Colombo to London by Kombi visa

by Gordon GUNASEKARA

Gordon Gunasekara, Mihirisena, Aloysius, Nimal Pathirana

There is a saying "If there's a will there's a way". When I was in my teens, I remember two Sri Lankan youth Arthur Alwis and Arthur Rutnam who peddled their way to UK overland on two bicycles. Their accounts were featured in the Ceylon Observer at that time.

This was always working in my mind and Geography being my pet subject at Ananda College, also gave me more impetus to venture out. I was really and truly bitten by the travel bug.

I owe this interest to my dear late father, who took us as youngsters on his pilgrimages to places like Anuradhapura, Tissa and Mahiyanganaya in the 1940s.

I had driven to most parts in Sri Lanka in my own vehicle and thought of venturing out.

As years passed by I suggested to my good friend Mithirasena, why don't we travel overland to the UK. He readily agreed. I was already owning a VW Kombi Station Waggon. I was also able to rope in two other friends to join they were Nimal Pathirana and A. Aloysius.

Having planned all the details that took nearly eight months we got government clearance the vehicle was in shape and we got the necessary documents. Immigration documents and declaration permission to take out a vehicle on a bring back basis, (which we did) guarantees with A.A.C. Central Bank, Exchange Control and from the Import and Export Department.

The Tourist Board, Customs, Passport for the vehicle known as Carneige (French term), correspondence with Indian Railways were all in place.

My vehicle being a second hand vehicle, I had to get it completely overhauled (esp. engine and gear box) at Car Mart Ltd. extra large from buffer with another spare wheel. We had a Sri No. Plate and CL to the indicate the country of origin at the rear of van.

"It was not the best of times nor the worst of times", in the words of Charles Dickens, when we set off. The UNF government was in power. In our case the situation in SL to set out on a trip of this magnitude was absolutely difficult, if not impossible. This was even more difficult because of the countries we were hoping to cover.

Internationally it was not the best of times to venture out on a trip of this nature, the Indo-Pakistan war was over, had unsettled friction between the two countries. The worst of all was the tense situation in the Mid-East, at that time.

With all the restrictions that related to exchange control, foreign travel etc., we were able to get State clearance, when we made our case to the Minister of Finance, the late Dr. N. M. Perera, he treated our application sympathetically yet having gone through close scrutiny that he may have used in such matters. Having made the required foreign exchange deposit to the Central Bank, as promised the vehicle was brought back to Sri Lanka. We also had to obtain International Driving Licences and highway insurances in those countries. Certain categories of spare parts for the VW were also carried in the van. Before relating our experiences, I must say that the four of us were lucky to have completed this tour although without getting exposed to any dangers like sickness, accidents, highway robbery or other misfortunes in this 8000 mile long journey. This awesome human endeavour took nearly three months to culminate.

It also needed the audacity courage and capacity to embark on such an adventure. Driving at an average speed of 40 mph we clocked 2 to 300 m/s per day.

At times we stayed over two weeks in some countries. On some nights the four of us inside the van itself with improvised sleeping accommodation parking in the vicinity of a filling station.

We carried a few cooking utensils, heater and hot plate prepared our own meals at times including tea. We carried 100 small packets of tea gifted by Liptons. A map of Asia and Europe was painted on both sides of the van and showed the route we intended to take.

The VW Kombi was lifted to the Indian Shipping Corporation. Ship and the four of us boarded the ship after bidding farewell to all. We reached Rameshwaram in India at 4.00 p.m. the vehicle was unloaded and brought to land.