Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean, just south of India. The country that was called Ceylon until 1972 is known for its natural beauty and turbulent history. For a long time, power in Sri Lanka was in the hands of colonial rulers, i.e. the Portuguese (1505 – 1658), the Dutch (1658 – 1796) and the British (1796 – 1948). Nowadays Sri Lanka is a popular holiday destination, much visited places include Colombo, Negombo, Galle, Kandy and Anuradhapura. A lot of money is invested in Colombo, Lotus Tower and Port City Colombo are good examples. Most tourists who visit Sri Lanka make a tour through the centre and south of the beautiful island. The northeast of Sri Lanka is little visited due to the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983 – 2009). Sri Lanka’s only major international airport is Colombo Airport, home to flag carrier SriLankan Airlines and regional carrier Cinnamon Air. Sri Lanka is the only country in the world where tea grows all year round and you can spot the largest land animal and marine animal in the world, the elephant and blue whale.

Practical information about Sri Lanka

Time zone: UTC+5:30 Sri Lanka Standard Time
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
National Day: 4 February
Airport: ගුවන්තොටුපොළ

On vacation to Sri Lanka? Compare the prices of car hire companies and book a rental car (cheapest deals & reliable providers).

What are the busiest airports in Sri Lanka?