Conquer Mountains 2024 – Hanthana Hike

Conquer Mountains 2024, a project initiated by KDU National Rover Crew, aims to give an adventurous outdoor experience for its members with hiking, exploration and orienteering. These expeditions are expected to provide a lifelong experience for KDU Rover Scouts in order to initiate their ultimate project of conquering the mount Everest in year 2026.

As the first hike of the project, the Rover Scouts of KDU National Rover Crew climbed the Hanthana Mountain Range on 21^st June 2024 as it is considered to be a famous hike among amateur hikers of Sri Lanka.

The venture was both encouraged and supported by the Vice Chancellor of KDU, Rear Admiral HGU Dammika Kumara, VSV, USP, psc, MMaritimePol, BSc (DS), and the Deputy Vice Chancellor of KDU, Major General CA Wickramasinghe, USP, USACGSC. Notably, the Deputy Vice Chancellor participated in the hike to receive the experience himself, which significantly encouraged KDU Rovers.

The hike was led by the Junior Officer Cadet HLD Heshanka who had  done the Hanthana Hike Route for more than twenty times as a President Scout, and he was supported by Day Scholar Ms. MGSD Gamage. Moreover, the hike was well coordinated by Squadron Leader Suranga Herath— Officer in Charge of Rover Scouts KDU and Major Indika Weerasinghe— 2^nd In Charge of Rover Scouts KDU, Captain Udaya Dampage (Rtd)— Group Scout Leader KDU, and Mr. Samith Thalakiriyawa— Rover Scout Leader KDU.