A maiden drive

When I was last in Sri Lanka, I narrowly missed an opportunity to have a drive on the Southern Expressway. However, I resolved that I would not miss it on my next visit, never mind what the length of my stay is going to be.

On my recent visit, I proposed a trip to the south through this route to my siblings and they approved it enthusiastically. I have read enough about the Southern Expressway in the media and seen many picturesque videos too but I always reserved my judgment until I have my own personal experience.

Although there were too many adverse comments about the road, nothing frightened me on deciding on my maiden drive. One evening we entered the expressway from Kottawa, a suburb of Colombo, with a vehicle packed with some of my close ones who have used this route over a dozen times guiding us in front. The drive was extraordinarily smooth and our speed was within the law. I confess that it was much beyond my expectations and the greenery on either side was breathtaking. The trip was not second to any such drive you may undertake in any developed country, although I would love to have a extra lane each way. In the meantime, I am sad to note that some critics had done overtime to find only the faults but not the immense advantages this track provides to the motorists from Colombo to Galle, an administrative city in the south.

We reached Galle Fort after an hour’s drive. My visit to this historic fort was the first in two decades. Galle Fort is one of the eight sites in Sri Lanka included by UNESCO on its "World Heritage List" of historic places. The Dutch built the present fort in 1663.

The transformation I saw here, since my last visit, was really remarkable.

I saw more tourists from many parts of the world, including a large number of Arabs. Their satisfaction of being there clearly reflected on their faces. I did not fail to admire the cleanliness maintained by the concerned authorities and the cooperation they received from the general public.

All in all, it was a fantastic trip, which I have resolved to promote to my friends in this part of the world.

S.H. Moulana

Riyadh

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