular diet as only a small amount is added to the food. The antiviral and antifungal properties of cinnamon oil are a result of Cinnamyl acetate, Cinnamyl alcohol, and Cinnamaldehyde found in the oil.

BENEFITS OF CINNAMON FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Cinnamon oil is often used in aromatherapy to relieve stress and to improve alertness and positive perception. The oil supports improved concentration. Cinnamon oil can stimulate relaxation of mind and reduce depression caused by general debility and weakness, mental fatigue, and tension.

COSMETIC BENEFITS OF CINNAMON
Cinnamon oil reduces the development of certain protein biomarkers on the skin that are caused by inflammation and tissue remodelling. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamon oil reduce rashes and acne. When mixed with a carrier oil cinnamon oil can reduce the occurrence of dandruff, thinning of hair, and hair fall.

INDUSTRIAL USES OF CINNAMON OIL
Cinnamon essential oil is widely used in many industries including alternative medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, aromatherapy, and food and beverages.

USE OF CINNAMON OIL IN THE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE INDUSTRY
Over the years, cinnamon oil has been identified to be an effective ingredient to treat various conditions. Medications that relieve hay fever symptoms include cinnamon bark oil extracts as well as over the counter medication for irritable bowel syndrome.

Cinnamon oil mixed with carrier oils is used as a massage oil and liniment. Due to its analgesic, antiseptic, antibiotic, and astringent qualities, cinnamon oil is used in the production of medicine that treats conditions such as infections, arthritis, and general aches and pains.

USE OF CINNAMON OIL IN THE COSMETIC INDUSTRY
Cinnamon oil is widely used in the production of soaps, lotions, liniments, face washes, toothpaste, and mouthwashes. The anti-bacterial quality of Cinnamon oil refreshes the breath, making it an often-used ingredient in the production of chewing gum and other dental products.

Used in the production of perfumes, the oil is known to blend perfectly with the oriental woody notes and sits well with frankincense aromatic resins creating sweet and diffusive radiation. It gives the perfumes a touch of spice, warmth, and sweetness.

Cinnamon oil is also a highly recommended ingredient used in the production of soap. Its antibacterial properties and the undeniable spicy aroma make it a popular ingredient used in most soaps found in the market.

CINNAMON OIL AND AROMATHERAPY
Cinnamon oil is an essential ingredient in aromatic oil preparations. The oil has the ability to accelerate the treatment process in various herbal remedies and enhances the effectiveness of the other herbs and oils in the mixture, by increasing the blood circulation in the body. The antibacterial properties of the oil help to remove bacteria in the atmosphere.

Cinnamon oil reduces depression, faintness, and exhaustion. It also strengthens immunity and stimulates libido. Its warm, relaxing and uplifting fragrance freshens and deodorizes the indoor environments when diffused. It is used to reduce irritability, lethargy, unhealthy cravings, and any tendency to overindulge when eating. Cinnamon oil can also be diluted with water and used for a sweet and spicy scented aromatic bath.

USE OF CINNAMON OIL ON FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Cinnamon oil is also widely used in the food and beverage industry as a food grading oil, especially to add flavour to sugar-free items such as gum, tea, candy, and baked goods. It is widely used as an addition to hot beverages such as tea due to its ability to delay gastric emptying and to maintain a healthy digestive system. Therefore, Cinnamon oil can be considered as a healthy food additive. The addition will also help in further preservation of the food according to certain studies. This also motivates the use of natural antifungal food additives instead of chemical-based additives.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CINNAMON OIL AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
Cinnamon essential oil is also used as an ingredient in manufacturing pharmaceutical products mainly due to its proven antioxidant, anti-inflammatory property and its ability to inhibit platelet aggregation. Cinnamon oil improves blood circulation and enhances immune function by reducing oxidative stress in the body. It also has the ability to battle the root causes of many diseases such as radical damage and inflammation since it boosts iNOS, which is an enzyme that produces Nitric acid. Cinnamon oil itself is named as an official drug in certain countries. Medicine that includes cinnamon oil as an ingredient is mostly consumed for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and conditions such as diarrhoea, nausea, flatulence, and vomiting.

PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION
Cinnamon oil can be extracted from either the leaves or the bark of the Cinnamon plant. Cinnamon leaf oil is extracted using steam distillation and water distillation. The leaves harvested from the trees are left to be dried for several days, before being water steam distilled to extract the oil from the leaves.

Cinnamon bark oil is best extracted in the soxhlet extraction method, where cinnamon sticks are crushed into small pieces and stuffed into the main chamber of the soxhlet extractor. Ethanol is the solvent used in this process, where it is heated at a temperature above 100°C for 5 to 10 hours. After this, the extracted oil is collected and purified.

PRODUCERS OF CINNAMON OIL
Cinnamon is a plant that is native to Sri Lanka. Ceylon Cinnamon is the type that is widely sought after in the global market. There are a large number of cinnamon and other spice exporters found in Sri Lanka where around 350,000 families engage in this industry. Sri Lanka produces 26.9% of the international cinnamon production and output. Other countries that engage in Cinnamon production include India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan. Out of this context, the plant is also grown commercially in Brazil, Java, Madagascar, Vietnam, West Indies, and Zanzibar.

TARGET MARKETS FOR CINNAMON OIL
Globally, cinnamon products are mainly distributed in the South Eastern Hemisphere. The main buyers for Ceylon Cinnamon are Mexico, USA, and Peru In these discussed contexts, more attention has to be given to the industries that require the product of Cinnamon essential oil. Medicine manufacturers, Food additive manufacturers, and manufacturers of Cosmetic products can be considered as frequent buyers of the product.

THE POTENTIAL OF THE MARKET
The market for cinnamon oil shows great potential when considering the product benefits derived from many industries. Seeing the foreseen potential, manufacturers in countries such as China have started to put in advanced technology and financial assets in order to gain the maximum benefit of the product.

During the past years, there has been a significant increase in the demand for spices globally including an increase in usage of cinnamon oil in the Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic industry. Taking this as an opportunity, there has been a parallel increase in production by producing countries such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and China.

The European region is a major buyer of cinnamon, out of which the United Kingdom, Italy, and Belgium import larger quantities of Ceylon cinnamon. This market opportunity is aided by rising import levels and favourable prices. Just like any other market, the product quality is highly examined in this context. The rate of rejection is high for any product which is identified as unsafe. (7)

Other than cinnamon oil, Sri Lanka also exports cinnamon powder and tablets in large quantities. In order to maintain the quality of Ceylon cinnamon, quality standards have been introduced to local producers. This has resulted in the improvement of production, storage facilities, transport, and other support services that are involved in the production and distribution of cinnamon resulting in higher quality in the output of the Ceylon Cinnamon Product line.

27/03/2023

Hikkaduwa National Park
Hikkaduwa National Park is another tourist destination 7km away from Rami Villa. This park is one of the three marine national parks in Sri Lanka. The national park contains a fringing coral reef of high degree of biodiversity. The area was declared a wildlife sanctuary on May 18, 1979, and then on August 14, 1988, upgraded to a nature reserve with extended land area. The growth of the number of visitors in the next 25 years increased the degradation of the coral reef. To reduce the effects to the ecosystem, the reef was declared a national park on September 19, 2002.

Coral reef
Hikkaduwa coral reef is a typical shallow fringing reef with an average depth of around 5 metres (16 ft). The coral reef reduces the coastal erosion and forms a natural breakwater. The coast of the national park extends four km. Generally the coast is narrow, ranging from 5–50 m according to the climatic conditions of the year. Scuba diving is a popular recreation here.

Physical features
The national park situated in the wet zone and receives a 2,000 millimetres (79 in) of annual rainfall. The rain is received in both southwestern and northeastern monsoon seasons, from April to June and September to November respectively. Inter-monsoon season is a dry period which is considered the best season to visit the park. The temperature of the water ranges from 28.0°-30.0 °C while the mean annual temperature is 27 °C of the atmosphere.

Flora and fauna
Foliaceous Montipora species dominate the coral reef. Encrusting and branching species are also present. Faviidae and Poritidae corals are contained in the inshore areas of the reef in massive colonies. Staghorn, elkhorn, cabbage, brain, table and star corals are all present in the reef.[1][3] Corals of 60 species belonging to 31 genera are recorded from the reef. The reef also recorded over 170 species of reef fish belonging to 76 genera.

Seagrass and marine algae belonging to genera Halimeda and Caulerpa are common in the seabed depth ranging from 5–10 m. Seagrasses provide habitat to dugongs and sea turtles. Some species of prawns feed on the seagrass. Eight species of ornamental fishes also inhabit the reef, along with many vertebrates and invertebrates including crabs, prawns, shrimps, oysters and sea worms. Porites desilveri is an endemic coral species of Sri Lanka. Chlorurus rhakoura and Pomacentrus proteus are two reef fish species confined to Sri Lanka. Blacktip reef shark are found along the outer slope of the reef. Three sea turtles which have been categorized threatened visit the coral reef: the hawksbill turtle, green turtle, and olive ridley.

Threats
The reef has suffered high degradation due to both natural and human activities. The live coral cover was decreased from 47 percent to 13 percent in a coral bleaching event in 1998, induced by the 1998 El Niño. It has been suggested that at least 30-40 percent of coral reef should be restored in order for it to be capable of sustaining itself. Despite being designated as a protected area, the coral reef has been subject to constant exploitation including removal of breeding ornamental fish for the commercial market.

Boxing day tsunami
The two marine national parks of Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa and Pigeon Island, received little direct impact from the Boxing day tsunami.However they suffered from secondary impacts, particularly from terrestrial debris being deposited on the reefs. A collaboration work of conservation groups and volunteers was carried out to clean up the beach and the reef debris, including two large fishing nets stuck on the outer edge of the reef.

27/03/2023

Hikkaduwa Beach

Hikkaduwa is another tourist destination 7 km away from Rami Villa and one of the best surfing spots in Sri Lanka, offering a clear hot water base. The waves vary in size from 4 to 11 feet. Surfing in the Hikkaduwa area is fairly well known and gets the best surfing during its dry season, which is from November to March. There are 4 hotspots in Hikkaduwa. Scuba diving and diving in clear waters are a major past time along this stretch and is the most ecological way to see the colorful fish that dart around. The coral sanctuary along the coast of Hikkaduwa is a large shallow body of water surrounded by a reef, decorated with layers of multicolored corals, and is home to countless colorful fish. Off the beach there is a collection of small islets surrounded by beautiful coral formations. Many species of fish and large turtles are found here. There are more than four different shipwrecks for diving enthusiasts to explore as well as diving shops offering PADI courses and equipment

There are so many hotels, shops, bars, restaurants and guest houses. The beaches are beautiful and wide and swimming is safe here, although the currents are stronger when it comes south of Hikkaduwa. The impressive coral reef lies just offshore and is still populated with exotic fish and sea turtles. Glass bottom boats are available for visitors who want to admire the wonders of deep while keeping their feet dry! After a short distance south of the center of the reef, it decreases and begins a wider sandy beach with good waves ideal for board surfing and body surfing. There are many shops selling masks, jewelry, jewelry, batik, antiques and etc. with several Buddhist temples, all of which add spices to life in Hikkaduwa.

Rami Villa

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