Air Force Holiday Home Katugastota

The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama during his Annual Inspection of SLAF Unit Weerawila also declared open the "Lake View Chalets" Officers' Holiday Home which is situated in a stunningly beautiful location overlooking a beautiful lake (Akkarawissa Wewa) at Sella Kataragama recently. The facility consisting of three fully air-conditioned luxury rooms with attached bathrooms with hot water facility, a fully equipped kitchen with modern cooking apparatus, separate staff and common dining facility capable of catering to three families at a time.

Considering the importance of uplifting holiday facilities of SLAF Unit Weerawila due to the prominent attraction of the adjacent city Katharagama, an initiative was made to construct/ refurbish holyday homes for both Officers and Airmen of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The two storied "Elephant View" Airmen's transit complex which is situated within the camp premises was refurbished with modern amenities as a preliminary step of enhancing the holiday facilities at SLAF Unit Weerawila. The ground floor consists of two large rooms which can accommodate up to six guests in each room and a common dining hall. The upper floor consists of eleven double bed rooms and both floors have common bathrooms.

In addition, there are three high quality cottages constructed for Airmen of the SLAF set in a peaceful and idyllic location in the close proximity of the scared "Wedahiti Kanda", Katharagama. These luxury cottages include a fully equipped separate cottage, exclusively for dining purposes and other two cottages for lodging. The cottages are equipped with two spacious rooms with attached bathroom for each and sitting area with a lounge. The newest addition to this facility is a leisure garden between the two accommodation cottages.

The "Peacock Villa" Officers' Holiday Home Complex which has been in operation for a period of six month is set in a beautiful location facing the Weerawila Runway. This holiday home provides very spacious air conditioned accommodation which elegantly furnished with attached bathrooms, a large sitting and a common air conditioned dining facility.

All guests to these holiday homes, both Officers and Airmen, are also able to hire two 'SAFARI JEEPS' specially modified to visit Yala and Bundala National Parks. The Eagles' Cafe Weerawila the newly constructed cafeteria is a high quality restaurant which would give guests the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of menus at concessionary prices. The Kiddies Park and the "Eagles' Avro" aircraft make the Eagles' Café a very unique and eye-catching venue of entertainment. This venture will benefit SLAF personnel utilizing holiday home facilities at this Unit and the general public who visit Katharagama, Yala and Bundala areas. On the directives of the Commander of the Air Force all these projects were completed within a very short period under the supervision of the Commanding Officer, Gp Capt Dilshan Wasage in order to fulfill the vision of the Commander to provide more welfare facilities to both Officers and Airmen of the SLAF.

The holiday facility at the Sri Lanka Air Force Unit Weerawila has been enhanced fulfilling a long felt necessity of both Officers and Airmen of the Sri Lanka Air Force, where the number of visitors seeking a relaxing getaway during their vacations down South would enjoy these comfortable lodging facilities at the doorstep of the sacred city Kataragama.

Kataragama is a popular place of pilgrimage for Hindu, Buddhist and indigenous Vedda communities of Sri Lanka, where the God Muruga is the main deity. Kataragama is also one of the 16 principal places of Buddhist pilgrimage to be visited in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist Kiri Vehera Dagoba, which stands in close proximity to the Hindu temple, is believed by the local Sinhalese Buddhists to have been sanctified by Lord Buddha. The deity at Kataragama is indigenous and long-celebrated in Sri Lankan lore and legend, and is believed to have originally resided on the top of mountain called Wedahiti Kanda just outside of the Kataragama town. The local river Manik Ganga (River of Gems) functions as a place of ablution where a sacred bath is taken to purify oneself. There is also a related shrine called Sella Kataragama dedicated to the beloved elephant-faced God Ganesh nearby, who is known as Lord Murugan's elder brother.

Lake View Chalets

Enhancing of Holiday Facility at SLAF Unit Weerawila