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| Sunday, 8 May 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Old coins of Sri Lanka : Sihala Masu or Dambadeni coins This coin is made of copper and dates back to 1055-1111 AD, the regime of King Vijayabahu I. The king's image is said to have been carved on these coins. It is said that these coins were made using silver and gold as well during this era. But today, we will highlight the coins made of copper. The kings and queens who ruled Sri Lanka after 1111 AD had used the same coin with their names carved on the coins instead of their images. The kings and queens of Sri Lanka who used such coins are listed here. All these coins looked more or less the same. The only way to distinguish one from another was by reading the lettering carved on them. These letterings called Nagaraakshaka are similar to the lettering found on olden stone letters sel lipi.The meanings are depicted above against the names of the kings and queens. The use of the term "Shri" in front of the names is a mark of respect. Only King Nissanka Malla did not use his name on the coin. Instead, he used the name by which he was called on olden stone letters, Shri Kaligalakeja. Also, during the regime of Kings Dharmashoka Deva and Parakramabahu, it is said that a few of these coins had been produced to one eighth the size of the coin shown above.From the reign of King Vijayabahu to Buwenekabahu I, these coins were called "Sihala Masu". Later, since these coins were produced in Dambadeniya, they were popularly known as "Dambadeni coins". It is said that these coins were used in the Kandyan kingdom until the 17th century. - W. I. Kushan Ranaweera --- Bread of many shapes and sizes
Bread, whether made of wheat, rice, maize, corn or rye is necessary for our survival and is the most commonly eaten food the world over. They also come in various sizes, shapes and colours, but remain a staple in our diets. The very first yeast bread is said to have been made by Egyptians around 2600 BC. The ancient Greeks later learnt the technique from them and passed it on to the Romans. In no time at all, it had spread to Europe. Most European cities having bakeries by the Middle Ages is proof of the popularity of this food item. Making bread from refined flour started around 1900. Till then people ate only whole wheat bread as refined flour was initially very expensive. The types of bread eaten in different countries are many. Germans eat many types of rolls such as pretzels, which are salted and flavoured with poppy or cumin seeds. The popular German black bread is made from a rye and corn mixture. Corn meal flat breads called tortillas are popular in Central American countries such as Mexico. People in the Far East eat different breads made of rice flour, while pita bread made of a type of wheat is popular in the Middle East. Roti, naan and chapathi are favourites in India and are made and eaten by Sri Lankans too.How the bread is made also differs from country to country. While most varieties are baked in an oven, some North African breads are cooked in oil, in earthenware pots. The Chinese often steam their bread. Whatever shape or size they may be, breads are a favoured food among many nationalities. In Sri Lanka too, we eat a lot of bread, especially for breakfast and dinner, as it is simple and convenient to eat. No one can resist the smell of freshly baked bread, another reason for the popularity of the humble loaf. ---- The origin of Mother's Day As you celebrate Mother's Day today, you may wonder how and where this day originated. Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, USA is generally recognised as the Founder of Mother's Day, as she spent her life trying to make sure that one day a year would be dedicated to honour mothers. The US Congress, in 1915, asked the President to declare Mother's Day as a day to be celebrated throughout the nation. Now, the day is celebrated in most parts of the world on the second Sunday in May. Celebrations to honour mothers are held in many other countries too. In India, the festival called Durga Pooja honours Durga, the Divine Mother. Apart from honouring the goddess Durga, children also honour their mothers as part of the festivities. ---- Celebrating the elephant
The Maligawa Tusker, which bears the casket carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic is the highlight of the Esala Perahera and is venerated by all. The elephants dressed in all their finery attract foreigners from all over the world to witness this beautiful and breathtaking pageant in Sri Lanka. The majestic elephant is the high point of this festival, which wouldn't be complete without it. An event which celebrates the importance and magnificence of this animal held in India is the Elephant Festival of Rajasthan. The annual festival is celebrated on the occasion of Holi, the festival of colours, held around the harvesting months of March and April. The elephants are prepared for the festival by their owners in bright colours, saddle cloth and jewellery. Anklets are tied around the knees of female elephants, which produce tinkling sounds when they walk. Prizes are presented to the most beautifully decorated animal.Some of the events held at the festival are a polo match, an elephant race and a tug-of-war between an elephant and 19 humans. A variety programme is also presented by the elephants. A ceremonial procession comprising the decked up elephants, riders on horse-back, camels, cannon, chariots and palanquins is a highlight of the event. |
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You may have read recent newspaper reports about a Japanese company
getting together with a Sri Lankan company to make bread and cakes from
rice flour. Although we currently don't have bread made of rice in Sri
Lanka, they are said to be very popular in countries like Japan. 
We all love and respect elephants, don't we? We give them pride of
place at cultural pageants, especially at peraheras like the Kandy Esala
Perahera. 
