Welcome To Batticaloa

02/06/2024

Right now, in Batticaloa... YES, there is more than only Kandy Perahera to be discovered.... Come East, will you... It is the sunny season 😎 and the temple festival season... Now... What do you say?

Thanks to M Siva Kumar to always be at the right place at the right time.... Lovely work as usual... 💙

11/05/2024

Is the singing fish still singing? Come and check it! Welcome to Batticaloa!

01/02/2024

With the sun back to Batticaloa, what about a bicycle ride to discover our local cultures?

Here is our excursion Palamunai Colours, a guided exploration of Muslim culture and lifestyle...

In « Palamunai Colours », you will explore the southern part of Batticaloa, riding along the beach, visiting the fish market. You will meet handloom weavers, making colourful sarees and sarongs. You will discreetly observe the midday prayer at the local mosque and interact with the believers. Your lunch will be prepared by a local family, and will reflect the typical food of the community. After a tasty meal and a relaxing chat with your host family, you will go through Kattankudy, a bustling Muslim town famous for its history and numerous businesses, visit its Heritage Museum, and might still have a bit of time to visit the beautiful Al-Aqsa mosque.

In “Palamunai Colours”, you will explore the southern part of Batticaloa, riding along the beach, visiting the fish market. You will meet handloom weavers, m...

25/11/2023

Be kind to every kind, not just mankind.
~ A.d Williams

24/11/2023

Ever wondered what an authentic meal looks like in Batticaloa?

Please look at the photo...

Of course, there are more curries on this photo than the ones that are normally prepared daily by families.

When guests book their half board accommodation in Pavviya's Beach Homestay , they can choose between the budget and the gourmet formula...

So here is the gourmet dinner... And it could be yours tomorrow!

Book your accommodation with gourmet dinner by contacting us on [email protected]

13/08/2023

Invitation to like and follow Dilu's Homestay 's new page.

Dear all,
As you probably know, East N' West on Board has temporarily resettled their activities in Dilu's homestay.

This gave us additional opportunities to know better the lovely human beings welcoming our guests for the past 7 years in their home.

It has been a long journey, a beautiful one indeed.

Today, we inaugurate a page. Please like it. And if you have been welcomed in Dilu's homestay these past few years, we kindly invite you to leave them a well deserved review.

Thank you very much!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550059350175&mibextid=9R9pXO

18/07/2023

Dear All,

While the last few months should have kept our team busy with the happy preparation of the “season”, so that we can welcome travellers in the best possible way, things have unhappily developed in a very different way.

Without giving too many details, our permaculture project Rûmi's Eco Garden has been repeatedly attacked by neighbours over the past 2.5 months, with total destruction of the ecosystem we had regenerated during 2.5 years.

It will take time to give a proper answer to this criminal activity, and since we are now short of time, we have decided to shift our activities temporarily to one of our homestays, Dilu’s homestay, and to reduce our activities to what is manageable for our team who has gone through a lot of emotional distress these last few months.

NEW TEMPORARY ADDRESS:
We are therefore temporarily sheltered by the lovely people of Dilu’s Homestay, and will welcome the travellers over there these next few weeks.

This is the address where you can find us:
East N’ West on Board
C/O Dilu’s Homestay
14/21, 1st cross, Thiruchentoor
Kallady, Batticaloa

This is the google map location of Dilu’s Homestay: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yN4LeyfobmwE2coG6

EXCURSIONS AVAILABLE:
Please note that for the time being, we have reduced our excursions to the following:
- Let’s Cook and Fish (possible everyday)
- Palamunai Colours (possible Everyday except Friday)

We might also be able to propose:
- A day in Kudumbimalai
- Boating in Unnichai on certain dates, please check with us.

For the time being, we will not be running the excursions
- Towards Mylambaveli
- Historic Batticaloa

HOMESTAYS AVAILABLE:
In terms of homestays, we also have limited possibilities these next few weeks, but will try our best to accommodate your possible requests. Please reach out for more information.

CURRENT SITUATION AND CONTACT PERSONS:
We could not save our garden from the savage attacks it repeatedly suffered, but we are definitely on a mission to save our company from further harm.

Please be kind enough to bear patience with us, if we are late answering your emails or messages, and rest assured we try our best to catch up our late work.

The persons you can contact are:
Sandrine Debruyne – Tel: 0770133999
M.I.M. Sajith – Tel: 0769993304

Thank you so much for your understanding,
Best greetings from Beautiful Batticaloa!

10/07/2023

26/06/2023

In a few Facebook groups related to travel in Sri Lanka, one person asked : "What is best province for traveling in srilanka?? Tell us ......"

This is a difficult question. Here is my attempt to answer it though.

I believe it all depends upon what you look for.

If you are interested in sustainable tourism, here is a photo showing 3 tourism companies acknowledged as sustainability champions during a ceremony held in Colombo on 13th of June 2023 by SLTA (Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance).

SLTA has awarded 20 tourism businesses the sustainability champion title, based on hundreds of applications in the country.

Sri Lanka has 9 provinces, 25 districts.

Out of the 20 champions, 3 (posing happily on the photo) are from Batticaloa district.

Yes... You read it well... 3 are from this unknown district that many people in Colombo are not even able to locate on a Sri Lankan map.

Because there was a civil war till 2009 in Sri Lanka, the North and East have been difficult of access during decades, while other parts of the country were building hotels.

So somehow, Nature has been preserved by the fighting.

The war is over since 2009.

But still, travellers are rare in the North and East.

Let's come back to our maths lesson of the day...
1 district out of 25, so 1/25=4%
3 awardees out of 20... so 3/20=15%...

15/4=3.75... which means that if you look at the national level, Batticaloa sustainable tourism businesses are 3.75 times more represented than they should be if amongst the awardees, all districts would have an equal number of awardees.

The war preserved us from hasty development ONLY to a certain extent.

Yes, Batticaloa district also has some nonsensical buildings and tourism businesses harming the environment.

A damned lot needs to be done in terms of educating the whole society about environmental protection, preservation of local cultures, mutual understanding, etc.

Out of all the applicants who work with sustainable principles at heart in Sri Lanka, 3 tourism businesses in our district, who took the challenge to be on this path, despite the consequences of the war, the poverty, the insecurity that was prevailing earlier in our war affected district, have been awarded a sustainability champion certificate.

On 13th of June 2023, SLTA awarded 20 sustainable companies, and I personally felt that after years of hard work and commitment of our whole team to work in the district, whatever the challenges, receiving this award along much better established businesses who do fantastic work in other parts of the country, was proving that reconciliation was possible.

A common vision is on its way.

Sri Lanka,
4 main religions,
3 languages,
1 smile.

Feeling grateful with Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance , Karpaha Sands and Riviera Resort Sri Lanka

Sending Peace and Love to all amazing Sri Lankan Sisters and Brothers from Beautiful Batticaloa.

16/06/2023

I believe that in all conflicts, where 2 parties could not agree and where violence has been used, threats have been uttered, insults have been yelled, restarting a dialogue is extremely difficult.

Nevertheless, if we have to find solutions to the issue, there is a need to understand each other’s view of the conflict.

Here is a timeline of what has happened in Rûmi's Eco Garden during the time we have looked after the land, showing how important its usage was for us.

Despite the violence, the anger, the cruelty, the hopelessness, the fear, the tension that have prevailed in this land dispute,
May be,
May be,
May be…
There is still a place, deep inside, where our views could connect.

Where mutual understanding could happen.

Where both parties could learn about the opposite party’s perspective on the conflict.

This place is called the Heart, and believe me or not, everybody has one.

Sometimes, life and its challenges might have damaged the Heart, might have injured it badly.

But still, in every living being, there is a beating Heart.
Which can cry, which can heal.

Here is an humble attempt to connect from Heart to Heart.

06/06/2023

District Vocational Training Centre Nintavur -NDQS to Host Life-Saving Blood Drive.❤

District Vocational Training Centre Nintavur is partnering with Batticaloa Blood Centre to sponsor a lifesaving blood drive on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, beginning at 9.00 a.m. The drive will go from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

All Donors are Welcome to the Drive.❤️️

You can give the perfect gift – the gift of life – by donating blood on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at District Vocational Training Centre Nintavur Blood Drive.

We invite Blood Donors to visit District Vocational Training Centre Nintavur and do your part to contribute to ensure the continuous supply to meet transfusion needs of patients in the hospitals.

Join us and Donate your Blood,

🗓️ Date : June 7, 2023 (Wednesday)
🕗 Time : 9.00 a.m onwards
🏥 Place : District Vocational Training Centre, Nintavur.

01/06/2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-6QwfiWt60

What a blessed day we had on that exhibition, with all these budding artists. Life goes so fast, 10 years have passed, and all these kids have grown 10 years older...

Education and leisure are essential parts of a kid's journey through childhood. Children well cared for will become balanced adults with beautiful human values.

I can still remember the smiles of these kids as they were posing with their creation...

Enjoy the video!

Discover our Budding Artists, expressing themselves through their drawings on our stall during an exhibition held in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, in April 2013. En...

01/06/2023

An urgent appeal

Help Replenish the Blood Supply.❤️

We’re issuing a call for blood donors this month. We urge eligible donors of all blood types to give now and help ensure lifesaving transfusions are on the sidelines for those who rely on them.

All blood types – type O – in particular – are needed to help ensure hospital shelves are stocked with blood products
and a sufficient blood supply is available for patients to prevent further impact to patients.

Right now, blood donations are leaving the shelves faster than they’re coming in. That means patients are at risk for delayed surgeries or treatment.

You might not realize how important your single blood donation is until it’s too late, or until a loved one needs the gift of life. That’s why we’re asking all our generous supporters to please find time to donate blood at Batticaloa Blood Centre or a nearby convenient Blood Drive to help replenish the community’s blood supply.

We need people to fill the appointments we’ve added at Batticaloa Blood Centre and community blood drives over the next few weeks to help meet the hospital need.

Please hurry to book your next appointment!

Local blood drives and dates are as follows:

♦️ Sunday, June 4
Masjithul Hiluriya, Valaichenai

♦️ Wednesday, June 7
District Vocational Training Centre Nintavur -NDQS

♦️Thursday, June 8
Vocational Training Centre Sammanthurai

♦️Saturday, June 10
OCCians Octors Blood Drive at BT/BC/Oddamavadi Central College, Oddamavadi

♦️ Wednesday, June 14
Blood Donor's Federation, Kattankudy
Blood Drive at Hizbullah Hall Kattankudy

♦️ Saturday, June 17
St.Michael's College, National School, Batticaloa

♦️ Sunday, June 18
Vigneshwara Pre School, Arasadithivu

♦️Tuesday , June 20
Faculty of Commerce & Management Blood Drive at Eastern University, Sri Lanka

♦️ Saturday, June 24
පන්හිඳ Foundation Blood Drive at Pol/Dimbu/Ihala Yakkure Vidyalaya, Siripura

♦️ Sunday, June 25
ST.Theresa's Church Valaichchenai

To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive visit Batticaloa Blood Centre or call
+94 75 700 4 300.

Phizal Bathiudeen
Public Health Inspector
Cluster Blood Centre
Teaching Hospital
Batticaloa.

31/05/2023

28/05/2023

Closing the company.

No safety, no work.

24/05/2023

Please Batticaloa lovers, see this post and answer the poll .. this is important... Thanks 🙏💕 in advance for your participation!

First visitor on our stall in Sancharaka Udawa.

Do you all know who this person dressed in white with a gentle smile on his face is?

Please answer the following poll: https://www.facebook.com/100050459688556/posts/815532593472056/

23/05/2023

What a team can do...

This is to send a big big big THANK YOU message to our whole team at East N' West on Board for their dedication and commitment to make our presence at Sancharaka Udawa a success.

Last week the team members on the picture and those who stayed back at office and prepared leaflets and postcards, together with friends from the village, showed an unwavering willingness to help and consistent hard work so that we could be ready on time for the exhibition.

May they all be warmly acknowledged for the quality of their support throughout the tough times we have to go through.

As the picture was taken just before the end of the exhibition, it is easy to see the tiredness of the team members, but the smiles on their faces also show that, at the end of the day, the pain was well worth it ✌️

23/05/2023

Just back from 4 fantastic days in Colombo.

Though we still have no safe access to our trees in Rûmi's Eco Garden , I could see from the ugly fence the attackers have erected to hide their dirty work that our Leucaena leucocephala has grown well during our absence.

This is a tremendous encouragement for our team.

Giving up was never an option.

Now, it is even "less than never" an option.