A fantastic travel destination; Sri Lanka's tourist economy has suffered tremendously in the past 15 years because of a vicious civil war which despite enormous peace making efforts seems unsolvable. And then came the Boxing Day Tsunami in which Sri Lanka was severly affected.

This is a shame as the beaches in Sri Lanka are some of the best in Asia: Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Kudawella and Kirinda are the other main ones stretching from Colombo down towards Sri Lanka’s second city, Galle, and indeed beyond. The war is primaraily in the north and east of the country so these beaches are far from the fighting. Nevertheless they are practically deserted off tourists.

Colombo International Airport is the only international entry point to Sri Lanka. There are no direct flights from Australia to Sri Lanka. Singapore Airlines (via Singapore) offer the most popular indirect service. Thai ( via Bangkok), Cathay (via Hong Kong), Malaysian Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur) and Emirates (via Singapore ) offer the other indirect routes.

Pre-war (back in the 1980's) the cool way to arrive in Sri Lanka was by ferry from Kerala in southern India. Looks like it will be a while before that trip becomes a backpacker classic again.

The curency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (Approximately 84 LKR to 1 Australian Dollar)

The island of Sri Lanka lies off the southern tip of India in the Indian Ocean, a verdant paradise that is the cradle of the Buddhist faith. Apart from hundreds of miles of the world's most beautiful palm-fringed beaches, Sri Lanka boasts no fewer than seven World Heritage Sites listed by Unesco, ranging from sacred cities, palaces and cliff-top citadels to colonial strongholds, spanning close to 3,000 years of history.
Adventurous visitors who enjoy some mystery and wonderment will marvel at the ancient sites of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Panduwasnuwara, where the remains of a great civilisation are to be seen. The cities of Colombo and Kandy show the influence of the foreign colonial powers that fought for control over the strategic, lush island in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Dutch-inspired buildings stand cheek to jowl with Victorian British mansions and Portuguese fortifications.
Kandy, situated by a lake with the sacred Temple of the Tooth is a major draw. But it’s the atmosphere of the place as much as its sights that will win you over. Elephants are the most often-spotted inhabitants of the vast Yala National Park in the southeast of Sri Lanka. There is also a large concentration of leopards. Most of the reserve is open parkland, but it also contains jungle, beaches, lakes and rivers.

The beaches in Sri Lanka are plentiful and by in large of a good quality. Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Kudawella and Kirinda are the other main ones stretching from Colombo down towards Sri Lanka’s second city, Galle.

Australian passport holders can obtain a 30 day visa on arrival for free.

if you need help whilst in Sri Lanka then contact:

Australian High Commission,

21 Gregory’s Road, COLOMBO

Telephone: (+94 11) 246 3200 Fax: (+94 11) 268 6453

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