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