From the point of, asked to come at 7.30am in the morning to returning back the following day to Colombo at around 7.45pm in the night, what a journey it was. Although the organizers insisted on 7.30am knowing some, some were even in other places as early morning to be picked and tag along as well, but despite all that, the bunch of niners met at a decent 8.30 ish time to greet one another and to insert the stuff for the journey and decorate the bus with the niners banners and Royal flag.
The first bottle popped little after morning 9am and it was told 10 bottles were down by the time we reached Kandy and in the end the unlimited liquor accounted for at least 30 bottles. On the way with the usual pit stops, and with breakfast served and next was lunch.
The route was different to the usual and the lunch was fantastic and the boys changed to the t shirt afterwards. On reaching Pallekele we were ample minutes away from the whistle blown away leaving us precious time to walk that horrendous stretch for about 15min and to take a group photo and enter the grounds. Royal was sluggish to start off with and by the end of the first half Royal was leading 10-5 and all they had to do was to maintain it. Second half Trinity made inroads to Royal territory and in the end
22-17 still Royal walked away with heads held high and Trinity not only lost the 1st leg of the Bradby but the league as well altogether in their home den.
Heading back was tiresome and exhausting to all and entering our bus was like boarding a flight. The A/C was very much refreshing for all entering the bus and on the way “ Bamba’s” riotic chants “ Trinity sapada” and that hooligan trumpet of sorts was menacing.
The route to Hantana was to be scary since on two places some of the boys had to get down and make sure the driver had the measure of the two turns. Upon arriving close proximity to the Mount Royal Hotel we were shuttled by a van several times while some choosed to walk.
Upon changing, dinner was served and all hungrily indulged in the buffet that was mouthwatering. Next came the live music courtesy of our package and it went on and on with some superb music, even with the chef and his crew joining us in the singing past midnight to next day early morning. Next day was lazy but after breakfast after thanking the hotel staff everyone boarded the bus. For us the hotel was like a palace with its colonial architecture and the cottage windows coloring depicting blue, yellow and blue. The bus was parked nearby to a small village. The children in the village gathered around the bus from a distance to wave us and initially at the request of some “ Sanjaya” and later Lushanthan went and gave our Kelloggs choco packs and Lushanthan whose ambition to become a politician did justice to himself by indulging in a conversation with the village people.
After leaving Kandy the journey was long, while the backseat boys sang towards quarter to five, the lawyers remembered to open the lusty throats for a moment all in good spirits. We skipped lunch and straight away stopped at the famous “ Jinadasa Thalaguli shop” to have tea and fill our stomachs.
Upon continuing the journey some reminiscent days in school and some regarding their jobs had conversations, while for some as we were passing Nittambuwa, Yakkala it was time for them to say good bye and leave the bunch. By around 7.45pm we reached Royal College and after wishing one another well we all got into tuk tuks some uber’s and made way to home.
Throughout the journey Shashiranga and Ishinuwan diligently looked into everything, while Sajith was a live wire all along, our VP Madushanka did his part as well, some chipped in here and there, Bimsara from the time the bus arrived was busy coordinating and getting things done, Prabath’s talk’s stood out with specially when he asked Yasas whether he was a Doctor, Sanka with his DJ did his bits, and his two cents was something of note. Kodda’s SAITM debate was always going to be a discussed topic and it was Ishinuwan’s time to set the record straight while others joined in and gave bits of speeches, Madushanka bought about a solution in the form of introducing a loan scheme to University entering students and to offer scholarships to the marginalized and the unprivileged. And also to increase of funding in the state University while giving the real value to the State University’s while drawing the New Zealand experience where the NZ state universities are funded very well through government endowments and funds and even though private university’s exists the state University would have the real value since not only it gets the cream of the crop but because it was much more competitive since it would be better funded. A special “Thank you” should go to the President Mathisha for putting in a lot of effort and it was his leadership and the support that was extended to him that made a fulfilling experience for all of us.
Lushanthan’s talking was very insightful for a handful who first boarded the bus when leaving the hotel as he gave examples of government ministers influence and their corrupt undertakings.
One prime example was that of the customs advertising the Assistant Superintendent’s post calling for applications, having the exams for a thousand, having an English aptitude test and selecting a candidate based on a Minister’s influence. Which was pathetic to say the least.
And in the end it was time for me to call that taxi this time a fair taxi to head home with my school day fellow scouts Hasitha and Dasun and the last minute extra passenger Sajith to head home with a severe headache which I get when I skip a meal or stay to long in the sun which I have inherited with genes.
What a journey it was, to Kandy and back a truly enjoyable weekend with the boys and lots of happy memories to savor and some day to tell my grandchildren about it.
lalindrafiles 