Colombo Fort

     During the European Fort was indeed a fort, surrounded by the sea on two sides and a moat on the landward sides. Today it's literally at the centre of Colombo's resurgence, with grand old colonial era buildings being restored amid a mix of modern structures, such as the World Trade Centre.

     Security remains in evidence in this area as the president's official residence and various government ministries are here. You may have to detour around a bit but it's a compact area and can be appreciated on a short stroll. Start at the Old Galle Buck Lighthouse, which has excellent seafront views. It was built in 1954 and is surrounded by old canons.

     Just north, look for the large white dagoba (stupa) of Sambodhi Chaitiya perched about 20 m off the ground on stilts a landmark for sea travellers. The Clock Tower at the junction of Chatham St ans Janadhipathi Mawatha (once Queen St) was originally a lighthouse that was built in 1857.

     Chatham St is seeing a lot of renovation of old buildings, one of the grandest being the old colonnaded Central Bank Just north, Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha has the grandly restored Lloyd's Buildings which are in sharp contrast to the battered old hulk on the east side. Local retail giant Cargills once had its main store on York St the now mostly empty ornate red building still shows its faded elegance in its long areades that still have old store signage such as the one noting 'toilet requisites'

     The busy harbour on the north side of Fort is mostly walled off but you can enjoy sweeping views from the tiny terrace of the otherwise hudrum top floor cafe of the Grand Oriental Hotel.

Old Dutch Hospital

Centre piece of the newly vibrant Fort, this colonialera complex dates back to the early 1600s. Lavishly restored it is home to shops, cafes and resturants run by some of Colombo's best oparators. Enjoy a pause for a cold drink amid the incredibly thick coloumns of its arcades.

 St Peter's Church

Reached along the atcade on the north side of the Grand Oriental Hotel, this church was converted from the Dutch governor's banquet hall and was first used as a church in 1821. Inside it has an original wood ceiling and myriad plaques attesting to its work with seamen through the years.

COLOMBO'S MAIN NEIGHBOURHOODS

      Colombo is split into 15 postal code areas, which are often used to identify the specific districts. Pettah for example is also reed to as Colombo 11 (or just Col 11) and so on. The main areas of interest:

    ZONE                                           SUBURB

Colombo 01            Fort the revitalized centre of the city, historic and chic

Colombo 02            Slave Island not an island at all (though it really was used for keeping slaves in                                    the Dutch colonial era) some of Colombo's oldest and most threatened areas are                                    here including Union PI

Colombo 03            Kollupitiya The dense commerical heart of the city, with myriad shops, hotels                                      and businesses along Galle Rd

Colombo 04            Bambalapitiya An extension of Col 3

Colombo 05            Havelock Town Gentrifying southern extension of Col 4 includes trendy                                                Stratford Ave

Colombo 06            Wellawatta More commercial sprawl south along Galle Rd. Inland, Pamankade is                                  a newly stylish enclave

Colombo 07            Cinnamon Gardens Colombo's swankiest district has the National Museum,                                          Viharamahadevi Park, old colonial mansions and trendy shops

Colombo 08            Borella The quieter eastern extension of Cinnamon Gardens 

Colombo 11            Pettah Old quarter just east of Fort with thriving markets

Colombo 13            Kotahena Alongside the ort north of Pettah, home to old neighbourhoods and                                        important religious buildings

Navigating Colombo

Colombo's spine is Galle Rd, which starts just south of Fort and runs all the way to its namesake city in the south. Along the way, it passes the old beach resort of Mt Lavinia, which isn't officially part of Colombo but is definitely within its urban sprawl. Development is also frenzied all the way to the airport 30 km north.

NOte that street numbers start again each time you move into a new district. Thus there will be a "100 Galle Rd"in sevaral different neighbourhoods.

Some Colombo streets have both an old English name and a post independence Sinhala name. Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha is also known as Green Path, for example, while RA de Mel Mawatha is still known as Duplication Rd. For longer stays, the 96 page A-Z street Guide is useful Google Map are up to date and accurate.

COLOMBO IN 

One Day

Start at the bustling markets of Pettah, taking time for small Hindu temples and the Dutch Period Museum. Head west to Fort and pause to appreciate the restoration of colonial gems like the Old Dutch Hospital. Have an excellent local lunch at AVP Resturant.

In the afternoon visit the electric Buddhist Gangaramaya Temple and wander down to Viharamahadevi Park. Later take a stroll along the ocenfront with Sri Lankan families at Galle Face Green as the sun sets and enjoy a snack from a vendor.

Two Days

Grab a kotthu (a rotti chopped and fried with a variety of indredients) at Hotel De Pilawoos before tackling excellent National Museum. Afterwards, go shopping at the many excellent stores and boutiques in leafy Cinnamon Gardens and Kollupitiya. For dinner join the smart set at Gallery Cafe or crack your way into shellfish sitting on the sand at Beach Wadiya

Colombo

History

As far back as the 5th century, Colombo served as a sea port for trade  between Asia and the West. During the 8th century Arab trades settled near the port, and in 1505 the Portuguese arrived. By the mid 17th century the Dutch had taken over growing cinnamon in the area now known as Cinnamon  Gardens but it wasn't until the British arrived that the town became a city. In 1815 Colombo was proclaimed the capital of Ceylon.

During the 1870 the breakwaters were built and Fort was created by flooding surrounding wetlands. Colombo was peacefully handed over when Sri Lanka achieved Independence in 1948. Anew parliament was built in Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte, an outer suburb of Colombo , in 1982.

Bomb attacks in Fort over the years of war caused Colombo's major businesses and institutions to disperse across the city. With peace, Colombo is growing fast, with much development north and south along the coast and a building boom in Fort.

Sights

Lacking signature must see sights, Colombo's real appeal lies in its many neighbourhoods, which span an era from the earliest colonial days to the city's present nascent boom. Start in Fort and Pettah and work your way south.

Colombo Map

COLOMBO

Why Go

        Colombo is rapidly emerging from the bad rap it has carried for decades. No longer just the sprawling city you have to endure on your way to the southern beaches, it has become a worthy destination in its own right. New restaurants designer shops and other attractions open constantly.
        The legacies of colonial Colombo are still very much intact along its often shady boulevards. Fort is in the midst of widespread historic restoration while Pettah brims with markets and rampant commerce.
        Even traffic clogged Galle road is getting spiffier, while the seafront benefits from new roads that are spurring hotel construction. Colombo's cosmopolitan side supports stylish cafes, interesting stores, galleries and museums. Surprises abound in its old quarters. You can easily spend a couple of days exploring this vibrant city and a visit here is an excellent start or finish to to your Sri Lankan adventures.

When to Go

January-March the driest season, with night time cool breezes. More tourists so book hotels in advance.
April Colombo feels empty around the Sinhalese New Year as people return to their home villages.
December Although Christians are a minority, Christmas is popular and decorations are everywhere.

Major National Parks & Reserves

PARK	AREA	FEATURES	BEST TIME TO VISIT
Bundala National Park	62.2 sq km	Coastal lagoon migratory birds, elephants	Year Round
Gal Oya National Park	629.4 sq km	Grasslands, evergreen forest, deer. Senanayake Samudra (tank), elephants, sloth bears. leopards, water buffaloes	Dec – Sep
Horton Plains National Park	31.6 sq km	Unesco World Heritage Site, montane forests, marshy grassland, World’s End precipice, sambars	Dec - Mar
Kaudulla National Park	66.6 sq km	Kaudulla Tank, evergreen forest, scrub jungle, grassy plains, elephants, leopards, sambar, fishing cats, sloth bears	Aug – Dec
Knuckles Range	175 sq km	Unesco World Heritage Site, traditional village, hiking trails, caves, waterfalls, montane pygmy forest, evergreen forest, riverine forest, grasslands, scrub, paddy fields, 31 mammal species	Dec – May
Kumana National Park	181.5 sq km	Grassland, jungle, lagoons, mangrove swamp, waterfowl	May – Sep
Lunugamvehera National Park	235 sq km	Grasslands, reservoir, elephants	May – Sep
Minneriya National Park	88.9 sq km	Minneriya Tank, toque macaques, sambars, elephants, waterfowl	May – Sep
Sinharaja Forrest Reserve	189 sq km	Unesco World Heritage Site, sambars, rainforest, leopards, purplefaced langurs, barking deer, 147 recorded bird species	Aug –Sep Jan – Mar
Sri Pada Peak Wilderness	192 sq km	Unesco World Heritage Site, Adam’s Peak, hiking trails	Dec – May
Udawallwe National Park	308.2 sq km	Grassland, thorn scrub, elephants, spotted deer, water buffaloes, wild boar	Year Round
Wasgomuwa National Park	393.2 sq km	Evergreen forest, hilly ridges, grassy plains, elephants, leopards, sloth bears	Jun – Sep
Wilpattu National Park	1317 sq km	Dense jungle, scrub, saltgrass, elephants, leopards, sloth bears, deer, crocodiles	Jan –Mar
Yala National Park	141 sq km	Tropical thornforest, lagoons, elephants, sloth bears, leopards, water buffaloes, lesser flamingos	Nov -Jul

Regions at a Glance

Colombo

Sunsets

Built right up to the shores of the Indian Ocean, Colombo faces west into the setting sun. Many evenings begin with an explosion of magenta and purple on the horizon that you can share with others at a hotel bar or with the real people along the shore.

Urban Life

The first time you almost get run down by a madman with a cart full of goods in the markets of Pettah, you may regret your decision to come. But soon you'll be in the chaotic thick of things and on the ride away, you'll be urging your threewheeler driver to go faster.

shopping

From artworks to tea you can find unique and desirable goods and gifts in Colombo especially along the leafy streets of Cinnamon Gardens.

West Coast

Beaches

From all inclusive package tour resorts to former hippy hangouts and little visited sands, the beaches of the west coast span all the spectrums  and keep everyone happy.

Activities

Ride the waves and dive the reefs of Hikkaduwa bird watch on the marshes explore the back blocks and see the dolphins in the north and get pampered in a spa and take a boat safari around Bentota.

Accommodation

The beaches around Bentota are home to some breathtaking boutique hotels that rank among the finest in the country. Cheerful Negombo alo contains some memorable accommodation.

The South

Beaches

There are beaches here with lots going on and a real traveller vibe or there are beaches with barely another person in sight but the uniting factor is that there're almost all stunning.

Activities

In these parts it's all about surfing and diving. The area between Galle and Matara is arguably the finest slice of surf country in South Asia for divers there's everything from wrecks to reefs to big fish.

Wildlife

Monkeys crash trough the trees, whales splash trough the seas, leopards slink through the night birds flap through the skies, turtles  emerge on the beach and naturalists can't stop smiling.

The Hill Country

Walking

Hack through jungles, shiver over high plateaus, traipse to vertigo inspiring view points, tip toe through tea plantations and walk in the footsteps of gods.

Wildlife

No other part of Sri Lanka offers such varied wildlife habitats. There's steamy rainforests filled with noisy birds, grassland savannahs ruled by elephants and highland forests covered in delicate lichens and moss.

Eating 

Eating in Sri Lanka is rarely anything but a pleasure but it's in the Hill Country where the preparation and consumption of food becomes an art form and the best food comes from your guest house kitchen.

The Ancient Cities

Ancient Monuments

The Polonnaruwa Quadrangle the ancient quarter of Anuradhapura the jaw dropping sight of the rock monastery at Sigiriya just some of the remarkable ruins ready for exploration.

Temples

Amid the leaf shrouded ruins of Anuradhapura is Sri Maha Bodhi a tree that has seen history and devotion for 2500 years. Old temples, such as the one up over 1800 steps in Mihintale, will inspire your own devotion.

Cycling

The ruins of the Ancient Cities are sited within much larger parks and reserves.You can pedal between the wonders along palm shaded paths and never see a car. Guesthouses have bikes for hire.

The East

Beaches

Most of the east coast's miles upon miles of beaches are untouched but even those that are developed are sandy wonderlands, with just the right amounts of palm trees white sands and low key scenes.

Activities

The east generously provides activities to alternate with napping on beach hammocks. The ocean here isn't just calm and gorgeous but it has the reefs and wrecks for great snorkelling and diving and the right waves for surfing.

Wildlife

Kumana National Park doesn't have the size (or the leopard population) of its neighbour Yala. However it also lacks Yala's tourist population, which means the leopards, elephants and birds here are all yours.

Jaffna & The North

Off the Beaten Path

All but shut down to travel for years, the North is now ready to be explored.The going is rough and rocky but seeing glimpses of war history is powerfully moving.

Temples

Hindu gods and goddesses painted in exquisite riots of colours animate towering temple gateways all over the North. Even better through are the friendly priests and devotees who will welcome you to puja (prayer)

Islands & Seashores

Seemingly endless coastlines curl around the Jaffna region's mainland and islands. Coast roads causeways and wooden boat rides to isolated islands are only second to the islands sublime beauty.

 

Travelling With A Toddler

*We travelled with our 22 month old son around the west and south coasts and the Hill Country. I'd be lying if I said it was all plain sailing and if I said it was always a perfectly relaxing holiday! However it was certainly rewarding and travelling with him was a real ice breaker with both local people and other tourists plus our son absolutely adored Sri Lanka.

*A few points to note few places have baby beds. We knew this and came with our own but we met many other couples with young children who ended up sleeping in the same bed as their toddler for the whole time. It was in their words, 'Not as romantic a holiday as we hoped! You should also bring a mosquito net to cover them as hotels rarely have spares.

*Always order your child's meal well in advance otherwise by the time the food arrives they'll be too tired to eat. Our son loves curry,fruit, fish and curd so we had no issues getting him to actually eat. If yours won't eat this then pasta is normally available in tourist areas.

*Some people travel by public transport but we hired a car and driver for the duration which had the added bonus of meaning we had a babysitter on hand!

*Without any doubt it was easier to travel along the coast than the hills (where attraction are more for adults). If you really want to make things easy for yourself then just choose one beach make a base and take day trips from there.

*Nappies (diapers), even if they're the same brand you use at home, don't seem to work as well and rarely made it through the night. The size scale is also smaller so if you buy mediums at home you'll need large in Sri Lanka

Best Regions for Kids 

Colombo

Yes it's chaotic and at times noxious but the capital also has plenty of cool things that kids, albeit order kids, will enjoy, such as the made markets of Pettah.

West Coast

It's beaches baby all along this sandy coast. There are all manner of relaxed resorts where you can relax and maybe build a castle or two.

The South

More beaches plus the cool environs of the fort. (It's a real fort) And in the west there's elephants.

The Hill Country 

Waterfalls are literally cool places to hang out. Plus the mild temperatures are a good respite from the heat elsewhere. Tea plantations and trains are an unbeatable day out.

The Ancient Cities

Ancient temples, forts, ruins, jungle and elephants.  

Children's Highlights

There aren't many attractions dedicated solely to children in Sri Lanka but there are a lot of sights they'll love.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Near Kandy a home for elephants with up to 80 ready to interact with visitors.

Millennium Elephant Foundation

A smaller grassroots version of Pinnawala (which is nearby)with fewer pachyderms and smaller crowds.

Udawalawe

One of the best national parks for wildlife spotting safaris.

Elephant Transit Home

Not far from Udawalawe this is a well regarded halfway house for injured and orphaned elephants.

Minneriya

A national park renowned for its herds of elephants.

Turtle hatcheries

On the west coast there are popular.

Polhena

Near Matara, the beach here is safe and shallow for little ones.

Polonnaruwa

Kids can literally run themselves silly at the vast and car free ancient heritage sites such as this one with their very cool ruins.

Three wheelers

Buzzing blowing and completely unlike any ride any place else these ubiquitous transport options are good for a thrill.

Backwater boat trips

These will also keep kids amused.

Planning & Practicalities

*Sri Lankan hotels and guesthouses invariably have triple and family rooms, plus extra beds are supplied on demand. Most restaurants don't supply highchairs.

*For very young children a dilemma is to bring either a backpack carrier or a pram/stroller. If you can bring both. Prams have tough going on uneven or nonexistent footpaths but are worthwhile in Colombo and Kandy.

*Check if your hired car (with driver) has a child's seat. If not you can get one in Colombo.

*Buy pharmaceutical supplies imported baby food and disposable nappies at Cargills Food City and Keells Supermarkets throughout the country.

*Breastfeeding in public is accepted but parents will struggle with finding dedicated baby changing rooms. It's not a major problem as it's acceptable for toddlers to be naked in public.

*Rabies and animal borne parasites are present in Sri Lanka so keep children away from stray animals including cats, dogs and monkeys.

*Bring suncream and children's mosquito repellent with you because you won't fine it in Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lanka For Kids

*Like a good rice and curry Sri Lanka offers a dazzling array of choices. This is obviously not a first world country so the child who expects a packaged Disneyland experience won't be happy. It's the real world but a real world it is. There's enough to see and do to keep a family busy for weeks.

*Although practical details may be a challenge at times, your time will be eased by the Sri Lankans themselves. They love children and they'll go out of their way to help you if you're travelling with kids. We've watched a grimly serious driver suddenly melt and start playing the silliest games with a client's youngster.

Eating with Kids

*Sri Lankan hospitality means that people will go to any length to please young and finicky eaters most places have a few Western style dishes.

* To ease your children into Sri Lankan food try a breakfast of pittu. The coconut rice combination will be kind to their palates. Also try hoppers, especially the string variety or nice and mild rotti.

*The profusion of fresh and exciting varieties of fruit should mean that everybody will find something they like.  

Off the Beaten Track

*A full 82% of Sri Lanka's land is controlled by the state in some from or another and is therefore subject to a raft of legislation to combat destructive activity and protect sensitive areas like the scores of natural forests. The boxed text only includes information about 11 of the 20 national parks and three other green space from among the 63 sanctuaries, a long list of forest reserves and countless wetlands both with and without official titles.

*Given the overcrowding at some of the better known natural areas, new attention has been directed to other deserving national parks, such as Lunugamvehera (which serves as a link between Yala and Udawalawe National Parks, allowing elephants to pass freely between the two) as an alternative to Yala and Wasgomuwa instead of GalOya or Minneriya.

*Sri Lanka is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which currently recognises three coastal zones Bundala National Park the 915 hectare Madu Ganga Estuary near Balapitiya, 80km south of Colombo on the A2, site of one of the last pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka and the Annaivilundawa Tanks Wildlife Sanctuary just west of the A3 about 100km north of Colombo, a cluster of ancient manmade, freshwater reservoirs that are now a safe haven for awesome wetland biodiversity.

*For further listings of out of the way green escapes, contact the government conservation departments or consult LOCAL ternative Sri Lanka a responsible travel map.

*Sri Lanka is a year round wildlife watching destination but generally the best times correspond with the main November to April tourist season. At this time of year all the big parks are open and the dry conditions mean that animals start to gather around water holes, making them easier to spot (this is especially so between February and early April). If you come in the May to October southwest monsoon season, head to the parks around the Ancient Cities and in the east of the island.

*The north of the country remains much more of an unknown quantity for wildlife viewing and there are currently no protected areas open to the public but that is likely to change fast.

   

Planning Your Safari

Where to go depends entirely on what you want to see and what kind of safari you want to take. For example Yala National Park in the far southeast is the most popular overall park and is fantastic for leopards, but it's also very busy and can become something of a circus with minibuses chasing each other around in search of cats. If you want your leopard-spotting quieter (and less certain) try Wilpattu National Park (boxed text) although you'll have to cope with much more basic facilities.

National Parks & Reserves

      More than 2000 years ago enlightened royalty declared certain land areas off limits to any human activity. Almost every province in the ancient kingdom of Kandy had such udawattakelle (sanctuaries). All animals and plants in these reserves were left undisturbed.

      Today's System of parks and reserves is mostly an amalgamation of traditionally protected areas, reserves established by the British, and newly gazetted areas set aside for things like elephant corridors. There are more than 100 of these areas under government guard, covering approximately 8% of the island. They are divided into three types strict nature reserves (no visitors allowed), national parks (visits under fixed conditions) and nature reserves (human habitation permitted). Sri Lanka also has two marine sanctuaries the Bar reef (west of Kalpitiya peninsula) and Hikkaduwa National park.

Wildlife

*For its size Sri Lanka boasts an incredible diversity of animal 92 mammal species, 242 butterflies, 435 birds, 107 fish, 98 snakes and more. Given the fragility of the environment in which they live it should come as no surprise that quite a few are vulnerable.

Mammals

*Sri Lanka's mammals include some of the most easily observable of the country's animal species as well as some of the most invisible. Hard to spot are the solitary and mostly nocturnal leopard Sri Lanka's top predator the scavenging golden jackal the shaggy sloth bear the civet (a catlike hunter related to the weasel) the mongoose and the shy armour plated Indian pangolin with overlapping scales made from modified hair.

*Very audible but not always visible are troops of tree bound cackling primates, like common langurs, also known as Hanuman or grey langurs, endemic purple faced langurs hairy bear monkeys and toque macaques notable for their distinctive'dos a thatch of middle parted hair. The slow movements of the slender loris belie its ability to snatch its prey with a lightning quick lunge.

*More often crossed albeit at different times of the day are the majestic Asia elephant the omnivorous and tusked wild boar of Sri Lanka and cervine creatures like the big maned sambar and smaller white spotted Axis deer. The bushy tailed, five striped palm squirrel is commonly seen scurrying around gardens and town parks. These are often also the locations of the large trees in which Indian flying foxes (large fruit eating bats) camp by the hundreds.

*Mammals don't just hide out in the forrests and savannahs. The biggest of all mammals are to be found in the waters off Sri Lanka. Blue whales and slightly smaller sperm whales swim along migration corridors off the coast here. The area around Dondra Head at the southern tip of the country is being hyped as the best place in the world to see blue whales.

Birds

A tropical climate long isolation from the Asian mainland and a diversity of habitats have helped endow Sri Lanksa with an astonishing abundance of birdlife. There are more than 400 species, 26 of which are unique to Sri Lanka others are found only in Sri Lanka and adjacent South India. Of the estimated 198 migrant species most of which are in residence from August to April the waders (sandpipers, plovers etc.) are the long distance champions making the journey from their breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra.

Tips for Birdwatchers

*Visit a variety of habitats- rain forest, urban parks and bodies of water in the dry zone to see the full diversity of birdlife in Sri Lanka.

*February to March is the best time for birdwatching. You miss the monsoons and the migrant birds are still visiting.

*Waterbirds are active for most of the day.

*Although morning is always the best time to go birdwatching in the evening you will see noisy flocks of birds preparing to roost.

*A pair of binoculars is an invaluable tool to help with identification. Small models can be bought cheaply duty free and don't weight much.

*Consider taking a tour with a specialist if you're keen to see the endemic species and achieve a healthy birdwatching tally particularly if time is short. 

National Parks

*Sri Lanka is one of the finest wildlife watching countries in South Asia. The island may be small in size, but the variety of habitats and the wildlife found there would do justice to a country many times its size. Even a visitor with only the most casual of interest can't help but be overawed by the sight of great herds of elephants, enormous whales, elusive leopards, schools of dolphins, hundreds of colourful birds and reefs teeming with rainbow coloured fish.
*The Sri Lankan tourism industry hasn't been slow to cotton onto the country's wildlife watching potential and an impressive array of national parks, protected zones and safari options exist that allow anyone, from dedicated naturalist to interested lay person to get out there with a pair of binoculars and make the most of the Sri Lankan wilderness.

Diving & Snorkelling

*There are plenty of opportunities to live like a fish in Sri Lanka. Dive schools can be found all along the coast (except the far north) and you can slap on a snorkel almost anywhere. Diving and snorkelling in Sri Lanka is more about the fish than the reefs but there are a few exceptions and wreck diving is also possible. Sri Lanka has the full dose of tropical Indian Ocean fish species including such pretty little numbers as angle fish, butterfly fish, surgeon fish and scorpion fish. Higher up the gnashing teeth scale come the black and white tip sharks.
*Along the west coast, the best time to dive and snorkel is generally from November to April. On the east coast, the seas are calmest from April to September. But at none of these times can underwater visibility be described as breathtaking.
*Diving shops can be found in Colombo and in the major west coast resorts. They hire and sell gear, including snorkelling equipment.

Safety Guidelines for Diving 

*Before embarking on a scuba diving or snorkelling trip, carefully consider the following points to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
*Possess a current diving certification card from a recognized scuba diving instructional agency (if scuba diving)
*Be sure you are healthy and feel comfortable diving.
*Obtain reliable information about physical and environmental conditions at the dive site.
*Dive only at sites within your realm of experience if available engage the services of a competent, professionally trained dive instructor of dive master.

Responsible Diving 

Please consider the following tips when diving and help preserve the ecology and beauty of reefs

*Never use anchors on the reef and take care not to ground boats on coral.

*Avoid touching or standing on living marine organisms or dragging equipment across the reef. Polyps can be damaged by even the gentlest contact. If you must hold on to the reef only touch exposed rock or dead coral.

*Be conscious of your fins. Even without contact the surge from fin strokes near the reef can damage delicate organisms. Take care not to kick up clouds of sand which can smother organisms.

*Practise and maintain proper buoyancy control. Major damage can be done by divers descending too fast and colliding with the reef.

*Take great care in underwater caves. Spend as little time within them as possible as your air bubbles may be caught within the roof and thereby leave organisms high and dry. Take turns to inspect the interior of a small cave.

*Resist the temptation to collect or buy corals or shells or to loot marine archaeological sites. (mainly shipwrecks)

*Ensure that you take home all your rubbish and any little you may find as well. Plastics in particular are a serious threat to marine life.

*Do not feed fish.

*Minimize your disturbance of marine animals.

   

 

 

Whale watching & Dolphin watching

*Sri Lanka is fast gaining a reputation for being a world class whale watching location. The big attraction is big indeed blue whales, the largest of all creatures. Mirissa is the best place from which to organize a whale watching trip. On the east coast Uppuveli and Nilaveli offer quieter but less reliable whale watching and in the north west and the Kalpitiya area is the new whale in town, although here schools of dolphins are more common than whales.
*In all these places local boat tours are available but it pays to go with someone who really know that what they're doing.
*The season for whale (and dolphin) off the south coast and Kalpitiya is from January to April, while on the east coast it runs from May to October.