Project Kohonawala – Donation of Wheelchair…

After my initial visit to Kohonawala on 08-09 March 2014, NG initiated this project of funding a wheelchair to a boy who was handicapped in the village. While organizing that, she carried out a much needed Eye Clinic to the people of Kohonawala and even Urumeethenna with the help of Doctor Asela and Vision 20/20 Team. The Ministry of Health – Vison 20/20 Project  provided all the material and expertise. The villagers provided the food and accommodation for the team. Due to the nature of the deformation of the boy, a regular wheelchair couldn’t be used resulting NG to find out a place to build a custom-made one for him.

The actual cost was enormous but she managed to get it down after a lot of bargaining, yet it still was a large sum. Thanks to a key Lakdasun Member (who likes to remain anonymous), Arjuna, Ana, and his friends (who like to remain anonymous too) we managed to raise the required amount within a very short period.

So thanks to them all, the fee was paid and the wheelchair was ready to be taken but how we were to take it from Colombo all the way to Kohonawala was the million dollar question. As it was custom built so that it could handle the rugged and uneven terrain of Kohonawala, the wheelchair was, compared to an ordinary one, larger and heavier making it impossible to transport by bus. We didn’t wanna send it by train either in case it got damaged in the process as there were many cables and handles that might not survive a train journey amid many other goods to Badulla. Dismantling it was out of the question as we had no technical knowledge about many screws and bolts attached to it so had to take the full packaged assembled as it was.

Again it was Ana who came to our rescue offering his SUV to take the wheelchair to Kohonawala. So we set the dates for 22-23 Aug but due to the busy schedule NG was unable to join us but Athula and I joined Ana for the Journey. Ana had gone and picked up the wheelchair from the manufacturer at Borella in advance which took the whole back space of the vehicle and we left around 3.00am on 22 August while the rains were hitting us from all around.

Tour Highlights:

1. Wheelchair Donation at Kohonawala.
2. Lipton’s Seat, Dambethenna.
3. Scenic Drive along Balangoda-Bogawanthalawa Road.

Day 01

The journey was so tough and tricky due to the heavy showers falling all the way up to Pelmadulla. We were considerably slowed down but thankfully after Beragala, the rains eased somewhat helping us catch up lost ground till we reached Bindunuwewa for a much needed cup of tea having finished a container of egg and tomato sandwiches on the way saving time having to stop for breakfast. We called the temple and informed Rev. Medananda Thero of our arrival and he promised to send some villagers to Loggal Oya help us carry the wheelchair.

We reached Kahataruppa passing Badulla around 8.30am and started the arduous journey downhill towards Urumeethenna. Heavy showers had eroded the road in many places making it so hard to maneuver. Having driven non-stop from 3.00am, Ana kept battling this unforgiving terrain till we reached Urumeethenna around 9.00am to find the road from there to Loggal Oya in an even worse condition. The road is now being excessively used by the Lorries that had carried the transformer (now installed in the village) and now transport electric poles in addition to the sand lorry.

The washed out road was dangerously slippery due to the rain and there were streams flowing across the road too in addition to hundreds of different sizes of rocks scattered all about. It took us a long time to arrive at Loggal Oya, some driving from Ana as well about 9.45am. There were a couple of boys who had come to take the wheelchair and the kids of the village along with the two little monks too awaited our arrival.

The water levels were not so high still tricky crossing over so we decided to walk the rest of the journey as we didn’t wanna chance a flash flood of Loggal Oya stranding us inside the village with the vehicle. NG had sent some books and DVDs (provided by one of her friends Mahil) to be handed to the school as well and we delivered them to Principal’s house through one of the boys but couldn’t contact him at the time. However on our return to Colombo I managed to get through to him and get the confirmation that he’d received them.

Crossing the Loggal Oya was not so tough as they had built a crossing with sand bags so that Lorries could easily reach the village with the transformer and the electric poles. It’s roughly about 2-2.5km hike to the temple which took about more than an hour. We arrived at the temple around 11.00am for a sumptuous meal of Manioc, Kurahan Thalapa with authentic Lunu Miris and Kollu Curry. Everyone was fascinated by the sight of this strange machine, especially the kids.

We chatted for some time but the large black clouds were looming from Madolsima but we went for a bath in the now alive water streams after the rains. Back at temple, we visited the partially completed Kohonawala Temple, hoping to help them build it as well in some way (more about it later). The boy and his family (Father, Mother and the Sister) came to the temple so that we could hand them the chair officially. However the monk was planning to do some Bodhi Pooja before handing them it. I’m sure it’d’ve happened long before you get to read this report and the boy is now enjoying his new ride.

Athula and Ana help them familiarize with the machine while doing some minor adjustments to it so that it fit him nicely. The monk did an introduction and handed the wheelchair and we got him to go for a ride in the temple garden with his family who were delighted at this as it’ll help them keep the boy nice and safe while they get on with their lives. It was a very touching moment to see the boy propped up on the chair and his parents standing by his side. His mother’s face said the whole story and it was a feeling that I can’t put into words, something closer to “Immense Relief”, I guess. It’s been a wonderful thing to see people like these who are really in need of things get them thanks to projects like these. I felt so proud of ourselves and hopefully we’ll be able to carry out more in future, especially environmental conservation and educating our next generation.

After they’d left we sat down for a hearty lunch of Thibbatu with Dried Fish, Polos Curry and Passion Fruit Leaves Mallung with rice. With about to be burst bellies hanging off us, we left Kohonawala bidding our farewell to everyone. Ana raced to the Loggal Oya beating everyone else and we were soon battling it out uphill. Thanks to his skillful driving, we got back on solid ground heaving a sigh of relief and headed towards Haputale.

It was so misty that we could’ve sliced it into blocks and sold instead of ice cubes. It was bone chilling by the time we got out at the rest house and Ana’s friends were already waiting for us wrapped up in thick coats. After a long hot bath, we sat down for dinner and went to bed hoping for an early morning the following day. The winds were so strong and kept hammering at our windows trying to breakthrough. I was in fact very worried that they’d succeed.

The view along Kahataruppa road

Zoomed in

Loggal Oya, with some water after the rains

Ready to cross

Sand bags made it easy

Going uphill

Piled along the road for firewood

Ana, leading the way

Full of them

Just look at them

Taking a break

Busy at work

Like a giant flower

Up close

Closing on the first house met on the way

Here’s where the transformer is erected

Can you see the charred Viyangala? Galulla village is to the right of her

Hope it’ll start functioning soon

Ana taking a break and we were served some tea by the house owners

Munching the peanuts we gave them

All the necessary items ready at hand

Ana wearing a GoPro Camera. Unfortunately the battery was dead before we started recording the journey

Juicy guava plucked by Vajira

The dried up stream is now alive, we had a bath upstream

Here’s the wheelchair

Looks robust

Atha doing some adjustments, even Janthu the dog is wondering what this new beast is

Freshly dug

Ready for the Polos Curry

Here’s the complete breakfast

Getting the Thibbatu ready for lunch

Lakmali with a beautiful smile

Ready to cook

Viyangala through the trees

Atha testing the chair with Vajira on it

Ana helping with the adjustments with the boy on it

More adjustments needed

Atha and Suddha both at work

His sister and mother waiting anxiously

Sister is a bit weary over all these adjustments

Here he is

On his new toy

Atha trying to show them how it’s moved about

The family with Medhananda Thero.

All the kids too wanted to pose with him

Ana and Atha too

The family

Rev. Medhananda Thero.

They took him for a ride out in the garden

Getting accustomed to it

Father is pushing him around

Still some adjustments done by Atha

Finally they went back home, as there will be a Bodhi Pooja with the handing over later in the week

In the meantime, our Thibbau Curry was being nicely cooked

On our way Viyangala is partially hidden by the mist. She must’ve felt naked without those Mana bushes covering her

Suddha follwing us to the river

Crossing over to safety

Flowing over sand bags

The hero of the journey, Toyota Hilux

Day 02

We got up to a chilly morning covered in a thick layer of mist and soon got ready to leave for Lipton’s Seat, a remarkable viewing point popular worldwide. Unfortunately, there are quite a lot of people in SL that haven’t even heard about this. This is rumored to be one of the best in the whole world and one could see practically all four corners of SL on a clear day with the aid of a powerful binocular. Night mail was laboring along towards Bandarawela with 2 M6 engines and 12 carriages. The mountains towards Diyathalawa were covered in mist and we soon left for Lipton’s Seat.

The road runs uphill from Haputale Town itself along Dambethenna Tea Estate. There are buses running now from B’Wela to Dambethenna (Haputale-Dambethenna is about 9.5km) but from Dambethenna to Lipton’s Seat is another 5-6km which you can walk but not on a windy, misty and cold morning like the one we went. Driving up through lush greenery was simply awesome while the sun was battling it out with the thick layer of cloud to appear. To our right was the Walawe Basin that runs past Udawalawa, Thanamalwila and all the way to the south coast.

Passing the Dambathenna Tea Factory we met up with the mist obscuring the path. However the road is now very well tarred and maintained making it easier for any vehicle to go right up to the viewing point. Last 2-3km was like driving through a milky sea. All around us was the misty trying to envelope us as if protecting us from some evil eyes. We reached the viewing point around 7.30am, but it looked like late winter evening. There was very little light due to both mist and cloud cover. Strong winds were coming from the tea estates below trying to send us flying back to Haputale. We didn’t have to buy the tickets that are Rs. 50/- each as there was no one to sell them due to the harsh weather.

Most of the time we had to remain half bend in order to fend off the winds. The dew drops that came at us with the winds tried to squeeze their way into our cameras making it so hard to take a pic. Getting up to the refurbished concrete viewing platform (it used to be built on wood and felt shaky last I went couple of year ago) was a huge challenge. We all hug the railing as tight as we could and slowly crept up to the top. It was so fierce and cold up there and we soon got down and ran to the safety of our vehicle. I was so scared we’d be thrown off the road by these never ending winds.

Coming back we met a few boys and girls running up coming from Dambethenna side towards Lipton’s Seat dressed only in their running gear. How on earth they bore that bone-chilling cold is still a mystery to me despite their bodies were heated up after all those running. The basin below us looked breath taking and we took a few breaks to appreciate the view. Then we reached Beragala in search of some breakfast before driving to Balangoda for yet another unforgettable scenic drive.

Good morning misty Haputale!

Tinge of blue in the distant

Ooops!

Plenty of them

New Rest House, Haputale

Finally came the morning light

Just at Lipton’s Seat, you can note the rocks to the left of the picture that have been brought for renovation

Newly painted too

Here’s the story

Welcome all

Mist and the Winds were the theme of the day

Looking at the mist hoping for a breakthrough

The nicely built viewing platform

Pic taken from it, note the trees bending in the strong winds

Took a whale lot of effort to take this pic

Hairpin bends

Towards Walawe Basin

Can you see the road?

Close up

GoPro camera was without a battery and we tried to improvise but to no avail

A bungalow with a grandeur view

Walawe Basin, Samanala Wewa, Udawalawa and others are there

Balangoda-Bogawanthalawa-Hatton Road.

We turned off just before Balangoda towards Bogawanthalawa. I’d heard many things about this road and almost all of who’d travelled claimed this to be one of the best scenic roads in SL and I was itching to go see this when I got this chance out of nowhere. The first few km were just driving through villages up to Pinnawala (don’t get confused with the one along Kandy Road). However, from Pinnawala started the journey through Peak Wilderness.

The road was shady and the Tea Estate had maintained either side really well planting trees. The views stretched miles into the infinity with plenty of hills and greenery. On the way we came across a pair of black eagles, probably trying to mate but they kept moving about making it so difficult to take a pic. There was a viewing platform built somewhere in the middle giving us a very picturesque view of the valley below. Arriving at Campion Estate we were met by the Keselgamu Oya to our right and she kept up with us all the way thereafter.

Passing Bogawanthalawa (the town was a great shame to all the scenery before and after as it was one of the dirtiest and ugliest I’ve ever seen) and Norwood we reached Castlereigh Reservoir where Keselgamu Oya disappeared into. The water levels were not so great but the view through tea bushes was lustrous and we enjoyed some creamy Highland Ice Cream at a nearby shop. From there passing Dick Oya we reached at Hatton and settled down for a long journey till we reach Kitulgala amid heavy rains for a delightful lunch.

Twin peaks

Artistic sky

Waiting for a pic

Rest of the team, either side are Ana’s friends, Chanaka and Nera

Unbelievingly beautiful

No words

It was a drive worth every second

Well maintained by the estate

Famous tree

Reminds me of an Elephant

Twin Dolphins?

Back leg of a Lion?

Now the elephant is more prominent

Through heaven

Viewing point

It kept rotating in the winds

Just look at the view

Icing on the mountain

Wooded path

More greenery

Ana mesmerized by the view

I’m in heaven baby!

Busy at work

Steep slope towards the tea estate

More to go

Bamboo

Castlereigh, to the left is the Ceybank Holiday Bungalow

Looking amazing

We got back to Colombo around 5.30pm after a very worthwhile journey and felt so happy of what we’d achieved.

Let me thank once again to everyone (Especially NG, Ana, Athula, and all the other friends and relatives) who chipped in to finish this in a very successful manner. It was glad to see the smile of those parents who will now be able to look after their boy with ease. I must also thank the Chief Monk of Kohonawala Temple, Rev. Dhammananda Thero for his dedication to the village. In fact he was the one who introduced this boy to us that resulted in him getting this wheelchair.

I’m in the process of finding a donor who can contribute to the education of those two little monks (Rev. Chandrananda and Rev. Deepananda, they climbed Viyangala with me) monthly. It’ll help them continue their studies at the Pirivena in Padukka, especially with the stationary and other things. The chief monk said that other two monks (there are four altogether) are being sponsored by the University of Arts and Drama and was wondering if he could find someone to do the same for these two.

If you too need to do something for this village, you could do so by contacting the monk and even donating some books and educational things to the Kohonawala School. Here’s the account number of Kohonawala Temple, Olaboduwe Dhammananda Thero, 116-2-001-4-0063593, People’s Bank, Madolsima should you wanna do any contribution.

Well, folks it’s been a pleasure bringing this series of events across to you. I hope there will be many good things to report from Kohonawala in the future. They are now about to receive electricity and I hope it’s not just another election trick (Chanda Gunduwa). I also hope they’ll get a bridge across Loggal Oya connecting them with the mainland and the road to the village be improved making their lives easy.

Ever since Ana and Wije with the help of many others pulled off a miracle to re-start the much needed Hydro Power Plant in Meemure, I realized we can do greater things as a community. There are hundreds of Lakdasun members engaged in many different areas making it easy to do various things if we get together. I heard that the Lakdasun members have done things similar to this in the past too and hope we can take the trend to the future.

A big thank-you must also go for Mithila and founding members of Lakdasun bringing us altogether in this wonderful community enabling us to pull off tasks like these. I’ll leave you with that hoping to bring much more in the upcoming months.

Take care and keep exploring!

Sri…

P.S. There had been a wildfire at Viyangala about couple of days before we went burning through the Mana bushes spread across the whole mountain. It looked blackened and charred after this wildfire and according to the villagers it had burnt nearly one and half days in a row. She now looked bare, with rocky surface is clearly visible. Hopefully, the rains turn her back into the lush greenery self soon.

More News:

After our visit with Ana, on the request of the chief monk, we’ve decided to help him build the Image House (Dhathu Mandiraya) by providing funds to buy Metal and Cement as they were the main shortcomings at present.

Ana, Prasanna and his family and Athula have already sent the money to the monk to buy them and start the construction soon. I’ll update you with the details as and when I hear about them.

Some more good news as one gentleman from Colombo has promised to donate the tiles for the image house, of course after reading our reports. Another group of people have promised to buy the clothes for the adults and kids to observe Sil and attend the Sunday school, again as a result of our reports.

It looks as if there’s a plenty of good things forthcoming for Kohonawala and her occupants as a result of our journey and reports. It makes me feel so proud of our achievements. We’ve shown that we not only visit these rural areas but whenever possible try to help them with whatever way possible. Even our reports seem to be doing a lot of good, a silent service like SL Navy.

Let’s keep the fingers crossed and hope for the best.