Motorcycling adventures in Sri Lanka

For many of us, there is nothing quite so enjoyable as being on an open road. At every chance I get, I pack my pick-up truck and head out of town with Ameena. 

Despite our country’s present troubles and the multitude of other troubles we have been through, and we will keep going through, Sri Lanka is a beautiful place with amazing scenery crammed into a relatively small geographical area. The best way to enjoy all this is of course by doing a road trip on our back roads – the ones we call the ‘B’ and ‘C’ roads. 

In my lifetime, I have seen traffic increase to the point that unless you leave town early, it is almost impossible to reach your destination the on same day. If like me, you are easily distracted by the archaeology department’s little black boards which point to off-the-beaten-track attractions, journeys will take even longer.

Unlike me, Rohan Sourjah and his friends have discovered a quicker and lighter way to travel – and that is on a motorbike. While stuck in traffic on a rural road, we have all envied motorcyclists who head to the front of the line, and reading this book you will see that while you waited patiently, Rohan was probably one of those who leapfrogged to the front.

Beyond any envy though, Rohan has found the perfect way to explore Sri Lanka and in his new book he details the routes he took from North to South, East to West and of course through our fabulous hill country. On the way, you will experience coastal towns, stunning waterfalls and wild animals by the side of the road! 

Adding joy to his ride, Rohan shuns modern motor bikes in favour of the solidly built, classic Royal Enfield whose throbbing engine sound heralds its arrival. For the purist, this is the dream bike, capable of taking them wherever they want to go.

On his journeys, Rohan has scouted out the best places to stay, the tastiest places to eat and of course, where to find a cold one at the end of the day. Unselfishly, Rohan willingly shares this information in his book and for those who want company rather than a solitary ride, he is willing to put together a tailored journey suited not just to where you want to go but also according to your budget. 

Flipping through this book, you will be tempted to hang up your car keys, call Rohan and straddle a motorbike that takes you to exotic, hard to reach locations in Sri Lanka. In order to do this in a professional manner, and offering the mythical Royal Enfields for all, Rohan Sourjah who captained the Trinity College Rugby team in his youth, has converted his hobby into a lifestyle business – Serendib Motorcycling Adventures.

I encourage you to read the book and discover an adventure you won’t regret.

Pix by Shehan Gunasekara

(Sam Perera is a partner of the Perera-Hussein Publishing House which publishes culturally relevant stories by emerging and established Lankan and regional authors – for a primarily Lankan audience. Ph books are available everywhere books are sold and through www.pererahussein.com.)