SRI LANKA 2026

My first hotel was the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo for 6 nights. A wonderful hotel built in about 1864 (but now completely restored) and a magnificent example of colonial design with high ceilings and original teak floors and woodwork. Situated overlooking the Indian Ocean I discovered it’s a popular location for weddings and I saw several each day while I was there – lavish affairs.
Kandy is a special place being the centre of the hill country and with numerous tea plantations. It’s refreshingly cooler than Colombo.
One disappointment was that, due to the ferocious storms that had swept the region last year, many of the roads were blocked by landslides and the train tracks swept away leaving around 300 or 400 fatalities. Evidence of the havoc caused can be seen everywhere.
The other boutique hotels were possibly the former homes of tea planters and very comfortable.
Sri Lanka has been beset by disasters for years - a tsunami, floods, landslides and terrorist attacks, poltical strife and a civil war. Despite everything, they keep smiling and are gracious losers at cricket.
It is a beautiful, enticing and fascinating country – the people are very kind and attentive and extremely hospitable. My thanks to all of the them.