“Beefy” checks – in at Ulagalla

Sir Ian Botham experiences Ulagalla during the historic charity walk visit

Ulagalla, the luxury hotel by Uga Escapes, had the pleasure of hosting legendary English cricketer Sir Ian Botham recently. The former England all-rounder is in Sri Lanka on a 100-mile trek for charity from the island’s Northern Province to the Southern coast. Ulagalla was Sir Ian and his team’s stop in the central province where they stayed overnight last week.

The 57-year-old Sir Ian has participated in several previous charity walks in the UK but this walk in Sri Lanka is his first ever outside Britain. The legend takes part in walks in order to raise money for under privileged children in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. The trek in Sri Lanka started from Kilinochchi in the Northern Province and will end in the coastal town of Seenigama in the Southern Province on November 8, spanning a total distance of 100 miles (160km).

Speaking about the visit of Sir Ian, Priyanjith Weerasooriya, Managing Director of Uga Escapes stated, “Ulagalla is indeed delighted to have been able to host Sir Ian and his team. We have hosted many celebrities over the past three years but Sir Ian is definitely the most iconic sports personality to have stayed at Ulagalla”.

Sir Ian has managed to raise over US$ 20 million for charity since commencing his walks in 1985. He has visited Sri Lanka several times in the past, firstly as a player with the England team and later on as a television commentator during the England cricket team’s tours of Sri Lanka and also as a goodwill ambassador. Money raised from the walk in Sri Lanka will go to the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which funds charitable activities various countries across the globe.

The General Manager of Ulagalla Lalin De Mel added “The cricketing legend was highly impressed with the absolute privacy offered by the hotel and had promised to return to the hotel on a private visit so that he could enjoy a longer stay. He claimed that it was one of the finest boutique hotels that he had stayed in. This, coming from an individual who has stayed in the best of hotels across the globe, is something very special indeed”.

Hidden away in the quiet village of Thirappane in the Anuradhapura district, blending perfectly with the surrounding, Ulagalla offers all the comforts of luxurious urban living to their guests. 20 luxurious villas – each with its own private plunge pool and separate living room comprise all the modern amenities for the discerning.Ulagalla is just a short drive away from exciting wildlife safaris; from the plains of Minneriya National Park where one can observe majestic elephants to Wilpattu National Park which boasts the highest concentration of leopard in Sri Lanka. Ulagalla a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World was awarded the prestigious “Best Sustainable Hotel” Award at the “Asia Pacific Hotel Awards Winners 2013-2014” ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year. Ulagalla is the only Sri Lankan hotel to be invited consecutively over the past 3 years to Pure Life Experiences, which is considered as the world’s defining experiential travel marketplace.

Uga Escapes also owns Jungle Beach, an eco-friendly luxury hotel in Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee that is set on 10 acres of pristine land located between the Indian Ocean and a lagoon. In addition, they also own Uga Bay in Passekudah, a 48-roomed hotel that offers a tropical beach experience.