Les pierres de lune de Meetiyagoda peuvent se présenter sous plusieurs couleurs, mais un seul endroit au monde produit la magnifique pierre de lune bleue : Meetiyagoda, dans le sud-ouest du Sri Lanka. Le Sri Lanka était d'ailleurs tellement associé à cette pierre mystérieuse que les pierres de lune étaient autrefois appelées « opale de Ceylan ». La légende locale raconte que les terres autour de Meetiyagoda ont été bénies par la lune, et la raison est évidente. Sous ce petit village se trouve le plus grand filon au monde d'une roche ignée contenant de la pierre de lune, la pegmatite. On pourrait croire qu'une région aussi riche en cette pierre précieuse exceptionnelle serait fortement exploitée et marquée par les machines, mais creusant à la main dans la terre végétale, les mineurs utilisent des échafaudages en bois de cocotier et des feuilles de fougère pour soutenir et tapisser les parois des puits au fur et à mesure de leur progression. Une fois la couche de pegmatite atteinte, les mineurs commencent à creuser des tunnels, toujours à l'aide de poutres en cocotier pour empêcher les tunnels de s'effondrer. Recueilli dans des seaux, le gravier contenant de la pierre de lune est ensuite transporté dans le puits de la mine à l'aide d'un treuil, toujours à la main.

This museum is designed to introduce the richness of the mask tradition of Ambalangoda and to strengthen this cultural heritage. The museum, the workshop, and the small library. The Karava people (fisher community) living in the western and south-western coastal areas of Sri Lanka have developed a great variety of social customs. The southwest coast area, es-specially Ambalangoda is particularly well known for its mask plays and rituals that are performed on different assotions. Among these performances, there are two famous ones, the Kolam Maduwa and the rituals to expel evil demons which cause diseases. For many decades, the famous masks have been highly appreciated by private and museum collectors and other experts. But for economic reasons mainly especially the Kolam Dances fell into disuse during the last 3o to 5o years and were performed only very seldom, on the other side, mask carving has now developed into a cottage industry. Of all the well-known carvers in the area,

Madu Ganga Lake, together with the smaller Randombe Lake, which is connected by two narrow channels, forms the Madu Ganga wetland. Its estuary and the many mangrove islets on it constitute a complex coastal wetland ecosystem. It has a high ecological, biological, and aesthetic significance, being home to approximately 303 species of plants belonging to 95 families and to 248 species of vertebrate animals. The inhabitants of its islets produce peeled cinnamon and cinnamon oil.

Bentota is a resort town on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. Its long Bentota Beach stretches north, where it becomes a sandy strip known as Paradise Island, parallel to Bentota Lagoon. Coral-rich dive sites include Canoe Rock. On Bentota River, the centuries-old Galapota Temple has a large Buddha statue. Southeast is Lunuganga, the estate, and gardens of architect Geoffrey Bawa. Northeast is his brother Bevis's Brief Garden

return on the southern expressway to Colombo port.