Monday Nov 18, 2024
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Saturday, 9 August 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Just as it was last year, the upcoming Sri Lanka Ride will wind its way around Sri Lanka on a nine day program covering over 1,600km so that the riders can experience the country’s diversity of topology, weather, scenery, culture and its people. Those who know Harley Davidson bikes understand their sophistication, for these are bikes of classy craftsmanship which are priced higher than most cars on Sri Lankan roads.
The Harley Davidson Street Thunder Sri Lanka Ride started on 8 August when the riders arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport and were transferred to Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo. The group embarked on a site seeing ride in Colombo visiting key landmarks in the city on the first day. A media briefing was held at Cinnamon Lakeside on the same day announcing the commencement of the tour.
The group of riders will be led by Leonard Pali who is a Sri Lankan and funds will be raised during the tour. The proceeds will be donated to 200 children at the Ruhunu Children’s Home in Yatiyanthota in the form of gifts and cash donations. Video and Still Cameras will roll through the entire ride capturing footage of the ride.
The actual tour begins this morning (9 August), when the riders take to the road and make their way to Kandy. En route they will stop at several places including Imbulgoda, Kadjugama and Pinnawela before reaching the hill capital by nightfall. The evening in Kandy will be spent at the Esala Perahara giving the foreign visitors a taste of the majestic Sri Lankan culture at its best.
Day three will take the riders to Anuradhapura via the A9 highway with a stopover at Matale to discover Sri Lankan spices in Matale. After sightseeing around the city, the riders will proceed to Habarana for an overnight stay at the Cinnamon Lodge.
On day four, the riders will connect from Habarana to Nuwara Eliya via Gampola. They will stop for lunch and a dip at the scenic Ramboda Falls. The Harleys will certainly be revving up and down the hills and valleys of this hill station with the riders enjoying the colonial aura of “Little England” and the surrounding green hills.
An interesting ride will take place the following day, when day five will take the tour on a 275km plus ride to Udawalawe via Kitulgala. On this leg, the ride will pass through Ginigathena, Kitulgala, Yatiyantota, Ratnapura and Pelmadulla to end at the Udawalawe Safari Camp.
After a game drive of the Udawalawe Park, the riders will be back on their bikes roaring their way down to the southern coast, stopping for lunch at Unawatuna. In the evening they will be riding to Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa to mingle with the local crowd.
The ride will backtrack to Galle and go around the Galle Fort as well as do a round in Galle town before heading back north to end in Bentota, where they will be accommodated at Bentota Beach Hotel. This part of the ride may well take an interior route to add more mileage as the Harley bikers are here to ride.
On 15 August or the last leg of the tour, the riders will travel from Bentota to Mount Lavinia. The route may be through the interior rather than the short direct coastal route. In Colombo, the Harley Ride ends and there will be a beach party at the Mount Lavinia Hotel which is an event by itself called Harley Davidson Street Thunder Sri Lanka 2014 Beach Party.
The Partners for Harley Davidson Street Thunder Sri Lanka 2014 are: Official Travel Partner – Walker Tours, Official Hospitality Partner – Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Official Airline Partner – Mihin Lanka, Official Insurance Partner – AIA Insurance, Official Media (TV & Radio) Partner – MBC Networks, Official Magazine – Motor Magazine, Official Duty Free Partner – Flemingo Duty Free, Official Logistics (Export) – Ceekay Shipping, Dubai, Official Logistics (Import) – Trico International, Official Beverage Partner – Wild Elephant (Elephant House Beverages), Official Pilot/Safety Car –Ford by Future Automobiles, Official Motorcycle Specialist – Ceylon International Motor Co., official clothing partner – Hercules Tailors, Official Restaurant Partners – Barista Sun & Sea Unawatuna and TGIF and Official Event Partner – Centre Stage Events.
