sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

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on the verandah, take your order and beck-
on you into the dining room, set up with all
manner of dishes and white-cloth napkins.
The food is worth the wait, including excel-
lent crab curries and seafood.

Tomato Restaurant WesTerN, sri lANKAN $$
(136 Trinco rd; meals rs 300-600; h10am-
10.30pm; W) When the tropical heat becomes
too much, the sanctity of air-conditioned To-
mato is refreshingly welcome. This refined
restaurant has Western food (pasta, sand-
wiches, salads, seafood and grilled lamb
chops) as well as Northern Indian specials
from the tandoori oven (after 6pm) includ-
ing naan bread and tikkas. No alcohol is
served, but there’s a good choice of juices.
It’s above Sun Shine Fast.

Café Chill CAFe
(9 Pioneer rd; drinks & snacks rs 50-200;
h9.30am-8.30pm; W) A meeting point for
Batti’s bright young things, this hip little
cafe serves coffee, tea (including herbal va-
rieties), juices and lassis in a relaxed semi-
alfresco setting close to the lagoon. Snacks
such as French fries and samosas are also
available.

8 Information

Bank of Ceylon (Covington rd) has an ATM.
Commercial Bank (Bar rd) has an ATM.
Google World (Thomas la; internet per hr
r s 40; h8.30am-8.30pm) Fast internet.
Post Office (Post office rd; h7am-8pm
Mon-Fri, to 6pm sat, to 5pm sun)
ST Net (27 Covington rd; internet per hr
r s 50) Quick connections and friendly staff.
Tourist Information Booth (Bazaar st;
h9am-5pm)
Tripna Travels & Tours (st Anthony’s st;
h9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri, to 1pm sat)

8 Getting There & Away

AIR
Batticaloa’s airport is 2km southwest of the bus
stand. SriLankan Airlines (%1979; http://www.sri
lankan.lk) flies to/from Colombo’s Bandaranaike
i ternational Airport four times a week (one way n
U s$258). The sri lankan Air Force’s Helitours
(%011-314 4244, 011-314 4944; http://www.helitours.
lk) has flights on military planes to/from
Colombo’s ratmalana airport on Tuesdays
(one way rs 4650).

BUS
CTB buses, private buses and minibuses have
adjacent bus stations on Munai st, but many
head out from the police station area; inquire

in advance. Buses north to Trinco and south

to Pottuvil do not divert inland anymore as the

coastal highway is now in excellent condition

and new bridges are open. Combined CTB and

private departures include the following:

Ampara rs 92, three hours, three daily

Badulla rs 236, six hours, five daily

Colombo rs 322, nine hours, three daily

Jaffna (via Vavuniya) rs 380, eight hours,

four daily

Polonnaruwa rs 130, two hours, every

30 minutes

Pottuvil (for Arugam Bay) rs 147, three

hours, 12 daily

Trincomalee rs 200, four hours, every

30 minutes

Valaichchenai (for Passekudah and

Kalkudah) rs 50, 50 minutes, every 20 minutes

Most people prefer the private buses to

Colombo:

Surena Travels (%222 6152; Munai st;

h4.30-8.30pm) For Colombo (ordinary/air-con

r s 650/1000, nine hours, 6.15pm, 8.30pm and

9pm).

Royal Cool Bar & Sweet House ( Tr in c o rd;

h6am-10pm) For Colombo (ordinary/air-con

r s 600/900, nine hours, 9pm and 9.30pm).

TRAIN

Book well in advance at the helpful railway

office (%222 4471; h8.30am-4pm) for

trains to Colombo 3rd/2nd/1st class rs

310/500/840, 8½ hours, 7.15am and 8.15pm

Around Batticaloa

Batticaloa Lighthouse lighThoUse

(Palameenmadu; boat trips rs 400-3000; hboat

trips 8am-7pm) At the end of a sandbar, sur-

rounded by lagoons and mangroves, this

lighthouse dates from 1913. The coastline

around here is a popular family excursion

(avoid weekends) and there’s a play area

for kids. Swimming in the calm water, sur-

rounded by islands and inlets, is the main

draw, though boat trips can be good for

bird- and crocodile-watching.

Three-wheelers charge Rs 350 from

Batticaloa.

Kalkudah &

Passekudah Beaches

% 065

These spectacular back-to-back beaches,

34km north of Batticaloa, present as stark a

juxtaposition as you could imagine.