What To Do In Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is in Southern Asia. It is an island country in the Indian Ocean, south of India. Sri Lanka's lengthy and bloody civil war was ended in May 2009, when the Sri Lankan army finally defeated the rebel group Tamil Tigers. However, Some areas in northern Sri Lanka may contain land mines, and the facilities in northern (and some parts of east) cities and towns are war torn. Sri Lanka Army is currently engaged in rapidly clearing landmines laid out by LTTE terrorists.

Bombings and assassinations were a firm part of the Tigers' repertoire, and there is heavy security in all sensitive locations. While the separatists have never targeted tourists and none have ever been killed, a few have been wounded by terrorist actions. In general, though, traffic accidents should be a greater concern than terrorism.

It is customary to remove shoes and wear respectful attire (i.e. no miniskirts, tank tops, short pants etc.) when visiting temples. It is also the custom to remove shoes before entering a home, though this is not as strictly followed as in places such as Japan.

Never touch or pat the top of the head of Buddhist monks, including children who practice at a temple. Do not turn your back to (or be alongside) a Buddha statue when within a reasonable distance (observe what others are doing). This includes posing for photos. It's OK to photograph a statue, but all persons should be facing it.

Public nudity is illegal in Sri Lanka - nude/topless sunbathing and skinny dipping should be avoided, except in the private beach resorts which allow it.