The Sunday Times | Sunday February 3, 2008

Funday Times

King Nissankamalla - Mahawamsa
'Rajavaliya', gives a different version of the story of King Nissankamalla. According to 'Rajavaliya,' there had been disputes after the death of King Parakramabahu, due to forwarding different claims to the throne. Both Pandya and Kalinga dynasties claimed a right to the throne and serious disputes arose. King Nissankamalla had taken trouble to point out that his dynasty – the Kalinga dynasty – had the right to kingship. He even installed inscriptions to prove this fact. His belief was that the rightful owners of kingship in Sri Lanka, were the kings belonging to the Kalinga dynasty.

Sri Lanka’s National Flag
The lion being identified as the national symbol of Sri Lanka dates back to the arrival of Prince Vijaya from India. It is said that on landing, he kissed the sand, called it thambapanni and planted a flag depicting a lion, they had with them, on the ground. This landing, complete with the prince hoisting the flag, is shown on a stone carving in Sanchi, India.


	Running Bear - Poem for the Week

	An excursion to Udawalawe

	King George VI

	Laura and the Geography Book - short story

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