Enlisting your station in the blog

After launching the blog in its current form, one of the biggest queries I have received is as to why is it not complete? Why does it carry information only on stations in Ampara etc…?

Answer is simple. This is still work in progress. Launch was premature as I wanted to help everyone out there with the info that I already have. This task is also painstakingly slow. Reason being that for all the stations that are mentioned in the blog, I have being personally there and have collected information and the photographs. I have ensured that for all the listed information that I’m personally responsible. I usually travel to east every weekend and rest of the week I’m here in Colombo. So I get only a two day window of opportunity to explore east. I’ll be completing east soon enough and will start working on northern stations. So as you would be able to understand there is no definitive time line to this in this current protocol.

However there is a fast track to all of this. I have listed down a questionnaire which you could all fill in with the info about your respective stations and send me with any available pictures. With the consent of the data sender I’ll be posting their name as well on the blog under the relevant station name. For the accuracy of the information I would not be liable.

So if you all be kind enough to fill out the questionnaire listed and send them to me accompanying with any pictures available I’ll be updating the blog with that information in a matter of hours.

I must thank you all again for the great support that you are rendering to me.

Please email the below questionnaire to natomember@gmail.com 
All the accompanied images should be renamed  and in as much as detailed as possible enabling them to be easily understood by me. For an example if you are sending me a picture of the quarters of the DGH Kilinochchi, your photo should be renamed as "Quarters of DGH Klinochchi" etc...

Questionnaire

(1)    Personal Details

Full Name of the data provider with initials:

Designation:

Current Institution:

(2)    Details of the institution that the data being provided

Name of the institution:

District:

Province:

Number of MO’s:

(3)    Geographical location of the institute

Nearest towns

Distance to the nearest towns

Name and number of the road (if applicable), station situated on

Closest bus route

Closest train station

(4)    Resource availability

Availability of super markets

Availability of public transport and the frequency

Availability of quarters

If quarters is available how far is it located from the institution.

Availability of water

Availability of electricity

(5)    Points/ Places of interest with the distances mentioned from the institution.

Local excursions available

Places of stay. (Hotels/lodges etc.)

Ancient ruins/ Archeological sites

Wild life parks

Tourist attractions

Places of worship etc….

(6)    Would you like your name to appear in the blog as the information provider? Yes/No

(7)    Declaration

I hereby acknowledge that all the stated facts are true to the best of my knowledge and I personally assume the responsibility over the accuracy of the information provided.

Signature:…………………..

Date:……………………………

CD Uhana

Uhana is located 10 Km's from Ampara town towards Mahaoya on the A27 route. If you are travelling down from Colombo you could also consider the route through Kandy, Matale, Mahiyanganaya, Padiyathalawa and Mahaoya to travel to Uhana. This of course is totally at your discretion. Uhana is the first main town you find along the A27 route when you travel from Ampara towards Mahaoya.

Location of CD Uhana in google maps.

CD Uhana is located about 400 meters inland from the A27 route. Entrance point is on the right side of the road when you are travelling from Ampara towards Uhana. Name of the road is " Uhana Peranigama Mawatha"

Uhana Peranigama Mawatha is a small paved road.

Travel along this road for about 360 meters and you come to a T junction turn left and you immediately will see the Uhana CD.

Some of the buildings are in very bad shape.

Close up shot of the deteriorated building


Entrance to the main building

Main building is in very good shape

DH Wadinagala

Wadinagala is situated between Siyambalanduwa and Ampara. To be exact It's 27.5 Km's from Siyambalanduwa and  31.5 Km's from Ampara. Wadinagala is the major junction a one would come across if they are travelling to Galoya national park and the Iginiyagala reservoir.

Wadinagala is a relatively small town. You can meet your daily grocery requirements to a certain extent from Wadinagala. For everything else you should travel to Ampara.

Wadinagala DH is located comfortably at the edge of the A25 route.
Quarters are available within the hospital premises itself. Quarters gets pipe borne water and electricity.

One concerning thing about Wadinagala is that it is a sort of a major elephant high way. A large concentration of wild elephants roam this area frequently and almost surely could be encountered if you stay in the area after about 11.30 pm.

Damana MOH Office

Damana is situated  in between Siyabalanduwa and Ampara. To be exact it's 42 Km's away from Siyabalanduwa and 17 Km's from Ampara. If you are travelling from Colombo the route that I advice you to take is the one that which takes you through Colombo, Ratnapura, Pelmadulla, Udawalawa, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya, Moneragala, Siyabalanduwa. The road I mentioned from Colombo all the way upto Damana is well  carpeted and is in excellent condition. However watch your speed limits as there are cops with speed guns along the way. ( If you need to know where the cops with speed guns would be just comment. I'll share that details as well)I have shown here the location of Damana in google maps in both satellite and Map views.

Damana in map view

Damana in satellite view 

Damana MOH has a very low population to look after which is only second to Lahugala MOH Office in Ampara district. Damana MOH office is extremely conveniently located just by the road side of the A25. The A25 route is the main bus route as well. It is the same route taken by Ampara-Colombo Buses. While you don't have super markets as such in Damana but you have decent grocery stores where you could purchase daily essentials. Super markets in Ampara is just a half an hour away if you go by a bus. Damana MOH Office has a recently built very good quarters which is situated just at a 2 minute walking distance from the MOH office. Quarters gets pipe borne water and electricity.

Damana MOH Office

Damana MOH Office

Damana MOH Quarters

Damana MOH Quarters

Damana MOH Quarters

Distance from the quarters to MOH office, 200m at max. The vehicle you see at the end of the photo is in the junction just opposite MOH. Photo taken from the road in front of MOH quarters

Damana MOH is known to have a very supportive and self directed staff. Damana MOH office winning one of the national productivity awards in year 2014 is a testimony to that.

Damana is in close proximity to many local attractions. You got Eggaloya reservoir about 6 Km's away from Damana towards Siyabalanduwa.

Ekgaloya Reservoir

Ekgaloya Reservoir

Ekgaloya Reservoir

Ekgaloya Reservoir

Ekgaloya Reservoir

Dip in the Ekgaloya Reservoir, one larger than life experience 

Dip in the Ekgaloya Reservoir while rains are soon about to fall

Ekgaloya Reservoir ,Rains far away closing in

Then you have Govindahela, a historical place with a Buddhist monastery offering you with a breath taking view of entire east.

Govindahela

Govindahela- Turning point is from the main A25 route itself close to Wadinagala

In Damana while you can always bath at the comfort of your bathroom, you have Alahena tank just behind the MOH Office. It's again about three minute walking distance from the MOH Office. It's safe to swim and bathe in it except in rainy season. Always consulting a local villager before you enter any water for the first time is very advisable.

Walking from MOH Quarters to Alahena tank

Bathing in the Alahena tank whie enjoying a majestic sun set

So I hope I have covered all the important stuff about Damana MOH. If I have missed anything or if you want to know something more extra, please do let me know. Bye for now.

Uhana MOH Office

Uhana is located 10 Km's from Ampara town towards Mahaoya on the A27 route. If you are travelling down from Colombo you could also consider the route through Kandy, Matale, Mahiyanganaya, Padiyathalawa and Mahaoya to travel to Uhana. This of course is totally at your discretion.

Uhana is the first main town you find along the A27 route when you travel from Ampara towards Mahaoya.
Uhana MOH is located about 500 meters from the town on a bi road. Easiest way to find this is to locate the Uhana Police station. Opposite the police station you find a small well carpeted road. Travel in that and no sooner you find the Uhana MOH Office.

Building behind the mango tree is the quarters available at the MOH office premises itself.
Uhana MOH has one MOH and a vacancy for an AMOH. Quarters aren't available at the office itself and requires bit of walking. AMOH quarters requires some serious maintenance before some one could actually live in it.

Ampara GH

Ampara GH is in close proximity to Ampara RDHS office. Finding the location of the Ampara GH isn't a hard task at all. Ampara GH is a very good hospital in the country Hospital practices "5S" and is extremely neat. Almost all the MOs get to enjoy the privilege of quarters.

RDHS Office Ampara

RDHS office Ampara is situated in the heart of the Ampara in close proximity to Ampara General Hospital. So I don't think it's necessary to give any directions or the geographical location. Nevertheless I have put some pics on the location and on the office.

There are many posts available at the RDHS office Ampara for MOs. Quarters aren't available for all. You need to find places to stay which isn't that hard in Ampara.