The South Travel Guide

As well as containing many excellent beach resorts such as Tangalle and Hambantota, the sourthern region of Sri Lanka is alive with culture and releigous activity. Sites to visit include Werehena temple near Matara with a five storey building enclosing a buddha staue filled with comic strips of the Buddh's life and Kataragama where the Lord Kataragam, an incarnation of the Hinddu wargod Skanda, is worshipped.

Unawatuna Photo Gallery

Festivals in Unawatuna

Wella Devalaya Esala festival in Unawatuna would be held in July 2008 starting from Thursday 17th Esala Full Moon day.
It will go on for one week.
A mini Perehara would be held on the first day by the children of the Dham pasala [Sunday school]., a more grandoise Perehara organized by Perakum Sport Club on behalf of the Festival Committee would be organized featuring Elephants, Dancers etc on 18th July.

During this week Unawatuna takes on a very festive mood with both sides of the village Road lined with shops selling almost everthing imaginable from Brassware to flowers, cloths, food, sweet.

And the Wella Devala Road becomes so clogged that its no longer possible to motor down this road, however one can take the Bounevista route to get to Yaddehimulla area.

Th whole area is lt up with multi coloured jetlights.

Life savers, students from Richmond and Mahinda College as well as the Sri Lanka Navy are in attendance.


The festival ends with the offering of KIRI DANA to deities and devotees on the last day.


Contributors
March 12, 2007 change by giorgio

Unawatuna Travel Guide

Unawatuna is the favorite chilling place for frequent Independent travelers. Year after year they keep coming back. Unawatuna is just four kilometer further south down Route A2 from the dutch fortress city of Galle.

Unawatuna first became popular with the flower children who came to Sri Lanka from Indian beaches like Goa, and other places like Pondicherry to enable them to get fresh visas to get back to India.

Most homesteads in the area opened up their homes to the foreigners as they brought in an extra income, however paltry its was, the rooms without any facilities fetched about Ten Rupees, a princely sum when a Dollar was a mere Seven Fifty.

Over the year the clientele as well as the guesthouses changed and today it boasts of boutique style villas, some owned by foreigners, very few of the places have Sri lanka Tourist Board accreditation., just one Hotel, few "A" grade Guest houses, mostly "B" grade places and three Heritage Home classified villas.

There is more shoe string and back-packer joints, a host of beach front restaurants that has taken away the charm of the world reknown beach that was often in the TOP TEN beaches of the world.

yet for all this changes Unawatuna still retains some mystic charm that still draws the beach combers to this laid back sleepy old village.

Colombo Travel Guide

Colombo is the place where Sri Lanka’s hustle and bustle takes place. Although it is the biggest city in Sri Lanka, this is the place where the commercial heart beats and where you can see some of the tallest buildings in Asia. In the northern part of the city is the fort area, where you can find the British fort, dating from the 19th century, and other remnants of the former colonial power. When you set off for Galle, which was the capital city when the Dutch ruled before the British invaded the Pearl of the Orient, you can visit the world heritage fort complex.

Sri Lanka Photo Gallery

Budget Travel Ideas in Sri Lanka

Empty line-ups, 80°F warm water, a tropical surf camp directly by the beach under palm trees and a pool with a view to a world-class surf spot. A surf myth? No, that is Sri Lanka.

Far away from mass surf tourism that developed during the last decade in other countries, we are offering surf lessons for small groups with individual coaching, no matter if you are a beginner or an advanced surfer. Part of the package is a guaranteed relaxing time – maybe that is exactly what makes us so special!

Located on a deserted part of the beach, our camp offers five spacious, individually decorated, cozy rooms in two bungalows.
The main bungalow is housing a double room with a private bathroom and the so-called surf commune, consisting of two additional rooms with two twin beds in each and a shared bathroom – ideal for single travelers and a maximum of four people.
In the neighboring bungalow are two spacious double rooms with king-size beds and individual bathrooms. Since life in the tropics rarely happens indoors, an additional highlight is the roomy patios located in front of the rooms with a view to a beautiful large garden and the ocean.
Meals are served in our outdoor pavilion by the pool that offers the nicest views to the entire property and to a world-class surf break. A loungy couch corner in the garden offers an ideal spot for a sun downer in with fellow travelers

Festivals in Sri Lanka

Vesak

Buddhist celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of the Gautama Buddha The celebration is held on the full moon day in May with among other decorations Vesak koodoos (bamboo lanterns covered in tissue paper) and large electronic light displays called pandols showing contemporary and ancient stories illustrating buddhist stories

If any single day in the Buddhist calender is of equal importance to the Christmas day in Christian calender, it has to be the day of Wesak . All over the country, temples, in the villages, and in the cities, announce the dawn of Wesak, with peals of bells, and drum beats. The devout, clad in pure white, with no make-up or jewelry, make their way to the temple, to spend the next twenty four hours in quiet contemplation. No solid food in taken after mid-day meal, for this day, the holiest of days in the Buddhist calender, one is there to rid the mind of impure thoughts, and the body of impure habits. (Observe Sil ). While the rest of the village, gather at the temple grounds after sunset to participate in lesser religious activities, like reading of holy books, or listen to the saffron clad monk relate ancient stories from Lord Buddha's previous lives. ( listen to Bana ).

Simple candle-lit lanterns like these, that seem to fascinate these youngsters, made with bamboo frames and covered with colored transparent paper adorn every house, for Wesak, is a muted celebration as well. Over two-and-a-half centuries ago in northern India, Gautama was born, attained Enlightenment, and passed away, on the same day of the month, separated by some 80 years. and Buddhists all over celebrate the three events on Wesak day.

Contributors
June 14, 2005 change by giorgio (1 point)
June 15, 2005 change by hirankarunaratna

Health

Health
Before setting off, you might want to check the illnesses described below that occur here. The information is from the CDC and should be pretty accurate, but if you really think you have something, go see a doctor. If you're not sure where to find good medical attention, check with a the nearest international hotel, they are usually in the know (though the facilities they refer to might charge you a little bit more)

Cholera
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O-group 1 or O-group 139. The infection is often mild and self-limited or subclinical. Patients with severe cases respond dramatically to simple fluid- and electrolyte-replacement therapy. Infection is acquired primarily by ingesting contaminated water or food; person-to-person transmission is rare.

Malaria
Malaria in humans is caused by one of five protozoan species of the genus Plasmodium: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, or P. malariae. All species are transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Occasionally, transmission occurs by blood transfusion or congenitally from mother to fetus. Although malaria can be a fatal disease, illness and death from malaria are largely preventable.

Rabies
A dangerous and possible deadly disease, can be contracted from a wild animal to a human w/ a single bite. Please when visiting do not touch animals that do not seem tamed.

Typhoid
A very stong course of anti-biotics will wipe it out. After getting typhoid I was very weak for at least 3 months after the anti-biotic course. There is a vaccine that is good for three years. If you consume a large dose of typhoid there is a good chance of getting it regardless of the vaccine.

aids
As a physician in Belize and had Dengue myself. Ibuprofen works well for the fever and aches, and, in my opinion, is not a risk for hemmorhagic fever (which has never been seen in Belize, as far as I know).

People in Sri Lanka

Population: 20 222 240 (July 2006 est.)

note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1996 63 068 were housed in refugee camps in south India another 30000-40 000 lived outside the Indian camps and more than 200 000 Tamils have sought political asylum in the West

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28% (male 2 673 194; female 2 556 926)

15-64 years: 66% (male 6 126 759; female 6 385 450)

65 years and over: 6% (male 579 329; female 611 900) (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.78% (2006 est.)

Birth rate: 15.51 births/1 000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 6.52 deaths/1 000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.23 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 15.51 deaths/1 000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.41 years

male: 70.83 years

female: 76.12 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Sri Lankan(s)

adjective: Sri Lankan

Ethnic groups: Sinhalese 73.8% Indian Tamil 4.6% Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9% Moor 7.2% Burgher Malay and Vedda 1% (2001 census provisional data)

Religions: Buddhist 69.1% Muslim 7.6% Hindu 7.1% Christian 6.2% (2001 census provisional data)

Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74% Tamil (national language) 18%

note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the population

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 92.3%

male: 94.8%

female: 90% (2003 est.)

Economy in Sri Lanka

Economy in Sri Lanka
Economy—overview: At independence in 1948 plantations growing tea rubber or coconuts and paddies growing rice for subsistence dominated Sri Lanka's economy and as late as 1970 plantation crops accounted for 93% of exports. In 1977 Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its import substitution trade policy for market-oriented policies and export-oriented trade. Sri Lanka's most dynamic industries now are food processing textiles and apparel food and beverages telecommunications and insurance and banking. By 1996 plantation crops made up only 20% of exports while textiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP grew at an annual average rate of 5.5% throughout the 1990s until a drought and a deteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. The economy rebounded in second half 1996 however and continued to perform well in 1997 with growth of 6%. Sustained economic growth coupled with population growth of only 1.1% has pushed Sri Lanka from the ranks of the poorest countries in the world up to the threshold of the middle income countries. For the next round of reforms the central bank of Sri Lanka recommends that Colombo expand market mechanisms in nonplantation agriculture dismantle the government's monopoly on wheat imports and promote more competition in the financial sector. A continuing cloud over the economy is the fighting between the Sinhalese and the minority Tamils which has cost more than 60 000 lives in the past 23 years.

GDP: purchasing power parity—$85.34 billion (2005 est.)

GDP—real growth rate: 5,6% (2005 est.)

GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$4 300 (2005 est.)

GDP—composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.8%

industry: 27.6%

services: 54.5% (2005)

Inflation rate—consumer price index: 15.4% (sep. 2006)

Labor force:

total: 8.08 million (2005)

by occupation: services 45% agriculture 38% industry 17% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6.3% (2006 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.804 billion

expenditures: $5.469 billion (2005 est.)

Industries: processing of rubber tea coconuts and other agricultural commodities; clothing cement petroleum refining textiles tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1996 est.)

Electricity—capacity: 1.557 million kW (1997 est.)

Electricity—production: 7.308 billion kWh (2003 est.)

Electricity—consumption per capita: 220 kWh (1997 est.)

Agriculture—products: rice sugarcane grains pulses oilseed roots spices tea rubber coconuts; milk eggs hides meat

Industries—products: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, vehicles

Exports:

total value: $6.442 billion (f.o.b. 2005)

commodities: textiles and apparel, tea and spices, diamonds and other gems, coconut products, rubber products, petroleum products, fish (2005)

partners: US 30.9% UK 11.6% India 6.9% Belgium 4.8% Germany 4.5% (2005)

Imports:

total value: $8.37 billion (f.o.b. 2005)

commodities: textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and transportation equipment (2005)

partners: India 168% China 10.5% Singapore 7.6% Iran 5.8% Hong Kong 4.8% (2005)

Debt—external: $11.05 billion (2005)

Economic aid:

recipient: ODA $577 million (1998 est.)

Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1—100.498 (2005) 101.194 (2004) 96.521 (2003) 95.662 (2002) 89.383 (2001)

Fiscal year: calendar year

History in Sri Lanka

History in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's cultural and historical heritage covers more than 2 000 years. Known as Lanka--the "resplendent land"--in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana the island has numerous other references that testify to the island's natural beauty and wealth. Islamic folklore maintains that Adam and Eve were offered refuge on the island as solace for their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Asian poets noting the geographical location of the island and lauding its beauty called it the "pearl upon the brow of India." A troubled nation in the 1980s torn apart by communal violence Sri Lanka has more recently beeen called India's "fallen tear."
Sri Lanka claims a democratic tradition matched by few other developing countries and since its independence in 1948 successive governments have been freely elected. Sri Lanka's citizens enjoy a long life expectancy advanced health standards and one of the highest literacy rates in the world despite the fact that the country has a low per capita incomes.

In the years since independence Sri Lanka has experienced severe communal clashes between its Buddhist Sinhalese majority-- approximately 74 percent of the population--and the country's largest minority group the Sri Lankan Tamils who are Hindus and comprise nearly 13 percent of the population. The communal violence that attracted the harsh scrutiny of the international media in the late 1980s can best be understood in the context of the island's complex historical development--its ancient and intricate relationship to India's civilization and its more than four centuries under colonial rule by European powers.

The Sinhalese claim to have been the earliest colonizers of Sri Lanka first settling in the dry north-central regions as early as 500 B.C. Between the third century B.C. and the twelfth century A.D. they developed a great civilization centered around the cities of Anuradhapura and later Polonnaruwa which was noted for its genius in hydraulic engineering--the construction of water tanks (reservoirs) and irrigation canals for example--and its guardianship of Buddhism. State patronage gave Buddhism a heightened political importance that enabled the religion to escape the fate it had experienced in India where it was eventually absorbed by Hinduism.

The history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka especially its extended period of glory is for many Sinhalese a potent symbol that links the past with the present. An enduring ideology defined by two distinct elements-- sinhaladipa (unity of the island with the Sinhalese) and dhammadipa (island of Buddhism)-- designates the Sinhalese as custodians of Sri Lankan society. This theme finds recurrent expression in the historical chronicles composed by Buddish monks over the centuries from the mythological founding of the Sinhalese "lion" race around 300 B.C. to the capitulation of the Kingdom of Kandy the last independent Sinhalese polity in the early nineteenth century.

The institutions of Buddhist-Sinhalese civilization in Sri Lanka came under attack during the colonial eras of the Portuguese the Dutch and the British. During these centuries of colonialization the state encouraged and supported Christianity- -first Roman Catholicism then Protestantism. Most Sinhalese regard the entire period of European dominance as an unfortunate era but most historians--Sri Lankan or otherwise--concede that British rule was relatively benign and progressive compared to that of the Dutch and Portuguese. Influenced by the ascendant philosophy of liberal reformism the British were determined to anglicize the island and in 1802 Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) became Britain's first crown colony. The British gradually permitted native participation in the governmental process; and under the Donoughmore Constitution of 1931 and then the Soulbury Constitution of 1946 the franchise was dramatically extended preparing the island for independence two years later.

Under the statesmanship of Sri Lanka's first postindependence leader Don Stephen (D.S.) Senanayake the country managed to rise above the bitterly divisive communal and religious emotions that later complicated the political agenda. Senanayake envisioned his country as a pluralist multiethnic secular state in which minorities would be able to participate fully in government affairs. His vision for his nation soon faltered however and communal rivalry and confrontation appeared within the first decade of independence. Sinhalese nationalists aspired to recover the dominance in society they had lost during European rule while Sri Lankan Tamils wanted to protect their minority community from domination or assimilation by the Sinhalese majority. No compromise was forthcoming and as early as 1951 Tamil leaders stated that "the Tamil-speaking people in Ceylon constitute a nation distinct from that of the Sinhalese by every fundamental test of nationhood."

Sinhalese nationalists did not have to wait long before they found an eloquent champion of their cause. Solomon West Ridgeway Dias (S.W.R.D.) Bandaranaike successfully challenged the nation's Westernized rulers who were alienated from Sinhalese culture; he became prime minister in 1956. A man particularly adept at harnessing Sinhalese communal passions Bandaranaike vowed to make Sinhala the only language of administration and education and to restore Buddhism to its former glory. The violence unleashed by his policies directly threatened the unity of the nation and communal riots rocked the country in 1956 and 1958. Bandaranaike became a victim of the passions he unleased. In 1959 a Buddhist monk who felt that Bandaranaike had not pushed the Buddhist-Sinhalese cause far enough assassinated the Sri Lankan leader. Bandaranaike's widow Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias (S.R.D.) Bandaranaike ardently carried out many of his ideas. In 1960 she became the world's first woman prime minister. Ceylon remained as a dominion of Queen Elizabeth II represented by a Governor General until 1972 when it was declared as the Republic of Sri Lanka with a President as head of state. It remains as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Communal tensions continued to rise over the following years. In 1972 the nation became a republic under a new constitution which was a testimony to the ideology of Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Buddhism was accorded special status. These reforms and new laws discriminating against Tamils in university admissions were a symbolic threat the Tamil community felt it could not ignore and a vicious cycle of violence erupted that has plagued successive governments. Tamil agitation for separation became associated with gruesome and highly visible terrorist acts by extremists triggering large communal riots in 1977 1981 and 1983. During these riots Sinhalese mobs retaliated against isolated and vulnerable Tamil communities. By the mid-1980s the Tamil militant underground had grown in strength and posed a serious security threat to the government and its combatants struggled for a Tamil nation--"Tamil Eelam"--by an increasing recourse to terrorism. The fundamental unresolved problems facing society were surfacing with a previously unseen force. Foreign and domestic observers expressed concern for democratic procedures in a society driven by divisive symbols and divided by ethnic loyalties.

History in Sri Lanka

History in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's cultural and historical heritage covers more than 2 000 years. Known as Lanka--the "resplendent land"--in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana the island has numerous other references that testify to the island's natural beauty and wealth. Islamic folklore maintains that Adam and Eve were offered refuge on the island as solace for their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Asian poets noting the geographical location of the island and lauding its beauty called it the "pearl upon the brow of India." A troubled nation in the 1980s torn apart by communal violence Sri Lanka has more recently beeen called India's "fallen tear."
Sri Lanka claims a democratic tradition matched by few other developing countries and since its independence in 1948 successive governments have been freely elected. Sri Lanka's citizens enjoy a long life expectancy advanced health standards and one of the highest literacy rates in the world despite the fact that the country has a low per capita incomes.

In the years since independence Sri Lanka has experienced severe communal clashes between its Buddhist Sinhalese majority-- approximately 74 percent of the population--and the country's largest minority group the Sri Lankan Tamils who are Hindus and comprise nearly 13 percent of the population. The communal violence that attracted the harsh scrutiny of the international media in the late 1980s can best be understood in the context of the island's complex historical development--its ancient and intricate relationship to India's civilization and its more than four centuries under colonial rule by European powers.

The Sinhalese claim to have been the earliest colonizers of Sri Lanka first settling in the dry north-central regions as early as 500 B.C. Between the third century B.C. and the twelfth century A.D. they developed a great civilization centered around the cities of Anuradhapura and later Polonnaruwa which was noted for its genius in hydraulic engineering--the construction of water tanks (reservoirs) and irrigation canals for example--and its guardianship of Buddhism. State patronage gave Buddhism a heightened political importance that enabled the religion to escape the fate it had experienced in India where it was eventually absorbed by Hinduism.

The history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka especially its extended period of glory is for many Sinhalese a potent symbol that links the past with the present. An enduring ideology defined by two distinct elements-- sinhaladipa (unity of the island with the Sinhalese) and dhammadipa (island of Buddhism)-- designates the Sinhalese as custodians of Sri Lankan society. This theme finds recurrent expression in the historical chronicles composed by Buddish monks over the centuries from the mythological founding of the Sinhalese "lion" race around 300 B.C. to the capitulation of the Kingdom of Kandy the last independent Sinhalese polity in the early nineteenth century.

The institutions of Buddhist-Sinhalese civilization in Sri Lanka came under attack during the colonial eras of the Portuguese the Dutch and the British. During these centuries of colonialization the state encouraged and supported Christianity- -first Roman Catholicism then Protestantism. Most Sinhalese regard the entire period of European dominance as an unfortunate era but most historians--Sri Lankan or otherwise--concede that British rule was relatively benign and progressive compared to that of the Dutch and Portuguese. Influenced by the ascendant philosophy of liberal reformism the British were determined to anglicize the island and in 1802 Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) became Britain's first crown colony. The British gradually permitted native participation in the governmental process; and under the Donoughmore Constitution of 1931 and then the Soulbury Constitution of 1946 the franchise was dramatically extended preparing the island for independence two years later.

Under the statesmanship of Sri Lanka's first postindependence leader Don Stephen (D.S.) Senanayake the country managed to rise above the bitterly divisive communal and religious emotions that later complicated the political agenda. Senanayake envisioned his country as a pluralist multiethnic secular state in which minorities would be able to participate fully in government affairs. His vision for his nation soon faltered however and communal rivalry and confrontation appeared within the first decade of independence. Sinhalese nationalists aspired to recover the dominance in society they had lost during European rule while Sri Lankan Tamils wanted to protect their minority community from domination or assimilation by the Sinhalese majority. No compromise was forthcoming and as early as 1951 Tamil leaders stated that "the Tamil-speaking people in Ceylon constitute a nation distinct from that of the Sinhalese by every fundamental test of nationhood."

Sinhalese nationalists did not have to wait long before they found an eloquent champion of their cause. Solomon West Ridgeway Dias (S.W.R.D.) Bandaranaike successfully challenged the nation's Westernized rulers who were alienated from Sinhalese culture; he became prime minister in 1956. A man particularly adept at harnessing Sinhalese communal passions Bandaranaike vowed to make Sinhala the only language of administration and education and to restore Buddhism to its former glory. The violence unleashed by his policies directly threatened the unity of the nation and communal riots rocked the country in 1956 and 1958. Bandaranaike became a victim of the passions he unleased. In 1959 a Buddhist monk who felt that Bandaranaike had not pushed the Buddhist-Sinhalese cause far enough assassinated the Sri Lankan leader. Bandaranaike's widow Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias (S.R.D.) Bandaranaike ardently carried out many of his ideas. In 1960 she became the world's first woman prime minister. Ceylon remained as a dominion of Queen Elizabeth II represented by a Governor General until 1972 when it was declared as the Republic of Sri Lanka with a President as head of state. It remains as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Communal tensions continued to rise over the following years. In 1972 the nation became a republic under a new constitution which was a testimony to the ideology of Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Buddhism was accorded special status. These reforms and new laws discriminating against Tamils in university admissions were a symbolic threat the Tamil community felt it could not ignore and a vicious cycle of violence erupted that has plagued successive governments. Tamil agitation for separation became associated with gruesome and highly visible terrorist acts by extremists triggering large communal riots in 1977 1981 and 1983. During these riots Sinhalese mobs retaliated against isolated and vulnerable Tamil communities. By the mid-1980s the Tamil militant underground had grown in strength and posed a serious security threat to the government and its combatants struggled for a Tamil nation--"Tamil Eelam"--by an increasing recourse to terrorism. The fundamental unresolved problems facing society were surfacing with a previously unseen force. Foreign and domestic observers expressed concern for democratic procedures in a society driven by divisive symbols and divided by ethnic loyalties.

Sri Lanka Travel Guide

Sri Lanka Travel Guide
Sri Lanka is the teardrop that falls from the southern tip of India and is becoming increasingly popular as a travel destination –and not only for sports fanatics who want to play a proper game of cricket. About twenty million people reside on this relatively small island that used to bear the name Ceylon. Although a lot of people come over to Sri Lanka to have a nice beach holiday (finished off with a touch of culture), there is definitely more to see and to do than sunbathing on one of the many excellent beaches. Hikkaduwa, for example, is very well-known for its beach-resorts and for its brooding turtles.

Colombo is the place where Sri Lanka’s hustle and bustle takes place. Although it is not such a big city, this is the place where the commercial heart beats. The northern part of the city is the fort area. There you can find - if you look real hard - the British fort, dating from the 19th century, and other remnants of the former colonial power. When you set off for Galle, which was the capital city when the Dutch ruled before the British invaded the Pearl of the Orient. Here you can visit the world heritage fort complex.

And this is only the beginning. In Kurunegala, you can feast your eyes with coconut plantations and paddy fields. The country’s hilly central part offers a perfect place for tea plantations and the accompanying towns such as Nuwara Eliya. Dense rainforests cover the south-western part and this is the area to go to when you want to see wildlife. There are several possibilities of staying over-night in national parks, such as Ruhunu and Wilpattu, for those who want to wake up with the trumpeting of an elephant.

Sri Lanka is unfortunately also known for its bloodshed. The LTTE, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, have fought 20 years for a separate country for the suffering Tamil people in the northern part of the island. Now there is a cease fire (?) and they are negotiating with the majority Sinhalese for a solution within a single country.

Sri Lanka Information

Location
South Asia.

Time
GMT + 5.5.

Area
65,525 sq km (25,299 sq miles).

Population
20.9 million (CIA estimate 2007).

Population Density
319 per sq km.

Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (official). Population: 115,826 (census 2001). Colombo (commercial). Population: 2.4 million (official estimate 2006). Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is only 10km (6 miles) from Colombo.

Geography
Sri Lanka is an island off the southeast coast of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is separated from India by the Indian Ocean, in which lies the chain of islands called Adam’s Bridge. Sri Lanka has an irregular surface with low-lying coastal plains running inland from the northern and eastern shores. The central and southern areas slope into hills and mountains. The highest peak is Pidurutalagala (2,524m/8,281ft).

Government
Democratic Socialist Republic since 1978. Gained independence from the UK in 1948.

Head of State
President Mahinda Rajapakse since November 2005.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake.

History
A long-awaited deal between Sri Lanka's government and the rebel Tamil Tigers was finally concluded in early 2002, and initially it held. However, many issues remained to be resolved. All this was not helped by a serious feud between President Karamatunga and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, which led in November 2003 to suspension of parliament and the dismissal of three ministers. Wickremesinghe was ousted at the assembly elections, with Mahinda Rajapakse becoming prime minister.

However, the political turbulence catalysed a resurgence in Tamil Tiger activity in 2004. In February 2006, the government and rebels reaffirmed their respect for the 2002 ceasefire. However, within months the fighting had intensified. Peace talks in October 2006 came to nothing.

Rajapakse won narrowly in 2005 presidential elections which saw an almost total boycott in the Tamil areas. In January 2007 the government achieved a long-awaited parliamentary majority when 25 opposition MPs defected to the president's party.

Language
Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Religion
Buddhist majority (70%), with Hindu, Christian and Muslim minorities.

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are usual, with bayonet lamp fittings.

Social Conventions
Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. It is customary to be offered tea when visiting and it is considered impolite to refuse. Punctuality is appreciated. A small token of appreciation, such as a souvenir from home or company, is always welcomed. Informal, Western dress is suitable, except when visiting Buddhist temples, where modest clothing should be worn (eg no bare legs and upper arms). Visitors should be decently clothed when visiting any place of worship, and shoes and hats must be removed. Jackets and ties are not required by men in the evenings except for formal functions when lightweight suits should be worn.

Sri Lanka Travel Guide

Sri Lanka Travel Guide

A teardrop-shaped island cast adrift in the Indian Ocean, Sri lanka is filled with cultural and natural treasures. Indians, Portuguese, Dutch and British have all left their marks here, making for a delightful mix of ancient cities, monuments and atmospheric colonial architecture.

At the same time, palm-fringed beaches are never far away and lush mountainous greenery beckons inland. It's clear to see why Marco Polo proclaimed Sri Lanka to be one of the best islands in the world.

However, its teardrop shape is not inappropriate and Sri Lanka has known its fair share of political turmoil and natural disasters in recent decades. Once the country became a Republic in 1972, serious conflict arose from the Tamil minority (occupying the north and east), who demanded a separate state. Conflict with the Tamil Tigers seemingly came to an end in May 2009 with the death of the Tiger's leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Areas in the affected northeast of the country are beginning to be removed from FCO lists, opening up the region for tourism.

The country was also devastated by the 2004 tsunami, which killed more than 30,000 Sri Lankans and wiped out many coastal communities. While many tourists have been discouraged by the troubles, tourism is a healing force in this hard-hit country, and visitors will be guaranteed a warm welcome.