25th January 1998

Sea, sky and lively nights!

Nestled between two natural bays and cra dled by a rocky outcrop lies the recently refurbished Club Dickwella Village. The hotel with its superb location beckons tourists with its unspoilt beaches and laid-back aura. It offers total relaxation if you choose, or else your days and nights could be as action packed as you like. A number of water sports and night time entertainment are on offer at this Italian owned beach resort.

Away from the crowded beaches on the southern coast, the Dickwella Village is a delightful combination of nature and entertainment.

With newly furnished rooms, all with superb sea view the Dickwella Village is ready to market locally a product that had so far been popular mostly with European tourists and expatriates.

It is particularly patronised mainly by Italian charter tours and the food has a definite Italian emphasis. Owned by Enzo A Zola , the hotel had existed for the past 16 years, but was not aggressively marketed locally. Among the 66 rooms, 16 are spacious deluxe rooms decorated with vibrant colours and antique reproductions. Elevated antique beds are placed just by tall glass doors overlooking the superb view of the bay. Standing on the large jutting balcony one could look below at the village fishermen collecting small salayas in large nets to be sold at the market.

The two storied, tile roofed buildings which house the hotel rooms are linked to the reception by a long brick paved corridor. The thatched roof is held up by wooden pillars and accentuated by the terra cotta lamp shades and vases along the path flanked by thick green lawns on either side. The corridor leads to the restaurant and swimming pool. Wade into the clear blue water of the pool and enjoy the panoramic view of sea and sky that spreads out below. The restaurant stands directly above a rock outcrop against which the waves crash, sending up plumes of sea water in a silvery spray that reflects the sun in each shattered droplet.

The terrace and lounge where the disco operates nightly when occupation is good is on a higher level and has the most wonderful seascape view from bay to bay. At night, guests are treated to the never ending pounding of the waves against the rocks as the Dondra head lighthouse beams in the distance. Tiny flickering lights from the numerous catamarans out at sea add to the romantic atmosphere that descends after the sun has set on the horizon over the sea and coconut trees.

Both bays are equally good for bathing. But on one side the hotel restricts activity during the season when Salaya fishing takes place. The lack of pollutants and seclusion is one great advantage. The hotel specialises in water sports, diving, surfing, canoeing, etc. The equipment is available free for most sports. Those who wish to be adventurous and try out water sports could always get instructions from trained personnel at the hotel.

If you get tired of the sea, there is always the Ayurvedic massage centre which offers oil massages, herbal and steam baths, or mini golf or tennis.

The Chef at Club Dickwella Village is trained in Italian cuisine and pulls out a number of delicious dishes for buffet meals. The pizzeria of the hotel sports one wall of natural rock and has a wood fired oven especially imported from Italy.

Club Dickwella Village is marketed by Connaissance Hotel Management. The hotel rooms are sold at Rs. 3500 full board nett for locals.

Where history is hidden by poverty

Dilrukshi Handunnetti

Dust rose in greeting from the parched asphalt as we travelled on the Hambantota main road towards Bandagi-riya, a remote village nestled amongst rocks and lush greenery in the historical Giruva-pattuwa so idyllic and sans the semi modern features of many a village of today.

Yet Bandagiriya is an underdeveloped area, with people having to walk miles to reach the main road, and their main source of transport still being the bullock cart. Their singular source of income is vegetable cultivation which is often destroyed by the prevailing weather conditions or wild animals. Facilities are few and electricity is still a dream, and during the drought, water becomes scarce driving the villagers to despair.

Bandagiriya is also a veritable garden of rare herbs and other plants which belies its thorny appearance. Despite nature's bounty, it is a village struggling for survival and the preservation of the semblances of its glorious past. Its history is hidden by the thick folds of poverty in the area.

Bandagiriya's rich heritage dates back to King Mahanaga's reign. But the ancient temple of Badagiriya is in ruins with little protection from the beating of weather, though there still lurks the splendour of the bygone era when kings dwelled and generously contributed to the perpetuation of Buddhism and the construction of temples.

The Viharaya lies in a sprawling 100 acre plot of land, donated to the clergy by King Mahan-aga. Today, the jungle has eaten into over 80 acres, and the rest is often threatened by floods. As we made our journey upwards, rabbits occupying the tiny caves at the bottom ran away in fear, as did the monkeys perched on tree tops.

The ancient viharaya has been constructed by joining two massive rocks; hence the name Banda-giriya or Banda-giriya. When the vihara-ya was constructed, there were two chaityas and a small shrine room, all of which is in a state of ruin today. According to the chief incumbent of the Bandagiriya Maha Viharaya Ven. Kamburugamuwe Deepananda, the two massive rocks known as the Viharagala and Chaityagala were joined together to construct the viharaya.

At the bottom of Viharagala, lies a weather beaten Sanda-kadapahana with its designs fast becoming obscure. The "Piyan Pokuna" used by devotees to sprinkle water on the flowers still exists. It is believed that during the drought, a reflection of a crocodile could be seen at the bottom, an indication of rainfall in the near future.

There is interesting folk lore woven around this temple-stories reflecting the human faith in their little temple. The chief prelate of Bandagiriya told us that some time ago, construction workers attempted to cut across Banda-giriya without making any offerings to the ancient place of worship. When they wanted to bulldoze the area, the engines did not start. The workers paid homage to the temple praying for success. Upon completion of their work, they built the mal asanaya and offered it to the temple.

The priest recalling one of his own experiences said that once a group of armed people from Gonnoruwa, the nearest village, tried to pass Bandag-iriya. They lost their cattle and were stranded. They visited the viharaya without their arms, and upon their return found the cattle.

Bandagiriya was the chosen location when "Beddegama" ,"Village in the Jungle" was shot way back in the 70's. The faded walls of the temple are adorned by several photographs, one being that of the chief priest posing with veteran actor Joe Abeywickreme who did the lead role for the film.

"This place should be improved. From experience we know that if the temple is improved, the benefits would obviously spill to the people. These villagers are fighting for survival- and strengthening the temple would ultimately strengthen them," says the chief priest.

With difficulty, the prelate has restored a partially destroyed statue which has been considered invaluable, and started a dhamma school for 200 students from the village. He said that he would be happy to receive assistance from able and willing people to restore the ancient Bandagiriya Maha Viharaya to its pristine glory- a task open to the generous public who would like to preserve a small viharaya which is being quietly eaten away by the wilderness.

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