The famous explorer Marco Polo of the 12th century wrote that Sri Lanka is the finest island in the whole world. For centuries it had been a great tourism destination particularly for European travelers. The advantage of Sri Lanka as a tourism destination is threefold: it is an authentic tourism destination, it is a compact island of 65,610 square kilometers where a tourist can travel the length and breadth of the country within a few days and the diversity of the tourism product is unparalleled. As Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by sea, it is a perfect destination for a beach holiday. When the seas are rough on one side of the island there is calm water on another side. Therefore, it is a year round beach destination.

1. By Arundathie Abeysinghe
Sri Lanka – a paradise for tourists
By Arundathie Abeysinghe
Lecturer in English
International Aviation Academy

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For centuries, Sri Lanka has been a great
tourism destination especially for European
travellers
Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by sea - a
perfect destination for a beach holiday
When the seas are rough on one side of the
island, water is calm on the other side
Sri Lanka - a year round beach destination

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Advantage of Sri Lanka as a tourism
destination is threefold
An authentic tourism destination
A compact island of 65,610 square
kilometers - a tourist can travel the length
and breadth of the country within a few
days
Diversity of tourism is unparalleled

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Sri Lanka - the finest island in the whole world
- Famous explorer Marco Polo (12th Century)
For centuries Sri Lanka had been a great tourism
destination particularly for European travellers
In 2010, tourism authorities positioned Sri Lanka
around 8 different areas: scenic beauty, beaches,
heritage, wildlife, mind and body wellness, festivals,
sports and adventure and essence (what is unique to
the country – people, art and culture, tea, spices,
gems)

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Tourism - one of the main industries in Sri
Lanka
Major tourist attractions are focused around
the island's famous beaches located in the
South and the East
Ancient heritage sites, lush green resorts
located in the mountainous regions of the
country, rich cultural heritages, wild life parks

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Sri Lanka - an island - surrounded by sea
and a perfect destination for a beach holiday
When the seas are rough on one side of the
island - calm waters on the other side
Sri Lanka - year round beach destination

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A recorded history of more than 2500 years - Sri
Lanka has a rich cultural and historic heritage
There are 8 world heritage sites within the country: hill
capital Kandy, sacred city of Anuradhapura, Dutch
fort of Galle, ancient city of Polonnaruwa, rock fortress
of Sigiriya, golden rock temple of Dambulla, beautiful
Horton plains and Sinharaja Rainforest
There are hundreds of heritage sites in the island
which are frequented by tourists

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Eight sites of Sri Lanka have been inscribed in the
UNESCO World Heritage list
Sacred City of Kandy (1988)
Ancient city of Sigiriya (1982)
Polonnaruwa (1982)
Golden Temple of Dambulla (1991)
Galle and its fortifications (1988)
Sacred city of Anuradhapura (1982)
Sinharaja Forest Reserve (1988)
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (2010)

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For a small island the biodiversity of the
country is most impressive
Sri Lanka is home for a wide variety of
mammals, birds, fish, butterflies and snakes
Elephant, leopard, sloth bear, blue whale and
sperm whale can also be seen in Sri Lanka

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Due to varying climatic conditions and
geography, Sri Lanka is an ideal destination
for sports tourism
Some of the popular sports include golf,
wind surfing, diving and snorkelling, hot air
ballooning, rafting and canoeing, white
water rafting, scuba diving, fishing, cycling,
hiking, trekking and rock climbing

12.  One
of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka
 Cultural and religious city
 Capital of the Central Province
 Encompasses Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
districts
 Home of The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri
Dalada Maligawa) - one of the most venerable places
for Sri Lankans and foreigners
 Declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in
1988

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Sri Lanka's first capital founded during 4th century
B.C.
Religious places include Ruwanwelisaya,
Jetawanaramaya, Abayagiriya, Mirisavetiya and Sri
Maha Bodhiya (one of the oldest chronicled trees in
the world)
From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri
Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century A.D.

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Capital from 11-13 centuries A.D.
A blend of South Indian Hindi culture with
Sinhala artistry
Gal Viharaya - a rock shrine
Vatadage - a circular ruin
Parakkrama Samudraya - resembles an ocean
Gigantic Buddha statues and granite sculptures
are also great attractions

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A magnificent fortress situated at the center of the
cultural triangle
Stunning frescoes and mirror walls
Used as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from 5th
century B.C.
There are three gardens at Sigiriya: Water Gardens,
Boulder Gardens and Terraced Gardens

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Dambulla - situated in the Matale district in the
Central Province of Sri Lanka
Major attractions include Dambulla Cave Temple
Complex, Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket
Stadium, largest rose quartz mountain range in South
Asia, ironwood forest also known as Namal Uyana
The area is thought to be inhabited from as early as
7th to 3rd century B.C.

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Misty mountains to tropical rainforests, wildlife
sanctuaries to lush waterfalls for the nature lovers
Sinharaja - Sri Lanka's last remaining rainforest
Pidurutalagala - Sri Lanka's highest mountain,
Hunnasgiriya, Knuckles and Adam's Peak are other
important and famous mountains
Diyaluma - Sri Lanka’s highest waterfall and the
(world's 6th highest), Bambarakande, Ramboda,
Aberdeen, Devon, St. Clair, Dunhinda, Rawana Ella
add dramatic beauty to the up country

18.  Safari
parks at Yala, Wilpattu, Wasgamuwa and
Udawalwe, Kumana bird sanctuary and Kosgoda
turtle hatchery - popular tourist attractions
 Horton Plains National Park, Knuckles forest
reservation, Udawattekelle are rich in biodiversity
 Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya and Hakgala
Botanical Gardens are two major botanical gardens
 Sri Lanka is surrounded by 1600 km of beautiful
tropical beaches on the southern, western, eastern and
northern shores

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Apart from the country’s attractions, Sri
Lankans are famous the world over, for their
hospitality
From North to South, people in the entire
country are famous for their hospitality; rich as
well as poor people like to entertain visitors in
their homes
Tourists are treated well and looked after well
in every part of Sri Lanka

21. Thank you!