Tuesday Nov 18, 2025
Tuesday Nov 18, 2025
Friday, 10 April 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Starting off the day and the journey
The ‘Around the Pearl’ initiative kicked off yesterday for the second consecutive year, and 20 business leaders embarked on a 1,400 km bicycle ride around Sri Lanka to raise public support and funds for children affected by cerebral palsy (CP).
The 10-day bicycle tour will take the cyclists to all corners of the country and this year, all proceeds from the initiative will be donated to the Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation (CPLF). Cyclists participating in the ‘Around the Pearl’ initiative this year include leading business professionals Ajith Fernando, Yasas Hewage and SarindaUnamboowe.
‘Around the Pearl’ is an initiative by ‘Wheels for Wheels’ which is conducted in partnership with the Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation (CPLF) and WrooM – a project that promotes cycling as an alternative mode of transport and increases awareness of public road safety rules.
Wheelchair donation camp in Galle
The 20 cyclists will travel the perimeter of the entire island and their journey will take them from the city of Colombo to Galle, Negombo, Mirissa, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and onwards. During the course of the journey, members of the public will be able to follow the cyclists and pledge donations by logging on to www.aroundthepearl.lk.
Last year, the ‘Around the Pearl’ i
nitiative raised funds for 1,000 wheelchairs, and throughout this year’s journey, some of these wheelchairs will be donated to children in need across the country. Additionally, special camps to raise awareness about cerebral palsy, will be conducted in Galle, Batticaloa and Colombo. As the cyclists travel across the island, they’ll also conduct special WrooM cycling and road safety sessions for members of the local community. Commenting on this year’s ‘Around the Pearl’ journey, one of the cyclists Ajith Fernando, Managing Director, Capital Alliance, stated, “We feel honoured to participate in the ‘Around the Pearl’ initiative for the second consecutive year. Last year’s bicycle ride was an immense success and we were able to provide 1,000 children suffering from cerebral palsy with greater mobility and freedom. This year, all the funds we raise will be donated to the Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation which provides assistance to children with cerebral palsy across the island. The incidence of children with cerebral palsy is a high as 12-15 per 1,000 births in Sri Lanka while it is as low as six per 1,000 births in the developed world. There are an estimated 40,000 children with Cerebral Palsy in Sri Lanka and CPLF strives to provide as many children as possible with therapeutic assistance to improve their quality of life.”
ATP riders down Galle Road
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the term used for a group of non-progressive disorders of movement and posture caused by the abnormal development of, or damage to, motor control centers of the brain. CP is a common physical disability that affects many children and is caused by events before, during, or after birth. In Sri Lanka, CP remains a significant health problem and many parents are unable to provide adequate care for children with CP.
Due to the social stigma of having a differently-abled child, many parents in Sri Lanka, keep their children out of the public eye. Additionally the lack of funds prevents parents from providing their children with adequate care and support. During the ‘Around the Pearl’ journey, the team hopes to dissolve the stigma around cerebral palsy in Sri Lanka whilst raising much needed awareness and funds to help children suffering from the disorder.
To follow the ‘Around the Pearl’ journey and pledge your support, please log in to www.aroundthepearl.lk.
Pedalling ‘Around the Pearl’Rider update of Day 1: “After an early morning start yesterday, we completed our first stretch of cycling along the southern coast with relative ease. We have many more cyclists participating in the initiative this year, and we’ve prepared ourselves for a very challenging journey. Yesterday, we made our way through Wadduwa on the M11 and soon reached Beruwala which is fast evolving into a bustling resort town. We soon passed Bentota and cycled along the roadside, against the backdrop of toddy tappers har d at work up in the coconut trees. It was wonderful to cycle along the coastline, as the ocean comes to life in different ways at different times of the day.
As late morning approached, we reached Ambalangoda – a town famous for traditional masks and puppets. The increase in lush vegetation provided us with some much needed shade as we progressed to our break point in Hikkaduwa. After a quick stop for lunch we were able to take a minute to relax and enjoy the azure blue waters and clear skies of Hikkaduwa. We then commenced our journey on the A2 onwards to Galle.
The Galle Fort is Sri Lanka’s largest remaining fortress and a world heritage site that offers a step back in time with its cobbled roads and Dutch architecture. When we arrived at Galle we were able to donate some of the wheelchairs collected from the campaign last year. We could see how much these wheelchairs meant to these children from all the smiles we received.
After a long ride on the Matara Road from Unawatuna to Welligama, we cycled into the heat of the early afternoon. Welligama is a popular tourist destination that literally translates to ‘sandy village’. We passed many of the distinct stilt fishermen that the area is famous for and finally reached our stop for Day 1 – Mirissa.
Our first day of ‘Around the Pearl’ this year showcased the very best of Sri Lanka’s south-western coastline. As we cycled we observed many vibrant sights and sounds. We realised that Sri Lanka offers such a rich, colourful and diverse range of cultural and historical attractions. As we relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful sunset in Mirissa, we crossed our fingers and hoped that our journey would continue to be memorable.”
‘Around the Pearl’ (ATP) is an initiative by ‘Wheels for Wheels’ which is conducted in partnership with the Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation (CPLF) and WrooM – a project that promotes cycling as an alternative mode of transport and increases awareness of public road safety rules.
ATP is taking place for the second consecutive year, and this time 20 cyclists are participating in the initiative. All the proceeds raised from the initiative will be donated to the Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation. Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the term used for a group of non-progressive disorders of movement and posture caused by the abnormal development of, or damage to, motor control centres of the brain. CP is a common physical disability that affects many children and is caused by events before, during or after birth. In Sri Lanka, CP remains a significant health problem and many parents are unable to provide adequate care for children with CP.
Last year, the ‘Around the Pearl’ initiative raised funds for 1,000 wheelchairs, and throughout this year’s journey, some of these wheelchairs will be donated to children in need across the country. In Galle, Batticaloa and Colombo, the cyclists will also conduct special camps to raise awareness about cerebral palsy. They will also conduct WrooM cycling and road safety sessions for members of the local community. To follow the journey and pledge your support, log onto www.aroundthepearl.lk.
Nine days of road safety
Day 1 – Dos and Don’ts for cyclists
n Always wear a helmet.
n While on the road, a bicycle is a vehicle so make sure you obey all road rules (don’t jump red lights, don’t ride on pavements and don’t ride defensively).
n Don’t position yourself on the left of lorries and buses at junctions, always overtake in a manner that the driver can see you. |
