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Nature & Environment

Sun & Sand

Bentota: Distance from Colombo 62 km
Bentota Resort complex is a romantic rendezvous of river and sea with several hotels, railway station, post office, shopping arcade, cafeteria and an open - air theatre showing folk and mask dancing with clusters of palms overlooking everything.

Beruwela: Distance from Colombo 55 km
South of Colombo, Beruwela marks the beginning of a 130 km-stretch of beaches, where resort development has made immense strides in recent years. Good bathing in the bay all year round.

Galle: Distance from Colombo 116 km
South of Colombo, Galle is the most important southern town. It has an old world charm. Believed to be the “Tarshish of the Bible”, its natural harbour was a famous fort in days gone by. Galle is famous for its Dutch fort, lace making, ebony carving and gem polishing.

Hikkaduwa: Distance from Colombo 206 km
The first area to be developed for Tourism, this is still one of the most popular of our beach resorts. Hikkaduwa is famous for its coral and sub tropical fish. The reef, which runs parallel to the shore and is only a few meters below the water, can be investigated with snorkel and flippers, or in a glass-bottomed boat. There are several wrecks in the area which offer interesting dives. Scuba equipment and the services of licensed instructors are on hire from PADI centres. A little futher down the coast, there’s good surf for board or body-surfing. There is a generally a community of international surfers in and around Hikkaduwa.

Kalutara: Distance from Colombo 42km
An important spice-trading centre controlled at various times by the Portuguese, Dutch and British. Today it has a reputation for fine basket ware (visit basket hall) and also for the best mangosteens on the island. Immediately south of the Kalu Ganga Bridge on the main road is the Gangatil Vihara, which has a hollow dagoba (Buddhist shrine) with an interesting painted terior. By the roadside there’s a small shrine and bodhi tree where drivers often stop to make offerings to ensure a safe journey to Wadduwa is 8kim north of Kalutara.

Koggala: Distance from Colombo 130 km
Koggala beach is about 12 kms south of Galle. Stilt -Fisherman are a familiar sight here.

Mount Lavinia: Distance from Colombo 12 km
Mount Lavinia is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the sea. The beach is crowded on Sundays and public holidays with large crowds gathered to participate in many beach sports activities such as swimming, surfing etc. The Governors House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland , now forms part of the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel.

Negombo: Distance from Colombo 35 km
A characteristic fishing town north of Colombo, it is a mere 6 km from the international airport. Set amidst lush groves of coconut palms, it breathes the spirit of the sea. Negombo is a gourmet’s paradise with sea food in plenty. Old - world fishing craft, like the outrigger canoe and the catamaran, bring seer, skipjack, herring, mullet, pomfret and amber jack, while lobster and prawn are caught in the lagoon.

Nelaveli: Distance from Trincomalee 14 km

Nilaveli is a prime beach resort in the East Coast. It is ideally suited for sun bathing, sea bathing and diving. A few metres off shore is a small rocky island good for snorkelling. Nilaveli was the venue for the 1985 International Fun Board Championships.

Aquatic Life
With cascading waterfalls and as many as 103 rivers, all major groups of vertebrates can be found in Sri Lanka. Of these, the highest endemic species are found in the amphibian and reptile group. Most of the 107 species of fish are found in marsh and river dwelling.The 39 endemic species – the Carplet group – being restricted to the perennial streams of the wet zone. The British introduced trout into the clear, cold streams of Horton Plains. Of the 54 species of amphibians, 33 are endemic to the island. According to ongoing research, the largest number of endemic amphibian fauna in the world may soon be found in Sri Lanka. One endemic genus, the Nannophyrus, with three species, is common in the wet zone living on rock ledges, covered by a continuous trickle of water, and sharing the same habitat with tadpoles.

Bird Watching
The abundance of Sri Lanka’s bird life makes it an ornithologist’s paradise. Of the 435 recorded species, 230 are resident, and no less that 23 are endemic to the island. Most of the endemic birds, like the Sri Lanka Myna or the Yellow-eared Bulbul, are restricted to the wet zone. Others, such as the striking Red-faced Malkoha and the Sri Lanka Spot-winged Thrush, can be found throughout the island, although confined to small areas of humid forests.

Botanical Gardens
A visit to the Royal Botanical Garden Paradeniya near Kandy, Hakgala Gardens near Nuwara Eliya and Botanical Gardens Gampaha will pay rich dividends. To the botanist, this is indeed a land of plenty. The diversified climate allows for the growth of tropical as well as sub-tropical trees. The luxuriant undergrowth and tall majestic trees of the wet-zone tropical forest contrast with the arid scrub land and talipot palms of the dry north.

Elephant Orphanage
The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grandchildren born in the same location. The original objective of establishing the orphanage inclined more towards tourism, but is soon became a conservation and educational centre.

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