NEW YORK TIMES RANKS SRI LANKA NO. 1 TRAVEL DESTINATION FOR 2010;

WASHINGTON – The New York Times has named Sri Lanka as the No. One travel destination worldwide in a ranking of “31 Places To Go in 2010.”

At the same time, Daily Candy, a luxury-living website, has devoted its

entire travel issue to Sri Lanka , telling readers that “you’ll be roaming

the south for adventure (elephant safaris), history (colonial fort towns,

old Buddhist temples), rain forests (and mountains and tea plantations), and

gorgeous beaches. It’s pretty much the best place we’ve ever been.”

Both articles note that security is no longer a concern since the recent

successful conclusion of the conflict with the terrorist group LTTE in May

2009.

The secret of Sri Lanka is apparently out. Tourism has leaped forward in the

last seven months, increasing at double digit rates each month since June

2009. Sir Lankan tourism officials plan to add 25,000 3-to-5 star hotel

rooms to the island nation of 20 million people by 2016, many of them

luxurious beach and mountainside accommodations like the ones the two

articles rave about.

Sri Lanka expects more than 500,000 visitors in 2010, but more than 2

million annually six years from now. But while the number of tourists are

increasing, the total number of visitors have yet to catch up with other Asian

destinations. That makes Sri Lanka an affordable, relatively undiscovered gem, 

giving travelers a world unto themselves.

"People are discovering how wonderful Sri Lanka truly is,” said Jaliya

Wickramasuriya , Sri Lanka ’s ambassador to the U.S. “We have many people to

thank for making our country peaceful, pleasant and prosperous, from the

leaders who successfully ended our long-war against terrorism to the

citizens who welcome our foreign friends with open arms to the thousands of

Sri Lankans living abroad who spread the goodwill and charm of our native

land. As these articles proclaim, Sri Lanka is a beautiful place that is

only getting better.”

The Times reports that, “The island, with a population of just 20 million,

feels like one big tropical zoo: elephants roam freely, water buffaloes idle

in paddy fields and monkeys swing from trees. And then there’s the pristine

coastline. The miles of sugary white sand flanked by bamboo groves that were

off-limits to most visitors until recently are a happy, if unintended

byproduct of the war.”

Daily Candy observes: “ Sri Lanka is incredibly chic, very India meets

Vietnam . (You’ll hear architect Geoffrey Bawa’s name a lot.)

The Times reports that visitors can find pristine beaches --and still a few road

checkpoints -- in Northern Sri Lanka , where the fighting occurred. “While a

few military checkpoints remain,” it reports, “vacationers can lounge on

poolside hammocks under palm trees or snorkel in its crystal-clear waters.

Or they can order cocktails at the Nilaveli Beach Hotel

(www.tangerinehotels.com/nilavelibeach), a collection of recently renovated

bungalows with private terraces.”

Daily Candy takes readers on a cross-country tour of Sri Lanka , suggesting

stops at Kandy , highland tea gardens and beaches, such as those in Tangalle

and Galle .“The swank Amanwella compound,” it writes,”consists of bungalows

scattered across a coconut grove outside Tangalle. The service is

Amanawesome, but prices are more affordable than Aman’s usual rates (a rare

civil war perk). Force yourself away from the blissful beach to visit

Udawalawe National Park . You’ll see monkeys and peacocks, but elephants are

the main event.”

As the website notes, “Really, there’s only one downside to Sri Lanka :

Eventually, you have to leave.”

For more information, visit http://www.srilankatourism.org/ Embassy of Sri

LankaWashington , D.C.