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Sri Lanka to open shipwreck dive spots to tourists

The Sri Lanka government has granted permission to open up shipwreck dives off its Southern coastline to tourists in a move to further promote tourism. According to the minister of tourism for the Southern Provincial Council, P.D Ariyathilaka, permission has been granted to conduct the dives in Galle harbor, an area which was earlier closed… Read More »

Dawkins Immortalised in Sri Lankan Waters

You might say that Richard Dawkins took the world by storm with his anti-religious polemic ‘The God Delusion’. Now, the world renowned author and evolutionary biologist’s legacy has been immortalized in the waters of Sri Lanka after local scientists named an entire new genus of freshwater fish after him. The ‘Dawkinsia’ formally known as the… Read More »

Puttalam lagoon to be developed into tourism zone

Puttalam lagoon on Sri Lanka’s relatively untraveled North West coastline is to be developed into a tourism zone, the Puttalam local government authority has announced. According to the Mayor of Puttalam, K.A. Baiz, the area will developed into a zone similar to that of the Galle Face Green in Colombo and, apparently, will be referred… Read More »

Hyatt joins Colombo hotel boom

With several international hotel chains showing interest of opening shop in Sri Lanka, Hyatt is the latest to join the bandwagon with a 565-roomed 5-star hotel in Colombo underway. The hotel – a conversion of a high-rise formerly owned by the Ceylinco group – will consist of 54 suites, 265 king rooms, 150 twin rooms… Read More »

Responsible Whale Watching

There is nothing quite like a blue whale fluking in front of you especially for someone as crazy about marine life as I am. First an exhalation as the whale gets ready to dive, the spout misting the blue horizon as its bulk moves seamlessly, grey through the water. After a few breaths at the… Read More »

Sri Lanka bans the transport of tourists in Tuk Tuks not licensed by the Tourism Authority

The Sri Lankan three wheeler, commonly known as the ‘tuk tuk’ has often been considered the best form of travel for locals and tourists for years,  with their ability to creep into the tiniest spaces on busy Sri Lankan roads. The tiny vehicle is considered to be a blessing to passengers, as well as the… Read More »

Marriott to manage first hotel in Sri Lanka

US based Marriott International has inked an agreement with Weligama Hotel properties to manage a 200 room, 11-storey property on the South coast of Sri Lanka. The resort which will be operated as Weligama Bay Marriott Resort and Spa will add to the number of high-quality properties available in one of the most popular regions… Read More »

Protective jackets a must to visit Sigiriya summit

When you think of safety jackets, the first thing that comes to mind usually is an activity that has something to do with the sea. In this case however, safety jackets have been deemed a must in one of the driest regions in the country! The Sigiriya Central Cultural Fund has made it essential for… Read More »

Time for The Gathering

It is that time of year again where one of the most amazing wildlife spectacles take place in the dry zone jungles of Sri Lanka. On the shores of Minneriya and Kaudulla National Park, elephants from all parts of the north-central jungles ‘gather’ to feed on lush grass from the tank beds to quench their… Read More »

The elusive Comb Duck turns up in Yala National Park

For those of you that have a bird watching bug in you this news will get you all excited, The Comb Duck known to be a very rare migrant to Sri Lanka was spotted by a water hole in the Yala National Park last week – outside its migrant season! The discovery was made by… Read More »