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| Sunday, 8 August 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Horton Plains - Home to diverse flora and fauna By Arundathie Abeysinghe
Situated in the central hill country at a height of 2535 metres, Horton Plains is surrounded by beautiful mountains and grassland. Traditionally known as Mahaeliya in Sinhala, British Tea planter Thomas Farr rediscovered this plateau in the 19th century and renamed it after Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, the then Governor from 1831-1837. Spread over 3,159.8 hectares, Horton Plains is home to a rich and unique biodiversity. To the West of Horton Plains lies Kirigalpoththa, Sri Lanka's second highest mountain (2,393 metres) and to the North is Sri Lanka's third highest mountain, Totupola Kanda (2,359 metres). Besides these high peaks, Horton Plains cradles the Belihul Oya, Bogawanthalawa Oya and Agra Oya, the source streams from which the country's major rivers Mahaweli, Kelani and Walawe originate.
Horton Plains was gazetted as a Nature Reserve in 1969 and has since been named as the first ever eco-friendly National Park in Sri Lanka in 1988 because of its unique watershed and biodiversity value; its windswept, misty grassland comprising tree ferns and scraggy dwarf trees (some endemic to Sri Lanka). Interspersed by icy-cold rivulets make the Plains one of the most awesome and forbidding regions in Sri Lanka. Among the trees and plants unique to Horton Plains, the most striking are Binara, Dwarf Bamboo, Patana grass and the tree fern Maha Meemana which dot the forest openings. On a clear morning, to the South of Horton Plains, the Indian Ocean is visible like a fabulous silver crescent. Dawn is the ideal time to see this sight as the mountains are free of mist at that time.
November to February are the coolest months, sometimes with heavy ground frost at nights. These months see bright sunshine too. There is rain during the rest of the year brought both by the Northeast and Southwest monsoons as well as inter-monsoons. Horton Plains consists of grasslands interspersed with areas of forest and some unusual vegetation that grows only in high altitudes. There are 52 species of endemic birds and also 11 species of migrants (which visit the Park between November to March every year). Among the endemic birds are Yellow Eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus penillatus). Sri Lanka White Eye (Zosterops Ceylonesis), Whistling Thrush (Myiophonus bligi), Dull Blue Flycatcher (Eumiyas Sordida), the Mountain Hawk Eagle (Spazaetus Nupalensis). Majestic Sambar is a common sight at dusk and it roams freely in the grassland. The leopard is a rare sight. But the big cat panther (Panthera Padus Kotiya) can be sighted at dawn.
Bear Monkeys (Trachypithecus Vetulus Monticola), Giant Squirrels, Barking Deer, Fishing Cats and wild boar can also be spotted at dawn. According to records before the 1930s, even elephants existed in the Plains. Horton Plains can be explored by jeep from early morning (no vehicles are allowed to enter the park) as the mist often clears by noon.The return walk passes the scenic Baker's Falls and Galagama Falls. The walk to World's End is almost five kilometres along a flat path. Horton Plains is the only National Park in Sri Lanka where visitors are allowed to walk on their own on designated tracks. How to go to Horton Plains: Nuwara Eliya, Ambewela, Pattipola route Haputale, Boralanda, Ohiya route ############ A Taste of Singapore in Sri Lanka Prima Taste, the brand synonymous with premium-quality, ready-to-cook pastes and premixes for authentic-tasting Singapore cuisine, was launched at the Summer Carnival at the Colombo Swimming Club last weekend. Members and visitors got a chance to sample popular Singapore delicacies such as Laksa (a rich and zesty dish with coconut gravy), Hainanese Chicken Rice (pandan and ginger-flavoured rice, served with steamed chicken meat), Singapore curry (coconut-based curry cooked with chicken and potatoes) and Satay (spiced marinated chicken strips served with a sweet and spicy tomato dip). All four dishes were generally well-received by visitors from all age groups, ranging from 5 year olds to grandparents. Survey results showed that the Hainanese Chicken Rice appealed especially to children and the Sri Lankan adult palate mostly preferred the spicier varieties, such as the Laksa and Singapore curry. The beauty of the Prima Taste pastes and pre-mixes lies in its versatility, allowing users to adjust and improvise on the taste to suit individual preferences and also to tap on their creative juices to come up with new dishes. The food was specially prepared by Chef Eustace Cooray, Executive Chef, PrimArt Restaurant. He brings with him years of international and local culinary experience in leading hotels and airline catering industries. It is interesting to note that the internationally acclaimed dish in Singapore, the Singapore Chilli Crab dish, often features crabs imported from Sri Lanka cooked in a tomato base laden with fresh chilli, garlic and other spices. Sri Lanka being an island-nation producing some of the finest quality premium crabs in the world can better than in many countries savour this dish at home through the ready-to-cook paste offered by Prima Taste. Prima Taste traces its origins to Singapore, and over the years has successfully attracted a strong following (both local and international) for its premium quality, easy-to-cook, healthy (with no added preservatives), and most importantly, authentic Singapore cuisine. Having already been successfully launched in the global market scene in countries such as Australia, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia (to name a few), it seems timely that Prima Taste also makes its way to our shores. Locals can now whip up delicious, authentic Singapore cuisine in minutes for entertainment, even when the maid is not at home! Having recognised the success of such carnivals in promoting Prima Taste dishes, Ceylon Agro-Industries Limited is keen to participate in future carnivals such as this so that many more locals can continue to enjoy the best of Singapore's gastronomia at home. Prima Taste is also available in PrimArt and PrimaGo outlets, and other leading supermarkets. |
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