Sunday Times 2
A short history of Nuwara Eliya by Ashley De Vos
View(s):The National Trust’s monthly lecture series continues on Thursday, August 29 with Ashley De Vos addressing the topic of “A concept for a policy, a short history of Nuwara Eliya”.
The lecture will be held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m.
Dr. John Davy came across the plains by accident in 1819. Coming up and crossing the Kotmale Uva boundary through thick forests, infested with elephants, Davy and his group descended into the Nuwara Eliya plains.
H.W.Cave, writing a century later in the late 1890s, states, “There is probably no other place in the world that possesses such a remarkable combination of attractions as Nuwara Eliya.”
Governor Barnes who on knowing of its existence, personally surveyed the valley in 1828 and proposed to the Secretary of the Colonies, that it may be suitable for use as a convalescent post. He also recorded its military importance stating that Kandy and Badulla were within easy reach of the valley.
The early roads or paths into Nuwara Eliya were the tracks or trails used by elephants. After eight months of study, Captain Dawson created a new road trace from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, which Governor Barnes recommended in his report to be executed in the near future.
Ashley de Vos is the Senior Vice President of The National Trust. Trained as an architect, a landscape architect, in conservation and heritage management and in urban renewal, he is a Fellow of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects and Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects for 46 years.
In view of security concerns, those who wish to attend the lecture are requested to contact the Trust Office on 2682730/ 0778081214 at the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology, 407, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, by Tuesday, August 27.