Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Sinhalese: , Tamil: இலங்கை; known as Ceylon before 1972) is an island nation in South Asia, located about 31 kilometres (18½ mi) off the southern coast of India. It is often popularly referred to as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It is home to more than 20 million people.

A strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia, Sri Lanka has been a centre of Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times, though a fifth of the population follow other faiths - notably Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and indigenous religions. Sinhalese people form a majority of the population (74%). The second largest community, concentrated in the north east of the island, are the Sri Lankan Tamils. Other communities include the Muslim Sri Lankan Moors, Malays, Burghers and indigenous Veddah peoples. Famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, rubber and coconuts, Sri Lanka also boasts a progressive and modern industrial economy. The natural beauty of Sri Lanka's tropical forests, beaches and landscape, and rich cultural heritage make it a worldwide famous tourism destination.

After nearly two thousand years of rule by independent kingdoms—including integration of a part of the island into the Chola Empire at one point—parts of Sri Lanka were colonised by Portugal and the Dutch before passing to the control of the British Empire. During World War II it served as an important base for Allied forces in the fight against the Japanese. A nationalist political movement arose in the country in the early 20th century to obtain political independence, which was granted from the British in 1948. Sri Lanka has enjoyed surprising stable democracy and economic progress, given that in recent decades it has faced two bloody Marxist uprisings (1971 and 1987), and since 1983 a bloody civil war between the Sinhalese-dominated government and Tamil terrorists led by the LTTE who demand an independent Tamil state in northeastern Sri Lanka.

Tsunamis caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake devastated the southern and north-eastern part of the island's coast, causing the death and displacement of hundreds of thousands.

Ski resorts

Beach resorts

Mt. Lavinia, Negombo, Beruwala, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Colombo, Trincomalee, Aragum Bay, Ambalangoda, Galle, Weligama, Negombo , Tangale, Nilaveli Beach, Arugam Bay, Panama, Jaffna, Mannar Islands, Unawatuna, Mirissa, Kal Kudah and Pasi Kudah, Batticaloa, Negambov

Spa resorts

Saman Villas, Amaya Lake-Dambulla; Sri Budhasa, Hotel Club Paradise; Lighthouse Hotel & Spa, Saman Villas, Taj Exotica Bentota, Eden Resort & Spa, Kani Lanka Resort & Spa, Amaya Resorts & Spas, Lighthouse Hotel & Spa, Ayurveda Pavilions, Saman Villas, Taj Exotica Bentota, Sanctuary Spa, Heritance Kandalama

Golf regions

Colombo, Nuwara Elliya Golf Club, Royal Colombo Golf Club, Victoria International Golf and Country Resort, Waters Edge Golf Club