Annual Outing of the ARFRO Members – Visit to the Yala Wild Life Sanctuary

Visit to the Yala Wild Life Sanctuary and a 2 night.Stay at Laya Safari Resort HotelThis time around, the Executive Committee of ARFRO decided to visit the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary and also enjoy the hospitality of Army’s Luxury Resort Hotel in the jungles, “Laya Safari”. The Army Commander was consulted on this matter and he gave us the okay to go ahead with our preparations. He very generously gave us a 50% concession on the hotel rates and a luxury coach and a baggage vehicle for our travel. Lt Col Roshan Kannangara SLA was designated by AHQ to be the chief demission.

It was on a rainy morning that we set out from the House of Provost in Polhengoda.There were 33 of us, 18 members,13 spouses and 2 grown up children. Sgt Kumara, Sgm Appuhami and Pte Dissanayake accompanied us as ‘aids to an aging membership’. It was subdued conversation inside the coach as the rain beat incessantly on the outside. A few of the younger ladies tried to start a sing – song but it never really caught on and finally ran out of steam.

The rain ceased briefly as we stopped for tea and washroom facilities at the Welipenna intersection. We reached Galle almost on schedule and picked up Gen Gerry de Silva and pressed on to Tangalle where the promise of a sea bath, cocktails and a sumptuous lunch at the Naval Station was the carrot that was dangled before us. But alas when we reached Tangalle it was raining so hard that we had difficulty even getting out of the vehicle. So we settled for cocktails and a tasty lunch in a grand old courthouse now converted into a hotel. The rest of the journey was uneventful except for AVM Tilak Dissanake’s constant search for ‘wild boar’ which seemed to elude him at every turn

Wild boar with fire water was to be part of the entertainment planned for the evening. We reached Laya Safari as evening was setting in. It was a brilliant evening with a clear sky and a steady blowing. There wasn’t a drop of rain and it stayed that way for the rest of our tour. The hotel was luxurious and very comfortable. That evening we gathered at the beach for drinks by the fireside but a fire was not possible because of the blowing. One by one the older folk went off to have dinner and a well earned rest. Day 2 started off with some of the more exuberant ones doing a jog along the beach followed by a dip in the clear blue water of the Indian Ocean. The breakfast was a sumptuous meal and all of us tucked in heartily.

We had to be at the Kataragama town only by 1500 hr to commence our Yala safari. So we decided to visit the temples at Kataragama. The yala safari was a dismal failure as we did not see any animals other than the usual deer, peacock and a single kabaragoya. The animals were probably taking cover behind the under growth and looking at us thinking who could these strange creatures be! It could also be that the trackers did not take us to the places where sightings are likely. We came back tired and frustrated and went straight through for the stuff that cheers – a shot of fire water!! The evening was uneventful except for the cocktails and grand dinner which everyone enjoyed. Day 3 (The final day). We had to do a kick start and get up early to be in time to keep a date with the Coast Guards at Mirissa. We were to have lunch with them and possibly enjoy a sea bath too. After a quick breakfast we started to put our things together and clear the decks for our return journey home.

There was much activity at the front desk with the hauling of baggage, settling of bills, taking Photographs and biding farewell to the hotel staff. The day was sunny and bright and we attempted to speed our way but the traffic density was too much and we were compelled to slow down. We finally reached Mirissa well after midday. The sun was scorching hot and did not encourage anyone to take a dip in the sea. Instead we had cocktails and lunch served in the open by the seaside. Gen Gerry de Silva bailed out at this point and went home to Galle in his own transport. All of us eventually reached our homes tired but happy and contented.

- Written by Maj Gen Chandra Abayaratna VSV USP

The trip commenced on 13 Oct and ended up on 15 Oct 2018. Maj Gen Jagath Rambukpotha functioned as Chairman of the Organising Committee of this event but he could not participate due to a health issue.