Again long awaited August vacation came. We decided to arrange a tour like last year we do. But due to little one’s school home work & other work the trip day by day got delayed. But finally we managed to start our trip on August 22. This time we focused to cover important places in Wellawaya , Buttala , Katharagama , Monaragala , Lahugala & Ampara area.

Few years back i came to know that there were two mini worlds ends at Walapane area and directions towards Harasbedda WE was given to me by Mr Palitha. My other place of interest was a magical location called Golumale bordering VRR reserve.

Karanampotha Mountain (639m) is an isolated peak situated between Melsiripura and Galewela areas, facing Kurunegala-Dambulla road. It is closely related to the mountain where famous Na Uyana Aranya (නා උයන ආරණ‍ය) is situated.

Kukulagala /Diyathalawa (කුකුළාගල/ දියතලාව) is a mountain range situated at Rikillagaskada town in Kandy district. This traingular shape mountain was popular among surveyors as a measuering point. British surveyor called C. Erskine has been there in 1910 and his engraved letters can be found at top of Diyathalawa Mountain. Other than Erskine, some other surveyors also have visited there. (Ambeek in 1924)

Beliya Kanda is a triangular shape isolated mountain seen at Galewela area. It has a height of 613m. The top of Beliya Kanda has a forest coverage therefore doesn’t provide a good view towards surrounding mountains.

Rathna Ella is one of beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka, situated at Rathna Ella village-Hasalaka. It has 111m height and governs for 9th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. Hasalaka Oya which starts from Knuckles range creates this majestic falls. Usual way to visit Rathna Ella is coming from Hasalaka and walking along the canal road to the base of the falls. This is our adventourous journey to Rathna Ella from velangolla Pathana.

Sheer drop of eastern edge of central hills-Lunugala (2465feet) creates this beautiful place.It is situated at Roeberry tea estate and descent is about 1250feet. The most immediate village at the base of this drop is called Dorabada; therefore people call it “Dorabada Pathalaya” (දොරබොද පාතාලය) as well.
In a clear day you can watch landmarks till eastern shore and peaks at knuckles range even. The margin between Badulla and Moneragala district also goes along the world’s end.

We decided to build new house for another poor family. We get details about few poor families & we choose one family for our donation. First I went to see that family to get details of them. On September 16th morning I went there. I took train up to Kurunegala & from there by bus.

I did not have a desire to do a rail hike along Puttlam line though it is very close to my home but, I tempted to do it by seeing the photos of Ashan’s rail hike from Chilaw to Puttlam.

The longest long weekend on the 2017 calendar was an eagerly awaited holiday as it coincided with the August school holidays and the chosen destination was Mannar and Thalaimanar.

Rathna Ella is a beautiful waterfall located at Haslaka. The Waterfall can be reached easily from Hasalaka. Hasalaka to Rathna Ella Wasama and from there 2-3 Km walk to reach the falls. This is the popular route to the falls. But, we tried a different route which we started from Popitiya (18 Bends Viewing Area).

It has been a long pause from my last report but finally I found some time to do this write-up. Since lately I have found a special interest in Dambulla area and there was a long range which was at the eastern boarder of Dambulla which caught my sight when I did a hike to Arangala.