| As the fanfare of the festive season has | | | | addition, there are several national |
| died down, it is easy to feel the need | | | | holidays, such as the Sri Lankan New |
| to get away from the cold British winter | | | | Year, celebrated every year between |
| and experience some sun. For a luxury | | | | 12-14 April, to ensure good fortune in |
| holiday offering the requisite sunrays | | | | the coming year. Amongst the traditional |
| as well as excellent cuisine, views and | | | | rituals undertaken, houses are spring |
| different festivals throughout the year, | | | | cleaned, new clothes worn and newly |
| look no further than Sri Lanka. | | | | harvested rice cooked in milk in new |
| Sri Lanka, officially known as the | | | | pots. Traditional games and music are |
| Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri | | | | enjoyed, and passing visitors are |
| Lanka, is an island nation in South | | | | invariably invited to join in the |
| Asia, located about 19 miles off the | | | | celebrations. These are merely some of |
| southern coast of India. With a | | | | the many festivals held throughout the |
| population of around 20 million, the | | | | year, with further information being |
| country is a multi-religious and | | | | available from the Sri Lanka Tourist |
| multi-ethnic, with nearly a third of the | | | | Board. |
| population following faiths other than | | | | Apart from the festivals themselves, Sri |
| Buddhism, most notably Christianity, | | | | Lanka can offer travellers the sights |
| Hinduism and Islam. This | | | | belying its rich heritage, such as the |
| multiculturalism can in part be | | | | Temple of the Tooth, situated in the |
| attributed to the different rules of Sri | | | | central city of Kandy, included in the |
| Lanka, including colonisation by | | | | UNESCO World Heritage List. It houses a |
| Portugal, the Netherlands and finally | | | | tooth that came from the mouth of Lord |
| Great Britain. After peaceful | | | | Buddha, and is as a result considered |
| negotiations with the British, the | | | | one of Sri Lanka's most holy shrines. |
| island nation became independent in | | | | Kandy is also home to the Pinawela |
| 1948, and in 1972, the nation, | | | | Elephant Orphanage, a national sanctuary |
| then-known as Ceylon, changed its name | | | | for about 70 semi-tame elephants, |
| to Sri Lanka, meaning "Resplendent | | | | allowed to roam freely around the |
| Land". | | | | orphanage, with bathing and feeding |
| As a result of the multi-religious | | | | times being highlights for tourists. |
| background, Sri Lanka is renowned for | | | | Other cities popular with tourists |
| its many religious festivals. Sri | | | | include Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. |
| Lanka offers at least one festival each | | | | In addition, the cuisine is considered |
| month as Buddhists, Hindus, Christians | | | | some of the finest in the region. In |
| and Muslims celebrate both religious and | | | | general the food is excellent value, |
| national occasions. This month, for | | | | with the most expensive tourist-oriented |
| example, the full-moon festival of | | | | places rarely charging over the |
| Dututhu commemorates the visit of Lord | | | | equivalent of US$20 for a meal. The |
| Buddha to Kelankya, the temple of | | | | staple Sri Lankan diet consists of rice |
| Kelania. The Hindu community meanwhile | | | | and curry. A must-try dish is Kottu |
| celebrates the harvest festival of Thai | | | | Roti; a medley of chopped roti (bread), |
| Pongal, where homes are cleaned and | | | | vegetables and your choice of meat, a |
| decorated, farm animals bathed and | | | | uniquely Sri Lankan dish and best served |
| sometimes adorned, and special dishes | | | | when made fresh by street vendors. |
| prepared. The sizeable Muslim community | | | | Please note that while Sri Lankans eat |
| celebrate the end of the fasting month | | | | with their right hands, cutlery is |
| of Ramadan, roughly every 11 months, | | | | available at all eateries. |
| with prayers in mosques, distribution of | | | | So why not book a holiday in Sri Lanka |
| alms, family-oriented celebrations and | | | | and see for yourself why it is referred |
| the enjoyment of traditional dishes. In | | | | to as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean? |