The Ramayana Initiative ofthe Ministry of Tourism

- Gaston Perera

Object of Presentation

- to describe what the Ministry does in employing the Ramayana legend to attract Indian tourists

METHODOLOGY

To present an unvarnished, factual account as impartially, dispassionately, and with as straight a face as possible

SOURCES

Official website of Ministry at

Public Statements made by Ministry Officials

www.srilankatourism.orgAlso –

Google-Sri Lanka Travel-Religion and Culture-Ramayana Trail

REFORMS

New legislation – 38 of 2005Ceylon Tourist Board replacedSri Lanka Tourist Development Authority (SLTDA) established as apex body to maintain current and create new markets

Birth of India Option

War, the global economic downturn and rising fuel prices block inflow of tourists from WestHence Indian option and the Ramayana epic

Thinking in India

Views of Indian intelligentsia on Ramayana summarized in books such as D.P. Mishra’s Search for Lanka

Thinking in India

Thinking in India

“All proper names of human beings, tribes, places, rivers, forests, mountains,etc mentioned in the Ramayana of Valmiki have now to be looked for on the map of India” –

-page

The India Option

But the then Minister of Tourism, Mr Milinda Moragoda, opts to use the Ramayana epic as a device to attract Indian tourists to the Island.

Mr Moragoda’s interview with Business Page Magazine, 7th July

2009- “In order to ensure all our activities will

be in keeping with our beliefs as well as our cultural and traditional values, our Ministry has set up a Maha Sangha Advisory Council to guide us in our activities.”

Mr Moragoda’s Interview (contd)

- “We have created an initiative called the Ramayana Trail and have opened up over 50 sites associated with the Ramayana epic.”

The Ramayana Tours

Varies according to Price and DurationPrice- Premier= 250Euro, per day per

person, all provided- Also Gold and Silver- Classic = 64 euros

Duration – One day tours- “Trials of Sita”, 7days/8nights

What the SLTDA says in introducing the Ramayana TourValmiki’s epic is a “symbol of victory of good over evil.”Characterisation: Rama “dark, handsome prince in exile” confronts and overcomes “demon king”Island “the proud custodian of more than 50 sites” associated with epicPeople “remember to this day the connection of their soil to the great epic.”

Some of the 50 Sites on the Ramayana Tour

Sitakotuwa: Gurulupotha, Hasalaka. Site of Lankapura, Ravana’s capital.Sita Eliya: Stream where Sita bathedIstripura/Konda Katu Gala: Rock on which Sita sat to dry and clip her hairPath of Sita’s Chariot: Summit of Ramboda. No vegetation grows.Ussangoda: Airport torched by Hanuman near Tangalla

Sites (contd.)

Ravana Cave Ella: Series of underground tunnels and secret passages through hill. “Net-worked all the important cities, airports and dairy farms. A close look ---indicates they are man-made and not natural formations”. Opens at Matale etc. Instance of Ravana’s architectutal brillianceYuddhaganawa: in Wasgamuwa jungles. Battlefield. Barren now after the destruction.

SITES (CONTD.)

Dunwila: On out skirts of Wasgamuwa National Park from where Rama fired the brahmastharam (arrow) that killed Ravana.Rumassgala:at Unawatuna, Galle. Hanuman bringing hill from Himalaya with medicinal herbs dropped part here. Others at Ritigala etc.

SITES (CONTD.)

Divurumpola: where Sita performed theagni parikshaka to prove her chastity. “THE LEGAL SYSTEM PERMITS AND ACCEPTS THE SWEARING DONE AT THIS TEMPLE WHILE SETTLING DISPUTES BETWEEN PARTIES.”Munneswaram: when the victorious Rama was returning he was pursued by a dosham. On Shiva’s advice he installed a lingam here and was able to proceed safely.

The Ramayana Trail Executive Committee

Chairman-Mr. N. Kiriella

Members- -Dr Suriya Gunasekera, “an authority on Sri Lankan pre-history” & Author of ලංකා ඉතිාාසෙ සිෙ ළ ය

(Lanka Ithihasaye Hela Yugaya)

Ussangoda

The Ramayana Trail Executive Committee

The Other Members:- Dr Subash Chawla, “an authority

on International Ramayana- Mr Basnayake: Additional

Secretary of the Ministry- Mr Kalaiselvam: Director, SLTDA

The Ramayana Trail Executive Committee (contd.)

Function –“to administer and updateRamayana research”

The Ramayana Trail Executive Committee (contd.)

Object of Research:“to prove the historical phase ofthe Ramayana for which there are (!) historical andarchaeological evidence availablein Sri Lanka”

Sites for which the Committeehas found Evidence

Cobra Hood Cave on Sigiriya Rock

Sites for which the Committeehas found Evidence

Potgul Vihara Statue – Polonnaruwa(Pulasthi)

Sites for which the Committeehas found Evidence

Vessagiriya - Anuradhapura

Sites for which the Committeehas found Evidence

Isurumuniya Rock Sculpture

Sites for which the Committeehas found Evidence

Other sites:RumassgalaThe Great Bass and Little BassThe Ravana Ella CaveThe Ravana fallsRitigala

Cobra Hood Cave

The Evidence for the Cobra Hood Cave

Inscription at Entrance to Cave –Parumuka naguliya lene

Raksha maidens called Sita naguliTherefore Sita was imprisoned in the Cave

Address by Mr Kiriella

17th July 2009 - Indian Cultural CentreSubject – “Historical Evidence of

Ramayana and Ravana in Sri Lanka.”

Available in full at –http://www.ramayanaresearch.com/talk.html

Reveals the revolutionary thinking in the Ramayana initiative about archaeology, history, epigraphy and science

Address by Mr Kiriella (contd.)

“There are other ways to test truthfulness than archaeology”“Excavations at Mohenjo-daro prove the pre-historical atomic power”“ --- historians and archaeologists kept away from exploring the pre-history of Sri Lanka as they were not permitted or not concerned --- .”

Address by Mr Kiriella (contd.)

“There is historical evidence on rocks that Sri Lanka --- used a developed alphabet since 17500 BCE”.“There are many inscriptions of Ravana --- misconstrued and published in “Inscriptions of Ceylon.”“--- cited in our written history that we are descendents(!) of King Vijaya. This may be an incorporation of the Buddhist Monastic order.”

Address of Mr Kiriella (contd.)

“Most parts of Sri Lanka was (!) submerged due to a tsunami --- this seismic happening is confirmed by modern science.”