Lanka's many wonders capture Daily News readers' imagination

Rajmi Manatunga

For a small tropical island shadowed by the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka has many names, 'Serendib', 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean', 'Ratnadeepa' to state a few. All these terms denote the splendour and opulence one encounters in this country of ours, which was called the most beautiful land on Earth by Marco Polo.

The verity of that great traveller's words, uttered centuries back, is confirmed by the number of coupons Daily News is receiving for the 'Seven Wonders of Sri Lanka' competition launched on May 26 to pick the most beautiful and amazing sites of our country.

The number of places nominated by over 4,000 readers who have sent us coupons during the last two weeks exceed 250, each significant, wonderful and invaluable to Mother Lanka in its own way.

They range from places reigning supreme on almost every Sri Lankan's list of Wonders like Sigiriya, Sinharaja, Arugam Bay, to relatively less-well known sites like Wavulpana, Ussangoda, Kuchchaweli, and many a place you may be passing everyday without realising their worth like the BMICH, Independence Square, Galle Butterfly Bridge and the World Trade Centre. Who says Sri Lanka's wonders are confined to the provinces ? We have a number of entries nominating places in the heart of 'industrialised' Colombo as wonders, including the Colombo Town Hall, Hamilton canal, Kayman's Gate and Khan clock tower - Pettah.

Places of worship belonging to all faiths are also prominent in our lengthy list of wonders, with many readers giving preference to religious places like Kirinda temple, Ran Koth Viharaya, Dambulla rock temple, Thewatte Basilica church, Seenigama Devalaya, Thalawila church, Veherahena, Munneswaram kovil and Nallur temple. As announced earlier, the winners of the final draw will receive prizes worth over Rs. three million, the first prize being a brand new motor car.

The other prizes include an LG LCD Television, a Piaggio motor cycle, an Elba electric cooker, an LG fully-auto washing machine, an LG double-door refrigerator, an LG colour television, an LG home theatre system, an LG microwave oven and a LG DVD Player.

Only Daily News readers are eligible for this mega competition. It is not too late to send in your coupon. Do not forget to be specific in nominating your seven wonders and fill in the coupon in clear block capital letters.