Published on
13/11/2010 in
Arugam Surf Club, Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Surf Federation News, Surf competition, Traveler's Reports, front page, people, press coverage, surf and the bay.
THE RETURN OF JULES
Arugam.info Julian Wilson screen shot 2010-07-13 at 12.42.02 pm
The Sri Lankan Airlines QS event at Arugam Bay marked the return to competition for Julian Wilson, the first time he’d paddled out in a heat since severely injuring his ankle and concentrating on his much hyped film, Scratching The Surface. With the video all but in surf shops and his foot back to full strength he brought home the trophy, beating 19 year-old Amrican Nat Young in long clean right handers. He spoke to SW from California, preparing for the U.S open at Huntington.
Julian contemplates his cover shot on the latest Surfing World. All photos courtesy of Red Bull
SW: First of all, congrats on the win. We’re all stoked for you. How’d it feel to get back into a competition rashie?
JW: It felt really good to be competing and it felt even better to bring a rashie home with me because that meant I won.
What were your expectations going into the contest?
Any event I go to I have high expectations on myself. I went to Sri Lanka really wanting a win and put that pressure on myself from day one, it felt good to follow it through.
- Arugam.info Julian Wilson screen shot 2010-07-13 at 12.41.44 pm
The waves looked fun, the culture interesting. What’s Sri Lanka like as a contest destination?
As a contest destination I was really impressed with the wave. When you go somewhere for a contest its a lot different to going to film or shoot photos there. As long as the competition spot has decent waves and you are comfortable and happy then its all good, that was the case. Continue reading ’2010 Surf Champion Julian remembers Arugam Bay’
(0)
Published on
06/11/2010 in
Arugam Surf Club, Arugambay Surf Club, Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, Traveler's Reports, accomodation, bars, front page, hotels, people, press coverage, restaurants and the bay.
It may be a sleepy village but Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka is a great place to get some winter sun and hit the surf.
Arugam is also a traditional fishing Bay
You must move, it will charge,’ shouts a tuk-tuk driver as the elephant goes out of view to my right. Besides the threat of stampeding wild elephants, there’s a lot to take in on the A4 to Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka’s war-torn, tsunami-battered east coast. The road itself is being rebuilt and a hangover from 25 years of the civil war, which ended last May, means every road in the country is peppered with military outposts, roadblocks and army personnel.
- Sri Lanka’s best Surf spot. Is Arugam Bay
But Arugam Bay is shining a light for better things to come on the country’s untouched east coast. The colourful jumble of guest houses, cabanas and shops have been built and rebuilt. The slogans on some T-shirts state ‘The Birth Of A Surfing Nation’ but any Aussie surfer will tell you this point break has been a boarder mecca for years. Continue reading ‘Arugam Bay: Riding High on waves to Recovery’
(0)
Published on
04/11/2010 in
Arugam Bay Surf Club, Arugam Surf Club, Arugambay Surf Club, Blogs, Culture, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Fun, Historical sites, Humour, Ideas, Kitesurf, Literature, Money Matters, Music, Share Transfer, Surf Federation News, Surf competition, Traveler's Reports, Wind Surf, front page, parties, people, press coverage, presse-deutsch, services, shops, stop over Ideas, surf, taxis, the bay, tuk tuk, weddings and wild life.
Done! Super Happy ARUGAM !
We managed to resurrect our popular Facebook page “Arugam Surf”.
Which was knocked off the net exactly 2 months ago.
Arugam Surf
Please join, participate, submit YOUR photos, videos. Let’s make this page even more popular.
Please understand that we had to add additional security features to avoid access to our hacker ‘friends’ in future.
(0)
By U. Wijesinghe and Saman Ratnayake
17 persons were taken into custody yesterday for allegedly clearing and cultivating land belonging to the Lahugala forest reserve, a spokesman for the Lahugala Wild Life office said.
He said that ten (10) of the suspects were residents of Akkaraipattu while the other seven were from Pottuvil.
True FREE Wild life still exists @ Lahugala
A tractor belonging to the suspects had also been taken into police custody. Residents of the area had complained that various groups had cleared a large stretch of land belonging to the Lahugala forest reserve for cultivation and they called on the government to take action to stop the destruction of the forest.
Officers of the wild life offices in Lahugala and Baduluwela were involved in the operation to arrest the suspects while the Civil Defence Force provided backup.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/news/25886.html
A weekly fair has been started in Panama, off Puttuvil.
Just 10 miles South of Arugam Bay
Panama Point. Overlooking the lagoon. Arugam Bay in the distance
This fair will be a great boon to farmers in the Hulannuge, Lahugala, Korullanpokuna, Masavva, Panama, Ragamvela and Veveyaya areas.
Eastern Province Education Transport, Land Development and Cultural Affairs Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake said the fair will act as a mode for farmers to sell their produce.
Maize, Chilli, green gram and brinjal, ground nut are cultivated in a large way in the Lahugala Divisional Secretariat. These cultivations have a ready made market at the Paanama fair.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/10/26/news17.asp
Published on
28/09/2010 in
Arugam Surf Club, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, Historical sites, Money Matters, Traveler's Reports, cabanas, front page, guesthouse, hotels, people, press coverage, restaurants, surf and the bay.
Sripala’ s Place is one of the most original and oldest establishment of Arugam Bay.
They are situated near famous Surf Point for many years.
Sripala & Family, at Arugam Bay
Arugam.info has just been notified of a legal case to relocate them.
As soon as we receive confirmation and further information, details will be published here.
For now, please send us your old memories so that we can add them to our “Old Arugam” section. To document the Bay’s history.
Send them to: arugam.info@gmail.com
And all will be published here:
http://www.arugam.info/old-arugam/
(1)
Situated in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, is a bay on the Indian Ocean known as Arugam Bay – a surfing paradise for the water-sporting enthusiast.
AbaY File photo. by Shane
Located in Arugam, this coastal haven has been through a number of unfortunate circumstances and one such stand out is the devastating Tsunami that wiped out half of Arugam Bay’s buildings, houses and its population in 2004.
However, due to its popular attractions and its waves that enthral a surfer, this bay has significantly recovered over the years. Tourists from all walks of life have come together to make Arugam Bay one of the country’s most preferred destinations.
The beach here is known among many as one of the best around the world and with its picturesque settings and its tranquil atmosphere, makes Arugam Bay an adventure for a traveller worth discovering. The Arugam Bay Surf Point is far more superior to the other parts of the beach due to the extensive work that has gone into it; this section of the bay was transformed from a wreck to a beautiful coastal paradise.
Arugam Bay is also known for its fishing hamlets and sea folk that gather themselves into fishing boats and sail the seas of the bay, bringing in a fine catch of ocean specimen for their families and to seek their daily livelihood.
Another spectacle at this place is its vibrant nightlife and parties almost during each weekend, so a traveller will be fascinated with the area’s activities and other relaxing recreations. Arugam Bay has also become a surfer’s foremost destination and as a result, a world-renowned surfing competition is held every year by international event planners at this prestigious venue.
This small remote area in the Island of Sri Lanka has a populace of over 2,500 residents and is probably one of the country’s most treasured coasts. Continue reading ‘Arugam Bay – A Surfers Paradise’
Published on
16/09/2010 in
Blogs, Culture, Environmental, From our own Correspondent, Fun, Humour, Ideas, Music, front page, parties, people, press coverage, services and the bay.
A message of Love from Arugam Bay
Bing a drum, a kettle. Or your Pot! 
And join the Global Million Beats/per hr. experiment !
This Saturday, 18:30 @ AbaY Beach Front of SVH
Background and further information:
There will be people drumming all over the globe, in homes, gardens, car parks, fields and beaches, in cities and villages alike. Join us at one of the locations below or in your own home wherever you are in Sri Lanka.
Please suggest locations convenient to you which you and your friends would like to gather at on the page so others nearby can join you. All that matters is the relevant time, tempo and good vibe.
The drumming will begin on a hilltop Continue reading ‘Arugam Bay is getting ready to drum’
Published on
12/09/2010 in
Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Fun, Humour, Ideas, Traveler's Reports, front page, people, press coverage, services, stop over Ideas and tuk tuk.
Lanka Challenge at Arugam Bay
…..we enjoyed our stop at Arugam Bay more than any other….(quote)
| Getting to know the country, people and culture, all in a tuk-tuk |
| By Dhananjani Silva, Pix by Nilan Maligaspe |
| Tuk-ish Delight followed by Trinco and Back, Orbis, The Third Wheel, Shake and Bake, Mothertukkers, the Wolf Pack, The Dragon Wagon, Where’s Ali and Jar of Vegemite… in they came, a line of decorated tuk tuks carrying a bunch of excited, comically dressed foreigners.
Some 30 tuk tuks wrapped up this year’s Lanka Challenge which brought about 80 adventurous foreigners to the island to explore its scenic beauty and culture on board a tuk-tuk. As they went from point to point each day, they had to face many challenges involving culture and community in unfamiliar terrain…manoeuvring a trishaw being the biggest of them all.
Lianne Dawes and Karen Tonner from UK, the two “Happy Hippies” as they introduced themselves got down from the ‘Muthertukkers’ in multicoloured outfits. The fun-loving duo who profess a fondness for wine, photography and dancing said they wanted to do something fun and different which is why they decided to hit the Lankan roads navigating the tuk tuk.
“Driving this was challenging and initially I was terrified. But later I really started enjoying it. When we had a couple of breakdowns, the locals came and helped us and that is something unheard of in our countries,” said Lianne.
Their 10-day long journey took them right round the country from Katunayake through Negombo to Sigiriya, Trincomalee, Dambana, Arugambay, Buttala, Weerawila, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Colombo. The participants were judged by their tour timing from one point to another and the performance of tasks. The tour included two camping nights; one with the wanniyala-aetto in Dambana and another in Botakadan camp in Weerawila which is designed using Land Rover spare parts. Continue reading ‘Lanka Challenge at Arugam Bay’ |
(1)
Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Arugam Bay got it all: Traditional Fishing, a 'Baby Pool', The Main Break, Wild life and a bit of Night Life
by Robert Carroll
More than a year since the end of the civil war between the government and the Tamil Tigers, surfing is beginning to blossom in Sri Lanka. Arugam Bay, one of the country’s finest surfing spots, hosted the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro Surf tournament in June.
It was a great success. Arugam Bay consists of a handful of villages on the east coast of the island with the nearby town of Pottuvil providing the bulk of accommodation and supplies.
The website www.arugam.info coordinates a taxi-sharing service to and from the capital’s airport. The main break is a powerful right-hand point break, but there is a wide range of other places to take to the water. Continue reading ‘Top spots where even amateurs can catch a wave’
….The German Embassy said that a long standing travel advisory had been eased enabling German tourists to visit earlier restricted locations such as Yala National Park and Arugam Bay…..
Sri Lanka is becoming one of the most popular long-haul destinations from the UK, according to The Times of London newspaper.
In an article published yesterday (25) titled ‘Sri Lanka tops the charts for UK tourists on a bargain hunt’ the influential paper says that visits from the UK increased by 51 per cent last month compared with 2009, encouraged by big discounting by airlines and hoteliers striving to win back business.
The story explains that the British travel boom to Sri Lankan is due to “the relative calm restored after decades of bombings and bloody battles with the Tamil Tigers and devastation caused by the tsunami in 2004.” Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka tops charts for UK tourists – Times of London’
Published on
27/08/2010 in
Culture, From our own Correspondent, Money Matters, Religious, Security & Safety, accomodation, cabanas, front page, hotels, people, press coverage, restaurants, services and the bay.
Wasantha RAMANAYAKE
The Supreme Court yesterday granted the Attorney General time to obtain instructions in respect of the rights application filed against the bulldozing of two buildings belonging to the Arugambay Samabodhi Viharaya.
Senior State Counsel Lakmali Karunanayake appearing for the Attorney General moved for time to get instructions in respect of the application.
The Court accordingly fixed the case for September 9. The Bench comprised Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake, Justice K Sripavan and Justice RKS Sureshchandra. Petitioner, Samabodhi Viharaya Chief Prelate Ven. Sivuralumulle Dhammasiri Thera complained to Court that the illegal demolition of the temple was in violation of his rights as well as that of Buddhists in the area.
The petitioner sought the Supreme Court to order the respondents to rebuild the destroyed buildings or in the alternative to order for compensation in Rs. 80 million. Continue reading ‘Viharaya bulldozing case fixed for Sept 9′
Sri Lanka travel ban lifted
- View across the Bay
Many Britons looking to travel to Sri Lanka this year should be glad to hear that the British Foreign Office lifted its travel ban restricting travel to Sri Lanka this week. Previously travel was restricted in the northern districts (including Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Kilinochichi and Mannar) because of violent fighting between the government army and the national separatists.
So if tourism is up by 50% to Sri Lanka since this time last year, where is everyone going?
Arugam Bay.
Considered the most traveller-friendly village in Sri Lanka, Arugam Bay is a surfer’s paradise with a touch of Asia. The best waves come in between April and October. Surfers come from all over the world to catch a wave or two from one of the nearby beaches. Everyone else enjoys watching of course, while enjoying local seafood and other local delights.
When tourist season dies down, the village loses its party scene and quiets down. It’s a perfect place for a quieter holiday and a chance to swim in the calm waters. No matter what time of year, there are endless opportunities to see exotic birds, crocodiles and even some elephants.
Little did I know that Sri Lanka is also a completely affordable travel destination as well. Emirates, Kuwait Airways, Kingfisher Airways, among others, fly from London. You can find cheap flights to Sri Lanka for as little as £300. Continue reading ‘Where is everybody going? Arugam Bay!’
(0)
Accident scene located on A4 main road 30 Minutes West of Arugam Bay
By U Wijesinghe
The ambulance of the Lahugala rural hospital ran off the road and crashed into a wayside tree causing injuries to a doctor and five others travelling in the vehicle and extensive damage to the ambulance itself.
Wild Elephant on road. File photo
The ambulance was on its way back after transferring a patient in critical condition to the Moneragala General Hospital.
A male nurse and an attendant of the Lahugala hospital, a relative of the patient, and the ambulance driver were among the injured. They were admitted to Siyambalanduwa Base Hospital from where four were transferred to Moneragala General Hospital. The driver said he lost control of the vehicle in his attempt to avoid a wild elephant that was standing on the road. Potuvil police are conducting inquires into the incident.
source:
http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/provincial-news/17693.html
By B.M.Murshideen
A boost for development activities related to tourism in the Ampara district is on the cards with UPFA Parliamentarian and the Chairman of the district coordinating committee Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara taking a keen interest.
During a meeting with the Chamber of Tourism and Industry president A.M.Jaufer in Colombo recently Rear Admiral Weerasekara also said he would take up the matter with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and international donor agencies to implement suitable proposals.
The end of the war has given a new face to tourism in the Eastern Province. The number of foreign and local visitors coming to Arugam Bay, Passikudah and Nilaveli has increased in the recent past.
Kalkuda in 1983 (file photo)
Continue reading ‘Boost for tourism in the East’
Arugam Forum
Arugam Photo Galleries on Picasa
Old Website
Press Coverage
Surf Forecast for Arugam Bay
TODAY’s Comments