Information on Sri Lanka
Found in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a verdant paradise off the Southern tip of India. The cradle of the Buddhist faith, Sri Lanka is also a tourist haven on the strength of its palm-fringed beaches and idyllic scenery.
Sri Lanka boasts no fewer than seven World Heritage Sites listed by Unesco, ranging from sacred cities, palaces and cliff-top citadels to colonial strongholds, spanning close to 3,000 years of history. To complete the picture of perfection, Sri Lanka is situated just three degrees north of the Equator, meaning the weather is constantly hot, humid and tropical. Sunny skies are the order of the day; even in the brief monsoon season there is always a daily spell of sunshine.
Unfortunately modern Sri Lanka is not immune from real-life political pressures. Indigenous terrorism has affected Colombo City in the North of the island, but the tourist locations of the South remain unaffected.
Anyone travelling to Sri Lanka is advised to acquaint themselves with the current political and security situation before embarking on their visit. To compound matters, the island's tourism infrastructure is still recovering from the effects of the catastrophic tsunami which devastated coastal areas in December 2004. (See Basics: Safety in this guide).
Off the beaten track, adventurous tourists will find plenty distractions to modern life. The ancient sites of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Panduwasnuwara, where the remains of a great civilisation are to be seen. The cities of Colombo and Kandy show the influence of the foreign colonial powers that fought for control over the strategic, lush island in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Dutch-inspired buildings stand cheek to jowl with Victorian British mansions and Portuguese fortifications.
The wonders of Sri Lanka are best explored by discovery alone; this is not a package holiday. guided-tour sort of place. The gentle pace, and welcoming people of Sri Lanka make it a dream destination for the discerning traveller keen to explore a whole new world.
