|
Tourism In Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a popular tourist destination. Tourism is a key industry that attracts international tourists yearly. Foreigners visit Sri Lanka to see nature, wildlife, historical monuments, and indigenous culture. In 2018, tourist arrivals peaked at 2.5 million, who spent a total of US$5.6 billion in the country. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused tourist numbers to decrease by 92% in 2020. As of 2022, tourist numbers have not rebounded from the pre-crisis high. The government is attempting to attract foreign investment in the country's tourism industry, which began in earnest after the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. Tourism The government initiatives in the development of tourism date back to 1937 when the Ceylon Tourist Bureau was established. However, it was closed down in September 1939 due to World War II. After Sri Lanka's independence the promotion of tourism was again considered by re-establishing the Ceylon Tourist Board which took over the function of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kalutara
Kalutara (, ) or Kalutota is a major city in Kalutara District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is also the administrative capital of Kalutara District. It is located approximately south of the capital Colombo. The city holds a unique position for one of the four major rivers in Sri Lanka, the Kalu Ganga, which joins the sea at the centre of the city. Kaluthara is known for making rope, baskets, and other articles from the fibre of the coconut palm. The area also produces the Mangosteens, a fruit introduced from Malaysia in the 19th century. Etymology Once an important spice-trading centre, the town's name is derived from the Kalu Ganga ('Black River' in native Sinhala). In the 11th century, the town was temporarily made a capital on the orders of a South Indian Prince. The region was later planted with coconut trees, whose by-products are used for both internal and external trade. The location also boast fortifications ( Kalutara fort) dating back from the times when ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hambantota
Hambantota (, ) is the main city in Hambantota District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. This area was hit hard by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and underwent a number of major development projects including the construction of a new Port of Hambantota, sea port and Mattala International Airport, international airport finished in 2013. These projects and others such as Hambantota Cricket Stadium are said to form part of the government's plan to transform Hambantota into the second major urban hub of Sri Lanka, away from Colombo. History When the Kingdom of Ruhuna was established it received many travellers and traders from Siam, China and Indonesia who sought anchorage in the natural harbor at Godawaya, Ambalantota. The ships or large boats these traders travelled in were called "Sampans" and ''thota'' means port or anchorage so the port where sampans anchor came to be known as ''Sampantota''. After some time ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tangalle
Tangalle ( Sinhala තංගල්ල , ) (also known as Tangalla) is a large town in Hambantota District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. It is one of the largest towns in southern province. It is located south of Colombo and east of Matara. It has a mild climate, in comparison to the rest of the district, and sandy beaches. Tangalle is a regionally important fishing port, situated on one of the largest bays in Sri Lanka, which is protected from the ocean by an enclosing reef. It is a centre of tourism and a popular holiday destination on the south coast. In the town centre there is an old Dutch fort which is used as a prison today. The Dutch and subsequently the British used Tangalle as an important anchorage on the southern coast of the island. The Dutch Fort, Rest House and Court House are a few remaining examples of Dutch architecture in Tangalle. Etymology The name of the town in Sinhala means "projected rock", a reference to the rocks whi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Matara, Sri Lanka
Matara (; ) is a major city in Sri Lanka, on the southern coast of Southern Province, Sri Lanka, Southern Province. It is the second largest city in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, Southern Province. It is from Colombo. It is a major commercial hub, the administrative capital and largest city of Matara District. Ethnic composition in Matara DS Division according to 2012 census data is Sinhalese 111,039-95.88%, Muslims 4,296-3.71%, Tamils 326-0.28%, Others 144-0.12%. Etymology Consisting of two elements, the term Matara gives its meaning as ''the Great Ferry'', that may be the meaning "great seaport" or "great fortress". It is also thought as being derived from the mispronunciation of the word 'Matora' by the Portuguese who called it 'Mature' or ''Maturai'' in 1672. The native word 'Matora' might also derived from 'Maha Tera' meaning the place where the Great River was crossed. It was also called 'Maha Tota' (Malo Tota) or Maha-Pattana, the great ferry.''Maha Ethara'' meani ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mirissa
Mirissa (; ) is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, located in the Matara District of the Southern Province. It is approximately south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of above sea level. Mirissa's beach and nightlife make it a popular tourist destination. It is also a fishing port and one of the island's main whale and dolphin watching locations. History Mirissa is the largest fishing port on the south coast and is known for its tuna, mullet, snapper, and butterfish. In 1980 the first tourist accommodation was built, and in the mid-1990s tourism to the town started to increase dramatically. Mirissa was affected by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, with numerous homes, guesthouses, shops, schools, and temples destroyed or damaged and fourteen reported deaths. Transport Mirissa is located on the A2 Highway, connecting Colombo to Wellawaya; the town is approximately west of Mirissa railway station – on the Coastal or Southern Ra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Weligama
Weligama (, ) is a town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, located in Matara District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. The name ''Weligama'', literally means "sandy village" which refers to the area's sandy sweep bay. It is approximately south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of above the sea level. History The main industries are tourism and fishing. Weligama is a popular tourist destination and hosts several boutique hotels including an off shore islet known as '' Taprobane'', which houses a villa constructed by the French Count de Mauny, and is currently owned by Geoffrey Dobbs. It was the birthplace of the scholar monk Weligama Sri Sumangala. Weligama was significantly affected by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, with 15% of the area destroyed, with over 2,200 houses damaged or washed away, and 469 reported deaths. There are a number of sites of historical importance within Weligama and its vicinity, including a h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Koggala
Koggala (; ) is a small coastal town, situated at the edge of a lagoon on the south coast of Sri Lanka, located in Galle District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. Koggala is bounded on one side by a reef, and on the other by a large lake, Koggala Lake, into which the numerous tributaries of the Koggala Oya drain. It is approximately south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of above sea level. History Koggala has one of the longest beaches in Sri Lanka, and is located in close proximity to the popular tourist resort of Unawatuna, Koggala in comparison is relatively uncluttered as a tourist destination and mostly unexplored. Koggala was significantly affected by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, where the waters measured high. It is the birthplace of noted Sri Lankan author Martin Wickramasinghe and a museum, Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum, dedicated to his arts and popular traditions in the town. Approximately ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Unawatuna
Unawatuna is a coastal town in Galle district of Sri Lanka. Unawatuna is a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka and known for its beach and corals. It is a suburb of Galle, about southeast of the city center and approximately south of Colombo. Unawatuna is situated at an elevation of above sea level. Despite significant development in the last decade it is still home to the endangered and endemic purple-faced langur, an unusually shy monkey species that can only be found in Sri Lanka's forests. Mythical roots From Ramayana The description of the beach paradises in Valmiki's epic Ramayana sounds like Unawatuna. :"a seashore dotted with thousands of trees, coconuts, and palms dominating, strings of houses and hermitages along the coastline, human beings and superior beings such as Gandharvas, Siddhas, and ascetics, living in them and countless bejewelled celestial nymphs thronging the shore, the coast intermittently visited by heavenly beings, Gods and demons.": Unawatuna tr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa, in south-west of Sri Lanka, is a large costal tourist area, covering 11 different villages over 6 km (3.7 mi) on the ocean, and 3 km (1.9 mi) inland. It is run by the Hikkaduwa Urban Council. Located in the Galle District, Hikkaduwa is divided into three main areas (from north to south): the Sri Lankan town, then the very lively tourist area, then the upmarket area Thiranagama on the edge of the long Narigama beach. Hikkaduwa is a Sinhalese Buddhist stronghold on the island. Religious composition in Hikkaduwa DS Division according to the 2012 census is Buddhists 100,955 (99.06%), other Christians 317 (0.31%), Roman Catholics 293 (0.29%), Hindus 257 (0.25%), Islam 79 (0.08%), others 8 (0.01%). History In the sixties, many hippies came to live in Hikkaduwa which was nicknamed ''Hippiduwa''. Its economy was based on fishing and coconut cultivation, which was replaced by tourism when its golden sandy beaches were widely discovered in the 1960s. The 2004 Indian Oce ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahungalla
Ahungalla is a small coastal town, located in Galle District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. It is approximately south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of above the sea level. History Ahungalla is known primarily for its sandy beach, accompanied by a wide palm belt, considered to be one of the best on the island. The village is located about south of Bentota, north of the provincial capital Galle at Cape Point Ahungalla. The neighboring villages are Kosgoda to the north and Balapitiya in the south. Southeast of the town is the mangrove area of Madu Ganga. The largest and most well-known building in the town is the luxury hotel, Heritance Ahungalla (formerly Hotel Triton), designed by notable Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa, and constructed from 1979 to 1981. As with the entire region Ahungalla was devastated by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Transport Ahungalla is located on the Coastal or Southern Rail ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Balapitiya
Balapitiya is a coastal town, in south west Sri Lanka. It is located in the Southern Province in Sri Lanka. It is situated south of Colombo Colombo, ( ; , ; , ), is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. The Colombo metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 within the municipal limits. It is the ..., about a two-hour drive from the capital. It is the nearest town to the Maduganga River. Old Ceylon Moors Family https://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/gen422.html. Religious composition in Balapitiya DS Division according to 2012 census data is Buddhists 65,993-97.87%,Islam 1,136-1.68%,Roman Catholics 126-0.19%,Other Christians 94-0.14%,Hindus 77-0.11%,Others 6-0.01%. Populated places in Southern Province, Sri Lanka {{SouthernLK-geo-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
