Amazing beauty of the Kantale Reservoir

Birding in Sinharaja with Boon

Birding in Sinharaja always gives me an opportunity to enhance my birding experience and therefore when I get an opportunity to go to Sinharaja rain forest I hardly miss it. This time a request came from one of my relative who serves as a doctor in the cancer hospital, Maharagama to accompany Mr. Boon, a Singaporean who is on a special tour to Sri Lanka for a week for a lecture series in Maharagama cancer hospital, to Sinharaja after his lecture series for two days visit.





Leaving Colombo around 6.30 in the evening on 4th of December Friday, we were able to reach Martin’s simple lodge in the mid night after a very tiresome journey due to the very bad road conditions and to thanks Martin still our dinner was waiting for us.

Amila, one of the most experienced ornithology tour coordinators in Sri Lanka and the founder of the Birdwing Nature Holidays gave my wake up call coincidently he has happened to sleep the adjoining room. Joining with all we had our breakfast and just before we leave for the nature walk we were able to had observe Malabar trogan, scarlet minivets, black crested bulbuls, Sri Lanka Mynas in Martin’s place.



Imagine how lucky our friend are, just right on the entrance gate even without entering to the forest we were able to spot the most elusive bird Red faced malkoha on a very low canopy which is not usual in this height including Sri Lanka Blue magpie, Crested drongo, orange billed babblers, yellow browed bulbuls, Sri Lanka jungle fowl etc. walking just few yards from the entrance one Chestnut backed owlet flew away after allowing us to have a good look on it. The nature walk left so many sweet memories to Boon because this is his first visit to Sinharaja. My day’s highlight was the Indian Blue Robin we were able to spot just few yards away from the research center.

Ceylon bird wing, Common Blue bottle, Blue Mormon, Crimson Rose, Ceylon Tree nymph, Commander, White four ring are some of the butterfly highlights while Green vine snake, Sri Lanka Keel back water snake, Giant squirrel, purple faced leaf monkey are some of the other highlights that boon made a note of them.





While having our traditional Sri Lank an lunch including dry fish, Pol Sambol etc. served by our host Martin after the tiresome nature walk, we had the privilege of having the company with Mr. Gehan De Silva Wijeratne, author of the most number of field guides used by the naturalists in Sri Lanka and a Sri lank an wildlife promoter who currently serves as the CEO to the Jetwing Eco Holidays.

Getting up to the noise of the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie in the following morning packed our things and came back to Colombo after the breakfast while spotting some birds around Martins lodge. On our way back to Colombo we were able to spot some village birds including a Common wood shrike before we reach to Ratnapura.

Go along this road to pack this amazing hamper for the festive season

Elusive leopard

Amaya Reef Hotel, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka – Welcomes you to share the beauty of a charming beach town

Situating on the golden sands of Hikkaduwa, the charming beach town and a famed destination for surfing Amaya Reef, the beach retreat of the Amaya Resorts & Spas provides an unparalleled holiday experience with heartfelt service of the friendly smiling staff that greets their guests as a returning family member.



Carefully designed 50 rooms overlooking the Indian Ocean allows to enjoy the stunning views of the early rising and the evening sunset provided with satellite TV, air conditioning, hot and cold water, mini bar and the tea & coffee making facilities.



Set your chair to overlook the Indian Ocean under the star studded sky for a romantic dinner at the Waves restaurant serves an array of exquisite eastern and western dishes including local Sri Lankan touches that makes each dish unique. Theme nights including barbecue nights, sea food nights, Mongolian nights, Sri Lanka nights, Chinese nights and International buffets brings you close to the Sri lankan culture and world cuisine creating an atmosphere to evoke each special theme.



If you are in the mood, Ayurevedic centre of the Amaya reef provides number of holistic therapies and wellness programs including Waspha Sweda a treatment that specially recommended for nerve diseases, Inhalation that recommended for the infections of the lungs, common cold, headaches, asthma, cough and sinusitis, Avagaha Sweda that cures skin defects and improves blood circulation, Neck & Shoulder massage that stimulates special point in the shoulder and neck to improve the blood supply to the related organs, Foot massage that stimulates all the organs entire body and also special three day wellness programs under the supervision of a qualified ayurvedic doctor.



Air conditioned conference hall of the Amaya Reef including TV, Multimedia, audio-visual equipment, Maggi board, flip charts, conference kits is a perfect location for focused, productive meetings. This conference hall can accommodate a group of 110 persons.



Some of the most attractive features & excursions that Amaya Reef organizes are

• Sri Lankan weddings
• Galle city and Dutch fort
• Stilt fishing at Ahangama
• Whale watching tours at Mirissa
• Sinharaja rain forest
• Turtle hatchery, Kosgoda
• Water sports at Bentota
• Deep sea catamaran fishing
• Moonstone mine at meetiyagoda
• Snorkeling and glass bottom boat riding
• Nature trail at Kanneliya, Hiyare and Rumassala


Address: 400, Galle Road, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

Reservations: 0094(0) 114767888

Email: sales@amayaresorts.com

Website: www.amayaresorts.com