New outlets of "Cotton Collection" and "The Coffee Bean" are the latest additions to the many shops and restaurants that have come up recently in Pelawatte, undoubtedly the fastest developing section of Battaramulla. The Cotton Collection is located on the main Battaramulla – Pannipitiya Road near the busy Pelawatte Junction while The Coffee Bean is strategically placed almost at the top of Kandawatte Road where I now live. The up market restaurant is particularly popular among affluent mothers who have to attend to the daily chore of picking up their children from the Overseas School of Colombo close by.

Battaramulla was just another small insignificant town way back in the fifties when I lived at Manning Town (Government Officers’ housing scheme between Borella and Narahenpita). I came to know about the town when some families in the neighbourhood started moving out to their own new homes in a place called Battaramulla. Chief householders who reached retirement age had very wisely invested in plots of land particularly in Jayanthipura and Subhuthipura.

With the shifting of the administrative capital to Kotte during President Jayewardene’s tenure, a complete transformation of the area began to take shape. Against the backdrop of the Parliamentary Complex and the Diyawanna Oya, of all areas in Kotte, it is the Battaramulla area that has seen the most spectacular development. Even residents in the fashionable residential zones of Colombo 3, 5 and 7 motor down to Battaramulla not only to attend to business in government offices, but to do their shopping as well!

Parking of vehicles is so much easier in the area than in congested Colombo. Talking of vehicles, even car and motor cycle dealerships like Prestige Automotives (BMW), Hyundai and David Pieris Motor Company have their main showrooms in Battaramulla. In the midst of these vehicle dealerships is the Road Assistance Division of the Automobile Association of Ceylon.

Just beyond Parliament Junction along the road to Malabe is the tastefully landscaped entrance to Water’s Edge. Just beyond that at the turn off to Subuthipura is the prominent Sethsiripaya Complex. Further down this busy road in the vicinity of Battaramulla junction are commercial landmarks such as Arpico Super, Food City, Sen Saal, Damro etc. The stretch of the main Battaramulla-Pannipitiya Road between Battaramulla Junction and Thalawatugoda Junction is where the main action is.

Supermarkets like Food City and Keels Super, restaurants such as Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Flower Drum, fast food outlets including Big Bite dot the street on either side. Close to the petrol station at Pelawatte Junction are HSBC, Bank of Ceylon, the Meat Shop, and yet another outlet of Perera and Sons Bakers. A fashionable Department Store called Cool Planet is another prominent landmark in the area. Independent Television Network (ITN), Asian International School Nursery etc. are on major side roads leading to Wickramasinghe Pura and Kumaregewatte respectively. At the bustling Pelawatte junction, it is a common sight to see school teachers especially from outstation rural schools hurrying across the road uneasily, on their way to the Education Ministry at Isurupaya to get some matter attended to.

The road to Hokandara, and Thalawatugoda Road (that connects up with the Kotte Road at Pita Kotte), branch off from the main Battaramulla-Pannipitiya Road at the Thalawatugoda roundabout. To proceed to Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital which caters mainly to the health needs of Kotte residents, one has to turn left off Thalawatugoda Road.

The wide open area across Parliament is the large playground commonly called Parliament grounds. Especially on weekends, it is very much like the Galle Face Green of a bygone era. In the months of July, August and September, the sky over the grounds is dotted with colourful kites flown by young and old alike. Along with other vendors who sell snacks and ice cream, kite sellers do brisk business along the pavement. At one end of the grounds is the beautifully designed memorial for war heroes. Exactly at 6.30 pm each evening, a small group of smartly clad soldiers march up there with their bugles to pay homage to their fallen colleagues. Exercise conscious men and women walk or jog round the grounds as well as on the paved sidewalk on the tree-lined Parliament road. Oblivious of all that is going on around them, young lovers sit and cuddle together in a world of their own at secluded corners on the less crowded far side closer to Parliament and the Diyawanna.

Near the roundabout in the area that was once known as "Palan Thune Handiya" is what promises to be a beautiful stretch of road. Once construction is completed, it will be similar to the tree-lined Bullers Road and Thurstan Road in good old Colombo. It is along this Koswatte Road that you will find government agencies like the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Foreign Employment Bureau and the Western Provincial Council. The road leads to Koswatte Junction from where fast developing towns like Malabe and Kaduwela are accessible. This will also form a main conduit to the Colombo Outer Circular Highway that will connect Kandy Road with the Southern Expressway.

Kandawatte Road

Between this roundabout and Pelawatte junction is another recreational area called the Buddhadasa Stadium. It is opposite this stadium that Kandawatte Road, which is fast becoming an enclave of diplomats and foreign expatriates, is located. It has nine numbered lanes with neat signs put up by the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha to indicate "1st Lane", "9th Lane" etc. I have explored this entire area on foot during my evening walks. I found it interesting to note the many name boards with familiar names. I feel privileged to live in a neighbourhood where foreigners apart, local professionals, celebrities, businessmen and other prominent citizens too have chosen to build their homes.

Even more interesting is a bit of history attached to my property on 8th Lane. According to the title deeds, this area is a part of a land that had been known as Mount Leo Estate many years ago. A fairly steep climb along 8th Lane takes you to the "summit"where my own home is located. When I purchased the 20 perch block in 1984, little did I realise what a wise investment it was going to be! Apart from rapid appreciation of land values in the area, it is about the ownership history that I am most happy.

My block is part of a large property that was once known to locals as the "Club". The beautiful "bungalow" in the centre had a swimming pool in front and large terraced gardens behind at different levels. I am told that many scenes in a Sinhala film featuring popular actor Vijaya Kumaranatunga were shot on location at this spot. The original building had since been demolished. Four new houses including mine have now come up in its place.

The so-called "Club" had at one time been owned by celebrated jewelry designer Sardha Ratnavira, who incidentally was the first Asian to qualify at the Gemological Institute of America. Sri Lankan-born wildlife artist and nature conservationist Gamini Ratnavira is Sardha’s son. In later years, the property had been owned by late showman Donovan Andree’s wife, Bennie Marceline Charmaine. I bought the property from Mrs. Andree’s daughter, Donna, who is married to six-time National Badminton champion Ravi Kuruppu.

During the last few years, there has been a trend for even long standing residents of Colombo to move residence from the big city to the less congested Battaramulla area. However, one problem that Kotte/Battaramulla residents face is the ever increasing flow of traffic along the main Parliament Highway. It was recently reported in the media that the existing road is to be upgraded to a six- lane highway from Devi Balika junction in Borella to Parliament Junction in Battaramulla, and that a flyover is to be constructed at Rajagiriya. Once completed, it is hoped that traffic congestion will be eased considerably.

E-mail: luckyabey@gmail.com