BOOK REVIEW TITLE : Adventure Tours in Sri Lanka (Sri Lankavē Kriyadama Charikā) AUTHOR : SHAMINDA RANSHAN FERNANDO PUBLISHER : AN AUTHOR PUBLICATION Reviewed by Hemantha Situge

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE : Adventure Tours in Sri Lanka

(Sri Lankavē Kriyadama Charikā)

AUTHOR : SHAMINDA RANSHAN FERNANDO

PUBLISHER : AN AUTHOR PUBLICATION

Reviewed by Hemantha Situge

e-mail : hsituge@gmail.com

blog : Hemantha Situge@blogspot.com

The magnum opus entitled : Adventure Tours in Sri Lanka (Sri Lankāve Kriyadama Charikā) written in Sinhalese, published by the author Shaminda Ranshan Fernando was released recently.

The book is replete with hundred and twelve pages in glossy paper of pure bliss. These 'dare devil' adventures comprises trekking of sixty waterfalls and twenty peaks experienced by the author an intrepid nature enthusiast and two of his adventurist colleagues Akila Dayaratne and Malith Ebenayzer. The book is dedicated to the sensitive environmentalist who loves and protects flora, rivers and waterfalls, peaks, and valleys, tunnels and caves.

Once you read this book you will not leave it aside. You are bound to re-read it! The book is a nature adventurist enthusiasts miscellany. I am always reminded of the fascinated colonial writers often quoted epithet : "Ceylon the Adam's Garden," when I got engrossed in reading this thought provoking book.

Reading "Adventure Tours in Sri Lanka -Sri Lankavē Kriyadamā Charika" is neither another reclined armchair adventure episode that any traveller could experience and a wayfarer could observe nor a fascinating story like Jungle Tide by John Still ; 'Seeing Ceylon' - 'Discovering Ceylon' by Dr. R. L. Brohier that lingers with a sense of nostalgia - they are all unremitting expeditions persevered by these three youth. The writer Shaminda Ranshan Fernando's sensitive eye has envisioned what 'angels fear to tread' and has explored the unseen, unheard and has carved a niché in the annals of nature adventure explorations.

In my quest for reading his adventure's what I could glean is that first twenty six experiences the author Shaminda and two of his adventurist friends have 'dared' except number twenty one the Para Motoring tour experience in the area of club Bentota Hotel located in the islet jutted out to the sea all are upcountry caves, peak and waterfall adventure trekking. Once I perused his preface and the twenty ninth chapter only I could realize that these adventures of the 'dare devil' adventurist 'were not gained in a sudden flight', but was in a span of seven years.

Shaminda Ranshan's travelogue is not a fiction like Jules Verne's '20000 leagues under the sea'. This compendium contains secret tips, snippets for an adventurist that would crave to encounter, and quench once thirst for adventure sans any risks in once life. I commend author Shaminda Ranshan Fernando altruism for imparting his knowledge for the guidance of the future adventurist explorations.'

This handy opus would serve as a vade maecum for the nature lover who would seek recourse to spend once leisure in the salubrious climes to the true sense of the word : "Pearl of the Indian Ocean." Shaminda Ranshan Fernando book entitled : "Adventure Tours in Sri Lanka (Sri Lankavē Kriyadama Charikā)" is an adventurists enthusiasts guide for the Sri Lanka's exploration of the nature's true spectacle".