Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Thursday, 15 August 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The team consisted of a diverse group of individuals who shared the same dream. Peter Bluck (Proprietor of Action Lanka and Agent for Trek bicycles Sri Lanka) led the team accompanied by Anudatta Dias (Proprietor of A & J Electronics Fitness Systems, former cricketer and ruggerite and son of Chitrasena), Karl Perera (CEO of Lanka Elevator Engineering Pvt. Ltd. and bodybuilder), Yasas Hewage (Bike enthusiast and founder of Wroom) and only female in the team Dinesha Perera (proprietor of her own teaching and writing profession, Ex-Banker, athlete and professional dancer).
Armed with sheer courage, joie de vivre and determination, the bikers set out from Point Dondra, the southernmost tip of the island, hoping to reach the northern apex of Point Pedro in four days. Learning that two of the riders were obliged to finish only 75% of the journey and head back tackle 
their day-to-day challenges, the team decided to push for the ultimate challenge and try to finish the journey in three days as the resolute unit they were.
Over the next three days, the bikers endured scorching sunlight and chilly wind alternatively as they braved the steep hills of Bogawanthalawa and Hatton via the expansive A9 route, travelling right across the country, almost in a flat line.
On day one, the team started out at 7 a.m. from Point Dondra and reached Balangoda by 5 p.m. with brief stops for snacks and lunch during the day. They picked up from where they stopped at 8 p.m. and rode till 10 p.m. that night towards Bogawantalawa.
On the second day, they pedalled through burning sunshine, bitter cold and mist of Bogawantalawa, Dickoya and Hatton to reach Ginigathhena and from there on to Matale via Kandy to end up at 10 p.m. in Dambulla. Having finished the toughest part of the journey on such a high note, the riders set out from Dambulla on the third day, determined to complete the challenge. Travelling through Vavuniya, then on to Kilinochchi all the way on the A9, they reached Point Pedro in Jaffna at 9 p.m., averaging 10 plus hours of cycling a day.
“We had to endure all types of weather conditions. At times, we rode through extremely warm sunlit streets, at other times we were chilled to the bone. We pedalled on through a rainstorm and we had to navigate steep hills once we reached the central part of the country. It was exhilarating but a lot of hard work. Team work, passion and dedication saw us through to the end. Team Janashakthi always drove ahead of us prompting us on. Wherever we went in the island, people were thrilled to see us and cheered. It was heart warming to see people of various faiths belonging to different ethnic groups cheer us on as one,” the team declared.
The team stopped every two hours for a brief rest, a snack and then rode on. During these breaks, they helped the Janashakthi team educate onlookers on road safety, which is part of the company’s CSR approach.
“The idea that ordinary people can set themselves extraordinary challenges and surpass their own physical and mental limits is one that fits well with our idea of inspiring confidence in which we pledge that we will go to extraordinary limits to build customer trust and exceed expectations when customers put their faith in us to protect their lives and possessions. Similarly, these heroes are ordinary people with everyday commitments who have gone to exceptional lengths to prove they can deliver on a goal to cross the entire country,” said Shehara De Silva, General Manager Sales and Marketing, Janashakthi.
Concluding the journey with an inspiring message, the team said: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together. We are a cracker team of five, not because all were fit enough for a hard ride on this terrain but because we all believed in the journey and the dream to the end, making nothing impossible.”
