Africa
Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
Egypt
Botswana
South africa
Zimbabwe
Asia
India
Sri lanka
Nepal
Malaysia
Indian Ocean islands
Zanzibar
Seychelles
Mauritius
Maldives
Adventures plus
Walking safaris
White water rafting
Mountain climbing
Specials
Honeymoons
Accommodation
Gorilla tracking
Special offers
All inclusive
Testimonials

Fact File on Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka located in the southern tip of India has become increasingly popular as a travel destination. About twenty million people reside on this relatively small island that used to be called as Ceylon. People who come over to Sri Lanka can expect a great beach holiday where Hikkaduwa is well known for its beach-resorts and for its brooding turtles.  
The country is proud of its warm sandy beaches with calm clear water which give way to majestic mountains and lush tea plantations rising out of the hill country. Some of the worlds engineering marvels like Sigiriya and the Anuradhapura ancient cities are all part of Sri Lanka.  
Marco Polo himself called it “the finest island of its size in the world.” 
 
Fact File 

Official Name : Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka  
Government :Democracy  
Nationality : Sri Lankan  
Ethnic groups : Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%  
Location : Sri Lanka is located off the southern tip of India.  
Continent: Asia  
Currency: Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR); 1 LKR = 0.4358 INR = 0.01001 USD = 0.008285 Euro (subject to change).

Capital city : Colombo  
Population : 18,500,000  
Languages : Sinhala, Tamil, with English widely-spoken  
Religion : Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam & Christianity  
Area : 25,322 square miles  
Famous for : Lush jungles, abundant wildlife, cool mountains and glorious beaches  
Major cities : Colombo, Kandy, Galle.  
Clothing: Light cottons, lightweight suits and loose clothing, hats, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, etc. The hill towns require warmer evening wear.  
Major events : Kandy Esala Perahera (July/August), the Duruthu Perahera (January), held in Colombo, which celebrates a visit by Buddha to Sri Lanka, National Day (February), New Year (March/April, Vesak (May), the Hindu Vel festival (July/August) in Colombo, the predominantly Hindu Kataragama festival (July/August) in Kataragama.  
Things to Buy : Silk sarees, handicraft items, tea, gems, jewelry.  
Things to do: Adventure sports like Biking, white water rafting, paragliding, canoeing, jungle camping and elephant and wildlife safari  
Cuisine: Rice and curry, dishes of vegetables, meat and fish. Indian curries such as vegetarian thali, delicately flavoured biriyani and kool, a boiled, fried and dried-in-the-sun vegetable combo. Hoppers is a unique Sri Lankan snack, served with egg or honey and yoghurt. Coastal towns have excellent fish like the local tuna. 
Beverages : Tea and Beer.  
 
Visa Permit 
Visa is not required for stay of up to 30 days for tourist purposes only. 30 days visa is issued at the border free of charge. Long stay (3 months) visas are available only in advance. 
 
Culture 
Sri Lankan culture is an amalgamation of diverse cultural patterns both indigenous and derived from, trade, religions, as well as, western colonization. The cultural patterns of Sri Lanka today show the lasting impact of a diverse range of cultures.  
The overall culture is largely the result of the impact of the introduction of Buddhism, more than 2,300 years ago. This does not remove the heavy influence of Hinduism, together with the lesser impact of Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity, in addition to the pre-Buddhist worship of deities and animism, some of which still remain in the traditions and rituals of the country.  
 
When to go 
Climatically the driest and best seasons are from December to March on the west and south coasts and in the hill country, and from May to September on the east coast 
It does not rain all the time. Reefs may protect a beach area and make swimming quite feasible at places like Hikkaduwa, which during the monsoon can be quite pleasant. 
 
Climate 
Average temperatures are: January/March 22° - 28°C; April/June 27° - 30°C; July/September 25° - 28°C; October/December 20° - 25°C. Temperatures in the highlands are normally some 7° - 9° cooler. The main High Season is November/April, when the weather is normally settled and sea conditions permit watersports. May/August is the usual monsoon period on the west coast 
 
Getting There 
By Air: The only way to enter Sri Lanka is by flying. The Bandaranaike International Airport is the only international airport in the country located 35 km. north of Colombo and Sri Lankan Airways is the international airways in the country. 
Colombo is the international gateway for direct flights from Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.  
 
Getting Around  
By Road: There are no domestic passenger flights in Sri Lanka, which leaves buses and trains as the dominant modes of transport. Motorbike and self-drive car hire are becoming increasingly popular comfortable. It's common to rent a car with a driver for a day trip or a few days' tour of the island. 
By Train : Train travel, while slower, is more comfortable. 
The trains are the most cheapest traveling method in Sri Lanka. From the Pettah railway station which is the central railway station travelers can take their trains to different destinations. You can take trains to most of the important places in the island. Badulla, Colombo Fort, Kandy, Maradana, Matara, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Vavunia are various cities connected by the railways. 
Local transport consists of buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws. Use your nous and agree a fare beforehand. 

Major attractions 
Colombo (capital city): Colombo, the island's largest city, is noisy, wild - and just a little crazy. The city is made up of 15 small towns, each of them being unique. One such town Maradana is perhaps the most densely populated areas within the whole country. In stark contrast the fort area is almost completely devoid of houses or apartments. Many of the high rises in the country are concentrated near the Fort, which gets its name from being a British fortress in the 19th Century. 
To the north of the centre is the Fort district, the country's business centre. South is Galle Face Green, a seafront expanse of occasional green graced by cricket games and trysting lovers. Cinnamon Gardens, further south, is the most fashionable neighborhood, with mansions and tree-lined streets. 
 
Sri Lanka Beaches : Over one thousand kilometers of palm fringed sandy beaches encircle the Island. Sri Lanka is never out of season for a beach holiday. There is always some part of the beach that has friendly and warm waters. The beach resorts in the North Coast, West Coast, East Coast and the South Coast are popular among the tourists who enjoy taking a dip in the warm waters and relaxing on the sandy beach. 
The important beaches in the country are: 
North Coast - Jaffna beach, Mannar Island 
West Coast - Negombo beach, Mount Lavinia 
East Coast - Batticaloa beach, Trincomalee beach, Nilaveli beach, Arugam bay 
South Coast - Berawela Beach, Bentota beach, Ambalangoda beach and Galle beach