THE Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery lying just off the sandy beach opposite the village of Ahungalla was virtually destroyed by the Tsunami, as were many others.
Almost all the adult turtles (although some were rescued by the owners) and approximately 3,000 eggs were lost, but this hatchery has now been rebuilt with the help of a few individuals, most previous tourists to the area. The hatchery does not have any state aid so relies solely on donations.
The hatchery pays fishermen for eggs that they collect at night along the long sandy beach, collected to protect the creatures from predators (including people). Visitors to the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery are shown the nesting area where the eggs are kept safe underground in a marked area, rather like a burial mound, with a name tag depicting the time of arrival at the refuge. Once hatched, the newborns are transferred to large water tanks and fed. When they are about three days old they are taken to the sea and released – visitors can help do this provided they do so around sunset. Although October to April is the main laying season, some eggs can be found at Kosgoda throughout the year.
Turtles reared at the hatchery, according to the owners, have a survival rate which is 10 per cent higher than the one per cent achieved naturally.
Sri Lanka’s beaches are the nesting grounds for five species of marine turtles – the green turtle, leatherback, hawksbill, loggerhead and the Olive Ridley. All five species have been recorded to nest along specific areas of the coast, and at Kosgoda it is predominantly the green turtle as well as the very common Olive Ridley that nest here. There are about 18 hatcheries along the southern coastal line.
Heritance Ahungalla Hotel, 15 kilometres from Ahungalla village offers the turtle hatchery tour among its many leisure activities. It is among the Heritance Hotels group – a collection of ultra luxury five star hotels that blend natural serenity with impressive architectural structures.
Architect Geoffrey Bawa designed the hotel, which boasts that “each room is unique. As every room is set at a different angle to its neighbours, even the view from each room is unique. Once you enter your room, feel as if you are alone on the beach, cocooned in five star luxury”.
The Heritance Ahungalla has 152 rooms, a choice of bathrooms fitted with rain showers, bathtubs or Jacuzzis, plus a hair dryer, telephone, toiletries, TVs with satellite and local channels, mini bar and other five star facilities.
It has two large swimming pools, outdoor jacuzzi, snooker, table tennis, tennis, bike riding and various touring options, plus a business centre, 24 hour room service, library, foreign currency exchange, drivers’ quarters, wireless Internet, beauty salon and spa and also offers a danger flag system on the public beach in front of the hotel, which has life guards. The staff speak English, German, Arabic, Sinhalese and Tamil.
Heritance Ahungalla makes a good combination holiday and conference destination. It has a main hall for up to 150 delegates and a mini conference hall for up to 50 people, plus all modern conference facilities. Colombo is 76 kilometres away (about 2.30 hours drive depending on the time of day), and Bandaranaike International Airport lies 115 kilometres (or 3.30 hours) away.