Sri Lanka, is one of the smallest of the South Asian
    nations, 29 km southeast of India across the Palk Strait
    in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka was not the name by which
    the Island was always known.

    The Greeks and Romans knew it as Taprobane,
    The Arabian sailors as Serendib,
    The early Europeans in Asia as Zeilan or Seilan,
    The Portuguese as Ceylao,and
    The British as Ceylon.

    The Island nation has also been referred to as
    "The Pearl of the Indian Ocean"

    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 to
    satisfy that inner in the cities of Anuradhapura and
    Polonnaruwa archaeologist, we promise.