Sri Lanka has long attracted visitors to it's shores. Arab traders, who came to trade for cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and vanilla more than five centuries ago, called the place ‘Serendib' – from which comes ‘serendipity', the faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries.
The gateway to the island is Colombo. For centuries a thriving spice port it was taken by the Portuguese in the early 16th century, by the Dutch in the mid 17th and finally by the British some 200 years ago. Today, their architectural imprint – churches with ornate Iberian façades, massive Dutch forts and assorted examples of British colonial style blend satisfactorily with the city's modern development.

Sight Seeing
There is an extraordinary range of things to see and do in Sri Lanka, from the imposing colonial buildings, museums and art galleries in the capital to spectacular waterfalls and undulating tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya, from richly-decorated temples to botanical gardens of unbelievable beauty.
In the capital there is Colombo National Museum, a beautiful Victorian building housing a superb collection of exhibits; Dehiwala Zoo – where animals are free to romp in their natural surroundings; Pettah, a lively district of bazaars, street markets, temples and mosques; Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihare Temple – more than 2,000 years old and built on a site said to have been visited by the Buddha.
Outside Colombo is a whole range of uniquely Sri Lankan sights including: Kandy – the last stronghold of the Sinhalese kings; Sigiriya – a granite mountain that rises abruptly 200 metres above the jungle and contains magnificent 1,500-year old frescoes; Nuwara Eliya – a 2,000-metre high hill station at the heart of the tea growing area; and Peradeniya Botanic Gardens' superb collection of trees and shrubs in beautifully landscaped surroundings.

Accommodation
Luxury beach resorts, modern city centre hotels, colonial hotels in the hill country and jungle lodges.

Family activities
Apart from the attractions of the beaches there are elephant sanctuaries, wildlife reserves, tea factories and cultural sites.

Shopping
What you can buy – Exquisite embroidery and lace, intricate batiks, finely carved woodwork, silverware and filigree, brassware, Kandyan dancer masks and a wide range of leather goods. Sri Lanka is famous for its gemstones. Every gem should be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity – beware of the street hawkers with cut glass replicas. Tea is one of the country's finest products and may be bought at the tea factories in the hills.
Where you can buy – Popular shopping areas in Colombo are Old Fort, Galle Road, the Colombo 7 district, Racecourse Avenue, York Street, the Port and Green Path. There are also many street markets – Pettah Bazaar being the best-known as well as modern shopping malls; elsewhere there are local bazaars and souvenir shops in hotels and popular tourist destinations.

Entertainment
Sri Lankans are fun-loving people demonstrated by the many night spots in Colombo, frequent performances of traditional music and dance, casinos and restaurants.

Sports and leisure
Water sports (including scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, water-skiing and canoeing), fishing, golf and trekking.

Honeymoon
where better than on a languid Sri Lankan beach?