Southern Monsoon Rally on October 24, 25

The 12th annual Southern Monsoon Rally 2009, organized and conducted by the Southern Motor Sports Club (SMSC) of Matara is scheduled to conducted this year on October 24 and 25 commencing from Sanath Jayasuriya stadium. The vehicles eligible to compete are Motor Cars, Jeeps & Cabs and Motor Cycles. The inaugural Southern Rally was held July 1997.

Over years SMSC has successfully organized and conducted many high quality sports events, which included the Southern Rally, Eliyakanda Speed Hill Climb, Beach Horse Races, Beach Motor Cross, Motor Sports Triathlon comprising a drag race, auto test and a hill climb, SMSC Keells Hotels Safari Rally (Special Stage Speed Rally at Kantale) and Southern Super Cross for President's Trophy at Ceylon Auto Drome (CAD) at Tissamaharama etc.

Another notable achievement of SMSC was the construction of the CAD racetrack at Tissamaharama. CAD was a brainchild of the patron of SMSC, Shasheendra Rajapaksa, who is the Chief Minister of Uva Province and Basnayake Nilame of Kataragama Devalaya and Members of the SMSC.

This year's rally is set to work out as a high quality event as usual and is attracted by many top drivers and navigators of the country. Following competitors have already consented to compete in this years event Mansoor Hassen, Nishan Weerasoorya, Sanjaya Sedara Senarath, Deepthi Perera, Sam Chandrasoma, Tariq Hassen, T. F. Kapilaratne, Shafraz Junaid, Shalutha Addasuriya, Reyaz Farouk, W.M.N. Bandara, Sathy Watson, Rizvi Faroouk, Lanil Galaboda, Cassim Wahab, Jagath Munasinghe, Athula Surendra, Pubudu Wickrama, Nasar Sakkaf, Shirendra Lawrance, Samagi Ranaweera, Ashhar Hameem, Reeza Faiz, Eranda Wakishta, Deepthi Perera, Chamika Ranatunga, Chandana, Upul Perera, Dishan Goonasekara, A. Suriyabandara, Bimal Ukwatta.

The rally is scheduled to take off on Saturday 24th of October from the Sanath Jayasuriya stadium Beach Road, Kotuwegoda, Matara. The first car will be flagged off by Mass Media Minister, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena at 6:02 PM and the other competitors would follow at 02 minute intervals and will be flagged off by Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Chief Minister of Uva Province, V.K. Indika, Minister of Southern Provincial Council, Mrs. W.K.K. Athukorala, Government Agent, Matara, Upul Nishantha, the Mayor of Matara.

The first stage would cover a distance of approximately 180km on tarmac and mostly gravel terrains and is expected to travel through Dickwella, Tangalle, Beliatte, Weeraketiya, Middeniya, Godakawela, Udawalawe and scheduled to finish at Embilipitiya at around 12:00 midnight.

The second stage would start at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday after a two-hour break at Embilipitiya and this stage would cover a distance of approximately 150km through Sewanagala, Suriyawewa, Meegahajadura, Lunugamwehera, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya & end at Buttala at around 6:00 a.m.

And after a three-hour break competitors will leave Buttala for the third stage at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday and expected to cover a distance of approximately 170Km through Tissamaharama, Hambantota, Ambalantota, Baragama, Suriyawewa, Embilipitiya, Agunukolapalessa, Weeraketiya, Walasmulla, Hakmana, Beliatta and finish at Tangalle at around 1.00 p.m. The drivers and riders will then commence their final lap around from Tangalle to Matara. The first vehicle is expected to finish to reach ramp at 6.02 p.m. and others would follow at 02 minute intervals.

The Award Ceremony would be held at soon as the last vehicle reach the ramp at the Sanath Jayasuriya stadium.

According to the Vice President of SMSC & the Chief Plotter of the Rally, Andrew Silva, this year's rally is going to be very tough & challenging one, as it would test the ultimate supremacy of the man & the machine. A superior combination of the Driver & Navigator and extremely reliable & durable competition car plus an efficient service crew would make the difference between a winner and looser. Silva extended his sincere gratitude to the Sponsors of the event, HNB Assurance, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, Orange Switches, Exide Battery, Sanjaya Sedara Senarath Group, Lotteries Board and Marble Decor Nugegoda.

Interested drivers and riders can collect the entries from Marble Decor, 175, Nawala Road, Nugegoda. Tel 011-5554550, 011-2817955, Premadasa Printers, 179, Jayantha Weerasekara Mawatha, Colombo 10, Tel 011-2436994, Wheels Lanka, Matara,Tel 041-2224222 or 2226222.