Ratnapura
Ratnapura is the name of the provincial capital of
Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka and the Ratnapura District in which the town
is situated. Some say the modern name is derived from the Portuguese name
Rapadura for jaggery, the palm candy produced traditionally in this region, but
the more common explanation in Sri Lanka is that it comes from the Sinhala
"ratna" meaning gems and "pura" meaning city. Ratnapura is
also spelled as Rathnapura. Located some 101 km south east of Colombo, it is
the centre of a long-established industry of precious stone mining including
rubies, sapphires, and other gems. Apart from gem mining, the town is known for
rice and fruit cultivations.
Sigiriya
Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and
castle/palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka,
surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and
other structures. It is a popular tourist destination, also known for its
ancient paintings (frescos), very similar to those in the Ajanta Caves of
India. The Sigiraya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (AD 477 –
495), and it is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.
Sinharaja
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park in Sri Lanka. It
is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve
and World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri
Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial
logging by its inaccessibility, and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in
1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. The reserve's name translates as
Kingdom of the Lion.
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