An island of golden, tropical beaches and tranquil tea plantations hidden in green mountain valleys, Sri Lanka is a cricket-obsessed island off the southern tip of India. Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim influences are overlaid with the legacy of British rule. The classic countryside comes complete with ancient cities and colonial artefacts, not to mention busy urban oases that seem like compact pockets of chaos, where lively bohemian communities sit side by side with magnificent temples and classy resorts.
The country’s gorgeous sandy beaches are now almost fully recovered after the 2004 tsunami and many of the repaired developments are comfortably modern. There are some great walks from idyllic villages such as Ella or more adventurous wildlife safaris in Yala National Park, host to a number of elephants and leopards.
The thin land bridge that runs to Indian Tamil Nadu was breached during storms in 1480, yet its cultural significance has weathered the centuries. Conflict between the Tamil minority and Sinhalese majority led to the Sri Lankan Civil War, with on-off conflict from 1983 finally ending with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009. With peace comes hope for the future and Sri Lanka could be on the verge of a boom; the government is already in negotiations with several overseas companies to invest in infrastructure development projects.
Getting there
Bandaranaike, near Colombo, is the only international airport. Ferry services between Mannar and India are currently out of service but there are plans to resume in the future.
Getting around
Buses and trains provide cheap and extensive coverage, though both get extremely crowded; trains marginally less so. Cars hired usually come with drivers; self-drive cars are available.
Local information
Language(s): Sinhala, Tamil. English is often used in business.
Time: UTC+5:30
Climate: Tropical climate. Hot all year round, two monsoon seasons in spring and autumn. Temperature: 23°C to 31°C throughout the year. Rainfall: Max 360mm (May), Min 70mm (February).
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Business etiquette: Greetings vary depending on ethnicity and age; younger people will generally shake hands. Treat business cards with respect. Meetings can be very formal. Invest some time in small talk to help build a relationship. Decisions may take time as they must be approved by somebody of importance.
Tipping: Generous tips are expected, anything from 10-25 percent.
Duty free: 2 bottles of wine; 1.5l of spirits; A small quantity of perfume; 250ml of eau de toilette.
Safety: Conflict between government and LTTE has left a high degree of civil unrest and the risk of violent attack remains high, particularly on days of significance. Curfews may be imposed. Policing is hampered by poor infrastructure and violent crime is also a risk. Check government travel bulletins before travelling.
Laws: Strict regulation exists on the use of video equipment and mobile phones in some areas, as well as export of cultural antiquities.
Healthcare: Vaccinations required for hepatitis A, tetanus, Japanese B encephalitis, tuberculosis and hepatitis B. Free treatment is available at government hospitals. Some hotels have doctors.
Socket type: Type D, Type G, Type M
