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2nd May 1999

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Gliders have landed

Looking for a holiday packed with thrills?
Sri Lanka's first adventure park at Karandagolla Ella promises just that

By Udena R. Attygalle

para-glidingGo to a cliff's edge and jump. The words of a madman: that is, if he is not a para-gliding enthusiast!

Para-gliding has landed in Sri Lanka at Karandagolla Ella.

Opened a few weeks ago, the island's first adventure park promises to be an exciting venture. If gliding through the heavens is not for you, a host of other action packed activities await you. Canoeing on the Kirindi Oya near-by, mountain climbing, rappelling (walking down the rock face with a rope) and abseiling (different to rappelling because you come down the rock in a few leaps) are a few of the options.

If that's not enough, you could spend some time listening to the soothing sounds of nature along the bird watching trails, or go trekking through jungle paths .

Run by former paratroopers Major Vijtha Welikala and Col. Jayavi Fernando, the park includes hotel facilities with 10 cabanas. Most of the employees are from the local village

The 50 acres of park land adjoining the Ravana-Ella sanctuary is a privately owned nature reserve recognised by the World Wildlife Fund. Says Major Vijitha, "Harming the wildlife within the park is not allowed." They hope both officials and holiday makers will treat this part of our natural heritage with care.

Inspiration for the park began with Vijitha's father Tudor; a man fond of the ascetic way of life . He lived in a hut in the jungles off Ella and this prompted his son to arrange more comfortable accomodation for him. But in vain, for after a few days Tudor went back to his cottage life. And so the hotel concept was conceived for the vacant land.

Para-gliding came from the paratrooper background of the two. With ideal terrain all around and training in India, the idea became a reality. At present there are three trained para-gliders at the park.

Para-gliding does not fit the normal perception of gliding that most have, that of gliding with a mini wing structure, (hang gliding).

The 12kg pack , of which the park has four, costs Rs 150,000 each .This is a very much more mobile device than the cumbersome hang glider . The longish canopy (the length of which depends on the weight of the pilot) is made out of strong nylon and has two layers, with space for air between. The glider also includes a harness for sitting, and rigging ropes for manoeuvring. Ankle boots are worn so that ankles are not twisted on landing .

The device unlike a parachute can be kept in the air for hours through deft manoeuvring. As Sugath, one of the pilots said, "It is only at take off and landing that you even have to sweat. The rest is plain gliding!"

The sport requires a lot of patience as we found out . On Sunday, Col. Jayavi was unable to take off from the Makaldeniya mountain. The wind was above the maximum safety limit of 25 knots. The previous day the clouds got in the way. To many, clouds mean danger to the life of the glider. Being sucked up along the powerful thermals that they create would be disastrous. The search for a headwind too didn't prove successful. Being blown along with a tailwind creates grave difficulty when landing. If the landing site is overshot then getting ripped apart by the thick forest cover is possible.

But if the necessary precautions are taken gliding becomes the safest of sports, Major Vijtha said adding: " It's only when you get too cocky that you fall into trouble."

The treks lead through thick jungle. The trails were marked by former Wildlife Trust guide Saman Upanandana. On Saturday he led the way as we trekked through to the Kirindi Oya. Hard as it was for us, for local guide Kumarasinghe it was simply "the pathway to his house."

Although para-gliding for beginners, and many of the other activities are yet not available, this park holds much promise for the adventurous holidaymaker, as well as the discerning nature lover.

You can contact:

*The park: 057- 87263 or 057- 87263

*Adventure Resorts (Pvt) Ltd,
26/3 Hill street,
Dehiwala.
Tel: 732671, 739243

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