Sri Lanka Ambassador Karunatilaka Amunugama has flagged off a motorcycle journey led by Feros Omar of Brandix Lanka Ltd from Brandenburg Gate, Berlin to Battaramulla, Colombo this morning. Feros Omar is accompanied by his wife Amina Omar as pillion rider.
The other Sri Lankan riders are Major Nalaka Buddhadasa, former Sri Lankan Army Major currently employed in the private sector, and Captain Kshmendra Weeratunga, a senior Captain and Flight Instructor of National Carrier Sri Lankan Air Lines. Foreign Riders are Nicholas Wilkinson, a British national, and Stephan Pietro, a German national, who is keen on motorcycle riding and co-founder of the former Ducati Berlin agent.
Back-up crew are Javana Fernando and Kenneth McAlpin, the co-founders of Kulu Safaris (luxury tented safaris), the leading safari company in Sri Lanka, and entrepreneur John Durrant. Wilhelm Hevart from Bremen also supported the team.
Feroz Omar and Major Nalaka Buddhadasa are both adventure sports enthusiasts and love for riding motorcycles. Feros Omar is well-known as a former motocross rider, a motor racing driver and an experienced recreational diver in Sri Lanka.Brandix Lanka Ltd. is the single largest apparel Manufacture in Sri Lanka.
The theme of the journey is to spread the message of Peace and Harmony enjoy by the people of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of 35 years of civil war and inviting all peace-loving people in the world to visit the emerging hub of the Indian Ocean.
The team will travel through the Czech Republic. After passing Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia Italy and Greece, the crew plans to enter Turkey on 25th September. After a two-nights-stop in Istanbul, the travel plan from Turkey via Iran and Pakistan to India will be as follows: 27th Sept. – Istanbul to Ankara (1 night), 28th Sept. Ankara to Sivas, 29/30th Sept. Sivas – Agri (2 nights). On 01st Oct. the crew will travel from Agri to Tabriz (Iran) via the border crossing point Dogubayazit (Turkey) - Bazargan (Iran). On 2nd Oct. they will travel from Tabriz to Teheran (1 night in Teheran), on 3rd & 4th Oct. from Teheran to Kashan with 2 nights in Kashan, on05th Oct. from Kashan to Rafsanjan with 1 night in Rafsanjan), on 6th Oct. from Rafsanjan to Zehedan with 1 night in Zehedan, on 7th Oct. from Zehedan to Mirjaveh, the border crossing poiint to Pakistan. On 8th Oct. the crew will travel from Quetta to Multan with 1 night in Multan, and on 09th Oct. it will travel from Multan via Lahore (Wagah) and Attari (India) to Amritsar. From 10th Oct. to 16th Oct. the team will travel from Amritsar to Kochi in Kerala through Rajasthan, Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore. It is planning to reach Sri Lanka by ship with motorcycles and a backup jeep.
At the invitation of Ambassador Amunugama, representatives/officials from the Embassies of Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Pakistan and Turkey and the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and the expatriate Sri Lankan community participated at the flag-off ceremony.
Sri Lanka Embassy, Berlin, 15th September 2015
