First Sri Lankan Everest Expeditions by Marlon Saldin and Shehan Cooray
 

The desire to scale the greatest heights has always captivated the human imagination. The conquest of the world’s fourteen 8,000 meter peaks was once thought to be impossible and beyond the realm of human endurance. The golden age of mountaineering in the 1950s witnessed nationally sponsored expeditions claiming first ascents of the highest Himalayan peaks which had resisted all previous summit attempts. The first ascent of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world at 8,848 meters, (29,028 feet) by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay is one of the greatest human achievements of the 20th century.

To date a large number of countries have successfully placed their climbers and national flags on the summit of Everest. The number of Everest summiteers currently stands at approximately 2,000 persons since the first ascent in 1953. An ascent of Everest remains a great personal accomplishment and an event of significant national importance as well as a source of immense personal and national pride.

We intend to launch our own Everest summit bid starting from April 2008. Marlon and Shehan both have extensive experience trekking/climbing in the Himalayas in Nepal, India and China. We are the first Sri Lankans to take part in an Everest expedition as part of the Explore-Project Himalaya 2007 Everest Expedition which consisted of a multinational team of climbers under the leadership of experienced and reputed New Zealand-born mountaineer, Jamie McGuiness. As trainee climbers we reached 6,600 meters (21,978) and spent many days at 6,400 meters on Everest. Next year we hope to become the first Sri Lankans in history to summit a 7,000 metre peak, with the ascent of Mt. Lhakpa Ri in Tibet which stands at 7,045 meters (23,248 feet).

Based on our success this year, we hope to attempt Mt. Cho Oyu in Tibet in the 2009 climbing season. Cho Oyu at 8,201 meters (26,906 feet) is the sixth highest mountain in the world, again, a height never before achieved by Sri Lankans. A successful ascent of Cho Oyu would qualify us to make an attempt on Everest itself in the climbing season of 2010. If successful, we would become the first Sri Lankans to climb to the summit Mt. Everest, the highest point on Earth.
 

Reaching New Heights….

Marlon and Shehan are pleased to offer prospective sponsors a valuable and unique opportunity to partner with us in our endeavour. As a prospective sponsor for one or all of our upcoming expeditions you would be afforded the opportunity not only to support a national achievement but also to gain valuable media coverage through a high profile and extraordinary event which is unique and rare.

Sponsors would be afforded exclusive opportunities, which include, display of corporate logo on Everest, rights to photo/video material, extensive local and foreign multimedia coverage, live web/satellite phone updates, product endorsements and other valuable benefits. We would be very pleased to discuss a wide range of possible promotional and marketing possibilities with you.. We hope that this will be an opportunity for prospective sponsors to literally reach new heights with us.
 

Contact 0777 168969 or e-mail : clubadventure@doratuwa.com