by Zanita Careem
In the new normal, Christmas is still a season of love… from a distance. Christmas this season will be different but that does not mean that it cannot be celebrated. We should feel the joy and the spirit of giving From Santa bubbles to drive though Christmas decorations, is socially distanced year like no other is giving us a masked Christmas
We spoke to Otara Gunawardena to find how she feels about X’mas this year upended by the Coronavirus pandemic. She said the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has taught us to truly appreciate the little things in life. This X’mas is different from the rest but nonetheless, this year should be for counting our blessings.
Mannar Island is a bird paradise that survived Sri Lanka’s civil war Two thousand flamingos and a war-torn island: controversy over Australian mine proposal Have you heard of Sri Lanka’s Mannar Island? Up to a million migrating birds seek sanctuary here each year on their gruelling journeys South, and thousands of flamingos call the island […]
Up to a million birds stop at Mannar Island, off the north-west coast of Sri Lanka, to feed during the winter.
The Vankalai Bird Sanctuary on the southern tip of the island is protected by the Sri Lankan government and has been internationally recognised under the Ramsar Convention for its importance to both local and migratory birds.
Ms Saroor also remembers climbing the swollen trunks and gnarled branches of the baobab trees trees synonymous with Africa, Madagascar and Australia’s Kimberley, but also found incongruously on her tiny island.
“Even though I fondly remember these baobab trees, one thing that I really remember is how … [members of the militant separatist group the Tamil Tigers] put the mutilated heads of the Indian peacekeeping forces on those trees.”
Mannar Island is a bird paradise that survived Sri Lanka s civil war. Now an Australian mining company wants its sand
Posted
TueTuesday 22
updated
WedWednesday 23
Fishing is one of the main industries on the island.
(
Print text only
Cancel
As a small child, Shreen Abdul Saroor remembers getting up before dawn with her father to spy on the masses of migratory birds that would visit her island.
The birds were on their way down the Central Asian flyway a migration path that crosses 30 countries from Siberia to the Indian Ocean. We would hide somewhere and … we don t make any noise, Ms Saroor recalls.
Mannar Island is a bird paradise that survived Sri Lanka s civil war Now an Australian mining company wants its sand - 23-Dec-2020 nzcity.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nzcity.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.