FAQ’s on Travelling to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a teardrop-shaped island nation located off the southwestern coast of India. It is roughly the same size as Ireland, Tasmania, or the U.S. state of West Virginia, covering an area of 65,610 square kilometres. The island measures approximately 435 kilometres from north to south and 210 kilometres from west to east. Its compact size makes it easy to explore the stunning beaches, historic sites, and tea plantations in the mountains, with excellent options for transportation, including roads, rail, domestic air flights, seaplanes, and helicopters. Sri Lanka has prehistoric archaeological evidence of Paleolithic settlements dating back between 500,000 and 300,000 years ago. The pre-and proto-historic records of Sri Lanka date back to around 10,000 B.C., while the historical period began around 377 B.C. The colonial era started with the Portuguese, who annexed the coastal lowlands in 1597. The Dutch took control of the coast in 1658, followed by the British, who captured the lowlands in 1796 and annexed the last Kingdom of Kandy in 1815. The British controlled the entire country until its independence in 1948. Sri Lanka is renowned for its rich diversity in nature, culture, and experiences. Its compact size and warm, hospitable people make it a great place to visit. The Sri Lankan smile is often regarded as one of the friendliest in the world. Sri Lanka is a tropical paradise with stunning beaches, incredible wildlife, lush rainforests, cloud forests, highlands filled with tea plantations, waterfalls, archaeological treasures, colonial relics, a vibrant food culture, and a rich tapestry of cultural and religious diversity.