Cycling is a great cardio exercise, especially when there is no traffic—particularly along a beachfront road, where you can truly enjoy the ride.
My wife is extremely worried when I cycle on the road, as I had a bad accident a few years ago.
I was appointed as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Pakistan in October 2023, based in Islamabad. Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, is a planned city located at the foothills of the beautiful Margalla Hills. It is administered by the Islamabad Capital Territory. Established in 1960, with most construction completed by 1967, it became the capital of Pakistan.
The city is divided into eight sectors: the Diplomatic Enclave, Administrative Area, Defence Sector, Residential Areas, Educational Area, Industrial Sector, Commercial Area, Rural Area, and Green Sectors. Islamabad is well known for its parks and the Margalla Hills National Park. One of the most beautiful golf courses I have seen is the Margalla Hills Golf Course, owned by the Pakistan Navy, situated at the foothills of the Margalla Hills. For those not interested in golf, there are beautiful trails in the Margalla Hills for walking and trekking. Air pollution is minimal, and pleasant weather prevails for most of the year, except during very hot summers.
What about cycling in Islamabad? It is one of the best places to cycle, with very good, wide roads and clearly marked cycling lanes.
After settling in Islamabad with my family, I thoroughly enjoyed cycling. Whether it is Pakistan’s leadership (both civilian and military) or a roadside “chai wallah” (tea vendor who serves hot, sweet Kashmiri tea), there is a special place in their hearts for Sri Lanka. To be frank, I became addicted to long cycling trips. When tired, I would stop at a roadside tea stall, chat with the chai wallah, and enjoy a hot cup of Kashmiri tea. I never felt insecure or away from home.
The best place to cycle without traffic is inside the Diplomatic Enclave. From time to time, embassies organize cycling events on Sundays, where my son and I were able to participate. It was great fun and good exercise on Sunday mornings, with my wife Yamuna joining other members of the diplomatic community for breakfast.
The Sri Lanka High Commission and the residences of the High Commissioner and staff in Islamabad are currently in rented locations, which are quite costly. Last year, we were able to secure a beautiful plot of land in the Diplomatic Enclave for the Sri Lanka High Commission, adjoining the Romanian and Polish Embassies. It should be a priority to build a High Commission and residential facilities for the High Commissioner and staff on this land, as it will save a significant amount of money.
The long-pending land acquisition project for the High Commission was completed through diligent coordination with the Capital Development Authority of Islamabad by Barrister Hassan Jawed Khan, the Honorary Legal Adviser to the High Commission, who provided his services free of charge. Hassan’s father served as Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul in Peshawar for many years. Thank you, Hassan, for your valuable service at no cost to Sri Lanka.
A good example of such infrastructure is the Sri Lanka High Commission complex in New Delhi, where I served as First Secretary/Defence Adviser from 2000 to 2004.
On my return to Sri Lanka in November 2024, I wanted to continue cycling. However, Colombo city traffic on working days makes it almost impossible and quite dangerous. Our drivers, especially bus drivers, show little respect for cyclists.
Therefore, the only time to enjoy a peaceful and safe cycling experience is on weekends and holidays.
A few months ago, the Mayor of Colombo, Mrs. Vraie Cally Balthazaar, launched an excellent initiative to promote a greener urban environment through cycling within the Colombo Municipal Council. The Hon. Governor of the Western Province, Mr. Hanif Yusoof, was also present. The “Sunday Cycling” initiative was a great success, with dedicated cycling lanes provided along Reid Avenue, Kumaratunga Munidasa Mawatha, and the Independence Square area, allowing cyclists like me to enjoy a stress-free ride.
However, it is unfortunate that this initiative has been greatly hampered by vehicles parking on clearly marked cycle lanes. Now, cyclists like me must again be cautious of buses and other vehicles moving at high speeds, even on Sundays. Can the IGP take action to educate drivers that cycle lanes are meant for cyclists, not for parking vehicles?
