| Year and Month | February, 2012 |
| Number of Days | 3 days (in 72 hours) |
| Crew | 2 |
| Accommodation |
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| Transport | Motorbikes: Pulsar 220 & Karizma ZMR |
| Activities | Motorcycling around Srilanka’s coast to clock 1453KM in 72 hours |
| Weather | Mostly sunny |
| Route | Negombo -> Chilaw -> Puttalam -> Mannar via wilpattu -> Pooneryn -> Jaffna -> Point Pedro -> Killinochchi -> Vavuniya -> Trincomalee -> Vakarai -> Batticaloe -> Kalmunai -> Arugam Bay -> Siyambalanduwa -> Monaragala -> Hambantota -> Matara -> Galle -> Colombo -> Negombo |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Author | Gene |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
It was one of the dream trip for Dhanushka and myself to Go around Srilanka on our motorcycles. We thought why not call it “Around Srilanka in 80 hours” and to circumnavigate around Srilanka in less than 80 hours.
We decided to leave on 18th February 2012, Dhanushka rode 35 km from Colombo to Negombo and we both left around 11am. The plan was to ride to Jaffna and stop over for the night.
 Saturday 11am, Starting point, Negombo |
 From Puttalam we take B379 to Mannar Via Wilpattu National Park |
After riding non-stop for 2.5 hours we reach Puttalam. The ride was smooth with mild traffic. We knew the next 250km ride is going to be a rough one with literally no tar roads.
 Entering the wilpattu national park |
 After the army check point we enter the Wilpattu national park |
We had to stop to produce our documents at the army check point. They advised us to leave the forest area before 5pm.
 Partially stable bridge as we leave the army check point |
 Wilpattu National park board |
 No tar… and gravel road all way long…… |
 Bit of wet land and water buffalos cooling off.. |
 SLTB bus heading towards Puttalam from Mannar |
 The cloud of dust was so thick we had to stop till it settled |
 Few houses pop up as we reach the end of the thick Wilpattu forest |
 We had to ride parallel to keep the dust from the rear wheels getting in our way |
The road condition was really bad and some places we had to go at around 10km/h. As we got closer we had to tackle the sand and the bike tires sank almost an inch. After about 3 hours of riding on gravel and sand we joined the Medawachchiya – Manaar road. We sighed after seeing the tarmac and stoped by the Yoda wewa to admire the beauty.
 Yoda Wewa. Water level had gone down way below but quite a sight it was |
 Yoda wewa on the left and the famous rice bowl of Srilanka on the right |
 We decided to ride 3.5km to manaar take a picture and ride towards Jaffna |
 So we officially made it to Manaar. We were running out of time and it was around 3pm we had about 102.5km to Jaffna |
 Enroute to Jaffna Via Pooneryn (A32 road) |
At the army check point we were told that the concrete road ends after 10km and till Jaffna the road is still under construction. We wacked the concrete section under 10 minutes and came to another check point after which the road was in bad condition.
 Gravel road again… |
 My license plate came off from the mount after that extremely bumpy ride |
 Dhanu on top of Sagupitty bridge |
 We made it to Jaffna around 8pm |
The Sagupitty bridge was constructed recently and the we missed the view of the causeway connecting Pooneryn to Jaffna peninsula. The causeway is about 4km and this area should be travelled during the day time to witness the beauty.
After making it to Jaffna we checked at “Jaffna Inns” and the room is clean and the price was also reasonable. We were so tired after the long day and worst part of the journey was the dust. Sneeze and cough settled in and we were slightly worried about our health condition during the rest of the journey.
Day 2
We woke up around 4am and checked out from the inn. After a quick breakfast in the town we set course to Point Pedro, the northern end of Srilanka
 An Old Austin parked near the Jaffna Bus stand |
 Dhanu on Karizma ZMR, day 2, another long ride ahead |
 Our bikes in front of Jaffna library |
 After about 30km ride on smooth carpet road we reached the northern tip of Srilanka |
 This is it northern end of Srilanka, we did it |
The road from Jaffna town to Point Petro was a silky smooth road with mild traffic and we managed to cover the stretch in 20 minutes
 Iconic lighthouse in the northern tip |
 Then we ride south via A9 road |
We planned to take the Mullative road from Paranthan and head south. When we reached the Paranthan junction cops told us that the roads were under construction and the 40km road takes about 3 hours to cover. Dust from the construction vehicles was so dense and we recalled our previous day on Pooneryn road. We both agreed to drop that route and head towards Vavuniya via A9 road and then head east via Horopothana. The roads were back to tarmac and we were doing decent 70kmph.
 En-route to Trincomalee, thick coat of dust on both bikes after our little off-roading |
 By after noon we were in Trincomalee |
After reaching Trincomalee we headed further down and decided to stop over at Pasikuda. Bikes were in tip top condition and I had to oil my bike chains as we had already clocked 500km from start. Dhanu’s Karizma had chain cover and had coped well against the dust and sand
 Open road, no cops… could you ask for more |
 Rented a cabana in Pasikuda |
By 4pm we reached Pasikuda and rented a cabana for the night. The beach was walking distance and we called it a day. Till now we had clocked 805km and the next day was the last stage of our journey where we would reach the eastern and southern most point, Sangamankandy and Dondra head respectively.
Day 3
Alarm goes off at 3am and we wake up for the 3rd stage of our adventure. None of the shops were open at that time for even a coffee so without wasting time we set course to Batticaloa. Pasikuda to Batticaloa was only 30km and the smooth tarmac didn’t fail us to hit red line on our machines. We kept around 90kmph and we were the only traffic for next 30km.
Ride was only 20 minutes and we stopped when we saw a coffee shop. The tea served with milk hoppers was heavenly and the energy was back. From Batticaloa we cruised at the normal speed to avoid any incidents and cops.
 400km to go home, A4 road longest road in Srilanka |
 Day breaks, Sangamankandy |
 Eastern most point in Srilanka, Sangamankandy |
 Pottuvil… |
 Through the paddy fields |
Pottuvil is one of the beautiful places with the green paddy fields. The view is absolutely stunning.
 Acres of paddy fields and the tarmac across it. Pottuvil |
 Lahugala, Enroute to Siyambalanduwa |
 Inside Lunugamwehera national park |
 Hello Big guy….running into a wild elephant |
While riding through Lunugamwehera we looked out for wild animals and birds, we didn’t expect the surprise just before exiting the forest. We saw an elephant wandering on the road and from the first look he was very calm and seems to be not bothered by the traffic on the road.
Friendly wild elephant. Close to Sella Kataragama
Passers by fed the elephant with bread, fruits and biscuits and the elephant seemed quite content.
 Tissa wewa, Tissamaharama |
 We made it to Hambantota around 2pm |
 Dondra head, Southern most point in Srilanka, Matara |
Scorching sun was at its peak when we crossed Tissamaharama. We passed Hambantota and Rode non-stop till Dondra head, Matara.
 Most iconic Dondra head light house. Matara |
 This is it, Southern end of Srilanka |
 Heavy shower near Hikkaduwa |
As soon as we passed Galle the sky became dark and started to rain near Hikkaduwa. We were glad it was the last stage and we had covered 90% of our journey. We were so exhausted after two days of riding and wanted to go home as soon as possible.
Weather improved after Aluthgama and traffic became the next concern. It was Monday evening and as we approached Colombo during the peak hours the traffic was the next unbearable thing.
By night we made it to Colombo and After bidding Good bye to Dhanu as Ratmalana I rode the next 40km to Negombo
 We clocked 1453km in 72 hours right around Srilanka |