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 from Malabe at 11.00 pm on 12.08.2011 and reached Kantale by 4.00 am on 13.08.2011. As the road leading to Seruwila was deserted and in a very bad condition with a chance to meet elephants, we preferred to stay at Kantale till day break. However a lorry came from out of blue and they wanted to go to Mutur via Seruwila. We followed them. However before reaching the jungle area they panicked and stopped. Army personnel at a camp encouraged us to go ahead. When we called the Nayaka Hamuduruwo of Seruwila two days before, he too told us that elephants are harmless and avoid vehicle lights. So we continued our journey on a worst possible road and reached the temple by 6.00 am.

Two days before, when we called Nayaka Hamuduruwo, we asked what the temple requires most and we were informed that few FCL bulbs would be appropriate. I circulated a list in my office and we were able to purchase high quality 25 bulbs!!!!.
13th was Poya Day. Nayaka Hamuduruwo was so please about our contribution and gave us a special “Punyanumodanawa”

Chief Monk giving us Punyanumodanawa	Chaithiya at dawn. Lalata Dhathu is imbedded in this Sthupa
More Photos of Seruwila	More Photos of Seruwila
More Photos of Seruwila

From Seruwila we proceed towards Lankapatuna but failed to complete journey due to extremely bad road conditions.

So we turned back and proceed to Mutur.

We planned to go around Koddiyar Bay through A15 road but all people we asked discouraged us. Finally we selected a new road which is still under construction that connects to A15 near Kinniya Bridge.

Kinniya Bridge – Longest in the country	Kinniya Bridge
Kinniya Bridge

Through an Air Force friend, we have reserved VIP section of Marble Beach for bathing and lunch.

Common beach was packed with locals who have paid Rs.20 to Air Force base to get access. VIP section is more or less deserted.

Marble Beach is one of the best beaches in the country with crystal clear shallow water with no waves at all. Bathing there is a tranquilizing experience.

Even the high cost of lunch (Rs.750 per head!!!!!) did not dampen our excitement!!!.

Marble Beach	Marble Beach
Marble Beach	Marble Beach
Restaurant

After Lunch, we proceeded to see the famous tank farm. It is presently under a long term lease with IOC and they discourage people visiting the site. We had to get the permission from Senior In charge, Mr. Chandrakanthan (0262233283/0759278689)

The tank farm consists of more than 100 huge tanks. IOC is using only 6 tanks.

On the 9th, April 1942, a Japanese bomber crashed onto one tank and the resultant inferno took 7 days to subside. There Japanese were killed.

Tank 91 (Click Image to Enlarge)	Monument Built in memory of suicide bombers has vanished but the cross which held it still intact
Remains of the melted tank	.
.	Other Tanks are rotting in the jungle

After the Tank Farm, we went to our place of stay.

Golden Beach Cottages was recommended by one of our Navy friends. It is in the close vicinity of Trinco town. The complex has around 12 cottages. Each can accommodate 3, but any number is ok with the management provided you can rough out. It has a beach front and a restaurant. Cottage charge is Rs. 3000 per day. Lunch/Dinner is Rs.350 per head and Breakfast is Rs.250. The place is homely.

People enjoying in the beach front of the hotel

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14.08.2011 (Sunday)

Early morning we started from Trinco towards Pulmoddai. Near 39th KM post, at Kuchchiveli, there is a Navy Camp. Behind the camp, neat the beach on a hillock, there is some ruins of a Sthupa known as Pichchamal Viharaya (Kuchchaveli Viharaya).

Hillock is known as Karandi Malai (Walas Kanda).

You have to get permission from the camp to visit the place.

Pichchamal Viharaya - Kuchchaveli Viharaya (Click Image to Enlarge)	Click Image to Enlarge
Walas Kanda	Pichchamal Viharaya
Pichchamal Viharaya	Pichchamal Viharaya
Pichchamal Viharaya	Pichchamal Viharaya
Pichchamal Viharaya

We proceeded further to reach Girihandu Seya at Thiriyaya. This is the place where Thapassu and Bhalluka constructed the first sthupa in the country by embedding Kesha Dhathu. The area is glutted with ruins.

Girihandu Seya at Thiriyaya (Click Image to Enlarge)	Stone Script
Meaning (Click Image to Enlarge)	Stone Bridge
Road to Stupa	Road to Stupa
Ruined Stupa	.
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From Thiriyaya we continued towards Pulmoddai on a fine road with newly constructed steel bridges that have replaced several ferries on the way. Road was virtually deserted enabling us to take photos posing on the middle of the road.

Yarn (Yaan) Oya

Yarn (Yaan) Oya

Our desired destination was another beautiful beach called Arisimalai Beach. In Tamil, Arisimalai means a mountain of Samba Rice.

Turning right from Pulmoddai town and passing the typical black beach, we reached the entrance of Arisimalai beach. A short walk through a lusty patch of jungle ended at a closed alcove of a beach which is miraculously saved from black beach by protective rock formation. The sand is pure Samba.

Entrance to Arisimalai	Walk through Wilderness
To the Beach	Protective Rock Formation
Samba	.

From Arisimalai, we drove back to Nilaveli and visited Pigeon Island. It is glad to see that Navy is enforcing security requirements strictly. Our group consisted of 7 adults and one 3 year old child. We had to get a special permission to use one boat as the allowed maximum load is 7 heads!!!!

One good news about Pigeon Island. Approaching beach front of the island used to be a coral graveyard. Now budding corals can be seen here and there. Wildlife Officer warns off visitors from the area. We praised him and he was so happy.

Pigeon Island National Park

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We started back with the rain in progress and met rough weather halfway. Coastline disappeared, wind started screaming, waves came higher and higher and rain drops felt like pebbles. Life jackets were no consolation at all.

Bad Time of Departure

The second day ended like that.

15.08.2011 (Monday)

Our plan included a guided tour in Naval Base and a naval boat trip before rushing back to Colombo.

Early morning brought a bad news. There was a conflict between Navy and residents at Kanniya on Grease Yaka issue and orders were given not to launch any Navy vessel to water as a safety precaution. (Apitamai Wenne!!!). So we had to be satisfied with the guided tour.

Trinco Naval Base is a wonderful place. Our Navy friend described it as a country of its own with a population of more than 10,000. Most part of it is covered by thick jungle. Labyrinth of tunnels, constructed by British, lay underneath of ground formation. Some are used by Navy while most are abandoned to wild animals such as leopards, bears etc. According to our friend, an expedition through them would reveal marvels including things left behind by British.

The most fascinating place is the Hoods Tower Museum.

“The name of the museum refers to a watchtower built on a hill, which commands a 360-degree view of the harbor and the bay. Three massive canons with a five-kilometer range, installed during the British period, keep a silent vigil over the harbor. Used for defense, the canons now form the centerpiece of an impressive array of antiquated military hardware”

Hoods Tower	Top of the Tower
View from the tower	Demonstrative Exhibit – Ship’s Wheel
Ancient Fort built by a King – Now a part of Museum	Ancient Fort built by a King
Massive Canons - Description (Click Image to Enlarge)	Massive Canon – Loading Point
Massive Canon – Firing Point	Massive Canon – Seen from outside
Massive Canon – Seen from outside	Weapons captured from LTTE
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Boats captured from LTTE	LTTE Submarine
.	Suicide Boat

The Naval Base has two nice beaches called Elephant Point and Coral Cove.

At the Museum we saw some moving photos of a rescue operation where Navy personnel were saving the life of an elephant who was swept to sea while trying to cross the shallow water. Elephant Point is the place where they saw the elephant

Elephant Point	.
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Approach to Coral Cove – Scenic	.
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Among these rocks – Wanderland of Fishes	.
.	Nice Location to have lunch – All facilities available
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We left Trinco by 2.00 pm and had a late lunch on the dam of Kantale Tank.

lunch on the dam of Kantale Tank

END OF ANOTHER TRIP