5/5 Journalist For J. 4 years ago on Google
“Welcome
to
Sri
Lanka!”
was
one
of
the
first
greetings
I
heard
in
Colombo,
the
country's
bustling
big
city.
A
local
graced
me
with
those
lovely
words
from
across
the
street.
Not
a
storekeeper,
nor
a
hawker.
Just
a
person
who
wanted
to
pass
on
a
warm
hello.
The
Tusnami
statue
a
tall
white
buddha
on
a
white
platform
is
perfectly
reflected
in
the
pool
below
and
surrounded
by
palm
trees
in
Sri
Lanka
Sri
Lanka
is
a
country
generally
appreciative
of
tourism,
after
all
the
petite
country
has
endured
its
fair
share
of
hardship
and
the
attacks
in
April
2019
just
added
to
the
list.
The
toll
on
tourism
has
been
tremendous
on
the
island
state.
According
to
travel
consultancy
ForwardKeys,
average
net
bookings
to
and
within
Sri
Lanka
fell
186%
the
week
following
the
attack.
While
we
don’t
discount
the
fear
many
travellers
feel,
we
should
not
allow
events
like
this
to
deter
us
from
continuing
to
explore,
learn
and
break
down
stereotypes.
In
recent
weeks,
countries
have
softened
their
travel
warnings
to
Sri
Lanka,
including
the
UK.
The
country
has
been
upset,
but
continues
to
be
an
incredible
place
to
visit.
It
still
tops
our
Best
in
Travel
for
2019.
Read
on
to
discover
why.
Preparation
rice
and
curry
meal.
Woman
preparing
food
in
traditional
home
kitchen
in
Sri
Lanka.
The
incomparable
beaches
The
beaches
in
Sri
Lanka
are
a
little
wilder,
where
boulders
line
the
shores
of
secret
beaches
and
palm
trees
grow
without
restraint.
Some
beaches
are
better
suited
to
surfing,
like
Weligama,
Unawatuna
and
Hikkaduwa,
while
others
are
better
for
snorkelling,
like
Mirissa.
All,
however,
are
great
for
sitting
back,
cracking
open
a
coconut,
and
enjoying
a
good
book.
Restaurants
line
most
of
the
western
and
southern
beaches,
with
waiters
touting
their
establishment’s
best
seafood
catch
at
the
foreshore
entrances.
Counters
outside
are
filled
with
fresh
lobsters,
crabs
and
assorted
species
of
fish.
Get
the
chefs
to
cook
your
selection
up
with
a
side
salad,
potatoes
or
both.
Enjoy
the
sound
of
the
waves
crashing
in
the
dark
while
you
enjoy
your
meal
at
a
lantern
or
festoon
lit
table.
For
further
reading
about
Sri
Lanka's
many
wonders: