The Maduganga Estuary

Its ecological and historic values

by Derrick Schokman

A National Wetlands Conservation project, implemented under the conservation authority, identified several important wetland sites.

One of these is the Maduganga Estuary, interconnected with the Randombe lake. This area has a rare scenic quality characterised by several islets and fringing mangrove vegetation.

Kothduwa, the smallest of these islets has an historical importance, associated with the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Sri Maha Bodhi.

Lake

The Maduganga before it exits to the sea at Balapitiya forms a shallow lake about 2.5 metres deep. In it are 15 islets of different sizes.

It is thought that this strange phenomenon could have resulted from an earthquake in prehistoric times.

The mangroves are comprised of a dense population of short and tall trees growing in the water at the edge of the embankments.

The muddy water, which is rich in nutrients from decaying leaves and wood and plenty of fine sediment, acts as a fish nursery and is strongly linked with off-shore shrimp.

Common mangrove trees are beriya, rathamilla, kadol, kirala and thelakeriya.

Belipatta is an important associate tree growing on the embankments. Its roots penetrate the water in a broomlike manner, providing excellent protection and an ideal micro-climate together with the other mangrove plants for the development of fish, lobsters, crabs and prawns.

Tilapia and Pearl Spot (Koraliya) are abundant in the brackish water. They are commercially exploited for the local market.

Some ornamental fish like Spotted Butterfish (Illatiya) and Mono (Kapuwa) are important for the export trade.

Prawn fishing is however the most rewarding. There is a steady market for this product in the several tourist hotels in the vicinity.

Traditional

Traditional practices are still being used for catching fish and prawns, eg., hook and line, brush piles (ath-kotuwa), kraals (ja-kotu) and surrounding fish with gill nets.

Water-associated birds are plentiful. The Maduganga and Rantombe lakes provide a diverse population of herons, egrets, water hens, tern, kingfishers, fish hawks and quail.

Local entrepreneurs have cashed in on these attractions to provide sight-seeing speed boat excursions to foreign tourists.

Fishermen however are unhappy with the unusual turbulence that is caused by these boats, promoting bank erosion and hydrological disturbances that impair fish and prawn production.

Slow currents are required to help the mangroves act as fish nurseries and feed life further out at sea. Conservationists too are concerned about mangrove depletion, which is caused by the many uses that the trees are put to by people living in and around the estuary.

The trees are used for firewood, building fences, houses and fish traps, and for the extraction of tannin for dyeing nets and sails of traditional fishing craft.

Protection

If the rare beauty and ecological value of Maduganga is to be preserved, some degree of protection must be given the estuary.

What is urgently required is a resource restoration programme to prevent mangrove depletion, and the need to curb the operation of high-speed boats.

The project report on the estuary claims that there is great potential for the development and promotion of ecotourism. Tourist development should enhance and support such conservation.

Historical

The small Kothduwa islet in the Maduganga estuary is associated with the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Sri Maha Bodhi.

According to the Lanka Aratharadi an ancient historical chronicle, Princess Hemamala and Prince Dantha, who brought the Dalada from India to Lanka in the fourth century, landed at Welithota, the ancient name for what is now Balapitiya.

They tarried in Kothduwa, which at that time was still a part of the mainland and not an islet in the estuary.

The Siripawara Bodhirajamaya temple was built there to celebrate the event. Kothduwa was later over-run by the jungle tide, until it was rediscovered by Minister Pathirana during the reign of King Parakrama Bahu II in the 13th century.

The Minister was a prominent figure in the area, where a strong army detachment was maintained to protect the Southwest coast. According to the Bodhiwansha, another historical document, one of the 32 buds that sprang up on the Sri Maha Bodhi (Dethis Maha Bodhi) was planted there by the Minister.

He is also said to have had a Pirivena constructed in his name at a place near Kothduwa, known as the Galvihara today. It was believed to have been the site of the Sela Chaitiya, one of the eight most sacred places (Atamasthana) for Buddhists. This Pirivena is no more, a road having been since constructed over the site.

According to another historical document, Lanka Deepa Warnana, the Sacred Tooth Relic was brought to the temple at Kothduwa for security against its annexation by the Portuguese in the period of Weediya Bandara.

Once more the Kothduwa temple and the Dethis Maha Bodhi planted by Minister Pathirana passed into limbo, until discovered by a businessman in that area about 140 years ago. By name of Rajapakse Wasalamudalali, he had the present temple constructed at Kothduwa, which attracts plenty of pilgrims.

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Mihindukula wins prestigious award

Well-known cinema critic Sunil Mihindukula will receive the prestigious Cyril B. Perera Memorial Cinema Literary Award at the Signis felicitation ceremony to be held at the Elphinstone Theatre, Colombo 10 on December 29.

Mihindukula began his writing career as a journalist on the 'Sakura' film magazine edited by Gunasiri Silva in 1978. Thereafter he worked as a staff writer on the editorial of 'Desathiya' published by the Government Information Department.

He was also a regular contributor to a string of Sinhala cinema publications such as 'Surathura', 'Vichitra', 'Rasanduna', 'Kala', 'Thiratharu' and 'Rasa'. He has written nine books on cinema and edited nine more books.

He was editor of 'Sadisi' published by the National Film Corporation. At present he is the editor of 'Sarasaviya'.

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Deflection - talented five piece group

Geared to meet their busy schedule during the festive season is the five piece group Deflection who have been working on the success lane ever since they came together. The members have deflected from many bands like Orange Blossom Special, Sam the Man, Cosmic Rays, Red Sand and Pearl.

The band has been kept busy playing for dances, weddings and corporate functions. Their wide repertoire includes country and western, evergreens, the music of 60s and 70s and popular hits.

The members are highly experienced and talented and comprise the multi-instrumentalist Rohan Silva - who plays steel guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica and handles vocals, Nalaka Sylva plays bass guitar, acoustic guitar and is on vocals, Chester Wilson the drummer plays the cornet and sings, Nirantha Alexander the keyboardist is on vocals and acoustic guitar while Kumara Fernando the lead and acoustic guitarist joins in on vocals too.

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Sounds of Music Austria

'A designer concert'

It is no secret that Austrians love music - also it is no secret that I love music too. Music runs in my veins and I am a great lover of music. This unique performance was held at 'Waters Edge' on Thursday, December 8 at the Golden Ballroom and believe it or not the hall was packed to capacity. This event the greatest musical show was with Austrian and Sri Lankan musicians and artistes.

The programme of the concert was appealing with works from some of Austrians most prominent composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Strauss but also Ludwig Van Beethoven who spent all of his adult life in Vienna. These magical pieces were performed by the reputed pianist Anton Willie.

He was accompanied by the Soprano singer Doris Moeltner and the St. Theresa's church children's choir of Thimbirigasyaya. An interesting combination conducted by Hasine-Malbe-Andree indeed. This show was organised by the well-known showman Paul Muller with the backup of his efficient wife Jessie who has always stood by him. I wish Mr. Muller and Jessie's lives all success.

The show started with that sonorous captivating golden voice of the compere Arun Dias Bandaranayake. This tall, dark and handsome personality is a name by itself. Arun congrats for being an excellent compere.

Now to come to the programme. Part 1 consisted of classical music with piano and soprano. Jesu Joy of Maus desire by Johann Sebastian back a very great favourite of mine touched my heart as it was played particularly with the steel drums coming in.

It was stupendous and heart rendering. Just before the intermission came on the Viennese Stars Waltzes - taking me and my heart back to Vienna. I have visited Vienna several times since my daughter Esha lives there with her family.

In part 2 'Memory' by the Cats was appealing and the 'Lonely Goatherd' by a Quartel was well met judging from the thunderous applause. Part 3 - Advent and Christmas Time gave the finale a Christmas touch. A very grand finale indeed.

On the programme were the steel drums something out of the ordinary by Dr. Prashanthi Mendis a lawyer by profession and an accomplished musician. She was a wizard on steel drums, a performance I witnessed for the first time. It was unique - vibrating - it was really good.

Yvonne F. Keerthisingha

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Mostly Men

The country's number one men's wear designer Fauzul Hameed has come up with a variety of options for today's dress conscious man. At a recent press conference the designer stressed that he was not prepared to compromise with quality.

Once you step-in to the building its a full stop to any intentions you have of going anywhere else looking for men's wear. Hameedia the flagship store will offer the widest variety in men's clothing to the most choosiest man in town, the variety is so wide that it does not fail to impress.

Fauzul Hameed has grown out of his image as a designer of men's wear and graduated on to becoming the only men's wear 'guru' covering all aspects of expertise in advising people with regard to covering a man up from head to toe.

Since he started off as a designer to the business that he inherited from his father many years ago Fauzul Hameed has strived to upgrade the dress sense of men. But as he grew with his business he came to realize that the men he was trying to dress up in fact had to be guided in the right direction.

He found a lot of shortcomings and realised that firstly men have to be told that good dressing was not entirely a woman's business. It was not easy to build up an image within and individual without building the image of the designer who is preaching to them the facts of good dressing.

So as a first step Hamata stores went islandwide, to many major towns around the country. It has its stores in the major shopping malls in the metropolis and varied its identity on the subject of men's wear.

While most of his outlets were selling and tailoring for his clients Fauzul Hameed did not fall short in addressing the need of athletes or the day-to-day need of his customers' physical training gear. Some Hamata stores sell exclusive lines of men's sportswear, again covering a man from head to toe in that aspect.

When one breezes through the flagship store at Wellawatte it is an amazing experience, specially to see that there are various and a vast collections of items waiting in one shop for any discerning man to select from.

Fauzul Hameed as a designer for men's wear has managed to team together certain colour combinations that are generally irregular from a male point of view very successfully. But he has managed to keep up with the international tempo in current colours and their combinations in high tide.

In the basement of the store is the personalised tailoring department and the customer care centre. There is a large display of suitings, shirtings and trouser lengths to select from.

According to the designer the fabrics are imported from all parts of the world including England and India where Hamata shops are already in operation. In the groundfloor there is a wide range of casual clothing and accessories to match. A range of footwear is also on display.

An eye-catching collection of formal attire is available on the first floor while the second floor houses the exclusive 'Studio' where in addition to buying everything for the groom he can seek advice with regard to his wedding wardrobe from designer Fauzul Hameed personally.

Customers can make prior appointments for personal briefings or to go through the range of ceremonial wedding attire on display in addition to the designer labels that can only be seen on this floor.

Though it mainly focuses upon men's clothing Hameedia's flagship clothing store has not overlooked the fact that 'Behind every successful man there is a woman'.

So the third floor at this store caters to women and children. 'Our strength is the research that we do to ensure that we address the needs of our clients and also ascertain that we are in step with latest steps and styles'. This point was stressed by Fauzul Hameed at a recent press conference which he called to announce the variety of options that his chain has come up with for the season.

He further pointed out how they train the staff to have a sharp eye on colour matching, presentation and decor even though they are hired as sales personnel. 'This is an important factor. The sales staff should be coached to present the product they sell in an eye-catching manner'. According to the designer the staff should have this product knowledge if they are to satisfy their clients' need.

Hameedia is no new name in the field of clothing, specially in men's wear by which it has created a legacy for itself. This is one reason why the name Hameedia has remained a signature note for men, for a long long time.

P. A. B

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Knife presentation ceremony at Nihonbashi

A rare and novel ceremony was held recently at Colombo's leading Japanese restaurant Nihonbashi. Prasad Abu Bakr makes a few observations of the ceremony that was held under the gracious presence of the Deputy Chief of Missions of the Japanese Embassy in Colombo His Excellency Karube.

On re-opening the main restaurant at 11, Galle Face Terrace, Colombo 3 after a seven months renovation, Senior Kitchen and Sushi staff were presented with individual knives. Many different knives were distributed to each staff who had the opportunity to receive them from H. E. Karube at a presentation ceremony.

Sushi Staff were presented with Yanagiba and Takohiki knives, with Deba knives for common use while kitchen staff were presented with a chef knife each. Nihonbashi boasts many prestigious hand crafted Aritsugu knives and one Aritsugu Deba Boucho was presented for the explicit use for cutting tuna.

Apart from currently using GLOBAL knives, a new batch of GLOBAL knives were presented on this day. GLOBAL is a world renowned name for professionally used knives. This Japanese brand has become world renowned and now reaches Sri Lanka at Nihonbashi.

Mr. Karube in his speech told the staff of restaurant the history of waboucho (Japanese cooking knives) date back centuries and are related to the Japanese Samurai Sword. He also stressed the importance of the professional knife to a chef of Japanese cuisine and encouraged the staff of Nihonbashi to take pride in the tool of the trade.

The Japanese art of cutting fish borders surgical precision or dissection, the speed and agility of a chef knowing the fish's anatomy makes a good chef.

Nihonbashi in a bid to promote such enthusiasm in their staff already knowledgeable in anatomy of different fish presented such extraordinary knives to its staff.