Once known as Serendib, Taprobane and Ceylon, Sri Lanka has seen a myriad of cultural influences contribute to its multi-faceted cultural identity, dating back over 2500 years. Initially solely inhabited by the native aborigines, The Veddahs, now the main ethnic groups are the Sinhalese and Tamils, both originally from the Indian subcontinent. The core identity of the island has been molded around Buddhism and to a lesser extent, Hinduism, with its visual arts, architecture, literature, music and dance all referencing it.  

Dig a little deeper though, and you will find that over the centuries, the island’s various visitors, immigrants and colonisers have left a deep and nuanced impact on its way of life.  Muslims, Malays and Chinese settled the island when it was an ancient trading centre.  The Portuguese and British brought with them Africans from their respective colonies, and the Dutch an assortment of European traders, the Burghers.

As bio-diverse as it is compact, Sri Lanka is bursting with life at every seam.  Within this small area lie 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 15 National parks, nearly 500,000 acres of lush tea estates, 250 acres of botanical gardens, 350 waterfalls (perhaps the largest number of waterfalls of any country), 25,000 water bodies.. 

The island is a birds paradise, with an astounding variety of endemic and migratory birds gracing its skies.  A safari in one of the 15 national parks offers the chance to see some of Sri Lanka’s 91 mammals and birds.

A scuba-dive beneath her warm ocean waters will reveal a world blessed with an abundance of marine mammals and myriads of fish, corals and marine organisms.  Varied landscape, wildlife, and archaeological sites offer excellent opportunities for trekking, para-gliding, rock climbing, cave treks and mountain biking.

Impressive archaeological artefacts, breath-taking cultural sites, exotic wildlife and abundant natural beauty, the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ has a lot to offer. and all are welcome.