Sallitivu coral island – Vakare

Map around Vakare – click to enlarge

Map of Mantheevu- click to enlarge

Arial view of Sallitivu(taken from www.anilana.com )

Attractions

• Sallitivu coral island – Vakare
• Mantheevu Leper Asylum – Batticaloa

Ah I was just back after a long awaited visit to Trinco and was scanning through Google earth in and around Trinco area when I suddenly noticed an island close to Vakare and immediately I fell in love with it. The desire was so much that I decided to visit it during the coming weekend and Amila & Nalinda agreed on that idea. Our plan was to camp on this island but after some inquiries we got to know that things weren’t easy as we thought. This island is been controlled by the Army and there are some ownership issues of this. Currently according to the law no one owns this island and anyone could visit it but there are some issues. Currently only foreigners do visit this island (because they can’t argue with them and stop the foreigners but civil people are denied their right to visit this island). My personal opinion is that this island should be taken over by the DWC since there is a coral reef around it just like Pigeon Island. Somehow after soughting out the permission issue we decided to go ahead.

Next day when we left Bibile it was around 1pm and Amila joined us at Valachchena. At around 4pm we reached Sallitivu beach and the first sight of it was a big wow. There were no waves at all and the bay of Vakare was one of those beaches I would revisit. Initially we were disappointed with not been able to camp on the island but later we were pleased with how things turned out. As you can see in the Google image the island is connected to the main land with a sand strip but since it was still the high tide season the sand strip was completely missing. We were said that the water level was over the waist height and indeed it was. We were up to the challenge and we decided to pay a visit. The crossing was a unique experience which we had never experienced of. We were been pushed over by waves from both sides and our waste region started aching while crossing. When we set foot on the island we were so relieved.

It was a coral island and the shore of the island was covered up by piled up dead corals creating a unique landscape. The whole walk around the island was close to 750m and walking on dead coral made it bit difficult and out of all of us Amila suffered a lot because he didn’t bring his slippers. And finally he gave up and made a pair of slippers out of some washed off debris. In this mini island there was a small lake with plenty of bird life. We were also told that there are some Saw scaled vipers on this island. We were happy that how things turned out because camping on this was not possible at all considering the above facts (no sandy shore even). After getting back to the mainland we had a long dip in the bay of Vakare. For me this is one of the most peaceful and calm beaches in SL. That night was spent watching millions of hermit crabs running around and observing oysters digging holes.

Google earth image – click to enlarge

first sight of the island

when the tied is low there is a sand strip connecting the main land

Sallitivu island

Army resort on the beach

halted

time to cross the ocean

we crossed like this

stepped on Sallitivu

Amila’s smile didnt last long

plenty of empty shells

and more

clear water

while walking along the coast

lake	Pointed point

growing through the coral

just washed to the shore

more to walk

layers and layers of corals

not easy to walk on these

finally he had to improvise

common sight

a beauty

life	great thick knee

wow	One of those hermit crabs

time to get back

ah we were there

friendly dogs

here we go

so calm

where we stayed

the old couple who go fishing daily

he did catch some fish

ha ha way to go

Next day morning was a gloomy one and it indeed sabotaged a beautiful sun rise. After revisiting the island and thanking the army guys at the resort we took off towards Kayankerni. Amila and Nalinda insisted on visiting the Kayankerni ancient bridge across the lagoon which I had visited one week back. While I stayed back they got on to a one man boat and headed towards the bridge with smiles on their faces. In few minutes with a big splash they were in the lagoon trying to salvage their electronic equipment. Fortunately the water level was only up to their waist. They did see the bridge but did not photograph it. And I been the lucky guy was been accused for their miss happening ha ha ha..

gloomy morning

mosquito’s forced us to sleep here

old couple with their catch

sun rise over Sallitivu

running away

dead shells

ah beach dogs

returning back

here they come

with some help

while revisiting the island

beautiful isnt it

it was a live urchin

flowers on an island

fishing boat which crashed on to the coral reef

nice

calm shore

lonely island

forest cover

not many tall trees

the lake

some mangroves

a place to camp

pointed point

difficult to have a dip

sea weed

crabs

and more

one last shot

tamed guy

used over generations

creative people

smiling faces

and then smiles went away

his face

drying purse contents

Though we decided to cut short the trip later we decided to go ahead and visit the Leprosy Island at Batticaloa. We reached Batticaloa and took off towards Vavunatheevu. Just before the long bridge across the lagoon there was a Navy check point and the marines who were there helped us by calling the boatman of the hospital. After 15 minutes the boatman arrived and took us towards the Leprosy Island. Nalinda and I been doctors we were somewhat curious about this island hospital which was once an asylum to Leprosy patients in SL. This was initially declared and opened in the early 19 hundreds with five hundred patients. It had been functioned as a mini town in the past. There were a police post, post office, kovil, temple, church and many other buildings. Some patients even had individual two roomed cabins. Except two wards few minor staff quarters and the main Admin building rest is been sacrificed to the forest. There were 3 friendly patients living their life within this containment. We felt sorry for them because they haven’t seen anything in this world other than the island and Batticaloa town for many years despite been disease free. The unwanted social stigmata around some disease like Leprosy and Tuberculosis is so unacceptable. Currently there are few minor staff guys and a nurse to care to them and they are taken to Batticaloa teaching hospital monthly for clinics (And when ill). This island has its own stories, if one is interested in listening to them I recommend the boat guy who has been here since 1981. My kind request is please don’t go here with big groups since this is a hospital and respect the patients’ rights. The visit to the Leprosy island of Mantheevu was indeed a shocker but we were happy that we did visit it (For detailed information on Mantheevu click this). From Batticaloa we took the beautiful route through Samanthure and reached Amapara where we had lunch. From there onwards we took the Nilgala road towards Bibile where we dropped Nalinda and ended our journey at Monaragala where Amila took a Jaffna bound bus. This was indeed a relaxing journey to our tired soles and as usual it was something out of ordinary.

tasting Palmyra

Mantheevu Leprosy island

here we go

closing on

belongs to the line ministry

this was once a road

taken from the link given in resources section – click to enlarge

with its catch

old church

post office

current wards

one patient could be seen at the backdrop

Spoon bills

black headed ibis nesting

Laundry house

cabins for patients

care	Admin building

used for laundry

hanging beauties

once these were in good condition

upstairs

windows

more bird life

admin building side view

returning back

Paddyfields at Samanthure

fed by gal oya