Sri Lanka commonly known as CEYLON in the days gone by is a tear drop shaped island lying off the southern most coast of India. From the tropical beach with the temperature at around 29 C, within 4 -5 hours journey by road or rail to the central parts of the country, lies the hill country with its breathtaking scenery where the temperature drops to 10 C. A similar short journey will take the visitor to the ruins of Sri Lanka’s ancient civilization with a recorded history of over 2500 years. The world’s first sanctuary for flora and fauna established by King Devanampiyatissa in the 3rd century B.C., at Mihintale can be seen and enjoyed even today.

With a land mass of 65,610 square kilometers Sri Lanka’s strength lies in its rich bio diversity when compared with other countries of the world. It is undoubtedly the best in Asia in this realm and is heralded as one of the 25 bio-diversity “hot spots” of the world. The sheer variety of Topography, Ecology and Cultural diversity sets the island apart from many other Eco and Adventure Tourist travel destinations of the world.

To the Botanist, Sri Lanka is a land that beckons. The lush-green undergrowth and sky-touching trees f the Wet Zone in the South Western Region of the island gives way to the dry shrub vegetation of the Dry Zone in the Mid North Central Region, and the talipot palms of the Arid Zone in the North and South East.

The bird life of Sri Lanka is an Ornithologist’s dream come true. Of 482 recorded species of birds, 220 are resident and as much as 33 are endemic to the island. Amongst the many ‘Winter Holiday’ birds are the Flamingoes creating an explosion of colour in the unique coastal lagoon system.

Sri Lanka’s captivating wild life includes the Leopard, Sloth Bear, Elephant, Deer, Monkey, Wild Boar and Sambhur to name a few. Of the 91 species of mammals found, 16 are endemic to the island. Of the 23 National Parks Yala, Wilpattu, Uda Walawe, Wasgamuwa and Minneriya offer the visitor a spectacle to warm his/her heart.

A colourful and unique array of Butterflies, makes Sri Lanka a haven for Naturalists. Of 243 recorded species of Butterflies 20 are endemic. Further, the 103 major rivers, numerous wetlands found in Sri Lanka arc the homes for 82 species of fish, 106 species of Amphibia and 184 species of reptiles.

The advent of Buddhism to Sri Lanka 2500 years ago brought in an era of unsurpassed achievements. It inspired and fostered a new life style, created Stupas, Temples, vast man-made Reservoirs and Irrigation systems which even today fascinate the profssionals. For the culture enthusiast, Sri Lanka offers a unique and wholesome experience which includes the eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Viz:-

• - The Scared City of Anuradhapura (8 B.C.)
• - The Medieval Capital of Polonnaruwa (11 A.D.)
• - The Cave Temples of Dambulla (1 B.C.)
• - The Sigiriya Rock Fortress of fresco fame (5 A.D.)
• - The Royal City of Kandy (17 A.D.)
• - The Dutch Fort in Galle (19 A.D.) – the only living World Heritage site of Sri Lanka.
• - The Sinharaja Rain Forest Reserve
• - The Central Highlands ( Knuckles, Horton Plains and Peak Wilderness)

Sri Lanka is a happy island, an ‘isle of smiles’. Although predominantly Sinhalese, this island is home for Tamils, Moors, Malays and descendents of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British who colonized this country from the 15th Century until gaining Independence in the mid 20th Century. There also exists a small community of Sri Lankan Veddah Tribes who have lived in this island since pre-historic times. Over the centuries they have learnt to respect their cultural, social and religious differences and are justly proud of their past. Human Skeletal Fossils dating back to more than 40,000 years have been found, certifying beyond doubt that Sri Lanka is endowed with a Rich Ancient Heritage. The Ecological Paradise of Sri Lanka is a beautiful mixture of religions, cultures and race; it can justly be described as the Tropical Meeting Place of the Old and New.