Medagama River Retreat - BOLGODA
Press & Client Reviews

I had a fantastic stay at medagama eco resort. the hosts and guides were excellent, great birdwatching, good fishing guide. the food was delicious.
I will definitly travel with your team again hopefully for camping trip to national parks, with fishing!

Sam

The River Retreat - Boating on Bolgoda Lake
By R. Wijewardena
The Sunday Leader
April 12,2009

Complete privacy with a sprawling garden (inset) Plush bed rooms to soothe aching  limbs and Facilities for boating

Sometimes in the constant chaos of Colombo, amidst the heat the dust and the dirt of its unremitting urban sprawl it is easy to forget that we live in one of the most outstandingly beautiful nations on earth. The fumes on Galle Road, the mountains of putrefying uncollected garbage, the constant cacophony — traffic, horns, boom boxes, busses — all make the panoramas of the hill country, or the laid back beauty of the beaches further south seem very far away. But the natural beauty of Sri Lanka is irrepressible and even in and around the country’s sin city, there remain enclaves of outstanding beauty, oases of calm somehow isolated, magically insulated from the city’s seething sprawl. One such slice of paradise perfectly secluded but just minutes from Colombo is the Bolgoda lake, an expanse of marshes, islands and open water frequented by a range of bird and animal life.

Genuinely magical
One of Sri Lanka’s few natural lakes — Bolgoda — is genuinely magical. Cormorants perch perfectly still on fisherman’s poles, silvery schools of fish flash just under the lakes surface, and beds of nelum and manel stretch into the distance — there are no people in sight.

The lake remains a complete eco system — a world of its own just minutes from Moratuwa.

While the lake and it environs offer as complete as possible an escape, a lack of accommodation and facilities for day trippers have long prevented Colombo’s amusement and entertainment starved populace from making maximum use of this extraordinary natural amenity. Without membership at an expensive private club or a friend with a villa somewhere on the up-market edge of the lake, it has long been difficult to enjoy all that Bolgoda has to offer.

Fortunately however the lack of an accessible and inexpensive lake side rest house has now been rectified and the River Retreat — owned and operated by those ardent explorers of the country’s wild spaces — eco team, now provides anyone and everyone with a convenient base; meals, day room and boats, for a day at the lake.

A host of friendly staff
Just clamber into what ever vehicle you have available, follow a few very simple directions and you will find a pleasant villa, a host of friendly staff and all the equipment for a pleasant day’s paddling on the lake waiting for you at the end of a barely thirty minute journey.

What the Retreat offers is a second home — complete privacy and comfort — at an almost negligible cost. Pay Rs. 1000 to rent a kayak and you will find the retreat’s sprawling lakeside gardens, cool verandahs, and small pool completely at your display.

And while the food, both rice and curry and western fare on offer is delicious. Visitors are free to bring their own food and even drinks to the property, which makes this easily one of the city’s least expensive days out.

Facilities for boating
The property is effectively a sort of open house on the lake — with pool kayaks and facilities for boating and fishing thrown in for good measure.

With a kayak you can spend hours exploring and uncovering the hidden corners of the lake — land on little islands, steer through the lotuses that clog the shallows … and listen to the sounds of silence.

The idea that 2 million people and what seems to be even more vehicles are just minutes away seems utterly absurd. While development has crept up on part of the lake the southern edge, surrounding the Rive Retreat, remains pristine, untouched and a perfect place for a weekend or afternoon escape.

From: Savanthi Jayawickrema [mailto:SavanthiJ@suntel.lk]
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 2:41 PM
To: Marketing 1
Cc: saab@srilankaecotourism.com
Subject: Attention Isuru

Hi Isuru,
I meant to drop a note sooner but due to a heavy schedule could not do so.
Many thanks for all your effort in getting the place at Bolgoda and all the arrangements which were made. We were  truly very content with all that was done for us. It is very rare that ( even  being in the service industry…. ) that  I ve come across people who are very focused in treating their customers well and you are certainly one of them.
Thanks once again.
Kind regards
Savanthi

From: Carmel Adaman [mailto:adamanlk@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 10:58 AM
To: reachme@srilankaecotourism.com
Cc: marketing1@srilanka.ecotourism.com
Subject: Hapy reading......

It was a Thursday morning when I got the call from Mr Isuru,(handsome guy) Manager of Eco Holidays, confirming availability for my inquiries of “SAROJA BUNGALOW” at Madagama for the forthcoming long weekend and we left Friday evening.

As our van turned into the driveway of the bungalow, the sight that met our eyes was simply breathtaking. The well manicured lawn laid out in slopes, a sort of a well laid green carpet welcome. There was Sammy the soft spoken Caretaker /Cook and Nandana the helper, rushing out to welcome us.

Overlooking the Bolgoda Lake surrounded with trees with its branches touching the waters lying smugly right  there in the middle of the green carpeted lawn, was the bungalow, so well designed and placed on a somewhat higher level, built in a sort of semi circle, looking so majestic a picturesque sight to see. As we were taken around the bunglow by Sammy and were escorted to our rooms, what really delighted  us was that each room with its french windows opened out to the lawn which in turn blended to  the lake. Be it while lying on the bed or sitting out in the open verandah of the bedroom we had the picturesque spread of the lake right in front of us.

My sis and I knew right there an then that this was the place we would like to spend our holidays and with the option of the swimming pool in a discreet spot of the compound a very enticing option and what with Sammy waiting on you with an iced king coconut drink whilst lazing around in the pool wow! that’s the life.

Living in a whirl wind of traffic blocks, noise, dust, loads and loads of people, this blessing of trees and lake whispering to each other in a peaceful slumber was like stepping  into a dream of sheer bliss. Whilst lounging in the varander of your room and wondering at the tranquility around you to enjoy, one could see a lone fishermen fishing in the lake for his daily bread, dishing out a toothless smile at you and you smile back thankful at the beauty and innocence surrounding you.

Lets not forget the food Oh! so yummy, so delicious and such a simple but delectable spread. You guys and gals if any of you care for your waist lines watch it….. cos, Sammy means business when he persuades you to another serving and yet another serving and you unwaveringly oblidge….

Praxede, Carmel, Dashy & Sandy

Dear Anuruddha

Pls find my contact details below as promised.

We had a fantastic time at Madagama.  All who participated had a wonderful time and had nothing but praise of the place and hospitality. Would specially like to mention that the staff was very helpful and made us feel at home.  We look forward to a second visit.

Best regards

Chatura

From: De Sliva, Nirmal - Sri Lanka [mailto:nirmal.d@ingrammicro.lk]
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 4:49 PM
To: Anuruddha Bandara
Subject: RE: Special Dinner @ Bolgoda !
Importance: High

Dear Anuruddha,

Let me take this opportunity to thank you for your wonderful effort in co-ordinating our anniversary. my sincere apologies for the delay in conveying the same since I have been out of the country for the last 2 weeks and just returned back.

Pls convey my sincere appreciation to Gihan, who took many pains to make my plans a reality even to the extent of fighting head on with the weather gods. It was a pleasure to deal with such a professional team and I only wish the entire 'Eco Team' all the best in your future endeavours.

I will appreciate if you could arrange a CD of the pictures that you'll took that day since i will be our memories for a long time to come.

Thanks & hope to here from you on this regard.

Once again 'Good Show' !

Rgds

Nirmal

From: Terrence Fernando [mailto:Terrence@cinnamonhotels.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 11:47 AM
To: Anuruddha Bandara
Subject: RE: Outing on 4th February 08

Hi Anuruddha,

Just to let you know we had a great time at Medagama retreat yesterday.
Great location, Great food and the staff were wonderful too.

It totally suited the purpose we were there for.

Thanks again for all the arrangements.

Best regards

Terrance Fernando
[ Cinnamon Grand Hotel – Corporate planning session 4th February 2008 ]