|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 2 December 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Anjana Gamage Cable cars - a long term dream of Sri Lanka Tourism will be- come a reality in the near future. It will be introduced soon by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB). In an exclusive interview with the Daily News, W. Chandrasiri, Assistant Director, Development and Resort Management of SLTB, said cable cars are being launched after an extensive study. The proposed cable car project will straddle Kadugannawa and Bible Rock (Bathalegala) which has a direct distance of 7.5 Km. The bus route from Kadugannawa to Bathalegala covers 15 Km via Mawanella, Aranayake and Hathgampala. Four passengers can ride in a cable car. The speed limit will be seven-10 Km per hour. The Kadugannawa-Bible rock cable car trip will take only 20 minutes. The speed limit can be adjusted according to the travellers' wishes. The cable car project has been estimated to cost around Rs. 3,500 million. Two cable cars will be deployed in the first phase of the project scheduled to be completed in 2010, along with the one million tourists' target. Minister of Industries, Investment Promotion and Tourism Anura Bandaranaike, SLTB Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara, Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Mahipala Herath, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Athauda Seneviratne and Provincial Council Minister Lalith Dissanayake have expressed their keen support and encouragement for the proposed cable car project and believe that a keen investor would come forward for the cable car project in Sri Lanka. Late Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake had also expressed his support for the project. "The scheduled route of the cable car over marshy lands and rock areas will give a glimpse of natural beauty for tourists. It will be a unique eco-adventure. On one hand it resembles a journey to World's End," Chandrasiri said. Bathalegala in Sabaragamuwa Province - Aranayake provincial secretariat division, is 2780 feet above sea level. The top of Bible rock has seven acres of plain land where helicopters can land. Hathgampala Viharaya is an ancient temple located on the rock. Fifteen acres of forest reserve surrounds the rock. Flora and fauna abound on the rock. The Bible rock had been used as a fort and a safe area by Commander Dappula during King Walagamba's period. "When you climb to the top, you can see all the way to Colombo, Ratnapura, Gampola and Chilaw. The temperature of the top of the rock is 18 degrees celsius and there is mist as in Horton Plains," Chandrasiri said. The Ahupini Ella which falls from Rambukkana can also be glimpsed by tourists when they climb the rock. According to sources, 20 -25 people climb the rock on weekdays. During weekends, 50-100 people and on special holidays about 500 make the trip, which takes 90 minutes. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
