Negombo Fort was a small but important fort in Negombo, approx. 30 km (19 mile) north of Colombo, that was built by the Portuguese to defend Colombo. The fort was located on a narrow strip of land between a lagoon and an inlet of the sea. It was surrounded by a dry moat, and the gate was accessed via a drawbridge. The original Portuguese fort was a weak structure, which was captured by Dutch forces commanded by Philip Lucasz, in February 1640. The Portuguese made several attempts to retake it before they were successful in December 1640. They then strengthened the fortifications and managed to defend the fort until it was recaptured by the Dutch, commanded by Francois Caron, in January 1644. The original bastions were destroyed by the Dutch cannons during the siege of the fort. The Dutch subsequently rebuilt it in 1672 however not on the usual square pattern, but on a pentagonal one, though it had only four bulwarks, the fifth was never constructed (possibly due to the cost).
This rock inscription known as the “Diyagama Inscription” is located about 5.5 kilometers above the Kalu Ganga river mouth in the ancient port of Diyagama. It was also known as the “Pelunu Gala‟ inscription, because the rock on which it was written has been split in the middle. This was first discovered in the late 19th century, by Ven Vaskaduwe Sri Subhuthi thero and, it gained attention of archeologists after Prof. Muller read and published his interpretation in 1883 in “Ancient Inscriptions In Ceylon’
Uniqueness of geographical landscapes are a blessing in disguise for the modern era. Among the uniqueness of landscapes the wetland holds immeasurable and exemplary value, where the very existence of Wetland considered a blessing for any landmarks. The uniqueness of the wetland not just limited to its significance in massive and varied bio-diversity, but in its role as the progenitor of the environmental purification and sustainability agents as well as its capacity as a holder and generator that houses and preserves the enormous bio-diversity including endemic Flora and fauna of both land and water based spectrum. The Baddegana Wetland Park is the most excellent and suitable example for the wetland that act as a purifier agent that survive in a heart of a urban region – the Colombo – Baddegana. The Wetland Park stretches over 18 hectares of landmass domesticating and housing many species both native and endemics. In a region like Colombo where extreme urbanization undergoing, the Baddegana Wetland Park can be considered blessing endowed by the nature for the rapidly declining region. The Baddegana Wetland Park is situated in the heart of Colombo and houses many Flora and fauna which includes over 80 species of endemic birds, butterflies dragonflies as well as mammals native to Sri Lanka. Baddegana Wetland acts as its capacity as a sanctuary they shelters foreign and migrant birds giving them the space to recuperate specifically in the migrant seasons stretch over August to April. Baddegana Wetland is not just a nature gift of wide variety of natural phenomenon happens, but also a careful manicured structured architectural paradise in the middle of Colombo city. The elements of nature, the engineering factors and the designs incorporated in structure have seamlessly integrated into a breathtaking scenery which do not interrupt the natural flow and phenomenon of the sanctuary. The hardworking of the environmentalists and engineers as well as scientists was able to maintain the nature, the beauty and the practicality of the wetland, giving unique attributes to the already impressive nature's creation.
In a extremely urbanized city of Sri Lanka, having an eye catching water reservoir is like a blessing in disguise. Diyawanna Oya Wetland or also known as the infamous Diyawanna Lake is a urban wetland housed in just away from Colombo main city at Sri Jayawardhanapura – Kotte, the administrative capital of Sri Lanka. In an urbanized city, the water retention and flood protection is extremely important while maintaining the scenic beauty the water reservoir offers in the land. Not only it supports the large amount of water reservoir, it also became a house for many islands, in which one of them holds the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Diyawanna reservoir holds a treasured value of ancient history, specially as the defensive barrier of ancient Kotte Kingdom of Sri Lanka. Even in the ancient literature the Diyawanna Reservoir became a topic of admiration, and apart from that the significance change to the reservoir happened in 1979 and 1980 when the Parliament Complex started to construct, and declaration of the Kotte and newly building land as the administrative capital in Sri Lanka respectively. Nature is also endowed the Diyawanna Lake and the surrounding a gift in a form of wetland, with vast marshlands, wooded area, swamps, islands and also as a protection from heavy rainfall and their consequences as well as temperature regulator of the area and its enriched bio-diversity housing several Flora and fauna , fish and birds of different caliber. As it is declared a wet land, the wildlife sanctuary and the immediate area, there are many activities offered in front of boat rides, recreational activities, exercising activities, sporting, bathing and even enjoying the tracks and park of the Diyawanna Reservoir.
