Sri Lanka: Simply Unforgettable

Are you searching for the ultimate travel destination that combines stunning landscapes, rich culture, and unforgettable experiences? Look no further than Sri Lanka—a jewel nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka has breathtaking beaches. It also boasts lush tea plantations and ancient temples. Sri Lanka offers a diverse array of attractions that cater to every type of traveler. In this blog post, we will explore why Sri Lanka should be at the top of your travel bucket list.

1. Breathtaking Natural Beauty

One of the most compelling reasons to visit Sri Lanka is its incredible natural beauty. The island has pristine beaches on the south coast. It also boasts verdant hills in the central highlands. The island is a paradise for nature lovers.
Beaches: The golden sands of Unawatuna, Mirissa, and Bentota are perfect for sunbathing, surfing, and snorkeling.
National Parks: National parks in Sri Lanka are home to diverse wildlife. Yala National Park and Udawalawe National Park offer thrilling safari experiences. You can spot elephants, leopards, and a variety of bird species.
Tea Plantations: The rolling hills of Nuwara Eliya and Ella are adorned with lush tea estates. They offer scenic views. Visitors can taste some of the finest tea in the world.

2. Rich Cultural Heritage

Why Sri Lanka is the best travel destination? Discover the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. Are you looking for a travel destination with stunning landscapes, rich culture, and unforgettable experiences? Look no further than Sri Lanka—a jewel nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean. The country has breathtaking beaches. It also has lush tea plantations and ancient temples. Sri Lanka offers a diverse array of attractions that cater to every type of traveler. In this blog post, we will explore why Sri Lanka should be at the top of your travel bucket list.
Sri Lanka boasts a history that dates back over 2,500 years, reflected in its rich cultural heritage and ancient sites.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Explore the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. You can also climb the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress. It is a stunning masterpiece of engineering and art.
Temples and Shrines: Visit the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. It houses a relic of Buddha. Experience the vibrant festivals that celebrate Sri Lankan traditions.

Population
21,361,667 (2019)
Official languages
Sinhala (Indo-Iranian) and Tamil (Dravidian).
Language spoken
Sinhala (69%) and Tamil (25.2%) are the primary languages of most Sri Lankans. Other ethnic groups include the Malayalam, the Ambalavasi, the Mapilla, the Telugu, the Vaddars and the Waggai. Other languages have very few speakers (approximately just 300 people speak vedda). English is widely spoken.
People
Essentially, Sri Lanka is composed of 69% Sinhalese and 25.2% of groups of Tamil expression (among them, Muslims are considered as a separate entity). The Burghers are descendants of mixed race or Indo-Portuguese Indo-Dutch (numbering around 2,200 and they speak Sinhalese). The Vedda are a minority indigenous group.
Religion
Buddhism dominates (70% of the population; 90% of Sinhalese). Hinduism accounts for 15% of the population and 80% of Tamils. Islam follows with 8%. Catholicism is at 7%, shared between Sinhalese and Tamil groups.
National Holiday
February 4: commemoration of Independence (1948).
Holiday Schedule
‘Poya Day’ means ‘day of the full moon’. After Buddha was born, he experienced enlightenment. He died on the day of the full moon of May (Vesak Poya). Therefore, all Poya Days are holidays in Sri Lanka. Buddhists dress up in white. They visit temples to make offerings of flowers and incense. They also meditate.
January: Thai Pongal.
February: Maha Shivaratri.
February 4: national holiday.
April: Avurudu.
April 13 and 14: New Year’s Day.
May 1: Labour Day.
May 22: Hero’s Day.
30 June: public holiday.
July or August: Perahera.
November: Diwali, the festival of lights.
December 25: Christmas.
December 31: non-working day.

History
The first inhabitants of the island were most likely the ancestors of the modern hunter-gatherers, the vedda. According to their scriptures, the Sinhalese arrived from northern India in the 7th century BC. Approaching 300 BC, Buddhism was established. This is thought to indicate a strong Indian influence. Additionally, a ‘hydraulic civilization’ was created, which combined sutra (religious literature) and irrigation. The island was split into a number of kingdoms: the Anuradhapura (-200 to 1070) and the Polonnaruva kingdom (1070-1200). The Tamil invaded from southern India and gradually the Sinhalese were driven further south. Around the time of this movement, the Tamil eclipsed Indian dynasties including the Chola, Pandya, Chera, Pallava, and the Taprobane. Sri Lanka became an important fulcrum along the east-west trade route. Arab merchant ships, including the Persians, Burmese, Thais, Malays and Indonesians all landed on the island to refuel. In 1505, the Portuguese arrived. They found Sri Lanka was divided into three kingdoms. These were Kandy in the centre, Kotte on the west coast, and Jaffna in the north. They seized the coasts and introduced the Catholic faith. In 1658, the Portuguese were supplanted by the Dutch.
In 1796, the British began to move in and overtook the Dutch. Though they initially believed this would be a temporary occupation, the Brits soon recognised the island’s value. They decided to make it a permanent hold. The island then became the Royal Colony of Ceylon in 1815. The British colonial order was set up. Schools, cricket pitches, and railways appeared. Tea became the mainstay of the Sri Lankan economy (alongside rubber, coconut and cane sugar). To help run the thriving industries, the British authorities encouraged the immigration of Tamil-speaking workers. In the 1930s, rooted in the social demands of Sinhalese and Tamils, the national movement began to take shape. During World War II, the Crown Colony was a military base for the allies.
In 1948, Sri Lanka was granted independence. In 1959, Sinhala was declared the sole official language. This decision was due to the Sinhalese majority in the national movement and in the population. Other measures were also introduced to bolster their position. A policy of ‘positive discrimination’ was launched for the Sinhalese (on the pretext the Tamils were favoured by the British). Resistance organisations began to appear, including the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in 1976. They advocated the creation of an independent Tamil state. Ceylon was renamed in 1972 to Sri Lanka; around this time, sporadic clashes started to ignite. Buddhism became the leading religion. This change sparked further animosity. In 1983, the civil war intensified. It ended in May 2009 when the Tamil Tigers surrendered after the death of rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. In total, it’s believed the civil war led to around 70,000 deaths.
Policy
The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is elected by universal suffrage. The term is six years. It is renewable once. He is the head of state, government and army. He appoints ministers (the first of them is the leader of the majority party in Parliament). Parliament can remove the President by a 2/3 vote with the Supreme Court’s approval. Meanwhile, the President has the power to dissolve parliament. Parliament is unicameral (225 members, elected for six years).

Etiquette
After decades of uncertainty and conflict, Sri Lanka is now firmly on the tourist trail. It attracts thousands of travellers every year. Tourism infrastructure is still evolving, however; roads are generally in poor condition and service can be slow. But it’s all part of the experience and needs to be embraced. Despite the care we take in selecting drivers, many of them aren’t trained guides (both linguistically and culturally). Use them as ‘local guides’.

They will be effective intermediaries in daily local life. For in-depth information surrounding a major site, read a good travel guide beforehand. Whilst in the company of a driver, you are never obligated to visit a shop or workshop during your journeys. This practice is common where the driver receives a commission for anything you buy. As a company, we’re firm about this to our drivers. However, we’re aware that, at times, it still happens. Do not hesitate to decline the offer if your driver wants to stop by a shop or workshop.
Tipping is expected throughout Sri Lanka. We recommend giving $50 (£38) a day for taxi drivers; $5-$10 (£3.88-£7.77) a day for a driver guide; $5-$10 for other services (to porters, maids, masseurs, or for a valet). Always refrain from handing out money or items to people, especially children, in the streets – this just encourages begging. If you want to help, provide school supplies, clothing, or medicine. Give them directly to the school principal, the village chief, or the nearest clinic. This will benefit the poor and needy. Also remember that at many Sri Lankan sites, you’ll pay a ‘right to shoot’ for cameras. You will also pay a ‘right to film’.
Sri Lankans dress demurely, and you need to respect their modesty. For anyone with a tattoo representing Buddha or any Buddhist symbol, it’s crucial to keep it covered. Those who reveal them are liable to arrest and may be deported, possibly via prison.
Shopping
Artisan markets are always worth exploring. Traders display their wares, such as batik textile art, pottery, basket weaving, lacquer, wood, and stones. They also offer spices and lace. Brush up on your haggling skills for Sri Lanka – bartering is a must. Warning: furniture and other wooden objects are antiques if they are over 50 years old. Therefore, they are prohibited for export.

Food
Sri Lankan cuisine is a vibrant tapestry of flavors, influenced by its rich history and diverse cultural makeup. Here’s a deeper dive into the foods and drinks that make Sri Lanka a culinary paradise. Let’s start with staple foods.

Staple Foods:
Rice and Curry: This is the heart of Sri Lankan cuisine. There isn’t just one curry. Instead, there are a variety of them. Each has its unique blend of spices, coconut milk, and ingredients like vegetables, meat, or seafood.  

Common curries include dhal curry (lentil). There are also chicken curry and fish curry. Vegetable curries are made with ingredients like jackfruit, eggplant, or okra.  
Hoppers (Appa): These bowl-shaped pancakes are made from a fermented batter of rice flour and coconut milk.  
They can be savory (egg hoppers, string hoppers) or sweet (pani appa).
 
String Hoppers (Idiyappam): Delicate, steamed rice flour noodles, often served with curries or sambol.  
 
Kottu Roti: A popular street food made by chopping roti (flatbread) and stir-frying it with vegetables, eggs, meat, or seafood.
Lamprais: A Dutch Burgher influenced dish. It consists of rice, meat curry, and other accompaniments. Everything is wrapped in a banana leaf and baked.
Flavor Enhancements:
Sambol: These are relishes that add a spicy kick to meals. Pol sambol (coconut sambol) is a common one, made with grated coconut, chili, and lime.  
Spices: Sri Lankan cuisine is renowned for its use of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, and chili. These spices create complex and flavorful dishes.  
Drinks:
King Coconut Water: A refreshing and hydrating drink, straight from the orange-hued king coconut.  
Ceylon Tea: Sri Lanka is famous for its high-quality tea, which is enjoyed in various forms.  
Toddy: A traditional, mildly alcoholic drink made from the sap of palm trees.
Arrack: An alcoholic spirit distilled from the fermented sap of coconut flowers.
Fruit Juices: Sri Lanka has an abundance of tropical fruits. Juices made from fruits like Wood apple and mango are very popular.  
Sweet Treats:
There are a very large assortment of sweet treats, often served during festivals, and family events.  
Examples are, Kavum, Kokis and Watalappam.
Sri Lankan food offers a journey for the senses, with its bold flavors and unique combinations.

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