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Introduction to the Paradise Island
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Sri Lanka is an island that is captivating both by its name - that means Land of
Splendour - and by what it actually offers to the visitor. The attractions
of Sri Lanka - known to the world by several names from ancient days - have
been known through the centuries.
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History of the Island
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For an island of its size, Sri Lanka has a history that is among the best
documented in the world. The written record speaks of a rich history that
extends beyond two and a half millennia. The monuments found in the
country's ancient and medieval cities give ample evidence of a civilization
that flourished through in those days.
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SriLankan Culture
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Sri Lankan culture is a rich blend of the interaction of diverse cultural
patterns both indigenous and derived from, trade, religions, as well as, western
colonization. The cultural patterns of Sri Lanka today show the lasting
impact of a diverse range of cultures.
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Wild Life Safaris and Trekking
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Sri Lanka is very fortunate to be gifted by nature of a wealth of animal life and luxuriant vegetation.
Today in this small island of 65,610 sq km, approximately 14% is dedicated to sanctuaries and nature reserves.
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Ancient Cities in the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka has many varied sites of historical and cultural importance.
While the ruins of the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa have a grandeur
that is hard to surpass, there are lesser known sights with an ambience all of their own.
Here one finds the remains of a flourishing ancient civilisation.
This great past is reflected in the huge Dagobas, palaces and monuments.
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Bird Watching in Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka is a country which has birds everywhere, in woods, hills and along the seashore.
But there are special places which harbor a wealth of bird life - the national parks,
the bird sanctuaries, the precincts of man-made reservoirs and tanks, river banks, the lagoons,
the slatterns and the rain forests. Forest birds and Wetland birds are found throughout the dry
and wet zone.
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Fishing in Sri Lanka
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Fishing for indigenous sporting fish in Sri Lanka is free.
With a shoreline of 1,140 miles and a continental shelf of 10,000 square miles,
the seas around Ceylon have an unlimited fishing potential hardly exploited.
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Golf in Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka is relatively unknown in the field of Golf, but surprisingly the country has
three of the finest 18 hole courses in Asia. In fact the association with golf is more
than a century and the Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship, which was instituted
in the year 1891 follows the British Amateur Golf Championship, as the oldest national championship in the world.
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Water Sport in Sri Lanka
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So pack your swimwear, your snorkel and your suntan lotion- and head for the beach,
for a watery adventure which will leave you thirsting for more.
All of Sri Lanka's coastal areas lie in the tropical zone. Summers are hot and humid,
and monsoons can be depressingly grey; the best time to visit, therefore, is in the winter.
November to April is when the weather's at its best. It's warm enough to swim without having
to invest in a wet suit, yet cool enough for comfort.
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Gems of Sri Lanka
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The Gem industry in Sri Lanka (also known as Ceylon, Serendib, etc..) has been in existence
for over 2500 years. Some of the rarest of gem stones of exquisite beauty have taken pride
of place, in the Crown jewels of Kings and Queens from time of Great Roman Emperors.
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