Archive for the 'Security & Safety' Category

Daily News

Published on 26/10/2011 in Arugam Bay Surf Club, Arugam Surf Club, Arugambay Surf Club, Environmental, Money Matters, Security & Safety, accomodation, bars, cabanas, front page, guesthouse, hotels, people, press coverage, restaurants and the bay. 3 Comments

Arugam's second 'Tsunami'

….. several illegal constructions in Arugam Bay were demolished last week……

Illegal constructions out in coastal belt

Disna Mudalige

* More powers to CCD by new law

*Demolition costs to be recovered from offenders

The Coast Conservation Department (CCD) has decided to take strict action against illegal constructions in the coastal belt using the new powers vested in it under the amended Coastal Conservation Act approved by Parliament recently.

CCD Director General Anil Premaratne told the Daily News that court cases will be filed against owners of these illegal buildings and a fine not less than Rs 5,000 and not more than Rs 25,000 will be imposed on them at the first conviction.

He said that if the offenders who maintain the illegal constructions continue the same offence disregarding the court decision, the amended Act has the provisions to impose a fine not less than Rs 1,000 and not more than Rs 5,000 per day on them.

He said that unauthorized constructions in the coastal belt have resulted in accelerated coastal erosion and pollution and therefore the CCD has decided to strictly implement these laws.

Premaratne said that the unauthorized buildings which are built very close to the sea will be demolished and the expenses spent on them will be recovered from the offenders. He said that several illegal constructions in Arugam Bay were demolished last week and this process will also be carried out in other coastal areas.

He observed that the coastal stretch in the Southern Province comprises the majority of illegal constructions.

He also explained that legal action will also be sought for the illegal fillings of water bodies and sand mining. The amended Act has also made provisions to arrest an offender without a warrant for violating its laws and regulations aiming for an efficient coastal conservation and coastal resource management.

source:

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/10/26/news26.asp

Link to  Facebook page “Save Arugam Bay”:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003041452272&ref=ts

New A/c Bus Service. A Logic logistic Idea

Published on 16/10/2011 in Ideas, Security & Safety, front page and services. 7 Comments

Luxury Bus Service to Arugam Bay

At long last!
The air conditioned bus service, which we last proposed back in 2007 (see article below) has become a reality.

Shown the Yellow bus. Parked nr. Muslim School @ AbaY

Two new purpose build coaches serve the Colombo – PottuVille (Arugam Bay) sector every day now.
Departure: 21:00 daily at SLT office, Punchi Borella, nr. Maradana, Colombo10. This is near the Immigration Dept.
Arrival at Arugam Bay:  approx. 04:00 am

Return:
Departure 21:00  PottuVille  Town Cente,
Arrive : Back in Colombo before sunrise.

Price: Rs./ 750 per journey

Clean interior, airy, with a TV & sound

Phone numbers are shown. Other contact given is: 0773 864 656

Just for the record, here is an extract of our ideas 4 or 5 years ago:

Published on: Mar 19, 2007 @ 6:33

Apart from security concerns the main problem facing the Bay is the distance from the only International Airport, Colombo. And the high cost of getting across the island.

To hire a taxi, van or minibus to take you over 320km of bumpy roads today cost you even more than a flight ticket to Bangkok ($110).
So far, there is no comfortable, reliable bus service connecting the Bay.
AbaY Tourist Bus Service
Arugam.info thinks that a good, say 60 seater air conditioned, second hand Tourist Bus could be purchased for about the same price as one of the houses (nobody really wants anymore) is being put up in the back woods of the Bay, i.e. 1.4Mill. rupees (14,000$).

By removing half the seats, fitting the bus out well, including a good sound and vision system and with a team of 4 drivers on rotation shifts this service could travel EVERY day:
06:00 Airport- 08:00 Colombo/Galle Face- 18:00 Arugam Bay
20:00 Arugam Bay- 06:00 Airport- 08:00 Colombo/Galle Face

With the new Southern Highway a motorway a stop off at Hikkaduwa should  also be possible. Making this a very interesting and highly lucrative bus route linking the Nation’s capital City with the island’s two main Surf resorts. We are certain, that even locals would love to use this kind of service in future.

Furthermore, Arugam.info would totally paint the Tourist bus all round with nature motives of the Bay and Yala East for three reasons:

  • 1.) To promote Arugam Bay and make the resort known in the capital
  • 2.) To demonstrate that regular, daily travel presents no problem
  • 3.) To show checkpoints that this is a TOURIST Bus by such it will make control easier

Indeed, if the operator, drivers  and conductors would be security trained: Continue reading ‘New A/c Bus Service. A Logic logistic Idea’

Protected: Surfing Mag (June2011) on Abay

Published on 06/05/2011 in Arugam Bay Surf Club, Arugam Surf Club, Arugambay Surf Club, Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, Money Matters, Security & Safety, Surf Federation News, Traveler's Reports, accomodation, bars, front page, hotels, press coverage, restaurants, services, shops, surf and the bay. Enter your password to view comments. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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“Arugam’s” Int. Airport opens next year

Published on 25/04/2011 in Environmental, front page, press coverage, services and taxis. 2 Comments

……. Tourists who will arrive there will also have the minimum transit times to holiday destinations such as Nuwara Eliya and Arugam Bay……

Billed to be South Asia’s only environmental friendly airport :

‘Mattala airport to be tourism, cargo hub end 2012’

Foundation stone laying ceremony for main passenger terminal today

Ravi Ladduwahetty

The $ 209 million Mattala airport, will be converted to a tourism and cargo hub for Southern Province which will be a boon to the tourism and export industries.

Areo View of the new Airport runway

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa will lay the foundation stone for the construction of the main passenger terminal building today while Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne and Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa will also be present.

Artist Impression of the New Southern Airport

Continue reading ‘“Arugam’s” Int. Airport opens next year’

Arugam Bay, a tourism hotspot

Published on 30/03/2011 in AbTa News, Arugam Bay Surf Club, Arugam Surf Club, Arugambay Surf Club, Blogs, Environmental, Security & Safety, front page, guesthouse, hotels, people, press coverage, surf and the bay. 1 Comment

Coastal conservation and management a must:

Disna Mudalige

The southeast coast of Sri Lanka gleams with new vigour and light with the dawn of peace. This area which people dared not to go for decades due to terrorist threats is now wide open for both local and international tourists. It has become a tourism ‘hotspot’ with its wide array of tourist attractions. However, the need of a well planned coastal zone management is strongly felt with the tourism expansion in this coastal stretch.

The coastal stretch from Pottuvil to Panama includes bays famous for surfing and bathing, coastal waters rich with fish resources, lagoons providing ideal niches for prawns, crabs and lobsters, rich mangrove stands, wide sandy beaches for beach lovers and tall sand dunes for those who seek adventures.

The Beach at Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay

The tourist season in Arugam Bay in the Southeast coast starts in March with the favourable windy atmosphere for surfing. Arugam Bay is one of the best surfing areas in Asia. As estimated about 100,000 tourists visit Arugam Bay during the season which extends till October. Continue reading ‘Arugam Bay, a tourism hotspot’

Arugam Bay – Panama Media Tour

Published on 16/03/2011 in Blogs, Environmental, front page, people, press coverage, the bay and wild life. 0 Comments

Media get an opportunity to witness issues related to ecosystems with special reference to tourism development in the southeast coast of Sri Lanka

14 March 2011 | News story

media tour Photo: IUCNSL

The coastal stretch from Pottuvil to Panama on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka is blessed with a wide array of tourist attractions. . These include bays famous for surfing and bathing, coastal waters rich with fish resources, lagoons providing ideal niches for prawns, crabs and lobsters, rich mangrove stands – a heaven for aquatic fauna and birds, wide sandy beaches for beach lovers and tall sand dunes for those who seek adventures.

Arugam Bay is one of the best surfing areas in Asia, and has been a popular destination for surfers even at times of civil disturbances.

These attractions draw a large number of local and international tourists to the area making it a tourism “hot spot” and with the dawn of peace in 2009, visitation by both local and international tourists to places of attractions has increased significantly.  The resulting unplanned development activities are expected to increase which will contribute to habitat degradation.    The area is also famous for traditional fishing. Continue reading ‘Arugam Bay – Panama Media Tour’

Wild Elephants take lives of villagers in Ampara.

Published on 16/11/2010 in From our own Correspondent, Security & Safety, front page, people, press coverage and wild life. 0 Comments

A house damaged by a wild elephant

(Arugam Bay, Lahugala & PottuVille are part of the Amara District)

Electric fences built to prevent Elephants from entering villages have been broken in many areas in the Ampara District endangering lives of people, with government paying scant attention to the problem.

Several areas including Samanabadda, Abhayapura, Buddangala in the Uhana Divisional Secretariat area under the threat of wild Elephants due to broken electric fences.  Although Ampara Provincial Council Continue reading ‘Wild Elephants take lives of villagers in Ampara.’

17 Nabbed at Lahugala. 15 Min. West of Arugam Bay

Published on 01/11/2010 in Blogs, Environmental, From our own Correspondent, Money Matters, Security & Safety, front page, people, press coverage and services. 0 Comments

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

Arugam Bay is getting ready to drum

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. 0 Comments
http://www.10billionbeats.com/intro.html

A message of Love from Arugam Bay

http://www.10billionbeats.com/intro.html

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’

Viharaya bulldozing case fixed for Sept 9

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. 1 Comment

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

Daily News Online

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′

Arugam Bay Sri Lanka benefits from a brand new GBoard donation

Published on 17/08/2010 in Arugam Bay Surf Club, Arugam Surf Club, Arugambay Surf Club, Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, Security & Safety, Surf Federation News, Surf competition, front page, surf and the bay. 0 Comments

The recent SriLankan Airlines Pro at Arugam Bay, a success on all fronts with great waves at this new location, included an awesome goodwill gesture of a brand new GBoard being donated to the local community.

Local authorities accept the G Board from ASP Australasia’s Tour Manager Dane Jordan at Arugam Bay. Photo ASP Australasia

GBoards make the world’s best soft top surfboards, which includes learn to surf boards, beginner to intermediate boards, rescue boards, jet ski sleds and even beginner SUP’s.

To be used primarily as a rescue aid as an increasing number of tourists visit this unique and beautiful surf location, the GBoard took no time at all to be spotted in the ocean with the one of the Arugam Bay Boardriders testing it’s surfing capabilities with success on the popular mid bay shorebreak sandbank wave in the township.

“There’s no doubt at all that surf tourism will now boom in this area” said ASP Australasia Tour Manager Dane Jordan who officially handed the board over to the authorities.

“With an incredibly consistent quality wave, amazing climate, superb beaches, a variety of accommodation options, wild life, great food , beautiful people and culture along with the place being great value for money the region will flourish.” Continue reading ‘Arugam Bay Sri Lanka benefits from a brand new GBoard donation’

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Tourist Police PR Clip (Thai, not Arugambay!)

Published on 15/08/2010 in Arugam Surf Club, Blogs, Ideas, Music, Security & Safety, Traveler's Reports, front page, parties, people and services. 0 Comments

Arugam Bay is situated 320km due East of the Capital, Colombo.
Across the Indian Ocean, the next piece of land you come to is Thailand.
Exactly 2,000km due East, on the other side  of the growing Tourist Resort of Arugam Bay. A VERY popular Tourist destination.
Not directly related to AbaY, but interesting to see how our Thai “Competitors” deal with public relations of their highly disciplined, multilingual Tourist Police Force.
Take one look at one of their Video clips and decide how much Sri Lanka might have to catch up with modern approaches.

We feel, that it’s always good to look around. In this case just ‘Across’  to see if we can learn anything from our Co-Players in the Tourist field….., right?

Wild elephant cause of A4 main road accident

Published on 05/08/2010 in Security & Safety, Traveler's Reports, front page, people, press coverage and wild life. 3 Comments

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

Kebilitta, Arugam Bay And Kumana

Published on 03/08/2010 in Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Historical sites, Religious, Security & Safety, accomodation, front page, guesthouse, press coverage, restaurants, the bay and wild life. 0 Comments

Over the last weekend I visited the Eastern Province with a group of friends. Having left Colombo at 4.00 in the morning, after almost a seven hour journey, we reached our destination; Arugam Bay.

"Arugam Bay"

By Kanchana Ratwatte
The closest access to this much sought-after surfing beach of Sri Lanka is via Ratnapura, Uda Walawe, Wellawaya, Monaragala, Siyambalanduwa and Pottuvil. While on the way, passing Uda Walawe and Lahugala, we did see quite a few elephants. The road network as in the case of all main roads in the Eastern Province, was well laid out with a new carpet and the drive was one great experience.
As we entered the bustling township, the first observation was the number of tourists that had gathered for the internationally publicized surfing festival which had concluded the previous weekend. Continue reading ‘Kebilitta, Arugam Bay And Kumana’

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Protest against destruction at Arugam Bay temple

Published on 02/08/2010 in From our own Correspondent, Historical sites, Religious, Security & Safety, front page, people and press coverage. 1 Comment

Buddhist monks and people of the area staged a protest today (Aug 02) against the recent destruction of several buildings of Samabodhi Vihara in Arugam Bay.

Protest on the PottuVille side of Arugam Bay bridge

A certain group, aided by Pottuvil Police, had reportedly used bulldozers and razed the buildings 10 days ago, alleges chief incumbent Ven. Sivurumulle Dhammasiri Thera.

Meeting the protestors this morning, DIG R.M. Weerasuriya promised to apprehend the culprits within three days and to renovate the destroyed buildings. Continue reading ‘Protest against destruction at Arugam Bay temple’

Jumbo squatters in the East

Published on 08/07/2010 in Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Security & Safety, front page and wild life. 0 Comments

MAHAWEVA, 8 July 2010 (IRIN) – Internally displaced persons (IDPs) returning to Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province face a big problem – elephants which have taken a liking to abandoned homesteads.

Wild Jumbos near Arugam Bay

Since the decades-long civil war ended in May 2009, thousands of residents who fled the area in the 1980s and 1990s have been returning to their homes only to find that the jumbos, which had lived in the area previously, were now wreaking havoc in farmers’ fields.

In search of water and food around Arugam Bay / Panama

In Mahaweva village, for example, a herd of three dozen elephants including at least four bulls are now regular visitors to the once abandoned homes. Residents say they are used to elephants nearby but have never seen them enter their communities so regularly before.

In June at least a dozen elephant attacks were reported in Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts, many parts of which were deserted during the war. Continue reading ‘Jumbo squatters in the East’

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