Sri Lanka with Luxury & Style (13 Days): Sample Itinerary Outline

► Sample Itinerary "As Is" or use it "Just for Ideas" *

DAY 1: Arrive Colombo, SRI LANKA
You are met on arrival at the airport, and taken to your hotel in Colombo, a city that is a mix of Colonial and modern styles. Galle Face Hotel, Colombo

DAY 2: Colombo, SRI LANKA
Your full day of sightseeing starts with a tour through the Dutch Fort and Pettah sections of the city. Visit St. Anthony’s Dutch era church with its collection of 19th century artifacts, and see the Colombo Fort railway station built in 1880. Visit the Hindu Kovil, a temple with exquisite interior stonework, and the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple. See the Town Hall, with its replica of the White House, and the prestigious Cinnamon Gardens area. In the afternoon visit “Jana Kala Kendraya,” a handicrafts village, and then drive to Mount Lavinia Hotel for a view of the Indian Ocean at sunset. Galle Face Hotel, Colombo(B)

DAY 3: Colombo to Sigiriya, SRI LANKA
This morning drive north into the island’s interior plains to the city of Sigiriya. In the afternoon explore the grand Sigiriya Rock Fortress, built by King Kassapa in the 5th century, located 500-feet above a vast expanse of rainforest. Drive to the base, then climb the stairs carved between two boulders (“Lion’s Gate,”) to explore this royal citadel. Explore the gardens, water gardens, and the “Heavenly maidens” of Sigiriya frescoes. Climb further up carved staircases through the “Lions Paws” to the summit of the rock to see the foundations of the Grand Palace, the king’s throne and windmill-fed swimming pool. Vil Uyaa, Sigiriya (B)

DAY 4: Polonnaruwa & Minneriya National Park, SRI LANKA
This morning drive to the ancient medieval city of Polonnaruwa. The country’s capital from the 11th to 13th centuries, it is full of beautiful palaces, temples and shrines. Visit the ruins of the Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu I, originally a massive 7-story wood and stone structure, and the adjacent Audience Hall and Kumara Pokuna, the royal bathing pool. In the Quadrangle complex, explore the Vatadage relic house and its Praying Buddhist monks dogoba (shrine); Thuparama, an example of the gedige style of temple architecture; and the Hetadage relic house. Visit Lankathillaka Gedige, a massive temple ruin with a headless colossal Buddha statue, and Gal Vihara, also known as the “Cave of the Spirits of Knowledge” as it has three huge Buddha statues carved out of its granite cliff face. This afternoon take a scenic Jeep safari through Minneriya National Park, an area of wonderfully diverse nature - tropical and evergreen forests, grasslands, wetlands and bamboo shrubs. The 22,000-acre park hosts 24 species of mammals, including wild elephants, Samburs, Sloths and the purple faced Langur. Vil Uyaa, Sigiriya (B)

DAY 5: Sigiriya to Kandy, SRI LANKA
This morning drive to Kandy, the former Hill Capital of Sri Lanka, en route visiting a spice garden and the Aluvihare Buddhist Temple, where the Buddhist cannons are written on Ola leaves. This afternoon drive along the upper lake road for a panoramic view of the city and it massive lake. Next visit a gem museum and witness a colorful cultural performance. Explore the Temple of the Tooth, to observe a pooja ceremony and see Sri Lanka's most valuable Buddhist relic, a tooth of Lord Buddha. Hotel Earl’s Regency, Kandy (B)

DAY 6: Kandy, SRI LANKA
This morning explore the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, a 140-acre early 19th century garden. It has 4000 species of flora, including incredible orchids, aromatic spices and medicinal herbs. Next visit the Kandy Arts & Crafts Showroom and a local batik factory. Hotel Earl’s Regency, Kandy (B)

DAY 7: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, SRI LANKA
This morning depart for Pinnawela and a visit to the endearing Elephant Orphanage where you can observe these magnificent creatres in their natural habitat. Continue your drive south to colonial Nuwara Eliya. Visit a tea factory and a tea estate to learn about this valuable and famous export, arriving at your hotel by mid afternoon. Tea Factory Hotel, Nuwara Eliya (B)

DAY 8: Nuwara Eliya to Yala, SRI LANKA
This morning tour Nuwara Eliya, also called “Little England,” because of the large English settlement. Visit the town market place and admire scenic views of Lake Gregory and Mt. Piduratalagla, Sri Lanka’s highest peak. Depart for an afternoon drive to Yala, en route visiting Ravana Ella Waterfalls and the Buduruwagala Buddha statue, the tallest upright statues of Buddha in the country. Yala Village Hotel, Yala (B)

DAY 9: Yala National Park, SRI LANKA
Today enjoy both morning and afternoon jeep excursions into Yala National Park, the biggest National Park in Sri Lanka. The park is renowned for its variety of wildlife, including elephants, sloth bear, water buffalo, toque monkey, mongoose and the leopards – there are about 35 in the park. There are also a large variety of water birds and Raptors. Yala Village Hotel, Yala (B)

DAY 10: Yala to Bentota, SRI LANKA
Today’s full day drive starts with a visit to the fishing village of Ussangoda. Next drive to the Galle Fort, built by the Dutch in the 17th century, and today a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tour the fort and Galle’s National and Maritime museums. Next tour a mask factory in Ambalangoda, before reaching Balapitiya, where you take a boat ride on the Madhu River; to see the many prawn traps along the banks. Continue to Kosgoda to visit a Turtle hatchery to see the hundreds of baby turtles that will later be released to their naturl habitat in the sea. Arrive at your resort hotel late afternoon. Taj Exotica, Bentota (B)
DAY 11: Bentota Resort, SRI LANKA
Today enjoy a full day to relax and enjoy the facilities at your deluxe beach resort. Taj Exotica, Bentota (B)

DAY 12: Bentota to Seeduwa, SRI LANKA
After a morning at leisure drive to Seeduwa, near the international airport. Airport Garden Hotel, Seeduwa (B)

DAY 13: Seeduwa, SRI LANKA
Depart for home. Today you are taken to the airport for your flight home or on to your next destination. (B) 

SRI LANKAN POLITICAL SITUATION STABILIZED DUE TO RAJAPAKSA’S LEADERSHIP - LEE

During summit held by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Seoul, Lee said Sri Lanka’s economy has grown steadily and its political situation stabilized due to Rajapaksa’s leadership.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa held a summit in Seoul Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen economic and other cooperation between the two countries.

Rajapaksa arrived in Seoul Monday for a four-day state visit.

During Tuesday’s summit, Lee said Sri Lanka’s economy has grown steadily and its political situation stabilized due to Rajapaksa’s leadership. Lee also thanked Sri Lanka for sending a pair of elephants two years ago as a token of friendship between the two countries.

   “In particular, more than 20,000 Sri Lankan workers are contributing to the economy of South Korea and they are beloved by South Korean businessmen,” Lee said during the summit, referring to migrant workers from the South Asian nation.

   Lee said the two countries agreed to expand the Sri Lankan workforce in South Korea.

   Further details of the agreement were not immediately available.

   Rajapaksa’s trip to Seoul also includes a forum with business leaders of the two countries and a meeting with leading South Korean trade organizations.

   South Korea and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations in 1977.

Meanwhile South Korea announced that it will provide Sri Lanka with US$200 million in development loans that can be used for future infrastructure building by the South Asian country, the South Korean finance ministry said Tuesday.

   Under the memorandum of understanding, the money to come from South Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) will be used in various agricultural and public work projects as well as education and health-related programs, it said.

   “The agreement is important because it raises transparency on the amount of money that will be offered, making it easier for Colombo to set up its national development plans,” the ministry said.

   The EDCF can make it possible for local companies to take part in the ongoing 10-year national infrastructure building plan that runs through 2016, it said.

   The loans can also strengthen bilateral economic ties with the country that buys South Korean cars, knitted goods and synthetic rubber. Two-way trade between the two countries reached $426 million last year, with South Korea posting a $262 million surplus.

   In the past, Seoul provided development loans to 22 projects worth $460 million, making Sri Lanka the fourth-largest beneficiary of official overseas assistance, Yonhap reports.

Sri Lankan government to restructure country's overseas missions

Apr 05, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government says it plans to restructure the country's overseas missions to reflect the changing ground situation in the world.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has told parliament Wednesday that the overseas missions would be restructured in order to use minimum resources to open new Sri Lankan missions in several countries.

He has said the country would open new missions in several countries including Nigeria, Mauritania, Mauritius and Seychelles and upgrade the Consulate office in Turkey to a mission.

The Minister has explained that the new missions would help Sri Lanka get the maximum advantage in bi-lateral relations.

According to Peiris, Sri Lanka is also looking at increasing diplomatic ties with the former Soviet states known as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) including Azerbaijan.

The Minister has pointed out that the importance of Sri Lankan missions in some countries has declined and it is time to change the archaic system that is currently in place.

The government recently said that it has decided to shut down several diplomatic missions in Europe while establishing several new missions in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Sri Lankan missions in Poland, Netherlands, Austria Norway and Sweden are to be closed and one mission is to be established to oversee affairs in these countries, the government said.