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The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty seized power in the north and established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam formalized a cease-fire in February 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations. To be updated

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An update on the situation in the Kurunegala hospital. A sincere thank you to those of you who have sent money already and to those of you who are in the process of collecting. It is a relief to us to be able to do something practical to help relieve a little of the suffering. I took a couple of photos at the hospital this morning but it felt intrusive to dwell on the individual suffering. The ward was full beyond capacity after the first few arrivals and patients now cover every available piece of ground, the lucky ones with mats [View Full Entry]

Joeandnicky - Joe Yeates | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
403 Words | 4 Comment(s) | 2 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: May 19th 2009 | 123 Views | [diary=400125]

Makeshift carport type accomodation is being used as wards

I had visited a “Land like no other…” Late November... Freezing autumn in Europe... Every working day makes me feel more & more tired and I have no right to be like that... People would like to talk to very professional, nice and energetic person and … I am tired... Tying to decide by myself, where I need to go to get some sun, smiles, relax… 8th time to Mexico? Love this country very much but... world is too small to be back for the 8th time… Costa Rica? Pura Vida- real life, but... again - love it, but not yet [View Full Entry]

FIALKA - Daina Fijalkauskiene | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
3015 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 19 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: May 19th 2009 | 219 Views | [diary=400173]

Visitors admire these Sigiria frescoes already... more that 2000 years..
Budda Touth Temple in Kandy
St. Clair's Waterfall - Thalawakale

May 16th and 17th If we were asked Nicky and I would say that undoubtedly the highlight of the trip has been the boys and how proud we have been of their adaptability, development and all round lovely wonderfulness. Jake’s eating is becoming less and less fussy - today he did not even comment on a mustard sauce on a cheese sandwich where not so long ago he’d have turned his nose up at the sight of it and refused. They have settled into school happily and confidently and it has been a thrill to see them helping in lessons. At [View Full Entry]

Joeandnicky - Joe Yeates | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1319 Words | 8 Comment(s) | 7 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: May 18th 2009 | 135 Views | [diary=399861]

Jake and I demonstrate
Some of the students
Elliot and Jake demonstrate a task

Friday 8th - Tuesday 12th April We rose early for a van to the Hill Country to stay with Roy, the son of Nicky’s colleague Samuel. It was coming at 7, but arrived at 06:30 just as we were breakfasting, the first early thing since we got here! The driver was considerate and safe on the road although we were slightly put off him when after we stopped for breakfast (spicy hot egg Rotis which we were impressed with E finishing) he bought betel and spat regularly for the next hour. This turned to full disgust as over lunch he kept [View Full Entry]

Joeandnicky - Joe Yeates | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1505 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 8 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: May 15th 2009 | 129 Views | [diary=399027]

Lady sifting tea
Clothes drying on the Tamil tea workers roof
Who needs a car?

We knew Sri Lanka was in the middle of a civil conflict but from the UK when you look on the map and read the news reports it seemed to happening just in one remote corner of the island. The newspapers here play down the conflict and it has been very difficult to get any real idea of what is happening. In particular they play down any human tragedy and the expulsion of the Channel 4 journalist a few days ago shows just how sensitive the government is to criticism. In the last few days the reality of the conflict has [View Full Entry]

Joeandnicky - Joe Yeates | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
289 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: May 15th 2009 | 128 Views | [diary=399073]


By Ekim
May 9th 2009
The Gem Island Asia » Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka? Where in the world is that? I'm pretty sure I never studied it in social studies back in the Deer Park Community Schools back more decades ago than I'd care to mention. Sri Lanka? But I read about it. As the government tries to end a decades long civil war, cornering the last 'Tamil Tigers' in hopes of bringing peace to the war torn northern tip of the island nation. And I remember reading about it a lot. Right after December 26, 2004. When the devastating tsunami killed 30,000 people there. So I read a little in my guide [View Full Entry]

Ekim - Mike Perry | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
816 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 62 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: May 10th 2009 | 149 Views | [diary=397541]

Protection
Texture
Still Life

After another glorious weekend being pampered by Kannan and Sweta in Colombo on the train back we talked ourselves positive about where we are living, determined to focus on the good for our own enjoyment. It was wonderful to be hosted and relieved of responsibility. We arrived early on the Friday and lunched with them before spending the afternoon chilling in their flat, enjoying the shower - a full drencher with a view across the rooftops of Colombo to the Indian Ocean; catching up on various Internet essentials given a rare secure connection and editing the turtle video (or watching Kanna [View Full Entry]

Joeandnicky - Joe Yeates | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1417 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 3 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: May 15th 2009 | 106 Views | [diary=399023]

Jake is very comfortable with K at home in Colombo
The boys in the pool

April 20th - May 5th (and on....) Some things stay the same no matter how far you travel. Joe has a cushy job which finishes at 1:30 every day so he gets to swim in the afternoon with the children. I am sitting in a hot little office until 4:30 every day and the only thing I get to swim in is the sweat running down my back! I have been in the office for 3 weeks and have been absorbed into the fabric of the place. I have my own chair and table complete with an old emirates airline blanket [View Full Entry]

Joeandnicky - Joe Yeates | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
636 Words | 10 Comment(s) | 3 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: May 6th 2009 | 163 Views | [diary=396623]

Bandah bringing in the tea
Samuel, Nadisha, Artis

Journal 12 (Nearly) A week at work!.Monday 27th - Thursday 30th April Well in our 4th week out here we finally all got into work/school. The boys were the hardest to get in but in many ways got the most out once they were. We turned up on the Monday which was the boys school INSET day - spoke to some people, but the principal was away in meetings so could we come back in the morning. We duly did so with the boys fully prepared for school with packed lunches, pencil cases and litres of water. Had a productive meeting [View Full Entry]

Joeandnicky - Joe Yeates | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
790 Words | 7 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: May 1st 2009 | 148 Views | [diary=395383]


We were so proud of how the boys went into school, heads held high and smiles on their faces. They were nervous, but had the confidence in themselves to know they would be ok. Learning to overcome nervousness about the unknown and belief in their ability to cope with challenges are two of our hopes and expectations forwhat Jake and Elliot will get out of the trip. We are trying to upload a video of both of them talking about their experiences (we are so pleased with the video on the turtles - in the safari and turtles blog if you [View Full Entry]

Joeandnicky - Joe Yeates | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
561 Words | 4 Comment(s) | 2 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: May 6th 2009 | 153 Views | [diary=396621]

Jake describes his day