POSTCARD N.145 - SRI LANKA

Postcard sent on the 15th June; received on the 4th July 2024

Postcard image:Nine Arch Bridge - Ella
__________________________________________________________________________________

Ravindra keeps sending me these delicious views of his own country... and the more I see, the more I want to see.. if only it was just down there around the corner... but who knows....one day.... Bohomȧ  sthoothi, Ravindra!

A classic train shot. The only thing that's lacking is the smoke coming out of the chimney of a steam locomotive, but if we could go back in time, I am sure the opportunity for this shot would have been there.

The Nine Arch bridge, a viaduct located between the stations of Ella and Demodara (the last one in Sri Lanka's main Line, located some 280 km from Colombo) was built in 1921, by a local, P. K. Appuhami,  after designs by British engineer  Harold Cuthbert Marwood. The project management was also local, falling under the responsibility of D. J. Wimalasurendra,  a distinguished Ceylonese engineer and inventor who would also play a key role in the development of Hydropower generation in Sri Lanka.  

As a curious note, I couldn't help noticing the family name of the photographer, credited on the postcard: Perera, which I'm certain is of Portuguese Ancestry, for Pereira is a quite common Portuguese family name, 

The Sri Lanka Law college celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2024, having been established in Colombo in 1874.

The College is the only institution in Sri Lanka tasked with the certification of attorneys in law, so to exercise advocacy in Sri Lanka, a lawyer must pass his exams at the SLLC.

The 50 rupee stamp celebrating the 150th anniversary, illustrated with the façade of the building where the college is housed was issued on 01MAR2024

Postage was completed with a 25 Rupee stamp, issued on 13SEP2027, illustrated with a painting of the Dondra Lighthouse. Located on the Island's southernmost tip, it is also Sri Lanka’s tallest Lighthouse, with an height of 49 meters. Its construction dates back to 1890.