For a small island, Sri Lanka has many nicknames: Serendib, Ceylon, Teardrop of India, Resplendent Isle, Island of Dharma, Pearl of the Orient. This colorful collection reveals its richness and beauty, and the intensity of the affection it evokes in its visitors.

Head for the rolling hills to escape the heat of the plains in the cool of tea plantations. The entire island is teeming with bird life, and exotics like elephants and leopards are not uncommon. To top it all off, the people are friendly, the food is delicious and costs are low.

Marco Polo considered Sri Lanka the finest island of its size in all the world, and you'll likely agree after exploring the country's fabled delights. What takes your fancy? Beaches? The coastal stretch south of Colombo offers palm-lined sandy expanses as far as the eye can see. Culture? Try the Kandyan dances, a procession of elephants or the masked devil dances. Ruins? You'll find enough ancient and inspiring architecture in the cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa to satisfy that inner archaeologist.

Warning

Casualty figures are still rising following the devastating tsunami that hit the coast of Sri Lanka on 26 December. With over a million people reported to be forced to leave their homes, and over 27,000 people currently confirmed dead, Sri Lanka has been among the worst effected by the impact of a massive submarine earthquake centered off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, 1600 km (1000 mi) away. A state of emergency has been declared, and curfews are in operation in some areas to prevent looting.

Six metre (20 ft) waves crashed into the coast around Trincomalee in the country's north east, sending water about one kilometre (0.6 mi) inland. Rescue efforts have apparently been hampered in the north of the country as landmines from the ongoing conflict between the government and the Tamil Tigers have been dislodged. Contaminated drinking water and the threat of disease in hot, humid conditions is also a serious danger to survivors in the affected areas. Travelers are urged to delay visiting these areas, and to seek advice from their local governments prior to travel in the next few weeks.

Though the worst of Sri Lanka's civil war is past, numerous regions are still considered too dangerous to travel. Pockets of the northern and eastern areas are heavily mined. The security situation in the Jaffna Peninsula remains uncertain.

Visits can be made to Trincomalee, Nilaveli and Arugam Bay but should be restricted to these places. Areas north of Puttalam, Anuradhapura and Nilaveli, as well as the eastern side of the island south of Trincomalee, including Batticaloa, should be avoided.

In Colombo and southern tourist resorts, theft and violent crime are often aimed at foreigners. That said, southwestern Sri Lanka is safer now than it has been in years.

Full country name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Area: 66,000 sq km
Population: 19 million
Capital City: Colombo
People: 74% Sinhalese, 18% Tamils, 7% Moor, 1% other
Language: Sinhalese, Tamil, English
Religion: 69% Buddhist, 15% Hindu, 8% Muslim, 8% Christian
Government: republic
Head of State: President Chandrika Kumaratunga
Head of Government: Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa
 

GDP: US$48.1 billion
GDP per capita: US$2,500
Annual Growth: 4.7%
Inflation: 9.3%
Major Industries: Processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco
Major Trading Partners: US, UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore, India, Iran, Taiwan, Belgium, Hong Kong, China, South Korea