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The beaches of Sri Lanka beckon
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High on options, easy on the pocket, that's what makes Sri Lanka a hot spot on the tourism circuit
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VIRGIN BEACHES Go wind surfing in Sri Lanka
They say floods make the soil fertile. In Sri Lanka's case, the tsunami has left a fertile effect on its tourism industry.
Says Sharuka Wickrama-Adittya, area manager, Sri Lankan Airlines, "The tsunami exposed Sri Lanka to the world. Within no time, everybody learnt of the island nation and its strength as a tourist destination. The devastation made the workforce all the more motivated to recover quickly.
The result is all the tourist spots have been restored to their original glory."
Sri Lankan Airlines is in its 25th year of operation, and flies to 49 destinations in 28 countries.
In India alone, it touches 10 destinations. In 2004, the U.K.'s Skytrax Research voted it the best airline in Central Asia. "We have introduced air taxi services, which cover 14 destinations. The fleet includes amphibian aircrafts that land on water. Then, one-ticket flight coupons save the time of the tourists."
Variety on offer
Sharuka says Sri Lanka has variety to offer. "We have unblemished beaches. The good thing is it doesn't take more than four-five hours from the mainland to reach the beaches. There are plenty of opportunities for adventure sports like white water rafting and eco-holidays in places like Arumgambay. One can hire bikes or opt for camping."
The attractive conversion rate makes Sri Lanka a shopper's paradise. "Most big brands are here. It's a huge attraction for Indian tourists. They get an international holiday at economical pricing.
Sri Lanka is known the world over for its variety of precious and semi-precious stones. Then there are casinos and golf courses for tourists." For those looking for heritage, there are places linked to the Ramayana — like Thotupola where Sita was taken to by Ravana, according to legend.
There are many Buddhist sites worth visiting. For those looking for wilderness, there are tea gardens and reserved forest areas. Recently, Discovery Channel shot a documentary on leopards here.
ANUJ KUMAR
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