General Information

With a history beginning over 125,000 years ago, the “Balangoda Man” is evidence of early human settlements in Sri Lankan. With a history that has risen and fallen, the history buff in you will not be disappointed in visiting Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is still home to the “Vedda’s” who are hailed as the indigenous people of Sri Lanka who continue to maintain their Tribal lifestyle. With the age of Kings and Queens beginning with the arrival of the legendary King Vijaya, on the island’s copper shores, Sri Lanka has thereafter witnessed the rise and fall of seven kingdoms and three colonial occupations. Colonized first by the Portuguese, then the Dutch and finally the British, upon receiving independence in 1948, Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon was truly a hotchpotch of cultures, religion, and languages. As much as the Tanks or “Wewa’s” of old continue to confound and enthrall modern engineers, we guarantee, that the rich history of Sri Lanka and its ruins, shrines and stupas will enthrall history buffs.

Molded by its history, the culture of Sri Lanka has strong Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Western colonial influences. A diverse culture, Sri Lanka, is home to many people of varying ethnicities and religions and you are sure to come across a wide array of people on your travels. There is however, one underlying cultural phenomenon that you may count on, and that is the famed Sri Lankan hospitality. Notable cultural events and places that should not be missed include, the Kandy Pera-Hera, the Katharagama shrine, the Kaffarinya dancers, the Nallur Temple and the Red Mosque to name but a few. However, do bear in mind that most places and events of cultural significance have strict rules as to attire, as such we would advise all visitors to wear sleeved shirts, carry an extra shawl, and be prepared to remove your foot wear before you enter. Also don’t forget to drop by a cricket match whether it be an international one or a neighbourhood game, as cricket truly is the great unifier of the Sri Lankan people.

A tropical isle you can expect warm and sunny weather throughout the year so pack your summer wear. However, for those preferring a cooler clime, the famed hill country reminiscent of a quaint English village in only a few hours away. Travelers’s ought to be mindful of Sri Lanka’s two main monsoons, namely the South West (Yala) monsoon along the Southern and Western belt of Sri Lanka lasting from April or May through to September and the North East (Maha) monsoon which hits the Northern and Easter belt from November to March.

⦁ May – September: South - West Monsoon
⦁ October – March: North - East Monson

You can choose to travel Sri Lanka by car, train or bus. For those, who wish to hire a personal vehicle, A&A Drive has a fleet of luxury vehicles suitable for any group at affordable prices.

The bus and train network of Sri Lanka will take you to most places you wish to go for the fraction of the price of a hired vehicle. We would highly recommend travelling by train on the observation deck at least once to truly experience Sri Lanka. Recommended lines include Kandy – Ella, Colombo – Galle, Colombo – Annuradapura, and Colombo – Palali.

You can also travel Sri Lanka by bus. There are luxury A/C buses available to most destinations or you can travel like a true Sri Lankan in the cheaper (yet hotter and more crowded) “CTB” busses. Travelling by bus is a cheap alternative, and there are daily if not hourly buses to most destinations. For longer journeys to the North and East of the country we would recommend the luxury night busses, so that you can have a good night’s sleep along the way.

Sri Lanka also has several domestic airports that may be used for air travel, starting from Ratmalana or the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). Destinations accessible by air include, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Nuwara Eliya, Bentota, Koggala, Dickwella, Mattala, Arugam Bay, Batticaloa/Passikudah, Kandy, Sigiriya, Kalpitiya and Vavuniya.

Sri Lankan cuisine is nothing if not a burst of flavour sure to delight your taste buds. Drawing from several cultures and influences, authentically Sri Lankan food can range from the traditional rice and curry, to the famed kottu, to milder idli or dosa or even the humble isso (prawn) vadey. Flavour city, visitors to Sri Lanka, simply must sample the wide variety of authentic Sri Lankan food. This is one culinary journey you won’t regret. While some of the food maybe a little spicy, most places will gladly accommodate requests to reduce the spice levels. There are also plenty of milder options widely available.