Kash Chronicles

Previously, it was common in Sri Lanka for supermarkets and grocery stores to provide you with a free polythene bag to store your purchases.

As a result, Sri Lanka experienced environmental pollution. It goes without saying that introducing a large number of polyethylene bags into the environment caused serious environmental issues.

There have been various decisions made regarding the polyethylene issue from time to time, but none have been successful. The problem remains the same.

However, beginning November 1st, 2025, the Sri Lankan government has announced that supermarkets and grocery stores will no longer be able to provide free polythene bags; customers will have to pay for them as well. The price of the polyethylene bag must be included on the bill.

Following this announcement, people began bringing bags to supermarkets and grocery stores to carry their purchases. And now I always bring a cloth bag.

Polyethylene appears to be less widely used in Sri Lanka now. I believe we can continue this in the future.

Who would have thought Goddess Kali would do something like this…?” 🙏
“Sumathipala, are the fruit baskets ready?” asked Minister Janajeeva while checking the time. There was still half an hour left before the Modara Kali Temple opened. Since it was a holiday, the roads were not very busy. They could reach there within 20 minutes. Besides, the minister’s secretary had already informed the temple priest about his visit, so there was nothing much to worry about.
To be honest, this was not a good period in Minister Janajeeva’s life. After serving as a minister for 12 years, his government was defeated during the last presidential election, bringing a major political change to the country. As if that were not enough, he also lost his parliamentary seat in the parliamentary election that followed.
Minister Janajeeva knew well that in politics one must accept both victory and defeat equally. But now he had to hand over his official residence, and all his official security officers had already been removed. The two security officers currently with him were retired army personnel hired using his personal funds.
After retirement, he himself did not feel he needed security officers. But his wife felt the absence deeply. When he had power, he was Big wig who could Controll the entire region. People used to pass by his house with respect and fear. At that time, nothing was lacking—power, influence, supporters, and authority were all there. The house was always full of visitors, and the kitchen helpers preparing tea for guests over and over again.
But now… there noone to help with housework. The same people who once bowed their heads in fear now didn’t even treat him like dust beneath their feet. Recently, he was also removed from his position as a party organizer. His wife was extremely upset that despite all his service to the party—even shouting himself hoarse in support—it gave him no position at all. Soon they would have to leave the official residence as well. With the new government in power, things were becoming increasingly difficult.
More than all that, there was a serious problem troubling him. During his time as Fisheries Minister, a young woman who worked at a nightclub had died under suspicious circumstances. The new government had reopened the investigation into that case.
Earlier, many believed it was a su***de, and the previous government had quietly buried the case. But now that it was being reopened, the minister became extremely anxious. In the past, he could influence everyone—from forensic doctors to junior police officers—with money. But he knew that would not work with the new Goverment. Although several financial allegations had also been made against him, he believed his lawyers could handle those. However, this case was different.
Since hearing the news, he had barely eaten or drunk anything. Recently he had even realized that his lawyers were avoiding him. So he decided to visit the Modara Kali Temple, pray about his troubles, and ask Goddess Kali to punish the Justice Minister who, he believed, was falsely implicating him in a murder case. That was why he was preparing for this visit.
He had instructed Sumathipala to prepare the fruit baskets properly. Sumathipala always handled such Situations because he was experienced. The baskets contained everything—watermelon, oranges, apples, guavas, mangoes, dragon fruit, bananas, papayas, and more. Another basket had a king coconut, incense sticks, and fragrant jasmine flower garlands. Yet another basket contained 10 packets of milk. Thinking that might not be enough, Sumathipala sent someone back to the shop and bought 10 more packets.
Carrying the baskets, the minister confidently got into his Pajero and headed to the temple. He strongly believed Goddess Kali would protect him. After all, he had prepared for this visit by avoiding meat and fish for an entire week. Surely the goddess would not ignore such devotion.
On the way, he discussed the case with his security officer:
“Look here,” he said, “that Justice Minister is trying to frame me for that nightclub woman’s incident. The forensic doctor’s report clearly states it was a su***de. And there’s no CCTV footage showing that I even visited the nightclub that day.”
The security officer nodded in agreement.
However, deep inside, the minister knew the truth—that he had bribed the forensic doctor and even gifted him a Pajero. He also knew he had paid the nightclub security staff to erase the CCTV footage.
Soon they arrived at the temple.
The offerings were arranged grandly. The minister prayed that the Justice Minister who was trying to falsely accuse him should be destroyed. He circled a coconut seven times around his head and smashed it on the ground as part of the ritual.
Afterward, he walked around the temple with the priest. A little later, they heard some commotion near the entrance.
“Sir, we’re finished!” cried one of his closest security officers as he ran inside in tears.
The minister and the priest rushed outside.
A police team had surrounded the area. The officer-in-charge approached him with a stern face. Normally, this officer would salute him respectfully. But today his face looked as if it would explode with anger.
“We are arresting you, Janajeeva Ekanayake, on charges of murdering Sandra Abeysinghe. SI Piyadasa, handcuff him,” the officer shouted.
Everyone present—the priest and the crowd—stood stunned.
Thus the Sandra Abeysinghe murder case was heard in court. The court sentenced Minister Janajeeva to life imprisonment with hard labor.
As he stepped out of the courthouse and boarded the prison bus, his wife collapsed to the ground crying:
“If only we hadn’t gone to offer prayers to Goddess Kali that day, this wouldn’t have happened!”

Moral:
If you seek help from the gods or pray for justice, you must first be righteous yourself.
Seeking divine help while being guilty can lead to serious consequences, because even the gods do not tolerate injustice.
Note: This story was not intended to insult or promote any religious beliefs.

- Kashmi -

🍽️ Top ten foods that only rich people can taste

Culinary World has some foods, but they are too expensive. As a result, only the wealthy have access to these foods.

Some foods require more time to produce, and these foods are too costly due to their scarcity. Next, let's identify those foods and let me know which ones you can afford. (Click on the pictures)

According to the Sri Lankans, Seegiriya was King Kashyapa's kingdom.
According to Indian Friends, Seegiriya was the kingdom of King Ravana.

Every foreign visitor to Sri Lanka skips over this incredible wonder reluctantly. Of course, engineering, water, and architecture all make good use of its amazing design. You demonstrated that if you ever came here.

But in my view, Seegiriya is more than just an archaeological or historical site. Many centuries' worth of unsolved mysteries can be found there. On this point, I believe you all concur with me.

There is little information about Seegiriya that many of us have learned from books or school. Many books, sources, and your history teachers simply state that it is either King Ravana's or King Kasyapa's design. Or perhaps someone claims that prior to King Kashyapa's arrival, it was a monastery.

I visited there at the age 19. That Was a wonderful tour. I climed that huge Boulder and Seegiriya painting of Apsara's. It also an unsolved Story yet. Because there are various opinions and Stories behind these Painted figures. Everyone who saw these painting have several Questions. Who were they? Why did they lived here? Were they concubines of King Kasyapa? Or Were they Queen Mandodari and her maids?

This is not just a Question for us. This is the question that existed since the era when people Wrote Seegiri rhymes on mirror wall. In the 8th Century a person named " Vajraman" Who wrote rhyme on Seegiri Mirror wall asked " Who was this Sigiri Apsaras and Why Did they lived here?"

However, Sigiriya is the place hiding many mysteries over centuries. If you ever hope to visit Sri Lanka, do not miss this wonder.

Note :- These are Ai generated images Which shows construction of Sigiriya.

- Kashmira Rathnayaka -

I heard that "two Sri Lankan ladies were arrested by Sri Lankan Customs because they attempted to bring an exotic Anthurium plant."
Have you ever considered that this could be a punishable offense in Sri Lanka?

When I was in grade 1, I remember waiting at the school gate for my school van. Near the school gate, there was a plant that we called "Gandapana" (scientific name: Lantana camara). This plant has a colorful flower bunch, and as kids, we loved the sharp fragrance of its flowers. My friend Gayathri and I picked these flowers after school and carried them home in our pockets while we waited for the school van.

The plant gadapana is invasive. The wife of the ambassador who visited Sri Lanka is said to have brought it from there at the time of British colonization.

You might come across a plant that produces white flowers if you ever travel to Sri Lanka by train.

It's also an invasive one. called it Parthenium (Parthenium Hysterophorus) To the best of my knowledge, it came from onions that we exported from India or from Indian soldiers who arrived from Sri Lanka during that time.

Give a basic example to illustrate the effects of invasive plants. Consider yourself the owner of a home. You live in your house in peace, but occasionally some strangers visit you, throw you out, and take over your home by force. You end up on the streets because you have nowhere else to go after that.

Not only do invasive species hinder the access of endemic species, but they also pose a threat to our agriculture and certain animals. Officers from Sri Lanka thus exercised strict control over this.

The Plant Protection Act No. 35 of 1999 states that it should be illegal to export exotic plants, seeds, or leaves without authorization. You must obtain an import permit from Sri Lanka's Agriculture Department in order to export any kind of plant, seed, stem, or other item. In addition, you will require a phytosanitary certificate and a quarantine inspection for that plant.

If you export plants in violation of these regulations, Sri Lankan customs will seize them, destroy them, and bring legal action. A Sri Lankan magistrate has the authority to fine you or imprison you for one to six months for these offenses. You may be subject to both of these penalties at times.

How do you feel about this? Is it just or unjust? What actions did your countries take in the event that such circumstances arose? I'm interested in your truthful responses.

- Kashmi -
🇱🇰 From Sri Lanka