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Polgahawela
Polgahawela is a town located in north western Sri Lanka. It is most notable for being a major railway junction. Polgahawela is situated in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, and is located approximately north-east from the capital city of Colombo; from Kandy; from Kurunegala; and from Bandaranayake International Airport. It is the location of an important railway junction in Sri Lanka Railways' network, connecting the Main Line, which runs from Colombo to Badulla and the Northern Line, which runs through to the northern port of Kankesanthurai. Railway station Polgahawela's railway station is at the centre of the town and lies at the main junction of the Main Line and the Northern Line. The town is notable for a major railway accident that occurred in 2005. Neighbouring stations Pothuhera Allawwa Polgahawela Panaliiya Thismalpola Rambukkana Notable people * Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo and a cardinal, was born here. * Gregory Shantha Kuma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Northern Line (Sri Lanka)
The northern line is a railway line in Sri Lanka. Branch line, Branching off the Main Line (Sri Lanka), Main Line at Polgahawela Junction the line heads north through North Western Province, Sri Lanka, North Western, North Central Province, Sri Lanka, North Central and Northern Province, Sri Lanka, Northern provinces before Terminal train station, terminating at the northern port of Kankesanthurai. The line is long and has 55 Train station, stations between Polgahawela Junction and Vavuniya railway station, Vavuniya. It is the longest railway line in Sri Lanka. The line opened in 1894. Major cities served by the line include Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya,Kilinochchi and Jaffna. The popular Yal Devi service operates on the line. The line was severely affected by the Sri Lankan civil war, civil war and no services operated north of Vavuniya after 1990. Reconstruction of this section of the line commenced following the end of the civil war in 2009 and was fully completed in early ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sri Lanka Railways
The Sri Lanka Railway Department (more commonly known as Sri Lanka Railways (SLR)) (Sinhala language, Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකා දුම්රිය සේවය ''Śrī Laṃkā Dumriya Sēvaya''; Sri Lankan Tamil dialects, Tamil: இலங்கை புகையிரத சேவை ''Ilankai Pugaiyiradha Sēvai'') is Sri Lanka's railway owner and primary operator. As part of the Sri Lankan government, it is overseen by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Sri Lanka), Ministry of Transport. Founded in 1858 as the Ceylon Government Railway, it operates the nation's railways and links Colombo (the capital) with other population centres and tourist destinations. The Sri Lankan rail network is of broad gauge. Some of its routes are scenic, with the main line passing (or crossing) waterfalls, mountains, Tea production in Sri Lanka, tea estates, pine forests, bridges and peak stations. History The construction of a railway in British Ceylon, Ceylon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
The Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery (MBM) is an organisation of Buddhist monasteries of Sri Lankan origin established under the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery Network (MBM) is one of the largest Theravada Buddhist Organizations in the world. Its main monastery is in Polgahawela, Sri Lanka. The MBM maintains nearly 130 branches in all over the world; over 80 branches in Sri Lanka and operates nearly 45 branches overseas in Canada, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Dubai, South Korea, India, Italy, Japan, Germany, and many others. MBM also maintained over 10 Branches of Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery (Headquarters in Dambadeniya, Muthugala Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery). The Mahamevnawa is home to over 1000 Buddhist monks & over 100 Buddhist Nuns. The founder and chief Buddhist monk in charge of these monasteries is Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero, who is engaged in spreading Buddhism to both local and international communi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malcolm Ranjith
Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Ranjith (; born 15 November 1947) is a Sri Lankan Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Colombo since 2009. He was made a cardinal in 2010. Ranjith previously served as auxiliary bishop of Colombo (1991–1995), Bishop of Ratnapura (1995–2001), Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (2001–2004), Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and East Timor (2004–2005), and Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2005–2009). Early life and education Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Ranjith was born on 15 November 1947 in Polgahawela, in what was then British Ceylon, to Patabendige Don William and Hettiarachchige Mary Winifred Perera. He had three younger sisters. Ranjith attributed his first interest in becoming a priest to the example set by a French missionary priest assigned to his parish. He studied in Rome, earning a degree in theology from the Pontifical ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gregory Shantha Kumara Francis
Gregory Shantha Kumar Francis ( B.Th., PGDip.P&CC), was an Anglican Bishop of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. Gregory Shantha Kumar Francis was born in 1955 in the village of Polgahawela, Sri Lanka. He is an upcountry Tamil, and fluent in Sinhala, English and Tamil. Francis was appointed as deacon in 1978, receiving his Bachelor of Theology from the University of Serampore the same year. In 1980 he obtained a postgraduate diploma in pastoral and clinical counselling from Nawa Jeewana Institute of Psychology, Colombo and was ordained as a priest in the Church of Ceylon. He was the chaplain at Hillwood College, Kandy (1993–2000), Trinity College, Kandy (2001–2004). Francis also obtained a higher diploma in comprehensive drug abuse prevention and counselling from the Anti Narcotic Association of Sri Lanka. On 7 November 2010 Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, appointed Francis as the fifth Bishop of Kurunegala in the Church of Ceylon, succeeding retired Bishop Kumara Illan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
North Western Province, Sri Lanka
North Western Province ( ''Wayamba Paḷāta'', ''Vada Mael Mākāṇam'') is a province of Sri Lanka. It is the fourth-largest province by land area, covering , and the fourth-most populated province with a population of over 2,592,000 people. North Western Province is bordered by the North Central Province, Sri Lanka to the north, Central Province, Sri Lanka to the east, Sabaragamuwa Province to the southeast, Western Province, Sri Lanka to the south, and is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the west. The province encompasses a variety of climates and geographical features, from its coastal regions to the central highlands and plains. The majority of the population is concentrated in the urban centers of Kurunegala, the provincial capital, and Puttalam. Kurunegala is the largest city in the province and serves as a major commercial and administrative hub. Puttalam, located on the western coast, is known for its lagoon and salt production. The region has numerous archaeolog ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polgahawela Level Crossing Accident
The Polgahawela level crossing accident was a collision between a bus travelling from Galkiriyagama to Colombo and a train at a level crossing in Yangalmodara, near Polgahawela in Kurunegala district on 27 April 2005 at 8:30 local time, which resulted in the death of 41 people. The bus was struck by an intercity express train from Colombo to Kandy. "The signal was green and the level-crossing gates were closed, then I saw the bus trying to cross and the next thing I know, the engine was hitting the rear of the bus," the train's driver, H. A. Sirisena, said. "After the first impact, the bus spun around and hit the train again. I have been in this job for 41 years, and this is the first time something like this has happened." It was thought that the bus driver was racing another bus driver and competing for passengers. The bus driver, who survived with only a broken ankle, initially refused to speak about the crash to investigators. The bus was destroyed and the wreckage caught f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Main Line (Sri Lanka)
The Main Line is a major railway line in the Sri Lanka Railways, rail network of Sri Lanka and considered by many to be one of the most scenic train journeys in all of Asia. The line begins at Colombo Fort Station, Colombo Fort and winds through the Sri Lankan hill country to reach Badulla. Route definition The Main Line starts from Colombo and runs east and north past the rapidly developing centres of Ragama, Gampaha, Veyangoda, and Polgahawela. At Rambukkana, the Main Line begins its steep climb into the hills of the upcountry. Between Balana and Kadugannawa, the track clings to the side of sheer cliffs, offering passengers views of Batalegala ('Bible' Rock). From Peradeniya Junction Railway Station, Peradeniya Junction, a branch line reaches Kandy railway station, Kandy and Matale. The Main Line then continues its climb through Ceylon tea, tea country, connecting local market centres at Gampola, Nawalapitiya, and Hatton, Sri Lanka, Hatton before reaching Nanu Oya (town ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Udarata Menike
''Udarata Menike'' () is a daytime passenger train operated by the Sri Lanka Railways that runs between Colombo and Badulla in the Highlands. Introduced in 1956, it is one of the first Named-passenger trains and one of the most popular trains among tourists and even among railfans in Sri Lanka. The end-to-end travel time of the route is 10–12 hours as the train climbs through the steep mountainous terrain during most of its journey. History Named-Express Passenger trains were introduced in Sri Lanka, Ceylon in 1955 with the arrival of Class M1 and Class M2 locomotives from the United Kingdom and Canada respectively. The first train to be inaugurated was Ruhunu Kumari, Ruhunu Kumari Express from Colombo to the Southern Sri Lankan cities of Galle and Matara, Sri Lanka, Matara. This train became very popular among Sri Lankans so the Government decided to introduce two other long-distance trains; Udarata Menike Express from Colombo to Badulla and Yal Devi, Yarl Devi Express f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Podi Menike
"Podi Manike" ( Sinhala:පොඩි මැණිකේ, meaning "Little Maiden") is a Sri Lankan passenger train running from Colombo Fort to Badulla. This journey covers about 300 km and is renowned for being the most beautiful train journey in Sri Lanka, especially the stretch from Nanuoya to Ella . It takes about 10 hours to complete the journey. The train follows the hill-country line, a route developed by the British in the 19th century through scenic mountains. The route features bridges, long tunnels, high slopes and gradients. Services The train offers three classes. The first class ac coaches are very luxury and popular among tourists The train also includes a buffet car. *''1st class air conditioned reserved seats'' *''2nd class'' *''3rd class'' typically gets very crowded and carries only basic facilities. Route The Podi Menike travels the length of Sri Lanka Railways' Main Line through the hill country. The Podi Menike begins its eastbound service ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Badulla
Badulla (, ; ,) is the capital and the largest city of Uva Province situated in the central hills of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of Uva Province and the Badulla District. Geography Badulla is located in the southeast of Kandy, almost encircled by the Badulu Oya River, about above sea level and is surrounded by tea plantations. The city is overshadowed by the Namunukula range of mountains (highest peak above sea level). It was a base of a pre-colonial Sinhalese local prince (regional king) who ruled the area under the main King in Kandy before it became part of the British Empire. Later, it became one of the provincial administrative hubs of the British rulers. The city was the terminus of upcountry railway line built by the British in order to take mainly tea plantation products to Colombo. Climate Badulla has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen: ''Am'') characterized by mild temperatures (18°C-26°C) and a significant amount of rainfall. Badulla has a wet season from ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bandaranayake International Airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) (commonly known as Colombo International Airport, Colombo–Bandaranaike International Airport, and locally as Katunayake International Airport) (IATA: CMB, ICAO: VCBI) is the main international airport in Sri Lanka. It is named after former Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike (1899–1959) and is in the suburb of Negombo, north of the nation's capital and commercial center, Colombo. It is administered by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd and serves as the hub of SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, Fitsair, a privately owned low-cost carrier, and domestic carrier Cinnamon Air. The other airport serving the city of Colombo is Ratmalana International Airport. History The airport began as a Royal Air Force airfield in 1944 during the Second World War, RAF Negombo with No. 45 Squadron RAF (1946–49), No. 232 Squadron RAF (1945), No. 249 Squadron RAF (1950) and No. 1303 Flight RAF (1945–46). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
