Ridiyagama Safari Park was declared open in March 2016. Construction of the project started in 2008 and first phase was completed at a cost of Rs.2,600 Million and opened for public on 28.03.2016.

We were planning to use a car and a van for the trip, but when I contacted Ashan, he discouraged the car. So we exchanged the car to a cab.
The van was from a cab service and naturally came late. The cab went early and reached Fishing Hut by mid day enabling my sons and grandsons to have a dip in Battulu Oya before lunch.

My nephew, a forum member who paved way for me to Lakdasun, came back from abroad with a very expensive set of camera equipment to test in our poor country. So we decided to try Gal Oya National Park. When inquired, Park Officials suggested us a place to stay over night. The owner of the lodge has a jeep and Wildlife Office was able to facilitate a land trip as well as a boat trip.

Six years ago, on 14.10.2010, when I (newbie) requested assistance from Trip Planning Help center to plan a trip to Jaffna a prominent member advised me, “Bring back at least one postal address of a total stranger that you will surely meet somewhere up there. Write to him / her and develop a strong and trustful friendship. Encourage all the others who are with you also to do it. Please…….. If all the people who rushed to ‘see’ Jaffna since the A-9 opened did that, we would by now have made a lot of trust worthy friends. Think about it”

I was shocked to see the present situation of Nature Resort and adjoining nature park. It is truly an Abandoned Paradise. Nature Resort which is managed by Poonagala Estate needs a concentrated face lift to make it presentable to an average eco traveler. Adjoining nature part (A reserve) is overgrown with high grass and foot paths are difficult to follow. This means only one thing. People are not frequenting the Paradise. This is as bad as overcrowding a place of beauty.

After going through all corners of Jaffna it was my dream to visit and stay a night at Chundikulam Nature Park managed by Sri Lanka Army. I was able to realize that dream at later part of last year. My son and three other friends joined me for the trip.

We started around 4.00 am from Maharagama. It was raining cats and dogs and motoring was virtually difficult. By the time we reached the extended arm of the island, it was morning and the weather was not that promising. However we were able to go to coal power plant of Norochcholei and got down in front.

General attractions of Jaffna Penninsula are already covered adequately by forum members. So I don’t intend to repeat the same things other than exceptions. In fact, I was invited to join the trip as all others, except my wife, were first timers and in need of a guide. We started from Maharagama around 8.30 pm on the first day and reached Jaffna by 6.00 am on the second day. After checking in to our Rest, we immediately proceeded to Nagadeepa to avoid the expected mad rush.

As most of our members are aware through my “Help Planning Request”, I intended to go with a large group to Jaffna and branch off to go to Delft. Factually it was our annual office trip which decorates by 7 families, (trigger, stock and barrel) and we are very concerned about accommodation as very fragile wives and kids are involved.

In good old days we used to come to hot water springs in the morning for a bath and a glass full of pure hot milk from a nearby polathu kade and the area was deserted other than that kade. Now it is a carnival and even the springs have lost their warmth to some extent!!!!! We wanted to visit the secrete tomb of the Muslim saint which is in the wilderness beyond the springs but the security people warned us off telling that the trail is now vanished and wild elephants are roaming around. Someone should do something about that.

We intended to cover Trinco and surrounding places of interest as much as possible and the trip was planned to the minute detail. However unexpected bad weather, poor road conditions and Grease Yaka prevented us from touching all places, meaning another trip when time permits!!!!

We started after dinner, from Maharagama around 10.00 pm and reached Udawalawa Dam by 2.00 am. The barrier was closed. However after checking our credentials, they allowed us to pass through with a warning about the bad road condition. Closing the Dam at 10.00 pm seems to be a formality now.The road condition from Udawalawa to Thanamalwila was really bad. It was under construction and it took nearly 2 hours to pass that stretch. Our 5th member was to join us at Okkampitiya. We reached Buttala by early morning and reached his home for breakfast.