Place to visit

Tourism is one of the main industries in Sri Lanka. Major tourist attractions are focused around the islands famous beaches located in the southern and eastern parts of the country, ancient heritage sites located in the interior of the country and lush green resorts located in the mountainous regions of the country.[1][2] The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami[3] and the past civil war have reduced tourist arrivals but Sri Lanka received over half a million tourists in 2006.[4] A large majority of tourists come from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the PeTourism is one of the main industries in Sri Lanka. Major tourist attractions are focused around the islands famous beaches located in the southern and eastern parts of the country, ancient heritage sites located in the interior of the country and lush green resorts located in the mountainous regions of the country.[1][2] The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami[3] and the past civil war have reduced tourist arrivals but Sri Lanka received over half a million tourists in 2006.[4] A large majority of tourists come from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the People's Republic of China, and India.ople's Republic of China,
and India.



Visitor attractions

Dambulla
Sri Lanka is home to seven world heritage sites: Galle, Kandy, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruva, Dambulla cave temple and Lion King Singahraja tropical rain forest[5].
Furthermore three prime ecological sites in the central highlands[6] of Sri Lanka were submitted by Secretary, Ministry and Natural Resources of Sri Lanka to UNESCO on 20 March 2006. As at present these sites appear on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites:Peak Wilderness Sanctuary (19,207 ha),Horton Plains[7] (3 109 ha) and Knuckles Range (1 7,825 ha).
In addition to above mixed (culture and nature) sites the ancient cultural site of Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Vihar at the village of Toppur, Koddiyar Pattu of Trincomalee District of Eastern Province of Sri Lanka was submitted to [8] UNESCO by the government of Sri Lanka on 30 October 2006.
Sri Lanka's many beaches are often visited by tourists. The historical city of Colombo is considered as the "Commercial capitol of Sri Lanka" which attracts many tourists from Asian region to visit for businesses. National parks in Sri Lanka are also popular visitor attractions. Tourists are also attracted to Sri Lanka by its natural beauty.Precious stone mining
Main article: Gems of Sri Lanka

Ratnapura where the city of famous Sri pada mountain located is the center of precious stone mining
The precious stones such as rubies and sapphires frequently found in Ratnapura and its surrounding areas also a major tourist attraction in the country[9]. The tourists are interested in precious stones also can visit Adam's Peak, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Udawalawe National Park and Kitulgala (place of "The Bridge on the River Kwai" was filmed).
[edit] List of famous tourist attractions
[edit] Beaches and lagoons
Main article: List of beaches in Sri Lanka

Negombo beach.
Negombo beach & lagoon
Bentota
Hikkaduwa coral reef
Matara Polhena
Unawatuna
Nilaveli
Arugam Bay
Pasikudah & Kalkudah
Batticalo beach & lagoon
Kalpitiya - beach and islands
Trincomalee

Polonnaruwa
[edit] Archeological Sites
Anuradapura - Ancient Kingdom
Sigiriya - Ancient Kingdom & fortress
Polonnaruwa - Ancient Kingdom
Kandy - Ancient Kingdom with temple of tooth relic
Galle - Fortress
Dambulla - Rock cave temple
Maligawila - Ancient Monastery with largest statue of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka
Yapahuwa - Fortress
[edit] National Parks
Main article: List of national parks of Sri Lanka
Yala National Park - Most visited, and second-largest in Sri Lanka
Udawalawe National Park - Famous for Elephant watching
Kumana National Park - Famous for Bird watching
Bundala National Park - Famous for Bird watching
Wasgamuwa National Park - One most attractive national park
Wilpattu National Park - Largest in Sri Lanka, famous for leopards
Minneriya National Park - Famous for Elephants
Horton Plains National Park - Only national park in hill country and famous for sambar
[edit] Elephants

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Udawalawe Elephant Transit Centre
[edit] Adventure Sports
White water rafting - Kithulgala
Surfing - Arugam Bay
Boating - Bentota, Bolgoda, Madhu ganga, Koggala
Trekking - Knuckles Mountain Range, Hortan plains, Sripada aka Adam's peak