ICC T20 World Cup 2012 - Sri Lanka

The 2012 ICC World Twenty20 will be the fourth ICC World Twenty20 competition, an international Twenty20 cricket tournament that will be held in Sri Lanka between September 18 and October 7, 2012. The schedule has been posted by ICC. This will be the first World Twenty20 tournament held in an Asian country, the last three being held in South Africa, England and the West Indies respectively. The format will see four groups of three in a preliminary round. India and England are in the same group and will be joined by the runner up of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier; Afghanistan. The Champions of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier; Ireland are in a group with West Indies and Australia. Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh are the other two groups.
Match fixtures were announced on 21 September 2011 by ICC. On the same date, the ICC also unveiled the logo of the tournament, named "Modern Spin"

Groups

The groups were announced on 21 September 2011.

Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D
England (A1)	Australia (B1)	Sri Lanka (C1)	Pakistan (D1)
India (A2)	West Indies (B2)	South Africa (C2)	New Zealand (D2)
Afghanistan	Ireland	Zimbabwe	Bangladesh

ICC World Twenty20 2012 Fixtures

Date	Match
Tues 18 Sep	Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe (1930-2230), Hambantota
Wed 19 Sep	Australia v Q1 (1530-1830), Colombo
Wed 19 Sep	India v Q2 (1930-2230), Colombo
Thurs 20 Sep	South Africa v Zimbabwe (1930-2230), Hambantota
Fri 21 Sep	New Zealand v Bangladesh (1530-1830), Pallekele
Fri 21 Sep	England v Q2 (1930-2230), Colombo
Sat 22 Sep	Sri Lanka v South Africa (1530-1830), Hambantota
Sat 22 Sep	Australia v West Indies (1930-2230), Colombo
Sun 23 Sep	Pakistan v New Zealand (1530-1830), Pallekele
Sun 23 Sep	England v India (1930-2230), Colombo
Mon 24 Sep	West Indies v Qualifier 1 (1930-2230), Colombo
Tues 25 Sep	Pakistan v Bangladesh (1930-2230), Pallekele
Thurs 27 Sep	C1 v D2 (1530-1830), Pallekele
Thurs 27 Sep	A1 v B2 (1930-2230), Pallekele
Fri 28 Sep	D1 v C2 (1530-1830), Colombo
Fri 28 Sep	B1 v A2 (1930-2230), Colombo
Sat 29 Sep	A1 v D2 (1530-1830), Pallekele
Sat 29 Sep	C1 v B2 (1930-2230), Pallekele
Sun 30 Sep	B1 v C2 (1530-1830), Colombo
Sun 30 Sep	D1 v A2 (1930-2230), Colombo
Mon 1 Oct	B2 v D2 (1530-1830), Pallekele
Mon 1 Oct	A1 v C1 (1930-2230), Pallekele
Tues 2 Oct	B1 v D1 (1530-1830), Colombo
Tues 2 Oct	A2 v C2 (1930-2230), Colombo
Thurs 4 Oct	Women’s semi-final A1 v B2 (1430-1730), Colombo
Thurs 4 Oct	Men’s semi-final S8 Group-1 first v S8 Group-2 second (1900-2200), Colombo
Fri 5 Oct	Women’s semi-final A2 v B1 (1430-1730), Colombo
Fri 5 Oct	Men’s semi-final S8 Group-2 first v S8 Group-1 second (1900-2200), Colombo
Sun 7 Oct	Women’s final (1430-1730), Colombo
Sun 7 Oct	Men’s final (1900-2200), Colombo

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Kanniya Hot Springs - Trincomalee.

 
After the tragic civil war flocks of tourists are visiting the Kanniya Hot Springs in beautiful Trincomalee. Also believed to be one of the seven wonders of Sri Lanka. It is believed that these hot waters have medicinal properties that can cure many skin diseases and has the healing power for arthritis and rheumatis. The legend of these hot springs date back to the times of King Ravana. According to the legend King Ravana struck his sword on the earth and from that spot hot water start burbling out which are said to be these springs. There is also another legend that this is part of Buddhist monastery, there are a few scattered ruins in the area although many artifacts and parts of it have been destroyed due to heavy fighting.

The springs consist of seven wells which are built in a square shape and it is only around three to four feet deep. Each of the springs has different temperature from boiling to very mild. The bottom of the well is made from quartz so the water is fresh and clear and not muddy. These springs are extremely popular and it is quite crowded. The area around is surrounded by thick vegetation and there is a Hindu temple as well as a Buddhist temple nearby.
It is a mystery as to why these waters are of different temperatures and it also a mystery about their origins however the wonder of these hot springs in Kanniya should not be missed.



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Gal Viharaya - polonnaruwa

 
The Gal Vihara is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in north-central Sri Lanka. It was constructed in the 12th century by Parakramabahu I. The central feature of the shrine are four images of the Buddha, which have been carved into the face of a large granite rock. The images consist of a large seated figure, another, smaller seated figure inside an artificial cavern, and standing figure and a reclining figure. These are considered to be some of the best examples of ancient Sinhalese sculpting and carving arts, and have made the Gal Vihara one of the most visited monuments in Polonnaruwa.
The images of Gal Vihara follow a different style than the images of the previous Anuradhapura period, and show some significant differences. The identity of the standing image is subject to a certain amount of dispute among historians and archaeologists, some of whom argue that it depicts the monk Ananda rather than the Buddha. Each of the images have been carved in a way that uses a maximum possible area of the rock, and their heights seem to have been decided based on the height of the rock itself. Each statue appears to have had its own image house, as indicated by the remains of brick walls at the site. The Gal Vihara, or Uttararama as it was known during that period, was where Parakramabahu I held a congregation of monks to purify the Buddhist priesthood, and later drew up a code of conduct for them. This code of conduct has been recorded in an inscription on the same rock face containing the images of the Buddha.

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Ulpotha Village - Yoga and Ayurveda Spa - Embogama

Ulpotha has been a pilgrimage site for thousands of years and remains an oasis of tranquility in the heart of Sri Lanka. It is a beautiful private hide-away open to guests for part of the year; a place of total peace, where you can experience the warm, generous and gentle hospitality which Sri Lankans love to offer.

Ulpotha is a traditional working village cradled on the one side by low mountains and a lotus ringed lake, and on the other by tiny emerald green paddy fields. Our focus, at present, is on the restoration of an ageless agricultural way of life including bio-diverse organic farming and reforestation of the land and its immediate surroundings.

Guests are welcome to Ulpotha and those who come will find a natural sanctuary of exceptional beauty where the main activity is simply relaxing in its remarkable atmosphere of peace and calm. However, for those more purposeful in nature, Ayurveda therapies and Yoga classes are available. The Ayurveda is administered by Dr Srilal Mudunkothge, an acclaimed practitioner of this ancient, holistic medical art, while the Yoga classes are led by some of the world's leading Yoga teachers.

We would also like you to see Ulpotha through the eyes of some of our former guests - people who have experienced Ulpotha just as you will. Before booking a holiday we recommend you read A Fortnight in Ulpotha - a personal impression of Ulpotha written by author and broadcaster, Moyra Bremner, together with comments from our Guest Book and numerous articles from The Press. Or, for a more pragmatic description of Ulpotha from someone who had never been on a Yoga Holiday before, have a look at this down-to-earth account written by Daniel Roberts, director of a large online retail company, on his experience. Similarly, you might find the article that appears in the Green Rooms guidebook useful, as we feel it presents Ulpotha quite accurately and succinctly.

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Kandalama Hotel - Dambulla

Welcome to a very special hotel. A hotel that doesn’t sit on the landscape but is part of it. Where monkeys climb your balcony pillars as if they were trees, swifts nest in the corners of corridors as if they were cliffs, granite crags erupt into the sinuous white walkways. Where you can float in the infinity pool while gazing across at the Sigiriya rock fortress, the eighth wonder of the world. Welcome to Heritance Kandalama.

The 162-room Kandalama Hotel in the cultural triangle has etched a great name in the hospitality
industry, especially in pioneering the concept of eco friendly tourism.

CONTEXT
Sri Lanka possesses the most intact biodiversity on the Asian continent. The hotel is located at the
crossroads of different ecological zones harbouring a spectrum of wildlife in the heart of the Cultural
Triangle. It is common place to watch herds of elephants migrating across the plains towards the
seasonal “tanks” (lakes).

The Kandalama hotel was the first environmental hotel project in Sri Lanka when it was conceived with
significant consultation with the local community in 1992. Initially, the development was met with
much public debate as many people living in the relatively pristine and undeveloped region were
opposed to any tourism development, as the area is one of the most significant regions of the country
for wildlife. However, the developers took the communities concerns to heart and instead of fighting
them, decided to embrace them, which led to the design and construction of one of the most
environmentally friendly hotels on the planet.

Since its opening in 1995, the Kandalama’s presence in the domestic and international marketplace has
influenced 3 other hotels in the country to become Green Globe 21 certified and two other companies
to join the Green Globe 21 program.

Room Facilities

• Air Conditioned
• Hairdryer

• Mini Bar
• Room Service

• Tea / Coffee Facilities
• Telephone

• TV - Satelite / Cable

Superior Room:

Superior Rooms are 35 sqm, located on the 2nd to 5th floors. Rooms have lake, forest or garden views. They are fitted with a double bed or 2 single beds. Some bathrooms have a bathtub with an overhead shower while others have a shower only. Room type preferences are subject to request and availability and cannot be guaranteed

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