Tourism in Sri Lanka

Tourism is one of the main industries in Sri Lanka. Major tourist attractions are focused around the island's famous beaches located in the southern 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 A large majority of tourists come from United States,United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Japan, Russia, The People's Republic of Chinaand India

Sri Lanka is home to seven world heritage Sites. They are: Galle,Kandy,Sigiriya,Anuradhapura,Polonnaruva,Dambulla cave temple and Sigiriya.

Furthermore three prime ecological sites in the central highlands 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 (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 UNESCO by the government of Sri Lanka on 30 October 2006.

Beaches and Lagoons


Western Coast

• Negombo (35 km from Colombo)
• Mount Lavinia (12 km from Colombo)
• Kalutara (42 km from Colombo)

South Coast

• Bentota (62 km from Colombo)
• Ambalangoda (85 km from Colombo)
• Hikkaduwa (98 km from Colombo)
• Unawatuna (140 km from Colombo)
• Weligama (143 km from Colombo)
• Mirissa (150 km from Colombo)
• Matara (166 km from Colombo)
• Tangalle (195 km from Colombo)

East Coast

• Arugam Bay (315 km from Colombo)

North Coast

• Nilaveli & Uppaveli (280 km from Colombo)
• Trincomalee (257 km from Colombo)

Archeological Parks

• 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

National Parks

• 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
• Mullaitive National Park - Proposed for Elephant watching
• Sinharaja Forest Reserve - Rain Forest