sri lanka tourism: June 2010

sri lankan holidays

people and places

sri lanka tour guide

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority


+ Lion Rock Citadel, Sigiriya + Dambulla Rock Temple + Anuradhapura + Polonnaruwa + Kandy, The Royal City + Bentota, the Paradise Island + Ella, the Paradise Village	+ Holy Temple of the Tooth + The Golden Sand Stupa + Polonnaruwa Vatadage + Stone Temple, Gal Vihara + Tissamaharama + Kaleniya Royal Temple + Mutiyangana Stupa	+ Beruwala + Bentota Bay Beach + Unawatuna + Hikkaduwa + Tangalla + Arugum Bay Beach

Tourism in Sri Lanka has always been more than just a tribute to the sheer natural beauty and the varied terrain of the island. From the days of legend and ever since, visitors have journeyed from all over the world to marvel at the richness and depth of ancient cultures, scenic landscapes and enthralling adventure holidays, all widely available in Sri Lanka. But what captures their hearts is more than just the surface charm of a wild, untouched paradise. It is the inner beauty of a culture, the warmth of a people, and the smooth luxuriousness of a tourism industry that competes with the best in the world, right from the moment you step onto a SriLankan Airlines Airbus.

SriLankan Airlines has made rapid strides in aviation history both locally and internationally - it now boasts a clientele of 1.8 million passengers a year, flown all around the world on a luxury Airbus fleet. The airline underwent a major revamping in the year 1999, including a change of name, infrastructure and fleet… but the success of the operation was firmly established when it won the Best Airline of the Year - Central Asia for two successive years 2001/02, in the largest ever global survey of passengers, conducted by UK's Skytrax Research.

The SriLankan Holidays website is designed to unlock the holiday of your dreams. Wherever your tastes and preferences may lie, we can take you through the limitless boundaries of the Sri Lankan experience, and pick out a holiday that is tailor-made for you. Choose from golden beaches and sunny skies, mountain ranges dotted with cascading white waterfalls, wildlife reserves and jungle terrain, ancient cities where legends were born and battles fought, water sports resorts, scenic botanical gardens and many more. Our tours cover all this and more, providing comfort, warmth, luxury and holiday fun from the moment you touch down at the Colombo airport, as we link you to the finest hotels in the island, at the finest locations.

Sri Lanka's friendly people look forward to welcoming you. Here, you will visit sites of great antiquity, and you will also enjoy our warmth and hospitality. There are almost too many things to see and do! Why not let me be your guide!

I welcome you to my beautiful Island , Sri Lanka.The Island’s proud history of over 2500 years and the Breathtaking diversity of scenery Will capture your heart and soul like no other destination. May the time you spend in our Island be filled with exciting Experiences- memories of which you Will carry long after you leave our shores.
The palms clasped together and a gentle bow of the head accompanies “Ayubowan”(may you be blessed with long life),Sri Lanka’s gentle gesture of welcome and respect.
What may strike you most about Sri Lanka is its amazing diversity of scenery.It is possible to pass brilliant green paddy fields,sun-bronzed beaches,ruined cities,small lively villages,near desert regions,sanctuarities for wildlife in tropical jungles,and hill country tea plantations literally within hours of each other.

+ City of Kandy
+ Little England, Nuwara Eliya
+ Bandarawela
+ Badulla
+ Haputale
+ Kitulgala

+ Lion King Rain Forest
+ Adam's Peak
+ Horton Plains
+ Peradeniya Royal Gardens
+ Belihul Oya
+ Hakgala Botanical Gardens

+ Ruhuna Yala National Park
+ Uda Walawe National Park
+ Minneriya National Park
+ Wasgomuwa National Park
+ Bundala National Park
+ Kaudulla National Park
+ Elephant Orphanage

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) was formed as the apex body for Sri Lanka Tourism under Section 2 of the Tourism Act (No. 38 of 2005). The organization (Formally known as “Ceylon Tourist Board / Sri Lanka Tourist Board / Sri Lanka Tourism Board ”) is committed towards transforming Sri Lanka to be Asia’s foremost tourism destination. The SLTDA will strive to develop diverse, unique and quality tourism services and products that would make Sri Lanka unique destination, globally.

The SLTDA creatively uses its products, while ensuring optimization of resources to efficiently and effectively serve the industry. Some of its activities include identifying and developing tourist specific, unique products and services, formulating and implementing Tourism Development Guidelines, and facilitating and implementing the legal and administrative process for new product and service development.

Sri Lanka is a tourist's paradise. Marco Polo             described it as "the finest island of its size in the  world".             Wonderful pristine beaches, lush-green hills, majestic  waterfalls,             corals, wild life, heritage sites, pilgrimage sites, exotic             cuisine-Sri Lanka has everything that a tourist can imagine.  It has             something to offer to everyone.

             Though Colombo is widely known as the capital of Sri Lanka  but             strictly speaking Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte-a miniature town  in             Colombo-is the legislative capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is  the             commercial capital of Sri Lanka.              

             The total population of Sri Lanka is around 20 Million.  Major             ethnic groups include: Sinhalese (74%), Tamil (18%), Moor  (7%),             Burgher, Malay and Vedda (1%). Buddhism is the major  religion             followed by around 70% of the population. Other major  religions are             Hinduism (15%), Christianity (8%) and Islam (7%).              