It will be my first time in Sri Lanka as well- I'm thinking of a reasonable daytime diversion from where I am ending my Sri Lanka trip (Umawatuna near Galle), since my flight out to BLR is at 6 pm (so a bunch of time to kill). Thinking hire a driver for the day, leave after breakfast, and spend the day getting to CMB. What makes sense as being reasonably "on the way" (not Galle or Colombo, I'll be hitting those en route to Unawatuna or while I am there)?