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Khaleej Times
07-08-2025
- Khaleej Times
Explore Colombo off the beaten track with these tips
Sun, sand, sea, swaying palms, and Buddhist temples — I had pretty much ticked off most of this regular checklist on my previous trips to Colombo. However, on a recent visit, I decided to take a different trajectory, discovering many new facets of the Sri Lankan capital. Museum musings My first stop was at the leafy precincts of the white Colombo National Museum that was established in 1877 by Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the time. This is a great introduction to the country's cultural and natural heritage. Walking through the space, organised into rooms and galleries, I got a sneak peek into the rich culture and heritage of the country with its historical kingdoms, Buddha statues, art, carvings, and more. There are separate displays for swords, guns, and old lamps too. Do not miss the 19th-century reproductions of English paintings, the throne and crown of the last king of Kandy, and the antique demon masks. Some important items on display include the royal throne made for King Vimaladharmasurya II in 1693 and the ninth-century Bodhisattva sandals. The museum is large and will need a couple of hours to explore. If you are up for it, also check out the National Museum of Natural History, on the northern side of the premises. Kotte calling Armed with some knowledge of the island's history, I set off to Kotte, also called Jayapura, an erstwhile kingdom from the 15th century. Located 10 kilometres east of Colombo, this tree-lined leafy locale is home to the ruins of the once fortified city. It is believed that the reason for the fortification was the threat of invasion by Arya Chakravarti, the Tamil king who ruled the Jaffna peninsula. The chieftain Nissanka Alakeshwara, who erected the well-planned barriers, chose an area that was surrounded on three sides by the Diyawanna and Kolonnawa rivers and by marshland, which provided ideal natural defences. The protective rampart was constructed around this area. To safeguard the side of the citadel that was not surrounded by water, an inner and outer moat were constructed. The royal palace, the Dalada Maligawa (Tooth Relic Shrine), the treasury, the mansion of Alakeshwara, the royal pleasure gardens, and other buildings were constructed within the citadel's walls. History beckons The Archaeological Museum in Kotte, housed in a traditional heritage home, is a good place to trace the history of the area. An old city plan on display shows important monuments, boundary stones, moats, and rivers, which gives you a fair idea of how well the place was planned. There is a display of the historical sites here as well, including the Parakumba Pirivena, Rajamaha Viharaya, Alakeshwara Palace, Vehara Kanda, Stone Ambalama, Tunnel Entrance, and Jubilee Post. The museum has an interesting display of old coins and Sinhalese literature. Interestingly, the Kotte period is often referred to as the golden period of literature, when many books were written by well-known Buddhist and Hindu scholars. Walking around the ruins of the Alakeshwara Palace, I see two foundations built close to each other made from cut 'kabok' stones. A caretaker here tells me that this is likely the mausoleum of the ruler, King Nishshanka Alakeshwara. When I am here, the place is empty, and I notice that the serenity is unmissable — cocooned in nature with bright Cassia fistula flowers in full bloom accompanied by the song of birds. The ruins are a quiet testament to the past and how the fort walls with a thickness of almost eight feet were built. Even if you are not spiritual, a stop at the Rajamaha Viharaya is recommended to admire the traditional architecture of the place. Nature's nuances Having my fill of history, I head to the Beddagana Wetland Park, also in Kotte, which is home to a variety of wetland birds, butterflies, and animals. The space, set amid wetland vegetation and tranquil ponds around the Diyawanna Lake, is perfect for nature lovers. A walk around the lotus-filled pond is a picture-perfect spot for Instagram-worthy images. I am told this place is also popular for pre-wedding photoshoots, and it's not hard to guess why. When I was here, I was lucky enough to spot a monitor lizard who casually crossed my path as I was admiring the vegetation. The wetland also serves the more important purposes of helping in flood prevention as well as cooling the city in the summer. This place is also great for bird watchers like me, as it is home to species like the Lesser Whistling-Duck, Green Imperial-Pigeon, White-breasted Waterhen, Red-wattled Lapwing, Brown-headed Barbet, White-throated Kingfisher, and White-bellied Drongo, among others. Cool off in style Once I was done with my exploration, I headed back to Colombo, where I stayed at the newly launched Cinnamon Life. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Colombo's waterfront, this 687-key luxury hotel was designed by architect Cecil Balmond. The resort's architecture is a visually stunning experience that blends the modern with the traditional seamlessly. With multiple entertainment venues and 12 vibrant restaurants, there is never a dull moment here. The integrated resort will soon see the launch of the 113-key ultra-luxury Nüwa hotel under Melco's flagship brand, City of Dreams. A state-of-the-art casino and entertainment zone, operated by Melco, premium shopping and lifestyle promenades, and immersive entertainment spaces for international performances and cultural showcases are on offer. Colombo is upping the ante as far as making luxury travel a reality. The one place I missed seeing on the trip was Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa's home, but I know that I need another trip soon to explore this vibrant seaside destination.
SBS Australia
01-08-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Re-vote in Papua province
LISTEN TO SBS Indonesian 11:57 Indonesian Papua, a region riddled with various problems such as violence and facing quite heavy domestic burdens such as poverty and various limitations, should instead return to Re-Vote, or PSU, the provincial governor and deputy governor elections on August 6, 2025 or next week. There are 2 pairs of candidates who will contest the re-vote on August 6, 2025 or next week. The two were Benhur Tomi Mano paired with Constant Karma and Mathius Fakhiri paired with Aryono Alberto Ferdinand Rumaropen. All hope that this re-vote can be carried out peacefully, given that Papuans buy more records of violence associated with the conduct of local elections. Security officers guard ballots in Papua. Credit: Papua Regional Government Public Relations Office. Festus Ngorreklame, Director of Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Papua in Jayapura called on all parties, to take the PSU seriously, so that the error on November 27, 2024 is not repeated. 'We have to think back to back, where in the general elections yesterday there were things that were at issue, finally it got to the Court and finally it was decided again to do PSU. We need to understand that so that it can be a benchmark for us, especially for the government, or for those who come forward as candidates, so that these things can be noticed, so that they will not be repeated,' he said when contacted. He reminded, implementing the PSU leaves the community or voters at a disadvantage, such as time and opportunity. 'All parties must be able to work together so that we can ensure that the PSU takes place transparently, fairly and free from any intimidation that will occur,' he added. PSU in Papua came about because of a lawsuit filed by the couple of candidate number 2, Mathius D. Fakhiri and Aryoko Alberto Ferdinand Rumaropen, to the Court. On February 24, 2025, the Court granted part of the lawsuit, which obliged the Commission to repeat the conduct of the vote. The Court also disqualified the number one candidate for deputy governor of Papua, Yermias Bisai, because the terms of his candidacy were deemed invalid. This atmosphere heated up the contestants of the two candidates in Papua. 'We look at the side where this nomination, from the nomination to today we see the euphoria is indeed hot. So we hope this doesn't bring up unwanted things together,' Festus said. Poster for the implementation of the PSU for Papua Province on August 6, 2025. Credit: Papua KPU LBH Papua invites the whole community to actively participate in supervising the PSU this time. When asked about the situation of people in Jayapura and Papua in general, Festus said, 'If we see that the situation is indeed fine, only more on social media it is very hot, considering that the time is approaching for PSU. Don't let that overheated euphoria on social media appear suddenly in the community environment. We hope this will be safe and sound.' Fortunately, in Festus' view, Papa's society was mature enough in the face of existing differences. Support against any of the candidates appears not excessive. All parties are also expected to learn from the conduct of elections in Papua in the past, which generally went quite well. Although, Festus admits there are always disturbing events. One of the important issues for Papua going forward, is the security sector. The security approach that has been taken so far has not had a positive impact. Festus gave an example, the demonstration of Papuan students should not be considered a security disturbance. Such actions are guaranteed his freedom by law. Another important issue is the issue of regional autonomy. The central government has indeed granted a special status, in the form of autonomy, to Papa. 'Only if we look at it more as a form of formality. Because the point is that more if it is true that the government gives special autonomy to the local government then give confidence to the local government to take care of everything. Let not all the rules or orders come from above, so that the local government is only a puppet that only follows what is ordered,' Festus stressed. Therefore, LBH Papua demands elected governors and deputy governors, not puppets from Jakarta, but leaders who are expected to be able to bring comfort and tranquility in Papua. 'We from LBH Papua hope that after the PSU and finally the elected leadership emerges, we hope that we will have a good democracy. Lest there be any of the losing parties that turn up things are not good. We must be generous to accept whoever is elected,' Festus added. ============= Nurhadi Sucahyo Listen to SBS Indonesian every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 3pm . Follow us on Facebook and Instagram , and don't miss our podcasts .
