Life style

A monument to all things Dutch

Published

4 months ago

2024/07/28

By RANDIMA ATTYGALLE

The Dutch Museum in Colombo, located at Prince Street, Pettah, was closed for several years for renovation. It was reopened to the public early this month. The conservation project which is nearing completion hopes to restore this archaeologically protected monument to its former glory.

More than a century since the Portuguese fortified Colombo, the city was lost to the Dutch in 1656 who remodeled the Portuguese fort. A new fortress or a citadel ringed by nine bastions, ramparts and deep moats replaced the original Portuguese-built Colombo Fort. The fort or kotuwa in the local language was known as the casteel or the castle by the Dutch. High-ranking Dutch officials lived in the casteel. Outside the Fort the surroundings are today known as Pitakotuwa or Pettah (an adaptation of the Tamil pettai meaning ‘a suburb outside a fort’). It was known as Oude Stad in the Dutch days. The Dutch, planned the town on a grid pattern with five principal streets- now known as Bankshall Street, Main Street, Keyzer Street, Prince Street and Maliban Street.

Tribute to a prince

Running parallel to Pettah’s Main Street is Prince Street – what the Dutch called the ‘Prins Straat’, named in honour of the new-born son of Kandyan King Rajasinha II. Far from its royal splendour of the past, marked by villas with lush gardens and streets shaded with green trees, Prince Street is consumed by a commercial tide today. Cutting across Malwatta Rd. – Pettah’s flea-market – lies Prince Street. (The smartest way to reach it is either on foot or in a tuk-tuk.) The street is dominated by opticians, sidewalks overrun by vendors peddling from achcharu to counterfeit branded clothing and naatamis (porters) whose calls ring in the air. It is impossible for a visitor to visualize a colonial yesteryear here. You will suddenly come upon an imposing mansion with eight colonnades of striking height looking completely out of place in these surroundings.

: Dutch Museum building in olden days

: Dutch Museum in Colombo

Monument to Dutch architecture

The only vestige of the Dutch legacy in these otherwise changed surroundings, is the Dutch Museum (as it is today). It was said to be the largest building in Pettah, as documented in ‘Streets and Buildings in the Pettah,’ published in the Ceylon Literary Register of September 2, 1887.

The villa which is also believed to have been the residence of Governor Thomas van Rhee who held office from 1692 to 1697 is a living monument to Dutch colonial architecture. Some historical sources also document the place to have been the one-time residence of Count Carl van Ranzow of Colombo.

Administered by the Department of National Museums, the Dutch Museum with its seven galleries, offers the visitor a window to Sri Lanka’s Dutch heritage. From the arrival and establishment of the Dutch to their final place of resting, the museum exhibits their way of life. The galleries are dedicated to Dutch furniture and utensils, the network of forts erected across the island, artillery and jewellery, VOC coins and tombstones portray the political and socio-economic status of the maritime provinces of Sri Lanka under the Dutch and mirror diverse aspects of life and culture of the day. With its high roofs and a gallery of columns, typical of Dutch architecture, the building had been used for different purposes over the centuries before it was finally declared a museum in 1982. It was inaugurated by President J.R. Jayewardene on July 10, 1982.

A governor’s residence, seminary and more

From Governor’s residence, it became a seminary, an orphanage or weeskamer, hospital, army barrack, police training school and finally a post office in 1932. The Latin inscription above its entrance which is still visible quotes Psalm 127: ‘Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.’ Below this inscription is the date ‘1780’ which is believed to be the year in which the seminary was established. Dr. Jurrien van Goor in his article ‘The Rectors of the Dutch Seminary at Prince Street Colombo’ (published in the Netherlands Alumni Association of Sri Lanka (NAAL) Journal Special Edition of 1982) writes:

‘Not many buildings can be found in Sri Lanka or elsewhere in the former Dutch colonies to equal its very fine and imposing row of front columns of such height. During its long history the building was used for many purposes: but the reason for which it was built makes it all the more exceptional. Nowhere else in the Dutch colonies were founded during the eighteenth century seminaries or schools in which local youth received a secondary training. The few endeavours made at Batavia did not last long. Only Sri Lanka can boast of an uninterrupted educational record of such long duration under the Dutch’. The writer goes onto say that even the curricular of the early English schools followed the pattern of the Dutch seminary.

Dutch cot

A museum takes shape

The building functioned as the Pettah Post Office from 1932 until 1971 when one of the sidewalls collapsed during the monsoon rains and made it uninhabitable. The question then arose on what to do with the premises. The suggestion to demolish it was opposed by the Royal Asiatic Society and the Dutch Burgher Union- the latter then led by Dr. R.L. Brohier. In his book Changing Face of Colombo, Brohier notes that ‘there is today no better example of the more imposing and typical building the Dutch erected in the Oude Stad than this monument with its high solid and substantial pillars of brick and plaster supporting the façade.’

The writer (The first Ceylonese to become Deputy Surveyor General and a noted authority on the country’s ancient irrigation works) makes an interesting observation that his great grandfather, Peter Brohier, had lived in a villa on the Prince Street (which he had purchased in 1834) opposite the Orphan Chamber. It was here too that his son (writer’s grandfather) was born two years later. The villa which Brohier refers to opposite the present Dutch Museum is replaced by a row of opticians’ premises teeming with crowds.

In 1973, a committee was established with representatives drawn from multiple state and international agencies to restore the building and establish a museum covering the Dutch colonial period. The restoration was funded by the Netherlands-Sri Lanka Foundation, founded by the late Dr. Evert Jongens. The restoration of the building commenced in 1977 and was completed in 1981 under the supervision of architect Ashley de Vos. The plan for the museum galleries was drafted and executed with the help of the Amsterdam Historical Museum.

Gallery depicting to bacco boxes and jewellery from the Dutch era

Only green patch in Pettah

Prof K.D. Paranavitana, eminent historian and an authority on the Dutch rule in Sri Lanka who served the restoration project as a consultant, recollects procuring several pieces of Dutch furniture for the museum with the assistance of NAAL (Netherlands Alumni Association of Lanka). Among them is a cot which is one of the highlights among the collection in the ‘Bedroom Gallery’. Prof. Paranavitana who was then an archivist at the President’s Office was also responsible for the preparation of narratives for the exhibits.

Foreign visitors to the museum

“The Dutch Museum in Colombo was then a popular venue for the functions of the Dutch Embassy in Colombo and NAAL. I even had a book launch of mine in the beautiful court yard or the meda midula. This is probably the only green patch remaining in Pettah today which was once a fashionable quarter of Colombo shaded by lots of trees.”

Prof K. D. Paranavitana

The court yard with the unmistakable ‘Dutch-well’ which was once adorned with numerous flowering plants and foliage is being landscaped right now. The well too is under conservation. The massive cinnamon tree and the nutmeg tree found in the garden are symbolic of the spice trade which first brought the Dutch here. The side verandahs which open to the courtyard consist of several rooms that had originally served as servants’ quarters and storerooms. Today they are converted into administrative spaces. One of the rooms called ‘Hall of Death’ houses nearly 50 tombstones which were retrieved from a side alley of Prince Street when the Dutch cemetery of Pettah gave way to expanding trade centres.

Laborious conservation

The museum is home to nearly 300 exhibits today. A sizable number has already been conserved and others are still being done says the Dutch Museum keeper Thanuka Kumarasiri. The garden which is the highlight of the place too is to be restored to its former glory soon he assures. “We reopened the museum only in early July this year but we have a considerable number of visitors including foreigners. Once the place is fully done, we hope to attract more crowds,” he says adding that an admission ticket is still issued at a very nominal rate.

The conservation of the Dutch Museum in Colombo was among one of the most challenging tasks before her as the Director General of the Department of Museums says Sanuja Kasthuriarachchi. “The location of the museum in one of the most congested parts of Colombo, the COVID threat and the political and economic unrest in the country in the past few years, made the project an uphill task. Despite all challenges, this archaeologically protected monument which is more than three centuries old, that struggled to survive amidst unplanned structures surrounding it is once again open to the public.”

The conservation project is supported by the State Engineering Corporation and the Department of Archaeology. “We have now reached the final stages of the project and we hope to restore this iconic building into a traditional Dutch home where visitors can step into a tranquil space in the busy commercial hub of Colombo and relive a bygone era,” says Kasthuriarachchi. She invites the public to donate any memorabilia from the Dutch era to the museum which stands as an enduring monument to the Dutch legacy.

Dutch Museum at Prince Street Pettah is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.

(Pic credit: Randima Attygalle, Department of National Museums & Prof. K.D. Paranavitana)

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Life style

King of coconuts heads for a golden future

Published

5 days ago

2024/11/17

Thilina Walpola

King coconut lab testing at CRI

Characterized by its golden exterior, Sri Lankan King coconut or thambili is endemic to the island. In a bid to tap a premium global niche market for this golden nut which traditionally equaled the modern-day saline, the Coconut Research Institute has embarked on ambitious research which is promised to be a ticket in obtaining Geographical Indication (GI) Certification for the much-loved thirst quencher.

BY RANDIMA ATTYGALLE

Traditionally in Sri Lanka, a guest is welcomed with a tall glass of refreshing thambili water. A popular pre-lunch drink, thambili translating to ‘king coconut’ befits this golden-hued nut endemic to Sri Lanka. Thambili is an integral part of many Lankan lives. From being an organic thirst-quencher to a notable base of ayurvedic medicines, this king of nuts even occupies the pride of place in religious and cultural landscape of the island.

Bunches of thambili are often used for decorative purposes at traditional cultural festivals. Naturally sterile, thambili water had been a trusted antidote of native physicians since time immemorial. A traditional substitute for modern day life-saving saline, a bottle of thambili water or even a bunch of thambili was often taken by locals when visiting a recovering patient. Its jelly-like kernel commonly called londha is another edible delight.

Endemic variety

“In many coconut-growing countries, there are primarily two types of coconut palms: Tall and dwarf. Only a few countries have recorded intermediate types, and Sri Lanka has one such variety called Aurantiaca, which means orange coloured in Latin. Within this variety, there are four types of coconut, including king coconut – Nawasi Thambili, Rathran Thambili, and Bothal Thambili. King Coconut is considered endemic to Sri Lanka. Although populations with a similar appearance have been recorded in other countries, they belong to the red dwarf variety. Only Sri Lanka has a well-distributed population of king coconut,” says Dr. Auchithya Dissanyaka, Head of the Genetics Implant Division of the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRI).

King coconut export as whole nuts

GI for a premium price

In a backdrop where the demand for thambili or Sri Lankan king coconut in the international market is on the rise, the CRI is now in the process of differentiating the other dwarf varieties from the Sri Lankan king coconut. The effort is perceived to be a gateway in obtaining the Geographical Indication (GI) certification for our thambili.

GI is an international labeling system that identifies a product originating from a specific geographical area. It recognizes qualities, characteristics, or the product’s reputation that are importantly linked or attributable to its location. GI-certified products which have the international protection are also at an advantage of fetching a premium price over non-GI competitos. Sri Lanka obtained its first-ever GI certification in 2022 for ‘Ceylon Cinnamon’ from the European Union.

Booming beverage industry

Our king coconut is mainly exported as whole nuts and bottled/canned coconut water. From only 2.96 million nuts in 2014, local king coconut exports have risen to 12.91 million nuts as of 2023. The natural beverage industry is also booming in the international market, creating a high potential for the coconut water industry to become a high-value export industry. In 2022, the coconut water market was worth USD 5.2 billion, and it is estimated to increase to USD 20.24 billion by 2030 (zionmarketresearch.com).

Rathran Thambili

“While other coconut water exporting countries use water from either tall or dwarf varieties, Sri Lanka has a unique opportunity to compete in the international market with its indigenous king coconut variety which is of intermediate type. Brazilian Green Dwarfs and Aromatic Green Dwarfs from Thailand are two main coconut varieties in the beverage coconut industry. To successfully compete in the international market, it is crucial to distinguish king coconut from other varieties in the global market,” remarks Dr. Dissanayaka.

The scientists at the CRI are presently conducting molecular and biochemical studies for this purpose, she says. They are also in the process of collecting king coconut germplasm to establish a gene bank to conserve the genetic material of king coconut. “We are selecting best mother palms across the country to go for island-wide characterization and we are almost nearing completion. Following that, we are moving into specific characterization which will differentiate our king coconut from other varieties,” explains the scientist. The project is supported by connected institutions of the CRI including the Coconut Development Board and the Coconut Cultivation Board.

Ongoing research

In addition to the Morphological and Molecular diversity related researches on germplasm conservation which will generate information required to obtain GI, CRI’s king coconut research branches out to several other areas. “We are also carrying out nursery experiments to enhance effective seedling production, floral biology related researches to enhance the breeding programmes and mother palm collection to produce seedlings with good genetic potential,” explains Research Officer, Genetics and Plant Breeding Division of the CRI, Oshan Thilakarathne.

Nawasi Thambili

Sri Lankan king coconut is still largely confined to home gardens although several plantation companies have now come forward to expand the cultivation to plantation level. “The fact that our nuts are largely sourced from home gardens also render it to be fully organic – a factor which enables us to maintain a niche in the international market,” says Thilakarathne who goes onto cite its health properties. “It is a natural beverage high in minerals and is ideal as a sports drink today. In Ayurveda, king coconut water is used to treat renal and urinary tract related diseases.” King coconut water is also considered a dietary antioxidant.

Growing export market

Sri Lanka’s king coconut export market is growing and the possible GI Certification could take it to the next level, says CRI’s Senior Research Officer Nilmini Jayalath. “Ever since we started exporting from around 2010, our king coconut export volume has grown bigger and last year we exported 12.9 million nuts. Our leading buyers are the Middle Eastern countries, Singapore, Maldives, Japan, France, Switzerland, and Germany.” Although king coconut water is exported in value added forms such as in sachets, bottles and in cubes, the demand for ours as whole nuts is much bigger because in the international market, the demand for the natural form is intense,” says the Senior Research Officer.

Wayside Thembili vendors – a common Lankan sight

The scarcity of nuts is one of the major challenges to reach the full potential of our king coconut exports remarks Jayalath. “Local consumption alone demands increased volumes and during the last dry season the nut price went up to Rs 200-250 in the local market. Therefore, to increase the availability of nuts, the Coconut Cultivation Board has initiated many schemes including king coconut villages,” notes the scientist.

Harnessing new technology

In addition to the king coconut characterization studies, the comprehensive research programme on king coconut includes the development of tissue culture technology, and strategies to mitigate the seasonality of production. “By addressing these aspects, CRI aims to not only boost yields but also ensure that the industry can meet growing consumer demand year-round,” says Dr. Nayanie Aratchige, Acting Director of the CRI.

The CRI has developed technology to increase the shelf life of young king coconuts, aiming at enhancing the export potential. The new technology developed by the CRI encompasses the largely untapped potential of king coconut trade due to challenges in preservation and transportation, offering solutions that enhance the shelf life and quality of nuts. “Preserving the freshness and nutritional value of king coconut during transit enables tapping distant markets without compromising quality. Producers and exporters can access further information and learn about our trainings by calling the CRI on the short code 1928,” Dr. Aratchige concludes.

(Pic credit- Coconut Research Institute, Wikipedia)

Life style

Stolen from the wild: Confronting the crisis of illegal wildlife trade and biopiracy

Published

5 days ago

2024/11/17

Thilina Walpola

Nations Trust WNPS Monthly Lecture

By Samantha Gunasekara & Hasantha Kaushalya
Thursday, November 21, 6 pm, Lotus Hall, BMICH

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) is committed to driving awareness and action on critical conservation issues. Through its monthly lecture series, WNPS brings to the forefront the often-overlooked crisis of illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and biopiracy—issues that threaten not only Sri Lanka’s biodiversity but the global ecological balance. The November edition of Nations Trust WNPS lecture aims to shed light on the dark underworld of wildlife trafficking, expose legal gaps, and highlight the need for collective action to protect natural heritage.

Illegal wildlife trade is a high-stakes, clandestine operation that generates up to $23 billion annually, fueled by complex networks that exploit animals, plants, and entire ecosystems. Despite global regulatory efforts like CITES, the trade continues to grow in sophistication, often outpacing enforcement. Sri Lanka’s unique wildlife, including endangered species like pangolins and star tortoises, is particularly vulnerable to collection, poaching and trafficking, with devastating impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity.

Illegal wildlife trade devastates biodiversity, but biopiracy—exploiting resources through patents—adds a serious, emerging threat. The shift toward Digital Sequence Information enables entire genomes of Sri Lanka’s unique species to be exploited, often without consent or awareness.

This month’s lecture presents a unique opportunity for the public and stakeholders to confront these alarming trends and to understand the role they can play in dismantling the networks that fuel IWT. WNPS invites all who care about wildlife conservation to join this critical session and take a stand against the exploitation of Sri Lanka’s natural resources.

This lecture features two of Sri Lanka’s leading experts on IWT:
Samantha Gunasekara

Samantha Gunasekara, former Deputy Director of Customs, is a leader in wildlife protection, credited with establishing World’s first customs Biodiversity protection cell and has over 30 years in wildlife crime detection and anti-corruption in wildlife crimes. He has led significant efforts in wildlife crime detection, initiated the Sri Lanka Customs Museum, and contributed to national conservation efforts. Recognized with the Presidential Environmental Award, he serves on multiple biodiversity committees and is a sought-after lecturer in conservation.

Hasantha Kaushalya

Hasantha Kaushalya is a prominent figure in counter-wildlife trafficking with over 15 years of experience at Sri Lanka Customs. As a World Customs Organization (WCO) accredited expert on Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT), he has led technical missions and training workshops for Customs authorities across Asia and Africa. Known for his expertise in detecting and investigating cross-border wildlife crimes in Sri Lanka, Hasantha has also developed a comprehensive training program to strengthen wildlife trafficking enforcement within Customs. His achievements have earned him the 2023 WCO Certificate of Merit for knowledge-sharing and the Wildlife Law Enforcement Excellence Award from the Sri Lanka Wildlife Enforcement Network (SLaWEN)..

The lecture is supported by Nations Trust Bank and is open to both members and non members. Entrance Free.

Life style

Jetwing Hotels wins the Global Responsible Tourism Award

Published

5 days ago

2024/11/17

Thilina Walpola

Jetwing Hotels was recently recognized for its contribution to climate action at the recently concluded Global Responsible Tourism Awards 2024, sponsored by Sabre, held in London.

The Global Responsible Tourism Awards has honored six exceptional tourism operators across various categories. These winners, hailing from Africa, Latin America, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and the rest of the world, previously secured gold medals in their respective regional competitions. The 33 regional gold winners then advanced to the global stage, vying for recognition in the 20th anniversary year of the awards.

Harold Goodwin, founder of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, emphasized the importance of concrete action in sustainable tourism. He stated, “Too often, ‘sustainable’ is used abstractly. Responsible Tourism demands tangible actions to improve tourism and transparent reporting of achievements. Today’s award winners exemplify these principles, offering evidence-based, replicable, and innovative approaches that inspire and influence others.”

Tess Longfield, Sabre’s head of sustainability communications and award sponsor, echoed this sentiment, expressing admiration for the finalists’ dedication to sustainable and equitable tourism. She added, “Their passion and commitment to creating a positive impact through travel is truly inspiring. It underscores the power of responsible tourism to make a real difference.”

The judges in the climate action category sought organizations actively decarbonizing tourism operations and pioneering innovative strategies for climate resilience and business continuity. Since introducing its first solar PV system in 2010, Jetwing Hotels has steadily expanded its renewable energy footprint, investing over USD 1 million in 2024 to increase capacity by 1.6 MW. In 2023 alone, Jetwing Hotels generated 1,069 MWh of clean energy, powering 13,490 households and offsetting 608 metric tons of CO2 emissions. The ongoing expansion, currently 90% complete, will further bolster solar PV capacity, tripling its contribution to 24% of total electricity consumption. Beyond solar power, Jetwing Hotels has adopted a holistic approach, incorporating biomass boilers, steam-powered chillers, solar thermal systems, and biogas digesters to achieve over 60% of its energy demand from renewable sources. These efforts further align with Sri Lanka’s renewable energy goals and demonstrate Jetwing Hotels’ dedication to a sustainable future.

Dmitri Cooray, Managing Director of Jetwing Hotels, accepted the award in London, stating, “By advancing energy independence and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among our staff and guests, we ensure our business practices are both environmentally sound and economically sustainable. Our success demonstrates that even small steps can create a significant impact, inspiring others to take action.” With a legacy spanning over half a century in the tourism industry, Jetwing Hotels has established itself as a pioneer in curating unique experiences and offering legendary Sri Lankan hospitality. As a family-owned brand, Jetwing continues to be a leading advocate for sustainability and responsible tourism, guided by a comprehensive strategy focused on community upliftment, climate action, environment conservation, and resource efficiency. The brand’s diverse portfolio includes a range of luxury hotels and villas, each offering a unique perspective on Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty.