Conquering Sri Pada Three Times in 24 hrs
Source:Ceylontoday
Retired Naval Officer Rear Admiral Princely Liyanage has once again demonstrated his remarkable endurance and determination by achieving a feat few dare to attempt.
On 15 February 2024, Rear Admiral Liyanage embarked on a daring adventure to climb Sri Pada not just once, but three times, conquering the mountain from three different routes within an astonishing 24-hour timeframe.
Liyanage’s journey began at the break of dawn, leaving his residence in Panadura at 4:45 a.m. and arriving at Palabaddala by 7:00 a.m. With steely resolve, he commenced his first ascent at 7:27 a.m., braving the elements and the challenging terrain. Despite encountering cold weather in the morning and scorching sunshine during mid-day, he persevered, facing unexpected rain showers as he neared his destination.
The meticulous planning and unwavering determination of Rear Admiral Liyanage were evident as he effectively timed his climbs, ensuring efficient progress while allowing for brief rests between each ascent. His first climb commenced from Palabaddala, reaching the peak at 10:16 a.m., before descending to Erathna Kuruvita by 1:57 p.m.
Undeterred by the challenges faced during the first climb, Rear Admiral Liyanage embarked on his second ascent from Erathna Kuruvita at 2:30 p.m. Despite encountering a moderate rain and heavy pours intermittently until reaching Heramitipana, he pressed on arriving at the peak once more by 7:04 p.m., before descending to Nallathanniya by 8:50 p.m.
With two climbs already under his belt, Rear Admiral Liyanage embarked on his third and final ascent from Nallathanniya at 9:10 p.m. With the peak beckoning once more, he reached the summit at 10:50 p.m., before descending to Palabaddala by 2:00 a.m. on 16 February 2024, completing his monumental trilogy of climbs.
In total, Rear Admiral Liyanage covered a staggering distance of 61.8 kilometres, meticulously documented by his wristband watch, and spent a total of 18 hours and 33 minutes on this remarkable journey. His unwavering determination, physical prowess, and meticulous planning have rightfully earned him admiration and respect.
Looking ahead, Rear Admiral Princely Liyanage has already set his sights on his next challenge, planning his 92nd climb of Sri Pada on 28 February 2024. His relentless pursuit of excellence serves as an inspiration to all, a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the limitless potential of the human body and mind. His remarkable three routes climbing in a single day feat has been done six times in the last couple of years.
In addition, he has also participated in the LSR Colombo Marathon from 2011 onwards totalling seven times, winning one silver and four bronze medals on five occasions under the veteran full marathon category covering 42 km.
Rear Admiral Princely Liyanage has served in the Sri Lanka Navy for approximately 32 years, gaining extensive experience in emergency management, human resources, and administration. He has held various challenging roles, including Director Emergency Operations at the Disaster Management Centre, Chief Instructor at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, and Director Naval Welfare & Director Naval Administration, among others. Rear Admiral Liyanage holds multiple degrees, including an Executive MSc. in Project Management and MSc. in War Studies and Defence Management. He has also undergone specialised training both domestically and overseas, including courses in maritime security and military responses to terrorism.
After retiring from the Navy, Rear Admiral Liyanage has worked as Deputy Project Director in the Western Region Maritime City Development Project and later served as Director of Prime Line International (Pvt) Ltd. His naval career highlights include leading search and rescue operations during national calamities, commanding naval vessels, and participating in critical operations against insurgent groups. He has been decorated with several medals and awards for his bravery and service, including the Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) and Vishishta Seva Vibhushana (VSV). Additionally, Liyanage is actively involved in sports, having represented Sri Lanka in various international athletic championships and winning several medals in race walking and other events.
Speaking to him, Rear Admiral Princely Liyanage said, at present the majority of children and youth are addicted to electronic devices which keep them away from taking part in physical exercises and sports activities, thus prematurely leaving them more susceptible to non-communicable diseases. So, he said it is the duty of the adults and the society to encourage them to engage in physical activities on a regular basis. He further stressed the importance of maintaining good health as many cannot afford to buy medicines in this crucial economic crisis. Therefore, he said sports play a pivotal role in helping the youth to learn values like discipline, self-confidence, sacrifice, team work, confidence, accountability etc. Additionally, sports reduces youth inclination towards crimes and addiction to dangerous drugs. So Rear Admiral Liyanage went on to say that his aim is to encourage the youth to maintain their physical fitness by engaging in such activities in an enthusiastic and competitive manner. He added that media can play a leading role by highlighting the experiences of veterans who take part in such strenuous sports activities. He also extended an invitation to anyone who wishes to join in future activities or to clarify anything to contact him through his email: princely1962@yahoo.com
