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| This tear-drop emerald island has infinite variety - beaches, warm seas, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, fern forests, tea, rubber and coconut plantations, peaceful green paddy fields, fragrant spice groves, tropical jungles, wildlife sanctuaries, parks, gardens, and ancient cities. The hill country, so green in the setting of the mountains, seems like paradise. Kandy, is a place of history, home of indigenous arts and crafts and the location of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Nuwara Eliya, 1884 m above sea level, in the heart of tea country, is every bit the English village with its brick and stone-built houses, rose gardens, fir trees and perfect lawns. It is land throbbing with excitement. Sri Lanka the Resplendent Land - is special. Here you can embark on a 2500 year old journey of the Buddhist past and bridge the centuries. It was known as Serendib, by Sindbad whose first historical customer was none other than the Queen of Sheba. Journey into the past, into the jungle, into the cosmopolis of Colombo with its babel of Sounds and Colours, into the Gem City - Ratnapura. All are part of Paradise Island, with the unhurried charm of its people, helpful and hospitable, with a friendly smile. |
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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. December to March is also the time when most foreign tourists come, the majority of them escaping the European winter. The temperature of the whole country is good the whole year through, however in the southwest coastal region the monsoons bring more rain than usual from May to August and during these months the sea is quite rough making swimming difficult and diving impossible. During any journey you should expect both sun and refreshing tropical rain showers.
Entry Requirements: Passports must be valid for at least three months from the date of visa issue and are required by all, except seamen. Bona fide tourists who are nationals from 38 countries (including Britain) do not require visas. Business visitors need to obtain a business visa before arrival and provide a letter from their company outlining the purpose of their visit. Passport-sized photographs must accompany the application form, which takes three working days to process, with payment by cash or postal order. Visitors will normally be allowed a month's stay. Applications for extensions must be made direct to the Controller of Immigration in Colombo.
Dress: Sri Lanka is a tropical country so it is advisable to take lots of loose fitting lightweight clothing. It is useful to have a long sleeved shirt and long trousers to avoid mosquito bites. You should also take a jumper or fleece for the evenings when staying in the central mountainous region. You have to enter the holy places on the island in bare feet - sandals that slip off easily are useful for this.
Food/ Restaurants: Roadside stalls selling Sri Lankan food and even western or Indian food (though usually not of the best quality) are aplenty, and there are restaurants, both free-standing and in the hotels which offer Lankan, Chinese and Western food. The latter, although their repertoire may often extend only to salads, sandwiches and omelettes, are usually a good alternative for those who dare not risk the fire of the local curries, or have tired of endless meals cooked in coconut oil. Don't be afraid to try the Sri Lankan food, though a request to keep the spice low is usually honoured.
Shopping: Sri Lanka has plenty of tempting wares to offer for shoppers, and what is best is that there is something to suit virtually every budget. If you have plenty to spend, there's nothing quite as enticing as Sri Lanka's precious gemstones - sapphires, rubies, beryls, zircon, quartz and more. Although Ratnapura, - very appropriately named "the town of gems" is the most important gem centre, gemstones are also easily available though usually at a higher price, at other places.
If gems don't quite fit your pocket or your preferences, there are handicrafts aplenty. Among the most popular are painted wooden ceremonial masks ranging in size from key rings to full, life size ones; batik - an originally Indonesian method of dyeing cloth using wax to create patterns, leatherwork (especially bags), lacquer-work, jewellery, coir-ware and earthenware.
Transportation: The majority of visitors to Sri Lanka will arrive by air, arriving at Bandaranaike International, Katunayake, situated 32 km north of Colombo. There is no other international airport on the island. There are no domestic air services in Sri Lanka.
The main method of transport is rail or car. If travelling to business meetings it is better to hire a car and driver which can be done from your hotel than to try and drive in Colombo's traffic. For train times it is best to ask your hotel to obtain these from the local station. For travel to Kandy there are Intercity Express trains. A seat reservation is essential on these trains and can be undertaken the day prior to travel at the Fort Railway station in Colombo.
Health risks: Sri Lanka's tropical sunshine can cause sunburn. It is advisable to avoid the midday sun, or use sun blocks. Water should be boiled and filtered before drinking. Rabies is a risk. Cholera outbreaks occur in some greater Colombo suburbs and elsewhere. Malaria is rare in Colombo but more common in a few inland rural areas
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