Sri Lanka is now considered a prime tourism destination as it has stabilized after a civil war and tsunamis. The country boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage sites reflecting over 2,000 years of history as well as national parks offering safari tours to see elephants, leopards and abundant wildlife. Sigiriya, or Lion Rock, is highlighted as Asia's best preserved first millennium city worth exploring, consisting of a 200 meter tall terracotta and grey rock fortress with moats, ramparts and water gardens that offers dramatic views from its summit.

1. Sri Lanka is Now Prime for Tourism
By Frank Svatousek
A civil war and tsunamis have deterred tourism to Sri Lanka, but the country has now stabilized. This is
an opportune time to visit this country, located off the southeast coast of India. Sri Lanka boasts eight
UNESCO World Heritage sites, reflecting a history of over 2,000 years. Sri Lanka’s national parks offer
safari tours on which visitors encounter elephants, buffalo, leopards, primates, and countless species of
birds. The country displays lush green tropical foliage in its abundant rainforests and tea plantations.
Since Sri Lanka is an island, sugar-white sandy beaches envelope the landmass, the tourists can engage
in water sports in areas without huge crowds.
Although many historical sites are worth exploring, Sigiriya or Lion Rock represents Asia’s best preserved
city of the first millennium; visitors may want to make a trip to this site a high priority. Built by a fifth
century king who feared retribution, the fortress reflects an impressive feat of construction and
engineering. It consists of a terracotta and grey core of rock that rises 200 meters above a forested
plain. Moats, ramparts, and water gardens span two sides of this structure, with a pair of ominous stone
lion’s paws guarding the staircase that leads to the site of the former royal palace. At the summit,
visitors view the foundation of the palace with visible bathing pools, as well as dramatic vistas of jungles
surrounding the rock.
About the author: Business executive Frank Svatousek worked and lived in Sri Lanka during the late
1990s. Mr. Svatousek currently serves as Canadian General Manager for Carta Worldwide, a company
providing electronic payments and transaction processing technology and services. He oversees product
development, business plan creation and execution, and banking relationships.