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| Sunday, 28 August 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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One of the grandest cathedrals in the world Most of you may not have been around when Britain's Prince Charles married the late Lady Diana Spencer, but you certainly may have seen pictures and television footage of this grand wedding. Do you know that the venue for this wedding, St. Paul's Cathedral, is one of the oldest and grandest churches in England?
A cathedral dedicated to St. Paul has overlooked London since 604AD and the existing cathedral is the fourth to have occupied this site. It was built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Sir Christopher Wren, one of the most famous architects of the century, was assigned with the task of designing the building, but it was not before 1675 that his design was accepted. Although he had initially decided on a smaller dome with spires, he had the freedom to change the design, and the magnificent building we see today, with a large central dome and towers at the west end, were completed on October 20, 1708. The style is part Renaissance and part Baroque. The dome was inspired by the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is 108 metres (365 feet) to the summit of the dome. The cathedral holds three galleries - Whispering Gallery (where children still test the acoustics), external Stone Gallery and Golden Gallery. Five monarchs overlooked the construction of the building and they all decided that it should be as grand and beautiful as their own palaces. Queen Victoria had complained in the mid-19th century that the interior was "dreary, dismal and undevotional". Therefore, changes were effected and the design was improved to its current magnificence. Its design has changed over the years, with many features being added and removed to reflect contemporary trends. The cathedral's first service was held in 1697; many other important events have been held there since then, such as, the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana, the funerals of Lord Nelson, Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill, jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria and King George V, thanksgiving service for the 60th jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, peace services marking the end of both World Wars, remembrance services for the September 11, 2001 victims and the 80th and 100th birthday celebrations of the late Queen Mother. An American Memorial Chapel was added later behind the High Altar as a tribute to Americans who died in the Second World War. A restoration programme is currently under way at the St. Paul's Cathedral to celebrate the 300th anniversary of its opening. The programme which runs from 2000 to 2008 will cost over 40 million sterling pounds. Lighthouse which marks the southern tip Some of you may have been to the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka in Dondra, Matara. The Dondra Lighthouse is the famous landmark which marks this spot. It is located about six kilometres south-east of the Matara town.
It is located in such calm and quiet surroundings, away from humanity, that some have compared the experience of visiting the lighthouse to entering a pristine monastery. It is situated in a beautiful garden, in the midst of coconut trees and bougainvillaea flowers, with stones painted in white, lining the path to the lighthouse and its keeper's quarters. A plaque which shows the exact southern tip of the country is placed on a small mound close to the building. The Dondra Lighthouse was built during the colonial period when the British were ruling our country. It was originally designed in 1889 by James Douglas and constructed by William Douglas of Imperial Lighthouse Services. The octagonal-shaped lighthouse is light yellow in its exterior and has 14 double-panel yellow windows. The walls are made of flat stones in the inside and embossed and decorated stones on the outside. The interior stones are square-shaped and weigh about two and a half tonnes each. It is said that the last stone was placed on Queen Victoria's birthday in 1889. The oval-shaped staircase comprises over 196 steps. The bottom steps are shaped like ovals while the top steps are straight. The lighthouse is still active and helps guide ships and boats which sail on the Indian Ocean. Over 250 ships are said to pass this area daily, and most of them use the signals beamed by the lighthouse. It also transmits radio wave signals to surrounding lighthouses in Sri Lanka. The large beacon that guides sailors and fishermen in the sea comprises 40 smaller lights and the whole apparatus is supported by oval metal bars. The large yellow blinking light goes off every six seconds, while the 40 smaller lights are constantly rotating and are lit up throughout the night. The keeper of the Dondra Lighthouse climbs the buildings four times a day, twice to send radio wave signals and twice to transmit light signals to help fishermen and sailors. It is now maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. An average of 50 visitors, most of them schoolchildren, visit the lighthouse daily. It is said that the lighthouse can be seen from as far as the Haputale Pass. |
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It is the cathedral of the Diocese of London, the seat of the Bishop of
London and the spiritual focus of the country. It is situated on Ludgate
Hill in the City of London and has been featured in many movies to
identify the scene as happening in London. 
It is also reputed as probably the best maintained lighthouse in the
island. At 54 metres (150 feet), it is also the tallest lighthouse in the
country. 
