Photo Story
The largest Nine-dragon wall in the Land of the Dragon (Pics)
A Nine-dragon wall or a Nine-dragon screen is a type of screen wall originating from Han Chinese traditional architecture, which mainly depicts nine different Chinese dragons.
These impressive structures are typically found in imperial Chinese palaces and gardens. It is said that they are usually erected not only for blocking the line of sight to protect privacy, but also to show auspicious blessings.
There are 04 Nine-dragon walls in mainland China. Two are in Beijing, at the Forbidden city and Beihai park. The other two are in Pingyao and Datong, both located in Shanxi Province. Two more are located in Hong Kong with several more outside China.
The Datong Nine-dragon screen, located in Heyang Street of the Datong Ancient City in Shanxi Province, is the oldest and the biggest Nine-dragon walls found in mainland China. It is also 250 years older and three times bigger than the Nine-dragon wall found in Beihai Park, Beijing.
It is built in front of the palace built in the 14th century for prince Zhu Gui, the 13th son of Zhu Yuanzhang – the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
The wall is 45.5 metres long, 08 meters high and 2 meters thick and made out of 426 multicoloured glazed tiles. The wall itself comprises of 03 sections, the top, the wall body and the wall seat.
The nine dragons in the wall body are depicted in pairs chasing flaming pearls with a full frontal dragon at the centre. The pearl, essentially called as the ‘pearl of wisdom’, is associated with spiritual energy, wisdom, prosperity, power, immortality, thunder, or the moon. The dragons are depicted among natural elements such as turbulent waves, high mountains and rolling clouds. The dragons themselves, are all four clawed dragons, as the five clawed dragon was strictly reserved for the emperor only.
The seat of the wall was compounded with 75 pieces of relieves made up of colored glaze brick, depicting animals smaller dragons as well as cattle, horse, sheep, dog, deer, rabbit etc.
The rectangular pool in front of the wall is to reflect the dragons in the wall, with the rippling water giving them a more lifelike effect.
(Pics – Shanika Jayasekara)
Photo Story
Jim Brown Nagar model village handed over to beneficiaries (Pics)
On 26 May 2025, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka – Santosh Jha and Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing – T. B. Sarath, jointly inaugurated and handed over Jim Brown Nagar Model Village in Mannar to the 24 beneficiary families.
The event was also attended by MP Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran – Mr. Ranjith Ariyarathne Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing; District Secretary, Mannar; Chairman and senior officials from National Housing Development Authority, and senior officials from the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing of Sri Lanka; Northern Provincial Council and Mannar District Administration.
The Model Village Housing Project is being implemented in all 25 districts of the island jointly with the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing of Sri Lanka with grant support from the Government of India. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka was signed for the project in October 2017. The project encompasses housing facilities for 600 low-income families of Sri Lanka, with a model village each consisting of 24 houses per district for families selected by the District Housing Committees.
Model villages under the project have earlier been inaugurated and handed over in 13 districts: Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Kandy, Gampaha, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Matale, Puttalam, Colombo, Trincomalee, Monaragala and Kilinochchi. The project progress is over 97% and the remaining model villages too are expected to be inaugurated and handed over to the beneficiaries soon.
Entertainment
‘Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema’ bids adieu (Pics)
The funeral of Malini Fonseka, revered as the ‘Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema’, was held yesterday (May 26) under state patronage at the Independence Square, Colombo 7.
Thousands of fans yesterday paid last respects to her both at her residence in Madiwela and at Tharangani Hall, where her remains lay in state, before being taken to Independence Square.
The iconic actress passed away on May 24 at the age of 78, while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
(Pics : Nirosha Jayawardena)
Photo Story
Vesak celebrated at Lankaji Temple in Japan (Pics)
Japan’s first Theravada Buddhist temple – the Lankaji Vihara held their 41st Vesak Festival on May 25 with a large group of Buddhist devotees from both Sri Lanka and Japan.
The festival was held in accordance with the Theravada tradition under the patronage of Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero who is the President of Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Japan, Chief Priest-Lankaji Temple, Japan and the Chief Monk of the -Sanchi Chethiyagiri Viharaya.
Newly appointed Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan – Prof. Pivithuru Janak Kumarasinghe, and Member of Parliament – Shanakiyan Rasamanickam were also in attendance.
The Vesak meritorious festival organized by Ven. Koswatte Palitha Thero of Savara Lankaji Vihara and guided by Ven. Upatissa Na Thero. Ven. Galabada Assaji Thero of Lankaji Vihara performed the Sambuddha Pooja in the morning and midday as well as the Atavisi Gilanpasa Buddha Pooja in the evening.
The alms ceremony was conducted by the incumbent of Lankaji Vihara – Ven. Yatawara Pannarama Thero, while the Viharastha Dayaka Sabha organized morning and midday alms givings for the incumbent and visiting Maha Sangha at the temple.
Additionally, food and tea receptions organized by Sri Lankan families and institutions in Japan were held throughout the day at the temple.
Speaking at the event, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan – Prof. Pivithuru Janak Kumarasinghe praised the Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero for guiding numerous young Sri Lankans in Japan for nearly forty years and expressed hope that his guidance would strengthen Japan-Sri Lanka relations, enhancing economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
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