It was known as Thambapanni to Indians, Taprobane to Greeks and Romans, Serendib to Arab seafarers and Ceylon to the British. Today our country is known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is an island located on the southern tip of the Indian Sub-continent. The diverse range of colours, tastes, fragrances and experiences it offers has tantalized many travelers, from ancient mariners and merchants to modern tourists and businessmen, who visited this tropical island.

Sri Lanka is a visitors’ paradise. It's landscape boasts a mercurial mix of attractions such as golden beaches, foggy mountain ranges, bustling cities, quaint villages, dazzling waterfalls and assorted fauna and flora. The abundance of archaeological assets bears testimony to the rich and ancient civilization spanning over 2,500 years that existed in this country. This heritage, further enhanced by the influences of western colonizers, eastern traders and Indian settlers has enriched this country with a diverse potpourri of cultural, religious and ethnic influences displayed through its arts and crafts, dance and drama, festivals and costumes, architecture and multitude of mouth-watering cuisines.

Most importantly, however, we are considered to be a land of friendly, smiling, extremely hospitable people by many of the visitors who have graced our shores over the centuries. Although our population is predominantly Sinhalese, Sri Lanka also has other ethnic groups – Tamils, Muslims, Malays, descendants of the Dutch, Portuguese and British as well as a small aboriginal community of Veddhas. Sri Lanka boasts one of the highest literacy rates in the region and much of the population residing in cities and townships are fluent in English and technology savvy.

We welcome visitors to our island home with the traditional greeting “Ayubowan” which means may you live a long life, however, it is not surprising that we do not have a word for Goodbye but instead we say to departing visitors “gihin-ennan” – go and come again.