Kalutara

                                                               Kalutara


                      

Calido beach to be a tourist attraction

(Colombo Lankapuvath) The Government focuses on developing Kalutara district including the scenic Calido beach in to a tourist destination.
Accordingly Kalutara will also be made into a fully accommodated religious city while establishing a holiday resort and other facilities needed for tourists.

The famous Kalutara Bodhiya, "Holy Cross" Church and the Hindu Kovil stands as significant places in Kalutara.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo on 13th July 2010, Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation Rohitha Abeygunawardena said that the development work including construction of holiday resorts and Cafeteria’s in the area will be completed by 2011.

Meanwhile a special boat service will commence from Kalu Ganga up to Caldio beach facilitating those who visit the Kalutara Bodhiya to view the beauty of the coast as well mentioned the Minister.

  MANGOSTEEN  ,,  the Queen of tropical fruits .

                     The Mangosteens   belong to the  family  Clusiaceae . The purple Mangosteen ( Garcinia mangostana ) is a tropical evergreen tree believed to have originated in Indonesia . It is popular in Indonesia , Phillipines , Burma  , Sri Lanka and Malayasia . It is successfully grown in the slopes of the Nilgiris and Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu  and  Malabar ( Kerala ) . Mangosteen is known as  Mangustan ( Hindi ) and Sulambali ( Tamil  ? ) .

                     The tree grows from  7 to 25 metres ( 20 - 80 ft ) tall . Mangosteen reach fruit - bearing in as little as  5 - 6 years , but more typically require  8 to 10 years . The fruit which is green in colour turns from green to red to dark purple as it ripens .

                     The juvenile fruit does not require fertilisation to form . ( This is known as Parthanogenesis in botanical terms ) . The fruit first appears as pale green . As the fruit enlarges over the next  2 to 3 months , the rind ( exocarp ) of the fruit , which is not edible , deepens to darker green . During this period , the fruit increases in size and the rind remains hard until a final , abrupt ripening stage . The entire process takes place over a period of  10 days as the edible quality of the fruit peaks . The change of colour and softening of the rind are natural processes of ripening that indicates the fruit can be eaten and the seeds have finished developing . When ripe the fruit is as delicate and agreeably sweet .

                                                    

                                                                                purple mangosteen fruit                

                     Inside the fruit , 4 - 6 segments are found but only 1 - 2 of these contain seeds that have the size and shape of a shelled almond . The fragrant edible flesh that surrounds each seed  is the inner layer of the ovary .  The pearly white pulp is so soft and juicy that it almost melts in mouth with an indescribably sweet and pleasant flavour . The pulp is sweet and tangy , juicy and somewhat fibrous .

                                                                    the pearly white pulp of the fruit

                     Mangosteen fruit is referred to as the Queen ( sometimes as King ) of tropical fruits .....  the most delicious fruit of the tropics with universal appeal . The exquisite flavour of the fruit is likened to that of nectar and is the only fruit tn which glucose is in readily available form .

 The Rind ( exocarp ) .

                    The rind  comprises an array of polyphenols including Xanthones and tannins that assume astringency which discourages infestation by insects , fungi , plant viruses , bacteria and animal predators while the fruit is immature . The juice extracted from the inedible rind has purple colour   and astringency , derived from rind pigments , have potential amelioration effects . Some are of the view the Xanthone present could stimulate apoptosis **  in leukemic cells  in vitro .

                    Chronic consumption of mangosteen juice containing xanthones will show signs of acidosis # .

Pulp ( endocarp ) .

                     Often described as a suitable delicacy , the edible white pulp is called an  ARIL . The aril is part of the fruit which bears an exceptionally mild aroma and contains saccharose , dextrose and kerrelose ( jayaweera ) . The main volatile component having caramel , grass , and butter notes as part of the mangosteen fragrance are  hexylacetate , hexenol and a - copaene .

Uses in  medicine.

                     Various parts of the plant have use in folk medicine , mostly in S E Asia . It is reported to have possible anti - inflammatory properties , and may have been used to treat skin infections or wounds , dysentery  or urinary tract infection .

                   It is believed that the sick , when appetite or the power of eating has gone , are nevertheless delighted with the fruit . The cortex is used in treating chronic diarrhea , urethral irrigation , gonorrhea etc . The xanthone provide valuable effects on cardiovascular diseases and has powerful antioxidant properties , helps heal damaged cells , slow aging and ward off degenerating diseases and physical and mental deterioration .

                  It promotes good health . Because of the anti - inflammatory , antimicrobial , antifungal and antiseptic properties of the extracts of the rind it is used in Cosmetic industry . Made into an ointment , it is applied on eczema and other skin disorders .

                  Black dye is obtained from its shell .

                    Research is going on on the usefulness of Mangosteen for medical purposes .

Kaluthara Bodhi

- Forgotten Heritage : Symbolic Kalutara Bodhiya -

Photo from : http://www.tourism.wp.gov.lk

On top of the mount overlooking Kalu ganga, the Portuguese built a fort in the 16th century A.D. The Portuguese destroyed the Gangatillake Vihara built by King Vikkam Pandya in the 11th century when they invaded Kalutara.
After Portuguese once took possession of the site of the mount where the Gangatillake vihara stood, decreed the area out of bounds to the public. Even the present Sacred Bodhiya below by the main road was declared as a prohibited area (thahanam pradesha).

Upasaka Sendanayake The Crusade

The British in the early 19th century, transformed Kalutra into a rubber, coffee and cinnamon plantations area. With the construction of the rail-road bridges over Kalu ganga in 1877 by the British, the Kalutara Bodhiya by the main road came into limelight and motorists, devotees and others who passed it, paid homage.
A pious and dedicated Buddhist layman, Upasaka Sandanayake regularly cleared the shrub jungle around the Bodhiya. The public helped him and it became a popular place of worship.
The British Assistant Government Agent of the time, Mr. Brodhurst (an engineer himself) found the Bodhiya a real obstruction when constructing railroad bridge and ordered the tree to be axed.
Immediately Upasaka Mahatmaya Sendanayake planned a protest with posters against the cutting down of the Bodhiya.
When the 'D' day dawned for the cutting the Bodhiya. The Assistant Govt. Agent, Mr. Brodhurst arrived with his officials to the scene only to face an angry mob armed with clubs, kathties, mammoties. The Assistant Government Agent sought police aid from the Kalutara police station. The police warned them to disperse. But the protesters did not move and had to face charges of unlawful obstruction but the Bodhiya was saved from the axe.


The Kalutara Basket Centre

Kalutara is famous for its colourful, soft basketry. At the Basket Centre in the middle of the village, the local weavers tame the unyielding palm fronds, turning them into purses, coasters, hats and other items. Then unyielding and stubborn thorny Watekeiyya palm leaves are skillfully transformed into patterned mats, purses, lampshades and linen baskets. Many other wares are woven from coconut fibre.